It was one year ago yesterday that my husband asked me to talk with him privately in our family room. One year ago that he told me, after I'd sat down, that he had cancer. Twelve months ago that my world crashed around me for the second time.

Just a year and a half before that, in the summer of 2004, we lost our baby at 4 months gestation. I remember that at the beginning of 2005 (or perhaps it was at the end of 2004), I was praying and asked the Lord to give us our "year of jubilee" -- a year of nothing hugely traumatic. (This differs, of course, from what the year of jubilee is in the Old Testament, but you can look that up in a concordance; it's actually quite an interesting concept. My definition, for us, was a little different.) I just wanted a year to breathe easy.

We got that year. In May, we discovered we were expecting Bethany. It was a high-risk pregnancy, and I had to give myself shots everyday to prevent blood clots, but I didn't mind -- I was grateful to be able to do something proactive to save this baby. She was born on Valentine's Day of 2006...God's love note to us. Better than any box of chocolate.

The day before she turned 1 month-old was the day Lonnie was told by his doctor on the way home from work, on his cell phone, the news that changed his life. It changed mine later that evening, and the kids' lives the next day. If you think you've had a bad day, try telling your kids you've got cancer. I don't know how he was able to do it, but he did. He's one strong man.

Lonnie underwent radiation treatment for two tumors in his neck, which have not returned. He's been having increasing pain in his neck, but nothing is showing up on the MRIs. He finished 25 rounds of radiation and has been getting stronger ever since.

If you've been through a life-changing ordeal, you've noticed, no doubt, how it opens your eyes to what's really going on around you...to what's really important...to what your priorities really are. You see, really see, all the things you should be grateful for, but perhaps weren't until now. You see, when your life is a swirl of chaos, how in control God really is, and that He's Sovereign. And you know, no matter what, that He's good...even if it takes a while for you to see that.

So, here we are, wrapping up a year of gratefulness. My husband is still here and our baby turned one (and is screeching at the moment). Life isn't perfect (is it for anyone?), but our eyes have been opened to see all there is to be grateful for.

Today was a good day. A really, really good day. I feel quite blessed, and quite undeserving of the gifts I received.

We'd bought our old washer and dryer set somewhere between 10 and 12 years ago. The dryer was still going strong, but the agitator had given out on the washer, so the clothes were not getting clean. It would work if there were just a few items of clothing in the washer, but put in a full load and the thing would barely budge. We needed to get it fixed, and I considered trying to learn how to fix it myself (hey, it's possible  -- a friend of mine did just that a couple of years ago, role model that she is).

My husband, however, decided it was time to just get a new set. They arrived today, and I've been having a blast doing laundry. Never thought I'd say that. They're the front loaders, and I've never had so much fun watching clothes spin.

The big surprise was the third thing the delivery/installation guys brought in: a new dishwasher. I actually knew about it before they brought it into the house, which was definitely a good thing, as I probably would have argued with the guy: "No, we didn't buy a dishwasher."

I found out about the dishwasher shortly after they'd arrived and were working on getting the washer/dryer installed. I'd begun to load our old dishwasher, which was falling apart and not cleaning things well, either (it's true, you know -- when one appliance fails, the others do, too). It was my daughter's chore today, but I thought I'd just load it as a favor. She ran up behind me and asked in a panic, "Mom, what are you doing?!"

"Uh, loading the dishwasher...."

"Why?"

"Because you're not..."

"Well, you can't!"

"Why?" (My turn.)

An anxious pause...I could tell she was trying to find the right words. "Because our new dishwasher is really pretty!" she blurted out.

I stared at her. Words failed me.  

"Our...huh?"

"Ournewdishwasherisreallyprettyandthey'rebringingitinside!"

And so they did. Let me tell you, I had a lot of fun loading that thing, too. I was a tad selfish today...I wanted to be the first one to use our new toys. I definitely feel blessed. I hadn't expected a new washer and dryer or a dishwasher, at least not this soon.

You'll have to pardon me. Just bragging on my husband again!  And my Father above, from Whom all good gifts flow!

PS: A little sidenote about the delivery guys. They were definitely Eastern European, probably Ukranian. I don't think they liked each other very much, because they were arguing outside and seemed tense around each other inside. It was almost comical, listening to them argue in Russian. My kids were nearby, of course, and unfortunately heard them swear a few times (softly, but we heard it). How did we know they were swearing? Those words were in English. 

Every few months, my husband has to go in for check-ups with his oncologist. This usually consists of an MRI and blood and urine tests. The last MRI checked only his neck, while the blood test looked for an increase in cancer cells and the urine test looked for Bence-Jones proteins (which, I believe, are identified with multiple myeloma only). They may have been looking for certain proteins in his blood, too, but right now I'm tired and my memory is not cooperating. And...Lonnie's asleep on the sectional, so asking him questions right now would be totally pointless on my part! (When you read this, honey, maybe you can leave a comment to correct or add something.)

The shocker was when he received back the results from the MRI. Since that is where the two tumors were, that is the area they recheck. It was evident on the screen that there was bone regrowth in his neck! Well, first of all, we didn't know the tumors had grown into the bones. This means that if the growth of the tumors had continued unchecked, his neck could have broken very easily and he may have ended up paralyzed or worse. May I stop here for just a second to reiterate what I've said before: GOD IS GOOD AND HIS TIMING IS PERFECT. Secondly, we were rather amazed at the bone regrowth because from what we (or should I say Lonnie, as I don't remember things as well as he does -- a side effect of my poor sleep habits, I'm sure) had understood, if bone regrowth needed to happen and was going to happen, it would have occurred within a couple of months of the last of the radiation treatments. Either way, it's good!

And can I brag on him just a bit? I've been needing a blender since the motor in my not-so-old food processor/blender burned up a couple of years ago. Okay, so I need a food processor, too. Anyway, I called him the other day to see if he'd stop at Linens and Things to pick up a Black & Decker blender that was $30, but only $10 after rebate. Definitely not top-of-the-line, but if it makes milkshakes, I'm happy. He didn't buy it. Instead, two days later, he took me out to dinner then to another store and bought me a KITCHEN AID blender. That's like getting a 2007 Chevy Tahoe (hint, hint) when you'd asked for a Kia to try to save money. This blender will last me until I'm 90! And it's red! Yeah, it's only a blender, but I wanted to share this with you to show you what kind of man he is. Definitely a keeper. I thank God for him.

Lonnie went in to the doctor this past Wednesday, 11/22, for his routine check-up. This appointment was actually a nice surprise, because when he first scheduled it, the receptionist told him it was for December 22. He was kicking himself because he'd waited so long to make the appointment, and I was kicking myself for not helping him out in that department. We're both busy, but I think it would really help him if I took it upon myself to help schedule these things.

They took more blood that day, so we're waiting to hear the results from that. He also has to do another test that checks for elevated proteins, and will be scheduled for yet another MRI in December. We haven't yet heard when that will be, though the doctor's nurse was supposed to call when it's scheduled. She hasn't been so great at calling back in the past, but I'll give her the benefit of it being Thanskgiving weekend (I assumed she would call same day). If she doesn't call by Tuesday with the time for the MRI, I'll call the doctor's office myself.

How is he feeling? The L'Hermitte's Sign that he's been experiencing (electrical-like shocks that shoot down his spine and through his limbs, an effect from the radiation being done so near his spine) hasn't gotten any better. We'd hoped it would have "spontaneously resolved" by now. In fact, on a recent business trip to Las Vegas, he'd had his worst attack of it ever. A bystander almost called 911. Besides that, his arthritis seems to be getting worse. He's in so much pain and discomfort from it, and his hands are almost unusable at times. He takes Aleve, but that's all he can take. Originally, he was supposed to take Humira, but that could make his cancer just explode. I know there are other arthritis medications out there, but for some reason he can't take those either.

So...that's the hubby update. I don't believe I've posted one of these in quite some time.

I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving! I cooked...and my feet still hurt from being on them all day.

Thanks for all the great comments about Bethany's sleep problem (including two from my children -- try to guess which ones they are -- LOL). I'll post an update soon! (Probably tonight when she's sleeping, or some other convenient time. Right now she's needing me.)

Happy weekend!

I haven't written much about my husband's battle with Multiple Myeloma lately. Thankfully, it hasn't been much of a fight at all these last few months. The biggest issue for him has been dealing with L'hermitte's Sign, a condition common in Multiple Sclerosis (which he does not have) but can also occur in people who've had spinal cord trauma or radiation in the neck area (as he did last spring with those 25 treatments). When he bends his head forward, he will often experience what feels like electrical jolts, or sometimes just a buzzing, through his limbs. It's been quite strong at times, and has alarmed those around him (including me, though I'm getting used to it now). L'hermitte's has been known to "spontaneously resolve" -- meaning that one day it'll just stop and not come back.

He was having some increased neck pain a while back, and his doctor wants to be notified immediately if he feels it again. He said they may have to "reinforce" his neck. Please pray for healing in Lonnie's neck so that he won't have to endure that.

On an up note, he received a phone call from his doctor yesterday telling him that his blood (and other) tests came back, and his condition is still stable! The cancer isn't doing a whole lot of anything right now, and that's extremely good news.

Please keep him in your continued prayers. As I keep telling him, "God has the final word," not the doctors.