The Gardener & the Grease Monkey

More Reflections

2010-04-23T11:02:00.005-04:00

As usual, we always remember things that we should have said after the fact. We were a little overwhelmed with everything that needed to be done for the service, practicing music, and thinking about what we wanted to say. Of course, that is when your mind goes blank and you can't think. But I still want to share a few things of what we and some others remember about Dad.
Friends of ours in our teen years and boyfriends were subjected to the 1/2 of a whitewall cleaning while he or she was in the house. Dad was famous for this prank. Dad loved his whitewalls and felt that everyone should keep them white like his. This was his gentle reminder to others that they were negligent in this area. He also collected quarters for whatever reason. As a result, he jokingly charged all of our friends and the neighborhood kids quarters for every little thing and they would reply "just put it on my tab." Rhonda Urban Smith reminded me of that one. Also, a note from Stacey Miller reflected on her memories of Dad and the Red Rider BB rifle and how he used to call her and Melissa the "gritchy girls." He loved jazz piano music, trumpet and brass. His favorite color was red. He had a red tie on for his final appearance and Mark, Jacob, Nick and my friend Ed all wore red ties. Alison and Hannah also wore red in honor of Dad and Hannah made a red friendship bracelet that she tied on his wrist before the viewing. There were many men that came to the viewing that worked for Dad at Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad. Every single one of them said what a man of integrity Dad was and what an honor it was to have him as their boss. They highly respected him. I wish I would have counted how many there were. What a testimony that was of Dad's character. That's just a few things for now. More will probably follow.

Viewing & Service Information

2010-04-15T21:22:00.000-04:00

Viewing will be Friday, April 16th from 4pm-7pm at Loutzenhiser-Jordan Funeral Home in Greenville http://www.loutzenhiser-jordanfuneralhome.com/and a Resurrection Celebration will be held at 11:00 am Saturday April 17th at Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church. http://www.crossroadschristianfellowship.org/

God Be with You

2010-04-14T15:49:00.002-04:00

God be with you till we meet again,
When life's perils thick confound you,
Put his arms unfailing round you-
God be with you till we meet again.
Till we meet, till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus' feet
God be with you till we meet again.

Rod went home to be with the Lord this morning. He was a wonderful Husband, Father, Grandfather and friend. We will miss him greatly but rejoice that he is with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Viewing will be Friday, April 16th from 4pm-7pm at Loutzenhiser-Jordan Funeral Home in Greenville http://www.loutzenhiser-jordanfuneralhome.com/
and a Resurrection Celebration will be held Saturday April 17th at Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church. http://www.crossroadschristianfellowship.org/

Moment by Moment

2010-04-13T20:02:00.002-04:00

Never a trial that He is not there,
Never a burden that He doth not bear;
Never a sorrow that He doth not share-
Moment by moment, I'm under His care.
Moment by moment I'm kept in His love,
Moment by moment I've life from above;
Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine,
Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.

Please be in prayer for Daddy as he has had some serious setbacks. This past Monday he became unresponsive and was having difficulty breathing. He remained unresponsive most of the day until later in the evening when he was awake enough that Mom, Scott and I were able to get him up to the wheelchair for about 1 hour. We readmitted him into hospice care last evening and have some oxygen now to make him a little more comfortable. He is still not very responsive and we have only been able to get a few spoonfuls of water and watered down applesauce into him yesterday and today. He is laboring a little less with the oxygen and we believe he probably has a pneumonia. Please be in prayer that he will rest peacefully in the knowledge of his Savior's love until the Lord calls him home.

A Look Back at Fall

2010-01-16T17:24:00.006-05:00

It's a new year and time for an update as Jenyl promised! This past fall Jenyl, Mom and Dad joined us in Ligonier for the annual Fort Ligonier Days celebration. Jenyl managed to rub elbows with a pretty impressive figure- Note- Jenyl and George were here! This past Thanksgiving the Murdock family added a new tradition to our repertoire. Last year Scott's sister and brother in law from Texas came for Thanksgiving and brought their turkey fryer. Scott fell in love with cajun fried turkey and when Gander Mountain had a sale needless to say we walked away with a turkey fryer. This was our first time doing this and a special thanks goes out to Jeanne and Gary for manning the texas fried turkey hotline and patiently answered all our questions- like exactly what are the chances of this exploding and catching on fire- do you all watch mythbusters? Ian being the knight in shining armor donned Dad's welding mask and retrieved the fire extinguisher just in case we needed defending from the deadly fryer. I am happy to report that the lowering of the turkey into the fryer went off without a hitch. As with most Murdock endeavors we do try these things in less than ideal weather conditions and this was no exception. It was a cold and windy day so the men did need to construct a wind break just so we could get the temperature up enough. The turkey was a huge success and was enjoyed by all. I think next year will be a two turkey thanksgiving as well. One last update that we feel is necessary is to let you know that Jenyl is out of the dog house the car is fixed and the other party admitted to full responsibility- her slate is clean for the new year. I am up in Greenville now with Mom and Dad. We were able to get Dad out of bed for most of the day. Please continue to keep Dad & Mom in your prayers. We thank you for your faithfulness towards them this past year and pray God's blessings to you all in 2010.

Winter Wonderland

2010-01-02T22:26:00.003-05:00

I think since I arrived on Monday it has snowed about every day. But let me back up a minute. Heidi and her family were here to celebrate Christmas with Mom & Dad while Alison headed to Albany, NY to her inlaws. Unfortunately, Heidi & gang had to leave on Sunday to pick up their two chocolate labs from the doggie spa kennel (where they are referred to as "kids,") and where Heidi had to buy them a present to open on Christmas day since all the other "kids" had one to open but Heidi had been remiss and had to purchase one in the convenient doggie spa shop, much to Scott's dismay. I drove in on Monday and met Mom & Dad in New Castle for the viewing of a long time family friend, Ron Urban. Our paths crossed with the Urbans in many ways and Ron was the one to help Mom learn the computer and get her to the point where she knows more and can do more on the computer than me. The rest of my family came in on Wednesday and thus started the Walmart runs. The picture of today's snowfall was taken by Richard Miller (our neighbor). This isn't our road but still gives you an idea of what it looks like here...beautiful. I wish I had my camera when an Amish buggy went by with it's contrasting black horse and buggy. We were out shoveling the driveway and hauling wood to the garage when a snowmobile went down the road. You don't see that everyday either.

We were all home for Thanksgiving and have some rather amusing pictures that we would like to post once we figure out whose camera or phone they are on and transfer them to Mom's computer. May God bless you all in this New Year.

Some Prayer requests and Some Praise

2009-11-12T21:18:00.002-05:00

The Fall is a busy time for us girls with getting kids back to school, soccer, cheerleading, music lessons, one off to college, one scouting colleges, two getting driver's licenses, SAT testing, senior pictures, choral tryouts, etc. Any parent can relate to this. We haven't been keeping up with the blog like we would like to but we would like to update you on the events of the last few days. Several days ago Dad misjudged and fell when going to sit down. He complained about having headaches and Mom took him to Greenville Hospital on Tuesday. A scan revealed some active bleeding in the brain and he was transported to Pittsburgh. Some adjustments were made to his medications to correct his clotting time and the results were about the same from a scan done on Wednesday. He has 3 slow bleed areas but there is no pressure building up in his brain. He was discharged on Wednesday and Mom is to monitor him at home. While he was being scanned and taken care of, Mom also had a follow up CAT scan and appointment with her doctor. He was pleased with how she looked and her results were unchanged from her previous scan. She will continue to be monitored with another scan in 3 months. Heidi was able to take the day off to help them with everything that was going on and see them off back to Greenville. Please continue to pray for them as they deal with their various health issues.

Before & After

2009-09-07T19:04:00.010-04:00

Tomorrow is Tom's birthday. Seeing as we all have either work or school, I made a cake today. Here are some before and after photos. I also tried to make Heidi's chicken cacciatore recipe with the polenta. The cacciatore was fine but I misjudged the timing of the polenta. It was described by the kids as having a glue like consistency.... Heidi's was really good. Not glue like at all. Oh well, at least the carrot cake was a hit.

So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Good bye...

2009-08-11T21:54:00.003-04:00

Parting is such sweet sorrow and Sunday was the day of exodus. After a week of work, fabulous food, fun and much laughter, it was time to head out. But first I must reflect over this past week. We had such a great time with each other and with all the people that provided help, whether on the roof or with providing food. Heidi (our own "Miss Martha") spoiled us with such delicious food that we are thinking of starting a Murdock Roofing Cookbook. Maybe I shouldn't tell you that she used Jack Daniel's to marinate the ribs, and various other spirits in her cooking. Jacob told her that he was a little concerned with liver toxicity. Of course it would also have to include Ballock's fudge, orange marmelade cake, and pasta recipes ( we aren't sure about including the green bean soup recipe, we left before he brought that one over,) and other recipes from the ladies of the Crossroads Marvelous Meal Ministry (like Jan's homemade rolls.) Besides the food, much entertainment and comic relief was provided from Heidi's husband, Scott. (I wonder where he gets all his material from??) A close second in the entertainment department was Tom, Alison's husband, (he is his own material.) Mark did a great job of heading up all the projects and keeping us on track ( something akin to herding ants) and doing some on the job training. Let's just say that Tom no longer has an excuse when Alison wants a home improvement project done.
Anyway, after church on Sunday we gathered one last time for another round of pictures since we all were not present for the 50th photos. I wish we had a picture of the camera set ups as they were precariously perched on a ladder with flip flops under the cameras for final adjustments. At one point, Hannah's camera lost its balance and fell into Alison's camera and they both managed to take pictures on their descent to the ground, but not of us. But after much ado, we accomplished the task. The first two pictures are of our famous porta potty in case you couln't tell.

Raise the Roof - Day 7

2009-08-07T17:24:00.003-04:00

Work continued on the kitchen floor. This presented some challenges to the cooking staff. Head chef Heidi threw in the towel on Wednesday night and pizza was ordered. However nothing can stop Jenyl when chocolate cake is the goal. The grandchildren were spreading mulch today - although I did hear screaming and Samantha and the word "wheelies" when the tractor was being used. We have been painting, putting up new baseboards, and modeling socks. No, that is not a typo. And, yes, the neighbors know we are crazy....New levels of craziness may have been reached as Tom was seen operating the saw WITHOUT SUPERVISION!!!!!

Raise the Roof- Day Floor

2009-08-05T15:50:00.006-04:00

Mom and I were the first up and off to Pittsburgh bright and early for her CT scan and doctor's appointment. While the scan showed no clear evidence of cancer the doctor is watching her weight loss and other issues closely and we follow up again in another 3 months. Please continue to keep Mom and Dad in your prayers. While Mom and I were in Pittsburgh, Scott called to clarify how Mom wanted the flooring to go in the Den. The men did a great job and by the time we got home Tom, Scott and Ian were finishing the den and Mark and Jacob were moving into the kitchen. Since they made such great progress the Murdock women met on the deck to discuss the next project. This prompted the men to slow down and insist that the kitchen floor would take longer than we thought! The grill got a much deserved rest this afternoon as a fabulous lunch was delivered by Joyce Keeley. The Sloppy Joe's and Dee's coleslaw were delicious and inhaled by our hungry workers. Jan Nelson delivered more of her wonderful homemade rolls that we have been enjoying all week. The satellite hook up was restored and a very joyful noise was made by the Enokian, Arisman and Dolinich grandchildren...

2009-08-05T07:04:00.005-04:00

Monday started bright and early. We had many helpers, all of whom came to work and work hard. A fabulous lunch was delivered and enjoyed by all. It became clear that we were making great progress. The only reason we did not finish the job on Monday was because we ran out of materials. As we enjoyed dinner that night we reassessed the goals for the week. So, now we are going to paint my parents' bedroom, put wood flooring in the kitchen and den, install a bathroom fan and a new kitchen vent, finish cleaning out the attic of the barn, and, (just to push Scott over the edge) put in a brick walk from the deck to the back porch. All before Saturday so we can have a few days to relax.

Raise the Roof - Day 2

2009-08-04T21:42:00.006-04:00

Sunday was a day of "rest" which meant that, after church,we did some hard time in the attic of the barn sorting through our accumulated treasures. We have to take advantage of that dumpster you know. Of course, Heidi just moved her treasure from the attic to her car. (Scott will be moving it to the attic of their garage and someday Ian and Nick will be moving it........) I've been in a "throw it out" kind of mood. Tom finished up his second summer tour in Texas and had arranged to fly into Pittsburgh. Scott made the drive to the airport while I took the girls to see a production of "Into the Woods" by GACT - Greenville Area Community Theater. This is the same group that I did "South Pacific" with in 1982 - yes, unbelievably, 27 years ago. Heidi and Teresa continued to do amazing things in the kitchen putting Mom's new grill through an initiation that could almost be consider hazing. I think they might have even grilled the iced tea? We ended the evening with a multigenerational game of Phase 10 - although Jacob was the only male brave enough to take on Heidi, who has a reputation for being rather ruthless. It was Teresa's rookie game and she whipped us all.

Raising the Roof - Day 1 Part 2 extra

2009-08-01T21:42:00.002-04:00

A few more pictures...

Raise the Roof - Day 1 Part 2

2009-08-01T20:58:00.003-04:00

We were off to a good start today. It is amazing how the Lord brings together the right people at the right time. Billy, who none of us knew, was here before I was out of bed. He heard about our little project through our friend Bill Messer and asked if he could help too because he thinks roofing is fun (God bless him). Even though he didn't know us, he knew just about everyone else who came to help out. By the time the shingle lifting crane thing arrived we had plenty of people on the roof to unload them. Amongst our tireless workers were Chuck Murrin, Buster Grabb, his sister Eileen Trump (a faithful helper to Mom), Bill Messer and his brother-in-law Billy, and last but not least Lewy Hough. We all worked well together and yes we actually did have a lot of fun. We were blessed with skilled and hard working volunteers, and Mark was pleased with the progress we made today.

Raise the Roof - Day 1 Part 1 extra

2009-08-01T20:13:00.002-04:00

Just one more picture. I couldn't resist....

Raise The Roof - Day 1 part 1

2009-08-01T19:36:00.007-04:00

By the time I arrive in Greenville today, work was wrapping up. The crew had accomplished more than I imagined was possible in one day! Jenyl will update about that later. I was here for the moving of the port-0-potty. Yes! We are most excited about our brand new flushable john. But in typical Murdock fashion, it did not stay put. We had to move it around to get the best possible location. And , for your amusement, we have pictures.

Up On The Roof... There's room enough for two(or a few more)

2009-07-23T09:35:00.003-04:00

We were all home the other weekend for a celebration of Dad & Mom's 50th anniversary, we are making this a summer long celebration. Dick Miller was kind enough to take some family photos. August 1st is fast approaching and the entire family & a few friends will be up for the entire week to put on a new roof on the house. Please be in prayer for a safe and productive week and since were asking 70 degrees partly cloudy and no rain would be nice as well. Feel free to stop in and encourage us during the week. Mom has officially graduated from Chemotherapy and we are so thankful that all went well- God has been so good to us. She will miss her weekly outing and chatting with all her Chemo friends and nurses but is happy to be done. Her next scan will be August 5th along with a doctor's appointment in Pittsburgh. Please continue to be in prayer for us all as we strive to glorify God in this situation. The following are some excerpts from my daily devotional for today.

He has overcome the world

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. John 16:33 NKJV

The hope that God offers is unchanging, unshakable, and unending.

“You are my hope; O Lord GOD, You are my confidence” (71:5 NASB).

There is never a time when we may not hope in God. Whatever our necessities, however great our difficulties, and though to all appearance help is impossible, yet our business is to hope in God, and it will be found that it is not in vain. George Mueller

Today’s Prayer
Dear Lord, let my hopes always reside in You. If I become discouraged, let me turn to You. If I grow tired, let me find strength in You. You are my Father, and I will place my faith, my trust, and my hopes in You. Amen

Ding Dong Bell, Scotty's in the well!

2009-07-11T15:53:00.008-04:00

Scott and I are up to pick up the boys who have had a week long of fun and work helping to pick up lots of sticks, burning the burn pile and coon hunting. Coon hunting was very successful and they helped to thin the population a little or so they say! Scott did a few projects while we were here. The window wells are now covered and the dryer vent moved so as to keep the rain out of the basement and the dryer. Of course as is typical for the Murdock family there was quite a lot of customization that went into the project to allow for garden hose accessibility and cutting out for the deck! Fortunately Scott is used to the simple things taking longer than expected.

WalMart Disaster, Daughter in Doghouse

2009-07-08T16:02:00.003-04:00

Well! It finally happened. One of the daughters had an accident with THE LEXUS. No one was hurt. Except the car. Which in the Murdock household is a BIG DEAL! At least to Dad. All I can say is thank goodness it wasn't me driving.....

Cherry Jubilee

2009-07-01T15:30:00.003-04:00

Mom got away for some cherry picking this morning. That means that we have spent the afternoon pitting cherries. So, while Dad was watching Gunsmoke, Mom and Tommy and I tackled the cherries. Tommy had a blast with the cherry pitter, while Mom & I opted for the slower, less violent thumb method. There might be cherry pie tonight!!!

IN HONOR

2009-05-31T16:59:00.003-04:00

I know this is short notice but....
Tonight there will be a hymn sing and dessert in honor of Mom & Dad and in joyous occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary. It will be held at Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church at 805 Vernon Road in Greenville at 7pm. All are welcome to come and fellowship in song and celebration.

Celebrating the Golden Couple- Happy 50th!

2009-05-24T13:41:00.003-04:00

Happy Memorial Day! Scott and I and the kids were up to visit this weekend. As usual there was lots of things to do and much excitement. A snapping turtle was found on the road and transported back to the little creek- Nick was great at finding it in the mud to show everyone. The dogs broke free of their new pen. They also managed to corner a raccon and tear apart a rotted stump in the process back in the woods. Mom was wanting the raccoon population thinned out a little as they are getting out of control. Nick, Ian and Scott managed then to get rid of the coon. Gardens were mulched, faucets fixed and a myriad of other things were ticked off the list. We had Dad out for a lovely drive in the convertible for some frozen custard from Hanks. There was only a little smoke from the engine but we made it back in one piece. Mom and Dad will celebrate 50 wonderful years of marriage on the 29th so please flood the blog with your well wishes.

Springtime in Greenville

2009-05-10T18:32:00.003-04:00

Greetings on this semi-sunny Mother's Day. Hannah and I came up for the weekend to spend this special day with Mom. Mom is doing well although her hair is thinning out more. She has had 10 chemo treatments and has 8 to go. Dad seems to be more confused and in need of more help to do things. Mom continues to need your prayers not only for her own health concerns but for strength physically and mentally as Dad's care can be both demanding and stressful. I wanted to share with you some of Mom's gardening work and why she (any several others...more on this later) are working to clean up from the Amish logging mess. I confess these pictures are from previous years but it still looks the same.

For those of you who maybe didn't understand the title of the last post, let me explain. After Mom and Dad started attending Crossroads Christian Fellowship, they missed seeing some people from their former church and Jeanne Ball's playing of the traditional hymns. As a result, she started hosting hymn sings with attendance up to 25 people. Desserts and fingerfoods follow and good times are had by all. She has been doing this for four years now. So that is why it was especially nice that for a change, she was sung to. (If I ended that sentence wrongly with a preposition I admit that I was never really good at English.)

The Queen of Hymn Sings Gets Sung To

2009-04-17T20:47:00.009-04:00

Mom and Dad received a special blessing on Good Friday. Five Amish buggies pulled in their driveway, horses were hitched to the trees and in came about 30 Amish, half of them infants and children. They then proceeded to have an Amish hymn sing and sang to Mom and Dad. They sang in English this time and all acappella of course. They sang and visited for about an hour. Amazingly compared to our children, theirs sat quietly in their parents' laps the entire time. A lot of the hymns were familiar Christian hymns but frequently the tunes varied as well as some of the verses. There were also a few unfamiliar songs. I have had the pleasure of being here one other time when a group of young adults came and sang around Christmas. That particular time they sang in their Amish German dialect. Unfortunately photography was banned at this event so we aren't able to share some of the sights that came with the sounds. The picture above was one I took a couple of years ago. So you will have to use your imagination from there. As the buggies were pulling out, the horses in the field across the road got excited and started running around the field as if to challenge them to a race around the bend.

And now for the events of the day....

Mom's chemo went well although she is starting to experience some thinning of her hair and as expected, her blood counts are down. Caleb was sick and running a temperature all day. Please be in prayer that Mom & Dad don't get whatever he has. All preventive measures are being taken that can be. And yes, Wendy, I did ask him if he drank any of the creek water.

Romper, Stomper, Bomper Boo, Tell Me, Tell Me Tell Me Do....

2009-04-10T12:39:00.003-04:00

Well Mom got her scan results back and the results are good. They did not see any more tumors and commented on the surgical work that had been done. She will continue with her same Chemotherapy regimen which she is tolerating well. We will follow up with another scan in about 4 months. Do you know the TV show the title is from and do you remember the entire introduction? She said my name one day and I really believed that she saw me!

Thank you for all your continued prayers and support you have been Galatians 6:10 in action.

Galatians 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Hey Doc Why Didn't You....

2009-04-02T07:17:00.003-04:00

Mom had a good checkup with Dr. Moser yesterday. He was very happy with how she was doing. Her incision is well healed and he is happy with how the chemotherapy is going. She has lost a little weight and Mom told him that he should have performed a little tummy tuck while he was in there anyway! He was glad to see that her sense of humor was back. She has a scan scheduled for next week and also in another 4 months. She is enrolled in a research study involving a lengthy questionaire. She gave them my name as a back up to call if they need to remind her to fill it out.. so I not sure who is truely enrolled. Thanks for all the prayers and acts of kindness. Please keep Dad in your prayers as well as he may be coming down with a sinus infection.

Upcoming Appointments

2009-03-31T16:22:00.002-04:00

Mom completed her 2nd round of chemo last Friday so she has this Friday off. As expected, her white blood count and other counts are down. She is headed to Pittsburgh tomorrow for a follow-up appointment with her surgeon, Dr. Moser. She is also scheduled for a CAT scan on April 6th to see if the chemo that she is taking is working. If it is not, they will have to switch to a different drug. Please pray that the chemo that she is currently on is working. She seems to be tolerating it and hasn't had the typical side effects.

The Working Hard and the Hardly Working...

2009-03-21T20:28:00.003-04:00

You be the Judge! A special disclaimer: although she is not in the pictures Alison did work hard, but someone had to take the pictures.... (she made me type this)!

Snap, Crackle & Pop

2009-03-21T20:13:00.003-04:00

This was the theme of our Murdock family work day. Snap! went the sticks, and Crackle! went the fire and Pop! went the trailer tire! Alison and I and our kids are up this weekend for a good old fashion game of pick up sticks. This got us to thinking of Rice Krispie treats, Alison and Jenyl had recalled this wonderful recipe that our Aunt Mae used to make earlier this week. It was Rice Krispies but with butterscotch, peanut butter and of course chocolate sandwiched in between. Did you know that Rice Krispies has their very own web site? Tommy was the official krispie stacker.

In case you can't make out Tommy's t-shirt, it says: "just give me snacks and nobody gets hurt". This quote was typed by Thomas Enokian.

Count Your Many Blessings Name Them One By One

2009-03-15T11:48:00.003-04:00

Count your many blessings see what God has done:
1. Mom's counts were up and she responded well to the Neupogen.
2. Taxes are done and Uncle Sam owes them!
3. 4 treatments completed and 14 left and counting down on this blessing.
4. More logs have been split and stacked the log piles are growing in size and number.
5. We had a lovely game of pick up sticks and the brush pile is growing. I have suggested a good old fashioned Murdock weiner roast and bon fire- the entrance fee will be an armload of sticks picked up!
6. Last but certainly not least the many friends who have helped and prayed and have showered us with blessings throughout this challenging time of spiritual growth.

Round II

2009-03-14T22:12:00.003-04:00

Mom started her second round of chemo this past Friday. Her white blood count was back in the normal range and they said that she has recovered nicely from her week off. While Mom was getting her treatment, Had and Nancy Marts took Dad out for coffee and a walk around Walmart. Mom continues to look great and so far has not experienced any hair loss. She is still very active and usually has her normal energy levels. Of course she is on a mission right now with cleaning up the brush and logs that the Amish loggers left after taking down around 18 trees ( to say there is a huge mess would be an understatement.) Heidi is visiting with Mom & Dad this weekend and having a wonderful time helping them with their taxes. Yea... sounds like fun.

And yes, the title from the last posting is the name of a song in Mary Poppins. If you didn't know that I suggest you get yourself some popcorn and have a movie night!

I Love To Laugh

2009-03-01T21:52:00.003-05:00

They say that laughter is medicine for the soul. Well, Mom got a dose of it along with her chemo treatment this past Friday. When I asked her how her appointment went she told me that she had a lot of fun. I of course thought she was being sarcastic (we Murdock women can be that at times). But as it turns out another retired nurse was also in for treatment. She had previously been treated for pancreatic cancer and had the same surgery with the same doctor that Mom had. So they related stories of post-op recovery holding nothing back, being the nurses that they were. They also reminisced about nursing procedures in the 50's and 60's. Apparently they were laughing so loud that a couple of staff nurses had to come in and get in on the fun.
Now for the medical report. Mom's white blood count continues to go down and they reduced her chemo by 20% this past time. She will go in on Monday for a shot to stimulate her bone marrow to produce more white blood cells. She had been feeling pretty good until this afternoon. It started with a headache and then she complained that her bones were starting to ache. It came on fairly quickly and she had to lie down the rest of the evening.
Trivia Question: Can you name the movie that this post title was taken from?

Two down.......Sixteen to go

2009-02-22T16:55:00.002-05:00

Mom had her second chemo treatment this past Friday. So far she is tolerating it fairly well. Her white blood count is starting to drop, though. I am planning on going up on Thursday so I'll be there to take her to her appointment on Friday. I'll be bringing Caleb and Matthew with me. I would like to request prayer for continued health for us all so that we will be able to help her out. Heidi wasn't able to be there last weekend due to illness running through her family. I just talked to her and she sounded terrible and still is not feeling well. Whatever they have has taken them quite a while to get over. We all want to be there for our parents but cannot risk the spreading of infections.

Photo Shot of Shawl

2009-02-15T10:48:00.003-05:00

Here are some pictures of Mom modeling the finished shawl.

One down

2009-02-15T08:39:00.003-05:00

Friday the 13th, insert scary music here, was Mom's first chemo treatment. Heidi and Dad and I all went with her. Everyone at the clinic was just as nice as could be. She was done in about 2 hours and 15 minutes. AND seems to be feeling just fine so far. Just a little headache the night of and morning after. Mom even felt good enough yesterday to help me block a shawl. This meant placing 200+ pins in a wet blob of alpaca. Tedious but very rewarding.

The Word of the Lord

2009-02-10T16:34:00.003-05:00

I thought I would share a little of what I read from Psalm 16 starting with verse 8.

I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

A Puzzling Situation

2009-02-04T19:32:00.003-05:00

It all started when my Uncle Leland sent an 1000 piece puzzle to Mom. Of course Heidi was the one here when it arrived. But let me back up a minute and explain a few things. Puzzles happen to be a very competitive event in this household usually taking place over the holidays. Heidi, for some reason, usually manages to get her hands on the puzzle first. As a result, she puts together all the fun and easier sections, leaving me things like all the reindeer fur or snow. Things can get ugly at times resulting in the claiming of territory, hoarding puzzle pieces, and the ultimate control tactic of hiding pieces (Scott can often be a culprit here...mainly to aggravate us all rather than his wanting to participate in the event). This past Christmas I noticed that my daughter has inherited the puzzle fever and witnessed her pulling all of the above manuevers.

Now back to the present....Heidi had most of the puzzle done in a relatively short period of time. And once again she did all the fun and easier sections. What she left me were areas of grass and dogwood flowers. Green or green and white. That is all I had to work with. She will, of course, try to deny these allegations, but don't believe her.

A Couple of Turkeys Live Around Here

2009-02-02T15:29:00.005-05:00

The title speaks for itself and is open for interpre-tation.

What's Up Doc? Part II

2009-02-02T15:03:00.003-05:00

I have been informed that I have been a little negligent in my blogging duties and I confess. Mom had an appointment with Dr. Lob in Greenville last Thursday. He will be overseeing and administering her chemotherapy. Her first scheduled treatment is Friday, February 13th at 10:30 am. Her schedule will consist of 1 treatment per week for 3 weeks followed by one week off for her body to recover. This process will continue for 6 months. Mom was a little surprised and discouraged at the length of the treatment, as was I. I think we tend to drift into some denial every now and then. Heidi will be coming in to help Mom through this first appointment.

Slip Slidin' Away

2009-01-29T14:26:00.005-05:00

"Are you crazy, Woman?" I believe were the exact words of my friend (who shall remain nameless) over the phone as I was driving us home from Pittsburgh yesterday. Well, do you really want me to answer that? If you ask any of the husbands of us Murdock women, no doubt you would receive the answer "absolutely." So, despite winter storm warnings and snow falling profusely, we packed up and headed to Pittsburgh for Mom & Dad's appointments. Mom had asked Heidi about conditions in Pittsburgh before we left, so give us a little credit. It was raining there. Surprisingly the weather people were fairly accurate on this one and the rain changed to snow. The up side is that other people cancelled their appointments and we were able to see the doctor fairly quickly. The drive home took us twice as long and I think I averaged 30mph. As if the white roads with no lines visible is not enough to deal with, there are a lot of crazy people out there. God's hand was surely upon us. And as is typical, while the females in the car were stressed and white knuckled, the males (Dad & Matthew) took a nap. I know, I know, we are not supposed to worry and I need to listen to Todd's sermon on that again, but I still think they took "resting in the Lord" a little to the extreme.
A huge "THANK YOU" to our neighbor Mr. Carl for plowing us out so we could make this wonderful journey, and for plowing again so we could get back in.

What's Up Doc

2009-01-28T15:58:00.002-05:00

Dad had his check up today and received the news that he needs to exercise his left arm and hand more. Mom also saw her doctor today and yes the feeding tube was removed! Yeah! Pray that the site heals up nicely and also for a little healthy weight gain. Yes I did say weight gain- I know we do not often get the request to pray for a gain. Mom will see the oncologist tomorrow in Greenville and we will then know more about the timing of the chemo. They want her to have about 2 weeks for her feeding tube site to heal first before we start the chemotherapy. Jenyl is driving them home right now so pray also for a safe trip home during this weather.

The Passing of the Baton

2009-01-26T23:20:00.002-05:00

Heidi and I actually passed each other on the turnpike somewhere between Pittsburgh and Cranberry on Saturday. She is back with her family and all those puppies, much to the relief of Scott. Under her care Mother divorced the feeding bag and equipment, boxed it up, and bid it good riddance. Her appetite is good but often after she eats she feels uncomfortable and crampy as her digestive system is being put back to work. She continues the process of resuming normal activities but as expected, tires easily. For the first time since surgery, Mom and Dad attended the Sunday morning service at church. They enjoyed being reunited with their church family and renewing their fellowship.

Saturday's Update

2009-01-24T13:27:00.002-05:00

Mom and Dad have had a good week. Mom's one wound continues to heal nicely and her diet is progressing well, she is feeling a little stronger each day. She even made a cherry pie this week which we enjoyed thoroughly. I am headed back to Ligonier and Jenyl is on her way here today. Mom and Dad both have doctor's appointment's this next Wednesday and I will be meeting up with them again in Pittsburgh. We are hoping that Mom's feeding tube will be removed and that we will be finding out about when her chemo will be started. Dad is getting a checkup at the stroke clinic. Please continue to pray for their continued recovery and for safety as we travel. Thank you all for your continued prayers and acts of kindness.

Oh What Fellowship, O What Joy Divine....

2009-01-18T20:36:00.003-05:00

Alison left to go back to Baltimore and I will be here with Mom and Dad this week. Jenyl and Alison have done a fabulous job with Mom's wounds and they are healing nicely. We have had some wonderful adventures since I arrived. Mom wanted to try and go to the 4 pm bible study at the church today and we were able to accomplish that. It was great for her and Dad to be able to fellowship once again with their church family. Bill Hallier was over yesterday and went out to the barn with Dad to help him get some stuff done out there... I think Dad just wanted to have some guy time in the barn and get away from us women for a while! Thanks Bill. Our next adventure will just seem a little crazy unless you are a Steeler fan... you will then understand the undertaking. Upon turning the TV on to catch a little Steeler action we realized there is still too much snow on the dish to get a local signal... this dish being located higher on the roof than the other, I of course decided we must try so began the trek out to the garage to get the ladder, then out to the barn to get the long handled push broom then trek across the back yard to the side of the house and attempt to get high enough to knock of some snow. Did I mention it is now dark outside! Needless to say I am a little vertically challanged even on the ladder so while I managed to knock alot of snow off the roof onto my head I did not get enough off the dish to pull in a picture. Sigh...trek back through the snow and return the ladder and thaw out. I am bugging Scott on the cell phone to get the game highlights. GO Steelers!

Puppy Update

2009-01-18T20:22:00.003-05:00

The puppies are growing. They are now mobile and walking and are barking. We find it quite amusing when they are trying to sound ferocious with their little puppy barks. 4 of the 10 (2 girls and 2 boys) have found homes. In the mean time we are all enjoying them.

Team Alison

2009-01-13T18:01:00.003-05:00

Yesterday Heidi, Jenyl, and I went to Mom's appointment with her. Jenyl went home to MD and I brought Mom back to Greenville. So Team Jenyl gets a few weeks off and Team Alison takes over for the week. Mom had her two drain tubes removed. They were shockingly long. I think the trip and the appointment combined to wear her out a bit. Dad and I braved the weather for about an hour today to run some errands. One of our new neighbors plowed the drive for us. And a little elf left a pot of soup on the stove while we were gone. Thank you all. The dish is covered with snow so we have no TV and are watching the birds.for entertainment....

Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow

2009-01-10T23:54:00.007-05:00

The Lord has used several people this past week to bless us with their giving of themselves. We want to thank Evie and her daughter, Hannah, for coming over and dusting. We also want to thank Wendy for cleaning the floors, and Todd for his spiritual guidance and continued words of encouragement as Mom still faces chemo and her battle with cancer. Then there is Costello, who picked Dad up and cooked him breakfast. He has also supplied us with soups, cookies, fudge and cinnamon rolls. Our neighbor, Richard, drove me, Caleb and Matthew over to Walmart in his Jeep on snow covered roads (refer to the picture I posted) so Caleb wouldn't get Walmart withdrawl. You all have given of yourselves and your time. Thank you also to those who have sent cards, posted comments on our blog, and especially, lifted our family up in prayer. We are very grateful.

Mom continues to be more active and once again the home care nurse is pleased with her recovery. Her doctor's appointment is tomorrow which we are all anxiously awaiting the removal of tubes and body piercings. Please remember us as we are traveling to Pittsburgh and then me as I continue on to Maryland, and as Alison is traveling in from Baltimore and will be taking over Mom & Dad's care.

2009-01-10T18:09:00.003-05:00

I have to show a picture of the road especially if anyone in Maryland is reading this....and yes there were plenty of people driving by. This view is looking toward town, or if you ask Caleb, toward Walmart.

Snow is Falling, Snow on Snow.......

2009-01-10T17:53:00.003-05:00

Well, for starters, the boys and I shoveled the driveway yesterday afternoon. And then there was today. This is round two for the driveway and the snow is still falling. The top picture was when we were done but for some unknown reason the computer decided it was going to rearrange the pictures from the way I entered them. Mom took this last one from her nice warm chair by the fireplace and in front of the picture window.

The 21 (staple) Gun Salute

2009-01-07T22:06:00.003-05:00

Mom had another visit from a home care nurse the other day. She continues to improve a little each day. Her voice is also slowly getting better. As you can imagine, she strongly desires to be disconnected from the drainage tubes and the feeding pump that is her constant companion. She wants FOOD, REAL FOOD. Who can blame her. She hasn't had it since Dec. 15th. She has an appointment on Monday in Pittsburgh so we are hoping that she can get rid of some of the baggage she is carrying around. She still does experience occasional discomfort and has difficulty falling asleep. In case anyone was wondering, Mom has 21 staples across her abdomen. That's the latest news.

Wonder Woman was here and Our Sunday Best

2009-01-05T23:32:00.002-05:00

A special "Thank You" to Heidi who came in to take over while I went to a wedding on Saturday. Not only did she give me the day off, but she took Dad out grocery shopping, cooked up two different pots of soup, made a roast so I wouldn't have to cook the next day, did up Dad's medications for the week, changed his site for the pump, plus cooked dinner that night. Oh yeah, she also took care of Mom. Thank you again, Heidi. (Can I get you to come to Baltimore?)
A couple of the things that I think Mom & Dad miss are singing in the choir and the fellowship that they share with the people at Crossroads. Since we couldn't attend church this past Sunday, I played a tape that Fred & Barb Heathcote gave Mom of one of the hymn sings that was held here. I gave Mom a hymnal and she sang along. Then we listened to one of Todd's sermons that the church sent us. Thank you for these gifts. They missed the fellowship but they were able to be spiritually fed.

Life in Greenville

2009-01-05T23:24:00.002-05:00

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

2009-01-03T16:55:00.002-05:00

As it often happens when dealing with recovery, you have your good days and you have your bad days. Mom didn't sleep well last night despite our best efforts. The lack of a good night's sleep seems to be one of the biggest strains on her. She also had another minor setback. On the upside, the home care nurse came for a visit this morning and Mom's incision is healing nicely and her lab work continues to improve.

Comings and Goings and Other News

2009-01-02T14:05:00.003-05:00

We actually wanted to add this picture of Tommy and Matthew with the last post but it didn't quite happen. Anyway, these were two sticks that didn't make it to the burn pile and the boys had a little fun with them after the snow came. Alison and her kids, Samantha and Tommy, left for Baltimore around noon. So they are on the road. Heidi is coming in tonight after work to help out since I have a wedding on Mark's side of the family tomorrow in Grove City. Mom was having trouble sleeping and so we took her off her Lipton tea and we are going herbal. She also started walking on the treadmill to build up her strength and endurance. She did a total of 16 minutes yesterday and has 10 minutes in already today, which is more than I can say. She is doing great. Her blood results from Tuesday were much improved. She has enjoyed a massage from Becky and a visit with words of encouragement from Pastor Todd. Things will be tougher for me now that I will have to accomplish alone what both Alison and I were getting done before together. We continue to covet your prayers and thank you for them.

Shave and a hair cut.....

2008-12-31T15:43:00.002-05:00

Everyone has been helping out here at Chez Murdock - even the teenagers. Mom thought Dad was looking a bit shaggy. Here he is getting cleaned up by Hannah and Samantha. Tommy and Matthew also helped out by picking up sticks after the wind storm the other night. All the kids are doing a fine job entertaining themselves while we care for Mom and Dad. Mom is continuing to improve and getting stronger everyday.

Happy to be Home

2008-12-29T13:56:00.003-05:00

Thank all of you for your prayers, well wishes,cards, flowers and encouraging comments on the blog. The girls have been invaluable with all their help and care and learning new nursing procedures for Alison and Jenyl. Heidi is a great teacher. Please pray for them as they continue their care for Rod and myself.

Change of plans

2008-12-28T11:03:00.003-05:00

Plans kept changing yesterday, but the short version is that Mom is HOME!!! She arrived last night around 8pm. She is still quite tired and her white count is still a little high. We will post when she feels up to receiving calls and visits. Please bear with us as we are trying to limit her exposure as she recovers and prepares to start chemotherapy. Please continue to pray for her health and for Heidi, Jenyl and I as we learn the many aspects of her care (and Dad's) and establish a schedule to manage both. Again, thank you all for your prayers and support.

Road Trip

2008-12-27T10:09:00.002-05:00

We were greatly anticipating Mom coming home today. Unfortunately that is not to be. Her white blood count is elevated. So Tom is taking Dad to go visit her on his way back to Baltimore. Heidi will then bring him back up to Greenville. There is quite a crew here and the more people and activity, the more Dad tends to be confused. Our requests for prayer are for Mom's continued healing and health, safety in travel for Tom & Dad, and sanity to be maintained with a house full of very active grandchildren. Did I mention that the puppies might be coming too???

There's ten in the bed.....

2008-12-26T22:07:00.006-05:00

To top off a great Christmas with mom, Abbey, our lab, presented us with 10 Christmas puppies. Just when Scott and I were settled down for a long winters nap....she started to give birth about 8:30 last night! If anyone is interested, the puppies will be ready for Valentine's day so think about the gift of a chocolate lab!

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T18:56:00.005-05:00

Part of the family converged on Montefiore Hospital today to spend Christmas with Mom.
We had a delicious meal together at the cafeteria in Presby. We then sang Christmas carols with Mom - with varying degrees of success. The attempt of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen as a round was quite amusing mostly due to the son-in-laws.... We had a great time visiting Mom and are looking forward to getting her home. A very Merry Christmas to all of you!!!

Glad Tidings

2008-12-24T13:08:00.003-05:00

Things are looking up again. Most of Mom's nausea seems to have passed. She is tolerating the feedings fairly well. The small leak seems to be getting better. So, it looks as if we are past the worst of it. Mom may be discharged as early as Friday evening. We are planning to all visit on Christmas. Tom & I will drive Dad to Pittsburgh and Heidi & family will meet us there. I imagine there will be some caroling going on......

Monday, Monday

2008-12-22T20:27:00.005-05:00

Today has been challenging. Mom has not been tolerating the feedings very well. She was started on an antibiotic today. Heidi is headed back to Pittsburgh tonight to spend the night with Mom. It does not look like she will be home for Christmas which has us all a little down. Dad has been tired after our thermostat adventure last night. Many thanks to Dan Callahan who braved the frosty weather to make sure we were safe. The thermostat has been replace and seems to be working fine. My husband, Tom, and our kids arrived today. Thank you all for the cards - we take them to Mom and tape them all over her room. I know they cheer her up. We continue to ask for your prayers for Mom & Dad.

My True Love Gave to Me....

2008-12-20T20:21:00.005-05:00

Thanks to a good night's rest Mom had a much better day today. The family was all together for a few hours this afternoon for the changing of the guard. Jenyl brought Dad down to see Mom. They have both been missing each other and enjoyed their visit. Jenyl is back in Baltimore and Alison arrived to take over caring for Dad. The flowers behind Mom & Dad are from Dad "to his Marily". The roses are from Ralph & Betty Enokian - Thanks so much they really brighten up the room. Mom was out of bed up to a chair and even had a nice stroll with Dad around the halls. The bilirubin levels continue to decrease. Please continue to pray for Mom's spirits that she will not get discouraged even as she continues to make improvements. Also continue to keep in prayer that the pain will be controlled and that she will tolerate the feedings they have started today.

A rough place

2008-12-19T17:40:00.002-05:00

Today was a mixed bag. They increased Mom's feeds this morning but Mom experienced quite a bit of nausea and vomiting. The feeds have been stopped. Heidi is spending the night with Mom tonight.

On the up side, her bilirubin level is down to 8.4 (still well above normal but much improved from her highest level....) and her other liver enzymes are coming down as well.

We ask for continuing prayers and thank you all so much.

Thursday's Update

2008-12-18T21:02:00.003-05:00

Mom had a pretty good day today. She is having a bit more pain as the anesthesia from the surgery is finally all wearing off. We have made some changes to her pain managemnt to help her be more comfortable. She is getting up and doing some walking as well. Today she felt more tired that the past two days and we ask for prayers for a good night's rest. Please also continue to pray that there would be no leakages, no infections and that she will grow stronger each day.
We cannot thank you enough for lifting our family up in your prayers each day.

Wednesday Update

2008-12-17T20:21:00.002-05:00

We are happy to report that Mom's pain is well controlled and she is up walking around a bit. Her throat is still very sore and talking is difficult. We asked for continued prayers for

no leakage
her labs to return to normal ranges
no infections

Thank you all for the thoughts, prayers, comments, kindness and love that have been bestowed on our family.

Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow....

2008-12-16T11:20:00.004-05:00

His blessings are new every morning. Mom is doing GREAT this morning. When I saw her this morning she was sitting up in the chair. She was able to sit up for about 15 minutes. Later she actually took a stroll around the hall. She has a new type of pain block(Peri-vertibral- continuous infusion) that keeps her stomach numb but not her legs so she can get walking while controlling her pain. Her bilirubin level is down to 10.2 (Highest was 18) so her itching is getting better as is her coloring. Please pray during her recovery for:

For God to be glorified in this situation.
That pain will continue to be well controlled so that she can walk and move comfortably and so that she can breath deeply to avoid pneumonia.
Bilirubin levels will continue to decrease to normal levels.
Incisions will remain clean and infection free.
Drainage to decrease and become increasingly clear and less bloody(They are doing well now).
There would be no leakage inside the GI tract from the surgical sites.
Bowel function would return quickly.
A good nights rest each night and several good naps each day.
For Mom to be home for Christmas.

Thank you to all of the prayer warriors out there doing battle for Mom. She said she is doing so well because of all the prayer. She is not anxious about anything but is resting secure in her Saviour's mighty arms.

Surgery Update #4

2008-12-15T19:45:00.002-05:00

Just spoke with Heidi. Mom is in the recovery room and doing well. Her pain is being managed well and she has been sleeping off and on. It looks as if they got all the cancer - the margins were clean according to Heidi. AND it does not appear to have spread to her liver. They did take biopsies of the liver though. She will be in a private room once she leaves the recovery room. I spoke with her briefly and she had to mention the Steelers-Ravens game. Just to rub it in a little.

We ask for prayer that her recovery goes well and her pain is managable. Thank you for all the prayers of support today.

Surgery Update #3

2008-12-15T14:50:00.002-05:00

Heidi spoke with the surgeon and he said it couldn't have gone any better. He removed the tumor, the gall bladder, 1/2 the pancreas, lymph nodes, and part of the portal vein. There was no bleeding so she did not require additional blood during the procedure. The surgery lasted approximately 5 and 1/2 hours. She should not have to be in ICU and is expected to go straight to a regular room. She is expected to recover in the hospital for 10 days. Depending on her recovery, chemo will be started in 6-8 weeks.

Surgery update #2

2008-12-15T14:16:00.002-05:00

2:15pm...The tumor has been removed and they are starting to close mom up. Heidi will know more when she has a chance to actually talk to the surgeon. Thank you for lifting mom up in prayers especially today. jenyl

Monday morning surgery update

2008-12-15T12:00:00.002-05:00

Mom went into surgery at 7:19 this morning. Heidi called around 10am to report that surgery is going well. The next update will be after 1:30 or so. jenyl

Monday the 15th

2008-12-15T05:56:00.002-05:00

Today is the day. Thanks to Bill and Dee for driving Mom to the hospital yesterday. Jenyl is in Greenville with Dad. Heidi is in Pittsburgh with Mom. They are at the hospital now. I will post news as I get it.

O Christmas Tree...

2008-12-13T13:17:00.004-05:00

Thank you to Jim, Fran and Kathy for the Christmas tree and delivery service. The tree is beautiful. Thank you also to the Runnells for the wonderful christmas arrangment. Everyone's prayers, support and blog comments have been a wonderful source of encouragement to Mom, Dad and us. We apprediate all the thoughful acts of kindness and your willingness to learn how to blog. Mom received one more update regarding the surgery it is now back to being scheduled at Presbyterian hospital.

Friday's Update

2008-12-12T10:56:00.004-05:00

Mom's surgery will be done Monday at Montifiore Hospital. She is scheduled for the morning so she and I will need to be there for 5:00 am on Monday. We will be travelling to Pittsburgh on Sunday. Special thanks to Bill & Dee Ruhlman for driving her to Pittsburgh on Sunday. Please pray for safe travelling mercies for everyone. Pray also for Mom, Dad, Alison, Jenyl and I as well as her surgeon Dr. Moser and her caregivers and that Mom will have a private room. We will try to keep the blog updated on Monday to let you know how everything is going.

Click on Pic

2008-12-12T05:41:00.003-05:00

FYI, if you click on the pictures in the posts, you can view a larger version. Try it on Jenyl's picture! (You can see an old railroad hat of Dad's....)

Coming to Greenville

2008-12-11T21:04:00.003-05:00

This Sunday I will be driving back up to Greenville to take care of Dad while Mom goes in for surgery. I will have Matthew and Caleb with me so that I can do school with them during the week. I would like to request prayer for safety in travel, patience with Dad, and the ability to handle all of his medical needs. I am a little out of my comfort zone with some of the medical stuff. Most of all for Mom of course, and for wisdom and guidance for the doctors.

Thursday Update

2008-12-11T12:20:00.002-05:00

Mom's surgery has been moved to UPMC Presbyterian hospital we will find out more about the time tomorrow.
Thank you to everyone who has been praying for the itching to decrease. Mom feels it has been getting a little better and she had a good night's sleelp last night- Praise God.
Please continue to pray for her so that she will be well rested for the surgery and will have a speedy recovery.

It's Monday....

2008-12-08T05:54:00.003-05:00

Mom is still dealing with itchy flashes. Some rather intense. She gets worn out quickly and is taking naps after lunch. We ask for continuing prayers for some relief. Photo is of a Christmas ornament...(Click on picture to view a bigger image...)

Lo How a Rose E'er Blooming

2008-12-05T15:33:00.004-05:00

We thought everyone would enjoy seeing these lovely flowers sent from the church. Thanks so much CCFC!

How to post a comment

2008-12-05T08:39:00.001-05:00

For help in how to post a comment for Mom & Dad please check out the link below.

http://help.blogger.com/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=42399

The Good News Club

2008-12-04T09:17:00.002-05:00

Mom's surgery will be on December 15th at Shadyside Hospital in Pittsburgh. The surgery will take approximately 7 hours or somewhat longer depending on what all they will need to do once they see everything. The surgery is scheduled as the first case so they will start around 7:30 in the morning. Please be in prayer for her during her surgery. She will most likely need to be in the hospital for 10 days after the surgery for recovery. After surgery the plan is to follow up with Chemotherapy.

2008-12-03T17:20:00.001-05:00

Mom's surgery is scheduled for December 15th. Heidi will post a more details later.

Prayer Requests

2008-12-02T19:21:00.002-05:00

Matthew 21:22- And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive.

Philippians 4:6- Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Thank you for all your prayers and support. Please pray for the following:

Upcoming surgery
Decreased itching
Improvement in liver labs and bilirubin level
Grace for the day
That God will be glorified in this situation

The Good News Club

2008-12-02T19:06:00.002-05:00

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know my plans for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper and not to harm you plans to give you a future and a hope.

Great is His faithfulness: Mom is now home from Montifiore Hospital. She had a new stent sucessfully placed in her common bile duct and her labs were improving this morning. She has a doctors appointment tomorrow in Pittsburgh and we will be discussing possible upcoming surgery dates to have the tumor removed. Thank you for all your prayers and support.

Welcome!

2008-12-02T17:43:00.000-05:00

Thank you for stopping by to check up on Rod & Marilyn. We hope this blog will provide information to all of you who care about our parents. We will try to post regular updates, but please be patient with us as we learn the ins and outs of blogging! We are so grateful for your continuing prayers.