God is AWESOME

First I want to give all the praise and glory to the most AWESOME GOD! I may open a few cans of worms with what I am about to write, but I have no choice but to share what happened yesterday. Stephen took Jamie to Children's for her MRI scans. It took about 3 hours to do the scans. Stephen was sitting in the lobby waiting on her. He said that the 700 Club was on TV. Now I am going to go ahead and tell you that I was not raised to watch tele evangelists nor to believe that people had any power to know anything other than what was in front of them. Now that this is out of the way, Stephen said he was reading and watching TV, when Pat Robertson began to close the show with his prayer. He was praying for the ones who had called in asking for prayer. He got to the end of the prayer and he stopped, and said, "Father, there is a young girl out there who is suffering with a cyst, but we have asked you to heal her and we know that you have...in your name, Amen." Now chill bumps ran up and down Stephen's spine as well as mine when he told me this.

Ok, now I am going to do like my good friend Beck says, "If you disagree, just humor me...it won't hurt."

This was just a remarkable thing to happen. Those of you who know me and my family well know how awesome this is. Now please do not misunderstand me that I think that Pat Robertson healed my child or some such craziness as that. But do understand that this is huge because Stephen said as they were praying, Stephen said to himself, "what about Jamie...why can't she be healed?" Then there is the end to this prayer. I just thought this was awesome among other things....

OK now for the clinical stuff... WE DO NOT HAVE CANCER!!!! Thank you Lord! We do have a "fluid filled cavity" in the spinal cord that is "so deep you should not be feeling anything...you are probably just having anxiety attacks." OK at this point I am about to take off this doctor's head. It was not a pretty site. Let me just say I was not a very good example to others but I did not curse!!!! Jamie stated that she did not feel like he was listening to her and that she was wasting his time. Well oh no this did not fly - AT ALL! We got our stuff, gave them their "report card" they mistakenly asked me to fill out and got the MRI scans on CDs. We are seeking a second opinion for the "fluid filled cavity". We are not getting a second opinion for the no cancer dx, but for the pain and how it is related to the "fluid filled cavity." Furthermore, there has to be something that is causing her pain. Above all, I want her to feel comfortable going to the doctor. There will be a day when I will not be able to go with her and she needs to be able to have the confidence to question and know her body.

So to sum it up, we are CANCER FREE, still hurting but very hopeful! I want all of you to know that I can never express to you how much it means that I have so many people praying for my daughter and my entire family...All of you rock!!!!

prayer warriors arise....

ok guys and gals, it is that time...my daughter goes for the mri of the brain and spine tomorrow with and without contrast...i have no doubt that it is there but i am fully trusting in God that he will make it the simplest solution...yes i am scared..yes i am nervous...i am human...i am asking for prayer...i know i ask alot for prayer for myself but i am asking it for my baby...i love you all....

We have a diagnosis....

Following is a excerpt from the National Organization for Rare Disorders that explains what is going on with Jamie right now. To add to this, as many of you know, they transferred Jamie from St. Vincent's / St. Clair to Children's Hospital on Saturday night. Jamie had complained that her back was hurting about a month ago. Two weeks ago, a knot popped up on her spine. Called the doctor and got an appointment. Before we could get to the doc, she began having real bad headaches. When we get to the doctor, she wanted a MRI done because she could feel the knot as well. She wanted to treat the headaches as migraines because truthfully the symptoms fit that. So doc prescribed two meds - one for a daily basis and the other on an acute basis. So we have been on meds for about week and headaches are not any better. Friday she went for the MRI and went back to school. Two hours later we get a phone call that she has "fainted and her face is fire red." We go and get her take her home. Called doc and said I don't think the headaches and the back is related - may just be a bug...take her home and bedrest for next 48 hours. Saturday morning she still was not feeling well and her eyes wer 4 mm dilated. At this point, I call the doc back and explained what was going on. The moment I said her eyes were dilated, he said, "stop...go to the er...her mri has just come back and she has a syrinx". He went on to kind of explain what it is. He did ask us to go to the local ER so that he could call the ER doc and explain ther seriousness of this. By the time we got to the ER, the ER had already been on the phone with neurosurgery at Children's. They transferred us to Children's. We were told that this is a very rare disorder and that there are three kinds. One is that a child is born with, second is tethering and third is that it is cancer. They feel that if she was born with it, then it would have been found when she was small and in the hospital for the first round of cancer. The tethering is when a cyst forms and then gets caught up in the CSF and gets stuck to the spinal column - hence the term tethering. The third is cancer which is pretty self explanatory. The docs said the second one, tethering, is the most common reason, but since Jamie has had cancer before, the third rises above the tethering. We are praying it is not cancer. We know she is going to have to have surgery regardless. Whatever it is, we are praying that it will be the least painful and damaging to Jamie. As you read this small article you will understand the severity of this. Thanks so much for your prayers.


Synonyms of Syringomyelia

Hydromyelia
Morvan Disease
Spinal Cord Cyst
Syringohydromyelia
Disorder Subdivisions



General Discussion
Syringomyelia is a neurological disorder characterized by the formation of a fluid-filled cyst (syrinx) within the spinal cord. This cyst may, for unknown reasons, expand during adolescence or the young adult years, destroying the center of the spinal cord as it does.

As the syrinx expands, it affects the nerves that stimulate the patient’s legs, arms, back and shoulders. In turn, the affected individual may feel considerable pain and weakness, and may lose the ability to distinguish hot from cold objects. The combination of symptoms and signs may vary considerably from person to person, depending on where in the spine the syrinx is located and how much it expands over time. Often, the symptoms develop slowly. Unless the condition is treated surgically, it may lead to neurological deficits and chronic, intense pain.

parenthood is made for two not one....

ok no offense to any single parent...actually kudos...how do you do it.....my hubby is out of town for this week...i have a 17 year old and a 9 year old to deal with...you just really take for granted what you do for each other and don't realize it...for those of you who don't know this is a recap of the week so far...stephen leaves on sunday, we end up in er with jamie and her eye, monday i come home to be a good momma and make fried pork chops, homemade mashed potatoes and corn and my son says "YUCK", this morning jacob's med is mia, i think the cats are the guilty party, get to work and am surprised by an unannounced visit from our corporate division to do a "mock survey" which is just like the surveys that the state health department does...jamie goes for her mri today and they have conveniently rescheduled it for friday without notifying me...come home and my trash can is sitting at my house...i cannot pull this thing to the end of the road....my dad was supposed to do it...long story...and now i am having foot and leg cramps......stephen has been gone less than 72 hours and i amready to give up the ghost...anybody got any advice...a sister is suffering......

you'll put your eye out

ok girls...i am a bachelorette this week...don't get excited...it is a school week and i have one monster who DOES NOT like to get out of bed...now granted today is a holiday so i don't have to fight with them...here is the story...stephen is gone for not even 24 hours and jamie tries to put her eye out - seriously....a stupid decorative pillow is the culprit ...she was laying on her bed about to get ready for a youth devo and rolled over and began screaming...it seems that the sequins that are strung on the pillow with nothing more than fishing line scraped across her eye....yes i said scraped across the eye...she screamed...we rinsed we flushed we did everything we can think...mind you this is the eye she is 70% blind in so i was freaking out....anyway off to the er we go...we arrive at 3:45 pm only to be greeted by lifesaver helicopter...so i knew we would be there a while...i hope that person is better...at 8:15 pm we are called to a room and at 9:05 pm we are on our way out the door...is something out of proportion here...anyway...she has a corneal abrasion...so she looks real cute with a patch on her eye..she would not let me take pics...anyway i will put up the menu for the rest of the week tonight...we will probably have frozen pizza....thank goodness today is a holiday and don't i have to fight with anyone this morning....

Leaders and Relationships

I am 33 years old and I got more out of a youth devo than I think the youth did. We were supposed to go camping last night - yes in the frigid cold - but luckily the Lord shown his wisdom down on our youth minister and instead we had a pizza party / devo with another church...anyway...here is the text...Numbers 13:30 "Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it." Now here were the points, unity, urgency and unwaivering faith. The speaker's points were as follows: 1. Caleb said, "We should go" - this is the unity 2. take possession - this is the urgency 3. we can certainly do it - this is the unwaivering faith. I have never really studied the Old Testament, but I think this may be my new project. Also, he talked about Enoch who said these words, "Enoch walked with God, then he was no more, because God took him away."

Now, these are two people who I have not really studied about. From what I can find so far, Enoch is only referred to in the Bible 3 times - I could be wrong but this is what I have found so far. As far as Caleb is concerned, I have found that he was mentioned four times. (Again, this is a work in progress.) Anyway, regardless it seems that they were not mentioned very often, but yet they were powerful leaders. Caleb believed with all of his being that they could defeat the Canaanites. Enoch simply but powerfully "walked with God".

My prayer for this next week is that I can have the leadership of Caleb and the relationship of Enoch! Have a great week....

thankful thursday....

here is the list for this week---


1. one day till friday
2. my church cancelled the "camping trip" and instead decided on a lock in - it is cold you know - polar bears outside tapping on the windows
3. that my momma taught me how to keep my mouth shut - most of the time
4. i am going to perdido bay at the end of february for a "professional development"
5. that i have the most wonderful doctor - here on earth - that listens to me about my children - oldest has a knot on spine - not sure what it is - waiting on mri
6. chinese food - comfort comfort comfort
7. that my children are old enough to do most things for themselves - but i do miss them being little
8. determination - yep still on schedule with my menu planning
9. viruses only last a little while
10. again - that no one but God Almighty can see and hear the thoughts that sometimes run through my head
11. that my God is forgiving, understanding and has a sense of humor - hence the reason He still loves me

have a great week!

menu monday at 8:30 pm on monday

sorry for the delay but my family has had the bathroom marathon omg would you please kill me now it has to be better than this virus....get the picture...i tried to do this earlier today, but my stomach could not even think about thinking about food much less typing up a menu...so anyway, here goes...also be looking for another blog about what i got in the mail today..

monday - chicken soup with crackers - need i say anymore - thanks campbells

tuesday - easy skillet pork chops
4 pork chops
1 can cream of celery soup
1/4 cup apple juice or water
2 tlsp spicy brown mustard
1 tbsp honey
black pepper to taste
egg noodles

Spray 10" skillet with PAM and heat over medium heat for 1 minute. Add the chops and cook until the chops are well browned on both sides. Remove the chps and set them aside. Stir soup, apple juice or water, honey, mustard and black pepper into skillet. Heat to a boil. Return the chops to the skillet and reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 10 minutes or until chops are cooked thoroughly. Serve with egg noodles.

Add veg of choice.

Wednesday
What's Happening Wednesday at church - so probably fast food

Thursday
Paprika Chicken with Sour Cream Gravy
1/2 cup all purpose flour
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp red pepper
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
1/4 cup butter
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 green onions (I don't think this is necessary since my hubby swears he is allergic to onions)
8 oz of sour cream
Stir the flour, paprika, garlic powder, black pepper and red pepper on a plate. Coat the chicken with the mixture. Heat the butter in a 10" skillet over medium heat. Cook the chicken for 10 minutes or until it's well browned on both sides. Remove the chicken from the skillet. Stir the soup and onions in the skillet and heat to a boil. Return the chicken to the skillet. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 5 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Stir in the sour cream.

Friday
chicken nuggets and baked mac and cheese
1 can Cheddar Cheese Soup
1/2 soup can milk
1/8 tsp. ground black pepper
2 cups hot cooked corkscrew-shaped pasta OR medium shell-shaped pasta
1 tbsp. dry bread crumbs
2 tsp. butter, melted
Stir the soup, milk, black pepper and pasta in a 1-quart baking dish.
Stir the bread crumbs and butter in a small bowl. Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture over the pasta mixture.
Bake at 400°F. for 20 minutes or until the pasta mixture is hot and bubbling.

So that is this week! Hope it helps some poor unorganized woman, mother, professional, counselor, and anything else one can think of person like me!

Menu Monday...

I am loving this cooking thing. The more I do it on a regular basis, the easier it gets..It is 11:43 pm and supper for Monday night is in the crock pot...so here goes

Monday - Golden Chicken with Noodles
2 cans cream of chick soup
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
one small bag of baby carrots
1 pack of boneless skinless chicken fingers (about 8 in a pack)
Mix first 4 ingredients together in crock pot
Add carrots and chicken
Cook on low of crock pot for 6 to 7 hours
Serve over egg noodles or rice

Tuesday - Whatever Casserole
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/3 cup sour cream
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
1 bag (16 oz.) frozen vegetable combination, thawed
1 can (2.8 oz.) French fried onions (1 1/3 cups)
1/2 cup shredded Swiss cheese

Stir soup, sour cream, black pepper, vegetables, 2/3 cup onions and 1/4 cup cheese in 2-qt. casserole. Cover casserole.

Bake at 350°F. 40 min. or until vegetables are tender. Stir vegetable mixture.

Top with remaining onions and cheese. Bake 5 min. or until cheese is melted.


Wednesday - Eat at Church - thank goodness for Whatever Wednesdays

Thursday - Chicken Pie - I have not figured out how to link back to a previous post, but the recipe is listed in a post called "Yummy Yummy to My Family's Tummy"

Friday - Hamburgers with Mac & Cheese

I really hope this is helping somebody....this has made my life so much simpler. Now I just about died when I got the total at WalMart...but I am not accustomed to buying two weeks worth of groceries at one time. I am used to going to WalMart EVERYDAY! I am sure if I added up every trip I made to WalMart it would be in excess of the $400 I spent on New Years Day! But thanks to my blogging buddy, Hillary, I am investing in a Sam's card! Happy Cooking!

Beck help me on that linking thing!

Happy New Year...

Well another year has come and gone. So many things have happened this year! Let's see - I have been married 11 years, my children are still alive and DHR has not come to get them or me, my hubby has been at his job for 10 years, my daughter turned 17, my son is 9, I am working back in the nursing home or Living Centers as we now call them, I work 15 minutes from my home, I have gotten better at saying NO, I have rededicated myself to God, I have become a little more organized, hopefully 2009 will be very organized, I was only in the hospital 3 times this year for a total of 3 weeks...hey this is good for me...

What do I want to accomplish this year...well resolutions are no good for me because I will certainly fail...to lose weight is pointless...I am so much insulin that I swear I gain a pound a day...so instead, I am going to eat better - like one healthy meal a day - let's say breakfast - this is my hardest meal..I am going to cook at least 5 meals - supper - for my family - pay my bills on time, not lose my cool with my family - in other words have more tolerance

Now let's talk about tolerance - for those of you who know me very well you know that I don't have alot of patience much less tolerance - i.e. situation with Rhonda Fitts - anyway, I am trying to realize and accept that I am not responsible for ANYONE but myself and my children I am raising. I love my other family, but I cannot continue to let them drive me crazy. I will help whoever whenever I can, but the days of Ginny losing sleep over people who will not listen to me especially after they have asked me for help, having panic attacks because I am afraid that someone is going to be mad at me and the days of Ginny staying late at work just because I only live 15 minutes away are OVER!

I am looking forward to a great New Year! I am so thankful for the friends I have had for so many years. I am so thankful for the new friends I have met through blogging and I am thankful for those friends that I wll meet! Let's all have a great year!