Mike has begun having trouble digesting his food. We don't know if this is connected to the new treatments, or a new development with his liver problems, but whatever it is, Mike has been extremely uncomfortable.

When I came home from church today, he had just eaten a plain bagel, and developed terrible indigestion. He tried Gas X, Rolaids, Prilosec (which he is prescribed to take), and even tried Miracle Mouthwash, being there is Mylanta in it. Nothing has helped ease his discomfort or the pressure. Sometimes the indigestion is accompanied by hiccups...which makes the whole ordeal very miserable for Mike. I decided to bag his drain, in hopes that maybe that would relieve something. There was a good amount of blood at first, then it stopped draining altogether. I don't know what to think about that. I'm going to leave the bag on, just to see if we're able to get anything more. We will likely call the oncologist in the morning to see what he thinks.

Mike is at his wits end, understandably, and I'm trying to navigate my way through this with him, without his losing patience with me.

I praise God there is no fever, no jaundice (that I can visibly see), and no nausea. I praise God that we have insurance and I have a job now. I praise God that He is keeping His hand on Mike, the children, and I, even though bad days try to keep us upside down. I praise God for friendship, family and the power of prayer. I praise God that so many of you continue to read this nightmare of a story, and aren't chased away from reading it, so you can pray specifically. Your hugs and smiles sooth a wounded heart. I praise God for sending many of you to our side to help us bridge difficult financial burdens. Your gifts continue to bless us over and over in our hearts. I praise God that no matter how awful all of this is, or feels, God is still present at our side, and promises that it will never be more than we can bear....although at times, I question we can take anything more.

"I sought Him who my soul loveth." Song of Solomon 3:1

It will probably relieve many of you, that I didn't operate a chainsaw yesterday! ;) Zac was a tremendous help, trimming up the trees in our yard with a bow saw. He did a great job, as you can tell by the picture above. Amber and Ethan had a little fun with the tractor when the branches weren't in the wagon. We have quite a pile of branches to eventually burn. And I promise to leave the burning to someone else...just incase any of you think I might set the house on fire accidentally. Matt, our son, also helped this weekend to move out an extra refrigerator we had in our garage. I'm so grateful for all of the helping hands these past two years. I can do many things, but there are some projects way over my head and strength.

Mike wasn't able to be outside very much today. He even once had to sit down in the middle of the driveway because he felt woozy. He continues to be weak, and gets light headed from the sun being so bright. He spent some time with Amber and Ethan though, inside the house and on the screened in porch.

When family, company and visitors are around, Mike puts on a good front, but I really would appreciate your continued prayers for him....not only for his physical health...but emotional health as well. He is very discouraged since being on these latest treatments. They seem to suck every ounce of energy right out of him, and I often find him just staring off in the distance, looking sad. When I ask him what he's thinking about, he just tells me he hates feeling how he is physically, having no energy most days....and that he can't stand the idea of living life this way. I struggle knowing how to comfort him, and encourage him.

Mike was always such an active, high-strung personality, and just really enjoyed life so fully when he was well. Tennis, range shooting, reloading, building things, grilling, playing chef, caring for our home and yard, and taking long rides to nowhere, were the kind of things he did when he wasn't working. So two years of this going on, is really discouraging him. He knows he's having trouble cognitively (forgetting things probably due to all the drugs he's on), and the weakness is even interfering with him being able to go to physical therapy. He tells me it's hard right now finding a reason to get out of bed. I just pray that God's peace would completely envelope him, and he might be willing to discover new things that may not require so much from him.

Thank you for lifting Mike up, and praying with me about our situation.

"There are times when encouragement means a lot. And a word is enough to convey it." -Grace Stricker Dawson