Friday's Chemo

Hello friends,
Joe is really looking forward to getting that chemo pump off tonight. He is very tired today, turned sick, but hasn't thrown up(as far as I know). Even though he dosen't feel well today, he is still looking up and expecting good things from the Lord. He is such a positive person. If he feels like it at all, we want to start home in the morning. Thanks again for all your prayers.....we still need them. Love you all......Joe & Sandra

Thursday on Chemo

Hello Dear Friends,
Due to internet problems, we are just now updating the blog. Joe is still feeling well; we are both so thankful for God's help & mercy. Words are not coming easy for me today, but I do ask that you keep remembering us both in your prayers....Love....Joe & Sandra

Houston, Wednesday Morning

Good Morning everyone........Joe & I arrived safely in Houston Tuesday night around 11:00pm. It was a long drive, but we made it just fine. Thank you all for being concerned and praying for us on our trip. Joe goes for bloodwork at 2:00p.m. today, then on to chemo at 4:00p.m.. We should be back from the hospital by 10:00 or 10:30 tonight. Joe is still feeling "good" and has great "expectations". He said, "The Lord has blessed and helped me so much, and I want to be helping others & praising Him many years from now." Please keep on keeping us in your prayers....Love....Joe & Sandra

On The Road Again

Hello again....Joe & I are driving to Houston Tuesday ...Please remember us in your prayers that God will watch over us on the road...We are such beggars. But,He is a big God ...and can handle that with no problem.......
He has helped us so much with the chemo treatments. Do you realize Joe hasn't thrown up a single time since he started on the chemo. To me that in itself is amazing. As I've heard it said, "He is an awsome God." Joe is still feeling good, going to church, working at the shop, and feeding stock.
Love you all.....Joe & Sandra

Wednesday in Alabama

Hello again to all our friends,
Joe has been feeling good and has gone to the shop and worked this week. He did admit today that he wasn't feeling as good today as he did yesterday. Maybe he is just tired. I went to the office for the past two days and tried to work on mail and taxes. Joe really wanted to go to Old Sardis tonight, and be in church with Brother Oran, but he just didn't feel up to it. Please don't forget us when you pray....Love......Joe & Sandra

Sweet Home Alabama (Monday Night)

Hey everyone....
We left Texas around 11:00am Sat. and arrived home around 12:30am that Sunday Morning. A bit too much of a drive in one day...
We did get to church Sunday morning and were delighted to see everyone. God has really blessed us with wonderful friends. I had a little trouble flushing the port in Joe's arm the night we arrived, then on Sunday night it acted like it was stopped up.....but finally we got it to open up. We were afraid that it would be completely stopped up today, but......(Thank the Lord) both of them flushed easily.
Our children all came over Sunday afternoon and visited with us until bedtime. Do you realize it had been over a month since we had seen them. DeeAnne & Chey also came over. Our empty nest was full and blessed. Regina & the children stayed overnight & I got to enjoy them today. When we left, Eli had 2 bottom teeth & one trying to come thru on the top......Now he has six teeth.....He sure did show them off....smiling at his Poppy. Norah is really growing up...and is so proud of her brother. If I keep on.....You'd think we had Grand Kids......Huh!
Joe got up this morning & went to the shop like a normal day..he got a bit cold....but is still feeling good........so just keep on praying for us......
Joe & Sandra

Homeward Bound!

At this time, Joe & Sandra are only a few hours away from home! They are coming up on Meridian MS which is a little over 200 miles away. They are taking turns driving and both are very tired so don't let up on those prayers yet, please. They are hoping for sweet rest when they get home because they want to be at church in the morning. Thank you for your interest and concern. Love to all!!

Friday Morning

Wishing everyone a very GOOD MORNING!

Joe says, "Those prayers are working, I'm feeling better than I expected. I believe I'm doing better this round than the last one. I had trouble sleeping last night, I was so.. excited about getting to come home for a few days. When I'd shut my eyes (trying to go to sleep) I'd see Norah & Eli.....my kids...Lexi & Cheyanne....DeeAnne....and could almost feel their hugs....and I've got to go see my Aunt Sue..Betty & Joel.... my friends.....I miss everybody. I finally had to ask the Lord to help me go to sleep!! I feel that with God's blessings, we're going to whip this cancer......I really do.
They warned me at the hospital to be careful and not be around anyone sick, coughing, etc....
that my resistance to infection would be very low, so I'll be depending on you all to help me because I won't know who is sick or not. If I don't get to hug you, it won't mean that I don't love you. I hope everyone understands."
We get the chemo pump off tonight around 9:30pm....Then we'll be half-way thru this round of chemo. God is really helping us. If God is willing, we want to start home Saturday morning....
Keep us in your prayers......
Joe & Sandra

Thursday's Chemo

Goodmorning,

Joe says, "So far I'm still feeling fine." We did have a terribly long day yesterday. They started Joe's chemo around 5:00pm, and it was around 11:00pm when we got the UT Shuttle back to the motel. We are going back to the hospital today to get a dressing change (I am supposed to change it while a nurse watches)...and Joe needs another haircut!! They did tell us last night that his hair would start thinning out....His responded with, "That's the least of my worries." His blood work was still good and he has a positive outlook. They seemed pleased to hear he is swallowing better and has a good appetite.

Joe ate a good breakfast and still has not been sick. We're still praising the Lord for his blessings. Until next time... Please keep us in your prayers..

Joe & Sandra

Wednesday 2nd round of chemo

Goodmorning friends,



Joe & I are going to have a long day today. Bloodwork starts at the hospital at 1:00 pm, we then have an appointment with Dr. Phan at 2:00 pm. The chemo starts at 4:30 and it usuallly takes until around 9 to 9:30 pm to finish at the hospital. He'll leave the hospital wearing the chemo pump for another 48 hours. Our shuttle at the motel stops running at 7:00 pm, so we call the UT Police Shuttle to take us back to our room. We're looking forward to getting the treatments half over and just praying that they won't make him sick. God was so good to us on the first one....so ... surely he will be again. As always ..keep praying for us.

Joe & Sandra

Rainy Tuesday

Goodmorning

Joe says, "Tell them I feel "good" and I'm ready to go eat." God is really helping us and we appreciate all of your prayers......They (your prayers) are still working!

Thank you all for your e-mails and comments on the blog. It is encouraging to check in and see all the new visitors. Friends are such a precious treasure....we appreciate each and every one of you.

As always keep us in your prayers.......Love...Joe & Sandra

Monday Morning

Good Morning

Joe is still feeling fine this morning...Looking forward to.....but dreading his next chemo treatment. When he is on the chemo anything cold, hurts him. If he drinks something with ice, it makes his mouth feel like needles and his throat feels like its closing up. Even the cold air makes any uncovered part of the body hurt. He drinks liquids hot or at room temperature. These side effects make him dread the cold front coming in. God is still helping us so much... On the 1st round of chemo, he was able to drink cold liquids within 2 to 3 days.

We enjoyed our visit with Virgil & Jackie yesterday. Isn't it a blessing ...them living in Houston and opening their hearts to us with such warm hospitality. They took us to a quaint little restaurant called "The BlackEyed Pea". Joe was thrilled to get some down-home vegetables. We are blessed to have family out here. Sometimes we get so caught-up in our own lives that we don't take time for others, but they have taken time out for us and made us feel special.

Please keep us in your prayers...

Joe & Sandra

Sunday Morning

Good Morning
Joe is still "feelin' good" , but about ready to go eat. We tried to find a church to go to this morning, but had no luck. We're feeling like two fish out of water.
Joe's cousin, Jackie and her husband Virgil , called this morning asking us to lunch .....so we're going to visit them this afternoon. She has a friend who is pentecostal, so we might get to visit her church.
Keep us in your prayers...and we're missing you all so much..
Joe & Sandra

Saturday in Houston

Hello dear friends....
Joe says, "I feel good." We slept in this morning...so the post is late again. God is so good to us & we are so very thankful for His mercy & blessings upon us both. Joe just keeps on saying,"I just don't know how I could face this without having the Lord in my life."
We are looking forward to getting home for a few days.....so we're hoping this next round of chemo (starting Wednesday) will not be too rough. We can feel your prayers and support.....so just keep praying.
Love, Joe & Sandra

Friday Evening

Hello to our dear friends
We had internet problems this morning...so no post. I finallly had brains enough to ask the lady at the front desk and she fixed it...
Joe & I are still doing well, but we had sad news that a friend of ours, Judy Knight, passed away this morning. As far as we know, her cancer was discovered after Joe & I came out to Houston. She was a wonderful person who seemed to have a sweet smile for everyone. Please pray for her family, I know they really need your prayers.
We are still thanking God for His mercy and goodness......Keep us in your prayers..
Love... Joe & Sandra

Thursday Morning

It's almost good afternoon...
Joe & I were up at 4:30 a.m. getting ready to take our friend, Richard H., to the airport. He arrived in Houston around 10:00 p.m. driving a white Lincoln for our use while we are here. He is quite some friend......huh! Joe has been listening to the sale (by internet) down in Birmingham this morning, & is missing all his friends there. It almost brings tears to my eyes......He's not used to being idle.
We go to the hospital today for a bandage change and then do some washing before people start avoiding us.
Joe is still eating and swallowing well. He did have a lot of indigestion last night, but I think it was from overeating..
Love & miss you all..
Joe & Sandra

Wednesday Morning

Goodmorning,
Joe is still feeling good. I don't think he even took a nap yesterday. Joe spoke with a friend of his this morning & he is driving a car out here for us. We asked him not to...but he is already on his way, and has already bought his airline ticket back home.
Another friend of Joe's, Gene Skipper & his wife Sue came over and visited with us yesterday. He has cancer & is needing the Lord's help as well. So please keep him in your prayers along with me and Joe.
It seems we don't have much new to say.....but we're still thanking the Lord for helping us so far....Keep us in your prayers.
With all our love,
Joe & Sandra

Tuesday Morning

Goodmorning from Houston,
Joe says, "I FEEL GOOD!"......(Thank you Lord). The nurse checked Joe's dressing at the hospital yesterday, it was still o.k.., so we wait until Thursday to go back & have it changed. I was just being too careful I guess.
We ate at Pappasitas last night, it was a wonder we could walk back to the room. Talk about full!!! I don't know if it's just Texas hospitality or maybe we look pitiful..., but the waiter came over & wanted us to have a complimentary dessert. I asked him to make a selection for us, & he brought out one of the most beautiful desserts I had ever seen. We left there with our tummies overly content & enough food left over for today's lunch.
God is really helping Joe. He seems to be swallowing better with less indigestion. The surgeon told him he'd be able to tell if the chemo was working if he started swallowing easier. Almost every time we eat, Joe will ask, "Did you notice I could swallow easier?" We are so thankful......I believe your prayers are reaching the throne of grace....so please keep them rolling.
We love & miss you all.......
Joe & Sandra

Monday Morning

Wishing you all a good morning!!
Sunday afternoon Joe & I walked down to Shoney's for late lunch. (We guessed it to be about a mile.) Joe topped the tank pretty well for the walk back to the motel. He had to have a nap after, but I think he is doing great. The doctor told him to get exercise, not to lay & sleep all the time. We spent a lot of Sunday afternoon on the phone and checking on the blog to see who had left comments or signed our guest book.
After taking his bath, we noticed Joe's bandage has a little drainage on it so ....we are going back to the hospital to get it checked.
Keep us before the Lord and as always ......we love you....
Joe & Sandra

Sunday Morning

Good Morning ....
Hope all of you have been in a wonderful service today.....Wonderful or not,... we wish we were there. You know the saying, "Home is where the heart is", well...its surely not in Houston. We have met some really nice people here, but getting home is sounding sweeter all the time.
The last day of chemo (Friday) just zapped Joe's strength, he was saying he didn't know how he could face this without the Lord. We slept late this morning...so we're have a lazy day. Joe is feeling better, and his energy is returning. He is still eating well with no nausea without medication(Thank God). Right now he still has his hair, but he says it won't bother him if it falls out. Oh...He got a free haircut at the hospital by a lady who survived Katrina and remained in Houston. If he looses his hair they will give him a free cap.
Joe says, " Cancer does not discriminate, it hits the young, the old, different races, & nationalities." He still says, "With God's help, I'm going beat this thing!"
As always.....keep us in your prayers..........

Joe & Sandra

Saturday Morning

Good Morning everyone.......
Joe was very tired all day Friday & slept quite a bit. He turned sick at dinner Friday night, but after taking an anti-nausesa pill, it passed without throwing up. The alarm sounded on the chemo-pump around 8:00 p.m.(empty). The UT Shuttle (Texas Police) took us to the hospital around 9:00 p.m. & the pump was removed around 9:30 p.m. He was really thankful to get rid of that thing.
We walked to McDonalds to get breakfast this morning & guess what....Joe got to eat without having to take the anti-nausea pill.....Thank the Lord.... (for every little thing). He is still eating well, and had little or no trouble swallowing this morning. So far he hasn't lost weight.
Even though its Saturday, we have to go back to the hospital for another class on taking care of the port in his right arm. It has to be flushed every 24 hours. The doctor asked us not to travel on the first round of chemo (to make sure all goes well) ....so we're stuck out here just waiting.....
I want to thank everyone for the comments being posted on "Keeping up with Joe". Every time we see a new comment, it lifts and spirits and makes us feel loved........ and just a little bit closer ........to home.......
Keep us in your prayers.........and as Norah says.....We Love You So........MUCH !!!!!!

Joe & Sandra

Chemo-Day 3

Joe is feeling very tired today and has slept a lot between mealtimes. This is a side effect of the chemo but "Thank the Lord" he isn't nauseated. The chemo pump is scheduled to be removed around 9 oclock tonight. It is scheduled to be back on for another 48 hour round of chemo in exactly two weeks from the beginning of the first round. They appreciate every prayer that goes up for them, so please keep praying.