2:00 update, Leslie had a little lunch and has been in bed since.  She is resting but feels like she has had a heavy shot of caffiene.  She feels jumpy.  Now our prayer request is this.  Dr. McClay wants Leslie off of the steroids.  It could lessen the effects of the Yervoy and Leslie has to have the Yervoy.  It could not wait because of the rapid growth of the tumors.  On the other hand she just had major brain surgery and needs the steroids to keep the swelling down.  We do not know yet what Dr. Ott is going to say about this tomorrow.  We can only put  all of this in God's hands.  He knew this would happen at the same time already.  We put our trust and prayers into him.  Thank you for praying.  I have been reading Leslie your comments.

We made it up here fine, got the IV on the first try and the first 90 minute Vervoy treatment is started.  Thank you so much for your continued prayers.  The Yervoy has the potential for some nasty side effects that could show up any time over the next several weeks, please pray that the med does it's job fully and with no major side effects.   Please pray for God's complete healing of this cancer from Leslie's body.

Today would have been my brother Bryan's 50th birthday.  We miss his sense of humor and his goofy smile, we remember him fondly especially today.

After the medication therapy, we plan some rest and maybe some retail therapy - thank you Cruz for the wheelchair :)   More updates later- Leslie sends love, smiles, and thumbs up to all.

Good Monday morning!!  How was your weekend?  Hope everyone got a chance to relax and have some fun!

My weekend was good.  It started off kind of interesting though.  I did not sleep most of the night Friday night.  So when I got up on Saturday morning, nothing seem to be working out for me.  I decided to sit down and have a BIG PITY PARTY for myself.  I pictured myself plopping down in God's lap and just whining to him about my woes.  When I was done ranting, the conversation in my head was like He said, "My lap has been opened all morning for you.  Thanks for coming.  What can I do for you?"  I asked for strength.  He said, "DONE!"  All I had to do was ask.  Then I felt a wave of gratitude come over me.  I was so thankful for all God has done and been doing and for the tremendous blessings He keeps pouring over me.  My attitude of gratitude was kicking in big time.  I was feeling better and better by the minute.  He was reminding me of all the love I have surrounding me by family and friends and church and community.  Reminding me that I am NOT ALONE on this journey ever and that through my weakness, His strength has a chance to shine.  But most of all...that He loved me very much too.

Now God was saying, "Leslie, I am giving you rest.  You trust me, now rest in me." 

Then God said, "Are you now ready for the day that I have planned for you since the day you were born?"  I said, "Yes."  That very second the back door to my house pops open with my big smiling daughterJenna saying, Are you ready to get out for a little while Mom?"  She pampered me and of course we had to go to McDonald's for some french fries too.  Then later in the afternoon, my friend Lisa Alloway made me and brought me my favorite dish to eat, surprise flowers were delivered and I received the best cards in the mail.  Mike always makes me so comfortable and had a surprise or two up his sleeve too. Then I received an e-mail from a friend that her daughter was getting baptized on Sunday!  So excited for her.  It was a great day after all.  I could of chosen to be pooty all day.....but I AM SO HAPPY that I didn't.  I would of missed out on enjoying all the wonderful things that God had already planned for me that day.

I want you all to know that I have really, really appreciated all of the cards and goodies that have been sent my way.  The notes and messages you have left in the cards speak to me so much.  God certainly knows what helps this woman's heart and He has continuously provided.  So thank you for being prompted by God and helping me get through.

Mike and I are headed out of town for the next couple of days.  I know the prayers have been layed ahead of me as I start this next part of the fight and healing.  We will keep you updated when we can. Got my boxing gloves ready.

Prayer requests:  Please pray for my sweet friend Kim Phillips and her family. Kim's Grandpa went home to be with the Lord on Saturday.  Pray they will feel God's peace and comfort as they get through this difficult time.  Hugs to you.

Read the bible in a year:  Today.....Ecclesiastes 5 - 8.  Tuesday....Ecclesiastes 9 - 12.  Wednesday.......Song of Solomon.  (The whole book)  I hope everyone is keeping up.  I forgot to post this a couple of times.

Have a marvelous day everyone!!  Today is another awesome gift from God and He is so Good!

For the next couple of days the blog will be sporadic with updated posts on how things are going for me in San Diego.  I tremendously appreciate your prayers and encouragement.  Tomorrow morning (Tuesday) at 9:00......FIRST YERVOY treatment!  Pray for strong veins.

Good Saturday morning!!  You have captured the heart of God.  He cannot bear to live without you.  If you want to touch God's heart, use the name he loves to hear.  Call him "Father."  He thinks you're wonderful!

Mike had a fun birthday yesterday!  He wanted me to tell you all thanks for the birthday wishes he received here, all the texts, e-mails, calls and super funny cards.  I was successful in getting his cake made!  I think Mike was a happy camper last night.....can you tell??

He was also more than happy to share his cake and ice cream with Tyler too.

It was so great to get out of my house for awhile last night and just spend time celebrating and hanging out with the whole family laughing and eating good food.  This morning my daughter Jenna is coming by to pick me up for a bit to do a little pampering.  The surgery recovery is continuing to go well.  The steroids however are going to be a force to reckon with.  We called Dr. Ott yesterday and he said that I cannot wean off yet.  It will be a very slow process.  So I know that I am just going to have to buckle down and get through this the best I can.  I do not want to mess up all of the progress that has been made.  So my specific prayer requests for now would be to not be in such a tremendous amount of pain and that the weakness will not get any worse. Sleep is a huge factor too.  The steroids do not let me sleep.  Mike and I will also be out of town next Tuesday and Wednesday.  Tuesday is my first Yervoy treatment with my oncologist Dr. McClay and then I see Dr. Ott on Wednesday to have a check up and all the staples removed from my head... I will be so happy to have those gone. So lots coming up but you know what?  God has gotten me through sooooo very much already and I can see him continuing to keep me high on his shoulders and getting through next week too.  The POWER of prayer has simply been amazing and I thank you for each and everyone that you bring to God for me.  He is answering in BIG ways.  More about that at another time.  One day at a time......

Please keep in your prayers comfort and peace for the Kellogg/Cooley, Dale/Jackson, Burke, Shelton and Hertel families as they are mourning the loss of a loved one.  Also others who are hurting too in more ways then you can imagine.  Pray they can feel a release from the pain they are enduring.

2 Corinthians 1 verse 2:  May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ mightily bless each one of you, and give you peace.

Have a super day everyone!!  Hope you have a nice weekend and can stay cool from this heat.  I will see you on Monday!!  Today is another precious gift from God and He is so Good!!

Question:  So how hot is it suppose to get where you live today?

Good Friday morning!!  Today is going to be a FUN GREAT day because it is my awesome hubby Mike's birthday!!  Woohoo!!  You all know how I feel about celebrating birthdays!  More about that later.

My first priority for the blog this morning is to honor a man who I truly admired and had such an impact on not only my life but the whole community.  My dear sweet friend Peggy Dale's dad, Pastor LeRoy Jackson went home to our precious Lord yesterday morning.  He is where he will spend a blissful eternity and is where he worked so hard all of his life to get others to know about how great God is and what a day of rejoicing it will be when he sees Jesus.  He was an awesome man who loved God whole heartedly, his family deeply and served and loved the community passionately.  He will be greatly missed.  He was a man who did so much for others quietly....he did not need recognition for anything.  He just did it because it was in his nature to.  I have some pretty awesome memories that will stay in my heart forever.  We love you Jackson Family and are with you in our prayers for comfort and peace.  I know that your hearts will be happy in the cherished times remembering him.  Thanks for sharing him with all of us.

Now....it is Mike's birthday!!  So I have 2 goals today.  One is that I want to make his birthday cake.  It is important to me to do this.  It may take all day but I don't care.  Trust me when I say that the day can go by for Mike with nothing being done and he is fine with that.  But nope......LOVE celebrating birthdays!  Besides, my family is doing all the work. hahaha!  Jenna is cooking tonight and I am so excited to have an event out of my house.  I will lay on her couch instead. 

Second goal.....if you feel like it, wish him a "Happy Birthday" in the comment section and I will read them to him later.  Other then that, I am ready!  Please pray that Mike has a laughed filled day!

Here is a picture of the birthday boy and his grandboy Tyler.  I think Mike is a young looking Poppi!  I love you so much honey!  Knowing Mike he will go out and buy a present for me on HIS birthday because that is how he is.

 
Read the bible in a year: Proverbs 27 - 29.  If you get a chance to read the book of Proverbs it is so cool.

Thank you Kim Phillips!!  Love it!!  Thanks also to the Johnson Family!  Wow....what a great surprise!  Thank you Randi Ryan for bringing me a maple bar and Starbucks yesterday.  It hit the spot.  Also thanks so much for making us dinner too.  Our family has truly appreciated all of the food that so many have brought by for us.  One less thing to worry about.  God just continues to bless and provide our every need.  Also it was great to see you yesterday Alexa Willis (Terrie O.'s daughter)!!  You are such a beautiful, sweetheart!

Lord, when doubts fill my mind, when my heart is in turmoil, quiet me and give me renewed hope and cheer.

Have a fantabulous day everyone!!  Today is another precious gift from God and I am so thankful and happy to be here to celebrate it and He is so Good!!

P.S.  Doing better each passing day recovery wise.  The steroids are taking a huge toll though. Pain and weakness have settled in fast.   Please pray that I can get weaned off very soon. 

Good Thursday morning everyone!!  Do you know that God cares so deeply for you?  Maybe you don't want to trouble God with all of your hurts, but He really cares, so tell him.  He is waiting for you, to embrace you whether you succeed or fail. Look to your side as you are walking down life's path.  God is the one cheering you on to the finish line.  I totally trust him to be my BIG cheerleader!

What another nice day of recovering I had yesterday.  My daughter Jenna is simply the best and she likes to take such great care of her momma.  She knows how I like a clean and organized house and that I have not been able to take care of anything for the last 2 weeks.  Mike is good-really good.  But between working full time and taking care of me and everything else some things just have to slide.  So Jenna arranged for a house cleaning lady to come yesterday and she scrubbed my house from top to bottom.  Ahhhh-love it!  A girl could really get spoiled recovering from brain surgery.  lol  Now Jenna wants her momma to look at pretty nails so she is setting me up Saturday to privately have that done.  I am very much looking forward to that.  It's little things like that, that make going through this recovery easier.  Okay-I know a ton of you have offered to clean my house for me and I want to thank you for that. I will let you know if I do, I promise!

Thank you for your faithful treasured prayers for me.  I know God is answering these prayers.  When I start to feel a little down, just the right thing comes my way and I feel uplifted again.  I think I could write a whole book on God's perfect timing.

Thanks Terrie O. for taking me out for a few minutes yesterday (I was in the car the whole time) and helping me with my little project.  It will turn out beautiful!  Also for feeding me a cheeseburger and fries too. hahaha!

The best part of my day though was having Tyler with me the whole afternoon.  We played the best we could from my couch and he ran around the house and talked and giggled and was hugging and kissing me.  Oh.....that is just the best recovery medicine a Nani could ever have.  He also surprised me with a beautiful card that he made for me with his babysitter Silvia.  I loved it and he was so proud to hand it to me.  He was trying to tell me all about it.  What a treasure! I slept with it last night and also had a much better night of sleeping last night too.

The evening was finished off with Mike and Jenna making homemade raspberry ice cream.  It was smooth and creamy goodness.

Here is another skateboarding pic.  Go Buddy!!

I would love to congratulate Pat and Stacey Barbee on the birth of their new son Tanner!   So happy for you both!

Prayer requests:  Please pray for the peace and comfort for my dear friend Marga Kellogg Cooley and family over the passing of Marga's Dad.  Love you all. (((Big Hugs))).  We are so very sorry for your loss

Read the bible in a year:  Today-Proverbs 24 - 26.  Friday-Proverbs 27 - 29.

Hebrews 1 verse 5:  If you want to know what God wants you to do, ask him, and he will gladly tell you, for he is always ready to give a bountiful supply of wisdom to all who ask him; he will not resent it. 

Have a super day everyone!!  Today is another awesome gift from God and He is so Good!!!

Laura Kaye, I will gladly eat a triple chocoholic blizzard in your honor.  Sounds delish!  :)