Updates ... praises ... prayers ...

First, I want to thank you for reading this. I appreciate the time you spend here - more than my words could ever say. Thank you!!! 
I pray for you - that God will open the windows of heaven and pour you out blessings that you do not have room to contain, so that they will spill over to all those that you meet today. 
I pray that you will know God's Presence at every moment of this day. The realization that the God of Angel armies walks beside you. He cares for you. You are precious to Him. 
Again - thank you for reading ... 

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We went to the Paris Dialysis center yesterday with Rick. It was a day to bring his urine for the past 24 hours as well as the bags of dialysis from the night before. The test that shows how well the dialysis is working. We are told that on a "good day" the doctor/nurses hope for a total number of "2". Yesterday, Rick's total number was -- over "4"!!! Praise the Lord!!! 
Dr. Greenwell looked at his blood report from last month and said, "These blood numbers are phenomenal!!! This is telling me how well the blood is being filtered and cleaned. You just do not see these kind of numbers in a kidney patient!!!" Praise the Lord!!! 
Dr. Greenwell raised Rick's insulin (Lantus) to 30 both morning and night. His blood sugar numbers are getting closer to the mark for a dialysis patient (150). Please continue to pray for us as we do the adjustments on insulin, diet, and exercise. As anyone who has been or is on insulin can tell you - it is a almost like a tightrope balancing act. We ask for God's wisdom and understanding in all of this. 
Dr. Greenwell also has gone up on the dosage of one of Rick's blood pressure meds. His blood pressure isn't "bad" - but it isn't yet at that "mark" either. So, another prayer request. 
Also, Rick started on Lyrica last month for the neuropathy pain in his feet. A low dosage. He told the doctor that there might have been a slight improvement, but not a lot. So, Dr. Greenwell has increased the dosage level for this month. Took the first one last night ... ??? 
It will be a few more days before we get the results of yesterday's blood work - which will tell us a lot of how the cycler is working compared to the manual exchanges. 

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Sharing a prayer burden and request here ...
First -- Rick has insurance thru Ballard, with prescription drug coverage. But since the company switched from United Healthcare to Aetna - our co-pays have doubled, and on some meds, more than doubled. Which is frustrating and discouraging both. Especially since we are living on 40% of Rick's original salary with Ballard. (should be 70% - but, long story there ... sigh) 
Anyway - it is time today to have his meds filled. And because of having to spend so much on the car last month (over $1000) ... we are having to catch up on other bills this month. Which leaves us SHORT of funds ... sigh. 
Finding out that we are part of that group that falls into the cracks of our health care. Just enough insurance coverage to cancel him out of the programs that are out there that would help with this. But not enough insurance coverage to actually PAY for the meds. Arghhhhhhhhh!!!!! 
I know that we are not the only ones in this situation ... but we are in it! 
So, I pray that God will make a way to get Rick's meds today. (He has already missed one dose of his blood pressure medication last night.) 
Next -- groceries. I used to actually enjoy going grocery shopping. But that has long since passed! With the dialysis, Rick is required to eat at least 3 x's the protein that most people eat. Low fat, low carbs, high protein. Have you priced these foods lately? OMW!!! I have asked the social worker at the Dialysis Center if there is a program that helps us buy this food ... but sadly, she shakes her head and says with frustration - "No, there isn't. I wish there was. There are so many people that need help in this!" Sigh. 

I know that God can (and will) make a way. But I also know that I need to trust Him. Don't panic. Pray. 
I am weak. Please - pray for us. Pray for me. Lift my arms up - be my strength today. Please. 

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I am going to the doctor today ... went last month, and she put me on Lasix and a prescription Potassium. My left leg, ankle and foot are swelling really bad. Kidneys tested to be working like an "18-year old's". Liver tested to be working great. She (nor I) can figure out why the swelling, why the knots, why the pain and discomfort. I have had 2 sonograms done testing for blood clots. No blood clots detected. 
Before I had the cancer surgery the swelling would happen during the day, but would go down at night. Which every doctor I talked to said that was ok - no worries. But ever since surgery (back at the end of September), that left leg, foot, and ankle have NOT gone completely down. Sigh. 
So, we shall see today what she wants to do now ... 
Just praying for some answers ... 

I return to MD Anderson the first of September for another 3 month check up ... 

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My prayer this day ... 

O Father God ... 
I am yours. All of me. All yours. 
Help me to just breathe in and breathe out. 
And with every breath in - trusting you. With every breath out - surrendering to you. 
Help me to be that woman without words today ... trusting you to be my Voice. Trusting you to defend me, to fight this battle for me. Yes, I am tired and weary. Help me to rest upon your Promises - just knowing that you have said, and you are able to do just what you have said. =) Love you. 
Help me to focus my prayers and attentions to THIS day. Ask you, trust you, and thank you - for today's bread/manna. Leave tomorrow's worries and fears there! Trusting in you, for each and every day. I love you. Thank you. 
Open my eyes to the moments of this day ... and my heart to just enjoy each one. To give you praise and worship. 
Teach me your ways to live this day in honor to you. To please you. To make you smile. Even to make you laugh out loud. O Father. I love you. 
Thank you ... 
In Jesus' Name ...

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