STILL DANCING!

OKOK, so maybe I am dancing a little slow, but I am definitely dancing the “happy dance!” Can you believe I went home the day after surgery? Being the over-achieving, “A” student, they must have been impressed with the way I squeezed their fingers, pushed against their hands with my feet, and stuck out my tongue. I must have also passed the “after-surgery MRI.” Bob and I were in a state of disbelief as we pulled away from the hospital curb.

How am I doing now? As reported earlier, the surgeons were quite pleased with the way the orange-size tumor “fell out” of my head. Although there is still a piece of the tumor left in my cavernous sinus, I was told not to worry about it as it is very possible nothing will be affected. It will be watched, but, at the moment, we are not considering radiation therapy.

I have very little pain. Occasionally I will take a couple Tylenol, but I do not need anything stronger. My left side of my face, mostly near my eye and cheek, are still a little numb which may be why I am not in much pain. The chewing muscle was cut, so I do have a little difficulty opening my mouth very wide. That, in itself, is a blessing!!

Bob and I went to the Healthy Back store to buy a foam wedge so that I can sleep sitting up. I found that laying flat, for several hours, tends to put unwanted, added pressure on my head. Surprising, I did not lose much hair. The staples, which will come out on Tuesday, December 30, start at my ear, travel up, slightly away from my face, and then make a big U-turn and head for my forehead. If they shaved any hair, it appears they only shaved it on the staple track as there is hair above and below the “track.”

The best part of my recovery instructions is to be up and around and not napping all day. I take a walk, each morning, which really jump starts my battery, and keeps me up and moving most of the day. Yes, I get tired, and I am slowly learning my limits. Bob keeps a close eye on me and knows when I need to rest.

Given the size of the tumor, and the area it displaced, it is no surprise that I still have double vision. It could take up to a year for my vision to be corrected. I meet with the ophthalmologist on January 27 and will have a better idea of what to expect.

Through it all, I am being taught patience as well as how to trust the Lord. It is my hope to share how He prepared me, months before the tumor was discovered, and how He continues to work through my life. We all face challenges. This is just one of many challenges I have had to face in my life. However, with each trial, with each challenge, I have been blessed with renewed strength, confidence, and faith. Life is to be embraced, and by trusting in Jesus, He will provide an outpouring of grace and love.

On December 25th we celebrate the birth of Hope! I pray each of you will join me in celebrating Jesus, our provision, our peace, and our joy. I pray you will continue to walk with me on this “journey of hope.” Turn on the music and dance with me!

Hugs,

Laura

Still smiling!

Many of you have probably been waiting all day to read another post. Well at 1pm we heard the phone ring.. it was the nurse from the PACU (post anesthesia care unit). Bob, Jamie, and Sean rushed over to the phone to hear the latest. Bob talked to the nurse and the nurse told Bob that Laura was awake and waiting to see her family. One by one they filed in to see Laura.  Each of them spent only a few minutes with her. When they came back to the waiting room, all three of them had the biggest smiles on their faces. They said.. she looks awesome and she is so Alert and with-it.  Soon after they visited, she couldnt see any visitors for a little while because she was given more pain medication (IV Dilaudid), if any of you know drugs.. this is an AWESOME one. It is stronger than Morphine and works amazingly. 

Anyways.. she is doing awesome. In the afternoon we all went our separate ways, while sweet Bob waited patiently for the moment he would be able to see her again. Sean and I came back around 5pm to check on her, and she was still in the PACU. Apparently the entire hospital was FULL. Therefore they had to wait hours for a room. It got to be ridiculous, so I decided to use some of my nursing skills. I went over to ICU and asked their charge nurse what the hold up was? She stated that they just needed to receive report from the PACU and then they would transfer her over. 

So then I went to ask PACU why they hadn't called over report. The nurse decided to make up a story, so I asked for him to talk to his supervisor. Long story short, We got her moved over within minutes to the ICU. 

It was a long day, a long GREAT day. 

Please continue to pray for an amazing recovery. 

We will try to keep this blog as updated as much as possible.

We truly appreciate all the emails,cards and gifts that have been sent.

Laura is still dancing, even in her beautiful blue hospital gown!!

The picture above was taken by Sean's phone as she was being wheeled into her ICU room. Do you notice her big smile?

The plan: They are monitoring her closely tonight in ICU, then possibly tomorrow afternoon will move her to a MED/SURG floor for recovery for 2-3 days. All of this is, of course, depending on how Laura feels.. 

Thank you again for all your thoughts, encouragements, and prayers!

Our God is GOOD!!

MIRACLES STILL EXIST!!

At 10:25am this morning, I recieved a phone call from Sean stating, that the MD just called the waiting room to speak with Bob. It was great news!!!
They neurosurgeon said that it was the best case scenario for Laura! Things couldn't have gone any better. Originally they said the tumor was the size of a lemon. It was actually the size of an Orange.  MIRACLES STILL EXIST!
The tumor was very soft tissue and therefore they were able to remove the 99% tumor without complications!!
They are finished removing the tumor and now are just sewing her back up.
The procedure was supposed to take 5+ hours, but it looks like it will be done very soon
I will continue to update as we know more, but for now.. IT IS WONDERFUL NEWS!!
Thank you for all your prayers.
We love all of you,
Brianne

CRACKED POT!!!

Today is the day before my surgery, and I have been seeking to find words that will offer hope, that will bring a smile, and that will provide encouragement to all of you who wait. After going to my pre-op appointment, and hearing more about the procedure, I have concluded that I am a “cracked pot!" It is my hope and prayer that like a “good cracked pot,” I have shed some light in your life that has helped you to grow and helped you to dance.

My check in time is 5:30 AM, Wednesday, and the expected surgery time is about 5 hours. I have asked my son, daughter, and/or daughter-in-law to post to the BLOG as soon as I am out of surgery. The goal is for all of us to be dancing Wednesday night!!!

Thank you all for your prayers and for all your encouragement. I am so glad that this will soon be behind me, and that I will have an opportunity to share, with others, just how the Lord worked in my life during a difficult and occasionally scary time.

From your "cracked pot" dancing in La Mesa.

I love you all,

Laura

Cracked Pot Inspirational Story

A water bearer in India had two large pots, one hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house. The cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream." I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you."Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?""I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said. The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house." Moral: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them. There is a lot of good out there. There is a lot of good in us! Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape. Remember to appreciate all the different people in your life! Thank you to the cracked pots in my life. You have made life more interesting and beautiful.

Every family needs a lil laughter this season- Enjoy the Renfro/Walker Christmas Spectacular!!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Dancing with God!

It is so interesting to see how easy it is to lose focus. In the past couple weeks, I have grown a line-backer's neck, an expanded tummy the size of a 7 month pregnant woman, and a cabbage patch face. Now that I am off the steroids, I have my mind back, no more super-sonic chatter box, but all the side affects have taken my focus off what is truly important. Although I need to care for my physical body, it should not be the focus of my attention. This morning I prayed that I might "adjust" my focus. As you all have seen, throughout this journey, I have been getting timely, direct messages. Today is no exception. Today's topic of Baseball Chapel just happened to be: The Gift of Trials ( or HELLO, LAURA, I'M TALKING TO YOU!)

Bev Sparling (author of today's Baseball Chapel) reminded me:
There is no growth without rain.
There are no roses without pruning.
There is no gold without fire.
There are no diamonds without pressure.
As every weight lifter knows, even our muscles must tear in order to grow stronger!

Bev also writes, "The 'bad things' that God allows in my life are good things and a demonstration of His love for me." James 1:2-4 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

In addition to the Baseball Chapel message, I was given a poem today, called Dancing With God. I can't help but believe my prayer, to adjust my focus, has been answered. So, I am taking my focus off my cabbage-patch face and re-focusing on trust. I trust that this journey I am on is "refining" my spirit, my faith, and my hope. I trust that this journey might be a light for all that are struggling with their own focus. Put on your "patch," hold my hand, and let's continue to trust that we will learn and grow from this experience.

Let's dance, together-
with God!

Laura

Dancing With God
When I meditated on the word Guidance,
I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word.
I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing.
When two people try to lead, nothing feels right.
The movement doesn't flow with the music,
and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.
When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead,
both bodies begin to flow with the music.
One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back
or by pressing Lightly in one direction or another.
It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully.
The dance takes surrender, willingness,
and attentiveness from one person
and gentle guidance and skill from the other.
My eyes drew back to the word Guidance.
When I saw "G": I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i".
"God, "u" and "i" dance."
God, you, and I dance.
As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust
that I would get guidance about my life.
Once again, I became willing to let God lead.
My prayer for you today is that God's blessings
and mercies are upon you on this day and everyday.
May you abide in God, as God abides in you.
Dance together with God, trusting God to lead
and to guide you through each season of your life.
I Hope You Dance !