So here is how mornings are spent at the Massie home. Thought the grandparents would love to see this one. Aila loves music and loves to sing. She cracks me up with all her little noises.
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
My husband has a hole in his leg!
Basically the title of this post says it all. My husband has a hole in his leg!! Turns out that you can only have stitches and those strip things for so long and then you just have to leave the body alone and let it do it's own thing. Well, my poor husbands leg isn't healed yet and so he has to stuff gauze in the hole and wait for it to heal. It's pretty intense. I don't think either of us expected it to look like it does. (Once again, Stuart has a picture if you want to see)
Some of you have been surprised to see Stuart walking around, so let me explain that a little bit. During his surgeries not only did they take out the tumor, tissue, and muscle but also cut through nerves. He can't feel a majority of his calf, so it doesn't hurt him to walk. However, this does not mean he can use his leg as if it didn't have a giant hole in it. He just needs to take it easy and stay off of it as much as possible without pain telling him to do so. This has proven difficult since my husband is a doer and a helper and there is so much to do and help with in his life right now. But seriously, there is a huge hole in his leg!
Some of you have been surprised to see Stuart walking around, so let me explain that a little bit. During his surgeries not only did they take out the tumor, tissue, and muscle but also cut through nerves. He can't feel a majority of his calf, so it doesn't hurt him to walk. However, this does not mean he can use his leg as if it didn't have a giant hole in it. He just needs to take it easy and stay off of it as much as possible without pain telling him to do so. This has proven difficult since my husband is a doer and a helper and there is so much to do and help with in his life right now. But seriously, there is a huge hole in his leg!
Sunday, April 13, 2014
Thoughts and updates
"The message was fine, but it really didn't apply to me." I've heard those words numerous times when I ask about what some one thought about the preaching at church. And though there are multiple things I dislike about that statement, my answer today is "How in the world do you know that? You have no idea what your life has in store. It may apply directly to you, just not now. So listen up!"
I've been going to church for as long as I can remember which means I have heard roughly 1400 sermons then bam! my husband has Cancer and I have to respond to that. In one moment I can hear my sunday school teachers telling me to not let satan blow out this little light of mine and that I have the peace that passes understanding down in my heart. I can hear my youth pastors telling me to cast my cares upon Jesus because He cares for me and to be deeply rooted in the Word of God. I hear my pastors telling me that God never promised an easy life and to not be shocked when difficulty comes. That sin will one day be erased in it's entirety in heaven, that I have hope, that God will never leave me nor forsake me, to be bold, be strong and have faith. So many sermons come to mind, life is hard but these sermons have helped me. Not all of them applied directly to the situation I was facing at the time but they do apply to me, they help me, they guide me. Wise men and women have taught me how to deal with what we are going through before either of us knew what that was, and I am so grateful for that.
There is one thing that they have all taught me though, that I am a sinner. That my sin stands in between me and God and there is nothing that I can do to make me perfect enough to be able to approach God myself. That God made a way for Jesus to pay for my sin on the cross so that sin could be conquered and that I could spend eternity with Him. That Jesus didn't stay dead but rose again and because of Him, I am able to have a relationship with God. This is what allows Stuart and I to be able to handle the life that God has given us, because we know that God has given us life eternal.
It's why we are excited to celebrate Easter this coming Sunday. This hope becomes so vital in the face of something so scary. We would love to celebrate with you. If you don't have a place to go for Easter please join us at our church http://graceevfree.org/event/easter-sunday/
Now for some information on our life. We found out that Stuart has/had stage two cancer. The center of his tumor was very aggressive but the outside not as much. He will go through radiation treatment for 6-7 weeks for about 15-20 minutes 5 days a week as soon as his leg heals from his surgery. We were told that without treatment there is a 20 percent chance that the cancer would come back and 10 percent or less with treatment and only a 1-2 percent chance that the radiation treatment would cause cancer. We did get the absolutely great news that Stuart will not be radioactive during his treatment so he will be able to hold Aila! I am so happy about that!
Keep praying for us. We still have a ways to go in this journey and are so glad that so many people are going through it with us.
There is one thing that they have all taught me though, that I am a sinner. That my sin stands in between me and God and there is nothing that I can do to make me perfect enough to be able to approach God myself. That God made a way for Jesus to pay for my sin on the cross so that sin could be conquered and that I could spend eternity with Him. That Jesus didn't stay dead but rose again and because of Him, I am able to have a relationship with God. This is what allows Stuart and I to be able to handle the life that God has given us, because we know that God has given us life eternal.
It's why we are excited to celebrate Easter this coming Sunday. This hope becomes so vital in the face of something so scary. We would love to celebrate with you. If you don't have a place to go for Easter please join us at our church http://graceevfree.org/event/easter-sunday/
Now for some information on our life. We found out that Stuart has/had stage two cancer. The center of his tumor was very aggressive but the outside not as much. He will go through radiation treatment for 6-7 weeks for about 15-20 minutes 5 days a week as soon as his leg heals from his surgery. We were told that without treatment there is a 20 percent chance that the cancer would come back and 10 percent or less with treatment and only a 1-2 percent chance that the radiation treatment would cause cancer. We did get the absolutely great news that Stuart will not be radioactive during his treatment so he will be able to hold Aila! I am so happy about that!
Keep praying for us. We still have a ways to go in this journey and are so glad that so many people are going through it with us.
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Who's suppose to be helping who?
When you have just had a baby you rely heavily on your spouse for help and when you've been diagnosed with cancer and are told to walk as little as possible to help your healing leg, you rely heavily on your spouse. So what happens when it all happens at the same time? Well, I can tell you a lot of what doesn't happen: dishes, laundry, vacuuming, cleaning the bathrooms, any kind of scrubbing, cooking, and shopping.
It's been a trying couple of months for sure. We have appreciated all the help we have had from friends and family so much! There were times where Stuart and I looked at each other in complete exhaustion wondering what we were going to eat for dinner only to remember that one of you were bringing it to us. I can't even describe what a weight was lifted on those days. Some of you have also helped by cleaning, holding Aila, and by visiting and giving me some wonderful advice or some wonderful adult conversation. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
Stuart and I are still trying to get used to our new normal. My poor husband's leg has not healed as quickly as the doctors would have liked. Right now the stitches are out (third time around if you are keeping count) and a bunch of those little sticky strip things are vainly trying to keep his wound held together but each day we see it spread a little further apart. It's frustrating. Stuart wants to do things, he wants to help around the house (which he does but I imagine it's not the best for his leg), he wants to be able to walk around with Aila for long periods of time, he wants to start his radiation treatment so he can be done with it, he wants to go back to normal.
Aila is actually sleeping less then then she did a month ago. I got maybe 3 1/2 hours of sleep last night. I was recommended a book to help with her sleep and have been trying to read it as fast as possible but it was hard with a fussy child. I was so sad that the sleep chapter wasn't until chapter 15 then my poor tired brain finally got a message to me it has been probably trying to conjure up since I started the book "skip to the sleep chapter!". So that's what I did and you know what? She's asleep! Not only is she asleep but she is asleep in her crib and has been for a half hour! I had breakfast! I am hoping that she will sleep better tonight.
There have been some really happy times in the Massie home as well. In fact, Stuart and I fell asleep laughing last night as we talked about our day (We had a vacuum sales man come to our house and ask to demonstrate his vacuum by vacuuming our stair case. "Um...sure I will let you clean my house for free, thanks!" The vacuum cost $2,600! We didn't buy it but our stairs are clean!) . We have spent some precious time with Aila trying to make her smile and getting to know her even better. We have had lots of ice cream as we sit and watch through some shows and are learning more and more to rely on Christ.
It's been a trying couple of months for sure. We have appreciated all the help we have had from friends and family so much! There were times where Stuart and I looked at each other in complete exhaustion wondering what we were going to eat for dinner only to remember that one of you were bringing it to us. I can't even describe what a weight was lifted on those days. Some of you have also helped by cleaning, holding Aila, and by visiting and giving me some wonderful advice or some wonderful adult conversation. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
Stuart and I are still trying to get used to our new normal. My poor husband's leg has not healed as quickly as the doctors would have liked. Right now the stitches are out (third time around if you are keeping count) and a bunch of those little sticky strip things are vainly trying to keep his wound held together but each day we see it spread a little further apart. It's frustrating. Stuart wants to do things, he wants to help around the house (which he does but I imagine it's not the best for his leg), he wants to be able to walk around with Aila for long periods of time, he wants to start his radiation treatment so he can be done with it, he wants to go back to normal.
Aila is actually sleeping less then then she did a month ago. I got maybe 3 1/2 hours of sleep last night. I was recommended a book to help with her sleep and have been trying to read it as fast as possible but it was hard with a fussy child. I was so sad that the sleep chapter wasn't until chapter 15 then my poor tired brain finally got a message to me it has been probably trying to conjure up since I started the book "skip to the sleep chapter!". So that's what I did and you know what? She's asleep! Not only is she asleep but she is asleep in her crib and has been for a half hour! I had breakfast! I am hoping that she will sleep better tonight.
There have been some really happy times in the Massie home as well. In fact, Stuart and I fell asleep laughing last night as we talked about our day (We had a vacuum sales man come to our house and ask to demonstrate his vacuum by vacuuming our stair case. "Um...sure I will let you clean my house for free, thanks!" The vacuum cost $2,600! We didn't buy it but our stairs are clean!) . We have spent some precious time with Aila trying to make her smile and getting to know her even better. We have had lots of ice cream as we sit and watch through some shows and are learning more and more to rely on Christ.
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