Tuesday, December 05, 2006

...and this little piggy went all the way home

I was just sitting here thinking of a hymn and decided to look up the words. I didn't know all of the verses, but found it so perfectly appropriate for how I feel today that I thought I'd just post the whole thing.

"Praise to the Lord, the Almighty"
by Joachim Neander, 1650-1680
Translated by Catherine Winkworth, 1829-1878

1. Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is Thy Health and Salvation!
Join the full throng:
Wake, harp and psalter and song;
Sound forth in glad adoration!

2. Praise to the Lord, who o'er all things so wondrously reigneth,
Who, as on wings of an eagle, uplifteth, sustaineth.
Hast thou not seen
How thy desires all have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?

3. Praise to the Lord, who hath fearfully, wondrously, made thee;
Health hath vouchsafed and, when heedlessly falling, hath stayed thee.
What need or grief
Ever hath failed of relief?--
Wings of His mercy did shade thee.

4. Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee,
Who from the heavens the streams of His mercy doth send thee.
Ponder anew
What the Almighty can do,
Who with His love doth befriend thee.

5. Praise to the Lord! Oh, let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him!
Let the Amen
Sound from His people again;
Gladly for aye we adore Him.

Anyway, today is just a quick update on where things stand. I am home now, and lovin' it. Gary has grown up SO much. It's been great to spend time with him again. My sisters are still here helping because I'm under a lot of restrictions. I can't clean, for one thing, which is really frustrating. Apparently dust is a really bad thing. I have a special industrial strength mask I have to wear whenever I'm out, or around dust, so anyway, they will probably still be here helping me for a while even though I feel stronger everyday. I am still weak and tire easily, but my energy level is night and day compared to other returns from the hospital.

I'll be doing my bloodwork tomorrow at Ellis Fischel, as originally planned, and then I have an apppointment at Barnes on Friday. We'll probably be at Barnes once a week for a while, just so they can keep a close eye on things like signs of GVHD. We can handle that though. It's definitely worth it to be home. Otherwise life will be rather confined for a while as my immune system builds. I have to be especially careful due to cold/flu season, so I won't be out and about much at all. Even a slight fever means a return to the hospital, and I am praying that won't happen.

Please just continue to pray for strength and health, and that GVHD won't be a problem. A little bit of it is an o.k. thing, but our prayer is that the Lord will protect from the serious stuff. Also, I will most likely have a bone marrow biopsy done next week. I know I mentioned it once, but I am struggling with anxiety over going through the procedure yet again, even though the results are so important to know. I wish my brain could forget the pain, but alas...I remember all too well.

I'm thankful for all of you -- I was thinking today about all of the encouragement you have given, and the blessing of some amazing doctors and nurses that the Lord has allowed me to work with. Truly, I feel most blessed.

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

Amy,

May I be the first to CONGRATULATE you on your homecoming!!!! Wonderful news!

Enjoy!

I'll be praying especially for your strength and courage for the bone marrow biopsy.

Love,
Anne for the Calzones

Christina said...

So glad to hear you are home. That must help a lot with your recovery. I will keep praying.

Anonymous said...

Amy, Brandon, and All,

So glad you are able to be home today.The Lord has indeed provided graciously for this to take place so soon. May your strength increase quickly too.

We continue in prayer for you all with thanksgiving for this step.

Love to You,
Don and Lilan

Anonymous said...

In my heart, I am jumping up and down for joy...in my heart I am praising our wonderous God for your homecoming. Well, okay, I did do a little jump for real and I am singing God's praises out loud for all the world to hear.

Amy is home! You don't even know me but I know you and I am thrilled to say that Amy is at last and finally home!

Welcome home, friend.

Barbie @ Mamaology said...

So happy to hear you are home, and just in time for Christmas:) I bet your little guy is so happy. I am praying that you will stay completely healthy and that you will not worry about tomorrow!

Barb said...

I'm so glad you're home with your guys, Amy. That has to be some of the very best medicine.

I held my mother-in-law's hand during many bone marrow biopsies. I know it's very difficult.

As always, I'm praying for you. Enjoy that little guy - I'm so happy you're all together again.

Anonymous said...

Amy,
We are praising the Lord that you were allowed to go home. What an awesome answer to prayer!
We continue to rpay for you daily and we are confident that He who began a good work in you will complete it!
Enjoy your baby and husband and family. We know they must be just as thrilled to have you home.
Thank you for sharing the hymn. I was humming along as I read it and I am sure it will be running through my mind the rest of the week.
God bless you!
Love,
Gina

Carrie said...

Praise the Lord, He is good! Has the smile left your face yet?
:o)

Teresa said...

Oh Amy, how happy I am for you!! I checked before bedtime and now I hope I can go to sleep!! I am praising God for this wonderful gift He has given you. We will all praise Him for what He has done.
Blessings,
Teresa

Diane@Diane's Place said...

Yay! What wonderful news to click over here and find! And it does my heart good to hear that you're doing so well since the BMT.

Home with your dear hubby and Gary. What a blessing, and I do pray you'll be able to stay well and have Christmas with all your family at home.

Praying too for you as you undergo your biopsy, both for it to be as painless as possible and for good results.

Praise the Lord, all ye people, for He alone is worthy of all praise.

Janice Phillips said...

Could you post your home addy somehow so we can continue to bless you with encouragement?

Anonymous said...

Yay Amy! I'm so happy to hear that you are home and spending time with your family. It is a great reminder to all of us to appreciate "little things" like this in OUR lives too. Thanks for that reminder. Congratulations and many prayers for your continued health.

rena said...

Congratulations on being home. My mom had nothing more than a minor rash and muscle aches in her legs frm the GVHD..compared to the chemo she described it as a piece of cake. She is now one year and 2 months post transplant and 100% clear...and she's 65!! So you're in great and faithful hands...our God is good.

blessings to you.

Rena

Amber D.M. said...

Yay! I'm so glad that you are able to be in your cozy home. I've been praying for you all, and rejoicing with you when you rejoice. I love you all dearly!

I can understand how careful you must be to not get a bug of any kind. May the Lord continue to watch over you and protect you.

I love you!
~ Amber

Anonymous said...

Praising God for how he has worked in your life and through you. I am so glad you are home and in time for Christmas. I'm sure it is so wonderful to be w/Gary again.

I will continue to pray for your strength and for the biopsy.

Wendy in IA

Anonymous said...

Amy,

Praise God! It is so good to hear that you are now home. I will continue to pray for your complete healing. Thank for your continued testimony to God's power and grace!

God Bless!
Leigh Taylor

Kevin P. Larson said...

Amy,

So great to hear! I left a message for Brandon yesterday. Let us know how we can help in any way.

Kevin

Anonymous said...

Amy,

Praise our mighty God that you are experiencing His healing wings that envelope you!! May the miracle of being home now, be a time of Christmas joy to Brandon,Gary, and you..............My prayers remain uplifted daily for you!!

In Christ,
Lynn Hensel

Anonymous said...

SO glad to hear this!! God is good!
Donna McDonald

Anonymous said...

PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!
I can't wait to let everyone know!

Emily B.

Girl Raised in the South said...

Thrilled to hear you got to go home. Praying for any upcoming tests, procedures, etc.

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful blessing to read of your homecoming! We continue to pray for the strength you need to stay strong and remain healthy especially through this flu season. You have good company too with your sisters there to help -- what a blessing your family is to help care for you, Brandon, and Gary.

Eat lots of good things so you can have the energy of a 1 yr. old!!
Love to you all,
Clayton, Lisa, Sadie, and Maggie

Julie Lind said...

Our family's prayers are for your complete recovery. We're so glad you're home!

The Lind Family

Lauren said...

Amy I am so excited that you're home. I'm sure your little one is THRILLED!

I will continue to pray for your recovery.

You are such an inspiration.

Lacey said...

Yeea! :) So glad to hear that you got to go home! My heart has ached for you, not only having to go through the BMT, but also for having to be away from your baby. What a blessing to be HOME for Christmas! :) Still praying for you!

Kim said...

I'm so excited that you are HOME!!!! What wonderful news! I will be praying that all goes well with everything you mentioned!

Kim

Anonymous said...

Hey kid.. It's great to hear that you are doing better. You better keep it up. I'll have to haunt you if you don't, hear? :-) Sorry I wasn't on when you IM'd the other day, I was at school working. My best to you and the hubby and the little one.

Jonathan Hardin

Anonymous said...

Amy,

We are So glad that you are home.
Enjoy and rest as much as you can.

Love,

Sue, Jeff, Hannah & Moon

Anonymous said...

Hey Amy! So glad to hear you are home. Rest in the Lord, and trust in His strength.
Just wanted to let you know we haven't stopped praying.
~Joanna for the Burks

Anonymous said...

Hi Amy,
Just wanted to welcome you back home again! How awesome is that?! God is good~~~~He has brought you through so much and you have continued to have such a positive attitude! You are amazing :)

I hope your bone marrow biopsy was not too painful...wasn't that going to be this week sometime? I know that must of been hard on you. Hang in there and continue to trust the Lord through this. You have so many people praying for you and supporting you...you are one blessed girl, Amy!

Praying for you to completely regain your strength and that your body will continue to heal from the transplant~~~

Love,

Aaron's Mom