Howdy howdy! Thank you so much for all your prayers! Just a quick update: we were hoping to pick up a 'positive LH surge' on the ovulation tests since last Thursday and do the IUI maybe Monday or so... but we never got a positive. So Tuesday I had an ultrasound with Dr. Hansard. That left follicle is still hanging in there (I thought it was!)! But my body is not wanting to release it, as it has done many times before. Dr. Hansard prescribed the ovidrel injection (which my friend, Karen, gave me yesterday as I blitzed into town - she did great! I was impressed!) - so this will trigger the ovulation and we will do the IUI Thursday morning!
This is exciting stuff and the ultrasound showed the follicle mature (it has been growing perfectly) and ready to ovulate, and the endometrial lining thick enough and ready! Thank You Lord! Our IUI will be in the morning at 10:30am - we would love your prayers! We won't know for a while what the results are, but when we do, we'll let you know! Thank you. Love you all!
I also have to petition your prayers on two more important matters that are SO heavy on my heart:
1) One of our best friends, Amy Rankin, had brain surgery just over a month ago, as many of you know and prayed for her. It was quite an intesive ALL DAY surgery to remove a walnut-sized tumor in her brain. She came through incredibly, with flying colors! However, just this past week some of her pre-surgery symptoms returned. Rrrr!!!! She had to go back in for a cat scan, MRIs, etc and it looks like this Friday they are going to go back in through the same incision and remove a cyst that appears to have grown... There's something going on with fluid in there and they may have to put in a shunt... The surgery will be about 3 hrs +/-. I would ask you to please lift her up, the surgeon, the nurses, and her family.
2) Another of our dear friends, Lana Fisher, as many of you also know (at least know of) and have prayed for, has been battling Melanoma cancer (stage 4) for quite some time now. It has been an incredibly rough road. The cancer had spread to her lymphatic system and has been a brutal battle to get a hold of. She has undergone A LOT of treatment (extensive radiation, interferon injections, surgeries, etc) and was on a short reprieve when they found more and had to hit it again, but this time harder, much harder. October 20th, I believe, she checked back in to MD Anderson for high dose interleukin 2 treatments with a central venous catheter to receive the drugs every 8 hrs (or as vital signs allow) for one week in ICU then give you a couple weeks to 'recover' and then come back for it again... and again ... and again (up to 6 times). She has already gained 26 pounds in water weight (a nasty side effect), and experiences convulsive chills, nausea, and can't even use her left arm from being all wrapped up... She is on a short break right now. Her blood pressure has elevated and she is enduring many harmful and vicious side effects.
Needless to say, it is suffering at its peak. The most amazing thing is, though, she has been one of the most INCREDIBLE testimonies of an un-wavering faith in Jesus, of God's Goodness, of Hope in HIM, and resting in the suffiency of His Grace and Love. This cancer has been nearly ferocious in attacking her body, but she knows Who her Jesus is, and she truly takes hold of the promise: "“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). Please pray for her, her husband, and family. My little ovidrel shot is a fleck of dust compared to the injections and procedures she is going through! We well know that and cry out to the Lord on her behalf!
The harder this life is... the deeper the valleys go..., the richer life becomes... and the sweeter our Hope in Eternity flows. Father, we love You and we trust You. May we live beyond ourselves... with an eternal perspective... for You! May we recognize the privelege that we have to live, to breath, to see, to walk...
I picked something up at a retreat I went to a few weeks back that I just love: Hoka Hey! It comes from a tribe (I forget which one) and essentially means "it's a great day to die".... They said it before entering into battle. It's not a death wish, but rather a reminder of how you are living your life. Are you living in such way that you can say Hoka Hey? Don't put that off till 'you're older' or until 'you move' or you accomplish this or accomplish that. Live for Him. Today.
Thank you so much faithful prayer warriors. My heart cries out for these two special women and I really appreciate you lifting them up.
Carpe Diem, Linsey <><
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