Visit to Onekama and Dad's Birthday

We made a trip to Onekama on Saturday to visit Mom and Dad and celebrate Dad's "86th" birthday. The day was absolutely beautiful for November!! We enjoyed lunch and a little cupcake with a "musical" candle:) Linda and Don will be with them on Wednesday and Thursday for Thanksgiving...and we'll return again on Saturday with Jason and Emily and family:)

Mom is coming along slowly from the compression fractures...and is getting wonderful care from visiting nurses and physical therapists. The doctor said injuries like this take several weeks to heal!

This month....just like all the others.... has flown by!!! It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving Day is almost upon us!!!

I hope that in all the hustle and bustle of these days that everyone gets a chance to stop, relax and enjoy the fellowship of family and friends!

We all have been blessed in so many ways...and it is so important to meditate and reflect on God's goodness to us!!! Take time to appreciate those you who love you and whom you love!!!

In everything I have experienced since the onset of my scleroderma...the one thing that I have learned to do is "give thanks for the moment I am in". Whether in comfort....or in discomfort...I am completely thankful for the day God has given to me...and strive to live it to it's fullest!!!

Check back often as I will be posting lots of pictures this week!

Thursday we will be spending with Emily's family and extended family.

Friday we will be traveling to Jenison to see Kurt and Heidi and grand kids.

Saturday, Ken and Emily will be co-preparing a meal for Mom and Dad in Onekama.

Sunday....we will live off of leftovers:)

Scleroderma Update

Judy with Dr. James Seibold

(perhaps the first picture he ever had taken with a patient

during an office visit!!!! He was very gracious and posed for the pic!!!)

I know what my kids are thinking right now...."Mom and her camera!"

Actually.....Ken took the picture:)

Ken and I traveled to Ann Arbor for my check up with my specialist

Dr. James Seibold for the U of M.

http://www.med.umich.edu/scleroderma/faculty/index.htm

http://www.sclero.org/isn/hr/bio/seibold-james-r/en.html
My appointment was early Monday morning....so we went down on Sunday to avoid leaving in the wee hours on Monday.

My appointment went quite well! Dr. Seibold said I have NOT worsened with my disease....and have gotten a "little" better! Ken and I were so encouraged to hear that news!!! Although my skin is still very hard in my hands/arms/feet....it has softened in my face and a little on my legs.

We are not sure if the improvement is attributed to meds or just the natural course of the disease. Ultimately we know it's improved because God has allowed it...and the prayers of the faithful are heard!!

Dr. Seibold also informed us that he has taken a position out East and will be leaving U of M after February 2010. That was sad news for us because we had just gotten acquainted with him and were very satisfied with the course of treatment. Dr. Seibold is a brilliant physician who has spent a lifetime committed to research and awareness of scleroderma and related diseases. I remember my first appointment with him....thinking to myself "This Dr. is too serious for me....he doesn't even smile at his patients!!" I was quite dis-heartened. But after two more appointments and phone conversations....I struck up a bond with Dr. Seibold and knew in my heart that he was genuinely interested in me as a person and patient!!! So now....after one year with him as my physician....we bid "adieu" to Dr. Seibold....and yet look forward to continuing on with the scleroderma department at U of M.

On the home front I have been spending lots of hours setting up a special fundraiser raffle that is going on now through November 30th.

A few weeks ago we were given an autographed picture of Taylor Lautner...our great-nephew (Ken's side) who hails from Grand Rapids, Michigan....but currently lives in California! Taylor is a Hollywood actor who has made his way to super stardom in just a few short years!!

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1210124/

His current movie is "New Moon" scheduled to open in theaters on November 20th. As you check out in the grocery stores and peruse the magazines....you can generally find Taylor's picture all over the place!!!! For those of you know who know Ken's side of the family....Taylor is Dan and Deb's son....Pat and Dave's grandson.

We have enjoyed following Taylor's career...and are now very appreciative that we can help help raise funds for the disease scleroderma because of their generosity:)

The ticket sales started Monday and the drawing is December 1st.!!

For $1.00 donation you can enter your name in the drawing for a chance to win this autographed picture. The raffle is being sponsored by the Cadillac High School Student Council. They have been awesome in helping me out with this cause....and know the impact it has had on me personally.

Because of this disease I had to step down from my teaching job in October 2007...and officially retired May 2009. There are still many students at CHS whom I taught and they are being so supportive of this effort!!! All proceeds from this event go to the Michigan Chapter of the Scleroderma Foundation. This will fund research, patient resources, and public awareness of a disease that many people have never heard of.

Custom framed picture of Taylor.

Winner to be drawn on December 1st.

Some of the CHS student s assisting in ticket sales.
Here are more details:

$1.00 one ticket $5.00 six tickets $10.00 12 tickets

Available for purchase at:

WEXFORD JEWELERS in Cadillac
231-775-1289

CADILLAC FIVE THEATER
231-775-7261

CADILLAC FAMILY PHARMACY
231-775-8200

THE SWEET SHOP in Cadillac
231-775-2201

NORTHWOODS FEED on Boon Road, Cadillac
231-779-9883

CLASSIC FORD LAKE CITY by Lake City
231-839-4366


Tickets are also available at CHS, Manton HS, The UPS store
or by mailing a check/money order to:

CHS Student Council
400 Linden Street
Cadillac, Michigan 49601 attn. Ann Bush/advisor

Include your Name/Address/Phone

State how many tickets you would like and they will be
filled out and put in the drawing for you!!!!!

Checks/money order payable to CHS Student Council
In the Memo please put "Drawing"

Remembering a Best Friend

One year ago November 16th one of my closest friends from Onekama passed away from complications of Multiple Sclerosis. Although Toni and I didn't get together much over the years after our high school days....we always cherished our friendship and love as best friends.

Several months before Toni died we struck up our "old days" by talking on the phone every week...and sometimes every other day. Those conversations were sweet....and bittersweet:( Sweet in the sense that we laughed and joked about our young days....the goofy things we did and said...the songs we sang..the places we went.

We shared our experiences of having children and being able to watch them grow and mature. Toni had a tremendous pride in her sons and daughters and grandchildren. She cherished the time she spent with them..and wanted more than anything to be here for them as the years went on.

We talked about our parents and the upbringing we both had. Toni deeply loved her Mom and Dad, brothers and sister and we talked about them often. Especially the times involving music...it was our bond. To this day...I still have a wonderful friendship with Toni's parents and Nikki, Dana, and Darryl.

The bittersweet part is all of the suffering Toni experienced. She was diagnosed with MS early in life and endured the struggles associated with it. Life was not easy for Toni....but she lived it gracefully...not complaining....but rather quietly suffering. Her children were her life! They helped care for her.....took her places....and stayed in her home. Toni talked to me about them alot...and said if it wasn't for them...she didn't know how she could go on. She would also share with me that she felt like a burden at times....and to that I always responded...."They are your children...they love you...let them help you.. And help her they did....right up to the time that God called her to heaven.

We also discussed the private matter of life...our marriages...our joys...our fears. this is where my heart was saddened the most. Toni often went it alone in life in many ways....which sorrowed her...but as she would say.....these were my choices. She would tell me that my husband Ken is a good man...that I was very lucky to have someone like him to take care of me when I became ill with scleroderma.

Toni was beautiful....inside and out!!! Her beauty, spirit, and determination lives on in her children, grandchildren, and her family. She is in eternity with her heavenly Father...and her Savior Jesus Christ!!! She is free from her sorrows and troubles...and is waiting for the sweet homecoming day that those who have trusted Jesus as THEIR Saviour will see her again.

A Good Samaritan

Today was the first time in almost three years that I stopped at the gas station to get gas by myself! I found it necessary to stop before I went home because I was on "low fuel" and only had a few miles to go before I ran out!!!

So....bravely I stopped at the pump....looked around at the many people around me....and thought "How am I going to do this?? I can't even get a gas cap off with my contracted fingers....let alone pump gas!!!".

I scoped out the crowd around the gas pumps....looking for a "friendly face"....or perhaps someone I knew, and cautiously pulled the gas cap flap back and attempted to unscrew the cap...with no luck! I felt a little anxious...and felt a little teary eyed...but I took a breath and looking straight into the eyes of a gentleman walking out of pay area I said "Sir....could you please help me?" I gulped as I waited for his answer...and I kept saying to myself..."don't cry...don't cry!!" He gave me a huge grin and walked up to my car and began to assist! Whew...I was relieved..and happy that people still find joy in helping one another out!!!

After $10.00 worth of gas and some small talk...the gentleman politely asked me what illness I had? When I told him it was scleroderma.....he said he had never heard of that...but then I said it was a hard skin disease....he had heard of that!!! He seemed saddened by my situation....and quite sympathetic. All I could think of was what a kind man he was...and I told him several times how much I appreciated his help...and that my husband would be so thankful that he came to my assistance!!!!

After a few minutes, a few gallons of gas, and some friendly conversation, I drove home.....confident in the generosity and benevolence of mankind!!! Or perhaps.....my Good Samaritan!!!!

Weekend Updates....Rachelle is better, Madeline turned "1", misc. other musings:)

Friday evening we celebrated Madeline's first b-day at Jason and Emily's. She took the whole evening "in stride" and even ate her cake very politely:)

Madeline sitting on her new Little Tikes riding toy....and below enjoying her cake!

We are so excited to report that Rachelle's condition improved and she was able to come home!!! She is still on medicine....but is getting better. There were so many people praying for her and I know this meant so much to Kurt and Heidi. Once again we are so thankful for a network of people that we can connect with almost "immediately" for prayer!!!

On Thursday Ken had a little "bout" with kidney stones:( He was pretty uncomfortable for a while...but but Friday afternoon he was on the mend!! Remember: Drink Water~water~water!!!

I had Thursday and Friday with Grandma this week! Isaac is continuing his piano lessons weekly and is almost half-way through his lesson AND theory books. He seems so interested in learning....so the normal half hour lesson is more like one hour total during the course of the day.

Linda and Don stopped by Saturday night on their way home from Onekama. We enjoyed their visit and topped it off with a cup of coffee and piece of apple pie!!!!

Sunday, Nancy Lanning and I sang special music at church...and Jason accompanied us on his guitar. We sang a good old "toe tapper" song...you know the kind you smile all the while!!! We sang "In The Sweet By and By". Just before we sang I shared a few words that even though we are singing about the "Sweet By and By", we need to be serving our Savior Jesus in the "Here and Now"!! People are watching your testimony and mine...are we sharing with others that blessed hope?

Later Sunday afternoon we went to Onekama and visited with Mom and Dad. Mom is still struggling with discomfort and pain from the compression fractures. Please continue to pray for healing and relief from the pain.

Compared to a year ago I feel so much better emotionally!!! Last year I felt like I was crying half the time because of my scleroderma...the changes in my life...the fatigue...the pain. And now....1 year later...I am not "fearing" the disease anymore...I am still serving God where he leads and needs me...and I have learned to celebrate the "Little things" in my day...instead of the 'big obstacles" I always felt were in front of me!

I have learned to handle the fatigue and ignore the pain....and as for the tears?....just now and then.....but mostly "then".

Update concerning Rachelle

Rachelle....picture taken October 21st.

Our grand-daughter Rachelle (22 months) was admitted to DeVos Children's hospital last night. She has bacterial pneumonia...and despite the antibiotics she received the other day...her condition worsened. The main issue right now are elevated heart rate, low oxygen levels, and no desire to eat or drink. She is in an isolation unit and Kurt and Heidi are with her . Heidi was with her continually during the night..and will stay this evening as well. Kurt works the night shift at Gordon Food Service.

Please pray that they get the rest they need to take care of Rachelle and the rest of their family.

Grandpa and Grandma Scott are with the other three children and taking care of them. We are talking with them every few hours and getting an update. Please pray for improvement and that she should desire to eat and drink.She will have to remain in the hospital until she can do that. Thank you for your continued prayer support!!! Our God is SO BIG...So Strong and So Mighty...There's Nothing our God Cannot Do!!

Jonny's B-day

Our Grandson Jonny turned three on October 30th. We had hoped to go to Jenison and celebrate with the family on Saturday, but due to the colds and fevers....we thought it best to stay home and visit later when everyone is feeling better!
Here are some pictures from Jon's party....the theme was "Curious George".

Heidi made the cake!!!!!