Decent day

We made some big decisions today and I know they made me feel better and I think Travis too. I have actually had so much going through my head I can't sleep and for the most part DeLaura is not quite as influential. Had lots of visitor the last few days, that has been fun and exhausting. My mom got here Friday and leaves Friday and we are enjoying our time thus far. It is a ton of work for her not just taking care of me, dealing with my precious daddy at home, also.

Sammy is off at sleep-away camp and her parting words were, please don't die while I'm gone and she skipped out with her beautiful smile. After last Wednesday she had no idea how impactful those words were.

We are hopeful for a better week with a lot less drama. We are talking with a company tomorrow who offers more 24/7 medical care so I can skip the normal ER and mormal course of action. But can still keep my current nurses for some stuff but they carry the umbrellas behind me until I need them opened and then they do their stuff.

Anyways I'm going to slumber, have a great Tuesday

Happy 4th of July

What Nathan Hale Did For America

“It was for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” - Galatians 5:1

In 1776, George Washington gathered his troops together and told them he needed someone for a highly secret mission behind enemy lines. A young twenty-one year old soldier from Yale volunteered for the mission. It seemed he was going to be successful, but as he returned with the battle plans of the British, they were tipped off and he was arrested and sentenced to be hanged. The next morning, as he was facing execution, he uttered these poignant words: “My only regret is that I have but one life to lose for my country.”

Gives me amazing new hope

"I wanted to let you know I am praying for you and your family. My dear friend lost her husband to cancer after a 9 year fight...they have 3 kids. 2 years after her husband lost his fight, her daughter was diagnosed and she lost hers too. She is an amazing woman, by God's grace and so were her husband and daughter. You have an amazing spirit too! Look her up on the CaringBridge website under Hope Herman if you want. Amazing family, as I see yours is too. Knowing her and reading your story has given me perspective and encouragement that I'm so thankful for.
:)"

Just when I have a day that makes me think life is to hard, I read about something like this. This women reminded me I can stil fight and nothing is to hard.I welcome tomorrow.

The latest and not so greatest...

It has been a rollercoaster as usual in the Vickers household lately.  In the last two weeks we have had to drain Laura's stomach 4 times due to fluid accumulation.  Last Tuesday it got so bad we took an ambulance to the ER and stayed up all night until her appt the next day.  Last Friday she got a Pleurx Catheter installed in her abdomen.  We now drain fluid at home every couple of days.  Laura continues to lose weight and is having trouble eating.  We are trying to "fatten her up" before next Wednesday so she can hopefully get on some chemo, which will reduce some of the inflammation, which will let her reduce the amount of delaudid she is taking every day.  The delaudid has created a new version of Laura consisting of "sleepy talk" and murmuring which I have deemed DeLaura.  She is having some fun in her parallel universe meeting Danny Bonaduce, floating on a raft at her high school reunion, and watching a band, whose members were all herself, sing.  We are still ever hopeful and feel the chemo right now is the best bet for her to start getting back to being herself. 

Thanks to all our wonderful friends for banding together and helping out throughout each day.  We couldnt do it without you!  Keep the prayers coming!!!

This goes out to everyone

Going the Extra Mile

"Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two." - Matthew 5:41

There's a new popular show on television called, Undercover Boss." The premise is the head of a corporation goes undercover and works in the different areas of their company to see what's really going on - how they treat the customers, utilized their skills, work ethics, etc. My wife and I were staying in a nice hotel for a special occasion. One day we went to the pool, and before we could get seated, attendants brought us towels and ice water. When I went jogging, as I came back into the lobby, a bellman gave me a bottle of water. They kept surprising us with unexpected extra mile service for our entire stay. I think an undercover boss would have been proud of his employees!

I really believe that any corporation, organization, or ministry, where extra mile service is a part of the culture, will have a greater impact for good. Extra mile service goes beyond what is expected.

Do you know who originated the idea? Jesus Christ. He said, "Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two." Rome ruled their culture, and it was legal for any Roman soldier to ask a civilian to help them carry their armor for one mile at any time. The people greatly resented it. So what Jesus taught, shocked them. But following Jesus calls for extra mile service. Even if you don't follow Him, that service is always appreciated.

The Devil Made Me Do It

Monday, Jun. 27, 2011
The Devil Made Me Do It!

"Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the LORD' - and you forgave the guilt of my sin." - King David from Psalm 32:5

Notice Adam's response when asked about his actions: "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate." So, the man blames the woman, and he also blames God - after all, He was the one who brought Eve into his life! Eve's defense? "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." (Here we have the first example of "The-Devil-Made-Me-Do-It" excuse.)

Well, the excuse is just as rampant in today's culture. We see feminists who blame men for trouble and men who blame all their problems on women. We see blacks who blame whites for the trouble in their life, and whites who blame blacks for trouble they're dealing with. Republicans blame Democrats, and Democrats blame Republicans. We have an entire industry, the media, where success seems to be measured by how many people they have adequately blamed. And so many criminals actually defend their actions by blaming the victim for the crime: "She wouldn't give up her purse, so I had to stab her." Or "She was asking for it by the way she was dressed." Our culture features this out-of-control blame game mindset. "It's not my fault! It's her fault! It's his fault! It wouldn't have happened without her; without him; without the snake!" Since the dawn of mankind, that is a classic unrepentant mindset of man when it comes to our sin.

Do you blame others for your mistakes and sins or do you confess your actions? The first step to forgiveness from God is acknowledgement of responsibility. Can you take that first step in acknowledging your own sinful deeds to the One who offers unlimited forgiveness? It will help you move away from the blame game to a life of maturity.

Another crazy week.

We had plans to go the beach this week with our friends. As the week progressed, fluid and air were in a race to see who could fill up my belly the fastest. That was fun in the morning to see them compete over space in my abdomen. By Wednesday we knew we had to drain the fluid and got it scheduled first thing Thursday.  We decided we couldn't wait until 9 AM and took an ambulance around 1:30 AM instead. After an xray, ct scan and bloodwork, they drained 3 liters and I felt a littel better.  It worked out well since I also ended up getting everything in order for the drainage thing I'm having put in tomorrow.  Dr Bowen in my new best friend at Emory and is willing to come hold my hand during during my sedated procedure. They will permanently put a drainage system in my abdomen so I don't have to keep having drainage drained.

Next week we are piecemeal-ing the support. So if you are interested check out my blog