What's New

Where did summer go? No, seriously. Did it all drain down a hole? I feel like I haven't accomplished anything over the summer, except deteriorate my health. On Tuesday, I'm leaving for my grandparents' house at the beach with Erestor and Luthien.

Oh boy. Ultra-processed, 3,000 calorie, high fructose corn syrup loaded food with extra bleach (yes...white bread), no naps, out in the sun every day, with grandparents who spoil us rotten. =) =/ =(

And then schoolwork.

I'm starting high school. I can't believe it. The point of no return, and I can't even slam on the breaks.

I'll be a freshman.

DID I JUST SAY FRESHMAN?!?! AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!

Yes, for fourteen years I've been waiting for this. Now that it's come I really want to go back to 5th grade. And I thought division was hard? How about algebra?!

So. Dad got the results of his PET-scan, and I'm happy to say that, for now, the cancer has not returned! *sighs in relief*

Before I go (I probably won't get to post tomorrow), I would like to ask an important prayer request. For the last past week, I've been having a ongoing headache-bordering-on-migraine. Part of it is because I had a cold, but now I'm over my cold and it's still there. I hope it's nothing serious...=/ Please pray that it will go away for good (forever!) before vacation on Tuesday through Saturday. I've had problems with headaches for months. Hope it's not Lyme's Disease after all.

See you soon, guys!

Izori

Sometimes all you can do is laugh...

Ha-ha-ha. Galdor figured out that he can climb out of his crib. Know what that means? A two year old running around downstairs at 5:30 AM? Parties with Luthien in the middle of the night? No nap-time? Yes! Oh, isn't this so funny? I'm just laughing my head off!

:/

But really. Sometimes all you can do is laugh at what life gives you. Galdor's so sweet, I'd rather have him then my sanity. HAH-HA-HA-HAH!

Maybe I'll laugh at the poison ivy on my foot. I must have just brushed a plant, because it's just on my ankle. Usually it goes all the way up to my neck. But at least it's not in between my fingers...now that is torture.

Dad's bump turned out to be benign! Now if only his PET-scan tomorrow has the same results. (Please Lord, please Lord, please Lord, please Lord...)

Hugs & Blessings,

Izori

Prayer Request/Praise

We got the results from the CT scan! Apparently, the scan points toward the lump on dad's foot being a cyst, but it's not 100% certain. So they're going to remove it. Praise God that it looks to just be something harmless, and pray that the surgery will go well! I don't quite know when the surgery, is, though.

Thanks!

Izori

Gold

Well...here I sit in front of the computer. I feel like my life is falling around my ears in shambles. Our washing machine is yet to be fixed. Now our AC is giving us problems--and in the heat and humidity that we have, you don't want to have young children and no air conditioning. Everything is just completely thrown off balance. We were on a thin pole already, and with one shove we're teetering.

I know it's really hard to believe this in even minor calamities, but God is always in control. He knew that our washing machine would break, and it would never do so unless He wanted it to. Why? Maybe he wants to open our eyes to how dependent we are on modern conveniences. Maybe he wants us to trust in Him, because He always knows what's best...even when our life plot looks like it's taking a major twist for the worst.

Yesterday, my dad had a scan on a suspicious lump on his foot. His doctor thinks it's just a cyst, but with dad's medical history they want to be absolutely sure. We've supposed to get the results today or tomorrow. It's hard to think that those stressful months of radiation and chemo were actually by the will of God, but they were.

Dave Ramsey has an interesting metaphor. Gold is only made by heat--heat that melts the gold and brings the impurities and gunk to the top to be skimmed out. The gold is left pure, and it wouldn't have been without the strong heat. This is almost like us. Life can turn up the flames, but it's really God's way of turning us into pure gold.

Yes, the fire can hurt. But, if God is the craftsman, it will bring out things in us that we didn't even know we had. Patience. Faith. Purity.

God knows our limits even better then we do ourselves. He knows just exactly how much heat we can possibly stand before it will break us. He knows how to bring out the gold.

Izori

Good News!!

We got Dad's PET scan results today, and from what they can see, the chemo and radiation took away all of the cancer! Yipee! He'll have a scan every six months in case the cancer grows back again. Thank you SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH for praying!

Izori

Prayer Request

Cats alive, it's COLD outside! In a nearby town, it's about 1 degree f. Here it's slightly warmer. I think. Our thermometer says that it's sixteen degrees f, but it always runs high.

Anyway, today is Dad's PET scan. Please pray that all goes well, and also that the icy-ness won't cause any trouble with driving.

Mucho gracias!

Izori

Does anyone want to hear my complaints? And a prayer request.

Huh? Anyone?

*sigh*. I had a MAJOR bloody nose last night. And I mean major. At 3:45 to 4:00-ish AM. And because I accidentally swallowed some blood, I felt like I would throw up for the rest of the night (morning, rather). I'm glad I'm allowed to touch the key board still!

So...I have Spanish class today, and you should try to hear me speak. I sound like a frog. A frog with a sore throat. No, maybe you should try and hear me sing! (not) lol.

Can y'all pray for us? My Dad's immune system is rather weak from chemo and radiation, and a cold could be enough to send him to the hospital. And because all four of us kids are sick, including Luthien and Galdor, both under age 6, it's really hard to keep germs from spreading. Y'know, Galdor could sneeze all over the table during dinner, and he's too young to learn how to cover his mouth.

Thanks!

Izori

Well...I have time!

I have some time to post something, so I'm...uh...

...I guess I'll post five things that are completely honest about me.

1. I look like like a mix between Arwen and Galadriel.

2. I'm scared of creepy spiders, hornets, public speaking, and the list goes on.

3. I'm hoping to have to start training for a 5k soon. Unless I can't run because of my back (which has been bothering me rather badly).

4. My room is a mess.

5. And I stayed up playing pool (billiards) with Dad, Mom and Eristor.

For the book I'm writing that I call Sarea for lack of another title...I think I'm going to post the first and possibly second chapter of it so that you guys can tell me what to name it! And also tell me HONESTLY what you think of it (good, bad, need's improvements, whatever!). The main theme of my book itself is clique...you know, this evil king is in charge of a struggling country, and a small rebellion that has absolutely no chance of defeating him decides to give a shot at it...that has got to be one of the most used plots on earth! I actually didn't realize that 'till I was a good part finished with the first third, and by then it was too late to change it.

I've also scheduled character personality sheets on my characters just for fun.

By the way, everythings going well with Dad's radiation so far. He won't loose his hair until a few weeks, but his tastebuds are supposed to go around now. He has a hard time turning his neck, though, due to a surgery he had a few months ago that was supposed to help diagnose the problem. And he has to keep up his current weight because if you lose (or gain) weight during radiation, you're chances of recovering are considerably less. So that means he has to eat, like, 1,000 calories a day (no, I'm not kidding!).

Izori

Dad just got back from his first radiation thing-y, I guess it's called an appointment. He said it's bearable, but certainly not comfortable. Continue to pray; he'll be doing that every day except for Saturday and Sunday for six weeks.

Thanks,

Izori

Another update on Dad

We found out when treatment will start!

TOMORROW! Yikes.

I was expecting, at the earliest, next week. But hey, the sooner started, the sooner finished!

So anyway, continue to pray! I've scheduled posts that will appear soon.

Izori

Update on my dad...

Well, Dad was supposed to start radiation/chemo today, but they bumped it to a later day because of some re-scheduled doctor's appointments. I'm not sure exactly when it's been moved to, but please pray for all of us, especially Dad. The radiation will blister the inside of his throat (the cancer is on his neck) so he'll have to use a feeding tube.

Izori

P.S. Just in case I won't be able to post in the next month or so, I'm scheduling posts for that time.

Character Personalities and Praise

I asked my dad (who is the editor for Dun Zarum) once he had finished the book if he could tell me my characters' personalities. I wanted to make sure I got their personalities across well, and whether or not they were strong, memorable characters. He described some to me, and one or two weren't as I had expected. For example: I had thought that Ehra (my main character) was quiet, a little reserved, and not very brave. Dad said that she was not quiet, but not loud, and brave, with a witty, drier sense of humor.

I was wondering: what exactly are Ben, Kaela, Josh, Lindsey, Lisa (as far as you can tell) and the other characters of Elandai's personalities? I find it hard for me to figure them out, because I made them up, after all, and I sort of have a set image of what they're supposed to be. So can y'all tell me? Thanks.

Also, we found out exactly what day Dad's chemo and radiation will start up: September 14. And also, the doses will (this isn't set in stone yet, but this is what we thing) be light enough for Dad to drive himself there and home. This is a biggie, because none of us kids are old enough to drive, so that would mean Mom would have to drive him, everyday, for six weeks, back and forth. And that would mean Wallace and I would be in charge, which means chaos. But he'll hopefully be feeling good enough to drive!

Izori