It's been such a long time since I've made a post on the family blog! I'm a big blogger on my personal blog but I'm going to try and come back to family blogging!
This is Joseph, and I'm the middle child in the Twomey family, age sixteen. Daniel is fourteen and Shannon is twenty four! I am the one who runs the blog and updates things. I know from insights that people are still viewing the blog and I apologize for my lack of updates. I believe the ast update I made was after Mom's surgery to get her catheter out!
Currently, Mom is off of chemotherapy and she has been for a while. This is a huge relief and blessing at the same time for her. She has dialysis that was three days a week, but as of last week has started to be only twice a week, which as of now if Tuesday and Saturday. She is going to be moving to dialysis on Monday and Thursday in two weeks so she will have a free Saturday to do family-oriented things.
Things around the house have been pretty normal but of course very stressful with the school schedule and medical schedule for my mom. School five days a week, hours of homework every day, extra activities, my production and tech work at Grace, and more! Staying busy helps keep my mind off of things for the most part though.
That's a quick cap off of what's been going on! Nothing major. Just a pretty slow and laid back schedule. I am hopefully going to start blogging via iPhone soon to bring updates more often since I don't carry my laptop around. You can probably expect bi-weekly posts from me now. If you want to get in touch or email me, go for it!
twomey.joseph@gmail.com (Primary)
twomey.joseph@me.com (Apple, secondary)
I hope everyone has a fantastic Thanksgiving and everyone is doing well.
Love!
Joseph
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Surgery 6/27/2012
Mom's surgery was scheduled for today at 11:00 A.M., but there were complications with another patient's surgery before her. Her surgery was delayed for a number of hours and was not until about 4:00. She went into recovery for two hours afterwards. The surgery went well with no problems! Her arm will be sore for a while from where the fistula was put in, but she is taking pain medication for that. She will be coming home tomorrow to have full recovery here at home. Her port will not be usable until it heals completely, in about two months. We appreciate all the prayers for today and for everyone thinking about us! God is so good!
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
June 2012 & Surgery 6/27
[Post written by Karen]
Summer days are passing us by, sometimes rather quickly, and other times dragging it's feet. We really aren't in a hurry about anything. After all, isn't that what summer is all about? We should speed up the summer reading schedule a bit so the books can be put away. It's not on the boys's list of favorite things to do.
I have just been keeping up with the schedule of dialysis three days a week and chemotherapy every three weeks. I have tolerated chemo fairly well and I am thankful for that. I missed one chemo session because of an extremely low white blood cell count. I received an injection to boost my white blood cell count which has helped. The only side effect was my bones ached pretty badly for a couple of days.
I am having surgery in the morning at St. Joseph's Hospital to put the dialysis fistula in my arm. This will be a permanent access for dialysis and takes two to four months to heal before it can be used. I'm not looking forward to it, but the temporary one in my chest is just that, temporary. It is not the most ideal way to do dialysis and can easily become infected. The doctors want it gone and so do I!
We are all still trying to adjust to life differently now. Our days have been filled with constant appointments that have taken the place of other things on the calendar. We are thankful for the days when the calendar has a day or two with nothing on it. God has really blessed us with so many friends that continue to help us with transportation, meals, and lots of support. This has been a great source of help for all of us. Thank you for your prayers for our family and we pray that you are having a wonderful summer with your family.
We will keep you posted on my surgery tomorrow (both on Facebook and the blog). Thanks again for the prayers! It is my constant reminder of God's love and provision through you. I love you all!
[Message from Joseph]
The blog will begin to be updated more frequently now with news, updates and photos both on our blog and on my Facebook. Thanks again!!
Summer days are passing us by, sometimes rather quickly, and other times dragging it's feet. We really aren't in a hurry about anything. After all, isn't that what summer is all about? We should speed up the summer reading schedule a bit so the books can be put away. It's not on the boys's list of favorite things to do.
I have just been keeping up with the schedule of dialysis three days a week and chemotherapy every three weeks. I have tolerated chemo fairly well and I am thankful for that. I missed one chemo session because of an extremely low white blood cell count. I received an injection to boost my white blood cell count which has helped. The only side effect was my bones ached pretty badly for a couple of days.
I am having surgery in the morning at St. Joseph's Hospital to put the dialysis fistula in my arm. This will be a permanent access for dialysis and takes two to four months to heal before it can be used. I'm not looking forward to it, but the temporary one in my chest is just that, temporary. It is not the most ideal way to do dialysis and can easily become infected. The doctors want it gone and so do I!
We are all still trying to adjust to life differently now. Our days have been filled with constant appointments that have taken the place of other things on the calendar. We are thankful for the days when the calendar has a day or two with nothing on it. God has really blessed us with so many friends that continue to help us with transportation, meals, and lots of support. This has been a great source of help for all of us. Thank you for your prayers for our family and we pray that you are having a wonderful summer with your family.
We will keep you posted on my surgery tomorrow (both on Facebook and the blog). Thanks again for the prayers! It is my constant reminder of God's love and provision through you. I love you all!
[Message from Joseph]
The blog will begin to be updated more frequently now with news, updates and photos both on our blog and on my Facebook. Thanks again!!
Thursday, June 7, 2012
June 7, 2012
Today was another dialysis day. Dialysis for Mom is on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. It takes some of the weight off her from fluid buildup. It makes her feel "better" you could say, but she does feel tired and more worn out afterwards. She also has chemo tomorrow at 1:00. We had a "do nothing day" today where we hung out with friends and sat around. Mom got some new flowers for the backyard which we planted tonight and filled up the pond in our backyard. We wanted to go out for dinner tonight to get out for a while, so we're going to Red Lobster for dinner and then coming back home to do something tonight. Summer can be fun, and it can be boring.
We want to know - What is the best part of summer! Take your vote to the right and let us know.
We want to know - What is the best part of summer! Take your vote to the right and let us know.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
June 1-6, 2012
Sorry for our lack of updates and news. Summer 2012 has been a busy one so far!
We have been having a fairly smooth summer so far. Pool, video games, tv, family time, and outdoor time. It's nice to be able to relax now that everything is calming down for us. Dialysis days are still hard for her. She starts out fine, but comes home tired and weak. She cannot drive on dialysis days for safety reasons. She did drive for her first time in about 2 months this past Monday, June 4th. That was awesome for her! She said she felt confident and like she hadn't missed anything. I'm starting to drive more too now that summer is here. Learning to drive isn't fun, but it will be worth it one day. Mom has chemotherapy on Friday at the cancer center near St. Joseph's. She will lose more hair from her chemo. Her hair is thinning more and more, especially when washed and dried. She still has her dialysis port in her chest until she gets the fistula put in her arm. We don't really know when that will be, or when she will be able to stop having dialysis. Most of her bruising from the hospital is now gone, which is great. She is definitely more independent. She takes care of herself almost completely, and we help her out with chores and house-hold tasks.
I'm going to try and be updating this more throughout the summer, and I'm going to put some summer pictures up. We still appreciate the prayers very much and this is a part of what keeps up going. We love you all and we do think about you! Until the next update,
Joseph
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
James 1:17 ESV
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
This is what happens when Mom gets out of the house:
I LOVE taking pictures. We went out tonight shopping for stuff Daniel needed for his D.C. trip. These with the glasses are from Dollar Tree trying on sunglasses. The others are from Publix.
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| Are these my style? |
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| Ozzy Osbourne |
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| Confused? |
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| I'm stylish. |
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| I'm an angel... |
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| PINK?! |
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| Uh... Where are I going?? |
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| What's this? Haha |
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| The "Joseph is taking a random picture" picture. |
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| New earrings? |
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| HEY! Everyone look at me!! |
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| What are we even looking for? |
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| Dad: "Daniel, if you can't get a date, you can always get DATES in a can! HAHA!" Daniel: "Really?..." |
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| Wait! Let me get some flowers! |
Post by Karen
Be strong in the Lord and the power of his might.
Ephesians 6:10
Thank you to each and everyone of our friends, family, neighbors, relatives, and to the many people that have heard about me and taken the time to pray for us, encourage us, laugh, cry, and pray even more with us.
The love and encouragement has been overwhelming and at times, I feel like the most blessed person on the earth. I have learned first-hand the power of prayer and God's hand on my life. I am forever thankful to know that God is my Savior and the one who has all the days of my life in his hands.
Lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares, and... run with endurance the race that is set before you.
Hebrews 12:1
Runners never look back over the course they have covered. They keep moving towards their goal. Their eyes are on the finish line.
I love this prayer from a prayer journal that my sister Linda gave me for my 50th birthday just four days before I was admitted to St. Joseph's Hospital.
"God, help me accept where I am now and see the blessings and opportunities that are right here. I trust in you right here. I trust in you for my life. May I embrace what you're doing in my life so I can share with others the wonders of your great purposes. Amen."
Little did I know in the days leading up to the hospital what all of this would mean to me, but now as I read the words of my son journaling all the details and hearing his heart for his momma, I do know. His writings and blog with many pictures (Some approved, some maybe not!) have helped me make some sense out of where and when this all unfolded. Thank you Joseph for sharing your heart with all of us! I love you!
We continue to trust God daily. Some days are good, some days are really hard, but I am so thankful for every one of the days I have. I love you ALL!
Love,
Karen Twomey
Ephesians 6:10
Thank you to each and everyone of our friends, family, neighbors, relatives, and to the many people that have heard about me and taken the time to pray for us, encourage us, laugh, cry, and pray even more with us.
The love and encouragement has been overwhelming and at times, I feel like the most blessed person on the earth. I have learned first-hand the power of prayer and God's hand on my life. I am forever thankful to know that God is my Savior and the one who has all the days of my life in his hands.
Lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares, and... run with endurance the race that is set before you.
Hebrews 12:1
Runners never look back over the course they have covered. They keep moving towards their goal. Their eyes are on the finish line.
I love this prayer from a prayer journal that my sister Linda gave me for my 50th birthday just four days before I was admitted to St. Joseph's Hospital.
"God, help me accept where I am now and see the blessings and opportunities that are right here. I trust in you right here. I trust in you for my life. May I embrace what you're doing in my life so I can share with others the wonders of your great purposes. Amen."
Little did I know in the days leading up to the hospital what all of this would mean to me, but now as I read the words of my son journaling all the details and hearing his heart for his momma, I do know. His writings and blog with many pictures (Some approved, some maybe not!) have helped me make some sense out of where and when this all unfolded. Thank you Joseph for sharing your heart with all of us! I love you!
We continue to trust God daily. Some days are good, some days are really hard, but I am so thankful for every one of the days I have. I love you ALL!
Love,
Karen Twomey
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