8 GOOD THINGS ABOUT LOSING WEIGHT

Yesterday I listed 8 bad things about losing weight, so today I am going to list 8 good things about losing weight.

8. I don't look like Santa Clause anymore!!!!
7. All of my clothes are baggy, I get to buy new clothes. (So far I have been mostly wearing smaller clothes that I had in my closet.)
6. I Lost my Belly Table
5. Everyone asking me if I feel better. (It's a great feeling for people to notice.)
4. I lost a fat roll on the back of my neck. (It was really bugging me, glad it's gone.)
3. I am beginning to look like I used to think I looked like.
2. I can do a walk/run for 2 miles, (before surgery, kind of sore right now).

And the number 1 good thing...........

1. I can bend over and tie my shoes, (before surgery, still sore).

So now you have seen my good and bad list, do you have any?

8 BAD THINGS ABOUT LOSING WEIGHT

As I stated yesterday in my blog, I have lost 47 pounds so far, my goal is to lose at least 53 more, that will make it an even 100. Also another goal is to get down to my goal weight and run in a 5K, I don't know why because I never did like to run. Zach just ran in the marathon in San Antonio and then he ran in the Jingle Bell 5K Run here, so Zach runs and Sarah runs also. So I thought that it would be cool to run a 5K with Sarah and Zach, but then after my surgery the other day Amy told me that she and Jody would also run with me, at least I think she did, I wasn't really all there.
Anyway, today I wanted to point out 8 bad things about losing weight, are you ready??

8. I don't look like Santa Clause anymore. (HO, HO, HO)
7. All of my pants are baggy (they are 3 sizes smaller, but baggy)
6. I lost my belly table!! (Allow me to explain, before I lost weight I could sit in my recliner and set my plate on my belly and eat, now it falls off.)
5. Everyone asking me if I feel A LOT better. (I know that I do but I don't really think about it.)
4. I get cold easier. (I lost my insulation!)
3. My Glasses slip off of my face. (Since I lost weight my glasses don't stay up as easy.)
2. My Wedding Ring fits on my middle finger now!!

And the Number 1 bad thing about losing so mush weight..............

1. MY TAIL BONE HURTS! (I lost the padding around my tail bone and when I sit very long it HURTS!!)

OK, so maybe these are not all bad things, but my tailbone still hurts. Maybe tomorrow I will list the good things about losing weight.

PROSTATE CANCER

Well, on Monday I had surgery to remove my prostate. As you remember I was diagnosed back in June with prostate cancer and we chose to have the prostate removed. So on Monday morning, at 5:30am we went to Covenant Hospital in Lubbock and Dr. Vallabhan removed my prostate using the robotics. Unlike when I had my hand fixed, they were able to get my IV on the first stick, so everything started on a good note. The surgery was supposed to begin at 7:00am but the surgery crew had an emergency early so they were a little bit late getting started on me, but not much. The surgery took 3 hours and I was asleep over 5 hours, and woke up with 6 holes in my stomach. The doctor also removed some lymph nodes and sent them off to be checked but said that he thinks that he got all of the cancer. So I am home recuperating and doing nothing for 2 weeks, and very little for 6 to 8 weeks. This is only Wednesday and it is already getting old.
When I checked into the hospital I had to weigh in and I have lost a total of 47 pounds, if you ask my wife she will tell you how many sticks of butter that is (that's just gross). Anyway I am home trying to heal up, so respond to my blog and maybe I will keep you updated.

NOBEL PRIZE

So what do you think about our president receiving the Nobel Peace Prize?
So far, I haven;t seen anything that he has done. He is pushing through a hate crimes bill that will outlaw what we think and say. Thomas Jefferson said the legislation should extend as far as action and not thoughts.
Obama is trying to push through a government run health care, because the government is doing so well with everything else it runs, a health care that most Americans don't want.
So what has he done to earn this prize?
Rush Limbaugh said, “The Nobel gang just suicide bombed themselves. Gore, Carter, Obama, soon Bill Clinton. See a pattern here? They are all leftist sell-outs. George Bush liberates 50 million Muslims in Iraq, Reagan liberates hundreds of millions of Europeans and saves parts of Latin America. Any awards?” Limbaugh says “Obama gives speeches trashing his own country and for that gets a prize, which is now worth as much as whatever prizes they are putting in Cracker Jacks these days.”
Some are saying that Obama is already passing Carter on being the worst president ever. And then of course, some love him and believe that he could do no wrong.
But the Nobel Peace Prize??

What do you think, has he earned it, do you think that he will, do you think that he is the worst president, best president or just OK.

One thing that I do know, he needs our prayers.

ADVENTURES IN SURGERY

I had surgery about 3 weeks ago, had carpal tunnel surgery on my right hand. The adventure began the morning of surgery. Anytime that I have surgery it is always an adventure to have an IV started. When I had my heart cath it took them 5 or 6 tries to get it, but when they did my carpal tunnel, 4 different people tried to get my IV started, for a total of 15 sticks. I just knew that if I were to drink any water I would look like a sprinkler. On the 15th try, I was told that it was in successfully, but judging by the pain going up my arm and down into my hand I told them that it wasn't, of course I was told that I was wrong. Within a few minutes my arm was getting larger and tighter, the IV fluids were going into my arm but not into my vain. Soon a shot was given to me through the IV to relax me and make me go goofy, it didn't work. When I was wheeled back into the operating room I was asked if I was feeling relaxed, I said no because it didn't go where it was supposed to. I was told that they were going to give me a shot to knock me out, it didn't work either. Now if the IV is in correctly, when they give me the shot to relax me, I go to sleep, so when the knock-out shot didn't work I was given a shot in the arm and the gas mask was applied. I was told to breath deep, I was beginning to think that that wasn't going to work either when I noticed all of the noises in the room getting longer.
And then I woke up, hand all fixed and wrapped up. And now...typing good, no pain.

MORE B-DAY PICS

Here are a few more pics from the big 50 party.

UPDATE

When it rains...
Well I went to Lubbock to see another urologist and he said that I still have prostate cancer but we are not in the rush to get it done. My Gleason's score and my psa are both low, so I have more time to get more weight off. So far I have lost 20 pounds and I need to lose another 45 before he operates. So I am working hard to become less and less of a man. I lost the first 20 just by changing my diet, no breads, chips, sweets, pastas, nothing white or fried and lots of salads. My goal is to become 1/3 less of a man.
On Tuesday I am having the carpal tunnel fixed in my hand fixed, this has hurt me for a long time, and I fell in November last year and made it worse, now it's getting so that I can't use it much. I decided that if my prostate surgery was going to be a ways off, I might as well get my hand fixed.
So now you have an update on me, what about you?

A CLEAN HEART

Well I had my heart cath on Friday. When I went in the first time to see the heart doctor, I was supposed to see Dr. Friesen but he had hurt his back and was in the hospital, so I saw his associate Dr. Huq. When I went back for my stress test I was told that Dr. Friesen had surgery on his back, so I was expecting Dr. Huq to do my heart cath. As I was laying there waiting this older man walks in and begins talking to me and I asked him if he was the anesthesiologist, he said no I am Dr. Friesen. So I had the master doing my heart cath. He went in and I laid there talking to him during the entire process. He checked my entire heart, kidneys and everything else he could check and said that everything was clean and in great shape, especially for a 50 year old man. Thank You God!! So they inserted a collagen plug into my femoral artery and an hour and a half later I was going to my motel room.
Prayer were prayed and answered. Thursday before we left all of the deacons from Carey and 7 deacons from FBC came to our house and prayed for Becky and I and prayers were answered, Thank You.
I am going to Lubbock for a second opinion on my prostate cancer, and my prayer now is, "You don't have cancer after all."
So continue to pray, as prayers were answered, prayers can be and will be answered for me and for you.
So what is the answer that you need from the Lord? What is the need in your life? Wouldn't it be great to have needs and prayers shared here on this blog?
Hope to hear from you.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Here are some pictures from the big birthday party at the farm. My Grandparents bought the farm the same month I was born. So we both turned 50. This first one is of my brothers and me.

Good food and Family, Becky and Sarah (yum)

Wanna and Carter

Huck and Dan

Van, Carter and Huck

The Castleberry's; Carter, Kim and Hannah

Susan and Jacob

Hannah

Dani and Lisa

Ashton, Cooper and Eisley

Alli Belle and Mia

Vancal with Zoe and Cooper

Carter and Eisley

Zach and Zoe

Sarah and Zoe

The two Cakes that Amy made

Yes I am dandy

The brand J-V

Courtney with Zoe

Cooper Davis Wilson

Lance

Thank You to everyone who came to the farm, it was a great day with family. Everyone had a great time!!.

More Doctors part 2

This is an update for the last blog, went to see the heart doctor, he now says that I am not getting enough blood flow to the lower part of my heart. So that means that I will have to have a heart cath on the 14th so that he can go in and see what is going on inside and put in a stint if necessary. Just more activities to add to my fun list. I am waiting on my appointments in Lubbock to get a second and maybe third opinion with another urologist and an oncologist. Fun, fun, fun.......
And on top of that....I turn 50 on the 11th. Happy Birthday, here let us cut on your leg and put a cath into your heart, does that hurt, let me try harder, does it hurt now? Good, Happy Birthday!!
O here, I have a present for you too, here let me cut your gut open and fish around for your prostate, feel good? NO, Happy Birthday!!
On a more serious note, we are having a big family party on the 8th at the farm. My grandparents bought the farm the year I was born, so we both turn 50 this year...Now that will be fun!! There should be about 30 of us out there and I am looking forward to it. The doctor wanted to do the heart cath on the 8th but that would have interfered with the farm birthday, so he gets to wait an extra week. Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday you hunk o' handsome dude......well someone has to sing it correctly. Right?
Have a Great day!!

More Doctors

Off to see the heart doctor tomorrow, I went in for a stress test last Tuesday and the doctors nurse called Friday and said that they found an abnormality and that I needed to be up there Monday morning at 9:30. So now we get to go back to Amarillo, again, and see what wonderful news he has for us. I am planning on going to Lubbock for a second opinion on my cancer, just want to see what someone else has to say about it. Anyway, I guess we will deal with the heart issue, whatever that is first. And then deal with the cancer, but I want to know which way we are going to jump.
Some good news though, I have been working on losing some weight, and in the past two weeks I have lost, as of Friday, 14 pounds. I guess something good comes out of everything, when this is all said and done I am determined to be 200 pounds. Skinny Man!!

MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU

We had a great 4th of July 3 day week-end, we relaxed, cooked out, made homemade ice-cream...well OK, that was Sunday evening. Friday I spent all day in the yard trying to get it back in shape, edging, weed-eating, trimming, mowing, Becky had the day off so she worked on cleaning her house.
Saturday was a BIG day. Friday evening we loaded up all of our Buncha-jumps inflatables, blowers, cords and generator (thanks Jerry H.). And then we were at the park at 7:30am on Saturday (Zach, Amy and I, Becky stayed with Zoe) and started setting everything up. You can see the pictures on our Buncha-jumps blog, www.bunchajumps.blogspot.com. The park opened at 9:00am. We sold armbands for $7 each for all day, and we were busy all day.
We started taking everything down about 3:00pm, the temp was 105, and everything was HOT!!!! I had been out in the heat all day, and I guess because of my cancer I was hurting so bad and was so sick that I could not even help load. The only thing that I could do was drive the pick-up so the inflatables could be loaded. Zach's mom and dad were at Zach and Amy watching Zoe, Zach dad Randy Detwiler came out and help pack up and load (Thank You So Much). So with his help, Zach, Amy and Becky loaded everything up.
We then went to Zach's to unload, Zach, Randy, Jason (Zach brother) and I unloaded before the storm hit. I then went and unloaded my truck, ice chest, lawn chairs and generator. A long day? Yes.
But the day wasn't over yet, Becky had cooked a brisket, so Zach, Amy, Randy Selina, Becky and I ate supper and played Joker. Had a great time, the guys won.
The fourth was a great day.
The fifth, had a great service at church. And then Jody, Sarah, Mia and Eisley came in, we cooked out and made home-made ice cream.
All in all, A great 3 day week-end.

How was yours? Let me know!!

JUST THE FACTS MA'AM

Just an update and a few facts about my cancer.
The fact is that this is not something that I am looking forward to, but it is something that I must have done in order to continue living. Dr. Pate said that if this had not been found or if I choose not to have it taken care of, I might live to my mid fifties. Considering that I am 49 now and will be 50 in August, that doesn't leave much time. However, if I do get it taken care of I should have 20 or 30 more years. Let me think about this for a minute.....5 years.....20-30 years.....
Dr. Pate went over everything with us, all of the different procedures, none of them sound like much fun, radiation from the outside will take who knows how long and the side effects are not good, radium seeds implanted into the prostate won't work so good for me because my prostate is only 18 centimeters, a man my age it should be about 23, to get enough seeds into it, it needs to be at least a 30.
To have it removed the old fashioned way will require being opened up from stem to stern. And then there are robotics where they go in through 4 small holes. Either way the surgery is a BIG DEAL. It is a major surgery with many risks, but God is a BIG GOD. I am not down nor depressed regardless of what the rumor mill says. Becky and I have been through so much over the recent years that we know God will see us through, and if He chooses to let it all end, just remember "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Phil 1:21 (ESV)
We are confident that we can take care of this and not have to do any other treatments such as radiation. One thing, we can have this removed and then have radiation if needed, but if we do radiation first the prostate can not be removed later because of damage the radiation does. So hopefully I can get by without further treatments, unlike my wife who will have treatments for her cancer the rest of her life.
Did you know that more men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year that women with breast cancer? Do you know how important it is for men to have blood drawn and their PSA checked? Also did you know that prostate cancer runs in families? Did you also know that Grandad Wilson had prostate cancer, it was found when he was older and because of his age it was left alone. Get your PSA checked guys, it could save your life!!!
Anyway there are a few of the facts, and I want to leave you with the words of the Apostle Paul;
"You won't see us drooping our heads or dragging our feet! Cramped conditions here don't get us down. They only remind us of the spacious living conditions ahead. 7 It's what we trust in but don't yet see that keeps us going. 8 Do you suppose a few ruts in the road or rocks in the path are going to stop us? When the time comes, we'll be plenty ready to exchange exile for homecoming. 9 But neither exile nor homecoming is the main thing. Cheerfully pleasing God is the main thing, and that's what we aim to do, regardless of our conditions. 10 Sooner or later we'll all have to face God, regardless of our conditions. We will appear before Christ and take what's coming to us as a result of our actions, either good or bad."
2 Cor 5:6-10 (MSG)

PROSTATE CANCER

Well it's official, we are now a two cancer couple. Becky with her Mycosis Fungoides and now I have been diagnosed with prostate cancer. 3 of the 6 biopsies on the left side came back malignant, the left side was also the one that was kind of hard and was also dark. So it all makes since, don't like it, but it all adds up.
So tomorrow, Friday, we will be in Amarillo and we will go see Dr. Pate along with the 3 doctors Becky has to see. It will be a busy day, but......

I am here at the church working alone, which is good. Everyone wants to know how I am doing, I'm alright. I was kind of prepared for it, knowing the color and hardness of it. God knows what He is doing, He is just giving us more opportunities for ministry. Just look at the people we can relate to now that we couldn't before.

Anyway, it'll all be good. Just remember
OUR GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD.
HE REIGNS FROM HEAVEN ABOVE.
WITH WISDOM, POW’R AND LOVE, OUR GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD.


When the music fades, all is stripped away and I simply come.
Longing just to bring something that’s of worth that will bless your heart.
I’ll bring you more than a song, for a song in itself is not what you have required.
You search much deeper within through the way things appear.
You’re looking into my heart.

I’m coming back to the heart of worship and it’s all about you,
all about you, Jesus.
I’m sorry Lord for the thing I’ve made it.
When it’s all about you, all about you, Jesus.

BIOPSIES

Well yesterday I had 12 biopsies on my prostate, 6 from each side. The doctor said that the left side was dark, he said that it might mean something and it might not. But we should know something by Wednesday or Thursday. Everything went well, not fun nor pleasant, but could have been worse. So we are praying for good results and waiting on a phone call. Keep us in your prayers.

JUNE??

Well we had thought that maybe June would not be such a busy month, we had Jody and Mia's birthday's, Relay for Life, Father's Day, but other than that a kind of quite month. Or so we thought, we are taking a couple of our inflatables (Buncha-Jumps) up to Amarillo for Mia's birthday party on Saturday,(Today is actually her birthday - Happy Birthday Mia, big 4 years old, Pa Paw loves you). And then Zoe (almost 9 months old) is having some surgery on the 17th, she has 3 ureters and has to have one removed, the doctor says that it is a simple operation. And then I go in on the 22nd to have 12 biopsies on my prostate. My psa keeps going higher, my free psa is 7% - it should be over 10%,and my left prostate is sort of hard.
Becky has a UV panel at home so that she can take her treatments at home now, and as soon as she gets the code she can use it, that saves us 500 miles a week.
But one thing I do know...God is still in control and it will be better when it's all over.

AMERICAN MARXISM??

This was sent to me from Don Wildmon, American Family Association (afa.net). It should make us all stand up and take notice!!

This article is for your information. Please read.
Note from Don Wildmon: For years I have refused to use words such as Marxism, socialism or similar words when describing our current situation. However, it is time to call a spade a spade, regardless of how those who oppose us label us. Rome is burning.
The article below was written by Stanislav Mishin, a blogger and columnist for the Russian newspaper Pravda.

American capitalism gone with a whimper . . . . .
It must be said, that like the breaking of a great dam, the American decent into Marxism is happening with breath taking speed, against the back drop of a passive, hapless sheeple, excuse me dear reader, I meant people.

True, the situation has been well prepared on and off for the past century, especially the past twenty years. The initial testing grounds was conducted upon our Holy Russia and a bloody test it was. But we Russians would not just roll over and give up our freedoms and our souls, no matter how much money Wall Street poured into the fists of the Marxists.

Those lessons were taken and used to properly prepare the American populace for the surrender of their freedoms and souls, to the whims of their elites and betters.

First, the population was dumbed down through a politicized and substandard education system based on pop culture, rather than the classics. Americans know more about their favorite TV dramas than the drama in DC that directly affects their lives. They care more for their "right" to choke down a McDonalds burger or a BurgerKing burger than for their constitutional rights. Then they turn around and lecture us (Russia) about our rights and about our "democracy". Pride blinds the foolish.

Then their faith in God was destroyed, until their churches, all tens of thousands of different "branches and denominations" were for the most part little more then Sunday circuses and their televangelists and top protestant mega preachers were more then happy to sell out their souls and flocks to be on the "winning" side of one pseudo Marxist politician or another. Their flocks may complain, but when explained that they would be on the "winning" side, their flocks were ever so quick to reject Christ in hopes for earthly power. Even our Holy Orthodox (Russian Orthodox) churches are scandalously liberalized in America.

The final collapse has come with the election of Barack Obama. His speed in the past three months has been truly impressive. His spending and money printing has been a record setting, not just in America's short history but in the world. If this keeps up for more than another year, and there is no sign that it will not, America at best will resemble the Wiemar Republic and at worst Zimbabwe.

These past two weeks have been the most breath taking of all. First came the announcement of a planned redesign of the American Byzantine tax system, by the very thieves who used it to bankroll their thefts, loses and swindles of hundreds of billions of dollars. These make our Russian oligarchs look little more than ordinary street thugs, in comparison. Yes, the Americans have beat our own thieves in the shear volumes. Should we congratulate them?
These men, of course, are not an elected panel but made up of appointees picked from the very financial oligarchs and their henchmen who are now gorging themselves on trillions of American dollars, in one bailout after another. They are also usurping the rights, duties and powers of the American congress (parliament). Again, congress has put up little more then a whimper to their masters.

Then came Barack Obama's command that GM's (General Motor) president step down from leadership of his company. That is correct, dear reader, in the land of "pure" free markets, the American president now has the power, the self given power, to fire CEOs and we can assume other employees of private companies, at will. Come hither, go dither, the centurion commands his minions.

So it should be no surprise that the American president has followed this up with a "bold" move of declaring that he and another group of unelected, chosen stooges will now redesign the entire automotive industry and will even be the guarantee of automobile policies. I am sure that if given the chance, they would happily try and redesign it for the whole of the world, too. Prime Minister Putin, less then two months ago, warned Obama and UK's Blair, not to follow the path to Marxism, it only leads to disaster. Apparently, even though we suffered 70 years of this Western sponsored horror show, we know nothing, as foolish, drunken Russians, so let our "wise"

Anglo-Saxon fools find out the folly of their own pride.

Again, the American public has taken this with barely a whimper...but a "freeman" whimper.
So, should it be any surprise to discover that the Democratically controlled Congress of America is working on passing a new regulation that would give the American Treasury department the power to set "fair" maximum salaries, evaluate performance and control how private companies give out pay raises and bonuses? Senator Barney Franks, a social pervert basking in his homosexuality (of course, amongst the modern, enlightened American societal norm, as well as that of the general West, homosexuality is not only not a looked down upon life choice, but is often praised as a virtue) and his Marxist enlightenment, has led this effort. He stresses that this only affects companies that receive government monies, but it is retroactive and taken to a logical extreme, this would include any company or industry that has ever received a tax break or incentive.

The Russian owners of American companies and industries should look thoughtfully at this and the option of closing their facilities down and fleeing the land of the Red as fast as possible. In other words, divest while there is still value left.

The proud American will go down into his slavery with out a fight, beating his chest and proclaiming to the world, how free he really is. The world will only snicker.

Stanislav Mishin

REMISSION!!

Well, since we last talked, Becky and I went to Denver to see her Dr. and get a 6 month check-up on her cancer. We flew to Denver on Friday in the middle of a blizzard, long rough flight, but in Greeley it was only rain. By Sunday it was clear and warm. We saw the Dr. on Tuesday and she said that Becky was in remission but she would have to continue treatment twice a week. Remission, what a good word, remission with maintenance treatment, that's OK. The Dr. also wrote a letter for the insurance company to see if we could get a treatment box in our house, that would save us 500 miles a week. But whatever, I do know this, I thank God and REMISSION is a great word!!!!!!

THREE GRANDGIRLS

Well here are three pics of the girls,
these were taken the day that Jody and Sarah arrived home from Israel.
The first one is of Eisley and Zoe looking at each other.
This one is of Mia, looks like you could just swim in her eyes.

Hi Eisley, Mia and Eisley were ready to see their parents,
everyone was ready for them to be home.

Not much to say, but pretty girls to look at.

MARCH UPDATE

Wow, it's been a while since I have blogged, for those of you who actually read this, I'm sorry. Well let me catch you up, it snowed here, not much as you see, but that has been about the extent of our moisture so far this year, sad but true.

Becky is in the hospital again, feeling some better this morning, but it will be a few more days until she is out. It seems like with this cancer that she gets sick real easy, real fast and real often. But she makes up for it by not getting over it very fast, it seems like the only way that she cane really get over it is in the hospital. After a week on antibiotics and three trips to the doctor, she was put in the hospital by Dr. Green. He keeps a close eye on her, but last week she didn't get to see him, this week she did.

She is still going for her treatments in Amarillo, but it has been cut down to once a week instead of twice, and she will go back to the Dr. in Denver in April. I think this is all a part of her cancer, so keep praying for her.

Our grandgirls are getting more beautiful every day, little Zoe is learning how to sit up, and getting good at it. Eisley is walking more all of the time and Mia is just getting smarter all of the time. She went with Jody to the post office to get the ministry mail out of the box, looked at the box's six digit number and remembered it days later.

Jody and Sarah are in Israel for 12 days, flew in this morning, what a great trip that would be.

Amy and Zach are in the process of buying a house, fixing it up and moving into it.

Amy and I and some others from our church are planning to go to Namibia Africa on a mission trip in October.

Anyway, this is a quick update, let me hear from you.

CHRISTMAS & FAMILY 08

Christmas was awesome around our house this year, it was filled with wonder...

and excitment. We even had a princess present.

Everyone got just what they wanted....

Papa got the grandgirls

Mama Bee got a present too....
and then...and then..."Who is that masked man?"
It drove us all a bit crazy!!

But we knew, it was Mia's daddy. Hope you all had a great Christmas.

and have a wonderful 2009