Update 1/25/08

My mom was released from the hospital on Sunday, Jan 19. She returned on Wednesday for the results and treatment analysis.

The treatments will begin on January 30. That day she'll meet with the chemo team, and that afternoon they will begin the chemo/radiation combination treatments. She'll have 28 consecutive days of treatment except for Saturdays and Sundays. She'll have to stay in Houston close to the hospital so that the docs can monitor the side effects and 'reactions' to the treatments.

She'll be staying in a friend's motor home in a nice RV park close to the hospital. It's way more cost effective than hotel or the MD Anderson housing.

Here's an excerpt from an email my mom sent out: "...with everything that has happened in the last weeks all we can say is that we thank God that He has been so good to us! He has open the doors in the place that He wants us to be, and we know that we are in His hands and that everything that happens to us is for good..."

I'm so thankful for a mom that has the big picture in mind. Sometimes things may not look 'good' on the outside looking in, but we know for certain that God has our best in mind. We may not think it's the best, but only He knows the why's of the what's.

2nd update - 1/19/08

My mom is still in the hospital this morning. Her potassium was very low so they hooked her up to several bags. They should be allowing her to go home sometime today.

Update - 1/19/08

My mom spent all day at the hospital on Wednesday, and she was exhausted. She then had to return on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning for more. They ran an extra test yesterday, an ultrasound that would tell how deep into the lining (wall) of the colon the tumor spread.

I didn't get a chance to talk to my mom yesterday after all of it because she was still "under" when I called. Louis (her husband) let me know they'd call on their way home. The call I received was not what I expected to hear. She had to be rushed back to the emergency room because she didn't take well to whatever they did to her. She was very sick, and they had to hook up an i.v.

This is what they do know - the tumor did go through the wall of her colon and got to some lymph nodes. That means they'll have to do chemo and/or radiation before the surgery to remove the 4 inches. I don't know yet when they'll begin this process.

When they do the surgery, she'll have to go in 3 days beforehand to do all the prep. The surgery itself will take 4-6 hours, and she'll have to stay in the hospital for a week. Then she'll have to stay in Houston as close to the hospital as possible in case something should happen.

If they can save her rectum, she'll have a temporary "bag" for about 6 weeks. If not, she'll have a permanent one.

I haven't heard from her this morning to know how she's doing, but I'll update as soon as I know something.

Thank you for your prayers.

Gotta Love 'Em

I don't know many people who enjoy them - tests that is. My mom is pretty tired of them, and I'm tired of them for her, but I know they're for the best...I think. So her new specialist at MD Anderson (the Cancer Center of Texas and one of the nation's best cancer treatment centers) will be running further tests on my mom this coming Wednesday, January 16 and also Friday, January 18. She'll be there all day on the 16th and for a few hours on the 18th. Not only will they run some of the tests that they've already completed (they like to have 2), but they'll have additional examinations to...do something...whatever it is doctors do.

Then on January 23 the oncology team will meet with her to give her the date of the surgery and instructions on further treatment, etc.

That's all we know for now.

It's great to have a mom with a sense of humor during these "ugh" times. She was telling me that she asked God that if He decided to heal her supernaturally to also please take away old scars from previous surgeries, stretch marks, wrinkles, etc. Isn't she cute?

Thanks again for your prayers. We appreciate you.

My Mom

I wasn't sure what to title this blog because as I begin to write it, I'm not quite sure where I'll be going with it.

So we found out just before Christmas that my mom has colon cancer. A specialist from Houston should be calling her within the next couple of days to schedule surgery, during which they'll remove 10 cm from her colon. It hasn't spread further, and that's a great thing! One sorta major complication is that (and sorry if I disgust you with the details...it's just how it is) her rectum is only 5 cm from where they'll be cutting, and they may not be able to save it. If that happens, basically she'll have to walk around with a bag the rest of her life. The doc said that technology is so far advanced that there is another option to the bag...but for now we're just praying that it'll all work out.

I'm sorry if I haven't responded to emails, etc...just been a bit preoccupied with this. I ask that if you're reading this that you pray for my mom and her health. I'll try to update it as much as possible and when I hear anything.

Personally...I'm just heartbroken that my mom has had to go through so much as it pertains to her health. She's been such a trooper through everything else...but I just want her to have a break. I do know, however, that God is in control. He's got the whole world in His hands, remember? Really, though, I know that He cares about her even more than I do (and that's a whole lot), and I just have to trust she's in His hands.

So the thing is...

...moving, new beginnings and life itself all just have a bunch of drama. I haven't blogged because of that...because I've been trying to make sense of it all and haven't been able to put it into words.

Back in September our family was faced with some heavy-duty drama that caused things to sorta stop for a bit. One of our family members was harmed, and the entire family was forced into a very difficult situation. We had to learn to forgive when we were deeply wounded. We had to learn what it meant to really forgive someone when it wasn't deserved. Yet, who are we to say who does or doesn't deserve forgiveness? And who are we to withhold forgiveness? I, we, have all been forgiven a great deal, and I believe God allows circumstances like these to force us to deal with ourselves. Where are we? Do we love as He does?

Honestly, I don't think I was personally dealing with the issue very well. At first, it was easy to respond with forgiveness because that's what I've been trained to do. My mind and my heart were automatically there. Then reality set it a bit more and so did time...and my heart began to harden. I began reacting instead of responding, and I wasn't the typical Susy. In a way, I think I was upset with God for allowing weird things to happen at the most inopportune times. However, I also knew deep in my heart that though it didn't seem like it at the time, He could and would bring something truly great out of trash. My growing process seems a bit slow right now, but He's patient. And I know He'll use this for good. He's causing all of us to grow from it. If it's just for me to learn a bit more how to love, then it's worth it. That's what He desires - to refine us.

So that was an attempt to explain three very long months.

On a lighter note, we've received more snow here than I've seen in my life. It started two or three weeks ago with some ice and then a couple of inches of snow. Nathan amused me and helped me with my first real snowman. Then last week, or earlier this week (my schedule is so messed up these days) we had a day of "blizzard-like conditions" for an entire afternoon which produced 8-10 inches of snow (they're still uncertain) and snow drifts up to 3 feet. I was working during the crazy snow storm and watched people attempt driving. At different times you couldn't see across the street and visibility was less than 1/8 of a mile. Why were people driving in it? I have no clue, but it was also incredibly cold, so cold that people's wipers were freezing. It didn't help that they could hardly see to begin with...I'd never seen anything like it. Thank goodness for my amazing husband who came to the rescue and picked me up from work. I've been driving the little piece of Kia, and it just wouldn't have been able to get through because the snow was so deep. Because Nathan loves adventure and actually enjoys driving in this mess, we went to dinner and a movie instead of straight home (where the sane people were). I was just mesmerized by how much snow there was EVERYWHERE. I've seen snow here and there, but never sooo much snow all over the place. Oh...well except when we went to Montana on our honeymoon. Anyway, I'll try to post pictures soon.

Yesterday we had some snow that didn't stick, but it was all okay because we still have plenty of it from the crazy blizzard-like day. Then last night we got another 5 inches. Okay, so I've been all gung-ho about snow because I come from Lake Jackson, Texas, the place that gets snow once every 15 years...and never like this. The part I really don't like about this is having to drive in it. Ugh. My amazing husband came to the rescue once again and followed me to work this morning. He really wants me to get adjusted to it and get comfortable enough to drive in it. Well, it's not so bad. It's just bad when there's people around. Other cars really stress me out, and I just pray, "Oh, Jesus, oh Jesus, oh Jesus..." He hears that.

Pics soon to come.

Peace on Earth

So as I was reading my Biblia the other day, I came upon a verse that caught my attention like never before. Psalm 34:14 says, “Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”

I've read this Psalm at least several dozen times, but never before has the second part of it hit me the way it did recently - seek peace and pursue it.

I then did a little more research and found a few other verses that speak of seeking after or pursuing peace:

Romans 14:19 – Therefore, let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.
Romans 12:18 – If it is possible, as much as depends on you(emphasis mine), live peaceably with all men.
Hebrews 12:14 – Pursue peace with all people and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
2 Tim. 2:22 – Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart

Because God has called us to pursue peace, I’m not only to desire peace with my fellow brother, but I am to seek it, pursue it, and do whatever is in my power to live at peace with all men.

Pursuing peace with all people – not sitting idly on a situation, but chasing reconciliation with all men (especially those with whom I have offense).

In the past if I had any ‘issues’ with people, a lot of the times I would just try to ignore the problem, hoping it would just go away. It never really worked, though. Even if it was years later, God always had a way of unfolding the situation and reminding me of Matthew 5:23-24 – “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.”

Simple right? For most people this may not be a challenge, but to Susy it used to be pretty difficult. Why? Well, simply put I can be very selfish and proud – the stems of most evil.

When I’ve been hurt in the past, it has often taken me a while to get over it. My pride allowed bitterness to creep in and steal the peace between myself and the other party. In some cases the other person wasn’t even aware that they had offended me. Then if I encountered that person, oh, I would just have this way of making things seem totally uncomfortable. Ever been on the receiving end of that? Or worse, have you been a Susy? It’s a terrible way to manipulate people and situations, and I’m certainly not proud that I have ever done this. I’m not saying that the hurts were imagined or that the offenses weren’t valid. Feelings, though fickle, are valid because they are ours. My feelings were valid, but I failed to confront situations the right way.

The better way -

do whatever is in your power to pursue peace by communicating the offense, choosing to forgive whether or not an apology is given, and giving way not to bitterness and resentment (which only hold us captive) but to love and peace.

I love them with my life and miss them with all my heart...

For Clarification

Blogging - I was asked recently why I blog. I don't know that there's just one simple answer. If you go out to the blogosphere, there are blogs out there for any and everything. What makes me think I have something worth saying?

1) This is my way of keeping friends and family tuned into my life without having to send individual emails. Lazy? Maybe. With so many people in so many places, I'm just not that great at responding to the same questions over and over in emails. My typing fingers get tired.

2) I get to vent here and talk about whatever I want without edits. What I mean is that I don't have anyone making the rules for me. I make the rules on my blog. These are my views and my opinions. I tell it how I'm feeling it at the moment. Especially when it comes to health, I try not to tell you how or what I think you should do. I type as I learn, so if I sound like I'm stuffing things down your throat, it's only because you caught me on a passionately-about-health (or something) day.

BURN THEM ALL!

I am outraged! I waited a week to post this to see if I could calm down, but I'm as outraged as ever. Last week I spent quite a bit of time at a bookstore. I was looking through 'health' books and couldn't believe what I was reading. These days, anyone can publish a book about health. Yes, you can promote and recommend the most ridiculous ideas about health and have the book published. You know how? Get the big corporations behind you, and you can do whatever you want.

Liars! They're all liars! They tell half-truths and end up deceiving people about why we are actually sick. One book I picked up said this, "...studies have found that saturated fats cause heart disease...etc..." Guys, that's a half-truth. I continued to read to see if he ever finished that statement with the rest of the story. The author never did. The fact is, and I say that clearly - the FACT is that not ALL saturated fats are bad. We need some saturated fats, and one of the reasons we are so sick today is because we lack those fats. Ugh!

Another author was trying to convince the reading audience about how animal products are making kids go into puberty at younger ages, and blah, blah, blah. That's all that was - blah, blah, blah. Why? It's a lie because it's a half-truth. The FACT is that the types of animal products we feed our children aren't just laced with hormones and antibiotics; they are DOUSED with them. Animal products are GOOD for us when they're fed correctly, raised correctly, and aren't injected with poisons. What?! Good for us? This, of course, goes against the 'oh-so-great' vegetarian diets that we think are 'oh-so-great' for us. I won't get into why I will never EVER be a vegetarian, and I hope that we can still be friends if you're reading this and ARE a vegetarian. These days, I understand why people think it's better to go all vegan. Our animal products are practically poisonous, so I would do the vegetarian thing if there was no way for me to get quality animal products. BUT there is a way, thank GOD.

Then I read a book recommending that we should put our kids on a low-fat diet and give them soy products. Are you for real? You may be thinking that we should ALL be on a low-fat diet, given what you may or may not know. The truth is that we NEED fat...the right kind of fat that is. And soy - oh I won't get started. I'll try to post soon what I've learned about the ever-popular soy.

I get so ticked off when losers give people half-truths in books because THAT'S what keeps feeding the big corporations. They (as well as the FDA, the politicians, and all those other people) make so much money from us ingesting their 'health' foods and adapting their 'health' recommendations - it makes me SICK!

Do you know what their 'studies' are like? Well, I can't get into it much right now, but just know that most of their 'studies' are inaccurate, and therefore, their findings are inaccurate. How are they allowed to publish their lies? Because it's all about money. If you have the right kind of people behind you, you can do whatever you want. And all that they want is to make a profit.

So instead of letting the fire-starter in me lose in the bookstore, I took several deep breaths and walked out before I did anything crazy. But I say we burn them all - burn all the crazy books with the crazy information that is only making more and more profit for the people who don't actually want you to be healthy.

Oh, and before placing your children on a low-fat or fat-free diet, PLEASE call me. In trying to help them, that is only going to kill them. What IS good to do: quit feeding them all those donuts, chicken nuggets, and processed foods. That's a good start.

Susy's Blog Rules, Numero Dos

2. I cannot post your comment if it contains vulgar language. I love your thoughts - especially yours, Mr. Scoundrel - but I want to maintain a family-friendly environment. Please keep the comments rated G.

Susy's Blog Rules, Numero 1

1. If leaving a comment, you MUST at least leave your name. Anonymity is a form of cowardice.

EDIT: I DO actually understand some forms of and reasons for anonymity. I may know who you are if you leave some initials, a nickname, or the like. I would like for you to leave your name, though, if I'll have no idea who you are. Thanks! View Blog

I'm Still in the Game to See Dorothy...

...but in the meantime, check out the footprints sasquatch left for us.




I took these a couple of nights ago after we had some rain. Okay and does it seem like we're all getting bombarded by it - the rain I mean? I won't complain, though. Thank GOD for it! This rain has kept the weather unusually cool for this time of the year. I hear that by now everything green is usually dying and that the temps are typically in the high 90s. Yes, we do reach high 90s and even the hundreds here. This great rain has kept us in the mid 80s for the most part, and I don't mind that at all. In fact, I've been praying for this kind of weather for my hubby. In his current line of work, they'll take rain with 80s temps any day over what should be. Anyway, the pictures - if you look closely, it's actually a double rainbow.

I Found OZ...

...actually, I only found Mr. Tin-man and Mr. Scarecrow. I think Dorothy, Toto, and the Lion were nearby hiding. See, they're not to be found by outsiders. Only Kansans have the high privilege of knowing where they live. I'm new into the database, so they're testing me. They're waiting to see if I give away their location. If I don't, I pass the test, and Dorothy, herself, along with Toto, will unveil themselves. If, however, I give anyone even an inkling as to their whereabouts, I fail the opportunity to be one of them - a Kansan. At this point, I'm still back and forth on the issue.

Spaghetti Squash

So we know that whole wheat grains are NOT the best choice. Unless they have been properly fermented, sprouted or treated, they have enzyme inhibitors which prevent us from breaking down the food and absorbing it. That causes us to get all kinds of intestinal diseases. Most whole grain products also have hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils. Those cause artery damage, which puts us at a very high risk for arteriosclerosis.

Well, I'm a big bread and pasta fan...as well as cheese (thus my love for pizza), but I don't want to continue to harm my lil' arteries. As far as breads and grains go, eat sprouted or be a super-hero like my friend, Chrystal, and mill your own wheat berries to make your own bread. (This, by the way, doesn't mean that all home-made bread is good for you. No, it requires a bit more than that.)

For pasta, well...there's sprouted pasta, but I had a really terrible time attempting to enjoy it. My preferred YUMMY alternative is SPAGHETTI SQUASH.

This is a tasty pasta alternative that allows tons of creativity. Let me know if when you try it out!

I'm Co-Co Nuts

All oils are not created equal. You probably know that by now because the word is finally getting out there. Trans fats are the enemy. They're formed when oils are hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated - heated at such high temps that the molecular structure is changed. The oils is more stable, but it's detrimental to the human body. They lower the good cholesterol and damage our arteries, leading to clogged arteries. Did you know that vegetable oils are somehow emulsified with water and given to organ-transplant patients to suppress their immune system? That's right - they suppress the immune system and skew the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio. These oils contribute to thyroid problems. So, a great thing to do is completely eliminate (or at least reduce) the intake of ALL vegetable oils (corn, safflower, sunflower, canola, sesame, MARGARINE, vegetable shortening, etc.).

Olive oil is a great alternative to these oils; HOWEVER, its drawback is that it is susceptible to damage when it is cooked. Some of the nutrition is less effective when heated. So I use olive oil on salads or...things.

When it comes to cooking, I've been using coconut oil for a little over a year now. Coconut oil is the ONLY oil that is not damaged by cooking at higher temperatures (it remains stable at high temps). Coconut oil is GOOD-FOR-YOU saturated fat. It helps prevent and sometimes even help cure some illnesses and diseases. Though it's a saturated fat, it actually helps weight loss because it raises the metabolic rate, causing us to burn more calories. From what I understand, fats are stored in the body's cells. Coconut oil fatty acids, however, are sent immediately to the liver where it is turned into energy.

Imagine an oil that is GOOD for you! Yep, coconut oil can help regulate blood sugar and can act as an anti-inflammatory. I've heard of people even applying it directly on their skin to help protect against free radicals.

I'm not a big fan of coconuts. In fact, I don't really care for them much at all. I wish I did because they are soooooo good for you. So when it came to cooking I was quite hesitant to use it. At first I could definitely taste it in my eggs or some of the veggies I lightly sauteed. Because I don't like coconut, it took getting used to tasting it in random food. I have now become accustomed to its taste and don't really mind it at all.

The important thing is to get a good quality brand of virgin coconut oil. I have researched and tried a couple of brands, so email me if you're interested.

Oh, if you're looking for it in the store, don't bet on wally-world. I have yet to find it there or Target. Health food stores carry it, but it's usually not in the oil section. I typically find it in the supplement isle of the health food stores. It's a white solid at room temperature that liquefies when heated.

complex carbs

So complex carbs - we need them, but how do we get them if we shouldn't eat the evil whole wheat bread? VEGETABLES guys. Recently I was having a conversation with a few people and one of them asked me how I get my complex carbs if I don't eat bread. I explained that I do eat sprouted bread, but my main source of complex carbs are vegetables. I was shocked because THEY were shocked that vegetables are complex carbs. A work-out guru had mis-informed these innocent people by telling them that the only way to get complex carbs was from whole wheat products. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!

I was so stinkin' upset that I wanted to just shake these people and ask them why they believe such nonsense. I didn't, though. Instead, I allowed myself to realize that it's just pure ignorance. Ignorance doesn't mean stupidity; it means uninformed. It means that some loser took advantage of people's lack of knowledge and poisoned them with his lack of knowledge. When it comes to health, bad information plus lack of knowledge can equal heart attacks.

Here's a very short article on grains and the like that is very easy to read and will shed a little more light on the whole grain issue. It's from a completely reliable source, Dr. Mercola. Sure, he's extreme on a lot of things, but that is only because he understands the implications of our modern-day diets.

here fishy-fishy

So I finally had my first positive experience fishing not that long ago. Nathan was going to take a picture of me from his boat, but I got paranoid and could only envision my lovely camera becoming the property of the fish. So I held on to it on the shore of the pond while Nathan and Dad fished from the boat. I didn't really want to show them up by catching all the fish.

stinkin' inet issues

so whenever it rains in the country, the inet goes down. since it was raining for about 4 days straight here, the inet went out of whack for a while. that's such a frustrating thing for me because i was really gaining momentum in my blogging. one more time...

whole wheat = evil wheat

WHEAT IS BAD. that's right - it's bad. you hear people talk about whole grains and whole wheat and blah, blah, blah. that's all it is - BLAH! so the whole wheat bread, pasta, cereaks, waffles, crackers, etc that we eat are BAD. you are not getting nutrition from these...well, maybe a tiny little bit, BUT your body probably isn't able to absorb it anyway. i'm going to do my best to explain how it works, AND i'll also tell you what IS good for you. there ARE breads and pastas that are actually good for you. and by the way...there are VEGETABLES that ARE COMPLEX CARBS. guys, VEGETABLES ARE LIFE! they're the best source of carbs and COMPLEX CARBS at that. (more on complex carbs later.)

again, i'll do my best to put this in simple english, but i may not be able to do it in a short blog. so i'm going to list the basics first, and then to go deeper, just continue reading.

before wheat is even planted, they receive fungicides and insecticides - CHEMICALS to kill pests. the fda as approved these as 'safe,' but they are NOT. you wouldn't want to take a spoonful of the stuff and eat it, but that's what they do to the wheat seeds. did you know that some of these chemicals are hormones? yes, ESTROGEN-like chemicals that cause our hormones to go CRAZY! these are the chemicals that are making our little boys and girls go into puberty at really young ages. these are also chemicals that contribute to hormone-related cancers.

next - wheat is usually stored for a long period of time, which makes it vulnerable to insects and the like. so not only are the wheat 'storage bins' sprayed with chemicals all over, but most of the time, the wheat itself is put IN the chemicals!

the wheat is then heated at very high temperatures by artificial drying methodsjavascript:void(0)
Publish Post. this causes damage to the protein, RUINING ITS NUTRITIONAL VALUE

here comes the crazier damage, but it takes a bit of explanation, i hope you're in for the long haul. a grain kernel consists of 3 main parts, and the nutrient density is only in existence when these 3 parts are intact. the way that flour is processed and produced in our century basically doesn't keep these together.

in fact the way that flour was made before we went and got in a hurry was completely different. i won't go into it, but because of the nutrients in it (vitamins, minerals, fiber), the flour spoiled quickly (like milk). so just like milk processing, we've done the same with wheat processing - we've sped up the processes (to make more money), have added preservatives (to make even more money), and in turn all of this makes us sick (making them even more money).

so the processing now means that we get some of the grain, and the other parts of it go to feed animals. that means that because it's not intact, we don't get nutrition from it and neither do the animals that eat it.

our ancestors, without knowing why, had a step in making flour that we skip today. this step is crucial because it is the way to benefit from eating a grain or anything made from a grain. before our 'genius' mass manufacturing processes came to be, people soaked their grains overnight (like we would do if making beans from scratch today) and allowed them to dry in open air until they germinated (or partially germinated). that is sprouting. this process is important because it removes PHYTATES from the grains. it's CRUCIAL to remove PHYTATES because they are enzyme inhibitors.

a quick lesson on enzymes - enzymes help break food down so that we can absorb it. if i eat a piece of 'healthy-for-you' whole wheat bread that has phytates (phytic acid), it blocks the enzymes. that means that my body cannot absorb whatever i am eating. so these enzymes that we need to break everything down so that we can absorb nutrients are being blocked by phytic acid, which is in ALL CEREALS, BREADS, PASTAS AND any other type of grain that hasn't been sprouted.

that's one of the reasons that eating 'good' things such as BRAN, WHOLE WHEAT BREAD, and unsprouted grains is a primary cause of intestinal diseases.

a little more on enzymes - cooking, processing, pasteurization and prolonged heat kill them.

wanna have diseases, especially intestinal ones? drink pasteurized milk, cook all of your food, and eat processed foods. oh wait! that's the american diet. moving on...

sprouting not only permits the enzymes to do their job (so that we don't die with lbs upon lbs of waste like john wayne), but it also [naturally] produces and increases the content of different vitamins.

sprouting also inactivates different carcinogens present in grains.

did you know that vitamin E (of which most of us are deficient) used to be present in the real whole wheat bread? that is now depleted because of the high heat of the processing mills.

if all of that still doesn't convince you that processed 'whole wheat' isn't what it's cracked up to be, maybe this will help - most whole wheat bread out there has hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oil, one of the main causes of arteriosclerosis.

so WHAT TO DO????? well, you can be a super-hero like my friend, chrystal, and buy your own mill and wheat berries (organic ones) to make your own REAL homemade bread. THAT'S healthy stuff...and it's YUMMY!

...or if you're not yet a super-hero, you can do like susy: go to the frozen food section of the local health food store and pick up SPROUTED BREAD. i have found a couple of different brands, but i don't know that i have a favorite yet. i'll admit that at first, i wasn't crazy about it. however, i don't just tolerate it anymore; i actually do enjoy it now.