Countdown to Cleveland

Happy New Year to all! 2009 ended very well for me, as the last two days of the year were very good and I nearly felt normal! I took full advantage, meeting a friend at Olive Garden, eating more than my share at the New Years Eve party, even playing the Wii a little as well! Yes, I paid for it the next day, but it was glorious bliss to feel and act normal for a few days!!! I am clinging to those memories now, as yesterday and today have been about as bad as it can get, with my stomach and breathing tag-teaming me...and I think they might be winning.
Next Tuesday, my mom and I will be heading to Cleveland for my two appointments at the Cleveland Clinic on Wednesday. As I prepare for that appointment, I've been collecting papers from each of the doctors I've seen so far (a daunting task, to say the least!). Well, when the papers from my pulmonologist at the IU Med. Center arrived, along came the results from my stress test back in April and as I was reading them, I was surprised to learn that my maximum oxygen uptake was much much lower than it should have been. It went on to talk about that in more detail and how I have a high HR/VO2, and there might be an abnormality in my oxygen transport mechanism. Now, that really doesn't mean much of anything to me, but I know that none of my doctors in town have that piece of information, and it sure sounds important to me. I am hoping that it might be the missing link to solving this crazy mystery!
While we are there in Cleveland, we will be meeting up with our friends and small group leaders, Troy and Alicia. For those who are newer to this blog, Troy (27 years) is battling stage III colorectal cancer and he is having major surgery this Friday at the Cleveland Clinic. Surgeons will be removing all of his colon, several lymph nodes and possibly part of his liver (looked suspicious on the PET scan so they will examine it). Please join us in lifting this family up in prayer this week; pray for peace as they prepare, safe travels, a successful surgery, a smooth recovery, and that Alicia does not go into labor while they are there (8 months pregnant with their second son). If you are interested in sending them a card or a meal, let me know and I will get you their information.
As for the rest of our great family, Katie is back to school today and Ryan is already missing her. He, however, slept in until nearly 9AM, which was great! He will go back tomorrow, which can't come soon enough. His little body needs to run and play! Scott doesn't go back until next week, so we are still enjoying his time at home. He is taking 16 hours, all in his major, this semester in an attempt to get done as quickly as possible. I'm confident that he will do fine, but he is nervous about the heavy course load.