God's Timing

A lot has happened since my post over the weekend, so let me just fill you in. I had an allergic reaction to the new chemo drug I received this past Friday and the past few days have really been pretty unpleasant. The palms of my hands turned bright red as if burned and felt that way too. My feet, mostly along the sides of my heels, also appeared red and burned and slightly blistered. I also developed a rash on the tops of my hands and under my arms. Oh, yes, the plagues of Job are alive and well and living at the Patton home! Keith took me to see my oncologist on Tuesday and she confirmed this was one of the worst allergic reactions she has seen to this chemo drug, so needless to say I won't be taking it anymore. They treated me with steroids via an IV on Tuesday and again today, and fortunately that is beginning to work and I am slowly seeing some relief today.

So...all my excitement about "only 3 more treatments" has gone by the wayside. I have two more weeks off to recover from this reaction, but will resume chemo treatments with yet a new drug on Sept. 26 - and this is the one that I must take every week for 12 weeks. I had so hoped to avoid this, because EVERY WEEK seems so daunting. But as Keith reminded me while we were spending Tuesday afternoon in the doctor's office, this IS a part of God's plan, and we will trust His perfect timing because it is perfect and not daunting.

I've had a couple of really tough days this week - it's not fun when you can barely walk or hold a fork in your hand. But Keith takes such sweet care of me and I have a great doctor who is guiding us through this. And my coworkers have been so wonderful to help me in so many ways. Fortunately I can work from home on my laptop and I have been able to keep from falling too far behind.

Paige is coming home Friday night to spend the night and some quality time. She started a new job this week with Curves and I'm so proud of her for her new opportunity. She is so precious to bring me little presents when she comes home to see me, just to lift my spirits. Last time she brought me a beautiful designer lip gloss from Nordstrom, and I got all teary-eyed, because she is so good to me. I told her I didn't know anyone but me who cried over lip gloss! Check me out next time you see me; I have the shiniest bronze lips around!

I mentioned the plagues of Job earlier, so went to that book and found my favorite verse there: "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" (Job 2:10) God is good all the time, even when I'm having a tough day here. Enough said.