Monday, April 20, 2009

Hello and I am so sorry it has been so long since I've written on this blog. I've become addicted to Facebook and spend much of my computer time there. I've been able to reconnect with childhood friends and it's been so much fun. One old friend posted photos of us at her 6th birthday party. Wow!

I have been able to stay out of the hospital lately. I had two of the best gastrointerologist (stomach) doctors in Houston run test after test on me and there really isn't much wrong with my stomach other than the severe gastroparesis. That's something I'll live with the rest of my life and just have to adjust my diet and take medication for it. At least in all their tests they did not find any more cancer in the stomach or small intestines. Hopefully it stays that way for a long time.

I finally got up the nerve and started driving again. I still do not have all of my energy back but from what other chemo patients tell me, it can take around a year for the body to be back to normal. My hair is about an inch long. It grows soooooo slow! But at least it's finally growing now. It's very gray now so I have to color it every few weeks. The texture is different than before. There is a little bit of wave in it (for as much as I can tell since it's still so short). But wave works for me because my hair was so straight before.

Well, that's all for now. Just a short update. I'll try not to let the next one take so long. Take care and be blessed!!

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Well.... it seems like I've spent most of the month of January in the hospital. I was in because of the problems with my stomach/intestines, my anemia and low white blood count. My friend joked on my Facebook page and asked if I had my own personal room at the hospital now. Ha ha. Speaking of Facebook, I'm on there as Kelly Bradford Muhl. Another friend talked me into signing up on Facebook. I was not interested in MySpace but Facebook is ten times better. I have reconnected with old friends from elementary school, friends I knew in Europe, high school friends, current friends, etc... It's so wonderful!!! Plus it's easy to post photos on Facebook and I've been able to look at all my friend's family photos. I need to post some photos of my cats on there.
Anyways.... I have a vacation coming up to Disney World and I'm praying my health will cooperate and behave.
My GI (
Gastroenterologist) doctor referred me to another GI specialist. He is supposed to be one of the best in Houston and specializes in Celiac, severe gastroparesis and other problems with the intestines (problems I'm having). He is one of the few doctors that is able to actually go into the intestines and take biopsies. My initial appointment is next week so we'll see how it goes.
My hair continues to grow back very sloooooowwwwwwwwlllllly. I'm taking extra vitamins for hair growth but I don't know if they are working. I need to color it because what is growing back is coming in VERY gray! My hair seems to be growing back a thicker texture than before. I had baby fine hair before but it's different now. it'll be interesting to see what it'll look like in six months. Some of my friends think I should leave it super short but I just don't see that happening. I miss having a pony tail.
I'm on my bed on my laptop and all four of my cats are crashed out around the bed. Most of them are snoring and it's so cute.
That's all for now. Hope all is well with everyone. I'll post again soon......


Tuesday, January 13, 2009


Happy New Year!! Christmas sure did fly by this year. I'm currently in the hospital. I've been here since Saturday. My stomach/admominal pains have been hurting and my low white blood count and anemia are acting up. One of the doctors plans to put me on water therapy. I do not like to swim but I'll tread water next to a bunch of grandmas.
I'll either get to go home tomorrow or Thursday. David brought up my laptop today so I finally have communication with the outside world.
Christmas was nice. Christmas Eve day we spent with my mom and stepdad at my step aunt's house. Then we spent Christmas Eve with David's mom, brother and his aunt/cousins. David and I went to the Christmas Eve church service at 7:30, which was beautiful! Christmas morning we drove up to my grandma's in Conroe. My dad, stepmom and brother were there. My stepmom made this fabulous gluten-free dinner that I could eat and enjoy. Even the desert was gluten-free and very yummy. Veronica also made me some gluten-free chocolate chip cookies which I loved. I wasn't feeling too great because of the running around I did for three days so we left my grandma's around 2:00 and came home. I've had a few problems here and there. We were hoping 2009 would keep me out of the hospital but so far it's not happening. As long as I'm well by the middle of February when we go on vacation.
My hair is starting to finally grow back. It's coming in slowly and very gray. I'll have to color it soon.

my beautiful Harriet

my beautiful Harriet
This is Harriet, my sponsor child through Compassion International. She is 9 and lives in Uganda, Africa. I've been sponsoring her for about 2 years now. She just sent me this photo and said she bought the shoes and stockings in the photo with money I sent her. Please pray for her and her family.