The Couch....

Meet our couch....



In the last two weeks, Marc and I, separately, have become "one" with this couch. You see, sickness has been running its course through the Friesen Household.

Several weeks ago, Luke was sick....He's all better now. Yeah!

Last week, Marc came home sick one day from work -- fever, chills, aches, etc....He then stayed home another day. He went back to work on the third day, but he said he was still "knocked down" by the sickness.

In taking a glance at the CDC website as well as talking with a friend who is a very experienced nurse, we're fairly certain he had H1N1.

Then, this past Sunday evening, I noticed a little tickle in my throat during our Community Life Group.

Voila!!!! Monday morning, I woke up with a nice cold.

In my opinion, it's actually gotten progressively worse throughout this week. I've been EXTREMELY congested, have a little bit of a sore throat and cough, and generally am tired and don't feel well. But, NO FEVER!!!! So, I truly think it's just a cold.

So, back to the couch....

Marc was coughing so much and tossing and turning, he graciously slept on the couch for several nights so that I could sleep well in bed.

Then, this week, I've been tossing and turning and sniffling, etc., so I've been sleeping on the couch. Perhaps, one of these days, we can once again both sleep in our bed together.

Before I met Marc, in my single days, I actually bought this couch. It was wonderful to have a brand new couch....

Then, when Marc and I got married, we moved into our home we purchased.

It's starting to wear a bit, but there's no way we're replacing it yet....Luke and hopefully someday, Luke's sibling(s) need to get a little bit bigger. This couch, I know, is not through "wearing" in the Friesen Household.

This afternoon, though I didn't feel well, I had a hard time taking a nap while Luke was sleeping -- I only was able to sleep 40 minutes.

So, I got up and threw together some homemade Chicken and Noodle Soup (except the noodles weren't homemade). YUMMMMM.....



Even with carrots....



It tasted soooo good on my raw throat this evening.

Since I didn't feel like doing much else, I also threw together some No Bake Cookies. Marc needs them tomorrow at work for "food day" (I guess that's what you call it). They too are YUMMY. Luke took part of those as well.



What has Luke been doing this week -- while his Mommy hasn't felt much like playing?

Well, he finds ways to entertain himself -- such as cleaning out the pantry when I accidentally leave the door open and don't watch every move he makes.



Or, he does things to make me as well as himself laugh...



This cold will go away -- just not soon enough for me.

However, this week, I have been thinking that my cold is absolutely NOTHING compared to what our friend Lisa is going through....

Lisa and her husband Mark are in our Community Life Group. Last year, Lisa was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. After going through months of chemo, Lisa and Mark found out early in the summer that the Hodgkin's had returned. Her oncologist then recommended a Stem Cell Transplant. Knowing that a Stem Cell Transplant is a MAJOR procedure, Lisa and Mark pursued a second opinion at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.

The oncologist they met with there also recommended the transplant.

So, right now, Lisa and Mark are at KU Medical Center in Kansas City, and Lisa is undergoing the transplant.

She and Mark will be up there for probably at least six weeks.

So, I will not complain about my cold. I will get over it. I just might possibly have to remain on the couch for a bit longer at night.

Lisa -- if you're reading this -- know that we're praying for you daily. We missed you and Mark at Community Life Group the other night.

We'll hopefully be up to see you late next week -- assuming we're healthy :)

If you'd like to read Lisa's story as well as how her treatment is going, CLICK HERE!

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1