Once again life has been busy but wanted to drop you all a quick to note to catch up. First of all, Tobra's procedure went well. It was very hard on the kids to not be able to cuddle with Mom for a week but Stephanie was there to the rescue. Stephanie stayed to take care of the day to day Mom duties so the week went quickly and things are getting back to normal. The Avery household has its normal hussle and bussle feel to it again. It is always a joy for me to go over and hang out. The Avery kids are very well behaved and you never know what might come out of Hailey's mouth! Never a dull moment. I miss that about my kids.

Speaking of my kids, I got to see everyone over the Thanksgiving holiday. Gerald, Calista and myself enjoyed our Thanksgiving meal together. Calista got back on the road around 3:30 and Heather showed up around 5:00 with the grandchildren. It has been 18months since we have been able to keep them over night. It was great fun...they are growing up so fast! Katy is going to be 5 on December 7th and Logan just turned 4 on October 19th. We had a play room with toys to entertain and a separate room with twin beds for resting. It was nice to have the sound of children playing in the house again. Plus I really like hearing "Nana Julie and Papa G"....it is so cute coming from those little voices. We took them back to Vinita Friday evening, got some rest and then were off to Okmulgee to see Josh & Lacy. They are all settled in their new home and the kids are really getting big! We just hung out for the afternoon, ate pizza and watched movies. Lacy and I took a nap in the middle of everything while the guys and kids (was hard to tell which was which) played and watched movies. Then I spent Sunday decorating for Christmas. Monday was clean house, pay the bills, do the grocery shopping and run errands...whew! I needed to go back to work to get some rest.

On the medical front, I was supposed to have PET scan yesterday. However, the insurance company denied it based on my blood work. They do a test call CEA that measures the tumor markers in my blood. Unfortunately, this is not a good measurement for me since my markers have always been low even before they removed the first tumor. I tried to explain that to the insurance company and even gave them dates to go back and check test results of blood work and PET scans that were done the next day. But did not have much luck. So we only did a CT scan yesterday and will meet with the doctor on Monday to discuss results. If he sees any type of shadows or anything suspicious then he will order the PET scan again and the insurance should approve it then. This type of paper work just makes me crazy. I don't understand how the insurance company can have the power to direct my health care - AURRRG! Ironically, while I was in the waiting room yesterday, there was a gentleman sitting across from me and the physician's assistant came to him to explain the doctor is insisting he have a chemo treatment immediately but the insurance is denying it. It was kind of scary the way she was presenting it to him buy insisting the treatment be right now but can't start until the insurance company gives the okay. She sent him back to his room and said they would come get him once the doctor gets the approval. Apparently, the doctor was on the phone fighting with then insurance company at that moment. I just bent my head and said a little prayer for him. So now I lift it up to you all to pray that the doctor's will be able to run our healthcare not insurance or government. Please, this is such a major issue facing us right now. I won't get all policital with you but would covet your prayers that medical care would be returned to the medical community and those trained to treat based upon a diagnosis and not money or power.

So Monday, I'll see the doctor and do another Avastin treatment. I'm going to try to go back to work the next day. We have a big promotion going on next week and I'd like to be a part of it. So please keep me in your prayers that I would have the energy to get through the days.

I thank God for each of you and your prayers on my behalf. Please know that I keep all of you in my prayers too, even if I don't know your name, I ask Him to bless the army of prayer warriors that are standing in the gap for me. I would encourage you to read through Duet. 28: 1-14. It talks about the blessings of God. I ask Him to bless you because you have been a blessing to me. I believe that our prayers have more power when we use His words in them. After all he says that His words do not return void to Him. And I can't think of a better way to pray than to use His words.

May you all have a wonderful Christmas season!

Because of Christ,

Julie