I just got back from Moffit and my MRI was clear! I am exhausted from getting up a 5:45 so I am going to go lay down but I didn’t want you all to be worried! Thank you for your prayers. When I was in the MRI, surrounding by the loud noise the machine makes, I imagined all of you in that room with me, praying for me and it really helped! I am going to do that every MRI from now on…
Thanks again, you’ll never know how much it means to me and my family. Really.
Oh, one bit of bad news… I have lost another 6 pounds (since my visit four weeks ago.) That is a total of about 40 pounds since June… I need to work on that… I eat great, but still lose weight. Any thoughts or suggestions?
Thanks!
Good News ! Now rest your weary soul !
Awesome news! Praise God! Trying to gain/keep weight…a problem not many women have! I will pray for that. I say, “Eat cheesecake!!!”
Praise God! I am so happy to hear your news! I don’t have a problem gaining weight so here’s a recipe for you that is yum yum good!
1 cup vanilla yogurt (I use fat free but obviously you won’t have to)
1 banana
1 cup of peanut butter
several pieces of ice.
Mix in blender until smooth
It will make you feel good if nothing else!!! Of course I’m a peanut butter freak.
We also put whey protein powder in ours, but I’m not sure if you would want to do that. If you do get the vanilla flavored, it adds to the taste.
Wonderful! Hope you have a great rest!
Wonderful news! I am so thrilled. I am about to take a 48 hour final for school and was hoping you would post before I started! Praise God.
Weight? Carbs. Carbs. Carbs. GNC or some similar store should be able to help you with supplements for carb loading.
So happy to see good news!!!Yippeee!! Now get some rest!!
I tried it every way possible still hate it. Then one day I was in the cereal isle at the market and picked up carnation instant breakfest. It has a lot of calories but when milk is added gives us protien as well. It comes in good flavors as well. ( drank on in the morning and one at night)
I lost a lot of lbs durning chemo. They told me get ensure with protein. EWWWW!!
I lived on that,the ensure as well as banana strawberry, yogurt(not fat free)
with ice added. I found all kinds of ways to use the fruit banana and yogurt.
They also wanted me to take in so many proteins a day in order to heal. So the protein powder was a good thing. Hence cause i was not able to eat soilds for almost 4 months.
There also is a ensure cookbook on line
to that you can add things to not taste it so they say. I always could. But it did help me gain some and maintain it.
I maintained but was way to skinny. Got told so all the time to. Now I wish I could say that. lol.
The other thing is they told me eat six tiny meals a day or get in things with proteins as often as you can.
I also spoke to a dietican /nutritionist. About that might help some to. To see if your missing things that could help you maintain what you have left.
Now get some rest…I know its been a long day!!
Thank God!!!Hugs
YEAHHH, Thank you GOD. Rest your weary self and seriously…asking women for ways to gain weight….she is brave…hahah…pack in the protein. Have you tried ensure or boost or any of that type of thing?
HUGS
That sounds like awesome news!!
For those of us who aren’t so MRI savvy–does that mean that all traces of the cancer are gone?
What does this mean in regards to chemo?
As far as the weight goes, I’ve got tne opposite problem. Might be because I can’t stop eating Girl Scout cookies. Try those.
Praise God on the MRI!
How ’bout making a big bowl of:
cashews or peanuts
m&m’s
chocolate chips
raisins or craisins
Mix ‘em all up. Leave it on the kitchen table or wherever you pass by a lot. Grab some when you go by! Yum!
Now, *I* couldn’t have this around, but it’d be fun thinking of you enjoying it!
Dear Heather,
Wow, awesome news! What an answer to prayer (: Um, let’s see, suggestions for “gaining” weight?? Ya, I have the opposite problem! Maybe sit yourself down with a nice bowl of ice-cream decked out with hot fudge and all the trimmings! Sounds good to me and more than well deserved for you. Have a restful night.
Molly (:
I made this soup when my friend was on chemo: I can bet that it’s high in calories. But, she was always able to keep it down.
Emerald City Soup
4 cans chicken broth and enough water to fill your soup pot
1 bag frozen spinach
Boil till the spinach is cooked.
Add:
8 oz. shredded cheddar or other mild cheese
1 carton sour cream or 2 cups milk.
3 cups potato flakes (or you can use real potatos and cook ‘em down
Use your stick blender and smooth it out, or blend in a reg. blender till smooth.
Add: chicken breast, cut into bite sized pieces.
Serve with WW rolls and lots of butter.
See if that doesn’t pack on the pounds!
Praise God!
I’m pregnant, and have the same problem of not gaining enough weight. Also, my mom has Stage IV Lung Cancer, and is really skinny…but she refuses to even try to gain weight and eat the right things.
As for you and I…the answer is in the protein. Complex carbs will help, too, with sustained energy, but protein is converted to muscle cells when it’s burned by your metabolism, so pack in the protein! With your activity level (3 kids!), and the chemo, your metabolism is probably pretty fast, so eating fatty foods won’t help much. I try to have 3 meals, plus 3 snacks a day. Instant breakfasts are also really good to drink with a meal or snack. For me, it’s hard to add so much extra food mass, so I have to be smart about the extra (good) calories. It might take a while for your body to adjust to the extra meals and/or calories, and you’ll feel full sooner, but stick with it!
That’s awesome, Heather!! So happy to hear that the MRI was clear!
Suggestions?! Bottle and sell it! That’s my suggestion.
YEAH!!! So glad to hear this.
Try Carnation Instant Breakfast — someone else suggested it too. It’s pretty good (I thought I’d hate it). Mix it with full-fat milk and hopefully that’ll help.
Singing the doxology here! Wonderful news…praying you get some rest and gain some weight…
When my son was on chemo he lost sooooo much weight they considered a feeding tube. Instead the doctor recommended that in addition to three meals a day we add two protein powder shakes and we’d add things he loved like bananas, strawberries, sometimes ice cream, etc. He grew to love them and they always stayed down which wasn’t the case with solid foods.
Amen! ((hugs))
So glad to hear everything is clear!! For the weight gain diet- how about adding some protein powder to shakes or smoothies. Boost is another alternative: it’s an over the counter nutritional supplement usually found in the grocery store. It may even be free through your oncologist’s office. Also check with the American Cancer Society- they give out boost (or generic brand like it) free as well. If you get it – drink it really, really cold (tastes better) or it can be good if mixed with ice cream to make shakes. They have several options for flavors.
That is wonderful news, Heather. Thank God for answering our prayers! Now I pray you can gain some weight, in the name of Jesus.
)
Praise God for being with you this morning and keeping you in strength. It was another wonderful All Clear so glad for you, Im sure the prayers from all continue to lift you and the Lord is so glad to hear those prayers he must be so happy when we hold one another up. God Bless get some rest and enjoy tomorrow.
Oh i have an idea make an ENSURE Milk shake! Put your Ensure (which is yucky on it’s own in the blender add your favorite Ice cream and a Tablespoon of Malt powder. That should help and be good for you too!
If it is too cold for ice cream ( I personally think it can never be too cold for Ice cream) but maybe you could add a hot cocoa package to some Ensure and warm it up?
I am so glad your MRI was clear!
Because of Jesus,
Bobbie
Wonderful news! I hope you get many more days of good news like that!
I can’t help with the weight problem, though I have lots of excess fat I don’t need, if you want it……..
That is great news! I am so glad for you!
Have you tried a protein powder shake for weight gain?
It is as simple as drinking a boost for snack in between meals, if anything it will help you maintain the weight you are at yet not gain a lot. The flavors are all tasty.
Isn’t it funny how I am losing 6 pounds every two weeks and loving it and you cannot afford to do that.
Happy Valentines Day!
That is some sweet news Heather!!!! Hooyah!
On the losing weight part, hee hee hee, I haven’t a clue because I feel a bit portly myself ;p
If you are trying to gain weight make sure you eat lots of protien along with all those carbs. You can also try protein powder from a vitamin store. Glad to hear your MRI was happy news!
Hooray for good news!!
Praising God with you from Alaska~
~Leah~
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/lifelongalaskan/
Hi Heather,
I pray for you every single day Heather, I dont’ leave messages on here but I want you to know I am praying for you and I am so so happy that the scan came out clear, God bless you and your family
deezie
Heather, I am so happy to hear that the MRI was good. I agree with adding high calorie protein powder and mixing it with smoothies, or whatever tastes good. For a quick turn around for you, I have the extra 40 pounds on my butt that you need right now. If we could only figure out how to transfer it from me to you:) Problem would be solved, both yours and mine:)! Love you girl and praying for daily improvements for your healing. Happy Valentines Day Sweetie. You deserve all the love you can get.!!
Love, Laurie in Ca.
PRAISE GOD!!!!!
I was praying for you while going back and forth to get our expidition fixed tues AND wed. driving 2 hours one way- and then back both on Tues and Wed gave me lots of time in the car to pray- with few updates.
enjoy your rest!!!!
I too had that problem when my leukemia was “on the march”!My Md told to to eat every two hours, peanut butter, whole milk, full fat yogurt, ice cream. I put cream in my coffee. I also had lost 40 pounds before it all stablized.
It is so odd to completely change your thinking to eat things one always avoided. But I did gain 10 pounds back. It is such a strange problem to deal with as a woman, everyone else is focused on losing weight.
Thank you for your honesty and posting your journey. You have been and encouragment for other cancer patients…like me!
Kathy b
Heather,
I have followed your blog even before all this cancer. Your strength astounds me. Bless you and your precious family.
I am awaiting to see a soft tissue sarcoma specialist at the end of the month, for a lump I found on my leg. I know you know it is not fun to wait. While waiting, I am focusing (I should say trying to focus) on what God wants me to learn from this. I have to remember that God is huge and that He is so very in control of our lives.
You are an inspiration to me and I know probably a whole lotta people.
I am so happy for your MRI! I know that must be a huge relief for you and your family! Bless you!
Wonderful news.
I second all the peanut suggestions…lots of cheese too! Peanut butter on everything bread related and lots of pizza helped me when I had weight issues. Drink lots of water too.
Blessings.
Do you need to have extra weight on? In any other circumstance, I’d wish I had that problem!
If I had to put extra weight on, I would suggest pasta with meat and cheese (cabonarra, for example… totally delicious, and it has the added plus of having milk and cream as well), and load up on starchy things, like potatoes (baked in skin, with bolognaise sauce, garlic butter, cheese and sour cream… oh, my bliss
) and also the yummy sweet endulgances, doughnuts and pastries. Milk and dairy should also help you gain weight… just remember… full fat EVERYTHING!! And, I guess the best thing about it is the ZERO GUILT content 
Heather,
It was great to see you at brunch today! You are really looking well. Since you need to put on a few pounds, perhaps we all should meet for brunch 3 times a week instead of just once? That should do the trick. I am constantly impressed by your courage and faith. You are in our prayers daily. God bless you and your family.
Bob S.
Praise God, Heather. That is such good news! Now go and rest and may the peace of the Lord surround you.
hi Heather! Stopping by to check on you and was happy to hear your MRI is clear. Woo hoo! PTL! That calls for a nice thick creamy milkshake:-) My only suggestion for weight gain (not that I need to) is to add luscious protein/fruity shakes between meals, maybe? I’ll keep praying for you, sweetie. Love you!
This is REALLY great news… praying that you will enjoy and rest in His promise of many more positive results to come… sometimes its really hard to let go of the fear, and the fear of past reports…. we will pray that God will bring you peace and heal your memories of past reports. Its a new day for you!
Sending joy and love.
Praise God for those results. How amazing He is all the time. Thank you Lord for being so Great. Once again a note to let you know that the verses you pick are so perfect and inspirational. What a Gift you have and you share it. Wow, God is truly using you in great ways.
Hugs & prayers sent your way!!
Great news about clear MRI – Praise God!
As for adding weight (wow girl, this is rare request
– I like drinking the OVALTINE MALT as a supplement. I call it “my grandma drink” 
The MRI is great news Heather! Praise God!
Hey Heather just looking in on you..letting you know your in my prayers.Hugs
Praise God in Heaven! What great news! Just made my day!
Wonderful news! Try drinking Ensure with your meals. It will add LOTS of calories.
PRAISE GOD for that good report Heather!!
I hope all the suggestions here help out with your weight gain.
I can’t begin to tell you how much I’ve been blessed by walking along side of you during this journey.
You are such a source of HOPE and ENCOURAGEMENT for all of us out here.
Thanks so much. May God repay you for all you’ve sown in our lives.
Blessings and more blessings are coming your way!
WONDERFUL NEWS!
Continuing to pray for you dear Heather–and the scriptures below are FOR ME today. I needed to read them just now.
I’ll tell you what works for me to gain weight (smiling), put plenty of cream and sugar in your coffee. Eat plenty of butter on your food. And finally, eat lots of chocolates! Oh and don’t exercise–just sit around reading all day
All of this, I must NOT do–for I wish to go the other way. Perhaps we’ll meet in the middle, eh? I hope you are laughing!
Love you friend,
holly
I come here every day.. some times more… because… I need o see the things God speaks to you…. cause I’m scared… I want to e anxious for nothing…
.. I’m rambling… but know I am praying for you…