Encouragement (Day 307)

The benefit luncheon yesterday was a success!  I'm blessed with many loving, giving and encouraging friends.

Perfect timing for Thanksgiving.


On Friday, I washed a load of water.  I forgot to put the dirty clothes in it.  Ha! Ha!  I haven't been sleeping well lately.


My daughter pointed out to me last week that this will be the first Thanksgiving since 2006 that I haven't spent time in the hospital.  I'll have my fingers crossed for the next few days.  ;-)


I started reading a book that my cousin Amy gave to me to read a while ago.  It is really good so far.  Here is a quote from the book:  
"Remember:  Early cancer is hard to detect, but easy to treat.  Advanced cancer is easy to detect, but hard to treat.  Denial gives cancer the advantage to become advanced." SURVIVING THE CANCER SYSTEM, by Mark R. Fensen, MD FACP, Published by American Management Association (www.amacombooks.org)
Please use that quote to encourage loved ones to see a doctor, if necessary.  And if you are facing cancer this book is a must read.



We hope to have 20 guests for Thanksgiving dinner at our house.  We have two frozen turkeys in the refrigerator getting ready for the event.


I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!
I have much to be thankful for.

Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back "ACS RFL" (Day 291)

Looking forward to celebrating with you two weeks from tomorrow

Sadly remembering those who turned in their gloves and are no longer fighting

Encouraging you today to fight back

My wife, Kim, and I are on the 2010 American Cancer Society Relay For Life (ACS RFL) of Allegan County East Committee and also plan on organizing a team for Relay.  I think the team name may be "For the Love of Pete".  ;-)



The Relay is scheduled to take place from noon on Friday, August 13th through noon on Saturday, August 14th at the Allegan County Fairgrounds (Allegan, Michigan).



On Monday, December 21st, 2009 the entire Allegan community will host a Luminaria Night of Honor to show their support for those who have battled cancer and/or lost someone they love.  We are asking you to purchase (by a donation to the ACS) a luminaria bag from one of the ACS RFL person(s), decorate it in honor of your loved one(s), and place it in your driveway, porch or window on this day.  We plan on having bags available for purchase at the benefit on Saturday, November 21, 2009.  If purchasing by check, please make checks payable to the American Cancer Society.  Your donation will go toward this great cause and this is a wonderful way to honor/remember those you love.


I'm in charge of "Relay Online".  I will provide the website address after it is up and running so you can be kept up to date on all the activities leading up to Relay and the Relay For Life event.


Update on my physical status:  Had trouble sleeping last night due to stomach aches, today all that activity moved down and out, like a high pressure garden sprayer,  the last three hours I've been feeling better and staying out of the bathroom.  (Very happy about that)


Love to you all!
Peter J. Olson

Prescriptions for Ice Cream? (Day 288)

How cool is this?

"Futuristic ice cream may treat chemotherapy's side effects"

BY Rosemary Black
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Thursday, October 29th 2009, 3:16 PM

"An ice cream to control chemotherapy's debilitating side effects is under development."

Read more:

http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/health/2009/10/29/2009-10-29_ice_cream_of_the_future_may_treat_chemotherapys_side_effects.html

A big "thank you" to Jerry for telling me about this news.  ;-)
Nobody said that you can't take something yucky and turn it into something yummy!
Take yogurt and cottage cheese for example.
I thank God for cows!   Mooooo!
Don't worry if you are lactose intolerant, I'm sure they will develop a soy based product too! ;-)
I'm doing great!  I pray that you will have a blessed day too!
Love,
Peter J. Olson

Benefit Luncheon Scheduled (Day 275)

I’m just letting everyone know that we plan on celebrating.  We plan on getting together for an open house benefit for our family and giving thanks to God for His healing power and love on:

Saturday, November 21, 2009

1 to 5 PM at the:

Allegan Township Hall

3037 118^th Avenue

Allegan, Michigan 

You all are welcome to come and celebrate with us.

I would like to thank my friends who put in the energy, finances and time planning and preparing for this event, for everyone who has given prayers up for us and for everyone who has shared financially with us fighting this AML.

Our family is blessed with many caring, praying and generous friends, family and relatives.

Facing life’s troubles is much easier when you have someone who loves you, standing beside you and holding your hand.

Again, thank you all and we hope to see you there.

May God bless you with friends and family like ours.

Open Wide! (Day 260)

I have an excuse today why my mouth is wide open.

Doctor O'Callaghan is a very good dentist. He does some beautiful work on teeth and he is a really good photographer.  Although, he didn't take this picture of me.  His subjects are much better looking. Ha! Ha!
It is very important to take good care of your teeth. Brush and Floss daily and have regular check-ups!
I took Amoxicillin prior to the cleaning.  My BMT doctor had my dentist prescribe it to help prevent any problems from a possible infection in my mouth that might occur from it.

I call this stuff brush too.

The leaves are changing colors and falling.

Maybe that is why they call this time of year "FALL"?

Thank you for your prayers!

I'm doing just GREAT!

Working on another post (Day 257)

Wow! You have to check this link out:

“Don't Waste Your Cancer”,

By John Piper February 15, 2006

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/TasteAndSee/ByDate/2006/1776_Dont_Waste_Your_Cancer/

Please pray for Lisa’s Uncle Dan Simon. He has been diagnosed with CLL.

http://dansimonupdate.com/

Please pray for Jill Bane. She is a friend of a friend and she is dealing with burkitts lymphoma.  She is thirty years old and has a seven month old little Girl.

http://thosebanes.webs.com/apps/blog/

Trust me I'm working on another post.  Please be patient.  I'll try my best to reward you with some really good stuff soon.  :-)

Quit your belly aching! (Day 246)

My stomach hurts sometimes because of graft verses host disease (GVHD).  When it happens at night, I squeeze a pillow to my stomach or try sleeping on my belly.  If that doesn’t work, I lay awake praying for you.  If it still keeps bothering me I get up and start typing this letter to you.  So here I am!  How are you?  Ha! Ha!

Last Saturday I was in bed most of the day.  I had an oral temperature that bounced from normal up to 99.3° F.  I didn’t feel very good at all.  I think that it was caused by my seasonal allergies.  Something this time of year, every year, makes my nose runny, eyes itchy, throat scratchy and I feel run down.  Oh, that reminds me, “Happy Autumn!”  Fall begins today.  I love to see the fall colors here in Michigan.  I will try to get some pictures to post of the trees in the next few weeks.  The colors are just beautiful.  It makes the allergies seem like a minor inconvenience, like the wait for a roller coaster ride.  I’m sorry about mentioning roller coaster if it reminds you of blood counts.  I used to really love the thrill of flying up and down on those coasters. 

See how easy that is?  Take something that is bad and turn it into something good.

That is what God does for us.  He uses even the bad stuff for our good.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 

Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

I’m feeling tired and my stomach is feeling a little better. 

So, I’ll be praying for you again!

May God richly bless you in your walk with Him today!