Dining Out

Staying at home and eating the same food can get tiring after a while, so every now and then, we go out and a try a different restaurant each time. Here are some photos from our recent dining escapades:

Sunday lunch with my 82-year old Lola Leny at Little Asia in Tomas Morato

A weekday late lunch at Mango Tree Bistro in Trinoma. The restaurant serves
authentic Thai cuisine like pad thai and satay - our favorites! 

Here's another one right where we had afternoon dim sum at Hap Chan along
West Avenue. We can't say no to some good hakaw and congee...

Evaluation Report after 3 Cycles

People react differently to medication/chemo like people have different personalities. What is scary is that one never really knows. But daily fervent prayers that Ernie will respond well to this very expensive 3 drug cocktail of intravenous drip (4 hours-out patient) was answered today!! CT results - slight DECREASE in the size of the main mass, and MRI result shows stable bone lesions- (stable better than "increasing". We are very pleased, even a slight decrease for us is a HUGE step forward in this vicious battle against the "invaders"! Our team of medical advisers/friends and Dr Charity says this is "great news!"

Much of the jargon in this report (CT scan/ MRI) only an oncologist can understand. We are visiting Dr Charity tomorrow to consult more and learn what her next best plan of action would be. We have a very "high trust" close relationship with her, and she continues to bless us with her optimism and laughter - something that truly makes such a big difference at these trying times.

Please pray with me - LORD, we trust in YOU, we lift up all this burden/worry/fear to YOU. Take them as we are so weak and YOU are so mighty and strong and YOUR burden is light. We know YOU love us immensely and that YOU gave us life so we can have life and live it to the full. Grant ERNIE, whom we love so much YOUR grace of COMPLETE HEALING! Nothing/No one is more powerful than YOU. In the name of JESUS, we pray. Amen

GOD'S Outrageous Favor

Listening to my friend, Pastor Joey Rafael recorded live in a CD from his talks at the Alabang Hills Christian Community, and totally inspired and lifted! GOD wants to bless us with his OUTRAGEOUS Favor, for HE is a "supernatural" and "extra-ordinary" GOD - so we should expect the "supernatural" and "extra-ordinary" from HIM when he grants our prayers!

Ernie continues to be upbeat, energetic (no pain anywhere), positive and funny...even after 3rd chemo session yesterday. He started today with gardening (he totally loves this!!!) then a hearty breakfast with freshly juiced carrots, cucumber, celery, red beats and green apple (3x  housea day, now making his color a light tint of yellow-we plan to make it 2x a day instead), lots of variety of fruits - pears, papaya, santol, watermelon and banana, oatmeal, organic cereal and organic soya milk and lots of organic supplements to pack the nutrients in his body to boost immune system.

He stays at home mostly and takes looong naps anytime, has a massage here at home like 2-3x a week, watches action packed, suspense DVD movies, loves sports, and takes care of the plants inside and outside the house. He also goes along or with us to supermarket, bank and other small family activities. Now more active with facebook and totally enjoys people visiting here at home-Ernie loves being around people!

GOD is truly GOOD! He has blessed us with HIS outrageous FAVOR!

In one week, we will have another complete blood count (has been normal all this time despite the vicious attack of strong chemo drugs) and an evaluation CT scan. We are praying for supernatural and extra-ordinary results for HE is our loving FATHER GOD!

Thank you and GOD BLESS you all!-OLIVE

Doing Great!

Praise GOD for  HIS favor! Ernie's blood tests - white blood count, platelets, etc came in all normal after his 2nd chemo treatment. He feels great with a strong overcomer spirit and his usual funny bone! He has started to serve again as lector/commentator in our parish, visits malls, lunches out every now then, has regular home massages and carries on like everything normal. What he enjoys most is when friends and family visit him at home and the stories and laughter go on and on!

We are boosting his immune system with 3x a day juicing of carrots, green apple, red beats, celery and cucumber (delicious!), high dose vitamin c therapy intravenous drip, oxygen therapy, chinese herbs in pills (Zilongen), mushroom therapy, enzyme therapy, Nutrilite supplementation and good home cooked meals.

But the most powerful therapy is PRAYER. Our small family has never become more intimate with our LORD putting all our TRUST in HIM. The load is too heavy to carry on our fragile backs - we have cast upon HIM this burden. I am now able to breathe easier and sleep sounder.

Let me share a short scripture passage :

"They were terrified , but HE called out to them - 'I am here, don't be afraid'"

John 6 :19-20

Olive