LAST 2 WEEKS IN REVIEW

Greetings to All:
Sorry we haven't posted any follow-up on Judy's surgery on Jan.26th.. but we just wanted to see how it was going before we shared.
The surgery on the left knee went really smooth according to Dr.DeLoach He said that once he had the camera in there, he found that the damage was not as bad as anticipated. He did take out some floating cartilage and smooth out some of the damaged bone on bone spots. Judy was well taken care of the first 4 days as she remained either on the couch or the recliner in the living room, while John took care of all the essentials of daily living in a RV.
Judy started getting the "Rooster" shots (this is a lubricant) that replaces the cartilage, which last for a year. This is a series of 6 injections, of which we have now completed 4 of them.
She says that she still has some pain when she turns or climbs steps. But walking on level ground or walking in a straight line is less troublesome then before the surgery.
She is going in again on Monday to get the 5th shot, then wait for a month the 6th and final one. IF things ARE NOT any better at that time then now, we go to plan "B" which is to have a partial knee replacement done on the outside portion of her knee. She is leaning towards that already -- but we will see what Dr. DeLoach says at that time and recommends.
All of this Doctor business hasn't slow us down too much as we have been playing Pinochle on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights. Judy only missed 1 night. Then the last 2 Thursday nights we have been playing "Hand and Foot" cards. We also have taken a short 1 hour car ride to see how that went, we traveled down to Conroe, Tx to check out a potential WORKAMPER position. (More on this another time, please pray that GOD shows us what we are too do.)
We have heard of several persons whom we have known over the years or loved ones of friends that have gone on home to JESUS.. we have been praying for all of those loses. John cousin ALICE is still in University Hospital in IOWA CITY having NOT a good stay--needs lots of prayer for return strength and better health return. We also have
Judy's Brother-in Law CHUCK that is going in tomorrow to have his knee operated on similar to what Judy had done. (he already has had a complete knee replacement done on the other knee.)
We are still praying for continue good health and continue guidance for our fellow CHRISTIAN RESORT MINISTRIES CHAPLAINS: especially JACK and KAREN GREGORY along with DON AND LAVON BAKER, and BOBBY AND KAREN JOHNSON all of whom are ministering to snobirds down in the Rio Grande Valley.
We also ask that the LORD allows our friend Dr. J Stinson to have a health problem free interim pastorate in Missouri.
That the NOMADS are having safe and trouble free projects and then safe travels next week.

As always we are grateful for all the love and support you all show to us as we travel and minister in our special way. We really love to hear from you all, be it by phone, a comment here, on FACEBOOK/John N Judy Long, or lovely old fashion note in the USPS . We are very appreciated of those that find us worthy of monetary, support which allows us to continue.
Right now it appears that we MAY be staying in TEXAS at least until mid to late April.

We ask GOD to bless all of you and PLEASE warm things up for those that are in the MidWest and other cold places.

Please feel our hugs and many thanks
The Longs-On the road-----Judy and John
along with those Traveling Cats--Bamm-Bamm and Pebbles.

LOOKING FOWARD TO BEING PAIN FREE!!!

Hi All:
Just a brief note to say that all of the Doctors appointments were completed as scheduled this past week. With all the tests and exams being passed permitting the MUCH needed knee surgery for Judy to be done this coming Wednesday the 26th,, Praying that all goes well. After the rehab is completed she then will get to the rest of her pain problems of hips,feet, and lower back.

We also have lots of friends and families that need prayer this week.
a) CRM Chaplain Don Baker- health/strength/ministry
b) CRM Chaplain Jack Gregory- health/strength/ministry
c) Alice Armstrong[John's cousin] in Iowa City hospital-health
d) Jay Stinson [former Pastor and friend of John]-health and guidance as he prepares for an interim pastorate.
e) The family of Marty Borquin of Davenport,Ia.-who passed away this last week at 52 [he was a close friend of John's brother.
f) OUR NATION LEADERS.
g)OUR MILITARY SERVICE PERSONNEL
h) John's son Mike's wife who NEEDS a transplant urgently!!

Of course we are always happy to hear from those who support us with their prayers, calls and notes (both electrically or regular mail) We also want to say thank-you to those that support our Ministries through CRM web site. It is with all these supports, that carries through all the trials that we endure although we realize that ours is not as much as what JESUS endured for US.
We thank GOD for allowing us the opportunities that cross our paths to show our love for him.

May GOD continue to bless and guide each of you
HUGS The Longs

ANOTHER WEEK OF DOCTORS AHEAD!!

Howdy from the R&L Ranch:

Well things are lining up, to get Judy all medically better.. this past Saturday she was rattling pretty bad again and wheezing pretty good, so off to see the Dr. . Since she is already set to get labs done on Tuesday, he had us get a chest x-ray done also. On Tuesday she will see Dr. Bui, her internist to get medical clearance for her upcoming knee surgery on the 26th.

On Wednesday we travel up to Lufkin, to have a chemical stress test performed to see if there may be problems with her heart! NOT suspecting anything, just a precautionary procedure.

On Thursday, John will be seeing a Dr. to try and get some relief in his left arm. He had pulled a muscle or pinched a nerve in his left side, while working at Amazon.com back on Dec 9th,, with our traveling around and with it being an intra-state workman comp claim, had a hard time finding someone to look at it.

We have had some cool temperatures but only had 2 evenings where it got below 25... we can manage that.. have used 30 pounds of propane 3 weeks in a row. hoping for constant warm weather soon!!

A first has happened to us since we have been Workampers,,, we have had 3 different campgrounds contact us and really was disappointed when we had to decline because of Judy's upcoming knee surgery and rehab (not knowing how long we need to stay here to get it accomplished.) Also heard from AZ and they were counting on John during spring training for the LA Angels. hopefully next year we have also received an invitation to join a different Amusement park for the summer and starting a CRM Chaplain Ministry , but again not knowing the out come of all the Dr we asked to
have them try us again next year.

We hope that 2011 is treating all of our friends well. There are a lot of you that need prayers (in fact too many to list individually so we just ask that you pray for all those that The Longs- On the Road are praying for.. but be especially in prayer for John's cousin Alice in Western Illinois that was taken into the hospital over the weekend with pneumonia. Also join us in prayer for 2 of our close CRM Chaplains Don Baker and Jack Gregory that their health holds for the remaining season at the RV parks in the Rio Grande Valley area. We also ask for prayers for our fellow NOMADS that are in the middle of the 1st work periods for 2011 that they have safe, and enjoyable projects and them safe traveling as they leave.

May God Bless each of you.
and remember that we love all of you also.
The Longs-on the Road Judy and John
along with those Traveling Cats- Pebbles & Bamm-Bamm

Week 1 2011

Greetings from the Lone Star State:

Well I saw where those darn Cats hijacked the blog last week and promised that We would keep it going , either them or John, so I guess I better do it, if I want to get any sleep.

As many of you know, we have had to make a change in our winter travel plans. We are staying in Livingston, Tx area for at least 30- 90 days, as Judy has a new primary care physician,Dr Bui, we are have been impressed with his patient care attitude and thoughtfulness in having things accomplished in a timely manor. Dr Bui also recommended Dr. Sunkavally as her pain management doctor. another good choice as far as we are concern.. Last week Judy had a MRI done for Dr. Sunkavally, he wants to get an idea of what is causing her primary pain, other than the knees. We have an appointment this coming Monday to review them.

Dr DeLoach is the Orthopedic Surgeon that is taking care of the knees, he took more x-rays last week and decided that he wants to try arthroscopic surgery on her left knee 1st ( probably happening in the next 3 weeks) then maybe look at the right one.

Dr. Bui also recommended that Judy see a cardiac specialist,,, she had some chest pains while we were in Coffeyville, which triggered her being in the hospital there during Oct'10. While there she developed pneumonia and then MRSA set in, causing her to be in isolation for 10 days.

John has been busy raking the leaves in the R&L Ranch, carried out 24 wheelbarrows full this week and still has the back 40 to do. We have also had to make a trip to Houston on Thursday, returned some internet equipment.. While we were in Houston, we checked out Sears to find a replacement TV for the main one in the front of the MH..( it had flat-lined on Wednesday night,,, no picture ).
GOD provided again for us!!! as we saw a flat screen set that would fit into the space allotted, it was on sale and since it was the last one in the area they gave us another 10% off. THANK YOU JESUS.

Some of you know that we are members of the ESCAPEES RV CLUB, On Dec 22,2010 one of the co-founders Joe Peterson, past away, His wife Kay and family were in attendance on Saturday here at Rainbow Ends for a Celebration of Joe's life... please pray for the Peterson family and all of the staff of Escapees as they go through this time of mourning. John was one of around 400 people gathered at the activities center for the service.

We are looking at ALL of our possibilities for this summer and seeking Gods guidance on where/what we should do. ASKING for Prayers here.

As things slow down here we will try to get into our picture archives and share some of the sights and events that we have experienced in the last 4 years of being on the road..

May God continue to Bless each of you
and feel the hugs from us.

The Longs-On the road for Christ,, John and Judy
and those Traveling Cats...Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm.

P.S. Just a reminder you can get a daily idea what is happen in and around the ENDEAVOR by
following us on Facebook: John N Judy Long

Home Sweet Home (Texas that is!!)

Happy New Year 2011:
Meowwwwwww to everyone (greetings from Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm)
Dad finally has gotten the laptop functioning again and left it out this evening,,, so Pebbles says we need to get everyone updated on what we have been doing and where we have been since mid-summer at Adventureland, Iowa.
Lets start in the present and work backwards.
We are REALLY REALLY happy to be back on the R&L Ranch here at Rainbows Inn, Livingston, TX. We (us kitties) get to roam the whole area as we please !!! While Dad and Mom have been busy getting Drs for Mom to determine why she is hurting so much,, Last week the visited Dr. Bui who has agreed to be her family Dr.,then they went to Dr. Sunkavally for her pain management, he has scheduled a MRI for this Monday to help determine what causing all of the pain other than her knees.... which she knows needs attention because the left one is bone on bone,so a visit to an orthopedic surgeon to determine the treatment procedures is scheduled. This past Wednesday they traveled down to Baylor for a followup with Dr.Shaib, the Liver specialist,,, he was so pleased with the progress and lab reports over the last year. ( these were done about every other month and sent to him.)

We had spent 10 weeks (Oct 14th until Dec23rd) in Coffeyville, Ks. again this year we were in RiverCrest Campground at Walter Johnson park,,, so Pebbles would sneak out as much as she could. Dad was busy working for Amazon.com in the Inventory Control and Quality Assurance dept, he was working 5:30 p.m. until 4: a.m. Sunday - Wenesday and much of the time he would work 1 more day a week. Dad also did quite a few calls to the hospital and RVs to visit the Rvers who had medical problems or requested that he visit with them,,, The folks had hoped to have a Bible study during the week , but with such a variety of work schedules at Amazon.com and so many different campgrounds it was hard to find a time when to have it... We are praying this may be accomplished next year.
We had another 2 weeks over at Corp of Engineers CG near Montpillier, Iowa along the Mississippi River, Mom and Dad did a lot of visiting with friends and family while there... They said that they really enjoyed the visits with the Wolfe cousins was nice to see Tom and Brenda, Dolly and Dee Dee. The Long cousins supper was terrific, they appreciated the effort of Jim and Diane Griffin, Alice and Larry Armstrong , Dave and Catherine Long, Doug and Cathy Long, John and Jackie Wochner, and Judy and John enjoyed a great meal and a time of sharing about family memories..
On Sept, 19th Mom and Dad, along with other mission volunteers were honored at Christ United Methodist Church, Belle Plane,,, they really appreciate all that the church does for us as we travel and volunteer.
While at Adventureland this past summer us cats were kept on the leash pretty much of the time,, while Dad worked as the overnight Campground Security officer again . he worked Wednesday nights through Sunday Morning.

My look out (Pebbles ) says that Lil' Red just pulled into the drive so we better get this sent .... BTW Dad says that he has keeping the blog updated MUCH more in 2011 then he did in 2010...

May GOD continue to give each of you blessings
The Traveling Cats---Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm