Hard Days and Bucket List Progress

The past couple of days have been pretty rough.  Yesterday I was very weak, slept nearly all day long.  Better today, but not as energetic as I'd like to be.

Kelly brought me some polyester fiberfil and embroidery needles, and I took the "pocket sleeves" off some of my old yukata on Sunday.  Yukata are called summer kimono because they are very casual and soft and cool for summer.  They are always blue and white in color, and have classic Japanese designs and flowers.  I only used the big square pockets on the sleeves, so there is still a lot of fabric left for other uses.  Kelly ironed them for me, but I need some bigger embroidery needles because I want to use the whole strand of floss in the hem.  So she will bring me some big ones.  

We hung our crocheted flower garland and it's so pretty and cheerful on my window.  The colors match the beads in the beaded dragonfly Kelly made, which is also in the window.  

Kel downloaded some pics of the dolls we mounted for me, but they don't really show the shadow boxes, so I think we'll try to get some more pics of those.  I have some pics to download from my camera and phone, too.  Everything is such a hassle.  I can't just get up and get my cords to download stuff.  Someone has to bring it to me.

I got an email from Fr. Moses, who will celebrate my Requiem Mass.  He answered some questions I had, and gave me some good advice.  He is such a wonderful priest.  Please pray for him.

Come Saturday Morning

Hope you're having a great weekend.  My days seem to kind of run together, so it's hard to remember what day it is.

Ron is mowing the grass out back, the girls were in the pool at 8 AM, but they've gone with their daddy to get chicken sandwiches now.  

I had another weak day yesterday.  My BP was only 60/40 at one point.  I slept a lot.  But it's back up today, and I feel better.

Ron brought me some Cheerios with fruit and coffee for breakfast, and I'm keeping a close eye on my sugar levels.  Guess I'm having chicken for lunch.  :o)

I think Kelly is coming over today.  I untangled the embroidery floss that the girls messed up yesterday, and I'd like to start on the handmade pillows I want to make.  I can cut them, but need Kel to turn under the hems and iron them down for me so that I can stitch them.  I'll also need some polyester fiberfil.  

I'll have to update my bucket list in a day or so.  Haven't done much, but some bits are getting there.  Happy weekend, dear ones!

A Quiet Day with Kelly

Johnnie, Evann and Braden left this morning.  The kids wanted to go see their beloved Great Gran.  They came by for a little while to say good-bye.  I hated to see them leave, but loved our time together.  So they are in Bryan with Gran and Sandi tonight, will stay Friday, and head back to Kansas on Saturday.

Jason and Ahlyssa also went home.  I will surely miss my chef and carb watcher.  :o)  He took wonderful care of me.  But he said he will be back.  I know his family has missed him, and he has business to take care of at home.  I'm fortunate that he is a computer guy and can work from here as easily as he does from home.  He has some plumbing problems to take care of, too--no fun.

They had to send a nurse out this afternoon to re-draw my blood for labs.  For some reason the ones taken yesterday didn't work.  I had never seen her before, and liked her very much.

Kelly was here while Ron took Jason and Lyssa to meet Jason's friend halfway.  She is starting to put our crocheted flowers on a vine with leaves to make our banner.  It looks cute.  She has also been cleaning out our office/craft room.  I haven't been in there in months, and Ron lets the little girls play in there when he's on the computer.  (No more--I've put the kibosh on that).  They make the most unbelievable messes.  Kelly said it looked like Hoarders in there.  She hasn't finished yet.   She will take what she wants from the craft supplies and get rid of the rest.  She's such a treasure.

I hardly slept last night, so after Kelly left I took a nap.  Josh grilled me a steak, and I had broccoli and a little bit of sweet potato with it, then a couple of pieces of the wonderful chocolate covered bananas my cousin sent from Edible Arrangements.  

I can feel the love.  :o)

Mary and Family

Thank you so much for the delicious Edible Arrangement.  It arrived today and my grandkids, who love fruit and chocolate, were so excited!  (Me, too)!

The one I got was a little different from this one. Our pineapple is formed into flowers.  It also came with a box of chocolate covered fruit.  Reece and I just enjoyed  chocolate covered bananas for dessert tonight.  They are soooo good!

Johnnie, Evann and Braden were here when it arrived, and they thought it looked wonderful, too, but none of them would eat any.  There is plenty for everyone.  They should have tasted it.  :o)

How thoughtful of you to send the arrangement.  We have a store in the shopping center near us, so it is very, very fresh.  Love you all so much!  Thank you again!

Rainy Tuesday

http://www.lillarose.biz/karenkuplack/index.html

Reece and I are sitting on my bed.  He's watching Ben 10 while I'm on the computer.  He wants to be in here with me as much as possible, which I love.  But I also want him to go play outside or with his sisters instead of being cooped up inside.

Yesterday was not a good day.  I was extremely weak and just wanted to sleep all day.   I feel better today.  The good thing was that my sister, Johnnie and her two oldest grandchildren arrived.  It's been very good to have them here.  

The little girls have fallen in love with their cousin, Braden.  He is so sweet with them.  Aubrey has been following him around ever since they arrived.  They love his sister, Evann, too, but Braden is someone new to them and they are very interested in him.  It's fun to have more teens in the house.

My friend, Karen, was here this evening.  She sells these pretty Lilla Rose hair clips and I wanted to get Kelly one for her birthday.  Kelly and I went to her website and Kel picked out the one she liked (the one in the picture).  It won't be a surprise, but I like that she got exactly the one she wanted.  It's always fun to see Karen and we had a nice visit.

We've had rain for the past two days.  Johnnie drove down from Kansas on Sunday and said it poured on them the whole way.  She spent Sunday night with Kori in Austin, then they drove the rest of the way Monday afternoon.  We need the rain, but I hope it clears up so that the kids can swim and enjoy being outdoors.

The hospice chaplain was here this morning to bring me the Eucharist.  He is such a nice man.  Then the RN came this afternoon.  She did a blood draw for my labs, and did the usual vital signs and took care of an ugly pressure sore I've developed.  

So it's been kind of a busy day.  We had Thai food for dinner.  Johnnie and her grands have gone shopping.  They are staying at Mom's apartment while they're here.  It's nice to have that available for company.

Suzanne

Wednesday night we had more visitors arrive.  My daughter-in-law's sister, Suzanne, drove in from the Houston area with my granddaughter Ahlyssa and Suzanne's daughter, Kayleigh.  They stayed in a hotel nearby.

Suzanne is a family member by marriage, but we have always felt like family.  She is remarkable, raising her five children and working as a nurse at a hospital in Houston.  

Like Becky, she took charge of the little grands on Thursday. She took Reece, Aubrey, Camryn and Lily to Chuck E. Cheese for the afternoon.  Then they went to the hotel for awhile.  All of them had a blast.  They were gone for hours, giving Cyrise a rare break from the kids.  

Suzanne went shopping Thursday night and got all the ingredients for beef vegetable soup.  The beef cooked all night last night in the crockpot, and she came over this morning to add the veggies and barley.  I had some for lunch with a King's Hawaiian roll, and it is delicious.  I feel so totally loved and pampered.  :o)

Suzanne left this morning, taking Kayleigh and Lily with her.  Lily has been here with her daddy for the past few weeks.  I'll miss her, but I'm sure she's ready to see Mommy and her brothers.  Jason is still here, and Ahlyssa stayed, too.

So, I have been given the gift of so much love and caring this week, and it has meant the world to me.  I'm glad that loved ones are coming to see me while I'm still feeling okay, so that we can spend time together.  So far this process I'm going through has been one of the most beautiful, peaceful, loving experiences of my life.  God is so good.

My Little Summer Bucket List

Don't worry, I'm also planning a little fall bucket list and a little winter bucket list.  :o)

I was thinking about some of the little fun things I've been meaning to do for a long time and decided to write them down and do them.  Want to see?

1.  Get 3 shadowboxes for some little dolls I've made.

2.  Make a crystal garland.  Years ago Kelly and I had a craft booth at a craft show in Blanco, and a couple traded me a big bag of crystals for one of my candlelights.  We are going to twist wire into loops and curls and hang the crystals on it for some sparkle.  Won't that be pretty?

3.  Make oatmeal cookies with Reece.  I'll have to use the piano bench and round oak table as my mixing area, but that's okay.  I can't stand at the counter any longer.

4.  Have a tea party with the girlies.  We have a special Gramma tea set, and another that I got Cammy for her birthday that we can use.  Maybe we will wear hats.  Reece will be invited, too.

5.  Play Ave Maria on my violin.

6.  Learn the chords to Mull of Kintyre on the mandolin.  I couldn't sleep one night, and this song was in my head.  It has become our theme lately, with Ron and Jason finding some beautiful Scotch whiskey to drink from Ron's birthday Glenfiddich glasses.  I don't drink it, but I smell it, and it smells wonderful.  It came from the Mull of Kintyre.  It's called Spring Bank Single Malt Scotch.

7.  Buy mandolin strap (this one's done).

8.  Work with Reece on his reading and math.

9.  Draw.  Birds.  Flowers.

10  Make natural peppermint oil with my mint.  Use in toothpaste.

11.  Get rid of old green couch.  (I can't do that myself, but I can nag).

12.  Get another anointing.

13.  Visit the local Schoenstatt Shrine.

14.  Visit the local Divine Mercy Mission Center.

15.  Make handsewn pillows from my old summer yukatas.  I'll hem them with blanket stitch.  Simple and soft.

16.  Crochet flowers with Kel to make a cute garland together.  (We got a few of these done today--me one, Kel four). 

17.  Get a new water bucket for my dogs.  Their plastic one keeps getting moldy.  Yuck.  I'll get a metal one. 

That's it.  Happy weekend, dear ones.

Catching Up

Just a quick post to let you know I'm still hanging in there. 

Jason and Lily came back today, with Ron, who went to pick them up.  I'm glad they are here.

My RN comes 2X a week, the aide comes 3X a week, the chaplain was here with the Eucharist this afternoon.

Reece and the little girls know something is up, but they are all doing okay.  Everyone is giving me lots of love.

Kelly spent the entire day here with me.  She cleaned and we talked, she brought me food and just kept my spirits up.  She's been worrying about Teddy.  Mom can't have a pet at Sandi's, and truly, she does not need the responsibility.  My health aid has fallen in love with him, and I think Kelly will give him to her.

I'm trying to eat well, but Dr. O wants me to continue with the decadron, which raises my blood sugar to really high levels and makes me feel bad.  So he cut back on it a bit, and I continue with the insulin.  Things are a bit better tonight.  HGL makes my vision blurry, which is a real pain in the patoot.  

All in all, things are going okay.  I still have feeling in my upper body and can move myself around with my trapeze.  Legs and lower extremities are still paralyzed.  Brain is functioning, hands and arms are fine, breathing is okay--low and soft mostly.

Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers.  They mean the world to me.  I am praying for all of you, and offering up my discomfort for your intentions.  Love you! 

Pics and Stuff

Our big family gathering.  They are all so beautiful.

Our wonderful musicians played for us.  Lyssa and Jason.

Kelly and I went to get our hair cut today, so I look different than in the family picture.  It feels so good to have it all cut off!  Picture tomorrow.

They  brought my trapeze and a wedge pillow for my bed this evening.  The trapeze is going to be so helpful to keep me moving to different positions easily.

Jason and his family left this evening.  He is taking them home, but plans to come back Wednesday or Thursday with Lily.  He just really wants to be here to help.

Kelly and Cyrise made me a fruit smoothie when we got home from the hair salon.  I was craving one, and Josh had  bought me lots of fresh fruit last night.  It was so good!

Kell and I had a puffy taco for dinner, and she went on home.  She made sure I took my decadron with food.  :o)  They take good care of me.

I'll be back soon.  Much love!

One more beautiful family day.

Had another beautiful day with my family yesterday.  This time it was all of us here (Ron, Josh, Cyrise and their 4 littles, Jason and Kis and their four), Kelly and Mike, then Sandi and Mom, Johnnie and Mike, Jared (their son), Cole and Collin (Sandi's sons) Kori, Steve and their two little guys (Kori is Sandi's daughter).  A big, fantastic houseful.

They brought all kinds of food!  Some of the guys stopped at Costco and Target and got everything imaginable for a big cookout.  We had hamburgers, brats, hot dogs, all kinds of cheeses, baked beans and pickles, chips and drinks.  Dinner was delish!

It is so wonderful to see the now grown-up cousins together, and the little ones, too, of course.  Kelly and Jared have a family tradition of making no-bake chocolate oatmeal cookies whenever they are together, because we always did it when they were little.  They let Lily help them this time.  That was a privilege for her, because they usually allow no one else in the kitchen.  :o)  They (the cookies) were good.

The guys sat out on the patio at the back of pool, talking and talking.  They are all so handsome and strong.  Most of Great Gran's grandchildren are boys.  She has two granddaughters, Kelly and Kori, and they are both strong and beautiful, too.  Great Gran had her hair cut short, and wore cute clothes.  She is a little doll.  I liked just looking at her.

There was lots of swimming and playing going on.  Sandi trimmed my hair for me as we sat out back on the patio.  Steve took a big family picture (I'll see if it's in my iphoto so I can post it).  Oops, not there yet.  I'll try to get it downloaded later today.

We turned on the party lights on the patio at dusk, and Jason and Lys played for us, and Jason sang.  That was wonderful.  

We're all doing okay.  I haven't noticed much physical change.  I'm tired, but that's nothing new.  No new numbness or tingling anywhere, no breathing difficulties yet.

I ask for prayers for my family.  This is harder on them than it is on me.  Ron and I have been one for over 44 years, and I can barely imagine what this is doing to him.  I know the kids are worried about him.  They are all strong, but I can see that they are torn apart, too.  Please pray for strength and peace and comfort for all of them.  Thank you!

Goodbyes yesterday were difficult.  We live so far apart from extended family, and we don't know what will happen next, or when.  I feel so blessed that everyone was here while I'm still doing well.  

Thank you for reading, and thank you for your sweet thoughts and prayers.  Love you, dear ones!

Family

It has been such a sweet, wonderful day.  Family filled this house with their love, laughter and joy.  Of course the usual family members (Josh, Cyrise and their four little ones) who live here were here, and so was my mom, my two sisters (Sandi and Johnnie), a brother-in-law (Mike), two big strong handsome nephews (Jared and Collin), our beautiful niece Kori, our precious daughter Kelly, and Jason and Kismette and their four children.

Josh carried me downstairs in the afternoon.  The women were all cleaning my house like crazy, and the guys were outside grilling kalbi, swimming with the kids and keeping them entertained.  It was almost like a party.  Well, it kind of was a party.

I got tons of hugs and kisses and love.  I sat on the couch and watched everything going on around me, feeling so blessed to have this big loving family.  Another nephew and his wife (Sandi's oldest son Cole) will be here tomorrow, and I'm looking forward to seeing him, too.

My home health aide came around 3 in the afternoon to help me with my shower.  The transfer bench works great and really makes me feel safer and more secure.  I was able to wash some of myself alone, without her help, because I don't have to hold on while sitting on it, like I did on the little shower stool.  Awesome.

Then I was all fresh and clean to be downstairs with family and have dinner later.  They all left to go back to Austin where Kori lives, but they'll all be back tomorrow.

After they left Josh said that it felt just like always with them; the same love and feeling of family has never disappeared, even though we live in different places and have different lives.  I've noticed that with our extended family, too.  Cousins I hadn't seen in years are just as dear and easy to be with now as they were when we were growing up.

Thank you Sandi, Johnnie, Kori, Kelly and Mom for cleaning my downstairs today.  I appreciate it so much.  Makes me feel much better!  Nobody cleans like our Croley women.  :o)  You are all wonderful.  Oh, and thank you Jared for vacuuming the kitchen vent.  And Cyrise for what you did before everyone arrived.  Love you!

Josh's children were enchanted by their Uncle Mike, Johnnie's husband.  I call him the child whisperer.  All of our kids have been crazy about him from the time they are born, or meet him.  He just has an easy, funny way with them that makes them love him.  So Aubrey was looking at him, and she said to him, "You have a good face."  :o)  Isn't that the cutest?  He said, "Does that mean you think I'm cute?"  And she said, "Yes."

Jacob enjoyed meeting all the guys and swimming with them.  He said someone picked him up from behind and threw him into the water.  I asked him who it was, and he said, "That big white guy."  I laughed so hard.  He meant his cousin, Collin.

Now I am eating a strawberry sundae that Jason and Kis got for me.  The perfect ending to a very sweet day.

Some Thursday Chatter

So much going on.  

We didn't go driving yesterday, but hope to go within the next couple of days.  But Kelly was here all afternoon, which was very nice.

Jason and Lyssa played their guitar and viola for us.  I've always loved to hear Jason sing, and he sang several songs for us yesterday as he played his guitar.  He sang Vince Gill's Pocket Full of Gold (my dad's favorite), Knocking on Heaven's Door (Dylan) and Down In A Hole (Alice in Chains).  He should put his songs on You Tube.  He has a beautiful voice.  We sat downstairs most of the day.

The social worker came out in the late afternoon.  She was very nice, but extremely talkative.  Kelly said maybe she gleaned some information from us while we all chatted.  I don't know.  :o)  I was awfully tired by the time she left.  She's getting us a handicapped tag for the car.

My sister Johnnie is coming tomorrow, and maybe her son is coming with her.  I'm looking forward to seeing them.

Sandi and Mom are coming back this weekend, also.  And maybe one of Sandi's sons.  I've certainly caused an uproar, haven't I?

The health aide will be out in the morning.  Ron has transformed the bathroom where the shower is by taking off the door (now the wheelchair can go in there).  He also removed the glass shower doors and put in the transfer bench which arrived last night.  That should make showering so much easier for me.

I don't hesitate to let my sweet family know when I'm becoming overwhelmed.  Sometimes it gets to be a little too hectic in my room, with grands coming and going, talking, fussing, whining or arguing, and adults doing one thing or another.  All I have to say is, "Time to go out now," and little ones are ushered out, along with the big ones, the door is shut and I have some peace and quiet.  They are so sweet.

Happy Thursday, y'all.

Hospice and other stuff.

I have been on hospice for a few days now, and it is nice to have someone to help Ron with my care, particularly bathing.  

An RN comes in twice a week to check my vitals and for any questions or concerns we may have.  The first nurse came out for two days in a row, but now there is another set of workers.

An aide comes 3X a week, to help with my bath.  She's so sweet.  She likes to dry my hair and style it.  My hair came back as thick as ever, and she enjoys playing with it.  :o)  She was here this morning.

We haven't received the equipment they plan to bring out yet.  They're bringing a transfer bench, which should help immensely with moving from my wheelchair to over the bathtub.  They mentioned bringing a trapeze so that I can pull myself around on the bed.  I have good upper body strength right now.  But I think they need a hospital bed for that.  I was hoping we wouldn't have to have one of those until later.

Right now Ron and our two strong sons move me around.  Josh and Jason can pick me up easily, but Ron has trouble lifting me and I'm terrified that he's going to hurt his back.  Josh is so strong that he can carry me up and down the stairs like I'm a child.

The simplest, everyday activities, like going to the bathroom, are the hardest things to accomplish.  It's a bit bizarre.  I wake up in the morning and start to swing my legs out of bed and walk to the bathroom.  Then I remember.  Someone else has to swing my legs over and lift me onto a bedside commode (wheelchair won't fit through the 2nd bathroom door, where toilet is).  I have to have  help to pull down my pants.  Then help to get my pants back up and into the wheelchair or bed.  That's the awful part.  I'm having to learn not to be so independent, and it's very hard for me.  I've always been in charge, at least of myself.  

I'm in my room a lot, but downstairs for most of the afternoon to be with everyone.  Today Kelly is coming to take me for a drive to the Hill Country, just to get me out, and because I love the Hill Country.  I'm looking forward to that.  I wonder if there are any Fredericksburg peaches left?

One of my boys came over to see me yesterday.  When the kids were growing up, they all had friends that we all loved, and Chris is one of Josh's high school friends.  The first time I ever saw him he was sitting in a little orange sports car in our driveway, and had a big sweet smile on his face.  I said, "Well, aren't you the cutest thing?" and I've loved him ever since.

He brought me a book about using nutrition to cure cancer, called The Complete Cancer Cleanse by Cherie Calbom, MS (the Juice Lady), John Calbom, M.A, and Michael Mahaffey, P. C.  Wasn't that sweet?  I was reading it last night, but it says the juice detox program makes you very sick for about 5 days a few days after you start it, so I don't think it will work for me.  But I will definitely use the suggestions for food from the book.  It's all good for the immune system.

Have a great Wednesday!

Awesome

Today, the most wonderful priest came to our house.  I had met him once, as he does the Traditional Latin Mass at our church now.  But I've missed Mass so much over the past couple of years, I didn't really know him. 

I called to see if he would come to see me for Confession, Communion and Anointing of the Sick.  He did all that and so much more, and he used the Traditional liturgy that I love.  We talked and talked.  He blessed my room with holy water.  He invited the whole family in to see the anointing, and all of us thought he was the perfect priest for me at this time.  He is awesome!  My sins are forgiven, I received Christ and the anointing, and now I feel awesome!  I love love love being Catholic. 

Thank you, My Lord and My God, for the blessings you have given me, and please bless Father Moses of Jesus now and always.  Amen

A hard post to write.

St. Peregrine, Patron Saint of Cancer Patients

I hardly know where to start.

I went to the BMT on Thursday for my IVIG appointment.  I took the reports from the physical therapist, saying how quickly I had deteriorated in only a week.  I went from driving myself to the clinic and walking in with my walker to barely dragging myself in with Ron's help the next week.  That day we got a wheelchair.  Now my body from the ribcage down is paralyzed.

When the doctor saw me and read the reports, he immediately put me in the hospital and scheduled an MRI.  They did the MRI late that night.  The next day when the expert read the MRI, he said the cancer has come back and involves nearly my whole spine.  We never saw any sign of it in my spinal fluid, but it's in the spinal cord.

Mantle cell lymphoma is a very aggressive, sneaky kind of cancer. The first two times I got it, the progression was very fast.  And Dr. O said that it will probably be very fast again.  He said it is moving up my spine.  Right now the lumbar region is affected, which is why I can't walk and have bladder and bowel problems.  As it travels up, it will involve my arm movement, then my lungs, and finally my brain.  

He said that I could have brain and spinal cord radiation, or very strong chemo.  There are not many chemos that will go into the spinal canal.  He said that neither of the choices will cure the lymphoma, that I'd have to stay in the hospital and could very well die there.  He said that all either procedure would really do was to buy me a little more time.

I told him that I wanted to go home.  I want to spend my last days with my family.  The doctor set me up with hospice.  We don't know how long I will live.  He said it could be days, weeks, possibly months, and that he even had some patients who had been on hospice for more than a year.  

Given the aggressive nature of this cancer, I don't expect it to be months or a year.  Right now I feel okay except for the paralysis, and that's not really painful, just uncomfortable.  

My sister, Sandi, has come to get Mom and will take over her care now.  That is huge burden lifted from our shoulders, and I am so thankful that she is able to do this.  Please pray for Mom as change is not easy for her.  And for Sandi as she makes adjustments to her busy life.  

I hoped for a longer time, but I am dealing with it okay,  The hardest part, of course, is how this hurts my family.  I've fought this cancer for over 3 years, and this is not unexpected, so I hope we get through it without too much trauma.  As my sister said today, we've had time to love one another and say good-bye.  It's not like a horrible accident where your loved one is suddenly killed and you have no chance to hold them one more time and tell them what they mean to you.  So I'm grateful for the time we'll have for that.

Praying for a miracle, but putting it all in God's hands.

Thank you for being here these past 5+ years.  It's been fun sharing my life with you and finding new friends on the internet.  I'll continue to blog when I can.  I love all of you, dear readers.

Friday Five

1.  Today is the start of the novena to the Holy Spirit.  You can see the novena here.

2.  I went shopping this afternoon, looking for summer clothes.  Got a simple little flared navy blue polka dot knit dress, a gray and black striped top and a pair of black capris.  I'd like to find a pair of navy canvas wedges to wear with the dress.

3.  I've gained back some of the weight I had lost during my cancer battle.  I was down to 105 at one point, am back up to around 117 now.  Yay!  I'd like to stay around this weight.  My hair is growing, but my eyebrows are barely there.  I don't know if they will ever come back, but as long as the cancer is gone, I don't even care.

4.  I made strawberry shortcake today.  Aubrey nagged me until I got it done.  :o)

5.  We had another thunder storm and some rain last night and early this morning.  I'm really happy for the rain we've had lately.

The battle we didn't choose.

This made me cry, but it is so real.
Rest in peace, Jennifer.

Friday Five

1.  I had a PET/CT scan on Tuesday.  I saw my doctor Thursday, and he showed me the scan.  There is no sign of lymphoma.  I was very relieved because I've been having some balance problems lately, and I was afraid the mantle cell had returned to my spine.  He drew some spinal fluid out through my Omaya port last week, and it was perfectly clear.  We're still not sure what is causing the problems with my legs, so Dr. O wants me to have an MRI.  I thank God that it is not a return of the cancer.

2.  I was scheduled for a bone marrow biopsy Thursday, but since the scan was clear I didn't have to have one.  So thankful for that!  They are painful.

3.  The PET scan showed that I have sinusitis.  I thought it was just allergies.

4.  Mom and I went out to lunch today.  Yesterday she had packed some of her things again.  She was feeling confused.  I asked her where she thought she was going to go, and she said, "I don't know, I guess I thought I was going home."  Makes me so sad.  She likes her apartment, but sometimes it must feel strange to her.  Home to her is Kansas.

5.  While we were eating lunch, a tall clean-cut man came in and sat in the booth across from us at the restaurant.  He was wearing a big gun.  Rather than feeling alarmed by the gun, it made me feel safer knowing that if "bad guys" came in there was someone there who could deal with them.  Mom noticed the gun, too, and raised her eyebrows at me.  :o)

Happy Friday to all!

Thursday Chitchat

I was at the BMT clinic today for the first time since December 4th.  It was nice to see Dr. O and the BMT staff.  And I saw Dr. B and talked with him for awhile.

They accessed my port and sent the blood off to the lab.  All was well.  Dr. O wants to give me IVIG again in the next couple of weeks because of the flu going around.  I've had it once and my immune system was able to fight it off.  The IVIG will strengthen my immune system, though, in case I get it again.

My nurse today is a gentle giant of a man who very sweetly scolded me about taking better care of my diabetes.  I promised him I would do better about checking my sugars and taking my insulin.  He said, "It would be a shame to beat cancer and be taken out by diabetes."  I have to agree with that!  He used to work in a diabetes ward.

Gotta run.  I haven't gone to Mom's yet, and need to get over there and then back here to pick up Reece at school.  Aubrey didn't go today.  I got back in time to take her, but her mom had already called the school to tell them she wouldn't be there.  Aubrey was happy to be able to stay at home.

Dentists

I had a dental appointment this morning at SAMMC, to see what can be done about my broken molars.  They will be able to save the one on the right side, but the one on the left will probably have to be pulled.  I've never had a tooth pulled and hope something else can be done, but I trust them to do the best thing.  I'll go back the first week in February for the first procedure.

I'm fortunate to be able to see the dentists there.  They don't see many civilian patients.  But I met the head dentist during both of my transplants, and he told me to come see him when I'd recovered enough to endure the dental work.  He was hoping the GvH would be gone by then.  The GvH is not totally gone, but has improved to the point where I will be able to tolerate the dental work.

I'm not the only one who has visited the dentist lately.  Little Camryn had some cavities filled and some caps put on yesterday.  Poor baby.  None of the grands seem to have inherited their daddy and grandfathers good teeth.  Ron's dad only had one cavity his whole life, and had all of his teeth when he died.  

Time to take Aubrey to school.  Thanks for visiting, and I'll see you soon.