day 110 after transplant

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!!!

I went to clinic early today- with the car packed ready to come home if I am permitted. I had lab work done and saw Dr. Toor. He asked me a lot of questions about how I felt and then he told me that I could go home!!! But there was one condition - I am not to be out at Wal-Mart or any place where there may be germs and sick people. That means that I have to pretty much  stay home. It is so good to be home. It has been good medicine.

He is pleased with the results of the biopsy (the final results still have not come in). I will go back to Richmond on Sunday but I don't have to go to the clinic until Wednesday. That is when I will get my Hickman line removed.  He has started to wean me off of some of my meds. This is all a step forward. He said that he wanted me to stay around a couple of days after my line is removed and if everything goes well I can say goodbye to the Candlewood Suites!

It looks like Beth will be my last caregiver at the Candlewood suites, but after I get home I will need someone to take me to Richmond once a week, at the clinic for a few hours for lab work and a check up. If any of you could to do that, please let me know and I would appreciate it very much.  Things are really moving fast now and it is a little scary but I know that God has not brought me this far to leave me now. So many prayers have been answered already and there are more to be answered. I just take it one day at a time and let God.

My prayers for all of you is that you have a healthy and blessed 2009!!

Take care,

Love,

Gloria

day 109 after transplant

 

Hello to everyone,

Today was another wonderful day-- 60 degrees. We got up early and ate breakfast and then we took off. Didn't know where we were going- so we headed south on 95. At Colonial Heights we saw a large mall so we checked that out. They had just about anything that you would want-- stores, restaurants, gas stations and etc. They had a Joann Fabrics store that I really wanted to go in but knew that would not be a good idea. First of all I shouldn't be there with all the dust and second I would probably buy things that I really don't need now. I can't sew right now anyway because of getting an infection from a needle stick. The nurse pract. suggested that I learn to knit or crochet. Now I have an idea for Christmas gifts next year -- look out everyone!!!!

We have to be at the clinic early tomorrow and we will be packed ready to head home if they say that I can go. I have been eating a little better the last few days so I am hoping that will help me to get the green light. I didn't have a very good night last night because my hips and legs hurt and I couldn't get comfortable. I have had a good day today  without them hurting.

Take care and hope to be home tomorrow afternoon and maybe I'll get to see you.

Love to all,

Gloria

day 108 after transplant

 

Hello everyone,

Today was a wonderful day -- not only weather wise, which was really nice and warm for December. It was also a good day for me at the clinic. I had my labs taken and then I saw one of the nurse pract. and she asked me some questions about how I felt. I asked her if I could go home again this weekend (just like for Christmas). She said that would depend on  the results of my labs. I was then told that I did not need any IV's for today ( the first time I have not had to have an IV since I started the clinic) How wonderful! I was also given some results from the bone biopsy and they are all good but the final results will not be back until next week. Also some of my meds have been reduced and this will be done week by week to see how I get along .Big prayers answered!

I will go to the clinic early on Wednesday and then if given the permission I will come home for the weekend. I will return on Sunday because Beth will be coming to be my caregiver for the week.

I only lost one pound since last Tuesday. Rodney has been trying to find some protein that would taste good to me -- I think that we found a winner tonight. We had some SPICY steamed shrimp. Rodney made some SPICY cocktail sauce. Boy was that good and I have enough left for lunch tomorrow.

Time for me to go to bed.

Take care,

Love to all,

Gloria  

day 107 after transplant

 

Hello to everyone,

Well today was a day that I knew would come too fast. It was great to be home and to get to spend some time with the kids and family. I did get to go down to church and see some people from the car as they came out of the church. Thank you to all who helped to make my time at home wonderful. Thanks for all of the calls, gifts and prayers for us.

We are back in Richmond and will go to the clinic tomorrow at 11am. I hope that the labs will come back so good that they will let me come home again for the New Year. Home was good medicine for me!!

Take care and hope to see some of you over the holidays.

Love,

Gloria

day 106 after transplant

 

Good evening to everyone.

Well today was another wonderful day. First of all it was very nice outside and Rodney got some yard work done. The first Saturday he has been here since September because he has been in Richmond with me. We got to see some of our neighbors and got to take some gifts around.

I wanted to walk the subdivision but after I walked out and around the yard I felt that that was enough. Pastor Steve came by for a nice visit and he did a very special Communion Service for us. Thanks, Pastor Steve.

After a little rest we went to my side of the family for a little while to have Christmas it was very nice, After we got home there was a message on our answering machine from the B'water Home that Rodney's Aunt Louise has the flu. She is now quarantined to her room. I wanted to see her before I left to go to back to Richmond but I know that God had a hand in that. I hope that she will only have a mild case and I will be able to see her in the next couple of weeks.

Rodney and I are leaving tomorrow afternoon to go back to Richmond and be there to go to the clinic on Monday. Hoping that they will let me come back home for the New Year like they did for Christmas.

Take care,

Love,

Gloria 

day 105 after transplant

 

Good evening to all of you,

I had another good day today. Fixed breakfast (Grady and Libby always wants Mamaw's pancakes and eggs). Then we just hung out for a while and the "boys" played with their remote helicopters. They liked to see how many heads they could land on!!!!

We did get to go to Rodney's mother to see his side of the family but only for a little while. Long enough to exchange gifts. I kept my mask on and didn't touch anything. Found out that Rodney's aunt that lives in the B'water Home her floor has been       quarantined because of the flu. I wanted to see her but that takes care of that. She doesn't have the flu but evidently some of the other residents have it. Not a safe place to be.

We fixed pizza for dinner and then after we got the kids to bed we played a game of Dominos. That was a lot of fun - Ryan and Scott were so funny.

It is time for me to go to bed and start another fun day tomorrow. I feel like the time is going by too fast but I sure am thankful for this time together.  Rodney and I have decided that we will go back to Richmond sometime Sunday afternoon so we won't have to get up so early on Monday to go to the clinic. I feel so helpless. I don't like to be the one that gets waited on but God has a plan for me and my time of being waited on will pass and maybe I will be the one to wait and help other people. I just have to take care of myself and have a lot of patience. Remember that I need to be like the turtle and not the hare!

Take care and write more tomorrow night.

Love to all,

Gloria

day 104 after transplant

 

Merry Christmas to all,

It has been a very busy but wonderful day. Scott and family got here about 5 pm and Ryan and Jennifer came up and we had dinner. Then we opened presents and then we had dessert. It was so much fun with the kids. Grady and Libby were so excited and very thankful for all their gifts. As I am here writing my blog I am being attacked by a two remote control helicopters (one of Grady's Christmas gifts). They are having some much fun with the helicopters.

I spent most of the day wrapping gifts and baking a chocolate cake. I got very tired so I took a shower and then went to bed for a couple hours. I had so many phone calls and people just concerned and thankful that I got home. I appreciated the calls very much.

Tomorrow is usually the day that we all get up early and go  shopping and get our cards and wrapping paper for next year. Don't think that I am up to that this year. Jennifer said that she will pick up some for me.

Hope that everyone of you had a wonderful Christmas. It is so nice to be able to be with family and make more memories. I know that the weekend will go by too quickly  but I am so thankful for the time I have. Rodney's side of the family is coming in tomorrow but I am not sure that I will be able to go see them. On Saturday evening my side of the family will get together and here again I am not sure that I will be able to go see them. I have come so far now that I just can not take the chance on getting a set back.

I hope that I will find out some results about the biopsy and when I can go home when I go back to VCU next week.

Take care,

Love to all,

Gloria

day 103 after transplant

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL !!!!

Today has been a wonderful day. I AM HOME UNTIL MONDAY !!!! Praise the Lord. He is so awesome.

Left Richmond and stopped at AMC at the Hope Clinic to see the nurses that was so good to me while I was going there for chemo this spring. I got to see so many of them.They all came up to me with open arms and Rodney had to run interference for me. He told them, please no hugs. They understood. It was so nice to see them. When we were leaving AMC Santa came by on a Harley with his pack on the back and blowing his horn. It was so cute - Rodney wanted a picture but Santa wouldn't stop. I guess that he was on a mission.

It is so good to be back in B'water. After we got here we unloaded the car and then we went to Wal-Mart. Rodney didn't have a chance to get milk, eggs and bread. What a mess. I got so tired that I went straight to bed when we got home. I rested for several hours. Good to be back in my own bed. Ryan and Jake stopped by for a few minutes. Ryan fixed me pancakes and sausage cake. I helped Rodney decorate a little for Christmas. Ryan and Jake came down last night and set up the manager scene-- that really makes it more like Christmas.

We went down to church at the 5:30 service and sit in the car and saw people that I wanted to see so bad. I told them that my spirit was definitely inside the church but I just couldn't go  in now. It was so fun to see everyone.

    Went out to look at Christmas lights and Ryan and Jake went   with us. We took them down to church for the 11pm service (this is the service that Rodney and I really like to go to). We saw some more of our church family from our car. What a perfect day!!

Scott and family will be here tomorrow and then we will have Christmas tomorrow evening.

I have got to get to bed and get up early in the morning to finish wrapping the presents. I get tired easy so it will take me a while.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU.

Love, Gloria

day 102 after transplant

 

Hello to everyone,

Well today started out early and it was cold outside (13 degrees). Had to be at the clinic at 8 this morning. I got my stats and lab work taken and then waited for the nurse pract.to come in. She said that she didn't think that I should stay at home until Monday but after she saw my lab work she changed her mind. But I was told by 3 different nurses that I was to stay away from anybody that was sick. A common cold could set me back and so could being around anyone who was sick. I know that Rodney is going to be very careful of who comes to see me. I will stand in front of the picture window and wave at all who goes by!

The biopsy was done by a Jewish doctor and he was really good.My nurse Carol stayed by my side and held my hand the whole time. She continued to pray for me- it was very powerful. Prayers do work- the biopsy was painless today. I had to lay on my back for about an hour and I was given a small bag of saline. I don't have to stick my finger to check my sugar and I don't have to do home IV of saline while I am at home. I go back to clinic at 11 on Monday. Hope to be able to come home again for New Year's but I'll have to see. I know that when I come back down here I have to have my Hickman line removed. I will then use my port and I won't have lines hanging out. That is one more step closer to coming home for good.

I am hoping that Beth will be here to be my caregiver starting the first week of January but I do not have anybody else lined up and I would appreciate anyone who would be willing to take a week. Hopefully I will be home for good by the middle of January but like they said, You have come this far don't rush it now.

A very merry Christmas to all of you and the best for 2009.

Love, Gloria

day 101 after transplant

 

Hello to everyone,

One more day closer to Christmas and to me going home. Hurrah !!!

I have to get up really early to go to the clinic to get my bone marrow biopsy. I will get to see the doctor and find out if and how long I get to stay at home. I will also get labs done. Hopefully they will be better and I won't have to put more rocks in my pockets. I have really tired to eat more proteins and to do everything that I am suppose to be doing. When I get back from the holidays I am praying that the results will be good and that they will have a game plan for when I get home for good.

It was really cold here today and will be even colder tomorrow morning. I can take the cold but not the snow. It can snow when I get home to stay.

I have  to take a shower and get ready for an early day at the clinic tomorrow. Dad and Corinne will go home and Rodney will come down tomorrow and then take me home on Wednesday.

Take care -- hope to see some of you later this week.

Love to all,

Gloria

day 100 after transplant

 

Hello to everyone,

Today was very rainy when we got up but by afternoon the sun was shining bright. We didn't go anywhere but it was a good time of being together.

Dad and Corinne came down and Rodney went home. He will be back down here on Tuesday after my bone marrow biopsy and hopefully they will tell me that I can go home on Wednesday. I am not looking forward to the biopsy but I am looking forward to coming home.

Again we are watching a Hallmark Christmas story. We have really enjoyed these movies this past week. The one we are watching now is called "Bring Me a Boyfriend For Christmas".

Hope that tomorrow will be a good day to go out to do some shopping. I can't stay out for long because I still get very tired.

Take care,

Love to all,

Gloria

day 99 after transplant

 

Hello to everyone,

I guess that everyone is out getting the last (or maybe the first) things ready for Christmas. It was rainy and pretty cool here today but we went out to get a few things done. The stores were really crowded and probably not the best place for me to be.

I got really tired so we came back to the hotel and while Rodney was doing the laundry I laid down and I felt a lot better when I got up.

I ate some cream of wheat for breakfast and noodle soup for lunch and then I ate some dried beans for dinner. I have tried to eat more protein but it sure doesn't taste good.

We are watching another Hallmark Christmas movie. They have all been very good and gets you into the Christmas mood.

I know that they are calling for some nasty weather at home tonight and tomorrow. I am praying that the weatherman is wrong. I don't want Dad and Corinne traveling down here in bad weather and I sure don't want Rodney traveling home in bad weather.

You all take care,

Love,  

Gloria

day 98 after transplant

 

Hello to everyone!

Today started off foggy but not too cold. I had to be at the clinic early and had my labs done and dressing changed. Now I can take a shower. I don't have to go back to the clinic until Tuesday. That will be another early and long day. I have to have a bone marrow biopsy and then they will let me know if I have to continue the home IV.

Next week on Wednesday I hoping that I will get the ok to go home until Sunday or longer. I have to put more rocks in my pockets -- I lost 3 lbs. last week and another 4 lbs. this week. I am not trying to lose weight but I just can't find anything that tastes good. I know that I need to eat protein but it all tastes like metal. Susan told me today that I had better start gaining some weight back or I would end up back in the hospital! Please say a prayer for me that I find a protein that tastes good.

Dad and Corinne left today at 3:30 this afternoon and Rodney got down here at 6:30. Ate some dinner and now we are watching another Christmas story with Henry Winkler. We are switching back and forth to the Richmond Spider football game. The last time we looked Richmond was ahead 14 to 0.

Take care,

Love to all,

Gloria

day 97 after transplant

Hello to everyone,

I didn't have to go to clinic today so this was a very lazy day. I stayed in bed until 9:45! I was up every two hours to go to the bathroom during the night. I woke up at 8 and took my pills and took my blood sugar count. I listened to Good Morning America. I fell off to sleep and didn't wake up until 9:45.

I got up and ate breakfast and hooked up my IV bottle. I helped Corrine to make peanut balls. We made cheese balls yesterday.

It was very cloudy but not cold out. I walked the hall today while the room was being cleaned. I hear that they are calling for a wintry mix this weekend at home. They are calling for rain down here.

We are watching another Christmas story on the Hallmark channel. It is called "The Christmas Choir". I have enjoyed these movies the last several nights. They have a good moral to them and makes you appreciate the meaning of Christmas.

I go to the clinic early tomorrow and then Dad and Corinne will leave and Rodney will come down. I hope that the weather will not mess things up.

take care and take time to smell the roses.

Love to all,

Gloria  

day 96 after transplant

 

Hello to everyone,

Today was a nice day. I had to go to clinic early and they said that the irritation around my hickman line had not blistered but was still red. They put gauze bandages on and that means that I can't get it wet. I go to the clinic on Friday and I hope that they will put the waterproof patch back on.

We made cheese balls today and then we rode around to see the tacky lights and the lights on the skyline of Richmond. Now we are watching a Hallmark Christmas movie. It is really good. Now tomorrow will be cleaning day and a day that I give myself IV of saline and magnesium.

Take care and remember the reason for the season.

Love,

Gloria

day 95 after transplant

 

Hello everyone,

I understand that the weather is cold with ice and sleet. It was cold here today too with rain. It was 30 degrees cooler today than yesterday.

I had to go to the clinic fasting early this morning. After my labs were done I got a small bag of magnesium and saline and I got to talk to the nurse pract. She was very pleased with all of my labs. She made an appointment for me for next Tuesday for another bone marrow biopsy (90 day out). She wanted me to wait until I came back from Christmas but I told her that I didn't want to wait-- I want to be able to enjoy my Christmas and not worry about having to come back for that. I promised her that I would not go home for 24 hours after the test-- that means I will be coming home on Christmas Eve. Dr. McCardy said that after the biopsy and the results come back he will sit down with me and tell me the game plan. That sounds good to me.

At the clinic today they changed my hickman line dressing. The solution that they have been using for cleaning the area burned like fire. When I got back to the hotel it was still burning real bad, I looked at it in the mirror and it was really red, I called the clinic and they wanted me to come back in to check it. They don't want my skin to blister because that would be open to infection. When I went back they cleaned it as best as they could and put several layers of gauze pads on it and they said not to get it dirty or wet. I have to go back early tomorrow to have it checked again. It is still burning pretty bad. They said that sometime after so long cleaning with this solution my skin may have become sensitive to it. I think that after the biopsy the hickman line will be taken out anyway. I will still have my port for them to draw labs and etc.

I lost another 3 pounds since last week and I told them that I was going to fill my pockets with rocks so they wouldn't be upset with me!

Take care and be careful tomorrow with the sleet and ice.

Love,

Gloria

day 94 after transplant

 

Hello everyone,

Today was a beautiful and warm day.I could stand days like this until April! Tomorrow it is suppose to be cooler and cloudy. We went to the mall and did some Christmas shopping. Got a few presents done.

I was really tired when we got back "home" and ate some dinner and showered. We are now watching a Lifetime Christmas movie called "Secret Santa" It is really cute.

I have to get up early tomorrow to go to the clinic. I have to go fasting. I am hoping for good results from my lab work. I hope to be able to see Dr. McCarty to get some questions answered and to find out if and when I can go home for Christmas.

Take care,

Love,

Gloria

day 93 after transplant

 

Hello to everyone,

Today was another day off from clinic, so it was a very lazy day. I did have to hook up to my saline and magnesium. My appetite was a little better but nothing to write home about.

The weather was nice, temperature wise but this afternoon it got cloudy. I think that they are calling for clouds and showers all this week until Friday. That is ok with me, just as long as we don't get any of the white stuff.

Dad and Corinne came down and Rodney went home today. I don't go to clinic until Tuesday. I hope to take Dad and Corinne out to see some lights while they are down here.

Hopefully this will be a quick and good week with out any surprises.I am so anxious to get home.

Take care and have a good week, don't get too stressed out with Christmas getting closer- just relax and remember the reason for the season.

Love,

Gloria

day 92 after transplant

 

Hello to everyone,

Today was sunny and not real cool in the sun. We slept in a little this morning and then we got some Christmas cards out and we went driving around Richmond.

This evening we went to the James River and watched the boats decked out with Christmas lights go down the James. It was pretty chilly but the boats were beautiful. We sit in the car until we saw the boats coming down the river.  I had never seen anything like that before. I think that B'water should sponsor something like this next Christmas to go down the North River!! They had hot dogs and burgers and hot chocolate for sale.

Got back to the hotel and ate dinner and showered and I am about ready to go to bed. Dad and Corinne will come down tomorrow and Rodney will be going home. The weekend just flies by.

Take care,

Love,

Gloria

day 91 after transplant

 

Hello there everyone,

Today was a get up early and go to clinic day. I got my labs done and then went to get a chest xray (just routine) and then back to clinic to see the doctor. The doctor said that I could probably go home Christmas Eve and stay for the weekend. I still won't be able to be out to do things but I'll be home. I probably will not be able to go home for good until the middle of January. That means that I will need some more caregivers starting the 1st of January. I want to be home before Richmond has a big snow storm. The doctor has changed some of my meds hoping that will help my appetite and nausea.

After clinic Scott and I went Christmas shopping and got Beth her present. He left to go home at 3:30. Rodney got tied up in traffic on the West side of Richmond and he didn't get here late because of some accidents.

I don't have to go to the clinic until Tuesday but I have to give myself IV saline every other day. I hope that we can go to see the boats with Christmas lights go down the James River. One thing about Richmond there is a lot of things to do and see.

Take care,

Love,

Gloria

90 day after transplant

 

Good evening to all,

Today was a totally rainy day. They are calling for 3-4 inches of rain and a flash flood watch.

I didn't have to go to clinic today - I just had to give myself an IV of saline. But I do go to clinic tomorrow, early. I did have a visitor today - Pastor Steve came by. It was good to see him.

Again today I didn't have much of an appetite but I did try to eat some cream of wheat for breakfast and a little chicken stir-fry for lunch. Scott fixed chicken breast, scalloped potatoes and peas for dinner. The only thing that really tasted good was the potatoes and peas. Things still taste like metal. I hope that this will soon pass.

Scott will leave tomorrow and Rodney will come down. Hope that it doesn't snow too deep for Rodney to get down here!

Take care and be careful if you have to go out tomorrow.

Love,

Gloria

day 89 after transplant

 

Hello everyone,

Today was a nice day - it was 68 degrees! Tonight it is suppose to start raining and they have a flood watch out for this area(calling for 3-4 inches). Thank goodness it is not cold enough for that to be snow.

Charity (my niece) and her family came at 12 today and we really had a wonderful visit. Avery is two years old and she is the cutest thing. She took to Scott right away and then she warmed up to me. She saw my hickman line bandage and she "Ohh you have a boo-boo!" Charity took pictures so I hope to post them soon.

Tomorrow Pastor Steve will be here for a visit. I am looking forward to that. Then on Friday morning I go to the clinic. Scott will leave for home and Rodney will be coming down. I can't believe that the week is almost over. I have really enjoyed spending some quality time with Scott. 

Thanks for all who emailed me about my good news. I appreciate all of your concerns and continued prayers for me. Again prayer works.

Take care,

Love to all,

Gloria

day 88 after transplant

 

Hello everyone,

It was a nice today - not near as cold as it has been. I don't think that it will last very long but I'll take every nice day God gives us. It is suppose to rain tonight and tomorrow.

I have some exciting news that I could hardly wait to tell you about. I went to clinic today and I found out that my donor was not a 20 year old football player but was a female. I am just so thankful for her and her lifesaving gift. I also got the final results back from my bone marrow biopsy --- I am ALL DONOR !! Praise the Lord, that is an answered prayer. I have an appointment with the doctor on Friday when I am at the clinic to find out what is the plan and try to give me a time line. I am almost sure that I will get to come home for Christmas but only for a visit. I just have to remember that I have come this far and I don't want to rush things now. One day at a time.

Scott and I went to the mall after the clinic and I was about worn out when we got back. He fixed me chicken stir-fry for dinner that was really good.

Need to get to bed and get up early tomorrow and wait for my niece and her family to visit with us  and then Pastor Steve will be here on Thursday.

Take care,

Love to all,

Gloria

day 87 after transplant

Hello to all,

Today was another cold day. I didn't have to go to the clinic today but I did have to hook myself up to saline and magnesium in an IV. I was watching TV after I was hooked up and I heard this boom outside the hotel. I thought that someone that was remodeling the Ramada Inn next door ran into the building with their front end loader. When I looked out the window I noticed that some man in a jeep ran into a pole at the only entrance of the Candlewood Suites! I went out the hall to see if another vehicle was involved when I saw that he clipped the pole completely in two and the lines are hanging across the entrance. Fire trucks, rescue squad and police came. The lines are still down and Scott said that it is a good thing that we can go through the Ramada Inn parking lot or we wouldn't be able to get out and nobody else can get in. Hope they get someone out here tomorrow to replace the pole. Can't understand what the guy was doing to hit that pole.

 

    Chuck and Sue Rexrode came to visit this afternoon and it was so nice to visit with them. Shortly after they left I got a call from my niece Charity (she lives in AZ) and they are in VA for a week and she wants to come down Wednesday to see Scott and me. Her husband Chad and 2 year old Avery will be here also. I am so excited to see them.Pastor Steve is hoping to come down on Thursday for a visit and I am excited about that too. This must be my week for visitors.

 

Scott fixed me a hot dog on bun and French Fries for dinner and it did taste good. Hopefully my appetite is coming back and I won't feel sick to my stomach. It is a lot better than 2 weeks ago.

Clinic tomorrow at 9:15 and then go get some meds and maybe go to the mall. Depends on how long I am at the clinic.

Take care,

Love to all,

Glorial

day 86 after transplant

Hello everyone,

Today was cold when we went to the clinic. Tonight is suppose to be really cold in the teen's. The clinic went well today. They were not busy so I didn't have to stay very long. As we was getting back to the hotel, Scott called and said that he was at Petersburg.

I fixed lunch and then we just chilled. It is good to have him here.

Rodney left at 4:15 so he didn't get home too late. I had a surprise call from Sue Rexrode saying that her and Chuck was going to be in Richmond tomorrow and wanted to know if they could stop in.I am glad that I don't have to go to the clinic. It will be good to see them.

I also got a call from Pastor Steve and he is going to try to come down to see me on Thursday. That will be fun.

Last night I blogged about going to see the Christmas lights. Posted are some pictures and this just does not do it justice. You can see how hard it was snowing in the pictures. Hope you enjoy them.

 

The white balls are really snow!!!!

Not much more to write so I will close and write more tomorrow.

Tale care and keep warm,

Love to all,

Gloria

day 85 after transplant

Hello everyone,

I had a really good day. I didn't have to go to the clinic so I got to stay in bed a little longer. We thought that we were going to get up early and go to see the Richmond Christmas parade but it was cold this morning and it was too tempting just to watch it on TV.
We ate breakfast and did some paper work. Then we went to the bank and to Wal-Mart for some groceries. We went before the parade was over so it would be less crowded, so we thought.

We came back to eat lunch and to watch the Tech game -- yeah they won ! On to the Orange Bowl now. Also I got hooked up to the IV that I am suppose to do everyother day for a week. While that was doing "it's" thing we rode around Richmond to see the tacky Christmas lights.
One place at Glen Allen was absolutely amazing -- I thought that the Tutwiler's had a lot of lights but it didn't even compare! There were so many lights that you couldn't walk in the yard or get to the front door. I think that every foot was covered. It was amazing also because it was snowing! It really made it more like Christmas.

Got to go to bed early tonight because I have to be at the clinic tomorrow at 9. Scott will be soon after that and Rodney will be going home tomorrow evening. Scott is the last caregiver that I have lined up and I am sure that I will be beyond that. If anyone out there would like to be my caregiver please let me know, it would be much appreciated.

Take care,
Love to all,
Gloria

day 84 after transplant

Hello to everyone,

Got up to another cool day and went to the clinic. I got more saline and magesium while waiting for my lab results. They want me to do IV saline and magesium at home (the hotel) everyother day so I won't have to come to the clinic as often. I go back to the clinic on Sunday morning. They took four bottles of cultures that won't be back for a week and then three tubes of blood to test for a virus! I pray that I don't get another virus. It took me a long time to get over the last one.

Shortly after we got back from the clinic Rodney called and he was in Fishersville one his way to Richmond. Hazel left at 3:30 and I was here alone until Rodney got here. We drove to the city and saw the skyline illumination. Wow!! We hope to get out of here early tomorrow and scout out Broad Street for a place where we can watch the Upkrop's Christmas parade. We need to find a place where we will be able to watch the parade from the car. If we can't find a place we will just have to leave.

Take care,
Love to all,
Gloria

day 83 after transplant

Hello everyone,

The day was sunny and comfortable when we left for the clinic. It was so nice that Hazel and I walked outside at the hotel today. By late afternoon it got cloudy and now it looks like rain. I heard that it is raining at home.

My day at the clinic was good but I have to go back again tomorrow. Depending on the results of my labs they may put me on homecare IV of saline and maybe magesium. That means that I would give myself an IV which is really not big deal. That would mean less trips to the clinic. They say that I am not drinking enough but honestly I drink as much as I can stand. My appetite comes and goes. Some food sounds so good until I get it in front of me and then it just doesn't taste good. Everything tastes like metal!

The Post Bone Marrow Coordinator talked to me today and she reminded me of the story of the tortise and the hare. She said that the hare got in a hurry and lost the race but the turtle took his time and he won the race. She said that I need to be like the turtle-- take one step at a time and I would have a better chance of winning the race. It is really interesting to hear other peoples journey while sitting in the waiting room. One lady today said that she was 200 days out and she finally got to go out to eat (the only thing that she could eat was soup because her mouth is so sore from her chemo months ago) and now she can drive. Another lady was there getting ready to go through her second bone marrow transplant (she used her own stem cells the first time). Now her sister is going to be her donor. Also there was a young girl that was so weak that she had to be brought in the cinic in a wheelchair. I see so many people in different stages and hear their stories and I praise God that my journey so far has been pretty smooth. I have come this far that I don't want to do anything to make my journey longer than it needs to be. Your prayers sure do help.

Hazel will leave tomorrow afternoon and Rodney will be here for the weekend. I heard Hazel tell her sister that the week has really gone by fast-- I am glad that she feels that way. It has been good to spend time with her. Scott comes for the week on Sunday. I keep praying that he will stay well. It seems like so long since I have seen him.

Take care,
Love to all,
Gloria

day 82 after transplant

Hello to everyone,

Today was a very lazy day. I didn't have to go to the clinic and Hazel cleaned yesterday. There really wasn't anywhere we needed to go so we just stayed in. It was cool again today and we walked the long hallway a couple of times for some exercise. We worked a puzzle and read. I started reading a book about the Amish that Pastor Steve gave me, The Plain Truth. It is really good so far.

I had more of an appetite today and my stomach didn't hurt. Hazel made me beef noodles, peas and jello w/ fruit in it for dinner. It tasted really good to me tonight. I hope that my labs will have improved tomorrow when I go back to clinic.

Not anything else to write.

Take care to all,
Love,
Gloria

day 81 after transplant

Hi,

Today was another cool day but sunny. Hazel did my laundry this morning and then we took off for Target and Wal-Mart. When we got back it was cooler.

This afternoon Hazel cleaned the suite and I sat in the lounge until she was finished. We are working on another puzzle. This one is round and has very odd shaped pieces. It might get done by the time I leave for B'water!

Another day off tomorrow and I don't know what we are going to do. It is suppose to be cold all day tomorrow so we might just chill here at the hotel. I go back to clinic on Thursday morning. I hope that my labs will be better. I have been eating more and drinking like a fish. I feel a lot better than I did over the weekend.

Everyone take care and I will blog again tomorrow night. Miss all of you so much.
Love,
Gloria

day 80 after transplant

Hello to everyone,

Today was sunny but cool when we left for the clinic but it was raining when we came out. It is suppose to be cold this weekend. That is when the Christmas parade in downtown Richmond is and Friday the skyline will be lit. I would like to go to the parade but not if it is going to be so cold and I am sure it would be really crowded. I am sure the doctors would frown on that.

I am feeling better today than I did over the weekend. I even ate a scrambled egg and 1/2 of an english muffin for breakfast(I am not a breakfast person and I don't like eggs). The amazing part is that I even kept it down!

I got the results from my bone marrow test today and the nurse pract. said that everything looked good. That was an answered prayer. I was scheduled to go to the clinic on Wednesday but the clinic called this evening and wanted me to reduce the meds that is keeping me from getting Graft vs Host disease and they said that I didn't need to come back until Thursday. They will slowly wean me off this med because the want me to have a little GVH but not a lot. This shows that my donor is taking over. That is a good thing.

I hope that you ladies had a good time at the UMW Christmas party tonight. Hazel said that we were having our own party here -- we had chicken salad and apricots! Whew !!!!!!

Tomorrow is cleaning day and then we plan to go shopping and get groceries. Hopefully we can go early so maybe it won't be so crowded.

Take care,
Love,
Gloria