day 260 after transplant

 

Hello everyone!

Hope that all of you had a wonderful week. The weather has been warm and rainy this week. We had about two inches of rain. Rodney got all the planting done just in time and now they can grow. The grass is very green and it keeps Rodney busy mowing.

Memorial Day was good -- Rodney's brother, Richard and wife Sue, his mother and aunt, my Dad and Corinne, and Ryan and Jennifer came up for a cookout. I knew that I couldn't go to someone else's house so I had them here. It was a good time.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday I stayed home and got some things done and read -- nothing exciting.

Friday I went to MCV for a checkup. My sister-in-law Valerie took me. We had a good day. I got some very good news. I saw Dr. Chung, he said that he was very pleased with my progress. He said that I could have fresh vegetables and fruit, if they were washed thoroughly and done at home not in a restaurant. But the best news he gave me was that I could go to church! I had to wear my mask, take hand sanitizer and stay away from people. I was so excited. Valerie and I went up to the 10th floor (where I was in the hospital for a month) and we several of the nurses that took care of me. It sure was good to see them again. They were so excited to see me and they said that they liked to see patients that are doing so well. 

Saturday was beautiful and Rodney mowed and I got some house work done. In the late afternoon we went on a Road Rally in memory of J.J. Smith (a friend of Rodney's who died in a freak accident a year ago). We had never been on a road rally before but it was a lot of fun. We were given an envelope with clues in it that we had to figure out which way to go. When we got to a check point we got another envelope with clues to figure out until we got back to where we started. It took a little over an hour to complete. After everyone completed the rally we were treated with a big cookout (I went home since I couldn't eat the food and there was a large crowd there). Rodney stayed and I know that he had a good time being around a lot of guys that he hadn't seen for a long time. Denny and Pam thanks for all your hard work in making the rally very enjoyable.

Today was a BIG day for me -- after 9 months I got to go to church! It was so good to be there and to see my church family. Rodney did a wonderful job keeping people at a safe distance. After church we went to visit Rodney's aunt and then we came home to eat lunch. We fixed a salad (I was so afraid that it wouldn't taste good anymore). It was so good! This evening I ate an apple and it was ok. I have to go slow to see if my body can tolerate this kind of "new" food. I really feel good but I have remember that I still need to be careful so I don't get an infection.

As I have said before that God puts people in places for a certain reason. Today we went to Wal-Mart and as I was going down an aisle, a lady said to me, "Where did you get your mask? I would like to get some to wear while I mow." I told her the reason for my wearing the mask and she got a surprised look on her face and said that her husband was going to have to have bone marrow transplant in the near future. She wanted to know where I had mine and I told her that I would recommend MCV to anyone. She thanked us for all the information. I pray that I was of help to her.

That about takes care of my week. I pray that each of you will have a good week. I have something to look forward to this week-- Scott, Beth, Grady and Libby are coming up for the weekend. We have two baby showers to go to for Jennifer and Ryan. It won't be long now till the baby is here-- 6 weeks!

Blessings to all,

Love, Gloria 

day 253 after transplant

 

Greetings to all and hope that you have a wonderful Memorial Day tomorrow.

This has been a pretty uneventful week but I am very thankful for everyday that God has given me.

Monday was my first day that I didn't have to take my immune suppressant meds. Dr. McCarty said that I will have to be very careful for the next month or so to see how I do not off of my meds. He said that I have a little G vs H but he said that was good because that means that my donor is working. 

I rode with Rodney to Swoope (in Augusta County - way out in the country). It was a nice ride and the scenery was beautiful.

On Tuesday Ryan came up for dinner and he helped me with baby shower invitations for Jennifer. I had the wording done but he helped me to "kick it up a notch"!

Wednesday and Thursday I worked most of the day getting the invitations done. I enjoyed getting into card making again. Next week I hope to do some sewing-- cushions and curtains and pillows. I like it when I have something to do. It helps to pass the time.

Friday Wilda Long (friend from church) came to visit. It was good to see her again.

Rodney has really been working hard outside in the yard and garden. The beans that he planted a couple of weeks ago are starting to come up. He planted tomatoes, peppers(sweet and hot) and cucumbers. He also planted some flowers and everything looks so pretty. Our peonies, iris,sweet williams and roses are in full bloom. I wish that I could have a vase of the flowers in the house.

Today Dennis and Shirley Hohenstein came to visit. Ryan and Jennifer got back from the lake and they came up and planted the flowers that they gave me for Mother's Day. They really look nice.

Well, that takes care of my week. I go to MCV this Friday -- I am looking for a volunteer to take me, if you are interested just give me a call.

Enjoy your Memorial Day tomorrow. Hope that you are planning something special. Be safe.

Love,

Gloria

day 246 after transplant

 

Hello to everyone,

Here we go again with crazy weather. We have had rain with thunderstorms and yesterday it was 82 degrees and tonight they are calling for frost! If you have any delicate flowers or plants out I hope that you have them covered. Rodney put out our flowers from the basement yesterday and tonight he had to cover them up or bring them in.

Tuesday I went to MCV for a checkup. I got to see Dr. McCarty and he was pleased with all of my blood work. The results from my MRI and CT scans were good-- nothing has changed. That was an answered prayer. He said that May 18th I am to stop my immune suppressant meds and that is tomorrow! I was hoping that I could go to church and have a little more freedom but now I have to be very careful for the next month because I don't want to get sick or get G vs H disease. He did say that I do have a little G vs H in my mouth but not anything that he is concerned with. He said that this shows that my donor is doing her job. I just have to watch that it doesn't get any worse. I don't go back to MCV until May 29th.

Thursday afternoon I went with Rodney to Lexington. It was a cloudy day but it was good to get out. Dad and Corrine came up for soup and we played cards.

Friday morning I got to go with Ryan and Jennifer to see our granddaughter! Jennifer had a sonogram. We could definitely see HER. She was not bashful at all. I saw her smile but she was asleep and would not wake up, even when the technician poked at her. It was amazing and to think that in 8 weeks she will be here (don't mean to scare you Ryan).  After I got home Rodney called and asked if I wanted to go with him again and I said sure, so on the road again! When we got back home Rodney mowed because they were calling for rain Friday night and boy did we get rain. We had a pretty bad storm.

Saturday was work day but we did stop early and rented a movie. We have not done that in a long time.

This morning for a church service we listened to one of Bob Disher's sermons on the computer. Then we went to see Rodney's aunt. Then we went to town and stopped by to see Rodney's mother but she was not at home. I talked to Beth today and she sounds a lot better and she said that she is feeling better. Another answered prayer. Scott said that she still tires quickly.

Well that does it for my week. Hope that everyone has a good week (it is Memorial Day weekend). If you are traveling please be extra careful(watch your speed. We saw 5 police in a 3 mile stretch, 4 of them had someone pulled over!). If it is sunny be sure to wear your sun screen.

God Bless all of you,

Gloria

day 239 after transplant

Happy Mother's Day to all !! I pray that you had a good one. I know that I did. I got cards, calls and two good meals. It was so nice to be remembered by so many.

This has not been a very exciting week for me but I had a very good week. I am feeling fine and ready to do more things than I should do.

It has been a very rainy and cloudy week. Monday I rode with Rodney to Lexington. It was just good to get out for a while. Then Ryan and Jennifer came up to show us their pictures that they took while in California. Sounds like they had a good time, I am so glad that they got back home safely.

Tuesday my Dad had a cataract removed and he seems to be getting along fine, he goes back to the doctor tomorrow (Monday) to see if the doctor thinks it was a success. He says that he can see a lot better out of his eye and now he wants to see about getting the other one done. He is 84 years old and he is just like a timex watch-- takes a licking and keeps on ticking! I think that his daughter is just like him, what do you think?

On Wednesday I became an aunt, my step-brother and his wife had a little girl, I am so happy for them, they had waited so long for this big event and they are so deserving. I rode with Rodney to the Wintergreen area and the weather and the flowers were beautiful.

On Friday I did a little sewing and I started to crochet a doily. I finished reading my third book for the women's group at church. Friday night Scott called and said that he was in the ER again and this time it was Beth-- she has the shingles!!!! They talked about admitting her but then decided to give her oral antibiotics and sent her home. Scott said that he has never seen her in so much pain. She was being treated for a sinus infection and when she broke out in a rash she just thought that it was a reaction from the meds. Friday she was in bed most of the day and she started to get blisters on her forehead in a straight line down to the tip of her nose. They are concerned about her eye so she had to go see an eye doctor on Saturday and then again Sunday and she will go again tomorrow. The doctor asked her what kind of stressful job she had and he was really surprised when she told him that she was a "stay at home mom". She said that her head ache started last Sunday when Libby broke her ankle, so they don't if that triggered it or not. I feel so sorry for her because she is in so much pain. I know that I will not be able to be around her for a while. I don't know how long she will be contagious. I surely do not want to get the small pox or the shingles. Libby said that her cast hurt her and she had to go have another cast put on.

Saturday was a day of work -- Rodney outside and me inside. The flower beds look so nice now and it is very hard for me to just look out the window at them.

That about takes care of my week -- Tuesday I go to MCV for a check up. Pam Cox is taking me and I am looking forward to spending the day with her. I want to ask the doctor a lot of questions about the shingles and about when I can go to church and out to eat. I probably know the answers now but it won't hurt to ask. I stop taking my immune suppressant meds on the 18th and I don't know what will be the next step, maybe some on my childhood shots!!!!

I'll write next week and I pray that everyone will have a wonderful week. Please pray for Beth that she will soon be out of pain. Remember never to take things for granted but remember who gives you all of these blessings. What an awesome God we serve.

Love,

Gloria

add on to day 232 after transplant

 

I am getting forgetful in my old age.

I wanted to add that Scott called this evening and said that Libby was at a birthday party this afternoon and that she was on a trampoline and she got pushed and she fell and broke her ankle! She will be going to the doctor tomorrow. I talked to her and she is "princess of the house", she is laying on the couch eating ice cream and watching TV ! She said that it didn't hurt too bad. Scott and Beth are getting adjusted to kids growing up. I am just thankful that it wasn't worse.

Love,

Gloria

day 232 after transplant

 

Hello to everyone,

I am doing fine - I do not go back to MCV until May 12 for a routine clinic visit. It is good not to have to go back so often. I am almost off my immune suppressant medicine (May 18 is the last day). My appetite is still not back to normal -- the smell of coffee still makes almost sick. I am not losing weight, just maintaining, which the doctor said is very good.

Hope that all of you had a wonderful week, even though most of it was cloudy and rainy. We really needed the rain and we can see how green everything is and the flowers are really starting to take off.

First thing that I wanted to let you know (I forgot to tell you last week) Ryan told me last week that an intern (she goes to Bridgewater College) that works with Ryan walked at the Bridgewater Relay for Life and the people that Ryan works with sponsored her. She did this in honor of me and another lady that is fighting a brain tumor. Also Rodney's Air Force buddy, who is more like a brother, honored me with a gift to the American Cancer Society. I was very humbled and I appreciated this very much. God is so awesome- he puts angels everywhere. This time of year there are many areas that have Relays for Life and if you get a chance to go it is very humbling and worth going to. Our local Relay for Life is this Friday and it depends on the weather but Rodney and I would like to go and at least walk the survivor's lap and maybe the survivor and caregiver lap. I always see many friends there and it is a real eye opener to see how many people have had to deal with cancer.

Monday Rodney got home at a decent time and he planted green beans and started to put up the fence to keep the rabbits out ( the rabbits have eaten our bean plants for the last several years), so we are hoping the the fence will keep them out. He finished the fence on Tuesday. Sue Gilkeson (our neighbor) was walking by and I guess she must have seen that Rodney needed help. She helped him Monday and she even came back Tuesday also-- thanks Sue!

Tuesday Jane Lowery (one of my dear friends) came up to visit with me -- this is the first time that we have seen each other since August. She had a heart by-pass while I was in Richmond and after I got home she had the flu and other sicknesses so we could not be together. It was so good to see her and get caught up on what has happened in our lives.

Friday evening we went to the greenhouse to get our vegetable plants (tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers and cucumbers). Rodney is not planting them now but we wanted to get them before all the plants are gone. It has rained all weekend and they are calling for rain all week. It will be a while before it will be dry enough to get in the garden.  I guess this will be a good week to get some reading done.

Ryan and Jennifer left last Friday for California for little vacation before the baby comes and they got back today. I can't wait to see them and hear how their trip went. I talked to them on Saturday when they got to LA and told them to be aware of the Swine Flu. Ryan said called on Wednesday and said that they were both fine but he couldn't stop "oinking" and when he called Friday he said that he stopped "oinking" but he still had his curly tail!

I guess that takes care of my week. This is a big week coming up --Mothers Day! Happy Mother's Day all. Remember your mother in some way - you wouldn't be here if it wouldn't be for her!  May your day be everything that you want it to be.

Write more next week.

Love to all,

Gloria