day 288 after transplant

 

Hello to everyone,

Well, another week has quickly gone by. It has been a dry week and the beans are blooming and hope to soon be able to have some to eat. Rodney did pick several cucumbers. I cleaned then really good and tried them—they were ok but not like I remember them. I did have a couple of strawberries and they tasted like I remember them – delicious! I also tried some green grapes but they didn’t taste that good. I will be glad when my taste buds come back to normal. It has been a long and slow process but I am so thankful for the blessings along the way.

Monday I went to AMC to see the thyroid doctor and she said that she was very pleased with the last blood work that I had done. I don’t have to go back to see her for three months. That was some good news.

Ryan went to the doctor Wednesday because he still had a sore throat. The doctor did a throat culture and Ryan found out the he had strep throat and the doctor told him to stay away from me.

Friday I made posters and name tags for VBS and that was a lot of fun. It made me feel good to be able to help out.

Saturday was a day for Rodney and me to get some things done around the house. Today we went to church and then we went to visit Rodney’s aunt. This afternoon we went to Scottsville (a little town south of Charlottesville) to ride the Hatton Ferry. This is a ferry that was started in 1870 and is powered by two men using poles to move the ferry across the James River. It can carry two vehicles and 12 people at one time and takes about 30 minutes round trip. We didn’t even know that this existed until we read an article in the Friday DNR (our local newspaper). The  Virginia Dept. of Highways has funded it for years but they have decided not to fund it anymore. Today was the last day for the ferry to operate unless they can find funding elsewhere. It was very interesting and glad that we got to ride it before it is no longer in operation. If you are interested in more details go to www.hattonferry.org 

That does it for my week. I go to MCV on Tuesday and hope that I will get a good report and won’t have to go back for another month. One of my friends that went to Mt. Horeb Church when we went there is going to take me and I am looking forward to spending the day with her.

I pray that all of you have a pleasant and safe 4th of July.

Love,

Gloria

DAY 281 AFTER TRANSPLANT

 

Hello to everyone,

Hope all you fathers had a wonderful Father’s Day!

This week has been pretty uneventful but that is good.I am feeling good and I know that I am doing more than I should but I try to be very careful. It is really hard not to do things when I feel so well. I am trying really hard to walk everyday but I still have to be careful when to go (not when someone is mowing or if the wind is blowing or the sun is really bright).

Thursday I went with Rodney to Princeton, WV, he had a car to look at. It was a long day but enjoyable. I sat in the car and read a book while he did his estimate. It was a long way there and back but what beautiful country.

Today after church and Sunday School I took Rodney to a local Mexican restaurant and then we drove on the Skyline Drive. We saw several deer (one buck and two fawns still with the spots and several doe). We took our time and stopped at the overlooks to see the mountain ranges. Tonight we took Rodney’s mother out for ice cream ( I took a container of strawberries).

Tomorrow I go to AMC to see the thyroid doctor and I don’t go to MCV until June 30th.

That pretty well takes care of my week. Here is something that someone sent me this week that I would like to share with you. Some food for thought.

Sometimes we wonder,'What did I do to deserve this?' or 'Why did God have to do this to me?'Here is a wonderful explanation!

A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong, she's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away.Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says, 'Absolutely Mom, I love your cake.'

'Here, have some cooking oil,' her Mother offers. 'Yuck' says her daughter. 'How about a couple raw eggs?' 'Gross, Mom!' 'Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?' 'Mom, those are all yucky!'

To which the mother replies:                              

'Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake! '

God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!

God is crazy about you. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.

Love, Gloria

day 274 after transplant

 

Hello, everyone!

This has been a week of thunderstorms and even hail. This week is suppose to be a repeat of the past week. The garden, flowers and the grass is growing really fast. It is hard to get the yard mowed between the showers.

Monday was a lazy day for me. I was really tired after a very busy weekend (Scott and family was here and went to 2 baby showers). It was busy but a good time.

Tuesday I went with Rodney to AMC—he had a doctor’s appointment and I needed to get blood work done for a doctor’s appointment next week. As the saying goes, “we killed two birds with one stone”!!

Wednesday I was invited to the SPED meeting at school. They had lots of good looking food (which I couldn’t have) and as a gift I received a beautiful bowl by Phil Unger, a local potter. He names his pieces  by what he is feeling at the time he is making it, mine is called “thinking positive”. It was so good to be able to spend some time with the people that I have worked with for 12 years.

Thursday I went to school for the last faculty meeting for the year. They “roasted/toasted” the retirees. I got a beautiful clock and a picture frame and a Cracker Barrel rocking chair. The only way that the doctor would allow me to go was if Rodney(my bouncer) would go with me to keep people from hugging me. It was a very nice afternoon. I appreciated all the nice comments that several of the staff said about me (hope that I will be able to live up to all they said). A sad but good time – I told them that I will be back!!

Saturday was graduation day for our local high schools. We were invited to our next door neighbors party. Rodney worked until 3pm (a lot of hail claims, so he was very busy) and we went to the party for a little while.

Today we went to church and Sunday School and then we surprised Aunt Louise and ate lunch with her at the retirement home. The food was ok but I gave most of mine to Rodney. I think that she was really glad that we had lunch with her. I think that it made her day. She was a little upset because of lady on her floor suddenly passed away and another gentleman fell and broke his hip. She was having a difficult time handling that. The gentleman was really cool, he was always singing and he would go up to all the ladies and ask if he could sing to them—he would sing “You Are My Sunshine or Let Me Call You Sweetheart”. He could really sing too.Let’s say a prayer for his healing and that he will be able to be back to singing to his “ladies” again soon. Rodney mowed the yard this afternoon (they are calling for showers every afternoon this week). He doesn’t like to mow on Sunday but he was afraid that the yard would get a head of him. After he showered we went for a drive, no place in particular, just needed to get out.

That takes care of my week. Hope that all of you have a wonderful and exciting week.

Love,

Gloria

day 267 after transplant

 

Hello to everyone!

I had an awesome week. I hope that you did too.

Monday I did some cleaning and sewing. I had a bride and groom come up to inquire about me making five bridesmaids dresses for their Sept. 20 beach wedding. I got the job! I am so excited.

Tuesday Jennifer Pence (teacher that I worked with) came up for a Mexican meal. She brought me a large basket full of clothes that she can’t wear. How exciting to get some new clothes.

Wednesday was sunny and warm – afternoon thunderstorms. Some near by places had hail and the next county north of us had a tornado touch down and did quite a bit of damage. I made thank you cards for Jennifer (for her shower on Saturday).

Thursday was still rainy and warm. Three of the bridesmaids came up to get measured. They are really sweet girls, I know that I will enjoy working with them. After Rodney got home we went to eat dinner with his mother and then we went to get groceries.

Friday it is still raining. It rained most of the day. I cleaned and baked a cake and made pimento cheese getting ready for the kids to come home.They got here at 9:45 pm—just in time for them to go to bed.

Saturday we got up early and put our things out for a yard sale (Bridgewater’s annual yard sale). The day was beautiful and the neighborhood was crazy with all the people coming for the yard sale. We sold all the big items that we wanted to get rid of. We went to Jennifer’s sisters house for a baby shower for Jennifer. It was set up outside and it was really nice. Jennifer got a lot of really cute things for the baby. After the shower we got dinner ready and had Aunt Louise up for dinner. We didn’t get her back to the home until 9:45(that was really past her bedtime, but I think she enjoyed every minute of it). She got to go down to Ryan and Jennifer’s to see the nursery.

Today we went to early church and then back home for the kids to pack and for me to get lunch ready. We had Rodney’s mother for lunch and then we left for Dad and Corinne’s for another baby shower(for Ryan and Jennifer and for Curt and Christy). Olivia was so cute and she slept the whole time. Scott, Beth and kids left for NC and got back safely. We went straight to the hospital to see my good friend Jane (she fell and broke her shoulder and wrist). We got to the hospital to be told that she was just discharged! We went to her house and had a good visit. She is still in a lot of pain. I would appreciate it if all of you would say a prayer for her. She has been through a lot of medical things these last nine months.

I am really tired and plan to go to bed ASAP and hope to sleep in for a little while tomorrow. I pray that I did not over do this weekend. I really feel good and it is hard not to do all the things that I use to do. I have to remember that I still need to be careful so I don’t get a set back.

Well that is my week.Hope that you all have a wonderful week and I will write next Sunday. Make someone’s day by doing something special for someone who is having a rough day.It doesn’t have to be anything big, just a smile or phone call or send a card or lend a listening ear or shoulder to cry on. You will find that it is far better to give than to receive.

Love,

Gloria