day 316 after transplant

 

Hello to everyone,

This has been an exciting week. Got to spend it with Grady and Libby and then on Friday with the new grandbaby – Audrey!

Rodney was off all week and we tried to do some fun things with the kids. Monday we took them to the Safari Park at Natural Bridge. We all had a lot of fun feeding the wild animals. The best  thing that Libby did was pet a kangaroo!

We took them to the park twice and had a picnic. Granddaddy pushed them on the tire swing. Wednesday we took them to the pool at Brad and Valerie’s and they got to play with the dogs and hold Lilly the ferret! Libby really wants a pet.

Friday at 1:23am Audrey was born and all is doing fine. She weighed 8 lbs.3oz and 21 inches long. She has a head full of dark hair. God has truly blessed Rodney and me with 3 beautiful and precious grandchildren to love. Looking forward to making lots of memories with all of them.

Today we all went to church and Scott, Beth and the kids went to see Ryan and Jennifer at the hospital while I got lunch. They left for home and boy is the house quiet! I sure miss them.

Now I have to get serious making 5 bridesmaid dresses for a Sept. wedding. Tomorrow I take Rodney’s aunt to the eye doctor.

Hope that all of you will have a good week.

Love,

Gloria

day 309 after transplant

 

Hello all,

I hope that all of you have had a good week, I know that I sure have. Libby and I have tried to do some crafts and just spend time together. We started making a needlepoint picture frame(consists of 12 squares and she has completed 4 and is working on the 5th square). Her attention span is not very long but I am letting her go at her own pace.

The Bridgewater Lawn Party started on Wednesday. This has to be the coolest(weather wise) lawn party ever – it is usually so hot that you can’t stand it. We took Libby down long enough to ride a couple of rides and get some cotton candy. There was a lot of people and a lot of dust so I wore my mask and stayed away from the biggest crowds.

Scott, Beth and Grady came in late on Thursday. Friday it rained in the morning and in the evening we went to see the Fireman’s parade. It was crowded that we didn’t even try to go to the Lawn Party. Saturday morning the “boys” went to the Antique Car display and the “girls” went shopping. We had Aunt Louise up for the afternoon. I think that she had a good time.

Today we slept in a little and went to the late church service. Scott and Beth left to go home. We took the kids out to eat Mexican and then we took them up on the Skyline Drive. We saw a bear and several deer. They were all excited.

STILL NO NEW GRANDAUGTHER !!!! We all thought that she would be here by now. We just pray that she will be here soon and that all will go well. Next week when I blog I should be able to tell you that Audrey has arrived. 

Well that was it for my week. Rodney is on vacation all this week and we hope to be able to take the kids somewhere fun. We would like to take them to PA to see the Sight and Sound play “In The Beginning” but are not sure that would be the best thing for me. I sure don’t want to have a set back.

Have a wonderful week and do something special for someone else and see how wonderful it makes you feel.

Love,

Gloria

day 302 after transplant

 

Hello to everyone,

Oh no, I forgot to blog last night!!! Am I bad !!! I realized it this morning at 3 a.m. while I got up to go to the bathroom.

This is going to be short because I am having too much fun with my grand daughter!!! We are learning to do some sewing! She was so funny last night when she talked to her dad and mom, she told them that she was getting spoiled – really spoiled!

I just wanted everyone that has been so faithful in following my blog to know that I am doing fine and had a very good week and am really looking forward to the next two weeks when I have my grandkids here with me. I am still waiting on the third one to arrive! I told Jennifer that Audrey is in control of when she wants to make her appearance. If she takes after her dad it will be very quick (the only thing Ryan has done fast in his life!!!).

Have a wonderful week (especially you Beth – all by yourself for a couple of days).

Love,

Gloria

day 295 after transplant

Good evening everyone,

I hope that all of you had a wonderful and safe 4th of July. We ended our holiday weekend with a rainy day today.

Tuesday I went to MCV for a regular clinic visit. My dear friend Connie Harper (she went to Mt. Horeb church when Rodney and I went there) took me. It was really good to spend the day with her and get caught up. I got blood work done and then I saw Dr. Toor and he said that everything looks good and right on schedule. He wanted me to get an ultrasound on my legs when I told him that my ankles have been swelling. He was concerned about blood clots. The tech said that everything looked good. Don’t know the reason for the swelling but it has been better since Tuesday. I don’t go back for clinic until August 5.

Wednesday and Thursday I stayed at home and cleaned the house. Wednesday evening I had Rodney’s aunt for dinner. I think that she had a good evening out (she is in a nursing home).

Friday Rodney worked most of the day and I met Jennifer Pence to celebrate her birthday. In the evening we went to Gypsy Hill to a gospel concert. It was a little scary to be out in a crowd but Rodney and I made sure that we didn’t sit where there was a lot of people. I only wore my mask when I felt uncomfortable.

Saturday we worked around the house and at night we went to Harrisonburg to see the fireworks. It was a beautiful night and a lot of people was there but we found a place that was not crowded.

Today was rainy and we went to church and then to visit Rodney’s aunt. We went to lunch and then to run some errands. Tonight Ryan and Jennifer came by to give Rodney his Father’s Day gift. Ryan had strep throat and could not be around me. This is an exciting time for them (Audrey is due this Friday). I know that Ryan is nervous but he keeps telling me that he has everything under control --- we’ll see!!!

Next Sunday we are going to meet Scott and Beth to pick up Libby to bring her home with us. Libby wants to do some “artsy-fartsy” things with Mamaw! This is the first time that I will have her by herself (Grady will be at camp). The following week Scott, Beth and Grady will be here for the big B’water lawn party. Then we will have both Grady and Libby for a week. I am really looking forward to that. God has blessed us with two beautiful and well behaved grandchildren and soon we will add another granddaughter to love.  

Have a wonderful week and remember to help  others that are less fortunate than you or are going through a difficult time. It will make you feel good. I know that it is always better to give than to receive. Try it and see if you come away being a better person for it.

Love,

Gloria

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