The Journey Continues: Month 5 and 10 days from transplant.

Yesterday we got to Richard's appointment at 9:40.  He was to be hooked up to the IGG infusion at 10:00 or so we thought.  It was 12:30 before they finally got him hooked up but that was not without lots of griping from my ever so patient husband.  He was upset because he couldn't figure out why they had to do blood work again for this procedure when they already had blood work from Friday that showed he needed it.  He finally griped so much that the nurse told him that she was surprised that the Dr.s were still treating him. LOL She said that normally when a patient has such gripes they let them go.  She also told him that it was up to him to take the treatment, that he could refuse anytime.  I told her that one DR. just gave it back to him and the other one just ignored him.

He did have to have a bag of potassium for low levels and a shot for his low white blood counts.  His red counts are right on the edge of needing a transfusion.  He did have some good counts though.  His kidney counts are normal and his cmv cells are moving down.  Richard did apologize to the nurse and she accepted.

She really was very patient with him.

The Dr. he seen seemed pleased with his results and he will go back in two weeks.  She is cutting the steroids again and will see what happens whether they can be cut more next time.  He has lost 18 pounds since his last visit so the fluids are coming off though his feet and lower legs still swell after being on them.

Hopefully we are moving in the right direction and next time more results will be on the good side.

Thanks again for the prayers.  It would be hard to make it without them!!!!

John 17:9

New International Version (NIV)

⁹ I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.

How's your bloom?

This is a plant I received in 2004 from a family that was in my childcare.  I had childcare in my home for five years.  This family was moving to another town and gave this plant to me on their last day.

For those of you that know me well, you probably are very surprised that I somehow have kept this plant alive.  This is a plant that likes water so all I have to do is give it water.  I have never given it too much water.

You may notice the beautiful bloom and the green leaves though the branches do look a bit twisted.  This plant only produces blooms at certain times of the year but when they bloom this is what they look like.  Please don't ask me when they are supposed to bloom because I have no idea.  I do know they have bloomed at different times of the year. The blooms last about a day and then they fall off.  Even when it is not time for the blooming I still have to water the plant.  It still needs the water and the green leaves.

There have been times that I have forgot to give this plant water and that is when the limbs became twisted and dried.  There was even one time that it was time for a bloom and the pod was in place but the bloom never happened.  The pod just dried up and disintegrated.  When I finally remembered to water the plant the limbs stayed twisted.

My life in Christ can be like that.  When I can see the blooms and the flowers I  stay in the word and pray but sometimes when I can't see the flowers I get discouraged.  Sometimes I let the prayer and bible reading go.  Then I feel like that pod.  I feel like I might dry up, become twisted and disintegrate!!

My dry spell may even leave a mark on me.  I need to remember that I don't have to see the blooms to blossom. Blooms can fade but the word of God will be with me forever!!

Isaiah 40:8

New International Version (NIV)

⁸ The grass withers and the flowers fall,
   but the word of our God endures forever.

1 Peter 1:24

New International Version (NIV)

²⁴ For,
   “All people are like grass,
   and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,

Fair weather fan?

I am an OU fan!!!  I thought it was funny that some people thought that I would be in mourning, just because OU lost their game Saturday night.  I did stay up to the very end watching.  I do love it when they win but I am not going to be depressed when they lose.  I am a fan whether they win or lose!!!

I grew up in a house that was full of OU fans and it was hard not to be a part of the excitement of those games. I remember being planted in front of the T.V. watching those games with my dad and brothers.  I remember, even then, I knew names of the players and being a girl I even thought I was in love with one of their quarterbacks.  Steve Davis didn't even know I was alive.  He was a very good quarterback though!!

OU has been through some good and some bad years since I became a fan of theirs but I have continued to be their fan every year whether they won or lost!!  There are some people though that jump from team to team, rooting for them as long as they win but the second the lose, they are rooting for the next winning team.
Have you been jumping from team to team?

I know ONE who roots for me.  He roots for me whether I am winning or losing.  He gives me strength when I am down and is there when I am happy.  No matter what is going on in my life there is ONE that is closer than a brother!!

His name is Jesus!!   Do you need HIM today?

Proverbs 18:24

New International Version (NIV)

 ²⁴ One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,
   but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Happy Birthday, Brianna

To my sweet, adorable Brianna, Happy Birthday!!  You are the best granddaughter that anyone could every have!!!  I love you and miss you!!!  I wished we all lived in the same town where I could see you all the time!!

Eight years ago today, one of the best things that has ever happened to me was born!!! That was you!!!
                             HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! SWEET, SWEET BRIANNA!!

I love you!!!! Memaw

The Imitators

Have you ever imitated anybody?? I have!!  I worked at T.G.&Y. headquarters in the late 1970's and early 1980's.  For the most part I liked my job and I liked the people I worked with and most of the time I liked the bosses that I had.

There was one boss in particular that was always smiling and every morning he would walk down the row of employees in our department and tell everybody "Good morning" and ask them how they were doing.  The week that he went on vacation I decided that I would imitate the boss.  Every morning that he was gone I walked down the rows of people and told them "Good morning" and ask them how they were doing.  It was all fun and we had a few laughs.  The Monday that he came back I was in my seat talking to the person next to me when the boss came up to my desk and thanked me for 'taking care' of things while he was gone.  Then he smiled and went on to the next person.  I was busted and I knew it.  I also knew that no matter how much that I imitated the boss I was not the boss.

My boys, when they were small, were always imitating somebody from transformers to their favorite ball player.  My daughter was a princess or a ballerina.  They all had fun imitating their favorite cartoon character,  ball player or movie star but at the end of the day they went to bed as themselves.  No matter how hard they might want to become a favorite person they could not achieve it.  They could only imitate.

In the late sixties I watched a movie called "Imitation of Life" and even though I was young it made an impact on me.  It was a movie where a singer pretended to be white.  No one knew that her family was of African American heritage.  If they tried to speak to her and someone came around she would talk to them like they were servants.  She was an imitator but at the end she received word that her mother had passed away and she ran to the funeral procession out into the street.  She grabbed onto the horse drawn carriage that was carrying her dead mother and screamed out in anguish, "Mom, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."  It was to late.

We all are imitators and at times we are trying to be somebody else or something that we are not.  There are people that you might want to imitate but there is One that we should always imitate!!.  His name is Jesus.  Not only should we imitate Him we need to embrace Him and accept Him and follow Him.  Don't wait until it is to late!

Who are you imitating today?

1 John 4:17

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁷ This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.

1 Corinthians 4:16

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ Therefore I urge you to imitate me

Hebrews 13:7

New International Version (NIV)

 ⁷ Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

Happy Birthday, Sarah

Happy Birthday, Sarah!!! I am so blessed to have you for my daughter.  You are a precious gift from God and I thank God for you daily!!!  I have watched you growing up from the 8 week early, preemie to a young lady and I am so proud of you!!!  I wish I could keep you forever but I know that God has plans for you and I am fairly sure that doesn't involve living at home the rest of your life. :)

Most people know that I was married for 17 years to the boy's dad and I thought my baby days were over.  Then life and Divorce happened and I never wanted to get married again.  I was doing fine with just me, the boys and God.  Then I met your dad and we became friends even though I thought he was a male chauvinist.  He still is sometimes. LOL  We had been friends for over a year when he ask me for a date and I thought why not? The rest is history.

You were born 14 months after we married and yes you have the oldest mother in your class but I am so glad that God allowed me to have one more baby!!  You completed our family and I think you changed everyone from your dad and me to your brothers.  What a blessing you were and still are!!!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful Sarah!!!  I love you most!! and yes I do have a verse for you!!!

Colossians 3:20

New International Version (NIV)

 ²⁰ Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

The Journey Continues: Back home again, last day for home health.

I have been waiting to post an update until we got lab results.   The results were called to Richard on Friday but I have been either running or too tired to look at the computer much less type on one. LOL

Richard's white blood counts were down to 700 and he did have to get shots Friday, Saturday and today.  He will be doing the IGG infusion once a month at the Doctor's office. He also had to take a 24 hour sample of urine out put to the hospital lab today.  Don't tell him that I posted this.  He thinks that is too private.  He is feeling a little stronger but he hasn't touched the computer in weeks.  The urine sample from Wednesday did show protein and that is why they wanted more, over that 24 hour time frame.  He will be doing blood work every other day at the hospital in the mornings.

I hooked him up to his last IV medicine this morning!!!!  No more getting up an hour early!!! The home health nurse came this afternoon and took the power port needle out and had him sign release papers from them.  She kept saying that if we need them to just call.  I am hoping that we will never need them again and I know Richard is too.  He is still on about ten medicines, by mouth, a day but I can handle that.  It is so much easier than hooking up to the IV.

Richard still has quite a bit of swelling but is planning on going to work tomorrow.  We made a quick trip to the shoe department in K-Mart to get him a bigger pair of safety shoes.  He can't get his work boots on.

This journey has been so much longer than ever anticipated but God has given the strength and endurance to   keep going.   Richard has felt at times like this journey will never  end and that God was not hearing his prayers but then he would get a call, a visit or a card.    He has sent angels to lessen our burden and He has wrapped His loving arms around us!!  God will give the strength and endurance to finish this journey!!

Colossians 1:11

New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,

Spreading Roots

This summer (2011) has been a record breaking summer.   We had record breaking heat and no rain.  Not only did I feel wilted so did the grass, plants and trees in our yard.  They were parched and needed a drink.  I have felt like that many times.  I needed a drink and I wanted it right then.

  The tree in my front yard was so parched that it roots spread across the yard.  It was looking for moisture of any kind.  As the summer progressed so did the roots.  They spread out in all directions.  That tree needed water and it needed it fast.  It was looking for water to sustain its life.  

  We did finally receive the rain.  It was a nice, slow two day rain and I think I heard that tree sigh in relief.  Those long, stretched out roots are still there. They are the evidence of a long hot summer and the tree's search for water.

  I remember a time in my life when I was searching.  I spread my roots looking for life sustaining water.  I was looking for something that would last. I was looking for something to water my soul.  I was looking for something that would keep my parched lips wet.  I found my drink when my roots spread to the cross. 

  My roots are still stretched to Jesus.  Where are your roots? 

John 7:37-38

New International Version

 ³⁷ On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. ³⁸ Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”^[a]

Too Much Stuff!

Well I have written about junk so I thought that now I would write about stuff.  I have way too much stuff and from the post I have seen on facebook lately I know I am probably not the only one with this problem.  I really need to go through my stuff and have a yard sale, give it away or throw it away.  I know if I got rid of some of my stuff I wouldn't have to deal with my piles!

There is some stuff though that I don't want to get rid of but I need to at least limit time with it.  I am talking of the electronic stuff.  In the last thirty years electronics have boomed.  Most of the people I know have at least a computer and cell phone.  Now my daughter has a play station,  personal play station, a dsi, a stereo but she wants, wants, wants more. I am thinking she has too much stuff.  Doesn't it seem weird to have to tell your daughter no electronics when you tell her good night.

I think that the electronics have invaded our lives and left us changed.  I think that electronics have sneaked into our lives and stolen something precious.  TIME!!!  The time that we used to have talking with each other, going outside, reading and so many more activities is now spent with computers, games, T.V., I pads and more. I wrote a poem called  T.V., several years ago, for a class I was taking but I think this poem could be any of the electronics that takes our time.

                                                                T.V.
                                                  Like mindless robots we sit
                                                  Pushing the buttons daily
                                                  Invading familiar territory

                                                  Stuffing food all the while
                                                  Watching others engage in crime,
                                                   passion or sports
                                                  They are family

                                                 Communication is rare
                                                 Grunts and silence reign
                                                 As OUR family fade

These things also affect another area of my life.  I know that when I let these items become number 1 in my life I don't take time with my God.  I don't have time to read the Bible and pray.  I actually quit playing farmville because I felt like I spent most of my free time playing that game.  My spiritual and family life was suffering and I had to let it go.

I don't even miss it!!!

Exodus 20:1-5

New International Version (NIV)

Exodus 20

The Ten Commandments

 ¹ And God spoke all these words: ² “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
 ³ “You shall have no other gods before^[a] me.
 ⁴ “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. ⁵ You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,

The Journey Continues: Back home again, but with home health.

This has been an exciting and rough week.  Richard was released from the hospital Tuesday and he was very excited.  He was sick and tired of being there and I was just tired from sleeping in the recliner and from running back and forth from home to Oklahoma City.  Richard was released but still had to have IV medicines and fluids so home health was contacted and planned on meeting us at the house as soon as we got home.

It was one of those hurry up and get here to sit and wait on the release.  I should have known. LOL  He finally got released around four.  Home health got to our house at six to explain their process, give us their number and to show me how to get Richard hooked up to the IV.  Our insurance will pay for home health 100 percent but they expect somebody in the family to learn how to do the medicines and fluids.  The nurse did come three times in a row before I was on my own.  She came by also on Friday morning to get vital signs and call a report in to the Doctor.  She will also do this Monday, Wednesday and Friday this week.

It seemed like when the nurse was there I was doing everything just perfect but it was different by myself.  I had several problems that I had to call the nurse.  She was able to walk me through it on the phone two times but had to make a trip to the house once.  She said it just takes experience.  I am sure that I don't want much more experience in this field.

Richard was glad to be home but he has had a really rough week.  The "runs" came back with a vengeance and his legs and belly are very swollen.  His legs were so swollen that for a while he could not even bend his legs.  He had to get a transfusion of platelets on Friday.  He has just seemed miserable and my husband has been a very grumpy patient at times.

I have to say I admire all the nurses and caregivers!!  It is very hard, tiring work.  There is the running.  Go get the medicines which in our case took about ten trips because they couldn't get all of them in at one time.  Go get the food that the husband/patient can eat.  Go get the daughter, take her where she had to go, go back and hook up the patient/husband to his medicines.  Go back and get the daughter, make sure to get back in time to get the husband/patient unhooked.  Go to work, run back home at lunch, get off early to go hook up medicines or go take him to get platelets.  I know I got a glimpse of myself leaving as I was coming in the door several times. I am so glad I was not called to be a nurse/caregiver and after this week.  I know why I was not called to this field.  It takes very special people.  I would have probably been the nurse that told a patient that I was going to leave the room and they(the patient) could just take their OWN vital signs.  I don't relish the role that I have had to do this week but would do it again if I had to.  I love my wonderful, grumpy husband/patient and if I can help him this way I WILL!

This week was a week of grumpiness, tears, screaming, prayers, laughter and apologies.  There were times when Richard had stated that God was not listening to him and that God had turned his back on him.  He is tired and discouraged and ready to feel normal  but he did realize that God is there and had sent angels to us.

Those angels came in the prayers, the phone calls, the comments on face book, those that picked up and took care of daughter, the cards and the surprise visits!!  We could not have made it through a week like this without our friends and the way you have ministered to us.  God kept sending us angels just like you!!


Read through this song sung by Delbert Mcclinton.

 Standing on the bank of a river

By the shore

Seems like the devil's always tryin'

To get in my door

Just when I thought I

Couldn't take it anymore

Here he came again

My friend


He keeps sending me angels,

From up on high

He keeps sending me angels,

To teach me to fly

He keeps sending me angels,

Sweet and true

He keeps sending me angels,

Just... like... you...


As I stand on this mountain

Face to the wind,

Amazed by the number of times I have sinned,

And the countless number of enemies

That should have been friends

Here he comes again,

My friend


He keeps sending me angels,

Here they come a-flyin'

He keeps sending me angels,

To keep me from cryin'

He keeps sending me angels,

Sweet and true

He keeps sending me angels,

Just... like... you...


Some say that it's comin'

I say that it's already here

The love that's among us through

The joy and the fear

When I look into your eyes

Everything is so clear

My friend, oh here he comes again


He keeps sending me angels,

From up on high

He keeps sending me angels,

To teach me to fly

He keeps sending me angels,

Sweet and true

He keeps sending me angels,

Just... like... you

Richard is feeling better today.  The swelling seems better and he has been able to keep the food in him.  Thank-you to all for your prayers and support!! 

Less of Me, More of YOU!

I was reading a blog by Wendy Jones yesterday and in it she talked about wanting less of her and more of God. That has been what I want for a long time now.  I remember as a youth at Falls Creek, the youth teacher was talking about this concept and it stuck.  I have prayed about this many times.  For some reason, me keeps getting in the way of God.

I should be less of me, no matter what the circumstances.  It shouldn't matter that I have slept the last 5 out of 8 nights in a recliner or that I have made three trips to the city and back with another trip today.  It shouldn't matter that I forgot to minus an automatic draft out of my bank balance. It shouldn't matter that I am so tired that if you look at me wrong I want to slap you.

The reason is it should not matter is that I have the SOURCE.  No matter what I am going through I have the POWER.  This is what keeps me going.  This POWER is from JESUS.  The devil knows that I want to be more like JESUS and sends things that he knows are a weakness.  BUT I have the POWER and only through this POWER will I become less of me!!

Do you need hooked up to the POWER??  All you have to do is ask.

Hebrews 2:14

New International Version (NIV)

 ¹⁴ Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—

The Journey Continues: Still at the Hospital

Just a quick update to let you know what the doctors said this morning.

There have been three doctors come by today but the main one came by about 10:30am.  She told Richard that they were going to be more aggressive with his treatment.  He is going to be started on medicines all through the IV instead of by mouth.  She is not sure how much of the medicines have been staying in his system and how much has been expelled.  He will be in the hospital at least three to four more days and the possiblity of  more depending on how fast he responds to the IV meds.  She said that any of the three things, graft/vs/host, c diff, and cmv,  by themselves are hard enough to deal with but putting them all three together makes a tougher situation.  Her associate came back later to talk with Richard and told him that had he been at home during this process he would have not survived.

Today Richard has been very dizzy, almost passed out twice but his appetite has seemed to pick up some.  He is not eating much but he is starting to crave food.  He had me go get him fettuchine for lunch and he did eat a good portion of it.  His blood pressure is still very low and they have upped the fluids going in.  He is on his second bag going in.  They are doing these bags at a faster pace.  They will do one more and then the fourth one will be a slow one.

Richard was not very happy when he first heard the news but once he had time to ponder on it for a while he knows that he is right where he should be. If he is better in three to four days he will go home but home health will come twice a day to do the IV meds.  They also mentioned that they might teach me to do that.  Right now is sleeping and watching football and watching football and sleeping.  :)

Keep praying!!! Richard is getting very tired and discouraged.  I think he is feeling a bit like Job.

Bugs, Bugs and more Bugs

Have you ever had an infestation of bugs?  Sometimes you just can't get rid of them.  Sometimes you think that they are gone and then realize that they never left.  Sometimes they sneak into your house or cling to your clothes and you don't even realize they are there.

Now the first children's book that I wrote is about a lion that has bugs.  He has so many bugs he just does not know what to do.  The bugs that he deals with has made him feel so bad that he can't even roar.  I am sure that at first he didn't even know that he had bugs but gradually had a feeling that something just wasn't  right.  Then he had so many he couldn't deal with them.  He had friends that were concerned about him but some of them weren't quite sure what to do either.  Finally one of his friends came up with an idea and working together they helped get rid of the bugs and find his roar again.

I have bugs too.  My bugs are:
Discontentment
Jealousy
Hate
Disobedient
Foolish

Sometimes I have so many bugs that I don't know what to do.  I lose my voice, my reason and my strength.
Sometimes it get so bad I can't hear the still small voice.  Sometimes I have let those bugs in so deep that I need help.   There is One that can help.

I have to turn to Him and ask for help.  He will rid me of my bugs!

Do you need to be de-bugged today?

Titus 3:2-5

New King James Version (NKJV)

2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. 3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,