Author: Greek Fighting Orange

Hi Groupies! Chris had another good day!  He sent me to work?!?!? (Maybe that is why?) I’m not sure if he is trying to get rid of me or what! Lol! Blood counts were pretty much the same as yesterday. Keep those prayers coming! When they came to take him down to therapy he thought if he did his exercises fast he would be done quicker! Nope! 😄 An hour is a hour fast or slow! He is sitting up more and chatting more with our visitors.

Thank you everyone for all the cards you’ve sent. We are putting them up on the wall and we have quite a collection going. As you may know Chris loves flowers, so we have flower pictures from our grandchildren. Tissue paper flowers too! Photos of flowers! And a beautiful bouquet of metal flowers in a pot! A lot of heart drawings too! Also, a couple pictures of tomatoes on the vine. A few of you may have received tomatoes in the fall that Chris loves to pick and share! Don’t worry we are planning on doing that again this fall! His favorite thing to eat during tomato picking season is a bologna and tomato sandwich made with “soft” white bread! If you ever think about it, ask him how he picks out bread for his sandwiches! He has an interesting method! Hugs to all! Goodnight!

They are predicting 4-6 inches of snow today! We haven’t had much snow all season! Chris and I love watching the snow fall. He doesn’t like driving in it though. I like driving in the snow but I don’t have to for work, so I can understand where he is coming from. By the time we get him out of the hospital I think he won’t have to drive in the snow anymore this season.

He had a good day today. He needed a bag of platelets and some magnesium. The infectious disease doc has him on a lot of antibiotics as a precaution, due to his low white blood count. He is eating well. Chris decided, when all this started, that he wasn’t going to shave till we went home, he’s looking pretty scruffy right now, just saying!

Chris and I built our home in 1988-1989. We didn’t have enough money for the home that he wanted to build so we built the shell and the walls. We moved in with one of 3.5 bathrooms working! Each year we would try to complete a major project like carpeting, a new deck, a cement drive, etc. My kitchen seemed so big I thought I would never fill it, I was wrong. I was a “stay at home” Mom with two children and a beautiful new home and I would worry about making ends meet. My honey would say “Don’t worry, I got this” or “just trust me”. It took me a while to do that, I think that women are just made like that. This year we replaced the upstairs carpet and new front and side doors. We talked about remodeling our master bath next year. After Chris’ diagnosis, I can’t see us staying much longer in this home we love. PRAY,

It’s Sunday, a day of rest! Our morning was busy with visitors and our afternoon was pretty quiet. Chris had to have 2 pints of blood, 2 bags of magnesium and some potassium powder today.  We walked the hall hand in hand to the family waiting room so we could see the progress on the new part of the hospital that is being built.  It was a simple pleasure to walk with him again.

Two weeks ago today we heard news that would change our lives forever!  Acute Myloid Leukemia! We were frightened, confused, sad, and any other emotion you could imagine in this situation. We were with Pete and Liz, cousin Chris, our daughter Jan and Chris and I.  The doctor left the room and none of us could speak. There were no words.  I don’t think any of us will ever forgot that day!  Chris’ body has been put through hell and back.  Today he is eating, walking, and talking to his visitors.  Sharing words of wisdom with the nurses, our nieces and nephews and our children.  He seems to be a changed man…but the same man.

Oh just a heads up….if you come to hang out with Chris and he asks for the chop stick, he means “Chap Stick”! Cracks me up every time, so I don’t want to correct him! LOL!

 

I had a baby shower at our home today for our niece, Dayna. My brothers-in-law Clark and Pete stayed with Chris today and they did a great job! Chris didn’t have anyone pushing him to drink his Boost chocolate drink and I’m sure he was perfectly fine with that. He is able to take care of his personal hygiene again! Phew! He is walking for exercise! Chris’ platelets were low so he was given a transfusion. White blood cells are still at .3! He still gets pretty tired but otherwise he is back to the man I know and love! Our prayers are being answered!

Our family and friends have been so great and supportive during these last two weeks. We couldn’t have gotten this far without you! No way! No how! You know how much our children and our grandchildren mean too us! How proud we are of them! Our grandchildren especially have given Chris the strength and determination to fight this disease. My sister Lu and brother-in-law Tom put up an amazing WALL of pictures for Chris yesterday! When I saw it today it took my breath away! It is an inspirational wall! A wall that gives us pride! But also SO much more! Tonight we sat together, holding hands and loving our wall! Thank you all so much!

A card from our friends Don and Kathy said it best…Into every life rain must fall! But this is RIDICULOUS!!

You when your taste buds are a little off when you like hospital food. Chris has been eating much better, but it makes me a little nervous that he is liking the hospital food. Maybe they finally stepped it up and started making good food? Maybe he hasn’t eaten or been hungry for so long that anything would taste good? Maybe it’s better than the Boost chocolate drink we have been making him drink? Whatever it is he has an appetite and I’m thankful! Another answered prayer!

Chris’hemoglobin and platelets were at an acceptable level to where he didn’t need a transfusion today. His WBCs rose a bit to .3! We would like the WBCs to get to 4000 or more. This next phase is to watch his numbers go up. Praying that his body will make healthy WBCs. Another bone marrow test and more chemo is in his future. The thought of more chemo makes me sad, nervous, scared, etc. I’m told the next time won’t be as bad. PRAY! Overall Chris had a good day! He had physical therapy! Walked the hall a few times! Napped! Visited with family and friends! Life is good….today! Hugs to all from both of us!