Insurance -- Word for the Day -- Monday, September 22, 2008

Insurance

Definition: coverage by contract whereby one party undertakes to indemnify or guarantee another against loss by a specified contingency or peril

Hummmm.... Doesn't make much sense, does it, this word -- Insurance? We struggle again, today, with this deal and the matter of non compassionate individuals with the medical facility. It doesn't matter if you make monthly payments -- they set the minimum. I do not know how people without total insurance survive.

Enough of that.... Now to the good news.

Stacie is improving each day. She was moved into a brain rehab facility. Her therapists are meeting tomorrow to make a decision on her length of stay. She does remember what year it is. The main focus right now is the physical therapy and it is progressing each day. She is walking with a walker and can take a shower without assistance.

Stacie and her husband, Bruce had been married for five years. He is a marine and she is a former marine. What does that tell you? They are fierce in their struggle for survival. With that, I know your prayers have made her stronger and she will continue to improve.

ChemoSabe has been doing extremely well, also. He does get tired, but not nearly as much as before. He is now down to two pills in the morning and five at night with his nightly Lovenox (blood thinner) shot. I have given him another small bruise, but I believe I am getting better. He doesn't flinch like he use to.

If you have ever looked at a syringe needle closely you will notice a slight slant to the tip. I think I have figured out if you put the very longest, sharpest point in slowly, it pricks the skin slowly and eliminates the bruising effect. I have seen some nurses just jab it in quickly. I just can't do that. I'm afraid I will miss and hit my own finger! ha It makes me wonder how many bruises in the last two years I have given Parker. He is our silkie and he has long black hair. He gets two shots a day in his shoulder area.

We took advantage of the cooler weather and got out on the bikes Saturday. We rode up past Heber Springs to our favorite bike shop. We wore our chaps and a light jacket. It was a very overcast day and we did have a few sprinkles, BUT, that didn't stop us from getting a burn on the ole forehead. Our cheeks got the brunt of it, too. All-in-all it was a great day to ride.

ChemoSabe spoke with his Transplant RN this morning and she is indicating that one of the doctors and herself feel he can wait until after January to have the second transplant. They are pushing us to talk to the Big Doc about it. With his reports being clear of the Myeloma and their big word is "Remission", they are certain he will be safe. Wouldn't it be great to have that time for his body to recover from the massive chemo treatments he has had? Cross your fingers. We don't have an appointment date, yet.

I have been burning piles of limbs, leaves and twigs in the back yard from Gustav and Ike. It still looks bad back there. AND, the mosquitoes are massive. I even have had to spray insect repellent on the kids (dogs). These things just hover around you. I can spray my whole body and they always find at least 1 cm uncovered and they go in for the kill. Kinda makes me wish now I wouldn't have had my head shaved.

ChemoSabe's hair is growing back. His eyebrows are coming in very quickly. He has begun to shave his whiskers again, also. He keeps shaving his head in spite of the fact I wanted to see what color and texture it is. It is the reverse from when he didn't want to lose his hair. He has gone from one extreme to the other.

His appetite has also come back. I have to watch him though when we go out to make certain he doesn't order more than he can eat. I don't believe his stomach has grown back to what it was. I am certainly glad he doesn't get rid of the clothes he grows out of, as now he is back into them. The Thin Man is he.

Nothing more exciting right now. We are just enjoying the 'feel good' and catching up on work.

Please keep praying for Stacie, our other MM friends and for my little brother's granddaughter. He and his wife adopted her when she was a baby. She is now six. She has been in the hospital since last Thursday and it is believed she has spinal meningitis. Since she may be in the contagious stage and because she is a sick child, ChemoSabe and I cannot be around her. I will keep you posted.

Good day and Love, Pepper