Tradition -- Word for the Day -- Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Tradition --

Definition:  transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation, or the fact of being passed on in this way.

Happy Thanksgiving...  Hope you all enjoy valuable time with your family and all traditions. 

Traditions have a way of getting away from us, especially as we grow older.  We yearn for our childhood traditions, but spouses,other families, friends, different living environments and other compromises somehow interfere.  So memories are all that is left.  So we rejoice...

Jim continues with his labs every Monday.  He has chosen an afternoon hour that does not interfere with his work schedule.  He is down 20 lb. from his original weight.  He is at 184.  I suggested to him over the weekend that we go shopping for some smaller dress slacks for him.  He claims he doesn't want to spend the money.  I told him that I felt better when I had lost so much weight and I got something to fit me.  Made me feel better about myself.  Last night as we were eating dinner he said he had thought about what I said and he wants to go shopping for a couple pairs of slacks.  I wish he could have suggested that last weekend!  LOL.... After Thursday the stores are going to be packed. 

His appetite is not really what it has been in the past, but he is eating a lot more than he was last month or the month before.  I am afraid to fix too much at one time (a meat and two veggies), so I just fix what I think may entice him (one meat and one veggie).  He has always made fun of me because I feel the need for a colorful veggie plate with one starch, meat and fiber.  My economic teacher would be proud of me.

I have made two batches of fudge in the last week.  I have given much of it away and surprisingly he has not grumbled about that.  A good indicator that his appetite has not returned.  He only ate one piece of my pumpkin pie I made two weeks ago.  I won't tell you who ate the rest (in the middle of the night).

I don't believe the two of us are looking forward to the holidays.  We are not dreading it, but we have come to a bump in the road with being behind at work.  The holidays will just make it more so. If we could just run away for the holidays and be alone, we would be content.  We seriously discussed leaving Thanksgiving morning and heading to Illinois and returning on Saturday... But......

We are thankful that he is not ill over this Thanksgiving holiday.  We both have our hopes up about this appointment with Dr. Z on December 15.  He has been trying to scheduled work around his bone marrow biopsy, MRI and PET this week.  I have to keep reminding him that those tests aren't scheduled until December 10 and 11.  He claims he's just so excited about getting them done.... (Noooooooo, he's not!)

Okay....Back to labs.  I was truly excited last week when he came home with a report of platelets sitting at 130.  Hemoglobin was nice at 10.7.  WBC was 5.5.  CRP was a little up at 7.30, but he told his APN he had the sniffles.  We are increasing his magnesium, potassium and phosphorus.  Maybe for a couple of weeks.

Soooooooo, I said I was 'excited'.... Yesterday his platelets were 103.  Everything else stayed basically the same.  As usual, he was upbeat about his levels, and I hope I didn't dapper his mood when I pointed out his platelets and weight had dropped.  His CRP only came up to 7.5, but so happy it isn't in the higher stages.

I see his energy level staying about the same.  He 'thinks' he wants to get out and work in the yard or burn leaves and then when the time comes, he sits.  I am glad for his resting.  We have been heading upstairs by 8:00 each evening and usually turn the TV off by 9:30.  It is peaceful.  Maybe we have begun a new bedtime tradition. 

He wants me to cook for Thanksgiving, so we are staying home.  His parents are coming over, but that's really the only ones we expect as my family doesn't have tradition anymore.  I miss those days that I could spend with my mother and brothers and my son.  Times when every one was to be at our house or better have a damn good excuse. LOL  I'm sure Jim misses the same things, but for now we enjoy each other and are thankful for what God has given us in the way of his continued good health the last couple of months. 

Enjoy your day...and your traditions.

 

Good Afternoon and Love -- Pepper

 

 

Talisman - Word for the Day -- Monday, November 16, 2015

Talisman \TAL-iss-mun\

 

Definition:   an object held to act as a charm to avert evil and bring good fortune; something producing apparently magical or miraculous effects

 

Wouldn't it be nice to pull out your rabbit's foot (talisman) and just wave it around to get rid of your worries and woes?  Just point it in a direction to rid yourself and your loved ones of illnesses, diseases or whatever ails them?

 

After our doctor's visit last Tuesday, Jim has pretty much done what "he" wants to do.  He is still low of energy, but he is trying to work on that.  With a little help from me.  LOL

 

I worked in the back yard all day Friday with blowing and burning leaves.  The piles were pretty huge, but I was afraid if I left them he would come home and fire them up or the rain would come earlier than I expected.  At one point I had to soak two trees down with water as they were smoking a little. 

 

He did make breakfast for me on Saturday.  He then headed to the recliner for about two hours.  During that time I headed to the dog yard and finished up my blowing.  The piles were unbelievably huge.  I collected the necessary tools (rakes, lighter, water hose), took them all to the dog yard and headed to the house.  I woke him up and told him he really needed to move around and he could do that by coming down and holding the water hose. 

 

We got all the leaves and limbs burned down there.  The wind wasn't blowing any, so that relieved me that he may be sucking in the smoke.  He trimmed a few limbs off the back fence from a fallen tree.  He tried to do a little raking, but the fire was just too hot.  So he sat and watched while smoking one of those cigars..  :)

 

We were able to go to dinner with our biker friends.  Wasn't like going out of town for the weekend with them, but we enjoyed it.  Didn't get to sit and have a quiet conversation with a few, but we did get some noteworthy hugs.  Jim and I had a few margaritas and I think we may have copped a buzz.  It's been so long since we drank.  We were home by 7:00 p.m. and to bed by 7:30 p.m.  Now, that was some partying for us!!!

 

His BP has been staying above normal for him.  He has labs today at 3:00 p.m.  I will be curious if he is holding his own on fluids, blood and other necessary counts.  He seems a bit pale, but that may be because he has no hair right now.  Just a few little eyebrows and that's it.  He hasn't shaved in a week. 

 

He is concerned about his port.  It looks a little bruised around the disk area.  He has had the one little scab, which he thought was where one side of the port had been accessed.  It is actually one spot that was irritated when two nurses scrubbed and cleaned the area too well.  We aren't complaining, but it was irritated. I looked it over last evening and it looks very good.  Although it looks like it might be bruised, it isn't. 

 

The port needles are curved at the very tip end.  They hook into the holes.  Sometimes if a nurse is not too familiar with a port needle it can cause a little irritation or bruising.  I believe all the post transplant nurses are well educated on the needle insert, but a couple of times on Day 8 and 9 we had some trainees.  He may have a little blood collection inside the port, but it didn't cause any stoppage. 

 

We have an MM couple going through some rough times right now.  He needs back surgery, but surgery cannot be done until his platelets are 75.  They were at 39 on Saturday after two units.  I saw them at a diner in August after Jim got out of the hospital.  I saw his port hanging out of the arm of his shirt.  I was tempted then to go over and ask, "Are you a MM patient?"  As it happened, I ran into them in Infusion the very next day.  Their names are Bert and Donna.  They had to move here from their home.  We are so fortunate.

 

As you can tell, my writings aren't as full-filled as when we were seeking his levels to come up.  All I have to write about now is how his appetite is coming up, but not back to his norm.  His taste buds haven't come around full circle, yet.  However, we did stuff ourselves at Chuy's on Saturday.  It was very good food.  May be why we didn't eat too much yesterday. 

 

I'll keep you posted on his labs for today.  I'm get the talisman out!!!

 

Good Afternoon and Love -- Pepper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Umami - Word for the Day -- Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Umami   \oo-MAH-mee\  

Definition:  noun   -  a taste sensation that is meaty or savory and is produced by several amino acids and nucleotides (such as glutamate and aspartate)

Here we go!!!! Day 19!!!  Yes, Sir!  We are 19 days out from transplant.  We had our visit with Dr. Z today.  But, a few other things first... LOL  Found out Dr. Z doesn't have a secretary... Hmmmmmm.... Should I or Shouldn't I?

I stopped by the snack bar and got us a StarBuck's carmel marciatto.  Kinda our tradition deal now.  That's the only time we ever have them.  I saw Jim in the parking deck as he was circling like a buzzard looking for a space.  I told him I'd meet him upstairs.  As I got all my stuff and arrived at the check in desk, he was still there talking to 'his girls'...  One of them told me he was quite popular.  As he was awaiting me, Dr. Ricco approached him from behind and told him all his tests came back looking good.  No infection in or around his port.  Nothing...  Well, we kinda knew that.  We've been telling them for weeks that two nurses were "too" clean and scrubbed his skin around the port so good that it blistered him (sunburn)...

Then, as I was standing there, here comes that good looking Dr. Ricco again.  He shook hands with me and told me Jim was doing excellent.  I said, "He's a super man, isn't he?"  He said he was, but that I was also the reason he did so well.  Okay, my head is about the size of a basketball now!

Our appointment was for 10:30 and we were back in the office and talking to Dr. Z by 10:30... He was so happy to see us and that labs and all reports were good.  He waits for me to give him our detailed medication list.  It's like he waits for me.  He and I talk more than he and the patient.  I also gave him personal update on family ages and stuff.  He always dictates that Jim has two step children...  I corrected that today.  (He has one child --- LOL... I'm kidding... I gave him the right info).  Yep... maybe I should apply for that secretarial position. 

Okay, so now I'm going to wander off track and tell you about his labs.  We are still doing occasional magnesium, potassium and phosphorous.  But, I told you that yesterday...  His platelets LAST Tuesday were 24.... YESTERDAY (are you ready for this or do you need to sit down?)... Okay, I'll wait until you are seated.

Dr. Z questioned me about the Bactrim on my medication list.  That is an antibiotic/bacterial med on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  Sooooo, I can update our final med sheet to be a more regular schedule.  I told him Dr. Ricco took him off all antibiotics and wanted to keep him on this one to stop anything before it happened for three months.  He laughs and shakes his head and puts it down on his list. 

Soooo, labs every Monday and then we do the bone marrow biopsy, MRI on December 10-11.  Then we will probably see Dr. Z again on Thursday, December 17.  That is usually how it works for us. 

He asked Jim about diarrhea. -- None.  Then about appetite -- Coming back gradually.   He doesn't have that umami, yet.  (LOL)  Then, fever -- None.  And, about blisters and mouth sores -- Never.  Soooo, Dr. Z shakes his head like ... Huh??...  He then tells us that this treatment usually puts people in the hospital for a month....  We have heard that already, but I'm glad we didn't hear it before the treatment... It would have driven us nuts!!!!

As he was closing the door we thanked him..... Then he says, "No, thank you... You two did all the work!"....  I love UAMS...

He left his cell phone in the room and when the head nurse came in we both decided we would do selfies of the three of us on it.  She gave it to me and I discovered he had a pass code... Dang!  When she took it to him she told him what we were going to do.  He laughed and said we could take his calls while we were at it...

Okay.... Soooooo, here we go.... Platelets on November 2 -- 24.... Platelets YESTERDAY (one week later)  -- 104!!!! 

He's travelling to Shreveport in the morning and has to be there at 5:00 a.m.  So, that means he has to depart the house at midnight tonight.  He doesn't spend the night anywhere...  I told him I could take a day of vacation and drive him... He doesn't let non employees in his vehicle...  (Note to Self:  Stop your control freak status.... Let him do what he wants.... When he wants....)

Good Afternoon and Love -- Pepper