Baumgarten Family Blog

I am home again and this time it is to stay. Thanks to everyone for they support and prayers, I couldn't have made it this far without all of you.

I am four weeks out of transplant today. It is shocking how quickly that time has passed but that my days seem to drag. I am feeling very well today and hoping for a small miricle that they would let me out today but I think Thursday is probably most likely so I just need to get thru the day. I don't have my iv tree any more they took that away yesterday and it makes it much easier to get around and get in and out of bed. I slept pretty well last night, I think I finally figured out a good bedtime routine to mix with steroids. They are slowly getting me off of the steroids so that I don't get the gitters. I feel more restful because of the sleep that I got. As my Mom would say, "just one more sleep."

I do need to give a shout out to my parents, they have been wonderful thru this whole process. They gave up their summer to help take care of me and I can't thank them enough for that. I love you guys!

It's Tuesday another day closer to home. I have now been in the hospital for a total of 36 days and it's still not getting much easier. They are thinking Thursday for a go home day and that I can manage. I've been going on a lot of walks to try and pass the time, that seems to help. The steroids make me unable to sleep but we are working on getting that all sorted out. I wake up and my head is all sweaty so I just can't seem to win. My Mom is bringing some puzzles to help pass the time, that should be nice just a few more days, I think that I can manage.

Had a surprise visit for Steve and Nolan last night, that was fun and I really liked that, it helped to pass some more time.

As Mandy mentioned, Nolan and I were asked to be in a wedding quite a while back and the day finally arrived. Nolan and I left early Friday morning and the flight was not very full. Nolan I got a whole row to ourselves at the back of the plane and Nolan played and sat very well for the whole flight. We got to Omaha and Bess was an hour late picking us up at the Airport but I still got to eat at Taco Johns. We picked up our tuxes and Nolan looked very "classy!"

That night we had the Rehearsal and Dinner but then we were free until 1:30 the next day. We took that time to drive to Hartley to see Grandma Ruth and my cousins who are just a bit older then Nolan. Nolan went to bed about midnight and had about 2-3 hours of sleep since waking up at about 6AM.

We were able to sleep in the next morning and spend some more time with Grandma, but then we were back on the road to do this whole wedding thing. Nolan was very good and did a great job. Bess was also a great help and helped keep things in order for me. At picture time the flower girl had already had too much excitement but Nolan was doing great.

Nolan walked down the aisle like a champ and then he sat like a good boy on Bess' lap for the whole 25 minute wedding. Afterwards Nolan had a lot of fun at the reception and slept very hard after all the dancing and running. On the way back on Sunday we had to drive to Omaha and just made our flight with only about 10 minutes to spare. Nolan fell asleep on the plane for a little over half the flight.

When we got to Phoenix, Grandpa Steve and Aunt Claudia picked us up at the airport and we went down to the hospital to see Mandy. Later that night, Nana and Grandpa come over and took Nolan out for dinner. Needless to say he fell asleep quick last night and was not ready to wake up in the morning.

Some good news to report, they are going to start backing off on my iv needs and switch me over to pill form of things. I can't go home until I am on pills we are thinking Thursday for a potential go home date. I am not sure what day that is but it can't get here fast enough. They are also reducing my seroids and other meds. My diet is increasing daily and before you know it, I will be eating a big steak and baked potato!! Keep up the thoughts and prayers only a few more days to go and I will be back home.