As everyone knows, in July 2008 I received a life saving stem cell transplant from an anonymous donor. With the efforts of Brigid’s Brigade (a local organization) and National Bone Marrow Registry, I might not be here today.
This weekend Bridget’s Brigade is hosting an opportunity to join the National Bone Marrow Registry at Chandler Fashion Square during a two day drive on Sept. 4-5. It’s free to join (thanks to donations) and all it you have to do is fill out some personal/health information and get a check swab. NOTHING INVASIVE!
Hours on Saturday are from 10-6 and Sunday from 12-6.
Chandler Mall is located at 3111 W. Chandler Blvd. Chandler, AZ 85226
If you can’t make the event or are already registered, donations are happily accepted through paypal at:
Nolan and I went to the SeaLife Aquarium on Saturday while Steve was golfing. The aquarium is at the Arizona Mills Mall so it is in a small space but they did a good job with what space they did have. It was kinda pricey, of course, I had a coupon for a fee child admission but it still cost $18.50 and only took about an hour. Nolan had fun but I feel like I could have taken him to Petco and he would have had just as much fun looking at their fish only it would have been free. Am I starting to sound like my father?
We are just trying to relax around the house since it is so hot. So, there isn’t really anything new with us. Last Tuesday, I had a spot on my lip burned with liquid nitrogen. I ended up with what looked like the biggest cold sore ever. I didn’t really want to go out.
Steve golfed on Sunday, despite excessive heat warnings. Our pool was 93 degrees but when it’s 113 that’s refreshing.
Nolan is enjoying his new school. He comes home with art work everyday that he wants to keep. I am getting used to our new schedule. The “no” TV before school idea didn’t even make it one day!
Steve has updated our blog so that’s why it looks different. It’s supposed to be more user friendly. If you didn’t get an e-mail but about this new post, and you did on the old blog format, let me know, you might have to reset your subscriptions.
Since my last post lots of things have gone on with us. Last weekend we headed up to Las Vegas to meet up with Steve’s cousin Sheena and her friend, Nicole. Claudia and her boyfriend, Leon, also came up. We had a great time with the exception of a trip to urgent care. Nolan had a double ear infection but they UC was efficient and we weren’t there too long. Saturday night we all went to the Hofbrauhaus and Nolan got to spank all the girls after jager shots. All in all a great trip.
Tuesday morning, I woke up achy, with a fever, sore throat and it hurt to breath. By early afternoon, my fever got up to about 102 so I called down to the hospital to see if I could take some Tylenol. Big mistake! They made me go down to outpatient and I ended up with blood work, throat culture, nasal culture, chest x-ray and IV fluids. Everything turned out negative so it was viral and by Thursday I was feeling much better.
Nolan hit a milestone a swim lessons this week, he can now swim a few feet unassisted. He is also jumping in from the side without hesitation. Tomorrow he starts pre-kindergarten at church. This is going to be more of a change from me than him because it is only half days.
Steve claims that I run at two speeds: hyperactive and off (which only occurs with the use of medication). So I am attempting to use 8:30 in the morning to try and relax but of course my brain can’t tune out all of the things that I believe that I need to accomplish today.
I wanted to give a quick update on my doctor’s appointments from last week. I saw the eye doctor on Tuesday and she also said that everything my prior eye doctor did was she could do but that she was more than happy to continue to monitor me as a patient.
I saw my BMT doctor on Thursday. She also said that my numbers were looking good and normal. She reassured me that the fatigue and neuropathy that I am experiencing is normal for the situation but that I need to realized it could be permanent.
We celebrated my “birthday” and our anniversary this weekend. Steve and I had a nice dinner at Fleming’s and then saw the movie “Salt”. Perhaps the best part of our anniversary was when Steve unloaded the dishwasher. I guess miracles do happen.
Monday I got my first allergy shots. I didn’t have any complications and will continue to get those weekly for the next few months.
Break time is over, off to stress about something that doesn’t need to be stressed about.
At the time we gave Nolan the middle name of David, I didn’t think he would be a little David. This weekend continued to prove that engineer is in his future. Yesterday, he helped me make baNana bread and wanted to help measure ingredients, sift flour, run the mixer and then when it was in the oven we had to check on it every 5 minutes. Then when it was about 112, Nolan asked for a plastic bag so he could go outside and pick up grass, by himself. Who were we to stop him? Steve eventually felt bad and went out to help. Today, Nolan went with me to Michaels and we bought a wooden model train set that you sand, paint and put together. He was so excited about the train that he couldn’t take a nap. We did the locomotive and he can earn the caboose if he jumps off the side at swim tomorrow. I doubt this will happen because David’s aren’t risk takers.
As for me, I have two doctor’s appointments this week. On Tuesday I am going to a different opthamologist to get a second opinion about my eyes. Last guy basically said that there was nothing more he could do for me. I see my BMT doctor on Thursday for a routine check. In the middle of all of this, I am going to start allergy shots. My allergist is almost giddy about it because he can’t find any literature about allergy shots post transplant so it’s “almost experimental.” I’ve been poked and prodded so much why not be a guinea pig.
Steve is currently playing online poker (up $1.35 at last count) and drinking beer. So, nothing new with him to report.
Steve left for Vegas last Saturday afternoon. So, I figured “while the cat’s away, the mice will play.” That’s, of course, if anyone believes that Steve is in charge around here.
Our Polish waterslide (glad Nolan is in touch with his heritage), I stopped short of letting him put the kiddie pool at the bottom.
Our new friend (name pending) a possible replacement for Daddy.
Water Rocket
PS If Daddy is gone any longer we might end up with a puppy
Since Steve went golfing this morning, I decided to take Nolan to the zoo. We got there early so that we could beat the heat and got right on to the train. We only made it to the first train stop because they were allowing people to fee the giraffes (for a small fee). Nolan and I both got to feed the giraffes that was a lot of fun. We saw a ton of animals and made it back on the train for the round trip. Needless to say all the sun and fun has both of us pooped.
