Friday, January 26, 2007

A message from John . . .

Hi.  This is John.  Krissy hasn't posted any entries or commented in your journals lately.  The reason is because she fell down the steps and hurt her shoulder.  She went to the ER, and while not badly hurt, they are making her wear a sling, and not letting her type.  The not letting her type thing is hurting her the greatest of all! 

The fall is the reason that she hasn't posted the Photo Scavenger Hunt links this week.  It is also the reason she has not posted a new subject for a Photo Scavenger Hunt.  These two things will be posted when she gets better and is able to type again.  Or maybe she will have Valerie do it, in which case I will let you know in an entry. 

Please don't worry about Krissy, she is doing fine.   

Monday, January 22, 2007

monday morning question

         

What movie did you see recently that you  consider being one of the greatest movies of all time?

my answer:  Jane Eyre

Now what is your answer?  

Monday, January 15, 2007

monday morning question

         

If you could endorse a product, which one would you choose?

My answer:  TRESemme Shampoo

photo scavenger hunt #102 subject

      

Photo Scavenger Hunt #102 will be due on Sunday, January 21, at 11:00 PM EST.

Our subject this week will be New (ie. new clothes, new car, new shoes, new presents, New Year, etc.).  Interpret it any way you would like! 

Please place links to your entry submissions in the comments section below, including your full entry URL.  Thanks for playing, and let's have fun!  ~Krissy :)

Photo Hunt Participants...

Photo Scavenger Hunt #101

Baby Pictures

You all, sorry I am a week late posting this.  Things got crazy.  I will try not to let it happen again.  Now on with the journals who participated.

Linda's World

Welcome to my travels

Footprints in the Sand

There is a Season

Thanks for participating.  This Photo Scavenger Hunt was brought to you by Linda, of Linda's World.  Do you have an idea for a Photo Hunt?  Let me know by leaving a comment or emailing me and I will give you credit in the entry.

God bless, Krissy :) 

Sunday, January 14, 2007

stuff

                         

Happy Birthday to my Sissy Deirdre who was 40 yesterday!  I love you, Honey! 

Now about how John is doing...

We went to see Dr. Claxton's about a week ago.  He decided that John would have one more chemo treatment and then have four weeks off.  After the four weeks is over, Dr. Claxton will evaluate whether or not the chemo has worked (cured the Hemolytic Anemia).  If it has not, then John will get the spleenectomy.  So it is a waiting game, it looks like.

John has already finished his chemo treatments.  Dr. Claxton will determine how successful the chemo treatments were (whether or not he is cured) based on how many blood transfusions John will need during the next few weeks, and on his counts.  We are anxiously waiting to see what will happen.  Meanwhile, I am going to read up on the internet on spleenectomies.  If anybody has a good site, please let me know.

A little about myself...

I got a haircut!  I really like it.  Now I have a new hairstyle to go with my new glasses and clothes.  Yes, I know, I keep meaning to take pics.  I guess this year I am really doing a lot for myself because I went a whole year without doing anything for myself.  I am also losing weight.  I will tell you more about that later, and how I am doing it.

Okay, that's about it.  Love you all, Krissy :)

Friday, January 12, 2007

Scalzi's Weekend Assignment 147

Scalzi's Weekend Assignment #147: Make a Warning Sign For Everyday Life. Because life needs warning signs sometimes.

 

              

 

That's my sign.  Because around here there are lots of hyenas.  And one can never be too careful.

Extra credit: Ever ignored a warning sign you should have paid attention to?

Well, there were those No Trespassing signs, but that's a long story...

Krissy :)

Monday, January 8, 2007

monday morning question

         

Other than the standard items (credit cards, money, driver's license,etc.), what interesting items do you have in your purse or wallet?

my answer:  I have two Greyhound luggage tags, a ziplock bag full of quarters, and a $2 phone card

All of these items have something in common.  They deal with my travel to Hershey Medical Center.  The luggage tags were picked up for the next time I have to go to Hershey and ride the bus.  The ziplock bag of quarters is for when I have to stay overnight there, and need to do my laundry.  The $2 phone card was given to me by Hope Lodge (where I stay when John gets medical treatment) so that I could make a call home if I needed to while I stayed there.

What's interesting or unusual in your purse or wallet?  Krissy :)  

a trip to Hershey on Monday

John and I are going to Hershey to see Dr. Claxton on Monday.  Hopefully it will only be a one day trip.  There are two appointments that he has to go to.  Then I hope they'll send him home.  That is what I am anticipating.  They may want him to get a spleenectomy, but I imagine they will give him time to plan for it...

John has been doing better lately (not needed quite as much blood).  It is due to the fact that he has had chemo for seven weeks.  He has one more week of chemo to go.  This appears to be slowing down the Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia.  But it is not curing it.  That is why Dr. Claxton has to decide tomorrow whether or not to continue the chemo, or to just stop the treatment and remove John's spleen.

When Mitzi (the nurse coordinator) told John on the phone the other day that they might just continue chemo, I was a little upset.  What does over 50 doses of chemo do to the brain?  If it works, well ok, but there is not even a guarantee of a cure.  I know, there are no guarantees in life.  This will be a tough call for Dr. Claxton.  The chemo seems to be helping a lot, but not curing.  He will have to decide what to do.  A spleenectomy doesn't sound like a walk in the park either...

So tomorrow will tell.  Okay, well, good night, you all.

Krissy :) 

Saturday, January 6, 2007

just stuff

Long time, no write.  And I have no good reason.  Well, maybe being busy with life is a good reason.  Trying to catch up on twelve months of life quickly is crazy.

And sandwiched in with all the errands have been some important events.  Such as John's birthday on the 3rd.  That was lots of fun.  My parents got him a cake.  I made him spaghetti with turkey meatballs and shrimp.  Just a little experiment and it came out well.  I was going to use ground beef, but the store was out of the quality stuff, so I got the ground turkey.  It was good!

I have taken the time to watch some funny movies lately.  I have found some really inexpensive ones at Wal-Mart.  They are good movies, and family friendly.  Anyway, a couple of nights ago, John and I purchased some things, and we were walking out the door of Wal-Mart, and this loud alarm goes off.  So we stop and I tell the man who surrounds us that it must be the CDs.  Sure enough, the cashier forgot to remove something on the CDs, thus causing the alarm to go off.  Meanwhile, those walking by are staring at us.  The fact that John has a mask on doesn't help, LOL.

John wears that mask everywhere now because his counts are low, and it confuses people.  He wears it so he doesn't catch anything, but a lot of people think he wears it because he is contagious.  They run from him because they don't want to catch anything.  Some think he is a robber and is going to hold them up.  We went to a local convenience store the other night, late at night.  Everybody in there stopped dead in their tracks, even our neighbor who knows us, LOL.  They all looked at John with that mask on.  It covers his face except for his eyes.  They froze until he bought his milk and loaf of bread, LOL.  Then he left the store.  John said often that police stop at that store, making sure nobody is robbing.  I told him I would get him a T-shirt that read:  "Don't shoot.  I had a transplant!" 

Oh, I forgot to mention.  For John's birthday I got him two pairs of jeans.  And I also got him two pairs for Christmas.  Because he had NONE left that fit him.  He has lost 65 lbs.  Actually he looks quite svelte, LOL.  

I also have a few new outfits.  The most beautiful stuff I have had in years.  Christmas presents.  I feel like a girl again, LOL, instead of a boy.  Perhaps I will have John take some photos so I can show you.  Thank you, Sweeties, who gave me my Christmas presents! 

Well, I guess I better get off now.  I am not feeling the best.  I had a migraine yesterday and felt kind of yucky today.  Sorry if I have not had the time to get around to reading many journals.  I am hoping to feel better tomorrow.

Love you all,  Krissy :)  

Wednesday, January 3, 2007

photo scavenger hunt #101 subject...

      

Photo Scavenger Hunt #101 will be due on Sunday, January 7, at 11:00 PM EST.

Our subject this week comes from Linda of Linda's World.  She wants to see our baby pictures.  So show us what you looked like as an adorable baby!  Or you can show off any baby.  This is your chance to show off your children or grandchildren.  Go into your files or snap new photos.  It doesn't matter.  Just bring on those babies!

Please place links to your entry submissions in the comments section below, including your full entry URL.  Thanks for playing, and let's have fun!  ~Krissy :)

Monday, January 1, 2007

new year's day

      

I'm looking back and being kind of reflective today.  Wow,  a whole year gone.  It seems like it lasted ten years, actually, LOL.  This was one of the hardest years of my life.  But many blessings came out of it as well.

I am grateful that both of John's cancers are cured.  Yes, you heard me right.  When we went to his last appointment, Dr. Claxton said both the Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and the bone marrow cancer (MDS) were cured.  And there was only a ten percent chance either one would come back for the rest of John's life.

Two diseases down, one to go.  He still has Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia.  And to be honest with you, it is getting a little frustrating.  He already had some treatments of IVIG for it.  Then he had four weeks of chemo.  Now he is having eight more weeks of chemo.  I believe he only has one or two weeks left.

The sad thing is, it doesn't appear to be working.  Sure it slowed the disease down.  He hasn't had to get as much blood.  But he still needs transfusions.  And now that the chemo will be stopping, his Hemoglobin and Hematocrit will plummet right down again, and stay there, especially if he doesn't have blood.  Actually, without the transfusions he will just die.  So what is his lot in life, lifelong transfusions?

Of course there is the possibility that the removal of his spleen will work.  I imagine they are going to do that some time pretty soon.  If it doesn't work, well, I just don't know what we will do.  I am not trying to be negative here, just thinking.  But all I have is one day at a time...  It is just that it never occurred to me that it WOULDN'T work until Dr. Claxton mentioned a couple of weeks ago that it might not.  That put a little damper on things.

So I'll just have to take things one day at a time.  Lord give me the strength to get through 2007, doing everything I need to do, and keeping hope while I do it.  And hopefully spreading some hope and cheer to others.  And helping John through.  He looked a little bit sad this morning (while laying on the hospital bed this morning getting transfused).  That is not like him at all.  When he gets over his introspection and gets his balance I am sure he will do fine...

Having said that I look forward with a little bit of weariness toward the future, in my heart is a heaping dose of hope.  This spleenectomy thing could work.  Or something else could be invented in the future.  Modern medicine is making advances all the time.  And the Lord heals sometimes.  Actually He heals all the time, sometimes miraculously, sometimes through a doctor, sometimes when we get to Heaven.  But we are always okay.  And another thing.  The focus is always put on healing.  But what about putting it on the character of the person, and how he or she changes because of their ailment.  While I can't say I wished this upon me and John, we have grown tremendously from everything last year.  We are more in love than we ever were.  We have better spiritual lives.  We realize what is important.  We are closer to our families and friends.  I have gained more confidence in dealing with others (especially medical professionals, LOL).  If something needs to be done for someone I love, I MAKE it happen!  I used to be a Scaredy Cat.  I have more courage now.  John has grown in so many virtuous traits and has encouraged so many people by his courage.  I can't say that this isn't where we are meant to be today.  God works all things together for good for those who love Him, as the Bible says.  So all is good...

What will this year bring?  I don't know.  We are starting off with John breaking down his blood too quickly and needing more, his white blood cell count too low - thereby causing him to risk infection, John only having 20 % of his kidney function left - and told he will be dialyzed in a certain number of years.  That's a lot of uncertainty.  Yet he is alive.  Very much so.  What will this year bring?  Who knows.

One thing I do wonder is, am I getting lost in all of this?  I have spent all these paragraphs mentioning him and neglecting me!  God is my first priority.  Then I put John up there, then myself.  But gee, what do I really do for myself???  I think I am going to have to go back and think on that one, maybe tomorrow.  And yes, I am one of those who do make New Year's resolutions.  Or should I say I am going to make goals for myself to have a better year, and to better myself.  Fit some "me time" in there, so I will even be more better able to help John.  Eating right, exercise, prayer, etc.

Wow, this has gotten entirely too long.  I just wanted to say I love each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart.  Thank you for standing beside me in 2006.  Let's make 2007 the best year yet!

Love you all dearly, Krissy  :)     

monday morning question

      

What will you have for dinner this New Year's Day?

my answer:  Gee.  I have no idea.  Nothing special.  My traditional New Year's Day meal is corned beef and cabbage.  But I had no time to get anything this year.  I was helping John arrange for a blood transfusion for the past few days, and now I will be with him down at the Medical Treatment Unit while he gets his blood.  Oh yes, we have some shrimp in the fridge!  I think we'll have that!  And some left over punch from last night...

How about you?  Krissy :)      

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