White Christmas by The Drifters

About 10 years ago I received an email containing this video, and found the video hysterical and a good distraction from all the chores of the fast paced Christmas season. Each year I view the video, and I find it more entertaining than the year before.

Merry almost Christmas. Have you ever seen this video and did you enjoy it as well?

monday morning question -- What is the most unique or interesting thing in your purse or wallet?

A lady's purse is notorious for having everything in it but the kitchen sink. I bet you can find a number of interesting items in your purse. But I only want you to name one. What is the most interesting or unique item in your purse? Men, this question is for you also. How about telling us something interesting in your wallet?

Okay, off to scrounge through my purse for my answer!
The most interesting item in my purse is a job description I picked up recently for employment that was listed at my local college. I figured I might do a little part-time work now that John is getting healthier (well, sort of) , and as I was reading the job description, I figured the job couldn't be too difficult. It basically entails getting paid for eating at a local eatery, and then reporting on how the food tastes. I think I can handle getting paid while eating healthy food for free. That's like getting paid twice! The employer needs several people for the job, per the job description I have in my purse, so I'd better call soon before the jobs are all taken! ~ krissy :)

Now it's your turn. What's of most interest in your purse or wallet?

Please leave your answer in the comment section below. Or you can post your answer in your blog, and we'll check it out if you leave a link.

John's been in the Hospital most of the past month

Gall Bladder Surgery, Pancreatitis Surgery -- Hmmm, what'll be next??

So John's in the hospital again. Locally this time. He's been there, oh, I can't remember how long, because I've lost track of time.

I do remember he had the Gall Bladder surgery on May 5th. That was a rough surgery for him, because he has immune system problems. His antibodies never returned after his bone marrow transplant. So it wasn't same day surgery. John had to stay inpatient for awhile.

The surgeon put a Jackson Pratt Drain in John during the surgery. A JP Drain drains excess fluid from the body after surgery. Here's a photo of a JP Drain.

A JP Drain consists of a tube, as well as a bulb for collecting fluid after a surgery. The end of the tube is sewn inside the patient's body during the surgery. The other end of the tube extends way outside the patient's body, and culminates in a rubber bulb in which bodily fluid collects. These bulbs are said to resemble hand grenades. They are capped to create suction (to pull out body fluid that looks like blood to me, but I don't really know what it is!), as to prevent the bloody looking fluid from being trapped inside the body.

Another reason the bulbs are capped are so that people like John and I can empty them and measure how much body fluid they contain, LOL. Let me explain. Oh, and we also had to continuously keep the area of the drain and the wound sterile and bandaged at all times. This was very difficult because the area around the John's JP drain frequently leaked. I don't know if it was supposed to, but John's did!

Daily I had to measure how much blood filled the hand grenade thingy (capped rubber bulb)that was attached to this long rubber tube stitched to John's belly, peering out of a gaping wound. I had to do this by carefully uncapping the bulb and dumping the bodily fluids into a measuring container. John and I would take turns doing this, and laugh, actually.

We laughed because we had to put measurements on an official "Nurses' Chart", as well as comments. We had to sign our "Nurse's Names" at the top of the chart, as well as our "Nurse's Initials," and initial each time we made a comment, so that everyone would know which "nurse" had taken care of John! What we were doing was somewhat complicated, and the reason we were laughing so hard was because we weren't nurses, yet we had to fill out this complicated Nurses' Chart.

So one day into this little project, as we were filling out our paperwork, I looked up to the top of the chart that we were required to fill out per the hospital, and were to bring to to John's appointment in about a week and give to Dr. Martin, and impulsivity overtook me. I began to mark up the official chart the hospital had given me! The one we had been so meticulous on thus far. I didn't care that it was going back to Dr. Martin!

Above Nurse's Names I wrote the word Faux. After all, we were Faux Nurses, LOL. I continued to mark up the chart, and John and I just kept on laughing. Anything for a laugh for John and me. We needed it by this time.

And John started to mend.

Little did we know that in a few days he would be sick again.

But I'll post about that tomorrow or the next day. I'm oh so tired from going to the hospital constantly -- eight times in the past two months, if you count the totally necessary emergency room visits.

Just suffice it to say John suddenly began to have very serious pain, off and on, and then very high fevers. We had to go to Hershey Medical Center (Hershey Hospital) and John was hospitalized there. There they discovered pneumonia in two places in his lungs but couldn't figure out what was really making him sick. Then suddenly John's fever lowered and he was discharged.

So home we went. And of course his very high fevers returned, and he had extremely severe pain. And into the local hospital he went again. Where he had another surgery, and where he remains even now. But I'll tell you that story more in depth in a day or two.

Stay tuned for --

The Stone That Got Away!

3 Hairs

3 Hairs

There was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror,
and noticed she had only three hairs on her head.

"Well," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today."

So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror, and saw that she had
only two hairs on her head.

"Hmmm," she said, "I think I'll part my hair today."

So she did and she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror, and noticed that she had
only one hair on her head.

"Well," she said, "today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail."

So she did, and she had a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror, and noticed that there
wasn't a single hair on her head.

"YAY!" she exclaimed, "I don't have to fix my hair today!"

Attitude is everything! It can make or break your day.

Everyone you come in contact with is fighting battles like you. Let's take care of one another. And don't forget to take care of yourself!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


This poem is dedicated to all my cancer survivor friends. Hang in there Laurie, Phil, Jeannette, Patti, Fritz, Tom, Michelle, Jamie, Georgia, and each and every one of you. ;)

Most of all this poem is dedicated to my husband John, who went bald numerous times during his cancer ordeal.


John without much hair, during one of his 100+ blood transfusions


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you have cancer or know someone who does, please visit your local American Cancer Society. The link is listed below. When you get to the ACS website, enter your zipcode in the box on the top right of the page to find ACS help in your local area.

American Cancer Society

If you are a cancer patient and would like to receive a card to encourage you, click the link below, then click on "REQUEST A JUMP" on the top right of the page. If you would like to send a card to a cancer patient, click the same link below, and click on "BECOME A JUMPER."

SPIRIT JUMP

See also my Sister Valerie's blog today, she also wrote a cancer awareness message~

Joy in the Rain 3 Hairs, Cancer Awareness

Remember, be good to each other, be good to yourself, and attitude really is everything!

Have a GRAND day!

all my love, krissy :)

The Resurrection of Jesus

The Resurrection Of Jesus

Matthew 24: 1-12

But at daybreak on the first day of the week they took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb; but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were puzzling over this, behold, two men in dazzling garments appeared to them. They were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground. They said to them, "Why do you seek the Living One among the dead? He is not here, but He has been raised. Remember what He said to you while He was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners and be crucified, and rise on the third day." And they remembered his words. Then they returned from the tomb and announced all these things to the eleven and to all the others. The women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James; the others who accompanied them also told this to the apostles, but their story seemed like nonsense and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb, bent down, and saw the burial cloths alone; then he went home amazed at what had happened.

Below is a beautiful video to listen to, which will help us worship the Lord Jesus.

Jesus will save each of us from our sins if we ask him, and if we continue to follow him. It's what I'm going to do. What's your choice -- follow him or no?



I hope you're having a having a happy Easter, and have a great week! Krissy :)

Of Hip Replacements for John and the First Day of Spring

It's the First Day of Spring -- March 20, 2010

Even today as I look around, I see some patches of snow in the very cold part of Pennsylvania in which I live, but the snow is almost gone. Two days ago, as John and I were on our way to Hershey Medical Center, his cancer treatment center, I saw my first real promise that Spring would be here soon -- a clump of deep, vibrant purple crocuses. Then as John and I pulled into the hospital parking lot we saw a sea of yellow daffodils! I knew Spring was approaching fast!
Today I can see and feel Spring everywhere and I'm finally feeling good.

This has been the longest, coldest Winter I can remember. There has been snow on the ground for months, and it has perhaps been snowing more days than not this Winter. Or so it seems. And I feel I've finally made it through a long, dark time.

And yet, there will be some more tough days to come. When we were up at Hershey Medical Center these past few days, my husband John found that Graft Versus Host Disease had returned to his eyes. GVHD can be a sign that your donor has rejected you after a bone marrow transplant, and that your cancer will return or has returned.

No, John's donor has not rejected him -- most likely -- and he is still in remission from his two cancers. Thank God for that. John is just having problems with his eyes -- itching, burning, and a little trouble seeing.

Another thing John has been dealing with on this visit is a lump and something suspicious possibly indicative of cancer found in his body during a CT scan last week. That's one of the reasons we're in Hershey right now. But John and I are not worrying. Gee, if we worried about every scare, we'd go nuts! So we'll wait and see what happens. We're going home on Saturday (first day of Spring!) and John will most likely get the suspicious areas looked at there, by his local oncologist, Dr. Ford. If not, we'll come back to Hershey soon.

If it does turn out that John does have another cancer, he could possibly even be treated where we live. That would mean that we wouldn't have to make so many trips to Hershey Medical Center. We believe Hershey is the best place to go in the world if you need cancer treatment. It is just becoming difficult to make the 210+ mile round trip for us when John goes for check-ups or receives treatments.

I guess I should mention one more thing about John. While at home, a few days before leaving for Hershey Medical Center, he had an MRI, because he had a pain level of 7 for several months in his pelvic area (on his backside).

The MRI showed Osteo Necrosis. For those of you who don't know how to
translate that, Osteo means "bones" and necrosis means "dead" or "dying."
As in "dead bones."

John will have to get two hip replacements to correct the Osteo Necrosis -- one in each hip.

Dr. Claxton wants John to get treatment for the Osteo Necrosis, at least initially, back where we live. First he will get bone medication, then he will get the hip replacements. John will see an Orthopedic Surgeon as soon as he gets back home.

We don't know how soon the replacements will be -- within days or years. We'll have to go back home and ask our local Orthopedic Surgeon.

Yes, I'm glad it's Spring, but I'm already tired from the challenges that lay ahead!

But John and I are always up for challenges, I guess, because that's the way we live our lives. So, one day at a time, onward...

love you all, krissy :)

It's My Birthday

Today is my birthday. And yes, I'm in my forties.

Until a few years ago, I never thought I'd like this decade. How frightening, I thought. But I'm pretty much at peace with it. I'm feeling old, but it could be a lot worse!

I'm looking back, considering all the things I never accomplished -- all the things I have yet to do! At the same time, I'm looking at all the things I have done.

In the past year, since my last birthday, I have learned so much, and have really grown.

I've met a lot of people and learned a lot of skills. I've grown a tougher skin and gained a lot of self-confidence. I have come to learn more of who I am and what I can do. I've realized the possibilities in my life are almost endless, and I've picked up a lot of new challenges. I look at the world in a positive way now, for the first time again in years, and am ready to take on what comes along, with the help of the Lord. Life is looking good.

I know it won't always be easy, by any stretch of the imagination, but I also know I'll be able to survive now, and sometimes even thrive. I will be okay...

And that is what life has taught me in my 40s. It is a much more comfortable place to be than in my 30s. I can only wait to see what life brings next!

love you all, krissy :)

My First Bracelet

The first bracelet I've ever made

I'm designing and making jewelry now. This is the first bracelet I made. My sister Therese calls it "Tropical Citrine." John calls it my "Brady Bunch Bracelet." What do you think? Did I do a good job? And what would you call it?

Krissy :)

How were you successful in your blogging this week

How were you successful in your blogging this week?

Many don't like to think of blogging in terms of something one wants to be "successful" at. "I'm just doing this for fun," you might say. I've actually heard others say, "I don't care if I get comments." I'm astounded when I hear that. I think, "Why are you writing, then, if you don't want to be read?"

Whether you're blogging for fun, or you're blogging for money, it's hard for me to believe it doesn't matter whether or not you get comments, or whether or not your're being read. If you don't care to be read, why are you writing? Don't go online then! Write what you have to say in a little paper diary with a lock and key, and stick the diary in your drawer at home! If however, you do come online, then you may as well admit you want to be read, and furthermore you like those comments (so you know somebody is listening, and you have an engaged community)! There is certainly nothing wrong with that...

So now I have a question for you. How were you "successful" in your blogging this week? What did you do to be successful and to draw readers in? Please tell us of some of your successes.

Did you write good content so that your readers would want to come back? I'm not saying you wrote good content for the sole purpose of having readers come back. I know you would have written good content anyway. But did you "make an effort to write good content" in your posts this week?

Perhaps you added more pictures to your blogs (either graphics or photos). Perhaps you tried to explain things to others. Perhaps you took the time to comment in other's blogs more.

Some of the things I did were to write good content (write about interesting subjects), to be more open and honest in my posts -- give more of myself, think about what my readers wanted to hear about and write about that, and comment in more blogs. I think I was successful.

How were you successful in blogging this week?

I've Been Feeling Weepy

I'm sitting here wanting to write, and all that seem to come out of me are tears. I'm finding myself so weepy these past few days, and in turn feeling guilty for feeling this way. Why should I have the right to cry? After going through what John and I felt was such a close call for him, yet again, and then learning that John's cancer probably isn't back, I feel I should be jumping for joy, and don't have the right to have any other reaction. But it's hard for me to have my emotions so quickly yanked around -- yes, even if I'm feeling scared one day, and happy the next, due to good news. That probably doesn't make much sense to anyone, and I really am grateful that John is doing well, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Yet somehow I'm having trouble switching tracks and going back to being happy again. I imagine it's because I really don't know what to believe anymore, and I don't know what's going to happen next anymore, and I can't plan for anything. I'm so hyper vigilant -- almost waiting for the next shoe to fall.

Now I'm seeing it. I just need to relax, and take each day as it comes, making the most of that day. Then I'll never be disappointed... Because each day IS a good day...

For John -- I'll Stand By You

This song is dedicated to my husband, John Knox, a two time cancer survivor. It's I'll Stand By You by Carrie Underwood. A few weeks ago, John had another cancer scare. We were sure this time his cancer was back. The numbers and symptoms indicated it. I'll tell you more about it later, but I just wanted you to know that as of now, it appears he's still cancer-free. We were stunned when we heard the cancer was most likely back, and just as stunned to learn a few weeks later that it wasn't. But let me digress for a moment. During the weeks when we weren't sure if the cancer was back, or rather, were almost positive it was back, I would sing this song, I'll Stand By You, to John. Now it's "our song." Listen to the words, it's beautiful...

Monday Morning Question -- What is your Star Wars name?

Monday Morning Question -- What is your Star Wars name?

For those of you too young to remember, Star Wars came out in 1977. My husband John tells me he watched it 13 times the first year it played. But then he was 15 at the time. Over his lifetime he's probably seen Star Wars 30 times! Despite this, he says he's "primarily a Star Trek fan."

Now for the Monday Morning Question:
What is your Star Wars name?
Take the first three letters of your last name. Then add the first three letters of your first name. Finally, on the end of that add the last medicine you took.

My answer: My Star Wars name is KnoKriLantus

Now tell us --

What is your Star Wars name?

Do this one! It may be silly but it's lots of fun anyway! Krissy :)

Monday Morning Question -- What are you good at?

Everybody is good at something. What do you consider yourself good at? Don't be shy, let us know.

My Answer:

I think I'm creative. I come up with interesting and cool ideas for my blogs. I don't write as much as I'd like as my time is often limited, but when I do, I think I'm pretty creative. I also design and make some artistic, cool jewelry.

So what's your answer?
I dare you to answer this question!

Please leave a comment! Or post your answer in your blog and mention Sometimes I Think in your blog post. Then come back to the comment section here and leave your link to your post so we can all go read your answer. :)

John's post cancer checkup went well

John had a great checkup!

As most of my readers know, my husband John had two cancers, but is in remission from both of them. After much chemo, a Bone Marrow Transplant, and excellent medical care -- John has pulled through. It has come at the expense of many complications. As John says, however, it's all been worth it, as he is alive...

Anyway, John and I have been gone for about two weeks. We went to Hershey, PA to see John's oncologist Dr. Claxton on December 21, 2009 . As usual, Hershey Medical Center and it's staff are superior.

John's checkup went quite well!

The Shingles and Chicken Pox he had gotten again this year (in November and December -- just like last year) had already cleared up a few weeks prior to his appointment with Dr. Claxton. John's local doctor as well as his doctors in Hershey were just that good that he was able to be treated and his Shingles and Chicken Pox were eradicated without hospitalization this year!

That is pretty unheard of for a person who has almost no immune system, as John does. John has almost no antibodies since he received his Bone Marrow Transplant (for two cancers) in January of 2006. He lost his antibodies after his bone marrow transplant and they never returned. They probably never will. He wears a mask everywhere and is not going to venture outside -- at least during the winter months. Especially this year with flu and H1N1 (swine flu) pretty rampant in our town.

If I were to mention any other problems that are going on with John, I would mention he still only has about one third kidney function and that is never expected to improve in his lifetime. He has about a 50/50 chance of getting dialyzed in his lifetime. But then we've known that for awhile.

And then finally there is the issue of Hemolytic Anemia, of which he could get back at any time, and was getting seven bags of blood for at a time at one point. He had to get several bags of blood every day or every couple of days for months and months.

My old readers remember that. I guess I'm mentioning this for my new readers.

Having said all that, John really is doing fantastic. New complications are not constantly creeping up which is fantastic. John is beginning to live his "new life." You can never go back to your old life, because it will never be quite the same after cancer, but you have to make a "new normal." John's deciding what he wants to do with his life -- what he wants that new normal to be. He's gone back to writing. He has already started, and will soon be posting again in his blog too stubborn to die.

John gets stronger every day. He does a lot of work around the house, drives us places. Most don't know he has kidney problems or anything wrong, when they just see him around the house or whatever. He doesn't just lay around... Many don't know he had cancers (except for the mask he wears) and we are praying his cancers stay in remission. He was told he has a 90% chance that his cancers will remain in remission. Praise God for that.

On his tests at Dr. Claxton's appointment he John did excellently. He also had four baby immunizations! The immunosuppressants you receive after the Bone Marrow Transplant wipe out alll your baby and childhood vaccinations, so at three years post Transplant, you have to get your childhood vaccinations again! He usually gets four or more shots at a time! You can imagine he doesn't like driving afterward, each shot must be given in a different place, LOL.

So, overall, John is doing quite well, and if he doesn't have any problems he doesn't have to go back for about 4 1/2 months, which will be his longest time between appointments ever!

Next time I'll post about my "New Normal" and some of the things I've been doing with my new life. It's been good and I've been loving it, even though I have struggles. I'm so glad my life is starting to move on... krissy :)