HAPPY NEW YEAR

Wow, this year is almost over. What a year it has been. Eight months since Doug's stem cell transplant. His remission is holding. Of course no one can see into the future, but we expect the best. Myeloma has changed us as a couple; by far most of the changes are positive. We know that life is fragile and unpredictable. We know this in our minds, but now also in our gut. I still have occasional flashbacks -- to that awful day when Doug's heart stopped.

We have learned, and re-learned, to have trust and faith in God. We are enriched and strengthened by having gone through a very rough ordeal; we have come out the other side better people. 

I think we all must adjust our attitude daily. It is only too easy to fall back into old habits! Doug and I have so very much to be thankful for. Faith, Family, Friends -- these are what is important. I like that saying: "The most important things in life are not things."

Thanks for walking with us on this journey. We wish each of you Joy and Peace in the coming year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Merry Christmas 2009

Doug had his eye checkup this week. The glaucoma (brought on by the steroids he used to take with the chemo) has stabilized and his eyesight is good. Just need to keep up the eye drops but that is no big deal. Our eyesight is so important and we don't take it for granted. We know quite a few people who have limited eyesight. Most of them manage beautifully but it must be difficult.

We will go to Christmas Eve services at our church tonight, then help with the food for the fellowship afterward. Tomorrow we will go to Denver for Christmas with Kelly and Jamee and our five grandkids.
We have so much to be thankful for this year. It can be summed up this way: Faith, Family, Friends.

May the Lord bless you

with the gift of His perfect peace

This Christmas and a sense of

His presence in your heart every day.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Pacemaker is working

We drove down to Salida a couple of days ago, so Doug could have his pacemaker checked.  A technician comes from Colorado Springs cardiology to Salida. Doug didn't even have to take off his shirt. The tech slung what looked like a large computer mouse over Doug's shoulder so it was resting over the pacemaker, put EKG type leads on Doug's wrists and ankles, and turned on his computer.
Evidently the pacemaker holds up to 18 months of information - it records whenever it is pacing. Turns out that Doug's heart needs the pacemaker 25% of the time. Whenever his heart rate goes below 55, the pacer kicks in. I asked what would be happening if Doug didn't have the pacemaker -- the tech said that Doug would probably be passing out at times. Good thing he has one!

The pacer battery looks like it has 7 to 8 more years of life left; it only uses a tiny bit of charge each time it fires for a fraction of a second. Sure glad we have modern technology -- can you imagine life without batteries?

So far, so good

We got the results of Doug's most recent blood panel -- good news. No signs of myeloma cells in the blood. Another "whew"!  Dr. Myers, our local oncologist, said that he isn't worried about Doug's kidney function although the BUN is rising and was 24. So if he isn't going to worry (yet) then we won't either.

So we continue to be very fortunate. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving -- great to be surrounded by grandchildren, not to mention all the good food. On the way home from Pueblo we took a scenic route and had a spectacular view of the snow capped Sangre de Cristo mountains ahead of us. Then a little while later a coyote crossed the road about 200 feet in front of us. He was a big handsome fellow and was out hunting. We saw him pounce on his intended meal, probably a rabbit.

Doug is fighting a sore throat but it is getting better, so he has some disease resistence, yea! 
We hope all of you are well.