December 15, 2008

10 Days until Christmas!

Date------Day----WBC----ANC--------Hgb--------PLT---- Transfusions
3 Dec------92----5.0------4,400-------9.5--------183------------N/A
4 Dec------93----4.4------3,800-------9.2--------196------------N/A
5 Dec------94----3.5------3,400-------9.3--------170------------N/A
6 Dec------95----3.9----Unknown----9.9--------175------------N/A
8 Dec------97----2.9------2,600------9.8--------106------------N/A
11 Dec-----100---0.3----------0-------9.1----------31--------------N/A
15 Dec-----104---0.4----------0-------7.8-----------2-----------1 Unit Platelets

Well my counts are pretty much as I expected, real low. I am really surprised that the Neupogen shots are not giving me any boost to my ANC counts. I take them to give me some what of an immune system, unfortunately they are not working because I still have virtually no immune system. It is making me a little nervous that I am going so long without without one this time. The last round my systems bounced back really quick, I am having no such luck this time. On the upside my RN at Madison County hospital was amazed that I am up & walking around & functioning so well with my counts so low.


I started bruising late Saturday night & it continued over the weekend. I have real nasty looking bruises on my belly at the Neupogen injection sites.


When I went in this morning for my lab draws I noticed a petechiae rash all over both my hands that was not there this morning. By the time I got home I looked and the petechiae is now starting to show up all over the rest of my body. My mouth sores came back & my gums are oozing blood but I figure I will not gross you out with those pictures.



Sue rushed my labs while I was at the hospital & when they came back she ordered me some platelets. I am scheduled to get those around noon today, they have to go to the Red Cross & pick them up. Sue also told me tomorrow I am going to get an infusion of blood first thing. My parameters are if my hemoglobin is below 8 I get a infusion.

I got a phone call last night from my friend MSgt Larue that was deployed for quite awhile, he said they all made it back to the States safely, but they were having a few problems that caused some delays but they had made it to DC when he called me. He is planning to come over to our house Tuesday night if all goes as planned, can't wait to see him. Welcome home guys!

We went to the MLMC Circleville chapters Christmas Party & had a really good time. I won $44 from the 50/50 drawing which was great! They had a huge monkey there that they auctioned off, it was so big it would take a flatbed truck to haul the thing. I am going to try to get pictures from Pixi or Oatmeal for the Missing link Website. I usually take my camera with me everywhere, but here lately I would forget my head if it wasn't attached. We ended up leaving party early, I got tired quick & my bones started aching. I wanted to stay but my body was not up for it.

Sunday we received a wonderful gift of sundry items, staples & a toy for each of the kids from the Organized Labor of Central Ohio. Bill Davies, a very dear friend & fellow motorcycle enthusiast, who also happens to be in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) put our family in for this. They provide this to Union workers that have fallen under hard times as well as the community every year. Marc & I are both in Union, OCSEA but we had no idea that this program even existed. The set up they had at the UAW was unbelievable & very streamlined. The people were all very friendly as well. The whole thing was just amazing. I want to send a huge thank you out Bill Davies (who was right there out front smiling real big when we pulled in) and to everyone that was out there volunteering, to all the unions, companies & organizations that made it possible.

While I am thanking people I want to include Ruth Gerding for her donation & for diligently keeping me in her prayers. I have only known Ruth for a short time in the whole scheme of life but the impact she has had on me has been tremendously motivational & encouraging. I know I have a lot of Prayer warriors out there so I don't want anyone to feel left out, thank you all so much. Keep doing what your doing because it is working!

When we got home Sunday Misty told us that Paige was giving her a pretty hard time & a lot of attitude while we were gone. So we ended up sitting all 3 of the teenagers down & had a talk. About attitudes & helping out. it is nothing we have not told them before, but a refresher was in order. Well see if it gets better, I hope so for everyones sake. Katie said she had a good time at her Grandma Jill's, Zack was his typical self all weekend wired for sound & full of questions (mostly how do you spell this, how do you spell that). He keeps saying he wants 100 things for Christmas. Paige actually sat down with him last weekend & made a list of 100 toys from the adds, I told her she is nuts & I keep having to explain to Zack he is not going to get 100 toys from Santa, he has to give toys to the other kids as well. I tell you what I must admit for as rotten as Zack is he is very smart & he does not forget a thing you tell him. Lets see what about the other kids, Paige went to her dance Friday night & cheered Saturday afternoon, both girls cleaned their room Sunday & even straightened up their clothes in the dressers (I am shocked) Brandon on the other hand moved his piles around to different locations in his room & said his room is "picked up"... The smell of a 16 year old's room during wrestling season... you cannot imagine, I refuse to go in there, I will admit it, I am scared LOL.


This is Katie & Brandon this morning before I took them to school.




So for the next few days I am not planning on doing to much of anything until I get "juiced" back up & my ANC starts coming back up. Aunt Lynn, I hope you are not snowed in to much, Aunt Bonnie good luck with the move. I love all of you,thank you for being there for me & the family we could never do this as well as we are without all of your prayers & support.