T88 and Apartment 301

Today's clinic visit was for a CT scan with the not-so-lovely dye drink for an hour previous to the scan.  No news from that until next week's team appointment.

Terry is resting and hydrating.  He still feels nauseated, but he is hopeful that the BK virus is lessoning a bit.  We thought that before, but it worsened again, so we hope it trends downward from here.

We had a few hours this morning to do some more organizing and box emptying.  The boxes are now completely empty and the organizing is as done as it's going to get for now.  Maybe I'll do some re-organizing throughout the next few days as I use things, but for now, this is what we get.

Here are some photos of the apartment ... #301:

Our door to apartment 301 -
You can see that this is a tiny hall if you notice the corners at the floor of the photo - there is a door to the very left that goes to the stairs.  I'm going to go up and down those stairs sometime to see where they go, because I know they don't go to the lobby.  I think it goes to the roof and then probably the garage that we cannot use, so these stairs might be useless to us, but we'll see.  There is also a door to the very right of our door, facing the stairs door, and it is an apartment.

 We step inside the apartment and find this look.  The closet to the left is the coat closet and the closet to the right is the laundry closet.

The next door on the right is the extra bedroom -

 

We take a few more steps into the apartment, standing almost at the extra bedroom door, and find this look -    

 

 

To the left we find the main bath and the master bedroom -

 



 

 

Here is an inside look at the master bedroom -

 

 

and master bathroom -

 



 

 Here is a closer look at the kitchen -

 

and a closer look at the family room -

Everything is all scrunched together in this room, but at least I was able to keep my scrapbooking stuff here to work on -

 

 Lastly is a look back at the apartment, as I was standing by the TV -

 

There you have it!

Early Saturday ... Avoided Catastrophe

My sister sent me this photo wondering if we had seen the Space Needle like this. 

 

From Sea to shining Sea(hawks)!

Credit: Bennett Smith (a Seattleite living in NJ!)

 

 

We don't get out much at night and we have no view of it from our windows.  So, this morning I was curious and headed up the stairs to the roof to see what I could see.  Surely with the big game tomorrow it would be lit up, and I was curious to find out.

 

This is what I saw

 

 

Not quite as bright - the blue was not very noticeable.  Maybe from a different view point or time of night it would be better, but this was still fun to see.

 

 

Now, about the avoided catastrophe ...

 

Of course it was dark when I stepped out into the garden area.  I only stepped out a couple steps for the picture and was going to go back in.  But I felt like I might be a little unsteady and taking night shots are a bit blurry, especially if not steady, so I walked over to the far edge where there is a view finder to rest my camera on and take a better photo.

 

Half way there I walked around a planter (on my right) and my left foot came down on what felt like a pipe or board on the floor.  I couldn't see very well, but looked down to see if I could tell what I stepped on so I could be careful when I came back.

 

OH MY!

 

There was no floor!  Just the joists!  

 

I had luckily stepped right on one joist right in the middle area of my foot so I was stable and upright.  ;)    Had I not stepped on that joist I would have gone down and it wouldn't have been pretty.  It was dark enough that I couldn't see how far down I would have gone, but I would guess at least a foot or so.  I could have broken a leg or arm or rib or ....  Not sure how I would have landed or caught myself.  Maybe I'd be passed out and still up there instead of here writing this. Maybe I'd be laying there squealing like the lady next door.  (okay, maybe that's not funny, and I don't mean it in a mean way toward her, but sometimes we just have to smile at our misfortunes...)   Luckily I did tell Terry where I was going, so I'm sure it wouldn't have been too long before he came looking, and then if he couldn't see ....   Oh Bother!

 

I couldn't believe they didn't have that roped off or signs to help us know what was going on.  I'm heading to the office today to kindly suggest an addition of rope, tape, and or signs, because some of us do go to the roof in the dark of the night or morning hours.

 

I feel blessed to be safe and sound!  I do believe that Someone is watching out for us!

 

 

Oh, I forgot to show you the flag on the wall at the lab check in station.

 

 

We have seen it there before, but I either haven't had my camera or there were just too many people in the way.  Yesterday I had a clear shot for about one minute and then it began to buzz with people again.  I didn't even notice the banner on the counter when I took the photo, but there were people standing there just to the left of this view so I couldn't have seen more of it even if I tried.

 

We check in for labs at that counter.  The nurse then comes through the door and calls our name when he/she is ready for us.  We go through those doors into a large room with several stations set up for blood draw.  Maybe I can get a photo of that some weekend when there aren't too many people in there. 

 

 

Well, I don't have any medical news.  Just some sights and sounds from Seattle. 

 

I'm not sure if I'll post tonight or tomorrow because there won't be any more medical news until Tuesday, unless something unforeseen happens.  We aren't planning on that ..., and I think I'll not go to the roof in the dark again for awhile.

 

 

 

T59

Today was a full day for us.

We arrived at the clinic for a 9:15am CT scan and the technician decided that it wasn't necessary because of the scan he had last week. We had wondered about that ourselves. We went to the lab for blood draw and then up to the 6th floor to wait for our 11:15am appointment. 

Our appointment had a late start and we didn't get out of there until about 1:00pm.  We had new info about medications and infusions and upcoming events. 

OH BOTHER!  They decided they do want a Bone Marrow biopsy after all.  It will be next week. 

Terry's blood counts are getting pretty low so they are watching carefully.  The platelets count was 23 and because of the blood in the urine they wanted that number higher, so we had to go back in for a platelets infusion today at 4:30pm.  It went well.

WBC is .43(L)
RBC is 3.59(L)
ANC is 0.24(C = critical)

We are happy that the Creatinine is at a good place (0.96) and we are watching the glucose level since it is high at 153(H).  We think that the juices he is drinking is contributing to that count and we are happy to find that water is tasting better to him all the time so hopefully that count will continue to lower.

The virus CMV is still present, so they are changing the Ganciclovir infusion to a new drug infusion.  We will go in to the clinic for the first infusion of Foscarnate tomorrow.  It will then be a daily infusion we will do at the apartment. 

There are a few medicine changes happening in the next few days, so it's going to be a bit tricky, but luckily some of them will change when we run out of them so we will have reason to think about it and make the necessary changes.  One thing we have learned here is that change happens ..., regularly.

Terry is still suffering with chronic sinusitis and we don't see much of an end to it with anything we try to do to fix it.  It seems to be traveling from one side to the other.  We continue to pray that it will improve and we continue to endure to the end of it.  They will possibly give another IGIV later, hoping to help that out a bit, but we wait to hear. 

Good news is that the CT scan done last week shows a notable decrease in the lymph nodes in the chest and neck area.  Awesome huh! 

Well, I think that's it for the medical part of the day.  We did drive to the bank and the store after lunch today.  Part of that was medical too, because we had to pick up more Vit. D and Sudafed. 

We walked back to the apartment in the dark and Terry is getting his hydration ...  and, ssshhhh! he's sleeping.  He doesn't get to do that often, but I think the Benadryl they gave him with the platelets infusion has kicked in.  I hope he can sleep thru the night. He won't want to be awake because we have a 4 hour power outage scheduled to begin at 11:00pm tonight, so what will he do in the dark if he can't read or use the computer or TV?  I guess he will just have to think.

As for the Sights and Sounds of Seattle - here is the Space Needle as we viewed it on our walk tonight.

And here is a fun puzzle we did quickly after the bear puzzle.  This was bright and beautiful color and very easy to complete.

It's Friday!

Terry had a hard time sleeping so he worked on the puzzle while he was up last night.  We got it finished this morning before breakfast. 

It's really a pretty scene, but we were surprised at the many different colors that showed up throughout.  It kept us on our toes and surprised us on occasion when we found pieces that fit.

We went to the clinic for blood draw and a team visit, but when we showed up for our visit we learned that it was no longer needed.  We take that as good news since they didn't have anything to tell us.  Remember that the chemo infusion doesn't work fast enough to know if it is helping yet and the blood counts are lowering again because of medications, so we are kind of on hold for now. We'll see them Tuesday and see if there is any other news.  For now Terry is achy and exhausted (probably because of the low counts), we keep trying to walk and exercise to help him rebuild muscle and strength. 

We walked back and after lunch we walked down to find a bank that was supposed to be a few blocks away.  The internet was a bit slow at telling us that the spot the bank was in is now an empty lot waiting for construction.  (It doesn't have Bartell Drugs on the map and we know it is here.)  There is so much construction going on that they apparently can't keep up with it. It is everywhere, like in this photo here ...

 

Perhaps you noticed the 12 flag on the upper right corner of the building project????  We saw many of those and other signs of Seahawks everywhere.  We've heard about the rally going on down town today and we were warned to stay away or we might not make it back.   The talk of the town is the upcoming game.



 

 

 

This next flag might be hard to see, but it's kinda centered in the photo above the white flag.

 

And we do see a lot of those little cars all the time.  They are everywhere ... Car2Go.

I forgot to mention that we saw some flags on our walk yesterday.  Here is one ...

 

And we saw this pig.  It must be related to the pig we saw at Pike Market a few years ago.

We stopped at Bartell's along the way and got some reading glasses for Terry.  We found more signs that this is the Seahawks territory.  The 12th Man/Fan is definitely big around here.  Maybe we'd find it in stores at home too, but I guess I don't really pay attention to it, or maybe I'm not in the stores when these things are.

 

We have walked this route before, but today it was at lunch time and we saw all kinds of food trucks and stands selling lunch along the city sidewalks.   Those trucks are all in addition to the little cafes tucked in everywhere already.  We had eaten so we didn't stop at any of those places ... I think those food trucks are off limits for Terry at this point anyway.   

As I write this I hear the sirens close by again, which fits right in as we share about a few of the Sights and Sounds of Seattle.

There was still a lot of time left in the day when we got back to the apartment. We spent the rest of the afternoon and evening hydrating, infusing Ganciclovir, watching TV, putting our feet up, doing laundry, making cranberry bread (from the muffin mix we were given in our Christmas package) and scrapbooking.   It always seems strange when we can fill our day with walks and appointments and still have so much time left. Some days seem really long because it feels like we have spent so much time already doing the things we've done, but it's no time at all compared to what we do and are familiar with in our real world ..., back home.


We still have more time today ...
and we've even checked off publish a post on the blog.

The First Saturday of 2014

Today is the first Saturday of the new year.  It's not really a special day, but we did kind of have a bit of an afternoon date.  We drove to the mall to make a return, purchase some cards, and eat out for lunch.  Oh, we also aired up the tire on the car and picked up Terry's medicine refills from the pharmacy. 

It took all of an hour and a half to accomplish all that.  It's kind of funny because it takes us almost an hour and a half just to drive to a mall from our home in Royal, then that same amount of time to drive home, and we have to spend more time in town once we get there because we don't get to go very often.  

Terry says I must have a fever because I didn't even have a desire to walk the mall and purchase whatever I might find and like.  Where would I put it?   What would I do with it right now?  

It is rather interesting around here.  We used to drive the three hour round trip to go see the doctor and spend about an hour and a half there at the clinic.   Now we walk the round trip in about a half hour and we spend at least three hours in the clinic.  

Speaking of time ...,  We were talking to our shuttle driver yesterday morning and he mentioned that the company working on the building across the street from us are non union and will probably have the building done a couple months earlier than expected.  We have seen and have been impressed with their work schedule and habits.    As we walked home from the clinic we noticed three city trucks parked along the street and half a dozen union workers standing around visiting and watching and accomplishing very little in a large amount of time.  They were back today, many still standing around talking.  One man was directing traffic and some may have been in the building, but four others were just visiting.  Four large trucks were parked in the area and only one of them was being used.   

We've been observing the sights and sounds of Seattle since we got here and it's been interesting for sure.  We are glad that it's only temporary for us and we look forward to going home to our rural hide away as soon as we can.  We aren't even half way there yet, but we still look forward to it. 

The doctors tell us that transplant patients stay for at least 100 days after transplant and we are day 42 today. 

There is no news about Terry today.  It felt good to get out and do something the last couple days, but he really doesn't have energy to do much more than that.  We are sure it will improve in time, but for now we are happy to take what we can get.

One more thing ...

One of the tenants here at Pete Gross House left a gift bag filled with some soup mix and a recipe hanging on our door knob to wish us a Merry Christmas.  It looked as if they hung one on every door.  How kind!  We had the chicken and the carrots so we decided to make this the other day.  It smelled and tasted delicious and made enough to freeze for a couple more meals.  What a lovely idea and kind gesture.  More proof of the good people everywhere.

 

 

 

Well, tomorrow is the first Sunday of the year.  We'll try to make it a good one.  We hope you have a good one too.

Happy New Year!

Staying up to ring in the new year was not all I expected it to be.  It was too foggy to see the Space Needle from here so I missed the good stuff.  We could see the lower fireworks around the Space Needle, but not the higher ones.  Terry stayed to see it on the TV and got the better stuff.  I had decided that I was not seeing much and turned to come back in, but by then it was already done.  

 

We kinda got delayed on meds and Terry had to take some at midnight anyway, so it wasn't all wasted time.  And Terry is having a hard time sleeping lately.  He went to bed to try to sleep but it just wouldn't work well for him. He will be happy to reduce the prednisone as soon as possible.

We spent some of our awake time working on a puzzle.  This one had an inch or two that wasn't on the front box picture, but that didn't matter too much, this puzzle was one of the hardest we have done in a while and it took us the longest to put it together.  We had been working on it for a couple days already and at times it was a bit frustrating.  If you are up for a challenge, this puzzle will give you one.

As the night went on we noticed more and more cars on the streets - it was worse than any rush hour for sure.

There were no more than a dozen people up on the roof trying to see and hear some of the sights and sounds of Seattle on this New Year's celebration and we were pretty quiet, but there was yelling and noise makers all around us.  For about a half an hour there was a helicopter that seemed to want to make sure that the neighborhood was all awake for this event - it seemed to be right above our apartment.

Trying to sleep after the new year came was just as tricky because the noise just kept happening, adding several sirens to the mix.   We haven't really ever been fans of staying up late, so why should that change now?   Interesting though - there were lights everywhere last night and this morning the lights are all off - or maybe it's just too foggy to see them.  It's pretty dark out our windows where they were once lit with Christmas lights in every direction we could see, and the workers across the street aren't coming in this morning as usual, and the roar of the vehicles on the streets is not really a roar, but just an occasional soft noise.  It's really quiet and dark, even at 7:10 this morning.

We will carry on with this day and accomplish a few good things, hopefully including a nap.  ;)  

First though, we head to the clinic for an 8:00 medicine infusion ...

We welcome 2014 and hope to make it the best year yet!   One day at a time!  We hope you have a great year too.

Guests!

We had guests for Saturday night and Sunday.  Such an exciting time!

Michael and Tawnee brought Anthony over after a drive he had Saturday (and some shopping they did).
Thomas and Dana went to BrittanyJo's basketball game in Cle Elum and then they came over after that.

They arrived late in the evening, with only a little time to visit before bedtime, but when we woke up everyone was still here ..., it was awesome (almost like Christmas excitement).

Elsie walked in like she remembered us and came right to me.  I hope that means she did remember us and not that she is just so good natured that she will go to anyone, even though that could be nice at times too.

Akleigh and Auger were so excited to be here too, both smiling with great pleasure  - I think I understood the feeling because that is how I felt. 

It was wonderful to see them all again and have them spend time with us. We look forward to having them here again.

We walked to the clinic for blood draw Sunday morning and then went up to the roof to see the sights from there.  We put puzzles together, visited, listened to Christmas music, made a manger with baby Jesus and ate (of course).  Let me share a few photos from this wonderful day (in no particular order) ...

The children are watching the birds out the window ...

Auger enjoys coloring time with his grandpa while grandpa is getting his hydration and putting his legs up (doctors orders - you are either walking and getting some exercise or sitting with your legs up) ...

Up on the roof top (maybe this is where the reindeer will come on the night before Christmas) ...

Here is our baby Jesus in the manger filled with hay (instructions in the Friend, but we didn't cut out the pieces from the friend, we drew our own and used what we had - it worked!) ...

Walking to the clinic ...

In the elevator coming down from the 6th floor - the floor with the best view of the lake ...

At the windows of the 6th floor lobby - transplant floor ...

Ready for the walk back to the apartment ...

Walking from the clinic with a cup of hot chocolate ...

Breakfast, puzzles, visiting, and can you see that they brought us a tree?  I'll get it fixed up another day.

A box can make a great chair ...

This little apartment felt a bit stuffed at times, but it was a great stuffed feeling.  One of my older kids told me many years ago (while he was still a youngster) that if being spoiled meant you have a lot, then I was certainly spoiled.  Let me tell you that when I see my husband, our children (including their wives) and our grandchildren I do certainly feel spoiled.  I am very blessed!

We missed our other family members and look forward to someday spending some quality time with them.  Love to all!

Conditioning Begins

We started somewhat early this morning, walking to the clinic for our 7:30am lab appointment. 
We had some time before the infusion so we stopped at the Resource Center for a few minutes. 
Then, off to the infusion room for the Fludarabine infusion.  The Conditioning Began!
That was easy!  In at 8:30am, Out at ..., well, the clock was broken in that room, but we think we were out around 9:45am. 
That was the end of our time at the clinic today!

There was still much to do.  I hadn't done any Saturday cleaning last week, so today was the day for that ..., vacuuming, mopping, dusting, cleaning bathrooms, etc.   I added laundry to that list of things to do too, including bedding.  So, by the end of this day, everything will be nice and clean.  I'm leaving ironing for tomorrow though. ;)

Do you remember the construction out our window at SCCA House?  We showed a few photos HERE.
Well, I don't think I've told you about the construction out our window here at Pete Gross House.  It's at a different stage, but it's happening.  Pete Gross House is to the left of this view from the street.

 

This view is from our window, looking East.

 

 

You may have noticed in that photo that there was a large white bag of mulch being raised up to the roof with the crane. 

A big crane pulled in (in the dark of morning) and was setting up before we left for the clinic today.  They were still working when we got back, and didn't stop until quitting time this afternoon. They moved several bags and several pallets of plants up there too (over two semi loads).  We'd love to see what they are doing and creating up on that roof.

 

 

 

This next photo is out the North window.  (I have to admit I have to ask Terry what the directions are because I am lost over here.  It just sounds so wrong that I am looking toward the North when I look toward Lake Union.  And this next view is toward Lake Union. Not much of a view of the lake, but it's a little better when it's not foggy.) 

 

See the blue walls?  That is also construction. There were no walls when we first got here, and surely there will be an outside wall still going up.

 

Those are the only two views we have, because our South and West walls are inside walls.  If we could see the block to the South, we would see construction on the block across the street. I could keep going with other areas of construction all over this place.   It's amazing.  We've seen several homes and buildings that really need torn down and new rebuilt, and I'm sure that in time that will happen.

That last photo was taken this afternoon while the food truck was here.  It pulls in every day and several construction workers meet it and purchase their lunch.  We recognize the sound - in fact, the first time I heard it I thought it was an ice cream truck.  It's fun to look out and see the workers walking over toward it, almost reminds me of ants at a picnic.  ;)  After they are done, the truck pulls out, but today it stayed a few minutes longer.  Maybe they had to make more to sell before traveling to their next area.  ??? 

Well, that's our day and a little more about the Sights and Sounds of our little part of Seattle.