Terry's Appointment

We had a 12:30 blood draw and 1:30 doctor visit yesterday. 

We learned a little about the bone marrow biopsy.   The doctor said it wasn't really good news, but it wasn't really bad news either.  FYI - MDS turns into acute leukemia (that's bad), and the good news (so to speak) is that we are not there yet.   The bad news is that the percentage has increased since February.  MDS is now approximately 12%, up from about 5 or 6%.  We were hoping and praying that those numbers would have decreased instead of increased, but that was not in our favor I guess. 

It is apparent that the Vidasa infusions did not do as we hoped - there will be no more of them. There is another drug called Dacugen that we will try, starting next week ... we will continue to fight this thing until our miracle takes place.   This chemo is once a day for five days, every four weeks, and will be done in the infusion room at Wenatchee.

Blood results were not changed much ...
WBC = 0.3(LL)
RBC = 2.67(L)
HCT = 24.6(LL)
Platelets = 4(LL)
ANC = 0.1(LL)

So we stayed forever to get red cells and platelets transfusions.  The first bag didn't come until after 5:00pm.  Sitting there for almost three hours before they do anything is not a pleasant thing.  There has got to be a different/better way.  Where did we hear "you get what we get and you don't throw a fit"?  That is what we are trying to do.  However, we did ask a few questions and expressed disappointment in such slow going.  We are grateful for the pleasant nurses we had.

We left the clinic around 9:45pm and went straight to bed when we got home. I was so sleepy, but always wake up too early, even when I go to bed too late.  So ... GOOD MORNING!

"Every trial and experience you have passed through is necessary for your salvation." 

Brigham Young

(FYI - I found this quote because Bonnie Oscarson pinned it on pinterest a while ago, and I follow her there.)

Patience

 

 

I follow Come, Follow Me and found this great message there.

 

 

Graduation!

Now the main event - GRADUATION!

The beginning of the evening - Mr. Ellis (HS Principal) and the high school band - do you see Anthony?  He is center of the three standing in the drum line.

Here she comes ...  BrittanyJo

The Class ... BJo is sitting in the second row, first person on this side.

Receiving her diploma (cover).  (Camera lady was in my way ..., Oh Bother!)

OUR GIRL ...

We love her!

We are going to miss her, but we are not going to think about that right now.  We have a few months before she heads off to BYU-Idaho ..., but it's a busy few months so I hope we get to have some time together.

By the way - the weather was wonderful so Terry was able to stay through to the end.  It was one of the best graduation events we have been to. 

Graduation Party!

We had a luncheon/dinner just before graduation and enjoyed the company - thanks to all who came to share in BrittanyJo's special occasion.  And we send a loving THANK YOU to all who helped with our preparations for this event and to those who checked in on us to see if there was something we needed.  We are so blessed to have such awesome family and friends ..., we truly are, and we know it and feel it.  It is because of family and friends that we were able to pull this off.  THANK YOU!


Here is the look ...  (pictures are from BJo's phone, Elaine's camera, Anthony's camera)
We set up our tent again - it is so fun to use - and here is the overall look.

 

The tables were fun to create.

 

 

The books were fun to create ...

Everything was fun to create ...

The tablecloths and bunting were created from vintage sheets I had purchased from thrift stores over the past couple years.

 

 

The bunting was fun to create too, but it took me all day to serge tablecloths and bunting edges and sew the bunting together.  I guess I had no idea what I had gotten myself into.  The cloths and bunting triangles were already cut and I thought it was going to take a few hours ..., it took a few more than a few hours.   I was pleased with the overall look when we got it completed, so I guess it was worth it.

 

 

 

 

THANKS to all who helped and attended! 

 

 

 

 

 WE LOVE YOU!

 

 



Wonderful Weekend!

We had a wonderful weekend!
Terry started with a few more red blood cells due to an extra transfusion on Thursday, so Friday was a pretty good day for him, though his energy was still low.  He was able to get around okay and be with family and friends on our only daughter's special graduation day.

I'll begin with the project we had in the front yard when I posted the last post.  

 

 

 Did you see the object or color behind Dana in that photo?  Here it is in finished form.

Some of our older boys will recognize this bike before it was this bright color.  It was a fun bike many years ago.   ;)

This was a favorite quote we found for BJo's graduation announcements and we had the perfect bike to create a centerpiece for graduation.  I posted this quote before on this blog, HERE.  I really like it!

 

 

I was planning on making this a longer post, but I'm out of time, so more about our weekend will have to come later.  Sorry!  There is more to come - another day another time ...

BMB and GRAD

Terry had a bone marrow biopsy at 8:00 Thursday morning and the dreaded procedure went quite well for what it is.   It was one of the easiest he's had, but remember that doesn't mean it was painless, just not as difficult as some have been.  That was a tender mercy!

We went straight from the biopsy to the third floor for a blood transfusion where Terry received a bag of platelets and two units of red blood cells.  We got out of there shortly after 5:00pm ..., happy to leave that bed and hard chair behind - two out of three days on those things makes a body ache too much. 

They took blood for labs, but we didn't get to see the results and they aren't on MyChart yet, so we don't know anything that way, except that his calcium levels continue to drop.  That's strange and curious at the same time.  It doesn't seem to be alarming, just something I've been noticing the last few weeks.


When we got home we had some special visitors - my mom and dad were here!   It was really good to see them!

My dad had a project in mind, which was working on the swings, but he quickly switched gears and helped Anthony fix a broken lawn mower.  (Actually, I was instructed to go to bed, so I'm not sure if they got it working last night or not. If you see the lawn mowed when you come today for BJo's grad luncheon/dinner then you'll know it got fixed.  If it's still tall grass then you'll know we might be in the market for a new part or a new lawn mower.  :)

 

 We had another project in the front yard ... but you'll have to wait to see what it is.

 

Now ... on to graduation!      Today is the day!  
BJo will officially be a high school graduate by the end of the night.  Where has the time gone?

This is the view I had at the kitchen window this morning, welcoming the new day!  It was beautiful.  We are hoping for beautiful weather tonight!

Transfusions!

We had appointments starting at 9:00 this morning, but had a hard time getting up and getting going.  Terry was lacking energy, so we knew we'd be there for the day.

The labs were much like the last couple weeks have been -  and that is not good.

WBC = 0.4(LL)
RBC = 2.15(L)
HCT = 20.4(LL) reason for the red cell transfusion today.
Platelets = 4(LL) on paper but they said it was somewhere between 0 and 4 but they couldn't quite tell, so he had platelets today too.
ANC = 0.1(LL)

We have a bone marrow scheduled for early Thursday morning in hopes to learn what is going on inside and help us determine what our next move is.  Of course we won't know anything Thursday, but will have to wait a week to learn.  We are anxious to learn!

If things continue this week as they have the last few weeks then Terry will need some platelets before getting the biopsy Thursday, and some red cells too.   He doesn't necessarily notice more energy after receiving red cells, but he does notice a lack of energy later in the week when they start to deplete again.  He never has much energy, so it's kinda sad.  

I spent some time with Terry and then after lunch I left to do some shopping for graduation dinner and make some returns (that I have had sitting around for a few weeks, so I'm glad they took them back).  It was a hurried day, feeling like I was running from store to store, but I got it done.  Or, mostly done!  

We left the clinic sometime after 6:00pm.  We had dinner (yummy dinner) when we got home and Terry went to bed.  I got the groceries brought in and put away and the kids are both home now (Anthony had a tennis banquet and a band concert tonight), so we are going to bed too.  It's been a long day for all of us and we've got more long days ahead, so ...

TTFN!

here's a little thought I found ...

"Every day may not be good ... but there is something good in every day."

from here

Missionary Report

It has been awhile since I reported on our missionaries, and I'm almost too late, but better quickly say that they are both doing well.  If we hear something when they email tomorrow that we need to update I'll do so, but for now this is our missionary report.

image here

Chase only has a few more weeks.  He will return home, with honor, on the 25th of June!  Wow huh! 
He was transferred a couple weeks ago and there are four missionaries living together in the house they are in.  He likes that arrangement because he gets along well with one of the other Elders in the second companionship and is happy to visit together when they are home.
This is his new address:
 
Elder Chase Hebdon
4348 Reno Highway
Fallon NV 89406

from here

Connor was also transferred a couple weeks ago and was called to be Zone Leader.  He mentioned that he had felt a special feeling and understanding that his mission president was inspired to send him to that area (that he was just moved from) and that he knew that his time there was complete because he had felt and heard the Spirit speak to him, telling him that he had done well and there was another job for him. This was a special experience for him and it will surely be a blessing as he continues the work. He has immediately felt a love for the people in the new area and looks forward to serving there.
This is his new address:
 
Elder Connor Hebdon
136 Oakville Drive Apt 1-C
Green Tree PA 15220




from here