I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel and had a descent nites sleep last night.  I got to speak a little with my Heather about some Christmas planning and all the children seem okay with lack of “presents” and some quality time together.  I love my family.  I am really looking forward to making some gifts and decorations and just worshiping our Christ as a family.  I would never let my babies do without, and Praise God, he has always provided in this family.  Thank you Jesus.

It is possible we may get discharged on Wednesday if my GI tract continues to improve.  Oh I just can’t wait!!!!!

Please continue to pray for my dear friend Sofia/sister thru Christ,  in treatment for brain cancer, and all the other people on your prayer lists.  If they are better, prayers of thanks.   And have the most Merry Christmas ever!

Hi everyone.  Well, I can think of better things to do than dealing with a small bowel obstruction, but the nurses and docs have been real good to me and I hope to see the light at the end of of the tunnel soon.  I want you all of you to know that I love you very much and especially my children.  Even though you may not get to hear from me daily, you 4 are always at the front of my mind and I am working hard to get home or at least to the camper by Christmas.  Remember that Jesus Christ our Savior, and God’s gift of him, IS, the true meaning of Christmas.  I would love to give each one of you all every gift you could possibly imagine, and my heart so bad wants to be with you.  Pray that mommie will get home soon and maybe we can have Christmas stockings and movies and games and family and fun just like old times! Maybe even a little tree (not our big one at home like at home that barely fits in the house, he he).  love karen

Well, I feel much better this afternoon after receiving more platelets and 2 more units of blood.  I was able to do about 6 laps around the nurses station when yesterday I could barely get one lap in.  I am looking forward to getting discharged which may happen in a couple days.  My white cells continue to improve as they are at 970 today.  Don went out and bought me a burrito and some nacho cheese from taco bell and I was able to eat almost half with some milk.  I don’t feel like I have much appetite but I will continue to push myself to hopefully maintain my health and strength.  They are giving me more fluids since I havent had much output lately but after all the lasix I probably just got pretty dried out.  All of my organs seem to be functioning pretty well, with the exception of my tummy and a little bit of lung problems.  They are planning on discharging me with oxygen at this point to help with any difficulty breathing.  I just keep putting one foot in front of the other praying to my dear Lord for guidance and strength.  This is a difficult battle and easy to get discouraged but somehow through the love  and continued support of family and friends I am pulling through yet one more time.  I am very much looking forward to going home to Panama City again and having Christmas with my sister (and her family) from Virginia, and of course the rest of the family who lives in Panama City.  It will not be hard to remember the true meaning of Christmas this year as funds are tight, and energy to shop is minimal to say the least.  I am also very nervous to get out in the crowds for fear of getting sick.  We plan on focusing on the Birth of our dear sweet savior Jesus Christ, and the love of family and friends.  It will be the best Christmas ever!  Continue to pray and I hope during this busy holiday you too will remember and praise God for the gift of his Son. love karen

My kids arrived wednesday evening and we are set up to spend some great time together as well as celebrate Jacobs’ 15th birthday.  I love a nice big thanksgiving dinner, but since I’m not really eating and stuck in the hospital we will come up with a dinner.

Also white count appears to be coming up finally, so as long as there are no luekemia cells this is a good thing.  Not sure when I will be scheduled for another bone marrow biopsy.  Anyway, have a happy thanksgiving and know that we will be too.  love karen

I am very excited my 4 kids are coming and will be staying at a local hotel for several days.  I miss them so much and can’t wait to see them.  This will definitely not be a traditional thanksgiving for us with me in the hospital and still not really eating much, but just hanging out is going to be great.   They all probably prefer to for go the turkey anyway.  mom and dad are of course still here so they will enjoy some time with the grandkids too.  Jakes birthday is Nov 29, so we will have to have some cake and candles and thank God for my wonderful son while they are here.  Hard to do any birthday shopping in the hospital, but cards and money should suffice for now.  Kids his age are so hard to buy for, and he knows what he wants more than anyone.

Well, I still don’t have any white count, but I have a small rash on my chin, face, chest and neck,  the MD thinks might be GVHD, and I guess this is a good sign.  We shall see…  I just take it one day at a time and do everything I can to stay strong and report any problems I’m having as soon as possible so they can address them.  I need to wear oxygen all the time but this too does not seem to be worsening.  I’m kinda on a plateau and just waiting for white cells.  I receive platelets and red blood cells as needed too.  This round of chemo was really ruff on this body!  But God is good and has given me strength and courage to continue to fight this battle.  I have a lot of peace and just take it one step at a time.  I love you all and thank you for your prayers.  I hope your thanksgiving day will be as good as mine surrounded by family and friends.

Karen

well, it looks like it is just another beautiful day.  I didn’t sleep real good last nite so it may be one of those slo daze I spend catnapping and catching up with friends and family.   The chemo has got me retaining fluid so I know when they bring in the lasics I’ll be running (not really) back and forth to go poty.  All in a days work.

Wow.  I have been in some kind of fog.  This is the hardest thing I have ever done.  What an answer to prayers though.  Jesus Christ has been there the whole time!  I could not have made it with out him.  Prednisone and I do not mix very well.  I have been on in for a long time, but when the Docs had to up it after the GVHD got in my liver I have not felt the same since….until now.  I started retaining fluid everywhere and that made me really unconfortable not to mention what the prednisone was doing to my brain.  I feel that I have been in a “crazy-daze”.  Anyway, the doctors are lowering my dosing and hopefully getting me off completely.  This takes some pretty close monitoring with labs work and such.  My poor family having to watch me go through this, I know has been tuff on them.

On the bright side,  I got to go home 2 times, although it was probably not a good idea.  I enjoyed seeing all my kids, and neighbors, and a few family, but for the most part we couldn’t get out much.  I even spent the morning in the ER one day. 

I know that I am getting close to coming home more regular.  I am finally starting to feel better and stronger.  I have been trying to walk more and this is helping.  I am eating good and healthy and keeping my blood sugar under control.  The medicine induce diabetes should go away when we stop prednisone. 

I have so much support from my Family.  Don has been amazing and he makes sure I have everything I need.  Mom and Dad of course are always in the wings,  to see what they need to do. 

I love and miss everyone, and can’t wait to join back up with the real world again.

There is a purpose in everything, and it is all part of Gods plan

love karen

Hi everyone, 

It is hard to believe that I can be sitting here in this hospital bed and feel this content.  God has taken such good care of us and he has provided for all of our needs and most of our wants.  I am so proud of my husband.  We have been through so many very scary things; he has pushed me around in a wheelchair,  carried me around the camper, helped me shower, fed me,  and tried to figure out what I wasn’t able to say when I looked like I had a stroke.   He has stayed by my side when all I could do was look out of my eyes and cry.  As a family we have been through so much, but God gave me the kindest most loving man I could ever ask for.  I was really upset initially when I learned my Don was not going to get his old job back,  but I have been praying not only for him but for all the employees at BCAR.  I truly believe that God is going to continue blessing us and bless the association too.  Thank you to everyone for all your prayers and know that we will get through this too.  much love karen

Hi everyone.

  I am so improved from where I was it is not funny. 

My only Problem;  I seem to have chronic pain and no body really knows why.  It could be from the prednisone that I continue to take (for now),  or it may just be the simple fact that I have had a  bone marrow transplant.  This is what the Docs and PA’s have suggested.  I try to avoid taking any pain medication but it helps me do all the things I enjoy,  like maybe get out of bed in the morning lol.  Of course sleeping all day is pretty cool too. hmmm.  They are lowering my prednisone dose tomorrow , which is always a little scary for me as I worry about getting “graft vs host disease”.  Prednisone is an immuno-suppressive medication that reduces the risk of the GVHD, but it has so many negative side affects that the sooner I can be off of it the better.   Tommorrow is clinic.  We are only having to go once every 4 days now instead of 4 days (or more).  ugh!  oh yeah,  and all my lab work has been perfect for months.  So,  all is well here in G’ville!

I am really missing my kids, and my pets, and my home and getting excited about coming back home.  August 15th is my “special 100th day”, but I hope to sneak home a little sooner for a few days when Don comes home to go back to work on Aug. 1rst.  We will see.  It would only be for  about 3 days.  And mom and dad would bring me back here on the 4th I  guess.  They may not consider me ready, and of course I will be compliant.  Did I say compliant or complaining?  lol 

keeping in touch,

love you guys

Karen

Hi every one.  This has been something else.  I may have been toxic with one of the medications.   I was unable to talk or walk.  I am now talking very clearly again and walking pretty strong.  I am so glad to be able to communicate again.  It is about the scariest thing I have ever been through.  The Doctors have tested me for everything under the sun.   So far all results have been negative.  They have even checked my spinal fluid.  As if that wasn’t enough,   I have picked up some kind of virus or something that is causing me to have low grade fever, sore throat, aches and weakness.  Dad has been sick also, and several other family members who were visiting have also gotten sick.  This has been going on for the last 4 days so it is confusing when they are trying to see if taking me off the medication helps.  My Doctors and PA’s are amazing and I just pray they will continue to do the right thing and get me better and then get me home.

On the bright side, I got to see all my family this past 4th of July.  Both sisters, all my nephews,  all 4 of my precious children, my very best friend from home (lisa sutton).  I am so happy and satisfied.  This was such a blessing for me.

I have a 25 year class reunion on July 25.  I of course will not be able to make it this year.  But my dear friend Lisa Moates is going to try to come here to Gainesville to see me when she comes in from Pennsylvania.  I can’t wait to see her.

I love you all, continue to pray

karen