Hi everyone.  Wi fi works again.  We are enjoying camper life.  I have been trying out a couple of recipes one of the nurses gave me (peach cobbler and banana bread).  I’m going to make some great brownies this weekend when my kids are here.  We are continuing to take daily walks and the weather has been really pretty.  I’m feeling very good right now. Nothing but a bad taste in my mouth, which is easily fixed by eating stuff 🙂

I wish there was no such thing as cancer of any kind.  My friend Renee is back here at shands after being told she may not be in remission anymore.  She has progressed about the same as me, up to this point so I am really upset.  She needs to be in remission and then get a transplant!  She is the same age as me and is a real fun, happy girl.  I enjoy her so much.  We were hoping to get our transplants at the same time.  Please pray that she will get back into remission. I will get to see her on thursday when I go to clinic.

love karen

Hi everyone.  the wi fi is down at our campsite right now.  That means we can’t get on the internet for anything.  It is ruff.  no facebook, email, nada.  Only communication is with cellphones that have poor reception…bummer.  O’well, hopefully they will have it fixed by wednesday.  that’s what we were told.

All is well,  clinic today.

Hi everyone.  I’m getting my last bit of chemo and then discharged by noon or so.  Then its off the the camper.  Don will leave tonight or early in the am to start his next work week, and Mom and Dad will be stuck trucking me back and forth to clinic.   Hopefully we will get through this go without any complications.  I can tell they are getting tired.  Don is trying to save his vacation/sick leave for when I get my transplant.  He is coming down on weekends.  🙁 

Hope to see Jake and Dylan this weekend!!!  Dylan has a Championship basketball game this week, and Jacob started track last week.  I got very lucky and was able to see a couple of Dylan’s games.  It was so much fun.  I love watching the kids compete.  I hope to be home for some of Jakes track meets.  I have been blessed…Praise God for remission and second chances.  I can’t wait to come home and be a mom again.  “Susie homemaker” sounds like the best title ever!  Anyone care for some brownies…?

love karen

All is well.  just getting another round of chemo.  Can’t wait for friday nite when Don can be here.  Time can drag on. 

 It looks like I am getting closer to a bone marrow transplant.  They have located an awesome 10 out of 10 donor and are wanting to start doing some sort of work up.  I just switched to Cobra with my insurance company so we are experiencing a few hiccups.  Hopefully all will work out soon and we can get this show on the road.  They would like to start in 4-6 weeks I have been told.  We should have more details soon. 

Keep praying.  I have a lot to still get through.  Mom and Dad and my whole family have been so supportive.  I want thank everyone who is helping to take care of all my animals.  I know I don’t have to worry about them thanks to you guys.

No amount of time at home would be enough.  There are still so many people here I would love to see.  And many more things I would love to do.   I am so thankful for my friends, and I want you to know that even if I did not get to see you this time, you are in my heart and thoughts.  I have really focused on spending this time with Jacob and Dylan.  I miss them so much when I am gone and my time away has been a hard adjustment for us.  Their Dad is amazing and is doing a really good job creating stability for them.  I can’t imagine what it must be like to not have your mom except via phone or email…I can’t wait for a  happy ending.  We will continue to pray and thank God for the little things.  Life is good and we will make it through.

See you in Gainesville

karen

Hi everyone,

I am having a wonderful time back at home.  I got to visit with Randy before he went back to Harding, and that was really nice.  We got a little much needed one on one time.   I’m so proud of him.

I really love being home.  I love spending time with my boys, but even when they’re not here, I just love being home.  I have been catching up with friends and running a few errands. We’ve had some nice family dinners and even had Laura and her bunch over last night for tacos.  We had a great time playing bananagrams, and have found that some of us are major cheaters (Grandpa and Dylan)!  Tonight will be very busy, Dylan has a basketball game, and Jake is finishing a science project (due tomorrow), so wish me luck with all that.

I am going to G’ville on Wednesday for lab work and coming back home.  I will be admitted for my #3 consolidation (chemo) on Jan 19.  They are giving me a little more time off this go round, and I am truley greatful.  I hope to not have to go as long without seeing my children.  I need to make sure they come to G’ville for a visit. 3 weeks is just too long….

Life is good, and I am very thankful for my doctors and nurses in Gainesville that have gotten me better so I can have time off to come home and see my family and friends.  I also thank God everyday for giving me another day…

I love you guys

karen

Hi everyone,

I’m still here in the hospital.  They will probably let me go home tomorrow (Thursday).  I am feeling a lot better and no fever.  All of my blood counts are on the rise and some are near normal.  Only complaint is a bloated tummy that’s tender, but I have that most of the time.  Not sure if it is caused by the chemo or the support meds.  Makes me want to wear maternity tops with low rise denims…or pajamas or sweats of course.

Can you guys believe how cold it is?  In florida?  When is it going away?  Brrrrr.  It is very sunny here is Gainesville this morning, but everyone that comes in, is complaining about how cold it is outside.  I worry about my dogs and horses.  I hope they are staying warm somehow.  Hopefully my dog has figured out it is warmer in my sisters barn (she is keeping him for me). 

Can’t wait to come home.  I don’t have the next schedule yet, but all is well.  When do we get our ticket? Right before we get on the train.  Stay warm and safe,

love Karen

Hi everyone.  We are now 5 days into the new year.  I am excited about this year.  In spite of everything, I think it is going to be a good one.  Happy 2010 🙂

Sunday night I started running a fever and had to come to the ER.  My white blood cell count is still really low so I can’t fight off an infection.  They ran a bunch of tests, started IV antibiotics and admitted me here to the 7th floor.  I am in room 7120.  I hope to go home tomorrow but I could be here longer.  They have not found any infection but I feel like it was my sinuses.  I had alot of pain in my face, like my upper jaw, teeth, cheeks, and some pressure behind my eyes.  They did a CT of my head, and that came back normal too.  Anyway, the fever is gone and so is the pain.  I am feeling alot better and of course…WANT TO GO HOME.

This is day 20, and they usually let me go home at day 21 if all is well.  Keep your fingers crossed.  Short of having a donor we will come back  to Gainesville for more Chemo in about a week.  We don’t have the schedule yet.  I am really looking forward to seeing my kids and having some time at home.

Keep up the prayers to our heavenly Father,

love Karen

Hi everyone.  Some of us are getting a little stir crazy here in the camper.  luckily we have wi fi and tv and bananagrams, and lots of food.  Momma does a lot of farming on facebook, dad sings and plays the guitar and Don works on the computer.  That leaves me …wonder what I’m doing.   We still have to go to clinic and I will start getting platelets tomorrow.  My white count has made it to zero and my red cells are getting low.  That means we have to be alot more careful about infection.   All in all I feel really good, but am starting to feel a little short of breath when I’m moving around.

Don and I have been taking some beautiful drives through the country here.  It is so gorgeous.  There are some very old neighborhoods with unbelievable old oak trees.  Some of these trees are bigger than a Car at the trunk bases.  they are enormous.  We have gone by some horse farms and antique shops and old fashions creamerys that make icecream from jersey cows they milk themselves.  This area has such an old fashion appeal. 

I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas!  I am looking forward to seeing my children soon, and coming home as soon as I can.  love you all.

karen

Merry Christmas to all our family and friends!
Karen and Don