February Update

Okay, just barely, since it's 2/27/07. Oh well, who likes people that are up to date on everything, right?
Well, I guess the biggest news to update is on Chris. He was admitted to Loyola University Hospital, Maywood, IL 12/10/06, and received his bone marrow transplant from his brother Ed on 12/18/06. Before receiving Ed's "stuff", Chris received 8 radiation treatments to zap his bone marrow (the Luekemia cells) away. Chris was handling the treatment well, until just before New Years, when he developed bad mouth sores, which made it extremely difficult to eat. He was given morphine before his meals so he could eat. His spirits weren't very good (whose would?), half of what he was eating he was throwing back up. It was very hard to visit him at that time. He had a roommate for about 1/2 of his hospital stay, James Clark, who wasn't exactly the ideal patient. Chris did what the nurses said to do, eat, bathe, exercise, whatever it took to get on on time. The nurses were gave very good care to him. He was released January 2, with a list of 15 medications. I took a week off, but was nervous being his caregiver.
I had to prepare the house for him to come home, have the air ducts cleaned, have the carpets cleaned, take the house plants to work, and farm Norman, Michelle's tortoise to Alex's house, her boyfriend that goes to Bradley in Peoria. I cleaned, put away the knick knacks that just collect dust that is bad for him, and brought him home.
Well, it is now day 70 of 100 days of isolation. Chris is doing well, seeing that he is only allowed to see the Dr Mondays and Thursdays. He can have visitors, but only if they are not sick or have not been around sick people, not many visit.
When Chris first came home he welded and did a little stained glass, but the Dr said he shouldn't be doing that, so he hasn't. Of course lately, he hasn't really felt like it. Chris had experienced "graft versus host" disease (GVH). This is his body fighting with Ed's bone marrow. Even tho Ed was a match, Chris' body still is trying to reject foreign matter. This has come in the form of a skin rash, but that only lasted a couple of days. Twice a week the Dr's office performs tests, blood, liver, kidney functions, and changes doses of medications accordingly.
Starting around Valentine's Day or so, he wasn't eating so well, every Dr visit he was losing weight. 2/22 Dr threatened Chris with a feeding tube if he didn't eat better. He started feeling better, and began to eat better. 2/26 visit he gained 2 pounds! How sad is it when you are thrilled to gain weight!
On other news, I am not in school this semester, didn't feel I should be away more than the 40 hours I try and work every week. (Some caregivers take leave of absence from their jobs).
Valerie & Michelle are both in college and doing very well.
It's great having Chris at home, and not having to go to the hospital every day. I sometimes forget about those weeks. I feel bad that he has to go thru all this, especially since we thought the Leukemia was gone from the Chemo 2 years ago. If there is ANY good from this, he has stopped smoking, even tho he says he still wants to light up every once in a while.
Guess that's all, we'll see if it's months before the next post.

November Update

Okay, so I really stink at having a blog, just ask my daughters (especially Valerie, whose daily posts with great stories and pictures that puts us all to shame!).
Okay, so many of you know by now my husband Chris' leukemia has returned. We received the bad news on Oct. 16, and he went into Provena St Joe hospitial in Joliet on Oct 19th, and has been in since. He had 2 rounds of chemo, brought his counts down, and now getting blood and platelettes to bring counts back up. His spirits are ok, but very anxious to get out.
I am taking 2 classes at GSU, I am trying to finish them, as I would lose the $$ if I drop now, and Chris wants me to try and finish.
My life right now is try and work 8 hours and then go to the hospital for about 5 or 6 hours and then home (except Wed & Thurs when it's off to class).
Not much other news, just me and Norman at home (tortoise). I always kind of liked my alone time before, but there's been too much alone time now, and for the wrong reasons.
Not sure about Thanksgiving at this point, Chris hopes to be home, if he is I will cook and have Valerie, Michelle and Dave, maybe no one else because of germs.
Glad at this point Valerie & Michelle are not at home and are in school, doing what they are supposed to be doing, getting smart. This way, I have no one at home to worry about. Not cooking much at home these days, altho I do take a dish or 2 to Chris, he gets sick of the hospital food. Gail, Jan and Grandma have sent food, which has been great.
Signing off for now, hopefully I will have a December update.....been a while since the last...

August Update

Michelle and especially Valerie will be soooooo glad I've got another post! I'd like to say I lead such a fantastically exciting life that I have absolutely no time to post a blog, however I'm sad to say it's just laziness on my part.

I don't have the pretty pictures Valerie does on her blog, I'm a blog dork and don't know how to do that. Not only lack of knowledge, but I don't have a digital camera either. Someday the Sherman household will leap into the 21st century!

I have only 2 more classes for summer school. I need to finish my paper, and work on my presentation. Michelle finished her class a week ago at JJC, I'm so jealous. I have signed up for 2 classes in the fall, Management and Business communications. Soon, my brain will be full.

Chris & I are talking about going to an Art Show on Saturday, due to the amazing fact that he actually has a day off!! There are 2, 1 in Glenview and 1 in Batavia, so we'll try and make one.

The band has been on hiatus, they have not practiced at the house since Catfish Days. I knew the house was nice and quiet for once! However, practice will start up soon, as they have a Sept. 9th play date.

Chris & I are taking vacation days next week to take Michelle to ISU. Loft not needed, as her room in Manchester is bunkable. Guess she has most of what she needs from last year, but I see possible shopping next week.

Life is going by too fast

My oldest daughter and friends are all getting married. Just a matter of time before they start having kids. My youngest daughter will be going back to college in a month, to start her second year at ISU. My husband is 52, I will be 50 in a couple of years, and we've been married 28 years, and have known each other for 3 DECADES. YES--DECADES!!

Michelle and I are both taking summer classes, and they are going by fast also. July is nearly half over, and I have 2 1/2 weeks of vacation to take. When? Where? No time to plan, and husband too busy to take time off. Yes, he's making plenty of money working overtime, but no time to spend it, or enjoy what little down time he has.

Okay, I just read what I have written so far, and I guess it's time to lighten up. We are all in good health and basically living the good life. Speaking of health, Michelle will be having oral surgery to remove her "freak tooth". Nothing like being 19, having to have a baby tooth removed that never came in right, also having the adult tooth removed because it never stood a chance, and having to have an implant put in to fill this gap. Michelle is being a trooper and not complaining tho.

As long as I'm being a little reflective, I should say that Chris & I are very lucky to have such wonderful daughters, who haven't given us much to worry about over the years. Both are very intelligent young women with very bright futures ahead of them. Valerie is very lucky to have found her husband Dave, especially considering how they met. Hopefully Michelle will meet someone who completes her, like Valerie & Dave, and Chris & I have.

Okay, enough with the sappyness. I know I can't take it. That's all for now.

A blogging beginning

My daughter Valerie will be so proud of me, for finally starting a BLOG! Of course, what got a fire under me was that it is a class assignment for COM561. The assignment is create a blog, and post whatever we want, as long as it is legal. As if a college student would do anything but!