OK..

Doing OK...Becky was a bit tired after the wonderful Thanksgiving we had..the few days afterward she sorta laid low. But was still glowing with a thankful glow. Just glad to be home. Just glad to eat good food and watch a few Hallmark specials..
weep-weep..love those heart-tuggers.

Hope your heart has some good tugs over the next few weeks..

Much Love..Celebrate Life..count your blessings..

And please don't forget how to have some fun..

Bill, Becky and Abbey

Thanksgiving.. a good day indeed,,

We had a great day..the three of us. Quietly celebrating being home together. Becky and Abbey like to watch the Macy's day parade, and we all love to watch the dog show. Woof-woof.. We offered our prayers then had a delicious meal (a big shout out to my brother for sending a complete Honeybaked dinner.) we ate at the dining room table using our good china..with candles glowing. Pity we don't break out our good stuff more than we do...
We enjoyed talking to family near and far. Becky felt good, she dressed-up so wonderfully..even wore her pretty blonde wig. Just like she did last year Thanksgiving when the three of us gathered in the hospital lobby and still gave thanks for what we had, even though the journey at that time was uncertain and perilous..

We give great thanks today, Thanksgiving 2010 for what we have..our many blessings...and we hope you had a great day of giving thanks..

God Bless you and keep you. Sail on..Sail on..Celebrate Life!

Bill, Becky and Abbey

Happy Thanksgiving..pretty smooth...

Though long, a good schedule smooth day at the hospital. Becky had her regular Physician consultation, then had the 4 hour IV...But all went nice and smooth. We were just so thankful she was in the car with Abbey and I as we drove away from the hospital. Honestly, we thought the virus and/or the GVH may cause some Physician consternation and though it was a huge outside chance, we thought he may want an overnight observation. BUT not happenin! The virus seems to be just that, a virus, and it is running it course. So, there we were driving away on Thanksgiving Eve, so thankful, so thankful to be together and able to celebrate at home. I looked at that hospital from the freeway as we drove away and remembered last year when Abbey and I were there on Thanksgiving having a meal provided by the hospital. We drove away last year waving to Mom from that freeway, but this year Mom was with us. AS we drove away seeing that hospital from a distance and seeing the beautiful golden sunset and it's majestical rays, I think we all absorbed a few seconds of pure stillness..giving a silent 'thank you' for where we were. And even though the journey has been and still is quite laborious and sometimes very painful and very dark, there is a large crevice where thank you's can and will emerge. Thank you God..To HIM we give thanks with a grateful heart. We enter His courts with praise..
May your Thanksgiving be filled with the blessings of family, friends, good food, some fun and maybe some after dinner dancing..versus the football throwing I previously mentioned.

Much Love,

Bill, Becky and Abbey

So it goes..

Well..kinda stayin on course, but still with the some rash-irritation issues..but at least no major progression seen. Holding pattern. Will evaluate when we see Doctor.
He still may call it GVH, but compared to last time this GVH (Graft vs. Host) is like a little bump, not a mountainous onset. Becky even made a most delicious Pecan and Pumpkin Pie today. UMMMMM GOOD! She loved the smells and just being able to do it was fantastic for her.. She also did quite a bit of laundry! I tell ya...when the motor is able to run, she goes with it...We know the predisone (steroid) increase can cause some amped motorization, but hey, she felt good doing it, so let's motor on.
She is AND we are, SO THANKFUL she's home! Home for Thanksgiving..NOW that's a hands held high "thank you"..When we bow our heads at the table this Thursday, we will indeed have prayers of great thanks..Hope you do too..even when there may be overwhelming hurt or pain..we encourage you to embrace what is good.

Enjoy the family time..the cooking, conversation and after dinner contented collapse.
When ready, get up and throw the football, nothing like it...

Much Love..Celebrate life..

Bill, Becky and Abbey..

Mixed..

Had the regular visit..sorta mixed results. Becky has been seeing a rash develop on arms and back and some mouth sores are very irritating ...WE think GVH may be looking to play ball again. Hard to even think about it right now..We pray it is not GVH and only a rash that developed from the recent virus. We go back and see the Doctor in a few days..we will see what happens until then. We watch the rash..we make sure Becky gets plenty of fluids, which she is at the moment. Eating well etc.. She's doing pretty good around the house. Her levels are good..white count, platelets, hemoglobin..that is always a plus. Always nice to see and hear. But we do know there is an immune level (IGG)that was on the low side, thus she will need an IV boost when we go the next visit in a few days. Bummer. But again we are so thankful the other lab levels were good. And to repeat, we pray GVH is not making itself known again.

AS Thanksgiving approaches. We DO give thanks for where we are. We truly do. One sorta funny, but not so funny note. Becky fell on her knees yesterday. She hit them hard on our hardwood floors. Yes, it hurt, but the great news is, If this would have been a year ago, she would have had swelling from here to Oklahoma and bruising from here to Nova Scotia..but praise God. Her knees are sore..but NO big bruising or swelling. That means those platelets that have seen a wonderful increase over the past year, did their job..or rather there were enough to go around and not have to rush to the knees and have a mosh pit party..They were all spread out and able to handle the fall. Believe me, this is fantastic...

Hope you are fantastic and thankful.

God Bless you and keep you..

Celebrate life!

Bill and Becky..

Steady...

Days have been fairly steady. A little, sometimes alot tired from the virus that's hanging around. Appetite comes in spurts..but it's enough to provide decent nourishment. Even went out shopping for a few hours. Got supplies for the Operation Shoebox ministry. Becky had to be in the wheelchair of course, but she was quite alert and excited to be out and about. And she wrapped the boxes, got most of the gifts arranged in them, with a little help form Abbey and I. Yes, some days we wish the progress were further along, more apparent in seeing her spring up from the chair and able to do a few more small chores, but really, it's OK. We are so thankful Becky is home and able to do what she can around the house. WE truly are! In some ways, she's doing amazingly well Yes, it's tougher some days than others, but again, we just want to do our best to embrace the good, even when the bad or negative wants to blanket our thoughts.
Hope your day or night is good. Stay positive and prayerful. Sing a new song!

Many Blessings and abundant peace to you..

Celebrate Life.

Bill and Becky

And so it goes..

Holding fairly stable..but did have a few issues these past few days. Nausea to be specific. But seems to be steady.
Becky may still have the virus she contracted about two weeks ago...Doctor ran all sorts of tests and seems to think she just picked up a 'regular' virus and of course became sickened by this boogeyman. But it appears the BIG boogeyman, Graft vs. Host, didn't rear it's head..and that's good! We will take the 'run-of-the-mill' virus...even though it is not pleasant to endure..Becky would still rather have this than GVH. Sunday afternoon and today..good days. Eaten well, and feeling pretty good.
We just want this virus to be gone..and it appears it indeed may be in the latter stages of effect.

Stay tuned! Hope all is well with you. We reflect back to think this time last year and Becky was of course in the hospital and it was becoming apparent she would not be home for Thanksgiving. We just thank God she is home now..and yes, even though there have been some knarly, unseen setbacks, it appears the entire 'package' is showing improvement..

Hope you are seeing improvement in the areas you need it...

Much Love. God Bless..

Bill, Becky and Abbey..

One year results..and more..

Had a regularly scheduled visit today..but we knew this might turn into an extended or more than normal visit and sure enough it did. Becky needed fluids/meds, which meant a long day at the hospital, (but NO overnight stay!) but again, we knew this might be the case due to the current hydration issues Becky has been experiencing. So, now she is 'tanked up' and we hope and pray this tank will be an enduring, long lasting tank. BUT, BUT! Good news. The Bone marrow test done last week revealed very good results. The 'factory' appears to be producing quite well, producing healthy platelets, hemoglobin, white blood cells and more!
Yes, a big hallelujah! Big praise! Big Thank You to our physician Dr. Snyder and the staff at City Of Hope. We know we still have issues, struggles and uncertainties at this time and still have some turbulent skies to endure, but we loved hearing this marrow news today. Good news is always good! Ain't it so..
Thank you all for your heartfelt prayers.
So, onward forward. Becky continues to fight the fight, run the race, and just keep the hand on the 'lifeplow'.

Hope all is well with you and yours. "Don't let your prayin' knees get lazy"..

And don't forget to have some major fun in this life! :o

Much Love,

Bill & Becky