Moving along..

Darn mouth GVH issues, disconcerting, demoralizing..otherwise having some good days. Becky made some delicious oatmeal cookies..Really good. So yes, increments of normalcy coming back. And one hooray that is worth noting is:

We went marketing the other night. And usually any walking over 10 mins, Becky has to be in wheelchair, but she was able to walk for quite awhile...Still very tired, but went a bit longer than usual. We gave each other a 'knuckler' for this..

It was kinda cool..

Much Love to you all..Celebrate life..

Bill, Becky and Abbey, who, as I have mentioned, is adjusting, coping with this journey..doing good on school.

Steady with the usual suspects..

The regular checkup at City Of Hope. Lab levels quite good. Platelets, White and Red Count, hemoglobin and more..there were a few levels of some mild concern, but the one level that achieves weighted concern is the IGG.. immunoglobulins (antibodies). A protein produced by plasma cells and lymphocytes and characteristic of these types of cells. Everyone needs a healthy dose of immunoglobulins to fight off bacteria, infection and more. OK, there's your medical lesson for the day. Becky needed a good dose of gamma globulins. This procedure takes about 3 to 4 hours. An IV is administered. Becky gets a little benadryl to prevent any reaction, after this takes effect, she is usually very drowsy. So she just has a nice little nap while this army of antibodies marches in...Her IGG level seems to be getting low once a month. But the Dr. is not overly alarmed by it. We, of course, have seen this procedure quite a few times since Becky's stem cell transplant, so we just take it in stride. It will one day, not be on the medical menu, but for now it looms, along with quite a few other 'items'. But let me say, she is showing improvement. Though the GVH disease is still lingering in her mouth which isn't pleasant, very irritating. she is finding the days and nights laced with more physical and mental energy. We thank God for this!
We thank you all for your prayers. We think back to a year ago. Becky was on the cusp of being discharged the second time. As you may know, the first discharge over Christmas and the New Year lasted only 8 or 9 days. So here she was another 25 to 30 days in the hospital added to the almost 90 days she just endured. But hey , we were in this for long run, whatever it took or takes, we were in it to win it.
But it was psychologically tough on us all. And little did we know, a few months later another 30 days hospital stay was to be realized. To be transparent, I hit a wall about late January. Physically and emotionally, I think my body just said, 'wait a minute', or 'stop!'..I had some anxiety issues..I just didn't want Becky to come home like she did the last time. Even though it was absolutely necessary she be allowed to leave the hospital for Christmas and the New Year. I mean the Dr. saw she must get out of here, and I do believe he thought she could do it. Her levels were good enough. But again, this lasted only a few days..So, I suppose I was anticipating another intense few weeks at home. I was anxious beyond anxious. I pep talked myself, saying, 'OK, I think I've had an OK grasp on the past few years, with all the incredible events, now can you handle Becky's second homecoming? I was overly concerned about this homecoming. I could see the indelible imprint of her last homecoming and it wasn't so pleasant for the last 6 or 7 days. And now, I can see how I hit the wall of emptiness and overwhelming worry. I suppose my hard drive was full...maybe, maybe not. I do thank Lannie and Richard (sis and bro-in-law) for being here for a few days to help out during this second discharge, a time of uncertainty and heartwrenching concern.
So yes, we think back where we were and where we are now, and give great thanks. We know the road is still quite treacherous, but we feel we are least navigating a road and not crawling on a bed of rocks. But as we all know, crawling on the rocks can enrich our lives. Hard to see it while we are inching over them, but the enrichment, the faith, the fortitude, the transparency, they and more were all there. Along with, of course, the hurt and pain.

May your life see enrichment even if you are crawling over the rocks. We trusted and we always trust in the Lord as we crawl, walk and run!

Celebrate Life! Really celebrate it ! We are truly celebrating Becky having some good days..More to come!


Much Love,

Bill, Becky and Abbey

The Waltons and life..

Becky gave us a family gift, a DVD set of "THE WALTONS" first season. We are enjoying this family hour of TV viewing. Trying to make it a Sunday night ritual. WE sit and watch an episode or two and chat about it for a few minutes.
Man, what innocence. What good ol' family livin' and sacrifice. I mean one show centered around whether the family would keep a new born calf versus selling it...yeah I know, seems like ya can't quite do a family TV show about such a simple subject anymore, but it was sure refreshing to watch. No cell phones, no Soccer games to rush off too, no gratuitous violence to view, just some old fashioned family struggles, decisions for the Dad and Mom to make. Kids to explain a few facts of life too..and more homespun situations. Sure they had their troubles, and times were tough, real tough and yes, nowadays some of the dialogue and acting comes across a little corny. But ya know what? we'll take it...sure makes for a calm hour of viewing. When bedtime comes shortly after the credits roll, I just wanna say goodnight to my family..over and over..kinda like the end of every Walton's.

And so I say to you, Good night friend, good night neighbor, good night world..

Much Love..Celebrate life..Becky had a good day...

Bill, Becky and Abbey..

OK..and Abbey..

Doing good. Got a little giddy up...Still the small pharmaceutical intake, still the issues mentioned on previous postings, but so nice to see a slight increase in energy. Abbey doing good in school and overall..Needless to say, she has been on her own journey for the past few years. This life-altering path has gripped her with some emotional lows.. Some days and nights of fear, uncertainty and tumult. The first 30 to 40 days of Becky's hospitalization were of course the most difficult for her. So much mystery, so much to withstand, so much to try to understand. BUT, she adjusted or coped I should say, and she coped with great grace and strength. We are so thankful for a mature (well, most of the time), smart, talented, healthy, compassionate, and praying daughter. Got some early teen issues? Sure..
But hey, I think we've got some adult issues..ha-ha..

Abbey has seen value of great friends, the care of school families pitching in to help whenever and however they can, and she has seen the remarkable assistance of a church body bringing meals, always praying and ready to help when they can. The outstanding sacrifice of the medical personnel who have been with us on this journey. Thank you Lord for these postcard moments of teaching to a young life.

Much love to you all..

And remember, celebrate life!

Bill, Becky and Abbey

Happy 2011..a measure...

Could it be the clock, the calendar, the ball drop, the toast, the tears, the laughter, the singing of auld lang syne reflects another year to say 'good-bye!' and another is to be greeted? And just how do we here in the Lauten home feel about the dawn of a new year? Well, the sun will rise and set just the same. And it appears we are now back into some semblance of a routine after the warm, fulfilling and sometimes challenging holiday break. But, we do look back upon 2010 and think of the road less traveled..well, I don't know about less traveled, because many traveled the road of great trial and intermittent despair. We reflect and then think current, and we give thanks and great praise for our present state. The change of years is always a good barometer to measure just where you are, where you were, and what has happend between January and December. My friends, family and those we have not met who are reading this, we look at the new year as being a resolute success already. Becky is still home, still seeing some incremental progress. Seeing some normalcy. Last year, Becky was readmitted to City Of Hope just after the New Year 2010, another 30 day hospital stay was thrust upon us. More uncertainty, more frustration to withstand. But here she is..Becky is home. Though still enduring a shopping list of issues, the days and nights are filled with more talk of the normalcies of life. Such as, "Change the sheets tonight?" "Oh sure, let's do it". "Hey, how was last night's episode of Hawaii Five-O?" "I swept the floor today and did four loads of laundry!".."Wow honey, that's great!" OK, I think you get it. Along with the countless conversations of medicine, Doctor visits, Graft vs. Host disease and other issues, everyday 'life-talk' is also being realized in segments. A Football game has four quarters...Metaphorically speaking, our normal 'life-talk' has a quarter compared to what seemed liked only 3 minutes in a four quarter life game. All four quarters were mostly talk of meds, IV's, nausea, Physician orders and more..and rightfully so, that's what it should have been. No doubt. But now as this is being written, Becky and Abbey just talked about buying a dress, school dynamics, people dynamics and dramatics, and hardly any talk of sickness.
Thank you God. That is reason to celebrate..Celebrate another year, celebrate life.

Becky had a good checkup the other day. Labs were good, though she did have to have a chest xray, her lungs were a little 'noisy' from the burdensome and troubling cold and congestion she had over Christmas & New Year. But, we heard today, NO pneumonia, no cause for great alarm, 'just need to breathe deeper', the nurse said..Work the lungs more. We were also ordered that big ol' IV in about two weeks. IGG level is dropping. We know this routine. Nothing new here, gotta keep this level up.. So glad, so grateful to live in a day and time that has the proper medicine for such a malady.

So, once again, Happy for a New Year..rejoicing at where Becky is, despite the chronic issues..We hold hands and bow heads in humble gratitude. We cannot do this alone. Thank you Lord..We lift up holy hands to you..

May your year be one of excellent health, favorable finances, sleep that beings restoration and peace..and again, celebrate life!

Love,

Bill, Becky and Abbey