A Few Bad Days and FINALLY Another Good One

Well, the past few days have been really bad for my dad... he has been dizzy and very out of it. He hasn't felt like doing anything.... and when I have spoken with him he has was slurring his words and not making a whole lot of sense. Yesterday the nurse walked with him and he said that he felt a lot better. And, his white blood cell count went up to .10 which is great!

Well, today is a much better day for him. I have spoken to him several times and each time he sounds better and better. The doctors have ordered a bone marrow aspiration this week IF his white count does not come up anymore. In previous posts I gave wrong information. A normal white blood cell count is between 4.0 and 7.0 . And today his went up yet again to .2!!! YEAH!!! I truly feel like the reason that he felt so crappy the past few days was because his new bone marrow was grafting with the old and his body was just working overtime to accomplish just that! I hope that I am right anyways. He told me today that when he gets to 2.0 he may get out of the hospital. Each patient is completely different as our bodies are such awesome machines we all react differently to different things. His is just taking a little bit longer but it will be worth the wait for sure! He is remaining positive and has made the comment to me the past two days that he is ready for whatever comes... if God wants him to stay here he is ready and if God wants him to come home he is ready. This of course was unsettling to me since I am selfish and want him to stay right here. But, I do find peace in the fact that he has found peace.

I love my dad very much and will continue to pray vigilantly each day.

Thank-you to all of you for your thoughts and prayers.

God bless all of you!

-Natalie :)

Playing the Waiting Game

Well, we are now still playing the waiting game and thank goodness dad is feeling somewhat better! He is eating and walking which are the two most important things right now... besides the fact that he is not running any temperature!

This is GREAT news for him and from his doctor! His spirits are high and he is ready for his white cells to go UP! They crept up to .02 a couple of days ag0 (2.0-4.0 is normal) but they went back down... this is normal according to the doctor though.

PLEASE continue to pray for healing, peace, serenity, and hope! With these four things I know that things will continue to improve each and every day!

Go bless ALL of YOU!!!

Have a great weekend !

-Natalie :)

Wednesday Update

Well, today has NOT been a good day for dad.... I talked to him this morning and he was pretty out of it... said that he was really weak and loopy. He said this is the worst day yet. I didn't talk to him long because he was slurring his words and I didn't want to confuse him or upset him anymore that he already was.

But, this afternoon I talked to my mom and she said that this afternoon he was asleep when she got there but he had eaten a little bit because his stomach is beginning to settle. She said that he was still in pretty bad shape though.

At least in my conversation with him he said "I am giving it all to the Lord, that is all that I can do... better days are coming".

Please continue to pray for him, I have a feeling the en grafting has begun and it will be rough for several more days for him.

Thanks to all of you again!

-Natalie :)

Tuesday Update

I apologize for not posting before today but once again life has been busy!

When I saw dad on Sunday he was not doing so well, wasn't feeling well, still had diarrhea; wasn't eating and thus he was weak. At this point it had been three days and nothing to eat (beyond the fluids he is getting in his IV). Spirit wise he was good; not down and out; just longing to feel better after his new bone marrow grafts with his old bone marrow.

Yesterday he had a much better day; he got up and exercised three times and went to PT. His spirits were really high and I believe that he ate some jello and soup. He also had a "normal BM" which was a real plus for his stomach pain and feeling like he was finally on the upswing.

Today was another story.... he is weak because he has eaten in so many days and his diarrhea has returned. When I talked to him this afternoon he was out of it from a pain pill they had given him his stomach pain (due to not eating) but he did say that he had exercised today. His white blood cell count is still 0.0 which tells us that the new bone marrow has not grafted with the old yet. He has been getting neupogen shots several times a day to help with the white blood cell growth promotion.

One thing that I did learn this weekend is that when he gets better he will have to have all of his immunizations again as if he is a new born baby because his immune system is starting over. He is VERY concerned about the swine flu right now; he said that when he was younger and was in the military he got the swine-flu immunization but now he does not have the immunity for it since he is starting over.

Thank-you once again for all of your thoughts and prayers.

Please continue to pray for my parents.....I am sure that my dad just wants to feel better and he is growing impatient.

God bless all of you!
-Natalie:)

Today is Dad's 62nd Birthday!

Well here I am sitting in my parents' apartment in Houston. I spent most of this afternoon/evening with dad for his birthday! He was feeling pretty average and I enjoyed our time together. As of today his white cell count is 0.0 which means that he is EXTREMELY susceptible to any type of illness. The doctors are waiting for his white cell counts to go up when his new bone marrow begins to "graph" with his old bone marrow. He really looked great... his color was good and his spirits were even better. He still has an upset stomach and some sort of bladder infection. But, he feels "okay". The next few days could be rough since the "en graphing" is taking place. One thing that I can say about my dad is that his mind is perfect.... he is still smart as a whip and able to discuss very deep things.

Anyways..the boys spent the afternoon with grannie and she took them bowling and out to dinner. I know that the wore her out but I am sure she enjoyed the break from the monotony. The boys can't see him because no one under 12 is allowed on his floor. Duane made it down this evening to see dad after being in Huntsville for the annual rugby alumni game. Then he took the boys home and I stayed here.

I plan on spending some time with him tomorrow and will write tomorrow night.

Thanks again for all of the thoughts and prayers.... we all feel them!

God bless all of you!

-Natalie :)

Thursday Update

Well, talked to dad at least six times over the past two days but I have been swamped with both school work and work work....and stuff with the kiddos.

I am sorry that I have not posted but the past two days have been yucky for dad! He has had terrible diarrhea and has felt like crud! His nurses suggested the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce and toast) and this will help him to feel better. All of this is very normal with both the chemotherapy and the transplant. Better days are ahead I know that for sure. His spirits are great and he tells me each time that we talk that he is giving it all up to God. I know that will help him for sure!

I will be going down on Saturday after my son's golf clinic for his birthday and will be donating my platelets. There is a shortage and I know that my mom called many people to come and donate. I know that at least five confirmed that they would come down and donate.... maybe I will see some of you on Saturday!

He says that this is just a bump in the road..... I will update soon.... thanks again for all of your thoughts and prayers!

God bless all of you!

-Natalie :)

Tuesday Update

Well, it has been exactly one week since the transplant and so far so good..... Easy for me to say since I am not the one who probably feels like I have been run over by a MAC TRUCK! I didn't blog last night because I got home too late. But, I did talk to my dad about three times yesterday and it was an average day for him.... a little groggy... a little out of it.

Today I have spoken to him three times as well and he sounded pretty worn out. He always seems to feel better after he walks and gets his blood pumping and oxygen pumping. He is on lasiks (sp?) and is having to use the restroom a lot, feels pretty groggy and his stomach has been upset... though no vomiting. Today he said was a yucky day.

I am pretty certain that the new cells are trying to mingle with his old cells and they may be battling.... this is normal or so says the doctor. The next few days will probably feel the same for him.

My mom is doing well... brings him lunch and visits him a lot during the day. She is one tough cookie too dealing with all of this has to wear on her spirit as well.

This Saturday, April 25th is my dad's 62nd birthday.... please reign him with emails and emailed cards, I know that he would enjoy that.

I can't wait to see him, they boys and I have a surprise for him!!!

Until next time,

Thanks again for the prayers!

-Natalie :)