Lengthening the leash

The days keep clicking by, each one being more amazing than the prior according to the statisticians! Just finished up all my “2 year” checks in Omaha and things are still stable. Blood counts are all good, osteoporosis is not getting worse (maybe a little better in my spine), chest x-ray and lung tests look the same - like an 80 year old smoker. I honestly think it might have looked a little better 10 days ago, but I managed to pick up a cold that settled in my chest. Maybe it would have only looked like I had been smoking for 60 years ;) Oh well, doesn't really change anything, just a number on the paper. Dr Vose is going to try and stop my steroids so prayers that my body tolerates it would be greatly appreciated. I've been on them for about 9 months now which can't be helping the bones! Other than that, the transplant meds are messing with my cholesterol so I have to go see my primary care provider and discuss the possibility of more meds :( It's probably been a couple years since I even saw her, I'm sure she's going to love seeing my chart land on her desk! So, that's about it. I don't have to go back to Omaha until first of September as long as all goes well – maybe the heat wave will be gone by then!!!

The Big 2

Two year anniversary of my stem cell transplant (or 2nd Birthday according to some) – no matter what you call it, it's still hard to believe all that's happened. So much has changed, but the same faithful God continues to give me a peace that I can't explain. After 2 years, I still have a hard time coming up with an answer when people say, “how are you?”. Such a simple question, yet I feel like I can't do it justice. What I really want to say is, “considering that I shouldn't be here, I'm doing great and it's a total God thing.” I can go through entire days and not really think about what's happened which is amazing. Thinking about today, I looked up the gift for 2nd anniversary and it's china – pretty appropriate for me right now. I still feel rather fragile and know that I need to be “handling [my health] with care” but the miracles of my life are more beautiful every day. This week I was reminded again of how quick things can change – I've had several weeks of feeling really good and then out of the blue, Tuesday I had a headache, sorethroat, cough...overall crummy. Honestly, I was a little nervous that I was in for another rough spell, but by Wednesday afternoon I was feeling pretty good. Guess I'll just have to wait, see and pray!
Anyway, no big celebration planned for the Big 2 - I'm going to spend the afternoon helping dad sling honey. A friend is bringing her kids over to watch, so I'm sure that at some point we'll end up at Penguin Park or eating icecream (hard to beat the zebra cones from Big Burger!)

oh and of course, a big “thank you” to Keith – wouldn't have this day without ya!

“this is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” ~1 John 3:16-17

Good days...

The weeks keep flying by and I can honestly say that I've been feeling good – probably better than a lot of people that I see every day. God has been good. Last weekend I was blessed to have the opportunity (and strength) to roadtrip to Indianapolis with Cindy, TJ and Scott. Keith met us there and it was a great weekend. Keith and I opted out of the 95 and sunny Indy 500 and instead spent the day hanging out and hiking around a bird sanctuary. It's been a long time since I went on a “hike” and it felt great. (Plus, I knew K could carry me back if I over-did it :) Other than that – life has been good around KC. Tonight I was driving home from Mom and Dad's and caught myself singing in the car – the ease of it caught me off guard since I haven't been able to sing in so many months. And the lyrics? “I must go through the valley to stand upon the mountain of God” by 3rd Day. (Don't get the wrong idea, I won't be joining the choir anytime soon!)
I don't have any big plans for the summer – weddings, showers, BBQ's. Probably staying fairly close to home. Next trip to Omaha will be mid-June.

“He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.” ~ Psalm 40:3