FYI~ No Doctor meeting tomorrow.

I got a call and they changed my 30 days meeting until nexdt Wednesday. Dr. LeMaister is going to be out of town, so they change it. I'll catch you guys up after the 29th.

<3, T.

Good Report from Dr. Dice

Although I wasn't really feeling all that great, Dr. Dice gave me a good report.

WBC 4.88 well within the normal range. A week ago I was down to 1.9....so I am doing great! My PLT is still a little low at 110, normal is 140-400. She wasn't worried about that. She said it would take just a little while to build but I didn't need any platelets by IV so that was good.

I was still having a little stomach problems....really never got better from leaving the hospital. It had been a week since I had IV fluids, and I was thinking she would certainly give me some, but she said no. Didn't need them. Over all she was very happy...so I am happy!

We discussed the stomach, nausea and other problems, she change me from prilosec to nexum (the purple pill) and gave me Dronabinol 2.5 mg cap..........Yes, it is a man-made liquid form of THC from "mary jane" plants! It is used when other drugs to control nausea and vomiting have not been successful. My kids keep asking me what does it feel like.........I don't know. I take it right before I go to bed, all I know is I sleep good! It is also suppose to help to increase my appetite. I have been eating but just little amounts. Now that my stomach is feeling better, I can eat better. Yes, I have now lost several pounds now, but I am sure that it will come back quickly with my stomach feeling better.

This Friday is my +30 days! I will go to the BMT clinic for just a minor check up and labs. On Aug 18th, I will have my next appoint with Dr. Dice and she will do a bone marrow biopsy, and give me my monthly dose of Zometa (calcium building med)....she told me she does not expect to see any myeloma cells! They my next appoint with the BMT in October 2nd....~100 DAYS! This is the date that they will proclaim a clear, clean remission. YEAH!

I'm not sure I will be posting much...but I still will post some photos from the head shaving party. It was too fun for you guys to miss out on.

Keep praying, God is SO good an I am so thankful!

"I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving." Psalm 69:30

Finally, right?

Sorry it has taken me so long to post since I left the hospital...I just am really tired, and I have sat down to post, but just didn't have the energy, almost a week, so things are good~better.

Something my doctor reminded me of; "Terry you have and a transplant!".... just like a heart, liver, etc.....but you don't have the surgery to complicate the recovery. Which also, keeps you down...but nonetheless, I have had a transplant. I need rest, rest and rest. I am not expected to pop up just like I was prior to the transplant. I actually started feeling fairly decently prior to the transplant. I cleaned out my office, was driving and felt pretty great! The first time since all of this started. But back to the facts, yesterday was only day +21. It has been 21 days since my transplant. Most of the information tells you that it takes any where from 6 to 12 months to fully recover. I wake up in the AM trying to first think of what day I am on. It helps to remind me that I feel great...considering I am day +??.

I have been released from the transplant office to return to my regular oncologist. That appointment is on Monday at 10. They will pull new labs and tell me about the next step~ getting to that day +100!

I am going to the lake this weekend, yeah! I can eat almost everything now and can go out in public, but it almost isn't worth it. I still have to where a mask, and it is so HOT! It was suggested to go to only around small crowds. If I go to dinner I need to go early, movies a afternoons... With a bald head, mask and glasses...I look a little like a spectacle!

Today is my first day to wear my contacts. they feel great! But I had to go to "dailys" and they are only mono-vision. So...I have to wear reading glasses! Can't win for tying!!

For those of you who have been wait patiencely here is me and my bald head! I have been waiting to put together a photo series...kind of a photo "tell it all," but I am having a hard time getting them all together. ....so here I am! Sometimes I look at myself and say who it that?! Then sometimes I look at that photo on my blog and say, "Who is that?"

My dear friend Lola, who is going through her own breast cancer issues...sent me this scripture; "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. " 2 Cor. 4:8-9

Still here~ not to Worry!

Well, they don't want to release me until I have NO FEVER for 24 hours. I did have fever last night around 6 pm, 101.1., and then at midnight, it went down a little to 100.9. It continued to drop down to being normal all day today, but as I said before~ my doctor doesn't mess around with even the idea of infection. It seems strange, but you have to continue to remember my immune system is extremely challenged. They don't really know what the deal is, but are more inclined to think that it is just what it is...I just had a marrow transplant 2 weeks ago...it is just a little "kink" that could, can does, maybe doesn't happen considering the stress and shock my body has been through.

So I hope to go home tomorrow! And I promise~ photos of the head shaving will come. Actually, I have a really pretty head!

"Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." Genesis 1:2

<3, T.

Quick Update

I was release from the hospital last Monday, and I did shave my head along with other supportive boys....but I just have been to tired to post the photos. I will do that soon. I have to say, I have a good head shape! (thanks mom and dad) AJ told me not to even get a wig...he likes me even without scarves...hummmmmmm..........I think he is crazy! Still have not bought a wig yet.

I had a good day Tuesday and Wednesday was my +14 day. Which technically is the last day of the transplant process. LeMaistre released me from the clinic on Wednesday, which is rare to be on the schedule, but I was ready and made an appointment with Dr. Dice for Monday AM, to see what the next step is towards complete remission.

Wednesday night is when I started feeling a little pewny. Thursday was not good, I was cold all day and had very bad tummy problems, bottom end if you know what I mean. It didn't dawn on me to take my temp...but when AJ came home I was so cold, and it was 79 degrees in the house. I took my temp and I was 101.2. We called the after hours number as instructed and then had me come into the in-patient clinic for observation. They took blood for cultures and of course, gave me more antibiotics and fluids. I swear, I am addicted to having fluids everyday. There is nothing better to pickup the body than a bag of fluids!

Bottom line, don't have results from cultures yet, and LeMaistre has two ideas; one, a prescription conflict (which we knew about), or I have an infection that has just been kept at bay...So LeMaistre has taken me off ALL antibiotics for 24 hours. I am spending the night in the Methodist Hotel...and tomorrow I will either feel great and leave (if it was a prescription conflict) or I will so true signs of and infection and we will go from there. Infection grows better in the body than in little glass dishes. Pray that I am up and out of here tomorrow. If not, that the infection is easily detectable tomorrow and we can move forward with the healing process.

Love to all.....and just hold out for the shave head photos! FYI~your head gets really cold. It is true about heat just escaping from head. I wear a beanie to bed!

"...your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard." Isaiah 58:8

OUT of HERE!

Yeah! My WBC is 3.8 (normal is 4.5 - 10.5)
HGB is 10 .7 (normal is 12 - 16)
GRAN# 2.5 (this is the one that was .1 yesterday and LeMaistre wanted at least .5 to go home)

Praise the Lord! He is a living, working God: the medical teams he place me with are exactly what I needed, they not only are amazing medically (knowlege of muti-meyloma and its's treatment), their personal compasion for their patients is beyond copriousness; they both have such passion and it shows. Dr. Dice, my oncologist has stopped by to see me everyday while in the hopistal (she need not because at this time I am under Dr. LeMaistre's care) but she knows I am here and she takes time for me! I also like the fact that they both have a sense of humor too! LeMaistre's humor is right out there...on the other hand, Dice is a little more serious at first.

I really doubted that my numbers could come up like that~ I was really down last night thinking that I would be staying another day or two, or have surgery to remove my port. Not only did they come up, they came up much mored than was required. I am a believer, and of course, love giving all the glory to the Lord.

Stay tune, there might be a video posted of the head shaving...it depends how much guts I really have! haha!

Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." John 20:27

Still in the Hospital

Yesterday was a fun day....if you have to be in the hospital. Keli spent the night and Pam brought up lunch from HEB Alon. Yummy! The three of us had a wonderful afternoon. Kate, James' wife. dropped by also with a portable DVD and Danille Steele moives that I had at home and haven't watch....just literary trash. I love it! Actually, I think Kate came the day before. My days are just mixed up here.

LeMaistre came in around 10 and told us more about the infection. It is what he thought and he was hoping that with a little more blood...I might could get out of here late that afternoon. What he was looking for specifically was a higher count, .5, of GRAM # (nephils (sp) or something like that. Thank goodness Keli was here because I couldn't remember anything he said. Keli told me basically a white blood cell starts as a mono-something cell, the next thing to grow in the cell is nephils and those are what fiight infections. I need a lot of those...........we all do. Anyway my count was only up to .1 yesterday afternoon so I didn't leave. The nurse did tell me that they started exit papers for me to leave today, but we will see. Honestly, I am not feeling that great, but my low feeling could be just from being in the hospital for 5 days. LeMaistre is fairly sure the infection is coming from my port. I think also, because last night I began to feel soreness in that area. It isn't red or hot, just very tender. LeMaister will check my WBC and hopefully the antibiotic they have been giving me 12 to 15 hours of the day though IV will have served its' purpose and he can let me go home with an oral antibiotic for 10 more days, then check the blood again. The infection should be gone. If not the port has to go. And I did find out they will not replace it at that time. The area needs time to heal, and LeMaistre isn't sure that I will need it anymore! That is good news, so pray that whenever they decided to take the port out, it is the right timing so that I DO NOT need to have it replaced! Amen.

Anyway back to the fun part. I don't think I have mentioned that my hair is almost gone. Well if you were to see me, with a head band, front view, you might think........"hey, she has lots of hair still," but my back looks like a new born's head, you know they way the rub they hair off the back of their heads? Well, that's me. And top of head view is very thinning. I am so ready to shave me head! Hair is just every where, but I am wait to do it at home tonight. James does his own hair styling, and it is pretty much the style I am looking for ....I think they call it a razor cut 1/8 of an inch! Lovely, right!

I haven't bought any hair things yet, although I have gone wig shopping (that's a trip!) So Keli went and suprised me with serveral scarves and helped me learn different ties. I just couldn't resist the photo! I personally don't think it's so bad considering none of us have make up on, and my skin is peeling like I had some expesive chemical peel (a reaction to a drug)......nice! Pam looks like Mrs. Berry! I look riduclous, and Keli looks way to young to have a scarf tied around her head for that. God blessed me with her, all of the scarves are so cute, and have fun metallic thread running through them and some of them have jingle jangles on them. I think I will be wearing mostly scarves and caps at lease for the summer. I just think a wig is going to be TOO HOT!

I love you all, and will write later today tell you what the doctor has to say today. Also, I am not receiving guest at the hospital or at home, and NO FLOWERS. For right now, just my immediate family and Pam, but when I can see people and go OUT again, you will be the first to know!

I ususally end with a scripture that pertains to my daily feelings, but to day I am going to give a excerpt from a poem that I found on line; "Words from the Well" http://www.peggiesplace.com/well0.htm Copyright 1996 by Peggie C. Bohanon. Springfield, MO 65803. All rights reserved.

It is a long poetic prayer, so I just am giving your parts that fit for me and my trial. God bless you all.

...It's night, O Lord, be swift to hear;
To bring relief for falling tears.
Needless pain, don't let it be;
But healing pain, to set me free.

...I'll take the hurt; I'll take the strife;
In Hands so strong I'll hold your life.
I'll fill the well with heaven's gain,
When you, My child, give Me the pain.

...O, night, give way to endless day!
I've found His depths, His highest way!
O, night, give way to morning's dew;
The well is deep; the source is You!

Happy 4th!

Happy 4th of July everyone! Today is day 1o for me. This was suppose to be the a really good day for me. Actually, day +9 to +14 were suppose to be all up hill. But I hit a little bump in the road. Funny, I use to call multi-myeloma a little bump, and now I am calling a small infection a little bump.........I think I will call this infection a little PEBBLE in my path to remission!

As you know, I am in the hospital and will be until "Monday-ish" according to my doctor. I think he has learned that if he tell me Monday...I will be ready to leave on Monday! So he is stretching it for me~ How nice~! (said with a southern accent)

Here is the skinny: They took 5 or 4 cultures on Thursday, the day they checked me in, and by 24 hours, only one of the cultures grew bacteria. The culture grew an organism by the name of Gram Positive Cocci in clusters, or other wise called staphylococcus sp, coag neg. I tried googling, but it was all so boring that I decided not to include any info. LeMaistre said basically it is an infection and he still needs to find the source. It is possible that my port might have a small infection, and if so, 50% of they time they can fix it with meds, antibiotics, etc...but the other 50% of the time it has to be removed surgically and it is my guess that they will replace it at the same time.

The really good news is that I am improving everyday! Praise the Lord! Even with an infection! How's that for a working God? Everything is important, one very important factor is my white blood count WBC. it dropped just exactly as it should have to a <.1 and has begun to rise, just exactly as it is projected. On Friday it was at .1 and today is is already at .2! This infection is not effecting the rising of my WBC! And remember, I really have had very little "bad" side effects; no vomiting, no diarrhea and minimal mouth sores. Again, prayers and good thought are working! Thank you. Tomorrow is Sunday, and LeMaistre is on call, amazing right! Who gets put in the hospital the weekend "their" doctor is on call? So I will see LeMaistre, maybe he can tell me more about the location of the infection. He has told me that he WILL NOT release me from the hospital until my WBC are up. So I am thinking Tuesday for an out date. Keli spent the first night, Pam spent the second night, Keli is staying tonight and Martha will stay with me on Monday night....and I am breaking out of here on Tuesday! I did get "hospital privileges" that will allow me to go and visit my girlfriends on the 10th floor! These are the girls that are going through the same transplant; Cheyenne - 45 and Pam - 50.

"God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at the break of Day. Psalm 46:5 "Be still, and know that I am God;" Psalm 46:10

Day 8 Twist

Dear Family and Friends,

This is Linda Joan-Terry's favorite sister......:)...since I'm her only sister I can have that title pretty much to myself! As we were leaving the oncology unit (not to long after we entered Day 8 info) we had a little set back. Terry had about a three minute set of chills---chin quivering kind and that was just enough to have the nurse call the Dr. Since she is at minus 1 white blood count the chills are a way the body shows a "possible" infection. Her Dr. is very conservative so we were wisked off to the oncology floor to spend the night. Keli is on her way to stay here tonight. Terry had her heart set on a cheeseburger from Chester's so you can tell she really was feeling good even with chills! We really think this will be just a one night visit as she really has done well. We will keep you posted.

Ps. AJ is on his way with the cheeseburger and don't forget your sister-in-law does not take onions on her cheeseburger!

Day 8

Dear Family and Friends,

Here at the oncology outpatient clinic-my port was clogged this morning so I was a little concerned that I would not be able to get my meds through IV....but roto router came and thankfully they unclogged me....My friend Shinna is here with quite a loss of hair since yesterday. Remember she is two days ahead of me in treatment as we both have Multiply Mylemoa. I feel very tired but overall pretty good. The BEST news is I don't have to take those horse tablets called penicillin (was taking 4 tablets a day) anymore! But really the BEST of the BEST news is that after my Dr. meeting this morning, he told me I was amazing that I am doing so well! To all of that I give the glory to God! Dr. said I might have two more rough days but overall he was very impressed at how I am doing.

"L0 Be still, and know that I am God; ... I will be exalted in the earth." The LORD Almighty is with us; God of Jacob is our fortress. Palms 46:10-11

Day +7

Dear Family and Friends,

Feeling pretty sleepy and woozy because of the liquid pain medicine that I have to take due to the mouth sores in my throat. The liquid pain meds help me to have some appetite. My day starts with getting to the oncology outpatient office by 9:30 or so (depends on when the Dr. can see me) I have all my vitals checked and blood drawn for testing. Take a seat in a lounger with my little support group of Pam-day 5 and Shianna -day 9-I wait for the hook-up of fluids. We wait for our daily results to see if we only get fluids, more meds-platelets or blood. Not to exciting and I'm not too perky through this. Usually done around 1 or so and head home for a light lunch---then straight to bed till around 6---and then a light dinner--took me an hour to eat a baked potato with chopped chicken last night but I have found if I eat slowly it stays down-yes the hair is going but the strands are in fighting mode--hanging on!

"...his body well nourished, his bones rich with marrow.' JOB 24:21