12 days post transplant--but who's counting?

OK, we had a bit of a thaw today in Little Rock. Most of the ice melted off the sidewalk, so I don't need to worry about old wobbly D fallling on top of everything else. It is really a shame to see the ice go, though, I was just working up to a good case of cabin fever....

Bogie (the bichon-- don't let those brown eyes fool you!) learned very quickly that ice was just another great means of entertainment. Too bad they don't have a canine ice skating competition.... I think we might have a potential gold. What was really comical was seeing yours truly sliding along behind two dogs going in opposite directions on two leads.... NOT my idea of a graceful presentation, but the dogs loved it. Bichons were court dogs, historically.....bred to be clowns!

Don had a good day Saturday and Sunday was a downer. He has had nausea and diarrhea off and on and decided that he didn't want to eat for a day. Needless to say, the dizziness got worse. I have become a nazi nurse now and he is tiring of my interruptions to his sleep...."would you like jello or a popsicle, dear?"..... "Baked potato or rice?"...... "Ensure or Boost?"...... You can imagine some of the responses I get. He finally gave up and agreed to eat, especially when I reminded him that we weren't going to go home until he could make it through a day without being dizzy.

He got another liter of saline this morning. His white count was 0.09 (WOW, up from 0.02 on Saturday) and his hemoglobin was 11. His platelets were 32 (and that is after a unit was infused Saturday). We have a ways to go, but I think things will pick up from here. He is impatient and a bit discouraged. It is a strain being away from home for so long.

But in the midst of all of this, his sense of humor is coming back. Every time I give him something to eat, he comes with the empty dish and says he "did what he was told", often with some smart aleck comment like "please don't beat me".... I knitted him a soft stocking cap to wear in bed. It has stretched out of shape already because he pulls it down over his ears and eyes to shut out the light. Looks like one of the characters in Cosby's Fat Albert series....

We do appreciate all of your comments and emails. I know you all appreciated the 20 forwarded messages you got over the weekend. He is offline again, now, but I will get him back pestering you as soon as possible. God continues to grace us with love, patience, good medical care and many wonderful friends.