Day 209 - Normal days

We got back from Georgia on Sunday the 9th. Since then I have mown the yard 4 times, to get it to the right height, weeded all those monstors that grew while we were gone, and killed the ones around our flagstone path. Work is slow, but that's OK, I get to use the Vette on sunny days.

Adele is on track and having "fun" making up for lost time. She has seen the eye doctor, dentist, family doctor, gyn, had a mamogram and treated at the foot doctor for another ingrown toenail. We had an interesting talk last week, as she was crying about having to see all of these doctors. My take on it was, "Be happy that you can go see alll of these doctors, without having to take antibiotics first. You are OK now and should be happy you can do this."

She got a laugh out of that, thinking about it and realizing that I was probably right - one of the only times in my life!

We visited with our other grandchildren (Tom & Shannon's) before they went to Maine - yes in the same cabins we always used. I fixed their PC and they were happy to be able to email again, especially since the motel reservation was in the email. Talked with Tom last night, and he said it was high 80's to 90 degrees in Bar Harbour, so they did not escape the heat.

Not much more, other than normal life, going on around here.

Thanks - Rick

Day 196 - also our 39th Anniversary

Today is Adele and my 39th wedding anniversary and we are enjoying it in Augusta, GA with Julie, Eric & Ruby Rose. Last Thursday was Adele's 6 month full checkup and she passed with flying colors!

She had blood tests, bone marrow extraction, a cat scan and got probed by a nurse practitioner and a doctor. Everything was great, the cat scan showed no active sign of lymphoma!

We left Friday for GA and arrived here Sat around noon. We used Adele's new Malibu to come down with 31 + mpg the result. Love the way it handles in traffic and the OnStar is a plus, along with our trial of XM/Sirus satellite radio. 50's, 60's and jazz the whole way down without worries of losing the signal.

Today Ruby is at the day care. She is a really active little girl and we needed to take a rest day or two, we are only grandparents and getting older, not younger. She is such a sweet little girl and busily crawling all over the place, chattering as she goes!

Thanks for listening - Rick - edited by Adele

July 7 - Day 167 Post transplant

Our little Bathing Beauty Ruby Rose last week

Today Adele leaves me for Solebury and a visit with her sister. She will be back Wed afternoon - but this is the first time since transplant that we have been apart, shy of her being in the hospital. I am so glad she is going, and that she feels good enough to do this herself.

Oh, I guess it would help to say, I was so worried about her car, we bought her a new Malibu last week. Then I know she will be OK going by herself. It even has OnStar - so I really know she is safe. Of course with under 80 miles on it I am making sure she knows not to drive it too long at one speed. Need to break in that engine properly. Regular gas instead of Premium and much better mileage - what else could I ask for! When we travel to Baltimore on July 30th, and Augusta in August (HOT!) we will see more what traveling mileage is like. With me driving I would be happy with just the 33 highway it advertises.

July 30th is our "6 Month John Hopkins Full Checkup" and I am sure it will show everything to be great. Adele is not of the same feeling, but has times where she wants to believe me. After that we can get to GA for one more visit this summer, and then Julie, Eric and Ruby come up to PA for his brother's wedding in late September. We convinced them to come for a week and see everyone while they are here - instead of just 4 days including travel.

That's everything for now. Status is "Hopeful and Happy". Pictures still on picasaweb.google.com/rstauffer43 .. Both Adele and I have joined Facebook (email lookup is rick@ephrata.com or adele10@ptd.net).

Thanks for everything - especially your prayers.
Rick

Tuesday after getting home

Sunday afternoon we traveled 7 1/2 hours to Harrisonburg, VA, continuing on toward home Monday with a 3 1/2 hour ride. We stopped by the Health Campus in Lancaster for Adele's monthly blood draw and the continued home. After unpacking the car and dropping to sleep for awhile, we woke to go to the doctors appointment. The oncologist pronounced Adele fit and well. Blood numbers continue their way toward normalcy and she is getting stronger all the time.

We stopped at Oregon Dairy for burgers afterwards, as neither of us had enough energy to make supper. After supper we got home and turned on the TV and I immediately fell asleep. 6 pm and there I am asleep, so around 7:30 I went up to bed and sacked out. Slept until 7 am and now feel much better. Adele promised she would get up at 8 am.

Oh, I would be remiss if I did not mention that our neighbor called Monday (as we were getting into the Carlisle area) and said not to rush, as the cat and yard were both fine. He has been feeding Bathory and he had just mowed our 10 day growth (some call it hay at that point). Thank you for everything you did Daryl, we can not express how much we appreciated it!

So, after 10 days of sun, cloudless skys, and 95 - 105 degree days, we are finally back in PA. We knew we were home, since almost as soon as we hit PA on 81 North, the skys clouded up and we were seeing dark clouds again.

See you all later - Rick

Last few days in Augusta

We spent Friday and Saturday having fun and swimming and shopping. Basically, doing nothing but having fun. Julie and Eric prepared a steak dinner for us - after a burger dinner by Mike - and we had a great Father's Day weekend. Eric's first Father's Day, and he had a great time. I opened my 2 cards and got all choked up on both of them.

As you can see, I am always the "Kid &/Or Nut" in the water. I will do almost anything to get a smile from my grandchildren, and they know it.

The ride home was done Sunday and Monday, with a stop planned Monday at the Health Campus for a blood draw.

More later - Rick

Friday AM - Augusta, GA

We are still in Augusta, with almost perfect weather. Of course a thunderstorm or two have been here in the past week, but only one last evening interrupting our outside fun. We were just thinking of grilling burgers, blue cheese steak really, when Adele & I noticed a dark sky. Well, that changed to a breeze, and then quickly changed to "Wow, look at those trees bend in the wind!" Picked up everything and got in the house - oh well, swimming was fun for an hour - and watched the warnings on TV.

Everything passed us within an hour, and Eric went back out to grill. Haha - he ran out of propane, and had to finish in the stove. Oh well, we were all HUNGRY by the time the burgers were done.

Adele is getting somewhat more comfortable without her wig, I think she is so cute with her short hair. Ruby looked at her like, "Who are you?" when she did wear it. The weather is staying around 95 - 102 or so and sunny, and it is way more comfortable without it.

Adele & I are both getting a work out keeping up with Ruby's demands and playtime. Just getting her up and off the sofa or floor is a challenge sometimes. Adele is finding more strength everyday, while I am hurting a bit in the back. But, we are both having such great fun with Ruby, we don't think about the physical part of it much, just when we get to bed later. Loving having Ruby to ourselves every day for the week! She is such a smiling doll. She even wakes up smiling, just so happy to see your face when she wakes.

Tonight the girls (Adele & Julie) go to a movie (chick flick) and dinner, while Eric, Ruby & I have decided to go out for dinner only. Barbecue anyone??

We leave for home Sunday after lunch, so we want to get everything in before then. Stopping in VA for the night, allows us to leave later Sunday afternoon and get home refreshed, not beat up.

See everyone soon.
Rick - from sunny Augusta, Georgia

Oh - I also started on facebook, as a way to stay in contact with family and all their friends. So far, much better than myspace. Looking for my new iPhone next week, if I get any breaks from work.

Wed AM - while everyone sleeps

Yesterday was Ruby's 9 month birthday - so we got her a cake and let her have her first finger food ever. She was having so much fun eating the cake, took many pics - see them at picasaweb.google.com/rstauffer43. They are at the end.

Today will be cooler - high looks like 86, not in the high 90's like it has been. This will be our second day to keep Ruby. Tons of play, reading and other things yesterday.

Hear her stirring, gotta go

Rick