I'm a Living Donor

NEXT Wednesday, January 4, 2017, Greg & I will be in our hospital rooms recovering from Greg’s kidney transplant. 

I thought tonight was a good time to blog because as the time gets closer, I don’t think I’ll have the mind set to do it.  I've started this post 3 times now. I want to write so much because there is so much history to this road we've been on but nothing sounds right and if I don't write in detail, nothing will make sense to you.  I think that's just where my mind is right now.  But I wanted to at least let you know where things were at.

It’s both frightening and exciting.  I try not think of the little details regarding surgery and instead we’re both trying to look at the big picture and to how this will change Greg’s health. 

I can’t help but remember the days that lead us to where we are today and Greg's stay in the Health Science Center in Winnipeg when they first diagnosed him with Wegener’s Disease.  How the disease affected his kidneys and the damage it caused.  It’s been a very long 2 years and we’re looking forward to 2017 and to Greg feeling better.  There will be times when the road will be hard but it will be worth it.  When I look back at the time spent in the hospital in Winnipeg, we can do this too!

I wanted to share just a few pictures of Greg’s hospital stay in Winnipeg just because it’s almost full circle now.  They bring so many memories with them.  

Oct. 7, 2014 - The first night in ICU at the Health Science Center in Winnipeg.  

Just before they sedated him fully. They gave him a clipboard to write on when he got too cold or itchy or needed the ventilator suctioned.  No it was not pretty sometimes.

You can't see the multiple tubes hooked in his neck in this picture.

One of many blood transfusions.

Many more medication were added that night.

I hated the sound from this machine that monitored Greg's breathing.

Obviously the door that led to the ICU rooms.  Such a forlorn feel to this area.

This was my hotel room #.  A little weird.

My view of the ICU from my room.  

The blue 2 storey oval building jutting out of the beige building.

 Oct. 25 - Out of ICU and in High Observation.  

Oct. 10 - The lung biopsy that gave the doctors some answers.

Nov. 4 - Out on an evening pass. 

Nov. 6 - Leaving the hospital and heading to hotel.
There we stayed one night till Craig arrived on the 7th.
We drove home on the 8th.

So for now, that’s all I’ll say.  I think we will be posting on Facebook from our beds in the hospital once we can sit without too much pain.  Otherwise, our children will probably keep family and friends informed as much as they see fitting.

Thanks for reading,

Bonny

A Christmas Letter

Morning,

It’s been a little while since I posted so I thought I’d best put something together, perhaps a Christmas type of letter. 

But here’s some festive photos first and then if you want, you can continue reading an update into our life.

The wind is howling outside this morning and was yesterday too.  I honestly would take -12 and colder if there is no wind.  I know the Chinooks are great here in Alberta but I just don’t like the wind.

I have to go out today and finish the small stuff for Christmas.  It should be quieter if I go this morning, fingers crossed.  It’s hard keeping focused on what I need and what I want. 

The important thing is that we are together with our kids on Christmas and with a little addition to the family.  Little Milo is quite the little man.  I believe Crystal mentioned using a timer so that everyone spends quality time with him.  But that means changing diapers too if that’s your time J

I always want the house to look good and the table to look inviting, but it’s the conversation around the table and the laughs that are the things remembered most.  

Greg and I are still waiting for that surgery date.  Seems that my side is always on the slow side and Greg’s side is waiting for my side.  Because we have separate doctors and surgeons and he’s the recipient and I’m the donor, they don’t just chat every day to see how we are doing.  There are a lot of people just like us that they are caring for.  Anyways we have been given the month of January so we are still hoping this happens.  If not, February is good too.  But we know it is happening and that is both scary and exciting. Greg is pretty much nauseated every day with periods of vomiting.  I just can't imagine waking up every day to this.   He's also tired a lot and it doesn't take much to take the wind out of him.  Yesterday we did our recycling and when he had the truck loaded he was panting pretty good. He at least lets me do the shoveling.  Cold is another factor. He just can't get warm enough. But he is so determined and when I ask him how he's doing, he says "great" and two thumbs up.  Sort of ticks me off but I get it.  I know how he's doing but I have to ask.  

My dad will have his first Christmas with mom in the nursing home.  He’s stated that it is lonely many times but he’s getting more involved in the lodge playing bingo and helping with kitchen duties.  We are planning to go with the kids on the 24^th and see him and mom.  I think he’ll be very happy and probably cry.  We do these things because I know he is lonely and I don’t understand what it’s like to be in his shoes, I can only imagine visiting your spouse and then coming home to a lonely room and being ALONE.  It’s hard to say but I can’t travel that road for him.  I can only try to help. 

I haven’t done much of anything along the lines of furniture painting.  Truth be told I just cannot get excited about it at this time.  That’s why there hasn’t been anything to post along that line.  I still love gathering ideas and photos and one day, I’ll be back and crazy busy.

Have a wonderful Christmas with loved ones around you and give big hugs to everyone!!

Bonny

A 'SPOT' for Gunner

A New Spot for Gunner

With all the extra fabric I have on hand, 

I decided to sew Gunner and place that is his own.

A place we can tell him to go to when:

     ~ the doorbell rings

     ~ we are having a snack and he’s not invited

     ~ when company arrives and maybe they don’t like dogs

THIS little pillow has a special corner sewed 

where I can slip in some treats when he obeys.  

Also works for training to go to ‘his spot’.

Isn’t this a face you could just kiss all day?

Till next time,

Bonny

Looking Back and Ahead

I think it’s time for another update on what’s happening in our world.

I’d sure like to blog more like at least once a week but there just isn’t enough time.  There are too many other things that are more important at times and that’s just part of our life.

Greg’s been hangin’ in there and waiting patiently for his kidney transplant.  I do believe that everything happens at the right time.  There were so many instances that happened when Greg was in the hospital and looking back it was truly amazing how lots of things just worked out.  But, he’s definitely getting more and more tired and to top things off he’s nauseated every day, all day.  That’s the results of a failing kidney. 

Greg has an appointment at the end of September and we’re hoping for some good news like perhaps a surgery date.  I try not to think about the details and how this will all unfold.  As time progresses you can think about and deal with what’s on your plate and when the time comes, I hope we’ll be all good.

I’ve recently finished writing all about Greg’s hospital stay in Winnipeg.  It was hard to write and I found myself reliving the whole thing and weeping because the smells and the feelings all are still so real.  

I’ve inserted a brief passage of the day they transferred Greg to the ICU in Winnipeg.  If you also look in the column to the right you’ll see a ‘Featured Post’ that I wrote in September of 2014 before everything unfolded.  You should probably read this post first.  

Here's a short look into that day Greg was admitted into ICU.

 Five days later on Oct. 7, the Respirologist (sometimes referred to as pulmonologists, are medical doctors who further specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of lung disease, such as asthma, emphysema, or pneumonia) came to see Greg and said, “We have to move him to the ICU”. 

Ok, this was better.  By the time they rolled Greg into a space in ICU, we heard the doctor talking at the desk to someone regarding a transfer to the Health Science Center.  The name ‘Greg Esau’ rang thru the air.  We looked at each other.  Winnipeg!?  Really!  I began to panic inside.  Greg looked so sad and scared.  It all seemed so much and no one even was talking to me, they were too busy hooking up Greg, then their instructions changed as they needed to prep him for the transfer to Winnipeg.  There was no official ‘this is what we are doing’, it was unspoken.  I felt lost and alone.  It was happening very fast.  

I haven’t decided yet how I will post these writings but I’ll work on that as they are lengthy.

We celebrated our 37^th anniversary this month.  I began to think about how many times we had moved in our marriage and came up with this list:

First married we lived in a four-plex in Linden

. . . Craig was born

Moved to the family farm and lived in an old mobile home

. . . Crystal was born

Moved to town (Linden) into a newer four-plex

Bought our first home – a bungalow

. . . Craig started school

Moved back to the family farm into a newer mobile home

. . . Craig and Crystal rode the bus to school

Moved into Greg’s parents big house on the farm

Moved back into the mobile home on the farm

Built a new house in Linden

. . . Craig and Crystal graduated high school

Moved to Calgary and rented an old house by Confederation Park

Moved into a duplex that Greg’s brother purchased in Calgary

Moved into a townhouse in Calgary in Ranchlands

Purchased our second home in Calgary in Sandstone

Moved to Morden, Manitoba

. . . lived there 7 years

Moved back to Airdrie, Alberta

I wonder if we’re done moving?  Maybe not.

Anyways, we’re happy in our home here in Airdrie and I’m slowly getting the house painted.  Maybe in the new year it will be complete. 

Greg and I are looking forward to things taking on a new look in the new year and going camping and hiking and even renovating the house.

AND we have to take our new grandson to the zoo!  He sure has been a blessing and we’re waiting for those first smiles to come!

Gunner is being a true puppy at heart.  Boy, does he have energy

and sometimes at the wrong time.  He loves to jump on company and just wants to play.  He also thinks it’s time to race around the house when we are heading to bed.  I’m so glad he’s good company for Greg during the day.  Since we got him he spends a good part of the day in Greg’s office at this feet curled up in an afghan.  Sometimes I’ll be doing housework and I’ll find him downstairs with Greg.

My list of projects are still very much the same.  I just went to the Etsy Calgary event with my daughter and I got a little excited again to pursue the things I love to do most.  First and foremost I spend my time with Greg most evenings.  I just can’t work all day and then come home to say that I’m going to paint downstairs.  I’m not like that.  There’s a season for everything.

Well, I must go and make a cup of tea and see why it’s so quiet in the living room.  I’m sure I’ll find puppy curled up with Greg on the sofa.

Till later,

Bonny

Main Bath - a work in progress

Things around our house sometimes happen at a snails pace  .  .  .  . like this main bath makeover.

One of the things I loved about this house when we bought it, after looking at several cookie cutter houses, was the 2 large 4-pc bathrooms with huge vanity space.  I still don’t have anything stored underneath because I also have a hallway closet.  Anyways I’ve started the bath on the main obviously because guests use it more. 

Suddenly my design ideas ran dry.  With all the magazines stacked in my office you’d think I had lots of ideas but no, I was frustrated, so I just began with paint.  It was so nice to get rid of the horrible hospital green. 

Eventually the entire vanity and counter will be removed and replaced with a new vanity or just a pedestal sink and a beautiful floor to almost ceiling cabinet to display nice bathroom ‘stuff’.  This won’t happen till we do the flooring and the kitchen probably. 

Anyways, here’s some photos for your enjoyment.  Please refrain from saying “what was she thinking?!”  I think this is the perfect time and room to try out some new ideas.  Have a look.

nope, this isn't the finished bathroom vanity . . . I wish though

~my inspiration from Hooker Furniture/Decorative Chests

looks almost the same right? 

except for the different color and design.  

The detail is hard to see in this picture

still working on the wall decor

the original just after painting

original - trust me they were in bad shape

I started with white because originally I thought the white would 

show thru nice when distressed - NOT

~see my helper?

it was too dark and I hated it, 

so I looked to Hooker Furniture for inspiration

I sanded them again to rough them up, 

obviously revealing some of the white paint

ta-da

Now for a new accent rug to cozy up your bathroom experience and of course wall décor.  I’m leaning toward a huge picture OR black and white old photos.  Who knows.

Thanks for reading or just looking at the pictures.

Bonny

To Milo

Milo Steven Boisselle

Born July 26 – 2016

This little bundle added to our family needs his own blog post!

He is 6 weeks already and I can’t believe it.  It was that long ago that we all waited and waited and waited.  Then all of a sudden it happened!  Now, he’s in our lives and we are blessed.

Here’s a few photos of Milo.

day 10

a little apprehensive about today

isn't she beautiful! 

Milo is not thrilled with his new outfit

the day we all met Milo (one day old)

see the champagne on the counter - 

of course we had a toast!

proud daddy

no he's a bit young for the Penquin game

taken at the mall on day 10

I'm praying for the best news today

Milo gets his new outfit for the big day

Grandpa Boopie brags he has the touch.

four generation picture with Greg's mom, Alice, at the baby shower

proud Uncle Craig

first camping trip for Milo

Uncle Luke, I know you're grinning!

hey Boopie, what are you two talking about?

I can tell you exactly where I was on July 27, when Greg and I first heard of his appearance in our lives.  We knew nothing about him, we actually didn’t even know he was a ‘him’.

I had left the hair cutters and was heading to get groceries.  As I drove I was getting text messages.  When I stopped at the lights, I quickly checked my phone and read a few words from Craig, “Are you KIDDING ME???”  I had no idea what he was talking about.  Then I get a text from Greg that I can hear in the car.  He says, “better check your text from Crystal”.  I do, while driving, because now I am in high alert mode.  All I see is a baby blanket, which I recognize immediately.  I’m almost to Sobeys, so I drive in and park.  I look closer to Crystal’s text.  “Look what we brought home today!”  and not only in there a picture of this baby blanket but also and pair of small feet in the corner of the picture.  What!!  By this time my cell rings and Crystal and I talk in real.  It was, in truth, a little weird.  I never expected it to happen like this.  I’m sitting at Sobeys realizing I’m a grandma and we get to see ‘him’ tonight.  After talking with Crystal, I drive home to see Greg.  I know he’s going to be ‘over the moon’.  He’s just showered and as I enter our bedroom we look at each other with huge grins and say to each other, “Boopie!”  “Mim!”.  It was a time for happy tears.  I’ll never forget these moments.

That evening we gathered at Crystal and Mick’s home along with Craig and Luke (Luke drove back from Edmonton) and held Milo for the first time. 

But the grey cloud still hung in the air and we all didn’t want to talk about it. 

10 days.  We had to wait 10 days for Milo to be officially in our family.  Those 10 days were extremely hard on Crystal and Mick.  Oh how they have walked a long and sad road and I only hoped and prayed that this time it would end different. 

It did.

If you want to read Crystal and Mick’s blog, here is the link.  I assuming they will post again soon and you can read their side of this journey. 

  

Dear Milo, 

we love you very much and 

promise to do our part in 

loving you, 

spoiling you, 

rocking you, 

tickling you,

 and  

all the other things a grandparent does.

Love,

Boopie and Mim