Journaling June & July

Wow, 2 months have gone by very fast!  It’s August already.  As I went outside with the dog this morning, the air felt different, probably just my mind thinking ‘August’. 

Suddenly I remembered the feelings of going back to school.  The cool, crisp mornings walking to school with your new clothes and books.  I have one very distinct memory of going to school and that is when we moved to Linden and I entered grade 8.  Ugh, how terrible to go to a new school in this grade!   The house mom and dad bought wasn’t ready for us yet and so we were offered a house just a few miles out of town to live in until then.  The fall sun was so bright in the mornings as it streamed into the living room, which was furnished and strange to me, and cast an orange glow on everything.  As mom prepared breakfast and our lunches,  I’d sit in the kitchen booth (I thought it was so cool) and wished I could stay home and play on the big yard and be with mom.  It looked like it would be a beautiful day.  Anyways, no such luck, my sister and I drove to school every day, down a gravel road then onto a secondary road that took us into town.  I had been to my new school only once to be enrolled and it seemed so large that I was unsure where my class was.  For those of you who know Linden school or any small town school, there was one hallway with maybe one turn left or right.  My sister and I drove to school every day and every day the sun shone in our eyes.  Seems like there were never any cloudy days.  It’s strange what our minds do with memories. 

So a little off track, but hey, that’s a bit about me you didn’t know.

So here’s what’s happening in news regarding Greg’s kidney transplant.  He is done taking Prednisone as of the end of June.  He may have to go back on it if he develops any of the old symptoms.  I was a little terrified to hear this.  All the memories crept back to those days when he could hardly move because of the muscle pain and vomiting, etc.  So far he’s been good except for the continued tiredness throughout the day.  I can’t take him to the mall anymore, it just tires him out too much.  He’s quite sad about that, NOT!

He still has supper ready for me each day and he’s a very good cook.  I hate the weekends because then it’s my turn to cook and well, let’s say, I’m getting the better part of that deal. 

So, this is the 2^nd testing for Greg where he’s fallen below the 15% kidney function.  One more testing and he’ll be ready for his transplant.  He actually received the official call that he was now on ‘the list’ for a transplant but has a donor.  The next month I have to continue to be careful what I eat and make sure to walk each day.  Hopefully when I do my blood pressure test this time, they will be happy with the results.  I CANNOT halt this transplant – not now.  

Here's a little glimpse into Greg's hospital room back in October 2014.  I've never posted photos till now.  This is a first.  There might be more to come one day, when I do a post just on his hospital stay.

My mom is now living without dad.  That’s the reality.  But whether she knows this or not, we know for sure she does not.  Dad finds it difficult still to start and end each day without her at his side in the Lodge.  When my sister told dad the news that mom was being placed ‘tomorrow’, he said, “it feels like the preacher just gave the funeral message”.  I get that.  You still have your loved one here on earth but they aren’t with you by your side everyday, like it used to be.  Mom doesn’t remember us visiting her or how long we visited.  She sometimes waits for dad before eating but I’m not sure she really knows she’s doing that either. 

Mom’s first placement was in Innisfail and we drove to see her about every other day.  Three weeks later we received the call that she could move into the Linden Nursing Home!  She would now be closer for dad to visit her anytime he wanted.  We were very lucky.  

My work schedule has changed and each week if different.  This each I have 3 days off, work 1 day, then have the weekend off.  I just finished working the August long weekend.  I feel sorry for Greg as he’s off weekends but has to entertain himself.  Then when I’m off and home the house is busy and loud as I house clean and do errands.  It’s not so bad when a Nascar race is on or hockey, but hockey is done.  I just hope things improve soon at work and I can get some hours back and be on a regular work week.  For those of you who say, ‘it’s no big deal’, it actually is for those of us who are older and have grown used to a Monday to Friday lifestyle.  This too shall pass.

We haven’t done as much camping this summer as we anticipated, just because of my schedule.  But we did get in a few great weekends.  

Saw this guy.  

He crossed the road in front of us and he was 

about 10 miles from our campsite.

My repainting projects have taken such a turn, for the worse, I have to admit.  I really miss painting a good project.  With everything going on around us right now, it’s definitely taken a back seat.  But today is still early and after I finish the house work, maybe I’ll pick a piece and tackle it.  Wait, I thought about painting the main bath (still hospital green) and continue that color down the hallway (still hospital green).  That would take care of ALMOST all the green except for the basement hallway and bath.  Whew! I can’t believe how much the past owners loved green.  This too shall pass.

So even though this post seems short, to me,  I’ve got to continue on and get other things done today.

Till next time,

Bonny

Being a Living Donor and Everything Around That!

I told you I’d be back with news!

I am a match for Greg’s kidney transplant!

Wow, so much has happened in the last month that I have to check my journal so I don’t miss anything.

Just a quick re-cap.  Well, not really. 

This is a longer post, but good.

I’m writing this in date order, not in order of importance.

~February 22, the same day I went into the Foothills for my extensive match testing was the same day our puppy “Meeka” passed away.

~March 9^th Greg got the Shingles.  We just couldn’t believe his luck, but he was very lucky as they were contained to mainly his left side of the neck and down around the back and chest.  It was an amazingly small area after seeing the images on the web.  Then as quick as they appeared they seemed to go away.  The scars or blemishes are still there and sometimes he feels them ache but I think he was pretty lucky.  He hates when I say that because I had really no clue how painful they were, whether you have a few of a lot, they are still apparently terrible.

I only did a small photo - I think Greg would prefer that :)

After Meeka passed, we toyed with getting another puppy, but when was a good time?  I checked periodically on the web and found lots of cute pups but still wasn’t sure.  Something wasn’t sitting right as I looked at these little guys.  Greg was also searching the web and he thought the right puppy will find us! 

Well he sure did.  He was a lone pup and that still seems to be a bit fuzzy to us.  He was definitely the cutest of all we’d seen and the color we wanted so why only this guy left?  Greg called the lady and she did a short interview on the phone.  She is a championship dog breeder and wants to make sure her pups go to the right home.  I don’t blame her.  After talking with Greg she said she had made her decision. 

 ~April 8^th we bought our puppy. We had seen only 3 pictures of the “wee monster” as the breeder called him and we fell in love.  But we had to wait 3 weeks to pick him up.  He was born March 6^th. 

~April 20^th I had my appointment with the kidney doctor and found out I was a match for Greg’s kidney transplant!  Another chapter in life just opened up.  We were so happy but also scared because the next step brings up more questions and concerns.  I do have to change my blood pressure by more exercise and they will test this in 3 months again.  If there is no change then they will put me on pills.  They prefer I do it without drugs because after surgery I will definitely NEED to be on the pills.  I also need to do another EKG on May 6 because when my doctor looked at the printout, she noticed that one of the markers they put on my body was probably placed wrong as it gave a straight line read-out. 

~April 22^nd Greg had his 3^rd Rotaximub infusion at the Foothills hospital.  Because I was off work that day I spent most of the day with him.  It feels strange to see this drug that saves your husbands life go into his blood stream and you just hope there’s no complications.  

Careful! This photo MAY be offensive to some!

Greg is always trying to use that finger in my photos-he knows I hate it, 

but it's become a game to see how fast I am at taking pics.  

Sorry hon, this time I used the photo.

~April 29^th we picked up our puppy.  His name is Gunner.  We named him after Sam Palladio who plays Gunner on Nashville.  Greg loves the way that guy sings and plays guitar on the show.

~May 6 my EKG went fine.  No problems with the read-out this time. 

Gunner is 2 months old today and we have started a growth picture album for him.  Yup we are those people now.

~May 7 it was time for some family fun.  We celebrated my sister’s 60^th birthday.  It was good to see my mom and dad there.  Time will come when they won’t be able to come to these events anymore.

~May 8 Mother’s Day.  I love and hate this day.  I brought my mom a bouquet of flowers and gave them to her yesterday at the birthday party.  I told her I brought her some flowers for Mothers Day.  Her response was weak as she does not comprehend these things anymore, or should I say she does in the moment, but it just does not register what it actually means.  So sad, but that is dementia.  I have 2 children and they are married to great spouses and I’m very happy that they are happy.  I love them all dearly!  My lack of love for this day is because we put so much advertising and commercialization into the day that I feel so bad for the mom’s without children.  This is a very sensitive matter in our family and it makes my heart ache.  This year the kids gave me a plant.  I love plants and I hope I can keep this one alive, so far so good. 

Here's my sister Brenda on the left and me on the right. 

Our mom, Virginia or "Ginny" of course in the middle. 

I knew you'd know that but I still had to mention her.

Me and my sister.

My dear hubby.  

You'd never know he was waiting for a new kidney, but he's not mowing the lawn here.

Our nephew, Dustin, who turned 33 on his mom's birthday.

~May 18 Greg met with his doctor to discuss a possible surgery date as I have been matched.  It was quite depressing for Greg to hear that they still need to wait until his kidney function is below 15% for 3 consecutive testings before they will do the transplant.  He is now at 16/17%.  My kidney function is at 98%.  The doctor said he would be quite happy if Greg stayed at this level for the rest of his life.  Greg told him that was not acceptable.  And we understand policy but if there is a kidney available that is healthy today, why are they risking waiting.  What if things change for me in a month or 6 months?  What if I get sick and everything is put on hold for Greg when they decide the time is right for him?  On the other hand, Greg is not on dialysis so we are thankful for that.  He finds it so hard to mow the lawn and have to rest repeatedly in between.  He pushes himself to work hard physically and I wonder if this is good for him but I understand that he feels he needs too.  He was raised to work hard and do a good job so not feeling like you can do it all is very hard for him. 

~May 25 Greg met with his Rheumotologist, Dr. Fifi-Mah.  She calls all the shots with his vasculitis medication.  She is now slowly reducing the Prednisone that Greg is on.  For one month his doses with decrease.  She said it’s good to sometimes give your body a break and let it rebuild itself and see how it goes.  If Greg notices any symptoms where his vasculitis is getting out of control again, then she will increase his dose again.  This will also cause his kidney function to go down.  Without saying more, perhaps this is a way to get around policy.  Either way, I hope there are no serious side effects for Greg and he will get his new kidney sooner than later.

~May 27 was our first camping trip of the season with Gunner.  It drizzled most of the weekend but we didn’t care.  We still sat around the fire, went for walks and a drive, and did a lot of talking (mostly me).  

Wrestling with Gunner in the camper before bed.

A drive to Canmore overlooking the dam.

 Thanks for staying and reading.

See you next time,

Bonny

Union Jack Chest

This was probably the most challenging project 

I have done . .  ever!

This chest belongs to my son and his husband.

They wanted it painted like the Union Jack flag.

Well, I had never attempted anything like this

before but they were excited and gave me the 

confidence that this could work out beautifully.

In this picture you can see the gold detail but

what you can't see is the indentation that these

gold designs have.  This now created a new

problem in painting a nice smooth flag.

I proceeded to fill in the indentations with

plaster and with a lot of sanding we 

achieved a pretty smooth finish.

This took a few evenings for me to finish.

The guys dug right into the paint and 

I sat back and encouraged them.

We started with a few coats of 

Anne Sloan's chalkpaint, 'Old White'.

Isn't this work room great?

We actually knocked out the adjoining

bedroom (on the left) where I store all my 

projects and I paint in the storage room.

It didn't take Craig very long to do the 

measurements and then the fun began.

Here the guys are using 'Emporer's Silk'.

Another night to add 'Napoleonic Blue'.

She was so pretty sitting there.

To make sure everything looked great before it left for

its new home, we brought it upstairs to see what

she looked like in the real light.

Here we are just adjusting some of the dark wax

with some clear wax.  

A glass of wine before dinner is good also. 

We did just a little distressing around the edges.

The guys didn't want the flag lines to be too 

distressed but rather a sharp line, so we had

to make sure we didn't over distress in other areas.

Aren't these just the cutest knobs!

They purchased them at Interiors to Inspire,

right here in Calgary.

Here you can really see the brush strokes.

Like Anne Sloan says, brush strokes add

character and this chest has that for sure!

Off to your new home now.

I hope I find a chest like this of my own

that I can perhaps re-do and keep for myself.

~ till later,

Bonny