I’M HOME!

Hello All!

After spending about 6 months at my sister’s house I am finally home.  Well, now I feel like I have two homes.

I was there to take care of our kids, three of her’s one of mine, two dogs, the house and the yard.  I didn’t do so hot with the yard..that’s a whole ‘nother post.

Anyways, my brother-in-law was getting tandem stem cell transplants to fight a particularly nasty form of lymphoma.  Mike and my sister, Nichole had to live in Seattle at an apartment in the Pete Gross House.  While Mike was getting the treatments, my sister was his caregiver. 

Without her being there, I don’t think this would have been as successful as it was.  Mike looks and feels great. 

They are so happy to be home!

I learned that no

I love You Mike, My Brother!

Hello All,

As you know my brother-in-law Mike has been battling cancer, large follicular B cell lymphoma, to be exact.  He has successfully completed his first stem cell transplant and is now getting ready for the second.

In case you were wondering “Why two?”, he needs two transplants to kill the cancer.  The first one was called an “auto” where he received his own bone marrow, or stem cells, the second will be from a donor.  The donor turned out to be his sister. 

The tandem transplant is necessary because his bone marrow doesn’t work properly.  Even though there are only trace amounts of the cancer since the first transplant, his abdomen is very active still.  The good news is he did so well after the first one, he was able to come HOME for 2 weeks following.  This is pretty much unheard of.

The second transplant is scheduled for the 24th of this month.  He will only receive one treatment of radiation as opposed to the 6 he received for the first one.  Then we wait and see if his sister’s stem cells “engraft” and kill the remaining cancer cells. 

If ANYONE can do this Mike can!

So I will be back at my sister’s for the long haul.  The recovery time is about 100 days..just until he can come home.  It can take a year or more for the transplant to fully “take”.

As I sit at my sister’s, I sit in awe of how she takes care of her children, how she takes care of Mike and how she still has time to take care of me, her little sister. 

I will do everything possible to keep Mike and Nichole stress free while he goes through this.  I believe that if he can concentrate on getting better and not worry about here, the house, the kids, the dogs, the mail..etc., then this will be a testament to love and the power of healing. 

Mike, you are so strong.  I love you and our family so much.  I know you guys think I am making a huge sacrifice by leaving my house and child, but it’s not.  We are ALL in this together.  You are making the sacrifice and thank you for making the choice to LIVE! 

We need you and we love you.  Heal well and fast.  We will be waiting for you when you get home.

I love you Mike.  My brother. 

Em

 

I’m On My Own..Pray For Me Everyone!..lol

Well, MJ is moving, and Tuesdays are supposed to be recipes.

I CAN’T THINK OF A RECIPE!

MJ totally keeps me in line with our blog..I need that from time to time, well on a daily basis..hence the ADD.  I wonder sometimes about her ADD, I guess the OCD mixed in keeps her organized to some fashion.  I never wished to have OCD in any way, but a tad would be fine..maybe.  I mean of course I COULD just get my sh!$ together..too easy.   Just kidding.  If it were easy I would’ve done it LONG ago, and most likely wouldn’t be who I am, and that’s ok with me.

The main reason I can’t think of a recipe is that wonderful people have been donating food every Tuesday and Thursday for my family at my sister’s house.  While my brother in law is receiving TWO stem cell transplants, I am living here and taking care of  the household.

It has been wonderful and difficult.  I used to joke about only having one kid, so I didn’t know what the heck I was doing half the time, but now with my 14 yr old, my 11 yr old nephew, 20 yr old niece and 18 yr old nephew, I think I figured a few things out. Only a few, but hey it’s a start.  I only hope that I am doing what they need and Mike gets better because he doesn’t have to worry about his family and home.  He misses them like crazy, my sister too.  But missing and worrying are two different things.

Oh yeah, and 3 dogs.  My dog is like the 2 year old that needs to go to Grandma’s for the weekend.  REALLY.  I love animals, but she is a handful.  I just want to SQUEEEEZE HER SO TIGHT!..joking!..kinda.

My favorite recipe so far is the bacon Alfredo from my nephew’s lacrosse coach.  Yes, I said lacrosse..in WA.  We have it here too.  No I didn’t know.  They gave him a scholarship to play and the coach and EVERYONE on the team down to all of the boys have been angels.  His coach is a cop, so I get to talk “cop talk” with him once in a while.  It’s nice and takes my mind off of other stuff.

We had Chinese food, lasagna, casseroles to DIE for and tons of gift cards so I can go get groceries and other much needed household items.  We also received movie passes so we could spend time together as a family.  Another family is ordering frozen meat for us from where they work.  I know the company and I’m really excited for the delivery!  I will definitely have some recipes after that! The UFO’s cloaking device is working better today..

This is my life right now.  Not making much jewelry wise, but I made a pretty cool pair of earrings last night.  Sometimes things just come to me..then they go on their merry little way..dang it.

So, sorry for no recipe.

My Mt. is back!  I forgot to turn the flash off while snapping my latest shot and now it looks like the aliens are shooting a laser..don’t worry, it’s set on “stun”.

I hope I don’t disappoint you with anything.  MJ is always all over the recipes.  If I think of something I’ll post it.

Em

Take Care All!