Stinker Pokes

That's what Eleanor (my 3 year old twin) calls my insulin shots. This is one of the lovely side effects of the medication (Prednisone) the doctors put me on to shock my body. (The spleenectomy didn't work.) The hope was to see if the Prednisone could get my antibodies that fight my red blood cells under control. And shock it did! I won't bore you with the laundry list of side effects. The great news is that it worked! My red blood cell count is now in a normal range! I haven't had a blood transfusion in 2 months (after having them every 1-2 weeks for almost 2 years) and I feel more energetic. I am on a Prednisone taper and will hopefully be off of this med within a month...and the side effects should go away. I look forward to getting back to a normal life. It was 2 years ago this month that I was diagnosed with Leukemia and I am so happy to be alive...to be with Ken & my kids and to continue friendships and associations with all of you.

Spleenless and ready for Summer

Where does the time go? I try to wait for interesting/exciting news to update this blog...we are in the "wait and see" holding pattern again. I had my spleen removed in May in hopes of destroying the antibodies that fight my new red blood cells. The great news is that I didn't need a transfusion for a month after the surgery. It's too soon to see a pattern in transfusions, yet, but it definitely reduced the amount of transfusions that I've needed. I feel great and am able to take on a lot more than I have for the past year. I think my body is just used to functioning on half the normal amount of blood. I do look forward to normal amounts of blood and energy...SOON!

My doctors okayed a trip in April to the Florida Keys with Ken's family. Ken's parents were asked to preside over the Mormon Church in part of Russia, Kazakstan and Belarus. They will be living in Moscow for the next three years. Of course we will miss them and we will not see them very often. It was fun to all be together. A week after returning home from Florida, we flew to Disneyland with my parents. We loved spending time with our family! We're in the thick of birthdays right now. Olivia just turned 11, Joshua got baptized, Grace turns 6 in two weeks, and Eleanor & Noah turn 3 a few days later. We are in the epic stage of no diapers! The landfill is definitely grateful, I'm sure. It's summer...life is great! As always, thank you for your love, support, and prayers.

One Year Post Transplant

Many of you have asked about the blog and requested an update. I had no idea that people were still checking the blog! Thank you so much for your continued interest in my recovery and in my family.

I am feeling great...so much better than a year ago! It's hard to believe what has happened over the past year-and-a-half. I am a believer in miracles and am happy to be alive. I just had my one year post transplant review with my doctor. She reviewed all of the testing info they have gathered over the past month. Great news: there is no leukemia and my bone marrow is 100% fully engrafted. It is producing everything as it should. However, my body is still attacking the new red blood cells that my bone marrow produces. I receive blood transfusions every 2 weeks. The doctors are considering a few different options to combat this. As I get new information, I'll update this blog.

We enjoyed Christmas together as a family and spent New Year's in Las Vegas with Ken's family. Ken & I were completely shocked when my doctors approved a trip to Hawaii in January. We went with friends, without kids, and had a relaxing vacation.

Thank you for all of the love and support you have given to me and my family...the heartfelt notes and cards, phonecalls, dinners, carpools, childcare, and especially your prayers. Your friendship is a treasured gift. Thank you also to Ken's sisters for upkeeping this blog for so long.