Merry Christmas & a Better New Year

Love is...enjoying The family together at Christmas

Christmas Day
A lovely day, as it was Bonnie's turn to host Christmas.  Must say it was nice to have a break from hosting this year with all the goings on with my family. Great news as Colin has had a good report from the consultant who is pleased with progress even though it is slow. Slight decrease in prednisone helps. 3 days of parties and I am looking forward to a break. Too much eating, cooking,  shopping and desserts and late nights.  House is in disarray so next few days will be working to get us back on track.  Nick turned 30 on Dec 27th and we even went for a swim and the warm weather was welcome.

2015
This year hopefully won't be repeated and it is still hanging in there with it's persistence to be a pain in the  b...  With my dental bill the week before Christmas of $440 and climbing, our dishwasher flooding on Christmas day costing $270 and also Nicks dishwasher costing us $150,  I  am praying we get through to 2016 without any more surprises. Still we saved on Colin's haircuts as he only needed 2 this year! Though we can't recommend the reason why.

Colin twisted his ankle last week and we can't do our walking and the consultant said he wasn't to hurt himself dancing at New Year either. Boxing day sale parking was handy as I produced the disabled card as he was on a walking stick.  All better now so no more cheeky parking.
We have had serious illness,  loss of a job and business, a bone marrow transplant,  retirement and pension collection,  a graduation and new job,  an engagement,  4 family members with health issues and plenty of drama in  between.  2016 can be as boring as it likes.  We have a wedding to sort out in February.

Happy New year to all our friends and family.
We are off to party tonight.  Yayyyy

Big thanks and LOVE to all our friends and family who have supported us this year. 

Couldn't have done it without all of you, no matter how small or big your help was.
LOVE LOUISE AND COLIN

Rain, shine or wind bring on summer

Love is.... Enjoying it from great friends

Weather
What the...  Is happening with the weather.  Can it make up it's mind?  I  am trying to grow food! For goodness sake.
Know why they call this the silly season.  So many things happening  but get real people.  Stop blowing hot and cold like the weather.
Get on with living life.  We are. 

Yum char lunch with good friends  today was  a nice break from working really hard for the last 2 weeks.  Hoping that  Colin gets good results for Xmas otherwise it will be more procedures.
Donor cells think his liver is a foreign body and fighting it.  Who will win the fight?  Was just supposed to take over the bone marrow but shows it is working none the less. 

Feeling a bit wiped out but just need to rest up. 

 Besties Glenda and Susie brought lunch to share. 

Smooth sailing would have been good.

Love is.... Helping each other through the tough times

What are we doing.???
I may look like I am under control but sometimes I am not!
Been dodging bullets

A week in the life of:
Weeded,  sprayed, and laid pebbles at son 2 place-  WHY CAN'T THEY TIDY UP
Trimmed trees,  bagged leaf litter and fixed door and fence   at son 1 place   - OUR WORK IS NEVER DONE
Cooked heaps and heaps till late at night - EATING 6 TIMES A DAY FOR COLIN NOT ME
Gardening x3+++   - WELL THE STRAWBERRIES ARE WORTH IT
2nd to last yoga class    - NEARLY TO END OF YEAR
Christmas shopping  -  LUCKY I PANIC BOUGHT THROUGH THE YEAR
Colin organised alarm install at sons house  - ANOTHER JOB OFF THE LONG LIST
Baked Chiffon cake for clinic day -  IT IS ALWAYS APPRECIATED
Daily 3 km walk - FITNESS AND FRESH AIR

Really in the scheme of things nothing is more important than getting Colin healthy.
Everthing else pales in significance.

CLINIC
Well unfortunately Colins liver is not behaving, so not much they can do at present.  I don't want any more curve balls.  Just stop throwing balls at us all together please.  Just PRAY that there will be an improvement please.  AND SOON.
I did that in shouty letters so it might work. OK?
A friend said how do we do this?
I said It is hard but we have to be positive as there is no other choice.
Be positive.
Plan to go to bed earlier as the acupuncturist said, organs recuperate between 11pm to 2am. Sleeping in if going to bed late will not make up lost time. Something to do with body rhythms.  Cut down on our jobs too.  So no more late night calls.

Anne and Colin walking Louie and Franklin

On a wet and dreary day.  Still managing 3km

Sculpture trail

Squealing frogs, sparrow kill and birthday party

Love is..... A gift that is freely passed around

Lucy the cat was chowing down on a mouse.  A squealing mouse so we thought.  The EKK EKK noise was horrid. Turned out to be a big green frog that she was fascinated with.  Cameron rescued it but not the little sparrow that she decided tasted better.  The squealing frog was freaky.

When i think the week is good to catch up on chores,  it turns out to be no progress.  This week has been property management week.  Weeding,  spraying and chopping plants at two rentals and maintenance at my garden plot.  Was a relief to get it up to date.  Pleased to see i am seeing the fruits of my labour.  It is the first year that the plants are flourishing.  Not sure what I have done.  Maybe the lime,  or the vege mix and worm food added to the soil.  Strawberries are picked daily along with sugar snaps,  coriander, chives,  thyme and rosemary,  broccoli shoots,  spinach,  lettuce and loquats.  My peaches are developing but lots fell off.  So amazing to have a productive garden.  Have made planters for a son so he can pick lettuce and chives from it.

Ah yes Colin.  So pleased that today his liver function test is slowly dropping again.  Still miles higher than normal but a good sign.  He is still on Prednisone but he is due at clinic next week.  The months are flying by.  What happened to 2015??
Xmas is nearly here and I have managed to procure presents already.  Relief.

Where did the years go??
Nick turns 30 this year and had a early birthday with his friends here.  Lots of work cleaning up but we'll worth it a they all enjoyed it.  Nicks idea of Korean tacos is a hit.  To my surprise.

What grass? 

Amazing weekend back in the fold

Love is.... Determined

Saturday Night
Yayy we didn't sit home watching Country Calendar and Choice tv nature at large for once. After  a melt down several weeks ago,  we decide that we are going to get our life back!  We are  go getters again. !  Well for a day.
Lunch at Vanessa and Ray's was cool seeing the whole dance group together again. Gosh we feel like we are back in the fold.  I  can't describe the feeling you get from excellent  supportative friends,  and having not been able to see them for soooo long.
Why not go for it???

So after dinner we go dancing.  Yes dancing again at the RSA Howick. A slow start but a start none the less.
Derek announces our come back and it is sweet.
Dancing in heels is like learning to walk again.  Good job we are keeping up our fitness.
Diana and Phil host supper.  I  have not eaten so many sweet goodies for ages. 
I forgot to take a photo of the "best dance group ever."  😍

Sunday
Tonight we have been invited to dinner with the medical centre where Colin used to work.  They are loving seeing him again and him them. What changes there have been in this year.  The new doctor is very friendly and patients really like him.  It is going to work out for every one.
Goodness,  I never realised how tiring being social is.  Haven't had to work so hard on conversation for a while.

Jobs have been put on hold this week as we are distracted with taking opportunities.  I  will feel happy when I  can knock a few big jobs on the head but it is going to be a slow process.

Happy daze

Love is..... Being considerate

Happy to report that Colin is well and healthy.  Clinic this week we are calling the shots!  Well I  have  decided to not stick around to see the registrar and anyway the nurses are down on staff and doctors  are off sick.  Sandra and David D and we are off to Pearl Garden again for lunch after blood tests.  Our car is having its warrant in newmarket so good timing. We catch up and enjoy our yum char.  Not sure when we will tee up again. Colin will do blood tests locally for the next 2 weeks as it is easier and takes the pressure off the hospital.

Don't know what happened to our summery weather but Sydney are having a heat wave. Humpf. Still as  we walk our 3km each day,  I  admire the garden roses that I never saw before.  Laugh at the houses where they have planted roses in the wrong place and they have withered up.  I  am still  flat out with producing food.  Our life revolves around food,  buying,  preparing ,  cooking, eating and cleaning up after it. I  make our own crackers at night and now my own chicken sausages. Cutting out preservatives and pesticides and hydrogenated oils as  much as possible.  Not interested in cooking for any one else either.  Shopping online for special supplements.  Found vitamin D supplement from USA was cheaper even with p & p and arrived in 5 days,  no problems. Colin has to eat often but he is now well enough to prepare his own snacks and help with clean up. 

Colin has purchased aSamsung tablet for himself but was really grumpy as he couldn't get the screen cover on without bubbles of dust.  Cameron has come home and spent hours in the bathroom sitting on the shower stool trying to fix it.  He is so patient.  Cameron worked so hard this week with no complaints. Home at midnight 2 nights and very late 3 nights.  The boss noticed and is taking 4 in web sales to dinner next week.  Cameron was just happy to have dinner supplied 3 nights. 

Making my own sausages to avoid nitrates

Homemade crackers

Breathe a sigh.

Love is... Never going to give up

Day 160
5 months on

Specialist appointment today
And I am not sure what he will say today.  But it is a relief to find that  Colin's GVHD is a mild reaction and he said he is doing really well regardless.
Not sure how it relates but Colin's liver function has sky rocketed over 600 and should be 30s. Other functions decreasing.  He needs to taper the prednisone and he doesn't have to be so precious about going out and of germs.  Just take care.

I  am very grumpy and at the end of my tether with everything going on. I  am pushing for blood tests to be done locally every alternate week,  as Colin likes going to the hospital. It will take the pressure off my flatout days. Phoned a friend to talk about my frustrations.  My mind is exhausted with organising every part of the day and all the jobs I have to do. 

Probably didn't help that I had to clean the garage on my own, in prep for the yoga class.  Colin couldn't help due to the dust but he was great at cutting up boxes and filing the recycle bin.  Gloved and masked of course. Taking the class felt so good.  Wish we could carpet it as teaching classes would be a great job.  Unfortunately the garage is chokka full of junk.  So getting rid of it is on the cards.  Wonder if the kids will take their stuff away?

Nick popped in and stayed for dinner. Happened to buy 4 fish fillets. 

Flower arrangement from my garden.  Colin doesnt need to be afraid of flowers anymore

Colin & I are feeling good

Love is... Full of enjoyment

Where does time go.
I  am flat out working in the garden and spent 4 1/2 hours in the kitchen yesterday making homemade chicken sausages.  They were brilliant and then beef cheek stew so I  could get down to the garden plot at 4.30pm for 2 hours to plant my beans.
This  morning is lawns and tidy garage as I hope to reconvene the yoga here next week as we lost the free council building.  The ladies will get a fright when the see all the junk we have collected.
Colin is with me 90% of the time and we don't like being apart. He is inside working on dishes or small jobs and office work.
He decided to take out the alarm battery  to order another one.  Saving money by doing it yourself has now cost us nearly $150 as it wouldn't work again and we needed the service man for a  $30 battery!

Colin is well but blood tests are still raised.  You wouldn't  know anything has changed but it is always in the back of our minds that everything can turn pear shaped.  A 3 hour wait at the hospital on Monday got me angry so we left and asked the dr kirsty to fax the script.  Not impressed with her. At all.
We love being together every day but with this cloud hanging over us we are just trying to get on with living.
When people moan about the little things I  feel like saying "  snap out of it"
Colin won't be left out of going out as we had to take a step back due to increased immunotherapy.  We are still getting out even if it is curtailed a bit.

Thanks all our friends Julie,  Sandra, Faye,  Mary,  Diana and Glenda for listening to me since January and keeping in  the loop.  Appreciate the talking and chats and help.

Too early but we got up for the rugby

Fabulous game and worth it last week

Holding As Is

Love is... A journey

No Change
In Colin's status.  At clinic this week his liver function is much the same so may be on prednisone for longer than 2 weeks.  Not what we want but there seems to be no other major symptoms so that is a blessing.  We both feel a bit down over the GVHD but are carrying on regardless. 
Definitely not impressed with the registrar who was not the person to alert the specialist but it was our lovely nurse  Anne.  Registrar Kirsty was dismissive.
Great to catch up with other patients and a few of us are going to the Leukemia meeting this week on the subject of travelling with blood cancer.  Well we can wish can't  we?
A busy day at home on researching supplements and ordering them.  Our into the garden to plant veges and clear weeds.  Still tons to do but  Colin is able to tidy the kitchen and do mini chores while I  do all the cooking.  Soup is one of our main dishes as it is diabetic friendly.

We have to put our dance classes back on Hold till we talk to the specialist next week.  Disappointed but there is too much going on anyway and not enough hours in the day.  After dinner I will make my healthy crackers for our nibbles.
I  go to sleep late and my mind is full of the things we have to plan and do in the next week.

Still feeling tired after early start watching the All Blacks win. Sunday was a busy day with yum char and icing class

Waiting for his first haircut since last year 

This is growth since June

My icing flowers from class with  Magical cakes

Lovely day and welcome distraction 

Umm... Glitches

Love is...... Strong

Big hiccup
Colin has unfortunately developed GRAFT VS HOST
Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a complication that can occur after a stem cell or bone marrow transplant. With GVHD, the newly transplanted donor cells attack the transplant recipient's body.
His liver function is out of kilter and he is showing minor  signs so far so it is back on medications.
We are hoping and the doctors,  that they will manage it.  Reading about it doesn't help so I 'm going to stop now.
A little bit of GVH is said to  be good but does not guarantee recovery from the Leukemia.

I feel like we keep getting hit with things.
Just when I was telling everyone that life was normalizing too .
Colin keeps running into ex patients and they really do miss him. It is also good for them to know why he finished work.

We are thinking positively and Colin is still well at the moment.
Will have to curtail activities and socialising again. Take more care with foods again.
We CAN do it,  we HAVE to do it.

Long awaited holiday

Love is... A change of scenery together

We have been away for a week to the beach, if you were wondering where we have got to. The week flew by and we relaxed and enjoyed the sunshine.
Well colin was covered up. Has to avoid the sun after chemo.
Could have done more walking though.  Now I am tired after filling the car to the brim.  Partly Mowing the lawn, cleaning and sorting and gardening.
Seem to have come home with just as much baggage as I arrived with.

Moving right along.........

Love is.... A test of faith

Tuesday

I  have worked out how to get a good nights sleep.  Work out all day.  Yesterday was another day at my garden plot trying to dig it into shape.
I have 4 rows but Nola my neighbor at the plot took over the whole thing until now and i can only manage two rows.  Lucky the PD boys dug some of it for her. Colin is encouraging me to walk 3.3 km per day so I moan while we exercise. 
Today I have set aside working in the garden at home.  I hardly get much done before I have to come in to cook lunch.  Back into it and we have to go on our walk.  More gardening then dinner needs cooking.  Cooking has never been Colin's strong point so I am teaching him slowly.  I  need to because before all this I would carry on all day and only stop for a quick lunch or keep going till 3pmish. All the interruptions are time consuming.

Yoga
I am loving getting back to teach my yoga class.  Have decided it is time and my need to trim up is motive. Yoga is an amazing exercise for toning strengthen and balancing. Always thought it was weetbixy but it sorts out my back problems well. 

Wednesday

Specialist appointment and he is pleased with  Colin's progress. There is a increase in liver function tests and this could be the start of Graft vs Host so hoping it will settle down. The Chimera test has improved showing that the donor cells are grafting. This could be the take over that is causing the abnormal results. Wait and see game.

Hope like hell it is all OK!

After a long day of stops at hospital, lunch, pickup Julie Q, florist appointment, Drop back to Parnell, Mitre 10, buy a lawnmower, Pakn Save, Supplement shop, Bunnings I have had enough and come home by 4 pm to finish my lunch. Unfortunately some of the lunch has dropped all over my car.

2 closest rows are mine. Nola looking after the other 6!

That is all her planting and care

Getting ready for my beans 

Julie Q and me outside the florist shop Remuera 

What would you look like BALD?

Love is... Accepting you as you are

Watching Hair grow
It struck me that as strong as I am,  I would not enjoy being bald. Apart from looking weird.   My sudden onset of more gray and the prospect of darker regrowth is put aside.  Colin's hair is definitely darker thank goodness.  He was super grey in  May before transplant.  I'm still jealous of his dark long eye lashes.  I would steal for those.
So now he doesn't need his hat so much because his soft downy hair is working as an insulator. The other down side of chemo apart from the obvious sickness is terribly dry skin and nails. Can't say it is worth going through chemo to get longer darker lashes and darker hair. 

All going as planned this week.  Unfortunately he broke his tooth.  Going to be an expensive replacement.  Caps are over $1400 these days. 
We are planning to get away for labour weekend.  so good Colin doesn't have to rush home for work either these days. 

AddictionS;

Reno Rumble, The Block,  Humans,  knitting           

Unfortunately they have all finished and I have run out of wool for my project.  Even Colin who didn't watch tv except the news is saying  "channel 3 Humans is on" 

Damn more cooking cleaning and gardening on the  agenda! 

We enjoyed Nola's home grown veges

Busy doing nothing!

Love is... Thinking of others

Thursday

Colin is doing well.  My gosh I can hardly keep up with him on our daily walks.  I  don't like walking up Hill and of course we live on a hill so there is always a hill climb.  If there is the slightest issue I  get  a bit scared but no need to panic this week.  His health is progressing well.
His hair,  though still light has grown and today is the first day he has not needed to wear his hat all the time.
He is able to do more each day.  We are so pleased the weather is warmer and it is safer to venture further a field.

I'm working hard in the garden trying to plant veges.  Now more than ever it is crucial that we have organic vegetables.  Unfortunately I have always failed with growing carrots that are big or straight or beetroot that are bigger than a 20c coin. I can grow magnificent silverbeet,  limes and parsley and weeds.
Hoping  my beans,  snowpeas,  cucumber,  tomatoes and courgettes will behave and produce fruit this season.

I am researching daily for anticancer foods.  I have discovered amazing information about foods we eat daily that are dangerous for our health.  The food producers have even lied to us and there is more money in keeping people sick than finding a cure. 
No trans fats or hydrogenated oils.  Good Food choices can keep you healthy. 

So sorry
To hear about  Andy's passing away 2 weeks ago.  Sandra D and I think of all the people that have crossed our paths on this journey.  We know how fragile life is  and how God has given our men some extra time.  Thinking of Manos,  Greg,  Paul,  Robert,  Rebecca, Monica,  Steve and Adair.

Spoke too Soon
Colin had a hypo episode tonight and after jellybeans,  1 peanut butter sandwich,  1 honey sandwich and a cocoa drink be improved.  Not sure if the flaxseed oil and yoghurt mixture is working on him to improve the insulin resistance.  Now he will adjust his insulin and make sure he snacks if  exercising.

Watching the All Blacks win against  Georgia 

Who did we run into

Love is... Being free

Thursday
Small jobs turn into an all day affair.  Well we were supposed to be home by lunchtime.  Now Colin is retired life has really changed for both of us.
Run into Maggie from the Cossie club in Pak n Save. Then see Di And Phil so we decide to go for casual lunch in Botany. 
Nice one.

Saturday
I have been flat out this week
*washed 2 cars
*lawns,  weeds and clearing branches and wood off the bank
*3 loads of washing cos weather is fine
*cleaned cat area in laundry,  yuk and rubbish tins.
*gardening
*Vacuumed

Dreamy patisserie cream puffs

We've come a long way

Love is....  Living life again

Monday
Colin has had his groshon chest vein access removed. No dramas and all over in 10 seconds.  He didnt want to give it up as taking blood was so easy.  Time to be brave and cut ties. 

Groshon

My favourite Beard Papa Puffs yummy

In training by the shopping  queen,  me! 

Out and about, everywhere

Love is.... A life worth living

Saturday
I  realised yesterday that I was no longer looking for close carparks and worrying about how far to walk to a place.  Colin can walk longer distances and is no longer taking cat naps in the afternoon since a week ago. What a difference.  Sometimes he still waits in the car as it is not ideal for him to enter a place.  Tomorrow will be the first day in about 4-5 months where I need him to drive down the road for an errand as I am busy all day at a concert.
We have lunched this week and now dinnered with dance group friends.  I almost feel normal.
So nice to catch up on news and socialise while we can.
Probably taking a few risks but we are  still being careful with what is being eaten and where we go.

First yum char meal out since transplant 

First dinner out.  My night off cooking. 

Making a break for it

Wednesday

 Consultant visit this morning and Colin is making very good progress.  I hesitate to say he is doing great because anything can change in a blink of an eye.

*  Recently dropped taking 7 doses of tablets

*  Tomorrow to start titrating down immuno suppressants. Will be finished in 3 months if all goes to plan.

*  Well and fit, no temperatures or rashes or diarrhea.

*   Recent changes in blood test are not a worry says specialist

*   Food rules: we have relaxed a bit

*   Cleaning rules: I have relaxed a bit (kind of couldn't keep it up) Neutrophils are good anyway.

*   Removal of central line (Groshon) from his chest hopefully next week

*   Hospital visits down to fortnightly when Groshon is removed. Get our life back.

*   Still no travel overseas is on the cards till June 2016. Dependent on health

Problem with going off immuno suppressants is that there is a chance of getting Graft versus Host disease.  As this states it is kind of a fight between the donor cells and Colin's own bone marrow cells that are left. If it goes into a full blown fisticuffs then we have a problem. It is more likely to happen at this stage!

Colin has cut out his afternoon sleep. He is growing hair.  He is walking 2 km every fine day. He is doing office work, dishes and jobs around the house. He is stronger and well. He is enjoying retirement. He is eating well and maintaining his weight.

Pray:

That it all stays on the up and up. That the transplant will continue to work for a LONG time.

We just don't know how long it will continue.

 

Domain greenhouse

Sandra D and me on our walk

Tuesday a visit and uke jam with Sandra

Hair today

Love is... A warm head of hair

Saturday  Day 99
We are really over this NZ winter weather.  Some warm sunshine would be wonderful.
Off shopping with 2 sons to dressmart and they have procured themselves suits on sale.  Looking really dapper though mum has a job to take up hems again.  Barkers were wonderful help.
I can't believe what a year it has been for us.  It is scary to think ahead of what our next year will bring.  Can't make plans either.  Just enjoying time together. It will be Christmas soon enough. January will be a year of illness and recovery for Colin. 

Colin has been good this week.  Just look at his hair finally growing and showing.

Monday DAY 100

A milestone but still can't be too complacent. A good day at clinic with a catch up with friends and a visit to others. Enjoyed a late lunch and home later.  Tiring sometimes. 

Tuesday 

We are out at  Sanda and Kevins a change in scenery and a jam on  out ukelele with Sandra and Vanessa was great.  I need to start practicing again. 

Dinner,  filo wrapped chicken mushroom and cheese with parsley pesto. Medley of roast veges. 

Diabetic and transplant friendly

Happy Father's day Honey

Love is.... Memories of us becoming parents of 3 boys to men.

Sunday
Oaty pancakes for Father's day breakfast .  Yumo.  Too bad! you just have to have maple syrup now and again. Unfortunately by lunchtime the food didnt stay down.  Colin's scopoderm patch must have come off and he was feeling ill again.  Loaded up with medications he was packed off to bed but was much improved by dinner time.

Nick is off overseas for work but away a month.   LA,  Paris, London and Germany.  Parents last minute instructions about safety,  what to watch out for and what to see. Probably isn't sinking in. 

Monday

Clinic is so frustrating we didnt clear till 3 and waited 50 minutes in the pharmacy. Started to get edgy as had to get home to take Nick to the airport before 5pm. Thank goodness the traffic was clear.  Usually unheard of at 4 pm. It all about waiting for Dr Will who was late today.  Nick got away and lucky him being flown business. 

Colin is able to stop taking  one tablet from today.  Actually involves 4 less capsules each day.  Yayy. His own titration on the magnesium liquid has worked. Was afraid halving the dose might not work but it has. Mini progress.  Next week he sees the consultant so lets hope he is pleased with progress too. 

Wednesday

YesterdayI had a time out day.  Colin is always on my mind.  My massage day and lunch and lovely catch up with  Faye.  Today we are stay at homes.  Trying to get on top of clean up and the garden.  Time to plant my lettuce,  snowpeas and spinach.  Had to weed and feed first so hope I can get the seedlings going well. 

  

Yes mum cooked again

Farewells 

Tomorrow tomorrow, I love you (Gin Wigmore)

Love is..... Having a tomorrow to share

Tuesday week 12
Clinic yesterday and all is great so far with Colin.  Left by 12.30 which is almost a record. Popped in to see Daphne and  Colin and bonus Julie and Pete were there.  Had afternoon tea. Amazing to begin getting back to socialising just a little.  Colin's sisters visited Thursday.  Sandra and Kevin,  Viv and Steve visited on Friday. Crystal and Sam visited on Sunday.  A whirlwind of visitors.

Colin is walking 2 km and we are managing most days now weather is warmer and there is a Window of clear sky. 
Hair
Can't believe it had taken 3 months for even a show of hair growth on his head .  That last round of chemo was really toxic. I can just barely see the growth but you can feel it. It is growing back a different texture this time almost like a five o'clock shadow. Still grey.  I wondered why my hair is so grey but saw on tv that it is due to stress.  That is why it increased this year then. Damn.

Thursday
I have a grasp on what to cook given the restrictions for transplant and diabetes.  I have loosened up on the transplant lists as Colin's blood levels are  so good.  Basically cutting out added sugar and lowering Glycemic index.  (but I ate some lemon cake for breakfast - it was so oo good)  Friend has recommended a cancer recovering book which recommends more foods and supplements. Barry Thomson Defeat Cancer Twice. Colin is not keen and I have heaps more reading and research. Not introducing anything yet due to the transplant and he can't stomach any more tablets at present.  A work in progress.
Colin was feeling sick after lunch because we are playing with the anti nausea drugs.  Got it sorted now but don't want what happened last time

Afternoon tea

Out and about with Mary up to our shopping tricks again

80 Days around the world

Love is..... Only one day at clinic this week

Monday  80 days
In June next year we might be able to travel. Wont be around the world though.
Great news as Colin is progressing well and Dr Will is letting Colin attend clinic only 1 day a week.  We are ecstatic. :-) All getting our lives back on track.
Do miss seeing our new friends. 
I spent the morning visiting Colin and Daphne.  As I went to see blue coat Jenny Wong but got lost near the Starship where I ran into Dr Simon Chin.  He didn't know about Colin and went straight off to day stay to visit him.  Nurse Anne was so onto it today and we got a carpark just like that!
We left just after lunch and went shopping again.  Going to try cooking Anthony Hoy Fongs bbq ribs again and the beef cheek stew.  Still managed our daily walk but Colin has a sore instep.

Tuesday
Mission impossible at the movies.  If we go early there are less people.  Yes only 9 other cinema goers.  Great action scenes. Thoroughly enjoyed it  
I feel the need to get back out there in the real world .  With care about where we go though. Of course.
Now deciding on whether to buy a cast iron casserole.

Wednesday

Bought the casserole pot for $50 and it cooked up beef cheek stew which was the most delicious stew I ever made.  Didnt want to spend $700 on Le Creuset.  Wonder if the cast iron made it so yummy?

Friday

Colin'sisters visited yesterday and Sandra and Kevin called in today with sister Viv and Steve and Moy.  So good to swap notes on Steves treatment and see him looking so well. Oxygen therapy must work.  Ive really done well and achieved heaps.  Mowed lawns,  weedeated,  weeded,  caught up on laundry,  floors etc. My helper has gone and got a job but Colin is slowly picking up the slack.  We have managed daily walks and now going over 1.5km. Feeling goooood. 

Can't stop  hugging Colin but he is more interested in playing with his  phone!  Don't burst my bubble. 

At the movies.  Shhhhh! 

Served on mashed  potato and Kumera 

A Spring in our step.

Love is...... Enjoying The approach of Spring

Friday week 11 (77 days)
Newfound energy after taking vitamins and Spring is trying to break through with my daffodils popping their heads up.   I hibernate in winter and am now feeling better and ready for action. 

+out shopping early
+did washing -  Colin hang out
+vacuumed upstairs
+walked 1. 3 km for Colins rehab
+pruned roses
+baked a prune and pumpkin loaf = yum
( nurse gave me a sugar free recipe)
+cooked Anthony Hoy Fongs ribs for dinner
+finished scarf for a present

Probably crash after belly dance class tomorrow.
Plenty more jobs on the list

With the slight relaxation on food restrictions,  i am managing a little better. Bought some soups for lunch  and making vogels mouse traps which are easy and quick  for Colin to make. Colin seems a little more enthused to exercise again so we are back to walking if the weather allows. Will build up distance slowly as living on a hill means a bike back up Hill coming home 

Paleo dinner?  Pan fried lemon pepper gurnard on wilted spinach with Mediterranean veges. 

Well it was yum. Got my cooking mojo back

Bird bird, fly away again

Love is... A quiet sleep in?

Bird Factor
Yes a bird is back on our roof waking us in the morning.  Can't see it but I do know it is not the dove.  No cooing.  This bird delights in fluttering and tapping on the roof.  Not sure if it is hopity skipping across roof tiles or making a bath in the guttering.  Just jolly annoying at 7.00am.  We are trying to sleep in. My slamming windows and yelling out makes NO difference. 

Monday Day 73
Fabulous progress
Colin is taking mylanta as a magnesium supplement and it has worked!  No diarrhea but a raise in magnesium levels.  Means no treatment necessary so we can leave by 12.30 today after bloods and early doctor checkup with Dr William.  Nearly a record for us.
He can now stop one of his tablets.  Great news.
Discussion with fellow patients today show that  Colin is progressing well considering, as 2 people have had their transplants not work well and they update us on their progress  
We realize that there is no textbook recovery.  We have to be aware that anything can happen anytime.

We have time for a walk around the museum and even brave going in to see the Auckland exhibit.   Shhhhh don't tell a yone but there were very few people around.  Colin is doing really well and doing a little more around home to help out. Just hope that this momentum keeps going forward slowly.  You won't believe how fabulous it was to walk in the sun and fresh air and  do something different. 

I was fired up and came home to weed and shift a plant in the garden.  Cooked " run over rooster"  and it was delicious I have to say.  Meal times are looking up.