New development
Drew’s creatinine level was going back up. It was down to 1.5 and then it was back to over three. They did a biopsy and are changing his medicine routine. He’s also getting Plasma Pheresis treatment. This will help him not reject the kidney.
Millie is staying with him and is doing great herself.
They both could use more prayer.
I’m Home!
I drove back home on Sunday. It was snowing like crazy and the other side of the interstate was mayhem. But I got home OK. Work has been tough. It seems like I’ve done two weeks worth of work this week. But I am glad to be home.
Drew Update
As Millie reports, Drew seems to have turned the corner. He’s constantly on his cell phone now. He has been up and walking around the floor to get exercise. Millie is with him most of the day and then gets home to sleep. I’m glad I was there. I’m glad I’m home.
Drew back in the hospital
Brother-in-law Drew developed a partial bowel blockage yesterday morning. He was re-admitted to the hospital. They said that in 80% of cases, the blockage frees up on it’s own after two or three days. Drew has been there almost 48 hours. If he is still blocked in the morning, a decision will be made to operate or not.
Please pray for him.
Millie’s Doing Great
Sister Millie is doing well. Her pain level is way down and has been a big help and support for Drew during this issue. We will be at the hospital very early Sat. morning since the doctor he would make Drew the first patient he sees.
“There’s no place like home…”
Both Millie and Drew got discharged from the hospital today. They are home and my brother is already there helping. I’ll be there later tonight.
Transplant
My sister Millie is donating her “spare” kidney to her husband today. They will be in surgery at 6:45 AM. The surgeon will call me when they are done. I will update her blog at Millie’s World as She Sees It .
Prayer
Please be in prayer for Millie and Drew Leonard.
Woman explains salvation to man who threatened her
Pauline Jacobi of Dyersburg, TN bought her groceries at the local Super Wal-Mart. When she got in her car a man also got in and ask her for her money. She told him no she wouldn’t.
When he threatened to kill her “I said, ‘If you kill me, I’m going straight to heaven. If you kill me, you’re going to hell.'”
Read her amazing story here: http://www.stategazette.com/story/1294862.html
I’m showing the New Face
I’m coming out of electronic hiding. I’m putting my new mug up on the Internet. I got a photographer friend of mine to shoot me at church today. I am pretty well used to it by now. I’ve been told I look gentler now without the facial hair. I’m probably going to keep it this way for quite a while.
A New Phase
It’s a new year and I’m starting a new adventure. I’m going to church singles functions and meeting tons of new people. I’m starting to interact with women more. I’m starting some new friendships and going to lunch with various people. Like all things, it is different and hard in some ways. I have decided to take things very slowly and wait for God to show me what is next.
Trudie’s humor
As you see, Trudie had a bit of humor about things. These are my antique glass ornaments from when I was a child. Trudie labeled them as shown. [Click the image to see the animation.] I had fun creating this animated image. I used The GIMP which is a free graphics manipulation program (like Photoshop).
Putting the decorations away
Storing away the decorations was sad. It is now officially dreary, drab Winter.
Hi, Patrick!
Yesterday, I could stand it no longer!
I have done a lot of work about my Control Freak addiction and most of the time now I can just say “whatever!” But that doesn’t mean I’m comfortable with it. I can usually now not mentally criticize how someone else in charge is doing things. And I am grateful for their service.
Now, I limit my expressing my control freak nature by cleaning. When things are clean, I feel that my environment is ordered and controlled.
We used to have a joke about how when I cleaned the kitchen I would deep-clean it to within an inch of it’s life. Trudie labeled it “Patrickzizing” the kitchen.
So, yesterday I couldn’t stand the driveway and house status any longer. I had to do something. So I got out the rake and the power blower and I blew all the two month accumulation of leaves off the deck, porch, driveway, and – just for good measure – the cul-de-sac street.
I also got out the vacuum and vacuumed the house.
And, since it had been bothering me for a long time, I washed my 240 DL Volvo (yes, in 45F weather).
Ahh! That feels better. Now my world feels more ordered, clean, and more controlled.
I’m sorry for my slip; I’ll be picking up another white chip at tomorrow’s meeting.
The Old Christmas Creche
I dug out the family creche from our childhood. It’s not in very good shape and the original cardboard box has seen it’s last. The newpapers that Dad used to store the various wood pieces date from 1955, ’67, and ’71. I’ve not had it out in many years. The plaster figurines are very beat up but it still makes me smile.
Mixing and Mingling
Monday one of the guys from our small group celebrated his birthday with us and a bunch of other friends. It was my first social venture with a co-ed singles crowd. It was interesting. I kind of go quiet when I’m around a lot of people I don’t know and I only knew about six people out of about 30 who were there. So I didn’t say much.
I remember how being with other singles is different than being with other married couples. Not better, not worse, just different. I feel my socializing gears shifting back to a mode that I’ve not engaged in a long time. It will be an adjustment. And I’ve grown and I have changed much since I was single before.
The Next Phase
I feel like the next phase of my life is about to begin. I’ve done a lot of grief work in the current phase. And I will probably continue to hit emotional land-mines every once in a while and I’ll get to grieve another aspect of missing Trudie. But I think I’m ready to put this behind me. Christmas will happen in another week. I’ll grieve missing her for a little while longer but it is drawing to a close.
It is time to start to move on to the next phase. Going to group singles events is the beginning.