Part II // 15 January 2011
So. I cannot write today in 4000 characters. It is a Saturday. Too much going on and I like to blabber anyway. As Kelly will say: “come on, Edith, spit it out.” Sorry too much to blab on about today.
Kelly, Danielle, Simon and Miriam and I visited for a while. The sun shined in my room. I sat and soaked in the sun through my window. We took a few photos using my new Christmas present. I received a Nikon D3000 camera. It is fun to use. We got some good pics out the window of my hospital room: tree with no leaves on it, hospital building, etc. We took a picture of the kids. Kelly took a picture of my catheter wound. My chest muscles are completely blue and purple, like I am wearing a halter top. Simon was fascinated with the discoloration. It looks literally like Vladmir Klitschko punched me square in the right breast. That with the catheter trouble caused most of the discoloration is on my right side. I name it my chocolate side. The other side is my vanilla side and we are only allowed to touch that side in dire need of a vein or emergency. I decided this. I also told them that they have to refer to my sides as either chocolate or vanilla. No idea why. But those are my rules. Incidentally, all the bruising is starting to yellow which is a positive sign of healing. So, maybe I will have a bit of Tapioca to offer.
My father-in-law, Dan, showed up with Danielle and Adrian Massey. Dan could not bring Vicky, my mother-in-law, or my niece, Brittney, because both of them are a bit ill. However, the visit with Kelly, Dan, both Danielles and my children was absolutely great! Kelly felt that my color was really good – the normal coloring, not the chocolate/vanilla story. She monitored me and was very attentive to me. Once she noticed I was getting tired she escorted me to my bed and I took a nap. Danielle and Adrian are such a fine and wonderful couple. They emit such energy and love. I would wish everyone the chance to meet and learn from them and their life experiences. Good Peeps!
Simone and Alena O'Brien also came to visit. Simone is married to my dear friend, John, whom I have only known for a aout two years. he moved to Rauenzell from Colorado to be with his wife Simone who is from Rauenzell. He and I empathize since we are not "from" rauenzell but we have been adopted by the village and despite loving it have common challenges of culture that we work through and compare with each other. Simone came to shave my head in preparation for the coming hair exodus. "Let my follicles go!" However, as I was awaiting a blood transfusion and the doctor might be in a hurry, Nurse Stephanie suggested we waite for another week. The hair would start to fall out then anyway and we would really want to shave it then. Simone brought me some great books: journals, etc. One is in German called "Papa, Erzaehl Mal!" "Papa, Tell Us!" Maybe you can find it (in english too?) on www.droemer-knaur.de It is a question led journal asking me about my life. I love it. They left. I napped.
I woke up to a visit from my former manager at Polycom, Kay Ohse and his wife Nicole. Nicole is also suffering from stomach cancer and has been battling her tumors for about a year. Man. People are strong. She is amazing. Showed me her neck catheter. I was somehow jealous and somehouw relieved not to have it. She and Kay made the trip up from Stuttgart to visit me. Kay is like my family. No matter how much he and I have argued, kicked and screamed at each other about work, we will never go away. He says the same of me. We laugh about our work relationship because it is like we are family. We do not go away. We have celebrated together a great deal as well. I am grateful for his visit and I know that he will be there for me for any of the work related issues brought by illness involving the German work bureaucracy.
He just left. I am going to watch the sport show about today’s soccer matches. I know the basics. Bavaria Munich won which is good. Elias is a HUGE fan. Some of the neighbors invited Elias to watch the game at our sport club in Rauenzell. I am sure he enjoyed it! Also, Nuermberg lost to the last team in the league. I mean, PUH-leaaaase! Had they won, they would have jumped 5 positions or so. But what are you going to do? The ball is round!
Rounding out the day. The Leukemia cells are waaaaay down. Half of what they were on day one. The Platelets are stable. Hemoglobin is down which will probably require a transfusion so I can process oxygen more easily. I fell as well as can be expected. The doctors feel positive. Still a long row to hoe, but as I say every day: second by second, minute by minute, day by day. Step by step. Peace. Be good to one another.
More: http://www.hsengine.com/s_Journals.html
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