Happy Day 22 (nah, I’m not counting at all!) :)
Written by JKM on October 30th, 2008It’s Wednesday night, and I’m looking forward to watching “Private Practice”, then hittin’ the hay.
OK, now it’s after “Private Practice” and I’m watching “Lipstick Jungle”…geez, what a tv bum I’ve become, huh?
Anyway, this will be a quick entry, ’cause I’m very sleepy right now, but all is well. My team told me yesterday that I am doing exceptionally well, that out of 60 or so patients they are treating, I’m number one in terms of health. My neutrophils, white count, etc are all coming up which is definitely a good sign!!
I’m just sitting here finishing up my 2nd infusion of fluids for the day. I do one in the AM and one in the PM. The bags have generic fluids, plus some magnesium and potassium to make sure my levels are normal. Oh! Also, they told me the only days I have to come to the clinic now are Tuesday and Friday! I no longer have blood draws every day! So that’s very good news, don’t ya think?!!
Sorry I’m not too inspired to write as of late…I just feel tired, so I take naps, but then I stiil feel a little tired. I’m still walking every day, and just taking this whole process one step at a time (like the pun?!! haha). The hardest is always making that final move from the couch to my bed at night….I mean, it takes energy to brush your teeth the right way and to change in pajamas!!! 
I hope you like the photos below. My mom and I are hanging in there, and just taking it day by day. I know I’m not through everything and that anything can happen in the future, but I’m just counting down the days and doing the best I can. Thank God Mom’s with me to take care of me!!
Love from Seattle
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- Meet Tom Coughlin, a fellow Team in Trainer who walked the VA Beach Half and the San Francisco full this year....AND he is also a leukemia and transplant survivor. I enjoyed meeting him and his wife--thanks so much for stopping by!! (ps. my backpack has my daily fluids in it) :)
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- My mom and I went to the Ballard Locks today to check it out...these little plaques on the ground depicting salmon lead you to the salmon ladder.
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- I think this guy likes to watch the boats go in and out.
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- The boats are waiting for their turn to go through!
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- They are untying the little boat from the big one...I guess they all tie up to each other with bumpers and all, and once the locks start opening, they free each boat from the lines.
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- Here's the lower side, the Puget Sound part of the locks.
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- Part of the fish ladder (I think!) (mostly salmon)
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- The lone salmon...he was the only one in the fish ladder and he was swimming backwards...I don't blame him! Going upstream and heading to the Sound means finishing out his life cycle and dying! I don't blame him---go your way buddy!! I think there could be a children's book in this..."Joey, the salmon who swam backwards"...what do ya think?
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- A closer view of Joey!! I'm thinking good thoughts that somehow he'll break free and do whatever he has on his agenda!
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- Here is the higher side, Lake Washington
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- the gates are opening!
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- And the little guy is out and free to have fun in the Puget Sound!
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- "There's gotta be some good food in all that rapid-like water!!"
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- I've always liked trestles...maybe 'cause there's one right near where my mom grew up in PA...anyway, it looks pretty with the town behind it.
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- Is this a weeping evergreen? That's what I told my mom anyway! :)
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- If you look closely, you'll see me in there--I blend right in with the tree!!
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- What a gooooorgeous day!!!
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- It looks just like Charleroi with the train on it....I also can't help but think of "Stand by me" whenever I see a trestle...anyone else do the same thing?
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- Look at the beauuuutiful flowers!!
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- Mom stops to smell the roses. :)
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- A pretty flower sent from me to you!
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- Mom liked this little cafe, near the Ballard Locks.
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- Meet Atticus, a cute dog we met outside a creperie in Ballard.
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AM
WHAT?!?!?!?! You waited all the way until the 4th paragraph to mention you only have to go to the clinic 2 days a week now! That’s AWESOME! I would have figured that’d be the first thing you wrote. That really is great news, now you can use that extra time to rest, indulge in your TV bumness and focus on your daily walks. Congrats on the new freedom! Love you!
P.S. Atticus is BEAUtiful…Seattle sure has some little 4-legged cuties wandering around the city. Has “Jameson” come to visit you again? Or the bum cats (AKA Bella)?
xoxoxoxoxoxox
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AM
Hey, I know Tom Coughlin! Small world…
Any GVHD yet?
30
AM
I having been sitting here reading your (new) blog and LOVING it! I think about you often am not surprised to hear that you are doing so well!! You are wonderful and you have a fantastic donor!
Tell your mom I said Hi!! Take care of each other!
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You’re #1! You’re #1! Wooohooo! Keep it up, Julie!
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AM
So thrilled to hear you only have to go to the clinic twice and week and no more daily blood draws!! Take good care and plez give your mom a big hug from us! I’m eagerly looking forward to seeing you and Mama Matthews next month! love, nori
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AM
That’s FABULOUS about the clinic visits (I sorta echoed Laura’s feeling on that one.) I actually saw Private Practice last night while grading horrible Spanish II quizzes- very interesting. Keep writing when you get the time and energy. (Did you get the pictures I sent you?)
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PM
I am glad you are doing well. We all miss you here at group. It was a big one last week. Hope to see you soon.
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PM
First off, a comment on a comment….Spanish II quizzes, bleh!!!! I’ve got a stack full of compositions and midterms as we speak. !Que divertido! Segundo… I am sooooo glad you are able to go out and see all the beautiful fall foliage (and adorable pups). Keep up the good work. Rootin for you every day and am pretty darn impressed that you are the number one patient! Will you miss the clinic?
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PM
OK, so it’s November now—those days are movin’, even if you don’t think so. . .I”m grateful for the pictures because I can see you–and you look so good. Tired is hard to fight, but it’s just like when you were a baby–you grew while you were sleeping–this time around, it’s all those cells grafting where they’re supposed to and it’s all done while you’re resting. Your smiling face is before me each morning and night and I think of you so many times during the day when I see something I think you would enjoy
We love you. . . .