Gramps

I'm always talking about the Grandma's and last year I wrote my Dad a Father's day blog. This years its Grandpa's turn.

Benjamin was his given name but everyone called him "Brownie". He was a simple man from Kansas. The baby of nine children. His stories about growing up are funny. One of his favorite sayings was, " Wait for baby". It originated when he was young and trying to keep up with his siblings. It became a family saying for when someone is getting ahead of themselves.

He served in WWII proudly. He went to the European theater and was at the Battle of Bulge. His time was cut short because of a fight. Two men were fighting in camp, one threw a rock at the other. My gramps came around the corner and was hit in the eye. It damaged his eye permanently.

He loved to sing and whistle. Gene Autry was his hero and some of my most cherished memories are of him singing to us. I still cannot here Rudolf or Here Comes Santa Claus without bawling.

He loved his family and loved nothing better than when everyone was together. He could be found out back having a Bud with my Dad and uncles. He had a sister Wilma whom he adored. He was a good brother too.

He adored my Grandma. That was his girl and he was broken hearted when she died. He died eight weeks to the day after her. Wanting nothing more than to be with his girl.

He was a simple,kind hearted man. I think my emo tendencies come from him. He loved being sentimental. He loved remembering.

He had the most beautiful white hair. I loved to run my fingers through it. My last moment with him was doing just that and thanking him for everything. It was a beautiful goodbye.

This song reminds me of him. To me its Silver Haired Grandpa of mine. I miss him so much.

Watch "GENE AUTRY SILVER HAIRED DADDYOF MINE" on YouTube

Relief

We arrived at Stanford this morning. It brought back memories of the last time we checked in for surgery. Last time we were laden with burden. This time we were anxious but the load was lighter. We were better prepared not facing so many unknowns.

They took Marty back and took his blood. When I got back to him the fellow had already been in. They told him if his creatinine had gone below 1.5 there wouldnt be a biopsy. They also explained they didn't think it was rejection. They just wanted to know what was going on. Maybe drug toxicity?

We sat behind a curtain listening to the older men high on Valium waiting for their angiograms and laughing hysterically at their comments to the nurses.

Conner was extremely anxious, he feared we were leaving them for a long time again. He kept calling over and over.

The bloodwork came back at 1:30, his creatinine was 1.4. The young fellow seemed disappointed she didn't get to do the biopsy. She had done "several" according to her. They did want a ultrasound to check for blockage. He went down for that and was given the all clear.

I truly believe our prayers were answered. Simple as that. No other explanation needed. We walked out lighter than air and relieved. We went to get boba to celebrate.

Thanks for all the prayers and support!

Rare full moon rise at Yosemite.

We went to Glacier point at the end of the day. There were photographers with their very expensive camera's set up. We asked what was happening?

Apparently, its a rare event for a unclouded,unobstructed view of a full moon in Yosemite. We just happened upon it.

Also at dusk, a man in a kilt played the bagpipe.

Grateful heart

A year ago this week, I had a breakdown in a relationship with a member of my family. It was a sad thing, for several years I had tried restoring and improving the relationship to no avail. I kept failing and being hurt by the failure.

I called my close cousins and a few my close friends. I decided it was time to walk away and allow God to heal my hurting heart.

Wow! What a difference a year makes. My heart is full of peace and joy, over filled with love. I learned that attitude and out look make a difference. Nothing has changed but my Outlook and perspectives. The relationship is still gone but I feel peace.

I have what I desire in spades and don't need to chase after someone unwilling to meet me halfway.  It's been really amazing and I wanted to share.

You can't change someone but you can change yourself and your behavior. It works and the peace is amazing. I still have hope someday things might still change, I know that isn't on me to work out and if it doesn't change, I will be okay.

Keep calm and carry on!

We had a good visit to Stanford yesterday. Dr.B was happy and even was ready to change us to three month visits.

He decided to take him of the insulin sensitizer and see what happens. Also taking him off a drug Valcyte which is to prevent something called CMV for short. It's a disease most people get as children and never know. Marty never had it but his donor had it. They've given him this preventive drug for six months and will take him off now.

Because of this, he has to come back the next two months. The receptionist was asking why he is still coming monthly? I guess most aren't by now. We think they just like us and are taking good care.

We got a phone call yesterday afternoon and need some prayer. His creatinine jumped from 1.3 to 1.7 and they want to do a biopsy next week of the kidney.

They had brought his anti rejection drug down in dose. Prograf is toxic to the organ in high doses. It could be this causing the high creatinine.

We have made friends with a couple. Alvin had his transplant two months before Marty. He has already had a biopsy and his creatinine is higher than Marty's all the time. After hearing that from Nekol, we feel better.

We also found transplantbuddies forum posts, this is get common and it seems to not mean the worst always. In fact, more often its easily treatable.

Marty has been drinking Diet Coke, it may be causing dehydration. He is going to drink more water this week. If his creatinine goes down he won't need the biopsy.

We were pretty devastated yesterday. Today, we are calm and at peace. Basically, by all accounts Marty has been lucky to not already have had this done. He hasn't had any major complications and everything has gone well. We have no reason to think anything other than that.

Please pray for this to be a simple fix and nothing to worry about. We are trusting God and taking each day as it comes. We are going to enjoy this next week.

We aren't sure what day the biopsy will be. We are hoping Friday.

Until then keeping calm and carrying on.

10,000 views!!

Blogger recently added a new page view feature. After today's blog, I've hit 10,000 plus views on my blog. I'm blown away.

Thank you to my faithful readers! This means the world to me. I better get cracking on some new blogs.

Busy,busy, oh so busy!

I'm sitting in the sun watching the kids swim. The weather is finally nice enough. My Dad asked why I'm neglecting my blog and my general quiet online. I'm busy living life.

Elizabeth has been training for a triatholon and I've been training with her. We've been running, swimming, and biking.

We've been finishing up our school year and I've been planning next year.

Marty has been working a lot....sometimes 16 hour days. He's doing well and enjoying being well.

Looking forward to having company next week and hopefully making some trips ourselves this summer. I'm itching to go camping again.

Of course, a lionshare of time is spent taking my kids to the neighborhood pool.

I've got blog's stored in my head and think I will try to get them out in all the busyness.

Hope to see some of you this summer!