Happy New Year's!

Brian’s counts today are:  WBC = 2.5, Hgb = 8.8, Plat = 290, and ANC = 2.3

They are taking him off the TPN for longer time frames today.  They only want him on it for 8 hrs overnight.  They really want him to eat.  The quicker we can get his belly to work, the better.  He really isn’t drinking very well either. 

PT was able to get him up and moving today.  He sat in a chair for 2 1/2 hours over the lunch hour, and then when they came back…he was still up.    They brought a big 3 wheel bike up for him to ride…and he went fast.  He almost ran me over.  He is eager to do things that he enjoys…and if he thinks it is boring…he drags his feet.

Grandpa and Grandma B brought Britney up…she went to the New Years Eve party with my sister at our church.  And also Grandpa and Grandma C were here for alittle while with one of their friends.  It is nice to enjoy the holiday’s with our families.

Last evening, the Hospital did a good job of making it a fun New Year’s Eve.  They had a Free All You Can Eat Buffet.  It was delicious.  They had it from 10:30pm till 12:30am.  Pork, Sauerkraut, Mashed Potatoes/Gravy, Vegetable Lasagna, Green Beans, Cooked Apples, Tossed Salad, Pasta Salad, Dinner Rolls, Cookies and Pop.  It was wonderful.  Ed and I got Brian to sleep around 11:15 and headed down for a quick bite before the Fireworks started at Midnight.  Watching from our 5th floor window, was like having front row seats.  It was great.

Brian received a Dart gun from a friend of Eddie’s.  It shoots 3 darts per second.  You should see people hesitate before they walk past our room.    Our friends up here, Cliff, Michelle, Hannah (Brit’s friend) and their little girl Raelynn, are having alot of fun with syringes full of water and the darts.  I’m not sure who is after who anymore.  Somehow, we have to keep things fun.   We all want to go home.

Well, everyone is asleep right now except for me.  I guess I better end and catch a quick nap myself.  I hope you are having a nice New Years and are able to snuggle up and keep warm.   Praise the Lord for heat and warm blankets, especially with the weather outside.

We are at day 31 at the hospital this round.  Please keep praying that Brian will get the desire to go home.  He likes it at the hospital and doesn’t care whether we go home or not.    Pray that the rest of us can endure.  Poor Brit has to head back to school on Monday.  That always adds a twist to things, someone has to come in the morning to watch her before the bus, and then after school.  She has to be responsible to get all of her homework assignments completed.  (often immediately after school, in case they plan on coming up to visit for the evening.)  I feel bad to expect so much out of her, when she is already on her own for everything else.  She does an excellant job though…I couldn’t ask for a more responsible child. 

Thank you very much for helping to make the end of 2008 a pleasant one.  We greatly appreciate the many gifts, visits, cards, groceries, lawn care, phonecalls, emails, etc from so many of you.  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.  Your encouragment definately helps to make the days go faster.  It is so comforting to know that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.  Thank you.  Jolene