Blues and Boba

Its been a week ago now since my sister came to visit. I think she found out that she likes blues and Boba. I took her to two of my favorite STL landmarks. Blues City Deli and Bubble Tea. I think she had a good time. I know I always love live blues.... nothing says life like telling it how it is. and nothing says FUN and Weird like putting a tapioca type ball in your tea, icy, or juice like Bubble tea. I drove her around the city but it was too cold and she was just getting over a 2 week sickness to get out too much. But all in all it was a good day. I can't wait for next time.

Have a Heart!

Darian got a heart! Less than a week after the big disappointment the real thing came true. He is doing fabulous... He is extubated breathing and beating all on his own!!! He still has a road ahead due to how deconditioned he had become. but now he has a chance... at a real life. I am so excited for him. Thanks for all the prayers.

A dear friend of mine and the mother of a very sick child once said that there is a lot of living that goes on in children's hospitals. That statement is so true. Life doesn't stop for illness or prison time or vacation or anything. Life just keeps on happening. And we live with with... so much we can't change... and really want to but it always seems it is the little things we can affect or change. I can't cure cancer. But I can make the last days of a persons life brighter by simple little things. like help out of bed or attending a fundraiser event or even just a smile and a listening ear. While maybe we have to accept the big things...sometimes even death. Look for the little things that make it meaningful. A lot of living goes on here.

The Mystery....of History Unknown Relatives

These pictures are from the tomb of the unknown relative. They are a few examples of pictures I got out of my grandma's (Susie) box. I spent a good part of the day Sunday uploading old photos to my new Picasa web page. I need to make some time to go up to Hannibal and have Susie ID these old photos to solve the mystery of the unknown relative. I think it would be cool to have a little family history. I am not even sure of the time period of some of these pictures. Feel free to help me guess.

Well.... Darrian did not get the heart it turned out not to be as good a match as first thought. Talk about disappointment.... But next time it will be just a hair easier. He worked really hard with me today.... just thought I should post that since I put up the prior post. I think I bring a lot of my work home emotionally. That makes it hard... but feeling free to post tidbits helps.

A Heart for Darrian

It is a graphic picture but also a wonderful thing. Darrian is a 13 year old boy who has been living with a bad heart his whole life and in heart failure for a year. about 3 months ago darrians heart was in serious trouble and he was put in a drug induced coma so his heart could work enough to keep him alive while he waited for a heart transplant. He was transfered to Children's hospital in this state and underwent surgery to give him a berlin heart which is a device that pumps blood bypassing the heart. he has been on that awaiting a heart for the past 1.5 months and friday I got to be present for a wonderful thing... the transplant coodinator came to darrian and his mom and told them That Darrian was not to eat or drink anything for the rest of the day............because Dr. Gandi has accepted a heart on Darrians behalf, which appears to be a very good match and in very good condition.... needless to say not a dry eye in the house. Darrian was appropriatly scared and there is always a little bittler sweet when an organ becomes available (someone has to die for that to happen) But it gives darrian a chance at a normal life. free of this huge machine he has attached to him at all times, a chance to move around without straining his heart too much.

It feels so good to give a patient story that is so good for a change. So Just keep this young man in your prayers. Because I can't wait to see him up and about after his surgery!

oh whoe is me my ears are infected...

Not sure whats up with me lately... now I have double ear infections inner ear... with a ruptured ear drum on the left.... I asked about my immune system... the doctor said all my blood work checked out ok. but good grief... I just got over a bad case of pink eye... only to have another doctor look in my ear and say... woe... that's bad. so more antibiotics and drops. it really hasn't hurt much... just gross bloody draining...

Guess it didn't help that my ear has been infected for 3 weeks before I went to the doctor... I just wanted to give it a chance to heal. stupid antibiotics... and I just keep getting stronger ones. Well that is my story for today... and an anatomy lesson to boot.

choclate bedroom

I have been trying for the past couple of weeks to figure out how I want to decorate the bedroom. We recently got/won a free overnight stay at a newly built hotel... and I think I have found what I really like... This rich chocolate brown... with dark wood and I am thinking blue accents rather than the tan... but I like the tan too. Edgar like the flat screen in the bedroom.... of course. What better way to spend the tax incentives? right? save? what? no thanks I need new bedroom decorations/ bedding.... hey i really do need new bedding.... one day while So the dog was in his kennel which sits right next to the bed... he managed to pull the comforter off the bed into the kennel and pull out the stuffing. I came home and the comforter is all you can see in the kennel then looking to the back there is so crouched in the corner... looking like he had no clue what had happened. all of the sudden this big comforter can in the kennel and attacked me. I need a new bed set and a barrier so neither the comforter or the dog can even see each other. Thats the jist of my plan.

Spring? where are you... are you hiding from me?

Winter Vs. Spring

Anybody else ready for spring?

It seens that it has been a really long time since things were blooming. I am ready for the warmer air, les ice and snow and that smell.... sweet, fresh.

Things are getting along here... never perfect but ok. I had to go buy a new vaccum cleaner today.... Mine no longer sucked... no it wasn't the belt. just got too tired i guess and I have had it a while for a cheap vacuum. So off I went to research and buy a new vacuum had one in mind... bargin quality thats what I wanted... but when I got to the store I was overcome buy the price and went once again for cheep. I told myself I don't have that much carpet... which is true. but on the other hand I have a dog and plenty-o-hair to keep it rolling. p.s. my new vacuum is red and matches the living room.... cool hu?