May 13, 2017: Day +173

I missed posting yesterday.  This past week was a big week, with lots to do and by Friday night I was wearing down.  After catching up around the house and taking care of Doug, it was after 10.  I usually love to watch the news and the late night monologues on TV, but last night when I got in bed, I was ready for sleep.  Ironically, this was the first night that Doug was awake longer than me.  He turned off the TV.  I have been noticing that he is not as fatigued as he has been in the past. And there are a couple of other things I was thinking about today.  He has not had a migraine or dizziness since his stem cell transplant.  These seem like good signs and hopeful signs that the progression of his MS  may have stopped.

Angie and Tom at the Brewery

This afternoon we met Angie and Tom, and their kids at the Crooked Fence on Highway 16.  As the kids played outside on the lawn we enjoyed sampling some of the brews and sharing some tasty food. This was our preliminary Mother's Day celebration.  It was fun.  Doug ate his first raw carrot and piece of celery in 6 months.  For the past 6 months because of his compromised immune system he has not been able to eat any raw fruits and vegetables.  We decided our Mother's Day celebration would be the day we would celebrate this milestone even though his actual 6 month anniversary is on the 19th. Honesty, I don't think he suffered too much since he really is not that fond of vegetables.  It really was was a celebration, because he has now passed another big milestone.

And so we pray:

Doug enjoying his vegetables---NOT

God of Resurrection and New Life,  We give thanks for healing. With the passage of  the last 6 months, while the challenges have been great there have been bright streams of light in the darkness. That light shines brightly in the presence of family and the playing with children. It is reflected in Doug's increased energy, being pain free and eating a full and healthy diet. We give thanks for our kids, their spouses, our grand children and our foster grandchildren.  We give thanks for our moms, for all they did for us and for all the memories they gave us. Amen