Day 31 Admission Day 11 HiDAC

Hi everyone,

Gonna try and catch you all up to speed. I ended up taking the train down w/ our friends Lee and Yvonne today. I was thankful for the company, since I never took the train past the gallery before. It proved to be so much easier than driving. I wish I'd started doing it weeks ago. But at least I know now. If anyone is interested I took the R5 to Market-East, and than the R1 to University City. Didn't even have to go far to a different platform, really just turned around after getting off the R5 and we were directly in front of the R1 stop.(reading this over, I sound like such a hick...if we lived in Boston, I'd know my way around and inside out,but I don't know Philly at all.)

So, Bob had a decent day. He looks wan and tired, but really enjoyed seeing L & Y, and especially enjoyed the kugel that Yvonne made just for him. Alright, I had a sample too...well, he can't eat all that. It was delish.
Bobs' counts came up nicely today after the blood yesterday. Oh and while I'm on that subject, Ann M., the staff says anytime you can donate blood, it's needed. The nurse I spoke with wasn't sure about donating it directly in someones' name, but I'll look into that further. Actually now that I'm thinking about it, Red Cross must have a website. I'll check that out. Anybody out there know any details on this, or of any blood drives in the area? Let us know okay?

So, Bobs' hgb was up, but the last chest x-ray(CXR) showed a spotty area in the left lung. Maybe fluid, maybe pneumonia. At any rate he went for a CT scan of his chest this afternoon, so more on that as we get it. But, he's not SOB and his oxygen saturation is high(a good thing), so he's stable as far as that goes. Today his temp only went as high as 100.4, so maybe the fevers are going to take a hike. He continues to lose his water weight and the ruddiness caused by the steroids, so he's not looking like jolly St. Nick anymore. Oh, and horror of horrors...his mustache hairs are falling out. This is something we are going to try to milk...pay a dollar, see the mole.(I'm not explaining that. It's a joke from weeks back). His appetite is back and all is well in the GI regions again. His eyes are the biggest source of discomfort and frustration now, as they are tearing constantly and he can't read. But he's watching DVDs and listening to CDs, so thank heaven for modern technology.

Now, Mary Day, the Penn relays are this big ,huge deal in track and field. High schools and colleges from all over the country take part. I saw buses today from N.Carolina, Va. and Indiana, and that was at 7pm. And it's at Franklin Field, which is U of P's outdoor stadium. So it's chaos there, which is why we are taking the train. Also Bob said to tell you...yes, that is the type of book he likes, and the women are the heroes(heroines?) and of strong character.

Bill, the author is George R. R. Martin, and the first book is called A Game of Thrones. Can't think of the names of 2 and 3, but I'll get it for you. I would certainly appreciate you doing that, dear. And Anne, what is with your dog??? How, exactly, do you know she has a sprained knee? Is she limping? Does she need some of Bobs' "roids"???

And Kimmy, I kept forgetting to tell you that Bob received a card from a Sr. Antoinette Marie, who said she is a friend of Gerrys', and she and her Mercy sisters are praying for Bob. So please thank your Dad for that.

Sam, Bob just says no to Playboy. And what do you mean you don't pray? You play the guitar and sing at Mass. That, in my mind is a very powerful form of praying.

Now, dear BarBRA, thank you for the support. I have to tell everyone that yesterday was just an off day for me. Things just seemed to get overwhelming, and I was whining to a friend, who subsequently blogged as Barbra Streisand. I swear it wasn't me...this didn't even occur to me until my niece Megan said she thought I was Barbra. Anyway, I wanted to say that I know you are all praying for us and thinking of us even when you don't write, and I know that's what is important. I just had a bad day.

Soooo...THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, for the blogs and cards and calls. And as always, please remember us in your prayers, as well as our friend Deb, who also may have some pneumonia or other lung problem going on.

All our love and thanks,
Bob and Mo

P.S. To Candy and Aunt Millie, we received the package of goodies. I'll take it down w/ me tomorrow. Thanks, Bob's really into cookies and milk at night down there.