Going Back To Hospital

PICTURE GENTRY TOOK OF ME THE OTHER NIGHT

So, I'd MUCH rather talk about something funny that Gentry's done, or something fun we'd done as a family this week, or something cool I found while out and about, but unfortunately, this week has forced me to take another hard look at the condition of my health and thus...this blog is an update on things.

I got home from the hospital this afternoon around 2:30 p.m. only to have my doctor call me back around 5:30 p.m. and let me know that I have to be admitted back into the hospital tomorrow morning for an intense treatment therapy for my lupus.

The preliminary results came back from my kidney biopsy that I had and it really wasn't what I was wanting to hear. I'll try to simplify as much as possible because all the medical jargon gets a little confusing after a while.

Bottom line is the lupus is very active again in my kidneys and the "filters" in the kidney that clean the blood (glomeruli)...half of them are irreparably damaged and will not ever regain function. The other half of the "filters" are having to work overtime to filter and clean my blood properly, thus putting an undue strain on my kidney function causing my creatinine to be high. I have approximately 35-40% kidney function at this time.

With lupus, my immune system is "confused" and instead of fighting off the "bad things" for my body like infections, etc, it thinks my kidneys are "bad" and my immune system is trying to "kill off" my kidneys. It "thinks" it's doing the right thing for my body, but the DNA is just faulty and reversed. THEREFORE...they are giving me an IV drug that will wipe out most of my B-cells which is part of the White Blood Cell System that produces antibodies. The goal is to suppress the immune system enough to trick the B-cells into not attacking the kidney any further and killing off the remaining function of the kidneys.

I will go back into the hospital and be hooked up to an IV which will give me this drug called "Rituximab" and then also be put on a higher IV dose of steroids. I am supposed to be in the hospital for two days and hopefully get to come back home on Saturday. The good news is it isn't like the chemo I've had in the past that makes me sick and so, so weak for months at a time. The doctor told me I will feel like I'm fighting a cold or flu for a few days, but no hair loss or throwing up like the chemo I've had in the past. This drug is mainly used to treat B-cell lymphoma, so hopefully it will be strong enough to deal with the acute process of the lupus going on in my kidneys.

I am frustrated because I feel like I've done everything I know to do as far as following dr's advice through the years, but I'm also hopeful that this new drug will work for me and preserve what kidney function I have left. So, what would the next step be if this doesn't work??? Well, I'd like not to have to even entertain the idea, but it would eventually be dialysis & hopefully a transplant.

But....we've got a long way to go before we get to that point. I feel like I'm under great care with the kidney doctor I have. He studied & did his fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis, which is one of the top 10 hospitals in the nation. So, I know he knows what he's doing. Combine all of that with prayers and lots of hope, faith & support and I think I've got a winning combination.

Gonna get some rest before my guys get in. Pretty sore from having three big needles stuck in my back yesterday. The good news is I'm not allowed to do any housework for 2 weeks...so I'm going to enjoy that for sure!!

Thanks again for your concern, prayers & well-wishes. They truly keep me going on days I'd rather not face. I hope one day I can repay all of your acts of kindness to me & my family!!

Many Blessings - Mel

"Bless The Children" - Father's Day 2009

FATHER'S DAY PICTURES - 2009 - ENJOY!

Collage of Gentry's "Moods"!!
My angel, doll-baby, stubborn, love 'em anyway "Blue Eyes"

Saying "Cheese".....

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE MY BABIES' BABY BLUES!

"I SOOOO DO NOT HAVE TIME FOR THIS! GIMME A BREAK, DAWG!"



I gotta really cool dad! My parents had kids SO YOUNG, so there's only 21 years between us. He's still a kid at heart like me and we enjoy music together. He thinks Gentry is just about the best thing that could have happened to him. We gave him his very first GRANDSON! I love you dad, and hope to be able to spend more and more of these special occasions together.

Dad & his first-born child....Christine Elaine Sullivan-Cox

Daddy always said Christy got her big blue eyes from her mama!

Grandma Sullivan & her "Stevie"

Dad & His Mom (Grandma Sullivan)

THE FAMILY (minus a few...& we missed u2!) :)

Daddy & His Girls & "the suprise" of his life...Ryan Matthew!!

Mel #2, Dad, Christy #1, Ryan #4 (missing Jared #3 :( )

I wanna be JUST LIKE YOU DAD!!!! ????

Now there's some trouble in the making, right there!

My heart is full tonight, and sometimes what I "want" to say doesn't always pour itself out into words that I can put together. So often, I go looking for a song or poem that can say what my heart desires to say, but can't seem to find the right words from my own soul.

I was blessed to be able to spend the day with my husband...and father to Gentry. I am blessed beyond measure that Dale eased into the role of fatherhood so effortlessly and has made a little shadow out of the boy I call "mine".

So, I found a prayer written by someone else who's writings I've always admired & been inspired by. I thought it would be appropriate today to share this "prayer" with you simply entitled "Bless The Children"...which after all...is really what Father's Day is all about...if it weren't for our children, we'd have no need to celebrate this special day. Be blessed by this prayer as I am each time I read it.

"Bless The Children"

Bless the children.

Bless their questions and their un-jaded answers.

Bless their hands that hold my face

and peer guilelessly into my eyes.

Bless their lips that kiss without embarrassment,

their arms that hug without restraint,

their mouths that shape the deep truth in simple words - - -

"I love you."

Bless their minds that know no roadblocks

to their quest for knowledge,

no obstacles to their curiosity,

and no cynicism to block their trust.

While they still know purely, let the children teach us

While they believe openly, let the children pray for us.

While they trust us without restriction, let the children lead us.

While they know no disillusionment, let the children love us,

that we may healed

that we may trust again. . .

that we may regain our faith. . .
that we may recover our innocence. . .
that we may become children of the Father of Life.

Written by: Gloria Gaither

My Very Insteresting Week...

So...I got a reminder from a dear friend of mine wondering why I hadn't been blogging all the craziness going on in our lives on a daily basis. So here is my week in review...

short & sweet... :):):)

• Got to attend Sunday morning service TOGETHER as a family! That had been a while...
  
• Had a wonderful family dinner with our special dinner guest being "Our Lady of Pulley's Mill - Mrs. Naomi Robertson-Sullivan (I'll save her for another time to blog all about her precious"ness" (is that even a word???)
  
• Got a call around 2:30 p.m. Monday that the labs came back from the blood I had drawn on Friday and they think I'm in a more "ACUTE" (active) phase with the lupus actually attacking and causing damage to the kidneys. Talk about something just comin' right at ya out of left field! I was shocked and had no time to prepare for what they wanted to start very early the next morning.

• Soooooooooooo....after scheduling, re-scheduling, getting more labwork done, scheduling and then rescheduling for the final time...I will be going into the hospital next Wednesday at St. Elizabeth's Hospital (the downtown Catholic hospital) for my... drumroll.....5th! kidney biopsy. I am not excited about this AT ALL, but since it's been 12 years since my last biopsy, they feel it is time to check and see what damage in the kidney is chronic and what is new and actively trying to "kill" my kidney.
  
• I will stay in the hospital overnight and if I don't have any complications of bleeding out I will stay for a 23* observation and hopefully get to go home the next day.
  
• So....Dale came home this week thinking I was going to have the procedure done this week, and now that it's been rescheduled....again...oh...and again...he's leaving tomorrow to go back to work! :) He will take Gentry down to MS with him and let him stay with his mother while he's working, and my family will be here for me during my procedure. I will stay with my parents until Dale and Gentry get back in town.
  
• Courtney came and stayed with us for a few days during the early part of the week. We went & got pedicures done (hers for camp/mine so i'll look "pretty" while I'm having my procedure done! :) Went to Target to pick up the new Jo Bros CD, Topped it off with some yummy ice cream!!
  
• Took Gentry to Wednesday night church/school. Got there last because of some road construction on the interstate that had everything backed up. But we finally made it.
  
• Gentry's "school" teacher (Sunday School, but that's what he calls them!), is my sis, Christy. She loves that age group she's got, and Gentry LOVES going to "school" every Wednesday night that he's in town. He's always so proud to show me his pictures he made for me in school...and you better believe they go on the side of that refrigerator door!
  
• Then last night, Friday, the "fam" went to St. Louis for a Michael English Solo Concert FRONT ROW SEATS!!! He sang quite a few songs, then ministered from the word. His voice was incredible, but his anointing and ministry God has given Him through his own story of failure & God's redemption is even more amazing!
  
• Gentry enjoyed it so much...jumping...clapping...raising his pudgy little hand in the air in worship...and snappin' pictures of M.E. left and right...it finally started getting ridiculous, so I put the camera away. But then when I went back and looked at them, I was like, "Man these shots aren't too shabby for a 3 year old!
  
• We topped off our night at Red Robin to eat a late, light dinner. They have a few little arcade games you can play up front, so we played for candy, stuffed animals, little bouncy balls, and raced in "Hong Kong"! It said Gentry and I got 2nd place!???
  
• Good date/family night, but when we got home we all crashed in the bed asap!
  
• Woke up this morning VERY sick at my stomach and have been keeping my little white wastebasket close to my bed...if you know what I mean. ;)
  
• Now, Father's Day is tomorrow and I was going to go today and take Gentry and we would pick out something for Dale...it is now 12:37 a.m. Father's Day and what do I have? NOTHING! Nothing tangible anyway. But I will find someway to make it up to him...somehow ;)
  
• So, next week will be another roller coaster week again, so we'll just have to wait to see how all the cards for next week's game play out!! :) :) :)
  
• In the meantime, could someone please inform me.....how I can turn off the switch of this roller coaster ride??

Embracing the crazy, unpredictability of my interesting life!!

Blessings to you all who "take the time"...

You are SO LOVED!

Melanie

Gentry by the old gas pump at Causeyville General Store

Gentry's "I really am not into having my picture taken" face

Old Wurlitzer Bar Room Piano - Causeyville General Store

Interesting array of what they used to sell at the old-fashioned General Store

Original Causeyville General Store built in 1869

Can I get an "amen" on how hard it is to get a decent picture of an active 3 year old!

Love that baby 'o mine!

Mmm...Mmm...Good... Chili's Sweet Corn on the Cob

Diggin' in to one of his favorite veggies!

My travels last week

Hey everyone! Well, I certainly didn't intend for there to be this much time between posts, but somehow it just happened that way. I went to Meridian, MS last week on a job with Dale and between my time exploring little "out of the way" places, finding unique shops, taking Gentry swimming and watching the NBA semi-finals, the blogging got lost somewhere! Unfortunately, I've been paying big time this week for all my playing last week and have thrown myself into a pretty significant lupus flare. So, I've spent most of the week this week in bed resting and getting things back in order with my health. All will be well soon! :)

I was able to manage a few pictures here and there and wanted to share those as well as a story about an "real" old-fashioned general store that dates back to 1895!

In the hotel's general information book of "things to do", they suggested a visit to a place called the "Causeyville General Store". The directions in the hotel book said it was about 12 miles out from Meridian and you had to literally "follow the signs" to the store. So, on our last day there, Gentry and I decided to head out there to take in a piece of this Mississippi history. It was a beautiful drive out in the country and you really did have to follow those little brown historical signs to the General Store. After making about four turns, I started worrying I might not be able to find my way back to the hotel! I can find my way around any mega city, but those country roads still confuse me most of the time! ;)

So, we finally made it and it was the neatest little side-by-side general stores. It really was like taking a step back in time. I closed my eyes in the back of one store and imagined the people from a century or more ago coming there to trade and buy things. There is an "operating" convenient store built in 1895, and next to it is an old "grist mill" that was the original building that was built in 1869. The building(s) house a collection of player pianos used in old saloons, old toys and books from the 1930's & 40's, and lots of World War II memorabilia. The pictured building I have posted here has served as a post office, voting precinct, doctor's office, barber shop, telephone exchange, and movie theatre. AND...the original building (the one I have pictured) was also used as a trading post for the Choctaw Indians in the area.

I got a chance to speak with the current owner for quite some time and she was a wealth of information and history about the little place. The Causeyville General Store is not one of those places you just happen to "pass through" while on a trip. You have to go there "on purpose" and it is literally true that if you blink, you will DEFINITELY miss it.

So, I'm glad I happened across the "plug" for it in the hotel information book...and was even happier I took the time to visit that little place filled with rich Americana history from years and years gone by, and reveled in the slower pace of life...if only for a few moments.

Well, I'm going to sign off for now. Dale will be back home late tonight, so I'm going to try to whip up something delicious in the kitchen for him to enjoy as a midnight snack. LOVING this time of year when the markets are full of fresh fruit and veggies! I got some fresh Georgia peaches yesterday at the market, so I'm thinking we're going to be enjoying a homemade fresh peach cobbler!! And ice cream to go with it...of course!

I'll let you know how it turns out!!

Blessings to you, my friends!