Life Back to Normal...Or At Least Trying To Be!

For those of you who have followed the blog the last couple weeks, this is part 3 of our recent journey. Enjoy!

After returning from a wonderful trip in Greenville meeting our grandson Gus, Ken and I were happy to bring some form of normalcy to our lives again.  We started walking together in the early mornings, saying our prayers, and giving thanks for the blessings in our lives.  We were home a few days when the doctors decided to setup another infusion of that "powerful medicine" one more time for Ken.  We were not happy but hoped this time the positive results would be longer lasting.

For those of you who know Ken, he is very conscientious and meticulous in his daily routines.  The medicine regime he is on is mind boggling.  He keeps all of this organized and can rattle off names of medicines, strength, and dosages.  The doctors add and stop medicines quite often.  This impresses me all the time because at certain points during this transplant journey he was taking around 14 pills in the morning and 14 in the evening.  The doctors change the dosage of Ken's Coumadin (blood thinning) medicine fairly often to keep him within theraputic levels to prevent blood clots from forming.  One morning we were walking at our fast pace and Ken stopped suddenly.  Of course I asked right away if he was feeling alright.  He told me he did not remember taking his Coumadin the night before.  I immediately told him he had to be mistaken because he was so good about taking his meds.  When he came inside he checked his pill box and found out he had not put the Coumadin pills in for the week.  He missed his Coumadin for the past four nights.  A sense of panic hit us both.  We were so upset and very concerned.  After his experience with blood clots in his leg and lungs, we did not want that to happen again.  Ken contacted the pharmacist in the kidney transplant clinic.  This happened on Thursday so the doctor increased his Coumadin dose for the next five days until his scheduled bloodwork on the following Tuesday.  He said four days without the medicine should not cause any problems.  We both were so relieved.  Saturday morning arrived and we were going on our walk.  He told me he did not feel too good so he was going to skip it.  I went and when I got back he was sitting in the tv room.  I could tell by the look on his face something was wrong.  He had a pain in his thigh and he was afraid it was another blood clot.  Off to the emergency room we went and after blood work and another ultrasound of his leg and kidney a blood clot was found.  Thankfully it was superficial but his INR (therapeutic level of Coumadin in his blood ) was too low so they admitted him. Ken only had to stay one night and was discharged on Sunday with injections to be given at home.

Gus is one happy baby!

The next infusion was scheduled on Tuesday and Ken was concerned about it.  He wondered if he should reschedule it but the doctors assured him it would be fine.  Since the medicine is a chemo drug we went to the infusion center at Ochsner.  It was scary having this medicine put in him again.  He was very nervous too.  We were surrounded by amazing patients who were getting infusions on a weekly basis to fight so many different cancers.  This was one of those moments when we started thinking about those patients and forgot about what was happening to Ken.  God works in such amazing ways. A peaceful feeling came over us.  The infusion went fine and we went home.  Ken went to work the next day and life began to get back to normal. We enjoyed time with our granddaughters - slumber parties, playing school and playing piano.  We cherished getting daily pictures and videos from Kelly, Alex and Gus.  This is what life is all about!!!!!

Piano recital at LaLa and Pa's house

We are now back to our weekly routine of blood work every other Tuesday.  Then we wait for the "dreaded" call with results never knowing what to expect.  Ken just got his latest results back this past week and his levels are headed in the right direction, which is great news.  He feels fine but he knows things can change in an instant.  We both read "Jesus Calling" each day.  Today's words seem so appropriate for us and I bet for so many of you reading this blog too. Jesus says, "I will guide you carefully along today's journey.  Don't worry about what is around the next bend.  Just concentrate on enjoying My Presence and staying in step with Me."  Ken and I continue to pray for all of you. We thank you so much for all your prayers for him!

Until the next time may the Lord carry us on our journey,
Pat

Beautiful rainbow (taken by Stef)  God is good!

Girls playing "school" at LaLa and Pa's slumber party