It has been a month since our last update. It is SO GOOD to be home!!! Overall life has been good. We have had several wonderful family times- our traditional Chinese Christmas Eve lunch (on New Years Day this year); Christmas gatherings; time with our college grandson before he went back to Tampa; time with other grandsons for meals, Yahtzee, billiards, theater performance, robotics competition. Grandgirls times of meals, making Valentines for a local ministry, watching Cinderella, gymnastics meet. Breakfast with my older two daughters; a music jam session at the Flanegans; a trip to the Badlands Observatory with the Flanegan family. A visit from Mary, Lucas and the girls from AZ; Cardio workouts with Natalie a couple times a week; Meals and fellowship with a few close friends. All those along with weekly labs, PT and doctor appointments. 

This may sound like a lot but my ‘bubble’ is very limited to family and a couple close friends. I am supposed to live life yet cautiously. I wear my mask everywhere and keep my distance from others. I nap almost daily. I wash my hands A LOT! 

My medical teams both in Houston and locally are quite pleased with my progress.  I am too, though I still deal with gut issues every so often. Some days I am more energetic than others. My teams remind me I am only four months since transplant and healing can take a year or more. 

I am impatient at times and want to ‘get to my new normal’’. Yet I know God is in control of my healing process through my medical teams, my family, my increased strength and wellness and the prayers of you, my many friends. 

What is ahead? Keeping my bubble small. Being very cautious not  to get sick. Going to appointments. Keeping my focus on the Lord and His goodness to me. Back in May, I asked one of my MDA doctors, what my life expectancy was if I chose to not have the transplant. He said 3-6 months. I have too much to live for to not keep on this journey. It is still hard but I am improving almost daily. 

Next update will be after my six month visit back to Houston near the end of March- unless a need comes up.  Praying that will not be necessary!   

Thank you for loving us with prayers, thoughts and many other ways. 

Kay and David