Today on 6th Central - Stable Blood Work, My Day & Your Homework!

It is truly amazing to me how stable my blood work has been, especially my hemoglobin which has not dropped, but has hovered at 10.4 (11 is considered low normal). Thank you for your prayers. I have only had 2 units of blood since I've been here (I think it was right after surgery). Praise God!

My platelets are also very stable and I've received a couple of HLA-typed platelets this week just because they had them and they were going to expire anyway. My body has not rejected them and my current count is 75K (150K is the low normal).

I think I'm beginning to lose my golden locks because it's starting to get tangled on the back of my hair. Thinking of calling my hairstylist to come in here and cut it shorter for now, but don't know if I'm ready yet. I like how long my hair finally got!

This morning I had a visitor and I proudly took her down the hall to the amazing terrace patio on the roof which has sweeping views of the Santa Barbara Mission all around to the harbor. On a clear day you can see the Channel Islands of course. I lasted about 5 minutes in what felt like 90 degree weather out there - what a surprise! Back to the room we went and I didn't last much longer before I needed a heat-sapped nap!

The boys came in today for a visit at 3 pm, and I took them to the Family Room to watch Tarzan with me, Adam and I sharing a wide chair and Trevor next to me on the other side. Mike was able to go back home and get some work done during that time. It is so nice living in Santa Barbara while going through this instead of in Buellton which is 45+ min. from the hospital and where we lived 3 years ago. That was nearly impossible. The boys seem happy to be able to see me every day, especially Adam who is older. Trevor does not like wearing his mask though! I can't wait until my white blood count is normal again so no more masks for visitors!

Ready for your homework? Feel free to mail me a photo of your family to add to my nice black foam core which I have in my room waiting to pin your photos to! It's my own board so I'll take it with me to UCLA too when I go there. When it gets filled it is SUCH a room brightener and I get to show all the nurses what wonderful friends and family I have! They like to hear the stories and I like telling them :) Don't have my address? No problem. 5069 Oleander Place, Santa Barbara, CA 93111

So a pretty uneventful day don't you think? That's a good thing. My doctor keeps saying what a breeze I'm making it and I just point to the Lord, while he knocks on all the fake wood in the room. My hope is in the Lord!

I like the way Psalm 63 sounds in the King James and it really spoke to me this morning:

O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice...