100

Today was Krista's 100th day after the transplant, and we had a surprise to help us celebrate it quite appropriately. Cheryl Giordani brought a Fourth-of-July styled barbeque meal -- burgers, baked beans, coleslaw, corn on the cob, watermelon, and cookies -- and a bag full of cards and goodies that she had collected from our friends. All of it had a 100 theme: cards with 100 miniature butterfly cutouts, 100 M&M's, 100 almonds for each of us, 100 Hershey's Kisses, and more -- all of it wonderfully encouraging. Thank you all for the very kind thoughts!

Krista managed to surprise me, also. Without my knowing it, she arranged for my mother to come up next weekend so that I could go to the men's retreat with our church. I couldn't imagine going otherwise since I have been on duty for the longest time -- and Friday she is supposed to go to UCLA for her regularly scheduled office visit. But Mom said that she would take her there -- and the church is giving me a scholarship for the retreat. I just can't believe it. What will I do without responsibilities?

The anniversary marks a new phase of sorts for Krista's recovery as well. It means the end of certain medicines, in Krista's case that means IVIG. She also is done with Medrol which has been ramping down since she began taking it to stop the Graft-Versus-Host Disease (GVHD) rash. If it returns after this point, it would be much more likely to be a long-term battle. There has been no sign of the GVHD rash returning so far, and now it will be up to the non-steroidal immunosuppressants to keep it at bay.

I forgot to mention yesterday that Loa Wintz helped us out watching the kids while Krista had her urology appointment yesterday. It was rather short notice for us to call her, but it happened to be a good time for her. The kids enjoyed playing legos and cards with her. Thanks for the help Loa! By the way, we haven't heard any news about the sample the urologist took. No news is good news in this case.

The TV news has been busy all day reporting on the Jesusita fire, which is still going pretty much out of control with only 10% containment. They were predicting another nightly sundowner, but there hasn't been much sign of one; it was only 57 degrees in Santa Barbara at 10 pm. That is hopefully good news as it is still spreading west toward Goleta and east toward Monticito (where it is still 71 degrees), and there were fears that it might crest the peak and start heading out toward Santa Ynez. It was snowing ash at our house most of the day. Krista said it was like living in a snow globe that had been shaken. We are still not in any of the danger areas, but so many of our friends are now in the mandatory evacuation zone or the warning zone -- and some may have lost their dwellings.

Who is like the LORD our God,
the One who sits enthroned on high,
who stoops down to look
on the heavens and the earth?
He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
He seats them with princes,
with the princes of their people.
He settles the barren woman in her home
as a happy mother of children.
Praise the LORD.
(Psalm 113:5-9)