Hello!

Dear friends, Hello!  I am sorry I have been gone so long.  One of the wonderful things about post-transplant life is that the computer takes a much lower priority than life.  It is funny how, before transplant, the computer was my way to connect with the world; but now I am out living in the world, and the computer, at times, gets totally forgotten.

Wow, it seems I have a lot to update you on.  First, I have finally kicked the Pseudomonas infection, at least for now.  We spent my Birthday in Pittsburgh, and the best gift I received was not needing the bronchoscopy that was scheduled for 5:00 a.m. on my Birthday morning.  The day before at my appointment with Dr. Pilewski, my pulmonary functions were back up where they needed to be and my chest sounded clear, so he opted for a CT instead of a bronchoscopy, hooray!!!  Now let's just hope I can maintain healthy lungs for a while.  Dr. P. wondered if I might be overly susceptible to Pseud. infections since I have had so many in the last year.  Please pray that I can keep it at bay for a long stretch now.

We have been traveling to Buffalo a lot for Hannah's dance practices.  She spends the whole day there on Saturday preparing for Oireachtas (the big regional competition over Thanksgiving weekend in Philadelphia) and part of the day Sunday for her lessons.  She also just performed in her Junior High play last night, even though she has been very sick with a high fever (102.6 this morning).  She was such a trooper and didn't want to let her cast down.  I am praying that I don't get the virus she has, it seems horrible!!!!

Here is a picture of the cast.  It was a Halloween themed play (hence some of the costumes).

These are all girls who are in my girls' group and were also in the play.  Aren't they cute!

My parents are here visiting which is always fabulous!  They came east for a wonderful celebration of the Holy Union Sisters' 125th Anniversary (for those of you who didn't know, my mother was once a nun).  I know my mom's trip back to her home in Fall River, Mass. certainly rated in the top ten events of her life.  She got to  visit with her high school friends (I want to send a big hello to all of you, I had no idea I had such a devoted group of supporters, my love to you all!) and of course see several of the women she joined the convent with so many years ago.  I am so happy she got to be there.

We had planned a surprise Birthday party today for my Hannah who will be 12 on November 2, but have had to postpone until she is feeling better.  I will look forward to sharing pictures from that if or when it happens.

I will try not to be so lax in posting, but life is too good to miss!  My love to you all!  Nancy