make glemonade

We went to our friend Nate's wedding, wait! Look back at our first post with a Visitor of the Week, and it was Nathan and Rachel! Yep, them. They got married last weekend, so we drove out. We wanted to fly, but Eric wasn't allowed to after transplant. He got the okay last doctor appointment, but it was too late to buy tickets. So we rented a Jeep. It was so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up. The drive was gorgeous and we had a really good time. We took the back route through Napa Valley and it was well worth it. The wedding was on Friday, and we got to see the Oakland Temple and the gardens on top of it. It was really windy. We really love Nate and Rachel and are so happy for them! We love when a friend gets married to someone great, because we get to double our friends! Terry Herrera came out for the wedding; he is really close to Eric and Nate from their mission in Houston, Texas. It was really nice for me to meet him, and we got to hang out a...

Eric and I wrote this song while he was desperately ill this summer and couldn't work. He had just been told he had shingles, but we knew something else was up. We were reminiscing the other night about it, so we decided to share it with all of you! Here are a couple of photos to go along with the song... He pulled his hamstring during city league football a couple seasons ago and kept playing on it. The second pic is of course, his shingles. We didn't take any pictures of the kidney stones, sorry. :)

Yesterday Eric and I were standing in line at the movie theater waiting to see Iron Man 2, but we were standing in separate lines holding a place for some other friends going at a different time (yes, we are nice). You might be thinking that Eric shouldn't be at the movies with his low immune system, but you would be wrong! He went to the doctor yesterday and everything is great! His counts are as good as most other patients at their 100 Day mark, and we are around 50 days out if the quick math in my head is right (ANC = 3.5 for those of you that have been paying attention). He also gained 3 lbs. So we can do whatever we want now. So a guy in line behind Eric asked said that he always wants to shave his head but never gets a smooth shave. He asked how he gets his head shaved so close, and Eric said you get cancer. He said well I put my foot in my mouth. On an unrelated note Eric's eyebrows are starting to grow back. I am really excited about it. His facial hair too. It won'...

Alright alright it's my turn to blog. Eric here, going to give you the readers an update on our lives. Be forewarned I am in no way a good writer. I can't compete with Holly and her blogging skills. And don't make fun or judge me if I use the wrong kind of "there". So without further ado let's get on with it. First things first. We went to the doctor last week for my 2 week check up. (I will be going every two weeks until my 100 day mark which will be the beginning of July). The check up is just some blood work and talking to my doctor. My levels were great last week. My levels were great last week. My white blood cells were at 2.98! Anything between 3-10 is normal, so I'm getting there. All other blood work looked great. Dr. Gilbert talked to me and pretty much said don't get sick in these next 100 days and we will go from there. They took my pick line out of my arm, so I'm normal. Since then my showers have increased dramatically. The doctors al...

Everything has gone great since we've been home. There was a bit of an adjustment period, Eric was cold, and we didn't sleep well because we were scared he'd get a fever. Now everything feels almost normal. It's weird. He had an appointment a couple days after we got home, and his counts had increased significantly (ANC = 1.1). I can't wait to go back and see how much it's grown this week. He finished his homecare medication so all we have to do is flush his lines daily and take it easy. Eric is still tired and weak, but I wish you all could see him. He's starting to be highly amusing again, and he's back to singing before and during showers. When we both start working again things will really feel normal. Old normal. But for now things are going well. I started a new job on Tuesday. And I graduate this week. And we bought a teeny charcoal grill. Life is good.

Eric is finally home! It was 23 days total, which is better than many other transplant patients. It is still a very long time. It is difficult to describe how long each day feels. He passed the days showering, biking or walking in the small hallway outside his room, watching basketball and Judge Judy, listening to an ipod... it was a simple life. The fatigue made it so hard to get out of bed, as you can see from this <-picture! He was so tired so this is how he biked that day! Bless him. Visitors of the Week: My parents came for conference weekend to hang out with us and to help me clean the apartment before Eric's return. Initially they came just to visit, but I don't know if I could have got this place into ship shape without them! They were amazing. Cleaning ceiling vents, bathrooms, cupboards, washing everything in the house even if it was recently cleaned. My mom washed every single dish we own. Dad single-handedly cleaned our bathroom! We worked, and worked, and worke...

Eric did not come home today as hoped. He had a fever again late last night and thus will be kept at the hospital at least two more days. Probably longer with the way things are going. We'll keep you posted.