New Blog

Today Scott started his own blog in his own words. I love his first post and I look forward to more! Maybe now I'll start a blog about being a mom instead of an unpaid nurse. Here's the link.

Life is Good

I have been lacking in the post department lately. It’s really nice to be enjoying life without medical issues getting in the way. The last few months have been great! Scott is feeling better than he has in a very long time! He is not suffering with any infections, colitis, kidney problems or heart failure right now. He still has energy after work and on the weekends to go out, clean the garage, hike, bikeride, drive kids around to activities and enjoy life. What a marvelous change! I have the new experience of occasionally wondering if I can keep up to him. He has been going to the gym regularly and building up strength and endurance. He has increased his work hours and is using public transportation. He is noticeably happier and so is the rest of the family.
I guess that’s why I haven’t posted lately. I just feel like I’m bragging! It has taken over 2 years but Scott is finally enjoying the full benefits of having a new heart! I have always been grateful that he survived his transplant even with all of the difficult times that came after. However, I am SO HAPPY that he now feels great!!! There were many times when I wondered if he would always feel unwell in one way or another.
We have many plans for the next few months. We want to enjoy the mountains. We are going to attend a family reunion and we have a trip booked to Italy! Can you believe it!? I am really excited. It will feel like a trip to celebrate how good life is. Life IS good.

Antibiotics and Bikerides

Last week we felt like a normal family. On Good Friday we went for a family bikeride. On Saturday we went for a little hike like normal families do. The new and exciting part was that Daddy came too. He didn't sit and watch or stay at home. He rode his new bike and kept up with the rest of us. At some point during those two days I said to Scott "I should be taking pictures and posting on the blog about how good life is. It's time to have a nice, positive post." Sometimes, when you get complacent, life decides to throw you a curveball. I guess I jinxed it.

Saturday night Scott spiked a fever. BOO!! He spent much of Easter Sunday in the ER or layed up on the couch. We knew that an infection in his leg was flaring up. He had the same infection over a month ago and it took a few weeks of antibiotics to overcome. We now know that he is prone to leg infections as this is the 5th one in the last year. After a second and third trip to the ER Scott is now on home IV antibiotics with tubes and a fanny pack of medicine. He has an extremely sore cellulitis in his leg and is limping or sitting with his leg elevated. So much for bikeriding and hiking.

The other problem with this turn of events is that I developed strep throat at about the same time Scott's infection began. This Easter weekend began so wonderfully and ended so badly. I feel like I should quietly enjoy the good times and not make any comments about how good things are so that irony can't turn around and kick my butt!

I do know one thing - I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR ANTIBIOTICS!!! They continue to save Scott's life. They have also almost cured my excrutiatingly sore throat. YAY FOR ANTIBIOTICS!! Hopefully we'll have more family bikerides and hikes before too long. Next time I'll keep my thoughts about blog posts to myself.

2 Year Anniversary

In two days it will be two years since Scott's transplant. It is still amazing. Although life continues on and our new normal is happening it still fills me with awe to know that Scott was one of relatively few people to receive this amazing gift.

Yesterday Scott had a biopsy. He recently changed his main immunosuppressent that was causing the colitis. It has since resolved!!! YAY!!!!! He is feeling so much better. The doc who did his biopsy commented on how good Scott was looking. He also said something that really stuck with me. He said that Scott has had a really rough two years since his transplant but he is much better than he was before the transplant. Sometimes I need that reminder when the medication side-effects are really difficult.

I'm grateful to have this anniversary to remind me of how far we've come. Looking back can be a faith-building experience. I still have little nagging fears about the future but I usually choose to focus on the present and enjoy every day we've been given together.

HAPPY NEW HEART ANNIVERSARY SCOTT!