Halloween marked the second anniversary of Peter's stem cell transplant and he is doing really well! We went to Duke on the 5th for his two year check-up and they are really pleased. He now weighs 158 pounds, even has his little pot belly back, and has grown a beard. The beard is gray, white and brown, but most of the hair on his head is coming back in a brownish color - still some gray there but very little white. His hair used to be very thick and very white but now is thinner; as he says it is better than none at all. Having seen him with no hair, I have to agree.
The Duke doc was pleased that he is having minimal side affects - mostly dry skin and very pleased with how he looks and feels. He will be decreasing his meds and should be off of most of them in a few months! Of course, they had to do a bone marrow biopsy and we should have the results from that next week. Best of all, we don't return for another year.
I asked if there was anything he could/should not be doing and they said not that they could think of. That's great because he is outside now building a brick wall under the deck so we can make a small patio out there. Next project is to paint the loft!!
Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers over the past few years, sometimes it is hard to remember how things were even at this time last year. As long as things keep working, we'll be just fine.
Wendy
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
18 months post transplant
Yesterday was Peter's 18 month check-up at Duke. He has gained 3 lbs. in the last 6 months - yipee! He eats everything in sight and only gains 3 lbs. - I should be so lucky! He looks good and feels good too. His strength has improved and he is walking taller than before. Overall the drs. were very pleased with his progress. They changed some of his meds and we don't need to go back for another 6 months. We will however go back in June for the "Patient reunion" at Duke.
We did find out last week that Peter has cataracts in both eyes. It seems that the prednisone that he is on has caused them to grow much faster than they normally would, especially the one in his right eye, so he will have the right one removed in June and the left in July.
Peter continues to work full time at GE which is good. He likes his job and gets bored just talking to me.
We've had alot of work done on the house this year. We remodeled the master bath and just doubled the size of our deck. Since we don't have a fenced in yard, the deck addition is great for the dogs - they run and play out there and are also quite happy to just sit and watch the birds and turtles and the world go by. The best part of the master bath is the ceiling fan - not an exhaust fan, a ceiling fan with paddles. It makes a big difference in the comfort level of the bathroom.
Our granddaughter Hannah continues to grow. She is almost 5 months old and has just started to giggle. Be sure to check Kim's blog www.landoflyle.blogspot.com for updates.
We're going to CT this month for a family wedding. Hope to get to see most of my relatives while there.
Take care,
Wendy
We did find out last week that Peter has cataracts in both eyes. It seems that the prednisone that he is on has caused them to grow much faster than they normally would, especially the one in his right eye, so he will have the right one removed in June and the left in July.
Peter continues to work full time at GE which is good. He likes his job and gets bored just talking to me.
We've had alot of work done on the house this year. We remodeled the master bath and just doubled the size of our deck. Since we don't have a fenced in yard, the deck addition is great for the dogs - they run and play out there and are also quite happy to just sit and watch the birds and turtles and the world go by. The best part of the master bath is the ceiling fan - not an exhaust fan, a ceiling fan with paddles. It makes a big difference in the comfort level of the bathroom.
Our granddaughter Hannah continues to grow. She is almost 5 months old and has just started to giggle. Be sure to check Kim's blog www.landoflyle.blogspot.com for updates.
We're going to CT this month for a family wedding. Hope to get to see most of my relatives while there.
Take care,
Wendy
Sunday, December 28, 2008
To see more pics
As you have probably figured out by now, cameras and posting them on the internet are not my strong suit. Both of our daughters are much better at using their cameras (mine tends to stay in my purse) and putting them online. If you go to www.heatherwhy.blogspot.com or www.landoflyle.blogspot.com you can see more pics of Hannah.
We spent Christmas with the Lyles and had a great time. Auntie Heather was there and we all tried to share Hannah among ourselves. She still likes to stay up at night and sleep during the day, but hopefully that will change soon.
Wendy
We spent Christmas with the Lyles and had a great time. Auntie Heather was there and we all tried to share Hannah among ourselves. She still likes to stay up at night and sleep during the day, but hopefully that will change soon.
Wendy
Friday, December 12, 2008
She's here!
Hannah Mae Lyle arrived on December 9th at 3:02 PM. She weighed 6 lbs 15 oz. and is 20 1/2 inches long. Mom, Dad and Hannah are all doing great!
Peter and I will be spending the next few days with Hannah to help her settle in with Mom & Dad.
Peter and I will be spending the next few days with Hannah to help her settle in with Mom & Dad.
Wendy
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Good news and still waiting
Good morning,
We got some good news yesterday - Peter's one year bone marrow biopsy looks great! No problems noted. He should be getting his flu shot soon and all of his pediatric immunizations too.
His transplant was just over 13 months ago and at times it's been a wild ride. Thankfully it has all been positive for the past 5 - 6 months and should continue on that way. When we saw the dr. last month he said Peter probably has chronic GVHD (graft versus host disease). This happens alot and it just means he will probably have skin flareups, eye irritations and stomach problems for quite awhile. They are all managable with hydrocortisone creams and being careful what he eats, so we will just have to learn to live with it and deal with it as necessary. He is still not gaining any weight so we are trying to increase his calorie intake during the day. The problem is, he says, is that he forgets to eat - I should be so lucky. It seems that we have our eating habits reversed; he likes to eat what I should be eating and vice versa!
We are still anxiously awaiting Ziggy, aka Kim & Todd's baby. Her due date is tomorrow but the dr. predicted she would be born by Thanksgiving. Oh well, she'll get here when she gets here. I'll keep you posted.
As usual, I apologize for not updating more often, but as Heather tells us frequently, we are boring!
Wendy
We got some good news yesterday - Peter's one year bone marrow biopsy looks great! No problems noted. He should be getting his flu shot soon and all of his pediatric immunizations too.
His transplant was just over 13 months ago and at times it's been a wild ride. Thankfully it has all been positive for the past 5 - 6 months and should continue on that way. When we saw the dr. last month he said Peter probably has chronic GVHD (graft versus host disease). This happens alot and it just means he will probably have skin flareups, eye irritations and stomach problems for quite awhile. They are all managable with hydrocortisone creams and being careful what he eats, so we will just have to learn to live with it and deal with it as necessary. He is still not gaining any weight so we are trying to increase his calorie intake during the day. The problem is, he says, is that he forgets to eat - I should be so lucky. It seems that we have our eating habits reversed; he likes to eat what I should be eating and vice versa!
We are still anxiously awaiting Ziggy, aka Kim & Todd's baby. Her due date is tomorrow but the dr. predicted she would be born by Thanksgiving. Oh well, she'll get here when she gets here. I'll keep you posted.
As usual, I apologize for not updating more often, but as Heather tells us frequently, we are boring!
Wendy
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Like a tortoise, slow but sure
All continues to improve, but very slowly. We have to look for changes now from month to month instead of day to day or week to week; and the changes are still going in the right direction.
Peter goes in to the office several days/week now and works usually 5+ hours. When he's not in the office, he works from home. He continues to go to PT twice a week and they really bust his chops!
We've been back and forth to Raleigh several times lately, for a party and yesterday for Gretchen's wedding. She was a gorgeous bride and it was a beautiful wedding and great reception. Her mom Katy looked gorgeous too and her Dad Bill was very handsome in his tux. We wish them all the best!
We go back to Duke on Nov. 5th for Peter's one year check-up. His actual new birthday is October 31st - he'll be a year old and ready to start his vaccinations all over again!
My walk for the Leukemia Society is this Sunday in Raleigh. I can't guaranttee anything but I'll do my best!!!
Peter and I are getting involved in a donor drive here in Wilmington. There is always a need for stem cell donors and after meeting Mildred (another stem cell transplantee) we learned that minorities have a harder time finding donors because not as many sign up to be possible candidates. This drive will be targeting minority groups but anyone who wants to can sign up.
Our puppies are huge and crazy. They keep us both hopping.
And last, but not least, our granddaughter is due in 40 days - can't wait to see her!
Wendy
Peter goes in to the office several days/week now and works usually 5+ hours. When he's not in the office, he works from home. He continues to go to PT twice a week and they really bust his chops!
We've been back and forth to Raleigh several times lately, for a party and yesterday for Gretchen's wedding. She was a gorgeous bride and it was a beautiful wedding and great reception. Her mom Katy looked gorgeous too and her Dad Bill was very handsome in his tux. We wish them all the best!
We go back to Duke on Nov. 5th for Peter's one year check-up. His actual new birthday is October 31st - he'll be a year old and ready to start his vaccinations all over again!
My walk for the Leukemia Society is this Sunday in Raleigh. I can't guaranttee anything but I'll do my best!!!
Peter and I are getting involved in a donor drive here in Wilmington. There is always a need for stem cell donors and after meeting Mildred (another stem cell transplantee) we learned that minorities have a harder time finding donors because not as many sign up to be possible candidates. This drive will be targeting minority groups but anyone who wants to can sign up.
Our puppies are huge and crazy. They keep us both hopping.
And last, but not least, our granddaughter is due in 40 days - can't wait to see her!
Wendy
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
All's well
Things continue to progress well here. We went to Duke last week to see Dr. Horwitz and he was very pleased with how Peter is doing. We were abit concerned about his lack of weight gain - he only weighs 140 - but the Dr. thought it was a pretty good weight. Blood work was great, platelets at 105 and all else looked good. Some of his meds were decreased and we don't go back now until November. That will be for his one year check-up at which point they will take another bone marrow biopsy, decrease more/eliminate most of his meds and then only check every 6 months, we hope.
We are starting to get into a routine around here which is good. Peter goes to work 2-3 days/week and works the rest of the time from home. The puppies and I walk for at least a half hour in the morning and all 4 of us walk for 15-20 minutes each night. They are just full of energy and we are still "discussing" who is the "pack leader". With a grandbaby coming in December I have been busy shopping and making all kinds of things - diaper bags, "Hooter Hiders", bibs, etc. Kim looks great and says she feels well also.
Next week Peter's mother and 3 of his 5 sisters are coming for a visit. Most of them have not seen him since the transplant. Kim and Todd, and Heather will be down for the weekend and we will have a baby shower for Kim.
I go to the beach next month for a week so Peter and the puppies will be on their own. He is strong enough now that he can handle them by himself without too much trouble. I won't be far away so if needed I can come back.
That's all for now.
Wendy
We are starting to get into a routine around here which is good. Peter goes to work 2-3 days/week and works the rest of the time from home. The puppies and I walk for at least a half hour in the morning and all 4 of us walk for 15-20 minutes each night. They are just full of energy and we are still "discussing" who is the "pack leader". With a grandbaby coming in December I have been busy shopping and making all kinds of things - diaper bags, "Hooter Hiders", bibs, etc. Kim looks great and says she feels well also.
Next week Peter's mother and 3 of his 5 sisters are coming for a visit. Most of them have not seen him since the transplant. Kim and Todd, and Heather will be down for the weekend and we will have a baby shower for Kim.
I go to the beach next month for a week so Peter and the puppies will be on their own. He is strong enough now that he can handle them by himself without too much trouble. I won't be far away so if needed I can come back.
That's all for now.
Wendy
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