Marty's Birthday June 7, 2009

Tomorrow is Marty's birthday. I thought and thought about how to make it special for him. As time wound down today, still with no good ideas to celebrate, my daughter called and asked if Jonathan could spend the night. What a perfect gift for Marty, a Papa and Jonathan night. Right now they are brushing their teeth together, they both have their systems. Next is bedtime medicine, (Jonathan pretends to do his swish and swallow medicine like Papa), then Princess Gertrude (Cory's Beta fish) gets fed. Then it is a "superhero flashlight show", bedtime story, and ice in a cup like Papas. Marty said this is the best birthday gift I could have gotten for him. Thank you Erin and Jason for letting Jonathan spend Papa's birthday eve with us. Marty and Marissa went out for a birthday lunch to the Landmark this afternoon. I am so glad that they got to spend some good time together. I think that no matter how old a fathers daughter is, they will always be their daddy's little girl. I must add that I am so grateful that Marty is here for another birthday. Two years ago, when he was admitted back into the ICU, I just wasn't sure just how much longer he would be here. God has a "Big Idea" as Jonathan says, for Marty. And for that I am thankful HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARTIN JOSEPH. I LOVE YOU!

Wickenburg

Today we drove up to Wickenburg. Monica loves to get out of the city, so we try to take drives once in a while. Anyway, yesterday was our anniversary and all Monica wanted to do was go to Wickenburg. It was so peaceful on the way up there, no traffic, beautiful scenery, and just a slower pace of life. After we got there, we parked at the park, and took a walk. It is so nice to be able to do the simple things in life. As we were walking, we noticed a restaurant that was a great photo op. When you see the picture, you will see why. I am so thankful for 11 years together.

DONATE LIFE MONTH

April is National Donate Life Month. I am going to try to upload a news release from UNOS regarding organ donation. There are so many people who wouldn't even be here without our donors. Words aren't enough to express our gratitude. Well, I am unable to upload the article, but there is a link to the UNOS site. http://www.unos.org/ UNOS stands for United Network for Organ Sharing. Another site is http://www.donatelife.net/ Thank you to everyone who has been so supportive to Monica and me these past few years. Your cards, letters, phone calls, prayers, and your donations to my NTAF fund are very much appreciated. If by any chance, my donor family, or any donor families are reading this, I can only speak for myself, but THANK YOU for the selfless decision that was made by your loved one. I am so grateful for my second chance at life.

More California Dreaming

Waiting for the trolley at 6:30 am

at the ocean

Waiting to get into Disney Clubhouse

Here are a few more Disneyland pictures!

CALIFORNIA DREAMING

on the teacup ride.

Big Waves

Landsharks at Naja's

Redondo pier and waves

from my phone

It has been a while since I have posted anything. A lot has been going on here. First of all, I am doing fine and recovering well from my RSV hospital stay. Since I have been out of the hospital, I have been hesitant about going out in public, you know, just being TOO cautious about germs, viruses, and bacteria. But I go out despite my overly cautious views.

Our grandson and his parents invited us to Disneyland on the 13th of March. I had Clinics that day, my first since being released from the hospital. I was not even sure that I would be able to go. Well, everything went very well. I had the best PFT'S (pulmonary function tests) ever. My chest x ray was good, no medication changes, and I was allowed to go to Disneyland (even ride on the rides). As Monica and I left the clinics, the transplant nurse coordinator told us that she and her family were going to Disneyland over the weekend too. Monica jokingly said "maybe we'll see you there!"

Our son-in-law drove the whole way there, arriving in about 6 hours. We had such a fun time, watching Jonathan just looking at everything, going on the rides, watching the people, and just being plain grateful that I am alive and able to enjoy life. By the way... we ran into the transplant nurse and her family on our way out, they were just coming back for the second round and to see the fireworks, and just to prove it to my self, I rode on Space Mountian among many other rides.

The following weekend on the 20th of March, Monica and I took a long weekend to where we spent our honeymoon...Redondo Beach; Thanks to a monetary gift from a special person, to be used for us to take a trip and relax. It was so nice and peaceful there. We didn't have to be anywhere, didn't have any blood work done, didn't have to visit anyone, didn't have to go to work, didn't have to go to any Dr. appointments. It was almost like we were normal again, a real vacation. God knows that we, especially Monica, needed to get away and rest. When we got married, I just kind of put my finger on the map of California and said that is where we will go for our honeymoon. That was back in July of 1998, and we have tried to get there yearly since. We hadn't been there since Sept. 2006 because of my illness. When my health really started going downhill, Monica attempted to talk me into us driving to Redondo. We both thought that it might be our last time there. If we went, we would have had to take about 20 oxygen tanks, the wheel chair, and make arangements for an oxygen concentrator to be set up in the hotel room. Needless to say, it just didn't work out, and the transplant happened so quickly. Like I said in a previous post, I have my routines, and one of those routines is going to a place on the pier called Naja's Place (Believe it or not.... they used to have a sign for 777 types of beer you know me with my 7's.) They have a 3 peice band that playes classic rock music and we sit there on Friday and Saturday evenings and listen to them for a few sets, walk back to the hotel and get in the spa.... how relaxing is that. There aren't enough words to express my/our thankfulness to my doner and their family. How unselfish a choice that is...... PLEASE CONSIDER BEING AN ORGAN DONER!