Milestones

Friends! I'm back! It's ME! I have so much to say and so so so many people to thank. It's a bit overwhelming. But, as with everything else in this crazy adventure, I can only take one step at a time. And today I want to talk about a few milestones which have become mighty tender mercies.

• Today marks one month--on Friday, 5 November, I got blood results at the student health center at GMU and was sent to the ER. Little did I know my life would never be the same.
  
• Tuesday, 30 November, I was wheeled out of the hospital. I'll never forget. It was about 60 degrees, cloudy, and all the brightly colored leaves that I had seen walking in were gone. But the breeze--the fresh air--I have never felt anything like it. I wanted to sit in the breeze and soak it all in. And sure enough, on the way home, I noticed trees here and there who had maintained their bright, vivid fall color just to see me home. I love how long seasons last in DC. And I love love love my own bed.
  
• Wednesday, 1 December, I went on a walk! Outside! It was wind-whipping cold, and I only made it across the street and half a block before being driven back home, but I was out! Untethered to an IV or neuprogenic room restriction! My cheeks become rosy in the cold and it felt great.
• Thursday, 2 December, I went back to the VA Hospital Center for lab work. My levels were all normal--even if it was the low end of the range. Take that, chemo (which is supposed to drop everything)!
  
• Friday, 3 December, daily lab work showed my CBC (complete blood count for you newbies) was down slightly, as to be expected, but not low enough for a transfusion, platelets, or shot to boost my white blood cells (they thought I surely would drop enough to need something).
• Saturday, 4 December, a walk all the way around the block with Emily and baby Claire. It was cold, but so so so great. Visits from old roommates (one came from Colorado and one from NYC with real New York bagels!).
• Sunday, 5 December, I ventured to church this morning! I slipped in as sacrament meeting was starting and out just before the closing hymn. It was delightful and wonderful and exhausting. And I wore my new purple hat--I'm going to bring hats back to church, I tell you. I came home and promptly slept.

Love you all! More tomorrow!

And shout-out to Chris Jones in the hospital somewhere in California--be strong, my friend!