Lungs for Mandy

Happy Holidays to those reading this.I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. New Years is just around the corner. I will start off a new year with new lungs! Actually Jan 12 my lungs have an eight month birthday. Things seem to be doing fine. It is so exciting to walk and run whenever I want. I usually do one or the other everyday. Sosa is happy about my new-found exercise level. I still have some pain in the muscle that was cut to wrap around the hole in my right lung. And major migraines. I’m learning to live with both of them. The migranes are quite difficult because I need two doses of Tylenol before they subside. And I’m usually out of commision for that day because my head just pounds. This medication Prograf is probably the culprit and I have to stay on that bc its for anti-rejection. Today I went to the hospital to get my blood levels checked out and I will hear tomorrow. The Prograf levels could just be a little high and the medication maybe needs to be reduced. Who knows the human body is a mysterious place. But amazing.

It has been raining like cats and dogs here in LA. I heard today that we broke a record that was set back in the 1930s. Luckily after the last rain, our landlord fixed our roof so it is not leaking! Sosa has been a little under the weather. He hates the rain. I’ve never seen such a big dog be such a sissey. This morning he almost knocked me down the stairs trying to stay underneath the umbrella I was holding for myself. And he hasn’t gone #2 in like 36 hours. I’m suprised he hasn’t just shit on the floor. But no he’s a good boy and continues to hold until the rain subsides. I think I would rather go on the floor. Harry on the other hand seems like he is on crack. He has been so wound up. Jumping up and running all over the apartment. They are like night and day. But I love them just the same.

Well I hope this diary entry finds you doing well. Have a wonderful new year.

Amanda

Dear Dogs,

When I say move it, it means go someplace else, not switch positions with each other so there are still two dogs in the way.

The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake claim for it becoming your food and dish; nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by Nascar and is not a race track. Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn’t help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king size bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue to sleep on the couch to ensure your comfort. Look at the videos of dogs-they can actually curl up in a ball. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other, streched out to the fullest extent. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maxamize space used in nothing but dog sarcasm.

My cds are not minature Frisbees

For the last time there is not a secret exit from the bathroom by some miracle. I beat you there and manage to get the door closed , it is not necessary to claw, whine, try to turn the knob, or try to get your paw under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I entered. In addition, I have been using bathrooms for years, canine attendance is not mandatory.

The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog’s butt. I can not stress this enough. It would be such a simple change for you.

(Copied from PetPress, a pet magazine)

You can’t see me, but I’m doing the “I got my flu shot” dance. Finally after the long wait, I heard through the grapevine that the shot was available through the hospital. I feel a lot safer now. I have always gotten a flu shot except for one year and I was sick enough to stay in the hospital for two weeks. I can’t imagine what it would be like getting the flu post transplant.

I believe I have been very lazy lately. My thighs tell me so. No but really I haven’t been  hiking as much as before. The weather was really awful and cold for awhile, but Tuesday it warmed up to almost 80 degrees. I need to get out there and explore with my new lungs. We plan on camping the Monday after New Years Eve.

I’ve been feeling good.The last time I had labwork all of my levels were fine and my x-ray looked good. I guess everything is adjusted just fine.

Christmas is such a tough time to eat properly. I have made so many batches of cookies and it seems I can’t give them away unless I eat at least one of them.They all have turned out yummy! Scott and I are going to go on mandatory sit ups soon. WE BOTH NEED THEM!

Went to a Holiday party at the hospital last week. I had such a nice time. The transplant team provided us with a wonderful meal adn great music. I was terrific to see all of the transplanted patients and donor families. I met a girl named Jane who had been transplanted 10 years ago at Children’s Hospital in Saint Louis. Small world! USC has performed 41 transplants this year. And I was fortunate enough to be one of them. I’m so happy to be patient there. It’s amazing when everyone involved with the team you talk to is so pleased with their work. You don’t see that all of the time. It’s a great hospital.

Take care

Amanda