Woot Woot Another New Year

Time to think and wonder where the years have gone.  I am not only wondering because we are now looking at the year 2015 to come bouncing into being, during the next couple of days.  I am wondering because I am so pleased to have celebrated my 65th birthday.  Mostly I am pleased because I am not ready for the other option.  I think I am prepared but not ready.  At one time, not that long ago 65 seemed very elderly.  I don't feel elderly and yet I begin to notice my body and energy isn't what it once was.  Bob has ordered each of us these special headphones so we can watch TV and hopefully catch the whole drift of the story.  This is especially important with the new Downton Abbey series starting soon,  without one of us saying: "what did he say?"  "I don't know".

 I am now able to receive CPP and OAS---old age security.    At one time a person would have to be 70 to receive OAS and undergo a means test.  Since 1952 no means test is required and now down to age 65 years old------yeah for us.    Trivia question:  In what year was CPP established?  This answer totally surprised me?   1966!!!!!!  That means that for our entire working life the boomer generation has contributed to our CPP.  Of course everyone who has come into the work force since----including our kids and some of our grandkids  are contributing.  However we have all contributed so I am totally happy to collect.  GIS was introduced in 1967 as a temporary measure to reduce poverty among seniors!!!!!!!  For Bob and I, our retirement booty was not well prepared but God the Father has cared for us in unbelievable ways and as these golden years are creeping upon us we are looking forward to how He will continue to guide, give wisdom and care for us.  My mom says the years are not really golden but rather a unique shade of rust.

Bob and I now can advertise that our business has a combined total of 130 years experience.   Only trouble is we don't have a business!!!!!!  We do have life!!!! 

We were at Tom Baker Cancer Centre on the 23rd to see Dr. Bahlis.  For you medical types--WBC  4.,  RBC 3.4,  HGB  122, Platelets 115,, neutrophils  1.6 ,Kappa Free  44.70, Lambda Free 16.20  Kappa/Lambda free ratio  2.76  plus Bob's weight was up.   The side affects that were becoming more pronounced, Dr. Bahlis believes is because we haven't handled the diabetes as well as we should.  It is the prednisone that causes the high blood sugar.  Our family Dr. and the nurse that cares for Bob at the diabetic clinic thought things were ok but Dr. B. is our final authority  so we are working better at getting the control of the sugars.  Bob has now started the next 3 weeks but in reality the weeks change very little.  He is doing OK and does his best not to complain.

Bob has one resolution for the New Year.  He wants to learn how to live in the condo!!!!!  Sheesh we have been here for 6 months already.  How do we get to the point where one does not think one has to be doing something all the time???  Reading, writing etc are ok to do and not only in the evening!!!!  One does not have to built, fix, solder, sand, or nail something.  Arranging the storage shed can only be done so many times.  However with each arranging time we do seem to get more room!!!!!!!!  Today Bob and Ashton are putting up a new ceiling fan (not the new year yet).  Bob had to wear a hat with the other ceiling fan as the wind made his head to cold--- he he.

I had a very special birthday.  Since my birthday is at the end of the year I move into the new year 2015 in a new era/age/undertaking-----whatever at a new age in years.  I can hardly wait to see what is ahead.  Already things are poised to change in our Calgary family.   Life is one continuous time of change.  Trusting we will reach out and take possession of whatever changes may be before us in 2015.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Merry Christmas

I just returned from the Christmas concert put on by the kindergarten class where our Shamus goes to school. It did my heart good to see these little ones sing and perform.  Watching children's concerts, my heart, becomes in tune with the Christmas season.  It was special to be able to watch 3 boys from last years four year old preschool class perform.  Neat to see how grown up they have become.  I love hearing a young voice saying "Hi Miss Shirley".  Next week are our concerts at preschool.  The kids are practicing very hard and it is always a special time telling everyone that Christmas is about Jesus.

As I type this the weather is warm and our snow for all intents and purposes is gone.  From out of our window we can see a great hill perfect for sliding on .  It is used a lot and this year with the 2 big snowfalls we've had already, it has been busy.  The fountain park area is also flooded for skating.  It is melted again----second time we are down to concrete.  However I will be content to see the grass and hear the kids on their skateboards and bouncing basketballs.   We can also see the church that is on the corner across from our building.  They have a great nativity scene out in front of the church.  I am thinking that now that there is brown grass all around it, the scene is more likely what it was in Bethlehem all those years ago.  Sheep and shepherds out in the fields keeping watch in the dark night, protecting the flock.  Can't see any snow in that picture.  Trusting that Nativity scene will stay snow free while it proclaims the meaning of Christmas.

I was lax in blogging the past two months for any number of reasons BUT Bob is doing well again.  In the last blog we had been thrilled with how well he was managing to live with all the drugs he takes.  We decided that Oct. would be a great time to take a trip to MB.  We got to spend time with all of our siblings and their families along with a visit to a few friends.  Visiting with "old" friends was easy as we celebrated Gerry and Claire"s 40th anniversary with them.  Crystal and Kevin hosted a  surprise party for them.  We stayed with my mom this time and that turned out to be great, having time with just mom.  We also got to spend a bit of time with our granddaughters Katja and Natalia. Shortly after we got home---Oct 22----  Bob went to see the oncologist.  Bob had been coughing a lot but with the season and all we trusted he would get over the cough and cold.

Now off to Edmonton to share time with Mike and Cori and the kids.  Always special and always busy but always fun.

Now we were off to Niagara Falls on Nov.6.  Bob really began to feel unwell and was very tired.  He is tired but somehow this was different.  We had a good visit with dad and Reta.  We celebrated Christmas with them---turkey and all the trimmings.  We also had a visit with some of Bob's aunts.

Bob was very unwell by now and we were extremely concerned.  Bob was off of the chemo drugs beginning Nov.15, with an appointment to see the oncologist on the 19th.  I went with Bob this time to see if the blood work showed anything different.  It did. Not sure if I will get all of this right, but the test showed Bob was hemolyzing----the red blood cells weredestroying themselves.  What a condundrum.  Dr. Bahlis went out and asked us to wait.  He came back aaaaaaaaawwwwwhile later and looked like he was the cat that had swallowed the canary.  He believed that the antibiotic, that he had given Bob at the Oct. appointment, could have this side affect.  Dr. B said it was unusual but could be the source of the problem.  It was decided that an abdominal ultrasound would be done and another round of blood work PLUS another week off of drugs  )(*)(%%-/%$$#))@!! (happy dance) so that Bob's body could get over this.   Back on the chemo Nov.29 minus an antibiotic for pneumonia.

The ultrasound showed the liver has  "diffuse fatty infiltration but no focal lesion.  No intrahepatic biliary dilation."  The other organs were "unremarkable".  "No definite abdominal manifestations of multiple myeloma on ultrasound."  Praise God for His mercy and care.

The cancer marker numbers were down or static according to the blood work for the cancer.

We are thrilled once again of God's Hand of care.  This turned out to be a bad drug reaction not cancer gone crazy.

Next appointment with Dr. B. is Dec. 23 (which happens to be Tim and Barbie's 19th wedding anniversary).  Bob is back to the regular side affects and doing ok.

O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant..................a call to each of us to joyfully announce that Jesus, our Savior, came to earth at Christmas, triumphed over death and gives us that joyful hope of life forever with Him in heaven, once we accept Jesus as our Savior.  Carols are often sources of great truths, when we think about the words.  Sing those great, once a year, carols with renewed vigor this year.  (I was going to write --sing lustily-- but didn't want anyone to be offended.

Celine Dion sings:  "so this is Christmas for the near and the dear ones"  Merry Christmas from Us.