Things are getting better

We went to the Dr in Amherst last week for a checkup and a review of the results of the latest bloodwork.

To summarize, my iron level is still going up, my blood results in general are improving, my kidney function stayed has remained the same , not completely normal, but a long way from requiring dialysis(sp). My weight is down from 219 to 208, and the knee hurts only ocasionally. In addition, I can walk on it sometimes, but I try not to abuse it. My waist size is now 38, down from 40". My general muscle tone and appearance have improved, and I no longer look like a scarecrow. I am eating well, sleeping well and in general feeling well. The Dr eliminated the lasix(water pill) and reduced the daily intake of one of the so called heart pills. So other than being unable to walk, I am very close to being the person I was before this all started last Dec 14.

I have started to accomplish some things, that I could not do before, such as wiring the new pole barn, crawling under "Criket" to adjust and repair its front running gear. Tomorrow, I will be installing new rotors and brake pads on the caravan. It is not easy to get up and down, but once in place I can do the work.

So it looks like we are going to meet our goal of staying in the North until early October and then work our way back to Florida to face the last phase of this operation, and resume a normal life once again.

We continue to be busy here in Ripley. We had a family reunion in early August. Mel and Greg and their boys, Scott and Chris, along with their girl friends Amy and Michelle were there, along with Carol Runkle from Colorado and Heidi and Kat, newly moved from Seattle, along with Esther and Ken from Bradford.

We just had our annual "TurkeyJam" here in Ripley, with musicians from Buffalo area and Pa. The group was small, because of the short notice and other activities going on, but everyone who attended had a great time , with many of them staying until 10:00 at night.

Laura and I have been utilizing "Criket" to the extent that we went to The Chautauqua County Fair, and the Erie County Fair in Hamburg(twice).

This past weekend we went to Lewiston to play with the Fiddlers at the lewiston Art Festival, attended Kats birthday party at Dereks, then spent the night at Dereks', so we were able to help Heidi move their stuff from Johns house in Buffalo to their new house in Amherst. Then we hurried back to Bemus Point for the final night of the Chautauqua County Idol, and spent the night at the Vikings. Today we did some shopping in Erie, and tonight we are in our bed in Ripley.

I am sure we missed some details, but in general, we are doing well and enjoying life as best we can with what we have. Will try not to take so long for the next report.