WELCOME HOME ROBDOB AND ASHPANTS!

Taryn loves having Uncle Robert home!

Robert and Ashley returned home just this past Sunday, October 18th. Robert completed all of his testing two weeks ago, and had his final appointment with the docs this past week. No cancer cells were found in his bone marrow. I feel the need to repeat...

NO CANCER CELLS WERE FOUND IN HIS BONE MARROW!!!

Or anywhere else in his body either. Amanda's bone marrow has taken over nicely and things are going well. Robert has been off his TPN (nutrition IV) for almost two weeks. His appetite increases daily. I would know, he ate three pulled pork sandwiches and potato salad when he was at my house the other day! He eats a lot of little meals, he still can't eat as much in one sitting. Robert is gaining weight nicely, and his energy is returning bit by bit. Robert will be going up to Salt Lake monthly for check ups.

As you can see in the photo his hair is growing back quickly this time! Robert can be around children for short periods of time, but still avoids large crowds. He is doing so very well! We are so excited for that, and we are thoroughly enjoying having them home!

Ashley is busy unpacking and settling them back in at home. They have been making the rounds to hang out with family, and a few friends. I wish I had more pictures of the gatherings and welcoming! This is the only one I snapped when they were at my house. Taryn is sure that Uncle Robert came home just to be her BFF. Ashley stopped by the next day without him and Taryn asked, "where's Robert?" She was bummed he hadn't come too!

Thank you again so much for all your prayers and loving support of Robert and Ashley!

Pillow Talk.

So this is how Robert was sleeping when I came into the room the other day. I thought it was hilarious. It looks like the pillow is eating his head.

After I got some pics of this I asked Robert if he wanted me to move his pillow around, but he insisted that he was "very comfortable". I got a kick out of this, so I thought I'd share.

Robert is doing well, he has had some more chest pain, but it is getting better. Robert is just frustrated that he was finally starting to eat and now his esophagus is hurting when he swallows. But, it is getting better, and we hope it continues to. Other than that things are going well. We've just been hanging out and waiting to be able to go home. We are hoping sooner than later. The weather is supposed to be cooling down a lot this week, and we are excited to possibly see some snow. Although I don't really want to drive in it! Things are going well, and we are so grateful. Thank you for the prayers and love.

All our love.

Little League.

Last night Robert was having some chest pains that were causing him a lot of pain, so we called the BMT wing and they told us to go to the ER to make sure everything was okay with his lungs and heart. So we went to the ER, and by the time we got there most of his pain has subsided, it only hurt when he was moving around a lot. They ran some tests and during a CT scan they gave him some dilauded, which is pain medication, and it's 6 times as strong as morphine. Needless to say, he was drugged up when they brought him back. It was entertaining to say the least. He was scratching everywhere, and of course made me scratch him as well. After they did their tests they cleared us to go home. They think he just tore his asaphogus when he threw up earlier in the night, or something to that effect, so we were grateful that it wasn't a big deal.

After we arrived home and Robert was in bed and had gotten more scratch time he was ready for bed, so we said a prayer together. Robert decided he wanted to say it, and I though he might actually fall asleep, since he was so out of it from the pain meds they gave him in the ER. So he was saying the prayer and was staying awake and then right at the end he says "Please help me keep feeling better and healing, so that one day I can coach little league baseball." He finished and then I look up and his eyes are closed. I just started laughing and he wakes up and is like "Whattt? I am sorry, I fell asleep. Did I finish praying?" I was in tears from laughing. It was the cutest, most hilarious thing he has done in a while. He didn't remember saying it, but we laughed about it today. I know one day he will get that chance to coach a little league team, and I can't wait to see it.

Robert is doing well. He didn't gain too much more weight this week, but he didn't lose any. So that is great. We are still working on his appetite. He has been feeling a lot better, and the IV nausea medicine is still helping a lot. Things are going great and we are hoping to be heading home by the end of October. We miss Vegas!

All our love.

What is Daisy?...

We get this question often, so I thought I would answer it today. People either think Daisy is super cute, if they know what an Italian Greyhound is, or else they ask if she ever eats. Thats just how she is. Skinny. Italian Greyhounds are a miniature version of Greyhounds, the racing dogs. So they are fast and agile, just like the big Greyhounds. Daisy is a quick dog. We can never catch her if she is running.
Robert had another Italian Greyhound while he was growing up and I have always thought they were stinkin' cute, so when we got married we often talked about getting one. Daisy is a great and loving dog. Robert is glad I made him wait to get a grey greyhound, because they are harder to find, but we held out and found Daisy and she is perfect for us.
Daisy is always patient when I smother her with kisses.
Daisy has this thing for Robert's ears. Not mine. Mostly Roberts. She is always licking them and sticking her cold wet little nose in there... or she is trying anyway.
I love this picture of Daisy and Robert having some bonding time while she was visiting us.

Robert has finally been able to start eating again this week. Yay! He has been on IV nausea medication that I give him when he needs it and it has been helping so much. He is still on TPN, but we are hoping he will be able to keep eating more and more and get off TPN in the next couple of weeks. Robert is still getting weened off his anti-rejection medication and he will be completely off it next week. We got a call this morning that Robert has been positive for CMV Virus 2 weeks is a row, so they are going to switch one of his antibiotics to one that is stronger to get it in check. Things are looking up and Robert has been feeling better. Thank you for all your prayers and love. We appreciate them so much.

All our love.

Nap Time.

The Ashworth's came to visit us this past weekend, and they brought Daisy with them. She was so excited to see Robert. We had to remind her to be gentle with him and eventually she would just come hang out one the couch with him and snuggle. They took lots of naps together, and Daisy ended up finding herself in some tight spaces, like these of Daisy squished between Robert's legs, passed out cold. As long as she gets to snuggle she doesn't care where she squeezes in. We have the best dog ever. We miss her all the time.
This just really made me laugh, I am so glad I got pictures of it. It just shows a little bit of the bond Daisy and Robert share. It's very cute.
Robert is doing well. Thank you everyone who has prayed and fasted for him extra this week. We appreciate it so much. Robert has still been having a hard time eating, because of his tongue sores, and his nausea, and he is just all in all miserable some days. It has been wearing on him mentally and emotionally. We are hoping the test results will show what is going on so his doc can get these things under control. He had his last test this morning, the one he wasn't looking forward to... the dreaded colonoscopy. Robert said "I shouldn't be getting a colonoscopy until I'm 50, I should have 25 more years..." Haha. The doctors just wanted to make sure they are covering all the bases of his GI tract. It wasn't too bad, and they took really good care of him and he is doing well now. We go to the Clinic on thursday, so I will let everyone know the results then. Please keep praying for Robert. We are so grateful for all of you, and your support.

All our love.

Special Fast for Robert

I am sorry for the short notice about this. I was supposed to post this yesterday.

Tomorrow, Sunday, September 6th, we invite any of you who would like to join us to fast for Robert. He had a GI scope on Friday and will have some more testing this coming week. He once again has sores in his mouth--they are lining the sides of his tongue this time. He continues to be plagued with nausea and is really struggling to eat, drink, and talk right now because it hurts or makes him feel so sick.

We would appreciate you joining your faith with ours as we fast and pray for Robert tomorrow. We are praying that the doctors will be able to determine the cause of his sores and GI upset as well as the best things to do for him. We are also praying that he gets feeling better really soon and that he shows signs of Graph vs. Host Disease (GVHD).

Thank you for your continued support, love, and prayers. They mean more than we can express. All our love.

Super-Hero Birthday.

Robert's birthday was this past friday, our super hero is now 25. (How does it feel to save on car insurance Robert?) So Robdob didn't want cake, or cookies, or pie for his birthday, no... he wanted donuts. He still has had a hard time eating, and things tasting different, and donuts were what sounded the most declicious, so donuts it was! I topped off that donut with some candles, I know it's not an accurate count, but 25 candles on one little donut seemed excessive, you know? But if you want to think he is turning 6 instead of 25, be my guest.
I wonder what his wish was?? I have an idea... but let's not talk about it, we want it to come true after all. I love birthday wishes.
Robert reading his cards in his new sunglasses that I got him for his big B-day! He loves them. He wears them to bed, and in the shower. I told him it crosses the line to wear them while reading. I tell him, "think about your retinas"... So he does. What are sidekicks for, if not for protecting your retinas? Huh? Exactly.
Doesn't he look seriously delicious in them though? Okay, TMI? Sorry... We had a fun day, relaxing and eating donuts, we even went to Best Buy to look at laptops. His parents are getting him a new one for his b-day. I think I was more excited about it than he was. Our current laptop is a dinosaur.
Oh how I love him. Isnt he just so lovable? Anyone who meets him loves him. It's impossible not to, I think. Although, I am quite biased.

Robert is doing well, the doc is weening him off of his anti-rejection meds in hopes to see some GVHD pop up. He should be completely off of it in the next couple of weeks. Robert is still really nauseated, but some days are better. He is still on IV nutrition during the nights, and we are tying to maintain his weight and help him gain... not lose any! He is doing well for the most part. We have been so blessed and we are grateful for the love and support you all offer us. We apologize for not updating as much since we have been out of the hospital, but we hope to start posting more. Please continue praying for our Super hero, for his healing an health. We love you guys! You're the best!

All our love.