My Florida Visit

is coming to an end. I fly back home Friday morning. The weather here has been great but nothing beats home. Today we went to visit Karen and Kathy. We had a wonderful time and did lots of writing. Their home is beautiful, I could get used it very easily. Bob has been an angel letting me stay away from home for such long time. I owe him big time. But don't tell him : )

Election Day

Florida or Bust

Tomorrow I am going to Florida with my 94 y.o. mother for 6 and 1/2 weeks. In that short period of time I have to evaluate whether she is able to live alone as she so dearly wants to. If she is unable to manage by herself than I have the unwelcome task of persuading her to come home with me or making other arrangements. I also have the frightening job of evaluating her ability to drive a car without endangering herself and others.
I am hoping (all though some others strongly disagree) that she will realize that she is unable to safely take care of herself. Please pray for her and me.

Saturday Night

This year Jennifer prepared lasagna and mozzarella bread sticks for Grandmas going back to Florida dinner. I made a tossed salad. We finished it off with Jenn's chocolate brownie sundae complete with hot fudge and whipped cream.
She brought the food to my house because of Grandma's difficulty in climbing stairs. We had a great time but missed Julie's family and Aunt Sylvia.

Vowles Family Reunion

Today most of the Vowles siblings got together for a family reunion. Jim, Pat, Bill and his friend Diana came in from Baltimore for Nicole and Kevin's wedding so it was a perfect day for a "reunion" Lots of food and fellowship were enjoyed.

Tigers Game

Steve got tickets for tonight's Detroit Vs Kansas game. He was kind enough to take his parents and sister. We had a great time, even if we did lose. : ) The weather was perfect for an evening game. It was my first time at Comerica Park. We sat 19 rows behind 1st base-great seats.

Family visit

Yesterday we had nice visit at Mary Lou and Lyle's. Connie, Aryana, Collin, Nathan, Dean, and Debbie were there also.

A Moment of Silence and Prayer..

Good Report

I had my oncologist appointment yesterday and my labs have all improved. My WBC is 3.9 which is the highest it has been in a long time. My Hbg is 12 and my Plts were 96 which is still low. God continues to work miracles in my body and keep me healthy. I will see Dr. Goldman next on Oct 2nd just before I leave on a 6 week visit to Florida with my mom. I going to make sure her house is set up for her to be able to continue to live alone.

Kensington

Steve and Jen took their Jack, Max and Aly & Dani to Kensington yesterday. They spent the day swimming, picnicking and riding the water slides. I wish I could use the slides, they are so much fun. They had a great day.

Tomato Update

I paid $15 for the container. $5 for the miracle grow potting soil, $2 for the tomato plant. So far we have 7 tomatoes. That comes to $3.14 each, or probably around $6.30 a pound.

As for the taste---PRICELESS !!!

Grandkids

Birthday Celebration

Tuesday we went to the Olive Garden to celebrate Steve's 40th birthday, and Mine, Bob and Sylvia's August birthdays. We had a great time.

Summer Fun

Grandpa and Dean enjoyed an afternoon dip in the pool.

Newest 5 Generation Picture

Heather,Connie,Marylou,

Grandma and Aryana

Motley Crew

Marylou,Evelyn,Grandma and Sylvia

celebrating Kelli getting her Masters Degree

Congratulations Kelli!!

She's Home

Grandma is home from the hospital. She got in and out of the car with no problems then walked with her walker into the house. She is back in her recliner with her feet up and talking on the phone. She has been to the bathroom several times without difficulty. She is recovering remarkably fast for her age. We rearranged her bedroom and family room furniture and she has a lot more space to move around in. Home care will be here tomorrow and will give her a schedule for therapy. I believe she has 4 doctors she has to see starting next week This is really going to keep us busy.

Pool Days

No back flips for me this year!!

About Me-For A Change

I had my first visit with Dr. Goldman since my bone marrow biopsy. He decided to stop my Revlimid because my cancer is in remission. I am having what is called a drug holiday. No drugs until needed. Please continue to pray for a very, very, long permanent holiday.

The latest news

The plan is for Grandma to come home on Friday. She is walking some with a walker and is doing good. She wants to be more independent so she will be able to be when she gets home, I hope.
She will have therapy at home 3 times a week.
I took Uncle Bob to see her today and they had a nice visit. Then this afternoon both Steve and Julie visited her while they were at work.

Rehab Independence Day Party

Grandma's rehab unit had a party for the patients and their families today. Steve, Jack and Max were there early and helped blow up beach balls and pass out raffle tickets. We played an indoor version of horseshoes and volleyball and a few other "thinking" games. They had a variety of fresh fruit and punch along with smores made in the oven. Grandma really enjoyed herself and of course is the most talkative patient on the unit.

10th Annual 4th of July Party

We had the ideal day for our party at Sylvia's house. Everything was perfect except for a quick visit to Urgent Care when Aly accidently poked her eye with her fingernail. We missed Jennifer who stayed home with her foot in a cast, Andy who was helping set off a fireworks display in Lake Orion and Grandma Brahm who is in Rehab with a healing broken hip.

Independence Day

Get July_4th Graphics

Dean 's visit

One week ago Dean was in the ER with pneumonia. He is now doing great and back to normal. He is such a sweetheart.

Upside down tomato plant

I bought 2 plants on the same day and Bob planted them on May 30th. The upside down tomato is planted in Miracle Grow potting soil. They were both the same size when I bought them.

Todays visit

Grandma, Me and Mary Lou
Mary Lou's pink cast

Grandma's in Rehab now

Connie and Grandma
Steve

These are pictures Connie took when she visited Grandma Brahm earlier this week. Grandma is looking better each day.

On the rehab unit she dresses in her own clothes. She spends much of her day in therapy, but it usually done by 4:00 pm. She eats her meals in their dining room.

She is now in Room 721 and her phone number is 248-849-6378

This Week

This week continues to throw us twists and turns. Grandma Brahm had surgery on her hip Sunday. They placed pins in her right femur and hip joint. Her hemoglobin dropped and she needed 2 units of blood. She is doing well now and should be going to the rehab unit tomorrow to learn how to walk again.
Jennifer had surgery on her foot last Thursday and is having difficulty getting around with a too heavy cast. The boys and Steve are helping her out as much as they are able. Our church family has been helping her by supplying them meals for dinner.
Julie and her family have been sick with some kind of virus and just today Dean was diagnosed with pneumonia. He was in the ER for several hours today and started on an antibiotic and then sent home.
I have been behaving myself and am doing great.

Grandma Brahm Fell

Grandma was getting ready for bed last night. She turned off the light in the family room and tripped on her shoes that were laying on the floor. Bob and I had just gone to bed when we heard a big thud coming from downstairs. When we got downstairs she was lying on the floor and unable to move. Her right leg was rotated out to the right which usually indicates a broken hip. We called 911 and EMS came and transported her to Providence Hospital. She has a broken hip and is supposed to have surgery today. Please keep her in your prayers.
She is in room 715 bed 1. 248-849-6727

MAX IS NINE !!!

June 16th was Max's 9th birthday.

All the grandkids are getting so big. Best of all they are all such good kids.

Grandma loves them all.

Bone Marrow Biopsy Result

Dr Goldman did a BMB on me yesterday. It was the first one I had done since Feb. 07.
He called me with results today and I had only 3% plasma cells noted. The one in Feb 07 had 5.5%. He and I were very pleased with the results. Just for reference when I was diagnosed in Feb 05 I had 25% plasma cells noted in my BMB. The Revlimid is working well and I will continue on it. God is Good.

To all Fathers

Get Fathers Day Glitter Graphics

Steve's Heart Rhythm

Steve's heart converted to a normal sinus rhythm with use of medication. This is wonderful news. They didn't have to shock it back with use of paddles. He will be going home in the morning. Thank you for your prayers.

Steve is in the hospital

Steve is in Beaumont Hospital for atrial afibrillation. This is the same thing he was in for last October. You can read my Oct 19th 2007 entry for more information on it if you wish. He is hoping to be discharge tomorrow. Please keep him in your prayers.

MaryLou broke her Ankle

Yesterday MaryLou wasn't feeling well and went to lie down in her bed. Just before she reached it her ankle twisted and she passed out and fell. Lyle was out crushing rocks in their yard. It took a half hour to get to her phone and she was finally able to contact a neighbor who came and informed Lyle. She said her ankle was severely deformed so they called 911 and EMS took her to Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital. They set her ankle yesterday and she is having surgery today. They are trying to find out why she passed out in the first place. Please pray for her recovery.

Visit to Washington DC

Steve, Jen, Jack and Max went to visit Jen's family in New York this past week. On the way home they stopped in Washington DC. The spent the day visiting all the war memorials and Arlington Cemetary. Memorial Day week was good time to be there. The weather was perfect.

Visit to Auntie Mary Lou's

Dean and Collin with Thomas, originally uploaded by http://www.flickr.com/people/25907292@N06/.

Dean (2) went with Grandma Brahm and me to visit Aunt Mary Lou's Great grandkids. He had a really fun time playing with Collin (3) and Nathan (1). He also got to hold Aryana (4months). Hopefully they will be able to get together again during the summer.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Jack's Eleven !!

April 26th was Jack's 11th birthday!

Drummer boys...

Max

Dean

My Grandkids...

at Saturdays fundraiser,

Andy Sr...

For more information on Julie's father-in-law please click the Drews Crew link on the right side of this blog. An update to Julie's post-Andy is now under Hospice care. The picture below is Andy with all his grandchildren taken Easter Sunday.

Edited: Andy died peacefully at home with his family at his bedside March 31, 3:33pm

My Medicare...

became effective March 1st
and just in time. Saturday I had excruciating pain in both of my calf's. Bob had to help me stand up. I took a muscle relaxer and a pain reliever with some relief. I was concerned that I may have a blood clot as it a complication of my Revlimid . I had an ultrasound of my legs yesterday and it was negative. The pain is gone now and I have no idea what caused it. I just pray that it doesn't happen again. I have a doctors appointment tomorrow and will see what she thinks.
I ended up with a medicare advantage plan which looks great on paper. The only flaw I have found is that it doesn't cover the first 3 units of blood if you need it. I didn't see that until after I had already signed up for it. My hemoglobin has been pretty good, so hopefully I won't need blood. I will be getting new prescriptions filled tomorrow for the first time and the co pays are really low. It costs less than half of what it I was paying for my Cobra the last 3 years for our insurances now. I almost feel rich. : )

Aunt Thelma

away March 7 th
after a long illness. She had been suffering with severe neck and back pain for the last 2 years following an unsuccessful surgery. She was in nursing home for the last year and finally in a wonderful hospice home the last few weeks. She will be greatly missed by her family.
I love you Auntie : )

Record snowfall...

Metropolitan Detroit has had more than 2 feet of snow above normal so far this year.

Grandpa and Dean put it to good use yesterday and built a snowman. Dean loves being outside.

Aly's Eleven

February 28th was Alyssa's 11th birthday

Here she is with her popcorn cupcakes she and her Mom made for her birthday slumber party

3 Blessed Years..

Today is my 3 year anniversary
of being diagnosed with multiple myeloma.
Over the last 3 years Julie married Andy and I have a 2 year old Grandson-Dean (Mar 21st) I also have 2 new grandchildren -Alex and Ashley. I have had the pleasure of watching them along with my grandchildren -Aly, Jack, Max and Danielle grow up up to be really great kids. I have 2 new grand nephews-Elliot and Alexander, I also have 5 new great great nephews and nieces-Collin, Jaden, Nathan, Jessa and Aryana. I have truly been blessed by God and hope to have many more years to watch them grow and be a part of their lives.
On a sadder note I have also lost many people close to me, including my best friend Linda, my favorite Uncle Lewie and my cousin Richard. My son-in-laws father (Andy) was just diagnosed with lung cancer with mets and is not doing well. Please keep him and his family in your prayers. My myeloma continues to remain under control with the Revlimid and decadron I have been on for 1 year now. My oncologist is using a serum free lite test to monitor my progress now and I haven't had a bone marrow biopsy in a year. This the best news for me. The bone marrow biopsies were excruiatingly pain full to go through, although thankfully the pain only lasted a few seconds with each aspiration. My biggest problem continues to be the neuropathy I am having in my hands, feet and legs from the medications I have used. At this point it has not affected my walking or driving and I pray that it never will.
As I am writing this Bob went out and got the mail. There was an announcement to save Friday, Sept.26 th, 2008 for our niece Nicole's wedding. Life goes on.

We're Home!!

Sylvia, Bob and I just returned from 6 days in Florida visiting my mom. When we left last Friday morning it was 9 degrees out. The temperatures ranged from the mid 60's to the low 70's while we there. When we returned last night it was 11 degrees. Now we are expecting a snowfall from 6 to 11 inches over the next 24 hours. This coming week the temperatures are supposed to be in the mid to high 70's but we last week because I found $9 tickets online on Spirit. It cost us a total of $77 for both of us round trip. Sylvia wasn't sure if she could get the time off from work and ended up paying $200 round trip just for her, when she bought her tickets 2 weeks later. We were able to visit with my cousins Sally and Joyce and also with my sister-in-law Bert and her family. The visits were brief but it nice being able to see our family and catch up a little. While we there my mom bought a new lazy boy recliner. The next day her tv went out on her and we were able to help her pick up a new lcd tv and set it up for her. Sure hope she is able to use the new remote, : ) Bob was able to do a few fix it up projects for her also. It is nice to go away but it is great coming home and sleeping in your own bed.
Monday Bob and I celebrated our 41 st anniversary.

We're Blessed

Today was a great day..
God has bestowed many blessings upon us. I went to my oncologist this morning and he said my labs were great. My wbc remains low at 2.4 due to the Revlimid I am and that is to be expected. But my hbg is 12.5 and my creatinine is 1.5 which is the lowest it has been since my kidneys were damaged when I harvested my stem cells in May of 06. I know that many of you don't know normal lab values but these are all very good for me. I then received my Zometa which I get every 6 weeks. As this is not covered with my current insurance and costs $1200 an injection I was pleased that Novartis Oncology Patient Assistance Program gave it to me free.
Many people have complaints about the various drug companies but Norvartis and Celgene have really been great helping me with expenses that I really could not afford. I will be going on medicare March 1st and my insurance will be much better, although the high cost of cancer drugs will remain to be a problem I am sure.
When I got home from the doctors we had a meeting with a man from our city and a contractor who doing repairs on our house. Do to our limited income in the last 3 years we qualified for a $10000 federal grant and also an interest free loan. We will be getting a new roof, some gutter repairs, new siding on the east side of our house, a new wall on the outside of our garage and a cement slab in our backyard with a 10' by 16' shed on it. It is part of a project Southfield has to keep up the appearances of our neighborhoods. I just happened to read an article in our local paper last spring. We qualified because I am permanently disabled. It was geared to the disabled or to people over 62 with low incomes. Now that Bob is receiving social security we would not qualify again. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for us.