From Penny

                              

A Little Love for John

By Penny Perez

 

I have such joy with every prayer

I lift for my closest friends

Sometimes it seems to be so unfair!

The Lord loves you and it's Love He sends

 

I don't see you sick, dear John

I see you well and filled with joy

It's God's power for you - pouring on . . .

And you are no longer the enemy's toy

 

He can't hurt you any more ~ I know

Because I pray in Jesus' name

We've kicked him far as the wind doth blow

Our Lord is here to heal your frame!

 

John . . . Krissy too

I love you both, I really do

I pray every day - sometimes twice

I love to pray - it feels so nice.

 

 Blessings and love, Penny

 

Firestormkids04@aol.com

 

To John

Hi John.  I heard you were feeling a little weary.  It must be hard with the bone marrow transplant complications continuing to come. 

You have been through more in a few months than some go through their entire lives. The road has been rough and there has been road blocks of epic proportions. But God has smiled on you my friend. He has given you ways around those blocks and He will continue to do so. You don't always have to show bravery John. Just show faith. When you feel a little down. Just look up!

This is for you John. Just click the TV and relax. Remember, you are not alone!

 From Krissy and J-Land

Smile

A Translation of Atlanta for Visitors

1. Atlanta is comprised entirely of one way streets. The only way to get out of downtown Atlanta is to turn around and start over when you reach Greenville, South Carolina.

2. All directions start with, "Go down Peachtree..."

3. Peachtree Street has no beginning and no end.

4. Atlanta is home of Coca Cola. That's all we drink here, so don't ask for any other soft drink.

5. Atlantans only know their way home and their way to work.

6. Gate One at the Airport is 32 miles away from the Main Concourse.

7. It's impossible to go around a block and wind up on the street you started on. The Chamber of Commerce calls this a "scenic drive".

8. The 8 a.m. rush hour is from 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. The 5:00 p.m. rush hour is from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Friday's rush hour starts Thursday morning.

9. Reversible Lanes are not understood by anybody.

10. "Sir" and "Ma'am" are used by the person speaking to you if there's a remote possibility that you're at least 30 minutes older than they are.

11. "Sugar" is a more common form of address than "Miss". So is "Honey".

12. Ponce de Leon Avenue can only be pronounced by a native, so do not attempt the Spanish pronunciation. People will simply tilt their heads to the right and stare at you.

13. The falling of one rain drop causes all traffic to immediately cease; so will daylight savings time and a girl applying eye shadow across the street, or a flat tire three lanes over.

14. If you're standing on a corner and a MARTA Bus stops, you're expected to get on and go somewhere.

15. Atlanta is pronounced "Lan-uh".

16. Construction on Peachtree Street is a way of life, and a permanent form of entertainment.

17. Construction crews aren't doing their job properly unless they close down all lanes except one during rush hour. (Ed. note: This appears to be a common theme in almost any major American city).

18. Atlanta's traffic is the friendliest around. The commuters spend hours mingling with each other twice a day. In fact, Atlanta's traffic is rated number 1 in the country. You will often see people parked beside the road and engaged in lively discussions.

19. Atlantans are very proud of their race track, known as Road Atlanta. It winds throughout the city on the Interstates, hence its name.

20. Georgia 400 is the southern equivalent of the AutoBahn. You will rarely see a semi-truck on GA400, because the truck drivers are intimidated by the oversized-SUV-wielding housewives racing home after a grueling day at the salon or the tennis match to meet their children at the school bus.

Update

Blood donation has gone up!

From Krissy

Gee, I feel bad.  Leaving everybody in the dark.  No, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. 

John and I have been in Hershey.  Since Monday of last week.  Sorry I haven't written an entry before now.  But John was going to about three tests or appointments a day. 

We have been staying in Hope Lodge.  Instead of admitting John into the hospital, the doctors have just been giving him tests all day.  He had very high fevers for about two weeks.  They are calling his diagnosis "fevers of unknown origin".  Now along with his oncologist Dr. Claxton, he has another specialist named Dr. Zurlo, who is an Infectious Disease Specialist.  He is searching for the cause of John's fevers but cannot ascertain the cause.  Actually, John's fevers stopped a couple of days ago, but Dr. Zurlo and Dr. Claxton are still examining him, as these fevers have come on and off for a couple of months now.

John goes to see Dr. Claxton tomorrow (Tuesday).  There is a possibility we may get to go home.  They will still work on his case, but maybe from a long distance.  Maybe they can do more tests from where we live, and see him back in a few weeks.  I hope so, b/c I am ready to go home.

Speaking of home, we are packing up the apartment, b/c we have found a new one!  It is the one I mentioned to you all that we wanted.  I am so excited!  It is nice and new and clean, which will be good for John's immune system.  And it is pretty!  I can't wait to go.  It has more room, so we won't be so crammed.  I am looking forward to a change.

Well, there is so much more that I want to tell you, but I have to get up early tomorrow.  In the morning I have to go to the hospital and straighten out an insurance issue, pick up a med for John, then John has to get a test done, and then it is off to Dr. Claxton's for an office visit.  And then if we get to go home, it is back to Hope Lodge to pack, and ready the room for the next guest.  I guess that is not a lot, it is all in a day's work.  

I want to tell you a lot more that is going on, which I will, when I get a chance.  Yes, I guess I am being mysterious, LOL.

Oh, somebody asked me how my sleep apnea machine is working.  I don't get that until I get back from Hershey.  There was a mixup and they didn't even start me on it!  As far as my Narcolepsy med, it was working great for awhile.  Now I still fall asleep some.  I think the med needs to be adjusted a lot, but I don't get to see the neurologist till August.  It is infuriating, but they are saying there is no way to get in and see the narcolepsy doctor early.  Meanwhile I just fall asleep a lot.  Oh well.

Okay, I must go to bed now.

Lots of love, and I will try not to wait in posting so long next time.

Krissy :) 

Smile

During a museum tour the guide explains, "Here you can see the beautiful statue of Athena...".

"Excuse me, madam," a visitor interjects. "Who is that man behind her? Is he her husband?"

"No, Athena wasn't married: She was the goddess of wisdom."

From Krissy

Hi.  John and I just got back from Hershey yesterday.  Actually, we got back a few days before that, but had to go back again.  I guess I should explain.  John finally got out of the hospital.  I was scared for awhile.  His temperature got up to 103.8.  But being the fighter that he is, he pulled through, as always!  And we came home.  Then after being home for a few days, we had to go back again so he could be checked out again.  Dr. Claxton said he was very pleased with John, and that he does not have to come back for 8 weeks!  If John makes it, this will be the longest that he will go without having to come back!

They gave John a slew of tests to find out why his ANC and WBC have been low for the past two months.  But they found nothing.  But all the tests have not come back.  If they find anything in the tests, they will call us up.  But Dr. Claxton is pleased right now, b/c John's ANC has come up, even though he was artificially stimulated with a shot called Nuelasta.  Because even though he got the shot, his counts are now rising on their own!!!

At any rate, the reason, the reason I did not tell you about what was going on before now, and that John is ok, was b/c when I got back into town, I could not get my computer to work for several days.  It STILL does not work.  I can't sign on.  I believe it is AOL.  I am typing this entry from my father's computer.  I wanted to do it today, so that you all would no longer worry, and know that John is ok.  Sorry that I have put you to worry.  I tried for about 3 days to get the computer to work, before I went back to Hershey, to no avail.  So sorry.

Well, that is about it, except we are moving, to an apartment in the same town.  I will tell you all about that later.  The reason is John needs somewhere that is newer and cleaner for health reasons.  He needs a two bedroom apartment so that he can go into a separate bedroom when his counts are low so that he doesn't catch anything from me.  We talked to our landlord and he has already let us out of our lease early.  We are looking at a place that is new and clean, almost brand new, that we like very much.  If you don't mind praying, please pray that we get it.  It means the world to us.  :)

Okay, must run.  I am going to get off my Dad's computer and go eat breakfast.  

Love you all lots, Krissy :)