Everyone seems to be better, or at least as healthy as little kids can get.  I’ve started spending time outside of the one room I’ve been staying in.  Sometimes I still wear a mask, but even that is infrequent.  I haven’t left my house, but it’s good to have the full run of the place.

So what is a guy that feels pretty good but can’t go outside of his house supposed to do with his days?  Thankfully I have a great boss and I’m now working remote.  It’s a little weird to get back in the routine of work, but it’s a good weird.  I’ll also be glad when I can return to the office and see people face to face.

Here are my numbers from Monday’s lab draw.

WBC – 0.9

Hemoglobin – 8.9

Platelets – 192

ANC – 0.5 (stubborn little buggers)

I’ll get my next blood draw on 1/7.  Here’s to hoping my ANC makes the long awaited jump.

Overall my vision is getting better.  I seem to have good days and bad days and even good hours and bad hours.  As I type this, I can actually read what I’m typing, which is an improvement over how I was in the hospital.  However there are times where things are a bit blurry.  My right eye is worse than my left, so I wonder if at times my left eye is dominating and my vision clears up.  Then my left eye tires out and things get blurry again.  Hopefully things keep improving.

Still no word on when the special on Coach Pagano will air, and thus my interview will air as well.  As soon as I know the time, I’ll pas it along.

Now that I’m home, I’m getting to enjoy the delicious meals that people are bringing.  Thank you very much to everyone who is bringing meals. It’s a big help as we juggle doctor appointments, new medical routines, and the difficulties of integrating lifestyle changes with everything.

Dear God, thank you for smiles.  Thank you for the laughter of my children.  Thank you for the touch of my wife.  Thank you for bringing me home.  Please be with my friends who are still patients at IUSCC.  Thank you for the staff there and the care that they provide.  Allow me to enjoy this time.  Sometimes I feel close to normal, close to healed, but then I remember the road ahead.  Please continue to grant me patience and perseverance as I approach my next treatment.  I pray for healing, but will follow you no matter what.  Thank you for another day.  Amen.

Neither of the girls can say Tucker.  Sydney says tuh-tuh and Natalie screams out TUCKEEEEE.  That’s one of the joys of being home.  While I was upstairs, but out of my room yesterday I heard Natalie scream Tuckeeee over and over again.  She then laughs out loud as, just like her dad, she cracks herself up a lot.  It’s good to be home.

Keeping me isolated is working so far.  I have a HEPA filter running in my room 24/7.  Lindsey’s been bringing me my meals and shooting me dirty looks when I say things like “Well now, this is what a marriage should be like.”  I’ve been out of my room a little bit, but sanitizing my hands pretty heavily.

Bath time for the girls has long been mostly a daddy responsibility.  When Lindsey was pregnant, it wasn’t the easiest thing to reach over the tub, and once Tucker came along Lindsey was usually breastfeeding or taking care of him.  It’s been a long time since I’ve gotten to be a part of bath time, so last night was special.  I didn’t actually do the baths, but I was there to see the girls splash and have a good time.  Then, figuring this would be as germ free as they’d ever be during the day, I got Sydney out of the tub, dried her off, and played with her a bit.  Natalie joined in the fun too.

Tucker got a bath last night and since he was in fresh germ free jammies, I took the opportunity to give him his bottle.  Did I mention its good to be home?

WBC – ?.?

Hemaglobin – ?.?

Platelets – ???

ANC – ?.?

It’s a little weird to not know what my numbers are.  It’s been a daily part of life for the last 3+ weeks.  I did get labs drawn today, so I’ll pass those numbers on as soon as I know them.  I will have labs drawn each Monday to make sure everything is going well.

I mentioned the other day that the NFL Network would be in town for Coach Pagano’s first game back.  What I didn’t mention is there was a chance I was going to get interviewed.  I was supposed to be one of the inpatients interviewed, but since I was discharged I didn’t think that would happen.  However late Saturday I heard from IUH PR that they would still like for me to be interviewed.  Lindsey and I drove back to the IU Simon Cancer Center and I had a short interview about my diagnosis and my thoughts on coach.  It sounds like the story will air on Sunday the 6th.  I’ll let you know when I know the exact date and time and what station it will be on.

Since this will be coach Pagano’s first game back, there will be quite the to do talking about his battle with leukemia.  The IU Simon Cancer Center is going to be featured in a segment on NFL network on Sunday.  I’m not sure when it will air.  I imagine at some point during the hours before 1pm kickoffs.  It will probably also be replayed.  If you’d like to learn more about where I receive my care, I imagine it will be a good story line.  I would also assume they’ll have an interview with Dr. Cripe.  Dr. Cripe will be directing my ongoing treatments.  Oh, and he’s coach Pagano’s doctor too.

I’m not really sure what to call my fellow patients.  Fellow patients sounds kind of funny, so I just call them my friends.  I’ve never met any of my friends.  Sure I’ve seen a few while walking and we’ve said hi, but I’ve never sat down and talked to anyone.  Really, I don’t see a lot of people out of their rooms, and when I do they’re with family.  Still, I’m sure if you got us all in a circle, we’d be friends.  We’d have similar experiences to share, similar battles we are fighting.  I’d probably find someone who has twins or twin grandkids.  As I walk around I see which of my friends have been discharged and which of my friends have come back for more treatment.  There are a couple of friends who have been here longer than I have. Of course I don’t know what they are being treated for, but I pray they can go home soon.

WBC – 0.7

Hemoglobin – 8.0

Platelets – 137

ANC – 0.4

Oh so close!  They’ve said I should have an ANC of 0.5 before they’ll send me home.  I’m not sure why my hemoglobin dropped, but no one is worried about that.  I sure wish I had a dollar for every platelet I had.  And before you think that’s $137, remember these numbers are in thousands so I actually have 137,000 platelets.  Keep clotting guys!

I’ve mentioned never being in one confined space for so long.  I’m still in a confined space, but it’s a different confined space.  You see, I was discharged at 4:35 pm today.  They felt my ANC would jump up again and there was no reason to keep me in the hosptial.  I’m comfortably confined to the bonus room in my own home.  The kids are still sick so I’m going to stay in this one room until they feel better.  If I need to leave the room, I just need to wear a mask.  It’s good to be home!

Life is a bit closer to resuming.  I’ll probably start working again next week, although not in the office. I get blood drawn on Monday.  I have a follow up appointment with Dr. Cripe on 1/14.  It’s quite possible I’ll be admitted again soon after that appointment, as I’m due up for another round of chemo in January.  I see my eye doctor on 1/17 to follow up on the pre-retinal hematoma and I need to schedule an appointment with my PCP.  Life, which was already busy, will be a bit busier, but I’m just thankful I’m here to live it.