It's a success!

Thanks for all your kind thoughts and prayers regarding my mom and my aunt.

On Monday, my mom went into the hospital for the bone marrow transplant. They poked holes on the back of her pelvis bone, and used different sized needles to get the most of her bone marrow.

She stayed overnight and had a blood transfusion. Basically, once the doctors took the bone marrow, they only used the white blood cells from it for my aunt, and gave my mom her red cells back through the blood transfusion which took four hours.

Since then, my aunt has been feeling very good and has had a very positive attitude. My mom still has some swelling and definitely is still sore--she said it basically feels like she threw out of her back (ouch!)--but she is doing well.

It's one thing to read about a bone marrow transplant, but it's completely different to actually donate yours. I am so proud of her and so happy it went well.

I'm actually considering getting tested to see if I could be someone's potential match. 

Would you ever donate your bone marrow or an organ?

Workin' on my fitness

As a lucky full-time employed person, my company has offered us a new health incentive this year. Basically, if you enroll in all four components of the program, you save money on your health insurance. And by money, I mean, I break even. But I'll take it anyways.

I had to talk with a health counselor first. Now I have to report my weight once a week, and I'm assigned to a team. Each time I lose weight, I get points. Every time I gain, I lose said points. Easy enough. And then the last part of the program is where you can choose from a list of programs. I chose to do the "steps" program, where my ultimate goal is to walk 70,000 steps a week. Obviously I don't get penalized if I don't achieve that number. The point is to just make yourself aware of your exercise habits and health. They sent me a pedometer, which I really like. So far, I've only forgotten to wear it two times. Which isn't bad when you think about it.

My fancy schmancy pedometer

The first week I did this, I was super competitive. This also was around the time of my first 5k, and definitely before I was sick. The highest I've gotten has been close to 60,000 steps, which I guess is good. I've found if I do my normal walking to and from work/car/bus station, I get around 2,000 steps. Which isn't much at all. Today I walked up to Qdoba on my lunch hour and burned some calories and definitely gained some steps.

I've made an appointment to go to the doctor's tomorrow. I really didn't want to, but maybe they'll give me some super drugs that will make me feel normal again. I keep thinking I am, but then I go for walks like today, and find myself so, so, tired. Not winded, just the kind of tired that sinks into your bones. Here's to hoping it'll all be alright.

The throat culture came back negative. Yay! Now if I could just stop coughing....

Cough, cough

Holy wow I've been bad about posting lately. I had a good three day weekend, but then on Monday I developed a sore throat. I thought, oh there's nothing wrong. probably me talking with M too much. It'll get better.

More like worse.

I woke up yesterday unable to talk. It hurt too damn much. I drank 4 cups of tea, felt miserable at work, and it hurt to swallow. Then I took some airborne before bedtime.

Today I can actually swallow without it hurting and my throat doesn't feel like it's about to combust, but I have a mini cough now. I have no idea how I even got this, nor do I know why I feel better today. But I'm hoping that tomorrow will be even better.

Edit: I went to the doctor's today & did a throat swab- I won't know results till Monday. I did get some huge dosage of ibuprofen and some drugs to help me sleep, so here's to making it through the weekend. I hate being sick.