Almost there....

NThose were the words uttered by Dr Cecchi this morning, Dec 31st.. And yes. It is true . Frank ( brother and donor) flies in from Ireland on January 3rd. We head down to the City of Hope for a few days them back here for a week. I will be staying in Oakland ( at Nora and Ainaté's) the week of January 14. Then Nora, Frank,and I head back down to the City of Hope where I will be until sometime in May. I am simultaneously relieved and scared that it is almost here. We are starting to work on the schedule of caregiving adding more of a dose of reality to the whole adventure . Dr Cecci was giving me a pep talk telling me that it was  the right thing and that i would be fine. Then he paused and said, " You know it's no picnic!" But then he looked at me adding" well you have been through so much already....."

I move my stuff out of my current abode on Saturday. So am starting to organize my packing. But in fact have loads of medical appointments on Thursday and Frdiay so perhaps the only thing I will in fact organize is my bag for the first trip south! 

 I still feel good if a little less peppy. We had a most relaxing few days in Forestville where I was waited on hand and foot by the family ( my leg was acting up so was a bit hobbled). Reading, Úna gazing and eating and drinking were the main diversions. 

As always I want to thank all of you for the incredible amount of help, love, and support you have all been providing me with. I truly appreciate it enormously.

Happy New Year!

Xxo

Síle

Dr Cecchi and I in his office where I discovered he has bought a harp. ( Wants to play w/ me when I return)

My first selfie wearing the scarf I had just finished. 

Transplant in 2014/Síle's life at the Cancer Center

After long conversations with Drs Cecchi and Nakamura, we decided to start  the transplant process in January 2014. So Frank, donor Convery, as he is referred to in my medical files, and I, will make our appearance at the City of Hope on January 6 to begin the process. (I did win my tussle with the  insurance company and could have gone sooner. It was a saga which would bore the socks off you were I to recount the details. Trust me)

My counts have been slipping which has meant that I have been at the Cancer Center every day this week--- including today Saturday-- for pokes, prods, transfusions and of course my almost daily encounters with the wonderful Dr Cecchi. But this has meant that I have not had time to return calls etc, so trust me when is say I would much prefer to have been chatting to all of you!

Amazingly I feel pretty good and have been out and about ---mainly listening to music. And I  am enjoying the Christmas  fuss. (Yes. I do like Christmas)

Úna of course continues to be the star and even Lola is getting on the Úna adoration train.

No word from the insurance company

Health Net is still denying my request for a transplant at the City Of Hope. This despite many Important People getting involved. My new insurance, Blue Shield, will take effect on January 1, 2014 and therefore I will be covered for my transplant then. We had hoped to get started in December. As Dr Cecchi says I am in the home stretch of this Marathon! 

In other news: we had a terrific thanksgiving and Úna looked adorable in her first dress!

False Alarm...maybe

The battle with the insurance company continues and therefore am still awaiting my transplant. However, all will be revealed on Tuesday, November 26, as that is the deadline for me to enroll in a new insurance plan which will OK my transplant---in January 2014. My counts are all still dropping which is why Drs Nakamura (City of Hope) and Cecchi ( Cancer Center in Berkeley) wanted the transplant show to get on the road sooner rather than later. I now need to get red blood and platelet infusions and my white counts are also dropping. The latter drop means that I have to be extra careful around people and so have eliminated hugging which is in fact much harder than you would imagine!

Úna continues to delight and if I am feeling low, I just go by Nóra and Ainaté's house for some Úna therapy. Her first outing was to Pixar, where Eoin got to indoctrinate her into the Pixar way!

My 2 best girls!

Jim and Una share a laugh

Nothing beats having a cute baby!

Ainate shows us how it's done

Eoin figures out the best angle

Ralph is delighted

Notice her cute monster outfit

Síle's transplant/ Úna's first few days

It looks as if my transplant at City of Hope could be sooner than originally planned ( as in a few weeks from now). Dr Nakamura and his team are working really hard to make this happen. Although I feel fine, all of my blood counts--- red, white and platelets--- have been slipping and there is some concern that I might have an "event". Don't you love medical terminology!  Of course we will keep everyone posted. This might be a good time to " subscribe" to the blog since when I hie my way to Southern California, this will become the main communication tool.

The world's most wonderful grandchild is doing really well. And her parents are too. Úna  likes to eat every 2 hours which makes for some sleep deprivation. She is proving herself to be very athletic doing very vigorous bicycle kicks when she is not sleeping. Her favorite pose is to be snuggled on someone's chest as you can tell from the pictures

Thank you to the many of you who have signed up to bring Nóra and Ainaté  food. You are a god send. ( I have set up an account on Meal Baby for them so if you would like to be added, let me know)

Una and Eoin

Una and Jim

Una and Ainate

Una and Nora

Una has arrived

And yes. The Una has an accent which I seem to be unable to do on the I -pad. Nora and Ainate wanted an Irish name but one that was pronouncable for Americams.   Hmmmm.... I wonder why! Una is number 14 of her generation on the Convery side

Una was very happy lolling in Ainate's stomach for 2 weeks beyond her due date (October 21) but boy when she decided to arrive, she wasn't messing around. The whole process took about 6 hours from start to appearance. And good girl. Nora and Ainate were able to have dinner before she tipped them off. Alas, they were interrupted in their viewing of Argo but am sure they can finish it some other time.

Una was born at Kaiser Walnut Creek and Nora and Ainate have been delighted by the attention and caring of all the nurses and staff members. They hope to bring her home tomorrow--- Tuesday, November 5th. We were having connectivity issues in the hospital so I don't have all the photos that were taken today. Lucky you!

Update: 

Úna is anxious to go home ( and I figured out the accent thing!)

And a band of elves decorated just for her

The birthday season/new digs

I am comfortably ensconced in my new abode--on Tunnel Road --just across from the Claremont. It is a studio but so huge you can hardly notice the bed. And as Eoin has pointed out, I make sure that wherever I live I am within walking distance of Peets. In this case the one on Domingo. I have wonderful landlords living upstairs ---and their dog Wags. Wags comes to visit frequently and he and Kofi just ignore one another.

The birthday season is over. Sigh. This was a big birthday in a number of ways, First, I turned 65 and eligible for medicare which in turn makes it possible for me to have my transplant at City of Hope. Second, last year I was a bit sickly so not able to eat. But I made up for it this year!

I was wined and dined like billy o. The Phnom Penh, Fenton's, Chez Panisse, Oliveto, Duende. Dinners at people's houses. (And maybe I am forgetting some) All the food was wonderful. If you haven't eaten at Duende, you should. Great food. Friendly, efficient, unobtrusive, service. All of our dishes were delicious including the paella. 

paella at Duende

Another treat was going to Fenton's. David and Liz showed a ridiculous amount of self control and shared...yes shared...a hot fudge

sundae.

happy about sharing... (david and liz)

Doug and I on the other hand....!

tucking in (doug and sile)

So you are getting the idea that food was a theme. No make that THE theme. When I asked Dr Nakamura at City of Hope what I should do to prepare for my transplant, he laughed and said " Well maybe put on some weight" I don't think he expected me to follow his advice with such gusto! A final birthday food pic. Jim bought a cake from La Farine and it was but only fantastic. Now I make chocolate desserts. Many of you reading this have eaten those same desserts. Nora and Eoin are big fans and always declare after sampling other desserts, "It was excellent but not as good as yours Mom". However, this cake, the Geneve, beats anything I have ever made. Really. Truly. The frosting makes it look a little bit like a supermarket type cake but honestly it was fantastic . ( Notice the number prominently displayed just in case I had forgotten!)

yum yum

Change of topic: A medical update. I continue to feel fine. My platelets continue to misbehave. My white counts are dropping. Cecchi checks me every week. In other words...same old same old. The idea is to keep me healthy until transplant time in January 2014.

I am choosing to think of myself as being on sabbatical from October until December. So if you want to play, contact me.

The baby is due October 21st. This picture was taken on Sept 29th. The incredibly cute sweater was knit by Joanna D

nora, ainate, and sweater by Joanna D

Life on Emerald Street

I am staying with Nora and Ainate for a few weeks . Then on to a sublet near The Claremont hotel. Thank you all for helping me pack, move, and find  a place to land!

Life on Emerald Street is all about the animals. Let me tell you more

Lola, the Rhodesian Ridgeback, loves al things wooly. So I dare not leave my knitting out or she will munch on my yarn

Maria, the tortoise shell, is the big adventurer. Her favorite destination is the Toyota dealership. The guys know her well since she visits frequently. And she sometimes gets stuck in a corner and calls are placed. Ainate goes over and retrieves her

Macho, the black and white guy, is also known as ' The Evil Cat'. Because nothing is safe. He has knocked the wine carafe off the top shelf. Yes the top shelf. If you leave your coffee on the window sill .... bam he gets it! And on and on

Kofi. Well Kofi is just Kofi. He just ignores them all and does his own thing

Baby blanket done

Am so delighted that it is done. Finished. You see because it is a baby blanket, I had to use cotton yarn. And I hate hate hate knitting with cotton. The only cotton yarn I will even think of using is Blue Sky Alpaca. But I love how it turned out and hope baby Convery Bullock Yiaueki loves it too. ( She is expected on October 21)

PS: I had not realised that my photo shoot would result is in a blanket full of twigs, grass, and various other bits of organic matter. Took me ages to pluck it clean!

Moved/ harvest time

Woo hoo. Thanks to all of you I am moved. I  am at Nora and Ainate's house for a week or 2 then to a sublet for a few months. Details to follow when they are finalized.

Today is harvest day in Forestville. Everyone up super early. My job is the food

Boxes Boxes everywhere.......

To distract myself from sorting, I am posting some pics from a shower Eoin hosted for Nora and Ainate. The first baby shower Eoin had ever been to, mind you.  I have a pile of fantastic boxes and many of you have been coming by to help fill them! If you would like to flex your packing muscles, let  me know. (You can never have too many packers according to the Packing Tsarina, Liz M)

Nora. Kyoko

Jim, Doug (setting up pinata)

the 3 A's: Amy. Ainate, Amy

Sophia and Anne

Nora, Eoin, Sile

Niall. Frank's son visiting us from New Zealand

Fabulous cake from Sweet Adeline

Ainate with her grandfather, Phil