Uneventful day: that's what we like!

 Sīle here. A lazy Sunday. Well at least for me. Hazel and Judy ( friend from Indianpolis)were out and about. More specifically they went to the Apple store in Pasadena. And Hazel got an IPod mini. Woohoo.

Another highlight from today. A longer uphill walk for me and a chat with a neighbor who invited us to see her magical backyard. I have never been in a place where people are so friendly. Our new BF, Kathleen Kelly, guess where her family is from, then invited us to help ourselves to lemons and tangerines. Now the larder is stocked with  citrus. Xxo

Úna in a hat I knit ( please don't look too carefully because there are a few boo boos)

Judy, Hazel and I in the backyard alluded to above. Swimming pool has been made into a koi pond 

Another Day in Monrovia ( + 43)

Hazel here.  I have just had a lesson from Sile on "how to use an iPad" and now I am practising.  This is my second attempt.  I seemed to manage to wipe out the first effort.  It all went blue and then disappeared!!  I think we missed out on a blog yesterday.  In fact it was a good day with no hospital visit.  I headed to the hills and had a 2 hour walk to the Monrovia Canyon Park.  It took me into a little bit of the San Gabriel mountains which are very picturesque beside us here.  We also managed to navigate to the laundromat without too many excitements.  Today was hospital visit again with great news - the blood counts are continuing to improve.  Hurrah.  And another big hurrah. NO cancer cells were detected in Sile's latest pathology report. In other word NO MDS cells and no blasts. Great news indeed. Dr Nakamura made an interesting observation.  It will be easy to recognize Frank's DNA as he has Y chromosomes!  Sile was pleased to show him her arm with no bruises.  The first time for nearly 2 years she reckons. My friend Judy from Indianapolis days arrives tomorrow. Looking forward to that.   I will be happy for her to take on some driving! We might venture further afield like on a Freeway.  Sile is suggesting to me that I should buy an iPad.  At least $100 cheaper here.  There is an Apple store in Pasadena which is pretty close on the freeway. Thought I had lost my blog again so I am going to stop now! 

Till tomorrow or later today. Hazel

Mornings can be nippy so long sleeves needed. Hazel in front of house

Shower heaven

Sile here. Very brief post as I am knackered. Why? The neighbors in our upscale 'hood had a party last night --- outside. Thumping music etc. Finally called Monrovia's finest at about 11:30. They came. Party stopped. 5 minutes later started again! Called again. Finally around midnight all quiet.

The high point of today was taking a shower with no picc line in. In other words I could just get into the shower. I didn't have to have my minder---Hazel at the moment--wrap my arm in plastic wrap--- always made me feel like a hunk of leftover ham! Have not been able to just hop into the shower since January 25! Ahhh the small things.

This is Úna this morning---March 12

This is Aoibh--- pronounced Eve--my great niece. Sheila's daughter, and hazel's granddaughter. Also taken this morning. In Ireland

Hazel's first blog attempt!

Hello everyone,

Here I am in sunny California living in a most beautiful old area called "Old Monrovia"  Many of the houses are wooden with shingles and beautifully maintained.  Our house is very large - had previously been an old folks care home!  With a beautiful wide wooden stair case.  The gardens remind me totally of Chris and Anne's in Spain with lots of succulents and trees with beautiful blossom.

I managed to drive Sile to the hospital for her appointments today.  Her blood counts are still good and she has finished her mycrofungin today and therefore was able to have the "line" removed from her arm.  Another step forward.  Now she only has routine appointments on Tuesdays and Fridays which makes her days and mine more flexible. 

I had a Baskin Robin yesterday and today I had a chat with the Girl Scouts selling their cookies outside the supermarket. Have talked to Judy so will meet up on Saturday.  I am a bit slow to drive on the Freeway so hopefully when she is here we will travel a bit further afield.  Sile is in good form managing to do some of the cooking  and generally look after hersellf.  She does a 20 minute walk round the block each evening with no difficulty even on the uphill bit.

As I sit here ther are loud baby noises coming from my left- Sile on her phone looking at messages from Úna.

That's about my news from today.  Try some more tomorrow.

Hazel

Síle's address until May ( or thereabouts)

The new address is in the contact us section--- or so I am told--- but I'll put it here too:

227, North Myrtle Avenue

Monrovia CA 91016

Tomorrow I have my favorite procedure--- a bone marrow biopsy. Ugh. This will be my 12th? In two years. But tomorrow's will let us know how much of Frank's bone marrow I actually have. So while I am not excited about the biopsy itself, it will be interesting to hear how the marrow is doing. 

A nice relaxing day here. The usual appointments followed by chats with Hazel and Jim. Resting. Walking. As today was Jim's birthday, Hazel cooked up a delicious dinner  followed by Christmas pudding for the birthday boy. Alas I was not able to partake as it is packed full of dried fruit which is a big no no on my diet. But.... It smelled delicious! And jim loved it. Thank you Aileen, ( my niece) for sending it

Xxo