Lymph Journal # 70 - Back in Germany

7/10/2012

It has been a few days since the last posting and much has transpired. Our flights back to Germany were “uneventful”.  This is always one of the best labels one can hope for to describe a trans-Atlantic, overnight journey.  The jet lag, worse for us going West to East, has been manageable and the apartment was habitable upon return – friends even delivered an evening meal to the door – thanks Joe & Susie!

In scheduling our return to Germany we had to figure in the start-ups of English Camps and, months in advance, speculate on my potential health and strength so we ended up with a return on July 3-4.  This meant missing a family wedding in Virginia – congrats Esther and Daniel – as I couldn’t count on having the “stuff” to make a major round trip and then board a plane in time for camps.  On the other hand we did return in time for a wedding of two former BFA students of mine held in the village next door where the bride’s family lives – congrats Lindsey and Brandon.

Last Friday morning I underwent a CT scan to determine progression on my remission.  Yesterday was originally the day I was to have discussed the results with the Freiburg doc but he went on vacation and delayed that appointment for a week.  The results were sent on to my local oncologist in Lörrach.  We’ll be meeting with him tomorrow but a preliminary email confirmed the results to be “good”.  More details will follow as we go through this season of awaiting concrete news.

In reflecting back on our time in the States, I am sure glad we went.  It was a bit of a gamble even buying tickets but we won.  It was great to see so many people and be seen by so many people who have had us in their prayers.  Both Diane and I come from families with six kids and we were able to connect with all the siblings.  It was great to spend times with our Moms.  It was especially great to, despite the challenge of packing in a year’s direct relationships into a month’s time, connect with our children who are children no more.  I like having adult “kids”.  I like seeing how our collective history and their particular experiences and relationships are continuing to mold and make them.  I like being reminded of the things we’ve said in the past – wise things, silly things, and a great number of things I can’t remember ever saying but they swear I have – that have meant something.  And, as I’ve observed earlier, there is no better joy than to see your grown-up kids yukking it up with each other.  

Samantha, Carl, Hannah, and Amanda with Carl's Bday cake

Carl's giant Reese's Cake presented by its creator Wendy of Just Wright Catering on Carl's birthday

Grammy and Isaiah

Isaiah's First Birthday cake!

Both sides of the Brad and Amanda family

English Camp staffs have arrived for round 1 here in the Kandern area.  It was good to see some familiar faces and experienced directors – welcome back!  The whole family got to pitch in on Saturday’s grocery run - $2500 worth of food, four vans full!  The campers arrive on Thursday, may all go to the glory of God.

Lymph Journal # 69 - A short update

6/29-7/1/2012

I haven’t posted in a bit.  Somehow a lack of unoccupied time tends to depress my attempts at literary output.  Each day here seems to fill up with stuff – usually very good stuff – but it cuts down the quiet moments of contemplation.  Or maybe that’s just the naptimes doing that.

I’ve gone through all the testing outlined in the last posting.  No sign of pneumonia in the chest X-rays, very good numbers in the blood test, and a good visit with a local South County oncologist have led me to wait on other testing until back in Germany.  The lung thing has either lessened a bit or I’m more accustomed to it so I’ll get by until then.  The oncologist, by the way, was quite encouraging. He said, “You look great”, for someone so recently having undergone the stem cell transplant.

We’re coasting into our final weekend here in the States.  There is significant family time scheduled as well as homemade quahog chowder and clam-cakes.  I’m telling you right now – don’t ask for the chowder recipe – it’s one of those “If I tell you I’ll have to ….” things.  We’ve had some really fine grandkid time over the last few days – fellow grandparents know what I’m talking about.

Well, now it’s two days later and I better just post this little bit of news.  The chowder and cakes were excellent.  Suffice it to say I’m feeling very good but also ready to resume a degree of routine.  We’ll fly back to Germany on Tuesday night.  I plan to pick back up the Nerdic poles and resume regular exercise.  Friday I’ll have my CT scan that will be followed by the report on Monday.  My hope and prayer is that, after Monday, I’ll no longer be calling this my “Lymph Journal”.