A NORMAL LIFE

The Laird was not able to dodge the blood transfusion.  We arrived at Mario’s oncologist and found that his white blood cell count had risen considerably, but his red blood cells were still about the same.  The oncologist recommended a blood transfusion.  Mr. FOG kept his mouth shut, but will tell the blog’s readers what he thinks.  Mario seemed OK and the red blood count was rising, albeit slowly.  Also Mario was not going into chemo for three weeks, plenty of time for his body to build up his own cells.  There are risks in receiving blood, and last time Mario had minor reactions to the transfusion lasting several days.   However, if Mr. FOG wanted to practice medicine, he should have become a doctor.  Both Laird and FOG decided it was best to do what the real doctor, who actually also specializes in blood, recommended, and let her do her job.  So the Laird had the transfusion.

Starting the day late, we lost the day at the infusion chair getting two units of packed red blood cells.  It takes about 3 hours to get the two units, so Mario could not make in to the office.  Mario was able to work from the infusion chair.  Fortunately he has not bad reaction so far.  Perhaps we got better (more compatible) blood this time, or his health was better than when he had the last transfusion. He worked again when we got home and was finished around 5:30.

Gone Fishing    It was great day in Atlanta with high temps and blue skies.  Thanks to day light savings, the Laird went fishing at a lake very close to Vinings Mountain Castle.  Mr. FOG knew that they had a lake, but had not seen it.  Vinings Mountain Castle is really on a mountain of sorts and one would not think there could be a lake on the mountain.  While probably man made, it had a good water flow so there must be a spring or other water source.

Mario’s luck held true and he hooked a decent sized bass for the lake.  It was his first fish of 2012.

Back home Mario is making chicken fajitas for Nurse Sherry and Mr. FOG.  His mouth is doing better and his Lordship may be able to partake.

Later in the evening Lord and Nurse snuggled and watched TV.

Almost Normal  Mr. FOG was pleased at the day’s events.  Not counting the blood tranfusion, the newlyweds were having a near normal life, working, fishing, cooking, talking about their jobs, and enjoying time together.  It was nice to hear and see them acting normal.  With a little luck, the Lord should have almost three good weeks of a "normal life" before Chemo #4.  Perhaps there is some truth in the luck of the Irish, or married to the Irish.

Mr. FOG is heading back to Asheville to tend his garden and continue laying slate tiles for his back patio.  Mr. FOG too is looking forward to getting back to his “normal” life, although some may think it is more weird than normal. 

Happy St. Patrick’s Day   .Given the Irish connection, more St. Patrick’s Day wishes came from Maid of the Mist and Tom the Often Wise.  Jeff, Brandon, and Bobbie also sent a “remembering you” card and Carol and Hal sent a thank you card. 

Not to be ourdone, Mr. FOG’s  bar newspaper, Bar Fly, had some St. Patrick’s Day facts.  Considering the source of the information,  Mr. FOG thinks the information is correct, but has not validated it. 

·         The first St. Patrick’s Day parade was in Boston in 1737 and not Ireland.

·         The actual color associated with St. Patrick is blue and not green.  Green was introduced in the 19^th century.  In Irish legends, green is worn by immortals and fairies and also by people to encourage their crops to grow.

·         34 million Americans have Irish ancestry, almost nine times the population of Ireland.