Thursday, December 31, 2015

Year in Review 2015

Time to wrap up this year.  
Children:
Trica is a Nurse Practitioner in  Northern Minnesota.  She commutes daily and likes her job.   Trica’s husband Richard is in the Radio Business.

Jennifer continues to teach English at a Community College.  She  is the Mayor of their little town.   Jen’s husband Andy teaches Electronic Technology and Automated Systems at a Community College.  He is the Fire Chief in their little town.  Andy is a First Responder.

Grands:
Savannah is going to a Community College for elementary education.

Madison is a Senior this year.  She still loves all animals.  Her Golden Lab Deacon is sometimes called Goose.
 
Paige is a Junior and plays Hockey, she is taking some college courses.

Noah would be technically a Junior in High School, but he is a PSEO Student at a Community College. (Post Secondary Enrollment Options.)  He plays guitar and violin.  He is a Certified Nursing Assistant and wants to be a Doctor someday.

Adam is in eighth grade.  He plays basketball and cello.  He is in Vex Robotics.

The grands Oldest to youngest
The Grands oldest to youngest. November 2015
Pets:
Chance is 11 years old.  He is really slowing down this past year.
IMG_8159
Miney, Little Elvis and Chance  May 2015
Miney must be about ten years old and Little Elvis is five years old.

Jade still lives with Trica and Richard.  Deacon /Goose lives there too with Maddie.

14 year old Chaucer the cat with many lives or “The cat that almost died” is still kicking.  The front porch was an intensive care unit where a great struggle was held between life and death after an encounter with a mean old Tom cat. Chaucer technically belongs to Noah but he is more of a family cat.
IMG_0440
Chaucer
I cannot keep track of the other cats…Bailey, Luna, Ziggy and Skittles…but they all seem just fine. They come out and hiss at Chance when we visit.

Trigeminal Neuralgia may be in remission temporarily.  We have to wait and see.  Far Guys newest disorder’s protein may be helping with the unbearable pain of the TN.

Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency.  A Genetic Disorder passed down to Far Guy by both of his parents.  They were both carriers ..one an MZ and one an MS which is which we don’t know at this point in time.  Far Guy is an SZ.  I am an MM.(Normal)  Trica is an MS and Jennifer and MZ.  Savannah, Madison and Paige are MM.  Noah is an MM.  Adam is a MZ.  Far Guy’s sister is an MM that is how we know what type their parents carried.  Far Guy gets weekly infusions through a port at home.  He takes Aralast, it is very expensive.  It runs from a high $82,000 to a low of $56,000 a week.  Yes, that is a WEEK, it is not covered by Medicare.  So it all falls to our secondary insurance.  So far the infusions are helping to keep his lung function at 21%.  ( Yes 79 % of his lungs have been destroyed  by the lack of protein…everytime a Doctor said “Oh it is just a virus and antibiotics won’t help…they were wrong.”)
IMG_1844
Biggest Change:   For me: Learning to access a port, mix expensive medications and infuse my husband.  I didn’t know if I could do it…I can.

Biggest Frustration: The medical and medicare system.

Deaths: In May our friend Mary Lou from Iowa died at the age of 87.  My cousin Arthur’s wife who we called Auntie Kathy died in May after cancer invaded her body for 32 days, she was 66 years old.  In May Cousin Nickie’s husband Jim died of Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma at the age of 66. Our friend Chuck in Indiana died in October at the age of 77.  In November our longtime friend, Marilyn who is also the Mother of two of our very special friends died at the age of 89.  In November my Uncle Dennis died after being ill for five days, he was 78  years old.  May they all Rest In Peace.

Births: None in our immediate family.

Happiest Moments: Simple things shared, a new wildflower or a pretty bird in the yard.

We still enjoy woodcarving and spending time outside taking Chance for his daily walks and an almost daily ride in the car.
Indigo Bunting
Indigo Bunting May 2015.
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29 comments:

KathyB. said...

You have a family to be praised ! You're abundantly blessed.

Goodness, I was shocked when you aid what the price of your husband's meds are. Why are they so expensive ? If you did not have the secondary insurance , well...

I like your appreciation for simple blessings. May New Year 2016 be a year of many blessings and few sorrows.

Kathy said...

I love this post at the end of every year.

DJan said...

Your family and your life is part of mine now. You are one of my longest followers. Sometimes when I go back to a post more than five of six years old, there's a comment from you. And I have pretty homemade cards and a book by Aldo Leopold, all because of my interactions with you. May 2016 bring you and your wonderful family everything you wish for. :-)

linda m said...

A beautiful post for the last day of the year. You have a wonderful husband and family. And have been blessed in many ways. I wish you a very Happy New Year and many blessings in 2016.

Intense Guy said...

Sounds like a ring out the old, ring in the new kind of year - the youngsters full of bright promise - and the older folks - hanging in there. I hope the older folks hang in there a long time - and see the bright promise of the youngsters come about.

Linda said...

A good year! Maybe this next will be the one that has miraculous medical breakthroughs for the Far Guy.

Anonymous said...

This has been quite a year for you and your family. I hope that the new year will be easier. You both are heroes in my book. Love your new Header, as always. Give dear Chance a hug from me.

Shirley H.

Red said...

That's an interesting report on the status of your family. Best wishes for a happy 2016

Dreaming said...

I love your summary! It makes me feel like I've been keeping up with your blog all year!
I think I am kinda glad I missed the antitrypsin reveal. Wow! What a terrible thing to find out - but on the other hand, what great news that you now know and can deal with it - but yikes! What a cost. I think our medical system is a mess.
I wish you and Far Guy nothing but the best for the coming year!

Anonymous said...

I think the price for some drugs is outrageous.

Shirley H.

Terry and Linda said...

You always come up with very interesting blog posts. I agree with you on the medical system! As for you and Far Guy I wish you the best for the coming year.

Linda

MTWaggin said...

Here is to continuing health improvements and the ongoing successes of you and your family! I am happy to hear your secondary insurance is covering FGs meds as well. Everytime I hear people complain about their insurance costs, these things are what I remind them of - you never know - for you or even if you don't use your insurance, you are helping your neighbor that needs it! :)

Tired Teacher said...

Posting the highlights and details of the year is a good reference for your children and the Grands should they need that information in the future.

Happy New Year!

Still the Lucky Few said...

What an amazing family! I can tell you are very proud! Such terrible news about the price of the meds... Something is wrong with the system.

Gail said...

Many blessings in your life. Family to be proud and some darn fine looking pets. Can't beat that.

Happy New Year.

Patsy said...

It has been very interesting year blogging with you my friend.
Have a good New Years Eve!

Rita said...

It's shocking how little Medicare covers. Even life and death doesn't count to the government. Glad your secondary insurance covers--hopefully all of it.
This was a nicely done round-up of the past year. What a wonderful, brilliant family! Happy new year to you and yours. May the days of 2016 be filled with all those simple things, wildflowers, and pretty birds. :)

Linda W. said...

An eventful year for you and your family. Here's to a great 2016! Happy New Year!

Pauline Persing said...

Such a pretty photo of that indigo bunting. It is not an easy bird to photograph. Sending prayers for a healthy year for all of your family. Your family is a blessing to your community.

Cynthia said...

I enjoyed the recap of your year, as I'm sure your children will in years to come. Happy New Year to you and yours!

L. D. said...

So many grand kids that have grown up so quickly. They certainly fill out in a row from youngest to oldest. I wish you both peaceful times among all of the serious things in life. It is the simplest things in life that can be the most special when times seem overwhelming. Prayers are being sent up to God for his blessings and safety for your entire family.

Anonymous said...

You've had a very busy year. The color on the indigo bunting is spectacular, isn't it? Awesome. Wishing you and yours a Happy New Year!

The Furry Gnome said...

Happy new Year! Hope the new year is good to you and Far Guy!

Granny Marigold said...

Health and happiness in the coming year for you and your husband.

Karen said...

Wow, quite a year. I just cannot believe the price of that drug. Someone along the way must be making a bucket of money. Thank goodness your insurance covers it.
I hope 2016 is an especially good year for you and your family, two legged and four. All the very best.

Jacqi Stevens said...

What a shocker on that price. Why so expensive? Is it an experimental treatment? Any chance it will have a status change in the near future?

Shirley said...

The pharmaceutical companies are one of my biggest pet peeves; so I won't comment further on that. I hope all goes well health wise this year. Give Chance some lovin' from us- it looks like Tess is pregnant- I am not saying for sure until I actually see the pups or feel them move! Due in about 2 weeks and I am still calling one of the boys Chance.

Sam I Am...... said...

How do you afford the medicine? I have trouble affording my Enbrel and it is much less...more like $250.00 a week. My house and car a re paid for so I have no idea how other people afford it....I guess they don't but if I didn't take it I would be crippled up with RA so what choice does a person have? Hopefully someone, somewhere will make these drugs affordable for the average person without driving them to the poor house where I'm headed! It was great sharing this past year with you.

L. D. said...

http://thesmittenimage.blogspot.com/2016/01/there-dwells-spirit.html
Have Far Guy check out the blog and its link about the steam engine.