We Love You Mother and Grandma.

Thank you for your love, lifelong example,

and for your legacy.

I have a family here on earth

They are so good to me.

I want to share my life with them

through all eternity.

Families can be together forever

through Heavenly Father's plan.
I always want to be with my own family

and the Lord has shown me how I can.

Wednesday Miracle

Email update from Mom:

"The doctor doubled Bruce's lasix prescription because of all the swelling. It doesn't seem to help him much though.

Monday: We went in for blood work today and we should get the results tomorrow. We also went to an acupuncturist for treatments for Bruce to help with the edema in his body. The acupuncturist taught me some massage treatments to do on him twice a day to help. We go back for another appt with her on Monday.

Tuesday: Yesterday morning Bruce said he was able to sleep all night (the first time since this all started). His swelling is down and his spirits are up. He still doesn't have a lot of energy but was able to take care of Kaylee on Friday while I made phone calls to get qualified for the month. Bruce was the contact person with Prepaid Legal's corporate office to make sure that all of the sales were going through OK.

His vision had been bothering him and so we took him in to an eye specialist. His optic nerves are swollen with lots of broken blood vessels. We have an appointment to go back.

We just got Bruce's blood work back. Yea!! His creatinine level has dropped to 2.3 instead of the 3.75 that it was! We still have a way to go but it is now headed in the right direction.

Thank you for all the prayers and concern that you have so graciously shared with us.

We are still preparing for that miracle.

Muriel"

Tuesday Update

I called and spoke with Mom yesterday. She said that dad has not been as nauseas as before. He is, however, dealing with very swollen legs. Mom took dad to see his general doctor and the doctor was alarmed at dad's condition so she doubled dad's dosage of Lasix. We were thinking that a CPAP machine would be helpful for dad at night while he sleeps but the doctors are concerned with his medical condition and won't prescribe him one at this time. Dad does have his oxygen that he is using at night while he sleeps.

He has another appointment with his nephrologist in a few weeks. We'll keep you updated on how things go.

(Feel free to leave any comments on this blog for Bruce and Muriel by clicking on the "comment" at the end of a posting.)

Monday Update

I called dad tonight to see how he was feeling. He answered his cell phone and I could hear in his voice that he was tired though doing good. He said he is tired most of the day and wakes up to eat the meals that mom fixes for him. It reminds him of how he felt after he had his heart attack four years ago...always tired. Dad also said that his sleep is sporadic through the night and he uses his oxygen at night while he sleeps.

He went "running" yesterday with Ambrea and Kaylee (Ambrea's 2 yr old daughter). He said that he walked, Ambrea walked, and Kaylee ran circles around them while they went around the block. He's trying to be up and active as much as he can. He said that his legs continue to swell up each day. He elevates them while he sleeps and they look great in the morning but by the end of the day they're swollen again.

He and mom really appreciate all of our continued prayers in their behalf.

(This is another recent picture from Ambrea's blog. This was taken last week and it is of dad sitting outside to watch Ambrea's family carve some pumpkins.)

Thursday Update

Update from Mom:

"We went to Dr. Riley (the general doctor) today and she is very nice. She explained a lot of things for us that the other doctors did not. She did another test and gave him a prescription for oxygen. She said that he was on some pretty heavy meds and that is what is causing his nausea. His body should get used to them in a couple of weeks so that he can handle them better.

He has an appointment with her in a couple of months. His nephrologists' nurse (Tammy) called today. His next appointment with them is November 17th. His kidneys are working at 17% and you go on dialysis under 15%.

We went shopping and bought Bruce a recliner rocker so that he can relax and have his feet up. It will also make more room for company to sit, since for Bruce to be up relaxing he took the couch.

Bruce has been feeling a lot better the last couple of days and is able to eat better as well. He has not had an appetite at all. Even with the numbers up things are looking up. We do believe that the number will come down soon and that we will soon see some major improvement in his health."

Wednesday Update

Dad got his blood drawn from the doctor's office on Monday and mom got the results back today. The blood work showed that dad's creatinine level is up to 3.75. Not good.

Dad is still feeling tired and nauseas and trying to keep his BP under control.

Thank you for your continued prayers.

Sunday Update

Update from Mom:

"Bruce is glad to be home. (He liked not being a pin cushion.) He has not had to have pain meds since being home either. YEA!

Bruce appreciates all the phone calls and emails. Kent, Tami, Becky and Shannon came to visit and Bruce went on a couple of walks outside with Kent.

We have an appointment Monday with the kidney doctors to check his blood and we are expecting a drop in his Creatinin levels and in his WBC as well.

With the major decrease in Bruce's blood pressure he does not have a lot of energy and has a hard time staying awake which frustrates him.

In the hospital they gave him his meds without him eating which many of them say to be taken with food. We are able to control that better here at home and he doesn't get as nauseated. He has 7 prescriptions so he is sporting a new pill box to accommodate the meds."

Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers. They are grately appreciated. We will continue to update this blog as we learn more about Dad's situation.