Southern Transplant - the once in a while, when I feel like it, here's what's going on - ramblings of someone with too much time on their hands.

 

I thought I'd get another one of these out quickly to give a quick update now that I've made initial contact with the local medical community and to all give a little more information about the something other than me.

 

Mel and I met with Dr. Milos N. Budisavljevic (who everyone refers to as Dr. Milos because no one can pronounce his last name.)  He's a professor of Nephrology with an expertise in progressive renal disease (which is what I'm dealing with - for anyone who really wants to know, I've be diagnosed with a condition know as MPGN or Type 1 Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis.)  Dr. Milos spent almost an hour and a half with us discussing my past history (which I won't bore you with now,) my current condition, and prognosis.  Basically I was very relieved to find that my condition had stayed fairly static throughout the drive down and over the past week.  He has left me on basically the same meds for next few weeks.  Essentially its a regiment of high dose steroids (YUCK!,) and water pills.  Of course, there's a whole ton of side effects to those two things that require another half dozen pills to counteract (including daily insulin shots.)  I go back in three weeks to see him again.  In the mean time, I'll have an appointment with a transplant cardiologist to discuss the unresolved issue with my heart.  The thought is that it’s the heart condition that really slowing me down right now.  AND, I'll also meet up with the head of the Liver Transplant program to start my follow up on that front.  All of this care is being coordinated by the Medical University of South Carolina - which also eases my mind a bit - give the choice, I will always gravitate toward teaching hospitals.  This one is spread out over on the south side of Charleston proper near the Citadel.

 

OK, enough about me.  Melanie has had several job interviews including one for the College of Charleston.  They actually tried to get a hold of her a few times while we were in Boston to have her come in for an interview.  She (and several other candidates) interviewed last week - I knew when she got home with a large Baskin Robbin's Sundae that she didn't feel good about how it went.  But it's really only the fact that they asked for a writing sample that made her nervous - we all know she makes a great administrative assistant and she's got the experience in an educational setting.  (And lord knows she's way better organized than I will ever be.)We'll see.  There are other possibilities out there as well.  She's also applied to the hospital - that would be ironic (and fitting in a wway, I guess.)  As for me, I'll wait until at least I've chatted with the cardiologists before I can determine what I'm capable of doing - my body doesn't work so well right now bbut there's not much wrong with my mind (OK - that's a loaded statement, I know - no snide comments needed!)

 

Noah is finding this a really great place to live.  He has several friends including one little boy (Alden) who lives across the street.  He and Alden spend a lot of time together either at our house or his.  Noah started first grade this year and he seems to be doing well.  His reading skills are coming along nicely and he has his sister's affinity for math (which ultimately comes from their mother - there are no math genes on my side of the family - are there?)  Noah is finding that his cute charms are not quite enough to make up for his cavalier attitude toward authority down this way.  He's not used to being reprimanded for not saying "Yes Sir" and "No Mame."  He's still a small bundle of energy and nerves that always on the go.  We tried medicating him for ADHD just before leaving the Cape, but results were a little scary - he ended up not being him anymore.  We opted to stop that and he's back to his free flowing, listens sometimes, a little off the wall, and slightly maniacal - right where we all love him (and are frustrated to all hell by him.)  He's going to be real good candidate for ROTC (and that's big around here!)  Oh, and Noah came in the garage the other day and insisted that we take the training wheels off his little bike.  In about two minutes he was riding like a pro (well, he has the riding thing down pat - he's still a little shaky on the stopping part.  It’s quite a site to see!)

 

Zoë started sixth grade this year and is finding the school transition somewhat harder.  She's never really had a good background in note taking in school.  She had a lot of provisions up north that really helped her succeed but she's finding it very difficult to keep up down here.  I'm almost wondering if maybe she should have considered holding her back a year like we had thought about doing for Noah.  I've got to come up with some good ways to improve her study skills and to get her to take in seriously - anyone one with any good ideas for games or such that include the need to take quick notes?  (And yes Mom, I know this sounds exactly like me when I was in sixth grade - believe me, that's why it scares me!)  On the other hand, she's done very well on the social scene (and who doubted her ability to do that?)  Her teachers all think she's very nice and she has a litany of friends who call or stop by.  She's still playing the clarinet and is pretty good (if she'd practice, she'd be real good!)

 

When I say the kids started school, I really mean they've been there for almost two months now.  Down here they started on the 8th of August (yes, the 8th.)  In hindsight, it turned out really well because both kids right into a routine and didn't have time to wallow in not having any friends.

 

Some of you asked about Suzanne.  For those who don't know, Suzanne is Mel's very brave and daring mother who decided pack it all in as well and leave Cape Cod for South Carolina.  She has the third floor of the house as her large bedroom and own bath.  The rest of the house is common area for us all (more than enough room, believe me.)  As I write, she is in Virginia visiting with Mel's brother Deron and family.  Ending up as a parent for the kids while I was sick was never part of the deal originally and she headed out the door for some more than deserved down time as we headed in.

 

A couple of you have also asked about the dogs.  Many of you already know that we had to put POGO down just before leaving the cape.  She had a stroke and at 14 years old it was her time.  She was cremated and her remains traveled in the truck with Mel and I down here.  We'll spread her out in a sunny spot somewhere in the back yard.)  TINO (our male Boston Terrier,) is doing well.  He loves the heat and sun.  He has a new friend - Skye.  Skye is Suzanne's Scottish Terrier puppy.  She's a cute little bundle who likes to torment Tino.

 

I won't ramble on any further this evening.  Just wanted to let you all know how things are going.  As always, if you'd rather not get these posts, just let me know.

 

Hope all are healthy and well.