Katie's BMT Updates

The demise following our fabulous lobster feast.

The holidays bring about all kinds of presents, but this one takes the cake. A friend of Ron's from Maine sent us a Maine lobster dinner. It was awesome. We had clam chowder (Zach's favorite), shrimp cocktail and plenty of lobster. We had to invite a couple of friends over just to polish it off. It turned into one of those beautiful, spontaneous evenings that you can't possibly plan -- replete with plastic lobster bibs and "How to Eat a Lobster" paper place mats (which were awfully helpfu, by the way). Thank you, Greg!

I've also got a couple of great food items from others around the country ... It's always great to try what you can't get at home, right? From my mom, I got a series of bbq sauce and salsas -- it came in a box shaped like Oklahoma. My dad's cousin, Eva, sent us toffee and the best cookie bark I've ever had. It's good to see you're all doing your part to try and keep my weight up, but with the holidays approaching, I seem to be having no problem. Especially since Corte Madera, and the street Ron and Marlene live on, have actual neighbors. They really do show up with cookies, biscotti and banana bread. Yum.

On the "How I'm doing" front, I had a pretty non-eventful clinic visit on Tuesday. Besides the sensitive teeth (which is getting better again) and the sleep deprivation (also getting better -- had two sleep-aid-free nights), I feel pretty good. My nurse practitioner still thinks we will start tapering the steroids after Christmas. My blood counts are "good," not "great" like I've heard in the past, but no one's worried yet. My platelet count has taken a dive during my last two visits -- I don't like that, but still it's not something to worry about. Or, more to the point, there's nothing I can do about it.

Continuing Operation World Freedom, I went shopping with Marlene -- at a mall, of all places. We have a tradition that, for my birthday, we go shopping and I pick out a present, then she takes me to lunch. We got to the mall in Corte Madera first thing and it was a good call. It was early and rainy and not many people were out.

Speaking of birthdays, it's Ian's birthday tomorrow and we're cooking up some steak. Yum. Yum.

I'll be thinking of all of you during the next week ... Hoping you're enjoying every moment, even when your Aunt Nannie pinches you cheek (even though you're 30-something) or your brother swipes the last piece of pie or when you're stuck in a conversation you just can't seem to get out of ... People are just who they are is all. Happy Holidays!

much love,
Katie