Jump Around!

Major day of accomplishment here for Steve.  He has dreamed of returning  to Madison, Wisconsin, his favorite place on this entire Earth since his diagnosis on April 30.

HIS Badgers. 

Peck's Market.  

The Firm Worm.  

Wollersheim Winery. 

Bo Ryan. 

The 5th Quarter.  

Observatory Drive.  

Bucky!!

Apple picking. 

Governor Dodge State Park.

  Jump Around!

Mike Leckrone.

  BEER. 

Bret Bielema. 

Avenue Bar. 

Dr. Robert Schilling.

Badger Hockey.

  His friends from Mt. Horeb High School and their SUPPORT.  

But most of all.....State Street Brats. 

He didn't know if he would ever get there again.   

If you've never experienced the "restaurant," it's on the short list in Madtown.  It's a dive, a glorified bar that serves food, specifically BRATS.  Hello?  Such a clever business name!  Imagine!  It has 12" black and red linoleum squares on the floor, clever signs, pretty and nubile waitresses and a fabulous selection of vending machine condoms in the ladies room.  It's one of those places that makes you want to wash your hands after you wash your hands.  But the brats......ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!....the beer........and WISCONSIN BADGERS EVERYWHERE!!!!  "Beer is the answer, I don't remember the question!" shouts the sign.

Molly got a ride home for the weekend to see Steve and celebrate an early birthday, HOLLAH at cha on Wednesday, Miss B!  One of her gifts was to NOT take the Van Galder Bus back to Madison, so we piled in the car this morning and drove her HOME.  Steve had a pillow and blanket just in case he needed to crash.  He loaded up his meds before we hit the road. 

It was a wonderful day.  Role reversal can be enjoyable.  This time, I drove, he looked out the window, enjoyed the beautiful rural autumnal colors and thought about his future.  We stopped at Molly's dorm for a clean laundry drop, then left for State Street Brats.  It did not disappoint!!!  We ordered red brats, waffle fries, iced tea x 3.  I can't imagine what was going through his head.  

Medically speaking, Steve is doing well, all things considered.  Home health is now here every other day, and the phrase "no news is good news" is truly in effect.  They are tweaking his Tacrolimus (anti-rejection) levels, increasing them to ward off what we think is a good sign:  RASH.  GVHD is here, and it's mild to date, localized to forearms (gone) and lower shins (mild), and non-problematic.  You can't have GVHD without engraftment.  His eyebrows are growing back, and Steve desperately wants his hair back on his head SOON.  When it starts to rain it freaks him out, hahaha.

He is trying to shore up his mental self now, his six-month mark is the 30th.  That's a long time.  Keep those cards and letters coming, kids, we're in it for the long haul.  Meals and house help have been an absolute godsend.  Bless each and every one of you that has kept us going through this nightmare.

Now, a "before and after."  He hates the way he looks.  I understand, boy...do I understand.  However, I feel it will help many of us to forge forward when we can see our goal.  

ON, WISCONSIN!