Am I on vacation yet?

Well, I don't know where and when vacation will actually enter my hemisphere, but I seem to have taken on new jobs lately. This week I sucked leaky water in our basement with a wet vac; today I ripped out moldy carpet and dry wall with my brother. I'm supposed to be on vacation from SPM, and I am supposed to be painting J & R's paintings!!!

Kurt came home Christmas day which was super. If all goes well, he will go in January 15th to start the stem cell transplant procedures. My stepdad is out of the hospital, and on his way to slow recovery, using a walker--it's really tough considering two months ago he was just riding his bike in Europe and hiking in the Grand Canyon.

Wishing all of you a Happy and Healthy 2009! - jani

Christmas

Happy Holidays.  The latest Kurt crisis is that he's in the hospital at least through Friday with an infection. He's not happy! Our Christmas will be different this year, but we will all be together and that's what matters.  I'm planning a picnic and the Muppet's Christmas Carol movie for entertainment.  Please keep Kurt in your prayers.  Merry Christmas to all and thank you for your love and support.

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To view paintings, please scroll down this page.  Thank you.  Happy Holidays!  Have you made a snow angel yet?

Monday, Dec. 1st

Kurt was much better today--one more day of chemo for this round. I'm home and heading out to make a snow angel or two--could be painful if the snow is crunchy! Thanks Al for snow blowing our sidewalks!

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Hi, it's me again.  Please scroll down this page to view my artwork.  Thank you!

He's home

Good news--Kurt didn't have to go to U of C.  He is home hopefully for a week.  We will go to U of C on Monday to meet with a new cardiologist and his oncology team for next steps.

The Latest

Craziness. Good crazy, bad crazy. Thanks to Jane and Richard, I will be painting four paintings. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.  I am very excited about the colors and ideas.  

On the other hand, Kurt had a heart attack last night and had an angiogram/angioplasty.  They said his body was producing a lot of platelets which stick together and clot.  I'll get a better answer on Thursday when we meet with the oncologists.  He is feeling fine, really, and at La Grange Memorial Hospital--tomorrow they will transport him to U of C.   He really wants to have that bone marrow biopsy and keep on schedule.  I hope he can come home for a few more days before they start his second round of chemo.   Time for bed, it's been an exhausting day.

Update on Kurt

He's quoting a song, "Tomorrow" from "Annie" on his blog.  It's time to get him home!  He even watched Oprah yesterday!  His blood is clear of cancer cells, now we are waiting on the bone marrow results. He's in good spirits and hopefully will be home in the next couple days. Prayers please.

Did you enjoy the first snow?!

Yeah, it was coming down for a couple minutes--love that.  Couldn't get Lucy out fast enough to go for a walk in the snow.  Next time.  

So the update on Kurt--I had to pull a nurse Ratched yesterday.  He was really down, so I said, "Get your ass out of that chair, we're going for a walk."  "I'm not happy about this," he pouted. "Too bad." He got in trouble last week when he left the floor to go get a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich at the building next door.  He is only allowed to walk on the oncology floor.  Check out his blog for today's events.  Today he slept a lot after his bone marrow biopsy.   I've been trying to keep myself busy while he sleeps, supplying the nursing staff with beaded jewelry.  I should probably work on Christmas cards!

 I'm too tired to keep typing.  Thanks Ray, Julie and Eileen for visiting today.  And of course, his very dedicated, mom, Diane. Bon soir.  Miss you friends. xxoo

Update at U of C

We are waiting for the bad s--t to happen to Kurt when his immune system will be completely wiped out. So far he is okay. It's his sister's last day in Chicago so I will be on the 7-24 hr. shift depending on his days. So if anyone know if he has a girlfriend, that's okay with me...have her drop me a line (janibodell@gmail.com). I'd like to get her on the rotation schedule! And I promise I won't try to run her over or anything psycho like that. If she irons, that would be a plus too.

The Bodell Household

I haven't painted much the past two weeks. Kurt was shockingly whisked away by the University of Chicago Hospital a couple weeks ago, diagnosed with leukemia and has started chemo. So far, so good. He's tired, has flu like symptoms, mimimally eating. We are encouraging optimism. I've taken on some of his duties from picking up dead birds, paying bill, killing big bugs and dragging the garbage cans down to the street on garbage day. I don't plan on driving his corvette. If you want to check in on his progress, please visit kurtbodell.blogspot.com. Thanks. Please keep us in your prayers.

Visit Hammer Boutique and Gallery's Choice

To see my latest artwork, please visit Hammer Boutique in La Grange, Illinois and Gallery's Choice in Downer's Grove, Illinois.