Three months

Another month has passed, and another major life event in our family.  Alan's mother has been in the hospital now 2 weeks.  She is seriously ill with Goodpasture's syndrome, a rare autoimmune disorder that has attacked her kidneys and lungs.  Her lung function seems adequate, for now, but her kidneys are not functioning.  We hope as they treat her - with steriods, plasmapheresis and dialysis - she will regain some kidney function, but it's still too early to tell.  So, again, we are spending a LOT of time at the hospital.

Mornings are still cool in SC, but the heat is upon us.  We rode the tandem 35 miles last night in an oppressive heat.  Thankfully humidity was low, about 25% I think, so we didn't sweat to death.  Today it will be 105.

Alan is maintaining his weight loss.  Right at 180 this morning.  Also this month he has experienced swelling and pain in his knee, so he's given up running, been to the doc and is doing physical therapy "for dynamic knee stabilization."  He just wants to be able to ride a bike.  This morning he was hopping a little, after last night's ride.  We'll see. 

We are concerned about our friends in Colorado Springs.  The wildfire is very close to our old neighborhood and our friends are under a mandatory evacuation.  Our thoughts and prayers are with them.

Usually we camp in Colorado for the 4th of July, but this seems to be a good year to have made other plans.  Unfortunately, Alan's latest raise/promotion knocked him out of being able to travel for the 4th, since Fuji will be in a maintenance shut-down that he has a major role in.  So, I'll be traveling alone to Missouri on Tuesday to meet friends and spend time in Hannibal. 

Alan did arrange a 10 day trip to Colorado in August.  Despite the wildfire in that area (too), Estes Park will be the site of my niece's wedding, which we are excited to attend on the 11th, and after Alan takes a class that next week, we will celebrate his 45th birthday in Grand Lake for the weekend with friends, and hopefully for him some flyfishing.

My family has spent a lot of time cleaning out the house and God provided a lovely family to rent the main floor and help us maintain it.  They are moving in next week, so the basement is packed to the ceiling and Alan will change the locks this weekend.  Such a blessing.

Work with Sam is good.  A new client this week.  Food Bank crisis continues; shelves and bank accounts are empty.  But gardens are producing so at least I am eating well.  Life is good.