Christmas Plans 2018

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas | 2018

This year we plan to visit our oldest daughter in Pensacola.  She and her husband are living near NAS Pensacola.  Our Son-in-Law is in the Air Force.  They were just married this past May. We have not seen their home yet, so we are very excited!  

Since we have a long drive from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, we will have to stop half way.  We booked a hotel near Charlotte, NC aka: the Queen City

My parents will be traveling up from Central Florida with our youngest daughter and our two puppies: Wesley the Boxer and Princess Buttercup the Puggle.  We have reserved a pet friendly hotel in Pensacola. 

Happy Holidays

Remember our Troops this Holiday Season.
If you don't mind, I would say Merry Christmas and God Bless.  

I hope that doesn't offend anyone.

Colin's Condition - December 12, 2018

Prednisone Step Down

Medical Information:  Prednisone / Steroids 

December 12, 2018

We recently took Colin to Orlando, Fl for convalescent leave for Thanksgiving break and time with our family and puppies.  
We have returned to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) and National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The doctors have given instructions for another "step down" on Prednisone (steroids) beginning with tomorrow's dose.

Background:

At the onset of his illness Colin was initially taking 125 mg of steroids!  That is a very high amount of steroids.  He began taking this high dose back in April 2017.  His body has suffered a lot of damage from long term high steroid use.  

His last prednisone dosage of 15 mg will be decreased tomorrow (13 DEC 2018) to 12.5 mg.  
Other concerns his doctors have are for his liver and bones.  
He had an updated DEXA scan earlier this week.

Here is some information about tapering slowly from Mayo Clinic

https://www.mayoclinic.org/prednisone-withdrawal/expert-answers/faq-20057923

Doctors have been attempting to slowly taper him off this high dose of steroids, but his body doesn't react well to medical changes.  

This past year doctors have been tapering him off many of his immune suppressants in an attempt to replace them all with the experimental dose and use of  XELJANZ XR (tofacitinib).

Medical Information: https://www.xeljanz.com

Colin's Condition - updated Bone Density Scan

Bone Density Scan

Medical Information:  What is a DEXA scan (According to WebMD)

December 2018

As Colin continues his use of Prednisone, doctor's want to keep an eye on his bone health.
They ordered a DEXA scan at his baseline, in the beginning and have ordered a follow up DEXA scan this week.
According to Mayo Clinic, "Corticosteroids also can dramatically weaken bones and lead to osteoporosis".

He is currently taking supplemental Calcium and vitamin D as well as Vitamin D2

According to the Arthritis Foundation  "Prednisone, a corticosteroid drug used for decades to control inflammation, is one of the notorious culprits in bone mineral density loss."

Preemie Packing Party - Them too

We are looking for a donations and supplies for our Preemie Packing Party this December, in Bethesda MD.

Our Deadline is: December 20

Location - TBD

 

There will be a group of military caregivers and volunteers putting together care packages for new mothers and NICU babies, in Bethesda, MD.

 

We are asking local businesses to support our group effort by donating supplies for the Preemie Packing Party.

In exchange, we will be contacting local media sources and posting on social media to share our event and our supporters.

 

Please help our organization, and our babies.

 

We can provide a wish list and we are also open to suggestions!

 

Thank you very much for your consideration

 

Laura Benson

Laura@GamePlanLocal.com

Laura@GamePlanMediaEvents.com 

 

808-725-7749

202-670-6650

​

Go Fund Me Page

Details:
Hello, my name is Brandi. My request is quite simple, I am trying to raise money for  families in the NICU. (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) Many of these families  are confused and scared because why wouldn’t you be? I want to help these families by taking away some of the stress, and by donating items I think would help them. Currently, there are 8 families in the hospital that I am trying to donate to. My wish is to get the gifts together before Christmas as nobody wants to or chooses to be confined to a hospital room on holidays. Please help me reach the goal so I can buy and get the packages to the families close to Christmas!
So this fundraiser is to put together bags of things such as chargers, stress balls, non perishable snacks, herbal teas, reusable bags, nex gift cards, iTunes gift cards, journals, pens pencils, headphones, kids coloring packs, body travel sets, gum, tissues, certain books to read to babies and preemie button up onesies. These are gift bags to help alleviate some of the stress off the families of the babies being in the NICU. So it’s built for the families not the babies necessarily.
My intentions are to continue offering these care packages in the future with the right sponsors and support from you all!
Thank you so much!

About Them too is a startup organization created by Brandi Lambert that will support the needs of new military families, specifically in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
Brandi Lambert can be reached at:
803-280-7929
themtoofoundation@yahoo.com

Honoring our American Patriot - President George H.W. Bush

Patriotic Tribute to George H. W. Bush our 41st President who served the White House in 1989 to 1993, for a total of more than 40 years in public service.

Bush passed away Friday November 30, 2018 at the age of 94

This Hero served our US Navy as a pilot in World War II. Bush was shot down by enemy Japanese forces in the Pacific.

One of the last of our Greatest Generation. One of our last WWII hero’s and the last generation to preside over the Oval Office.

#PatrioticTribute #SupportMilitary #SupportVeterans

Watch George H.W. Bush being rescued by the US Navy after his plane was shot down by Japanese forces in WWII 

Source: David Choi Dec. 1, 2018

Website Link

Honoring our American Patriot - President George H.W. Bush

Watch live from the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-vhNvFTwnE

#cbsnews #cbsn #bushfuneral #supportmilitary #supportveterans #supportpatriots #GodBlessUSA


This beautiful ceremony will be held at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC where my husband and I have had many opportunities to attend worship services and tours.