Updating

Hello to everyone. Hope this finds you well and rested after Presents Day.....except for Luke and Linely who had to go to school!!

I continue to improve each day. I can now get up and down PRN from any of the chairs in the house. I have also been given permission to "park" my walker. And yesterday when I went to the Dr I walked the Garage & den up the stairs to the kitchen, alone. For those of you who are unaware, I haven't been able to do that for 8 weeks. Michelle helped me repeat the stair climb this morning, and I believe I am in better shape today than I was in Mid Dec when I went to Bethesda. I have relized that I had been having trouple with my muscles for a couple of weeks. I am trully working hard and very pleased with my progress. I hope to be able to return to Bethesda for reevaluation next week. We will coordinating the doctors at NIH, my doctor in Gate City and the new doctor in Kingsport. Hopefully everything will fall together quickly. I certainly am pleased with all of the doctor's now.....as you may be aware that is very importand to all of us. In addition to the excercise program, I have gone back to a very strict diet rigimene. Low/no carbs and low no fat. They have told me it may not help, because the problem may be the Decadron (I don't have a history of elevation) The elevation could be related to the Pancreatitis. Even if the change in diet doesnt reduce my numbers, I feel I still need to try so root and pray for me!!

Since I told you about my impovement, let me give you a little fun news from the Petters Houshold. Laura came home for her BD this weekend and Roger and I decided to cook for her. We made Home Made cinnaman rolls which were delicious.....(I have been watching too many cooking shows) and I PROMISE NOT to eat anything else now that I am on this diet. HOWEVER Patti, Laura, Roger and I enjoy being at home (the inlaws, including the children had other things to do) and we had a great time cooking Idiot yeast rolls, Red Velvet Cake (Patti's is the best) Dry rubbed spar ribs and Orange Calflower/broccol......We had a great time and I was excited because I was able to stay up all day and enjoy helping....... what a blessing. Please remember that God is Good....All the Time.....and He is still holding my hand. Love to all. Marlenen (and Roger who is makig me another rail for the stairs today