I'm at the airport waiting for my sister to arrive, so this is a good time to say I won't be around for a while -- in fact if you see me here you should probably kick my ass off.

We're getting married on Thursday morning, and having a party on Saturday night.

Apart from

• huge forest fires
• our intended witnesses, a couple, breaking up after five years together
• the airline my sister's on announcing bankruptcy on the day she flies in and
• a total eclipse of the sun

I'd say the omens are pretty good. After all the torrential rains that have just started up will help with the forest fires, eh?

Seriously, sorry you can't all be there, and see you in a week or so if not before.

Need good vibes. I think for the first time I'm really scared for LB. The news is they've switched him to Morphine, because they believed he had become too tolerant other pain killer and it wasn't providing pain relief.

His main problem is his lungs which have gotten worse. The doctors have no idea why his lungs were worse and ordered one last diagnostic test, a chest CT Scan. The doctor’s describe it as appearing similar to a disease process called bronchiolitis obliterans. They don't know if it's viral or related to the GVHD. The doctors also indicated that at many institutions, once on a vent under these circumstances, they are at the end of what they can do medically. The ICU doctor said Fairview was different in that they still look for a cure.

They're going to put him on really high dose steroids, but one of the side effects is a risk of infection. They're also inserting into his lungs surfactant to cushion the lungs. They have used it successfully on premature babies with insufficient lung development, but this will be the first time they’ve used it on a BMT patient, but because it naturally occurs in the body they do not believe there is much harm in trying it. The ICU doctor said that surfactant can be affected by transplant or what they had to do to him before it.

They also may give him a tracheotomy since they think he'll be on the vent for at leas 2 more months. They're hoping it'll give his lungs time to heal and that he'll eventually get off of the sedation and be able to interact.

Sorry to dump all the crap, I just found out and haven't been able to call anyone.

I just saw vw today. She's having a very bad time of it and would really appreciate some vibes.

Right now she's in a great deal of pain as the result of an extremely bad reaction to a new medication. Until they get a slew of tests back, they aren't giving her anything more powerful for the pain than Motrin. She most probably won't be able to get to the computer tomorrow. If anyone would like to send messages, you can send them to my profile addy, and I'll print them out and take them with me when I visit tomorrow.

I will be leaving for Atlanta on business in a couple hours. I expect to be completely dark until Thursday evening.

As I've finally been able to tell my roommate, now I get to tell y'all too!

My ex-roommate was nominated by her current roommate, and we've been plotting and scheming and secretly taping her for a good month now, for a new show on TLC (from a BBC show) "What Not To Wear". She's going to NYC next week to get a makeover and a new wardrobe! The show is going to be an hour long and it'll air sometime in March. I'll be on it too, mostly in the background going "don't hate us! don't hate us!" and turning red. But also saying things about what she wears currently. :) I'll post more info when the time comes!

My stress level is rapidly dropping, now that I no longer have to be not only keeping it a secret, but trying to get her to be in the right places at the right times so they could film her!

Whee! "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof" is a critical darling!

It's "cooking" and (Pioneer Press)

"hot and resonant". (Star Tribune)

Also, the "roof is on fire" (City Pages)

and it "seethes with repressed emotion" (Talkin' Broadway)

Now we just need more audience members (more! MORE!).

I repeat my plea: If anyone in the Twin Cities area would like to come see the show, I can get you two-for-ones. We run for the next two weekends. Let me know. Profile addy is good. Thanks!

Hey all. I'm about the same. Still in pain, still exhausted. And they still don't know what is wrong with me. After twenty million tests, the best they have come up with is mild irritable bowel (which I've had for years, so no surprise there) and a slightly irregular pap smear. My doctor is starting me on some new medication today- something that is supposed to calm the IBS and treat chronic pain. Basically, from what I can gather, she has no idea what's wrong so she is throwing some drugs at me to keep me quiet. I have become completely disillisioned with the medical system, and have decided I'm just going to have to learn to live this way. Grrr.

BUT! I have cookies! And they are so super yummy that I can't help but feel happy. Thank you msbelle!!!!!!

I'm still not working full hours, and when I am online I try to focus on getting some work done before I need another nap. So don't look for me to be around so much, but know that I love you all and are wishing everyone the best holiday ever!

I'm not sure how much I'm going to be around. I may be blinking in and out.

Tonight at about 6, Mom called from Minn. She, my stepdad and stepsisters were told it was time they all came up there. LB seems to be losing his fight.

I'm pretty much staying by the phone for when mom calls, or to call her if I start to feel anxious.

I'm kinda reading and may be posting, since Buffista wit and wisdom are a source of comfort. I appreciate everyone's well wishes, prayers and vibes.

I'll be on the road and dark until the 16th. I expect to be doing much skipping and skimming upon my return.

I do not reccomend finals week to anyone. Especially when you have to move out of your dorm room by the end of finals week. It has been crazycrazy for the past two weeks, and it shows no signs of stopping.

Anyway, the long and short of it is I'm packing my ass off and I'll be going home December 13th; I should be home that evening, and if I'm not completely unconscious, I'll check in.

Jesus, we have a lot of shit.