Greetings to all our family and friends!

How is everyone? We're ok! Been enjoying my in-laws visiting from OH - yesterday Mark and I (along w/Hanz of course) went to pick up Doris & George Schuman in Rockport, where they have been staying w/Marks oldest brother Jim. Brought them back to CC, where we would be having dinner @ my moms house! We spent a wonderful evening visiting over a delicious dinner, followed by ice cream floats for dessert and a game of Mexican Train! After all that, we took Mom and Dad Schuman back to Rockport and headed home shortly afterward since we had lots to do to prepare for work the next day! My dressing was really needing to be changed and when I took it off, I had a bleed! Cannot believe that we're going through this again! Actually, I have to back up a little bit by saying that I've had a puffy left eye again. I had e-mailed Dr. Yakes P.A., (Rhonda Sharp) along w/both of the patient coordinators, appealing to them to possibly get us some of the thick surgicel we like from the wound care therapist @ Swedish! I had mentioned the puffy eye @ that time, but later in the afternoon I decided I shouldn't have to be dealing w/that darned puffy eye and called up to CO and left a message for whichever P.A. was on call. I get a call back from Eric, another of Dr. Yakes P.A.'s. He says the puffy eye is probably due to infection (AGAIN!) and called in an antibiotic for me! I asked if this was common to keep getting these infections, and he said w/what all I'm going through that yes, this was bound to be happening! Geez - that's not what I want to hear!

Just wanted to give you an update on how I'm doing! Today actually, I went to see Dr. Breckenridge for my knee - he said I could wait on that a while. That way maybe I can get my wound on my face more time to heal! I go to wound care on Wednesday - gotta get more supplies. I'm sure Dr. Larkin does not want to hear that I've been having bleeds again - she says I age her w/those!

Then I have an appt. w/Dr. Zane on Thursday to get my ear debried again - OUCH!!!! I had asked if it was possible to be put under to have this done, and was basically told, nope! Dang! That means I have to be a big girl and deal with it! Not really what I want to do, but I think that entitles me to a Blizzard or Mark making me a banana split, don't you think? I just can't wait for this whole avm thing to be over with some day! I want my life back!

Oh! I've almost forgotten to mention that my brother-in-law Jim and his wife Shelley have very generously offered to help w/our hotel expenses for our trips to Colorado! Isn't that awesome? Wow - were it not for our family that has helped us so much financially - there is no way we could afford these trips on our own! I have to say that occasionally a friend slips us a little something to help as well! We are so very blessed to not only have the financial help, but the spiritual help as well! Your prayers are helping us deal with everything that has been placed before us! I have people @ work that pull me aside and tell me how well I seem to cope w/what I'm going through - but as you know, I do have my moments when I have "the weepies" and get overwhelmed!

My mom took me to my doctors appt. this morning w/Dr. Breckenridge and my sister Celia will accompany me to see Dr. Zane on Thursday! This is where my family has really helped us - offering their emotional support! Ok! I've gone on long enough! I want to go see what Hanz is doing and go take a shower and watch something good on TV!

Thank you all so much for checking in! We appreciate all of you being with us on this incredible journey! I really hope all of you are with us when it finally comes to and end for me!

Love and prayers to all!

Mark & Cyndi

P.S. Don't forget to check in w/Shalon when you get a chance!!!