Is 50 the new 30? Sometimes it feels like the new 80.

In the last two weeks, I have not seen any more doctors but I've made a trip to the hospital for further blood work and blood cultures. I am still waiting on the culture results but my white count went from 12,000 back up to 15,000 since Dec. 7th. Hopefully they can pinpoint the source of the infection soon, as I've been feeling flu-like for two months now. I should know in the next few days whether there is an infection in the blood stream.

In addition, I am scheduled for another round of MRIs to look at my brain and cervical spine. My doctor seems to feel that possibly something is laying dormant since my last major surgery and all the infections that followed. If those scans provide no answers, he would like to look at my kidney and liver to see if there is any sign of metastasis. My internist feels that you can get temperatures and unusual labs when you have cancer either growing or moving in your body. Say your prayers and cross your fingers this is not the case. This is another reason I am opting to wait until after the holidays to get the MRI scans down. I'll get them done on Dec. 30 and I should know shortly after the new year the results.

I'm still waiting for an appointment to meet with the transplant coordinator at Northwestern. I spoke with my brother Jeff, who has also received a kidney transplant. Four years ago when he met with their transplant team, he was told you cannot go directly to a transplant process. You must do at least a month of dialysis. He searched four other hospitals around the country who also told him the same. He finally ended up doing his transplant in Colorado, where they would do it with a pre-arranged donor. Hopefully things have changed in the last four years as my doctor doesn't feel I can tolerate the dialysis process.

We'll also plan to have my skin cancer checked, in case that could possibly cause white blood counts to increase and the symptoms I am experiencing. Back to the blood results of Dec. 7, when my white count had gone from 21,000 down to 12,000, I was also found to be deficient in Vitamin D. The idea that the pituitary gland was causing the problem was proven wrong. A Vitamin D deficiency can cause you to feel weak, achy, have difficulty with concentrating, cause headaches, and basically seasonal affective disorder systems. Living in the Midwest in the winter of doom and gloom, I am now taking a Vitamin D supplement.

On a happier (?) note, I recently celebrated my 50th (half-century mark) birthday and I am feeling very old. Celebrating, on the other hand, has been great fun and I can really get used to that lifestyle. Prior to my birthday, I met with 12 of my sorority sisters at Maggiano's and we went into an Italian food coma. The dinner, drinks and great company made for a wonderful evening. Thank you, girls, for all my wonderful gifts. I wear the necklace almost daily and get compliments all the time.

In addition, I was thoroughly surprised by a large group of neighbors and friends at our supposed holiday book club-turned surprise Happy 50th. Another great evening of my favorite snacketizers, drinks, and a delicious assortment of cake pops. Everyone shared their thoughts, jokes, and sayings on aging (e.g. "I'd rather give up sex than lose my glasses") and games you play when you get old (e.g. "Hide and go pee"). Again I was treated to many wonderful gifts, jewelry and gift cards, but most importantly, the love I felt from all my close friends was so nice. A big thank you to Suzanne and her helpers Angela, Karin, Brenda and Corrine.

It has been great seeing everybody at all of our holiday parties and gatherings this holiday season. I just found out that my friend Sheila, who I am dictating this to currently, will be in town for a few days. In addition to getting together with her, on Christmas Eve we'll be going to church and then starting our Christmas tradition. It's 24+ hours spent with the same group of people, beginning with Christmas Eve when we have a formal dinner with my cousins and my aunts and uncles. We do a gift exchange with names we have drawn for the kids and basically everybody visits and gets excited for Santa's arrival. We leave about 10:00, set up our own Christmas, go to bed, wake up at the crack of dawn, open gifts, and then in the early afternoon we load up our favorite toys and dress casual for yet another day of drinking, games, and fun with our relatives. Crazy enough, last year, due to the snow, it turned into a three-day ordeal. We love our family, especially with the wine and spirits.

We can be thankful this year that my Aunt Winnie is now cancer-free as she completed her last dose of radiation one week ago. Now we have to pray that my Aunt Mary will get relief from her chronic low back pain and sciatica.

As for New Years Eve, we are going to our neighbors Ron and Angela's for their annual Eat, Drink, Be Merry and Play Games party in our subdivision. No kids (he he). It should be fun. Hopefully we're headed in the right direction for a more promising new year.

My Delta Zeta friend, DiTy and her extremely sensitive, thoughtful, caring husband Jim, with support from Lori P., Jeryl and Julie F., Carrie, Patty and Nancy, Ellen, Jane, Missy and Denise (the birthday group), presented me with the gift of GiveForward. It is a remarkable website (http://www.giveforward.com/wecareforkim) where people I know, as well as people I've never met, have shared messages, their generous donations, and prayers toward my family and I. It is the most overwhelming experience I've ever felt, as I have been part of a fundraisers in the past, but this is totally different. This is a truly wonderful group of people wanting to do good for others in the world. It is amazing and brings me to tears when I read their notes and see the generous amounts that we have already achieved in just 10 days time.

In addition, it was brought to my attention last night by Jim that the GiveForward organization has chosen my blog and story as their favorite this season. They have decided to take money that they have raised (remember, they are a company that makes 7% profit by people who do fundraisers) and make our Christmas holiday more special. I'm not sure what they plan to send but Jim said they were hoping to send gifts for my two kids. How touching is that? I didn't think companies did this kind of stuff.

I really do appreciate everything that everybody has done. I know everybody is very busy at this time of year, and in this tough economy I am so touched that you have chosen me to receive your blessings. THANK YOU and GOD BLESS YOU ALL. May you all have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

p.s. I still hope to send Christmas cards at some point. I'm off now to get the rest of my gifts wrapped.