Thank you to all of those who have donated. We really appreciate it. Every little bit helps. Don't forget we are having a brunch at our house after the walk. Everyone is welcome.

We may have our new summer house. Unfortunately with the weather we were unable to get the hitch put on the car to go pick up the pop-up. Hopefully we will be able to make it there one day this week.

We had a great time this weekend watching or should I say forcing the dogs into the snow. Let's just say Tippy is the follower. After a lot of shoveling on Saturday, we finally made it out of the house. We are thankful for all wheel drive. Sunday we had tickets to the basketball game and I am glad we did not miss it. It was the only game we made it to this year. We picked the best game to go to! Other than the guy next to us that talked the entire game as if he were the coach, we really enjoyed it. The Bucks pulled out a great win.

Hemoglobin is still low. I gave Neal another shot today. His meds were also adjusted again on Friday. Ryan is doing well and appears to be completely adjusted to being back at work full time. This time of year he is extremely busy, so a full day for him can be very long. The kidney jokes have continued and probably will forever. I just said to Neal today that I cannot even believe this has happened. I do not think it has set in yet. With going to the game and the mall today, life actually felt normal. It was really nice.

Sad News On The Donation Front.

We are no longer the lead donations for the kidney walk. I am glad to report that there is a way we can get back on top. My buddy, no friend, no GREAT FRIEND, Dave Lusk has volunteered to do the truffle shuffle for everyone at Polaris after the walk if we raise the most money. So lets get the donations going. COME ON DO THE TRUFFLE SHUFFLE.

Please send me a note or post a comment if you are coming over for brunch so I have a decent head count.

Not much is happening at the Kothe's. Neal's numbers are looking great with the exception of one. I got to give him his first shot today to help increase his hemoglobin. His kidney is working better than any other kidney has in the last 20 years. Once we get his hemoglobin up, he should be as good as new. He is starting back to work this week. Neal is back at physical therapy, but only once a week. Once he can drive again, life will feel normal. We hung out with Ryan and Leslie this weekend. Ryan is doing good.

Just a reminder...the kidney walk is in 2 weeks. We will have a brunch at our place for Neal's birthday. Everyone is welcome. I am guessing we should be back at the house for brunch around 10:00.

Leslie Renee Mchenry

IS YOUR BIRTHDAY WEEK OVER????????????????

Connor says:

29 and counting!!!!

Lunar Eclipse

I have to blame it on something. The dispatch reporter came over our house last night again. She wanted to know even more about the Kothe Mchenry relationship. What better way to explain our relationship than to show it. We busted out the Kothe photo album. My wife and I, more like my wife most of the time, have kept our album up to date with what we did for the year. I usually look at it a couple of times a year and think nothing of it. Well showing it to someone else is an entirely different thing. There are many stories that you would not normally share with an outsider, hence I blame the eclipse. I have never heard someone say "Oh My God" so many times. We told her every story that went along with every picture. We also told her about 95% of those stories cannot be used in the article. The offenders know who they are. Ha.

On another note I had my first appointment with my transplant physician. Everything went well. My staples are out. My medications are working well. I am not sick from them anymore. So needless to say I am eating much better. I could have already told him that from the 4lbs I gained this week. Ryan put it best in a text message to me. I told him I was going to his favorite chinese take out place, and in so many words ryan said I will balloon up. He was right. Well worth it though in my opinion.

That is about all.

-Neal

P.S. Don't forget about the Kidney Walk. You don't have to donate a fortune to make a difference.

Hammer Time

On the doctor front. Ryan had his follow up with the Oncologist and all is good. His other kidney looks great. Luckily the Oncologist we were set up with is a great guy. He is very personable, which is very important with what he is dealing with. Neal will have a follow up with the transplant doc on Thursday and the Oncologist in June. Neal's meds are still not quite right. Hopefully we will get there soon. He will also have his staples out this week.

Saturday we had the McHenry's, LaPorta's, Schrank's and Kothe's over. Needless to say it was a packed house. I believe Connor provided most of the entertainment. Between the airplane rides and talking with no teeth, we entertained each other.

The transplant center has taken quite an interest in Neal's wardrobe. For anyone that has seen him, the last six months he has pretty much worn sweats or pajama pants. When Ryan had his blood draw the phlebotomist asked who he donated to. When he said Neal, the phlebotomist said, "Oh yeah at least he stopped wearing pajama pants. He now stepped it up to sweats." A couple of weeks ago our nurse told me to take him out to the mall, if he would just put real pants on. I wanted to tell her, lady I have taken him to a restraunt in pajama pants and slippers, we have no shame. Neal is just trying to set a new fashion trend. At one point in time Hammer pants were popular, right?