Saturday, November 15, 2014

Back after a few years !!!

After all these years...I am still in remission as of this date, November, 2014. So much has happened. I notice that one post details feelings after our daughter Anne's wedding. Since then, she had a couple of children, Ben in 2009 and Emma in 2012. And our son Neil married Molly in March, 2012, and their son Sam was born early this year, 2014. Carl is still living at home. Next year in June, Gail and I will celebrate our 40th anniversary. My parents have both passed away, Dad in January of 2012 and Mom in September of this year, 2014. They were married happily for 65 years. Dad was 86, Mom was 87. They had a good life together and left three sons, 4 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. I have now been in remission for 6 years. I am thinking that it should last even longer!! Gail and I both still work full time. We have no definite plans for retirement, but we probably will work until 2019, 2020, or 2021 if our health and our lives last that long!! It was nice to see these posts after all this time!! Craig

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Great news again

Craig's 3 month check-up this week shows he is still in remission! Technology plays a new role in medicine. Craig's lab work of blood and urine was done a week early. He went down to St. Mary's ambulatory care and nurses checked his vitals. Our appointment with Dr. Venod in Sioux Falls was a video conference. We'll repeat in 3 months and then go to Mayo Clinc in April.

Three month checks are not without frustrations and humor. Blood draws are easy. Craig collects 24 hours of urine to the minute and keeps it cold. Someone cleaned the bathroom and dumped 12 hours of work. At least it's a renewable resource and there was plenty of time to get it in before the appointment. Gail

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Mayo Clinic annual visit 4.6.10- Craig is still in remission

Craig, Carl, and I started the drive to Rochester on Easter Sunday. We stayed in Sioux Falls with friends and arrived in Rochester Monday. We returned to our home away from home, Gift of Life Transplant House for a 2 day stay.

Craig's tests all came back with good results. It was interesting and a surprise to see on the x-rays that the small lesions on his skeleton are circled with calcium and filling in. Doctors only told us about a few small lesions and one larger lesion when he was diagnosed. The larger lesion has filled in with bone. The body has amazing healing power. The monthly IV infusions of bone strengthener helped, too.

Several of our friends from our transplant stay were back for annual check-ups, also. It was fun to visit with them and hear they were all doing well.

Carl wore his SDPR Favorite Composer Sweatshirt from 1994 at the House. A man asked where we from when he saw Carl. It was Bruce Ley, a former Pierre resident now living in Rapid City. He was the caretaker for his wife. She was on Day 5 on her transplant for multiple myleloma. They were doing as well as could be expected. He was trying to find food that might appeal to her.

On Craig's day 5, he ate potato chips and Honey Nut Cheerios only. At the time, we thought they were miracle food.

Carl was very patient with all the waiting for appointments. We all preferred to be home than there.

We had an uneventful drive home and are back into our routines.

Today was the Destination Imagination State Tournament in Pierre. We went and watched performances in all the challenges. We enjoyed seeing the talented teams from the state and the tournament was running smoothly. Craig and I know how much hard work goes into organizing a tournament since Craig was a tournament director for several years. Kudos to Cozy and Lauri and all the volunteers from across South Dakota who volunteered! Gail

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Join us for a double celebration May 30, 2010

Sunday May 30, 2010, we celebrate our 35th anniversay with an open house from 2:00 - 4:00 pm at Faith Lutheran Church in Pierre. Please join us.

Benjamin Saniuk will be baptized that morning at Faith Lutheran by Pastor Urbach who baptized, confirmed, and performed the wedding of his mother, Anne.

We're looking forward to a joyous day and seeing friends and family.

March Madness is over

March was a difficult month. Craig was in the hospital again for 4 days in Sioux Falls with pneumonia. This week he went back to work for a few hours everyday.

Craig felt really good today and we attended church tonight.

Easter Sunday we leave for Rochester for his annual check-up. A year ago today he started "killer chemo" and had the transplant April 3. Even though this year has been difficult, it's much better than last year. We have much to be thankful for. Gail

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Another bump or pot hole in the road

Craig ended up with pneumonia after battling congestions and an infected tooth for a couple weeks. He was in the hospital from Monday to Wednesday. He recovered at home today and wants to head back to the office Friday.

Our lives continue as usual

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Ben's growing, life's flowing--Still in Remission







Since the last post, grandson Ben has grown larger, sweeter, and cuter. He looks like his mom when she was a baby, but has his dad's blue eyes. The Saniuk family wasn't able to join the 3 of us and Neil for Christmas due to weather. They were here for New Year's Day and Anne and Ben were able to stay for a week. Craig and I loved spoiling Ben and changing diapers was even OK.

When Scott came to take them home, he brought my mother. She hadn't met Ben yet. It was a short, but joyful visit.

Craig has his ups and downs, but works through them. The biggest down is needing a root canal. If the weather cooperates, which is unlikely, we'll drive to Sioux Falls for the dental work on Feb. 9. We hope the elimination of the persistent infection, despite 3 antibiotics, lets him increase his strength.
Craig is taking another year off from Destination Imagination. That's difficult because he enjoys seeing the kids compete and benefit from the program. ( Gail told me to do this, and I agreed. My caretaker, also known as wife, tells me what to do, and I do it. She knows me better than I know myself, so I really need to follow her instructions. I am fortunate to have her, and her instructions are always worthwhile and need to be followed. I told her, however, that there are just times when I don't give her the opportunity to voice her opinion or tell me what to do. That way I do miss some instructions, if I can figure out when they are coming and act before she gives the instruction!!!!! ;-) )
Craig remains in remission and we hope that will last for many years. We head to Mayo Clinic in early April for the yearly check-up and the dreaded baby shots. Ben really hated his a few weeks ago and let his parents know it.
Carl is still on break from Taco John's. He's able to hang out with his friends more at day services at Oahe, Inc. and he still works a couple afternoons a week at Holiday Inn Express. He's taken over more of the cooking, baking bread, and it's his job to shovel the front driveway. He's great at all of those. We read together every night and he's watching the Jane Austen miniseries on PBS with me.
From my typing errors I can tell it's time for bed. Stay safe and warm during the long winter.
We will try to keep adding a few words (and pictures) to the blog from time to time.
Craig & Gail

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Thanksgiving blessings

We have so much to be thankful for this year. Craig is in remission and gets stronger every day. He looks like his old self.

Benjamin John Craig Saniuk was born on November 23, 2009, in Omaha, NE. He weighed 7# 9oz and was 20.5" long. Parents and baby are doing well.

We are delighted to have a grandson and he is adorable. Craig, Neil, Carl and I went to Omaha over Thanksgiving weekend and got to spoil him. Craig and I think Ben looks like Anne when she was a baby and Craig's folks think he looks like Craig as a baby.

Anne, Scott, and Ben will be here over Christmas. We're looking forward to a wonderful holiday. This year is much different than last year. Then Craig had shingles and went into the hospital for 5 days the day after Christmas. Gail

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Good News/last couple of weekends

This is really Craig--as Gail said, we had good news at my three month checkup--still cancer free and in remission. The last couple of weekends we have been visiting our kids in South Dakota and in Nebraska. Anne's baby is due in late November. Her husband Scott and roommate are trying to sell their house so Anne and Scott can move either to a house of their own or a rental for a while. Neil is doing well as a civil engineer in Rapid City, SD. All is well--I am working full days and we have many blessings for which to be thankful.

Good news at 3 month check-up

Craig had a 3 month check-up with the Pierre oncologist. All tests were in the normal range and there was no sign of cancer! He is still in remission. Next check-up is in 3 months.

A few weeks ago, we got a news letter from the transplant house about the July golf tournament and picnic to honor survivors. The young woman from Italy who needed a double lung transplant had the transplant on April 23. In July, she was doing exceptionally well. In fact, at the picnic she was dancing with her friend from New York who was doing well. I was not sure the friend from New York would survive after hearing we met and I heard about all his complications after a second transplant.

The woman needing a liver transplant who had come to the transplant house in January finally received one. She also is doing well. God is good.
Gail

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Carl's birthday

Last week Craig and I wrote a long entry that disappeared. This time the post will be shorter.

Carl will be 24 on Monday. Neil is home for a day to celebrate. Craig, Carl and I will meet Anne halfway between Pierre and Omaha for a day together. Scott can't get away to join us. Anne and Neil have not missed seeing Carl on his birthday since he came home from the hospital.

Craig continues to improve every day. He looks like his old self, but considerably thinner. His color is good and he goes to the office every day. He's back to making his odd-ball jokes. Our lives are settling back into a routine.

Craig still goes in for his monthly IV infusion to strengthen his bones here in Pierre. All his 3 month checks ups will be done here unless there is a problem and he'll go back to Mayo. Otherwise, he won't go to Mayo until June 2010. Then he can start his baby shots since his immunity was wiped out. I hope he won't be as fussy as the kids were when they got them.

Craig often says things have gone well for him this year except for the initial diagnosis. Now we pray for a lengthy remission.

We'll try to post a note monthly now. Gail

Friday, August 21, 2009

Anne and Scott's August 7, 2009 Omaha reception pictures

These can be seen at: www.tiger-photography.com/files/Saniuk

From Omaha to DeSmet and to work

It's been 2 weeks since the Omaha reception for Anne and Scott and what turned out to be a Carlson family reunion. We had a great time there!

The third Sunday in August is the annual Eichstadt picnic in Wolsey. Last year, we were reading the Little House on the Prairie books with Carl. We decided to combine a trip to DeSmet with the reunion. DeSmet is 45 miles east of Wolsey. We stayed at a bed and breakfast 2 doors east of the Ingalls house. Carl wanted to go back before the next picnic in a year.

We made the reservations last August and never expected a year with all the changes we've had. We did finish reading all the books in the series, too.

We enjoyed a relaxing weekend seeing homestead sites of the Ingalls and Wilders and spending time in the hot tub. Rain curtailed some of our plans, so there will be more to see next Aug. The library there has 5 original Harvey Dunn paintings.

Once again, the picnic tables were full of delicious foods, especially desserts. Not as many Eichstadts attended this year as in the past, but it was good to see everyone there. Two of Craig's uncles and an aunt are in the Huron Nursing Home. Craig's 90 year old Aunt Dorothy goes to the nursing home every day to visit her younger brothers and sister in law. She is finally showing her age and looks 80 instead of 75. She lives in her home and drives.

Carl had a day off today and went to the 1880 Town 22 miles west Murdo, SD with friends from the Pit Crew for lunch and a tour. He told us so much about his day and brought back a "smash penny" for his collection.

This weekend we're relaxing and won't venture farther than the mall or Wal-mart. Craig, Gail & Carl


Hi, this is Craig. I am feeling better today and the last two or three days. I still get a nap in the morning. I think I am recovering well.

Today I had a return visit with my regular internist to get a checkup after taking another antibiotic for the last ten days. The Dr. confirmed that the rattle in my lungs had cleared, and I have no sore throat or ear infections. He thinks I am doing well on my pain medication and wants to alternate regular visits to his office with those to my oncologist.

The next oncologist visit is in October, so the next internist visit is scheduled for late November. It can be changed if it conflicts with the birth of the baby!

We will all be interested to see how I am doing on remission when I visit the oncologist in October. I feel fine, so I hope that means I will be fine and will remain in remission for another three months. Everything is day to day, week to week, month to month, year to year, and the more of each the better!
--Craig

Monday, August 10, 2009

Omaha reception

Gail from here:

Last Friday (August 7) Craig, Neil, Carl and I drove to Omaha for Anne and Scott's reception. It was a wonderful and fun evening. Many members of Scott's extended family were there. Except for the heat and high humidity, it was perfect. The food and company were great. The reception area at the Fontenelle Forest Nature Preserve was beautifully decorated. Anne was a radiant bride and Scott was just as handsome as on June 14.

Craig from here:

From South Dakota we had Phil & Loris Meeder and our family (Craig & Gail, Anne & Scott [from Omaha, obviously, but still a part of our family!!], Neil and Carl) as well as Lorine, Grandma Jean's sister. Tom and Esther Harmon from Pierre also came down, which was a big surprise. From Missouri we had Pam and Gloria Carlson, Gail's cousin and aunt respectively, and Gloria's brother Tom Jones. We had Linda, John and their two sons Paul and Alan from Bellevue, Nebraska, and Grandma Jean, Gail's sister Karen Smith and Karen's daughter Mikara from Akron, Iowa. Karen's son Wesley was not able to make the reception, but was there for Grandma Jean's birthday party the next day, as were all the rest of the grandchildren, and Scott, Anne's husband, see below for details of the party for Grandma Jean.

Gail from here:

Saturday noon, all of my small extended family had a surprise 80th birthday party for my mother, Jean. Even though her birthday isn't until 11.5.09, we decided to celebrate when we were all together. We all enjoyed our time together and took many family pictures.

My sister and her husband, John, took care of most of the arrangements. They both admitted they lied a lot, but Mom didn't suspect anything. We recognized Craig's 58th birthday on Aug. 1 and Linda and John's last March.

Craig from here:

We had a big celebration at our church yesterday. It is Pastor Urbach's 65th birthday and the 35th anniversary of his coming to Pierre. There were two church services as usual, but with a reception in between. Then there was a remembrance service at 4:00 pm and brats and burgers after that, together with pot luck on salads and desserts. We had a good time. We have been in this pastor's congregation for about 27 years, and he has baptised two of the kids (Carl and Anne.) He has confirmed all three, and now has married Anne. And he has been there for us during our tough times. We have been glad to have him in Pierre.

It was a quick trip to Omaha and back. We left Friday about 10:00 am and we were back home Saturday by about 9:00 pm. I was feeling a little out of sorts, so I went to the Dr. this afternoon. I had some congestion on the lungs and perhaps a slight bacterial infection. I am tired but still feel pretty good. I worked for about half a day today, but took a longer nap than usual in the morning.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

July 30, 2009 Craig is working every day

Craig is working every day and slowly is improving. We went out to see the orthopedic surgeon in Rapid City who first considered myeloma to get a second opinion on the Mayo Clinic's assessment of Craig's back. They were in agreement. No more vertebralplasties are needed.

We stayed with Neil, but didn't get to see much of him. We arrived late in the evening and the appointment went longer than expected and we didn't have lunch with him.

We're looking forward to our trip to Omaha next week for Anne and Scott's Omaha reception. It will be a fast trip since Neil will drive to Pierre on 8.6.09. We'll all drive to Omaha on the 7th and return on the 8th so Neil won't have to drive from Omaha to Rapid in one day. It will be good to meet more of Scott's family. Gail

Saturday, July 18, 2009

July 18, 2009, a cool Saturday for July

There are 2 weeks to summarize. Last Saturday, Carl and family were invited to Tim Bieser's wedding. Tim is a classmate of Carl's and they were the only 2 boys from their Cub Scout pack to stay in scouts throughout high school. The bride was radiant and the groom was beaming.

Craig has been in the office every day for a couple weeks. He gets a little stronger every day. Last week, he met with the Avera oncologist who now lives in Pierre. Craig will have his 3 month checks here and infusions of bone strengthener in Pierre. We're glad to eliminate trips to Sioux Falls. Gail




Sunday, July 12, 2009

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Wedding pictures from June 14, 2009. Craig continues to improve daily.

Pictures of Anne and Scott Saniuk's wedding can be found at:

http://www.thestudio-pierre.com/

Click on Full Screen
Click on Client Photos
Click on the white down arrows
Click on Client gallery
At the bottom is Weddings/ Engagements, click on this
Sometime it will ask for your email address
Click on Scott and Anne

We think all the pictures are wonderful. The bride was radiant and the groom was handsome.

We have not been posting as often as promised. Over the 4th of July weekend, we drove out to the Black Hills and visited Neil. We toured the Hills and saw many familiar sights. The fireworks in Rapid City were exciting on the 4th.

Craig is doing better every day. Everything from his home office has been taken
back. There's room to move around and we can see the floor again. Gail