Month 7 has held some good things for the Neubert Family: some firsts and some wonderful news.  Mike: For month 7 Mike only had to get his blood work done and send it off to California for the donor-derived cell-free DNA test. It once again came back as a zero rejection level and we are thrilled to see his heart and body working as one. We also received wonderful news that he no longer needs to get the actual biopsy done. Instead, the new protocol is to use the blood test, if the test shows signs of rejection then they may need to complete the actual biopsy for that month. This means less hospital visits and less invasive procedures. Mike is also in the process of weaning off some medications and starting a new med that is meant to prevent transplant vasculopathy (narrowing of the coronary vessels) and can help to improve kidney function. He has also stopped taking one of his immune suppression medications which has brought the days med count down significantly. Mike is still...

 2025 is going by so fast! I can hardly believe that six months have past since Mike got his heart transplant. March 7th marks half a year through this journey, and oh what a journey it has been!  Over the last couple months we have celebrated Blake's 11th birthday, my 38th birthday, and a few more birthday parties on top of those. Blake crossed over into Boy Scouts and went on his first campout with his new troop. Easton and Blake wrestled in a few tournaments where they earned some new medals, they have Regionals coming up this weekend. The boys are doing great in school and growing so fast, Blake is catching up to us all and already 5'4". While I am writing this blog tonight I had to put them back to bed three times...they are getting creative with their procrastination techniques. In the not so far future I can only imagine that they won't be coming back out to ask silly questions and want to be tucked back into bed. These times are so precious and fly by so fast. ...

 It's amazing to think that one year ago we were celebrating Mike getting off the Heart Transplant List, and now here in 2025 he has a new heart!  2024 was a rolling rollercoster of emotions, fears, celebrations, and the deep unknown. It started off with celebration packed with the never ending question of when. When would he get worse again, when would his heart fail, when when when. The looming question that seated itself in the back of my mind. The question that popped into my mind when I was driving alone, when Mike didn't answer my phone calls, when he was alone with the boys; it wasn't an overwhelming thought, just a thought that would spring up and make itself at home in the corner of my mind. Mike would say that I worry for the both of us, which is absolutely true...someone has to do it! I worry and then prepare for those worries. I think all that worrying and preparing really helped us get through the worst moments of 2024...but then again, you can never be prepare...

 This month we celebrate Jesus' birth and Mike's 3 month anniversary with a new heart! A wonderful month to celebrate in! We started off December trying to cram in every holiday activity that we could. Hot cocoa, cookie baking, craft shows, Christkindl Market Downtown, and visiting with loved ones.  Mike had his 3 month (Dec 10th) check up, left heart Cath, and biopsy. It was a long day at the hospital as left heart caths take more time. Nothing some raspberry sherbet and peanut butter crackers couldn't fix though. On the 11th we each (Mike and I) received some news. Mike was at a level 2 rejection and my position with Learning Care Group was eliminated. It was a tough day for the Neubert household. Mike started on a higher dose of steroids and an extra 3 day boost of steroids to help kick the rejection. He was also scheduled for another biopsy on December 23rd. After 15.5 years with AppleTree/LCG I am transitioning into a new era in my life...what that is is still to be de...

 From New Hearts to Halloween to Thanksgiving to Christmas...Happy Holidays!  When Mike and I were first married I remember his Aunt Sandy asking me what I found the most irritating about living with my new husband. I told her it was his dirty socks that he would leave all over the apartment but mostly slightly shoved into the couch cushions. She then proceeded to tell me about her pet peeve with Uncle Ted. In the morning he would get ready and start to make breakfast and a coffee. He would leave every cabinet door and drawer open as he went through the kitchen. She would be so mad as she went behind him and closed every opened door and drawer. One day though, Ted went to a conference and was out of town for a bit. As Sandy got ready and went into the kitchen she noticed that the cabinet doors and drawers were all closed...Ted wasn't home and there was no sign of him. She told me to cherish the cabinet doors & dirty socks. From then on when I found the dirty socks shoved i...

 It is crazy to think that it has been 6 weeks since Mike has been home. Our goal date for Mike to be home was Halloween. We would tell the boys, maybe by Halloween dad will be home. We have been able to pick out pumpkins, carve them, go on family walks, play games, read together, and live life together all before Halloween came.  Mike is doing so well I literally sit in awe sometimes and catch myself forgetting that this all happened. The physical scars are a reminder of the fog that was August and September. Mike is walking over 10,000 steps a day and is still at a level 1 Rejection. The doctors have started the very slow process of weaning him off his steriods...half a pill to start with! With Mike's new weight bench he is smashing leg and arm days. He is working his way up to visiting with people and getting out in the town. He even completed a little Honey Do List for me recently. He is getting anxious to start some work again and maybe head back to working at home mid De...