Sitting in carpool line

First Day of school

Well I had this really funny blog written with terrific pictures and the system crashed and I lost it all so.... it took me nearly 1 1/2 hours to write so I will not be recreating it.

Here are the first day pics. Thank you to everyone who called to check on me. It was nearly impossible to leave him at the school but in his own words, "You can go now Mom. I'm really fine!" and "If you keep on hugging me I can't color!"

First words at the end of the day:" That was just the BEST DAY EVER!!! I want to go back tomorrow, okay? Then I can be in 1st grade!"

The new woman

We'll we've gone to meet the teacher. Garrison was not the least bit shy or nervous about it. I thought he'd be a little bit nervous but thanks to his terrific previous teachers he was very well prepared, knew what to expect and went right in and gave Ms. Smith a huge hug. He's even made a new friend, Wylie.

Thank you to these special teachers who have prepared us for today and tomorrow.

Ms. Amber, Ms. Kristen and Ms. Krista
Ms. Amy
Ms. Nicole
Ms. Leslie
Ms. Rutledge

Tomorrow morning we will be there at 7:40am ready to begin Garrison's school career. For the next 12 years and beyond this will be our schedule. My baby is not a baby any more...

...and it's just about to kill me.

The Dolphin Helper

More than anything in the world my Kamdyn wants to be a "dolphin helper". She eats, sleeps, dreams, thinks of little else. Currently she owns about 20 small plastic dolphins of various shapes, quality and sizes. There is no special favorite;all are equally important in her eyes. There are mommy and daddy dolphins and cousins, aunts, uncles, nannies, grandma's and grandpa dolphins. Sea World was just for her birthday because she desperately wants to communicate with a dolphin. I've really never seen anyone so fixated on one thing. Last night we watched and IMAX special on dolphins and one special dolphin named JoJo and his "keeper" Dean. They live in the Turks and Caicos Islands. http://www.oceania.org.au/soundnet/features/jojo.html
No joke, that show has been on all day! She know can tell the difference between dusky Argentina dolphins, pink fresh-water river dolphins, Atlantic Bottle nose and so on... If this were a passing fancy I probably wouldn't be telling you about it but this obsession started over a year ago when she was only 2!

I made this picture for her in Photoshop so that she could actually pretend she swims with Jojo herself. It is her most important treasure and has been printed over 20 times.

Maybe someday her dream will come true. Ithink they are neat too; not like she does but maybe I'll get to touch one too.

Sea World Fun 2006

We are back, tired and very happy. We went with My sister, her daughter and my mom. We all stayed in one room with our dog. It was 100 degrees and there were about 2 million people there. Yes, it was crazy but it was a blast!
Here are some photos:

Trying to touch a dolphin
The entire reason we went to Sea World was for Kamdyns birthday and to see,

"Dolphin, my friend!"

Kamdyn's first Roller Coaster with Aunt Mimi. She LOVED IT!!! Garrison was tall enough to ride the BIG roller Coaster, The Steel Eel. He has not stopped talking about it and describing how it felt.

Dinner Birthday!

Birthday Girl!

The Three Amigos

I think this picture best sums up how we all felt.

This is on Saturday night with everyone else awake all around her.

She is holding Sally Spinner Bunny and Sally Spinner Dolphin. Her names...

Summer Vacations 1.0

We are in San Antonio right now but I PROMISE I will blog with pictures from all our summer excursions as soon as we get home. I really need to get better about blogging more often (as I am often reminded.) We are heading back in a little bit and going shopping at the San Marcos Outlet.

Love to you all.

Rites of Passage

Garrison has become quite the photographer and I wanted to share some of his work with you all.
Summer if flying by so fast and I just want to hold on to every last minute before I turn Garrison loose on the world, or rather let this big-ole bad world influence him. Every day aging, growing into this little man right before our eyes. He is using words and phrases lat remind me that I'll be am embarrassment to him sooner than I'd like. He is taller and thinner and he looks like a young boy rather than my little angel that I held in my arms not so long ago. I savor every moment that he and I spend together. I'm literally counting the days and weeks until that fateful moment when he walks through those doors and becomes a student, still a child, but no longer a baby who trusts moms and dads every word. Now he will question things and learn worldly things at an alarming rate. Things that have never been a part of our world. Have we done enough to cement faith in his young soul? Has God been a part of out daily lives so much so that He is daily walking with Garrison through life? Will Garrison still believe all the innocent things we've taught him? When will he question Santa? The Easter bunny? Will he question God?
This morning Garrison lost his first tooth. It was a monumental occasion marked by fear (of the pain) and then the excitement and pure joy of cold, hard tooth-fairy cash! All day the question was, how much cash? Of course to Garrison a quarter is still all that is required to get that ever elusive gumball or tame a pony at Wal-Mart. So Dad and I will make sure he gets a lest enough for a couple of gumballs and a couple of rides. I've been waxing sentimental all day about the changes it's made in his appearance. Gone is the face of a baby and in it's place is a young boy ready to start the next great adventure. To quote him, "Hey! Loosing a tooth is no big deal, Mom." On to the next big thing....

Kamdyn is going through summer with the aplomb of a 2 year old. She seems to bounce from day to day, following "Buba" into trouble over and over again. This last Saturday she and Garre were playing upstairs and it's been a while since there has been any significant "trouble". (A welcome respite...) Garrison decided to (his words), "...rub his forehead on the carpet to see what would happen." See the pictures...
Kamdyn decides to go to the bathroom and rub "lotion" (Bath and Body Works Bath Gel) from her head to toe; Cucumber and Green Tea to be exact. It is nearly impossible to clean bath gel out of carpet so I sat her in the tub and also set the bath mats in the tub. I feared the mess if I put them in the washing machine. That much agitation and there could be a another significant mess in the laundry room. WHAT A HUGE MESS IT WAS!!!!!

Our house is also overloaded with many boxes of stuff from my childhood home. Things that I couldn't simply throw away and there was no room for at my mom's new place. We currently have three couches and an overstuffed chair in one room and you can not see the dining room table because of the china and crystal from my grandmothers home in Georgia. There are scores of children's books, puzzles, frames, glasses, knick-nacks and various other items strewn about the house. It's a colossal mess. I have every intention of having a garage sale but now it's so hot and nasty out that I just plain don't want to bother with it. As I've stated before I'm not a sterling house keeper and this has truly added to the chaos, and it's all of my own doing.

What else have we been up too??? Lone Star Park and horse racing, birthday parting, light traveling, working, emptying out mom's house, painting, tying bows, Garrison's learning annex classes each week, Swim class, VBS and a million other things too numerous and trivial to interest anyone.

I have been reading quite a bit; Wuthering Heights(Bronte), a favorite of mine, Pride and Predjudice (Austen), a new favorite, The Visitation by Frank Peretti, and scores of magazines while sitting in the car at swim class. I'm totally up to date on all the latest Hollywierd gossip and trash. I've also discovered that I really like talk radio. Particularly conservative day-time talk radio. Thank you, Dad. I also got a terrific new Bible called the archeological Bible. It got all the historical evidence to support the Bible along side the text! VERY COOL!

All is well on this front; We just desperately need some rain. It's bee a while since I've written in the blog. Just bear with me, I'm distracted as usual.

Light summer reading...

First off let me say my spell check is not working so forgive the type-o's

Since things are slowing down a bit and it's summer, I thought I try a bit of light reading. I selected a simple meaningless book called the Di Vinci Code. I'm serious when I say a meaningless book. I've been watching the history channel to see what all the fuss is about and really it is silly. I'm not here to be political about this book or even get up on a soap box. All I'm saying is this: if you know your Bible and it's validation throughout history how or better yet why does anyone but any stock in this fictional tale about "what-if"?
Yes the Knights Templar existed but all records disappeared over 700 years go.
No one doubts the writings of Aristotle, Plato or Nostradamus and yet there are vastly fewer actual documents validating their existence and writings; why doubt Christ and His divinity with all there is to back Him up both theologically and secular?
It's all very interesting because what it says to me is that there are so many people actually looking for something to believe when the truth is right in front of them. You can play what if over and over again but it doesn't make it real, it's still just "what-if"

That's my take on the whole thing. I am reading the book because I want to be equipped to refute or at the very least have an intelligent debate on the subject. I don't feel like boycotts work because they actually fuel the fire. What's more it makes the boycotting side look superior, not a good stance to open a topic. You also can not ignore it so educate yourself and go from there.

Random moment...
My STUPID dog(s) just ate an entire box of 96 crayons. What do you do with that?

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

It's been almost a month

It's hard to write about such a lengthy amount of time but "sufice to say", it's been intensly busy!

Let me sum up what I've been doing and the lesson's I've learned.

• Mom moved into her new place.
• We had an estate sale.
• We enrolled Garrison in school.
• We enrolled Kamy in a new school near the house.
• Garrison had a birthday.
• Darth Vader came to school for Garrisons birthday
• Doctors appointments
• Pre-school teaching
• Pre-school let out (very bitter sweet, for me! I'm really going to miss everyone.)
• We began to packup the remaining belongings in the house (ongoing)
• Garrison had a Star Wars birthday party.
• Arranging for summer swim lessons
• Daily packing up mom's house
• Lot's of tears for taimes gone by
• Missed my friends because I feel like we've all been sucked into a black hole for the last 11 weeks
• Learned that there are just some things in life that I can not worry about.
• I have had to learn to trust more.
• Learned to appreciate my mom a lot more
• Learned that every moment in life is good when you are with family
• Learned what it means to give more of myself than I ever thought I could
• Learned to ask for help
• Learned to lean on friends and reach out
• Learned whe "Let go and let God" truly means

There is fear in the unknown if your destination is uncertain. I've learned to have more confidence in the love and compassion of Christ and my brothers and sisters in Christ.

There will always be people, things and circumstances that I do not understand. But I have to accept that they are also on a walk toward heaven. Who am I to ask or say what should or should not happen? I am still growing in my relationship to everyone. I hope it never stops.

Enjoy the pictures.

Birthday and program pictures!

These are some pictures it took me a year to get developed. We did not get to take 2006 pictures. The bluebonnets were not abundant this spring. It was amazing in 2005 though

Pictures pictures pictures!!!

Yesterday was a landmark day in our family. Garre reached his 5th birthday (with no broken bones or stitches, yet) and to mark the occassion Darth Vader came to meet him. Garrison was so overwhealmed that he couldn't even talk. He actually hid in a corner trying to catch his breath. He kept saying, "I'm his biggest fan and I'm just too nervous to meet him!" At the very last moment he went up to him and we were able to get a picture. Here are several of the photos. The quality isn't the best because it was very dark and Sean was taking the pictures with my camera. I should have changed the settings but I forgot.

Here are some Easter memories



Pure joy at seeing her Easter basket for the first time!




Things continue to move at a insane rate. There are never enough hours in a day to accomplish anything. I'm reading a great book, "Mommy Guilt". It is all about how to find a good balance and how to prioritize you life in such a way that you really get to enjoy the important things and de-stress your life withtout feeling guilty. I struggle with that and with asking for help so those are two things I'm working on personally.

Mom is in her new place and trying to get used to all the "new" in her life. There is no order, no consistancy and no faimliarity to any of this for her and it's a tough transition. But praise God we are all growing closer as a family, lending each other a hand and sometimes fighting our way through the insanity. I've learned a new definition for togetherness; leaning on one another in rough times. I've come to rely on my brother and sister a lot.

Special thanks to my brother who has played many different roles in his life; the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus and now the mighty Darth Vader. Mel and I already know when it's our turn and they need a princess phone call (sorry, but we can not make personal apprearences, unless they want a queen or stepmother. My days of playing the princess are long past, if I ever really had those days to begin with???) we'll be there!

Later on ya'll!

Yes it's really been almost a month

Kamy and Garre at the dallas Zoo


My new nephew!


Garre and his "puppy" that didn't stay small very long.


Bella the "6 month old monster.


At the zoo last week
Let me sum up
- Mom has moved in with us.
- Everyday we have been moving her out of the old house and into her new apartment.
- Refinishing (garage sale) furniture and an old bed
- Planning a garage/estate sale
- Working at school
- Working at Tickelopes
- Registering kids in school for the fall
- Planning birthday parties
- Attending showers and birthday parties
- Going to the zoo
- Preparing for Easter
- Attempting to keep things as normal for the kids as possible
- Hosting my in-laws for a week
- Holding my new nephew!

It's been almost too busy to write!

Sunday night / Late night thoughts

I'm sorry it's been so long since my last post.

After a week of deep thought, prayer and personal reflection, I have decided to continue this blog. I was asked to discontinue certain parts and I have come to this decision that it is good to continue and it is a great way to disseminate information to multiply people at the same time. The intent of this blog is to update family and family friends all over the country. Judging from all the emails about wanting new information, I'm guessing you all think it is a good thing too. Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers. I am continuing to collect emails and blog notes for mom. The really uplift her spirits as she does not have access to a computer at this time. Please keep sending them, she is saving them.

Here is the latest: Mom is continuing her journey toward recovery. I'll just say that I am so proud that she is holding her head high and staying so positive in the face of life-changing events. There is so much to do and all the kids have taken on a portion of the load to help balance things out. My part is dealing with the house and the move itself and we are making some very tough decisions and there will be many more ahead. I said earlier that the new place was like a "cruise ship". Mom does get to read this blog and what I meant and obviously didn't say very well is that there are people to help her at the complex and help fulfill requests as needed, much like a concierge. It is a pretty place but much smaller than she is accustomed to and it will be a major adjustment. I only meant to be encouraging and hopefully positive for her benefit. I hope that explains my wording choice a little bit better.

On a personal note. I have had concerned calls and emails wanting to know why I've dropped off the face-of the earth. Thank you for caring for me and for my family. I have many many thank you notes to write and many calls to make. I am here, I am (or at least feel like) I'm drowning and promise to return each and every phone call as I have said I would. Thank you for the offers to keep my kiddos and bring us dinner. I would not be sane if it were not for my friends. I have a hard time reaching out and asking for help, so thank you for knowing that and offering anyway.

EB - I'm sorry I haven't call yet. I know I promised I'd call you next and I will! I miss you tremendously and I have no excuse other than to say I'm a drowning slacker.

Honey - Thank you for the hugs this morning, I really needed them.

TR - Thank you for calling just to check on me.

Michele and Gret - Thanks for keeping my secrets. I really needed a place to let go and be open without worrying about "leakage" I felt much better afterward.

For general information and FYI - To anyone concerned about Blogger privacy information - I have taken special precautions to ensure this information is not readily available to the general public and someone must have the exact link or be given the link to access this information. Many people care about this family, given the road we've traveled to this point. To say uplifting things about my mother's present and future situation is to uplift and encourage her. I apologize if some of those comments were misunderstood or taken out of context

We now know some more of the story.

I have not written in a bit because the news was the same. Here are the facts up to date.

- Mom is on dialysis for the rest of her life or until she gets a kidney.
- She will be moving out of her house very shortly into a terrific 55+ apartment complex in Plano where she will have a really cute two bedroom apartment. It's just enough space for her to manage.
- She will no longer be able to work.
- She is okay with all of this because she (and we all) believe she has a chance to really enjoy the life she has left.

She gets out of the hospital tomorrow (Friday) sometime. As I have said before she will be recuperating at KayKay's and Ken's for about 2 weeks. During that time we are having the house looked at by a professional realtor, the foundation checked antiques appraised (and possible sold, defiantly moved!) and the drawers and closets cleaned out after 35 years of accumulated "stuff". My Mom and Dad, God bless their souls, were/are the biggest pack-rats I've personally ever met. We will be cleaning a lot out before she even goes back into the house;sort of the principle "out of sight/out of mind." Melissa and I have already had several good laughs at the 8 broken radios dad kept in his bedside table and the tube of ointment that expired in 1984. Ohhh, but there is so much more where that came from.

Mom's spirits have been lifted daily by all the calls visits and prayers. She seems to be ready for this next phase in her life, however I also know and fully understand how difficult if will be to leave it behind and forge a new lifestyle. It's really neat but it will be an adjustment. My grandmother will also not be able to live with her but we are working that out with my Aunt in Georgia. Gran has never been happy in Texas because it's not home and we've tried to make it as nice for her as possible but she has never truly been happy and I believe will not be until she is back in Georgia near to her brothers and sisters. We can and will all travel to her which is more appropriate give she is almost 80 and hates to travel alone back and forth. It's safer for her and mom has basically bee told by her doctors that she is NOT capable of caring for her any longer. That is the 1st hardest piece for mom and the 2nd will be giving up the house. She will wear a brave face and do what is best for everyone but I know there will many quiet tears.

Tonight 02-24-06

There were a few minor setbacks tonight. She is a bit nauseated and her blood pressure is back up to 200/100. Apparently her main doctor did not want to release her from ICU but the kidney doctor felt it would be okay since this is a "stepped-down" version of the critical care unit.

It took us 45 minutes to get her blood pressure checked tonight which is quite a change from the 15 minute checks she received around the clock. I couldn't help but be a bit frustrated but then again they have three times the number of patients per nurse so it takes a while to get things moving.

Mom was sleeping when we left. They had given her a shot to keep moving the PB to a normal range. Her room-mate has pneumonia and is coughing constantly (poor thing!) Mom is so sleep deprived I'm hoping she can actually sleep since they only check every 4 hours in this unit. No dialysis tomorrow or Sunday. She will start again Monday...

On the home front, I'm knee deep in dirty laundry! Sean has been washing dishes but the laundry!!!!! My goodness at the laundry. Some clean/not folded; some dirty/not washed! I may never recover so if you come over just be forewarned that it is a scary mess. It would take a team three days to get this place back in shape. I guess this is not really important. My children are fed, my husband is fed and they have all slept and are in pretty good health despite the rampant health code violations in this house! That is important.

Good News At Last!!!

Good morning/afternoon!! We've got great news. They've moved mom to a regular room and she isn't hooked up to ANY machines at all!!! They took her off the Blood Pressure drip last night and no IVs either! Mom is in a semi-private room of the main building: Room #922A. Visiting hours are open until 8:00 PM. Several have wanted to send flowers and cards....she can get those now. Unfortunately, with dialysis she has to be careful about the fruit she eats so please refrain from sending that temptation. I think she almost passed out yesterday when they told her "NO WATERMELON". Her favorite thing...too much potassium!

They want her walking around today. She's still VERY weak and shaky but the doctor's say her strength will come back soon. She will have another treatment this afternoon, around 3 1/2 hours of dialysis. (She has already started her 3rd treatment as of this blog) We are hoping she will be home from the hospital by Monday or Tuesday. We know are waiting on her strength to increase and permanent dialysis schedule to be set. Once those things are in place she'll be headed to the Polk B&B for a lot of R&R.

On that note, I truly believe we have found angels on this earth. I've always believed they existed just never really knew I could see them....Ken & Mary Kay, Kathy and Charlie (don't feel slighted if your name wasn't mentioned there are just so many and we know who you are and God knows who you are!!!) are just a few of the angels God sent to my mother. We've all be blessed by so many friends and family. We've never felt so much love and been so acutely aware of God's presence in our lives. I know 38+ years ago when my mother moved to Texas, God placed her at Prestoncrest knowing the friends she would meet and the support she would have in those relationships. In that respect, we feel this week has brought a positive perspective out of such hardship. Thank you all for your constant prayers and love.

To my brother and sister Melissa and Marcus, you are so strong and amazing. I'm in awe of both of you and how you balance work, family, law school and this crazy, difficult situation. I love you beyond words.

Thank you to Mrs. Traci at Sunshine School as well for extending an extra measure of grace to Garrison. He's really been out of sorts and trying to understand where his Nan is right now. Peyton and Kamy have sort of rolled with the punches a bit better than he has. We tried to hide it as much as possible but he is very perceptive and asked too many questions so I was very honest with him. We also sunk him into the ICU for a couple of minutes and he saw all the cords and plugs but it was the only smile we got out of mom for a week.

Also I have to say a special thank you to my wonderful husband who despite the piles of laundry and the stacks of dishes has kept a smile and a shoulder available for me no matter what. He is my rock and I want everyone out there to know what an amazing man he is. I adore you, Sean! I'd be lost without you.

To my precious friends who have been keeping my kids and bringing my family dinner (especially when I had a migraine and 1/2 last night) and just loving us even from a far, I LOVE YOU and I'm proud to call you my friend and if the time comes and I can return the favor I all over it, day or night!

We love you more than words can say!!!!

Thank you! Thank You! Thank You!

For the email for the calls for the hospital visits for my wonderful friends who take my babies to the aquarium, Garre to the movies and days off from work just to help.... Everytime the car holding my babies pulls away I say a little prayer that they are safe and they behave themselves. There are simply no words to express my feelings. I feel blessed and peaceful and I know I can speak for Melissa and Marcus when I say we feel very loved and in His spirit. It is nearly impossible for me to respond to every email and phone message but I am getting them, Melissa is also getting them and I am going to make mom a book full of messages to take to her at the hospital. Your words will lift her up.

On to the update.

Mom got her dialysis ports today about 2:00 pm. It was a minor procedure that she said did not hurt. She then received the first of many treatments to cleanse her system of the toxins. We now know more than we ever wanted to know about the procedure and what it does for the body. I think after getting this one under her belt she feels a bit more calm. I walked with her to the elevator to get the ports and her portable monitoring system was going crazy concerning her blood pressure. The nurse kept saying lots of deep breaths and relax over and over again. By the time she left me she had calmed herself down.

The dialysis tech.nurse was waiting on her when she got back and he explained everything.
SIDE BAR: This hospital and their staff must train in "Medicalidiotesse" a language I speak fluently because everyone is really good at explaining things to a Medical Idiot, (AKA Me)
Mom seemed much calmer late today and reassured that this was indeed something that was going to make her feel 100% better. Kay Kay and Ken saw her tonight and she was tired but feeling a bit better. They have asked her to come stay with them for a couple of week post surgery. Melissa, Marc and I have talked about it and it may be the best option. It's quiet, very comfortable, she will have time to really rest without the kids pulling on her all day long, she will be with someone constantly( a big concern of mine) her meals will be cooked and they have someone to clean her room. I was more than willing to do it all of that but we also have additional areas of concern, such as de-stressing moms whole life, so that this type of thing doesn't happen again.

We have a very long an tough road ahead of us but my sweet friend Pam who knows better than anyone I know, says, "Take it one day at a time, One hour is you have to and do look too far down the road." We can do that to a certian extent but we do have to make some plans for her future and find the new balance in her life.

Mom will have two more treatments, 3 hours and 4 hours, over then next wo days and then we are looking a a potential release from ICU and maybe the hospital. I'll know more tomorrow after I talk to Mellissa who is staying at the hospital druing the day shift so I can work at school and feel a bit normal.

Latest news 02-21-06 PM

Let me start of by saying that I am completely sleep deprived and scared for mom so I might ramble more than usual.

I spent 40 minutes on the phone yesterday with the kidney doctor, Dr. Ashgar. He feels strongly that it is time for dialysis. Mom will go on the national donor list and she is scheduled to get a permanent "port" in her shoulder around noon today.
It is through this port that she will receive dialysis three times a week for the rest of her life or until she receives a new kidney.

She is frightened and in shock at this turn of events. We knew that some time in the future this was going to happen but this soon was definitely a surprise.

Melissa and I are going to be at the hospital with her and Kathy J will be there until they take her back for the procedure. I'm taking the kids to my sister-in- Law's for the day and I'll have me cell phone if anyone needs me.

I'll update more later.

A better night

Mom had a decent night last night. She is still not resting very comfortably. The nurse sent everyone home to sleep. Today they are going got do some additional testing to determine the cause of the constant nausea. They have basically ruled out the meds as the cause and are looking at other possibilities. I will report more after lunch.

Thank you Pam for keeping my kids!

Two posts in one / Mimi and Steph

02-20-2006 / Melissa's birthday!

I just got home from the hospital and I'm pleased to report that physically she is doing pretty well. BP is 154/68 and holding pretty steady, with the strong medication Melissa wrote about in the email and following blog section below (keep reading). They have lowered her BP med drip significantly and her kidneys are "resettling" after all the stress. It will be a couple of days before we get any consistent numbers from her renal output. I am learning quite a lot from the amazing doctors and nurses at Medical City. Every single person that we worked with or even met has been kind and patient and sincere. They have really taken the time to talk in a manner that is clear and understandable without talking down or condescending . I'm just in love with the staff!

I am concerned about mom's spiritual and personal progress. She seems very, very down and it's frightening to see her in this state. Kathy J is with her right now and Marc and Mimi will be back at the 4-6 visiting window. I'm taking Gran back up there tonight. She is extremely weak and doesn't talk, almost at all. She occasionally asks for something but other than those few times she has been very quite. If you know Mom you know how much this is not her. She is extremely sore in her chest from the CPR and keeps getting the hiccups; not a good combo. I did stay the night mainly because Mom was frightened. She had a lot of questions yesterday and I feel like she was shocked that all this has happened. It's also a real wake-up call for her about the realities of being as physically frail as she is. It's had to reconcile when you are strong of spirit and will and weak in the flesh. If she is better this evening I'm going to talk to her about Paul. We've been praying and praying together. God id so faithful and He is responding to our prayers and she is getting better. Now if she will turn her attitude in a more positive direction, we will be making more dramatic progress.

A special thank you to all the amazing friends who have come to the hospital. Every time I see a familiar face I am personally strengthened and renewed. I am keeping a list for mom of who has come so that she will know how much she is loved and needed. Thank you for the phone call and the emails. I am printing them and taking them to her to lift her up. I told God Saturday night that He could no have her yet, that she was still needed here and I meant it. I believe He is taking compassion on me and we are getting another chance to let her know how much she is needed.
________________________________________________________________________
Melissa's email / 2/19/2006
________________________________________________________________________
Well Mom is the first to tell you she doesn't do anything the easy way. We love her but boy do we all wish she'd be easy!

On that note, during the day yesterday she was doing much better. After they removed the vent she was resting well. The BP medicine she is on is the strongest medicine possible and can only be administered in ICU....so the plan is for her to stay in ICU until she can get her BP regulated and on a different medication.

Sometime around 4:00 they noticed her central line that is inserted into her main artery (I believe they said Vena Cava, but what do I know), started leaking. They can't figure out why and so they ran many blood tests to see what the problem could be. Luckily the tests came back clear so they think she may have stretched the incision with her constant moving around. Around 5:30 yesterday she started getting nauseous again. They had lowered her BP meds and on top of the nausea her BP started going back up to the 190's. They gave her some nausea medicine which really didn't help and increased her meds. The nurse made me leave about 6:30 due to visiting hours and at that point mom was still feeling very sick to her stomach, but the BP was back in the 140s, luckily. The nurse is a little concerned about her Renal output. She isn't sure if the ordeal mother went through on Saturday is the cause or if her kidneys are having other trouble. They intend to keep an eye on that. Steph & Marcus got there around 8:00 and after Mom still have so much nausea and irregular BP issues, Steph decided to stay the night. As of this morning, they have given Mom some sedatives so she can rest.

Thank you all for your visits and prayers. Like Steph said, Mom is a fighter!! We know she'll get pass this test too; the Lord ALWAYS pulls her through! His grace is extraordinary, isn't it?

Love to you all!
Melissa