Thursday, January 31, 2008

Probably the last hospital stay...

We've been in the hospital for the past several days. There was a reoccurrence of the pneumonia along with other infected bacteria in Mother.

The list of things wrong is long at this point and I really don't have the energy to go into all of that right now. Mentally and spiritually, Mother is amazing. Physically, she's tired. Tired of pain, of not being the person she used to be. The latest treatment option had no affect whatsoever. I've had a discussion with the kids that Ganny does not have much time left here. We don't know when, but it will probably be sooner than later. 

The doctor has actually used the term "terminal" stage. Mother knows this and is ready for the life hearafter. We may get to take her home with hospice today or in the next few days. We really are on a day by day basis. I do know that she has six more potholders to crochet and I need to buy the yarn for one of them. At 1 potholder per day, we've got at least 6 days. She is determined to get those things done! :)

I know that you've been keeping us in your prayers and thoughts. Thank you, and please continue to do so. We desperately need them. 

Take care - Me

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Better than a Xanax...

What's that? Life got you down? Don't know how to handle all the junk life is throwing your way? Busy rushing around trying to figure out the latest loopholes in this year's taxes? Are your kids driving you up the wall and taking down the ladder? Have so much laundry that there's now just a path to walk through the house and all your family is having to run around in the old, dingy undies?

I have the solution. No, it won't do your taxes or clean your clothes. It will close your children's mouths and make you change your undies in a mere bite though.

Go here. Now. Right now. Make these. Then send me and the originator a thank you. 

And don't be a fool like I am - make the full recipe, do not cut it in half thinking you won't possibly need all that. You will. You definitely will.

Your welcome.

Take care - Me

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Home again...

My sister took Mother home yesterday evening. While in the hospital, she was given 4 units of blood, numerous units of antibiotics and various other meds. Before leaving the hospital, they had called in another oral antibiotic to fight another bacterial culture that had grown out. That's two oral antibiotics that she's on at home - one for the bronchial pneumonia and one for the bacterial bloodstream infection.

She'll also start Tarceva today. This one will hopefully stop the growth of the cancer, allowing for a bit more quality time. Should she not respond well to this, she will not take it. I so respect her for both trying a new treatment and for standing up and saying that quality is more important that quantity. If this drug causes her to feel worse than she does now, then it's a no go. We'd rather have her for a shorter amount of time feeling relatively well, than to have her suffer for an extended period. This cancer has already caused multiple issues in organs other than the pancreas. We don't need another drug to make her feel worse.

I talked to her just a few minutes ago and she's doing pretty good. She informed me that she thought all hospital beds should have the modal sheets and feather pillows. :) She's also looking forward to the Hardee's biscuit and sausage gravy that my sister is bringing her shortly.

Thanks again for the well wishes. I'll keep you posted when I can. 

Take care - Me

Monday, January 7, 2008

Hospital Stay No. I really can't remember...

We've been in the hospital since 2 am last Friday. 

Bloodstream infection, possible lung issues, ie: possible pneumonia, low blood counts and low platelets. Along with other various lows and highs in the blood tests that go with having this cancer at this stage.

It's not staph, and the current antibiotic seems to be working. They've said a possible release date could be Wednesday, but we're taking it day by day. Today was a pretty good day considering, and that is something to be thankful for.  

I want to thank all of you that are sending healing thoughts our way - they're working and we really need them.

Take care - Me

Thursday, January 3, 2008













Hostess with the mostess...







Forewarning: this blog is extremely wordy!

So, this past weekend was a time for remembering, crying, and being there for each other. A time for catching up and asking why it takes a funeral for us all to get together. A time for ceremony, thinking of your spiritual beliefs and supporting one another, sometime physically but most important emotionally. A time when you find yourself in another town, really too far to drive back home. A time when you say to one of your best friends, yes, I’ll stay with total strangers that are friends with your mother.

It was also a time for me to stay in a home of huge proportions. Arriving at this home, in the dark, we pulled up to a four-car garage. We had been told to enter through the door in the middle of the garage, through the garage, then into the home through that door. The outside garage entry door included ornate ironwork. The actual garage was larger than my previous house.

To enter a house and be walking on beautiful deep cherry floors, looking up at twelve-foot ceilings made me trust my friend more and more with each step I took into this immaculate home. The tile work in the kitchen and resting area was unique and comforting with their earthy tones of green, blue and terra cotta. And the twelve-foot ceilings. The kitchen was outfitted with Viking appliances, including the microwave. In the center of the kitchen was the enormous island topped with teak. The maple cabinets with their warm, burnt sienna glaze begged to be looked through for ingredients in preparation of your next gourmet masterpiece. If that masterpiece happened to include a pasta dish, no worries, just use the pasta faucet at the eight-burner Viking gas range. Or maybe you needed to grill your salmon while keeping your dill sauce warm, again, no worries, as the warming drawer was conveniently located under the range. What’s that? You need to prep some veggies while someone else fills the glasses? Just stand at the island to prep at that sink while the other person is over at the granite counter/bar filling the glasses with ice from the below counter ice maker then filling them with drinks from the Subzero fridge. Or maybe, they’ve reached into the 15’x15’ pantry to grab something from there.

Of course, they could just walk across the resting room to the granite topped side bar, reach into the fridge for an ice-cold beer, scoop some ice from that in-cabinet ice maker, open the maple/glass enclosed doors for a really refreshing beverage. But let’s not go there, as we don’t want to numb this experience. We want to continue to enjoy every single moment.

You could serve your meal at the kitchen table, with its hand-painted top overlooking the back veranda arranged with several seating areas, or you could walk across the hall to the beautiful jewel-toned dining room with its table for twelve to dine under the crystal and iron chandelier.

I honestly cannot remember how many bedrooms there were on the first or second floor. I can remember that each one was well appointed, warm and welcoming. Especially as each one had its own private bath. I do remember the master bath. With his and hers sides. That’s right, sides, not sinks. Joining the two sides was a shower room with multiple showerheads and beautiful tile work. You could reach for your towels from one of the beautiful deep stained wood built-ins.

You could then take one of two staircases up to the second floor, or if loaded down, use the elevator. (let’s let that one sink in… elevator) Up those gently winding, cherry-topped steps you would arrive at a long hall and at least ten-foot ceilings. On one end of the hall you could open the double doors and be encased in the media room, complete with drop down viewing screen, six or so leather recliners with cup holders. You could also prepare a small feast there from that full-size fridge, granite counter top, microwave and in-cabinet icemaker. Or you could shoot pool at the pool table, play poker at the poker table, or overlook the woods from the end room window. You would be able to see what you were doing by turning on the Tiffany-style lamps above each of these areas.

Down the hall were additional bedrooms, workout room, second floor laundry area, and other various doorways that, quite honestly, I just didn’t open to explore. Each room I saw had it’s own unique feel and was as welcoming as one could ask for.

The only thing I have ever seen that was larger than this home was the heart of the people that own it. Debbie and Carlos not only opened their doors to two strangers, they opened their hearts and welcomed us in. While, yes, this house was unbelievably huge, it is a home, make no mistake. They have made it a home where you are enveloped by their generosity and caring from the moment you walk through the door and you feel it long after you’ve walked out.

I have stayed in smaller houses and not felt as welcomed as I was in their home. For that, I will forever remember them.

Take care - Me

Coming soon to a blog near you...

I've actually down loaded the photos taken this past weekend with my camera phone. I do believe that, due to the sheer size of the item I was shooting, it's numbed my brain and all blogging abilities.

I'm trying to get what little intelligent facilities I had to warm back up to the idea of actually working. Perhaps this afternoon/evening, I will have better luck putting it all in perspective.

Until then,

Take care - Me

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

For the MarLo House & Family...

This is what Mother will have placed on her memorial card. I hope it helps.


I'm Free

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free
I'm following the path God laid for me,
I took His hand when I heard Him call
I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day
To laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way.
I found that place at the close of the day.

If my parting has left a void
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss.
Ah yes, these things, I too, will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow.
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life's been full. I savored much.
Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief,
Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your heart and share with me.
God wanted me now. He set me free.

~Author unknown



Take care - Me