December Catch-Up Take 2!

Whew - what an extremely emotional month it's been.

Last Tuesday we were told about a family who was interested in Moose and the fact that he will most likely need skull reconstruction surgery was absolutely something they believed they could handle - praise God!!! They came over that night, hung out then came back on Wednesday evening. We ate pizza, I made a cake - to celebrate his new life and new home and new family. I gave them 4 CD's that contained all the pictures I ever took of "their" precious boy (if he becomes available for adoption, they will adopt him!!!), all his clothes, favorite blankets, toys, bottles, binkies, multiple manilla folders labeled and filled with all sorts of paperwork plus lists for his upcoming appointments and how he's been used to everything from eating, drinking, bathing, napping, etc. The new Daddy texted me early Thursday morning before I left for the airport telling me what a great night Moose had - can't tell you how much that made my heart happy.

Thursday I left for Tucson to visit my dad and his girlfriend.  I arrived Thursday night, spent a couple hours with the two of them before we went to bed. Darlene woke me up early Friday morning (extra early for me since AZ is one hour ahead of here) because he had to call the paramedics since my dad had fallen and couldn't get up off the floor.  The 4 firefighters came, helped my dad get up, he used the restroom then they bandaged his arm that split open again before he collapsed back into bed. We cancelled radiation for that morning. He was able to get up and eat a bowl of oatmeal before his oncology appt. He saw the lung cancer specialist, had labs done and an xray. We barely made it back to their house and he collapsed into bed in incredible pain. Darlene called one of his doctors and it was decided to readmit my dad to the hospital.  The paramedics were called again since my dad's back was hurting too bad to sit up. They came, we all managed to get him into the car and off to the hospital we went. Darlene and I pulled into McDonald's drive through at 10:30p.m. that night on our way home. LONG day!!! The next day we spent over 12 hours at the hospital and I left from the hospital on Sunday to head back to the airport.  It was on Sunday that we were given the news my dad had had a stroke, most likely on Friday. Also, the cancer had spread. It was now in the brain, both lungs, liver, abdomen, lymph nodes and possibly the bone marrow.  On Tuesday, my dad's sister flew to town to visit and Darlene moved my dad to a hospice facility that sounds WONDERFUL!!!

My Grandma did well while I was gone. One of her son's visited her one day and I did my usual calling - every 2 hours throughout the day. On Saturday night, while I was holding my dad's hand in the hospital getting ready to leave, the nurse put a purple band on his wrist that stands for "AND: Allow Natural Death." My cell phone rang and it was my grandma (who RARELY calls) telling me she was "lonesome."  I've resumed my daily visits and multiple phone calls throughout the day. Yesterday while we were in the waiting room, she didn't have much filter (reminding me about some awful things that happened in my childhood regarding my dad) and didn't have personal space issues w/the lady sitting next to her (my grandma rarely touches people to begin with but she kept touching this lady's boots that my grandma was admiring).  Her memory still ebbs and flows. I haven't noticed a change with the medication that's supposed to help w/the memory. She sees the neurologist in the first week of January.


Shelby is doing well and so is Shane minus a few bumps in the road - typical things for 11 year olds to go through.

I have been emotionally, physically, emotionally exhausted but I must admit with without a baby, I do get more sleep and it's less stressful since I always felt horrible having to drive Moose all over the place while helping my Grandma. I am so very, very happy for the family who now is loving on him. While at the hospital, a different family texted me a picture of their sweet boy we had the privilege loving on for almost a year and it was incredible to see his sweet face.

Still working on playing catch-up from the time I was gone plus getting ready for Christmas while the kids still have a couple days of school left plus dealing w/appointments, etc.

Beyond grateful for God's peace and mercy and carrying me through this season in my life.

December Catch-Up

• My dad, recently diagnosed w/Stage 4 lung cancer that's spread to his brain and liver, is hanging in there. He has moments of "fog" but has had more conversations where he is able to stay focused vs. foggy. He fell yesterday morning after using the bathroom at his home. Ironically there was a set appt for yesterday morning for the people to install grab bars, adjust the toilet, discuss ramps, etc.  I leave on Thursday to visit. On Friday is my dad's radiation appt and a lung cancer doctor appt. My dad and Darlene will get married on Saturday and I come home on Sunday.
• My grandma, recently diagnosed w/Alzheimer's, has been having overall good days (she actually remembered her son calling her 2 days ago!!). Today she kept thinking it was Wednesday (it's not) and she called wanting to know why I put stuff in her freezer (I didn't) and she hadn't paid a bill that was due 3 days ago so we took care of that together. I am waiting for everything to happen between the bank guy and the lawyer to have full control of her financial affairs. I have her son coming to hang out with her while I'm in Arizona.
• "Moose" had a neurologist appt today (Biomom and biograndma were there - another story). Anyways, the doctor diagnosed him w/ Craniosynostosis - he needs a 3D Cat Scan, then will most likely need skull reconstruction surgery. The social workers finally found a new home for him and the family came over tonight - loved them!! They will come back tomorrow to hang out then bring him home. So very happy for his happily ever after.
• Steve's hips (he's had 3 total hip replacements) are having more problems - w/scar tissue, arthritis and bursitis. I am concerned about leaving him home for the 4 days I'll be in Arizona but he refuses to have me schedule respite.
• The kids are doing well - Shane's improved his grades (thanks in part to him, an increase in his ADHD meds and study hall) and Shelby's plugging right along w/her special ed classes.
• We've had an abundance of crazy little things happen - ants in Shane's room, the van battery dying, Shelby's bus breaking down, etc...
• It's been wild but we are praying our way through each and every moment!!!