Coffee? Tea? Serenity?

Here ya go....straight from the fingertips of Mom.

"Roland and I are doing fine.  It was rough in the hospital he would wake up quite early like 4:30 and he was ready to go home.  He is now retired and at home and it is raining and cold and can't do much outside.  He wakes up early and then is sleepy yesterday he went to see the Dr. that removed the growth on his tongue and that is all well.  He still has some blockages in the right side of his neck and the back of his neck but they said they would treat that with medication or just follow a strict diet and no smoking.  Hunh!  he is trying but with no avail.

I went to the Chiropractor yesterday and told him I was stressed emotionally. He worked on me and prayed for me. 

Yesterday we were leaving to go to the Dr. and he had a hissy fit because he had no tic tac's and there was things in his console that he needed to clean out so he started throwing things around and getting pissed off OMG  I said stop it eh was throwing things outside and I said we are going to get a ticket.  Peanuts what is that doing in here I can't eat that.  I said if you don't shut up i will throw your cap out. 

So off we went pouring down raining and I am trying to just stay on the road in that awful weather and not use to this truck of his that he bought with the company or enterprise.  Tells me what to do and drive. 

Later down the road guess what his head starts bobbing and he falls asleep.  Amen, alleluia, and then he is cold all the time so I smother in the vehicle.  Ha.

I usually have to control the temperature often I put my side on AC and his on high heat. 

Well, we made it I dropped him off happily and went to my Dr. appointment. 

ALL I CAN SAY IS THANK GOD HE IS ALIVE.  MY MOM USE TO CALL AND COMPLAIN TO ME ABOUT DAD AFTER THE HEART HOSPITAL AND IA WOULD SAY THAT.  NOW I AM SAYING THAT TO MY SELF SHE IS NOT HERE TO TELL HER.  YES, I KKNOW I CAN STILL TELL HER BUT I FORGET MILLIE.

Anyway he fell asleep and when I finally turned around to look and see his mouth was open, his cap all crooked on his head and snoring. ha. Wish I would have had a camera to take it in picture.

Told Cindy the story and she laughed her fool head off.

We will survive.  He is not suppose to drive but eventually he will.  Scott and him went to the sale in Carencro one day.  To see the cows and horses.  So it is not all bad he really is going through an adjustment.  

Noel his tongue Dr. said all is good."

I asked if I could have her permission to post her message here.  Then came:

"Yes, you may have permisssion to put it in the blog/  Daddy just fell asleep at the computer he woke up at 4:30 went to town.  But after hearing the dog banging on the utility door.  He went let him out.  Then later after going back to bed he heard the dog banging  on the outside door.  so he let him in and put him back in the Utility.  Then I think he stayed up and then the dog started whinning  he wanted out and then he went to my door in the bedroom and started whinning.  He had fed him dry food but did not want to use the canopener to wake me up.  So I got up and pet him on the head he comes to me and looks at me like OMG  time you get up Daddy says he don't know what he wants.  So I feed him and let him out and everything is fine.  So later when Daddy went to town he started whinning again outside and I said NNNNO!

Never heard him again.  Every thing is cool now.

The dog did not wake Daddy up he just woke up and then the dog must have heard him.  When he put the heaters on.

So him and the dog don't get along but he did not get pissed off thank God. Or Falllllllll!"

"That is the topic of the day.  We I started cleaning his closet looking all over for a sweater that (name) had bought him could not find him then I saw his closet needs organizing.  We found all kinds of stuff and organized.  Then he said look I need to get at my desk , again the second time I try to clean and I am distracting him.  Ok I said go to your desk I will take care of this.  then later it is all over he comes to the computer and falls asleep.

Looking up stocks and is sleeping with his head down.  I told him to go lay down and then he did not and then the second time I said go to the sofa Roland.  He is now laying down."

If you know my dad, you also know that he is a whiz at some things, but mechanically inclined he is not.  And, I never knew that he would be interested in wrestling.

Scott and Dad headed out to Carencro for the livestock sale.  The two of them enjoy that sort of outing (me too!), and today's rainy weather made a great day for it.  I had to stay in due to my crazy back issue.  As they were driving off, Mom phoned me.  She shared a few of her and Dad's recent stories.  The first being that Dad was wrestling with Buddy.  Buddy is their golden retriever; BIG dog!  Buddy has a favorite spot to lay on when he is in the house.  That spot is right smack in the middle of their little home in the hallway which leads to the restroom.  This morning, Dad and Buddy wrestled.  Guess who won!

Mom sleeps later than Dad.  She woke to a strange commotion going on.  She learned that Dad was headed down the hall when he accidently stepped upon the dog.  Realizing what he'd done, he tried to avoide harming the poor thing, but toppled over and fell into the nearby closet.  Buddy won!  When the dust settled, Dad said that Buddy was looking at him as though he would have said, "What's wrong with you?" 

The repair was a plumbing issue.  Piping, water, wrenches, and retrieving parts from the local hardware store were all things that they assisted one another in doing on Tuesday.  I didn't get a lot of details on the adventure, but I can only imagine!  Mom said she slept REALLY well last night. 

Maybe Mom should have a blog!  I am certain that the details that she would share would tickle the funny bones of all of us.

All in all, Dad seems to be doing well.  Mom mentioned that he did feel too sporty today.  Hmm... Dad not feeling sporty, but headed to Carencro with my sixteen year old.  Lord, bring them home safe and sound.

And me...still seeing the chiropractor.  Everyone that I have spoken with says that it will simply take time for all to be back in place and the muscles to feel better.  During my visit on Monday, I mentioned to the chiropractor that the back was feeling much better and that now we just needed to get my bothered muscles to stop annoying me.  After mentioning that, he worked the area of bothered muscle.  I THOUGHT the muscle was bothering me.  After that appointment, the sensations that sent me to the chiropractor were back.  Not as bad, but the sensations that I felt were ditto of what was going on prior to my first visit with him.  After that first visit, the muscle aches improved dramatically.  Today, I went for another visit and mentioned the return sensations.  As I suspected, he said that sometimes working areas that are healing will aggrevate matters.  He said that it might be better to just let it rest for a while longer.  I left from that visit improved, but it seems like I still have a ways to go before reaching a point of being back to normal activities.

The ultrasound that Dr. Foreman recommended is scheduled for the morning of Thursday, Jan. 31st.  He recommended this because of the pains that I had been having in my side (those that disappeared after my first chiropractor visit).  Until yesterday, I was not very concerned about this.  With the return sensations to my right side, I figure its best to follow through with his recommendation.  With the improvements that I feel after today's visit with the chiropractor, I am almost sure that he will find nothing of concern in the ultrasound.  I figure its better to find out that nothing is wrong early on instead of putting it off only to find that there was something of concern all along. 

If sharing the above information about my pains and appointments has confused you, you are not alone.  I, too, have been confused and unable to figure it out.  My gut feeling continues to be that I pulled a muscle (in the groin or lower pelvic area; maybe both) and yanked my back out of whack.  The improvements with the chiropractor confirms that gut feeling, but I want to make sure we rule out other possible causes as well.

Keep those prayers going.  I am certain that they are what has brought me through thus far during the aggrevations of not being able to do all that I normally do. 

Our sufficiency is from God - 2 Corinthians 3:5

I saw Dr. Bolin, the surgeon.  His words were ditto to those of the radiologist.  With no changes, I return in six months for a repeat of tests and to see him.  If I notice any changes, then I must repeat these immediately.  He, as did the radiologist, assured me that this will probably never cause any concern.

 Praising God for the good report!

As homeschoolers, one of the first lessons that we learned, and are constantly reminded of, is the fact that we just never know where the next important lesson might come from.  Sometimes it is in books, the news, the internet, driving down the road, or visiting with family and friends.

As we visited with my parents on Wednesday evening, the topic of recession was mentioned several times because of the current news programs doing the same.  Scott chimed in with, "What is a depression, anyway?  Is that when everyone is depressed?"  We all answered in laughter with, "OH, yes!  People are depressed, alright!"  That laughter then turned into a great lesson in history and how the Great Depression effected those living through it.

Whether we be in a recession, or a depression, or just a short term journey of difficult moments, we can all count on Scott to bring us to laughter.  Thank you Scott, for the reminder to always find time to laugh no matter what the troubles may be.

The post just below this one was written quickly as I arrived home and hurriedly ate supper.  After that, we had to pick up Scott who stayed with his Sonnier grandparents and then on to visit with Mom and Dad (JuJu and RoRo).  Scott gave Dad that name when he was beginning to talk.  If I remember correctly, Frances follwed the RoRo with JuJu.  Today is Thursday.  Since Monday, I have been on super-charge so that I could get where I wanted to be, needed to be, and manage to be there with sanity.  Today, I had a quiet day and the some of events of the last few days have been replayed in my thoughts.  Those replays have caused me to sit and laugh out loud, so I thought that I might share them here so that you can laugh too!

Yesterday, I had a morning appointment with my chiropractor.  That appointment resulted in my being able to walk, ride, and move around without pains.  YIPPEEEE...continued progress causes me to shout praises to God.

Yesterday afternoon, Mike accompanied me to Lafayette for my mammogram.  He also accompanied me to the appointment with Dr. Foreman who detected the nodule which was the reason for the mammogram.  When Dr. Foreman mentioned nodule,  and I attempted to locate it with his guidance, I heard Mike say something about finding that long ago.  I looked at him as though he were from another planet and dismissed his comment.  The poor thing!  After that appointment, we hurried to meet with Mom and Dad at the cardiologist's office.  Upon meeting with them, they inquired about my appointment.  I mentioned the nodule.  They simultaniously said, "You called us years ago in tears with the same findings which was way back when Scott was a baby."  I was stunned to silence.  I could not remember that happening.  Later that night, I asked Mike about it.  He explained, in great detail, the events of that first finding; events that I still cannot recall; strange as that is.  I guess that when the doctor (the one that wanted to do a hysterectomy) said not to worry, I really withthrew it from my concern bank.

As we sat in the waiting room of the breast center, I got nervous.  What if all these years I've had something serious and was not concerned, had even forgotten about it.  I had never even felt the thing in all these years.  How could I just forget to monitor it???  Mike sat beside me. When we discussed this after my visit with Dr. Foreman, he showed very little concern.  Dr. Foreman had said it was probably nothing and Mike showed no worry, so why was I getting nervous.  I looked over at Mike to see that the "no worry" look had suddenly disappeared.  His eyes looked as though he had a million things to say, but his lips were not moving.  I had not sat for longer than five minutes when my name was called.  GEEZ...Dad would like the promptness of THIS kind of appointment!

I entered into the room, did the mammogram, and then I was directed into a small room where I had to wait for the radiologist.  The technician explained that he was with a patient and should not be long.  Wait some more.  Pray some more.  Think of Mike.  Wonder what he is thinking.  The technician returns to tell me that the radiologist will be just a little while longer and that an ultrasound will probably be done.  I mentioned that my husband was in the front lobby area.  She went to get him and said that he could be with me until I was done.  Although the initial wait was only a moment, this one was what seemed like eternity.  What if?  What if?  What if?.......Stop that!  Pray!

In order to do the ultrasound, I had to get atop an examining table.  These are big no-nos with my hip situation.  During the ultrasound, the position required me to tilt my hips.  Sure enough, I left there with returned pains.  UGH!  The ride home wasn't bad, but discouragement is hard to fight off when a pain that you thought was healed returns. 

Thinking that Mom and Dad were awaiting my call, I phoned them.  Mom answered.  I asked, "How's the patient?"  She replied, "WE slept, Cindy."  We are so tired!  I hurt all over!  She continued and then I gave the radiologist's report.  After ending the call, I realized that I didn't learn anything about how DAD was doing.  Mike and I decided we'd ride over and visit them after picking up Scott.

When we arrived, Mom is still cooking supper.  It is after 7pm.  She is usually eating at 5pm.  I asked, "What's the deal?"  They had gone to town and this and that and simply had a late start AND....then the Edith and Archie story came out.

While Mom was preparing supper, she closed the utensil drawer on her finger and her narration went something like this:

It hurt so bad I was seeing white.  Is that what's it's like when youre gonna pass out?  Don't know Mom, I've never passed out.  I was screeming and the dog even ran away from me and, and him, all he was saying was, "NOw, Judy!" It was hurting BAD, and then I had to go make a poo-poo.  Mike is quietly listening to the entire story and at that moment says, "Well, Judy, that's what it's like when you smash the (bleep) out of your finger."  Leave it to Mike to think quick enough to make us laugh so hard. 

Mom recently got a new dog, Buddy.  Buddy is a golden lab with long hair.  Mom is trying to keep him outside, but Buddy is spoiled rotten. He must have been cared for by someone who lived alone.  He quickly attached to Mom and seems to be concerned about her, and Dad, when we are there.  He really wants to be in the house with them.  He was disturbed outside, so Mom let him come into the doorway.  He made a bee-line for me, sniffed me, and jumped upon the sofa sitting his rear nearly upon my laps.  Mom said that she thought he was afraid that they'd leave him again.

We enjoyed the remainder of our evening with them and returned home with relaxed shoulders, sighs of relief, and praises to God for Dad's successful surgery and the good news that was shared with me about the mammogram.

Dad phoned me about 6am this morning.  We chit-chatted a bit and then he was off to "accomplish" something.  I asked what he'd be accomplishing today.  He replied, "I dont' know!  Something in the house, I guess."  He phoned Scott around lunch.  They had a very brief conversation.  I haven't heard from them since.  I'd better call over there.

Stay tuned for the "rest of the story".........

The abnormality in my breast was detected during the mammogram.  After viewing the results of that, the radiologist decided to do an ultrasound.  The ultrasound resulted in him telling me, "NOT cancerous!"  Perhaps a cyst or a small benign tumor(with a fancy scientific name), but NOT cancer.  I must follow up with another mammogram in six months, or immediately if I notice any unusual changes.

As planned, I will see Dr. Bolin on Monday so that he, too, can review the results of the tests that have been done.  The radiologist said that he felt certain that he would tell me the same.

Please join us in praising Our Lord for this good report.

Dad phoned.  They were just leaving the parking area of the hospital.  He sounds tired.  He said that he didn't think that two days of hospital stay would weaken him as much as it has.  He has a follow up appointment with the surgeon on Jan. 31.  Instructions that he shared with me were that he take it easy for a couple of days and no driving until after seeing the surgeon.

Now, I am off to prepare for and have my first, diagnostic mammogram.  Even though I am almost sure the nodule is nothing to be concerned about, I still ask for your prayers on this matter as well as prayers for continued improvement with the chiropractor's treatments.  I am encouraged with the results that I am having.  I do have quite a bit of stiffness and soreness after my appointments, but with each one there is a noticeable change in my being able to move more easily.

Have a great day, and keep those prayers going for us.

Dad phoned and I was able to receive the following information:

• He is trying to convince the nurse on duty to let him go outside; she is not allowing him to.  Hmm...why would he want to go outside in the nasty, cold, wet weather we are having today?
• He was excited to have coffee this morning; disappointed that it was decaff. 
• He has less pain and soreness than yesterday.
• He mentioned concern in being hoarse; after effects of the surgery, I'm sure.  I noticed that the hoarseness in improved from yesterday.
• He's been up since 4am and ready to go home NOW.
• He had a very restful night with sleep aid meds.

Yesterday, Mom asked the surgeon if he felt this surgery might help Dad to be more patient and less aggrevated.  His reply to that was, "There is NO surgery to fix THAT!"

It is now 10am.  I have not heard from either Mom or Dad since 6am.  Can a hospital bann a patient from returning to their facilities for care ????? 

We best be praying for Mom at this moment.  I am sure that she too is fit to be tied as she awaits orders for discharge with Dad.

As I was approaching Lafayette, very much ahead of time, Mom phoned to tell me that they were at that moment taking Dad and that I should call Andy.  Andy happened to be approaching the hospital at that time, which eased my concern about Mom being alone, but my heart sank as I thought that Dad would go into surgery without my having wished him well.  As I was hurrying to his room, Mom phoned again to tell me that they were in the area designated for holdng patients for surgery area.  I hurried down that way and was able to make it in plenty of time.  I walked up to his bedside around 9am.  At 11:30am, they wheeled him into surgery.  Hurry up to wait, and wait, and wait some more.

Dad is doing very well.  The surgery was successful and no complications took place.  When I left, he was drowsy from the pain meds and trying to rest.  He was having some discomfort in the neck where the surgery took place, but the nurse assigned to his recovery assured us that all he was experiencing was very normal. 

The next time that you see Dad, you will be able to view a living, walking, smoking miracle.  Up to the moment that they wheeled him to surgery, he said, "I want a cigarette!"  Once again, he has been advised by his doctors that lifestyle changes will permit him to enjoy life better and longer.  If all goes well through tonight, Dad will be discharged and returning home tomorrow.

To all of you who prayed with us, we thank you.

To God, we give praises for the miracles of today. 

Hey, Angie!  Of course you can laugh.  Most people do when I share stories of my parents.  I recently mentioned to someone that I should video them.  Remember Edith and Archie Bunker?  The potential to produce a comedy show is there, don't you think?

 All joking aside, Dad's health is in a critical state at this moment.  The angiogram revealed that the left, front artery is blocked 99.9%.  The left artery in the back of his neck is blocked 100%.  An artery with 100% blockage cannot be repaired.  The good news here is that the front artery CAN be and will be repaired today with only a 2% risk of complications during surgery.  If not detected, he was a stroke ready to happen at any moment.  Still good news, is that the artery that has 100% blockage, because of the circulatory system at the back of the neck and brain, is likely not to cause any problems for him.  The flow of blood makes a circular flow at the back of the brain and the right artery can still supply blood to the areas normally supplied by the left artery.  The right front artery and right artery at the back of the neck also have blockages, but not critical ones.  These will be treated with medication and monitored carefully.  This results in him only having to have one surgery instead of the two.

If you all thought the prior post was funny, I wish I had the time to write of our entire day at the hospital.  Here are just a few stories:

Mom, Dad, Scott and myself all arrived at the hospital at the same time.  Dad was concerned about me, and I about him.  Mom raced to the restroom while Scott began his plan of making Paw laugh.  Everyone has kidded Mom, all of her life, on her slow paced walk.  With my back out of whack, I am actually walking slower than her.  Still, I walked my careful pace, entered the restroom, and was able to tell her to wait for me so that she could handle the heavy door of the restroom entry.

The first matter of concern was insurance.  Because of Dad's recent retirement, he had to make special arrangements to continue his group coverage through COBRA.  Arriving at the hospital, I learned that the insurance that he had set up through COBRA was reporting that he was ineligble.  Now, imagine Dad's mood on that one!  I got on the phone with his previous employer and was able to connect them with the person who we were speaking with at the hospital.  Just prior to Dad's being taken for the angiogram, they were able to settle his worry on this matter and explained that it was due to waiting on paper work through the COBRA insurance that things were delayed. In the end, all will be well and he will be covered.

As always, prior to receiving hopital treatment, one must give a list of medications being taken by the patient.  Believe it or not, Mom and Dad even argued on this matter.  Four hours later, the matter was still a topic of arguement.  With as much patience that I could muster, I said to them that if THEY cannot get the medication straight, how are the nurses, or any of us, supposed to be able to provide appropriate dosages.  This was all due to Mom saying that Dad was supposed to be taking a certain recommended dosage of aspirin.  Of course, Dad did not follow that recommendation, but he did continue his daily dose of "baby" aspirin.  Later, Chantix was discussed.  Mom said that dad was still taking it and Dad argued that he was not.

 And then, here comes Scott.  After the nurse was all done with what she had to do to prepare Dad for the WAIT of his angiogram, Scott gets down on bended knee beside Dad's hospital bed.  He gently takes hold of Dad's hand and says, "PAW.... Paw, if you die, can I have your truck??"  Most people would think this to be absurd, but if you know the relationship that they share, this was right on target for Scott.  To that, Mom replies, "NO!"....not to Dad dying, but to Scott having the truck!  Way to go, Scott, for breaking the ice!

I just received a call from them.  (6am) All is well.  Mom had a tone that said, "Get me outta here."  Dad said that if I am not bringing cigarettes and caffeine, then don't bother.  Hmmm.....this after yesterday him saying that he was GLAD that I was there.  I said, "See you soon, Dad."  He said, "OK."

Prior to speaking with Dad, I asked Mom if Dad was still alive....YES!  I asked if he'd been able to make it with NO stroke....YES!  I then asked if she was popping the the corks of chapaigne bottles.  NOOOO.... I don't have any!

The surgeon told Mom and Dad that surgery would take place somewhere between the 10am and 12noon hours.  I heard the words "45 minutes" at some point, but I am not sure if that was in reference to the surgery or the angiogram that was done yesterday.

I have all along been praying for Mom and Dad as they travel this journey to dad's renewed health.  It seems that God had plans of doing just that from the get-go.  HE prevented Dad from having a stroke; the only explainable reason to his not having one.  Perhaps I should have, all along, focused my praying on the rest of us?  Even with that thought, I ask that you continue to pray for Dad, for Mom, for the team of medical professionals who will care for him, and for all of us who will be longing to hear the doctor say that all went well.