** ALSO posted at Eli's blog - www.eli-eli.oh.blogspot.com
Since I changed school districts, I've had the opportunity to dedicate books in memory of loved ones to the school library. Through the loss of some friends and relatives, there are now several books bearing their names in the regular circulation at school. The hope is that a book is chosen that bears some part of the person now gone.
This year, we've lost my Grandma, my Uncle Leo, my Dad, and also my Aunt Vivian. I have chosen a book for everyone but Aunt Vivian. I hope to do that in January so there will be a book bearing her name, too.
For my Grandma, I chose a book about a Grandmother and her granddaughter - and their quilt. It is called The Patchwork Quilt by Valerie Flournoy. Here's a brief summary: Tanya's grandmother had begun to make a patchwork quilt using scraps from old shirts, Halloween costumes, and any other materials that had meaning to them. Tanya was so interested in how her grandmother so carefully cut pieces of material and sewed them together so she spent much of her time watching and helping her grandmother produce this "masterpiece." On Christmas morning, Grandma becomes sick and is no longer able to work on finishing the quilt. With the help of her mother, Tanya takes it upon herself to help finish the quilt for her grandmother. Finally, when Grandma is able to begin working on the quilt again, she finishes it by stitching on the last square, which reads, "For Tanya From your Mama and Grandma."
For my Uncle Leo, I chose a book about a joking rabbit called
bad hare day by Miriam Moss. Uncle Leo always had a great story or anecdote to share and this story reminds me of something he would tell.
For my Dad, I chose a book called If You Listen by Charlotte Zolotow. It is a story for children who have suffered the loss of a parent or someone they love through distance, divorce or death. The little girl's father had been gone for a long time. She asks her mother how you know if someone far away is loving you. "You have to listen inside yourself," her mother said, "just the way you strain to hear the dog barking in the hills, or the rustle of birds in the leaves of the trees. If you listen hard you'll feel someone far away sending love to you."
Recently, I've also enjoyed a book called Tear Soup by Pat Sweibert and Chuck DeKlyen. The story is about "Grandy," but she could just as easily be me or you, and Grandy has suffered a loss, so Grandy begins to make tear soup. Tear soup cannot be made just out of a can, but is an individual process, as unique as each chef; and only through the soup making can we fully heal and move on. Since receiving this book myself, I've bought several copies to share. It is a beautiful story and has beautiful illustrations.
I'm hoping these tributes will be meaningful as time passes. Blessings to you!
Friday, December 25, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Holes in the Floor of Heaven
I've had an obsession with Steve Wariner since I was in college. He sings a song about a "Plano Texas Girl" and it got to be a joke that he was singing about me...NOT!
Anyway, this song of his has always spoken to me. Now, after losing Daddy and Gram, it plays in my head on rainy days sometimes.
Anyway, this song of his has always spoken to me. Now, after losing Daddy and Gram, it plays in my head on rainy days sometimes.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Thanksgiving
In anticipating this holiday, and a whole week off work, I began to worry. Not in the sense that something would go wrong but in the sense of dread. Something horrible is coming...
We made 'alternate plans' for the holiday so it wouldn't be so obvious that we're missing Daddy and Grandma. The new plans included my Husband taking over ALL the cooking and moving the lunch celebration to our house.
Mom and I gave Husband a hard time for changing all the recipes, too. He didn't want to make "all the same stuff" that we always make. So, he chose new recipes from the Food Netork after lots of reading and researching online. He made:
Good Eats Roast Turkey
Sage, Sausage and Apple Dressing
Mashed Potatoes (with heavy cream!!! what?!?!?!)
Gina's Turnip Greens (ewwww!!!)
Rich Chocolate Pecan Pie
Turns out, all the items were awesome. Well, not the turnip greens. They smelled good but didn't taste as well as they smelled. And, there was an issue with the pecan pie. Husband didn't like the one that Eli and I made ("Looks burned," he said.) so he made another one - that "Looks burned," I said. Tasted the same, regardless.
Of course, I made pumpkin pies from real pumpkins and not puree'. Yummy! Eli even helped with some of the prep!! Good boy!
My brother showed up just before lunch and got to play with Eli a bit. Kit chose to stay with her sister at the lake but did send a neat bread cornucopia and jalepeno cornbread muffins.
All in all, it was a nice day. We missed Daddy and Grandma (and Kit, too) but this is our 'new normal.' As time passes, we are continuing to be more and more like Humpty Dumpty and putting ourselves back together again in a different, less welcome, way.
Uncle Terry was able to read books to Eli at night-time, to experience the towel cape after bath and get lots of love from (especially) the nephew! It was great to see!
Friday afternoon, on Terry's way back to the lake, we went to visit Daddy's grave. The cemetary is beautiful but it's just so far from us. We just can't get there on a regular basis. I find myself talking to Daddy when I'm sewing, giving Eli a bath or doing laundry. It's easier to talk to him wherever I am rather than going to the cemetary - nevermind that he isn't there. He's got a front row seat of all that's going on. I miss being able to call him with questions about anything and everything, telling him the latest funny thing that Eli has done, etc.
The dreaded event in my head didn't occur. It was just another event that the anticipation of being 'without' wasn't as bad as I thought it would be...does that make sense? Not that I miss Daddy or Grandma less, just that it was different than I thought it would be?
Happy Thanksgiving, ya'll!
Another birthday
My husband's birthday was on November 15th. We celebrated with lunch at Olive Garden. Mom, Eli, Husband and I were there. It was a small but fun celebration. Eli kept us all 'on our toes!' There was an obvious absence of Daddy and Gram this year, though.
Our neighbor made a 'from scratch' carrot cake with homemade cream cheese icing for Husband. It was so yummy and very much appreciated.
As we were enjoying it, I could imagine Daddy saying, "Where'd they get the scratch?" HAHA
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Today was the day
we went back to the cemetary. We had decided around the time of his burial that we would wait to come back after his stone had been placed.
Then life got in the way.
My mom went to Missouri to take care of my Grandma's house and her things and ended up extending that trip several times (weeks). And, we thought the stone wasn't going to be placed until after the 20th of October so there wasn't any hurry in going back down there. (It takes about 45 minutes one way to get to the National Cemetary.)
I was going to go with the boys on the 24th but then plans changed again. So, we didn't make it until today and Mom had learned earlier in the week that Daddy's stone had been placed on October 1st. How does that work, anyway?
This morning, we headed out with Eli to see Daddy's stone. On the way, I had to remind Eli that we weren't going to see Grandad but his stone - that Grandad is in heaven. But Eli thinks Heaven is a place to visit like Missouri or Oregon. Anyway, he was the brightest spot of today. Thank God for him!
When we found Daddy's stone, Eli decided to read the numbers on the back and then we decided to have him stand there a minute. He actually didn't stay there very long but we did manage to get a pic of him with Daddy's stone. You will maybe notice that we didn't do the traditional 'Beloved Husband, Dad, Grandad' saying on the stone but a more personal one. Daddy used to say, "Take it easy" on a fairly regular basis and in all sorts of occasions so we decided to use that. And, after seeing other stones there today in Daddy's section that said the traditional things, I'm even more glad of the choice we made.
Here are a couple more pictures of the area and another one of Daddy's stone with the others around it.
This week, being Veteran's Day on Wednesday, I thought the cemetary would be busier than usual. Maybe people are waiting until Wednesday to visit - and the cemetary will be having some sort of ceremony or something by the evidence of chairs being set up...but, we'll go back in a few weeks.
So, another first can be checked off the list for today.
a poem to leave you with today:
Life Lessons by Joanna Fuchs
You may have thought I didn't see,
Or that I hadn't heard,
Life lessons that you taught to me,
But I got every word.
Perhaps you thought I missed it all,
And that we'd grow apart,
But Dad, I picked up everything,
It's written on my heart.
Without you, Dad, I wouldn't be
The woman I am today;
You built a strong foundation
No one can take away.
I've grown up with your values,
And I'm very glad I did;
So here's to you, dear father,
From your forever grateful kid.
Miss you, Daddy! Blessings!
Then life got in the way.
My mom went to Missouri to take care of my Grandma's house and her things and ended up extending that trip several times (weeks). And, we thought the stone wasn't going to be placed until after the 20th of October so there wasn't any hurry in going back down there. (It takes about 45 minutes one way to get to the National Cemetary.)
I was going to go with the boys on the 24th but then plans changed again. So, we didn't make it until today and Mom had learned earlier in the week that Daddy's stone had been placed on October 1st. How does that work, anyway?
This morning, we headed out with Eli to see Daddy's stone. On the way, I had to remind Eli that we weren't going to see Grandad but his stone - that Grandad is in heaven. But Eli thinks Heaven is a place to visit like Missouri or Oregon. Anyway, he was the brightest spot of today. Thank God for him!
When we found Daddy's stone, Eli decided to read the numbers on the back and then we decided to have him stand there a minute. He actually didn't stay there very long but we did manage to get a pic of him with Daddy's stone. You will maybe notice that we didn't do the traditional 'Beloved Husband, Dad, Grandad' saying on the stone but a more personal one. Daddy used to say, "Take it easy" on a fairly regular basis and in all sorts of occasions so we decided to use that. And, after seeing other stones there today in Daddy's section that said the traditional things, I'm even more glad of the choice we made.
Here are a couple more pictures of the area and another one of Daddy's stone with the others around it.
This week, being Veteran's Day on Wednesday, I thought the cemetary would be busier than usual. Maybe people are waiting until Wednesday to visit - and the cemetary will be having some sort of ceremony or something by the evidence of chairs being set up...but, we'll go back in a few weeks.
So, another first can be checked off the list for today.
a poem to leave you with today:
Life Lessons by Joanna Fuchs
You may have thought I didn't see,
Or that I hadn't heard,
Life lessons that you taught to me,
But I got every word.
Perhaps you thought I missed it all,
And that we'd grow apart,
But Dad, I picked up everything,
It's written on my heart.
Without you, Dad, I wouldn't be
The woman I am today;
You built a strong foundation
No one can take away.
I've grown up with your values,
And I'm very glad I did;
So here's to you, dear father,
From your forever grateful kid.
Miss you, Daddy! Blessings!
My brother's birthday
Although we didn't get to see him, my brother's birthday was last week. I know it was difficult since Daddy and Terry normally celebrated their birthdays together - sometimes not on either actual day but on some weekend near them and then either went to a University of Texas game or watched one on tv. So, dear brother, here's a video picked out by your adorable nephew!
Love you, see you soon, T!
Love you, see you soon, T!
Halloween
I posted a couple of pics on Eli's blog but thought I'd share a couple here in case you don't check the other blog...So, Eli was a dino for Halloween. He didn't wear his costume for very long at home but did wear it at school where the students went trick-or-treat-ing around the high school where there preschool is located.
Last Halloween, we made a trip to see my Gram at her assisted living place and Eli was dressed as Elmo. One of the ladies thought he was some sort of bug! Daddy just thought Eli was cute, of course!
This year, we didn't have to make any of those visits. We made new memories, though, and Daddy and Gram have front row seats! I know they think he's getting so big and is just so cute - costume or not!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Another first - Dad's birthday 10/26
Monday will be the first birthday (of his) we celebrate without Daddy here.
I said celebrate but we aren't doing anything we normally would do. There won't be a family dinner or cake to celebrate Dad's 75th birthday. He used to say he was 'just a young guy' which we thought was hilarious. We also knew that time was catching up with him as my brother and I neared 40...yes, Terry is already in his 40's and I'm not far behind.
A poem I posted after Jen's husband, David, passed away a year ago seems appropriate for today:
God saw you getting tired
And a cure was not to be
So He put His arms around you
And whispered, "Come to me."
With tearful eyes we watched you
And saw you fade away,
Although we love you dearly,
We could not make you stay.
A golden heart stopped beating
Your tender hands at rest.
God took you home to prove to us
He only takes the best.
Love you, Daddy!
I said celebrate but we aren't doing anything we normally would do. There won't be a family dinner or cake to celebrate Dad's 75th birthday. He used to say he was 'just a young guy' which we thought was hilarious. We also knew that time was catching up with him as my brother and I neared 40...yes, Terry is already in his 40's and I'm not far behind.
A poem I posted after Jen's husband, David, passed away a year ago seems appropriate for today:
God saw you getting tired
And a cure was not to be
So He put His arms around you
And whispered, "Come to me."
With tearful eyes we watched you
And saw you fade away,
Although we love you dearly,
We could not make you stay.
A golden heart stopped beating
Your tender hands at rest.
God took you home to prove to us
He only takes the best.
Love you, Daddy!
Saturday, October 3, 2009
National CB Day!
Tomorrow, being 10/4, is also known in our family as National CB Day. National Citizens Band Day. Get it? October 4th? As in, "10-4, Good Buddy?"
When I was younger and Daddy sold lots of CB's at his store, my brother would install them in customers' cars for them. I helped with some of the installation but it was really Terry who did the work.
We had a CB in our car when we went on road trips to North Dakota and Missouri and other places. I had my own 'handle' and so did the rest of the family. Daddy was 'Smoke Signal.'
After Dad left Radio Shack, he started calling Terry and I and wishing us a "Happy CB Day" and it got to be a big quest for which of us would call the other first. Mostly it was between Daddy and I but it was funny, nevertheless.
The first year I was teaching, I didn't have a phone in my classroom and I didn't have a cell phone, either. So Dad called the school office and had the secretary bring me a cryptic message that said something like, "Your dad says to remember what today is." The secretary thought I might have forgotten my mom's birthday or something! He just had to be first and thought calling me at school would do it. Hearing his message just sent me into gales of laughter! I will admit that other people didn't find it nearly as funny.
Last year, I was in Kentucky with Jen and the boys on National CB Day. I had to call early in the morning to call Daddy before he called me. (The time difference really helped me out on that one, though!) He knew why I was calling and, through the wonders of Caller ID, he knew it was me before he picked up the phone. We both said, "Happy CB Day!" at the same time! I loved trying to beat him to the punch!
So, Dad, Happy CB Day! And the same to the rest of you non-CB Day celebrators!
When I was younger and Daddy sold lots of CB's at his store, my brother would install them in customers' cars for them. I helped with some of the installation but it was really Terry who did the work.
We had a CB in our car when we went on road trips to North Dakota and Missouri and other places. I had my own 'handle' and so did the rest of the family. Daddy was 'Smoke Signal.'
After Dad left Radio Shack, he started calling Terry and I and wishing us a "Happy CB Day" and it got to be a big quest for which of us would call the other first. Mostly it was between Daddy and I but it was funny, nevertheless.
The first year I was teaching, I didn't have a phone in my classroom and I didn't have a cell phone, either. So Dad called the school office and had the secretary bring me a cryptic message that said something like, "Your dad says to remember what today is." The secretary thought I might have forgotten my mom's birthday or something! He just had to be first and thought calling me at school would do it. Hearing his message just sent me into gales of laughter! I will admit that other people didn't find it nearly as funny.
Last year, I was in Kentucky with Jen and the boys on National CB Day. I had to call early in the morning to call Daddy before he called me. (The time difference really helped me out on that one, though!) He knew why I was calling and, through the wonders of Caller ID, he knew it was me before he picked up the phone. We both said, "Happy CB Day!" at the same time! I loved trying to beat him to the punch!
So, Dad, Happy CB Day! And the same to the rest of you non-CB Day celebrators!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
One of Daddy's favorite songs
Here's a song that Daddy loved to sing. Too bad we didn't get to play it at the visitation or the funeral. Enjoy!
(I'm hoping the link will work but if it doesn't, it's the song "Texas When I Die" as sung by Tanya Tucker.
Blessings!
(I'm hoping the link will work but if it doesn't, it's the song "Texas When I Die" as sung by Tanya Tucker.
Blessings!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Little Man, Eli
One of the hardest parts of losing Daddy has been talking to Eli about where Grandad went. We just weren't ready to discuss Heaven with a 2 year old. How much does he understand, anyway?
So the first conversation went like this:
Eli: Go to see Grandad?
me: Not today, Eli.
Eli: hosipital
me: No, he's not at the hospital. He went to Heaven.
Eli: Evan? (One of his friends' names is Evan. I can completely understand that these words sound the same - Evan and Heaven.)
me: Not "Evan" - Grandad went to Heaven. (with an emphasis on the beginning of the word - 'H')
Eli: Oh, Heaven. Go see Grandma?
me: Yes, going to see Grandma.
And almost every day since, we've gone to see Grandma and we've had a similar conversation about Heaven and Grandad. It just breaks my heart. The little man, Eli, misses his Grandad so much! (And, needless to say, so do the rest of us!)
So this week, we haven't seen Mom for a couple of days and we had this conversation or a similar version each day when I've picked him up from school:
Eli: Go to see Grandma?
me: No, not today.
Eli: Where did Grandma go?
me: She's busy today. We'll see her soon.
Eli: To Heaven?
me: No, not to Heaven.
Eli: hosipital?
me: No, not at the hospital. We'll see her soon.
Eli: Listen to peanut butter, please. (Which means he wants to listen to the Peanut Butter and Jelly song on his CD in my car. Thank goodness for CD changers! It makes it so much easier for me to switch between Eli's music and my music in the car. Although sometimes, our music is the same!) And he sings along with the music which is one of the best things ever!
One of his teachers at preschool told me this week that at dismissal (at the high school where his preschool is located) they have been playing a different song. On the first day it was played, Eli got up from his spot at the table and started dancing along to the music. After it was over, he said, "That's a good song." One of the teachers asked him if he's heard it before to which he replied, "Mommy has it car."
Blessings!
So the first conversation went like this:
Eli: Go to see Grandad?
me: Not today, Eli.
Eli: hosipital
me: No, he's not at the hospital. He went to Heaven.
Eli: Evan? (One of his friends' names is Evan. I can completely understand that these words sound the same - Evan and Heaven.)
me: Not "Evan" - Grandad went to Heaven. (with an emphasis on the beginning of the word - 'H')
Eli: Oh, Heaven. Go see Grandma?
me: Yes, going to see Grandma.
And almost every day since, we've gone to see Grandma and we've had a similar conversation about Heaven and Grandad. It just breaks my heart. The little man, Eli, misses his Grandad so much! (And, needless to say, so do the rest of us!)
So this week, we haven't seen Mom for a couple of days and we had this conversation or a similar version each day when I've picked him up from school:
Eli: Go to see Grandma?
me: No, not today.
Eli: Where did Grandma go?
me: She's busy today. We'll see her soon.
Eli: To Heaven?
me: No, not to Heaven.
Eli: hosipital?
me: No, not at the hospital. We'll see her soon.
Eli: Listen to peanut butter, please. (Which means he wants to listen to the Peanut Butter and Jelly song on his CD in my car. Thank goodness for CD changers! It makes it so much easier for me to switch between Eli's music and my music in the car. Although sometimes, our music is the same!) And he sings along with the music which is one of the best things ever!
One of his teachers at preschool told me this week that at dismissal (at the high school where his preschool is located) they have been playing a different song. On the first day it was played, Eli got up from his spot at the table and started dancing along to the music. After it was over, he said, "That's a good song." One of the teachers asked him if he's heard it before to which he replied, "Mommy has it car."
Blessings!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
A first birthday without Daddy
After my grandmother passed away in May, we talked about how difficult this year's "firsts" would be without her. And before we could get going with any of thoses, Daddy got sick and now we've lost him, too. So the "firsts" without Gram will be the "firsts" without Daddy this year as well.
My friend, Jen, says that the anticipation of some of these "firsts" are worse than the actual days since you worry, worry, worry and then the day is nothing but another day without someone you love.
So, that being said, this past Saturday was Mom's birthday. It was raining for most of the day and we worked on some more tasks related to Daddy's passing. That evening, we went to see the McKinney Community Band play downtown. My brother and I had never seen/heard them but my Mom (and Dad) had.
My mom, my brother and I had all been in band in high school so we have a different appreciation for the hard work these musicians put into their concerts. It didn't stop us, though, from doing a little 'audience critique' from the balcony. Of course, it's easy for us to be critical when we haven't played our instruments in several years. Really, they did a fabulous job.
Sunday, we took Mom to lunch for her birthday at Red Lobster. We all ate too much, of course. She had a serenade from the waitstaff and us, too. Also, we had a table visit by two lobsters. Eli gave them coasters to grab but he didn't want to touch them. It was very cute, I think. I've added a couple of the lobster pics for your review...
I also snapped this cute pic of Mom and Eli. He had been singing "Happy Birthday" in my car on the way to her house on Saturday but then wouldn't sing to her when he saw her. But, on Sunday at lunch with all the other different people singing to her, he really piped up. What a fun guy he is!
So, all in all, Mom's first birthday without her mom and her husband was okay. We did the best we could by being with her all day and making sure she felt special - as everyone should on their birthday. She was showered with cards from friends and several people called to wish her a happy day. What a blessing all of you are for thinking of her and making sure she felt loved.
As for the rest of us, we still feel like Humpty Dumpty. We're trying to put the pieces back together again.
My friend, Jen, says that the anticipation of some of these "firsts" are worse than the actual days since you worry, worry, worry and then the day is nothing but another day without someone you love.
So, that being said, this past Saturday was Mom's birthday. It was raining for most of the day and we worked on some more tasks related to Daddy's passing. That evening, we went to see the McKinney Community Band play downtown. My brother and I had never seen/heard them but my Mom (and Dad) had.
My mom, my brother and I had all been in band in high school so we have a different appreciation for the hard work these musicians put into their concerts. It didn't stop us, though, from doing a little 'audience critique' from the balcony. Of course, it's easy for us to be critical when we haven't played our instruments in several years. Really, they did a fabulous job.
Sunday, we took Mom to lunch for her birthday at Red Lobster. We all ate too much, of course. She had a serenade from the waitstaff and us, too. Also, we had a table visit by two lobsters. Eli gave them coasters to grab but he didn't want to touch them. It was very cute, I think. I've added a couple of the lobster pics for your review...
I also snapped this cute pic of Mom and Eli. He had been singing "Happy Birthday" in my car on the way to her house on Saturday but then wouldn't sing to her when he saw her. But, on Sunday at lunch with all the other different people singing to her, he really piped up. What a fun guy he is!
So, all in all, Mom's first birthday without her mom and her husband was okay. We did the best we could by being with her all day and making sure she felt special - as everyone should on their birthday. She was showered with cards from friends and several people called to wish her a happy day. What a blessing all of you are for thinking of her and making sure she felt loved.
As for the rest of us, we still feel like Humpty Dumpty. We're trying to put the pieces back together again.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Yesterday was the final portion of 'official' events after the passing of Dad. We were accompanied by a smaller, more intimate crowd of family and friends than last week. It was a nice ending, I think. I've included pictures that George Bradford took for us. He even delivered a CD of the pictures last night before the rain started! Thank you for being our photographer!
This isn't where Dad's grave is but it is representative of the section where he is buried. There is a considerable amount of construction going on and we had to enter through the maintenance entrance and then drive around.
This man played "Taps" from behind the crowd.
Dad had full military honors - so a flag covered his casket which was folded with precision and presented to Mom. These guys must do this all the time but they do it with great care and concern.
We continue to be supported by many family and friends. Thank you for continuing to think of us as we begin this transition.
Blessings!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Three Things
1. Information about burial for Daddy taken directly from Mom's email: This Friday, 9/11/09 at 2:30 PM will be a 20 minute service with prayers and an Honor Guard.
This will NOT be at the actual burial plot as he will be interred the next day along with those who also had a graveside service that day.
It will take place at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas 75211, pavillion A, B or C (will know later this week which one as there is construction). It is about an hour from McKinney to south Dallas. We aren't expecting a big crowd due to distance and it's on a workday but just wanted to let everyone know the plans.
2. As if this week weren't hard enough, my mom's birthday is on Saturday. I won't tell you how old she is but she isn't as old as Daddy. We're hoping that she'll have a nice day with us all being in town for the weekend and we can continue to lean on each other.
3. Thank you for continuing to support us with calls, cards, emails, food, hugs and offers to keep busy. We appreciate all of you!
This song has been running through my mind for the past week and it's one of the most comforting songs I know:
Yahweh, I know you are near,
standing always at my side.
You guard me from the foe,
and you lead me in ways everlasting.
Where can I run from Your love?
If I climb to the heavens You are there;
If I fly to the sunrise or sail beyond the sea,
still I'd find You there.
You know my heart and its ways,
you who formed me before I was born
in the secret of darkness before I saw the sun
in my mother's womb.
Marvelous to me are Your works;
how profound are Your thoughts, my Lord.
Even if I could count them, they number as the stars,
You would still be there.
Author - Dan Schutte
Blessings!
This will NOT be at the actual burial plot as he will be interred the next day along with those who also had a graveside service that day.
It will take place at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas 75211, pavillion A, B or C (will know later this week which one as there is construction). It is about an hour from McKinney to south Dallas. We aren't expecting a big crowd due to distance and it's on a workday but just wanted to let everyone know the plans.
2. As if this week weren't hard enough, my mom's birthday is on Saturday. I won't tell you how old she is but she isn't as old as Daddy. We're hoping that she'll have a nice day with us all being in town for the weekend and we can continue to lean on each other.
3. Thank you for continuing to support us with calls, cards, emails, food, hugs and offers to keep busy. We appreciate all of you!
This song has been running through my mind for the past week and it's one of the most comforting songs I know:
Yahweh, I know you are near,
standing always at my side.
You guard me from the foe,
and you lead me in ways everlasting.
Where can I run from Your love?
If I climb to the heavens You are there;
If I fly to the sunrise or sail beyond the sea,
still I'd find You there.
You know my heart and its ways,
you who formed me before I was born
in the secret of darkness before I saw the sun
in my mother's womb.
Marvelous to me are Your works;
how profound are Your thoughts, my Lord.
Even if I could count them, they number as the stars,
You would still be there.
Author - Dan Schutte
Blessings!
Friday, September 4, 2009
One Week
Well, here we are one week later. All the out of town relatives have gone home. My brother and Kit went home on Wednesday. We're supposedly back to our regular lives. Except we're still missing someone. I know it will feel like that forever. I miss him so much!
I think the funeral was a fitting tribute to the man we loved. My brother and my Uncle Joe did the readings and did a fabulous job! Our friend, Becky, sang the mass parts and the music for us. She has the voice of an angel and the sun was shining on her through the mass which made us feel like Daddy was participating in his own way. The surprise of the day (for some) was that Husband spoke about his relationship with Daddy. How funny it was to hear people's reactions afterwards! I am proud that Husband was willing to speak about Daddy. I think he did a terrific job. And, no, I can't share his comments here because he did it truly in his own style - no notes, no nothing, straight from the cuff. Not sure how he does that...
We're planning the burial for next Friday, the 11th. Next week will be another difficult one.
If you'd like to share any stories of Daddy with us, please send an email to me at worthycubed@yahoo.com or you can post a comment here. That will help us so much to hear those stories.
Blessings!
I think the funeral was a fitting tribute to the man we loved. My brother and my Uncle Joe did the readings and did a fabulous job! Our friend, Becky, sang the mass parts and the music for us. She has the voice of an angel and the sun was shining on her through the mass which made us feel like Daddy was participating in his own way. The surprise of the day (for some) was that Husband spoke about his relationship with Daddy. How funny it was to hear people's reactions afterwards! I am proud that Husband was willing to speak about Daddy. I think he did a terrific job. And, no, I can't share his comments here because he did it truly in his own style - no notes, no nothing, straight from the cuff. Not sure how he does that...
We're planning the burial for next Friday, the 11th. Next week will be another difficult one.
If you'd like to share any stories of Daddy with us, please send an email to me at worthycubed@yahoo.com or you can post a comment here. That will help us so much to hear those stories.
Blessings!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
A Tribute
I wrote something to be read last night at the Vigil/Visitation. I thought some of you who couldn't be here might like to read it.
There is no way to summarize my Dad in a few sentences. But if you’ve been reading my blog, you might know a little more about Daddy than you did before this summer. He was an exceptional man.
With my father, I wanted for nothing. Dad was always there for me in both body and spirit, showing me by his living example what it was like to be a father and a husband, that it was possible for a man to show tenderness, to be unafraid of open affection with his children, and to be a loving husband. He wasn’t the kind of guy who would hold your hand and get involved in big public displays of affection but he would give you a quick hug or squeeze your shoulder. With Eli, though, there were no boundaries. He would openly nuzzle his neck, whisper in his ear, read books with him under the table, hold his hand and even sing to him. They were great buddies, my Dad and Eli.
It is impossible to speak of my father without also speaking of my mother, because they were one. Together, they showed me what true love was like, taught me what a marriage should be. What an awesome example they’ve shown.
As a child, he'd laugh at my temper-tantrums, he'd put a tissue in the back of his pants and hop around the house like the Easter bunny, and he would sing to me in the mornings if I didn’t get out of bed fast enough. When we were little, he built us the coolest play house. It was really tall because he didn’t want to cut the 12 foot timbers! I also remember that he smashed his thumb and left a trail of blood into the house from the driveway that day. He would also take us to school when there was a little bit of rain and say that we might ‘melt’ otherwise!
When we were in college, he drove to Austin/San Marcos just to take us to lunch. I know it made for a really long day for him but I loved having the extra time with him and my brother. We drove to East Texas a couple of years in a row to cut down our own Christmas tree and it was just the two of us. After being at school for a few months, it was great to catch up with Daddy and spend that time together. He was also available for a weather forecast whenever I needed one. I loved being able to call him during the day and ask him for the latest weather update. In college, I took to calling him by the name of a tv forecaster since he was so great at that job.
As an adult, I will remember how he had a 17 second commute from one end of the house to the other. He was instrumental in my decision to change careers and begin teaching. Dad would always meet the repairmen at my house – as long as I left a check on the counter to pay for the repairs. My dad had a great sense of humor. He was always ready with a new anecdote or joke to share. He was a voracious reader. If I ever had a question about something, he always had answers because he'd read an article or a book recently about it.
I’ll always remember how enamored he was with his first grandchild and his constant use of the word "dynamo" when describing Eli. Daddy couldn’t stand to hear Eli cry so we would often hear that Eli napped in Daddy’s arms rather than his crib at my parents’ house.
Just last week, he pointedly told us “I love you.” It turns out that those were the last words he spoke to us. Maybe he knew the end was near and maybe he just wanted to remind us how much he loved us. Either way, I’m glad he made the effort to remind us how much he cared for us that one last time.
Dad, I love you. Always have. Always will.
Thank you to Mrs. Weynand for reading that for me. I know I couldn't have read it myself (too much crying) and you did a perfect job. Did anyone tell you that you have great reading fluency?
Thanks to everyone else who has sent food, flowers, cards; everyone who has said a prayer for Daddy and for us; everyone who came last night and will come today; thanks for your unending love and hugs; We appreciate you all.
And, to those of you who keep asking what you can do for us: please keep asking us and checking on us. We aren't sure what we'll need in the coming months as we look for our 'new normal.'
I will lead the blind by ways they have not known,
along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn the darkness into light before them
and make the rough places smooth.
These are the things I will do;
I will not forsake them.
-Isaiah 42:16
There is no way to summarize my Dad in a few sentences. But if you’ve been reading my blog, you might know a little more about Daddy than you did before this summer. He was an exceptional man.
With my father, I wanted for nothing. Dad was always there for me in both body and spirit, showing me by his living example what it was like to be a father and a husband, that it was possible for a man to show tenderness, to be unafraid of open affection with his children, and to be a loving husband. He wasn’t the kind of guy who would hold your hand and get involved in big public displays of affection but he would give you a quick hug or squeeze your shoulder. With Eli, though, there were no boundaries. He would openly nuzzle his neck, whisper in his ear, read books with him under the table, hold his hand and even sing to him. They were great buddies, my Dad and Eli.
It is impossible to speak of my father without also speaking of my mother, because they were one. Together, they showed me what true love was like, taught me what a marriage should be. What an awesome example they’ve shown.
As a child, he'd laugh at my temper-tantrums, he'd put a tissue in the back of his pants and hop around the house like the Easter bunny, and he would sing to me in the mornings if I didn’t get out of bed fast enough. When we were little, he built us the coolest play house. It was really tall because he didn’t want to cut the 12 foot timbers! I also remember that he smashed his thumb and left a trail of blood into the house from the driveway that day. He would also take us to school when there was a little bit of rain and say that we might ‘melt’ otherwise!
When we were in college, he drove to Austin/San Marcos just to take us to lunch. I know it made for a really long day for him but I loved having the extra time with him and my brother. We drove to East Texas a couple of years in a row to cut down our own Christmas tree and it was just the two of us. After being at school for a few months, it was great to catch up with Daddy and spend that time together. He was also available for a weather forecast whenever I needed one. I loved being able to call him during the day and ask him for the latest weather update. In college, I took to calling him by the name of a tv forecaster since he was so great at that job.
As an adult, I will remember how he had a 17 second commute from one end of the house to the other. He was instrumental in my decision to change careers and begin teaching. Dad would always meet the repairmen at my house – as long as I left a check on the counter to pay for the repairs. My dad had a great sense of humor. He was always ready with a new anecdote or joke to share. He was a voracious reader. If I ever had a question about something, he always had answers because he'd read an article or a book recently about it.
I’ll always remember how enamored he was with his first grandchild and his constant use of the word "dynamo" when describing Eli. Daddy couldn’t stand to hear Eli cry so we would often hear that Eli napped in Daddy’s arms rather than his crib at my parents’ house.
Just last week, he pointedly told us “I love you.” It turns out that those were the last words he spoke to us. Maybe he knew the end was near and maybe he just wanted to remind us how much he loved us. Either way, I’m glad he made the effort to remind us how much he cared for us that one last time.
Dad, I love you. Always have. Always will.
Thank you to Mrs. Weynand for reading that for me. I know I couldn't have read it myself (too much crying) and you did a perfect job. Did anyone tell you that you have great reading fluency?
Thanks to everyone else who has sent food, flowers, cards; everyone who has said a prayer for Daddy and for us; everyone who came last night and will come today; thanks for your unending love and hugs; We appreciate you all.
And, to those of you who keep asking what you can do for us: please keep asking us and checking on us. We aren't sure what we'll need in the coming months as we look for our 'new normal.'
I will lead the blind by ways they have not known,
along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn the darkness into light before them
and make the rough places smooth.
These are the things I will do;
I will not forsake them.
-Isaiah 42:16
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Obituary
Among the details that needed to be taken care of was writing an obituary. It's so hard to summarize a person's life in just a few sentences.
Mr. Anthony (Tony) Nicodemus Geiger, age 74, of McKinney, Texas passed away August
28, 2009, in Frisco, Texas. He was born on October 26, 1934, in Gladstone, North Dakota to Peter and Ottilia (Gieser) Geiger. He graduated from Dickinson (ND) High School in 1953. Tony proudly served his country in the U.S. Army. On July 6, 1963, he married Barbara Ann Taylor in Phoenix, Arizona. In 1965, he completed his B.S. degree from Arizona State University. He worked in sales and management and was a successful entrepreneur. Tony was an avid reader and enjoyed studying the weather. He will be remembered for his quick wit, his love for cars, politics and football and as a loving husband and father. His love for his family was obvious to all who met him. Tony was a member of St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Community in McKinney.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 46 years, Barbara Ann of McKinney; son, Terence Anthony Geiger and wife Kit of Houston, Texas; daughter, Tena Ann Geiger Worthy and husband Terry of Prosper, Texas; grandson "little man" Eli Taylor Worthy; sisters, Monica Dukart and Florence Pasicznyk and husband Joe all of Dickinson, North Dakota; brothers, Joseph Geiger and wife Kay Marie of Richmond, Virginia, Henry Geiger and wife Vivian of Medford, Oregon and Leonard Geiger of Tucker, Georgia; and numerous nieces, nephews and other loving family and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings Leo Geiger, Betty Dukart, Peter John Geiger and Edward Geiger.
The family will receive friends for a vigil service beginning at 7:00 p.m., Monday, August 31, 2009 at St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Community Church in McKinney with Fr. Don Zeiler officiating. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 1, 2009, at St. Gabriel. Service arrangements are under the direction of Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Directors. To convey condolences or to sign an online registry, please visit www.tjmfuneral.com.
Mr. Anthony (Tony) Nicodemus Geiger, age 74, of McKinney, Texas passed away August
28, 2009, in Frisco, Texas. He was born on October 26, 1934, in Gladstone, North Dakota to Peter and Ottilia (Gieser) Geiger. He graduated from Dickinson (ND) High School in 1953. Tony proudly served his country in the U.S. Army. On July 6, 1963, he married Barbara Ann Taylor in Phoenix, Arizona. In 1965, he completed his B.S. degree from Arizona State University. He worked in sales and management and was a successful entrepreneur. Tony was an avid reader and enjoyed studying the weather. He will be remembered for his quick wit, his love for cars, politics and football and as a loving husband and father. His love for his family was obvious to all who met him. Tony was a member of St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Community in McKinney.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 46 years, Barbara Ann of McKinney; son, Terence Anthony Geiger and wife Kit of Houston, Texas; daughter, Tena Ann Geiger Worthy and husband Terry of Prosper, Texas; grandson "little man" Eli Taylor Worthy; sisters, Monica Dukart and Florence Pasicznyk and husband Joe all of Dickinson, North Dakota; brothers, Joseph Geiger and wife Kay Marie of Richmond, Virginia, Henry Geiger and wife Vivian of Medford, Oregon and Leonard Geiger of Tucker, Georgia; and numerous nieces, nephews and other loving family and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings Leo Geiger, Betty Dukart, Peter John Geiger and Edward Geiger.
The family will receive friends for a vigil service beginning at 7:00 p.m., Monday, August 31, 2009 at St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Community Church in McKinney with Fr. Don Zeiler officiating. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 1, 2009, at St. Gabriel. Service arrangements are under the direction of Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Directors. To convey condolences or to sign an online registry, please visit www.tjmfuneral.com.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Sad News
It's like when you're driving down the road and you feel like a car or something is going to hit you from the side. You just don't know when it will happen but you feel like something bad is coming.
Today, I know what was coming.
Daddy passed away peacefully just before 6 pm this evening. We were all with him and we reminded him that we love him as we said our goodbyes. If I were in his shoes, I would want to be surrounded by my loved ones at the last minutes of my life just like he was.
Dad fought a very brave fight against one of the toughest kinds of cancer that exists. He did all of the recommended treatments and tried to beat the odds against this aggressive beast. It's hard to know that with all the treatments and aggravation this summer brought, that he's gone in less than three months.
We've been robbed of many years with Daddy. Worst of all, Eli has been robbed of the gift of more time with Grandad. I haven't told him yet. Every day for the past several weeks, Eli has asked to go to the 'hosipital' to see Grandad. I'm comforted that he's no longer suffering/sick at the hospital but I miss him so much.
Services will be held as follows:
Visitation at St. Gabriel's Catholic Community, McKinney, Texas
7 pm on August 31st
Funeral mass at St. Gabriel's Catholic Community, McKinney, Texas
10 am on September 1st
Online obituary and other info can be found at:
Turrentine Jackson Morrow Funeral Home, McKinney, Texas
www.TJMfuneral.com
One of my favorite songs keeps running through my head tonight:
You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord,
Who abide in His shadow for life,
Say to the Lord, "My Refuge,
My Rock in Whom I trust."
And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.
Today, I know what was coming.
Daddy passed away peacefully just before 6 pm this evening. We were all with him and we reminded him that we love him as we said our goodbyes. If I were in his shoes, I would want to be surrounded by my loved ones at the last minutes of my life just like he was.
Dad fought a very brave fight against one of the toughest kinds of cancer that exists. He did all of the recommended treatments and tried to beat the odds against this aggressive beast. It's hard to know that with all the treatments and aggravation this summer brought, that he's gone in less than three months.
We've been robbed of many years with Daddy. Worst of all, Eli has been robbed of the gift of more time with Grandad. I haven't told him yet. Every day for the past several weeks, Eli has asked to go to the 'hosipital' to see Grandad. I'm comforted that he's no longer suffering/sick at the hospital but I miss him so much.
Services will be held as follows:
Visitation at St. Gabriel's Catholic Community, McKinney, Texas
7 pm on August 31st
Funeral mass at St. Gabriel's Catholic Community, McKinney, Texas
10 am on September 1st
Online obituary and other info can be found at:
Turrentine Jackson Morrow Funeral Home, McKinney, Texas
www.TJMfuneral.com
One of my favorite songs keeps running through my head tonight:
You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord,
Who abide in His shadow for life,
Say to the Lord, "My Refuge,
My Rock in Whom I trust."
And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
I've been waiting
I've been waiting for weeks to get some good news. I've been wishing that the doctors were ALL wrong. I've been hoping that somehow we had an incorrect diagnosis and that radiation/chemo would cure the cancer or at least slow it down.
It hasn't happened. The cancer has gotten worse and has continued to spread like wildfire through Daddy's body. It seems that the good news just won't be coming. Unless you think about Daddy going HOME to be with Jesus. Maybe that's the good news - for him. Definitely not for us.
That being said, I don't know how the next few days will play out. The doctors have said that Daddy won't be able to transition off the respirator to a trach as we had thought. I know the doctors aren't always correct but I just don't know what options we have.
So I will leave you with this:
Peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
John 14:27
When I am afraid, I will put my trust in Thee.
Psalm 56:3
It hasn't happened. The cancer has gotten worse and has continued to spread like wildfire through Daddy's body. It seems that the good news just won't be coming. Unless you think about Daddy going HOME to be with Jesus. Maybe that's the good news - for him. Definitely not for us.
That being said, I don't know how the next few days will play out. The doctors have said that Daddy won't be able to transition off the respirator to a trach as we had thought. I know the doctors aren't always correct but I just don't know what options we have.
So I will leave you with this:
Peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
John 14:27
When I am afraid, I will put my trust in Thee.
Psalm 56:3
Report
We got some of the pathology reports from Dad's surgery over a week ago. It shows that the cancer is now in his pleuris. (That's the space between his lungs and chest wall where all the fluid has been building up.)
Last night, he got a new chest tube for the other side so more fluid could be drained from that area. We're hoping that will help him breathe better - on his own.
Speaking of breathing on his own, he wasn't able to do that for very long yesterday. There were many different factors - like the machine settings weren't the same and the staff was different and also that he had more fluid in his chest. So, I don't know whether it's bad that he didn't breathe on his own for very long or good considering the differing factors.
I'm going to choose indifference. I'm going to have faith that we'll get some good news soon.
Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1
Blessings to you!
Last night, he got a new chest tube for the other side so more fluid could be drained from that area. We're hoping that will help him breathe better - on his own.
Speaking of breathing on his own, he wasn't able to do that for very long yesterday. There were many different factors - like the machine settings weren't the same and the staff was different and also that he had more fluid in his chest. So, I don't know whether it's bad that he didn't breathe on his own for very long or good considering the differing factors.
I'm going to choose indifference. I'm going to have faith that we'll get some good news soon.
Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1
Blessings to you!
Sunday, August 23, 2009
A new week
I think we (collectively the nurses, the respiratory therapists, the doctors and us) probably took Daddy off the respirator too quickly. Who knew, though, how tough that surgery would be on his lungs and that he would still have need for the chest tube a week later? Now that he's had to be back on the respirator since Thursday, they are being cautious about taking him off again. It's my understanding that this waiting is normal after being put back on a respirator.
That being said, Dad was able to breathe on his own for 2 hours and 25 minutes last night and for 4 hours and 10 minutes this afternoon. To clarify, this means the respirator was turned 'down' and Dad was able to breathe through the tube. He's still on the respirator but he was able to keep his vitals at the appropriate levels and is getting 'stronger' as the respiratory therapist said. Apparently, there is some measure of breath strength and his diaphragm that they are collecting info about. It seems that ALL his levels are being recorded: pulse/oxygen, repirations per minute, temperature, blood pressure, etc, etc, etc. Talk about being data driven!! haha
This afternoon, my brother and Kit headed back to Houston. We expect Terry to come back this weekend for another visual check-in and more analysis after his further research, of course! He's great at researching from wherever he happens to be!
(Near or Far!)
We're optimistic that each day will bring a longer time for Daddy to be off the respirator and we'll be able to transition away from the machine before too long. He still has pneumonia and the fluid is still draining from his chest but those are both improving.
Thank you for your prayers and love! We appreciate you!
Blessings,
Tena
That being said, Dad was able to breathe on his own for 2 hours and 25 minutes last night and for 4 hours and 10 minutes this afternoon. To clarify, this means the respirator was turned 'down' and Dad was able to breathe through the tube. He's still on the respirator but he was able to keep his vitals at the appropriate levels and is getting 'stronger' as the respiratory therapist said. Apparently, there is some measure of breath strength and his diaphragm that they are collecting info about. It seems that ALL his levels are being recorded: pulse/oxygen, repirations per minute, temperature, blood pressure, etc, etc, etc. Talk about being data driven!! haha
This afternoon, my brother and Kit headed back to Houston. We expect Terry to come back this weekend for another visual check-in and more analysis after his further research, of course! He's great at researching from wherever he happens to be!
(Near or Far!)
We're optimistic that each day will bring a longer time for Daddy to be off the respirator and we'll be able to transition away from the machine before too long. He still has pneumonia and the fluid is still draining from his chest but those are both improving.
Thank you for your prayers and love! We appreciate you!
Blessings,
Tena
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Blessings
We are so blessed to have such wonderful, caring friends. Thank you so much for your prayers, emails, calls, letters, meals, gift cards, everything! We are so thankful for your support!
We are so blessed to have doctors available to treat US as well as Daddy as we maneuver our way down this road.
We are so blessed to have the family we have. We are supportive of each other and our needs even as we support Daddy. We've been blessed that my parents have been willing and able to keep Eli for us while I've worked the past two years.
We are so blessed to live where we live with available water, food and other necessities/things we like to have - including working computers, sewing machines and the internet!
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. (Mat 5:3-11)
We continue to be blessed even as we wonder when Daddy will get off the ventilator and we can get on with his treatment. He's still responding to us when we're talking to him and he's able to follow our commands. Tonight, the nurse asked if he was in any pain and he told her that he wasn't. I'm gonna take that as a good sign and progress.
Blessings to you!
Tena
We are so blessed to have doctors available to treat US as well as Daddy as we maneuver our way down this road.
We are so blessed to have the family we have. We are supportive of each other and our needs even as we support Daddy. We've been blessed that my parents have been willing and able to keep Eli for us while I've worked the past two years.
We are so blessed to live where we live with available water, food and other necessities/things we like to have - including working computers, sewing machines and the internet!
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. (Mat 5:3-11)
We continue to be blessed even as we wonder when Daddy will get off the ventilator and we can get on with his treatment. He's still responding to us when we're talking to him and he's able to follow our commands. Tonight, the nurse asked if he was in any pain and he told her that he wasn't. I'm gonna take that as a good sign and progress.
Blessings to you!
Tena
Comments
To leave a comment on this blog, please click on the word 'comments' at the end of the latest post. It will open another window in which you can post your comment.
Of course, we don't mind you emailing us with comments but thought I'd post this here so you'd have an option or weren't sure how it worked.
Blessings!
Tena
Of course, we don't mind you emailing us with comments but thought I'd post this here so you'd have an option or weren't sure how it worked.
Blessings!
Tena
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Who knew?
These pics aren't new but are a couple of my favorites of Mom and Dad with Eli. The update is at the bottom of the pics.
I know Mom didn't let us blow bubbles in the house when we were younger. Wait a minute, were there bubbles in abundance when we were younger? In any case, here she is caught in the act of blowing bubbles with Eli - inside the house!
Here's Daddy with his 'little buddy.' Eli wasn't yet a year old but he knew he could get Grandad to do anything for him! Did you know that Dad can't stand it when Eli cries? (Really, who does?) If Eli cried when it was naptime, Daddy would pick him up and let Eli nap in his arms. It was the sweetest thing. Now, of course, that would never happen.
After being so 'pumped up' that Dad was off the respirator on Tuesday, it's hard to say that he's back on it today. Yes, you read that right, Dad's back on the respirator. Who knew he'd need it ever again let alone about 48 hours later!?!?!!?
He had been struggling to breathe some so the docs had put him on a Bi-Pap machine and also given him a couple of new meds to help. But even with all of that, this morning, the respiratory therapist and the pulmonary doctor decided it was in his best interest to put him back on the respirator. I can attest to the fact that Dad was having some pain from his incision site and that he was having a hard time getting a deep breath. He wouldn't tell my mom and I that he had any pain but he wasn't shy about telling the nurses. Just yesterday, I asked him if he was hurting very much and he said, 'Not right now.' A few minutes later, the nurse came in and Dad asked for pain meds...
Because of the tube in his throat, the docs have him sedated a bit so he won't pull out the tube, he gets adequate rest for his body to heal a bit better and he can't talk to us at all. He is responding to our questions and he opens his eyes when we talk directly to him.
My brother and Kit came up from Houston tonight so we'll get to spend some 'quality time' in the ICU. We want to make sure Daddy gets his rest but we also want him to know that they came back up to check on him.
Every day, Eli has been asking for Grandma and Grandad. (Yes, he even says at the 'hosipital' when he's asking! The little smarty!) I was really hoping to take him to the hospital to see Daddy this weekend. But, as long as he's in ICU, Eli can't visit him.
Hint for today: I learned this morning that Dad didn't have his thyroid checked at his regular physical in April. It isn't something that is automatically checked and Dad had no history of thyroid problems in his family, so it wasn't done. Please, please, please when you have your annual exams, have your thyroid checked. It's a simple test and it would be worth the time.
I know Mom didn't let us blow bubbles in the house when we were younger. Wait a minute, were there bubbles in abundance when we were younger? In any case, here she is caught in the act of blowing bubbles with Eli - inside the house!
Here's Daddy with his 'little buddy.' Eli wasn't yet a year old but he knew he could get Grandad to do anything for him! Did you know that Dad can't stand it when Eli cries? (Really, who does?) If Eli cried when it was naptime, Daddy would pick him up and let Eli nap in his arms. It was the sweetest thing. Now, of course, that would never happen.After being so 'pumped up' that Dad was off the respirator on Tuesday, it's hard to say that he's back on it today. Yes, you read that right, Dad's back on the respirator. Who knew he'd need it ever again let alone about 48 hours later!?!?!!?
He had been struggling to breathe some so the docs had put him on a Bi-Pap machine and also given him a couple of new meds to help. But even with all of that, this morning, the respiratory therapist and the pulmonary doctor decided it was in his best interest to put him back on the respirator. I can attest to the fact that Dad was having some pain from his incision site and that he was having a hard time getting a deep breath. He wouldn't tell my mom and I that he had any pain but he wasn't shy about telling the nurses. Just yesterday, I asked him if he was hurting very much and he said, 'Not right now.' A few minutes later, the nurse came in and Dad asked for pain meds...
Because of the tube in his throat, the docs have him sedated a bit so he won't pull out the tube, he gets adequate rest for his body to heal a bit better and he can't talk to us at all. He is responding to our questions and he opens his eyes when we talk directly to him.
My brother and Kit came up from Houston tonight so we'll get to spend some 'quality time' in the ICU. We want to make sure Daddy gets his rest but we also want him to know that they came back up to check on him.
Every day, Eli has been asking for Grandma and Grandad. (Yes, he even says at the 'hosipital' when he's asking! The little smarty!) I was really hoping to take him to the hospital to see Daddy this weekend. But, as long as he's in ICU, Eli can't visit him.
Hint for today: I learned this morning that Dad didn't have his thyroid checked at his regular physical in April. It isn't something that is automatically checked and Dad had no history of thyroid problems in his family, so it wasn't done. Please, please, please when you have your annual exams, have your thyroid checked. It's a simple test and it would be worth the time.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Off the ventilator!
I was so hoping (praying) today would be the day that Daddy was able to get off the ventilator and breathe on his own. And, he did! I wasn't there when they took the tubes and stuff out of his throat but Mom was, of course. I went over at my lunch break to see him for myself. I just couldn't wait to kiss his cheek and remind him how much I love him.
He was sitting up and responding to my silly questions and stories about Eli's latest antics. Yeah for Dad! I hated seeing him sedated like that for the past couple of days but I knew it was necessary since he still had the tubes in his throat. Just doesn't make it easy to see.
Dad's getting breathing treatments from the respiratory therapists to help his lungs expand - before surgery it was every 8 hours. Those were stopped on Friday night in preparation for the surgery but they started those same treatments today after the ventilator came off.
I'm thinking Dad will be in ICU until the weekend, at least, since the doc said it would probably be 7 days or so before he went into a regular room. Every day further away from a ventilator is that much closer to coming home!
For the past week when I've picked Eli up from preschool, he asks if we're going to see Grandad and Grandma. That's been so much of our routine for the summer that it's something Eli expects each day to include. (Who can blame him, right?) Since Dad's been in ICU, they haven't seen each other since Saturday morning before surgery. Mom saw Eli on Sunday when we coaxed her to our house for a home-cooked meal! I know they are all going into withdrawal, of sorts, since Mom and Dad have been the main caretakers for Eli while I've been teaching for the past couple of years. So now that school has started they would be spending much more time with him - without me - while I was at work. Eli's been doing great at school and I know he'll have a great year but it's really different.
Thanks for the visits, calls, prayers, emails, cards, and hugs. We need them and appreciate them all - and all of you, too!
Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 15:4
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
1 Corinthians 13:13
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Blessings to you!
Tena
He was sitting up and responding to my silly questions and stories about Eli's latest antics. Yeah for Dad! I hated seeing him sedated like that for the past couple of days but I knew it was necessary since he still had the tubes in his throat. Just doesn't make it easy to see.
Dad's getting breathing treatments from the respiratory therapists to help his lungs expand - before surgery it was every 8 hours. Those were stopped on Friday night in preparation for the surgery but they started those same treatments today after the ventilator came off.
I'm thinking Dad will be in ICU until the weekend, at least, since the doc said it would probably be 7 days or so before he went into a regular room. Every day further away from a ventilator is that much closer to coming home!
For the past week when I've picked Eli up from preschool, he asks if we're going to see Grandad and Grandma. That's been so much of our routine for the summer that it's something Eli expects each day to include. (Who can blame him, right?) Since Dad's been in ICU, they haven't seen each other since Saturday morning before surgery. Mom saw Eli on Sunday when we coaxed her to our house for a home-cooked meal! I know they are all going into withdrawal, of sorts, since Mom and Dad have been the main caretakers for Eli while I've been teaching for the past couple of years. So now that school has started they would be spending much more time with him - without me - while I was at work. Eli's been doing great at school and I know he'll have a great year but it's really different.
Thanks for the visits, calls, prayers, emails, cards, and hugs. We need them and appreciate them all - and all of you, too!
Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 15:4
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
1 Corinthians 13:13
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Blessings to you!
Tena
Monday, August 17, 2009
Monday, Monday
Dad is still in the ICU. His vitals are good but he's still on the ventilator. This afternoon, the nurse had Daddy follow all kinds of commands (move your arm, raise your leg), which he did without problem. He was agitated when the nurse was changing his dressings and taking his temperature and stuff. He opens his eyes when one of us talks to him. And, he held Mom's had off and on today. He's never been big with public displays of affection and, after a few minutes, would move his hand. Nothing different at all about that behavior!
We're hoping that tomorrow will be the day when the ventilator is turned off and Daddy is breathing on his own. I'm sure he'll have a sore throat but there will be another medication for that!
A quote for today:
When you think about it, what other choice is there but hope? We have two options medically and emotionally: Give up or fight like hell.
~~ Lance Armstrong
Blessings to you!
We're hoping that tomorrow will be the day when the ventilator is turned off and Daddy is breathing on his own. I'm sure he'll have a sore throat but there will be another medication for that!
A quote for today:
When you think about it, what other choice is there but hope? We have two options medically and emotionally: Give up or fight like hell.
~~ Lance Armstrong
Blessings to you!
Sunday, August 16, 2009
A Trooper
Dad is being such a trooper. He's still on the ventilator today and is a bit sedated. It's best to be sedated while you're on the ventilator, I think. That way you won't pull on any of the tubes or IV's. His blood pressure is fine and he's receiving some pain meds today. This surgery was pretty stressful on his body. The docs will consider taking him off the ventilator tomorrow if his vitals remain strong. He has a good medical team watching over him. Please pray that they continue to do their best for him.
My dad has always been a trooper. I've been a Girl Scout since elementary school. Mostly, it was my mom that participated in my events with me. She was our troop leader so she attended campouts, parades and such. However, there was one yearly event that Daddy had to attend with me. It was the Father-Daughter Dinner near Valentine's Day with our service unit. The first year, I made us a box to hold our dinner. It was white with red hearts and little doilies on it. We used that box every year for probably 11 years. Dad attended that dinner with me faithfully. He would patiently watch all of the entertainment by the Girl Scouts and eat his dinner with me and the other scouts in my troop and their dads who were enduring the same thing as him. (Maybe he saw that as a right of passage for being a good dad?)
I know that when I started driving he thought he wouldn't have to attend anymore. But, I would just meet him there rather than go together. I would pack our dinner in that same box and wait for him at our designated spot. He was a trooper all through those events.
The message today is to be a good sport and be a trooper through it all. The payout will be well worth it!
Thanks to all for the prayers, visits, calls, emails and cards. We appreciate it so much! Blessings to all,
Tena
My dad has always been a trooper. I've been a Girl Scout since elementary school. Mostly, it was my mom that participated in my events with me. She was our troop leader so she attended campouts, parades and such. However, there was one yearly event that Daddy had to attend with me. It was the Father-Daughter Dinner near Valentine's Day with our service unit. The first year, I made us a box to hold our dinner. It was white with red hearts and little doilies on it. We used that box every year for probably 11 years. Dad attended that dinner with me faithfully. He would patiently watch all of the entertainment by the Girl Scouts and eat his dinner with me and the other scouts in my troop and their dads who were enduring the same thing as him. (Maybe he saw that as a right of passage for being a good dad?)
I know that when I started driving he thought he wouldn't have to attend anymore. But, I would just meet him there rather than go together. I would pack our dinner in that same box and wait for him at our designated spot. He was a trooper all through those events.
The message today is to be a good sport and be a trooper through it all. The payout will be well worth it!
Thanks to all for the prayers, visits, calls, emails and cards. We appreciate it so much! Blessings to all,
Tena
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Here we are
The surgery started later than planned and it took longer than had been anticipated.
My brother was able to get to the hospital before the surgery began so he could spend some time with us (Daddy) before the surgery.
My layman's assessment is that the surgery was successful and did exactly what it was supposed to do. This was a pretty tough surgery so Dad will have a difficult couple of days but we are hopeful that it improves his breathing at the very least.
Dad will be in ICU tonight and he'll be watched closely. We'll be back in the morning to check in again.
Continue praying, please, all of you prayer warriors! We need you!
My brother was able to get to the hospital before the surgery began so he could spend some time with us (Daddy) before the surgery.
My layman's assessment is that the surgery was successful and did exactly what it was supposed to do. This was a pretty tough surgery so Dad will have a difficult couple of days but we are hopeful that it improves his breathing at the very least.
Dad will be in ICU tonight and he'll be watched closely. We'll be back in the morning to check in again.
Continue praying, please, all of you prayer warriors! We need you!
Friday, August 14, 2009
Settings
I just wanted you to know that I'm having some trouble with these blog settings. I'll work on them again soon - maybe tomorrow when I update...
Tena
Tena
New procedure
Dad has had a pretty good couple of days. But having said that, are we going home yet? No. His pneumonia is improving, his oxygen level is improving but his body is still creating this weird fluid.
So, tomorrow morning, he'll have a procedure called a 'talc pleurodesis' to help alleviate some of that fluid. I haven't researched it myself, but my brother tells me that it will help create some scar tissue within Daddy's chest cavity and force the fluid to go into his blood stream instead of just collect in his chest cavity. (That's the layman's interpretation from memory of a couple of hours ago!)
While I was visiting tonight, the Father came by Daddy's room and performed the sacrament of annointing of the sick. The anointing of the sick is administered to bring spiritual and even physical strength during an illness. A sacrament is an outward sign established by Jesus Christ to confer inward grace. In more basic terms, it is a rite that is performed to convey God’s grace to the recipient, through the power of the Holy Spirit. It was a very moving experience and I know I was comforted by it. I'm sure Daddy and Mom were, as well.
A couple of quotes for today:
Psalm 27:14
Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the
Lord.
Psalm 28:7
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my
heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
Psalm 31:24
Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.
Please continue to pray for Daddy as he walks this difficult path. Please also pray for all who are caring for him and for all of us.
Blessings to you!
Tena
So, tomorrow morning, he'll have a procedure called a 'talc pleurodesis' to help alleviate some of that fluid. I haven't researched it myself, but my brother tells me that it will help create some scar tissue within Daddy's chest cavity and force the fluid to go into his blood stream instead of just collect in his chest cavity. (That's the layman's interpretation from memory of a couple of hours ago!)
While I was visiting tonight, the Father came by Daddy's room and performed the sacrament of annointing of the sick. The anointing of the sick is administered to bring spiritual and even physical strength during an illness. A sacrament is an outward sign established by Jesus Christ to confer inward grace. In more basic terms, it is a rite that is performed to convey God’s grace to the recipient, through the power of the Holy Spirit. It was a very moving experience and I know I was comforted by it. I'm sure Daddy and Mom were, as well.
A couple of quotes for today:
Psalm 27:14
Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the
Lord.
Psalm 28:7
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my
heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
Psalm 31:24
Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.
Please continue to pray for Daddy as he walks this difficult path. Please also pray for all who are caring for him and for all of us.
Blessings to you!
Tena
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Synopsis
I wanted to catch everyone up with where we've been. Of course, we all know where we want to go: Cancer free and healthy again!
June 3rd: all is well (or so we thought)
June 4th: Daddy notices a lump on the left side of his throat (it hurts!) and goes to the doctor to have it checked out. At the same time, Daddy has a horrible headache that doesn't go away. The doctor thinks it needs to be looked at by someone else but orders a couple of tests.
June 5th: Daddy has a couple of tests and a cancer diagnosis is discussed. We begin to gather information and talk to people about thyroid cancer. We hear that it's mostly curable and is one of the easiest kinds of cancer to treat. We are encouraged by that news. Headache continues.
June 9th: Mom and Dad meet with an ENT surgeon/specialist who confirms the cancer diagnosis and discusses the type of cancer he believes it to be. He orders a couple of more tests - MRI of head/neck/chest and does a needle biopsy.
June 11th: Test results come back early. This can only be really good or really bad. It was really bad. He diagnosed it as anaplastic thyroid carcinoma but he hasn't done any surgery on that type of cancer. Refers to another specialist at UT Southwestern in Dallas.
Terry (my brother) and I do a TON of research online to read all we can about this diagnosis. I'm intimidated and scared by what I read. My brother, being so analytical about these things, continues to read and research.
June 16th: Meet with a specialist at UT Southwestern. He tells us that this is stage 4 and has already spread from thyroid to his lungs and lymph nodes. He also says 'aggressive' about 100 times just in case we didn't hear it and tells us he can't operate at this point.
June 22nd: Meet with the oncologist who is on the UT Southwestern team. She will 'head up' the treatment for Daddy. She's positive and we come away feeling like we've got a plan for this.
June 24th: PET scan to look at Dad's whole body and see exactly where the tumor is and how it has spread. It takes longer to prepare for the test than the actual scan.
June 25th: Radiation oncologist at Medical City is consulted. We decide we'd like treatment closer to home and we're referred to another UT Southwestern affiliate in Richardson. At this point, riding in the car is difficult for Daddy. He feels nauseous with all the motion so closer to home is best.
June 26th: Meet with the new radiation oncologist, make a treatment plan and begin treatment that day. Whew! We finally feel like we're on our way!
June 30th: Dad's heart is racing and he feels like he may be having a heart attack. Mom takes him to the ER and he's admitted for observation and some tests. Of course, his heart turns out to be fine! We miss a couple of days of radiation while he's there and the speech therapist does the first swallowing study since Dad's throat seems a little 'tight' when he eats.
July 2nd-9th (weekdays): Dad receives radiation treatments each day. Mom is his chauffeur and the care-taker making sure he gets to all of his appointments and takes the right medications at the right time. July 6th is their 46th wedding anniversary. They celebrated it by going to radiation. We pray that next year's anniversary is better than this one and maybe they'll be on another cruise!
July 9th: Meet again with the oncologist who will manage Daddy's chemo. She describes the meds she will use (Taxol and Carboplatin) and the course she'd like to take: once a week treatment for three weeks, one week off and then another round or two of that. A starting date of July 16th is set.
July 13th: Radiation is complete. We feel 'jazzed' that Dad has done so well with radiation. However, over the next couple of days, his throat really closes up and he starts having more trouble swallowing. He's also spitting up more phlegm than before.
July 16th: chemo day 1. He has 7 medications to take before and after his chemo treatments. In addition, he has 4 IV's of pre-chemo drugs and then 2 IV's of the chemo drugs. It takes all day but again, we are 'jazzed' that he seems to be doing fine. No nausea, just tired that night.
July 17th: Dad can't keep liquids down and he's coughing more and more
July 19th: Dad's having a hard time breathing. Gets a new prescription for an inhaler which helps. He can't sleep laying flat in the bed and stays in his recliner all night long.
July 23rd: Should be chemo day 2. His throat is raw and sore. He's got lots of mucus and phlegm. Doctor advises giving his body a rest through the weekend and coming back on Monday.
July 25th: Dad has a fever. Go to the ER. He's given IV fluids since he's dehydrated. This is a direct result of the throat being so closed up and all the mucus. He's lost a lot of weight.
July 26th: Back to the oncologist. She advises no chemo today. Daddy is given fluids by IV and is set up for a PICC line (permanent port in his arm/chest to receive chemo/fluids) for the next day.
July 27th: PICC line is put in. He receives IV fluids at the doctor's office and a home health nurse meets us at the house to discuss how total nutrition will be administered to Dad at home. He is still trying to eat as much as he can while still receive his nutrition from the IV.
July 30th: PICC line is clogged. Nurses try to fix it.
July 31st: New PICC line put in.
August 1st: Daddy's heart is racing again. Head to the ER where they decide to admit him - again! The pulmonary doctor takes 2L of fluid off Daddy's chest. They add antivertigo meds to help with some of the mucus. Discuss whether he has pneumonia.
August 3rd: We continue to be concerned that Daddy isn't getting enough calories. It's recommended that he get a stomach tube to get his nutrition. Since Dad has lost some more weight, he agrees to have this done.
August 4th: PICC line fell out of Daddy's arm. Within a couple of hours, a new one is put in.
August 5th: The pulmonary doctor comes in and removes more fluid from Daddy's chest.
August 6th: In preparation of the stomach tube procedure and a procedure to add a chest tube and because Daddy has some internal bleeding, they give him 2 units of blood.
August 7th: The anesthesiologist doesn't feel comfortable with Daddy's vital signs so doesn't want to put in the stomach tube. However, the chest tube is put in and hooked up to a motor to help pull fluids from Daddy's chest.
August 8th: Daddy is moved to ICU so they can keep a better 'eye' on him and he also receives 2 more units of blood.
August 9th: Daddy looks better today and the doctor says the internal bleeding has 'slowed' so he's improving. Yeah for Daddy! Also, the stomach tube procedure is scheduled for the morning of the 10th.
August 10th: Stomach tube inserted without issues. Dad is moved back to the regular floor.
August 11th: Dad gets to 'eat' through his stomach tube. We're hoping this helps him gain some weight and helps him get stronger. He still has the chest tube although the fluid has slowed.
So, there you have a (little) synopsis of what's been going on during the past few weeks. I tried to keep the explanations brief and didn't add too much 'fluff.' The purpose of this blog will be to keep people updated and I'll add a couple stories about my dad as we go along. Please come back often, comment if you'd like, but pray, pray, pray for all of us - and Daddy's doctors/nurses that they help us make the right decisions for his health.
Please don't be too critical of my medical jargon and improper use of such. I'm not an expert at that kind of stuff!
Blessings to you!
Tena
June 3rd: all is well (or so we thought)
June 4th: Daddy notices a lump on the left side of his throat (it hurts!) and goes to the doctor to have it checked out. At the same time, Daddy has a horrible headache that doesn't go away. The doctor thinks it needs to be looked at by someone else but orders a couple of tests.
June 5th: Daddy has a couple of tests and a cancer diagnosis is discussed. We begin to gather information and talk to people about thyroid cancer. We hear that it's mostly curable and is one of the easiest kinds of cancer to treat. We are encouraged by that news. Headache continues.
June 9th: Mom and Dad meet with an ENT surgeon/specialist who confirms the cancer diagnosis and discusses the type of cancer he believes it to be. He orders a couple of more tests - MRI of head/neck/chest and does a needle biopsy.
June 11th: Test results come back early. This can only be really good or really bad. It was really bad. He diagnosed it as anaplastic thyroid carcinoma but he hasn't done any surgery on that type of cancer. Refers to another specialist at UT Southwestern in Dallas.
Terry (my brother) and I do a TON of research online to read all we can about this diagnosis. I'm intimidated and scared by what I read. My brother, being so analytical about these things, continues to read and research.
June 16th: Meet with a specialist at UT Southwestern. He tells us that this is stage 4 and has already spread from thyroid to his lungs and lymph nodes. He also says 'aggressive' about 100 times just in case we didn't hear it and tells us he can't operate at this point.
June 22nd: Meet with the oncologist who is on the UT Southwestern team. She will 'head up' the treatment for Daddy. She's positive and we come away feeling like we've got a plan for this.
June 24th: PET scan to look at Dad's whole body and see exactly where the tumor is and how it has spread. It takes longer to prepare for the test than the actual scan.
June 25th: Radiation oncologist at Medical City is consulted. We decide we'd like treatment closer to home and we're referred to another UT Southwestern affiliate in Richardson. At this point, riding in the car is difficult for Daddy. He feels nauseous with all the motion so closer to home is best.
June 26th: Meet with the new radiation oncologist, make a treatment plan and begin treatment that day. Whew! We finally feel like we're on our way!
June 30th: Dad's heart is racing and he feels like he may be having a heart attack. Mom takes him to the ER and he's admitted for observation and some tests. Of course, his heart turns out to be fine! We miss a couple of days of radiation while he's there and the speech therapist does the first swallowing study since Dad's throat seems a little 'tight' when he eats.
July 2nd-9th (weekdays): Dad receives radiation treatments each day. Mom is his chauffeur and the care-taker making sure he gets to all of his appointments and takes the right medications at the right time. July 6th is their 46th wedding anniversary. They celebrated it by going to radiation. We pray that next year's anniversary is better than this one and maybe they'll be on another cruise!
July 9th: Meet again with the oncologist who will manage Daddy's chemo. She describes the meds she will use (Taxol and Carboplatin) and the course she'd like to take: once a week treatment for three weeks, one week off and then another round or two of that. A starting date of July 16th is set.
July 13th: Radiation is complete. We feel 'jazzed' that Dad has done so well with radiation. However, over the next couple of days, his throat really closes up and he starts having more trouble swallowing. He's also spitting up more phlegm than before.
July 16th: chemo day 1. He has 7 medications to take before and after his chemo treatments. In addition, he has 4 IV's of pre-chemo drugs and then 2 IV's of the chemo drugs. It takes all day but again, we are 'jazzed' that he seems to be doing fine. No nausea, just tired that night.
July 17th: Dad can't keep liquids down and he's coughing more and more
July 19th: Dad's having a hard time breathing. Gets a new prescription for an inhaler which helps. He can't sleep laying flat in the bed and stays in his recliner all night long.
July 23rd: Should be chemo day 2. His throat is raw and sore. He's got lots of mucus and phlegm. Doctor advises giving his body a rest through the weekend and coming back on Monday.
July 25th: Dad has a fever. Go to the ER. He's given IV fluids since he's dehydrated. This is a direct result of the throat being so closed up and all the mucus. He's lost a lot of weight.
July 26th: Back to the oncologist. She advises no chemo today. Daddy is given fluids by IV and is set up for a PICC line (permanent port in his arm/chest to receive chemo/fluids) for the next day.
July 27th: PICC line is put in. He receives IV fluids at the doctor's office and a home health nurse meets us at the house to discuss how total nutrition will be administered to Dad at home. He is still trying to eat as much as he can while still receive his nutrition from the IV.
July 30th: PICC line is clogged. Nurses try to fix it.
July 31st: New PICC line put in.
August 1st: Daddy's heart is racing again. Head to the ER where they decide to admit him - again! The pulmonary doctor takes 2L of fluid off Daddy's chest. They add antivertigo meds to help with some of the mucus. Discuss whether he has pneumonia.
August 3rd: We continue to be concerned that Daddy isn't getting enough calories. It's recommended that he get a stomach tube to get his nutrition. Since Dad has lost some more weight, he agrees to have this done.
August 4th: PICC line fell out of Daddy's arm. Within a couple of hours, a new one is put in.
August 5th: The pulmonary doctor comes in and removes more fluid from Daddy's chest.
August 6th: In preparation of the stomach tube procedure and a procedure to add a chest tube and because Daddy has some internal bleeding, they give him 2 units of blood.
August 7th: The anesthesiologist doesn't feel comfortable with Daddy's vital signs so doesn't want to put in the stomach tube. However, the chest tube is put in and hooked up to a motor to help pull fluids from Daddy's chest.
August 8th: Daddy is moved to ICU so they can keep a better 'eye' on him and he also receives 2 more units of blood.
August 9th: Daddy looks better today and the doctor says the internal bleeding has 'slowed' so he's improving. Yeah for Daddy! Also, the stomach tube procedure is scheduled for the morning of the 10th.
August 10th: Stomach tube inserted without issues. Dad is moved back to the regular floor.
August 11th: Dad gets to 'eat' through his stomach tube. We're hoping this helps him gain some weight and helps him get stronger. He still has the chest tube although the fluid has slowed.
So, there you have a (little) synopsis of what's been going on during the past few weeks. I tried to keep the explanations brief and didn't add too much 'fluff.' The purpose of this blog will be to keep people updated and I'll add a couple stories about my dad as we go along. Please come back often, comment if you'd like, but pray, pray, pray for all of us - and Daddy's doctors/nurses that they help us make the right decisions for his health.
Please don't be too critical of my medical jargon and improper use of such. I'm not an expert at that kind of stuff!
Blessings to you!
Tena
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