Another day or two or three

Thought for the Day:

"We may be the sum of our past but our future is what we make of it."
Reva McCandless

And I thought winter would be quiet and dull around here. NOT. It seems like there is always something going on that keeps me from getting too lazy and dull. I am feeling so much better and getting more strength back and so I'm doing more around the house and getting out and about.

The day after Valentines day we went to celebrate my neices recent engagement. She is happy and getting ready for an early June wedding, then she will be moving to a new state to be with her new husband.

I love it when the grandkids come by, even if just for a few minutes as my daughter is running errands. Evan, the youngest is really grandma's boy and wants me to hold him all of the time. Of course that's such a burden on me ( ha) and we have a great time. Last week we had Evans 1st birthday party.

The older grandkids help keep our dog Myrtle happy as they all romp outside and play on the tree swing. I keep hoping to find a nice round plastic seat to put on the end of the tree swing rope but I haven't yet. Right now there is just a broken tree limb tied on the bottom of the rope and the kids straddle it and do just fine. Guess they won't know the difference if I don't tell them.

In March I have to go to Denver for my Dr. appointment with the specialist. I think it'll be a good visit this time with good reports, especially considering my recent hospital stays. My meds are pretty well leveled out and I don't have any extreme side effects, just those I am already used to, so that's good.

My husband has been off this past week due to a temporary lay off. Bet alot of you are feeling the economic pressures as well in your jobs, and I'm grateful he'll at least be going back to work soon. We will took advantage of the time off though to see and help some of our parents with projects they wanted done and to visit with other family as well. We even tried some fishing in a small local man made lake but no luck except to enjoy being outside for a change. He is off with my Dad and brother's to the hills today to do some target practicing with the shell's they loaded themselves the other day. This is a test run for hunting season I'm sure but they all really enjoy it.

We stopped by to see the newest grandson, Tyler, who is now 2 months old. He has grown alot and we needed to catch up on some of that cuddling time.

Taxes. Enough said about that since that word probably elicits the same tightening of the stomach muscles in everyone like it does me. I'm trying the free Turbo*Tax and it may even find more refunds for us. Sure hope so anyway.

We went to my nephews last basketball game last week and his team won 30 to 13. He's only in 5th grade but the boys were so good at making shots and passing the ball and taking the ball from the other team that I was surprised. It was fun. I think it's much more fun to watch sports when you personally know someone on the team. I took alot of blurry pictures since they were moving so much and the lighting in the gym didn't help either. He's number 21 in the light blue.

Now that I've rambled on about a hodgepodge of subjects, I'll try to get this posted before someone thinks I've left town or am sick or something. Keep smiling and enjoy your day so you can be the gift someone needs today!

Update on son David

Thought for the day: "Sunshine can only enter our lives when we open the curtains of our hearts!" (by me)


My son David, who had stage four melanoma cancer in his lymph nodes in his neck and a spot in his lung survived the 4 rounds of a chemo coctail this last fall. They thought they got it all except maybe a tiny spot in his neck. This last Friday they did another PET scan and discovered the spots still in his neck and now there is some in his stomach too.
At this time they have him scheduled for surgery on March 10 to remove the spot on his stomach and also the lymph nodes in his neck. He wants them to do an MRI on his head too to make sure it hasn't spread to his brain. Just when we began to think he would have a little breathing room from his ordeal it has sprung up again.
He is outwardly taking it pretty well and is keeping busy with his college classes and friends. I hope he can keep a positive attitude with it all and with continued thoughts and prayers he has a chance of getting through this round also. I'm not sure what his long term chances really are right now but I know we will have to help him focus on the good parts of his life and the positive possibilities still waiting for him. Please keep him in your prayers.
One of the ways he is living it up right now is by dying his hair green. Green? Yep, I said green. He has dark brown hair naturally so he dyed it blond first and then tried to dye it turqois but it came out green. Now he wants to try alot of other colors just for fun. I guess when you are young (19) and looking at cancer, you may want to try alot of crazy things just to keep out of the duldrums and depression. That's ok by me as long as he is not getting himself into trouble and is taking care of himself.


As far as my health, I'm feeling alot better but still battling some medication reactions. That should get better soon as we are adjusting dosages and types of meds I'm on. It wouldn't be so bad if I didn't have to be on so many different things at once. A few of them overlap on their side affects which confuses things at times but I'm getting it all worked out a little at a time.



Grandson Tyler at about 4 wks
My newest grandson, Tyler, is about 6 weeks old now and the next oldest, Evan will be one year old on February 20th. Two little guys in less than a year is something to rejoice in. Evan is walking and even running around the house and climbing on everything, so he's a handfull. Tyler is still that tiny baby cuddler and I can't wait to hold him again. One of the joys of being a grandparent for sure.
Grandson Evan 10 months


To keep up with Evan and his brother and sister, check out my daughter's blog at 'Amber'. 'Brenda', my younger sister has her youngest daughter who is the same age as my granddaughter and since Brenda and Amber both homeschool their children they have alot in common with the girls. Mariah, my granddaughter and Grace, my niece get along great and have such fun when they are together. I know they will be good friends and cousins when they move out here near us. Brenda has a wonderful and always uplifting blog too and I encourage anyone to check out both blogs if you haven't already.

Brother Jimbo's homebuilt shed
My brother finished building his own shed, workshop and did a great job. He could have gotten a ready made one for just a few hundred more but the satisfaction of designing and building his own was worth more than the money. Now he can get caught up on all the family house and yard projects he wants to do.

Well, I'm really trying to keep my blogs a little shorter than I have in the past so I better knock off for now. If any of you have some favorite 'thoughts for the day' that you want to share, either send it to me and I'll add it to mine or put in on yours so we can all see it there.

I'm looking for another great day with lots of day gifters. Have you gifted yourself to someone today? Incase you're not sure what I mean by that, I believe we all have so many things about us that we need to share with others. Whether that is doing something nice for someone else, calling to check on a senior or sick friend, or just letting your grandkids crawl all over you when they visit, either way you are giving something wonderful to someone and you will be able to look in the mirror at night and say, "I feel good about myself." Don't forget that pat on your back either.

Happy blogging Day!

Thought for each day

Things are looking up again. After another few weeks of discomfort and medicine adjustments I am starting to feel like I'm almost ready to join the regular day to day activitites around here. It seems like everytime I end up in the hospital for whatever reason I come out feeling wiped out and my body and its functions are all mixed up. Recovery just seems to take forever but that's partially because I can't stand to be tied down and out of the race, so to speak for very long. I love being active and part of things. Soo.. I'm coming up to the starting line and I'm already at the 'get ready, get set,' stage and waiting for the almighty 'GO!'

I just changed my page look to see if I can get 2009 off to a new and better start. I may have lost some pictures on the page but I plan on resetting those soon as I have time.

Also, I have so enjoyed hearing from everyone and I'm so thankful for all the thoughts and prayers that were sent my way. Life really is wonderful, even when I don't feel so good. Each day is special in it's own way and each person I come into contact with is part of it and that makes me happy.

This is just a short update to let you all know I really am still alive and kicking (some days more than others) and I'm looking forward to many more. Your blogs are all a part of my blogging days and they uplift me in each your own way. Your personalities show through and that is what makes us all unique and special. We are all worthy of being gifted to those around us. Your blogs are gifts to me and I thank you for sharing your selves with me.

As I feel better, I will do more updating and add some new pictures and I'm thinking of adding a 'thought for the day' paragraph each time too. I love short little statements that give me something to think about through the day and I hope you will like them too.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
look in the mirror and smile at yourself while thinking of something nice you have done for someone recently, then reach over your shoulder and pat yourself on the back. Doesn't that feel good? We all have good in us and when we share it we reap the feel good part of it. Remember, it's easier for us to feel good about other people if we can feel good about ourselves first.

I'm Back Again???

My newest Grandson that I haven't seen or held yet! Born December 21st, 6lbs, 1 oz. I am anxious to snuggle a tiny one again soon.

Yes, that's right, I'm back again. Just 2 weeks after getting out of the hospital on December 23rd, I landed back in for another 2 weeks. This time is was due to an accident by the radiologists staff. I went in for my 2 week check up and scan of my gall bladder to make sure everything was clear. It was, so they pulled out the drain tube that was inserted weeks earlier and sent me home.
I didn't even make it home, the pain was so bad and I had to pull the car over and call my husband to come get me. I was doubled over in pain but we went home and I tried to rest to see if it would go away. instead, it intensified and I called the ambulance.

Apparently, when they pulled out the drain tube it tore the gall bladder bile duct and it was all bleeding and draining into my tummy cavity. Fortunately they were able to take the gall bladder out laproscopically which is much easier that a large incision.

Anyway, after my last hospital stay in December, when a doctor inserted my Groshon (sp?) tubing that feeds into the right side of my heart into the wrong vein, he had to remove it because I had a major bolus with my IV meds, I am begining to think I am destined to experience everything a hospital or illness can provide. What an adventure, of sorts.

Please understand that the reason I can look back and almost laugh at all of this is because it is actually so overwhelming and even ridiculous at times. I sometimes can't see how I have survived so many very close calls. I know that there is someone stronger than me above that must be smiling on me and then I guess my body and spirit just doesn't want to give up. Actually I intend to leave here some day fighting and screaming but with a smile on my face for the wonderful life, friends and family I have had. The experiences I've had and the places I've been and the beautiful world that was made for us.

So until then I am happy and still enjoying each day and Gifting each day to someone near me! Today that was with my grandchildren as they came over to visit and to make sure Grandma was really OK. With all my medical issues, they have experienced a little of the emotionally tough side of life and even though the youngest ones doen't totally comprehend, they know hospitals are for very sick people so they worry.

I was blessed by a phone call from my 7 year old granddaughter the other day while I lay in my hospital room. She asked me sincerely and with some worry in her voice if I was going to be ok. I thanked her for caring about me and I assured her that I was doing much better and would be home soon, so today she insisted to her mommy that after school she wanted to come see me. It is such a good feeling to be loved by a child isn't it?

I will try again to get out and visit everyones blog pages soon. Thanks for caring and keeping me in your prayers. Prayer works!
OK, gift yourself and your day to someone and see what happens.

I'm Baaack! Finally.....

Just a quick one to let everyone know that I'm back.

My month long stay if my private condo was eventful, suspenseful, sometimes nail biting, with lots of activity that forbade any real rest and boy was I glad to get home.. I lost almost ten pounds during my stay and some people would be jealous of the quick loss, but I really wouldn't recommend doing it this way.

In case someone isn't sure what I'm talking about, I must have some heavy investment in the hospital industry because I sure do use it alot. Due to the infections I had I got a private room. The only let down on that is that everyone who came in had to wear a gown, gloves and a face mask. This made it very difficult to tell the visitors apart from the nurses and I think I hurt a few feelings when I asked them to dump my bed pan. (not really!) I did miss a few though and just looked at them dumbly wondering what they wanted to do to me now.

My aunt showed up all masked and gowned, holding a fedex box and I had no idea who she was and wondered who would be sending me a package at the hospital. She finally asked if I knew who she was before I really looked at her face and recognized her voice.

My family, as usual was so supportive and visited whenever they could. My husband took extra time off and came up to see me twice a day and took care of our baby at home (our bully dogge - Myrtle). She whined and pined for me all day I guess. Then one day, he showed up to visit with Myrtle in tow right up to my ICU room. Boy was I surprised.

Even with family visiting, Myrtle pined by the door!

I didn't even know the hospital allowed that but it sure was a blessing to me and to her. She was so happy to see me and jumped up on the side of the be trying to reach me. At first I wasn't able to reach down to her much and she just licked my fingers. Finally we lowered my bed and Rick put her up on the foot of my bed and she immediately circled around and snuggled in and took a nap. She was finally content. She found me and got to sleep by my feet like she does every night at home.

I can't say my stay was pleasant and it was way too long, but I was so happy to get home and I immediately felt a surge of strength and contentment go through me. I'm where I belong now and it has alot to do with all the thoughts and prayers of those like you who hold other's up and ask for healing. I had 3 of the worst kinds of infections all through my body, including MRSA, and yet I'm still here once again. Why? I'm not sure but what a blessing and I even made it home just before Christmas, Yea!

Oh, and we got a great Christmas gift early this year. My stepdaughter has been expecting a baby on January 15th but baby decided to pay and early visit and was born on Dec 21st. I got to go home on the 23rd and we celebrated with the other grandkids on Christmas day.

The newest grandbaby boy was 6lbs, 1oz and 20 1/2 inched long. Grandpa went up to see him las weekend and can you tell how proud he is? I am still on antibiotics for those infections so I stayed home.
Proud Grandpa with Tyler Lucas
Ok, I'll be coming around to visit you all as I can and I'll send more pics too. I have missed connecting with you all and I'm looking forward to seeing how your holidays went!

Take care and smile, a new year is here.
Happy New Year 2009!