Some footage of the President when he came to town today. I hope it's legal to post this video? If it's not someone please let me know!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Sick Little Boy
Well, Austin got his first stomach virus this week. Vomiting, diarrhea, fever and just generally feeling yucky. He is better now and his fever seems to have subsided. Hopefully he will continue to make a speedy recovery. It didn't stop us from taking pictures though!
By report, mom isn't doing so great. Tisha says her mental status seems to be getting a little worse. She also is having greater difficulty getting around. This is making bathing, toileting and other activities of daily living more challenging. We are likely going to need to hire more help as things get more difficult. We shall see. I will try and keep you all posted as things change.
I don't feel so hot today!
Daddy makes it all better.
Sometimes drinking milk out of a big boy cup is "funner"!
Throwing up at the table means I get to be NAKED!!!
I'm a little rascal!
By report, mom isn't doing so great. Tisha says her mental status seems to be getting a little worse. She also is having greater difficulty getting around. This is making bathing, toileting and other activities of daily living more challenging. We are likely going to need to hire more help as things get more difficult. We shall see. I will try and keep you all posted as things change.
I don't feel so hot today!
Daddy makes it all better.
Sometimes drinking milk out of a big boy cup is "funner"!
Throwing up at the table means I get to be NAKED!!!
I'm a little rascal!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Old Friends, New Memories
We made a short trip down to Charleston, SC this last weekend to visit some old friends. I have to say "old" because I am getting OLD! Turned 38 this weekend. Ouch! Glad to be alive though! My mom and dad lived in France for a few years early on in their marriage. While they were there they made some great friends that have stood the test of time. Bill and Christy Reinold became friends with my parents and our families have kept in touch and remained lifelong friends. The Reinold's eventually moved to Dallas not to far from my parents. They had a little girl named Beth in the same hospital the day after Brady and I were born. Well, Beth is all grown up now and lives in Charleston, SC. Christy came to see Beth and her family so we just had to go for a visit. Beth is married to Christian Broucqsault and they have 3 awesome kids. We really enjoyed our weekend. Just wish we had been able to stay longer.
Austin and I have been "bache'n it" for the last two days. Janet had to fly out to Colorado Springs on Monday to attend a funeral service for one of her corpsman that was killed in a freak firing range accident. She comes back tomorrow. Our thoughts and prayers go out to this young man's family. Such a tragedy indeed.
Mom is having good days and bad. She fell and hit her head pretty hard on Saturday. Not something you really want happening so soon after brain surgery. Unfortunately these things sometimes happen. Tisha says that the caregiver that mom has during the week is exceptional. Mom really likes her too. Her name is Linda. The weekends are a little less stable as far as caregivers go. Seems that the company we hired is having a hard time finding the right fit for us for the weekend shifts. At least she is at home. It's so much better knowing she is there rather than a nursing home. Well, more later. Below are pictures from this last weekend.
Charlie, Christy, Owen, Christian, Emma, Beth
Holding a bird at the Southeast Wildlife Expo
Hey, what are those things on your ears?
Austin and I have been "bache'n it" for the last two days. Janet had to fly out to Colorado Springs on Monday to attend a funeral service for one of her corpsman that was killed in a freak firing range accident. She comes back tomorrow. Our thoughts and prayers go out to this young man's family. Such a tragedy indeed.
Mom is having good days and bad. She fell and hit her head pretty hard on Saturday. Not something you really want happening so soon after brain surgery. Unfortunately these things sometimes happen. Tisha says that the caregiver that mom has during the week is exceptional. Mom really likes her too. Her name is Linda. The weekends are a little less stable as far as caregivers go. Seems that the company we hired is having a hard time finding the right fit for us for the weekend shifts. At least she is at home. It's so much better knowing she is there rather than a nursing home. Well, more later. Below are pictures from this last weekend.
Charlie, Christy, Owen, Christian, Emma, Beth
Holding a bird at the Southeast Wildlife Expo
Hey, what are those things on your ears?
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Growing up fast!
With all of the difficult and emotional "stuff" we have been going through I am so very thankful for the joy my little boy Austin brings to my life. Just listening to him laugh and watching him smile as he learns to crawl and walk is enough to make my heart melt. If you look closely in the "walking" part of the video you can see his first real goose egg. That was daddy's fault. He jigged. I jagged. And well, bonk went the head! He's all better now. Enjoy the video. Eric
SEE MY BRUISE?
SEE MY TEETH TOO!
SEE MY BRUISE?
SEE MY TEETH TOO!
Feburary 8th, 2009
Well. I'm back in NC. Mom is doing as well as can be expected. We have had several (too many!) care givers coming in and out. I guess we are a little picky, but finding the right fit for a live- in, full time, care giver is so important. We are still working with the placement service very closely and hope to find some permanent, acceptable help soon. We have stopped all the chemo and radiation. It was not tolerable anymore for her. Her dementia just kept getting worse and heroic measures were making less and less sense. She is not on hospice yet but we are meeting with the various hospice companies to get everything set up if and when the day comes that we need to go that route. They can do so much more than most people appreciate. When it comes to "palliative" care, Medicare is often times less strict. More items and services are often times covered under hospice care than what would be covered as strictly a medicare insured patient.
We are continuing the medical treatments that will improve or sustain the quality of her life but are not going to torture her with other things that will just prolong the inevitable. These are the family's wishes, but most importantly, these are my mother's as well. She had a living will prepared several years ago stating her wishes with regards to these matters. We are so very thankful that she did this. We want her with us forever but so does God. I think He always wins thankfully!
Well, more later. I have some great footage of the boy. In two weeks he has learned to crawl, learned to walked by holding on to the little walker/scooter thing, and just 10 minutes ago climbed upstairs-All 14 of them (with mom right behind him)! Craziness!
We are continuing the medical treatments that will improve or sustain the quality of her life but are not going to torture her with other things that will just prolong the inevitable. These are the family's wishes, but most importantly, these are my mother's as well. She had a living will prepared several years ago stating her wishes with regards to these matters. We are so very thankful that she did this. We want her with us forever but so does God. I think He always wins thankfully!
Well, more later. I have some great footage of the boy. In two weeks he has learned to crawl, learned to walked by holding on to the little walker/scooter thing, and just 10 minutes ago climbed upstairs-All 14 of them (with mom right behind him)! Craziness!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
February 4th 2009
Mom is hanging in there. She is slowly adjusting to being back home. I wish I could say it has been all good but she is still struggling quite a bit. Having her in her own home is so much better though. The help is wonderful and makes caring for her here possible. The care provider sleeps in her room with her at night and tends to her as needed. It is so great to know someone is with her all the time.
She has lost so much of her memory and this frustrates her. She focuses in on the basics: hunger, thirst, sleep and boredom. She has developed overwhelming urges for food, particularly ice cream, cookies and chocolate. Unfortunately her blood sugar levels have been rising due to the steroids (and the sweets) and she is on the verge of developing diabetes. I think as the steroids are tapered down the cravings will be reduced and the fights about why she can't have a third bowl of ice cream will taper as well. When reasoning doesn't work though she is still soothed by a gentle foot or neck massage.
She gets daily nursing visits. She's not fond of them. They have to do blood draws frequently and give her anti-coagulation shots in the belly daily. Can't say I blame her for not liking that. Physical therapists and occupational therapist are coming by to work with her as well. She is walking with assistance and is using her left side much more. We even went to a restaurant for lunch today after her radiation treatment. It was nice to get here out and do something fun.
All in all I guess we are doing as well as can be expected. We hope and pray for the best but are realistic as to her condition and prognosis, which is poor. It's all about quality of life now and how we can maximize it.
As we transition though the various phases of life certain things take on new meanings and levels of importance. I am reminded of how precious life is and how quick things can change. Never miss an opportunity to tell someone you love them. Hug and kiss your loved ones as often as possible. Apologize and forgive others today. (To my brother and sister I love you, thank you, I'm sorry, I forgive you and everything else in between! Tears, Tears....). Call your old friends and renew those old acquaintances (I've found FaceBook is a great place to start that). Laugh until you cry. Cry until you laugh. Pray often. Rejoice always. And by all means, eat some ice cream and think of Judy!
Judy's Birthday Party, 2005
She has lost so much of her memory and this frustrates her. She focuses in on the basics: hunger, thirst, sleep and boredom. She has developed overwhelming urges for food, particularly ice cream, cookies and chocolate. Unfortunately her blood sugar levels have been rising due to the steroids (and the sweets) and she is on the verge of developing diabetes. I think as the steroids are tapered down the cravings will be reduced and the fights about why she can't have a third bowl of ice cream will taper as well. When reasoning doesn't work though she is still soothed by a gentle foot or neck massage.
She gets daily nursing visits. She's not fond of them. They have to do blood draws frequently and give her anti-coagulation shots in the belly daily. Can't say I blame her for not liking that. Physical therapists and occupational therapist are coming by to work with her as well. She is walking with assistance and is using her left side much more. We even went to a restaurant for lunch today after her radiation treatment. It was nice to get here out and do something fun.
All in all I guess we are doing as well as can be expected. We hope and pray for the best but are realistic as to her condition and prognosis, which is poor. It's all about quality of life now and how we can maximize it.
As we transition though the various phases of life certain things take on new meanings and levels of importance. I am reminded of how precious life is and how quick things can change. Never miss an opportunity to tell someone you love them. Hug and kiss your loved ones as often as possible. Apologize and forgive others today. (To my brother and sister I love you, thank you, I'm sorry, I forgive you and everything else in between! Tears, Tears....). Call your old friends and renew those old acquaintances (I've found FaceBook is a great place to start that). Laugh until you cry. Cry until you laugh. Pray often. Rejoice always. And by all means, eat some ice cream and think of Judy!
Judy's Birthday Party, 2005
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