Last year

 

This time last year,  I was sitting in the GICU in a Norfolk, VA hospital praying to God to please save my Mum's life.  I was staring death in the face, but just couldn't wrap my head around life without my Mum. 

Here is my post from that day, one year ago today.

Posted Nov 21, 2007 9:06am

If you have not read yesterdays update please go back, and read it. There hasnt been any changes today, Mum is still the same, holding on.

Last night we told Jannae that "Grandma is sick like Teagyn". She automatically new what we meant, that grandma could die. Its so sad, I feel so bad for her, she's only six, and in her short life she has lost two grandpa's, great gran, a cousin, and a kitten ( a big deal to a 6 yr old), and now she is faced with the possibility of losing her Gran. It doesn't make sense. Its so unfair

She is scared of the doctor, and thinks that if you go to the hospital you die.

Just keep praying, something/someone has to be rooting in our favor.

Karen

Posted Nov 21, 2007 12:08pm

Update number two for the day...

We have talked with the doctors, and have decided to leave Mum on the vent for a few more days, as she is not strong enough to undergo surgery at this time. Hopefully by Saturday her infection will be gone, and we can proceed with the trach/ped tube then.

They had to increase the amount of pressure they are using to expand Mum's lungs, which can be dangerous. If they expand too much they can "pop" like a balloon. But the increased pressure is allowing Mum to relax. She is still heavily sedated, when she is awake she is breathing/fighting against the vent.

Lets hope a few more days will of rest will clear the infection, and stabilize Mum's breathing, and heart rate. We just have to take things hour by hour.

Just keep praying

Nine days after that post, my Mother passed away with all of us by her side.  There was nothing we could do, not amount of love, tears or prayers could save her.  It just wasn't meant to be.

Life can be so cruel so unfair, how much heart break can one person take?

Can I get some rest?

 

Yesterday we left the house around 9:30am  to head to the Atlanta airport.  We arrived about five hours later, after stopping for lunch, and getting lost along the way.

The Smith's checked in for their flight and headed to the security area.  That's when the tears started flowing. It's hard living 3,000 miles away from family.  It breaks my heart to know that I will not be as close to Erin, and Carrie, as I am to my other nieces, and nephews. 

My hubby decide some retail therapy would cure my sadness so we headed to Ikea, where I quickly spent $400.00 on items for my foster care nursery.

We finally pulled into hickville somewhere between 12 and 1am. I am so over road trips, in total we drove over 2,600 miles in 24 hours of driving.

A sneak peak..

at our family pictures that were taken last week..

Nicola, and Jaxon

Mark, and Sharon with their girls Carrie, and Erin.

New's flash

 

According to our intake coordinator we should have our foster care license in our hands this Friday, but I am not holding my breath..  I will let you know if we get it.  Keep your fingers crossed..

I'm back

Don't worry people I haven't fallen off the face of the Earth, I've just been running around like a chicken with his head cut off.  Thankfully we all all got over our sicknesses within 24 hours.  For a  brief  moment  moment Wayne was in panic mode thinking I was expecting, no thanks to my sister's and sister in law, saying I had morning sickness.

During our last few days on Tybee we rented bikes, climbed the light house, played on the beach, ate a lot of ice cream,  and ventured to down town Savannah for dinner, and a look around the shops.

Last Tuesday we packed up and headed South to Orlando, where we met Mickey and his crew. We swam in the pool, and socked in the hot tub.  We even watched the rocket launch while hanging out by the pool. We shopped till we dropped, ate more food in one day than most people do in a week.

If I didnt know my brother I would swear he is a police officer every time I turn around he's got a chocolate doughnut hanging out his month.

My sisters headed home to Virginia on Sunday, and we (Wayne, my bro and his family and I), ventured on over to my neck of the woods. They have a few more days state side and will return home at the end of the week. 

Check back later pictures..

missing you..

 

 

 

45 Lessons of Life

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next  small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't  take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards  every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to  disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8.  It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement  starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate,  resistance is futile.
11 . Make peace with your past so it won't screw  up  the  present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry
13. Don't compare  your life to others'. You have no  idea  what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret,  you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye.  But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the  mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful  or  joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19.  It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you  and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life,  don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets,  . Don't save it for a special occasion.  Today is  special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now.  Don't wait for old age to wear  purple.
24.  The most important organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your  happiness, except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these  words:  'In five  years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone  everything.
29 What other people think of you is none of your  business.
30.  Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
31. However good or bad a  situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won't take care of you when you  are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34.  God loves you because of whom God is, not because  of  anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the  most of it  now.
36.  Growing old beats the alternative--dying young.
37. Your children get only  one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. All that truly matters in the end is  that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting  everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone  else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have  all you  need. 
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up,  dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but  it's still a gift