Mom is feeling as good as expected only 8 days out from surgery. Had a good night and is really relaxing at Grandmas. She and Dad walked up Clay Street and back this morning. She is getting back on the walking schedule today....we gave her a day off yesterday.
Breeleigh.....I was cracking up at your comment about planning a party! Please, bring the polka dot tablecloths. Yes, Mom keeps saying she doesn't want today to be her birthday....so we anticipate when she is feeling up to a recovery/birthday dinner in a few weeks, we are taking her to Raven's Glen Winery. The kids and I are going there this evening to take her some birthday surprises. They got to see her last night and they were completely precious! They had so much to catch her up on--they talked non stop--I don't know "where" they get that?! haha
I woke up with Dad in my living room this morning! He is enjoying being home and said "Mom looked so pretty this morning" That about melted my heart!
So, I will be sure to have her read all her "birthday wishes" on the blog today! Thank you all for continued prayers and remembering her on this special day! She is a proud "52" with a 29 year old spirit--right Teresa?!
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Homecoming!
We got wonderful news at the doctor! Pathology confirmed it was "kidney" cancer and it was not in the bones or fatty tissue. And whatever those spidery things or roots in the kidney that come off the tumors.....well, anyway....they seem to have gotten them CLEAN out! So, answered prayers there. It can be a reoccurring cancer of course, so she will have scans every 6 months for the next 5 years. We left Cleveland at 8:30 after a group hug and all of us in tears of celebration! (or maybe they were crying b/c I was behind the wheel) haha
We just arrived to Grandma/Grandpa Hood's house around 11 and Mom is surrounded in the mountain of cards she has gotten while she has been gone, she is opening them all and reading them out loud. So fun!
I have to sit here and pinch myself that the journey can now continue on home court. It such a comforting feeling to have her this close to home! Her spirits already seem lifted, of course we did get her a "Dairy Queen" favorite lunch. Nothing like good ol' Frazeysburg DQ food after a week of hospital food.
Words can never express the gratitude and love we have felt from all of your support, prayers, comments, cards, and calls. I know there will come a day soon, Mom will sit down and read back through her blogging journey and her heart will be warmed by all of you as they have ours (the entire family).
XOXOXOXO
We just arrived to Grandma/Grandpa Hood's house around 11 and Mom is surrounded in the mountain of cards she has gotten while she has been gone, she is opening them all and reading them out loud. So fun!
I have to sit here and pinch myself that the journey can now continue on home court. It such a comforting feeling to have her this close to home! Her spirits already seem lifted, of course we did get her a "Dairy Queen" favorite lunch. Nothing like good ol' Frazeysburg DQ food after a week of hospital food.
Words can never express the gratitude and love we have felt from all of your support, prayers, comments, cards, and calls. I know there will come a day soon, Mom will sit down and read back through her blogging journey and her heart will be warmed by all of you as they have ours (the entire family).
XOXOXOXO
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Tuesday Evening....
This is Valerie (I'm baaaaaack) sitting in the lobby with Mom and Dad.
Mom is covered up with her blue quilt made by Mary Hunter. She has loved having this blanket and we have been meaning to share that with you Mary! She has been cold! It was a pretty special moment when I pulled in and walked into the lobby to surprise Mom and Dad! They were ironically down here sitting. Lots of joyfull tears! Then it was even more fun to knock on the hotel door and surprise Gma! We have walked, talked, laughed, cried and are counting down the hours till we get to head home. I am so thankful to be here with them again.
I just caught them up on the latest posts and we are about to head up to pack up the room and load the car. We do want to thank in advance our family and friends at Fraz. United Methodist Church for all the meals they are bringing for the next few weeks.
Please keep our 8am doctor appt. in your prayers in the morning, we will receive pathology results as well as the drain and staple removal (we said it sounds like a plumbing job--haha)
Have a blessed night.
Mom is covered up with her blue quilt made by Mary Hunter. She has loved having this blanket and we have been meaning to share that with you Mary! She has been cold! It was a pretty special moment when I pulled in and walked into the lobby to surprise Mom and Dad! They were ironically down here sitting. Lots of joyfull tears! Then it was even more fun to knock on the hotel door and surprise Gma! We have walked, talked, laughed, cried and are counting down the hours till we get to head home. I am so thankful to be here with them again.
I just caught them up on the latest posts and we are about to head up to pack up the room and load the car. We do want to thank in advance our family and friends at Fraz. United Methodist Church for all the meals they are bringing for the next few weeks.
Please keep our 8am doctor appt. in your prayers in the morning, we will receive pathology results as well as the drain and staple removal (we said it sounds like a plumbing job--haha)
Have a blessed night.
Tuesday...
Mom's had an emotional few days. I have never had a major surgery, but anyone who has can probably understand there are so many adjustments. Moving from the Hospital room to the Clinic Guest House was something she was looking so forward to "pre surgery". Now, that she is there, the beds are different, the bathroom is different, you are seeing people not nurses, she has mirrors in the room, it is all just so much change from what she has been used to for 6 days. She is now in control of the pain meds, and it is just different, the pain keeps getting ahead of the medication. I am sure she will have the same adjustment tomorrow when moving in with Grandma, she needs time to get comfortable in a new location. It is okay for her to feel a bit sad and overwhelmed. Dad and Grandma have been WONDERFUL for her, she just told me that.
But, with that being said, I am heading back to Cleveland today. I feel helpless from here, and I want to help Dad and Grandma get loaded up to check out. Grandma and Mom would definately try and talk me out of it, and that will not happen. That way I can be there for the appointment in the morning and then come back home. And, I can give my Grandma and Dad a big hug in person.....and of course my mom!!!!!!
Hugs, Valerie
But, with that being said, I am heading back to Cleveland today. I feel helpless from here, and I want to help Dad and Grandma get loaded up to check out. Grandma and Mom would definately try and talk me out of it, and that will not happen. That way I can be there for the appointment in the morning and then come back home. And, I can give my Grandma and Dad a big hug in person.....and of course my mom!!!!!!
Hugs, Valerie
Monday, June 25, 2007
Monday has a positive outlook!
Mom had a great night, she is only taking 1 perkeset now!!!!! What a difference. Dad got there at 5am and they walked 6 laps already this morning. Mom and I talked yesterday about wondering how different things would be if she wouldn't have walked the month prior and prepared her body for this. Not to mention the 25 pounds she lost while preparing. It is exciting to think about how this has changed her life and I am confident God will continue to use her. If he can just use her in Non-surgical ways! HAHA....joking.
The doctor has been in and expects her to be released to the Clinic Guest House today. She cannot wait to take her first breath of "fresh air" and see the sunshine. Dr. Novic's personal RN will be in before 10 and that is who will tell us if she can get the staples and drain out Wed. or Thurs. (pray for wednesday...Thursday is her birthday!!!!) She will also be the one to actually discharge her. So, I will pass along that exciting news as soon as I get the call!
10:10am continued update......I just got the call, and decided just to tag it onto this post.....She gets to come HOME WEDNESDAY!!!!!!! She is heading to the Clinic Guest House today, hopefully by lunch!
Someone shared with me something the day before the surgery, it now summarizes Mom's journey.....
"If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it."
The doctor has been in and expects her to be released to the Clinic Guest House today. She cannot wait to take her first breath of "fresh air" and see the sunshine. Dr. Novic's personal RN will be in before 10 and that is who will tell us if she can get the staples and drain out Wed. or Thurs. (pray for wednesday...Thursday is her birthday!!!!) She will also be the one to actually discharge her. So, I will pass along that exciting news as soon as I get the call!
10:10am continued update......I just got the call, and decided just to tag it onto this post.....She gets to come HOME WEDNESDAY!!!!!!! She is heading to the Clinic Guest House today, hopefully by lunch!
Someone shared with me something the day before the surgery, it now summarizes Mom's journey.....
"If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it."
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Looking good still....
Okay, I am home and leaving was a bit emotional. Mom is having a good day, but I hope she misses me! haha I just called. Seeing the kids was so rewarding, and I came home to a "welcome home mom" display that I knew took a long time to create.
I keep forgetting to tell everyone that they tested Mom's kidney function yesterday and it is GREAT!
I am so proud of my Dad and believe it or not, he was the toughest to say goodbye to. We had been such a team (including Chad and Gma) But, he has been and will continue to be right by Mom's side, and if I didn't think he and Gma could handle it, I would still be there. I have complete trust in them! They just BETTER call me!!!!! I know my jobs "hand holding, walking enforcer, hair stylist" will be taken care of.
Of course I miss my Mom too, but I know she will only work harder to get home and have the greeting from the kids that I just had! And we will be there waiting for her to pull in the driveway!!
I keep wanting to call them, but I know they will keep me updated. Not knowing what she is doing and how she is feeling is completely driving me nuts. It is consuming my mind. Is this how you have all felt? haha
The posts probably won't be as frequent now, but I will do my best to update a morning and evening update until my Mom can take this over herself! Won't that be great to get the first message from her!? Oh, I can't wait! That just made me cry thinking about it.....or maybe just thinking about her.....which I am sure I will be doing a lot of now!
I keep forgetting to tell everyone that they tested Mom's kidney function yesterday and it is GREAT!
I am so proud of my Dad and believe it or not, he was the toughest to say goodbye to. We had been such a team (including Chad and Gma) But, he has been and will continue to be right by Mom's side, and if I didn't think he and Gma could handle it, I would still be there. I have complete trust in them! They just BETTER call me!!!!! I know my jobs "hand holding, walking enforcer, hair stylist" will be taken care of.
Of course I miss my Mom too, but I know she will only work harder to get home and have the greeting from the kids that I just had! And we will be there waiting for her to pull in the driveway!!
I keep wanting to call them, but I know they will keep me updated. Not knowing what she is doing and how she is feeling is completely driving me nuts. It is consuming my mind. Is this how you have all felt? haha
The posts probably won't be as frequent now, but I will do my best to update a morning and evening update until my Mom can take this over herself! Won't that be great to get the first message from her!? Oh, I can't wait! That just made me cry thinking about it.....or maybe just thinking about her.....which I am sure I will be doing a lot of now!
Sunday...
Our nurse began attempting to kick us out of the room last night around 10.....Chad decided to leave at 11 to not make us look so guilty with staying past visiting hours. Mom was very content with the pain meds she was taking and we confirmed with the nurse what the "night time" plan was to stay on top of the pain. Well, evidentally when that nurse got off and the new nurse came on, that plan went out the window! Dad and I had left at midnight and Mom slept and then woke up at 2:30am a little panic'd knowing she had missed 2 doses of pain meds. The nurse woud not give her the "good stuff".......so Mom said she told herself, I can sit and cry or choose to beat it. She got out of bed, went to the bathroom (by herself) and then sat in a chair. She said she was so proud of herself, and felt impowered. She has not had any oxycontin since 8:30 last night, and has just been doing a small dose of morphene and the perkeset. Dad showed up at like 5 or something and Gma and I were there at 6:30 so we didn't miss the doctor. Chad called us, but we told him to get packed up. (he flies out today)
The doctor made her rounds and decided tomorrow could be discharge day. Now, our secret game plan was to run her home until Thursday, but she nixed that idea quickly. Mom cannot leave campus, but the doctor won't pay the hotel bill! :) They want to make sure she can independently manage her pain today. Dad got a lesson with the bandages today and Gma is the understudy for the job. Mom was eating breakfast, oh, and she already walked today and is able to roll and get up w/o pain for all you nurses out there.
My heart is very heavy today....I am supposed to go home today, and as much as I miss the kids and Matt, it will be hard to say goodbye to Mom. When the doctor told her she had to stay here until Thursday, I burst into tears. I have spent every waking hour with her, but I know I am leaving the 2 best people, Dad and Gma with her. I know Chad feels the same way. It was a powerful family moment last night when we all pulled together. That is what it is all about and a time I will never never forget. As difficult as it was, we were there for each other.
I also feel like I am having a "blog break up" with all of you. But, not to worry, I will continue to post blogs, via Coshocton with my phone updates from them. Who knows, maybe Mom will just be able to walk herself down to the computer room in the Hotel by Thursday.
I will check back before I leave today.
The doctor made her rounds and decided tomorrow could be discharge day. Now, our secret game plan was to run her home until Thursday, but she nixed that idea quickly. Mom cannot leave campus, but the doctor won't pay the hotel bill! :) They want to make sure she can independently manage her pain today. Dad got a lesson with the bandages today and Gma is the understudy for the job. Mom was eating breakfast, oh, and she already walked today and is able to roll and get up w/o pain for all you nurses out there.
My heart is very heavy today....I am supposed to go home today, and as much as I miss the kids and Matt, it will be hard to say goodbye to Mom. When the doctor told her she had to stay here until Thursday, I burst into tears. I have spent every waking hour with her, but I know I am leaving the 2 best people, Dad and Gma with her. I know Chad feels the same way. It was a powerful family moment last night when we all pulled together. That is what it is all about and a time I will never never forget. As difficult as it was, we were there for each other.
I also feel like I am having a "blog break up" with all of you. But, not to worry, I will continue to post blogs, via Coshocton with my phone updates from them. Who knows, maybe Mom will just be able to walk herself down to the computer room in the Hotel by Thursday.
I will check back before I leave today.
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