Update on My Daddy

Let me just say that yesterday was a little scary. His blood sugar was over 500 and he was swelling. His chest x-rays were worse. I was getting worried as he was taking steps backward. The doctors turned the vent back to 100% and started giving him steroids again. By 3:30 yesterday afternoon he was looking so much better. They have started pulling the fluid off him again in large amounts and put in a NG tube to pull any fluids off his stomach. This morning he is resting well and is slightly better today. They are giving him two units of blood today since he is anemic. We are back to where we were on Friday so hopefully he will continue to improve daily and not take anymore steps backwards. I know that I am ready for him to get better. Continue to pray for healing and strength for him.

Today's Update

Daddy is doing about the same. His blood sugar yesterday was over 400 and his heart was out of rhythm. They have managed to get his blood sugar down and shocked his heart a little yesterday and it is back in rhythm. His color looks good and the surgery that he went in originally for is healing quite nicely. This morning they cut down his vent settings. He is resting and we are all so ready for him to get better and come home. We spoke to one of the doctors as we were leaving and it seems that all of this could have been caused by a side effect of some medicine he was on for his heart. The doctor said that he will not be taking that medicine anymore and they have something else he can take that doesn't have any side effects like the other one. It's a slow process but we are not taking any steps backwards. We don't have a time table on how long it will take for him to get over this, so we are just trusting God to heal him.

Please continue to praying for healing for my daddy. We are all ready for him to come home.

One of those days

I am having a hard day today. It seems that just when things are looking up for my daddy that something else happens. Today his blood sugar is over 400 and one of the chambers of his heart is out of sync with the other ones. He has been taking medicine for a while to keep everything in sync but with his surgery and all of this, he hasn't been on it. They started him back on it yesterday afternoon and I was hoping that would fix it. But it didn't, so now they are going to shock his heart to hopefully get everything back in sync. While all of this I believe is not a set back it is still scary in a way. There is a song by Casting Crowns that has meant a lot over the past two weeks.

Praise You in This Storm

words by Mark Hall/music by Mark Hall and Bernie Herms

I was sure by now,God, that You would have reached down

and wiped our tears away,

stepped in and saved the day.

But once again, I say amen

and it's still raining

as the thunder rolls

I barely hear You whisper through the rain,

"I'm with you"

and as Your mercy falls

I raise my hands and praise

the God who gives and takes away.

Chorus:

And I'll praise you in this storm

and I will lift my hands

for You are who You are

no matter where I am

and every tear I've cried

You hold in your hand

You never left my side

and though my heart is torn

I will praise You in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind

You heard my cry to You

and raised me up again

my strength is almost gone how can I carry on

if I can't find You

and as the thunder rolls

I barely hear You whisper through the rain

"I'm with you"

and as Your mercy falls

I raise my hands and praise

the God who gives and takes away

Chorus

I lift my eyes onto the hills

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth

I lift my eyes onto the hills

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth

Chorus

I am so ready for my daddy to get over this so that he can send me 50 emails a day, call me when it's bad weather or just give me a hard time about things. I am ready to have my daddy back.

The Morning Update on My Daddy

I got to see Daddy yesterday afternoon and he was looking better. He was breathing on his own and the vent is only working the lower part of his lungs. The swelling in his feet and hands is getting better also. The doctors are pleased with his progress. My mom went home last night which we are so thankful for. Continue to pray for healing and strength for my daddy. I will update again either this afternoon or in the morning.

Today's Update on My Daddy

I went by the hospital yesterday afternoon and he was looking good. They have changed his oxygen on the ventilator to 50% which is an improvement. The chest x-rays and his lungs were a little better. The lung doctor came around this morning and confirmed that he is improving a little each day but is not ready to come off the ventilator. The swelling in his feet and hands is better and they have started giving him nutrients through the pick line in his arm. It's baby steps to get better but he is heading in the right direction.

I know I say this every time I give an update, but thank you for all your prayers and support. Please keep the prayers coming. We are making progress but still have a road ahead. I am so looking forward to walking in to see him and having him give me a hard time about something.

Morning Update on Daddy

I saw Daddy yesterday and he was doing about the same. The doctors have backed the oxygen down to 60% which means that we are making progress. The chest x-rays showed a little improvement so another step in the right direction. But now he is swelling some so they are back off on the lasix that they are giving him. So pray that when they decrease the lasix that it will help the swelling. They will also be putting in a feeding tube today so that they can keep his stomach working and give him nutrients.

My daddy is a very strong man - walks 3 miles a day - he is probably in better shape than I am. My sister and I have gone back to work this week, so we are very thankful to their Sunday School class for taking shifts to sit with Mama during the day. These past few days have been very hard on all of us. Continue to pray for healing and strength for my daddy and strength for my mama. Again, I want to thank everyone for their prayers and encouraging words. I always knew that my daddy was a great man, but it has been an encouragement to see how my daddy has touched so many lives and is loved by so many people.

My Best Friend

I was so blessed 5 1/2 years ago when I was introduced to someone who would become my best friend - JC. This past week has been tough on me emotionally and without him I would have probably lost it by now.

He knows just when to make me laugh, smile and get a grip on things. He can say just the right thing at the right moment to make me feel safe and loved. He keeps the kids so that I can come to the hospital and doesn't even complained - a lot of husbands would.

God knew exactly the right person I would need when I met him. God knew that I would need his strength, love and compassion. When I watch him with the kids, I fall in love with him all over again.

Another Update on My Daddy

This morning when my sister and mom went to visit him, Daddy was very tired and didn't look as good as he did yesterday. So the doctor decided and Daddy agreed that he needed to be put on a ventilator. This was tough to handle at first but I know that this is what is best for him right now. He is tired and using the breathing machine was just causing a lot of work for him to breath and talk. Now he is resting well. It appears that he has pneumonia, which they will be able aggressively treat now with him being on the ventilator. We don't know how long he will be on the ventilator - it could be three days or a week - only God knows. His a tough man who walks 3 miles a day. He has battled cancer, open heart surgery, diabetes due to cancer, and getting a pacemaker so I know he has the fight in him.

It's hard to sit and see him like this. I wish I could twitch my nose and make him all better, but it doesn't work that way. I have faith in God that He is the ultimate healer and that in the end He will get all the glory in this. Please continue to pray for healing and comfort for my Daddy. We so appreciate all the prayers and kind words from everyone.

Update on My Daddy

Let me say again how much we appreciate everything that everyone has done for us. My daddy is making great strides everyday and is getting much better. He is eating good and is breathing a little better everyday. He is cutting up with everyone which means he is definitely starting to feel better. My nephew told me that last night he sat up in the chair again for about 2 hours and actually took the oxygen mask off for about 10 minutes and was able to hold his own and talk to them. We still have a road ahead but at least we are heading down the road of getting better.

An Update and Big Thankful

As many of you know, the past week has been very scary with my daddy. He crashed again Wednesday afternoon and they have moved him to the CVICU unit. He is doing a little better but there appears to be something going on with his lungs. They have him on a Pap Machine (I am sure I am not saying the right thing) to help him take deep breaths, but when he comes off of it he gets real winded. They are currently trying to figure out what is going on. He is having liquids and they will be starting him on thicker liquids today. We just got back from visiting him and he seemed to be a little better today. He was kidding around with us and the nurse.

I just want to tell everyone thank you for the prayers that have been lifted up on behalf of my daddy and my family. It has meant so much to my mom and all of us. Things like this are easier to make it through with friends like you guys. I especially want to thank my company and coworkers for being so understanding and working with me that has allowed me to be here at the hospital with my mom. Please continue to lift my daddy and my mom during this time. We are making progress but we still have a way to go.

Another Milestone

We have reach another milestone with the babies. They, especially Jesse, can sit up for a little bit by themselves. Jesse does it a lot better than Camie because she tries to stand up when you sit her up so she tends to fall backwards. Jesse is a little bigger - ok, a lot bigger than her and has a belly that he can rest on. We call him Buddha sometimes because he looks like a little buddha when he sits up - just a chunky little thing. I can't believe that they are already sitting up some. It seems like they shouldn't be old enough to do that. Hopefully I will be able to get a picture of Camie sitting up by herself soon and post it here.

5 months old

Today my babies are 5 months old which is so hard to believe. They are the joy of our lives and so funny. Their personalities are coming out and they are starting to sit up some by themselves. I love to watch the older two with them. They love the babies so much and are starting to help out with their feedings some. They are a big help and I would be totally lost without them.

A Scare

This past Thursday my daddy had surgery to correct a problem he was having with his stomach. The surgery was much simpler that they originally thought so we were excited. Today I am sitting in the hospital room with my family. He started having a hard time breathing. They had to call for the rapid response team because he was that bad. Now he is stable but requires an oxygen mask. I drove from my house to the hospital in about 30 minutes if not less. I can tell you that was one of the longest trips ever. Please pray for my daddy or diddy as my sister and I call him. He is the best diddy that a girl could ever have.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

People will buy anything

I saw a tweet today from CBS 42 and just shock my head when I saw it. You can buy freeze dried sod from the 2010 BCS championship. Buying freeze dried sod from anywhere is just crazy. Check it out : http://www.stadiumassociates.com/Products

Only in Alabama

A friend and coworker of mine posted a tweet on twitter about the Coaches' Trophy being on display this weekend at two area Walmarts. I thought you have got to be kidding me, but here is the media release:

MEDIA ALERT FOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 8

THE COACHES TROPHY TO BE DISPLAYED FOR FANS AT WALMART STORES THIS WEEKEND

WHAT: The Coaches Trophy presented by Dr Pepper, which was awarded to the University of Alabama as 2009 national college football champions, will be on display this weekend at two area Walmart stores. Fans will be able to have a free on-line photo taken with the actual Waterford Crystal football trophy that was presented on the field at the Citi BCS National Championship in Pasadena, Calif., on Thursday night.

WHEN / WHERE:

Saturday, January 9

Walmart Supercenter #716

1501 Skyland Blvd. East

Tuscaloosa, AL 35405

Noon 4 p.m.

Sunday, January 10

Walmart Supercenter #1201

890 Odum Road

Gardendale, AL 35071

10 a.m. 2 p.m.

Only in Alabama would you find this happening. Other places would do something crazy like have it on display at the university or a hall of fame. No not in Alabama. We display it at Walmart. I would love to go out there and see the huge crowd of people you know who will show up to see it. I was hoping this was a joke but it has been confirmed as true. I know everyone is excited but couldn't they have picked another location to display it.

The Day After

Well the National Championship game is over and Alabama won. We all watched the game last night. Mags didn't make it to halftime before falling asleep. Josh made it to halfway through the 3rd quarter. Right before the ball game was over, JC tried to wake Josh up so that he could see the celebration. He was so out that we couldn't get him to even really look at the TV. JC was even picking him up trying to get him to wake up but he was just out.

I have to give kudos to my husband. As many of you know, I am in a "mixed" marriage. Last night instead of rubbing it in my face or anything like that, my husband smiled and was just happy. He order him and Josh a shirt last night. He asked me what size to get Josh and then asked me if I wanted anything - that typical "Hey I am ordering something do you want anything?". I had to gracious decline his offer since it didn't have enough orange and blue for me.

So congrats to Alabama and representing the SEC in a great way. I loved the fact that again the SEC came out on top and beat the Big 12! One of these days, the rest of the country will realize that the SEC is the best conference.

Oh, I haven't really looked at the scores to see who was closer, but I believe that the Aubie in the house may have gotten closer. but I will gracious give that title of winner to my husband and my little red head.

The Bets are In

To make the game a little more interesting tonight, we all picked the winner and score. So we will see who is the closest:

JC :: Winner : Alabama , Score: 31-17
Josh :: Winner : Alabama , Score 32-13
Maggie :: Winner : Texas , Score 38-35
(she was scared JC would be mad when she made this choice)
Me :: Winner : Not Texas, Score 35-17

Yes I said that Texas would not win. I couldn't bring myself to say that the other team would actually win. So as the teams run out, the entire family is sitting around watching it. JC and the boys are in their Alabama gear on the couch and Camie has her gear on. Mags and I are neutral. So good luck to both teams, but I believe the SEC will come out on top again.

Best thing since sliced bread (for now)...

I am not one to recommend things a lot but I have found something that I wish they would have had years ago. It would have saved me a lot of spraying and scrubbing on my clothes. Tide Stain Release is the bomb. I add it to all my load especially the babies' clothes and bibs and our whites. It gets things out the first time like it claims. I don't even pre-spray clothes most of the time now because it works so good. My kids' socks are filthy after jumping on the trampoline to the point that you don't think they will ever be white again. Used this stuff and the socks were white again. I would so recommend it - especially if you have a boy as active as my oldest.

Now this fires me up

As far as rednecks go, Alabama may have UT beat
I am not an Alabama fan, but when I read this article it got my blood to boiling because he was talking about all of us - not just the Bama fans. Who does this guy think he is? Texas can thank him for giving Alabama another reason to beat their Big 12 butts all over the field.

Brown Bear Brown Bear

Now that the babies are getting older, I have started reading to them. I kept some of Maggie and Josh's favorite baby books and one of them was "Brown Bear Brown Bear What do you see?" I got it out and started reading it to them and they loved it. Jesse actually starts laughing and grinning from ear to ear when I read it to them. Now the older two are reading books to them and I hope to capture some of those moments on video and in picture to remember them forever.

A New Year

Welcome 2010! A new year has begun. We don't do anything special around our house for New Year's so it was just another day to us. I am excited about what the new year has for us. We start the new year with 4 kids and a very busy schedule. The babies are eating now so that just adds one more thing to the ever busy nightly schedule once school kicks back in. But I have only one resolution that I intend to make and that is to have a more positive attitude. I didn't realize how bad my attitude was at times until here recently when I started hearing my daughter complain about things and realized that I had heard those words before - they were my words. That is enough to kick you down a few notches and get you to thinking.

So this year I am determined to have a better attitude and not stress out about things. And hopefully this attitude will spill over to my kids as well. So it's time to make some lemonade out of life's lemons.