Winter in Georgia: Snow Jam 2/ Ice Jam 1

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Welcome Winter!

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Do not push me!

Don’t push me!

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Almost!

Almost ready!

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I'm going......

Ok, ok….I’m going!

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Something smells funny!

Hummm…that smells funny!

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The birds are hibernating!

The birds are hibernating!

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Daddy what happened?

What happened daddy, what is this?

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Looks like pee pee pads, I gotta go! It is cold out here.

Looks like pee pee pads, but cold! I gotta go!

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Look out momma! Here I come!

Look out momma, it is cold out here!

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New pines on the hill, slumped over with Ice!

Poor pine trees!

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Let me in!

Let me in!

I am boycotting Facebook for the next month! Social Media is taking over too many lives, and I am upset!

I am angry! Someone I cared for and has been a big part of my life, for the 30+ years passed away over the weekend. She had struggled for years with breast cancer and finally lost her battle. She is sitting with God now! She no longer deals with pain! She is in a better place.

What I am angry about is the fact that my mother, my husband and both of my sisters found out and Barry was the one who told me. One of my sisters forgot and called me a few minutes after Barry told me, unfortunately too late to get to visitation tonight. My other sister actually said she didn’t call me because I have access to facebook and she figured I saw her post this morning, but she called our mother to tell her, whom lives in MY house!

Quite frankly, who has time to read the miles and miles of post that all of your friends put online everyday? I try to keep up with what is going on, but my eyes do not allow me to read like they used too! My tablet does tons of reading to me.

The lady that passed away was a senior in high school, when I was a freshman; took part in my first home purchase; helped surprise my first husband with a fishing boat; when I was sick and overwhelmed with medical bills, she helped me through a debt consoludation; after my divorce, she helped me buy my first car; and helped my new husband and I with a construction loan for our dream house.

After all that, I am asked “you didn’t read my post?” I AM ANGRY! I believe with good reason! Facebook….I apoligize, but I refuses to sign on again until March 10th. I need a break.

A recap of 2013 and it is behind us! On with a brighter, healthier year! Have a healthy, safe 2014 everyone!

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Photo taken Friday, December 27, 2013 at my sister’s house! Aren’t we lovely?

1/17- Jill’s genetic disorder confirmed
1/18- Jill referred to high risk breast center at Emory; 4th follow-up mammogram cleared from 2012
2/18-Pop in hospital after defibrillator went off at shop
2/20- lump discovered
2/21- mammogram, ultrasound, biopsy completed.MRI Scheduled.
2/28-core biopsy done, Pop home from Hospital
3/3- Barry retired to be home with me and due to stroke
3/4- DCIS diagnosis (breast cancer) received and surgery scheduled.
3/8-Pop back to hospital
3/15- surgery scheduled
3/18-Pop home
3/30-surgery, lump removed and margins cleaned
4/3- 9th wedding anniversary
4/15-2nd surgery, margins needed to be cleared
again
4/19- Pop back to hospital
4/20- spoke with hospice concerning Pop
4/30-3rd surgery, margins still not clear; Pop home from hospital
5/6-appointment with Medical Oncologist to discuss options.  Lab work to determine type of chemotherapy/radiation needed.
6/6- Port inserted for chemo, another surgery
6/7- Chemo started
6/28-Chemo
7/10- Barry stroke doctor
7/18-Jill appointment
7/19-Chemo
7/24-meeting with Hospice, Pop admitted to Hospice.
8/7-Barry passed out at home, to Eastside Mefical by Ambulance; admitted
8/8- overnight transferred to ICU and then transferred to Saint Joseph’s Hospital
8/9- last chemo
8/12-Pacemaker surgery
8/14- received phone call, 3 hours before Barry’s surgery, that my Father had passed away from Congestive Heart Failure. Valve replacement surgery and abscess clean-up
8/28-discharged home
9/9-admitted to Saint Joseph’s Hospital
9/20-discharged home
10/10-started radiation (M-F for 33 treatments)
10/11-radiation
10/14-radiation
10/14-admitted to Saint Joseph’s Hospital
10/15-radiation
10/16-radiation
10/17-radiation
10/18-radiation
10/21-radiation
10/22-radiation
10/23-radiation
10/24-radiation
10/25-radiation, discharged home
10/28-radiation
10/29-radiation
10/30-radiation
10/31-radiation
11/1-radiation
11/4-radiation
11/5-radiation
11/6-radiation
11/7-radiation
11/8-radiation
11/11-radiation
11/12-radiation
11/13-radiation, Barry admitted to Gwinnett Medical Center; after 3 days discharged. Got sick on the way home, taken to Northside Hospital ER. Transferred to St. Joseph’s Hospital for admission (Jill’s birthday)
11/14-radiation
11/15-radiation
11/18-radiation
11/19-radiation
11/20-radiation
11/21-radiation
11/22-radition, discharged from hospital. Sent home for holiday to prepare for surgery before Christmas
11/25-radiation
11/26-radiation
11/27-radiation
11/28-radiation
11/29-radiation
12/1-radiation
12/2-radiation
12/3-radiation
12/4-radiation
12/5-last radiation treatment completed prior to Barry’s admission. Admitted to Saint Joseph’s Hospital in preparation for surgery on 12/9.
12/17-discharged home from the hospital after surgery.
12/19-Home Health following IV infusions to treat endocarditis

True Love and Commitment

Is true love, commitment, and faith a thing of the past?  Does anyone today know the meaning of these simple words? I’m not sure they do! There are many definitions available for the words listed above. It is up to you to decide which one best suits your needs. Of course, my opinion is what it is, mine3.

I guess it could be in God’s plan that certain people remain alone;

but I am a true believer! You have to want someone to find them and be friendly with the words compromise, faith and trust! For a very long time, I ran when22 those words came into a conversation. After my first husband, words like those, brought the scaredy cat out in me.

 

As I sit at my husband’s bedside; not knowing what the next minute will bring; I feel sad for so many people. Today’s generation of kids, will never know or understand the feeling of loving someone so much you are willing to sit by their bedside hour after hour, just to be near them.  To know they are safe for the moment and realize your smile will be the first thing they see when they open their eyes. The smile that graces their lips, at that moment, makes it all worthwhile.

Every time I help him stand or gain his balance, brings us closer together. In 2009, Barry was there for me. Telling me the same things about recovery and helping with anything and everything I needed. Sitting at my bedside, unsure of the future. He could have walked away and he did not. He stuck by my side because he loves me. Experiences we have shared, have only brought us closer together.

This definitely was not part of our retirement plan, but we are making the most out of what time God has blessed us with. Presently, we maybe be part couch potato, but we have plans.

Accommodation is a big part of our plans. The health issues we are dealing with, require us to make changes to our original plans. Just by chance, my handsome hubby is handling change better. A trip to a beautiful, sandy beach needs to be researched for handicapped accessibility. As we make travel plans, we learn something new with every call.

Are There Really Soul-Mates?

According to wikipedia, soul-mates exist.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul mate

Webster’s Dictionary also has a definition.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soul-mates

Since these two, well-known sources help define a soul mate, they must exist.

I’d call myself a romantic.

I’d like to believe there is, that perfect someone out there for everyone. There are times I would call myself a sucker; call me old-fashioned; call me old school; call me whatever you like; just be sure that you know I have faith in love and hate to see so many people unhappy or in a bad relationship.

Your person is out there. If I can find mine, after a disastrous first marriage, you can find yours! It took seven years, but Barry and I found each other. We have spent only two nights apart since

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Headed out for a birthday celebration!

getting married, We plan to renew our vows on our tenth wedding anniversary! It only takes an ounce of faith. God has a plan for you! Give it time!

 

Watching the strong get weaker one day at a time!

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This is turning into the hardest thing I have ever had to do. My sweet hubby is the strongest person I know on this earth and watching him grow weaker and weaker is killing me. My heart breaks a little more everyday.

I go through the scenarios about this illness and they do not help. Yes he can improve. I am well awarebof that! I just do not enjoy watching him feel so bad.

He is so weak, he can’t walk to the bathroom without getting short of breath. His legs and abdomen are so swollen you can hardly recognize him. He says he doesn’t hurt, but is just uncomfortable.

I have no doubt he is saved and going to heaven. That is not what my tears are for. My tears come from watching what this disease is doing to his body. I know the Good Lord has a plan and is watching over my sweeatheart. He is by my side as I take care of Barry.

If this procedure is what Bear needs to make him better, I pray that his kidney levels have improved and they can schefule it as soon as possible. If not, please give Bear the strength to accept the fact that they have to go into his chest s third time. He is scared and I cannot bkame him. The doctors have repeatedly told him all about the risk. It scares him to hear about it. It scares me too.

I feel like Barry is taking me through a trip down memory lane. We spent the weekend in his hometown. We took a million pictures of special places where he spent his childhood.  Is he trying to tell me something?

We are back, at least for the moment!

In our earlier post, we stated we’d try to get a post in a week. Maybe more. According to how our day goes! Between radiation treatments, Barry’s doctors appointments and our energy levels; we are lucky to get anything posted. Have patience. I have taken pictures and written posts while sitting around the hospital. A lot of interesting things go on in local hospitals! Just wait……

Mom Lost Her Washcloths

Mom is adorable. I never know what to expect her to do or say next. She would lose her hind-end if it wasn’t attached to her backside.

Barry and I came in yesterday to find mom frantically searching for something. When Barry went to change clothes, mom told me that she had washed all of her socks and wash clothes, which were now missing. She was wringing out one wash cloth daily, for a 2 weeks now and decided she could find hers on her own. She also decided not to tell us or ask to borrow a wash cloth. I told her to quit being silly and let’s find her wash clothes.

Mom is wonderful. I start the laundry, my disability allows me to do this after someone carries the clothes to the laundry. I cannot pick-up more than 5 pounds at a time. Mom then folds/hangs up and helps put the laundry away. She doesn’t realize how much help this is.

English: Laundry is hung to dry above an Itali...

English: Laundry is hung to dry above an Italian street.                                 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)                                                     

Mom: does this look like a woman that cannot keep up with anything?wpid-IMAG0137.jpg