A Day in the Infusion Ward

Mom is due to spend most of the day in the Infusion Ward today. She is scheduled for two units of red blood cells, along with a chest x-ray. This is in addition to all the regular medications she needs to take while there.

Mom continues to run a low grade fever off and on but has not yet hit the "dreaded" 100.4. Last night she got to 100.1 but was able to "ward it off" with some Tylenol...her new "best friend."

Mom has lost five pounds in the last week. Stasi is making some changes towards adding more calories to the protein Mom eats. Mom really struggles with eating because it makes her feel "sluggy" and uncomfortable after she eats. Food also no longer tastes as it once did for her. Mom is also facing issues with diarrhea, as if she needed to deal with anything else. She is also sleeping more which isn't always a positive indicator.

When I talked with Stasi, she said that Mom continues to be optimistic. Mom's usual morning greeting is "I am doing better than I was yesterday." The forever "I'm fine" gal! Surely it is only by the grace of God and her "I'm Fine" attitude that has enabled her to come this far while dealing with such overwhelming medical conditions.

Mom is still taking calls, especially while in the Infusion Ward. You can reach her on her cell phone at 805-235-6794. A quick "hello" would be a blessing!

One Day at a Time

Mom continues to do as well as can be expected with all the medical challenges she faces daily. Stasi arrived back at the apartment on Sunday afternoon while Kathie returned home to be with her family. Kathie blessed Mom greatly with her wonderful care, support and encouragement to Mom. Mom is working hard to consume mass amounts of protein while avoiding sugar. Kathie has had lots of experience with this type of diet within her own family and was most helpful to Mom. Eating comes hard for Mom these days since she feels poorly after she eats or after she takes her medication which is four times a day. Hard to imagine.

Diana Sorensen, a dear friend of Mom's, and Morgan, Mom's oldest grandchild and Stasi's daughter, arrived at the apartment on Monday afternoon. Mom was delighted to see them both and is looking forward to enjoying their company through Wednesday. Stasi is also greatly enjoying Diana and Morgan's sweet fellowship.

Mom is still making her daily trips to the Infusion Ward. She spends at least three hours a day there, sometimes all day. Her fungicide medication alone takes two hours to administer! Add to that platelets, blood, magnesium or whatever else she may need that day and it makes for a long, tiring day.

When I talked with Stasi today, she said that Mom is not feeling as well as she has the last few days. Mom is running a low grade fever (99.4). Her fever is a major determining factor if she will be able to keep her transfusion/IV port. A fever of 100.4 means a trip to the hospital and her port will need to be removed. This would not be a favorable situation. Mom is also sleeping more, coughing and not quite her perky self. She continues to walk, sometimes even without her walker, which is wonderful! Her time lately in a wheelchair has been minimal the last five days. This is good. We will know more after she goes to the Infusion Ward today. At last count her platelets were 18, so she may need platelets today making it a longer day for her.

Please continue to hold Mom up in prayer. As well as she is doing under the circumstances, this is still a very hard road she is walking.

Doing Well

Mom had a very good day yesterday. She walked more than she has in weeks and seemed to feel a lot better. It was definitely a good day.

Today Mom continued to do well. She received both platelets and red blood cells, along with her antibiotics while in the Infusion Ward. Two bags of blood were needed but there was only time for one so the second bag will come tomorrow. It will be interesting to hear if her iron level increases with this new transfusion. Hopefully not since she is already at such a dangerous level. I am not sure if she kept her activity level up again today but am hopeful she did.

Stasi returned home and Kathie is currently blessing Mom. We all appreciate the sacrifices Kathie and her family make to help Mom. Mom delights in her time with Kathie. They play cards together and Kathie reads to Mom. Lots of fun!

Thank you for all your prayers and support. Please do feel free to give Mom a call if you have a moment of time. She would love to hear how you and your family are doing. Many Blessings!

Very Happy

Mom was delighted to find herself leaving the hospital around 6:30 PM yesterday. She is very happy to be back at the apartment, able to sleep in her own bed and move around without being attached to something. Aah...the little things in life we so often take for granted! Mom had an uneventful night and plans to get in and out of the Infusion Ward as quickly as possible today.

Mom's next appointment with Dr. Shrier is on August 5th and her appointment with the urologist is scheduled for August 6th. Both appointments should reveal more information about the state of Mom's health and the next plan of action.

Stasi dropped me off at the San Francisco Airport at 4:30 AM and this is where I sit awaiting my connection into Denver and then on to Oklahoma City. I am sorry to have to leave Mom and Stasi but am most eager to see my family again. Stasi will be with Mom until Friday and then plans to spend the weekend with her family. Our fabulous cousin, Kathie, will be staying with Mom for the weekend. We greatly appreciate Kathie! Stasi will be back up with Mom on Sunday afternoon and plans to stay with her until Dad returns until after August 4th. My family is praying about a possible return trip for me before that time. We will see how things work out.

Dad and Travis are having a wonderful time in Samoa. Mom has had a couple of opportunities to talk with Dad since he has left. It is amazing when you think about how far technology has come. Talking on a cell phone across the world sounds like just being next door. It brought Mom great joy to hear Dad's voice and know he was having a delightful time with Travis.

I plan to check in with Stasi and Kathie to hear how things are going with Mom. I will update as I can. Mom is hanging in there and enjoying being out of the hospital. Thank you again for your prayers. Have a blessed day!

Leaving the Hospital

Mom is more than excited that she will be leaving the hospital tonight. She should be finished up with her IV of fungal medication in about two hours. Then she will take a shower, sign a few papers and off we'll go! It is hard to believe that she has been in the hospital for five days. Time just keeps moving forward.

Mom is feeling much better but still has many challenges to deal with...diabetic issues, iron overload issues, malnutrition issues, blood and platelet issues and the side effects of each of these conditions. (An interesting side effect of Mom's iron overload is that she would probably set off the metal detectors if she tried to pass through airport security. Can you imagine?! good thing she has no plans to fly any time soon.) Mom is now having to make changes to deal with these in a proactive way to help ease the symptoms. Mom needs to eat LOTS of protein and avoid sugar. Mom needs to do as much as possible to move and keep her muscles working. This means using the bathroom instead her potty chair, showering frequently, sleeping less in the day, sitting in a chair as much as possible (especially for meals), and trying to live as "normal" of a life as possible. This is not easy to do when moving around is tiring and food doesn't taste very good. Mom is going to have to choose daily to work to make a difference in her activity level remembering that "if you don't use it, you lose it." She will also have to choose to eat even if she doesn't want to or her malnutrition will have to be handled in a different way. I am confident that Mom can make these changes. After all, she has God on her side..."I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." ~Philippians 4:13

Dr. Zach Koontz is our new favorite "super hero" disguised as a doctor. Dr. Koontz has fabulous a bedside manner and is very perceptive. Not only has Dr. Koontz blessed Mom, he has been a blessing to Stasi and me as well. Dr. Koontz, we greatly appreciate you! Dr. Koontz has not been alone in his quest to care for Mom. He has been surrounded by the rest of the "super hero" team doctors here in ocology...all who a terrific at what they do to bless their patients.

Liz has also been a blessing during Mom's hospital stay. Today we discovered that not only does she save lives by day as a RN in oncology, she serves the general population at night by working at the Pottery Barn. This added a cape to her "super hero" costume in our eyes. Liz has been a source of delight, encouragement and inspiration. Thank you Liz! Oncology is staffed with the BEST nursing staff anywhere...the proof is in the care. May God bless each and every one of you!

Gerry has been Mom's nurse's aide today. Gerry is a "regular" here in oncology and we have been blessed by her care during many of Mom's hospital visits. She is sweet and always has a twinkle in her eye. To Gerry and ALL the nurse's aides who have faithfully, selflessly and kindly serve Mom, we say THANK YOU!

Mom will continue her daily visits to the Infusion Ward beginning tomorrow morning. Her appointment is a 9:30 AM. They will be checking all her levels to help keep her in balance and things moving forward in a positive direction. This will be a good thing.

We will soon be back at the apartment. Starting tomorrow, you can reach Mom at either of the numbers posted at the top of this page under the blog heading. Mom appreciates your prayers, encouragement and call. Thank you!

Janet & Lasagna

Mom had a delightful visit Janet Grinstead yesterday. As a matter of fact, we all did! We figured out that we have been friends with Janet for eight years. How time flies! Janet only lives an hour away from Stanford but is currently vacationing out of town with Jim, her "what-a-guy" husband, in Pinecrest. She blessed us all by making the 3-1/2 hour trip into town just to visit. What a good friend! Janet arrived at 11:30 AM and stayed until 7:30 PM. We got in lots of good visiting. Yeah!!



While visiting, Janet shared a family favorite recipe for Lasagna. Janet received this recipe from her friend, Diane Berry, 35 years ago. This recipe is one of her most requested when she takes it to potlucks and has stood the test of time. I am eager to give it a try. I have posted it below just for fun.

Janet Grinstead's Famous Lasagna

• 1/2 pound sausage


• 1 pound ground turkey or beef


• 1 can cream of chicken soup


• 1 pkg. onion soup mix


• 1 6 oz. can tomato paste


• 1 8 oz. can tomato sauce


• 1-1/2 cups of water


• 1-1/2 teaspoons Italian seasonings


• 1 box lasagna noodles (cooked)


• 1-1/2 cup ricotta cheese


• 1-1/2 cup mozzarella cheese

Cook sausage and ground turkey/beef in skillet until browned. Mix in cream of chicken soup, onion soup mix, tomato paste, tomato sauce, water and Italian seasonings. Simmer for 20 minutes. In a greased 9 x 13 pan, put a light layer of meat mixture on the bottom. Then layer noodles, meat mixture and cheese. Repeat until pan is full. Bake at 350F for 40 minutes. ENJOY!

I also think that there may tie-dye in our future. Janet's family has a annual tradition of everyone making tie-dye clothing during their summer vacation. They are actually known in Pinecrest as the tie-dye family. How fun! Her favorite source for tie dye products is the Dharma Trading Company. We can't wait to check it out. She is wearing one of her tie-dye shirts in the photo above. A favorite of ours!

Hope your day is blessed. We will post an update on Mom ASAP.

Staying Another Day

Last night Mom spiked a fever and had stomach pains which have earned her another night stay here at Stanford Hospital. Around 5:00 PM things started to change from Mom truly feeling fine to "something is not right." Fortunately, Konstantin was able to give her something to reduce her fever and subside her pain and she ended up having a good night. Although she feels better this morning, the doctors are concerned about this recent turn of events and want to run a few tests. Mom is scheduled to have an Eco cardiogram sometime today at 1:00 PM to check out her heart. Mom has continues to struggle with her magnesium level. Today she was at 1.3 and needed four bags to bring her up to speed. She was low! A normal is level is 1.8-2.4. A fever can be a big deal so they will continue to monitor all her vital signs to gauge her progress.

Mom's appetite has not been very good so Ensure has become her new best friend. It was no small accomplishment when she chose to sit in a chair and have her Ensure this morning. She is even going try to eat her lunch while sitting in a chair. Little steps in the right direction are definitely something to be thankful about! Mom also has plans to take a shower and get her transfusion port dressing changed today. We also hope to see the art therapist, along with a visit from our dear friend, Janet Grinstead. It should be a full day for Mom. Wahoo!!

Mom was blessed with excellent care from Aimee last night. Today Brian is taking care of Mom. he is absolutely delightful and truly goes the extra mile for his patients. All of Mom's nurses and caregivers have been wonderful! We appreciate the competent and caring staff of Stanford Hospital more than words can express. These are the "super heroes" of life disguised as medical professionals. Thank you, thank you, thank you to each and everyone one of you!

Stasi returned late last night driving the sporty rental car that made her look good while drive it (at least that is what we'd like to think!). We forgot to take the camera when we dropped off the car so the nicely dressed Enterprise guy was spared from our neurotic photo taking ways. It is GREAT to have Stasi back.

We have started talking with the Ann, the Oncology Social Worker, about how we can best help Mom when she leaves the hospital. Ann is going to help get us all the supplies to make life in the apartment easier for Mom's care. She is also going to help us look into getting a caregiver who can come in a couple days a week to help out with the more difficult challenges Mom faces and give Dad some respite when he needs it. All this is a lot for Mom to process. No one likes to think they have come to a place when they need more than the usual care. With Mom's levels going out of balance at a drop of a hat and Mom's physical condition able to change hourly, we are now dealing with entirely different issues than we have previously faced after Mom went through ATG. Mom is doing the best anyone could expect but the bottom line is that she has had to deal with Aplastic Anemia for over three years.

Mom knows that she is only here by the grace of God and praises Him for another day. We would covet your prayers on Mom's behalf as she comes to terms with some many major changes. Thank you.

Doing Better

Yesterday was a very rough day for Mom. She felt lousy and wasn't her usual optimistic self. This is completely understandable with all that is going on within her body. Today she is doing better. Praise the Lord!

Mom is having trouble with her iron level due to all her blood transfusions. She is at 4900+ and being under 1000 is where she should be. This means that Mom will most likely be put on a medication (Exjade) to help flush out all the extra iron. One of the side affects of Exjade is chronic diarrhea. Mom is not looking forward to this since this is a medication she would be on long term. We are waiting for Dr. Shier to return at the end of the month to get the okay to start her on Exjade. They doctors are continuing to watch Mom's port for infection. They have decided to not pull it at this time but are concerned that if she gets another infection they will have to remove it. We are grateful that Mom can keep it in at this time. As for Mom's most recent infections, the doctors feel that they can be handled with antibiotics while out of the hospital. This means that they hope to release Mom tomorrow. Yeah!

Mom seems to do best while in the hospital. Her levels are more stabilized, her mobility seems to improve and her bodily functions are easier to control. We are working with the doctors to make it easier for Mom when she is released and returns to the apartment. The new plan will be to test most all her levels daily while in the Infusion Ward. This should help stop the roller coaster of side effects of electrolytes being out of balance.

Mom's nurses have all been wonderful! Brenda was her nurse last night and she gave Mom excellent care. We actually think that Brenda is an angel just dressed as a nurse. It blesses our heart to see the nurses care for our mother as if she was their own mother. Beth was also a blessing to Mom is many ways as she came and went throughout the day yesterday. Konstantin is Mom's nurse today. He is going to help get her prepared so she can take a shower. Wahoo!! I know that Mom will feel even better all fresh and clean. He is skillful in all that he does and is quite charming. Loyda is actually going to help Mom with her shower. Loyda is delightful and most helpful. She makes sure all Mom's needs are being met, makes sure her linens are clean and is a ray of sunshine to our day.

If you tried to call Mom yesterday and couldn't get through, we are sorry. We didn't discover until late last night that Mom's phone was not working. It has been fixed so please feel free to call if you'd like. You can reach her at 650-725-9390.

It is just Mom and me today. We are enjoying this time together. Stasi left very early this morning to return home for a board meeting and to take care of a few things at home. I miss her and will look forward to her return early tomorrow morning.

We did have fun picking up her rental car yesterday. There is a car rental place her on the Stanford Campus just a minute from the hospital. We picked up a car for her to make the trip home so I could have Mom's car here. The rental guy was very nice and quite the snazzy dresser. He acted like most people don't ask to take his photo when they rent a car from him...go figure.






Things are improving and the day looks all the brighter. We have written the following verse on the board in Mom's hospital room to encourage her and those who come in to see her.

"This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it." ~Psalm 118:24

Thank you Lord for another day!

Not So Fine

Today finds Mom feeling "not so fine." Mom told the doctors this morning that she feels "awful all over." This could be because of her low platelet count, low sodium level and the two different infections that were detected and are now being cultured. The doctors and nurses are doing all they can to help Mom and are very sensitive to her needs. Because Mom has not been feeling well this morning, we had to what to take our daily photo until Mom had received some of her medications to "perk" her up and bring her back to good humor. Things are already looking better.

We are delighted to have Liz back again today as Mom's day nurse. Liz is great with Mom and finds Stasi & me somewhat amusing which totally works for us. Along with Liz, Ashley has been assigned to care for Mom. Ashley is another of Stanford's "Super Heroes." She is wearing a fun ladybug scrub, has a sweet smile and is truly a gem.

We did hear from Dad and Travis last night. They arrived in Samoa safely and are having a great time. Dad is grateful that Mom is receiving good care and is looking forward to an encouraging report when he has opportunity to call next.

The plan is still not to release Mom from the hospital until the doctors feel confident that the antibiotics they are using will work to take care of the new infections. This is going to take some time. We are trying to prepare Mom that she could be here for awhile. Only time will tell. Thank you again for your support and encouragement.

Happy Birthday Mark!

Mom's middle baby turned 45 years old today. WOW! Where has the time gone? I still remember the sweet little kid who couldn't smell things (until he had surgery on his nose at 4-1/2 years) and carried around a dead fish that Mom would refreeze again every night. Aah...the delightful memories of childhood! Mark called this morning to wish Mom a "Happy Birthing Day." Mom enjoyed Mark's call immensely.

Happy 45th Birthday Mark! May God bless you with many more years of making memories.

A Room with a View

Mom awoke this morning feeling better and happy to be back in the hospital. She is looking nothing like the woman we dragged into the hospital last night. She looks so much better. Although being in the hospital isn't always her first choice, she does appreciate being here in Ground F. She gets excellent care, has a wonderful room with a great view, and feels comfortable in familiar surroundings. Stasi and I did have to tease Mom a little about her complaint that she was woken up occasionally by the nurse through the night. Over the last few nights, Mom had woken Kathie up at least five times each night!

Stasi and I are up to our usual routine of photos with Mom and finding ways to amuse ourselves with a camera. It always brings us joy that Mom puts up with us and that the staff just smile and play along. A sense of humor is a wonderful gift to have when life gets "hard" and things don't go as we'd like. Thank you God for the gift of laughter! Taking less than flattering photos of ourselves, finding toilet paper stuck to the bottom of our shoes, friends (new & old) to share a laugh with...all things to remind us that life is short, precious and not to take ourselves too seriously.

Liz, Mom's day nurse, is delightful! We appreciate all that she is doing to meet Mom's every need. The doctors arrived this morning to evaluate Mom's condition. What a great group of people! As much as they would like to send Mom home, they have no intention of releasing her until they are sure things will go well for her back at the apartment. They will continue to monitor her, review her levels from this morning and follow up on her nighttime activities.

We will post more later. Thank you for your prayers. Have a blessed day!

We're Back!

Mom had a good morning today. Things went well at the Infusion Ward and all seemed be going in the right direction until this afternoon. Mom started to get warm and by the time Stasi and I arrived this evening her temperature had risen to 102.7. Mom was lethargic and extremely tired. Stasi called the doctor to report Mom's fever. We were instructed to bring Mom to the hospital and this is where we sit.

Mom was not in the least interested in returning to the hospital but complied with the doctor's request. The interesting thing is that when we finally got to the hospital, she admitted how badly she felt and that she knew this is where she needed to be. Mom is back in her beloved F Ground Ward among friends...the nurses and doctors that have so skillfully taken care of her every so often in the past. Stasi and I also received a warm welcome. Apparently if you run around with a camera, laugh a lot and wear clothes that blend, folks tend to remember you...go figure?! Nevertheless, Stasi and I are very fond of the staff in F Ground. A very capable group of medical professionals with fabulous senses of humor! We didn't skip a beat and took photos of all the folks who are working hard to bless Mom.

Tonight they are running blood tests, taking chest x-rays and doing all they can to figure out why Mom is running a fever while on antibiotics. We should have a better picture of things in the morning.

Before I share with you my amusing airport adventure, I must thank Kathie for the WONDERFUL care she so thoughtful and kindly gave to Mom. Kathie set up Mom's medication schedule in a way to make it possible for anyone to keep things straight. Not an easy task being there are 16 different medications to be taken at four different times! Kathie gave up time with her family and lots of sleep to make sure that every need of Mom's was met. Kathie also played cards with Mom, read to Mom, helped Mom to exercise her muscles and did so much more. Thank you, thank you, thank you Kathie! You are a treasure.

As for my airport adventure, I was due to arrive into San Francisco around 1:00 PM. I finally arrived in at 5:30 PM, hence the later than planned arrival time to be with Mom. I left my house this morning at 3:00 AM California time so it has been a long day and I admit I might not be quite as on my toes as I would like to think. When I got my luggage from baggage pick up, we noticed that it was soaked. Ugh! As Stasi and I were coming down the escalator, I smelled beer. I found myself thinking that the man behind me must have really tanked up on the plane and was going to mention something to Stasi. Just then Stasi noticed that it was my suitcase that smelled like beer! So how did that happen? This is a first for me. I have had luggage come out wet from rain but never soaked with beer. Fortunately, most everything was dry except one skirt. I decided to put it on to dry (and it made me blend better with Stasi) and off we went. What was I thinking?!! Now my suitcase is on Mom's porch causing the neighbors to wonder about the smell and I sit here in the hospital causing the staff to wonderful if I took up drinking. It was funny at the time.

We don't know how long Mom will be here in F Ground Room F042. You can reach Mom at 650-725-9390 As always, she would love to hear from you. Many Blessings!

Life Out of the Hospital

Mom has enjoyed being out of the hospital. She has now been out for two days and seems to be doing well. Mom still makes daily trips to the Infusion Ward. As a matter of fact, I talked with her this morning while in the Infusion Ward. They always take such great care of her there! If I am understanding her correctly, she was there most of the day yesterday. She received both platelets and blood, along with antibiotics and a few other things to keep her levels balanced. She only received one of the two bags of red blood cells she needed and thinks that she will get another bag today. Mom always feels much better after transfusions.

Mom is still struggling with her walking. She uses a walker while in the apartment and a wheelchair everywhere else. She is hoping to build her leg strength up and is planning to walk around in the apartment (with a walker) at least five times today. Kathie has been a blessing to Mom as she encourages Mom to continue on with physical therapy type exercises. Having struggles with her walking leads to more struggles with the use of the bathroom. We hope for Mom's sake this all gets straightened out quickly. It is best when Mom uses the bathroom often, especially during the night. This does lead to lack of sleep for her caregiver as well, so we appreciate the sacrifice of sleep Kathie is currently giving on Mom's behalf. Thank you Kathie for blessing Mom with your time, encouragement and support!

I am due to fly into San Francisco tomorrow afternoon and have plans to stay through early Thursday morning. As eager as I am to come see Mom and do all I can to bless her, it is hard to leave home. As many of you may know, I am blessed with nine children. Five of them still very much need their mother on a daily basis with the bottom three being only three. My "what-a-guy" husband and oldest three daughters do a great job holding down the fort while I am gone but they still aren't the mom. If they come to mind in the next week, please do pray for my family. Thank you!

We are all encouraged that Mom is still her optimistic and joyful self. We do pray she is able to keep out the hospital and improves in her health. Thank for your concern on our mother's behalf. Many blessings!

Heading Out

When I talked with Mom this afternoon she was so excited. She is being released today! Wahoo for Mom!! Dad will be taking her to the apartment and staying the night with her. Dad will be leaving in the morning to head home to prepare for his trip. Kathie Laurence is graciously giving of her time to come be with Mom until Stasi can get to the apartment. There are a few changes in the works as to when Stasi will arrive, when Kathie will come and go, and when I am scheduled to fly in. As we get those details in place, I let you all know.

In the meantime, Mom sounds like she is doing well. You can reach Mom starting tonight at the apartment 650-391-9252. She will most likely need her rest tonight but will be eager to hear from folks starting tomorrow. Thank you again for your prayers.

A Busy Week Ahead

When I talked to Mom tonight she told me that she was doing "fantastic." How delightful to hear her so encouraged. Two bags of red blood cells and a bag of platelets can have that affect on a person. The plan is to test her levels tomorrow to see if her oral medications are working. If all is going well, Mom hopes to be leaving the hospital...maybe even by tomorrow night! This would be a blessing to Mom and Dad.

Dad is due to head back to the ranch on Tuesday to pick up Stasi's oldest son, Travis (16). Travis and Dad have plans to leave early Thursday for Samoa for 20 days (7/17-8/4). The trip was originally scheduled for Mom and Dad to take way back when Mom was doing great. Mom was trying to make the most of her "freedom" when her health had greatly improved and her pick had been removed. Dad has always wanted to go to Samoa. Dad is somewhat reluctant to leave Mom at this time but Mom is encouraging him to make the trip. Both Mom and Dad think this will be a wonderful opportunity for Dad and Travis to "see the world" and make memories together that will last a lifetime. There are a lot of people willing to help with Mom, so Dad need not worry about Mom.

My cousin, Kathie Laurence, is due to return to Mom's side again on Tuesday. Kathie will be staying with Mom until Saturday until Stasi arrives. I will also be flying in while Dad is away. It will be good to see Mom again.

Mom has been in the hospital since July 3rd. She is looking forward to getting out and staying out this time. We will continue to pray. I will let you know if her place of "residence" changes. Until then, please do feel free to call her at 650-498-3042. She is most grateful to hear from friends.

Another Day...

Another day to count her many blessings, another day to be "fine" and another day to work towards getting stabilized enough to leave the hospital. All good things! Mom had a somewhat rough night but has had a better day. Praise the Lord!

Today Mom received a bag of platelets and two bags of red blood. She said that her mind feels clearer and that she feels much better. The doctors are working towards releasing Mom in the near future. She has not had a fever for the last four days. Wahoo!! The plan is to switch some of her IV medication to oral medication. This way she can leave the hospital with all the supplies she needs to keep her levels in balance. When Mom will actually be released is still yet to be determined.

Mom is still having challenges with her motor skills. Walking is the biggest of these challenges. Fortunately, Mom's appetite is doing better. Mom continues to keep her joyful spirit. Dad is optimistic that Mom will soon be released and that she will do well at the apartment. I will update as I hear the latest. Thank you again for your support and prayers.

A Surprise Fall

Mom was awoken at 5:00 AM this morning by falling out of bed. Talk about being surprised!! Mom said she was having a wonderful dream when she awoke to find herself on the floor. Best she can figure, she must have been trying to get up to use the bathroom in her sleep. Mom's nurse said that Mom had been having a great night's sleep and was most surprised herself to find Mom on the floor. As of this morning, no major damage from Mom's fall has been determined. Praise the Lord! Mom was taken for a cat scan of her head but no report was back when I talked with her. She also has a huge hematoma on her left mid forearm. Mom said it was quite interesting to look at but it is now being tightly wrapped to try and keep the swelling down. Mom said she is not in any pain. What a blessing! I am looking forward to another report on her condition tonight.

Mom was very happy to tell me about the new beautiful bathrobe Dad had just bought her. It is pink with delicate flowers around the collar. Mom said it was very classy. Dad has good taste. I also asked Mom if she has had any time with the hospital's art therapist. Mom said that she had not requested a visit from her because Mom has had difficulty concentrating. I hope this improves since art projects have always been such a blessing to Mom.

On a personal note, I want to thank everyone who is keeping up on this blog and offering encouragement to our entire family. How your prayers, support and kind words have blessed us all. It is humbling to think so many people are concerned about Mom. I was blessed to touch base with a dear friend when she called last night to inquire about Mom. Cami (Camille Grace) Tompkins has been a friend of mine since we went to Cal Poly State University over 25 years ago. WOW! How could it have been so long?!! Two of my daughters are named after Cami...Hattie Grace and Camille Jane! This says a lot about of how precious Cami is to both me and my husband, Brent. It blessed my heart beyond words to talk with her and to know that the years haven't changed our friendship. Isn't that the way with true friends?!! Cami, thanks for calling.

Mom is so grateful for all that everyone is doing to bless and encourage her. The phone calls, prayers, notes of encouragement and occasional visitors are all gems to her day. Thank you! May God bless each and everyone of you in a special and unique way today.

My Mom

Today, I got to talk with "my mom" on the phone. I can't even begin to tell you how this blessed me! It has been weeks since I have had a heart to heart talk with "my mom." With Mom's struggles with her levels, infections and challenges, Mom hasn't been quite herself when we have talked. Today was different. It was just Mom and me. Dad was out running an errand to bless Mom. She listened, encouraged and shared her heart with me as I shared mine. There is nothing like a mom. How I have missed mine! Thank you God for allowing me to have this special time with my precious mother.

Mom had another platelet transfusion last night. She said that no new challenges have made themselves known today. What a praise! She was very glad that she had already taken a short walk with her walker twice today. Hopefully, her muscles will continue to cooperate and her physical condition will increasingly to improve. There is still no talk of being released anytime soon.

Mom is "fine" and optimistic. A wonderful quality to possess. She has been blessed by all the phone calls. Thank you for giving of your time to bless our mother. It is the prayers, kindness and encouragement of others that continue to bless her so greatly. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Taking a Walk

It is amazing how the little things become HUGE when all put into perspective. This morning Mom was delighted to tell me that she took a walk with Dad in the hospital hallway. May not seem like much to many but to Mom it was fabulous. Mom has not been able to move around much lately and even though the walk was short, it was a great blessing to both Mom and Dad. Mom is finding joy in the simple things in life.

On a medical note, new challenges are making themselves known daily. Mom is now insulin dependent. They are checking her levels many times a day to help keep her regulated. An infection has made itself know around Mom's pic. This is the port where Mom receives all her transfusions and IV medications. At last word, they are going to try and treat it for up to three weeks. If it is not healed, her pic will need to be removed. Removing Mom's pic would not be a good thing. Mom was told by the doctors after inserting her current pic that it would questionable if they ever could give her another pic since this last one was so invasion and difficult to set up. We will keep praying.

Mom mentioned to Stasi that she greatly appreciates it when people call her. If you feel lead to call Mom, please don't think you need to talk long. Just a quick "hello" will truly bless her day. You can reach Mom at 650-498-3042. May God bless your day!

Doing "Fine"

Three years ago, Stasi started a storyquilt about our hospital adventures with Mom. It is appropriated named "I'm Fine." Above is a photo of us with Mom & Dad at our annual quilting class taken a year after Mom was first diagnosed, along with the words that will make it into the quilt. Those of you who often talk with Mom know how she says that she is "fine" no matter what her condition. It's just Mom, the eternal optimist. It was quite amusing when I called to talk with Mom the other day and she was obviously having a rough morning. Dad, knowing how Mom is, said to her, "Dianne, it's Tamy on the phone. Do you want to tell her you are fine?" Oh, how this brought a smile to my face!

Today is no different. If you call her, she won't talk quite as long but she will tell you she is "fine", that tomorrow will be better and soon she will be healed. We can only hope and pray that her encouraging words will come to pass.

The fact of the matter is that she is still struggling greatly. Her body needs blood and platelet transfusions regularly. She was due to have platelets this morning. Lately, platelets have been needed every other day. She is still very weak and unable to do much moving around. Mom's liver seems to be a bit better after reducing some of her previous medications. They have found another nodule on her lungs and there is now a bacteria or mold in her blood. She is on every kind of possible medication the doctors deem safe to her liver in order to help combat these new challenges. The doctors are constantly running tests and scans to stay on top of her condition. At this time, there are no plans to release her anytime soon. In spite of all this, Mom is her joyful self...just a lot more tired. We do not know what a day will bring forth but we are praising God greatly for her provision of today.

Stasi and her husband, Matt, stopped by for a surprise visit to the hospital yesterday. Both Dad and Mom were grateful to see them. Stasi was able to talk with the doctors and was blessed to once again hear that they are doing everything within their power to help Mom. How we praise God for Mom's doctors, nurses and care givers!

Thank you again for all your prayers, support and encouragement. May your day be blessed.

51 Years of Blessings!

Today is my parent's 51st wedding anniversary. They were married July 7, 1957. My mom always says how easy it is to remember their anniversary...7-7-57. Last year, they threw a huge party to help celebrate their 50th anniversary. They were blessed to have many of you were in attendance. This year they are celebrating privately in the comfort of Mom's hospital room.

I have uploaded some of their wedding photos, along with some photos taken of them over the years. The most current is of Dad & Mom sitting together when we celebrated Mom's 71st birthday with a "you are special" ice cream sundae bar. They look so happy together in all these delightful photos. Time may change their outside package but the heart remains forever the same! What joy fills my heart to see them this way.

My parents have had their ups and downs over the years. After all, they are the parents of Mark, Stasi & I and we haven't always been the easiest children to raise! But through all of life trials and tribulations, they have had each other. They truly love each other and delight in each others company greatly. They are devoted to each other which is easy to see. I am so proud to have them as my parents and praise God for them. We all pray that the Lord will bless them with many more years of marriage in the future. We also know that only knows God knows our appointed days. With this in mind, my parents are most grateful for TODAY.

Happy 51st Anniversary Dad & Mom! I love and cherish you. May God abundantly bless you both on your special day.