The worry over meals

This has been a rough week for Dad. He continues to have extreme fatigue, feels like he just can't do anything for himself. He often tells me how he has to really force himself to do the simplest things. Pastor Karl recommended that one of us be with him over meal times to help get meals together for Dad. That seems to be his biggest worry at the moment -- What am I going to eat and how am I going to get it ready? Family and church friends have been bringing food, but just getting it from the container to the plate is often such a chore. Yesterday my brother Dave left work over his lunch hour to assist, and he was there again at supper time too. Today I'll be there for lunch. For his evening meal, I'm hoping I can take food and arrange it on a plate so that all he'll have to do it pop it in the microwave. That much he feels he can do. Dave had already said he could do Saturday and Sunday, I'll be on again for Monday. We just need to get Dad through this hump. He did see his psychiatrist on Monday. I think once the medications take full affect he'll be feeling much better, but it could be a long hull until then.

"Please take me to the creek!"

When the weather was warm last week, this was all I heard from Bryson, "Please take me to the creek!" He had been asking everyone deemed old enough to take him: Dale, Kassie, Brady, Ashton and myself. No one else had the time, or felt like going. In time I caved and took the three youngest boys down to the creek. It's about two tenths of a mile from our house.

Avery gives Kaden a little help through the mud.

As a child I loved playing in the creek near my home. Lifting up rocks and finding crayfish was so much fun! Now I prefer to watch... and take pictures.

I just love this picture of Avery and Bryson!

It was time to leave after Avery came running and screaming out from under the bridge saying, "A snake just hissed at me!!"

It was hard for Kaden to walk home in saturated snow boots, so Bryson decided to lend a hand!

I'm sure this is just the first of many trips to the creek this spring!

Chemo week coming to an end

Today is Dad's last day of taking his chemo pill, but it starts up again in two weeks. This week was rough, but hopefully things will start to get better this coming week. Yesterday Kaden and I spent our morning with Dad. I put chicken in his crock pot, and made the pudding and jello that he had requested. (I also brought him some of our leftovers from home.) We were able to talk a little bit about family history, which I always find enjoyable. I left Dad's house around noon. At 2 pm Dad was calling me at home. He was feeling worse... extreme fatigue, feeling like he just wanted to drop over, couldn't keep his eyes open, no desire to do anything. He just received fluids the day before, and also earlier in the week as well, but he thought perhaps he needed more. I called the cancer center and spoke with his doctor. His only advice was to take him to the ER if he didn't feel any better. He also asked if Dad seemed confused or stumbled when he walked. I saw none of that. (The doctor ordered a PET scan of Dad's brain for next week, trying to figure out why he's been feeling so bad.) I really think his systems are due to depression and anxiety. He has an appointment with his psychiatrist on Monday. I called Dad back after speaking to the cancer doctor. Dad decided he would ride it out at home. I then called my brother Mike, who called our brother Dave. They both live in Gettysburg and made a plan to check in on him when they got off of work. I spoke with Dad shortly after 8:30 that night. He sounded much better. He said the fruit salad I had brought and the pudding I made while at his house were both very good and "really hit the spot!" That gave me great pleasure to hear that. When you're feeling down, there's nothing like some tasty food to help pick yourself up!! Here's to a better week ahead!

Volleyball scrimmage

This afternoon Ashton had a volleyball scrimmage against Gettysburg. Avery also had his follow up appointment with the surgeon who did his appendectomy. (BTW: all is well, he can resume normal activities.) I wasn't expecting to see Ashton's game. I thought I would get there just in time to pick her up after it was over. As it turned out, I got there before it even started! Had I known, I would have brought my camera. All I had was the camera on Dale's cell phone... better than nothing! Ashton is serving.
Ashton in blue and white, closest to the net. White blur overhead is the ball.

Ashton, number 20.

Ashton, running for the ball.

It was obvious from the game that Ashton's team still needs lots of practice, but I thought Ashton did well! Can't wait for the next game!

Another long day at the cancer center

Yesterday when Dad went to the cancer center for his anti-nausea shot, they also gave him two bags of fluid in hopes that would help him feel better. That has worked in the past, but this time... not so much. He was there all afternoon. He also found out while there that Doctor #1 did order Dad to have modified chemo this week. He was to have smaller doses of chemo once a week for three weeks instead of the larger dose once for a three week period. Doctor #1 had it written down, but Doctor #2 didn't see it. Oooops! We'll make sure that mistake doesn't happen next time! So, Dad suffers another week of chemo's harsh effects. Here's hoping prayers, good eating and a positive attitude help him through it!

Visiting Dad

This past Sunday evening all nine of us went to visit Dad. It had been a very long time since our entire family had gone to visit him, and I knew it would mean a lot to him. Dad has been having extreme fatigue lately and the days and nights are very long. His stereo wasn't working and his favorite television station was no longer coming in clearly. I knew Dale would likely be able to fix both, and he did. Now Dad can listen to his favorite Burl Ives albums and cassette tapes, plus listen to the radio. Channel 21 is now coming in strong and clear on the TV. The antennae must have gotten blown around during last Friday's wind storm. Also while we were there the children cleaned out Pappy's candy dish for him! I plan on replenishing that later this week!

Monday morning Kaden and I met Dad over at the cancer center for Chemo treatment number five. He first had an exam by the doctor. Doctor #1 is who we prefer, but on that day it was doctor #2. Doc #1 had told Dad he would be getting a modified chemo treatment because the others made him so sick. This time it was to be intravenous chemo once a week for three weeks instead of one time every three weeks. He was to get it in smaller doses instead of one big one. Somehow that information didn't get passed to Doc #2 and Dad ended up receiving the same treatment as before. Doc #2 kept saying, "Your blood work looks good! You need the regular treatment." It wasn't his blood work that was determining the modified treatment, it was how sick it was making him. We were all a bit confused. We'll need to clear this up before next time, especially if Dad ends up really sick again. I had to leave at 2 pm. Later Dad told me he was there until 4:30 pm! (We had gotten there at 10:30 am!) I left, went home, ate lunch then headed back to Gettysburg for Brady's orthodontic appointment. On the way we stopped at Wal-Mart to drop off a prescription for Dad. After Brady's appointment, I stopped back at Wal-Mart to pick it up, then went over to Dad's. My brother Tim and his family were there. They brought supper for Dad and were all going to eat together at Dad's house. We chatted awhile before heading back home.

We are still trying to figure out why Dad is so tired ALL the time. The doctor ordered a brain PET scan. I think it could be depression and Doc. #2 agreed. Dad is hoping to make an appointment with the doctor he was seeing for his anxiety and panic attacks last year during Mom's illness. Perhaps he needs medication. I just want him to feel better, to be able to do something besides eat and sleep.

How Dad is feeling these days

Yesterday morning Kaden and I went to visit Dad. We hadn't been over all week because Kaden was sick. Finally by Friday I thought he was well enough to be around my dad. We took Dad his favorite pancakes, ready for the freezer, plus a few other food items. Dad wasn't feeling too good... no energy, fatigued, feels like doing nothing, etc. We just sat around while Kaden watched some cartoons and Dad and I dozed in and out. I wish there was more I could do for him when he feels like this. I just got off the phone with him a few minutes ago and today wasn't any better. He can't read, his eyes are too bad from the chemo, doesn't feel up to being on the computer, can't go outside because it's wet and muddy, can't listen to music because the stereo doesn't work, no good programs on television, etc. He thinks he may be dehydrated again and that's why he's feeling so bad. He goes to the cancer center Monday morning for more chemo. He'll talk to the doctor then about how he's feeling. Sure hope there's a solution. This was Kaden earlier in the week! Poor boy! Although he is much better now, he woke this morning at 3 am crying from ear pain! He wouldn't allow me to give him ear drops. After 30 minutes of trying to sooth him and convince him that the ear drops would help, I woke Dale for his help. For whatever reason, he allowed Dale to give him the ear drops! Soon he was back asleep. I thought for sure I would have to call the doctor this morning to treat what I thought would be double ear infections, but he was fine when he got up! He's probably waiting until 3 in the morning again to start feeling bad, although I hope not!

Volleyball

On Wednesday of last week Ashton brought papers home to try out for volleyball. I didn't get around to looking at them until the next day. I started filling them out, but got sidetracked. Later I asked Ashton when she had to have them completed by, including the physical examination. She informed me it had to be done by that coming Monday! AHH! Thanks for plenty of notice... NOT! Our doctor wasn't even in his office that Friday. I called Monday morning and the soonest they could get her in would be 4:30 that afternoon. I then had to call the school to explain. I was told that Ashton wasn't the only girl in this predicament. They suggested she go to try outs anyway, explain to the coach that she will get her physical later that day, and then just stay and watch. Fortunately there would be more try outs on Tuesday too. She got her physical, tried out on Tuesday and MADE THE TEAM! She was so happy! I was then informed she had to have the right kind of shoes, shorts and knee pads by Thursday. Tuesday night we have church, so Wednesday we went shopping. We were blessed to find a really nice pair of basketball shoes (basketball shoes were recommended) on clearance! Of course, we had to buy men's shoes because they didn't carry her size in ladies! (She and Kassie are both a size 11 shoe!!) We found the knee pads and shorts as well, all at the same store. On Friday Ashton got her volleyball uniform top. Let's just say... it's tight! Ashton thinks they only come in one size. Doesn't the coach realize that all girls are not the same size? I felt bad for Ashton, but she doesn't seem to be bothered by it. We're hoping with all the exercising she's getting, she'll be able to lose a few pounds, then maybe the top won't be so tight! We'll see! I love volleyball and can't wait to see her play!

The day Jeff moved

Last Saturday, March 6th, we helped a friend and fellow CCR band member to move. It was to be a family event, but Kassie was invited to spend the night at a friend's house the night before, so she wasn't with us. Avery woke that Saturday morning around 7 am complaining of stomach pains. This is not uncommon, so we had him come along, thinking the pains would pass as they normally do. As we were moving Jeff I would check on Avery from time to time. He was staying in our 15 passenger van, trying to rest on one of the bench seats. It seemed each time I asked how he was, the pain had increased and there were more and more tears. I would resume my duties helping with the move thinking Avery just needed to pass gas or have a bowl movement. That always helped in the past, but this time it wasn't!
Ashton, sorry to tell you this, but you look an awful lot like Kassie in this picture! (She hates hearing that!)

This depiction of the Last Supper was on display in the apartment complex where Jeff will now be living. I loved it!! Had to take a picture!

Alas we had Jeff moved! Time for an early lunch from Subway! This is when I knew Avery was sick... he wasn't feeling well enough to eat! I called our doctor. He wasn't on call so we had to see one of his associates. Dave, another friend and fellow band member, drove Avery and I to the doctor's office and dropped us off. This way Dale and the other children could finish up their meal and meet us at the doctor's office when done. The doctor's visit went quick. After examining Avery she told us to go over to the emergency room at the hospital. The problem was, I had no way of getting us there! The only cell phone we have is Dale's work cell. Fortunately, I had that with me, but unfortunately I had no way of contacting Dale. The phone at Jeff's old house had already been disconnected, and that's where everybody was. I called Bonnie to see if she had any cell numbers for the other family that had helped Jeff to move, but she didn't. It's a good thing we were only two or three blocks from the hospital. Even with Avery doubled over with pain, we had to walk/run to get there! Meanwhile, Dale misunderstood which doctor's office I went to with Avery, and went to the wrong place. His second guess was that we must be at the ER, which by then we were. We got there at around 11:45 am. Just before 1 pm Avery started drinking the thick white Barium in order to then have a CAT scan.

Try as he might, that Barium was hard to get down!

I kid you not when I say it took him an hour and a half to drink about 1 1/2 inches down from the top of cup! I was becoming frustrated and impatient! I kept saying, "Avery, MAN UP and drink it!!" Nothing I said was helping. It wasn't until the doctor came in and told Avery that if he didn't drink the Barium, he would have to put a tube up Avery's nose, down his throat and into his stomach to get the Barium into him that way. That did the trick! Now Avery was drinking, perhaps a bit too fast, because when he only had about a half inch left in the cup, he threw it up!! He had to start over! UGH! After more than three hours of Barium torture he was ready for the CAT scan. During this test Avery was to lie completely still. I was watching Avery during the CAT scan when suddenly his body started to jerk. I thought he was having some type of seizure! I said, "What is he doing?" Very matter of fact the technician replied, "Throwing up." The test didn't seem to be affected by his movements, thank goodness! Back to the ER to continue our wait. It was nearly eight hours after entering the ER that we knew Avery would need an appendectomy... that night! The surgery started around 8:30 pm and was over by 9:30. All went well. The doctor was able to remove Avery's appendix through laparoscopic surgery. Avery has three small incisions on his stomach with stitches under the skin. There were no other children currently at the hospital, so they had to call in nursing staff just for Avery! Once the nurses arrived, Avery was moved from recovery over to pediatrics. After drinking all that Barium and having an IV all day, Avery literally had to urinate every 10 to 15 minutes! It's after midnight and I'd like to get some sleep on the chair next to Avery's hospital bed, but I'm having to jump up every 15 minutes to get him to the bathroom! I finally told Avery, "Just to go to sleep, then you won't know you have to pee!" When the nurses came in at 2:30 am, they helped him. At 4 am when the nurse came back, Avery waited until she left and then told me he had to go. I told him, "Why didn't you ask the nurse to help you? She was just here!" I was exhausted! It was like having a newborn again! Later in the morning Avery was able to have a liquid meal... broth, jello and juice.

By 9:30 am the doctor came in and gave Avery the go ahead to be discharged. I was to use my best judgement on when he could return to school, but the doctor said no gym classes for a week to ten days. That's what hurt Avery the most out of all of this -- no gym! Avery was home Monday and Tuesday, returning to school on Wednesday. It seems the teachers were surprised he returned so soon, but Avery is doing well, so why not? I don't want him running around and playing basketball at recess, but he can certainly sit behind a desk and do school work. He is also glad to be back in school.

Me? Someone's Angel?

Today Kaden and I spent part of our morning with Dad. I had asked him earlier in the week what he was hungry for. He told me "Chicken noodle soup with lots of noodles." So, yesterday I cooked off the chicken and this morning I made the soup. I put the soup into three containers, one for the 'fridge and two for the freezer. While visiting with Dad his neighbor called. Martha lives next door with her son, and just recently came home from recovering from hip surgery. Her son is currently away, so Martha's sister is staying with her. Both women are in their 80's. Dot called to say her sister had fallen and could I come over to help get her up. They saw my van parked in Dad's driveway so they knew I was there. I rushed over to find Martha sitting up on the floor. Both women have a great sense of humor and are always joking, so I said, "You're not suppose to mop you kitchen floor with your butt!" They laughed! Martha is short, but stocky. They didn't think I should try to lift her. They wanted me to brace the chair while Martha tried to pull herself up. I could tell that wouldn't work, so I offered again just to lift her. She was heavy, but I managed to get her back up into her chair. It was then that I saw she was bleeding. She now had a new dark bruise on her left hand and was bleeding from the same spot. We cleaned her up and applied ice. (Dot's son-in-law is a PT and was going to stop in and check on Martha this afternoon.) Soon afterward I went back over to Dad's. A little while later Dot called again. They couldn't figure out how to get their Dish Network tv working. I know nothing about that sort of thing, but Dot asked if I would look at it anyway. On my way over there I thought, "Lord, you're going to have to help me. I don't know what I'm doing!" I just turned on the tv, read the instructions that came up, and took it from there. We weren't quite there yet with doing that, but after Dot mentioned someone had told her to "Press 03", I did that. That brought us into the normal tv stations, which is what they wanted. All I had to do after that was press the channel up button to find their station. Wah-lah! Fixed! They could now watch their gospel music show! Thanks for hearing my prayers, Lord and using me to do Thy work! Dot told me I was their Angel! I'm just glad I was at Dad's house at the right time when they needed someone to help!