Still Rolling Along

It's been a while. I've been working odd hours and we've been dealing with the hospital and getting the kids back in school. I think I'm tired. Looking forward to this 3 day weekend although we have plans both Friday and Saturday. Toby Keith's Friday nite for Joe's birthday, hospital on Saturday, and football at Chance's dad's on Saturday nite. Eat your heart out Phil ... we view on a 53 inch high definition TV and have lots of snacks to go with. I think of you everytime we are over there. I remember watching football at Moms' when I was little and all you guys yelling at the TV. (Smile)

I'm still dealing with many emotions. Lots of stuff going on with work - won't bore you with the details. Sometimes I feel like I work with high school kids. People spend so much time causing trauma over things that are just too petty to get all worked up over. I really don't know what is going to make me truly happy. I like my benefits but I dream of something different. Not sure what...just ... I dunno. Was looking forward to recruiting after all but it seems we may not get to as much as we thought. I will push to do so tho. And on a brighter note, I might actually get my office with a door back and I will still be able to see out my giant window I sit next to now. Best of both worlds.

Karin is back on an upswing. We almost lost her about 3 or 4 times. We FINALLY got her out of that ICU. Didn't think that was ever going to happen. She is in the Norman Specialty Hospital for her rehabilitation - she was moved on Monday. We are still worried about her. We just simply don't know if she will return to her normal self. Hopefully that will come with time. Her head is pretty banged up. Chance said that today she thinks she is at her mother's house. She also told the nurses that her grandchildren attend school right there in that building. She knows who we are but she is not really in touch with reality just yet. He is worried she may have to be put in a home. I told him it is still too early to worry about that. They told us she would have a lot of healing to do. I plan to get some of our new vacation pictures together and frame them. I want her to have them in her room so she will feel more like she is at home. She actually called Chance on the phone today. He didn't even recognize her voice it had been so long since he's been able to talk to her.

Tristan is doing well in school. I am so very pleased. He got a red ticket on the second day so we were really worried then. He got grounded that nite, and ever since he's done well. No more red tickets. He has had some trouble clinging to Chance's legs but other than that, I think he is participating. He got to be the leader one day and he thought that was way cool. His old school never let him do that. He was pumped. He likes everything but writing his name. He brought home his first fundraiser. We have had some trouble with our daycare lady and the school. I am worried we may lose her. I so don't want him to have to change another routine. It's too long to go into at this time, but I have been very stressed about it.

OK so my husband is watching Sponge Bob right now. No, Tristan is not in here - he's asleep. It's 11:15 at nite. Help me.

I don't have any update on Tina. I think of her every day. Have to make a point to get with her this weekend. She's got me all worked up over her situation.

I loved Sara's blog entry about parenthood. I have many things to say on that subject but I am too tired tonite. That will be my next entry. I can so relate. Maybe I will get to comment tomorrow nite. Oh and I like the picture video. I will be posting some pics with that too. Hope I get some quiet time this weekend.

Well I feel like going to bed and reading a bit. Hope all is well with everyone.

B

Mixed Emotions

Many things are going on these days and I haven't had much time or energy to write. I have many emotions going on at once: grief for Bernice, hope and prayers for Karin, excitement/anxiety over Tristan and school, and now worry and anxiety for Tina and her recovery from the surgery. Overall, exhaustion from all this and trying to work in our peak month.

I am so sorry to hear about Bernice but as Phil said, "Heaven is richer because of her." I did not know her very well, but my aunt Jackie is a wonderful person and if she was raised by Bernice, then that tells me Bernice was one special lady. I hope to attend any services that will be held, but I am not supposed to take off work in August. I have had to leave abruptly several times due to Karin's situation, so I am not sure what I will be able to do. Just know my thoughts are prayers are with you all.

Karin is holding her own right now. She is really fighting this pneumonia. It is as bad as pneumonia can get. She is back on the respirator and they have her knocked out until she can get off it. I guess the rest is helping her heal. They are trying different meds to see which one will get rid of the pneumonia, and now it is causing problems with her kidneys. They told Chance today they may have to put her on dialysis. I was telling Mom tonite that I have not ever seen so many things hooked up to one person in my life, and now they may hook her up to this. She has about 10 different IV's, the respirator, several blippy machines and another that monitors her vitals. It's amazing. We are praying hard that this pneumonia will cease so we can have her back to visit with. Tristan is wanting his Mamaw and if she can ever get out of the ICU, I can take him to see her. She will have a long road to recovery with the head injury, but at least she will be recovering and with us. I'll try to write more later.

Tomorrow is a big day as Tristan starts Kindergarden. I can't believe this day is already here. He has grown so fast. I've had trauma getting him in school, worrying about getting the AM class for his daycare lady, and getting with the teacher to explain his adversion to learning. Hopefully he will be using his best manners and will be willing to learn. Otherwise, I bet I get some phone calls. (Heavy sigh.) He has been ready to start school for about 3 weeks and he was very excited at back to school nite tonite. He was full of questions about what to expect and was very excited to get his first school shirt. He carried it around all nite. Hopefully I can get him to wait until Friday to wear it - they like to wear them on Fridays. I'll let you know how it goes.

And finally, Tina called me tonite from the HOSPITAL! Her surgery was on June 29 and she has been in the hospital almost all summer. She had a miscroscopic leak that they didn't detect after her surgery. Sent her home on July 5 but she never really recovered. Got really ill and she said at the point where she was communicating with hands cuz she couldn't speak. Well she got fever and went to her regular doctor. After an xray, they sent her back to the surgery hospital (2 hours away from her home) because she had a severe lung infection. They rushed her there and had emergency surgery. She almost died. I told her that if she almost dies again, then John should call me. She said he called lots of people and told her he didn't me. It's taken her all this time to get back with me. They ended up doing the whole surgery again. OMG! Anyway, she said she woke up in ICU and was there for a day. Was in the hospital that time for about 10 days - July 21 - 31. Something like that. Went home again and was doing better. And then August 5 started getting sick again with flu-like symptoms. She is getting the infection all over again but they have caught it early. She is in the hospital again tonite and they are doing a procedure to try to kill the infection. If they don't kill it, she will have to have the surgery a THIRD time. She is hoping to go home on Wednesday and go back to work right after Labor Day. So please keep her in your prayers. If she gets to go home (meaning the procedure was a success) she is going to call me with more details. She was loopy tonite due to the medication and gave me a condensed version. Said this is the worst experience of her life and they are very exhausted. I can imagine!!!! Max is missing his mommy, John is being superman driving back and forth taking care of everything, and Tina is just trying to get well. But during all this, John did get full custody of Kyle, his son from a previous marriage, and he is now living full time with them. At least they have had one bit of good news over the summer.

Well, it's late and I'm tired. I will try to write again soon. I am reading about everyone else when I do turn the puter on. I just haven't had much energy to type comments or blog myself. Hopefully that will not be an issue for much longer.

Cya.