Well, I can now say that I've been to Las Vegas.
My DH had a software symposium there this week. After the summer of last year and having no time whatsoever for each other, I invited myself to go along with him.
We stayed at The Venetian (http://www.venetian.com) as that was where the conference was being held. My, oh my, what an elaborate place. When friends here at home heard that I'd be going, they made suggestions about what I should do to fill my time while my DH was conferencing. I settled on spending a day at the Canyon Ranch Spa (http://www.venetian.com/CRS.aspx). That was the best advice I was given and I'm sooooo glad I took it!
I have come home refreshed, relaxed and more rested than I've been in quite awhile. The hubby and I had time to have conversations without interruptions; we had dinner out with his friends; we took in a show and saw The Blue Man Group (http://www.blueman.com/land_search.php). I also did a lot of reading and had many fiction books on my list to work my way through. I've just about completed the Newpointe 911 series by Terri Blackstock (http://www.terriblackstock.com).
My mom came over and took care of the boys. She was happy we'd returned, as she was exhausted after keeping up with the boys for 4 days. She is set to have cataract surgery on 4/15. My dad is to have an upper Gi procedure this next week. If there's scar tissue discovered it will be removed. If none is found, his swallowing problems will not be fixed surgically.
My DH is off to Scandinavia tomorrow for another week of travel. He'll be at JAOO in both Copenhagen and in Oslo (http://jaoo.dk/ruby-cph/conference/); (http://jaoo.dk/ruby-oslo/conference/). Too bad my passport isn't up-to-date! ha. I couldn't be gone that long with upcoming surgeries for the parental units though.
All in all, I'm glad I got away with just my DH. Seeing his friends from conferences is always fun because they are nice guys, who are so welcoming when one of the wives comes along. Too bad they live all over the country. I guess I'll just have to continue to invite myself along to conferences periodically!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Stamping
I have not posted anything here yet about my hobby of stamping. So, I guess now's the time. I've added some pics of some cards I've made in the past.
Spring Break
It was a break in more than one way:
1) a break from school for my oldest DS
2) a break from the hum drum monotony of everyday life for all of us
3) a break from being on-call 24/7 for my parents for me.
We took the boys and went south this year. We toured the Johnson Space Center and then proceeded to go even further south and take in a few days in Galveston. I'd never been to the beach in Texas before, so it was a new experience for all of us, in one way or another.
We have thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Galveston Island. We've rented a cottage (http://www.galvestonrentalhome.com) and have had a wonderful time. The beach is a two minute walk from the cottage. We were able to cook here and eat when we wanted. The weather cooperated and my DH and oldest DS have the sunburned faces to prove it! The youngest DS and I were a bit more cautious and used the sunscreen! The beach was fun, the boogie boards were broken in and my youngest DS now has memories of going to the beach.
We also took in the new "Horton Hears a Who" movie and enjoyed that too. I'm not a big Jim Carrey fan, so I was hesitant to go see the movie. But if I hadn't known he was the voice of Horton, I'd never have guessed it. As my DH said, the smugness was missing from the voice and I had to agree. Maybe being w/ Jenny McCarthy and her autistic son have shown Jim that there's more to life than being a mouthy so-and-so.
I needed the time away from being the go-to gal for my parents. They've survived the week very well without me and that has proven to me that it's time to let them be self-sufficient in many ways. After last summer, I have to admit that I've been micro-managing lots of their stuff: doctor's appointments, issues at the nursing home, information gathering for the elder care lawyer, etc. I can now cease that. Mom is capable and I have just taken too much on that I didn't have to.
We're all recovering and are getting back on our collective feet. Thank goodness.
This 'break' has done all of us a great deal of good.
1) a break from school for my oldest DS
2) a break from the hum drum monotony of everyday life for all of us
3) a break from being on-call 24/7 for my parents for me.
We took the boys and went south this year. We toured the Johnson Space Center and then proceeded to go even further south and take in a few days in Galveston. I'd never been to the beach in Texas before, so it was a new experience for all of us, in one way or another.
We have thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Galveston Island. We've rented a cottage (http://www.galvestonrentalhome.com) and have had a wonderful time. The beach is a two minute walk from the cottage. We were able to cook here and eat when we wanted. The weather cooperated and my DH and oldest DS have the sunburned faces to prove it! The youngest DS and I were a bit more cautious and used the sunscreen! The beach was fun, the boogie boards were broken in and my youngest DS now has memories of going to the beach.
We also took in the new "Horton Hears a Who" movie and enjoyed that too. I'm not a big Jim Carrey fan, so I was hesitant to go see the movie. But if I hadn't known he was the voice of Horton, I'd never have guessed it. As my DH said, the smugness was missing from the voice and I had to agree. Maybe being w/ Jenny McCarthy and her autistic son have shown Jim that there's more to life than being a mouthy so-and-so.
I needed the time away from being the go-to gal for my parents. They've survived the week very well without me and that has proven to me that it's time to let them be self-sufficient in many ways. After last summer, I have to admit that I've been micro-managing lots of their stuff: doctor's appointments, issues at the nursing home, information gathering for the elder care lawyer, etc. I can now cease that. Mom is capable and I have just taken too much on that I didn't have to.
We're all recovering and are getting back on our collective feet. Thank goodness.
This 'break' has done all of us a great deal of good.
Update on Dad
Seems the swallow test Dad had about a week ago is going to result in some surgery. The doctors have recommended that a GI doctor clip the sides of Dad's esophagus and then stitch it closed a bit more. This is to allow the sphincter muscle at the top of the esophagus to do it's job better, thereby allowing Dad to swallow food easier.
If that happens, he may regain the ability to swallow and the trach. can come out. Once normal feedings resume, he could also have the peg-tube (or G-tube) removed.
We'll see.
If that happens, he may regain the ability to swallow and the trach. can come out. Once normal feedings resume, he could also have the peg-tube (or G-tube) removed.
We'll see.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
March....So far
Today (12th), my Mom and Dad went to see the neurologist that ordered & oversaw the Video/EEG study -- where Dad has NO seizures. This dr. thinks that the medication my dad has been on (Lamictal) is NOT a good fit for him. That's what Mom and I had finally decided. The doctor gave my dad lots of quizzes and my mom said he passed them all with flying colors.
The doctor said that in about a month, my Dad should be able to return home -- checking out of the nursing home.
That information was a huge shock to me. My mom and Dad are both thrilled, I'm more worried than either of them. Probably because I'm their only support here in town, and I've just begun to feel like we've found a new "normal" for all of us. But, I cannot be the one to rain on their parade. We'll take it a day at a time and see how it goes.
With the Lamictal no longer in the medication mix, I think my dad will: 1) have fewer "spells" 2) will be less manic -- I say that because the manic behavior showed up after that became the only anti-seizure medication he was taking and 3) may possibly allow us to reduce the amount of anti-psychotic that he is on. We'll have to discuss all of that w/ the psychiatrist.
My DH has been on the road for a week and a half. He had a 40 hour layover here at home over part of the weekend, but it wasn't enough time to do more than sleep and trade out dirty clothing in the suitcase for clean clothes. He's returned and I'm glad of it. I don't like doing the single parent thing. The boys will be thrilled he's back home.
Spring Break is next week. We hope to have some R&R for all of us. We certainly deserve it! After school resumes, the DH has a conference in Vegas. I've never been there, so I've arranged to go with him. 3 days of no crisis management, of no kids following me around, no medical emergencies to handle.
I"m looking forward to it. A friend told me that the spa at the hotel we're booked into does great massages, manicures, pedicures, salt rubs, etc.
I think I'm worth it...Vegas (and spa) here I come!
The doctor said that in about a month, my Dad should be able to return home -- checking out of the nursing home.
That information was a huge shock to me. My mom and Dad are both thrilled, I'm more worried than either of them. Probably because I'm their only support here in town, and I've just begun to feel like we've found a new "normal" for all of us. But, I cannot be the one to rain on their parade. We'll take it a day at a time and see how it goes.
With the Lamictal no longer in the medication mix, I think my dad will: 1) have fewer "spells" 2) will be less manic -- I say that because the manic behavior showed up after that became the only anti-seizure medication he was taking and 3) may possibly allow us to reduce the amount of anti-psychotic that he is on. We'll have to discuss all of that w/ the psychiatrist.
My DH has been on the road for a week and a half. He had a 40 hour layover here at home over part of the weekend, but it wasn't enough time to do more than sleep and trade out dirty clothing in the suitcase for clean clothes. He's returned and I'm glad of it. I don't like doing the single parent thing. The boys will be thrilled he's back home.
Spring Break is next week. We hope to have some R&R for all of us. We certainly deserve it! After school resumes, the DH has a conference in Vegas. I've never been there, so I've arranged to go with him. 3 days of no crisis management, of no kids following me around, no medical emergencies to handle.
I"m looking forward to it. A friend told me that the spa at the hotel we're booked into does great massages, manicures, pedicures, salt rubs, etc.
I think I'm worth it...Vegas (and spa) here I come!
Sunday, March 2, 2008
February
Last month was a doozie.
Starting on Feb 1st through Feb 17th, my dad has "spells" every day. I was certain that he was having temporal lobe seizures -- up to 12 per day, some lasting up to 14 hours. I helped Mom get dad into the hospital so he could be monitored. Then their GP told mom that the time had come to find a placement for my dad. That meant finding a nursing home. Mom and I spent Saturday the 16th visiting seven skilled nursing facilities. The first place we visited was depressing. It was an older facility, low ceilings, dark small rooms and the smell made me want to vomit. Mom was just crying and saying that she'd just take Daddy home and stop complaining.
We found two other facilities that were much nicer that day. Unfortunately, those facilities denied admission to my dad. They were the first of eight facilities, in total, that turned us down.
As of 4 PM on Tuesday the 19th, I was back at square one, needing to find a nursing home. Mom and I visited three more facilities that evening. The first one was very nice, the second facility was much too large and the last was even more depressing than the very first facility we saw. Mom cried after touring that facility as well.
The next day while I was in Bible Study, I received 3 phone calls: 1) another denial for admission, 2) an acceptance and 3) a call requesting dad's information from a facility we'd toured the night before. The acceptance was from the first of the three facilities we'd toured the night before. It was the facility that I liked the most. It's not too large (only 120 beds) and I have older friends who either have their parents there now, or there were there before they passed away.
As anyone will tell you, there is NO place like home. But, when you are at the end of your rope, physically and mentally, knowing that you've found the nicest place you can find for your loved one is a godsend,.
But we were only there for about 5 days before Dad had to go to Denison for a 5 day video/EEG study. He spent five days hooked up to electrodes to measure his brain waves while being videotaped. He did not have ONE seizure! Murphy's Law was in effect I guess.
The doctor's office did NOT give us all the information we needed prior to admission. Dad had to be kept awake for the first 24 hours. This required that mom or I stay with him 24/7. It's hard to feel that Dad was in a good place for the testing when the doctor's office dropped such a big ball! But the net result of the visit was that 1) the dietician changed his nutrition substitute so that Dad only has to 'eat' 4 times per day now vs. the 7 times per day he was doing before the admission; and 2) even with NO seizure medications on board, Daddy didn't have any seizures.
Does that mean that he no longer has seizures? or are the "spells" the result of too much medication? And since Mom said that the "man" who was there in the hospital room with her for those 4 days was the guy she married -- does that mean that the last anti-seizure medication change caused many of the bipolar behaviors we saw?
I am very lost as to what we should do next.
Mom mentioned that "if he's this good, I could just bring him home."
If she does that, I'll just have to wash my hands of the day-to-day stuff and only help in a crisis.
My oldest DS has finally expressed his thoughts and feelings about the past 8 months and he feels that I"m no longer here for him, that I don't care about him and that "ever since Grandpa started having seizures again, this place [our house] has broken down." I have to agree with that last point. Hearing how he felt made my heart break. I talked about it with the counselor, my husband and my Bible Study ladies. They are praying like mad, interceding on our behalf with the LORD.
My DS and I had a breakfast date today. Just the two of us, no siblings, nobody else. Just us. I asked if there was anything he wanted to talk about. He said no. I must maintain the lines of communication with him. No matter how many problems my dad may have, my son(s) have to take priority. My priorities got all rearranged last June 22nd. They must now return to:
1) God
2) my husband
3) my sons
4) myself and THEN
5) my parents.
Then just as I'm starting to feel that I know the order of my priorities, I get a phone call today asking me to consider teaching a senior adult ladies' Sunday School class. I am flattered beyond words that the woman who called thinks I'm up to the task. But right now, life can't be about what makes me feel good about me. My oldest DS HAS to know that he is a priority in my life -- and one of the highest priorities.
LIfe is full of twists and turns. God is in control. I have to remember THAT fact above all else.
Starting on Feb 1st through Feb 17th, my dad has "spells" every day. I was certain that he was having temporal lobe seizures -- up to 12 per day, some lasting up to 14 hours. I helped Mom get dad into the hospital so he could be monitored. Then their GP told mom that the time had come to find a placement for my dad. That meant finding a nursing home. Mom and I spent Saturday the 16th visiting seven skilled nursing facilities. The first place we visited was depressing. It was an older facility, low ceilings, dark small rooms and the smell made me want to vomit. Mom was just crying and saying that she'd just take Daddy home and stop complaining.
We found two other facilities that were much nicer that day. Unfortunately, those facilities denied admission to my dad. They were the first of eight facilities, in total, that turned us down.
As of 4 PM on Tuesday the 19th, I was back at square one, needing to find a nursing home. Mom and I visited three more facilities that evening. The first one was very nice, the second facility was much too large and the last was even more depressing than the very first facility we saw. Mom cried after touring that facility as well.
The next day while I was in Bible Study, I received 3 phone calls: 1) another denial for admission, 2) an acceptance and 3) a call requesting dad's information from a facility we'd toured the night before. The acceptance was from the first of the three facilities we'd toured the night before. It was the facility that I liked the most. It's not too large (only 120 beds) and I have older friends who either have their parents there now, or there were there before they passed away.
As anyone will tell you, there is NO place like home. But, when you are at the end of your rope, physically and mentally, knowing that you've found the nicest place you can find for your loved one is a godsend,.
But we were only there for about 5 days before Dad had to go to Denison for a 5 day video/EEG study. He spent five days hooked up to electrodes to measure his brain waves while being videotaped. He did not have ONE seizure! Murphy's Law was in effect I guess.
The doctor's office did NOT give us all the information we needed prior to admission. Dad had to be kept awake for the first 24 hours. This required that mom or I stay with him 24/7. It's hard to feel that Dad was in a good place for the testing when the doctor's office dropped such a big ball! But the net result of the visit was that 1) the dietician changed his nutrition substitute so that Dad only has to 'eat' 4 times per day now vs. the 7 times per day he was doing before the admission; and 2) even with NO seizure medications on board, Daddy didn't have any seizures.
Does that mean that he no longer has seizures? or are the "spells" the result of too much medication? And since Mom said that the "man" who was there in the hospital room with her for those 4 days was the guy she married -- does that mean that the last anti-seizure medication change caused many of the bipolar behaviors we saw?
I am very lost as to what we should do next.
Mom mentioned that "if he's this good, I could just bring him home."
If she does that, I'll just have to wash my hands of the day-to-day stuff and only help in a crisis.
My oldest DS has finally expressed his thoughts and feelings about the past 8 months and he feels that I"m no longer here for him, that I don't care about him and that "ever since Grandpa started having seizures again, this place [our house] has broken down." I have to agree with that last point. Hearing how he felt made my heart break. I talked about it with the counselor, my husband and my Bible Study ladies. They are praying like mad, interceding on our behalf with the LORD.
My DS and I had a breakfast date today. Just the two of us, no siblings, nobody else. Just us. I asked if there was anything he wanted to talk about. He said no. I must maintain the lines of communication with him. No matter how many problems my dad may have, my son(s) have to take priority. My priorities got all rearranged last June 22nd. They must now return to:
1) God
2) my husband
3) my sons
4) myself and THEN
5) my parents.
Then just as I'm starting to feel that I know the order of my priorities, I get a phone call today asking me to consider teaching a senior adult ladies' Sunday School class. I am flattered beyond words that the woman who called thinks I'm up to the task. But right now, life can't be about what makes me feel good about me. My oldest DS HAS to know that he is a priority in my life -- and one of the highest priorities.
LIfe is full of twists and turns. God is in control. I have to remember THAT fact above all else.
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