Hello from Texas

Wow the past couple of days were not nice!! We were under tornado watch and that stinks!!

Today was so beautiful. It was so good to be out from under the threat of being blown to pieces by a tornado and trying to protect Mom and Dad in the process. I had all the emergency items in the hallway for us. So glad that passed!!

Mom is doing so much better. Improving daily! Walking with a cane to the bathroom by herself!! Sleeping very good at night.

I have been very faithful to walking and eating right. I don't know if I have lost but I have for sure been very good!!! I got a pedometer yesterday. I took 10,039 steps yesterday and so far I have taken 12,799 today (5.44 miles). I would like to work up to at lest 15,000. That's about 6.5 miles per day for my steps.

Part of those miles were around the apartment complex. 2.50 miles with walking poles (my Dad's) which give your upper body a real workout.

I am very homesick!

LINENS-N-THINGS COUPON

Hey all you ladies out there.. here's a great deal that was sent to us at work. You can just click on the coupon and print it out and you are a guest of: Albazi, Loma. It's an amazing deal!!!

Chinese Vegetables ARE NOT healthy

I just read this and thought it was worth passing on for those of you that think when you go for Chinese food and just "eat veggies". Here's something to think about:

In some ways, Liebman said, Italian and Mexican restaurants are worse for your health, because their food is higher in saturated fat, which can increase the risk of heart disease.
While Chinese restaurant food is bad for your waistline and blood pressure -- sodium contributes to hypertension -- it does offer vegetable-rich dishes and the kind of fat that's not bad for the heart.

'Shocked' by the veggies

However -- and this is a big however -- the veggies aren't off the hook. A plate of stir-fried greens has 900 calories and 2,200 milligrams of sodium. And eggplant in garlic sauce has 1,000 calories and 2,000 milligrams of sodium.

"We were shocked. We assumed the vegetables were all low in calories," Liebman said.

Also surprising were some appetizers: An order of six steamed pork dumplings has 500 calories, and there's not much difference -- about 10 calories per dumpling -- if they're pan-fried.

To read the entire article:
http://us.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/diet.fitness/03/21/chinese.food.ap/index.html

Sat night

Well...I am sitting here looking at the computer screen after the service is over. I can still see Pastor King, Jason, Dale and Lila at the front of the church talking....I want to be there!!!!

I watched the entire service from before 6:30....watching Neil come in getting things ready...David coming in for practice....all the others coming in one by one to practice...sound being put together by James.....then the lull while everyone downstairs praying....and then service, altar call and now the late stragglers still talking.....now sanctuary empty...how sad!!! I miss it all!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mom had such a good day today. She actually walked (with her walker) from her bed to her chair! It was the first time all the way without rest stops!!!! She was so happy!

She said there was a dramatic difference in how she felt today from even yesterday!! God is working on her. Thank you Jesus!

Wednesday update on my Mom

Mom is still progressing. She is sleeping better at night. They took blood for testing today so by Friday we should know how her levels are. She said she feels stronger.

She takes breathing treatments 3 times a day. It seems to really help with the breathing.

She also is eating better. However, it is still a very small amount. I am trying to give her Boost nutritional drink every chance I get to get some vitamins in her.

Hopefully she will be able to walk and stand more soon. She does very, very little of that at this point.

Good saying

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...It's about learning to dance in the rain!

I thought this was so good. Here I have been in the storm with my Mom....yet we have danced in the rain. We are savouring any and all moments together. Sometimes we dance with tears but always with a confidence in our Saviour that he is dancing with us.

Update from Texas

It sure feels better being home taking care of Mom instead of the hospital. It is sooooo much easier on me. It is for sure a full time job. I am doing most of the care for Mom. I am going all day. I am sleeping in her room so I can get up and take care of her needs during the night. (They have twin hospital type beds that raise and lower. Smaller version of the ones in the hospital)

My Dad would not have been able to do this at all. If I were not here she would be in a rehabilitation nursing home. She was dreading the thought of that and I don't blame her! I am so honoured to be able to help her out at this time.

Yesterday I was able to get 2-20 minute walks in. A mile each time. Dad watched Mom while I went out. It felt great. I got another one in this morning. I am going to try to get a least 2 in per day I am here. 3 if it is possible.

I miss home and church and all of you. But I know this is where I need to be right now. Pray for Mom's recovery and my strength.

Love you!

THE MOMENT!!!

The moment we have all been waiting for! Mom came home today!!! She is resting in her own bed and Dad has gone to the pharmacy to pick up her meds. It feels so good to have her here to care for instead of the hospital!! I could write a book on that !!!! What a deal!

More later. Thanks for ALL the prayer and love and concern! I sure miss all of you!

More prayers

Mom had a spell with her lungs. They are keeping her in longer now.

Please pray for her lungs, kidneys and surgery healing. They are giving her a unit of blood today.

Overall from the surgery she is recovering well. The kidneys just need to help produce the hormone that makes the blood and her lungs need to settle down.

Connie and I stayed the night again and got maybe 1 hour sleep (that is a total amount...made up of 10 and 15 minute naps! It is soooo uncomfortable trying to sleep sitting up!

We just came home and got 3 more hours. We are heading back up to be with her again.

Sat update on my Mom

Connie and I stayed all night with Mom last night. They wouldn't let us stay when she was in ICU the first two nights and then Thursday night she wanted us to go home. It seemed like she wouldn't rest easy until we did. So we left around midnight. But then she had a very restless night. So last night we decided to stay with her.

The nurses brought pillows, sheets and blankets. There was one pullout chair bed and then we put two other chairs together to make a makeshift bed that you had to sit upright in. Not too comfortable!

They took the tube from her nose which is wonderful! They are starting her on soft food a bit at a time today. If she tolerates that well she will be coming home Sunday or Monday hopefully!!

Going good

It is going good here in Texas. Mom is doing great. They moved her out of ICU to a regular room. Keep praying for a quick recovery. It is normal but the bowels are still asleep from the surgery. We need them to wake up so she can eat to get strength.

I am hearing good reports from No Limits and hate so bad that I am missing it. However, I wouldn't miss being here with my sweet Mother for anything!!!! She is so precious to me!!!

Thanks for ALL the prayers!

GOOD NEWS!

Before surgery

My Mom came through the surgery so good. The surgeon was very pleased. He said it was a very small cancer surrounded by the ulcer. He said the cancer probably caused the ulcer. Anyways, he said he was able to get it all with taking just a wedge out of her stomach. She was so happy that they were able to do that without taking a lot of her stomach. They checked around the spot and didn't find any more cancer.

He was asking afterwards in her room what made her get the upper GI that found the cancer. It was because her blood count was down and the doctor wanted to see why she was losing blood. By doing so they found the ulcer, did a biospy and found the cancer in it's early stage and small. This is rare. Usually people don't find stomach cancer until it has spread and is causing problems. Then it is too late.

She was in very good spirits and talking to us all tonight. I tried to stay with her but being in ICU they wouldn't let me stay.

THANK YOU JESUS! Well, I am off to bed after a long, emotional day!

Thank you for your prayers. Keep praying for a quick recovery!

Monday night update

Well, we got all the pre-op stuff done today and picked out a rehab place in case Mom needs extra care after she is dismissed from the hospital. It has been a full day.

Mom's youngest brother, Donald Holley, came in yesterday and we have enjoyed him being here. Tonight we talked of old times. It was nice. Mom is like a "Mom" to him as well. She was older than him and helped raise him.

There are going to be sooo many people at the hospital tomorrow. Of course, Dad, Connie, my sister and I. Donald drove 6 hours to be here. Gene, her other brother, will be driving down tomorrow from Wichita Falls, as well as Dad's brother and his son. Her cousin, William, who was raised as her brother. Johnny O'Bryant, my deceased sister's husband, and their two children. My cousin, Sandra, from Dallas. Bro. Liles, Pastor in Fort Worth. And on and on....there are more! It is unreal. She is loved for sure!

Her operation is at noon this time. 11 am Calgary time. PLEASE PRAY!

P. S. I went to Curves with my sister tonight! First time since my operation! It was great!