Grandma Update

Written by my mom-in-law -

Mom was not running a temperature when we were in there. It has been normal or only slightly high so they are checking it under the arm every 15 minutes. They have taken the machine for the cooling pad out of her room.

She is off a lot of the fluids and medications, and the nurse said that this should help with the swelling because she is not getting as many fluids. She is getting the 3 antibiotics, the hepron and pain medication and the food. They took off something they were given her to make her bowels softer and hopefully they will be able to get that tube out in a couple days.

The nurse said that the neuro team was in and said everything still looked the same. The pulmonary doctor has been in--her heart rate is a little high because her breathing is labored so he made some adjustments to the ventilator. Her oxygen level is at 80% now.

I asked the nurse about her most recent blood results, and she said everything was about the same.

The nurse has the TV on VH-1 in her room so there is some noise in her room. Dad asked if it was for her or for Mom. She said she put it so there would be some noise in the room for Mom, and she thought VH-1 would be better than a television show.

Dad is doing better today--partly because her report is a little better and mainly because he took his medicine.

July in Pictures

Rick's cousin Kes on the day that I watched her


Me and Claire at Grandma and Grandpa's house - July 4th weekend.


Peyton and Tyler playing with sparklers


Sarah, Rebecca, Jacob and cousin Matt at 'Uncle' Jerry's funeral.


The funeral home that Jerry's services were at.


The Kellogg Tiger in front of a wal-mart in Ohio


Mini photo shoot with the Taylor family - my bro and sis-in-law


Cooper Taylor - Almost 4 months old


Cooper posing for his first offical VBS picture


Cooper and Cindy dancing to some VBS songs


Me on stage with my class 'herding' them.


Rebecca on her 19th birthday

Personal Update

I am sitting in the hospital ICU waiting room. I had so many things that I was planning on blogging about, but at the moment all that I can think of is Grandma.

I just went in and saw Grandma and my heart just wants to break. She looks bad. Her body is bloated and leaking fluids cause her heart is going into congestive heart failure and is only pumping 30%. And because her heart is only functioning part way, she has pneumonia. She is breathing on her own, but the trach is also breathing for her and it moves her whole body. Since they put the trach in, they removed all the tubes that were in her mouth - her mouth and teeth are all bloody and dry and her sore just keep re-opening.

We stood around her bed and talked to her, telling her was here, what our plans were for tonight and that we were going to see Casey and the Sunshine band perform after the baseball game, told her that she wasn't looking so great and that she needed to wake up. We didn't stay in there super long - other family members are here and they want to see her.

Granddad is having a really hard time. He is exhausted emotionally and physically. We are all trying to keep him calm and take care of him, but there is only so much a person can do for another person grieving and hurt.

I am here with Rick's family and have no idea what to say or do to help. I just pray. Right now, we need God to heal and we need peace and strength to keep going.

Promise

I promise to give a proper blog over the weekend - pictures and all!

I am not sure I like this layout. But I don't have time to keep playing with it.

My mom visited me this week. It was so nice having her here and showing her around.

I only have 1 more week of living in Richmond with Rick. I am trying to stay positive but it is not going to be easy.

Grandma Update

From the Mom-in-law -

Yesterday -
My mom is still about the same. She was in surgery this afternoon to put a trach in, but the surgeon said that everything went okay and Dad and Randy should be able to see her before the normal 5:00 visitation time.

Today -
My mom is showing slight improvement today. They have taken her off some of the medications, and her neurological assessments are the same. She is still sedated, but they are taking her off the sedation. My brother thought he saw her mouth move last night but could not be sure, but the nurses said that she has half-blinked her eyes several times.

Updates about Grandma

Update from the weekend and today - (written by my Mother-in-law)

From Sunday -
Mom’s (Ilene Rodgers) prognosis now is not good. Although her assessment are little better, especially on the left side, she is having a lot of heart and lung problems. They were talking about putting a trach in today, but the surgeon who would do that questioned why we would want to do that based on her prognosis. My brother, who is oral surgeon, has a call into the attending physician about this, but it will probably be tomorrow before he talks with him. The earliest the surgeon would be able to the trach in would be Tuesday anyway.

Please just keep praying for her and for our family. All of us are taking this hard, and my grandmother (who is 104 yrs old) is having a hard time also.

From today -
They are actually putting in the trach tomorrow. When they talked with the attending physician today, her prognosis was about the same--a 50/50 chance of survival.

Unless things change - Rick and I will be spending the weekend in Pittsburgh helping out everywhere we can.

My Marriage

1. When is your "engagement" anniversary:
August 23, 2008

2. When is your "marriage" anniversary:
January 31, 2009

3. How long have you known your spouse:
Almost 4 years

4. How long did you date/court before you were engaged:
1 year and 9 months

5. Where did you meet your spouse for the first time?
At my parents church

6. What is your spouse's full name:
Charles Richard

7. Do you have any children:
Nope, not yet

8. How many - boys/girls:
I want 3 boys and 2 girls

9. Do you have any house pets:
1 greyhound, 1 hamster, and 1 turtle

10. Do you own a house or rent:
Neither at the moment but hopefully own very soon!

11. Do you live in the country or town/city:
It will probably be town

12. What is one of your favorite activities together:
Anything outdoor

13. Do you have a favorite vacation spot:
Petry Camp!

14. When did you first kiss?
On our wedding day

15. What church do you attend?
Kingsway Christian Church

16. Is this the church you were married in:
Nope

17. What town is your current address at:
WV

18. Do you work or stay at home:
Stay at home - but only for 2 more weeks. :0(

19. Where did you go on your honeymoon:
A Cruise to Belize and Mexico

20.What was the funniest gift you gave when dating?
Can't really think of one - Rick's gifts are always practical.

21.How long have you been together?
Soon to be 3 years

22. How long did you know each other before you started dating?
I knew about him for over a year - we started talking about a month and half before we became official.

23. Who asked who out?
I asked him if he liked me - he asked me to be his girlfriend.

24. How old are each of you?
He is 27 and I am 22

25.Where do you each work or go to school?
He is an eternal auditor for Massey Coal Services. And I am finishing up my last semester from JBC and will be working at the church daycare.

26. Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple?
Not having our own place

27. Did you go to the same school?
Nope

28. Are you from the same home town?
Nope

29. Who is smarter?
Rick is by far!

30. Who is more sensitive?
Me for sure!

31.Where do you eat out most as a couple?
Everywhere and anywhere

32. Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
Belize

33.Who has the craziest exes?
He has ex's but I don't think they are crazy

34. Who has the worse temper?
He does

35. Who does the cooking?
Neither - you have to have a kitchen to cook

36. Who is more social?
He is by far!

37. Who is the neat-freak?
I think both of us to an extent

38. Who is more stubborn?
Um . . . . .him

39. Who hogs the bed?
He says I do . . . I say he does. lol

40. Who wakes up earlier?
Rick cause he brings home the bacon. :0)

41. Where was your first date?
The mall and Gander Mountain

42.Who had more boyfriends/girlfriends?
He did - 2. Me - 0

43. Do you get flowers often?
Nope, he thinks that it is a wast of money

44. How do you spend the holidays?
Trying to spend time with both sides

45. Who is more jealous?
Me

46. How long did it take to get serious?
A month?

47. Who eats more?
We are about even

48. Who does the laundry?
Rick's mom. lol

49. Who’s better with the computer?
He is

50. Leave a piece of advice for the other couples.
Always be open with each other - don't keep secrets.