Some updates and more prayers needed

Some updates... I meant to blog for awhile now. So much has happened but here are 2 of the most important and vital updates that could use prayer.


My Mom

My mom's brain surgery went really well! Although afterwards she was unable to speak at all for several hours. She stayed with us during her physical therapy. She is doing well but continues to have some balance issues. She also has no peripheral vision. Currently she is in Puerto Rico with some of the dance team from church for a conference. I am so happy that she was able to attend after having brain surgery 3 1/2 wks prior to the trip!


Jadae

He had been doing a lot better expect for a pain in his lower right abdominal. Several doctors had examined it and said that it was an inflamed lymph node. All other pain from his Crohn's was pretty much nonexistent expect for this. At the beginning of this past week he was experiencing a lot of pain. Wednesday night was very intense and he could not walk. His lips were white and he felt lightheaded. We called for an ambulance and left for the local ER, me following behind. (my dad was here and watched Malachi).
At the ER they did a CAT scan and the doctors told us that his appendix had ruptured sometime back in Nov. But is was blocked off so it did not kill him. They talked to their surgeons who were uncomfortable with doing the surgery and wanted him sent to Cleveland Clinic, where his Crohn's doctors are. This made us very nervous but the drs reassured us Jadae's life was not in danger.
After finding someone to take Malachi for a several days (it was 2:30 am at this pt) I went home to pack myself and Malachi a bag. I then picked up Jadae's mom and we drove through the night to Cleveland Clinic were we met Jadae.
Thursday doctors came in and examined him and reviewed the CAT scans. It was not a ruptured appendix after all. But his appendix was inflamed. Turns out he had a perforated bowel. Which is quite dangerous as he could become septic and a whole host of other issues.
Friday they did a loop ileostomy at 4 pm. Surgery was completed at 7 but his recovery took a lot longer then expected. Shortly after they sent him to the PACU (surgery recovery room) they gave him too much pain medication- which made him stop breathing. So after they remedied that they were very cautious of how much pain meds they could give him. His heart rate was really fast and he had a very low respiratory count. Finally after 6 am they were able to send him to his room. Jadae's mom and I were able to see him for only 5-10 minutes every 2 hrs.
It was so hard to see him like that. Saturday was a rough day for him. He was in a lot of pain and still have some oxygen problems. Today he was so much better. They did have to give him a blood transfusion today.
This had been the longest that I had ever been away from Malachi. I talked to him every day on the phone but he refused to talk to me until yesterday. Jadae's mom and I went home today. Although Jadae wanted me to be with him he also wanted me home with Malachi. Malachi does not understand what is going on. We could even tell him as he was in bed when the ambulance came.
Jadae is still at Cleveland Clinic. We are not sure how long he will be there. He will be off of work for 6 wks. Then 3-6 months from now he was have another surgery to reverse the stoma. Which he will be off of work again for an extended time period after another hospital stay.
Emotional I am doing ok. Overwhelmed and not understand why so much has been happening. Every month since Oct someone in my immediate fam has been hospitalized. I've cried a lot this past week. Some days my nerves and anxiety were fine, other days I was more of a mess.

A lil more than just overwhelmed

It's been over a month since I last posted. So much has gone on and my family needs your prayers.

The week of Thanksgiving my husband was hospitalized for his Crohn's disease. he was over an hour away. He had a partial blockage - which they were able to get under control with steroids. So no surgery yet!!! He was there for almost a week. It was a rough week- never knowing what was going on (he didn't even know), if he would have surgery, and me at home taking care of Malachi- who didn't understand why daddy was not coming home. It was a fluke but Jadae was able to see Malachi one time in the hospital in his room! Malachi and I would pray every night for his daddy!

Now, not even 2 wks later my mom is in the hospital. (A lil' background) She was diagnosed with Breast cancer (stage 3) almost 2 yrs ago to the date. She was treated with chemo and radiation and was cancer free for several months. It came back this summer and had spread to her lungs. She had a mastectomy done and has been undergoing radiation for several months. She had her last radiation treatment Wednesday.

All this week she felt like her balance was off and she mentioned it to her doctor which ordered a MRI done right then. Yesterday morning they admitted her because they found 2 tumor's in the back of her head. One is small the other is walnut sized. They are located near her vision cortex on the brain. They are removing the bigger one today. The cancer has spread to her brain.

My mom is having brain surgery today around 11 or noon. The surgery is expected to take from 4-6 hrs but up to 8 hrs. I am scared. This is scary. Please pray- have other people people. She needs a break in life. She has had a hard one, a rough childhood.

I've been told that as far as brain surgeries go this one is minor. And that the doctor is optimistic.

So much has changed in a single day. Yesterday I woke up and things were fine. And then I ended up spending the entire day in the hospital and plan to do the same today. Pray for us!

Bad Blogger

I know, I know...it has been awhile.

My mom did have surgery last monday. They did do the mastectomy. She is doing surpraisingly well. She has had very little pain. Although she is quite tired. I was able to go with her to my youngest brother's socceer game on Saturday. It was cold! (only in the high 50's) and windy! But sill fun! They beat Lex! First time that thier soccer team has beaten them since '92. In fact, Lex was undefeated until then!

My dad has "moved" in with us this past Friday. He will be staying with us while he tries to find a house and closes on it. He is thinking that he only will be staying with us for about a month to two months. Malachi is loving it! He calls him "Grandpa Bear", but mainly "Bear". (I am not sure why the kids started calling my dad that but it has stuck).

Malachi has been talking more and more lately. This past week he has said several new words; Chair, Door, Bear, waffle. I cannot remember what else right now. But he has also been saying 3 words that all parents cannot wait until their children can say them; I Love You

Just life

My little man is climbing the walls, literally, tonight. He took off his diaper, climbed onto the back of the coach and onto the window seal edge behind the blinds- Butt naked! He is running circles all over the place tonight.

Good News though, his ear infection is totally gone. No more antiboitics!

My mom finds out this week what her plan is concerning her breast cancer.

Last week was rather busy for me. Here was the basic jest of my schedule. M-F I did watch Scar during the day.
Sunday- Church am, Youth group pm
Monday (Labor Day)- my family came over for a cook-out, then we played Phase 10
Tuesday- Dance practice (I decided to rejoin the dance ministry team at church after a 4 year long break)
That night was the night I stayed in the ER with Malachi
Wednesday- B-sat for my nieces, Scarlett and Ariana, and I was suppose to go to Peace House but I skipped to stay home with Malachi
Thursday- Went to Ashland U, my ala matar, to get free CEU's to keep my LSW up to date.
Fri- Went to Ashland U for more free CEU's
Saturday- Got even more free CEU's in Ashland.
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I got really disappointed in a stituation today that we have been dealing with for a year now. So I decided to reflect on the good that I have received.


While we did not have our own garden this year, our church had a community garden and we were blessed with fresh produce. (tomatoes, green beans, potatoes, etc.)

Our neighbor mows our yard almost every week for us and never asks for any kind of competsantion.

Our dishwasher recently went out on us. But for a year and a half I was able to use it even though it did not do that great of a job (one of the old versions).

Through the blessing of someone who I will not mention we are able to go to Michigan this coming weekend to Jadae's brother get married!

I am blessed to live walking distance to a CVS where I find awesome deals and get extra bucks back! and I get exercise!

I am also blessed to live near a thift store that has really great prices and half-off Wednesdays (I just have to be careful not to spend too much)

Reunion and Mom update

I've been quite busy lately so this is a short and basically to the point update.

The reunion last wkd was wonderful! I got to see my cousin, Kristin (she is married to Jadae's cousin - Jason) she is pregnant with a baby girl - due in November. They live in TN and its been a while since I've gotten to visit with them. It was rather chilly and rainy. They had karaoke; which I did not participate. I will be the first to admit that I cannot sing on key, any key whatsoever.

Josh and Sara and our new niece, Corinna, came to town for that wkd! It was also nice to see them. We only get to see Josh a few times a year. We sure miss him. Here is my in-laws with all of their grandchildren minus Xzavier (he was in Michigan with his mom). This is the best shot. All of the others Malachi was sobbing (he was awaken from his nap and a bit insecure).

After the reunion all of us ladies (my sister-in-laws, and Angel- my oldest niece) all went to the thrift store. Thrifting makes me a happy women. I love thrift stores and can spend a fortune there.

This Friday my mom and I took my brother, Harrison to move into his dorm room. He is a freshman at Mt. Vernon Nazarene University. I can't believe he is that old already. I know that he is going to love dorm life. It looks like this semester he will not have a roommate. I miss the dorm life atmosphere. I only got to experience it the year I lived in Texas. I miss the school atmosphere, but not the stress of the work.

Yesterday Jadae and I celebrated our 4th anniversary (which was actually on the 27th). We went to a all-you-can-eat Chinese Buffet. Then to the Bookery (Christian bookstore) and got a couple's devo, a devo for me, and a Mom's and son Bible story book. The book for Malachi is really cool- it writes the Bible stories from the perspective of the children (ie, Abraham and Issac- from Issac's view), then has a part after the story that talks about what it means to be a Man of God. It also has a spot for mom's to read to help their son get a better and clearer picture to help their sons turn into godly men.

My mom's results came back from the biopsy on the tumor that was on her lung. The news is bittersweet. It is not lung cancer, Praise God! But is is cancer. Her breast cancer is back. She will have surgery, chemo, and radiation again. It is good-bad news situation. We basically knew that the cancer was back. But it was still hard to hear.

Update on my mom and Life

It was determined that the noudle on my mom's lung is in a place where they can do a needle biospy. Praise God that there is no need for a surgery yet! With this biospy they will rule out any other cancers. If there is no other cancer then they will work on the mass on her breast. The doctors are quite sure that the cancer is back.

This really depresses me. But my mom is a fighter. And Jadae has only had peace about the stituation since the breast cancer came the first time.

Please continue to keep my family in your prayers.

The last few days were quite busy for me. We got a new to us washing machine. Ours broke a couple of weeks ago. Boy was I ever glad to be able to do laundry!!! And to use cloth diapers again! Although we are not using them right now because all the disposibles gave Malachi a diaper rash. (you shouldn't use diaper rash cream on cloth diapers)

My brother Harrison spent the first part of the week with us. Thursday morning I took him, Malachi, and my 4 month old neice, Ariana , to the thift stores across town to get Harrison some pants for college. He leaves to go to MVNU next week. I cannot believe that he is that old now! Then we went to the bank and back to my house.

A short while after we got home Scarlett (my 3 yr old neice) got dropped off for me to watch. I was cleaning the house in the meantime to get it ready for Jadae's brother and his family who were coming down from MI for the wk.

After I took Jadae to work Malachi and I went to Krogers. They were having a Mega Buck sale and a Triple coupon weekend! So I really stock up! I watched Scar again in the afternoon. Then we had Jadae's family over for a cook-out at our house last night.

And today is the BIG family reunion!

My Mom

December 13th, 2007- My mom found out that she has Breast cancer. It was consirdered a stage 3 due to the size of the lump. She had surgery Jan. 2rd to remove the cancerous tumor. And also had chemotherapy and radiation. Last summer was her last treatment. Since then she's had no problems until recently.

Three weeks ago she found lump. She saw her doctor and he expressed concern about the size and the way the lump felt. She went to Riverside on Monday of this week for an MRI and got the results today.

The MRI was undetermined so they will have to do a needle biopsy to see what is going on. The MRI showed a module on her lungs. She has to go tomorrow to our local hospital to have a CAT scan done to see exactly where it is located and to determine if they can do a needle biopsy or if they will have to do a biopsy through surgery.

I am afraid right now. I am trying to trust God but it is hard. I hate to see my mom going through this.

Please pray for God's healing, peace, and wisdom.

Also, there may be a chance that the lump may be from her Neurofibroatosis.