A Fodel Thanksgiving

We went to Charlotte to Aunt DiDi's for Thanksgiving.  The girls had a basketball game on Saturday at 2Pm and were not able to go, so Chris stayed home to take them.  Nathan and I picked up Mama Donna and went to Charlotte.  We went for the party and came back!  

It was so good

to see everyone.  All of the GIRL cousins vowed to get together this summer.  Janet's in-laws have a place at Myrtle Beach so maybe it will work this summer.

Aunt Dianne was diagnosed with cancer this summer.  Heather and Mom went to visit her and she did not look good.  They had started her on new meds and she was doing great over Thanksgiving.  She said she would crash for several days after that.  :(  I love that lady.  She is a fighter and I know she can beat it!  I love you Aunt Didi!

Birthday Blessings

Tonight I took a long hot bath while I listened to my Ipod my sweet sister gave me for my birthday on my Ipod docking station my sweet Mama gave me. I downloaded Hear Something Country Christmas 2007 album from Itunes with birthday money from my in-laws. I did all of this while my Husband and children were wrapping a gift for me! I could hear the faint whispers and giggles and occasional shouts and I just sat and praised my Heavenly Father for the blessings in my life.

At breakfast the other morning my friends and I laughed at "where we could have been" had we stayed in our hometowns and life not worked out so beautifully as it has. God has a plan and so often when it is not our plan we fuss and cry because we did not get our way. I want to publicly thank Husband for bringing me into his life and sharing the best gift of all time - Jesus Christ. I know our road was rocky this past year, but I will travel down that road with you as long as we are together! We go on the 10Th for a three month check up for cancer. I know God is working in your life and feel His mighty presence in our life.

There are some things money cannot buy and our love for each other is one of them! Thank you Husband for loving me! That is the best gift of all! I Love You!

Awareness

Let's Go Ladies.......today is the day - your other monthly reminder!

Ladies, We are Different

I received this as an email and know I have many "non-medical" friends out there that read and wanted to share this with you! Thanks to my good friend at Me and The Other Three for sharing!

I was aware that female heart attacks are different, but this is the best description I've ever read. You all take care out there!

Women and heart attacks (Myocardial infarction)

Did you know that women rarely have the same dramatic symptoms that men have when experiencing heart attack...you know, the sudden stabbing pain in the chest, the cold sweat, grabbing the chest & dropping to the floor that we see in the movies. Here is the story of one woman's experience with a heart attack.

'I had a completely unexpected heart attack at about 10:30 pm with NO prior exertion, NO prior emotional trauma that one would d suspect might've brought it on. I was sitting all snugly & warm on a cold evening, with my purring cat in my lap, reading an interesting story my friend had sent me, and actually thinking,'A-A-h, this is the life, all cozy and warm in my soft, cushy Lazy Boy with my feet propped up.' A moment later, I felt that awful sensation of indigestion, when you've been in a hurry and grabbed a bite of sandwich and washed it down with a dash of water, and that hurried bite seems to feel like you've swallowed a golf ball going down the esophagus in s low motion and it is most uncomfortable. You realize you shouldn't have gulped it down so fast and needed to chew it more thoroughly and this time drink a glass of water to hasten its progress down to the stomach. This was my initial sensation---the only trouble was that I hadn't taken a bite of anything since about 5:00 p.m.

'After that had seemed to subside, the next sensation was like little squeezing motions that seemed to be rac ing up my SPINE (hind-sight, it was probably my aorta spasming), gaining speed as they continued racing up and under my sternum (breast bone, where one presses rhythmically when administering CPR). This fascinating process continued on into my throat and branched out into both jaws.

'AHA!! NOW I stopped puzzling about what was happening--we all have read and/or heard about pain in the jaws being one of the signals of an MI happening, haven't we? I said aloud to myself and the cat, 'Dear God, I think I'm having a heart attack !' I lowered the foot rest, dumping the cat from my lap, started to take a step and fell on the floor instead. I thought to myself 'If this is a heart attack, I shouldn't be walking into the next room where the phone is or anywhere else...but, on the other hand, if I don't, nobody will know that I need help, and if I wait any longer I may not be able to get up in a moment.'

'I pulled myself up with the arms of the chair, walked slowly into the e next room and dialed the Paramedics... I told her I thought I was having a heart attack due to the pressure building under the sternum and radiating into my jaws. I didn't feel hysterical or afraid, just stating the facts. She said she was sending the Paramedics over immediately, asked if the front door was near to me, and if so, to unbolt the door and then lie down on the floor where they could see me when they came in.

'I then laid down on the floor as instructed and lost consciousness, as I don't remember the medics coming in, their examination, lifting me onto a gurney or getting me into their ambulance, or hearing the call they made to St. Jude ER on the way, but I did briefly awaken when we arrived and saw that the Cardiologist was already there in his surgical blues and cap, helping the medics pull my stretcher out of the ambulance. He was bending over me asking questions (probably something like 'Have you taken any medications?') but I couldn't make my mind interpret what he was saying, or form an answer, and nodded off again, not waking up until the Cardiologist and partner had already threaded the teeny angiogram balloon up my femoral artery into the aorta and into my heart where they installed 2 side by side stints to hold open my right coronary artery.

'I know it sounds like all my thinking and actions at home must have taken at least 20-3 0 minutes before calling the Paramedics, but actually it took perhaps 4-5 minutes before the call, and both the fire station and St. Jude are only minutes away from my home, and my Cardiologist was already to go to the OR in his scrubs and get going on restarting my heart (which had stopped somewhere between my arrival and the procedure) and installing the stints.

'Why have I written all of this to you with so much detail? Because I want all of you who are so important in my life to know what I learned first hand.'

1. Be aware that something very different is happening in your body not the usual men's symptoms, but inexplicable things happening (until my sternum and jaws got into the act ). It is said that many more women than men die of their first (and last) MI because they didn't know they were having one, and commonly mistake it as indigestion, take some Maalox or other anti-heartburn preparation, and go to bed, hoping they'll feel better in the morning when they wake up....which doesn't happen. My female friends, your symptoms might not be exactly like mine, so I advise you to call the Paramedics if ANYTHING is unpleasantly happening that you've not felt before. It is better to have a 'false alarm' visitation than to risk your life guessing what it might be!

2. Note that I said 'Call the Paramedics'. Ladies, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE! Do NOT try to drive yourself to the ER--you're a hazard to others on the road, and so is your panicked husband who will be speeding and looking anxiously at what's happening with you instead of the road. Do NOT ca ll your doctor--he doesn't know where you live and if it's at night you won't reach him anyway, and if it's daytime, his assistants (or answering service) will tell you to call the Paramedics. He doesn't carry the equipment in his car that you need to be saved! The Paramedics do, mainly OXYGEN that you need ASAP. Your Dr. will be notified later

3. Don't assume it couldn't be a heart attack because you have a normal cholesterol count. Research has discovered that a cholesterol elevated reading is rarely the cause of an MI (unless it's unbelievably high, and/or accompanied by high blood pressure.) MI's are usually caused by long-term stress and inflammation in the body, which dumps all sorts of deadly hormones into your system to sludge things up in there. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we could survive...

Today is the Day!

Reminder: October 12-19 is National Feel Your Boobies Week...
Did you know that the chance of developing invasive breast cancer at some time in a woman's life is about 1 in 8 and that women living in North America have the highest rate of breast cancer in the world? Currently there are about 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the United States. Fortunately death rates from breast cancer have been declining due to earlier detection through screening and increased awareness, as well as improved treatment. You can help the reduction in breast cancer and in finding a cure by helping raise awareness during the month of October which is the Breast Cancer awareness Month.

The "C" Word

There has been so much activity with my family over the past two months. I have been slow to post about my Mom. She is doing better and I thought I would give an update.

Mom was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer around Labor Day Weekend when Husband was diagnosed with Bladder Cancer. She has had trouble with her back and neck since a wreck back in January. They did all types of test to discover she has a spur between the 5th and 6th vertebrae. She will probably have surgery for that before the end of the year if all goes well. During all the testing they discovered a mass in her thyroid and did several biopsies. Last Friday they removed all of her thyroid except for a tiny amount that was on the opposite side from where the cancer was. Now I do not have the path reports but we know that of all Cancers this was the one to get. It was found very early and was slow growing so everything about it was "Good."

She will go to an Oncologist in the next two weeks to have her treatment plan written out. We know she will have an iodine-chemotherapy-blast-pill-thingy that will kill the remaining thyroid tissue. She will experiment on medication until they get her "regulated"...

She has been out of work now for over two months. Her spirits are high, but I know she is nervous about the next surgery. She did amazingly well!

I have a funny to tell. After they completed the FOUR hour surgery they sat her up to put a compress on her neck (she was still out). When they did this, her double chin/skin got taped onto the compress. Later she kept complaining that it was hard to swallow and we explained that she had had a breathing tube in and it just made her scratchy. Well, she stayed a second night and the swelling went down once they took her off the IV fluids and I could see THROUGH/UNDER her chin. OMG...OMG.... I realized they had taped her chin skin to the bandage! Fortunately once I realized this and scared her the Dr. walked in. He was embarrassed that his staff had taped her up so badly! It was funny, but boy she sure did appreciate her new "pain" once the tape was off!!! It was not as bad as what she was experiencing before!

Please keep praying for her! Now that sister lives real close to her we all three get to see each other a whole lot! I am so thankful we are close! Husband is doing good. He goes back for a scope test in December and will every three months for a year. They described bladder cancer as a bad weed. It will probably grow back so we will keep checking for it! Thank you so much for all your prayers and cards! I love my friends and family!!!

Th Rest Of The Story

We managed to have a wonderful trip! The children really loved the different means of transportation. We do not have a bus system or a subway, so that was big time for these country kids! We walked everywhere! By the end of the trip one of the girls said she missed our car! The girls managed to swing on every lamp post in D.C.


On Sunday morning, Husband had the meeting to attend so I took the children to the ladies breakfast at the Four Seasons Hotel! This is always a favorite of mine when I travel with him. We have been in this group for about 7 years and this was the first time we had ever taken the children. I won't say it was the last, but it will be a while before they attend again! I did not realize how set in my ways I am when we travel! I did not have any of that "me" time.

At the breakfast I asked if anyone would like to go with us to Arlington for a tour. Several ladies decided to go! I was glad for the company since we had not been on the subway yet. They coached me through the ticket purchasing process (and it was a process). I did it wrong the first time, but the kind man helped us get through the gate! Well, for what ever reason the children went nuts on me!
Nobody listened, they could not stay with the group nor could they follow directions. They were miserable and so was I. EMBARRASSED is more like it. Needless to say, the next day we took out to the Bureau of Engraving and Natural History Museum with out the ladies! I have to see them again in January in Mexico!!!
We also went to the Spy Museum and had a tour of the Capital! The trip was great!

Going To D.C.

I failed to mention several key issues in getting to D.C.
Husband gives a devotional the first of every month at work to all departments. Since he fell sick over Labor Day weekend he missed the first. So on Wednesday morning he decided to speak to everyone in two large groups and share with them what he had experienced. So we arranged for him to speak at 2pm and 2:30. He was able to explain how if he had his prayer request answered he would have passed the stone and if I had my prayers answered we would have gone to Atlanta and had the stone blasted on Thursday not the following Tuesday. Either way we would have missed the bladder cancer and 6-12 months from now he would of had symptoms and probably stage 2 or 3 cancer, not pre-cancerous cells.

Needless to say the afternoon was very stressful and painful for Husband since he still had the stint in from the surgery. He had a hard time walking and wanted to wear sweat pants. Now everyone who knows Husband knows he is always well dressed (and buys it all himself!!)!! So he does not even OWN a pair of loose fitting jogging pants. No problem I'll take out and buy you a pair, between washing loads of clothes, packing for five people and leaving the house clean - because we have it on the market and I just knew they would show it while we were gone for six days. So I leave all my chores to dash to our great and grand mall (PITIFUL). I get half way there and reach for my purse.!@>#>%$>@#%>@#>@! Yes, you guessed it!!! I left my purse at the house>!>@#@@$*@&$@

Now I know we do not live in a large town, but for me to drive all the way back out to the house and turn around to come all the way back to the mall was quite a hike. So I went towards the tennis courts where MIL works to see if I could borrow some $$$. She was not there, she left early. Fortunately, my dear friend from my favorite boutique was there with her mother and YES, I ASKED HER MOTHER IF SHE COULD HELP ME! Now, this is desperate folks. Yes, She is a good friend of mine also, but for her to give me her debit card, that is friendship people!!

So now off I go to the Mall looking for loose fitting sweatpants in SEPTEMBER! It is still 80-90 degrees here! What were we thinking? Belks, Goody's, JCPennys, Hibbets - nothing! So I took the debit card back and then told Husband he was clearly out of luck. Fortunately MIL calls me back and I explain what I need and she runs through her husband's closet and saves the day with a pair.

Now did I mention I was playing beat the clock before the sun goes down so I could cut the grass. I'll remind you that we live on six acers and it had rained the entire time we were in the hospital for six days. Not many people volunteer to cut six acers, but they do meals and childcare (thank you to my precious friends and family)!!!! So, I had to at least get the grass around the house cut, because what if they did show the house while we were gone?... (Just to let you know I could have baled hay it was so tall when I cut it after D.C.).

Meanwhile, Husband and children were eating the dinner my dear friend (Saggy Boobs)brought over and getting ready for bed. At this point I am exhausted, but wait there is more! I have not even pulled out our suitcases to start packing all those clean clothes. I stayed up into the wee-hours of the morning packing, checking my list and cleaning the house.

Fortunately we did not have another $8,000 mishap like the last time we went on vacation! But that is another story for another time...

They had so much fun at The Museum of Natural History. We saw the Hope Diamond, dinosaurs and their favorite was the rocks and gems! They loved this amethysts!

"Getting" To Washington D.C.

I use the term vacation very loosely! I worked very hard the months before, planning our events so the children would not get tired, so we would have plenty of time at the gift shops, walking time... you name it, I planned for it. But I never dreamed my husband would have spent six days prior to the trip laid up in a hospital bed or that he would have had surgery two nights before we were going to leave!
Husband had a kidney stone removed on Tuesday night, and while they were in there they found bladder cancer and cut it out. He came home Tuesday night and laid around all day Wednesday. BUT Thursday morning I had him up, showered and on our way to the airport before he even had time to complain. Now I know that sounds really harsh (and okay, it was rough), but we had just spent a week of our life in pain and agony and I knew if I could just get him to D.C. he would be better on Friday. So I did what any good wife would do, I called Delta and arranged for wheel chair assistance at the airport!
We toted four large suitcases and everyone had a carry-on. Every child pulled their own suitcase and we followed the man pushing their Daddy! Yes, it was a sight and no I did not think to even take a picture. Once we got him on the plane he was "fine."

When we arrived in D.C. he did not even get out of the tunnel before another gentleman with a wheelchair was waiting for him and pushed him right to baggage claim and then to a taxi! In all honesty it was perfect! The taxi dropped us off at the hotel, I checked us in and we went straight to the room and he laid in the bed the rest of the night...he needed his rest for Friday...

Come back tomorrow for more details...

Table For Two

Wow! It has been a long time since Husband and I have gone on a date! After all of the events that took place two weeks ago, our precious HomeTeam from church has offered to take the children for the night! The kids are so excited about the evening and so are their parents!!!

Last night I asked husband if he had any plans for our hot date and I was so surprised by his answer. Now I know I shouldn't be because he is THE most romantic man, but for some reason I was surprised! He said we were going to go to a small town about 20 minutes from here to go antiquing and then find a little resturant to have a quiet dinner. He said he wanted to "do some different so we would be able to talk while we spent time with each other." Now at the time I did not question it, I just thought it was sweet. Then this morning he repeated it with a hint of sarcasms and I realize he was choosing that for my benefit, but I do not care. He was thinking of me and now I promise not to make it too painful for him!

I'll let you know what we find!!!


{photo from flickr}

Lucky Stone

Last Thursday Husband woke up and started his quiet time at 6 am. He had a bad stomach ache and within 5 minutes was on the ground in the bathroom crying in pain. I rushed him to the ER and our journey began at 6:30am. He stayed in pain and in the ER until 3:30 Thursday. They did a cat-scan and saw a kidney stone estimated at 5mm. Our ONLY urologist was out of town and would not be back until Tuesday (Labor Day weekend). They tried to get us in with another Urologistout-of-town and then with several others, but neither one would take us for whatever reason. At that point we tried to get admitted into the hospital and we even had a hard time getting that done.

Finally they got us into a room and started a dauladid pain med that seemed to numb the pain some. We stayed in that room on that meds Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and then most of the day Tuesday, until Dr. Smith returned and we got an available operating room.
I will have to wait for another time to tell you about where all our children were during this time. Remind me to tell you about the dog biting Maddie’s face and the fender-bender the girls were in…Another chapter for the book I am writing Drama Mama.

Anyways, back to my cot in room 511… Husband had fluids and pain meds and waited 5 days for the little booger to travel down from the kidney to the bladder. The Dr. had to use a catherter and a small “bucket” to capture the stone and bring it out. BUT, while he was in there the Dr. saw a tumor in Husband's bladder – Cancer. It was Phase 1 and very tiny and he was able to remove it all! God Is GOOD- ALL The Time!

Now if I had won our fight back in ER and put him back in my car to go to Atlanta or Birmingham, they would have blasted the stone because of its location. If God had answered Husband's prayers he would have passed that joker and we would not know about the Cancer for 6-12 months from now when there would be blood in his urine.

NOW raise your hands up to the Lord and thank Him for unanswered prayers right now! Our God is an AWESOME God! These were 6 MISERABLE days in the hospital for everyone! But oh how beautiful they are to me now!
When we are in the storm it is so easy to turn flesh and not look up. I thank God for not turning His back on my family when I did not turn to Him to provide WHAT I WANTED! Thanks you Jesus!

You know my needs and you ALWAYS provide! Thank you Jesus for not providing what this Type A- Drama Mama wanted!!!!!!!!!!!!
I type this note as I am waiting for the dryer to stop so I can finish packing. We did not take a family trip this summer and we are still planning to take the children to Washington DC this weekend. We thank you for your prayers and hope to talk to you next week!