I'VE GOT NO GALL...BLADDER THAT IS.

I went in the hospital on Monday for an exploratory surgery on my left side and she ended up looking on my right because nothing was wrong on the left. She had a suspicion about my gall bladder and sure enough, she said it was in really bad shape so she took it out. I have 3 small holes for the surgery and one for the drain. They took out the drain as I did fine so she let me go home the yesterday afternon. Christy is taking care of me today. I feel a little on the nauseous side but have not gotten sick so I guess I am doing good. Need to take a nap and let drugs wear off. Bye for now.

HE'S OK

David had the first of possible 3 or 4 operation. Yeah, we didn't know that. Thought it was all going to get done at once but have to wait for the diagnosis on the nodule and for the sight to heal. The esophagus has 4 layers and they will burn off the dysplasia one layer at a time. And let it heal on each layer. I go in on Monday for my laparoscopy. They will scope to see if I have a hernia and possibly take off a fatty tumor that is on my ribs. Both are on my left side. Will write more when I know more.

WE VISITED WITH MOM TONIGHT

Mom called today sounding slurry and sluggish and tried to tell me something about her chair and then gave up cause "she had it all straight to tell me and now she couldn't remember it". After retrying a couple of times, she became frustrated and said she wanted to hang up and she would call back when she got it together again. She did call back later and she sounded fine then. I asked her if she had been sleeping and she said yes, so I think she must dream and wake up and call me before she can get herself together and completely woke up. Anyway, she was ok. We went over tonight to see her and visit for awhile. I cut her fingernails and filed them for her. David fixed her VCR in her little TV so she can see her videos again. And we reminded her how to use her CD player. Don't know if she will remember or not but she seemed happy to know for the time being. She doesn't like to wear her sleep mask at night for her sleep apnea so Medicare will more than likely take the machine back. They don't like paying rent on it, if she is not using it. C'est la vie! I was letting myself get all upset and twisted because Mom couldn't remember things but I have decided not to let her push my buttons and just try to make her happy. That is all I can do at this point. She is on Galantamine, 8 MG 2 times a day. It is generic for Razidene and the medicine is supposed to increase acetacolene (sp?) in the brain and slow the progression of Dimentia. Melodie had asked me about that so I asked the assisted living nurse about it today. If you think about it, send Mom some cards or mail or drawings from the kids. She would love it. Let me know if you need her address again.

HAD A GREAT WEEKEND

It was like the best weather for a bonfire & a picnic last night considering this is July. The temperature was in the 70's and got lower as the evening progressed. We celebrated July birthdays of those that were here. Actually we gave the party for our son-in-law who turns 30 next week (July 28) but will be working then. We had Linda & Eddie, Danny & Janette,(Bill, Karen & Abby and Chastity came later) Jimmy, Rosemary & Nicholas, Jen, Bob, Decovin, & Camden, Jeff, Katrina & McKendra, Melodie, Quentin & McKinley, Ruthie, Rob, Don & Norma, David & I, & Christy. (28 people) We had roasted hot dogs and barbequed polish sausages & bbq chicken legs. Everybody brought a dish and we had a wonderful feast. The other birthdays in July were Janette & David. The guys played horse shoes and the kids played croquet as well as playing on the swing set. The frizbee got thrown around a bit also. It was fun. Thank you to all who came and brought portions of the meal and helping getting things out and back in for the picnic. (Happy Birthday to Loree & Michelle who have July birthdays too!)

MY OPERATION IS SCHEDULED AGAIN

I have been scheduled to go to Olathe Hospital a week from Monday for my Laparoscopy. I hope my surgeon finds out why I get a pain in my left side under my ribs and have to push in on it to make the pain less. It doesn't stay more than a few hours or so, but I have been feeling it off and on for almost 10 years now. It is beginning to bug me. Surgeon says I might have a hernia of somesort. They also found a fatty tumor on my left ribs that they may take out also. Won't know until they look around in there. I may have said all this before but I can't remember who I have told and who I haven't. Sorry!

AN ENTERTAINING "YOU TUBE"

This may have been around, but it's a good one! This one makes you just plain feel good.

-----



This video was made in the Antwerp , Belgium Central (Train) Station on March 23, 2009, with no warning to the passengers passing through the station. At 8:00a.m. a recording of Julie Andrews singing 'Do, Re, Mi' begins to play on the public address system.

As the bemused passengers watch in amazement, some 200 dancers begin to appear from the crowd and station entrances.

They created this amazing stunt with just two rehearsals!

Enjoy! You may have to copy the address and paste it in.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EYAUazLI9k

DAVID'S SURGERY

They called to confirm that David's surgery will be next Thursday at 7:30 a.m. but of course we have to be there at 6:30. It will be a 3 to 3 1/2 hr. surgery. They are going to put a tight & tiny rubberband above the nodule to cut the blood off. Then cut off the nodule which will be taken to lab to determine if it cancerous or not. Then they will carterize (sp?) and burn off the bad stuff. Prayers please.

MY OP. WAS POSTPONED

My operation was moved to Jul 27th due to illness. I was sick most of the day yesterday. Can only think it was from eating the rich foods at the Dinner Theatre. I tried a couple of the calameri which was very very spicy. Slept a lot yesterday and today so far.

WILL TRY AGAIN!

David's appointment at KU Hospital was cancelled. They took David's case to the tumor board last Thursday. Then they called and said to come in this next Wednesday at 3:30. I am having my laparoscopy done on Thursday this week.

I fell into the house last Friday. I was bringing in groceries in the back door to the garage and got up one step but totally tripped on the second one and "fell" in. I have sore shins, sore hips, back hurts a bit more, tension in my shoulders and neck, and headaches. Looking forward to being put out on Thursday. Won't feel the pain for awhile then. Also looking forward to this Tuesday night which is our Dinner Theatre night. We are seeing "Sound of Music". Then Wednesday moring Christy is taking me to see the new Harry Potter movie. We will meet David in the afternoon (He will be up there for a meeting for work) and I will go with him to his Dr. appointment in the afternoon.

Enjoyed the visit with Ruthie at Mom's in Paola. Christy and I met Ruth and Mom for lunch at the new Barbeque place. Later, we all played Scrabble when we went back to her apartment.

Judy, hope you are feeling better. Presume you got over the infection since they sent you home from the hospital.

Melo, did you enjoy your week without the boys? Did they enjoy their time away from Mom?

The ULTRA SOUND

Well, David only had the Ultra Sound done Friday. The specialist said he has a nodule on the outside of his Esophagus so he couldn't do any more than that until he gets the nodule off and sent to pathology. He said he couldn't do that kind of procedure at the "Midwest" KU Hospital in Shawnee Mission. So we have to get it done at the one downtown on Rainbow Blvd. He did say that he would recomend that David has the Esophagus zapped and they will flush out the burn. He said a nurse would call us to make the appointments. When we got the call to set it up (we thought), we found out he has to see the oncologist first and then they will set up the surgery. So much rig-a-ma-role, geesh! He will go on July 8th. I have scheduled my laparoscopy for July 16th. I will be out of commission for about 2 weeks. If David gets a date anywhere close to mine, I will postpone mine.

David's dad ended up having 9 radiation treatments instead of 10. He was getting too weak and had bouts of diarrhea really bad. He isn't eating very good either.

Mom called me tonight sounding rather confused and complaining of her breathing being wheezy and she got lost in her conversation a bit so I called the nurse there and asked her to check on her. For some reason she doesn't tell them what she tells me. The nurse said she gave her a mucinex tablet and a breathing treatment with her nebulizer and she seemed to be just fine. I told her mom wasn't sleeping very well and asked her to give her an Ambien at her bedtime so she would sleep good. Mom says she wakes up with headaches.

DAVID'S PET SCAN NEGATIVE

Got a call from the next Dr. who will be doing 3 different scopes and an ultra sound on David's Esophagus tomorrow at 2:00. The PET Scan that he had on Tuesday did not show any abnormality so no cancer cells lit up on it. That is good news. If all is well, I guess I will schedule my laparoscopy. Not looking forward to it but would like to have the pain go away for good. David's Dad is not doing so well. He has bone cancer now. They are giving him radiation in his back to try and give him some pain relief. He has it in his neck also but that isn't bothering him.

TRIP TO ER

Went to the General Surgeon. Was feeling kind of sick. After she pushed around on my stomach, I really got sick and I threw up 3 times! I know "YUCK!". My BP was 185/113. I was hot and cold. Had to have a cold rag and laid down for a short time before I could leave. Anyway the surgeon had gone on by then. I am supposed to call for an appointment to have a laparoscopy done so she can see what's going on inside me. Don't know as I will do that until David's problem is taken care of. Anyway, the Surgeon's nurse thought I should call my family doctor so I did. They didn't call me back until Linda (she drove me) and I were half way home. He wanted me to go to an ER so we stopped at Paola's ER and after about 4 1/2 hours later, I was headed home just fine. Oh, another factor was that I had had chest pain and achiness and tingling down my left arm. (The tingling and achiness was probably from having my BP taken so much! Lol) I don't know. I could only think it was better safe than sorry. I didn't even call David or tell him til I got home. I am ok now so it's all fine. Thanks for all your concern.

EYE SPECIALIST APPOINTMENT

Well, one down two more to go. My eyes are in good shape according to the opthamologist. They dilated my eyes (which they still feel like there is pressure on my eyes. Have a headache actually. His diagnosis is that they are in good shape. I have some signs of cataracts starting but not bad yet. He suggested I get back with my optometrist to get the bifocal raised a bit.

Tomorrow I go to my General Surgeon about the pain I have in my left side that has been hurting me off and on for about 10 years now.

Next Wednesday David will see the Oncologist about his Esophagus. Hia apptmt is for2:15 but they told him to come in at 1:00 to get information and whatever taken care of. Sounds like it will be a long afternoon. This is just a consult visit they said.

Got to go. My head and eyes are hurting.

WAITING FOR FRIDAY

David had his routine colonoscopy done last Wednesday and had a gastroscopy done also, to check on his Barrett's Esophogus. He had a couple of small pollups taken off his colon and the Dr. told us that his Barrett's Esophogus has High-Grade Dysplasia at the bottom of it. He had to have a second scope of his Esophogus on Tuesday and more samples were taken for biopsy to see how it needs to be treated. We will get that news on Friday. Please keep David in your prayers.

HOPE YOU ALL HAD A HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

I had a very good Mother's Day. Jen & Bob and boys took me out to Brunch at Cinzetti's Restaurant. Wow, ate too much. Then Christy took me to see the new movie, Star Trek. It was a great action movie. We got home about 5 o'clock. I had a full day for sure.

Ruth, Melodie, & I took Mom out to dinner at Wil Jennys on Wednesday, Christy & I took her to Marianne's baby shower Saturday. We took her to Red Robin restaurant prior to going to the shower. She liked the guacamole bacon burger and fries. Then we took her to the new BBQ restaurant in Paola before we took her home. She liked that too. She had the chicken fingers, mac & cheese, and corn fritters and she liked that too. So did I because she & I shared the meal at lunch and dinner. So she didn't have us with her on Mother's Day but we celebrated with her a lot. Also called her and believe it or not, she answered her phone.

Marianne's shower was fun. Her mom was there. This was the first time she has ever been to one. Marianne got a LOT of diapers and boy clothes and stuff. She is due this coming week. She looks like she is ready to pop, that is for sure.

JEN AND BOB GOT HOME OK. (WHEW)!

I finally got a text from Jen at 1:05 that they had landed in K.C. at last. Jen called this morning and said they didn't get their bags and out of the airport until 3 something. They slept at Bob's folks and didn't go home until this afternoon. Bob had to call into work and take the day off.

It has rained so much here and to the north that we are flooded to the east. Looks like a lake down by Linda & Eddies. David will have to take the high road home tonight (& it is muddy).

I HAVE TOO MANY THINGS TO READ AND WRITE ON!

I have begun to feel overwhelmed with all the places to look for information on family. How about you? Facebook & this blog, and has anyone started on Twitter? Seems like there was another one but I can't remember it right now.

Mom has been incommunicado (sp?) for the last couple of days. Melodie went over today and found out she had accidentally turned her cell phone off. AAAARGH! Melodie took her to WalMart and she bought a few things so she had a fun day. Melodie says she was happy. Next Friday I will take her to the neurologist and we will hopefully get a report from the neuro-psychologist. She has been playing Skip Bo with others and really enjoys that. She plays bingo and they win play money. Once a month they have an auction where they bid on items. She said she got 3 oranges and a 4-pak of pudding. Sounds like fun.

Jen & Bob went to Chicago this weekend. They haven't called or texted that they were home safe. The weather caused them a delay in their flight to K.C. she told me earlier this evening. I still haven't heard whether they got back or not. The weather around here is still a bit volatile.

AND THE BEAT GOES ON

I don't know where to start that everyone knows where I'm at already. If you don't know, This is a story about my Mom. A week ago last Thursday, she had some memory problems & confusion and David & I found out she had neglected to take 3 days of her meds and her blood pressure was way high. She also had a urinary tract infection. All were contributors to her confusion. Anyway, we took her to Olathe Medical Hospital because of it. They kept her overnight and changed her blood pressure meds. We took her home the next evening and on Saturday (day of the ice & snow) the home health nurse came in the morning and showed her some exercises to do. She sat down in the rocking chair lounger after lunch and fell asleep. She woke up a little and said she had a headache so I gave her some aspirin. She slept some more and when she woke up next she tried to talk to me and it was gibberish. Then I asked her if she knew where she was and more gibberish. I asked her if she knew who I was and she looked blank and shook her head no. (I thought she was having a stroke.) Well, I called 911 and they came and took her to the hospital. It was
snowing, slush and ice. Christy took me to the hospital in all that muck, and white knucked it at 35 - 40 mph. When we got to Paola Hospital, they said they had waived the ambulance on to Olathe Medical b/c they weren't taking anymore ambulances. So we went up to Olathe Med up 169 and at least there was a track but still a slow go. We got there and Ruthie (she came for clogging classes and was going to come down to see mom the next day) and Melodie & boys met us at the hospital. They took tests again but nothing had changed from Thursday night & Friday's tests so they suspected it was a TIA which is a mini stroke. They couldn't admit her b/c nothing had changed since the day before on the xrays etc... Well, the weather was treacherous so we all spent the night at the motel across the street. We went home the next day when the weather was nice and the streets were cleared. Mom seemed better and was doing fine. We took her to the neuro-psychologist appointment on Monday and on Tuesday, to the Paola hospital for an echocardiagram of her heart and doplar sonagram of her carotid arteries. Wednesday, went to her Dr. for a follow-up and he said that both tests from the day before were just fine. Anyway, mom is still a bit confused about things. I am keeping her with us for now but we are going to put her in assisted living at a very nice place in Paola called Vintage Park. Ruthie is coming tomorrow and we will be packing for mom and taking care of getting her ready for the move. We will have to spend down her money, which won't take long, in order to get her on Medicaid. I am still trying to get over the bronchitis I got and have had for 3 weeks now. I am worn out physically and mentally right now.

Will let you know if anything changes. Love, Gloria

HAVING MY OWN PERSONAL SUMMER AGAIN!

Well, I went to the Dr. and the Dr. said,
You have got Bronchitis in your head!

Actually it is in my bronchial tubes...that rhyme just flowed right on here when I started typing the first line...LOL. Yeah, I am a little loopy. Taking a z-pack and prednizone and I think it is kicking my butt! I sweat up a storm and feel like I will never be dry again!

Mom on the other hand said she is dizzy...(she told the nurse she has had it for about 2 months and told the Dr. 2 weeks so they gave her meclazine to take when she feels she needs it. Also told her to take 1/2 to 1 capful of Miralax for her bowel problems. :-)

Hope all of you are doing well.

CRUD

Mom had it, David got it, Christy got it, now I have it! Deep voice, headache, achiness all over,coughing my head off. They are over it almost and I am into it about 2 1/2 days worth. CRUD!!!