Before & after flowers

I took the first two pictures in May of my flower bed.

Little baby flowers.
The next three pictures were taken this week.
I just love how beautiful they are.
These pink ones are going crazy!!
My garden didn't do so great. I planted them all wrong and they just died. I'll be sure to do it the right way next time. I do have have about 7 bannana plants that are doing amazingly. My yard is looking better all the time. I have spent many hours out pulling weeds. I also planted a few sunflower that are starting to bloom. I'll get some pictures of those too. We had an old grapefruit tree in our drive way that we had removed last week. That thing was full of bugs...yuck. We have another one to get rid of but it's smaller and we can get it down ourselves.

My grandma is still in the hospital but she is finally getting some relief from her pain. She had a port put in yestereday that she will be getting her meds in. Her doctor is working with hospice to get her back home next week. I know that she will be more comfortable in her home. Of course there are quite a few things that have to get done before she can go home. I am relieved that hospice will be doing all her meds.

I just wanted to do a quick update and thank everyone for your prayers.

Princess Savannah

Savannah at dance class

She loves it!!

The Real Grandma

Grandma 11-04

Grandma & Savannah
Proud Great-Grandma
Love U Grandma
Lei Anne & Grandma

Grandma

I called Grandma yesterday evening and she wasn't up to talking. Her nurse answered the phone and I could hear her in the background moaning. They tried to sit her up but she just couldn't get comfortable after that. They have to put her in an ambulance to take her across the street for radiation. All the moving around is taking it's toll.
Dr. Eddy said that her cancer is progressing much faster than anyone expected. She will be getting two more weeks of radiation then go home with Hospice. She may not ever leave the hospital.
I keep thinking about Grandma laying in bed moaning in pain. She just wants the pain to go away. I wish I could take it away. As hard as it is to see my Grandmother go through this, I can't imagine a child going through it. I feel like everything should come to a complete stop because my Grandma is suffering. But life just keeps moving on.
Thanks again to everyone that has left such sweet comments, they really do help. I do good through the day but when I turn the lights out; that's when it hurts. Last night it felt like my heart was breaking. I am going to miss this lady.

Grandma

I received some news today that I'm wishing I didn't know now. My cousin Lei Anne called to tell me about her visit with Grandma today. Grandma was upset that she couldn't feel her legs so Lei Anne decided to call her doctor to get some answers. Dr. Eddy told Lei that Grandma will never walk again....or have control of her bladder again.......ever again. Grandma doesn't know yet because Lei Anne or I don't have the heart to tell her. Dr. Eddy wants to tell her himself. He also told Lei that he wasn't sure how long her insurance would pay for her to stay at the hospital. We are hoping to get Hospice involved very soon.
I called Grandma at 7 pm this evening and she was very much a Chatty Cathy!! I think the morphine finally did the job. She was somewhere out in left field!! I didn't ask about her pain but it was clear that she wasn't feeling it. She was laughing and joking about everything. I told her that there was a hurricane in Texas named Dolly. She said "no wonder every one's been talking about Dolly all day!!" I told her how glad I was to get to see her last week and how much I love her.

Grandma

I was able to talk to Grandma yesterday and she said that she is still in pain. She just sounds kind of sad. I'm so upset that it took so long for her to get treatment. I think someone dropped the ball. She started out with her primary doctor who sent her for x-rays then an MRI and to a specialist out of town who didn't do anything for her. So here she sits almost 2 months later with cancer in her shoulder and spine. I have never seen someone in so much pain. She just sit and moans trying to get comfortable.
Her Oncologist that she is seeing now is awesome!! He is the doctor who treated her breast cancer the first time. He is really on the ball!! He listens to her and really cares. I just wish that Grandma would have seen him first.
She also has some fluid on her lung that was supposed to be drained yesterday. That should make her a little more comfortable. She is also receiving radiation to her shoulder and spine. The radiation treatment is done across from the hospital at the Cancer Center. They have to put her in an ambulance to take her. She isn't able to walk anymore but hopefully she will again.
I just keep thinking about my Grandma laying there in such agony and it breaks my heart. I wish she was here. When I was growing up my Grandpa used to get sick couple times a year. He would go on and on about how bad he felt and Grandma would roll her eyes. She would get so mad at him for belly aching. Grandma would say the he was acting like a 'dying cat'!! She didn't want to hear anyone complain. So for her to moan in pain, it must be bad.
Please continue to pray for her...I love her so much.

Grandma

Grandma is finally getting some relief from the pain. She's had her first radiation treatment and hopefully more today. She will need to have it done in a couple places to try and kill that nasty cancer.
Some family went up to visit Grandma in the hospital yesterday and they said that she was in good spirits and even joking around. My Grandma is a tough lady and always full of surprises!!

grandma part 20

Grandma couldn't walk this morning so she is now in the hospital. She was having an MRI today and hopefully start the radiation ASAP. I just want the pain to go away for her. She is just so sick and tired of being sick. My prayer is that she is as comfortable as possible. I'm sure the task of fighting cancer again is not on top of her list.

Upon further review.....

.....it looks like Grandma does have cancer in her spine. The doctor called this evening to let Grandma know that most likely it is her cancer spreading. She will be having the MRI done Monday and we will know more then.
I thank everyone that has prayed for my family. I was telling Matt earlier today that I had always thought that breast cancer was getting all the research. My Grandma is going to die from breast cancer. It just doesn't seem right that with all the funding for research and women are still dying from this beast. It seems that cancer just keeps invading my life, and I know that I'm not alone. I don't want another person to ever have to deal with it again.

Grandma

My grandma went to see the doctor that will be doing the radiation therapy. He had the results of grandma's bone scan and the news was good. She doesn't have cancer in her back, it's a crushed vertebrae. That is much easier to treat. She will be having a MRI done Monday so they can see better. I think the doctor will use a shot to repair the vertebrae. So her radiation will start Tuesday morning and last 2 1/2 weeks (mon thru fri). She will also be receiving an infusion every 4 weeks to strengthen her bones. It's a 15 minute deal through a IV.
We are all very pleased that she will finally begin treatment!!

BFF's

My BFF & cousin LeiAnne

Me, Lei & Grandma
Me, Duane, LeiAnne, Nikki (cousin) & Grandma
Sister's Lei Anne & Nikki

Indy update #2

While I was in Indiana I spent my day's at Grandma's house and the nights at my adopted family. We aren't really related but I've know them all my life and I used to babysit for their two kids. The kids are grown and gone and they now have two Grandson's. I had so much fun with them....thanks Betty & Dan!! It was a bit strange seeing these 'kids' all grown up with their own families.

Whatever stress I was feeling went away as soon as I walked in their door. I had my own room and could come and go as I pleased. On my last night they went all out and made an amazing meal. The whole family was there and I had a great time.

Thank you!!!!

Grandma update

Grandma, Duane (my big brother) & I

Grandma
Grandma & I
My Mom, Grandma & I
I arrived home safe and sound early this afternoon. My trip home was much better than I expected. I was prepared for drama all the time. There was still a little, but I can handle that. I laughed, I cried, it was a trip that I needed to take. I spent a lot of time with grandma and she is alot of work. Her shoulder , spine and bone in her left shin are causing her a tremendous amount of pain.

I was able to go with grandma to her doctor appointment. She is now receiving treatment in Anderson instead of in Indianapolis. The doctor in Indy is a orthopedic surgeon / oncologist and she doesn't need surgery. Her biopsy showed that the shoulder bone is actually her breast cancer back for round two. There is no cure once it's spread into the bones. It may be in her thoracic spine and shin too. I was worried about it being bone cancer but this is much worse. Her only treatment options are radiation or Hospice. My brother and I told her that if she wants Hospice it's ok with us. My mom on the other hand isn't ready to let her go yet. So she starts radiation this Friday. We aren't sure how much she will need until she meets with that doctor on Friday.

I felt so much peace while I was there. It was really hard seeing her moan in pain and be just miserable. I just want her to be comfortable. She's on some pretty strong pain meds that have caused severe constipation and hemorrhoids. Poor girl. She can't walk alone or do much of anything. I did get to talk to her doctor alone and express my concerns. I feel confident with him. He's the same doctor that treated her breast cancer.

I just wanted to let everyone to know how grandma is doing. I'll post another blog to talk about all the fun that I was able to have with my family.

More vacation pics!

I thought that I better get busy and post some more vacation pictures before I go to Indiana. Time is just flying by! One day Matt took a long bike ride so I took the kids for a walk around the island and for ice cream. The ice cream place had the neatest chairs out front to sit in. Each chair is something tropical. Here are the kids on the sea wall.



Here are the pictures from the ice cream shop. The ice cream was oh so good!!

This was my favorite chair. I'll be leaving Sunday afternoon for the great white north...Indiana. I'm hoping for a nice boring trip. I just want to spend time with my grandma. I was getting a little nervous about the drama but a very wise woman reminded me that God is in charge. She also reminded that I will be spending eternity with grandma. I am so thankful that we can always trust the Lord and His promises.

Matt went to visit our niece yesterday and said that she was a little better. The funeral will be Saturday so please say a extra prayer for her. I can't imagine saying goodbye.

Matt's brother had failed a stress test and saw the Cardiologist yesterday. Because of his family history they are going to go ahead and do a cath to check for blockage. This will be done Tuesday morning. He had been a life long smoker and quit almost two years ago. He also cut out all caffeine. He has been making really good changes so lets hope that it's been enough.

Pics #2 & grandma update

Thanks Mom!!

We love crazy grandma Donna
The whole family
Matt's fancy bike
Nice name!!
I just got off the phone with my mom. Grandma has a needle biopsy w/ CT scan tomorrow in Indianapolis. Hopefully this will be one step closer to some sort of treatment. I am very frustrated with the way things are being handled. The drama is runny full swing already. If you know my mom then you know what I'm talking about. I love her but sometimes.......I'll just stop right there.

I will post some more vacation pictures tomorrow. I'm taking Nana to check out her Pre-K. She is pretty excited about it. It will be very quiet without her here.

Week in pictures #1

Luke wrote "Good Times"

collecting shells

sunset

Nana & Austin

building in the sand
Austin
Nana
Matt & Tony enjoying the pool
Luke is our little fish
Austin, Nana & Dylan
Where we stayed
Austin & Nana is our room
view from our room
Matt & Luke in the hot tub
Luke
Shuffleboard
silly boy's
more to come!!