Dad update-liquid

You know that liquid, that we thought was just an infection... well, it's not. It's cancer. I guess when the cancer gets really bad, the liquid starts to take over your body, and that is why it is filling up his lungs.
Dad had to go to the hospital again yesterday to get his lungs drained. Drained?? Again? Didn't he just do that. Yes, he did, but I guess this will be reoccurring often now. My problem is, why didn't anyone tell us what the liquid was before. :( They had the test results. ....This is what Kellie told me. They had the test results ready last Wed, but they wanted my dad to come in, bc they can't tell him over the phone. My dad was headed to MD Anderson in Houston on Th through Friday though, so he wouldn't be able too come into the doctor's until Monday.. and here it is Monday, and he's back in the hospital. Sounds like a timing issue, but I'm just a little irritated they didn't make it a point to tell us. :( Ah well, I'm not there though, so I don't know what's going on, and really, what difference would it have made. He did go to MD Anderson last week. He was able to get one set of shots, but not the other, bc his creatine levels were still too high. We kind of expected that, but it's a bummer. :(
Will took him to the ER last night, bc he really can't breathe. Kellie said they waited in the ER for 3 hours! Poor guy. I understand he isn't bleeding or having a baby, but that is just a really hard wait for someone in his condition. He's been sleeping ever since they got there pretty much, which I don't think is good. I tried calling him, but Kellie answered, said he's not really talking on the phone. He's on oxygen because he can't breathe, let alone talk. I researched liquid in the lungs last night. It gave me a lot of lung cancer information. I asked Kellie if this was considered lung cancer of just cancer in the lungs. She said the cancer is just spreading. From the words of Will.. "not good.". .... If you knew Will, that's saying a lot. He's been pretty positive.
The PA was the only one there last night, so she couldn't really answer many questions. She just said that the liquid is a bad sign. Means it's coming to an end basically. They should be talking to the doctor today. I called Ryan and Bev last night, and Todd this morning to let them know what's going on. Kellie and I talked for a really long time last night. She's having a hard time. Being the oldest, having to basically make all final arrangements, being the only one there... besides Will and Bonnie. I wish we could be there. :( She has a lot of responsilibities though, Dad has given her a list. She's exhausted, and needed help making phone calls. I am more than willing. It's the least I can do. We have been texting all morning nonstop.
What we know as of now. He still has his UTI from last week. He just can't fight it as easily. They will drain the liquid from the lungs, we are hoping today, but probably tomorrow. The doctor is going to see if he is a candidate to have catheters in his lungs, like he did for his kidneys, but that doctor has not come in yet. I hope he is.
Sorry, I am really all over the place. A lot to take in.
Prayers!!!
Oh, McKenna has fasted almost every Sunday since she turned 7. I am so proud of her. It's a big deal. Well, on Sunday, we fasted for Grandpa. It was very special.


***Wow, I just re read this and it is really bad. In my defense, I was at work and didn't have a lot of time. I just wanted to get everything off my mind. Maybe I'll fix it later, but not tonight. :( It's too much to think about.

Dad

Dad seems to be going down hill often lately. :( He was in the hospital last week, because of a couple of infections. He had a urinary tract infection and also an infection in his lungs. They took out a liter in one of his lungs! Crazy right! Let me back up. he went to the doctor on Tuesday morning, because he was having trouble breathing. Dr. Thomas, (who was our family doctor growing up) told him he needed to go to the ER. So, what does my dad do, he goes out to dinner with his sister and her boyfriend first. He has had the best outlook on life during this time of cancer. He has been so positive, and has just wanted to enjoy himself. I talked to Kellie, and she was a little bugged that dad didn't go in right away, but after all, can you blame him. He knows he'll go to the hospital and be stuck for a few days. Atleast he got a good meal out of it!
So, he went in on Tuesday and was able to get out Saturday. I talked to Dad on Tuesday, and he's in a lot of pain. They took his pain meds away, bc he didn't have them in the prescription bottle. I understand that there is policy for that obviously, BUT, they lowered his pain med dose. Seriously!? Give the guy a break. He was in so much pain and they wouldn't give him anything ore for it. Luckily, Dr. Cohen came in on Wednesday and approved his meds again. Dad says he is supposed to be eating salt, and drinking lots of water, to get his creatin levels up, but they wouldn't give him the salt he wanted either. He's so miserable. :( It's such a roller coaster, bc on Thursday morning, we thought all would be well, and he would just get his lungs drained and go home. Turns out, he couldn't have the lungs drained because he was on a blood thinner, so they couldn't do the procedure until Friday. He was on a blood thinner, bc I guess it's hospital policy.. something like that. It just seems we don't get all the questions answered that I feel like we should. Friday, he was able to get one lung drained, a whole liter, but that is when they found out it was an infection, so they couldn't drain the other one. ...again, something to do with the way things are done, they had to drain the infection out another way... We should find out what the infection is at the beginnign of next week, but I'm guessing if we haven't heard anything, then it's treatable. He's tired, but he is breathing better. That's an answer to prayer. He was really bummed that he missed his grandson, Vance, first birthday party. It was even at his house, but they just wouldn't discharge him. :(
Kellie and Will said he was sleeping all day Saturday and Sunday. Hospitals wear him out. I hate cancer. :( From one it sounds like though, this was just another bump in the road. They are occurring a lot more lately, and they seem to be worse each time something happens, but at least he's home and resting.
One more thing. It's hard to let myself go back... "there." In September, we really thought it was the end. He was SO sick, and we didn't think we had much time with him. Then, over Thanksgiving, he did a 180, and was so awesome! I mean, he was tired, but he had great energy, and was getting around really well. It just makes us think that, once again, dad is unstoppable, and can beat anything. ...even though I know this will be his fate, it's hard to let myself go to that place again. It's emotionally draining.

We're hoping his creatine levels go down enough for him to be able to get the experimental treatment in Houston that he has been working for at MD Anderson. He has been out a few times, but something always seems to happens. The insurance isn't covering it, they don't have enough drugs, his creatine levels are too high. I hope and pray something will come of it if he is able to go this weekend!!

Dad update

Things I jotted down, so I wouldn't forget.

Dad checked in the hospital Tuesday night.
He was on blood thinner- hospital protocol
Still on oxygen
Infection in his stints, they will take them out
Only drained one lung, and found that the the liquid in the lung might have an infection, so they are testing it. If it is an infection, they have to drain differently.
Took out a liter of fluid- takes 3 days to test, and because it was over weekend, we will not know til Wed.
Dr Cohen will be in Mon to take out stints.
Still in pain, stomach and breathing feels better. The lung has to rebuild I guess, so there's lots of pressure.

Ashley's first lost tooth!!

Ashley lost her first tooth Tuesday! 2/21!! I wasn't there! Bev and I had a basketball game, Isaac was trucking across country, so Uncle Travis kept my kids so I could go. So awesome!! Thanks Travis. He even did dinner!
Well, Ashley's tooth has been hanging for awhile. It even started looking a little brown. On the way home, Travis called Bev and let her know the exciting news!! Come to find out, Travis did the fishing wire trick like my dad used to do to us. He tied it to her tooth and to a door and shut it! Crazy right! I couldn't believe Ashley let him do that.... but there was a catch. Travis bribed her! haha! She wouldn't do it for $2, but she would for $3!! Smart girl! Congrats Ashley! :)

We've got ourselves a trucker!

Daddy left on his first trucking adventure on Sunday morning! We woke up and took him at 8am. He'll be gone til Thursday. We'll miss you!!

2/21/12 So far McKenna has asked if Daddy was in Paris, Danielle started to cry bc she thought Daddy wasn't coming home, and Ashley thought he was going to live is another state. Hehe. Cute girls. Thomas passes me balls every day and asks for Daddy to play. Soon little ones.

Isaac sent us this pic and said, "Just backed and docked myself." Good job babe! :) He says he's been doing good. Changing gears has been a challenge, but he's getting the hang of it. We're doing fine too. The kids miss him, especially Mc and Thomas, but with school and work, we have stayed busy.

Snuggle bugs

Although, Isaac and I are very squished, this is what we get to wake up too almost every morning. :)


(McKenna and Ashley used to be the same, although I find it annoying sometimes, it's sad to think we won't have snuggle bugs in a few years. Love them. :)

Fun Friday

Ashley and Danielle were invited to a Fancy Nancy Valentine's party. Ashlyn is one of Ashley's very best friends, and is in Ashley's class, and her little sister, Addison is Danielle's age. They were to wear their best dress! Soo adorable! Thomas and I spent the two hours at Bev's house. I meant to go grocery shopping, but the invite for food and cookies was too good. :)

After we picked up the girls we ran to Walmart and dozen roses were on sale for $1! Are you kidding me?! Crazy and awesome! I spoiled the little ones and we got ourself some roses. Happy late Valentine's Day to us! :) Then it was time to pick up McKenna!!

Later that night, I let the kids have a sleepover. Now having a sleepover is not really uncommon at our home on the weekends, but I have never let then sleep in the family room with the big tv!! They were soo excited! They watched Dumbo, while I finished making orange jam upstairs. It's actually pretty easy! I love making jam. I have been meaning to make it for weeks since oranges have been on sale, but one time we ate them all, and another we had no sugar. So I was so glad to finally be able too! It's not marmalade either. My mom never used the orange peel to make orange jam. She always said, "who likes the taste of the peel anyway?" Touché! :) My jam is yummy!

Sunday evening

I love Sundays. Church starts at 9 now and getting 4 kids there on time by myself has been a bit of a struggle. :( We always make it by primary though. Isaac works graves so he sleeps in the morning, but we can normally enjoy him in the evening and I like that.
Today was my first time teaching CTR 7, my new calling. Isaac and I were called it together and since Bev is not really in our ward but is apart of our ward, she is our unofficial sub while Isaac is working. :) I have mixed feelings about it. I was teaching Ashley's class before and I LOVE junior primary. I was enjoying watching Danielle be a new Sunbeam and I have never taught Ashley before, she's a sweetie.... However, I have taught McKenna's class before. They are small, only 4 and she is the only girl. It's bitter sweet. Bev was there today. It turned out better than I was expecting. They are a great group. Keegan Jensen, Sam Wells, Dylan Cox, and McKenna Garner. Two things. In the CTR 5 class I was teaching, in it were Sam, Dylan, and McKenna's siblings. :) (I have also taught Keegan's sis before also) Also, they are all the oldest in their families. I find that so unique. Today our lesson was on Christ birth, so we discussed how his parents and how their parents must have felt. I just thought it was extra special, bc just like Jesus Christ, they all are the first. As every birth is amazing, it's an incredible feeling to be a first time parent. Senior primary is good, just so reverent... And quiet. No more cute kid comments.
Isaac and I took a nap together. That never happens! Mine was short though before I started to make dinner. Thomas slept with us and the girls just played played played. :)
After dinner, we read some scriptures. Our ward is doing the scripture picture from the January 2012 friend. It is so awesome. I struggle reading scriptures with my kids, but this has made it fun and has also given us a goal of what to read each week.

Then, the wrestling began.

Dad update

Rollercoaster! That's what this is. Last September, when all of 8 siblings went down to FL, we truly thought that was it. It was scary, and heart wrenching, and sad. Then when we had our big family reunion in November and took all of our families, he was doing so great. He had more energy, he could walk further, and even eat a little more. It was wonderful for the grandkids to be able to spend that special time with him. Then in early January he had to have a small surgery. It was in the "unmentionable" spot. :( Poor guy, he was in a lot of pain from that, obviously, and was very uncomfortable, but it had to be done. About a week after that surgery, it was back to "September" again. Kellie said he wasn't eating or even getting out of bed. I talked to him and he was clearly out of breathe. It was hard to hear him in so much pain and struggling, again, yet we couldn't be there. It really sucks.
About a week after that, I was talking to Will, and he told me that Dad was over at Will's house (a home he is flippin) and was walking around doing great with more energy again. Crazy huh! Rollercoaster!
I think back in September, we were almost preparing ourselves. We balled.. .alot! It's unimaginable to think you will lose any parent, and I don't find it any easier to KNOW he will be gone any day. (whether they go quickly or it's prolonged, it is not easy!) Although, after November, he made it through Christmas and January almost without any hiccups, I think it was easy to resort back to thinking, "my dad will live forever" again. I mean, I know he won't, but we always thought Dad would live forever, you know. And he's not dying, so it's easy to think he is fine...especially since we aren't there to see him I guess. Isaac says I shouldn't get my hopes up, and I know he's right, it's just hard to get back there... to "September" and prepare myself again. I don't want to lose him. I wish his death wasn't something I could think about often and even talk about now without crying. I hate that. I hate waiting. Although, I am more than happy to have him here as long as possible, I just wish it wasn't "coming." He's stubborn and unbreakable! I also wish we could spend a little more time with him. I hate thinking Thanksgiving was our last time spending time together. I hope that's not the case, but unfortunately, we are broke. Two trips to FL has really had it's effect. :(
Anyways, as of now, today, he is doing good. I feel blessed that we have been given this extra time with him. I love him so much. I am so thankful I can still talk to him on the phone at least! Erasing that number will be the worst. Keep him in your prayers!

One more thing. We are constantly keeping Isaac's Aunt Anita in our prayers, as well as her four children. Also, now his Grandma Pat. I love her so much! I love her and Grandpa Cottle. I can't help but think they are what Grandpa and Grandma Drury would have been like. They are sweet and kind and loving. And poor Grandpa Cottle, going through breast cancer again. They are definitely in my thoughts and prayers. I know they have been blessed. They found out she had cancer, bc they were preparing to serve ANOTHER mission. They are remarkable and are true examples of living by faith and service to our Heavenly Father. I think because of that, they were blessed by this early diagnosis, and hopefully Grandma Pat can beat it with comfort and ease!

Oops!

On Saturday morning, Feb 5th, Angel surprised us with the birth of some puppies. We had a inclination it was coming, but we were still shocked. We DID get Samson neutered to avoid this!
I was taking the kids down to Emma's First Birthday party, and when I left, there were only two. There was no way she was done! Bev said, "well atleast it will be easy," but we just didn't think there was a way she would only have two. Her track record is 10 and 8 with us!
Well, by the time we got home, we had Ryan, Brianne, Bev, Travis, and the boys over for dessert, and the verdict was in, only TWO! Crazy! Isaac was at work, and they are outside in the cold, so Ryan helped me make a door for their dog house. He was so determined and so sweet to think of them! I so appreciated it!
Mixed feelings, easy in that we will only have two, hard bc we still have to do the work. Would have been nice to make it worth it. Ah well, I just want my garden back!

This is what we think happened. If Angel went the full gestation period, (63 days) she would have got pregnant on Dec 4th. Samson got neutered on Dec 5th! Soo crazy!

Here's a picture. They are always pretty cute. One brown, one dark sable. Guess Isaac and I are pretty over it, bc we still don't know if they are boys or girls! Crazy. Angel has been super protective this time though.