Mom is HOME!!!!!!!

Well, I'm assuming she is. Talked to her almost an hour ago and they were only 15-20 minutes away from home at that time. After 11 days of being away from home and 10 in the hospital, I'm sure that she and Dad are elated to be back home. She got past all the little bumps in the road over the last week and was finally able to eat and hold it down, thus being able to be released. I think that being home and able to sleep in her own bed and not be constantly bothered by the medical staff doing their jobs she will get better rest and feel much better over all. We should hear on Tues or Wed what the doctors decide as far as more chemo etc and she has to go back to SLC in about a week and a half for a post op check up, but I think she is well on the road to recovery. The doctors, nurses, etc have all been wonderful and my parents have raved at how great they were.....minus the one tech who screwed up a blood draw which caused some problems. But, they were all wonderful and bent over backwards to make them both as comfortable as possible. Not being able to do anything for them myself, it was comforting to know they were in such capable and loving hands. I am just so happy that they are back home and my Mom has been given another chance at life and I hope that my Mom will be around for many more years to come.

Very rough week emotionally.......

It's now 8 days post op for my Mom. Things were cruising along so well for the first 5 days and the last couple of days she's taken a step or two back. I guess it wasn't to be totally unexpected in a case like Mom's, but it's hard on all of us nonetheless. No one likes to see/hear about a loved one struggling. Tuesday I received the horrible news that some dear friends we have sadly lost contact with, lost their beautiful 13 year old daughter on Easter Sunday. She became ill suddenly and struggled with the illness for a few weeks before losing her valiant battle. I met Katie when she was only 5 and her family moved into our Ward in Georgia. It is so unreal to believe that she is really gone. How my heart aches for their family. I also found out on Tuesday that one of Isabel's exchange student friends went home early to Germany. He found a lump near his collar bone not long ago. Had a surgical biopsy here last week and the results were not good. He was sent home really quickly after this so he could start treatments and all we can assume it is, is cancer. Also Tuesday, my Grandma had another stroke. We didn't find out till Wednesday after she'd already been admitted to the hospital. It was a minor stroke and doesn't seem to have caused her any more damage than she has already suffered with since her massive stroke 11 1/2 years ago which left her partially paralyzed. Grandma is holding her own but, she is still in the hospital as they are running tests on her and evaluating her situation. This is Mom's Mom and we haven't told Mom anything about it. She has enough to worry about with getting herself better and out of the hospital. I then wake up to the news this morning that Heaven has another little angel. An online friend's 4 year old daughter lost her more than a year long battle with a rare form of leukemia last night. She was trying so hard to hold out for a third bone marrow transplant and her poor little body was just too worn out from the fight. What a brave little princess who endured so much in her short life. My heart is in agony for her family as well. I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for all of us. But, sometimes my human heart and mind has a hard time accepting that a child's death can possibly be part of that plan. It makes me want to take my boys and wrap them in bubble wrap and shut them away from the world to keep them safe. But, I know that's not possible.
Next week has to be better........right? *sigh*

Update on Mom.....

Today is day 5 post surgery. On April 10, 2008 she underwent what is known as the Whipple Procedure in her battle with pancreatic cancer. It is a major surgery to remove not only the cancerous tumor, but in it she lost half of her pancreas, part of her stomach, part of her small intestine and half of her bile duct. She would have lost her gall bladder as well, had it not been taken out years ago already. Not entirely sure why they remove all that they do, the area effected by the tumor is obvious....but that was soooooo small. The areas damaged by the radiation treatments is pretty obvious too. I guess it's mostly done in precaution. The surgery lasted around 7 hours and they basically redid her "plumbing." During the procedure they biopsied tissue in the surrounding area (of where the tumor was) and all initial tests came back negative for cancer. Thank Heaven. They removed some lymph nodes from the area and those test results are due back today. We are hoping and praying that those test come back negative as well and put her in the clear. Mom has had a feeding tube down her nose since the surgery and will be able to start eating and drinking again today for the first time since last Wednesday prior to the operation. She has had nothing pass her lips since then. I can't imagine not even being able to have water. They will then perform testing to make sure that she does not leak anywhere. She should be able to come home this weekend, if all continues to go well. I'm sure being back home will be a relief to her. In a few weeks the doctors will determine if she will have another go around with the chemo, as precaution. The last four months have been such a roller coaster. I just want my Mom to be well again.

Here's my Mom (with my Dad) about 48 hours post surgery.

Isabel goes to Prom.....

Last night was prom night. Isabel, my German daughter, looked so beautiful. I dropped her off and then cried all the way home thinking about her leaving to go back home in just over a month. The time has gone so quickly and we have grown to love her so much. Here's how she looked last night!

My poor, neglected blog.......

Logged in for the first time, in obviously a long time. My poor, neglected blog. Sooooooo much has happened since the last time I've written and have no time to write it all down. But, I am making it a personal goal to write in here more often. Till then.....