Good News Update

Today we finally received some positive news about my Grandaddy's situation. After weeks, I mean weeks of begging and pleading he is finally going to be moved to a facility in Nashville where his condition can be evaluated by specialists. Today Tad from Kindred Hospital came down to assess him and determine if he was a candidate for their facility. I prayed, Dear Lord please give us favor today, and he did. Tad explained the process to us and he will be leaving in the morning. My dad, my grandmother, and I will be following the ambulance tomorrow. They are sending a "special" ambulance with people specialized in caring for patients with heart conditions and breathing apparatuses. We have been told by the hospital doctor that he has not been stable enough to move. This is frustrating to us b/c now that time has run out on medicare he is suddenly able to be moved when his condition is actually worse. I don't understand it. Well I do but I just don't understand how money could drive people to make decisions that would jeopardize someone's life. I am realistic and I know that my Grandaddy will probably not be at himself like he was when he went in to the hospital but he still deserves the best care possible. I know that God is using this experience to strengthen us and bring us closer to him. Today I watched my daddy cry and pray himself for God to have favor on us, something I haven't witnessed many times. Please continue praying for our family and especially for my Grandaddy.

Beach pics 2009

An unexpected suprise...

Today my grandmother received a letter in the mail. It was from the niece of my Grandaddy's high school English teacher. Enclosed was a book report that Ms. Jennings had saved from his English 3 class in high school (presumably the beginning of his junior year). It was dated September 12, 1950. Wow after all these years. That must have been some book report! Ms. Jennings, a 100 year young, old-maid school teacher passed away earlier this year. My grandparents and my great-aunt visited her for lunch frequently and they said she still quoted from Macbeth and Hamlet, never missing a beat. I can remember the stories my Grandaddy told of his experiences in Ms. Jennings class. His infamous stories have inspired me to someday be my students' Ms. Jennings. What a treasure she has passed on to us by sharing his assignment from some 59 years ago. What a blessing.

We are on our way to the hospital soon to take dinner and visit. I will probably stay the night so that my dad can go home and get some rest. I just talked to him and he told me about the book report. I can't wait to read it. He says there is really no change but that they are giving him small doses of morphine to keep him comfortable. He said at this point they are suggesting it is just a matter of time. I know that it will only come to pass in God's perfect timing. He knows best and he will give us all that we need to endure the heartache that we may face.

A whirlwind of emotions....

Today marks day #25 that my Grandaddy has been in the hospital. At one point he had improved and was expected to go home. Now it doesn't look as if that will ever happen. We are praying even though we have been told that there is nothing more that the doctors can do. He is responsive from time to time by squeezing our hands and blinking to answer us but not talking. He is on oxygen ( but not a ventilator) and a feeding tube. His heart is very weak and at one point was only functioning at 5% but has slightly improved to about 20%. His sodium levels are too high and cannot be maintained. He has a little pneumonia in his right lung and spikes a fever atleast twice a day. They have run out of veins for IV's at this point and they search for new places to give his injections and fluids. However, we have been with him around the clock and even celebrated my grandmother's birthday yesterday. At best, he is stable and holding his own. His defibrillator has been brutal at times but has spared him for the time being. This is the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. I am thankful for summer vacation and wonderful in-laws so that I can take time to be with my family. We are trying to stay positive but also being realistic. One minute I am perfectly okay with the possibility of his passing and another I am selfishly struggling. I just can't explain it. I know that it is completely GOD right now and I am surrendered to his will. Please pray for us all.

Scott was offered the firefighter job which is a dream come true for our family. He is excited beyond belief and so are the rest of us. He understands my dedication to my family but I feel torn because I haven't been able to really celebrate his accomplishment with him due to the circumstances. I had wanted to have a dinner get together and get this really cute firefighter cake for him but it just hasn't worked out. We will be going to the final job offer in a few weeks and I plan to take him out and celebrate just the two of us then but I know its not the same for him. Also, at this time it would be hard for our whole family to be together due to so many circumstances. I am so proud of him and I know this is just the beginning. I love you baby. You mean the world to me and I love you from the bottom of my heart. You're my rock and my best friend. You're the best daddy and husband in the world and I know you will make a great firefighter.

I have some beautiful beach pics to share with you soon. I just haven't had any time to sit at the computer to work on them. This is really only the second night I've had home and I just want to love on my girl and my hubby. They are desperate for their "momma" time.

Update on our BIG day!!

Scott went to his interview this morning. He feels really good about it. We should hear something back in a few weeks if he gets an offer. There are only 34 positions open and over 100 applicants. (1400 originally) Whew!!!!! I know it is out of our hands but its hard not to think about it.

Raegan got a great report at the dentist. She only cried a little bit at first but she loved brushing her teeth for them and showing off her smile. It also helped that she got a new toothbrush and got her picture made with the "tooth fairy". Then they let her pick out a prize. We went to lunch to celebrate and took her to feed the duck ducks.

We topped off the day with a trip to the hospital to see Grandaddy. He has made tremendous improvements over the last several days. Even though a feeding tube was a hard thing to handle we know it is best for him. The surgery took less time than expected and he was back in his room in only 45 minutes. I was unable to be there b/c of Raegan's dentist appt. and the fact that the surgery wasn't really scheduled for a certain time so it couldn't be planned around.

This busy day kept us going but it gave me little time to think about .....what if. Sometimes staying busy is an unexpected blessing. Thanks my dear friends for checking in on me and for praying for my family. You all mean so much.

BIG day Tomorrow!!!

Scott has his firefighter interview in the morning. He is really excited to have gotten this far in the process. This is the last hurdle to getting the job. He has taken a written test, a rigorous physical test, background check, and finally......the interview. No matter what the outcome is I want him to know that I am so very proud of him. Lets hope that the interview board is as impressed with him as I am.

Raegan has her first pediatric dentist appointment tomorrow. This kiddo loves to brush her teeth. I hope she likes going to the dentist and has a good experience. I am nervous for her. Maybe because its not so much fun for me as an adult and I remember always being nervous as a kid when I went, even though there was never really anything to ever worry about. If she does well and if it doesn't rain then we have told her that we will take her to feed the duck-ducks.

Grandaddy was in great spirits today. I went to see them at lunch and took my grandmother something to eat. Grandaddy and I had a lot of fun cutting up as usual. We always have had fun together. If you can't tell we've always been really close. He reminded me today that I was his daughter and that my dad was really just a surrogate. Too funny. I love them both. Since my dad is an only child and my grandfather didn't have any daughters I had them both give me away at my wedding. The preacher thought it was crazy but we all thought it was crazy not to. Well I mentioned all if this to say that the ICU specialist stopped by today and they have suggested once again that he have a feeding tube. He is losing weight and is not getting sufficient nutrition due to the complications from eating. It seems that every time he eats or drinks a certain portion of food and liquid goes into his right lung, therefore resulting in aspiration. He seems to be handling the news well. They have told him that it could be temporary but 90% of his food will come from the tube while he can still eat nibbles of comfort food. I am reminded daily by witnessing his struggles that I am truly blessed. I am praying for his healing and progress tomorrow. I also pray that the doctors' work will be guided by the hand of God.