My mother (who lives in the Pacific Northwest) had surgery yesterday to remove her gall bladder. She has been ill since at least the beginning of the year and declining dramatically. There was some suspicion of something more when they detected a mass around her gall bladder in the screening. By yesterday morning she was so weak that she passed out on the way to the car. She required a blood transfusion.
The surgeon ended up removing her gall bladder which was by now a tumor as well as part of her colon. Turns out it's a rare type of the disease which started in her gall bladder.
She's in recovery now and will be in the hospital for several more days. The surgeon is conferring with specialists in this field and an oncologist will meet with my parents when Mama is feeling a little better. Dad says the outlook today is better than they thought at first, but we have no idea yet what to expect. Please pray for her!
I really want to be there. This is hard for me to be so far away at this time. My sister Dawn has been good at describing the family gatherings at Mama's bedside. My brother Jared, who is even further away than we are, is also experiencing feelings like mine.
We are still planning the reunion this August.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Playing with GeoTrax
Lora has been putting the GeoTrax together for the kids lately. She likes to put it in all different shapes, sometimes going all around the kitchen island.
Joel was given his first several sets of GeoTrax for his third birthday. His birth families sent them. Recently he has begun to be able to play with them, on the sidelines. But, he still enjoys throwing them.
Ella is in the take it out of the tub and put it back in stage.
Joel is following beside the little vehicle.
Timmy gets up close and really loves this toy. He's a big boy now in real underwear too, by the way!!! Hurray!
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Joel's Morning
Here are some photos of Joel from yesterday morning. He was home from school several days this last week because of asthma.
Holding the breathing treatment himself while I took the pictures.
Shrek just loves Joel!
Joel's cousin Erin drew "Patrick Starfish" on his hand so that he could make him move by "walking" his fingers. Joel showed me when it was newly drawn and said, "Patwick's Day!"
Here, Papa is doing the "finger poke" to monitor Joel's blood because he is on blood thinners for his artificial heart valve. We like it when we are able to do these at home rather than drawing blood at the lab. Although the people at lab are nice, home monitoring is less traumatic.
Placing the sample... this part is tricky as sometimes he moves and we have to start again.
Anything is tolerable while watching SpongeBob.
Cleaning up.
It did hurt a little.
A perfect INR.
Joel said, "Joel, you want eggs and toast? Yes! Eggs and Toast!"
Mmmm, good breakfast! We're glad his appetite is improving.Wednesday, March 18, 2009
More o' the Green
More photos from the 17th... just for fun.
Joel was a "wee folk" in a classroom play.
Mama, Lucy and Gabe went to Joel's class to watch the play.
Ella played on the deck after school.
Timmy and Joel shared computer time. Can you find the green in this picture?
Lora made guacamole, which also happens to be green.
Boiling cabbage, potatoes, carrots and onions for part of our traditional family dinner.
Janina served up the corned beef on St. Patrick's day.Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Happy St. Patty's Day!
Good mornin' world, and happy St. Patty's Day! We're wearin' a wee bit o' the green this mornin'!
I'll get back to you later, I'm gonna sleep a little longer now. :o) Zzzzzzz...Wednesday, March 11, 2009
We celebrated Mikelle's Birthday!
We had Mikelle's birthday party last Friday but her birthday was actually Sunday the 8th. I will post photos of the party as soon as we can get the cable (lost, new one ordered) to upload them from Lora's camera. Argh.
Mikelle is also extremely artistic and just about the time I was hoping to get photos of her more recent artwork to post on the blog-- alas, they had a house fire and most of her artwork was destroyed! I am still bugging her to get photos of what is left, and whatever is on permanent display in other places (now that she has a new camera maybe she can). I do have a sculpture of hers from her student exchange in Argentina, she spent some time at an art college that year... and a few drawings that she did as a child.
In the meantime, I will post this with a some photos of Mikelle (also known as "Kelly", "Mika" and "Mikaela") growing up.
Happy 20th Birthday Mikelle!
We love you!
Mama & Papa
Born 6 weeks premature, Mikelle sat up on her own on Christmas day! What a great gift!
Her eyes were green when she was little, and then deepened to a dark, chocolatey brown.
Our little dolly at two. She was our inspiration.
Nine year old beauty.
Here is Mikelle holding baby Timmy, December 2003. She loves her little siblings and they love her!
Mikelle is also extremely artistic and just about the time I was hoping to get photos of her more recent artwork to post on the blog-- alas, they had a house fire and most of her artwork was destroyed! I am still bugging her to get photos of what is left, and whatever is on permanent display in other places (now that she has a new camera maybe she can). I do have a sculpture of hers from her student exchange in Argentina, she spent some time at an art college that year... and a few drawings that she did as a child.
In the meantime, I will post this with a some photos of Mikelle (also known as "Kelly", "Mika" and "Mikaela") growing up.
Happy 20th Birthday Mikelle!
We love you!
Mama & Papa
Born 6 weeks premature, Mikelle sat up on her own on Christmas day! What a great gift!
Her eyes were green when she was little, and then deepened to a dark, chocolatey brown.
Our little dolly at two. She was our inspiration.
Nine year old beauty.
Here is Mikelle holding baby Timmy, December 2003. She loves her little siblings and they love her!Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Happy Birthday to my Cousin BJ!
Happy birthday to my dear cousin BJ, my old college roommate, the songbird who introduced me to my husband! I hope your day is happy, girl!
Love you!
Dolores
Love you!
Dolores
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Joel's surgery postponed
Joel is sick with a cold and asthma and so the doctors have postponed his surgery for a month. I will post when we know more about when. I'm glad we can be home longer but just want Joel and all of the kids to be well. We are hoping for Spring and better weather and health for all!
Reunited
This post is late but I still want to share it. Here are photos of the reunion of our youngest daughters when Lucy came home after 10 days in the hospital, as well as videos from our evening dancing. You can see from the photos that it took Ella a couple of minutes but she quickly remembered and was so happy to have Lucy back... and Lucy was happy to see Ella, too!
My heart is filled with gratitude for the miracles rendered in our lives by a loving Heavenly Father. He hears our prayers, and even the quiet cries of our hearts in our darkest hours. He answers our needs and our hearts desires in ways we could never have dared to hope for; His ways are omnipotent, He is the master planner. I cannot doubt our Lord, He will rescue His children in their time of need; He will bless us with His perfect love, my faith is planted in Him.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
My heart is filled with gratitude for the miracles rendered in our lives by a loving Heavenly Father. He hears our prayers, and even the quiet cries of our hearts in our darkest hours. He answers our needs and our hearts desires in ways we could never have dared to hope for; His ways are omnipotent, He is the master planner. I cannot doubt our Lord, He will rescue His children in their time of need; He will bless us with His perfect love, my faith is planted in Him.In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
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