Sadness

I have watched this week as my father has struggled with death. Dad has fought the good fight. Dad is still with us. I am sure there is some reason that God has made Dad struggle this week. I just pray now that God will take dad tonight. Dad has started with what they call the "death rattle". I can't imagine that it will be much longer.

I love my dad and will miss him each and every day that I am alive. I will also be sure that my future children will know their "Poppy" through me and my memories of him.

Final chapters

This is the same title that I named the post that I did earlier tonight for my dad's blog. I keep telling him that I love him. He just nods when I do. The only words he expresses now are pain and his needs. I have done things the past couple of days I never thought I would have to do. Who knew. Right now my dad is resting comfortably. I don't know if that will last all night or just for now. He has been in pain today. We are giving him the medication for pain as often as we can. We have been all saying our final goodbyes for we know our time is short. Maybe not hours but definatly not more that days.
My advice for all don't be a dope get your physicals. And be sure to get any cancer screenings done you can. They are vitally important.

My hero

As I sit here at my dad's house, I feel a bit overwhelmed today. Dad is doing better this afternoon than he was yesterday when we thought he might not make it though the night. I want to spend I the time I can not necessarily with him but around him. In his house with his things. I want to be able to get up from where I sit now (on the floor) in the living room and walk to the kitchen or den and look over into my dad's bedroom and be able to just look at him.

My dad has always been my hero. And I know our time together on this earth is coming to a close. But soon my dad will be with his adopted brother and best friend Ralph, his sister Beverly and his parents.

I soon will miss my dad. I already miss who he used to be. But my hero is still laying in the hospital bed in the bedroom just off the living room a few feet away.

I'm in California

My first impression of California (from the air) is that there are no trees and it is really brown. Since I have now been here in Sacramento for a few days and have had some time to sight see. I am as I type in my first class which is Records management in the information age which is being lead by Matt Singley.

I was in my first Executive Board meeting yesterday which was scheduled for 3 hours and at the end of three hours we were only half done. So we came back together again last night for three more hours but finally got done at 11 p.m. That is pacific time. In Eastern time that would be 2 a.m.

The APA blog is going slow. But I am hopeful that it will pick up later today after lunch...

New update on my dad

I got a phone call at work today from my dad he actually sounded happy and excited. I haven't heard that in a while.

He had a CT and saw the Doctor. The good news is the tumor is shrinking down about 30% now. Radiation started up again today and tomorrow Chemo will resume.

Dad's best news of all: he can eat

To keep an eye on my dad yourself check out Tom's Recovery blog.

Dad update

My dad is doing really well. He has had some bad days and Monday was one of them, but for the most part he is doing so well. His blood count went from 4.50 last week down to 4.33 this week. That is not a good change or a good number for you or me but for Dad it was a great number it ment he was able to have his chemotherapy.

Check out his blog and send him a note I am sure he would like to read it.

Public restroom rules

Recently Dott blogged about an open soda can that someone had in the restroom at work. Well my recent experience might be worse since it involves more than one person.

I was recently in the restroom and was at the sink washing my hands. When the other occupant came out of the stall and bypassed the sinks and soap dispencers and went straight for the anti-bacterial hand wash that we have recently had installed.

I bet you are thinking, well at least this person used the anti-bacterial hand wash?? I would too until you know (as Paul Harvey would say) the rest of the story.

As this other person left the restroom I was drying my hands and on my way out I hit the anti-bacterial handwash. As I opened the door I see the person who has just left in front of me open the door to leave the section of the floor we are on, this person still has one hand held in a position that tells me she still has not used the anti-bacterial hand wash.

She has now spread any and all germs she may have and any she has picked up in the restroom to everyone else who has come in contact with that door.

I will share that this was a guest to the building and not an everyday staff member. Maybe instead of the "cutsie" signs at the sink there needs to be one at the door about the germs you spread when you touch something after being in the restroom and not washing your hands and then using the anti-bacterial hand wash.

If you got all the way through this post are you sorry you read it??? Or does it re-affirm the need for your own personal cleanliness?

Did someone say issues

Ok so dad can now swallow water small amounts at a time...I don't think he is ready to admit it yet but I saw it with my own eyes yesterday.

Today, Dad is not feeling as well as he has been. I stopped by and he was so asleep he didn't hear me come in the house and almost to the bedroom before I realized he was asleep and me just walking in in my loud shoes.

I let him sleep just backed right out and not a peep from Dad. So I sent Mom over after work and he was very sick. Good call on my part to tell mom to go by the house.

The husband and I have been trying to schedule a wedding reception. This has been hard if not imposible. Still no date. All depends on Dad's treatment schedule. How is he going to be feeling do we schedule it and risk my dad not being there? What to do???

Tonight one of the cars died. Tomorrow we will figure out if we can get it to the mechanic or if it will have to be towed. This is after I take dad to see the oncologist and to his chemo.

Along with ongoing problems at work that we are waiting to be fixed and in the mean time we are trying to find alternative solutions...

And on a side note the husband went to Agility training with Vivian and I this past weekend and he took a few pictures. I hope to have those up tomorrow.

39970041

39970041
Originally uploaded by acapellagirl3.

My dad. My dad has cancer. My dad begins radiation tomorrow. And round two of Chemo on Monday. This is my dad in the photo with me. If you knew him in the past I have found out you may not recognize him with his current look.

We are all looking forward to his recovery.

cheap tickets hell

When we were making plans for our trip to Gatlinburg we found out about a great hotel on the side of a mountain the pictures and info looked great so we booked that hotel for the night before our wedding with Cheaptickets.com.

So we drove through lunch time traffic through Seiverville, Pigeon Forge to Gatlinburg, we arrive at the hotel to find out they were overbooked. So everyone who booked online they were comping them/us a room at another hotel 15 miles and one hour away back in Seiverville. The Resort and Governors Crossing was a great hotel as I am sure the one that was more convient would have been.

The first hotel said that we would be refunded our money from cheaptickets.com but we would need to contact them and they would take care of it.

So I emailed and the response was that I needed to call. I finally called today and was in hell for an hour and a half. Then I was told we can't get anyone from the hotel on the phone which I know was complete BS and I would have to call back later. So what I did was called the hotel and explained my situation and the wonderful person I talked to said sure give them my name and tell them to ask for me and I will take care of it.

So here goes another call to cheaptickets.com, in which I explained what I wanted and here is who you need to call to get your info from the hotel that they will not be asking for that money you have already charged to us and you really can refund it.

One short 10 minute phone call later I was told I should have my refund in 3 to 5 days...

The lesson here is: Persistance pays.

Pictures are on flickr

Some of the picures from the wedding are on my flickr take a look.

We are home

We arrived home today. The wedding was great. The Honeymoon resort, I would recommend to anyone who wants a get-a-way weekend with their partner. It was great. I hope to get some pictures on flickr soon.

Dad will be home tomorrow. He got his staples out today and packed up the car and will drive home tomorrow. I will take some things over to the house for him until we get his things back in Kentucky.

It's official I have a new last name

I am now married. The day was great! All the bad things happened yesterday. The hotel cancelled our reservations and moved all of us to another hotel 20 miles away. But all that is behind us now.

The best news of all... my dad did not listen to his doctors and got in his car this morning and drove to Gatlinburg. So I got to have my dad walk me down the aisle.

See/talk to everyone soon...but don't call me until Monday!

Love to all!

4 days and counting

The end of last week and this weekend I was in Atlanta, GA. Dad's surgery was scheduled for Friday morning. The bad news is that his surgery was not successful. Dad's cancer will never be surgerical. The surgeon reported to us that the mean life expectancy is 22-28 months from original diagnosis but Dad's could be longer because there is no cancer in the liver.

We now have just under 4 days until the wedding. Dad will not be able to travel and thus will not be able to be there. The to do lists that I am so good at have been made and we will get it all done before we leave at 6 or 7 on Friday.

And on top of all of this I was feeding Vivian the dog food that has been recalled. She is now on another type of food. I took her to the Vet on Monday to be sure she is ok. She may have crystals or a bladder infection. She was having a problem going in the house and had three gallons of water in 6 days. But the worst of all of this is I called the Vet because I hadn't heard from them with the results of the blood tests. Her blood has been lost. So now, the man will have to take her back to the Vet tomorrow and have more blood taken. My poor girl.

update

The Bridal shower is set for March 4th and the invites are out... the groom and I have finished all our registering. The two big things for the wedding that are left are the flowers and the license. The flowers will be ordered on Monday and we will get the license on Friday the 23rd.

My Dad's surgery is scheduled for March 16th. Yes, eight days before the wedding. I guess this means a 99.9% chance dad will not be there.

We still need to do the planning for the reception. The Groom would like to do it in April and so would I. At this late a date can we get someplace booked for April...I guess we will find out.

I knew this... and other stuff

What Kind of Reader Are You? Your Result: Dedicated Reader You are always trying to find the time to get back to your book. You are convinced that the world would be a much better place if only everyone read more.
Obsessive-Compulsive Bookworm
Literate Good Citizen
Book Snob
Fad Reader
Non-Reader
What Kind of Reader Are You? Create Your Own Quiz

Still no word on when they are scheduling Dad's surgery. This is driving us all batty...I will post when I know more and have more time.

Stress

Just to let you all know. It is just as stressful to plan a wedding out of town as to plan a large one in town.

Dad is in town and doing well waiting to hear from the surgeon when the surgery will be scheduled. That tells me if my shower will happen when it is planned for or if we need to move it. He says about three weeks or so, I hope we find out today.

Tonight I am meeting my parents and the grooms parents for dinner. This will be the first time they meet. Our mothers did meet while dress shopping.

Speaking of dresses I still need to go to have one more fitting. And then I believe that will be all.

I have booked the wedding and the honeymoon. Still need to book a hotel for the night before. I have an appt. for my hair and make-up. I still need to do the flowers.

The parents are now coming to the wedding, so I need to get them booked into a hotel along with the best man and matron of honor. I am hopeful that we will all stay in the same hotel the night before the wedding to make life a lot simpler. Of course all those people around me the night before my wedding may make me even more insane.

Oh and during all of this, I quit smoking. Who is crazy enough to quit smoking while planning a wedding, shower and reception??? Ok, I guess I am the only one.

We have a date!!

Last night the groom and I picked several dates that we would like for the wedding. This morning I called the chapel and we are getting our second choice...first choice is completely booked.

We will be getting married Saturday, March 24 at 1:30 in the afternoon.

Registering has also begun. This morning we finished registering at Macys. Next weekend we will be registering at Kohls.

On another subject, Dad is doing really well. He has finished the first three chemo's. He had a PET Scan on Friday and this Wednesday he has two more tests then sees the surgeon and on Thursday he sees the Oncologist.

They will be discussing surgery let's all pray that the news it good.

Rainy day Sundays

Well, Sunday got off to a wonderful start. It has been raining all day. Which means while doing the laundry I have to be by the washer for the water when it overflows the drain...

Went to church this morning for Kaden's dedication...I am in the greeting hall and see none of my family..."wonder where everyone is" I say to my self.. Church starts and so I go take a seat. And still no family.. Go home and call my sister and guess what the Dedication was cancelled. No big deal just drove 75 miles round trip for an event that didn't happen.

I wanted to also talk to Leslie who is my sisters mother and see what she says about altering the dress I want. Come to find out she is in Memphis, TN. Called her now and left her a message..

Ok, so what else can go wrong today???? Hopefully the "sun" will come out on my day.

Happy 2007

What has happened and where has the time gone since Thanksgiving.

I have been down in Atlanta with dad a couple of times since Thanksgiving. Dad did make it to Louisville for the holidays. He went back to Atlanta on the 26th and began round two of chemo on the 28th. As I am typing this there is a nurse in his apartment giving him some fluids and unhooking him from the pump. Which means round two is almost over. He is still doing well. Thanks for everyones prayers and please keep them going.

We, the man and I, had a great December. I had a great early birthday present the man (now the groom) and I were engaged on the 15th. Then on Saturday the 16th we had a birthday/engagement party with my family.

Then came Christmas. We all had a great day. Lots of family and presents and GREAT food.

This past weekend my mother and my future mother-in-law met when we had lunch and went shoping for a wedding gown. I think we found the one. Let me know what you think.

I look forward to hearing from everyone in 2007.

Happy New year!