THIS AND THAT...

MAY 13, 2009

As we all do sometimes, I have not been blogging as much. Not anywhere near my 100th blog, (Kim and Heather), just around 58th blog. We've had a busy household with many eventful things happening in the last couple of weeks so I'll try and catch everyone up.

On May 3rd, Jimmy's mother suffered a heart attack while in route to church. Her husband, Jimmy Sr. took her to the hospital and on Monday the 4th, they did a heart cauterization. It showed 4 blockages in her heart and they scheduled surgery for Tuesday the 5th. We all gathered on that Tuesday morning to pray with her and Dr. Duncan cancelled the surgery. They discovered that Ma Maw had 3 more blockages in the veins in her neck. Dr. Duncan wanted to do some further test before doing open heart surgery. So, on Wednesday morning the 6th, we all gathered back over to her room and Dr. Duncan told us he was going to go ahead and do the open heart surgery that morning and wait 6 to 8 months and put stints in the blockages in her neck. She did really well through the surgery and is still in the hospital recuperating. She has suffered some setbacks due to diabetes and irregular heartbeat and this morning was taken back to the operating room to have her heart shocked back into rhythm. We are praying that she will be able to come home in the next few days.

We have been doing a lot of commuting back and forth from the hospital and it has been tiresome but I know Ma maw has appreciated each and every visit. She has been in good spirits but really wants to go home. There truly is "no place like home."

On May 8th, I was preparing to leave my work a little early to travel to Charlotte for the State Softball Play-offs. As I was walking back into work from the employee parking lot, I tripped over a concrete parking stop and propelled myself forward, landing directly on my left forehead, striking my nose directly on the pavement. This hurt. I have never suffered any sort of trauma to my face and was totally not prepared for the amount of pain I would be in. I was bleeding badly from my nose and some bleeding from my forehead. I was disoriented and trying to get my wits about me when one of my co-workers exited the building and saw me. She immediately called for assistance and I was helped to a chair inside the building where an ice pack was placed on my nose and left side of my face. I was taken to a nearby urgent care where it was determined that I had suffered a mild concussion and non-displaced nasal fracture. In short, I broke my nose! I did not really care about what I had broken, I just wanted something for pain. I was given a shot of Toradol in my hip and within 30 minutes, the pain eased off. I am feeling better although I am still suffering from some pretty intense headaches. They come and go and I never know what will trigger them. They are always behind my eyes and feels like sinus pressure. I went back for a follow up visit yesterday afternoon and the doctor told me I may suffer from the headaches for months to come. (I pray not) Because of the location of the break in my nose, they will not attempt to set it, but x-ray again next week. They seem to think it will heal on its own but if not, they will refer me to another doctor. It really doesn't hurt as long as I don't touch it. I'm am healing quite well and the bruising is mainly centered around the left eye. I have been able to conceal it quite well with make up and was even told Sunday morning at church that I looked great to have broken my nose.

We went ahead and had Kelli's birthday party/cook-out on Saturday the 9th and had a good time of fellowship. There were about 20 of us that gathered at the house and even though the rain came in and kept us inside, we still managed to enjoy the evening with fun and games.

Mother's Day was quite. We made visits to each of our mothers and also tried to chip out some time for our own children. Nick and Kelli came by and brought me some gifts and cards which I greatly appreciate. I love Target gift cards and Contemporary Christian music CD's. Rachael gave me a beautiful card and apologized for not being more prepared. I have to admit, I was not too happy with my husband on Sunday. He seem to overlook the day and by lunch was give out. I've since had to recognize that we all have been under a lot of pressure with different events occurring in our home and that it is not about the gifts but what's truly in the heart.
I know Jimmy loves me and I know Rachael loves me. They just fall short sometimes in showing it to my specifications. Did you get that? To my specifications....(sometimes we tend to think it is all about me) I had to realize that Mother's Day doesn't make it my day but a day to celebrate all mothers. If I would have focused more on my mother and Jimmy's mother, I would not have been so focused on me. Anyway, lesson learned, forgiveness given, and all is well.

My weight. Lets talk about the weight. I did not attend last week's meeting because we were at the hospital and I never found the time to attend any other meeting for the week...excuses, excuses...excuses...(now I know where my daughter gets this from). I have gained. I have not been faithful to my tracking, exercise, or eating. I am up 5 lbs and now must get back up and get busy. No more excuses, just do it!

Having said all this, pray for us. Pray that God will continue to strengthen Jimmy's mother and she will be able to go home. Pray for my nose and headaches. Pray for strength for Jimmy and I to continue our journey to better health. Pray for Rachael. (exams next week) and pray for each other. We all desire and need each others prayers.