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Jet Plane, Birthdays, Gigglin’ and Laughin’

December 1, 2011

As you read this, Tosh and I…

Will be flying over lakes, mountains and lots of road kill, to be here…

To see these beautiful people…

Papa and Honey. (My parents, in case you’re new to the Girly Muse party.)

Ahhh.

Can’t wait to get there.

It’s my dad’s birthday (today!) and I’ve been so worried about him~ Tosha has been too. Tosha is one of my dad’s favorite people in all the world and I can’t think of anyone he’d rather see on his birthday (or any time). Add his grand kids into the mix and he’d be overjoyed. But Tosh, she’s right up there. I hope we can bring some cheery spark of sunshine to them and that it will carry over, even after we are gone. I am so hoping my dad’s health will turn around and that this will be a year of miracle and promise for him.

Cross your fingers that the people on the plane near us will be tolerant of lots of chatting…because that’s what will be happening! The two of us with no kids? Look OUT! We will be talking a mile a minute! Cannot wait. It is going to be so fun to have this time together.

Happy Birthday, dear Dad E. You are the very best there is. I love you so. Come on, let’s get you better so you can start living this fabulous life again.

Posted in Birthdays, December 2011, Family, Grateful Heart, Parents, Travel | 14 Comments »

So…

August 17, 2011

I’m running late today, but wanted to give you an update on how things went yesterday for my dad. He ended up NOT having the heart cath. He got there and waited and waited…and waited. They had him just lie in the bed for the longest time. When the doctor came in, he said that he didn’t feel good about sticking a wire in any artery with the way dad’s been feeling. So they ran other tests and spent the whole day there. We thought they might still do the cath, but they sent him home and gave him new instructions with his meds, will see him Friday and discuss the test results.

I was concerned that they still didn’t get to the bottom of anything. But my parents both felt huge relief. They both had a bad feeling about the cath, without saying anything to each other about it. This was the first time they’d seen this particular doctor and they felt really good about him and that he will hopefully help in the long run.

I spent this morning talking to my parents and they sounded in good spirits, considering everything. My dad feels like God touched him when he was last in the hospital and he’s at least breathed better since then. The chest pain is still a major problem, but he was concerned about getting a stint and possibly even having another heart attack while doing the heart cath.

So, ugh. Waiting. Trusting. Hoping. Sounds like we’re still in for the long haul.

I sure appreciate all of you. Your notes made my day yesterday.

Posted in August 2011, Family, Parents | 3 Comments »

Please Pray: Dad Update

August 16, 2011

Here’s the deal with my dad…

This morning at 7:30, Dad E., otherwise known as Tomas to me and David/Papa to everyone else, will go in for a heart cath. He’s still having chest pains and just not getting enough blood and oxygen to the heart. They say he’s a hard case to figure out. It’s a long process and we’re praying they’ll know exactly what the problem is while he’s in there and fix it. If he needs a stint put in, they’ll do it right then. If not, hopefully they’ll see what the real problem is. It’s an uncomfortable ordeal because of his problems with his back, so please pray he will be able to be still and not suffer the effects afterward from laying all day.

It’s been 6 1/2 weeks since his bypass surgery and he’s so ready to start feeling better.

So…I’m asking again for your prayers, please.

Pray also for my Mama, who is by his side every moment. She’s a homebody, for sure, but I think even she is starting to get a little stir crazy by now. This has gone on a long time, even before the surgery…

We’re going to head down there in several days and breathe huge sighs of relief just by being in close proximity to them. Sigh. See? I’m sighing just thinking about it!

Thanks, everyone. It has helped so much to have you to help pray with us. All the words of encouragement, the prayers, the delicious meals that have been cooked, the groceries brought to my mom and dad (THANK YOU, Lar & Mar!!!)…so very appreciated.

Posted in August 2011, Family, Parents, Prayer Requests | 14 Comments »

Update & Blah-de-Blahs

August 4, 2011

Here’s the deal~ my dad was sent home from the hospital last night, but it seems it’s because they’re not sure what to do with him quite yet and not because they have any answers. I’m hoping miraculous things are taking place and that’s what’s REALLY going on, but for now, we’re still really concerned about him.

His EKG was normal, but it’s always been normal~ that’s kinda scary, right?

One doctor thinks one thing and the other doctor thinks another. He does still have blockage, but they didn’t do the test to see how much it’s blocked now. They sent him home with nitro, which he hasn’t been able to take since surgery since his blood pressure has been so low. They also told him to come right back if he has increased chest pain and shortness of breath, which has already been happening..

Just have to surrender and trust. Hurry up and wait. Let go and let God.

Are there any other good ones? Um…Jesus take the wheel? Oh wait, that’s a country song. That can’t apply, can it?

Settle down. Country fans don’t get your belt buckle in a bind.

In other depressing news, my daughter took a huge spill rollerblading yesterday. She is all banged up~ hands, stomach and oh the knees…the poor, poor knees. We doctored her up and kissed her tears and felt all the stomach cringes that come when our children are suffering. Nate told her he fell in love with the girl who had the scar on her knee~Aww~ (Yes, that’s me~ riding on handlebars with a friend, went flying and sliding down a gravel road on my stomach. Ouch. And NOT a pretty scar.) but we are hopeful that she won’t have scars. I have scar treatment ready JUST in case.

I’m NOT working at the Minneapolis Mart for the show coming up~ turns out all 26 sales reps are coming, so I’m not needed. I would have enjoyed it, I’m sure, but am glad to have more summer days with my kids! My last day was yesterday! Woohoo! I’ll go back and work there in December and January.

We almost piled in the car and headed to Arkansas, but will wait a couple weeks and go when we were originally planning. It’s hard to be here with all that’s going on there~ I’m torn in a big way.

The temperature was 114 in Arkansas yesterday. OH MY WORD! That’s so stinkin’ hot! We had record-breaking heat here a couple weeks ago, but now have settled back to our slightly warmer-than-normal 85º range. It’s been gorgeous. I feel guilty for even saying it~ I’m sorry for all of you across the country, sweltering in the heat~ truly, I am.

Well, I just have a rambling bug this morning. I’m going to publish this thing before I come up with another slew of conversation starters. Happy Thursday. And thank you for all your wonderful wishes yesterday~ I appreciate your prayers more than I can even express. It means so much to my parents too, to see all the people who are praying for us. Thank you!! XO

Posted in August 2011, Family, Market, Parents | 11 Comments »

Jiggety Jog

July 8, 2011

I’m home.

Nate and the kids were each holding a sign up with my name as I walked down the stairs at the airport. I was halfway down and Indie booked it up those stairs to hug me…Greyley and Nate followed to do the same and it was a sweet reunion. It feels like I’ve been gone a long time. I’ve lived a lifetime in a week and so have they. The kids have matured at least five years, I’m pretty sure of it.

Leaving my parents was really hard. My dad was a lot better than he was when he first got home from the hospital. He was feeling so bad the first afternoon at home, I knew I had to stay a little longer. The extra day helped…it gave me peace of mind.

My brother and sister-in-law got into Arkansas late last night and that also gave me peace of mind, knowing they would be there for my parents.

It’s always hard for me to bounce back, coming out of a traumatic situation. I should be over the moon, elated that everything went well and so thankful for life and health. And I am. But I’m having a hard time shaking the severity of the situation too…it was SO scary and it’s hard for me to just snap back into Miss Jolly now that we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I’m working on it, though. Another day with my excited kids just might do the trick.

Posted in Family, July 2011, Kids, Life, Parents, Travel | 7 Comments »

Sternum Paternum

July 6, 2011

Well, we brought my dad home from the hospital! He was finding “little” jobs to do in the first five minutes…and he felt the repercussions for it, too. I was ready to haul him right back to UAMS, number 624, but then he took a nap and seemed a little better after that…

My dad is a doer. He is a husband and father like no other. I didn’t even fill my own gas tank until I went to college…he had to teach me right before I left. He makes sure everything is running smoothly and boy, does he ever have the systems going to make that happen. He makes sure my mom is taken care of at all times…even in the hospital, he wanted her to have the first bite of pie or the nice blanket or whatever was the best.

So it is going to be tricky for him to stop and not DO all the time.

He doesn’t just DO; he does FULL STEAM AHEAD. If he gets up, he gets up quickly. If he walks around the hospital floor, he sprints. If he’s looking for something, he exhausts every possibility to find it.

Can you tell we have our work cut out for us?

My mom takes wonderful care of him too and she always has, but even with that, he is telling her just how to do it. Now, he is not bossy or rude, he is the sweetest thing, but he really does know the best way to do things. He just does. It’s his gift…one of many.

I read a beautiful blogpost this morning, called Where is Ministry? from Craig T. Olson…please click on the link and read it, you will have a better day for it. I thought of my dad as I read it. He was never a pastor or a preacher, but his love for God and for his family has always felt more important that anything else. He lives life like it counts in the way that he loves us. Everyone feels it~ every person that came through his room in the hospital was blessed by his sweet and gentle heart and wanted to linger…

I’m staying an extra day…just couldn’t leave today with how my dad was yesterday. It’s going to be hard to leave tomorrow too, but my brother will be coming to help Dad, so that’s reassuring. Nate has been keeping the kids busy to the brim, so they haven’t had time to miss me yet, but I’m having some serious withdrawals. I’m hoping to come back with everybody when my dad is more up to the commotion that all of us brings…for now, this alone time with him and my mama has been precious time.

Posted in Family, July 2011, Parents | 3 Comments »