The Rolling Stones

OH. MY. GOD. Saturday Rick (Mikhail's Dad), Pam (Mikhail's Mom), Mikhail and I went to see The Rolling Stones! This was the chance of a lifetime! I am so lucky that I got to see this concert! Ed Sheeran opened, and I have to admit that I fan-girled a little too hard! He was wonderful! He sang "I'm a Mess", "Lego House", "Don't", "The A Team", and "Thinking Out Loud" just to name a few! I sang along to every word thinking there was no way seeing him could be topped. Boy was I wrong! Mikhail didn't hate him too much either! The Rolling Stones played all of their classics! They started out with "Start Me Up" and also played "Gimme Shelter" which quite possibly have been the best song of the evening! They kept building up and continued to blow my mind! I cannot believe I had the opportunity to see The Rolling Stones!!! I will never forget. I am angry at myself that I didn't take more pictures, but lets face it, I was a little distracted by the amazing Mick Jagger. The fraternity guys in front of us pregamed a little too hard. They were falling over each other pouring into their seats and I'm pretty sure that all 5 of them had 10 beers a piece. The guy directly in front of me was trying to dance (I emphasize trying here, because this was the worst dancing I have ever seen) and he fell into the lady in front of him and landed on top of her. He was escorted out of the concert. Also, the smell of pot was crazy. I don't believe in contact highs but holy crap did I have cotton mouth! Oh, I didn't get a sunburn so that was awesome! Kudos to Pam for bringing sunscreen! I had the time of my life. It was nice to get away from everything that has been going on at home... but I did text mom every hour I think. haha. Mommy is doing wonderfully. Her stamina is building and building! She is able to walk 5 laps around Poppy's driveway at the house. I am seriously impressed with how great she is doing. We have to go weekly to get her blood levels checked to make sure she's not forming blood clots. Physical Therapy comes twice a week and is really helping! (I also know her PTA Michelle, she's pretty great) Home Health is coming once a week now to check on her vital signs and medication. Her appetite has improved! She is eating very healthy foods! I am so proud of her!

Half-aversary and Birthday!

Saturday was mine and Mikhail's six month anniversary. I cannot explain how amazing he truly is. He always puts me first and always has our best interest at heart. He has been there for me through everything and I am so grateful he is in my life. My birthday was Sunday. Mommy, Poppy, Ma, Mikhail and I spent the day together and just laughed and talked about everything! Mikhail got me a massage and a really cute charm bracelet! Oh, he is also going to be making all of us dinner tomorrow night! Pad Thai (my favorite) and caramel cheesecake! Yummy! Mommy is doing better. She is still on oxygen and home health is here every day. She has physical therapy three times a week and occupational therapy twice a week. Along with all of that, she also has to get her blood drawn to make sure her blood thinner is in the right range. I am so glad that she is doing so well! She still isn't eating much, but the doctors at the hospital said that was normal and that her appetite should return in six to eight weeks! I am so proud of her and how far she has come!

Progress Not Perfection

Day 30:
Wow! I have seen a remarkable change in my mom today! She has gone on three walks, sat in the chair for 6 hours, and is down to 3-4 liters of oxygen! She has this determined look on her face that I haven't seen in a long time. I am so proud of her! She is getting better. Dr. Kempe said that she can go home tomorrow or Sunday! Wow, this 31 day hospital stay is enough for me! It will be the best birthday present I could ever receive! She is such an inspiration to me. She came to this huge hurdle in life and has overcome and is doing better than anyone thought she would be doing. She is going to be going to my Poppy's for a week or two before she comes home. I plan on being there as much as I can, but I need to clean the house! I got to pick up Mikhail's parents (Pam and Rick) up from the airport yesterday! They are such wonderful people and such great prayer warriors. While they were vacationing in Italy, the were texting me and praying for my mom! All in all today has been a great day! My mouth is a little sore from the root canal yesterday, but feels better now that they have lanced my abscess. The antibiotics they put me on are huge! They are almost as big as mom's potassium pills! My asthma has been acting up because of the weather, but I'm pretty sure everyones has been with the two weeks of rain and flooding we have here. I found my blanket in my trunk today! So I am a very happy girl! I love little surprises! Oh, I'm going to miss having an endless supply of the second best ice around... Sonics is still number one but Hillcrest has some pretty awesome ice too!

Grateful

Day 28:
Today as I was getting on the elevator I saw a woman crying. She proceeded to explain to me that her husband had just been taken off life support today and her son had a stroke yesterday. I can't stop thinking about her. I wish I had more words of wisdom to give, but all I could muster was I am so sorry and I will keep you in my prayers. I wanted to cry with her and tell her everything would be alright, but deep down I knew that was the last thing she wanted to hear... That is the last thing I wanted to hear and my mom is still alive! I wanted to validate her feelings because everything she was feeling was normal. I would be a complete basket-case if my husband had died and my son had a stroke all within a 24 hour period. I am so grateful that my mom is still here and she is getting better every day. They mentioned today her going to a physical therapy place and staying there until she gets her strength back, but we won't know for a few more days. She is still having a lot of trouble breathing and is feeling dizzy and nauseous most of the day. She has been so patient and is so ready to be out of the hospital! Heck, I am able to leave the hospital and I'm ready to be out of here! Dr. Kempe said probably a few more days. Aunt Joyce was able to postpone going back to work until tomorrow, so she has been here with us the whole time. I am so thankful for her. She has gone above and beyond the call of a best friend. She is a saint!

Luckiest Girl In The World

Day 20:
Today I got to see my mom! It was the best feeling I've ever had. Just seeing her and knowing that she was okay put my mind to instant ease. I have been going crazy at Aunt J's house while I've been on lock down mode from bronchitis and she's been able to go up there! I am so jealous! I am pretty positive I had the biggest smile on my face for at least the first hour I was there. My mom was moved back to a non-icu floor! Holy cow! Last Friday, I never thought we would be here. To be honest, I wasn't even sure she would be here. (That is something this mommy's girl would never admit) She was struggling. Struggling is probably not even a scary enough word to what she was experiencing. They have now figured everything out and are doing everything in their power to give her the best care possible! Dr. Kempe even mentioned her possibly going home on Friday! She had such a sweet nurse today. I could tell she had been taking good care of my mom. We watched Dr. Phil as they took my moms central line out and put in the port. That was pretty graphic, and I probably should have listened to the nurse to leave when she was doing it, or at the very least turn my head. I'm not usually squeamish but holy cow!

I am right where I need to be. For the first time in my life I feel like I am doing more than surviving my life... I'm living it! And loving it! I am exactly where God wants me to be and I am learning to trust that. I am learning so much. Holy cow, therapy today was a blur. I found myself doing something I have never done before... Listening! I've always gone through the motions of listening, but I don't think I've ever really listened to someone without constantly thinking of my reply. For the first time in my life it wasn't about me. It was so refreshing! I was able to convey exactly how I felt, things that I have been dealing with, and things I have been avoiding with ease. I won't say that I am magically cured or completely better, but its so wonderful to not be the center of my world. I can now see other people for what and who they are. I feel like this has shed a whole new light on things. I am so excited for what lies ahead of me.

Also, how long is this cough going to last?

One Step Forward Two Steps Back

Day 18:
Aunt Joyce got a call this morning that Mommy wasn't doing very well. They transferred her back to ICU and put her back on the Bi-pap machine. She was having trouble breathing and keeping her SP02 levels up. After a little while on the Bi-pap she was able to come off and is now back on oxygen! This is the best news I've heard today! Aunt Joyce said that when she left mommy was up and eating with her oxygen in a chair! I am so excited. Thank God for Aunt J. She has been taking care of my mom and me. She is a saint! I am so thankful that she has been my moms best friend for the past 30 years and counting! I don't know where we would be without her.

Vulnerable

Day 17:
I hate that word... It makes me feel so, well, exposed. This was exactly how I felt Wednesday night. Seeing my mom hooked up to a ventilator and not breathing on her own is one image I will never be able to erase from my memory. She had a rough night and a rough start to the day on Thursday. They kept her on a bi-pap machine to force her to breathe and were talking about having to put her back on the ventilator but she surprised everyone and held her own with 10 liters of oxygen. She's stubborn (I think that is where I might get it) I am so proud of her. They moved her to out of ICU on Friday night and she is now in a regular room at OHI. She is now down to 8 liters of oxygen and keeping her pulse ox over 95! She is still feeling very sick to her stomach and is in a lot of pain. They couldn't give her anything for pain until Friday because she was "too sedated" but they were finally able to give her something last night! I am so proud of my mom!

Today, I woke up and knew something was wrong. I went to urgent care and found out that I have bronchitis. I had a 102 degree fever, and the doctor told me I can't go back up to see Mommy until I am fever free for 48 hours and even then I have to wear a gown, mask, and gloves. I got a steroid shot and antibiotics, a steroid pack, and cough medicine. I don't want to risk getting her sick, but it kills me that I'm not able to be up there. I miss her so much. I guess all the people in my life that have been telling me to take care of myself were right. That is not something I like to admit! In order to care for my mom I am going to have to start taking care of myself. I am still staying with Aunt J and am basically locking myself in my cousins old room until I start to feel better.