Tough week

This has been a tough week for my family. My step dad went into the hospital last Friday- totally unexpected. After many tests, his lab work revealed he was very anemic. Dangerously low. And so he wound up with 5 units of blood and fluids and a long week stay in the hospital. After two types of endoscopy, and echo test for his heart, and barium chest-xrays, he was found to have a mass inside a colon. They thought it the size of a golfball. He had a biopsy done with the endoscopy, but his surgery was scheduled for Saturday morning and we, by the time he went to the operating room, were still waiting results from the pathologist.

The good news is that he endured the surgery with flying colors. His heart remained strong, considering that he is almost 85 years old. He didn't need any extra blood and they were able to remove the mass (actually a baseball size) by laparoscopy, which means he didn't need a big incision to get it out. That's a good thing.

Hopefully, he will recover well too, but it means he will be in the hospital for another week.

Thus went our vacation last week. I don't know how we'll handle the next. Honestly, we've seen more of our hospital that we both work at (hubby and I) than we cared to, but we had to be there for my stepdad and for my mom, who appreciated our support.

Our 2nd anniversary came and went without even sharing the day together. We were on different shifts taking care of my stepdad. My husband has been a pillar of strength, for me, my mom, and for my elderly stepdad. I sure do appreciate him for everything he's done without even asking. But in spite of this, for years to come, I'm sure we'll talk about the anniversary that never was. LOL..

The good news is that my eldest daughter decided to come down for two weeks and is on the road from Denver as we speak She wanted to see us, her grandpa and grandma, and help out as best as she can. it will be good to see her and we'll try to spend some ample time together considering my vacation is suppose to be over. Come Monday, I'm suppose to be back to the office, but maybe I can squeeze an extra pto day from my boss. Considering the way my week has gone, maybe he'll be ok with it- one can only hope.

A very bad week

This Memorial Day weekend was difficult for my family. My stepdad went into the hospital on Friday. He had seen the doctor earlier in the day and had labwork drawn. The doctor called my mom three hours later and said that he should go into the hospital immediaetely, that his blood was really low. He had five units of blood put back into him in a 24 hour period! He must have a slow bleed somewhere, but they don't know where, and because it was a holiday weekend, there were limited tests they could do. Now it's Tuesday and they will do some type of scope (endo or thru the mouth) today, so they can figure out what's wrong to fix it. Who knows.

But me and my husband were suppose to be on vacation this week and we've done nothing except go back and forth to the hospital! Sucks! I've stayed a couple of nights and then my son and then my mother. Then back to my hubby again. we just all rotated for a daytime/night time shift. We had too as my stepdad was confused and wanted to leave the hospital. A couple times he pulled out the iv giving blood. What a mess! They did all kinds of tests on him so far.

His own son had been here on Friday but left for San Antonio. He didn't stop by on Saturday on his way back to the panhandle. He went a Different direction .His daughter and her family came late Saturday night and was gone on Sunday around 1:00. His other son JR can't come down because he has diabetes really bad and can't drive. So really it's been me and my hubby helping my mom.

So I'm extremely tired. I'd rather be fishing! We did find out late this afternoon that they plan surgery for next Monday to get a mass out of his colon. When he has the surgery, he'll be in the hospital another week. So please forgive me if I do not sign on here for awhile. I'll just be busy being a caretaker for my stepdad.

Vacation and a safe Memorial Day Weekend

I'm on vacation, finally, but with the cost of gas rising and the fact that I'm one of the many Americans still waiting on that stimulus rebate check, guess it's best to stick close to home. I take a vacation this time of year to also celebrate my anniversary of now two years. Lots of people are taking a long three day weekend because of Memorial Day.

What's on my list to do so far? Well, let's take a quick peek:



* Catch up on laundry from my son's messy room.
* FORCE my son to get that room cleaned up!! It looks worse than what struck in China.
* Clean up backyard shed.
* Clean up garage
* Place left over stuff from garage into backyard shed (Oh, joy!)
* Take my elderly step-dad to see a doctor for recent ailments. He hates going, but he finally conceded to get a check up. I'm assigned to help get him there. A daughterly duty- so I must,I must.
* Dig up a small place for new plants/flowers to spruce up the yard. Landscaping on a very tiny scale.
* Paint up mom's dull kitchen. It needs something bright!
* Go the lake: sit in the sun or fish. I can't wait!! I love to fish! There''s also a fishing spot in Troy we might try out too.
* Drive to San Antonio, hubby and I. Do a walk about on the river walk. Margarita anyone?

Well that's the ideas so far. What is your agenda for the weekend? Why not share them with me. Just remember, whatever you do, be safe in your activities, while boating, camping, fishing, mowing the lawn, or even just driving around your area. Don't drink and drive. If you do drink, let someone else be the designated driver.

Through data, about the kinds of accidents people get into daily, is how you get these commercials that list statistics about accidents, like how many roll-overs or fender-benders occur over a given holiday. The biggest factors for injuries are lack of attention, fatigue, drinking/drugs, and careless driving speeds. So pay attention so you don't get hurt or God forbid: fatally hurt someone else just out enjoying their weekend, or for people like me, on vacation.