Surgery on Monday, December 20th

We went to the surgeon yesterday to get mom's staples out and to set the date for the mastectomy. We waited forever for this doctor. He's never on time. Anywho, he finally came in and looked at the staples and said we'd do the surgery the first Monday after the New Year and he'd send in the nurse to remove the staples and put on some steri strips and he left. So we were waiting in the room not more than 3 minutes and the door popped back open and it was the surgeon again and he said that he changed his mind and he wanted to do it immediately. So he said he would do her surgery on Monday morning. "What?" Well, ok. So she is off her meds again, Dean is back giving her shots until Monday. I've had to rearrange not only my schedule but Ashley's schedule to fit in this surgery. So please keep mom in your prayers as we go back to Brandon Hospital on Monday, December 20th for more surgery. This time he's going to do the complete mastectomy. No nodes, but he will take both breasts and lets hope we're done with it. After that it will be at least 6 weeks of radiation everyday and then 5 years of tomoxifin.

Papa's babies!

Playing at Grandma's house makes Eden very tired. Actually she woke up from her nap and was still tired so she climbed up onto the couch and fell back to sleep.

Eden has to be just like Papa. Dean and Eden relaxing after a long morning of playing.

Dean and his shadow. Covie loves to follow Papa whereever he goes. This time it was helping to make some breakfast.

Eden's finished Gingerbread house with Papa.

Placing a few more candies on her house

Oh, Pop it needs some more. These two are quite the team!!

Surgery Update

Sorry for not posting sooner, but I've been very busy since Thanksgiving.

Mom, had to be taken off her blood thinners one week prior to her surgery. So every night we had to go in and give her an injection in her hip. Me being a little not sure of giving one shots, I delegated Dean to this duty and he gladly took it on. We had to go to the hospital 5 days prior to her surgery to get her registered for surgery and in patient care. So, we sat and got all the paperwork, bloodwork, and took x-rays to the radiology department. On Monday, November 29th we had to be at Brandon Regional Hospital @ 5:15 am. YAWN, that was a rough one. But we made it and got her in her room. The nurse had a heck of a time getting a vein for my mama. She has small, rolling veins and they always have a hard time. It took all three of us to get one going, but finally got one. They took her up to the radiology department and inserted the wires around the tumors so that the doctor would know where to go and they brought her back to her room to wait for the anesthesiologist (sp?). He came in at 8:15, talked to her about the procedure and then wheeled her back to the OR. At 11:30 we finally got the call that she was out of surgery.

They kept her in the hospital until Thursday and then sent her home. She was still extremely weak and was almost unable to walk. She has had a rough time gaining her strength back. She is finally able to get up and down out of bed by herself but is not able to walk a long distance without help.

We went back to the surgeon this week and we got the biopsy report. It looks like there is still more cancer in her right breast and they are going to have to go back and take more. The doctors recommendation is that he do a mastectomy. Right now mom is waivering back and forth about what to do. We just need prayers that she make the decision she is going to be most comfortable with. I know God has it all in his hands and I continue to pray for the strenth to get through this. I'm blessed to be able to walk beside my mother during this tough time and be her support system.

I'm scared about what's to come next. I had already moved my mind past surgery and onto radiation and now I must get back into the surgery mode. Just pray for us as we endure more tough decisions.

Surgery on Nov. 29th

We went to see the oncologist and he was amazingly wonderful. He had come to the hospital to see mama the last time she was there. He says that under no circumstances will she be administered Chemo therapy by him. She just isn't a candidate due to all of her other health issues. He wanted to know what the surgeon had said about surgery. I told him we hadn't spoken to the surgeon that he wanted us to see the radiologist and the oncologist first and get all the approvals from other doctors. So he got right on the phone and asked him what he was thinking. He said his thought was that a lumpectomy would be the best route to go. So we immediately scheduled an appointment for the following day with the surgeon. He said that he believes that's also the best thing. If mama didn't have all the other health risks he'd do a complete mastectomy, but since she does, he wants to do a lumpectomy in both breasts. No big deal for the left side, but the right side is huge and will probably take more time and care because of the size of the tumor.
So, on Monday November 29th, 2010 I will be taking my mama into surgery at Brandon Hospital. We're scared and we're praying all goes well, but I have to bring her advanced directive with us and the fact that Dean and I are to make any medical decisions for her. Needless to say, the possibility that she won't make it is a Big one. It's hard to know that and it's even more scary to think of all the care that she's going to need after this is done. I'm trying to keep my eyes on God and know with all my being that He alone will see me through all of this. He's so good to us and He always gets us through the tough times. So if you think of it, pray for my mom Mary. Thanks!!

Sept. in-law visit

My sweet little pookie pie having a tea party with her great Aunt Donna. She loves to wear a hat and have tea. And Aunt Donna bought a box of Teddy Grahams so Eden was thrilled.

Eden's tea party.

Dean's sister Donna and Eden Rae having a tea party. Aren't they pretty with their hats?

She's always a happy camper if she can play tea party!

Eden was shy when she got here and Aunt Donna and Uncle Jerry were here, but when Donna said she had a present..... Donna was Eden's new best friend. She got gloves and a new necklace. What a pretty girlie!

My piano never gets played unless Jerry comes for a visit. I never get tired of hearing him play. Come back soon Jerry... My piano misses you. : )

Eden wasn't pleased that someone besides her was pounding on the piano. She kept telling me to make him stop. LOL What a riot.

Oh.... did I mention this is baby LaFollette #2. Don't know yet what it is, but I can't wait to find out. Due date..... May 18th. Eden says it's going to be a girl because I need a girl to play with. So there you have it.

This is how Layto plays tea party....Dinosaur style. : ) Roar.....

Covie playing with the Dino's or should I say standing in the dino box. What a boy. He climbs on everything. This child is fearless.

Mr. Evan Joseph. I love this little man. When he comes over he runs around the house looking for a jack in the box that I got him. He loves to have Grandma crank it over and over and over. He just laughs and he has the best laugh in town. But he is definitely a mama's boy. He loves his mama and when she leaves the room he panics. He loves to play with his Toy story toys. He could watch that movie over and over and over.

Dean's big sister ( or should I say only sister?) Donna Vreeland. They came for a week and we had a great time playing Domino's with them. Hopefully they got a chance to relaxe before going home to the chaos of life again.

Jerry Vreeland my favorite brother-in-law. (He's my only bro-in-law) But he is the absolute best and I love him tons. Don't get to see enough of him or to hear his witty comments, but I love his tons. Being the add on's in a family we stick together. : )

Week of Doctors

It's been a hard week. When we last left the surgeon's office, he told us we would have to see mom's cardiologist, her pulmonist, her general practioner all for surgical releases. Then she'd have to do a PET/CT scan to see if the cancer has moved to any other parts of her body. And then she'd have to see an oncologist and a radiologist. And then he'd see her back in two weeks.
That's a lot of doctors, and a lot of waiting and not knowing. Mom is already having sleepless nights and anxiety attacks. It's a lot for her to have to try and cope with.

So, I got home and started calling all the doctors to set up appointments. So, on Monday we started seeing doctors. Monday was her cardiologist. He spent a lot of time listening to her heart and checking everything. He's concerned about her breathing and her lungs. But he released her with concern. Tuesday was an extemely hard day for her. It was a 4 hour day with the PET/CT scan. She is a large lady and we didn't know if she'd fit in the tube for the test. But we got it done and hopefully they got some good pictures of her brain down to her mid thigh area. If the cancer has spread they won't do the surgery. Why put her through that when it's already there in her body. So we're worrying about that. Then Wednesday we went to the pulmonist. He listened to her lungs and gave her an ok for surgery also. Mom was happy because she got to have a break on Thursday and got to rest most of the day. Friday morning we took her first to her GP. He took one look at her and sent her immediately to the ER. We spent all day and most of the night at Brandon Hospital. Mom was admitted for heart failure. And there she stays until maybe tomorrow. I was able to have the oncolgist visit her in the hospital and her Hosp. doctor whom she loves is having a psychiatrist come see her today. He's worried about her anxiety. So that's where we are with the doctors and the cancer.

Still more waiting. We're in this about 6 weeks already. Still no answers, and a lot of worry and anxiety ahead. God is in control and I pray that He helps to relieve some of this stress we're both feeling. I know I'm more calm, but that's because I know I can't change it or make it better. But for my mom she's just not doing very well.

Halloween FUN

Just a cute pic of Eden and Covie taking their evening bath with Frank the tank supervising. Just loved this pic so I wanted to post it. This is Ashley and Travis's new dog. He's an english bull dog and he loves Eden to death. He takes naps with her and follows her wherever she goes.

Aaron and Kelly as Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head. Evan Joseph was Buzz Light Year. But he really hated trick or treating. All the people at church scared him. So he had a great time sitting in Aaron and Kelly's SUV playing with all the toy story toys. Kings Avenue did a Trunk or treat this year and Aaron and Kelly's trunk one. They had it all snazzed out with cool Toy story stuff and Aaron made them guess the name of a Toy Story toy to be able to get candy. They even had a song from Toy story playing in the whole time.

Ashley and Travis host a Halloween party every year and this year they were Dougs' alter ego, Quail man and Pippie Longstocking.

My 3 children. Mr. Potato Head, Pippi Longstocking and of course Woverine.

Dean and I did the Life of Moses for our trunk or treat theme. We had the parting of the Red Sea, as you can see. We had Moses as a baby with bull rushes and I was Pharoh's daughter. On the other side of the truck was a burning bush and Dean with the ten commandments written on tomb stones. Dean had the kids say what number commandment he asked them. It was really a fun time. Fran Rice and Lisa Jarboe did a great job setting it all up. Way to go Ladies!!!

Biopsy News

We got the news yesterday that mama definitely has bi-lateral ductal breast cancer. The recommendation is to do a bi-lateral masectomy. But first she has to go to see her cardiac specialist, her pulmonist, a radiation doctor, an oncologist, and she has to have a PET/CT scan from her brain to her thighs to see if it's matestisezed outside of the breast in any other organs. Once all that is done than we go back in two weeks to see the surgeon again to set up the surgery. She is petrified and having major anxiety attacks at night. She hasn't been sleeping well at all. Last night she told me she doesn't think she is going to go through with the surgery. I asked her why but she doesn't really have a reason. I told her not to decide anything until we have the final session with the doctor. She may not even be a good candidate for surgery due to all of her other health issues. So if you think of it next week pray for us. She has doctors appointments scheduled Monday-Wed. so far next week. It's very hard for her to be moved around. And say a prayer for me for patience and understanding. That I would have the right words to say and the shoulder to lean on.

Randomness

Cove is going to be an Indian for Halloween. We were just checking to see if his headband would fit his head. He was very happy with the tomahawk that papa bought him.

And Eden is going to be a cowgirl in her silver cowboy boots and hat. : ) Dean says she looks like a young Dolly Parton in that outfit. LOL Let's hope she doesn't get that chest!

The boys were hanging out at Ashley's the other day. Evan of course has on his Penn State Jersey. They are growing up all too fast for my liking. I'm sure they were having a good time with Ashley's new dog "Frank the tank". They bought a English bulldog. And he's adorable.

There's Covie picking out pumpkins at the Presbyterian Church on Bloomingdale. He was having a great time.

And there is the lone princess of the family. I love this picture of her. What a sweetie pie. She's gotten into a shy mode. It makes me giggle because if you really knew Eden you would definitely say she's not shy.

Life with Grandchildren

I had to vacuum and mop the floors so I stuck all the chairs in Dean's office and this is what I came out to find. Eden had made a train. She put a stuffed animal or doll on each chair and then she climbed up on Deans desk and got a post it note for each one and said it was their ticket. She even put on a hat so that she'd look like the engineer.

We spent a week reading stories about apples and so we decided to make some applesauce. Eden put a lot of cinnamon in her batch, and it tasted more like apple butter. Yummy.

Here's the apple tree that my princess made using an apple and some paint. She hated getting paint on her hands. She is such a girl.

This is Eden singing the "Johnny Appleseed"Song. She made a Johnny Appleseed and then she looked at me and said "But Gram, he needs some trees to walk in." So I went out to the Dinosaur bucket and grabbed some trees for Johnny.

Eden playing with Johnny Appleseed. : )

Papa came home and that means picnic outside on the patio. She brought out her tea set,and they ate peanut butter sandwiches and BBQ chips. Of course we can't go outside in Florida without our hats.

Covie is going to be an Indian for Halloween. So Papa had to go out and buy him a Tomahawk. He's not in his costume, we just wanted to see if the headband would fit him and if he'd leave it on. He did and it will. He's growing up way too fast. He talks up a storm and what a little lover he is. He loves to read a Noah's Ark book. He follows me all over the house saying "Book, book." He refuses to let any of us feed him. He goes to sleep without any problems. Just lay him down and he's out. He runs all over the house and his favorite thing to do is go out and play in the sandbox with Papa. He loves to sing and dance and he loves to watch the Mickey Mouse club house and do the Hot Dog dance. : )

Eden is going to be a Cowgirl. So yep, you got it. We're doing Cowgirls and Indians. : ) Can't get much cuter than that. And of course with her silver cowboy hat and boots that Uma got her for her birthday. She's set. She even has a horse she's going to take with her. LOL

Our Pookie Pie is just getting too big for words.

And Evan Joseph is talking, and walking, and climbing all over the place. He's such a little cutie pie. His gram loves him so stinking much. Every day I see him I can't believe how much he looks like his daddy. Up to the crooked smile. He too loves to play outside. It's where he most wants to be. And Kelly is expecting her second baby. Sonogram said only one. And our due date is May 18. Can't wait!! We're going to have 5 grandchildren. What a blessing it is.

Surgeon Visit

Today we had our first visit with the breast surgeon that my mom's doctor sent her to. Our appointment was at 9:15 and we literally didn't get called into the office until 10:30 and then we waited until 11:00 to see the doctor. They had the air-conditioning on so low that mom's fingers were blue. So then they ask if she can climb up on one of those little tables with a step stool. Hello? She is a 360 lb lady that can't even walk. Are you seriously kidding me? So they took her back to another room way in the back and we waited until he came in. Dr. Hechtman came in and had a great personality. Mom liked him immediately. He joked with her, looked at the ultrasound pics and then walked out and waited for mom to undress on the top. He did the sonogram on the left breast first. He says that bi-lateral is a rare occurance, but it does happen. So he felt the limph nodes and saw the mass. He said the left side Looks suspicious of abnormality. Then he looked at her right breast. Without sonogram, he saw that there was dimpling of her skin on the underside of her breast. He said that is a definite sign of breast cancer. He did the sonogram and said yes for cancer of the right breast. The outer edges are ridged and there are definite signs there. So we are waiting for the office to call and let us know when they have her scheduled for core biopsies. They will do those at Brandon Hospital since she has so many other health issues. He doesn't want to take a chance with her. That makes her a little more at ease because her favorite Hospital Doctor will be there so she will know she's being taken care of. She's scared. I'm scared but trying to be strong for her. There's a lot of reading to do, a lot of waiting to be done and still no definite answers to be had. So hard to wait.

Lord, we believe and pray together. Hebrews 11:1-3
Help us be women of faith, trusting Your divine providence, moving foward even when we don't have all the answers, remembering that You do. Impossible on our own, but with You as our strength and guide, we will flourish. Thank you for the example of Your Son Jesus Christ, who did not ask why but only that Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. This is our plea... this is our prayer. We are trusting You more and more every day. AMEN!!

Life

Well, this has been an eventful week. I feel like I've been rocked a little.
Ashley and Travis are having some issues concerning their son Jullian and we just need some prayer for God's protection and wisdom. They are seeking full custody of him and it's going to be a long hard fight. We will all need to be there for Jullian. Travis is an amazing dad. And I know his heart is just torn apart right now, praying he's doing the right thing.
And then we got the news that my mom's mamogram came back abnormal with bi-lateral masses. So we go to see the surgeon on Thursday this week. She is so afraid and has already asked me if she is going to die. I told her that we all die at some point and that it's just important to know where your relationship with God is. That we would go through this together, step by step and whatever we got we'd handle it with God's mercy and grace.

Stress, not my favorite thing to have going on in my life, but I know without a doubt that God is in control of my life and He doesn't give me more than He knows I can handle. God's word says "Have no fear of sudden disaster...For I will be at your side" Paraphrased Proverbs 3:25-26. So for now I know God is at my side and I'm not to be afraid.
Looks like I'll have a lot of blogs coming. For now, this will be the first of our long journey.

Playing with Papa

Eden's first time using her slip and slide at Grandma's house. She loved it!

Dean always wears a hat when he goes outside with the babies. So we have bought a new hat at the zoo for Covie. And he loves it. He pats his head and say's "Hat". He likes to wear his hat because he knows he's going to get to go outside.

"Hat" and the sweet little man has finally gotten teeth # 3 & 4. What a cutie pie.He's such a cuddly little guy. He likes to climb up in your lap and read books. And he's always giving kisses. "Muah". And this week his favorite word is "no.....ah" Actually, it's No, but that's how he says it. Cove would you like a sandwhich..."no....ah", Cove would you like a kiss..."no...ah" I don't think he knows what it means but boy does he say it.

Yep, good ol' fashioned Lincoln Logs for the kids.

Ahhhh... playing with Papa. He's making a house for Eden.

Building is a fun thing when Papa is doing all the work. Eden had to have a river for her bridge so I found some blue construction paper and made a river for her.

They love to have their papa time.