George and I have started to think about Christmas

gifts for everyone but have NO IDEA what to get everyone. We will get the boys some clothes but beyond that I'm not sure what to get them. They don't need any more toys--in fact we have gone through the toys that they already have and gotten rid of SEVERAL broken ones and put lots out in the garage simply because we just DON'T have the ROOM in the apartment for them. I really don't want to get toys but don't want to get just clothes for them. I think that we will get them some dvd's and maybe some books to read to them and for them to read--well at least for Jason since he's in K and learning to read.

I do have at least one idea for George--a bathrobe--but beyond that I don't have any idea. I would get him some more clothes but now that he's back working for Leo's again, he doesn't get to wear much but his work clothes since he works 50-55 hrs a week. Don't get me wrong, I like having him work at Leo's but I miss him being able to wear "normal" clothes. We are really good friends with the owner's of Leo's (we are Aunt Rhonda and Uncle George to their kids--in fact their oldest son is very protective over me and as such he was going to kick the snot out of someone once for giving me grief. Well their younger son wanted to do some damage also to the same person but kept his cool). We helped set up the restaurant after it was finished so he knows it really well. He only had to stop working for Leo about 3 yrs ago or so because he was diagnosed with seizures and as such Leo wouldn't let him come back without a drs note stating that he was fine to work there. That was totally understandable so George found some sit-down jobs for a couple of years and then could go back since his seizures were under control. Leo actually came to George to come back to work for him and made him an offer he just couldn't refuse (well he loves working for Leo also and knows the restaurant like the back of his hand) so here we are again with Leo. I certainly got used to having him home with me at night when he was working at his last job but now he works at night. I am used to the late nights with him because I did it for all of our married life with the exemption of the couple of years because of his seizures.

Angel is kinda easy in a way--she loves GREEN DAY so anything with them on it will be super for her. She also needs some clothes so we will probably get her some.

I know what I'm getting my parents--movies. They like some tv shows also and they have some seasons out on dvd so I will probably get them one of the seasons. My parents are so hard to buy for because they don't need really anything and its boring to just get them clothes and things like that every year. Well actually my dad would be really easy to buy for if I had that kind of money--he likes woodworking tools, ie. saws, routers, sanders, etc.--but since I don't, he just has to get something else. He also collects 1/8 scale semi-trucks but he's kinda particular about the ones he wants so even that is a little hard. My mom loves any little knicknack thing but she kinda is running out of room to put them.

Brian and Nikki--I have NO IDEA what to get them so I will have to do some looking. I also have no clue what to get Lexie but will probably leave that up to George to do--if we get her anything at all since she seems to be trying to start her crap again.

Well that's all for now.

It's been a few days since I posted last

but I have been resting like I am supposed to. I am also trying to watch what I eat for my Diabetes and have been doing my Byetta pen along with my Avandament like the dr. told me to. I go to see both the Diabetes dr and my regular dr tomorrow for follow ups from being in the hospital. I need to get some insulin probably from the Diabetic drs. patient assistance program as well as the Byetta pen since its expensive. I am doing tons better than before I went in the hospital with my diabetes but its still just a little high.

My husband is being such a nerd. He has a hard time getting up if he doesn't have to work (I really don't blame him b/c he does work hard) but if he would just listen to me and eat more than once a day and get up and take his meds at the same time every day, he just might get to feel a lot better. I have told him this for such a long time that I get angry now and a little heart broken but he's going to do what he wants no matter what I say. He asked me to take my meds and such so I am and now he needs to do the same for me and NOT just tell me he will. This is a never ending battle with him but until he really sees this "problem" then he's not going to do anything about it. I am grateful that he does take his meds but not at the same time each day like he really should.

Angel was a godsend to me while in the hospital when she stayed the one night while I was on the fourth floor. We had a nice time but I was so sad to see her go home b/c I got lonely up there all by myself. I was the easiest patient and didn't really ask for much so the nurses would periodically come down to check on me to make sure I hadn't "escaped" since I was so quiet. I must have been doing pretty ok when they moved me up to the 4th floor since they put me at the end of the hall. I had some pretty special nurses while up there. They were all a kick in the pants. Two in particular were very helpful to me--Blaine and Melissa. Blaine would explain things to me as he was doing them and if I had a question that he could answer, he would. Melissa was overnight and she would come and sit and talk to me when she had a few minutes just to keep me company and because she knew I was missing my family. There were others that took a little extra time with me but those two just stand out in my mind. Well Marj was pretty ok herself but nothing like Blaine and Melissa.

I am so glad to be home and on the mend completely as is my family. When I came home last Monday, I asked that Jason and Thomas not be told I was coming home so I could surprise them when they came home from school. I certainly did surprise them--Thomas just saw me and ran to my arms saying "Grandma you're home" while Jason was a little more reserved but he also came and gave me a hug and kiss and said "Welcome Home, Grandma". When I walked into the house, Alex got such a big smile on his face and said "Grandma" and then ran into my legs and hugged me, ran back to the couch, then back to my legs. He let me sit down then came and loved on me. That was the best medicine that anyone can get.

I am very appreciative to be alive today when I was so close to NOT being here that I am looking at life differently. I will live life a little better now and will appreciate the ones around me more--family and friends.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL

I am having a pretty good day today and have lots of things to be thankful for. Most importantly I am glad and thankful for still being alive when 3 wks ago I almost lost my life. I am thankful that my family is here with me today--well my brothers are not but one is at his house and one came up to my parents house with his family from Utah. Angel and I will go out to see them later tonight. (the one at my parents house that is)

I am not doing dinner this year but I did have to get the stuffing all ready to stuff in the birds. Yes I said birds--we bought one, was given one by Fox Hollow school (they had extra dinners and asked if we wanted one), and then got one when someone put two boxes of food for Thanksgiving on our doorstep and ran last night. We are saving one for Christmas though and we will do a ham with it for dinner then. We are having homemade mashed potatoes, salad, rolls, corn, and whatever else we think of. We have pumpkin, cherry, and apple pies for desert. We also have carrots (for me), chips and dip, crackers, etc.. My son-in-law, Brian, is also making cheesecakes--he is doing one with Splenda just for me so I can have some (I'm diabetic).

I am getting tired so I am going to go have a nap before dinner or at least rest b/c yesterday I tried to take a nap and ended up just laying there for 1 hour then got up.

HI I'M BACK FROM THE HOSPITAL

I have spent the past 3 weeks in the hospital with pneumonia. I went in the night of Nov. 1st because I just knew I had it but from there, I had NO IDEA just HOW SICK I would get. I went up to the 5th floor that night and then from there on for 3-4 days I have NO recollection of because I was that sick. I was told I was put on a bi-pap machine, and a C-pap before that, to force the air back into my lungs because my O2 sats were that bad. My husband, George, stayed with me one night and Angel stayed with me 2 nights before I went to ICU and then another night when I was in my room on the 4th floor. George is a work-a-holic so for him to take the time off, I was really bad.

My cardiologist came in and saw me on the 5th floor, looked at my chart, then became very mad and told them to get me down to ICU NOW--I have been told all this by several people. I started remembering about the time they took me to ICU and have known everything from then on. I even had to do a Transesophegeal Echocardiogram (TEE)--a test that enables doctors to obtain images of the heart from inside the esophagus. They had to put me out completely b/c I was having a tough time with it before making a decision to for sure have it.

I am still very weak but everyday gets better. I finally got to come home yesterday Nov. 21st and I feel glad to be well enough to come home to my family. I have missed them terribly as they did me.

Well I am closing for now but will post later when I have more time.

Yet another update!:)

They moved her up to the fourth floor. She is a ton better! Well thats it for now!

Angel

An update on my mom (Rhonda)

This is her daughter, Angel. I am just posting an update on how she is doing. She has been doing a lot better, she is able to talk and sit up and walk and all that, ect. She had a cathater in but they took it out a few days ago bc she was able to get up and go to the bathroom herself. The doctors are thinking of moving her back up to the fifth floor bc she is doing so good. She is doing the best out of all the patients in the I.C.U. She has only one iv in now. She did have like three but they just put in a central line instead of like two or three iv's so they could just take everything from that. Her arms are so bruised! My grandma went up there today and the nurses told her that they are thinking more of moving her back up to the fifth floor. Well if you have anything to ask just post a comment and ask. I will keep checking back for your questions.


Angel