The Joy of the Lord is our Strength

I know, it's crazy that she was on her death bed two weeks ago, barely started talking one week ago while she was still in ICU, and got unplugged from everything just a few days ago.  From what I understand, there is no point in mom being in the hospital.  Her lungs are great and she is doing well.  They are having a home nurse come by once a day for about an hour to help her with therapy.  Other than that, it will be Grandmother, Larry, and friends.  She still is very weak and can't walk very far or do anything for a long period of time, but at least she is in the comfort of her own hom

So here's the deal...if you are still logging on to check on mom be sure to check the commets since people that are in Odessa leave updates under the latest heading.

Mom is doing really well, in her own room and talking away.  She is weak and her brain is a little fuzzy, meaning it takes her a little longer than normal to write her name and do basic math and she asks things more than once.  But, her memory is in tact and she is in good spirits. 

She is expected to be in the hospital about a month for therapy and to regain strength.  She is determined to go ahead and get home sooner, so who knows.  She is pretty determined.

She appriciates all the visits as she is getting restless.  Also, if anyone has an extra laptop, maybe she could borrow and use that in her room.

Continue to pray for her and Larry and Zach and Grandmother.  I'll be back to Odessa in January.  Love you all!

So, guess who I talked to today?  Well, I wouldn't be this excited if it were anyone but MY MOMMY!!!  They plugged up her treach so she could talk.  She is groggy and sounds all doped up, but she is very aware, concious, knows what is going on, and remembers the things we tell her.  Oh I can't wait to hug her.....squishhhhhhh. 

They are moving her out of ICU into a regular room today.  She will be in the hospital at least another month, meaning she will be in there during Christmas.

Her Dr. told her today that as sick as she was her chances of survival were 5 in 500!  He told her she was lucky and she told him that luck had nothing to do with it.  She told me she is so very humbled by all the people that care about her.  She doesn't even know the half of it, does she???

She isn't completely out of the woods yet and needs your continued prayers.  I am leaving a new prayer on the "Leave a prayer" page.  Please continue to pray for wisdom for the Dr.'s, peace and patience for my mom while she sits in a room for a month, and pray that she doesn't have a relapse.

Hip Hip Hoooooraaayyyyyyyyyyyyyy!

I spoke with Grandmother today who said that mom is still doing about the same.  Her lungs have improved a tad she said.  They are possibly looking to put her in a nursing home for long term care.  She is uninsured so cannot stay at the long-term care facility at the hospital.  Anyhow, I suppose that it is good that they are looking forward.  Please continue to pray.  I know it is easy to become complacent, but please continue to pray for her.  I'm going crazy because I haven't heard her voice in 32 days...that's over 4 weeks!

Well, I'm back home but Shelbae called and said that when she went to visit mom in the hospital she was peacefully sleeping.  And she ran into the respiritory therepist who said they are going to begin weening mom off of the breathing machine to see how she does.  Hopefully she'll do great and continue to improve.

Tonight was my last night to see mom before I head back.  I can't decide if it was a good visit or sad visit.  It was good in the aspect that she was very aware of things and could understand me.  But because of that awareness, she realized that Casey was here and she was in the hospital, that Grandad wasn't there, that she is really sick, and that she can't talk.  She kept trying to talk and sit up.  She also cried and cried, but not because of physical pain.  When I told her what everyone was doing (that wasn't there), I told her that Grandad was at home with the goats.  She cried.  In my gut, I think that she knows.  I also know that one of the medications they have her on acts as a type of amnesia medication, where she won't remember anything that is going on right now, including pain.

It kills me to leave her, but I know that she is surrounded by family, friends and angels that care not only for her, but her family.  That (and the fact that she is a daughter of The Most High) is the only comforting thing to me.  I know she'll have plenty of visits, plenty of prayers, and those close by to watch over her most beloved things...her family. 

Please, continue to keep her in your prayers.  While she is alert, it's not because she has gotten much better, but because they are easing up on the sedation medication.  Please keep praying for and interceeding on her behalf.  Please.

Dr. Craig & Craig Herndon & Anyone else who visits or calls and gets any info, please update us on what is going on and what you see...good and not-so-good.  And when anyone does visit her, be sure to mention my name and tell her that I love her and that she better be fighting because three little granddaughters want to come and see her.

I'll be back in January. 

Mom is still the same.  Some days her oxygen is good and some days it isn't.  Today it was at 45% but her temp ranged from 100-101.3.  They are only giving her morphine when she looks as though she's in pain.  She didn't open her eyes today.  The nurse said her lungs looked a little worse today.  Who knows.

Went to go see mom again and things are still the same.  Her oxygen was moved down to 50%, which is good.  Her temperature was normal, so she's not running a fever.  Also, the nurse who has been with her the last three nights, Lisa, said that her lungs did not look any better but sounded a tad bit better.  I told her about what the Dr.s said about her slim chance of living and she said that it was about a 20% chance.  I again told her to open her eyes and she did.  She didn't squeeze my hand like I told her to, but she did open her eyes.  I know she enjoys hearing what's going on with everything and wants to talk soooo bad.  I bet her not being able to talk is driving her crazy.  I miss hearing her voice.

Things are about the same.  I got to see her open her eyes finally.  Casey, Zach, and I all walked in and started talking to her and she opened her eyes.  She didn't focus on us but I know that she knew we were there.  I could tell she was trying her hardest to talk, trying to form words with her mouth and I could see her move her tounge.  I also know she was trying to smile.  The Lung Dr. moved her oxygen down from 70 to 60, which is good.  When mom origionally came in, they had her on 55% oxygen, then went down to 50 and 45.  However, the past couple of days it went all the way up to 70% and he moved it down to 60% to see how she would do.

Keep praying, please.  The Dr.s told me that if she makes it through this it would not be because of medicine.  And if you go see her, talk sternly to her and tell her to fight.  She's stubborn sometimes.  I want her recovery to be a miracle and testimony to the power of our awesome God. 

I just spoke with my grandmother who was leaving the hospital.  I asked how mom was doing.  Keep in mind that she doesn't know about the ARDS.  She said that she wasn't very satisfied, that the Dr. seemed to have no hope for her.  She spoke with another Dr. that drops by occasionaly, one that goes to church with my mom and grandmother, and he said that things were basically the same, though he hadn't read all her charts.