What a Difference a Month Makes!

 It has been the worst of days and the best of days!  A month ago today, Jeff woke feeling worse than normal.  He was filled with too much fluid that was literally drowning him. We headed to Ithaca hospital (which might have been a mistake) with hopes of no wait time in the ED.  As it were, his blood pressure was critically low and the some action finally began.  We spent the most part of the day in the ED where they put in a central line to get BP meds directly to his heart.  Finally the decision was made to transport him to the closest large hospital with an ICU bed... Upstate here we come.. They transported him via ambulance and a nurse.  Once in the ICU, he was evaluated and it was confirmed that his liver and kidneys were failing.  NOT a good prognosis.  The nurses and most of the Docs were exceptional. One Dr. in particular obviously failed Bedside Manner 101 and will forever be on our "Shit List!"  Finally, after a few days of pleading with them to call Strong, where we had been doctoring for 6 months, a young resident took the initiative and called Rochester. Another wait for an open ICU bed there and "we" were on our way, once again via ambulance and a nurse, to U of R/Strong Memorial Hospital.  Our highest hopes included addition to the transplant list...ASAP.... time was running out. Sunday, the transplant surgeon said a liver had been located....and a few hours later, "an even better liver was secured!!"  Upon reflection, I marveled at the fact that an organization that covers the entire United States had not only found a liver but found a second one even better suited to Jeff.  They never stopped looking for something  better.......AMAZING.

This team of amazing men and women gave up their Memorial Day to save the life of a man they only knew by statistics and charts.  They stood for 12.5 hours to painstakingly disassemble the torso of a human and replace the largest organ (albeit the skin) that virtually runs your system.  Words escape me....(I know ;-) 

The next couple of days were very scary. Intubated and tubes from every orifice were frightening for not only Jeff but Lee and me. Nobody ever wants to see their child in a life and death situation unable to communicate. By Wednesday, the vent was removed and those big, beautiful eyes opened clearly...and were WHITE.  Each day progressed a little more.... We waited for the kidneys to "wake up" and they did. We waited for the fluid to go back where it belonged and it slowly did. We waited for a full, regular diet and we got it... An oddity of the first few weeks was his taste buds had changed and everything that used to taste good...was pretty yucky.  Of course, with hospital food, identification was even tricky.  Finally a move from the ICU to the Organ Transplant floor.  Yep, a whole wing dedicated to organ transplants.  PT began, heading to bathroom, moving from chair to bed etc. all started to materialize. Then......."you can go home this afternoon." 18 days of hell and a new liver and we were headed to EIEIO.  Hallelujah!

We had the support and prayers of one hell of a group of friends and family. I never would have survived this 3 week journey if it weren't for so many concerned friends who were family and family who were friends! Jacki and Ally Brown literally lowered my stress level by merely existing. They took Bailee under their wings during the last few weeks of school, they took her to job interviews, covid vaccines and everything in between. A safer more nurturing harbor has never existed. They even all journeyed to Rochester to spend the toughest week-end ever with me.  NO words will ever be written well enough to express my gratitude and love.  I mean seriously, who finds a liver cookie cutter and makes perfectly delicious pink smooth, non wrinkly cookies to share.. That's you Ally B♥  I would not have made it through the intricacies of modern medicine and lab results if it weren't for my family Docs, Dr. Dyer and Dr. Sweet and my in-house nurses and NP,  Mary B. and Kelly P. You two rocked my uneducated world. Then there were my prayer warriors. I have never been as blessed as I was (am) with everyone's outstretched hands and warm hearts.  If I ever thought my 69 years of "Our Father, who art in heaven" was whispered to deaf ears, I was mistaken. As Bailee calls him, Sky Daddy heard us loud and clear!

We are home in our happy place surrounded by food, good wishes, phone calls, visits and friends and family. Life is good and we'll count our blessings day and night for that wonderful organization that searched the country for a liver, the team of surgeons and nurses who saved Jeff and nursed him back to life, the amazing family that rallied and never gave up hope and to Sky Daddy himself (or herself) that reunited Jeff and Jett for the best Father's Day ever!

Life is short....LIVE it!!!!!!!

From the Ridiculous to the Sublime

 Some days just go from the ridiculous to the sublime.......and right back to ridiculous again.  That was yesterday. May13,2021...It should have been a Friday!

Report cards came in the mail and I knew I had high expectations and they would hopefully be met.  They blew me away. What Freshman in today's pandemic world, gets a 99.187 average...in advanced courses no less........Mine (and others I'm sure but they're not mine!)  Four 100s and a low of 94.. I am beyond thrilled and living my best day...............till the phone rings and she says, "Come and get me, I've been quarantined!!"  We just got things back to normal..after having to have a Covid test to return to school following a day of allergies.  It's just precautionary and the rest of us can carry on as usual. It's a pain for her as her final art project is in the works, she'll miss her honors assembly and no shooting this week!  I have; however, booked an appointment for her vaccine for quarantine release day next Friday. Not me though...still holding out for some realistic numbers.

In the big picture, the sun is shining and the skies are blue, the laundry's finished and no taxes are due. 

It's a good day....so far!

UPK (U Practicing Kissing?)

 If you never have anything in life, I hope you all have a "Jett!"  He's our own personal Lon Chaney (I'm dating myself) and stand up comedian.  Nearly every day I snap a photo of one of his faces or laugh hysterically over an action, a story or an event in his little, short life.  He has an amazing memory for commercials, songs or anything he really shouldn't remember!  Whether he invites me to look at his ballooning swim trunks and says, "Check out this package!' or remarks in a low, swooning voice in the bathtub that his penis is a "blossoming flower!)

Last week was a topper.  He goes on spurts of watching the same movie over and over.  Everything from Yellow Bird to Boss Baby to Bad News Bears....(T ball just started!)  His Mom got a call from school last week that he was found in the "kitchen area" (one of his favorite play areas) in a hug and lip lock with his new sweetie, Meara! In his defense, we are all about kisses and huggies both here and at his Mom's.  With our chuckles tampered and our smiles hidden, we have all since explained that there are places for displays of affection and school isn't one of them.  I'm not completely sure that the instructions didn't fall on deaf ears but nonetheless, we tried our best to instill the boundaries.

When asked what he was doing, he proudly explained that they "were playing married!"  We're pretty sure he hadn't seen that at his Mom's house (as she's NOT married) and we're absolutely sure she didn't see it here as you must be in the same room in order to kiss your spouse!  However, Darla nd Alfalfa did play "Marriage" on his newest favorite movie, Little Rascals!"

All in all, it was fairly harmless and we're all breathing a collective sigh as we realize he was just playing "Married" and could have been playing "Doctor!"

Father Knows Best (or does he?)

 If being a teenager, during a pandemic, living with their grandparents and uncle isn't enough... try adding an estranged father with early onset Alzheimer's.  

Bailee is bright, savvy and an adult way before she should have to be.  Abandoned by her mother at 12 and living a less than stellar, normal life for 4 years prior, she now has the ambiguous task of reconnecting with her Dad.  Her grandmother, whom she never knew, died of early onset Alzheimer's at 45.  Her Dad is now 48 and in the midst of the disease as well.  Their relationship has been rocky to say the least.  Bailee became acquainted with the legal system at an early age. Through police, law guardians, social services and courts, Bailee learned that children have a right to be safe and heard.  After formal court proceedings and being heard by the judge, Bailee was allowed at 11...to decide when or IF she chose to see her Dad.  Being the intelligent girl that she was, she chose one more supervised visit with her him.  She then decided that was enough.  He had not shown up for a few visits and the others were just accomplishing nothing.

A year later, she decided she needed closure and arranged a meeting with him.  It went well and she felt good about parting company. After all, they really had no relationship for most of the life she remembered.

Fast forward to 2021, yesterday in fact!  Bailee had heard that her Dad was not well and it might be a nice idea to visit with him before he lost all cognizance of past years.  She contacted her half sister and learned that her aunt and uncle were planning a little family gathering for Marc's birthday. Yesterday, she met Denelle, her sister, and spent 3 hours reacquainting with her Dad and sister.  She was a little leery about spending time in surroundings that had always made her fearful and uncomfortable. Having her sister there made the situation less tenuous and she actually relaxed and enjoyed their time together.

She believes her Dad knew her. Conversation was limited as he generally only answers yes or no questions. It appears his mental status is that of a pre-teen and regressing.  I watched them playing frisbee in the yard and saw the frivolity of a child....hands clapping, jumping up and down and twerking.  He was unable to fasten his belt and needed help from Denelle.  This man had never been on my favorite list but I was truly sad watching his childlike play.

Believing his next move will be to a nursing home, it put life in a bit of perspective.... Possibly a different one for me than for Bailee.  She was happy that she had the chance to spend time with him, less guilt-ridden than she might have been had he completely forgotten her and a sense of forgiving for his past misdeeds.  Forgiving does not mean forgetting!

If you think a child does not remember their young childhood, think again. Sadly, this is a generation of misguided, misunderstood and often misused children.  Thanks to Bailee's fortitude, resilience and intelligence, she will be fine....She's heading down a good road that is paved with support and love and each driving lesson is making her a better driver!  There will be roadblocks but she will navigate around or through them......I have no doubt...success is her destination!!♥

You are Amazing....Remember that!

 For my birthday this year, one of my amazing friends gave me a "kind jar!"  The jar is filled with little envelopes each having an uplifting message tucked inside.  Today's message was: You are Amazing...Remember that!  A perfect rainy day reminder when it would be so much easier to dwell on the unfulfilled, the uncontrollable and the unhappy.  I AM amazing!  I can still bend over and touch my toes ( I just have trouble getting back up,) I manage to keep a household of 4-5 running semi-smoothly, I can still remember a few people's names and events that have happened in the past, I still know how to spell, read and write and have the ability to help others with their lack of skills (or at least point them out,) I still have organizational skills that help to keep us all in line and I am learning that me time is precious, necessary and guiltfree.

I am looking forward to the next few days and the messages I will open.... I'm pretty sure one might say "You are Thin" or "You are Young."  If not, I'll use my educated interpretations to bring a smile to my wrinkled face....after all, I AM Amazing!!!

7th Decade

 Well, that was fast!  Seems like we had just built a new house and were moving on from my hometown (Locke.)  Those 13 years flew and here I am beginning my 7th decade on this planet at my favorite place.  It's actually quite surreal and hard to wrap my aging brain around. Everything outside of me knows I'm absolutely in my 70th year...while everything, except a part of my brain, is still trying to make me believe that I have a wonderful memory, can dance with the best of them, am able to actually run a bit and am able to get off the ground all by myself.  Those things are all behind me. Gravity is no longer my friend and wanting to do something versus actually accomplishing it is merely an unattainable goal. Although, even at 69, goals are a good thing!  My goals now are to remember which night my favorite shows are on, to spend quality time with my grandkids, to keep a sufficient supply of toilet paper and diet Pepsi and to pay my bills on time.  I have come to terms that I will forever need a calendar, a list of my passwords and usernames, my phone within reach, my dearest friends nearby and my eyes on the road at all times.  I can, however, still sing along to the radio without fear of other drivers' glances or hand gestures.... remember, I'm watching the road and no longer care how silly I might look!!

This new decade does have its perks. I no longer feel the need to hold in my stomach(s!) Hair dye isn't necessary as white and gray are signs of age and wisdom.  I can write in cursive and do math without a calculator. I am keenly aware that the 60s were my favorite years with no worries, politics NOT a thing in my purview, someone cooked and cleaned for me and the music STILL far surpassed anything I've heard since.  I make few apologies, I stand my ground (ok, maybe wobble a bit,) I can substantiate my opinions and when I am finished doing ANYTHING....that's the end of the story.

I will try to be an optimistic septuagenarian!  I'm breathing, ambulatory and cognizant of the world around me. I must continue to keep my household in order, raise Bailee to the very best of my ability, keep on top of Jeff's healthcare and live long enough to share in college "grand"uations! Lofty goals indeed but on my radar nonetheless! 

Right now, I just need to make the bathroom:-0

End of an Era

 We are officially out of the bird business.  All our fowl friends that hadn't ended up in bird heaven have been relocated to a new home... All together so they will know birds there....we aren't up for having to have our birds in therapy because we abandoned them.

Jeff worked diligently over the week-end to take all of the pens down and they headed off to new locations to house other birds.  I must admit, I don't miss the mismatch of dog pen panels, steel roofing, netting and chicken wire that adorned the barn.  It resembled a homeless shelter for the less fortunate.

Now for the interior of the barn to be cleaned and serve as a cool wood shop for Jeff.  The floors are linoleum and will work great for sweeping wood shavings. He has many tools that can be set up permanently for a multitude of projects.  I have many in mind ;-)

I will miss Penny and Baby and the girls keeping us tick free but I will NOT miss the poop on the stoop....every stoop.  They were fun for many years and fresh eggs were great but I can still afford to buy eggs and the hobby farm was losing its intrigue.

It's probably time in our lives to simplify things when we can. I'm even making an effort to clean storage in the basement and pare down what hasn't been used in the last 10-13 years.  I'm not quite sure where this sterling silver should go and I'm down to just a dozen boxes (from 63) from Hewitt Brothers and 940 Main Street. SO hard to just "throw things away!"  Sadly, GenX has no desire for any stuff from years past. It's understandable but disheartening. I've quilted what memories I can and there are thousands of pictures so I guess I'm the one who must reckon with throwing away the past or donating it to someone else.

It seems it's harder to make decisions as we age.  Things were harder to come by in our "day" and this generation has less appreciation for what was...maybe that's our fault too.

Anyway, it's the end of an era in the pet department at EIEIO. Time for spring cleanup and soon....lawn mowing, one of my favorite things!