Mamaw Faye

Mamaw Faye is now residing in Heaven. God gained a magnificent angel today around 12. She didn't struggle or suffer. I am wearing my Majestees shirt that reads, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you." John 14:27. I think it was the perfect shirt to wear. Thank you Lord for the 66 years that she spent in this world. Thank You to everyone who has lifted my family up in your prayers!

Check it out!

I know I really haven't blogged very much lately, it's been a very crazy/hectic/draining month. I have posted about Lianna and her giveaways before, so I thought I would let you know about the new one posted this morning. It's a great Vera Bradley Limited Edition set including the purse and wallet. Super cute and will be a great Spring accessory. Check out this post for more details. The deadline for entry is 2-11.

*Update on Mamaw-Yesterday was interesting. Her blood gases were the best they have been since she has been in, but at 9am her heart started going in overdrive. They had to start her on 2 different meds and finally after 2hours of beating 150-200, it finally converted back to the 60s. Which has been her norm. At some level, that is to be expected with all of the stress that her poor body has been through. I mean letting the vent do all of the work for your lungs and being bound to a hospital bed is bound to take a toll on the rest of your body. Please continue to pray for healing! We believe that miracles do happen!

Celine Concert

Last Thursday night Jennifer and I were able to go see Celine Dion at the BJCC for FREE!!! A big thanks to Debbie for the tickets!!! We met up and had a great meal at Newk's. It did take way too long to get our food though. I never knew how much I loved a pimento cheese sandwich. :) We got around the BJCC about 30 minutes early, but it took forever for us to finally get in the parking lot. We parked a mile away and man was it COLD!!! Our tickets were in the upper level, but they were in the middle so we had a great view! Here are some pics:

She sang "The Prayer" by Andrea Bocelli with his performance on the big screen. Man, it was beautiful Jennifer had that song played at her wedding, so she had a little moment, I think. :) Of course, for the encore, she sang ,"My Heart Will Go On." When Titanic came out- many a moons ago, I went to the theater and watched it 3 times. I have always loved that movie! It was a really great show! It also provided me with a little distraction with everything that is going on right now. When the show was over, we hiked it back to the car and guess what we saw:Really! 21 degrees! I told you it was cold!!! I was really glad that I wore my cute scarf! Thanks so much Jennifer! I had a really great time! Here we are all bundled up on the way home:

***Update on Mamaw: Her xray on Thursday looked better and she has had a pretty steady week with no setbacks! Her doctors are amazed and truly believe that she is a fighter! Maybe a little on the stubborn side too. They have not had to start the heart medication so we are still on our knees daily for more healing!

Well, we have had a couple of okay days with my grandmother. Her blood pressure is starting to go to low. She is on the verge of having to be put on new medication. They are trying everything they can to keep her off of the medication. Once you are on it, they say it's incredibly hard to wean off. I went up there this morning after I got off of work, and she looked a little swollen today. It's so hard to know what to do. My older sister and mother were there also and we had a really great conversation and laughed a lot. The nurses are starting to get a little attatched to our family. We have really been fortunate to have such caring nurses throughout this ordeal! Please continue to pray for her health to be restored and say a special prayer for my mother today. She has been living in the lodge attatched to the hospital since Dec 23rd and she is checking out today. It's going to be really difficult for her not to be there at night!

Baby Steps

Just wanted to say, "Praise the Lord!" Yesterday, when I went into my grandmother's room, her oxygen level was in the high 90s. It even hit 100% while I was in there. After such a terribly emotional weekend, and the fact that her oxygen level was staying in the mid to high 80s for the entire weekend, to see this was a miracle! She had a great day and this morning the doctor said that her collapsed lung was better and that her lungs showed improvement. You would think that with 3 chest tubes there would be some improvement. So I just wanted to say Thank you for praying and keep them coming! We pray for consistent good days this week! It has been such a roller coaster, and I know that we have a loooooong way to go, but after this weekend, we needed some positive improvements! So Thank You Lord! You are always there with us!!!

This past week...

As I stated in my previous post, it really hasn't been a great month for my family. This past week has been extremely hard. It's been nothing but a roller coaster of emotions one day we are "cautiously optomistic," the next day we "need to be realistic." My grandmother is not doing well at all. The past two days, her heart has been working too hard and our family has been called to come. By the time we got there, her vitals has leveled off. It's hard!!! One day we think there has been improvement, the next day she has to get another chest tube.
The amount of support that my family has received throughout this time has been absolutely amazing! Between Mamaw's church family, our extended family, including in laws, my church friends and work friends, we have been left speechless! God's love is wrapped around us and we are trying to understand and just go day by day. We want her to be comfortable, we want God to work a miracle and we still believe that He can. Keep praying!

Today-Not So Good!

I cried today. A LOT!!! Most everyone knows that I work 7 on 7 off night shift. This shift that is closing is night # 7. Needless to say, I am exhausted! Going back and forth from one hospital for work, the other hospital for my grandmother, home to sleep, and try to retain some of my sanity has proved to be a little difficult for me toward the end of the week.
I woke up today scared half to death by my wonderful husband. He has been growing a full on beard for 7 weeks. I saw him this morning before he went to church and told him that I wanted to leave for the hospital around 3:30. I heard the bedroom door open and didn't recognize the person standing there. After regaining composure, I realized that yes it was my husband, however, he had shaved and I could see his face. It took me a moment to orient myself to my surroundings and then I was okay. Of course I couldn't go back to sleep after that.
We did get to the hospital to see my grandmother around 4. She is still doing about the same. We are still taking it day by day according to her bloodwork and xrays. She is on the max amount of oxygen. I would be lying if I told you I wasn't a little bummed out. I want improvement and I want it now! Even if it's just a little bit. They still have her on A LOT of sedation medication. While the nurse was changing out her tubing and hanging new bags of fluid, Mamaw started fluttering her eyelids like she was trying to open them. We started talking to her, and one tear fell down her cheek. Devastating! I really held it together for a while. I didn't say anything to my husband or my family. I just internalized it. We went home and watched the season premier of 24. (Big fan, by the way. I know you are shocked, I like another TV show.) On my way to work, I was having flashbacks of being in her room seeing her tear.
Let me just tell you, I have not cried like that in I couldn't tell you how long. I have cried a lot during this entire hospitalization, but I am talking, wailing. Sloppy tears, with snot running down my face. (Sorry TMI!) I even yelled for a minute at God. I want my grandmother back! I want her well, I want her coming to Alabaster and meeting me to have lunch and go shopping. I want to sit with her in her new sunroom watching game shows and joking about how dumb they make us feel. I want things back the way they were before she was sick. I know in my heart of hearts that God is in control. I know that she is going to be okay whether I get the results that I want or not. But today, I am mad! I am hurting! I am a mess-a hot mess! It's just not fair! And now I feel a little better by writing that down. Thanks for reading if you made it through!