My New Creative/Fun/Organized Room

My husband filled my room with beautiful red roses today. I don't mean the real red sweet fragrant American Beauty's, but the service ones. He has listened to me over the years about finding a spot for me to do all that I love to create. I'm not sure who's more excited me or him. We started out trying to rebuild a room using unfinished cabinets...too much work and cutting our fairly new carpet. After the 3rd year of looking at a desk set at the Pottery Barn, we finally realized it was exactly what we wanted. After moving this corner desk 3 times..(I'm sure Tyler is happy that's finally settled) we finally found the perfect place...nestled in the corner and right by the big window that will add the sunlight and outside view for my creative journey. We've hopefully made our last trip to Home Depot, we have just finished taking back all of the original cabinets and bought a couple that weren't on sale anymore....those of you that know me know that I hate buying ANYTHING that isn't on sale. Bob just smiles and continues to work the creative juices to make the perfect spot for me. So you ask how did Bob fill my room today with roses? Well, he will have spent several hours creating a room just for me!!! A room that will continue to take me to the creative spots that I enjoy so much. Thanks to a man that knows me after all these years...I love him so much!!!

2010

The last 4 months of 2010 was a journey. I said goodbye to Katy at BYU-I, I traveled with Bob to visit my 91 year old grandmother, and had a great time with family and friends at Christmas. I have reflected over the last few days about the past, the present, and the future. I have decided 2011 is time for change. I don't want just a change here and a change there...I want BIG change. I haven't really figured out everything yet, but I am working things out, and talking things out to really whoever will listen....really just to Bob. I love the fact that we can talk about anything...sure glad.

In 17 days we will be flying to Hawaii, to meet up with Susie, Betsy, Clark, Dad, and Susan....I can't wait. It will be the first time EVER we have all vacationed together. It should be an exciting time for ALL of us. Katy will be home with Tyler...and Stephanie following up...just in case. I am one lucky lady.

Time to change is now....can't wait to see how it all comes together...

12 months later

Ok so today marks exactly 12 months since Bob was admitted to the hospital for subdural hematomas. I can't believe it's been a year. It's been a great year of recovery for Bob and adventure in nursing for me especially when I had to give him shots in his belly everyday for 14 days. That was not fun! All in all, he is doing really well, I'm proud of his bravery in spite of how hard it's been for him. I haven't heard him complain once..Bob still does his Sudoku puzzles in order to continue with keeping his memory alert. He had a minor set back in May with level 4 melonoma and another surgery. Bob had a suspicious mole creep up on his back. Long story short-initial testing led to another surgery, minor, we thought it was just out patient and home. However, for Bob it's not that easy anymore. He ended up having a 6 inch incision to get all the cancer out from the original incision from the biopsy, and...and I say and...he ended up having an additional procedure with nuclear dye and clusters of his lymph nodes removed. Good news is no more cancer...Good work Dr. Poettcker!!! Can I just say, I've had my work cut out for me the last year. Wow!!! Oh how thankful I am he came through the surgery, the blood clotts, and the cancer surgery. I don't know what I would do without him...my sweet guy! He is ever so patient with me...most days I feel like I am the luckiest girl around..the other days I know I am!

Happy Anniversary

Tomarrow is our 21st wedding anniversary, and over the last 21 years I wouldn't have wanted to spend it with anyone else. Bob is truly a remarkable man. We have our annual date which is "Black Friday" shopping. The last couple of years we have felt nothing really was needed to get up that early, but we continue to wake up at 5 something...and both jump out of bed and begin our shopping day. This year was no exception...we woke up determined to sleep in...but low and behold Bob was down the stairs and me following closely behind him before 6 a.m. Again, we had a fun time...getting the little "Black Friday early bird specials". We crossed off individuals from our list and went home for early wrapping. This year we even met everyone for dinner at On The Border. I love the holidays and time spent with our ever growing family.


I just want to bottle up these special times so I can look back and feel what I do today...the love I have for everyone of my children and their spouses (those that are married). Our family has really grown close since our arrival in Texas. First, with Robbie and Stephanie and then when Katy and Tyler were born. I am so glad they all communicate with eachother, especially when times are tough. We really saw what it takes this year...so glad we all came together when we needed to. As 2009 comes to an end, I am really looking forward to the new year and the new adventures we will have as a family, especially since Stephanie and Katy will be graduating from college and high school.

To all those friends and family that have helped us this year with one of the hardest things I know our family has ever had to go through....THANK YOU!!!! You will never be forgotten for the love that you have shown our family.

Now it's time to get ready to say good-bye to 2009 and a big Texas HELLO to 2010.

On The Brighter Side

Just got back from Austin last night. Stephanie, Katy, and I went to see "Wicked" The Musical at Bass Hall in Austin. We had so much fun. We started our journey stopping first at DQ, to have a blizzard. Anyone living in Fort Worth (Northside) knows we have to go the distance for our blizzards. During our 3 hour drive we listened to the sound track of Wicked, Momma Mia, and The Sound of Music, so lucky to have daughters (and sons) who enjoy watching and singing along with musical soundtracks. We drove to The Marriott Courtyard where we checked in to the most beautiful room on the 4th floor. Another, blessing was the discounted price for the room thanks to my mom who works for the Marriott corporation. We stayed up past midnight laughing, taking pictures of the cute elephant (made out of towels), and of eachother. The morning came listening to the alarm clock going off next room....we think it was a vacant room. Got up took showers and went to eat a delicious breakfast downstairs. The show we had tickets for was for the matinee at 2pm, so we checked out of the hotel and found a Dillards....lol Those of you that know me know I like a good sale...this Dillard's just happened to be moving or closing...not sure, but we girls bought new dresses for the special mother daughter event at the sale price of 70% off. We laughed and giggled all the way to the car after dressing in our new clothes in Dillard's bathroom. The sales associate even helped with scissors to cut off our tags...lol We arrived at Bass Hall in Austin right on schedule...parked and walked in. We were so excited for the show to begin...took pictures in the lobby because cameras weren't allowed to be used in the auditorium itself. We loved the musical it was amazing....Stopped at On The Border for dinner and again at DQ for one last Blizzard. Arrived home after 9pm. What a wonderful opportunity to share my love for musicals with my girls. This trip was short but wonderful from all the pictures, to the shared memories and new memories, food, shopping trip, and last but not least Stephanie and I changing clothes off the side of the road.....a trip to never be forgotten....
For the boys at home and Robbie and Jamie.....let's do it again with all of us.....musical or trip...or just being together.

Hospital Day 6

Ok so we are waiting for the doctor to come in and release Bob from the hospital. He entered the Plaza Medical ER on 7/23/2009 by ambulance. Ya see, he decided to pass out on me. Now that was a scary experience. After arriving in the ER and having a CT scan of his head...to make sure no bleeding. He had a scan of his left leg to find 2 blood clotts. Later that night, he had a STAT CT scan of his chest to find 3 more clotts, called PE or Pulmonary Emblysts. I stayed with him the first night....because I was scared and Dr. Kirby (a doctor I work with) suggested it. So for the last 6 days we have been in a VERY small room with double doors that bang, clank, and rattle every time....I mean everytime someone walks through them. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else then here with Bob.

I can tell he really wants to go home...today he has looked at the clock every minute and announced that he wants to go home.

All in all my love for him has grown. It's been hard to see him go through so much, but I have never felt more sure we have been watched over. I know God lives and he answers my prayers and the prayers of others. I have felt comforted and loved. It's amazing how a turn in your lifely road can be a positive experience. I'm glad I work where I do because I have doctor's that care for me and my family. I can't tell you how often I was called, texted, or e-mailed by my great employers just to check on me and especially Bob....daily. My life is great!!!!

Well the doctor came in and released us to go home....I say us...we have been in this room together for 6 whole days...will be glad to be home...permanetly....Finally! It's now 4:37 p.m. and will be home in a couple of hours....rush hour traffic will keep us from getting home any sooner....darn!

The Love of My Life

Life just seems too short some days. It sad that something has to happen in order for me to realize how short our time here is. Do I spend my time on things that will matter the least? Probably....Does it take a crisis to remind me whats important.....YES always!!! Can I just tell you how incredibly lucky I am to be married to Bob?

A couple of months ago, Bob was complaining of some head pain....he never complains...he went to one of our pcp who sent him to his ENT doctor for sinus pain....after sinus surgery the doctor felt his headaches would go away...during the last couple months, several dollars spent for prescriptions and copays, Bob was not getting better. Finally, last weekend was the worst I had EVER seen him. He was sleeping more then normal all day and night. He would complain of his head hurting so bad...I guess sleep was the only temporary escape from the pain . This went on til Tuesday when he came in from leaving for work to tell me he had thrown up on his way. I went in to work and made an appointment for our office nurse practitioner. She sent him for a stat MRI which provided the reason for his headaches, two subdural hematomas. I picked him up to go directly to Plaza Medical in Fort Worth. There we would be expected by a Neurologist, Neurosurgeon,and Internist....all called personally by Dr. Sudha who I work for. That was one of the hardest drives I have ever made. We couldn't really talk it was so emotional....the unknown...what was wrong...so many questions went through my mind as I drove us to the hospital. Since our trip to the ER, Bob had 3 ct scans, 1MRA, 2 IV's, a central line, O2, A-line. and several blood tests....and finally surgery.

Robbie and Jamie were able to fly in first class with American Airlines thanks to the generosity of Stephanie's mother in law, Bridgett, who gave them two of her family passes. You see Bridgett works for American Airlines where she receives flight benefits. She checked them in the night before so they could get on the plane. the surgery was sceduled for 7:30 a.m. on Thursday. Robbie must of prayed extremely hard because surgery was delayed til after 1 p.m. This enabled them to get into town and see Bob before surgery. It was so good to have all my kids home. We missed Jeff during the surgery, but with Philmont time-off he couldn't get off work.
Bob's surgery went well-he had a craniotomy on the left side and burrow holes on the right side. Can I just tell you how blessed I feel. This could of had a different ending had we ignored any longer. How blessed, comforted, supported and loved I have felt through this whole process. We have had such an outpouring of love and support from family and friends, we feel the comfort from all the prayers on our behalf. At this time, Bob is still in the hospital with the hopes of having drains taken out tomarrow and being moved out of neu icu.
Today is July 13, 2009, Today is a new day in a new room. Bob was moved out of ICU and transported by wheel chair to the 7th floor....yeah!!!! Drains were taken out yesterday and the incision revealed...WOW! I'm speechless! He is getting ready to come home. Bob was released on 7/15/2009 to go home...and not a day too soon. lol

Today is 7/24/2009 after a week of being home Bob had some problems with blood clotts and his blood pressure so he was taken by ambulance yesterday back to Plaza Medical in Fort worth. Can I just say how scared I was to have him faint...even for 15 seconds...it was scarey. He has a pulmonary embolism which requires him to stay in bed and have a blood thinner (hepron) to breakdown the clotts.