Update

Well, here is the latest. The car doesn't have a broken timing belt. It has thrown a rod which means a new motor. So! We will see what works out. We only had 5 more months to pay on this one and it would be paid off. We cannot pay on 2 cars; financially it just doesn't seem possible. A motor is at least $1,000 which we don't have right now. So we are driving a friend's car for a while, until we can see what we can arrange.

Jr. is still coughing and blowing blowing blowing his nose! Missie is now getting it. Preston has been having insomnia despite the fact I give him meds. to help him sleep. Have got to make him another appt. with his psychiatrist who we have to pay out of our pocket. Will it ever end? Needing more money than we have? I know a lot of people face this and we are not alone in it. Jr. has not had a raise in 3 years! The company sold and now they are saying it is not doing as well as it should, despite the fact he always has lots of work. The company he worked for before this, actually shut their doors and closed down or he would still be there.

So that is the latest. It is pouring rain today. I know Jr. and Missie cannot go out, and it is very hard to take Preston when it is pouring. We had a wonderful New Year's eve service last year.

I wish you all a happy New Year!

Friday

Well, it has been an eventful day. Missie and I ran to town to go to the bank and get a couple of things, in the pouring rain, with plastic and a tarp over the window to keep from getting wet, and she had to help me by watching for traffic. Then we came home and ended up going to another town to get Jr. some cold meds, and pain reliever. We stopped and checked on our car and it had an orange sticker on that the police had put there. If it was still sitting there in 48 hrs. it would be considered abandoned and would have been towed away. So when we got back the rain had slacked off and Jr. and I went, and he steered our car and I towed it with the car we have been loaned (without one window.) 3 times it came undone, but we made it home safely, and I thank the Lord for that. So it is sitting in our yard. When the weather permits and his health permits, he will start to take it apart and see for sure what is wrong. He thinks it might be the timing belt. If so, they are only about $22 and he can replace it. So time will tell.

Missie asked me a couple of times today how I could keep trusting the Lord in all the battles that we have and I told her the rain falls on the just and unjust. Later I said something and I cannot remember what it was, and do you know what she said to me? "The rain falls on the just and the unjust." I thought that was so cute. She and I had quite a time inb the pouring rain with the window out. But we had some laughs and made it through.

So that is the update for now. Unless we get a ride or another vehicle to use we won't get to church on Sunday, because we cannot take Preston in the car with no window. We will see what happens.

Discouraged

Well, maybe I shouldn't blog when I am discouraged, but here goes.

I am very discouraged. Why does life have to be so hard for some people and easy for others? I just don't understand sometimes.

Hubby is very sick. He had to stay home today and will have to tomorrow; hoping he can use vacation days so we don't lose too much money. Getting paid every 2 weeks is so hard on us. And the landlord didn't pay attention to the note and the date on the check for the house payment and put it in too early and it cost over $100 in fees at the bank because it messed up our checking acct. They gave me back $39 which I am thankful for. But we couldn't afford to lose $70. This week is not the week Jr. gets paid and to top it all off, our car (our only vehicle) broke down today. It is still sitting over there because it won't even crank to get it home. A friend of mine came and picked Missie and I up and took us to her house and lent us her car until we can get ours home, and it needs to be towed, we have towing on our insurance but we have to pay for the towing up front and then they reimburse us. And we don't have any money to do that. The problem with the friend's car is one of the windows is all of the way down and won't go up. It was chilly coming home today. We will not be going too far and Preston cannot ride in it that way. We tried to put plastic over it and then had to tear a hole to see out of it at intersections.

So you see why I am discouraged? I am tired of never having enough money; not having any family to help us when we need help. I am so tired of it all; every year seems to get worse for us. In 2007 a tree fell on our house, and Jr. totalled our van which was our only vehicle. This year Preston was in the hospital for 9 weeks and that took a toll on every area of our lives; and now this. I feel like crying my eyes out. I wonder if we are out of God's will somehow??? But to move takes money, which we have none of at this present time. I don't have any answers, but if you read this, please pray for us. We desperately need it right now.

Christmas 2007

We had a good Christmas, except for the fact that Preston was soooo sleepy Christmas morning, because Mon. p.m. he couldn't go to sleep and had to have extra medication. He finally got up around 11 I guess and I went in and he was trying to dress himself and was buttoning his shirt but didn't even have one arm in the sleeve. So I helped him finish dressing and came out. He stood up to get his cane, and took a tumble. We heard a huge crash and Jr. and I went in and he was sitting on the floor. We helped him up and then he sat on the bed and was crying, "I get so discouraged sometimes." It broke my heart. The things we all do that we take for granted every day, are hard for him. So he got to feeling better and came out. My inlaws got here around 10:15 or so I guess, and he was able to open their gifts, eat dinner and visit. So all in all it was a good day and he was happy because he got $15 cash to spend. So tomorrow his aide and I are going to take him to the goodwill, which is the store of his choice, and look around. He is so happy to be getting out. I know I will be extremely tired by the end of the day. Especially since I have to get up at 5:15 and take hubby to work. Oh, for the joy of having 2 vehicles.

We felt so blessed to still have Preston with us this Christmas. Missie asked me the other day how long I would grieve for him if he died, and I told her I didn't know, but I think it would be a loooonnnng time. I have taken care of him for 19 1/2years and he is such a big part of my life. I cannot imagine not having him. I can't imagine losing either of my children; it must be so hard on parents to lose a child.

Junior has a terrible cold or sinus problem He was sick yesterday, but made it through the day. I felt bad for him feeling so bad on Christmas and when his parents were here.

Going to post a couple of pictures of yesterday.

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.

Merry Christmas Eve!

Well, it is Christmas Eve and it was about 60 degrees here today. After being born and raised in Canada, it doesn't really seem like Christmas with such warm weather. But I should be used to it by now. Next winter if we are in PA, we will see lots of snow.

Today I had an unexpected blessing. Missie was lonely so I called a friend to see if she could play with her daughter for a while. So I took her over there and the mom wanted me to stay and eat a piece of pizza with them and we worked on some cards. I enjoyed that little time away doing rubber stamps and relaxing with a friend.

Jr. and I did most of the Christmas cooking today. My inlaws are driving down in a.m. and sometimes get here by 10 a.m. Dad is an early riser and likes to get on the road early. So I didn't want to have work most of the day cooking. We cooked the turkey and dressing today; I made a sweet potato casserole that is ready to be popped in the oven for the last stage of cooking; and made a 7 layer salad. I am going to do homemade rolls in a.m. and mom is bringing dessert. I will make gravy and open the cranberry sauce in a.m. That will be our meal. They will stay 3 hrs. or so and leave to go back home.

So I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas! They come and go so fast.

It's Friday again!

Well, it has been a busy day.

It wears me out to get up at 5:30 and take Junior to work, because we only have 1 vehicle. Then I took Missie and her friend to ice skate and it was packed, because school is out. But they had fun. Then brought Missie home to stay with Preston as the aide had to leave, and go and get groceries and get Junior from work. I am not as young as I used to be, LOL.

Well, Missie is thrilled! Sometimes she feels like God has forgotten about her. Anyhow, a stranger saw a post I had on freecycle that Missie wanted a UNO attack game. Well, at the end of my emails there is a signature line that has my blog address. A lady named Suzanne who lives closes to me, went to the blog and read our story. I guess she went back quite aways and read about Preston's illness, etc., and she said it touched her heart. She sent me an email that she wanted to buy Missie a brand new UNO attack game and give it to her for Christmas. Needless to say, Missie is one happy girl, as the lady just called me and they found one, and she is delivering it in the a.m. I am so glad for this experience to show Missie that she is loved and cared for. She wonders why we have so many problems etc., when we serve God. It is hard to explain it all to her so that she understands.
Anyhow, I am so thankful for this small miracle in Missie's life.

Well, I am so tired and am off to bed; just had to share this story with you.

Suzanne, if you read this, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts and I know the Lord will richly repay you for your gift to a little girl (she wouldn't want me to call her that, after all, she is 13!) that feels forgotten sometimes.

Moving!

Most everyone who reads my blog knows that we are planning to move to PA in April.
I really don't want to move. We will be leaving everything and everyone here (we have no family here, but friends) and that will be out of my comfort zone. I so wish we had a holiness school here so we could stay here. It is hard to think of just having our tax refund to move the long distance, get a house for us, pay all of the deposits, buy our meds since we won't have insurance, find drs. for Preston, and it can be quite frightening. Missie is important, and her need for a school is very important and crucial, we feel, but nonetheless it is scary. I try not to think of it alot. I just have to put it in God's hands. Time is running out. We have our refund by the end of Feb. and as weather permits we will move by April, Lord willing, IF my husband can get a job. If he cannot get a job in PA, then we have to make other plans. We are leaving the climate here in SC for the climate in PA which means cold weather and snow in the winter. We have gotten spoiled here. We could move the other direction to FL, but that intense heat is something I don't think we could tolerate; it would take us a while to adjust to that! There was a man at our church from Hobe Sound last year and he said it took him 15 yrs. to adjust to the heat to where his suits wouldn't be soaked every time he went to church. Preston minds the heat, as I do, so I cannot think that is a good idea.

Just had to share my feelings on this subject. We have been here this 2nd time since 2000.

If God could open the door for a holiness school here; I would be grateful. I am willing to help out, if we could live on the property of the school so that Preston could be alone some with me close by, and where I could check on him periodically. But I don't see a holiness school opening here. There was one; the churches around here didn't really cooperate, and they didn't have good, qualified teachers, and people went back to homeschooling. Homeschooling is great, but in our situation, Missie needs to be able to go to school.

Pray for us concerning this matter, if you would.

Tired of headaches

My sinuses are so messed up still; I am not sure if I have a sinus infection or what. It is hard to breathe when I lay down to sleep, and I have headaches that tylenol arthritis won't knock! I just feel like sleeping all of the time. I want to be better soon.

Today was a big day for Preston. He walked down the front steps at our house, all 14of them for the first time since April 30th! When he got down to the car (of course Jr. helped him) he asked me if I was proud of him. I told him I was. Jr. took him out for a little while today, to the Traveler's Rest Christmas parade.
Missie went with her SS class to the mall and to eat at a Japanese restaurant and had a wonderful time.

Just had to share about Preston's big accomplishment today!!! Missie is so happy as we won't have to tear up her room every time now so he can use the back door.

Gotta see if I can get some rest tonight.

Sick!

Well, every day I make sure all my family gets vitamin C to keep them well, and guess who gets sick? Me! But I have to confess I don't take vitamin C. Vitamins mess my stomach up and I cannot take them. But I have been drinking juice every day and getting some C from it. Anyhow, I started getting sick on Sat. I had a terrible sore throat from drainage, now I have a cold or sinus infection. Tonight Preston said his throat is sore and for the past 2 days he had taken a nap in the afternoon because he is so tired. I am hoping he will be ok by morning! We cannot afford to let him get very sick. I hope and pray Missie doesn't get it either, because she always gets it so bad! So I have been drinking a lot of decaffinated Cappachino the last few days. I am headed to bed with more cold medication and my regular meds. to try and get some sleep.

Just wanted to let you all know what is happening.

We have a very special unspoken request too if you think of us, please pray about it. God knows all about it.

Twice in one day??

Actually my other posts for Saturday were at 1 a.m. this morning. I had drank a small cup of holiday peppermint coffee yesterday a.m. and I couldn't sleep because of the caffeine. I am hoping to get to sleep much earlier tonight.

29 cases of whooping cough have been found at BJU. Students will be leaving Fri. to go home; a week early. It is highly contagious. I had it when I was a child. You don't hear much about it lately; but there is this outbreak now. Hoping we will stay clear of it, for sure.

Today has been quite a good day. Preston got up himself out of bed, dressed himself, then undressed this afternoon and got in his pj's. He is improving! He is so sweet; that is one of the best parts of his recovery. Usually every year he worries every day about Christmas and getting gifts, but not this year. He has hardly mentioned it.

I have a splitting headache tonight. I worked on altering a tin this evening, will have to take a picture of it. It is a tin I found at Salvation Army with a snowflake on the top. I used paper, ribbon, rubber stamp, and snowflake stickers and decorated it, leaving the white snowflake on the top of the tin. I am making (I have 5 done) a set of snowflake Happy Winter greeting cards to put in it. I will either sell it or give it as a gift.

Both kiddos are in bed, and I am about done my work for the night. So I am going to try and relax a little bit.

You all have a blessed Sunday.

Prayer

I just read Martha Castle's post about whooping cough at BJU. I am asking for prayer that this does not get into our church. We have some BJU students that attend our church, and we are so thankful for them! But God is able to keep this germ from spreading among our people. It concerns me about Preston because he could not have the vaccine for the whooping cough because of his seizure problem. But he is in God's hands, and I have to trust the Lord to take care of Him. But prayer never hurts in a situation like this. We don't need any thing else to happen to him after all that has happened this year. And with his lung problems it could be fatal.

Thank you for praying.

TGIF!

Thank God it is Friday! I have been running around most of the day, and it is past my bedtime, and I am glad I don't have to go anywhere tomorrow. Preston's aide came from 11-2 so Missie and I went grocery shopping and did a little Christmas shopping, came home and got most of the stuff put away, then had to go and get Jr., then home and get the mail and Preston, and to Easley to take Preston to a thrift store and out to eat. He really enjoyed it. He was happy to get out. So I have been gone a lot and that wears me out more than anything!

It has been a pretty good week. Schooling is doing good; Missie is buckling down! Thank the Lord she seems to now see the importance of getting her schooling. She is sooo excited about the prospect of Penn View. We are too! I met a lady on myholiness and she gave me the name of 3 places for Jr. to try and get a job up there. Now that the word is out among the holiness people through myholiness we will get some help with job prospects and maybe a place to live.

I have sold quite a bit of stuff on ebay this week. Missie cleaned out her stuff, and I have made enough money over the past few weeks to buy the kids Christmas. I am done shopping now, and have to wait the arrival of 2 gifts that are coming through the mail. I did the majority of it online which was a big help to me.

Gotta get to bed.
Wanted to check in, and let you all know we are doing well.

Where to begin?

The days fly by and sometimes I don't take the time to blog.

Homeschooling is just part of it; caring for Preston; trying to make some $ by selling on the internet; keeping up a house; sleeping when I can; making Christmas gifts as an alternative to buying them because of lack of $, need I say more? My life is full and by early evening I feel so exhausted. Then to top it all off, Preston has been having trouble getting to sleep. I wait to be sure he is asleep before I can go to bed; but one good thing is he does sleep late in a.m. and I couldn't survive if he didn't. One night he was awake most of the night and tried to wake us up and couldn't; so I have to know that he is asleep before I can relax and go to bed. At 2:30 Sun a.m. he did get me awake by blowing his whistle. Thank the Lord I heard it. I guess I need a baby monitor again; I am just afraid every time he moved I would hear it. I just cannot function without sleep. I know part of it is my age, my fibromyalgia, just the wear and tear on my body with having a sick child, etc.

On another note, I called to see about getting 100 gal. of propane for our gas tank to heat with. We do not have natural gas here, but propane. I said to the lady that it probably had gone up and she said yes, it had. I wasn't prepared for the total she gave me for just 100 gal! $323 and some odd cents!!! It blew me away. I thought it might be cheaper to get a kerosene heater and use it, but guess what? Kerosene is higher per gallon than gas, so we are hoping 100 gal. will last a looonggg time!

I made a loaf of cheese bread today in the breadmaker. It was loved by all at supper tonight. I really like having a breadmaker; as you throw everything in there and it does the work. I got it for $2.50 at Salvation Army!

So not much more to say this time. Try to check back in later in the week, Lord willing.

My blessings!

"Count your many blessings, see what God has done."

Today is Thanksgiving. I have so much to be thankful for.

I am thankful for Preston; he was supposed to have died this last time in the hospital, but God spared his life.

We have a home, food, clothing, a car, and each other most importantly.

And above all, we know JESUS in a real way; and He has blessed us in untold ways that I could never recount in this blog.

Hope you all are thankful today and have a blessed Thanksgiving.

Sad day

Both our children, Preston and Missie, have been crying. Our family pet, Scrappy, died today. He has been sick the last few days and we didn't have money to take him to the vet. But he is gone now, and we are sad. I know animals are not as important as people, or to some people, but Missie especially has a way with animals and she had gotten Scrappy a few years back. He was one of the best dogs we ever had. He has been deaf for a few weeks now so we kept him in as much as possible to avoid his getting run over. We are not sure what happened to him; but Jr. and Missie has buried him. Preston had a good cry and then he felt much better.

I have taken a picture of Preston since his fall. He said his nose hurts, but overall, we are thankful he is ok.

We had invited a family for Thanksgiving but found out today they are not coming. So it may just be us for Thanksgiving, but we are sooo thankful we are not in the hospital but at home. We have so much to be thankful for. We are used to not having family for holidays or hardly ever going anywhere, but I still tend to feel a little sad on holidays when everyone is so far away.

I hope you all have a good weekend.

Never a dull moment!

Well, this a.m. Kim came to stay with Preston about 11:15 and Missie and I left to go to Greenville Memorial to see our ex-neighbor, and didn't think we would get to see Isabelle since she is in neo-natal. But Pam, the mom, was able to take one person at a time in with her and Missie and I got to see Isabelle. She is sooo tiny and so beautiful. After I went out and Missie went in, she opened her eyes and was looking around. I must say she had a snooty nurse. She didn't want Pam touching or talking to the baby. I spoke up and said we were told that the baby needed to hear her mother's voice. The nurse ignored that statement. I have never seen a NICU nurse act the way this nurse did, and I recommended she ask to not have her again. Anyhow, after we left the hospital, we stopped a couple of places and our last stop was at Ingles. While we were in there, my cell rang and it was Kim. She said Preston had fallen, and said he had a spot on his nose and his head but was no longer bleeding. But Preston was crying so hard and wanting me to come home, so I left everything in the basket and we got home as fast as we could. He was not crying when we got here and she had gotten him into his room and he was laying on his bed, so his nose would stop bleeding. He actually fell twice. He went outside to sit in the swing on the porch, and fell, got up and fell again and the last time he fell face first into the propane tank on the gas grill. It knocked his sunglasses off of his face, etc., and he then yelled for Kim. She went out and saw what had happened and called the head nurse from the agency and asked if she should move him, but she said Preston basically got up by himself. Susan, the head nurse, told her if he could move his extremities he was probably ok, and to call me. So that is the story of our day. I am just so thankful that he didn't break any bones. He has a gash on his nose, and it is bruised and a spot up by his eyebrow. His nose has wanted to bleed some this evening, too. Hopefully it won't bleed during the night.

Who knows what tomorrow will bring?

Disappointment

Well, we have had a disappointment.

A man came out today to see about a ramp and they cannot build one at the front, because our house is so high up and it would cost over $4,000 to build it. They can only build part of a ramp off the back porch, and he would still have to go over the front yard in the wheelchair to get to the car, van, etc. So we are going to tell them not to do it, because we are planning to move from here, anyhow. Preston wanted to go to the daycare for special needs people each Friday, and I thought it would be good for him, too, but it is too hard for them to get him loaded in the van. So! The Lord knows what is best. He will not even think about walking down all of the steps to the driveway now, but as he recovers maybe he will do it once again. I have been nervous about him and the steps though, because it was very hard on him, even before this illness sometimes and I was afraid he would fall. We have to move from here anyhow. We have to get a 3 bedroom place wherever we move too; Missie cannot keep sleeping in the tiny space of the foyer. And we have to tear up her room every time we take Preston somewhere or the ambulance comes to get him for an appt. That is hard on her, and I understand that. And we are planning to move to PA anyhow by April of next year, Lord willing.

Missie is having a lot of nervousness again. As long as he was in bed and not able to get around, she knew things would be ok. But since he is up and around she remembers all the bad times we had with his rages before the illness. But overall, Preston is a much happier person and doesn't have the rages he had before, but she cannot forget the bad times. He still worries some and one time he threw his cane, but overall he is doing great! We are so proud of him. It hurts me for her to nervous all of the time. I feel so torn; I love both of my children immensely, as any real mother does, and I want them both with me for as long as I can have them.

My ex-neighbor, had her baby today, 7 weeks early, and she is in neo-natal, but is breathing on her own, and only has 1 IV. So that is a miracle. Missie is very anxious to see Isabelle when the time comes that we can see her.

I have to get to bed early, as I have to get up at 5:30 and take Jr. to work, so Missie and I can have our 3 hrs. together while the aide is here to stay with Preston.

Fall!

I love the fall of the year. I think it is my favorite season. I love the fall colors! I am going to post a picture of one of the trees in our front yard.

Well, Preston seems to have gotten back on track with his sleeping, thank goodness. Monday he was very tired, too, but he didn't nap, and was able to go to bed without any extra medication last night and sleep! Tonight he has gone to sleep without any extra medication as well.

He has been enjoying going out and sitting on the porch. The fresh air is good for him.

Missie is still having some dizziness. When she takes a decongestant it does help, so I feel it is fluid in her ears from allergies. I have had it before myself.

She is wanting to switch from Alpha Omega history to BJU history. So we have borrowed a book from the Bylers. Thank goodness they are willing to lend us some of Laura's books from last year, because we do not have $ right now to buy books for Missie's schooling. I appreciate it sooo much. Anyhow, Missie has been so bored with her history. She wants to learn something new! So we will see how that goes. She is very disciplined about school now. She does it on her own unless she has problems and scores it and writes down each day what she does. That takes a big load off of me. In the evenings, she and her daddy do her math. He is so good at it, and can help her. I am so thankful for that. I have forgotten a lot of what I learned; my brain just cannot handle everything, and some things have gone. Anyhow, he does help in the evenings with anything she and I have problems with concerning her schooling.

So, that is the update for this time.

Well, it's Monday again!

Sometimes I don't know where the weeks go.

Yesterday none of my went to church. Preston had insomnia on Sat. night and was so wiped out yesterday. He was too tired to get dressed and go to church, and begged me not to go and leave him. I was just about ready to go, and Jr. was going to stay home, but I couldn't leave him. Missie also didn't have a good night on Sat. night. Her feet were aching and she has blisters on her feet. These are from ice skates that we rented. We won't be renting ice skates again! The way these are made causes blisters every time. She had a lot of dizzy spells yesterday too, probably has fluid in her ears. So we just stayed in and missed going to church. I guess the Lord knew all of this would happen so that is why He helped me make both services last Sunday. That was a treat.

Anyhow, Preston wanted his night meds. last night at 7 so he could go to sleep as he was so tired. So I gave them to him and he promptly went to sleep. Well, by 9:15 he was awake again, and couldn't go back to sleep. I told Jr. I was afraid he would be up all night and I wouldn't get any sleep. He asked for more meds. to go to sleep so I gave him another tablet which they gave him in the hospital and it helped him and he slept well, thank the Lord. I cannot survive without my rest. Missie slept better last night, too. So we all feel better this a.m.

Missie is doing school, Preston is being lazy on the couch and I am washing/drying clothes, doing kitchen etc. in between getting on the computer.

I have started another blog for....

stuff that I am selling.

http://salesofnormas.blogspot.com/

I will be putting lots more on there as time permits.

We are having a good week. Jr.'s work is busy and he is working 10 hrs/day but that overtime will be wonderful.

Working on altering a clipboard today to sell, make a great Christmas gift.

Our God is an Awesome God!

Yesterday was a great day. Missie and I went to SS and worship in the a.m. and it was such a wonderful spirit and I was so glad to be there!!! I had to rest in the afternoon, to be able to go back that night, but that is ok! Preston was so proud of himself and the people were proud of him, because he WALKED in the church!!! He used his one handed walker and walked up the ramp and into the church; rested at the back to visit with people, then up the aisle to his seat. Everyone was so happy to see this big improvement. His new depression medication is doing wonderful, and he hasn't mentioned wanting to cry, and is sooo happy and less nervous. He has such a big smile and is so sweet. He may be 19 1/2 but he is still our "little" boy in many ways. We have talked about his having his own apt. within our home if we can get a big enough place for this to happen. It would give him a sense of independance, as if he were normal, he would want to be on his own at this age. So that is something to consider when we move.

Well, I am trying to help Missie with school, as well as all the Monday morning work a mother and housewife has to do!

November????

You mean it is November already? Hard to believe.

Well, Preston is doing good. Some of his nervousness has come back, though. We made a trip to his psychiatrist this week. We are having to give him some anxiety medication especially in the afternoons. If we don't have to go anywhere he is better. He has always been this way. He has been sad and wanting to cry too, and the dr. changed his depression medication. So we will see how that works.

Preston's new aide came today, Kim, and she is very nice. Of course, she is not Mildred. Mildred hated to be idle and did a lot in the house when she was here. Kim did wash dishes and bathed Preston etc. Preston said he told her to check the clothes in the dryer, but she wouldn't do it, LOL. He said he will train her like he trained Mildred, LOL.

His walking is much better. He walks with his walker (cane) alone a lot now. So that is a big improvement. He feels more secure with the walker and that is great.

Missie and I went out today while aide was here. I was able to get my groceries. If groceries keep going up, I don't know how we are all going to make it; and gas as well. My brother (lives in Canada) says US is headed for a depression. Could be, but like I told him, I cannot worry about it; I have to take one day at a time and not get overwhelmed. The Lord has promised to supply our needs. Anyhow, the aide comes back tomorrow, and I am taking Missie and a friend to ice skate in Greenville. So they will enjoy that. Never a dull moment when you are raising children. But it is good that Missie and I can get out for a change when Preston has someone to stay with him.

Well, it is my bedtime, just wanted to check in.

Beautiful Valley

"In this beautiful valley that He's put me in,
I'm learning to trust and draw strength from Him.
I'll not despise the lessons he gives,
For in this beautiful valley, I'm learning to live."

"The shadows around me, can't hide the Son,
Or hold back the dawning, of a new day that's come.
Jesus will hold me, 'til my trials are done,
And He'll ever be with me, 'til the testing is done.

When there's a lesson for learning, He'll take you aside,
To walk in the valley, but He'll be by your side.
Upon the mountain, sweet blessing He gives,
But down in the valley is where we learn to live."

I was looking through some of my many song books and found this song. I haven't heard it for years, but it is pretty much the story of my life.

Having a sick or special needs child, is the valley God has chosen for Junior and I. Why? I don't know; maybe because He knew we would give this special child the upmost care, love, and Christian training. I never would have thought I could have handled it; but I have for 19 1/2 years. I have questioned God about it. We were in the Lord's work and I loved it!!! I am more of a people person than Junior, but I did a lot of the interacting with people, and Junior preached. He did visit, don't get me wrong, but I visited and helped people a lot. Due to Preston's illness, we had to leave the ministry, as it put such a strain on Junior and I's emotions, body, etc., and we didn't have enough to go around of ourselves for our own family which included Preston and for others whom we pastored. Now we are being ministered too. This last long illness of Preston's is the only time we have had a church behind us, to support us in every way, and it proved to be such a blessing. Our pastor, Bro. Terry Going, and our people, stood with us during this long hospital stay, and still are praying for us, and what a blessing. We have had to accept the fact that we will probably never be in the ministry again. But next to God, we have to take care of ourselves as a family, and Preston is part of that family. Missie has very different needs and we have to care for her as well. Right now she is gone to youth retreat, and was soooo excited she could hardly stand it. If it wasn't for Easley Bible Methodist Church, she might not have gotten to go. But they paid the way for our youth to go and that is another blessing. I remember Jennifer (Hester) Going telling in Curtis' and her service at our church, that youth camp had helped her spiritually so much. Missie needs that extra boost, and to be with other young people of like faith. I cannot wait to hear all about it when she gets home. She needs to go to school. It is scary to think we have to leave everything here and move to another state, but we feel it literally means the salvation of her mind of and soul to be in a holiness school. I just have to say we have tried Baptist schools, and the last one just about did Missie in. They wanted to prove to me that Christians lie, and it all boils down to the damning doctrine of the sinning religion. Missie kept telling them over and over she was not guilty, and they kept trying to get her to say she was. I know she wasn't guilty, but I was involved in the whole situation with another student's mom, so I know! I cannot send her to a school that believes you can do anything, wear anything, look anyway and still be a Christian. And whether everyone agrees or not, the standards of these schools rub off on our holiness children. It has proven to be true. I said all of that to say this. If we want Missie to continue in the holiness way, we have to move. I know God is in control and will lead and guide us. After the New Year, Junior will be looking into jobs in PA, close to Penn View. There is a possibility of our moving to NC if he cannot get a job in PA. We have friends in NC close to a holiness school whom Jr. can work for, and the weather would be much the same as here, which we would like. But PA is Missie's first choice and ours as well, as she can go right on into Bible College after high school. Please help us pray God will open the right doors. He is able. But Missie cannot be put on the back burner because of all of Preston's problems. We have 2 very different children with very different needs, and that is a challenge. But Preston's illness and his qualifying for a nurse's aide in our home, frees up some time for me to take Missie places and do things with her. We are both enjoying that so much. But it is not enough. She needs young people her age to be with, too.

So that is my update. I feel I am starting to feel a little more normal or seeing a bit of light at the end of my tunnel. Not only is it taking Preston months to recover from it all, but it is taking time for us ALL to recover and I am so glad God knows about it all, and is helping.

Preston is getting much better about his walking! If he doesn't think about it, and is talking to me or something, he will be walking right along but when he thinks about it he gets nervous of falling and wants us to hold on to him. I have to post a picture I took last night of him and Jr. coming out of the bathroom, where he had a hold of Jr.'s suspenders.

You all keep holding us up in prayer.

Exciting News!

Preston has walked independantly today!!! He walked in the bathroom from commode to sink, which is not far at all, as we really have a small bathroom. But then he walked out the bathroom door into the living room and to his bedroom door. Without any help!!! He then walked in front of his desk to his hospital bed, turned around and sat down on it. He is steadily improving now, especially since we got him the cane. But the walking from the bathroom to his room was without the cane.

Last night we heard a tremendous message on being lukewarm. To be honest, I guess I feel that way. It is more like a feeling of numbness inside. Have you ever felt numb to where you feel like you can't feel anything?? I think it is fibromyalgia fatigue, discouragement, mental and physical exhaustion from all that has happened since April 30th. One church we went to used to sing a chorus, "I never got tired yet, I never got tired yet; way down in the bottom of my heart, I never got tired yet." I am not sure I can sing that. I guess I am just so tired of fighting the battles year after year. Is that ok to feel that way? It has been a long hard road, and I think it is just now catching up with me. It is just to the point in my life (maybe because I am 50 now???) that I cannot push myself any longer. Maybe when I get rested out I will feel differently. Right now, I can only seemingly do what is necessary in my home and for my family, and that is it. I cannot reach out much to anyone else, or do anything for my church; cannot even attend all the services. I just wonder how long it will be this way. I know having a sick child for 19 1/2 years has taken its toll. And I am not getting any younger. And I have fibromyalgia. I have to take all of that into consideration. Just wanted to share my heart.

No pictures

For some reason, I cannot post any pictures, so can't get a picture on here of Preston sitting outside yesterday.

Anyhow, I wanted to share something cute that Preston said the other day. I have a frame in the shape of the a school and you put one picture in for every year for 12 years. Well, he has 11 pictures in it, and this year will be the last picture for me to add. I told him I had one more picture to add, and he said, "that will be the end of me." I thought that was so cute and quite smart as well! I am thankful for his sense of humor.

We received a HUGE compliment at church tonight. Joy James was talking to Preston when Jr. and I walked up to him after church. People at the hospital are constantly asking her about him, and how we are doing. Anyhow, she said that we take such good care of him. She said she was telling someone that every since he has been born and had a lot of illness, that we have always taken care of him like it was what we were supposed to do. I told her some in both families don't agree with us taking care of him, but that he was our child and not their's. Anyhow, it was a great compliment that she paid us. We do try to take care of him. I told her we get very tired. But as long as we can; we will continue to do what we are doing.

Missie has decided she wants to go to youth retreat. So she is going. I would rather her stay here; I feel better if she is here with me. But her daddy especially feels she needs to go; so I will manage ok. I will have help 3 hrs. both Thurs. and Fri. that she is gone. I always worry about her; but have to trust the Lord to take care of her. I don't think I could ever live without Missie. I lean on her, probably too much; but I feel so much better when I have her here to help me. Anyhow, it will be so good for her to go. She is looking forward to being with the Olivers and their children.

That is my update for today.

Good day!

Well, overall today has been a good day. Jr. and Missie put up the wallpaper border in Preston's room. Then I put up his pet net and it is overflowing with stuffed animals. He won't let me get rid of them. I was able to get rid of some a while back. But he really needs 2 pet nets to hold them all. I will take pictures of his room and post some on here. It looks very nice with the blue walls, sea life wallpaper border, then wall stickers to match the border. Also, when I was up in Canada I found ceramic fish, turtle, seahorse, etc. for 25 cents each or less and bought them. I am pleased with his room. He likes it too.

Preston went outside and sat on his swing today on our porch. We moved it back up to the porch so it would be closer for him to sit on it and swing. It makes it crowded but that is ok. He put his hat and sunglasses on and sat outside for a while. I was glad for him to get some fresh air and sunshine.

I was thinking while folding clothes about my feelings of fatigue that I have, from the last 19 years, since Preston has been born and has had so many problems, then it came to me: there are some things Jr. and I will never have to face with our son, that many others have had to face. He will never go to war; he will never drink, smoke or take drugs; he will never be sexually immoral; he will never know the depths of a sinful life and that is such a HUGE blessing. No, he will never graduate from high school or college; he will never have a job probably; but what is more important? We know that he will make it to Heaven and that is worth it all. It is worth it all to go through the sorrows of a sick child to know he will never go to Hell. That just thrills my heart. While other parents have bleeding hearts for their lost children (in sin); Jr. and I have bleeding hearts because Preston isn't normal and we have had to watch him suffer. No one wants to see their children suffer. But I am so thankful for the things he will never do. I only hope and pray Missie will never experience the sinful life too. That is why it is so important to get her in a Holiness school. She goes into 9th grade next year; that is hard to believe. I don't care if we don't have a lot, just to get her a holiness education and see her totally rooted and grounded in the Lord is our greatest desire.

Many are worried about my physical health with caring for Preston, but we all work together as a family. Missie is right there to help me when Jr. is at work. When Jr. is home, he does most of it. So although there are some hard times for me since I have this arthritis and fibromyalgia, we plan to care for him as long as we can. We realize we might not always be able too. But he is improving and using the cane with the legs is helping. Jr. and I washed his hair and gave him a shower today. He gets one good shower a week, and bed baths during the week.

Friday is Mildred's last day; we will greatly miss her. She sweeps, does dishes, take clothes out of dryer and folds them all, and puts away what goes in kitchen and bathroom; she loves to be busy. It helps lighten my load a lot! I am sorry she has to go right now. Preston will miss her too.

Please just prayer that Hannah will be able to start sooner than the middle of December!

G-tube is out!

Well, we made it to the dr. and back. The nurse, Karen numbed the area on the outside, then told Preston it would hurt like someone punched him and knocked the wind out of him. She yanked a couple of times and out it came. He complained for a few minutes about the pain, but then she had him smiling and told him she loved him. He said he loved her too. I hugged her and thanked her for being so nice and all. We won't have to go back there again if it closes up ok. He has a bandage over it, and we have to change the bandages a few times over the next few days, but within 48 hr. it should start closing up. Right now food and liquids are leaking out some. I am glad it is over. Now if it will close up, we will be fine.

Our transporters were a husband/wife team with Med Shore and they are real sweet. They are not supposed to stop anywhere with a patient in, but Preston wanted McDonald's breakfast so they stopped and let me go in and get it. So that was sweet of them. We have had them before. We will miss all the Med Shore people when we no longer need stretcher transport. Until we get a ramp though, we will need it unless they want to take the wheelchair backwards down all 14 steps! That would not be a good idea I don't think.

Well, been doing housework and helping Missie study for a test since I have been back. Not gonna do much else today. I took all my meds. last night and am not aching nearly as bad today, thank the Lord for that! Yesterday it was terrible.

You all have a nice weekend.

It's already Thurs.

This week has flown by. I am in a lot of pain with fibro. and experiencing the chronic fatique with it. My chest pains got a bit better though, and I am thankful for that. But today I have ached all over and just wanted to sleep all day, but that is impossible in my situation!

Anyhow, tomorrow a.m. we go to dr. to have the g-tube removed from Preston's tummy. They just pull it out quickly. I hope it won't hurt too bad; he is kind of afraid it will hurt. Also, he cannot eat in a.m. but he doesn't seem too worried about that.

Seniors Unlimited called tonight for directions to pick Preston up in a wheelchair van to go to his appt. He cannot go in a wheelchair to a van down in our driveway because of our yard. So I had to call medicaid transportation and start all over and finally got it arranged for him to have stretcher transport tomorrow. They even asked me this time how many steps we had! I said we have done this millions of times, I know that was an exaggeration, and we have to go through all of these questions? I had never counted them before so went out and counted them and there are 14! I explained they have to take him clear down into the yard to get him to ambulance. Anyhow, they called Med Shore and they are transporting us tomorrow; thank goodness. We have to be ready at 9:15 so that means I have to get up early. If I am sick with a fibro flair, it is hard on me to get up early, but am taking ALL of my prescription meds. tonight and hopefully I will feel much better in a.m.

Pray that all will go smoothly with the g-tube removal! They said the hole usually closes up itself, but if not, then they have to close it up. Preston doesn't usually follow any medical rules so I don't really know what to expect.

We got Preston a cane with 4 little legs on it at Walmart and it is helping his walking tremendously! He can lean on it, rather than me, or Jr. He actually walked the length of his desk last night and turned around and sat on his bed without any help. So he is getting stronger.

Hannah has been accepted in the program to be a companion and caregiver for Preston and has her ID number and we are waiting on a home visit with a nurse, Hannah, and us. They say it will be in Dec. probably. We are number 18 on a waiting list of 120. Maybe it will be sooner than that, I hope!

Gotta get to bed soon.

What are the 7 wonders of this present world?

Well, what is your answer to this question? What are the 7 wonders of this present world? Here is my answer:

To see
To hear
To touch
To feel (emotions)
To laugh
To love

and THE GREATEST OF ALL, IS THAT JESUS GAVE HIM LIFE FOR US!

I watched our son lay in a hospital bed when he had lost his ability to see, eat, talk, walk, use the bathroom, and was as helpless as a baby. Now to hear him talk, laugh, watch him eat and be able to see again, those are the great wonders of our present world! It scared me so bad the first day I realized he couldn't see. I thought the infection had caused him to go blind. He couldn't tell us what pain he was suffering, because he couldn't talk. To see him do these things all again is greater than any wonder of the world that you might could visit.

To hear our daughter laugh and feel her arms around us, is a wonder; because all of the things Preston could never do in life; she can do, and it has been a blessing to watch her excel. To watch her be part child and part teenager is quite a wonder! She is 13 and that is a hard age. The acne, the way of women that has already started for her, her like for boys (oh no, what are we in for??) these prove she is a normal young lady. So we have the joys of a special needs child and the joys of a very intelligent child. Both are precious in the eyes of the Lord and in our eyes as well.

So if you can't remember the 7 wonders, look around you; you will quickly find 7 and more wonders of the world.

Yes, we all have problems, but we all have wonders too; many more than 7.

Sunday p.m.

Well, I am ready for bed, but wanted to do a quick update.
We all made it to church tonight. No one has been going on Sun. a.m. because right now with the way I am feeling, I cannot do 2 services in one day, and I cannot stay here alone with Preston to get him up for bathroom etc. Jr. takes this over for me on Sat. and Sunday to give my body a rest. During the week, Missie helps me do it. I am scared to do it alone, because the last time I tried he and I both almost fell, and if he falls on the floor and I am here alone, I cannot get him up. So for the present, we are just getting to church on Sunday p.m. But we are glad for that. I was in so much pain during the service as I had carried a small pocket book and my meds. were in my big pocket book at home. At the end of the service, I was able to get 3 tylenol from Susan and it eased the pain some for me. We were able to go to the fellowship hall, and eat and visit some.

I am concerned about Missie's attending the youth challenge, because Jr. has to work and I am not sure I can handle Preston alone Thurs. and Fri. while Missie is gone. But I don't want to deprive her of going; but I feel kind of scared thinking of not having her here to help me. She said she will stay home to help me with Preston. That is so sweet of her. I will have the aide 3 hrs. on Thurs. and Fri., but he will have to get up for the bathroom before she comes I am sure. We will see what works out.

Preston goes Fri. to have his g-tube removed and I hope that goes well.

I am off to bed.

Ready for bed

Yes, I am at the age that I am ready for bed by 9 p.m. So sad!
I feel good usually when I wake up in a.m. but by afternoon my chest starts hurting and I have shortness of breath. It is not my heart, because before Preston's last illness I went to a cardiologist and he couldn't find anything wrong with my heart. It is fatigue and nerves, I know. I guess I am destined to be tired the rest of my life!

Preston had a pretty good day today. His walking is NOT improving at all, which makes it harder on us, because we have to get him up and down to use the bathroom, and sit in his chair etc. Junior doesn't have a problem with doing it; but I do, and Missie has gotten so she won't let me do it alone. Today we only had to get him up once since the aide was here this a.m. and then Jr. was here this evening.

Missie went to Laura's today and made a pillow. She was so excited, as that is the first thing she has ever sewn on the sewing machine! I appreciate Judy with her very busy schedule too, taking time to have Missie over to be with Laura a couple of hrs. and work on home ec. together. It means a lot to us!

Haven't heard a word from Columbia yet on the status of Hannah's papers. Oh me, the government is so slow except when you owe them money, ha, and I am so glad we don't owe them any!!!

Last night I was talking to a lady from church and she told me that every service while Preston was in the hospital that she was there, that we were lifted up in prayer. That was so nice to hear from someone, even though we knew it had been that way. Knowing we are loved and prayed for makes a big difference in our lives.

I just ask your prayers for me especially that God will touch me. I need a physical and mental touch from the Lord to keep going.

Thanks for everything!

In the Presence of Jehovah

"In and out of situations, the tug of war had me.
All day long I struggled, for answers that I need.
Then I come into his presence and all my questions become clear.
And for that sacred moment, all doubts have disappeared.

In the presence of Jehovah, God almighty, King of Kings.
Troubles vanish, hearts are mended.
In the Presence of the King."

This song has been going over and over in my mind. Rachel Carlson Isbell used to sing it at our church where we pastored in Savannah, TN. I heard it recently on a tape. Anyhow, His presence does make a difference. I feel so weary even in the spiritual sense, and only God can renew me.

Well, not many parents I know count the number of times their child urinates in a 24 hr. period, but this momma does. Sunday and Monday it was only once in 24 hrs. Today it was 3 times, and I praise the Lord. Preston had a better day today. He did take a nap this afternoon, but not as long, and was up and more alert today. But he has had tremors in both legs and he and I almost went down getting him to the bathroom. Not sure why the tremors have increased and the sleepiness, unless his shunt needs adjusting or something. The problem is, the neurosurgeon doesn't seem to know much about the neurological storms which is what causes the tremors. I guess we have to have a neurologist and the one Preston had in hospital was one we had had years back, and we know him, but he cannot take him on a regular basis because he is over 18. So! If this keeps up, I will have to ask the neurosurgeon to refer us to a neurologist. I just take one day at a time. He has been so sweet and patient this week. I love him so much; my firstborn, and only son, but I hate to keep seeing him suffer day after day, and struggling to do what is so easy for the rest of us to do. But God has left him here for a purpose. We will do our best for him as long as he is here.

Missie and I went to JC Park to meet Kelly and her children to play, and when we got there, they were not there, which we thought strange. So we called and found out that Brooke got her little hand slammed in the car of their vehicle and Kelly took her to ER to make sure it wasn't broken. Well, I ran by hospital and visited with them for a little while, and Missie and I went by a thrift store. We still had our 3 hrs. away, but we missed not being with friends. We are planning this again next week, and hoping it works out.

Our aide is done working with us on Oct. 26th, and I cannot get ahold of Columbia to see if they got Hannah's paperwork. I pray it works out for Hannah to be here by the time that Mildred is done. I cannot do it all alone. Even the 9 hrs./week that Mildred comes helps me so much. She goes ahead and finishes washing and drying the clothes and folds them and puts a lot of them away. She bathes and fixes breakfast for Preston, and washes dishes, sweeps floor, etc. I will miss her. She is very sweet. When I got home today, she was reading our SS quarterly! I was glad to see that. It might be her only exposure to holiness teaching.

I am very achy today; have ached quite badly all day, not sure why, so tonight is definately an "arthrotec" night (that is expensive meds. that I only take when I absolutely need it because even with insurance it is $50/bottle. But when I have bad flair ups like this, I take it and the next a.m. I usually feel more pain free.

Wanted to update everyone. Please continue to pray for us all.

Strange day

It has been a strange day. Preston slept until almost 10:30, then I got him up and fed him breakfast, he went pee-pee and I gave him a bath, and he watched a little bit of a dvd and said he was so sleepy. He went back to sleep and it was hard to get him awake this afternoon. We finally did when Junior got home, and he sat up in his chair while I got supper. He ate some supper, but was unable to pee-pee any more today. It worries me, but he tries other times and cannot go. He drank more today, but I may have to give him some in G-tube and see if that increases his need to urinate. I was thinking we might have to call the neurosurgeon about his sleeping so much. We will see how tomorrow goes.

I am headed to bed. Missie and I are going to Pickens in a.m. to the park; she is looking forward to that, and meeting another homeschool family from our church so kids can play together. So I will have to get up earlier. Preston is getting so he doesn't want me to leave him; he used to be like this before he had this last illness. But I have to take Missie places to help her. I love staying home, but she has to be with people sometimes, and I want this year to be special as this is our last year to homeschool.

Until next time.

Exhausted again.

I am so exhausted. I told Gail at church tonight I feel so empty and tired. She gave me a hug and cried with me and that was comforting. She has sick grandbabies and has lost a grandbaby and that makes a difference. You never know until you walk in someone's shoes, how it really is.
Preston has been a bit cranky this week and that has been so discouraging. He has shown some anger and that is new for him since his illness. But overall he is still a much nicer personality than he was. He is also back in his own room instead of in the living room and is very happy about that. He can watch his dvds and not be surrounded by noise like he was out here.
He went to church tonight and sat up afterwards and ate when we came home. He was very tired though and glad to lay down.
He is having problems urinating again. He is only urinating about once every 24 hrs. If he cannot urinate in a.m. then he has to be cathed. I pray he will because the cathing if hard for me to do sometimes, and it makes him very sore for a while. I am trying to push fluids more so he will go more. He won't use a urinal or a bedside commode, so we have to walk him to the bathroom and back. I have to get behind him and wrap my arms around him and walk him to bathroom. He is so staggery and off balance. It is hard on my body, but changing diapers was too, and they were so hot for him and irritating.
All of Hannah's papers that she filled out got lost and they had to resend and she has filled them out again and mailed them to Columbia. It will help me if I can have more help than 9 hrs/week. I need more help; and Hannah will be here to take care of him. Please pray that it works out soon for her to come.
So you have read my downhearted post tonight, and I hope to get a good night's rest and feel much better in a.m.

Another day, another dollar spent!

Today has been a good day. Preston did not wet himself once all day. We are so proud of him. His check came in the mail today, his SSI, and we had promised him to take him to Easley to the Huddle, to eat. He loves their lemonade and likes to eat there. So Jr. came home, and we left and went to bank, then to make Preston's computer payment, and out to eat. We decided to go to Dollar Tree and he had such a good time. He was not nervous like he would have been before this illness, and we pushed him in his wheelchair, and he had so much fun picking out stuff he wanted. He got a couple of toys, and then he found some cookies, Little Debbie cakes, candy bars, drinks, etc. that he wanted. It was such a joy to see him so relaxed and happy, and enjoying himself. Then to top it off, one of his special friends from church was in there too. And he had his dog with him in his car and Preston got to see Blackie. So when Jr. was loading Preston into the car, Preston told Jr. he wanted to go to Walmart. But Jr. and I didn't want to go to Walmart, and he was fine with that. His left leg was having tremors in Dollar Tree, so I figured he was getting tired, and mommy and daddy were! Oh to be 10 years younger!!! Everything like this makes me soooo tired. If I have to go anywhere in any given day, it wears me out. Maybe I will be like this forever??? Only God knows, I guess.

I can honestly see the hand of God in Preston's illness. He is not the same boy he used to be. We think the malfunctioning shunt and that tubing embedded in his brain had been bothering him for quite some time. I questioned it for a long time; especially when we were in the hospital, and I honestly hope he is never that ill again, but I can see where things are much different. Although our lives are harder in some respects, we had had a break in other areas. It could have happened without Preston having had the shunt infection and having to learn how to do everything all over again, but God worked it this way. We may never understand all of the reasons.

Missie was so exhausted from her weekend, that she didn't get dressed all day, and she stayed home while we took Preston to town. She cannot handle missing much rest and when she is away from home she doesn't get enough rest.
She is very excited about going to the youth challenge in IN. Her friend where she spent the weekend wants to go too; so I am hoping that works out. She is a sweet girl and I guess she is really Missie's best friend. She lives in Six Mile and attends a holiness church (pentecostal) and has many of the same standards we do.

So that is the good news for today!

Time for bed

but before I retire, I wanted to do a quick update.

Preston is being potty trained. I never dreamed we would have to be doing this when he was over 19 years old. Anyhow, we started yesterday by telling him since Daddy would be home to help him, that we could not wear diapers during the day. So we put boxer shorts on him. Well, yesterday all day he used the big potty to pee-pee and poo-poo! He was so proud and we are too. Today, he did the same, until we got him in bed for the night and he peed in his diaper. But we put diapers on him at night in case he wets during the night. So we are headed in the right direction!

Today was an off day for me; meaning I didn't feel the best. If I do not get enough rest, my fibro is worse, and I cannot function very well without a good night's rest. I couldn't get to sleep last night and had to get up and take more meds. to get to sleep. Then Preston woke up at 5 something blowing his whistle that he needed us. So I got up then, and went back to bed. He blew again at almost 9 and Jr. took care of him and let me sleep. I didn't get up until almost 10. Jr. fixed Preston's breakfast, etc., and since he had to take care of him while I slept, he didn't get to church. But God knows all about it and knows what we have been through this past few months. I know I will always have more tiredness due to my fibromyalgia and arthritis, but Preston's illness has taken a toll on all of our bodies. Maybe one day we will feel like we are recovering from it all.

We were all able to attend church tonight; and that was a blessing. And we stayed to eat in the fellowship hall. Missie has a new friend now, she is younger than Missie, but that is ok; she is thrilled. This family also homeschools and sometimes we are going to get together and school. Missie was gone Fri. night, all day Sat. and until 5:15 this evening with a friend's in Six Mile. They had homecoming at their church today and Missie attended. They found out she could sing and she sang a solo and her friend played for her, and she had several guitar players back her up. She really enjoyed singing again. She has a talent from the Lord, and I hope she gets to use it more often. I don't want her to never get away from wanting to sing for the Lord. Children and their talents are very important. Anyhow, she saw some people from Free Wesleyan who sang at the homecoming as well. Some of them didn't even know her as she has changed and grown up so much.

Gotta get to bed. Am very weary tonight.

The missing teeth are no longer missing!

Well, the missing teeth have been found. Can you believe that? All week I have been toothless, at least 1/2 of my mouth has, and all the time they were hiding in the car. On the way home from work today, Junior told me he was going to try and find them. So we stopped in the driveway and looked some more, when he decided to look in the car again. Sunday evening, I was sitting behind him in the back seat, as Preston has to get in the front. They had slid off my lap, and way up under his seat. I thanked the Lord over and over again when he held them up to me! Now I just have to pay $120 to have them relined! God is so good.
Our computer shut itself off today and I couldn't even get it turned back on. It has never done this to me before. Junior was able to get it back up and running, which is wonderful, because we cannot afford another computer right now. I have auctions on, and needed it. It is still very slow, and on its last legs, I am afraid. That is, if computer has legs!
Missie has had a rough week with her stomach. Yesterday she was in bed all day with the pain. Me thinks she needs to see a doctor. I am going to call the free clinic and see what I can work out. It is in Easley. There is also a new clinic in Greenville that what you pay depends on your income. So I may that one if the Easley one doesn't work out.
Preston was so proud of himself this evening, and we were sooo proud of him. He poo-pooed in the regular potty tonight!!! Then he walked about 6 steps by himself. Jr. kept moving back and he walked alone!! So he is gradually coming along.
He loves his aide. She is a sweet black lady probably close to 60 or so and they are so attached to each other. He told her today that he loved her. She tells him that she loves him too. He doesn't want her to quit when Hannah starts. He wants to keep Mildred. So we will see what happens. She comes 9 hrs./week. Hannah will come quite a bit more than that. We also heard that we might have a ramp within a month, so that was good news!
It is bedtime, but I had to share the latest.

Toothless Joe??

I presume many besides me have heard of toothless Joe? Well, it is not Joe this time without his teeth, it is yours truly! Yep! My top dentures are GONE, and although hubby, myself and Missie have looked many times; they have not returned. This is the story. My upper dentures have NEVER fit me properly. I have to keep them glued in and they can only stay in so long until I start gagging to throw up. So last night was no exception. They fell out while I was eating at the fellowship hall and I had to exit to the bathroom to glue them back in. On the way home I started to gag, so I took them out and I guess I laid them on my lap??? I cannot remember anything past taking them out. Well, we are having to go up our neighbor's driveway so we can park at the back of the house to get Preston in the car to go to church. Well, it is a terrible driveway and with all of us we, the bottom of the car scrapes and it drives me crazy. So Missie and I decided to get out at the end of that driveway and walk the rest of the way home. Well, I was almost to our back door when I remembered my dentures. I had no recollection of where they were. Had I put them in my purse (hopefully)? But after Jr. and I both searched my purse, they were not to be found. So Missie and I walked back down the driveway but couldn't find them. Jr. took the car down and used the car lights, but to no avail. Today Missie and I looked, but they are not to be found. So I am a toothless momma, (at least my top teeth are gone) until Friday. Friday at 8 a.m. I go to have them remade. I hope they will fit this time. Jr. has been aggravated with these teeth since I have gotten them. Once the swelling went down, they were way too big. Then they told me I had to pay $120 to have them relined. But now I have to get new ones to the tune of $335, but my mom is sending me $100 to help on them, and I would have had to pay $120 anyhow on the old ones, so I am really just out the $115. Yes, that is too much, but it cannot be helped. I have to have my teeth. I cannot stand for people to see me without them. Our caseworker from the Greenville Memorial Hospital Home Health system came today, and I had to let him see me. Tomorrow Preston's aide comes and I have to tell her the story. Woe is me!

The caseworker asked me today about Preston going to outpatient rehab at Roger C. Peace and I called medicaid transportation and they will transport him on a stretcher in ambulance for therapies. Then I had to call the dr. to have fax Roger C. Peace an order for therapy. So I may hear something in a few days. We do not have much room here to walk Preston or any equipment, so we all feel outpatient therapies at the TBI (Trauma Brain Injury) section of Peace will be beneficial to Preston. My biggest concern is how often, and how long, because I do have Missie to think about and helping her with homeschooling and she doesn't like to stay alone for very long, which is understandable. No one bothers her, but since Preston has baeen sick, she likes for me or her daddy to be here. Sometimes Jr. takes her to his office and stays with him.

So that is the latest. You never know what you will read on this blog. It seems we are gluttons for punishment in the form of trouble and trials. Such is life.

I wanted to tell a story about what a hug can do. The same dear lady I mentioned in another post hugs me every time she seems me and it warms my heart. It lets me know she cares about me. When I was a pastor's wife, I befriended several elderly people who lived in a complex within walking distance from our church. One of these ladies was very contankerous, and her only child, a daughter, wouldn't hardly ever come to see her. Well, I loved this woman, and went to see her and I started giving her a hug when I would leave. At first she was very stiff (ever hugged someone who is stiff?) and didn't respond to my hugs. But do you know as time went on, before I could reach out to hug her, she was reaching out to me for a hug. Her daughter told me she had not had a hug in many years. Her daughter and her was reconciled and her daughter and I became great friends. All because I cared about this contankerous old lady and reached out in love to her with a hug. Never be afraid to hug someone you love. It will make more of a difference than you can ever imagine!

That is all for tonight.

So tired

You know, I wonder sometimes if we will always be sooo tired. Will we ever get some relief? But I have been reading a book, and it told of parents who had lost a child. The mother said she was tired for one year after the tragedy. I know we didn't lose Preston, but have been through several traumatic weeks with him, and it is all not over yet. So I guess the emotional, physical, and even spiritual tiredness will get better over time.

Preston is having problems urinating again. If he hasn't by a.m. Jr. and I will have to cath him. We are praying he will soak the bed by morning. I don't know why he has this problem. We tried different things tonight, and nothing worked. He last urinated this a.m. We weighed him and he has lost 10 more lbs. So far he has lost 43 lbs. If he keeps losing, then we have to see what needs to be done.

Our caseworker from Home Health is coming Monday and bring me forms to fill out to see if we quality for a program through the hospital that will pay the co-pays for his therapies. So we will see how that goes.

So that is all I know right now.

Busy week!

Well, Missie has not felt well all week. Her tummy hurts and she has some other tummy problems that you all probably don't want to hear about, LOL. She has been having trouble for a while with her joints. We are afraid she may have a type of rhumatoid arthritis; as it is hereditary and is in Jr.'s family. But she is terrified to get blood drawn. I want her to go to the free clinic since we have no insurance on her and see what is wrong. We have to pray she will be brave enough to have blood drawn so we can see. This week her elbow feels like it is popping out of joint, and her arm goes numb, and then it will pop back in. A young girl shouldn't hurt as much as she does. Her knees are bad, too. Anyhow, she has been under the weather so to speak this week.

We have all therapies on hold, for Preston. Come to find out (just last week) that we had a co-pay for every visit he had! We did not know this until we got a bill for July. So the caseworker from the home health is trying to see if the hospital will pay the co-pay so he can have his therapies. But mentally, the walking has not clicked yet. The eating and talking clicked much sooner, but the walking hasn't. His balance is off, and he takes real high steps sometimes like he is climbing stairs.

We have no word of a ramp. And I found out this week that medicaid will not pay for the ambulance to transport him to the dentist. They will transport him to the dr., but not the dentist. So when he goes, Jr. will have to take him, to get him in and out of the car. I just canceled the appointment for now.

Our church is in revival this week; I have wanted to go, but by supper time, I am so exhausted every day. I just don't know if I will ever feel much better or now. The 19 years of having a sick child, and now fibromyalgia has taken its toll on my body. I expect probably I will be tired from here on out. I do pretty good in the mornings, but about 3 in the afternoon I start wilting. I hate it, but it is a fact.
We have had company for supper 2 nights this week which is a 1st in a long time. Jr.'s grandma (and the children's great grandmother) is in Greer, from Texas and she and her son, daughter and granddaughter came over on Monday evening. Then today Jr.'s parents came down, and were here for supper. They hadn't been down since Preston has been out of the hospital.

So that is the latest.

Sunday update

Well, it was not our usual Sunday around here.

This a.m. about 1:30 or so, Missie started throwing up. Of course, it woke Preston up, because our house is so small, there is no where to go and throw up where it doesn't wake the rest of us, except outside. So! Missie threw up several times, and I was so exhausted I didn't get up until almost 10 a.m. Around 4 a.m. she was up because she was sick, and Preston had soaked his bed. So she came and got us to change him. I barely remember getting up and helping change his diaper and pads. After a late breakfast, Junior was so tired he laid on the bed and went to sleep. I told him today that we are getting old. Maybe we just are totally worn out from Preston's long hospital stay, as well. But we cannot do what we used to do. Anyhow, Missie's tummy was uneasy all day, but the throwing up stopped this a.m. We are hoping and praying Preston does not get this. Because when he starts, he cannot stop, usually. It means a hospital visit for us when he gets the stomach flu.

My mom has been so sick; we have been worried about her. But today she called me and said the Lord sent an angel from Heaven. A lady from their church came and did some housework for her (she doesn't keep Sunday as we do, this lady) by dusting, vacuuming, etc., and then had brought food from home and cooked supper for Mom and Jim. Mom was so relieved and grateful for the help. She is coming back on Tues. to help them some more. God is so good. When family won't step in and do their job; God always has someone else. My brother did go up this a.m. and opened all of mom's windows to let in some fresh air, carried out garbage, and he vacuumed as well. I was thankful for that as well. It is so hard when I am so far away. When we get to Penn View, I will only be about 6 hrs. away, yippee! I will be able to go up on weekends if necessary and help her.

We are are hoping for a good night's rest tonight, AND THAT NO ONE ELSE IN THIS HOUSEHOLD GETS THE FLU!

Wed. update

First of all, thanks Les for the cyber hug. I appreciate it sooo much. Hugs means someone loves you, and I needed that right now, in this time of my life.

Please pray for my mom; she has been terribly ill, and has more tests tomorrow. Dr. thinks it was the flu and she is just having trouble regaining her strength. We are asking God to touch her if it be His will.

This week has been much better. The lists are helping so much. Dorcas, thanks a million for suggesting that I make a list of priorities. I made a list for each day what to do besides my usual work, and homeschooling, and it is really helping. I even managed to get some auctions put on ebay today.

Tues. Missie and I went to Reedy Falls Park and enjoyed it immensely. I will post some pictures. I am taking lots of pictures of Missie and her activities as this is her last year of middle school; she will be in high school next, and it is also her last year of homeschooling, Lord willing.

Tomorrow Missie goes to Laura's, (Byler) to do home economics with her, in the a.m. So that will be very good for her. Thanks Judy, with all you have going on in your life, you took time for Missie, to encourage her and help her; and for that I am so humbled and grateful. It will give me a couple of hours to be by myself. I may grocery shop. Mildred will be here with Preston.

Mildred is starting to work Tues., Thurs. and Fri. - 3 hrs. each day. On Friday, I have been asked to teach a class at the homeschool co-op at Abundant Life Church in Berea, as Missie attends co-op there. I am kind of excited about that. I will be doing crafts, and we will be making Christmas gifts; the children and I.

So overall, things are looking up. I am cleaning out stuff to prepare for the big move. We cannot move all of this stuff. You wonder where it all comes from. We are excited about it all; it seems this is the right time in our lives for us to move on. When we moved here, some things were different than they are now, concerning schooling for Missie. There was a holiness school; but it is now closed. And Missie is at an important part of her life, and needs a good holiness school and holiness friends. So we have to put her ahead of our own desires; because our greatest desire is for her to go this way of Holiness. No cost is too great to help her achieve this.

Thanks for all of the prayers. I have felt them and appreciated them.

What a hug can do!

Well, a dear lady walked in church with her family, and was going to sit down in front of me, but she came right back to the next row and put her arms around me and gave me a hug. She asked me how I was doing. It lifted my spirits to know she cared that much, and it was unbelievable, because I had not talked to her in 2 weeks, and she didn't even know what a bad week I had last week. She cared enough about me to give me a hug, and it meant so much to me. So never underestimate the power of a hug. Never be afraid to give someone you love a hug. She had never met Preston either, and I introduced her to him after the service. But she had told me a few weeks back that although she didn't know who he was, that she had been praying for him. I had met this lady over at campmeeting at least 2 years ago. I went up and talked to her at our church about 3 weeks ago or so.

Today was a good day. I made a list of things to do each day; for myself and also for Missie; chores for her, above and beyond her school work. It worked so good to know what we were supposed to do today and made the day run more smoothly. Her work is so hard for me this year; so Junior helps her in the evenings with what she needs help with. On Thurs. she is supposed to go to Laura's and have home-ec. It is so gracious for Judy to do this; as her load is heavy too.

I had mentioned that Hannah, my friend, was going to be working for us. Well, I found out today that her paperwork did not arrive, and we have to start all over again. That was discouraging to me. So they are resending her the paperwork. But I have an aide that comes 3 days/week and bathes him, and then the other aide comes and stays 3 hrs. every Tues. and every Thurs. a.m. So that lightens my load. But we don't know when Hannah will be able to start.

Just wanted to share with you all how Sis. Ward encouraged me yesterday with a hug.

Glad it is Sat.

I am always glad for the weekend, when Junior is home to help me with Preston.
I was so overwhelmed this past week with all that I had to do; with Missie's schooling and caring for Preston; people in and out etc., but I have had some time for me last night and today. We all need that.
We plan to move as soon as we can to PA. It will probably be in about 6 months unless the Lord works a miracle before then. It is all in His hands. We should have moved this summer but couldn't with Preston's illness.
Anyhow, life goes on. I cut Preston's hair today and Jr. gave him a shower and washed his hair. He is so excited because tomorrow is Sunday and tomorrow night he will get to go to church! Bless his heart! He has been watching "Little House on the Prairie" dvds this week and loving them.
Preston's physical therapist, Claudia, doesn't live too far from here, and she offered to finish painting Preston's room because it is so hard on my fibromyalgia. So she came yesterday and got the walls finished unless she has some touch up to do. She is doing to do around the doors and she and Missie is going to put up the border and I will clean the room real good and get his stuff back on the walls, etc. I think he will get more sleep in his own room, instead of in the living room.
Well, it is bedtime, just wanted to check in. Will add some pictures from our trip.

Back at last

Well, I haven't blogged in a while.

On Aug. 25h Missie and I flew to Syracuse, NY and my brother and his wife picked us up and we drove on into Canada. My mom and stepdad met us in town, for supper. Then we made our way to my mom's. I had a terrible headache, and it has been so hot all day, and it took me a while to get cooled off. Mom only air in one bedroom, and of course, there was a heatwave. But we managed pretty good. My mom had had the flu and she relapsed and started running a fever, having chills, so weak, etc., so on Wed. we took her back to the dr. He still said it was a virus and it would just take some time for her to get over it. So she wasn't able to go with me hardly anywhere. But I was able to help her by cooking supper for her and Jim. She is slowly recovering.

On Tues. while were there, my brother Myles, who was on vacation, took Missie to Fort Henry, where the US and Canadians fought for Canada's independance, and she thoroughly enjoyed that. Then that evening, he and Carol took Missie and I to Brewer's Mill's locks. It was so cool and relaxing by the water. The locks were closed so we didn't actually get to see them opening to let the boats through, but nevertheless we enjoyed it. On Thurs. Missie and I went on the 1,000 Island Boat Cruise. It was awesome! Some of the islands are in Canada, and some in US. We went under the Ivy Lee Bridge, saw the smallest bridge connecting US and Canada (cannot even drive across it), Boldt Castle, etc. etc. As we went along the captain or someone would tell us the facts and the islands, etc. Normally this cruise is $27 each, and we didn't have that much money to spend on it, but a friend of my mom's from church, got on us FREE, we were so thankful. Missie really enjoyed it and I did too. I will post some pictures. Then Friday it was back to NY and we flew once again from Syracuse to Philadelphia, and from Philly back to Greenville. Preston and Jr. came and picked us up at airport! Junior had been able to get Preston up and outside and into the car (something I cannot do alone at this point) and taken him a couple of places while I was gone, so they were able to meet us at the airport.

Tues. was our official day to start homeschooling. Missie wants to go to school very bad. She cried yesterday. I understand how she feels, but there is not a Holiness school close to us and never again will she go to a Baptist school. We have considered letting her go to NC to Graham and stay with one of my best friernds, and go to school there; but she is so young to be away from home. We are praying about what we should do to solve this problem. We could move to NC but we really want to move to PA to Penn View area, but cannot do that until after the new year. God will have to show us what the right move is, and when. But we definately know this is the last year we can homeschool. I was so overwhelmed yesterday; taking are of Preston, people in and out, homeschooling, trying to get my house work done, etc. etc. I just feel like I cannot do it all anymore. I even have trouble helping Missie with her work; my mind is just too overloaded and I cannot do it all. Preston was independant before this illness, now he is almost totally dependant. That is a load in itself. Hopefully soon my friend Hannah will be starting and will take over more of his care and give me time for my housework and to help Missie. Please pray for us. We have to make a change and soon. Missie's and my mental help are about at the breaking point, and God knows all about it. Please pray that God will work it all out and soon. Part of the problem is, the house is not in our name, because we are paying an individual rather than a mortgage company. It will be hard to sell it, this way. We want to be able to sell and make a little because we can get more than we owe on it, to help us get started in a new place. We may just have to give it back to the man, and then we are back to where we started; and have to start from scratch. At our ages, that is hard. We want to have our house and not just rent, but Missie is our number one priority right now, and God will have open the right doors and show us the right way to go. We just need your prayers.

Thanks for reading this, and for praying.

Shame on me!

I can't believe it has been 10 days since I blogged. Shame on me.
Where do I begin? Well, I think Preston's peg was leaking, and we ended up going to surgeon's office and having the valve replaced, and until tonight it has been doing well. Tonight all the water I gave him, came out and soaked his gown. But when I gave his meds. it stayed in. Thank the Lord.

Jr. and Missie are gone to Gatlinburg. At 8:30 this evening I talked to Missie and they had just ridden the chair lift to the top of the mountain. She was so excited and having the time of her life, of course. So it is just Preston and I until tomorrow evening. Then Sat. a.m. she and I leave for Canada! Jr. will be on his own here with Preston, except for the medical help we have come in. He has stuff he needs to do around here; like replace some flooring in the kitchen and bathroom. Also there is more work to do in Preston's room. We haven't gotten it finished, but that is ok. We can finish it when I get back. We have to get a window before we can completely finish it anyhow.

My mom has been quite sick. I have been worried about her, and told her I would take over when I get there. I will cook and stuff, as we are having some family in. I am going to get to meet my step sister and her husband, step brother and his wife for the very first time. So we are excited about that. I just can't wait to see my mom; 3 years is too long to go without seeing your mom. But Lord willing, I will see her Sat.

Preston said he will miss me and asked me not to go. But I feel I need to make this trip. It will be good for me and Missie, and one never knows how long mom will be here, and she wants to see me so bad.

Gail and Eric Hobelman are taking us to the airport on Sat. a.m. We leave here at 7:30 a.m. our plane leaves Greenville about 10:30, we go to Philadelphia for an hour layover and from there to Syracuse where my brother will pick us up and take us in to Canada. It will be quite a long day, it will be about 12 hrs. altogether. But to drive is over 20, so we are still getting off easier.

I may not get to update until I get back. Will post some pictures hopefully, too.

Pray for us all please.

Time flies even if you aren't having fun!

Time goes so fast, it seems I can never keep up this blog.

Today Missie and I started painting on Preston's room. She is such a smart kid! I couldn't make it without her. She can do about anything! Anyhow, she did one wall all by herself. Tomorrow we will do touch up on the 2 walls we did today. Jr. has to fix another piece of the wall and put in a new window before we can do it all. The window is $100! Hoping to get it all done before Missie and I leave on our trip. I cannot believe it is so close. We leave Aug. 25 and come home on Aug. 31st. I get to see my mom, after 3 years!!!! I can hardly wait.

Anyhow, Preston ate a wonderful supper; his appetite is returning. It is the most he has eaten at once since he started to eat again. On Sat. he didn't want to eat, but Jr. told him no formula, and that he had to eat. So he got him started eating again, thank the Lord and he is eating now every day! We also got him in the shower and showered him and washed his hair. I bought a shower stool for $4 at the goodwill, and it is the best $4 I ever spent! It is wonderful.

Preston has gone back on his meds. for the "storms" which cause him to shake, so his walking should improve soon. Preston can stand up by himself now! He are real close though, as his balance is still off and he gets nervous about falling, but he is getting stronger. If the shaking gets back under control, it will help with his walking. Then we will work on potty training again and get him out of these diapers. I told him tonight that Daddy and I had given him back to God when he was so sick, but the Lord ended up giving him back to us. It is just a miracle what he has survived. God left him with us for a purpose. He is such a sweetheart. He told me today I was "beautiful" and that "he loved me" etc. He laughs so much more now than when his shunt wasn't functioning properly. He has such a good sense of humor and loves to tease us all. God has given us back our boy with a much sweeter disposition.

I am so tired, and we have 4 different people coming tomorrow to work with Preston, plus Missie and I want to paint in between, so I am going to bed shortly. I took extra meds. for my fibro. last night and I felt so much better when I woke up this a.m. but am aching again tonight. A good night's rest will help.

Wednesday

Well, I sent out an email to my mailing list yesterday saying that Preston was eating now. Well, he did eat for a few days, small portions, but today wouldn't eat hardly a bite. So I am having to feed him through his g-tube, but we will keep trying. Today NO ONE came, to work with him; I loved it. Missie and I got started on his room today. We tore down the old border and took everything off of the walls. We put all the stuffed animals he wants to keep in the dryer on fluff to get all of the dust out of them, and they are in garbage bags until we can put the pet net back up. Next week we hope to get a lot of the painting done! Border will go up last. We won't be doing the ceiling, it is very nice. We are doing the walls in blue like the ocean, to match his sealife border. I think it will be nice if we ever get it done. We were able to sort through most of his toys and talked him into getting rid of a few, and a lady came and got several garbage bags of stuff from my cleaning out! It is a lady that has 6 children and homeschools and she doesn't live too far from me, and I met her through freecycle. Now when I have stuff, I email her and give her the chance to take it. Her children were elated because there was a Barbie doll house of Missie, and Preston had had a pirate ship set and castle set, which he had given Missie, now she is too old for it, so they got it all. So we made a family happy today.

Tomorrow we are back to the busy day. At 9:30, Preston's personal aide II comes and bathes him, changes his bed, etc., until 11:30, but at 11 Sylvia the speech therapist comes, so they overlap by 30 minutes. OT and PT are both coming, not sure what time, and also a lady to do a mental evaluation on Preston from Pickens County Board of Disabilities and Special Needs. She comes at 2. I hope she and PT/OT do not arrive all at same time.

Can't wait for Hannah to be able to start working with us! I think she and her children are coming up Sat. I haven't see JJ since he was tiny, and he is 5 months old now! I can't wait to see him!

I had an order to do 3 metal bandaid tins with scripture tags inside, for Mildred, Preston's personal aide. I got them all done! Missie altered a tin tonight and really had fun! It is fun.

Got an order for 40 Christmas cards, so gotta get busy on those soon. I want to get all the housecleaning and Preston's room done before Missie and I fly out on Aug. 25th. We will be back on Aug. 31. We are going to fly into NY where my brother will pick us at and take us on over into Canada. I think this trip will be good for us both right now. Jr. is going to stay with Preston, so we can go, and he will have help coming in, of course.

Pray for my fibromyalgia. I am aching a lot, and my lower back is really bothering me. It has hurt the worse today than it has in a long time.

Over and out for this time.

Wed-Sat. update

How is it that I get so busy and forget to blog??? Well, I do!

Anyhow, it has been a busy week. To tell you the truth, I can hardly remember what happened on Wed. Claudia, the PT, and her boss, Doug, came together and they got Preston up and walked him to kitchen sink and along counter, and he was proud of himself. Jr. got home a little early because I needed to go to town so I left while Preston was getting PT. I was able to get a few things in town.

Thurs. we had a new lady come, she is called Personal Aide II, and her name is Mildred and she is a black lady, but has been doing this kind of work for over 30 years. She gave him a real good bed bath, changed his sheets, shaved him, etc. She was supposed to stay 2 hours, but the ambulance got here at 8:30 to pick us up for Preston's appt. So she was here 1 1/2 hrs. She will do light housekeeping, washing his clothes, etc. but it is hard for me to have someone do that. In a couple of weeks Hannah will be starting and I may discontinue Mildred. It is not because she is not good or I don't like her, just think it will be too many hours that people will be here. It is hard to have people here so much. I like my privacy. Anyhow, Preston had an ultrasound of his liver and more blood work done, but the jaundice is gone now. It must have been the meds. that we stopped. But he is having some tremors since we had to stop the medicine and that slows down his progress of walking, etc., so I have called dr. to see what we can do. I am waiting to hear back from them next week. The Gastro-enterologist is going to call me when he gets the results of the tests to save us a trip over there. Thank the Lord for that. Jr. came and got Missie and took her to work with him while we were gone. Since Preston's illness, she is not comfortable staying here alone. She used to love it, but now doesn't want to be alone. So Jr. takes her to work with him and she can sit in his office.

Friday, which was yesterday, speech therapist came, and 2 PTs again and got him up and walked him and he was so tickled that he did so well. They saw an improvement from Wed. to Fri.

Saturday, today, Jr. and I got him up and showered him and washed his hair, he gets smelly even with bed baths. But I won't attempt it without Jr. AND GUESS WHAT?
Missie gave him shrimp in tiny pieces and he ate about 10 whole shrimp altogether! And he drank some rootbeer. He was so happy to be able to eat that shrimp. He was able to chew and swallow it and did great. I don't think it will be long until he is eating again. He wants to so bad! He talks a lot about eating and when I am cooking he will say it smells good, etc. So we have some shrimp left and he will eat some more tomorrow. I have talked to him today about telling us when he needs to use the bathroom. I am hoping he will do that soon. I guess I like to rush him a little too much; he has to take his time and be ready to do each new thing. He has laughed a lot yesterday and today. I mean, really laughing. It is so good to hear him laugh.

Tonight we told him about the experience we faced when he was in the hospital and not doing well. Bro. Armstrong was there, from church, and Jr. and I had to have a meeting in a little room with the dr. We had to decide whether to give Preston stronger medication in order to stop the almost constant tremors he was having, but which could cause his breathing to go downhill, and we didn't want him on the respirator. Many tears were shed, and we were finally able to come out of that little room. When we got back to the room, Bro. Armstrong told us he had only had about 1 tremor in 20 minutes. He thought maybe they had given him medication, but they hadn't. It was God that touched him right then, and it was not His will that Preston be given stronger medications that possibly would have hastened his death. He said he didn't remember that afternoon. Some things he remembers; some he doesn't. But the other day when the RN was here from Community Long Term care, he told her that if his heart stopped and he stopped breathing, that he did not want CPR, to be brought back to life, and was able to put his initials on the paper. So I thought that was good. But we need a DNR form, Do Not Recessitate, and have that in place. Anyhow, enough of that morbid talk.

Things are improving, day by day. He is now able to wear and see his watch!!! His eyes have improved a lot. He watched dvds today and enjoyed it. So, we just take one day at a time, and enjoy every day that we have with him, because we know it could all end in a very short time, if God wills. He is so sweet, most of the time. He is not as aggressive as he was before his illness. I believe most of that is gone, with the tubing gotten out of his brain. He has his sense of humor back. He does get tired of being messed with and tells us to Stop, but I know it gets tiresome for him.

Well, tomorrow is Sunday and Jr. and I will take turns going to church and taking Missie. Preston misses church so bad. He can hardly wait to go back.