My sis and her grandbaby, Elizabeth, she is a doll!

My sis and her grandbaby, Elizabeth, she is a doll!

My nephew Will, his wife Nicole and the newest family member, my great niece Elizabeth

My nephew Will, his wife Nicole and the newest family member, my great niece Elizabeth

Mom, me, Barb and Myles (my sis and bro)

Mom, me, Barb and Myles (my sis and bro)

Missie and Uncle Myles (my brother)

Missie and Uncle Myles (my brother)

Missie and grandparents

Missie and grandparents

Missie at park in Brockville,Ont. Canada

Missie at park in Brockville,Ont. Canada

Missie and I went to Canada in October

Missie and I went to Canada in October
Mom and Jim

Part of Preston's room, he has large room, calls it his apt.

Part of Preston's room, he has large room, calls it his apt.
has a recliner and little refrig.

Missie wanted her room lime green and black

Missie wanted her room lime green and black
turned out very nice!

Left side of kitchen

Left side of kitchen

Right side of kitchen (sunflowers)

Right side of kitchen (sunflowers)

Other half of living room

Other half of living room

Part of living room

Part of living room

Part of our dining room, it is a large room

Part of our dining room, it is a large room

Our new home!

Our new home!

Jr.s shop

Jr.s shop

2 car garage

2 car garage

This is the only way it would let me post :(

Here it is December, where has time gone. I just realized this a.m. I have not posted pics of our new home, where we moved to in May. I am really bad at blogging now :( Preston is doing great! He did have a cold, but other than that, he is doing well! We are so thankful for that.Missie loves Union Bible Academy. She has moved into the dorm so she won't have to drive 1 1/2 hrs/day and during winter it would have been hard. She loves living in dorm and having her friends there. She is in choir and absolutely loves that and travels when they travel. She is maintaining a B average, and that is great! It was a big switch to switch from ACE cirriculum to textbooks, but she has done very well. We love our home, and spending our first holidays in it! Will post some pics.

Preston and Missie before surgery

Preston and Missie before surgery

Preston before surgery

Preston before surgery

Preston after his surgery

Preston after his surgery

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Will someone tell me???

if there is a place that you can leave a message when you read my blog? I am not seeing any place and I am wondering what you are seeing.

normagwen2@yahoo.com

thanks,

Ok, here is the plan

Preston has to be at Greenville Memorial Hospital at 7:15 on Monday a.m. and surgery is 9:15, give or take a couple of hours, LOL. Been there, done that, may not get taken to surgery until later, but hopefully not much later!

After he gets through the surgery, the next high risk is infection. Nurse at hospital told me today that everyone who goes in to see him needs to have their hands washed with soap and water. Infection in the brain can be deadly, and even infection in the shunt causes the shunt to not work and we are in big trouble there as well. We have been through staph infection in his shunt when he had shunt surgery in NC. It was not fun, believe me!

So I am trying to get through until Monday, without crashing totally. I am so stressed and exhausted tonight. Hoping rest tonight will help me. My fibro. flairs too when I am under stress and over tired.

Keep praying for us please.

What a day!

This has been a crazy day. I have a sticker laying right here that I am getting ready to stick to my blouse, "I'm going crazy and I'm taking everyone with me!"

First Preston wanted me to call and see when he could have surgery SOON so they called me back and said tomorrow afternoon. Well, he didn't want to miss his stories tomorrow night that he listens to on the radio, but we told him he could take a radio and listen to them at the hospital. So he decided ok. Then hospital called and we did all the pre-registration stuff, BUT he cannot have anything to eat after midnight tonight and his surgery is not until 3:20 tomorrow afternoon. There is no way that would work. I cannot fight with Preston all day tomorrow to keep him from eating, and if he does eat they can't do the surgery anyhow, what a mess. So I am trying to reschedule the surgery and get it scheduled on a morning, but now the lady that does it won't call me back. She thought they would have let him have a little something in the a.m. and I asked the hospital about yogurt and they said no. He said he would do fine if he could eat a yogurt and take his meds., but it is a no go situation. So I have to call everyone back to tell them the surgery is not tomorrow, but trying to wait and see if she calls and tells me when it is. I am praying that she hasn't left the office already, and that we will know something tonight. My nerves feel like they are falling apart.

I mopped the bathroom and Preston had to use gobs and gobs of wipes to clean himself and totally plugged the toilet. It took me forever to try and get it unplugged and some splashed on the clean floor, so mopped over that again. Then I saw he had BM on his shirt, and did he want to change it??? Never!!!! Wanted me to wash it out and spray it with febreese so it wouldn't stink, did all of that, and he ended up changing it after all. I feel I deserve to have a nervous breakdown! ha.

Since I thought surgery was tomorrow, and my inlaws were coming here in a.m, I wanted to get some work done here, as far as cleaning. I did get kitchen mopped. Missie cleaned her room, folded clothes and vacuumed living room for me. Now she is gone to the church where she goes for co-op to practice for their program tomorrow. They picked her up; the same people that take her every Friday. Her nerves have been on edge all day too. She was scared for me to tell him the surgery was tomorrow, then she was scared for me to tell him he couldn't eat in the morning, on and on. I told her to take her medication; it is a natural product that helps with her anxiety. So it is good that she is gone for a while. After supper I am going to town.

I have these new top dentures and will they stay where they belong? Of course not, that would be too easy. When I talk they are falling down and it drives me crazy. So I have to get some adhesive to make them stick in my mouth, TONIGHT!!!! I cannot even eat with these things in my mouth. I can eat better without them, then with them in.

So at this point, I know Preston has to have surgery, but I don't know when. I wanted to know tonight before the office closes, but where is the lady???? Just my luck, she has left early or something???

I only have one question: WHY IS MY LIFE SO COMPLICATED????

Missie and I, if all is well with Preston, are flying to NY on June 23 and going on into Canada to my mom's for almost a week. I need that relaxation sooo bad. It will be good for Missie and I both. Daddy and Preston will stay here as they both are homebodies.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Oh no, surgery around the corner!

Well, Preston is headed for surgery. We took him to neurosurgeon yesterday and he has fluid on his brain, meaning that the shunt is not working properly. In case you don't know what a shunt is, it drains the fluid off of his brain into his abdomen. Anyhow, apparently it is working sometimes but not others. The bad headaches are from the pressure on his brain when it is not working. So now when he feels a headache coming on, I pump it a few times and that seems to help. But tonight he was leaning so bad on his good side, which he has never done before. So I am calling tomorrow and pushing for a surgery date. He was able to get through the day without pain medication but laid down a lot, and took naps. He was able to walk to woodworking shop at end of driveway and tell the guys there he is having surgery. Then later he went to get the mail and when he got back from that he was puffing and little strength left. I will be so glad when it is all over. If everything goes well, he will only have to stay one night in the hospital. His daddy will stay with him. Missie and I will stay here at home. Missie does not want to go to the hospital for his surgery due to her extreme nervousness. I am not sure if my inlaws will come down from SC or not.

So at least we know what is causing Preston's problems and just want to get it fixed so we can get back to normal, which is a strange kind of normal around here.

Monday, April 23, 2007

Update

Well, our neighbor was getting married on Sat. and Missie was asked on Fri. night to fix her train after she got to the front, and Missie was so excited. She had a red jumper with flowers and she wore that, as the color for the girls were red. It was a different kind of a wedding. There were no men except the groom, and the bride's little boy. But the bride had 3 attendants and a flower girl. Their standards were not good, but they are not holiness people. It was a very small wedding and I took some pictures for her. She was widowed. Her and her husband separated but shortly after they did, the husband found out he had a cancerous brain tumor, and he passed away. So sad, he was so young. Anyhow, Missie was happy to have a small part in the wedding, she has never been in a wedding before.

Last night Preston and I went to church, and to the fellowship afterward, and we had to leave early. Preston was having the blindness again. Glad we are going to the neurosurgeon tomorrow. Missie is having stomach problems. We thought it a virus, hopefully it is, but could be her nerves too, with all that is going on with Preston.
She and I cried together for a while last night; we would rather see him go to Heaven than to suffer and not have much of a quality of life. Sometimes I feel so all alone in this situation. I know people have their own lives and are busy, but if I didn't have my online groups and friends, I don't think I would make it. A lot of them don't even believe like I do, but they pray for us. I appreciate anyone who will pray for us.

I thought these pictures of the kids and the cats were cute. Actually Garfield is Preston's cat and Bear is Missie's cat. Garfield loves attention and craves it. Bear is not as friendly but Missie loves on her. We finally had to start putting them out at night. Garfield tried to get out of the windows and made a lot of noise and got into stuff. So it is better to put them out at night, I just hope they disappear like our last cats did.

So long for now.

Saturday, April 14, 2007

Still having headaches

Well, Preston is still having headaches and gets scared because of what happened yesterday. So I have been trying to keep him calm today and I am so exhausted. I am hoping and praying for a headache free day tomorrow. I can't wait until Monday and hopefully Dr. Johnson, the neurosurgeon will be in his office to view the cd of the CT scan he had done on his brain yesterday. If that looks ok to the dr., then we go to the next step. I have already sent an email to psychiatrist about what is happening so on Monday he he will know. If it is not the shunt, then maybe it is the cymbalta, the new meds. the psychiatrist put him on.

My dentures are driving me crazy too, I didn't get to go on Fri. and get them adjusted. Plan to do that Monday too. They are gagging me and also the one side is too high and hurts. I just have too many problems right now.

Missie came home this a.m. I missed her being gone all day yesterday and all night. I took her to Walmart today to spend some money she had. So we had some time alone, just she and I.

We just need lots of prayer right now.

Norma

Emergency Room

Well, it has been quite a day.
Preston was having a good day, and was visiting with guys in the woodworking shop at the end of our driveway. He came into the house and told me he couldn't see. He kept saying it. His eyesight is very poor so I thought that was what he meant. He meant more than that. Sometimes he could see, sometimes he couldn't, it was so scary. I called hubby at work and told him to please come home and called the eye dr. They said to bring him in. After going to eye dr. and he couldn't see any problem with Preston's eyes, we were trying to get him back into car to go to ER and he could hardly talk, or hold his head up and said his hand was numb a few minutes before that. We thought he was having a stroke, so we drove to our family dr. and dr. wanted us to take him to ER because of the symptoms so we did that. He made a scene in the waiting room, yelling and saying his head was hurt and why didn't they call him back, etc. etc., finally they called him back and he laid down and almost went to sleep. He started to feel better after he laid down. They did a CT scan on his brain, but had nothing to compare it too. They said his ventricles were a little large in his brain, was that normal? I told the dr. he has hydracephlus and had a shunt for that, and he understood. Whether they are too big we won't know until I can get this cd they made me of the scan, to his neurosurgeon. When we got home he ate and started having a bad headache again and was getting upset. I gave him aleve and told him to lay down and he did and went to sleep and when he woke up he was ok. So I don't know what is going on. If the scan looks ok to the neurosurgeon, then will talk to psychiatrist and see if it could be cymbalta, that is the new medication he is on, and has been having headaches every since he went on it, but then skipped a couple of days after we started giving him the meds. at night, so I didn't even tell the dr. about it Thurs. But will now if the neurosurgeon thinks his shunt is doing ok; ask the psychiatrist about the cymbalta.
Just pray for us the rest of the weekend, that he will be ok, until we can talk to the neurosurgeon on Monday. Not sure any of us can handle another ER experience this weekend.
Missie was with friends, a dear family of 10, all day and this evening went to hear Ryan Dobson speak in Easley with the girls. She is spending the night with them. I guess when you have 8 children, 1 more doesn't make much of a difference??? I guess I won't ever know about that. They are precious, loving people, even the children. We certainly love them.
Well, I need to try and get some sleep. Never know what tomorrow will bring. Only God knows what is wrong with Preston and how to help him, and all of us!

Norma

Sunday, April 8, 2007

Easter Sunday

Well, it is Easter Sunday. It is the day we celebrate our risen Lord!!! I am so glad we are not serving a dead God. HE IS ALIVE!!!
This a.m. Missie went to church with friends to their Easter program. It is a very big church, and along the charismatic line. She really enjoyed the program, and said it really touched her heart about the death of Jesus. I have been to their programs in the past, and they do great programs at Easter and Christmas. Then she came home for dinner and a while and then is gone to the nursing home service and from there on to church tonight. So she has had a full day for sure. But she loves it!!! She is a go-getter.
I stayed home with Preston this a.m. and went back to bed and had some much needed extra rest. Preston didn't get up until 10:40. Jr. went to church and enjoyed the service.
We are off in a few minutes to service tonight and to eat afterwards at the fellowship hall. It is always nice, except it can get so noisy in there. Sometimes the noise is hard on Preston. If it is not raining outside, he will go outside and sit on the step after he is done eating and that let's the rest of us finish eating and talking.
Well, back to school this week. Spring break is over. I know Missie is dreading it.

Norma

Saturday, April 7, 2007

Mistake in last post

I need to proofread, and I didn't.
I meant to say that Preston is NOT doing so well right now, and that is why he cannot go to Sunday a.m. services right now.

Norma

Sad

Today I have been sad.
Preston is doing so well. He is having to stay home now on Sunday mornings. I hate that we cannot go together to Easter service, on Sun a.m. I love to go to church on Christmas and Easter, etc. But the Lord knows all about it. I have been in tears a few times today. Junior said I could go, but I said no, I went last Sunday a.m. and it is his turn, and it wouldn't be as special if we cannot go together! I don't feel complete without my hubby, especially to church. Missie is actually going with friends to their church in a.m. to their Easter program. She helped them set up for the play and clean the church yesterday, so she wanted to go to the program. I was so thrilled because this family has 8 eight children and they are "good children." They don't have the dress standards we do, but other than that, they are so sweet and the 15 yr. old dd and Missie had a good talk yesterday about dating, prematial sex, etc. She really helped Missie. She explained to Missie about courtship instead of dating, which I had already talked to her about. But Hannah really got through to Missie and for that I am thankful. Anyhow, they are picking her up by 8:30 in a.m. and talking her with them. I will stay with Preston, and hubby will go to our own church.
For Easter dinner, I am fixing ham which is cooking now, turkey ham, tossed salad, mashed potatoes and gravy, I love ham gravy, homemade rolls, cheesecake for dessert. There is cherry pie fill to put on the cheesecake for those who want it.
I made 4 kinds of cookies today, using splenda. Oatmeal, oatmeal choc. chip, choc. chip and peanut butter.
So now I need to go and wash dishes.

Norma

Thursday, April 5, 2007

Time flies

Well, it has been a while since I posted. Things have been a bit hard with Preston. I figured out he was too sedated by one of his meds. so I cut back on it and he is doing much better, and going outside, and doing things rather than sleeping most of the time. BUT he is having bad headaches. I think it may be sinus??? But who knows. It could be a number of things when it comes to Preston.
Thurs. we go to the psychiatrist. We have a lot to talk about. I increased his bedtime dose of medication and cut the day time meds back by half. He cannot function and be doped up like that. But it is the medication that keeps him from getting agitated and violent. So it can be difficult.
Last night Missie and Preston played games on the kitchen table. It was so exciting to see them having fun together. Today they sat out in the woods and she read him a few chapter out of a book and he really liked the book.
Everyone here is in bed, and Missie is at a friend's for a sleepover. I like her at home, but they begged and begged and since it is spring break, we gave in. We are very particular about who she spends the night with.
Well, tomorrow is Friday. I am supposed to go by the dentist's tomorrow to get the back of my dentures shaved off some because I am gagging a lot with them in, and they said that they need to be shaved. It is at the other end of Greenville though, and traffic will probably be horrific. But Junior doesn't get off any other day on time for me to go. I am afraid that I will gag in church if I don't get them fixed tomorrow. Since the swellling of my mouth has gone down, I have started gagging. Oh the joys of dentures.
My mom has postponed her wedding for right now. They are having problems finding a place to live. She will be 75 in June and he will be 80 in May. They have been dating almost 2 years.
Missie and I have our reservations to fly to NY in June. My brother will meet us at Syracuse airport and drive us on into Canada. I got Missie a window seat, and she is so excited. She has never been on an airplane before. We will be gone from June 23 to June 29. Junior is taking vacation and staying with Preston. They both would rather stay at home. Jr. has projects around here he wants to get done. I can hardly wait to see my mom. It has been almost 3 years since I have seen her.

Goodnight everyone!

Tuesday, April 3, 2007

Tuesday

Well, today has been a bit of a hard day.
Preston got agitated when he got up which is unusual and wouldn't take his medication for a while. Once he took it and ate he did better, except he is so tired. He slept after breakfast, also slept this afternoon, and was so tired this evening and had a headache so went to bed. We think he might be battling a sinus problem or some kind of illness. He sleeps a lot if he is fighting an infection, or has sinus congestion.
I should have gone to a viewing tonight, for a lady in our church that passed away from cancer, but Preston didn't want me to leave him. So I didn't get to go and won't get to the funeral either tomorrow afternoon. I feel bad, I have known these people for years. But I cannot do what I cannot do. Jr. cannot take off work to go to the funeral.
Missie is on spring break. Tomorrow she goes to another homeschooling family's home and spends the day with them. They are going to a park and have a picnic. She will enjoy that. She played yesterday and today with the little neighbor girl. Tonight they disected a frog, and she loved it! She was showing her daddy and I different parts of the frog and the worms etc. that was in his stomach that he had eaten. It was a good science lesson for her.
Going to bed soon.
Hoping tomorrow will be better for us all.

Norma

Sunday, April 1, 2007

Well, things have taken a twist. For the last 3 Sunday a.m.'s, when I would help Preston with his clothes for church, he would get agitated and start attacking me. It was because he was tired. So Missie and I went on, and he stayed home and Jr. stayed with him. After Missie and I left, Preston laid down and slept 2 1/2 more hours. So for right now, he won't be attending SS or morning worship. He hates to miss, but he realizes it is better for him, at least while we are working on his medication. He sleeps almost every a.m. after breakfast. The dr. hoped he would get over the extreme sleepiness as times goes on. We will see. It is a day by day thing with Preston. One day at a time is the only way to live. We take the good times as they come and the bad times as well. The outbursts and attacks are much fewer so we are thankful for that. He was able to go to church tonight and to the fellowship hall afterwards. But we left quite early because it was very noisy in there and it had been rainy outside. He usually goes out and sits on the step but it was too wet. But it was fine with me to come home. We were all about done anyhow. We have to just keep his stress level as low as possible, and everyone is happier.

My mouth is still bothering me. I have big bumps under my upper lip and it feels awful. There are pieces of bone or tooth coming through. I was able to get one piece out with tweezers. I can't wait for my mouth to heal. What an ordeal, but a lady at church tonight told me my dentures look nice!!! It is nice to have a nice smile again, and not be self conscious about my teeth. It just takes time.

Missie attended the nursing home service today and enjoyed it. The older people love her and she loves them. She has a heart for them. I am glad she goes with Wesley and Felicia Wilson to these services. There are 2 each month. She loves to sing too, and has a good voice, so many at church love to hear her sing.

Well, that is my update for today,

Norma




Norma