decisions are made for dad

Well today has been a hard day for my family.  We met with the medial team in dad’s room this morning and discussed our options for the best possible care for dad to have the best quality of life that he has left.  We listened to the doctors, we expressed our concerns and most importantly we listened to what dad wanted to do.  Tears were shed and decisions were made. 

I’m staying again tonight at the hospital with dad as the rest of the family goes to his home and prepares it for his arrival tomorrow.  Dad clearly stated he wanted to go home to die.  We all agreed to respect his wishes.  Dad will be released from the hospital tomorrow with round the clock care from the family with the help of hospice.

Lots of preparations are needed with medical equipment and lots of changing around of his home.  While that is all being done i’m staying with dad and making him as comfortable as possible.  Dad has been diagnosed with stage IV Prostate/bladder cancer.  The cancer has spread throughout his body and with the bowel obstruction.

Because his bowels still are not functioning even after surgery and numerous treatments he will be going home with a NG tube and oxygen only.  As of today there is a order of DNR that dad had put in place a while back and given to us kids to use when we were ready to let him go.  Sadly today we are honoring our dad’s wish and have given the orders.  Dad does not want any type of life sustaining equipment.

I will be spending as much time as possible with my dad in the last days of his life.  Please pray for my family as letting go of someone you love is very hard.  I know that dad is going to a better place and he will soon be reunited with family he hasn’t seen for sometime. 

update on my dad

Spent last night and will be again tonight at the hospital with dad.  I’ve talked to the doctors .. the news on my dad is not good and tomorrow there is a family meeting being held with the doctors to decide what our next step should be for dad. We know that we are now in stage IV of his cancer.  It’s such a tragedy to see how much change since the last time i saw him.  

All of plans have been put on hold until further notice.  No family vacation as there is preparations needed to be done to prepare for what is ahead of us. 

Please pray for my dad and our entire family as we face some very hard decisions tomorrow and in the near future

Where am I?

It’s been awhile since i have posted.  Life has been very hectic for us.  My dad is still in the hospital having ups and downs and recently it’s more downs as he is getting much weaker.  Dad had to have bowel blockage surgery a week ago Thursday and having complications.  We are basically back to where we started before the surgery except dad is much weaker then before.  It took dad over 6 hours to come out of the recovery room and off the ventilator. 

We have been spending as much time as possible with the grand kids as our son and daughter in law are separated and it’s a ruff time for the kids right now.   Our son has been staying with us until he can get a place of his own.  So we have lots going on there.  Papa and Grandma always enjoy the time we get to spend with our precious jewels.

In between time we’ve been busy with everyday life and i just haven’t had time or really much to post about that isn’t life’s problems.  The temps have warmed up and so being outside is miserable with the heat.  We had made plans to take a trip the 24th of June through July 8 but it’s looking like that vacation will be put on hold with all that is going on in our lives right now.

Our summer has has not been a summer of fun and traveling but i’m just thankful we are back home with all that is going on in our lives right now.  We’ve also had to replace our convertor this past week and several other expensive repairs.

 

I hope your summer is going better then mine .. i just wanted those of you who are not in contact with me to know YES I’m alive and well just extremely busy with everyday life.

My dad is back in the hospital

Well most of Saturday was spent cuddled up inside with an aching back and staying in the warmth of our home … In fact i was showered in my flannel pj’s early.  Late Saturday night Tyson and his family showed up to spend the night. 

We had an enjoying Sunday morning enjoying the grandkids and visiting with friends and then i got a phone call that my dad was on his way to hospital.  Once i found out they were admitting my dad we headed to the hospital to relieve my sister so she could take my brother home, get a shower and pack her a bag to spend the night with dad.

We spent time with dad at the hospital .. my sister came back and I'm so thankful to her that she can stay with dad .. there is no way that i can spend the night .. i’m down in my back from the time i spent sitting in those uncomfy chairs.  I feel guilty at times as there really isn’t much i can do to help dad or my sister.

We got home late and i took some pain meds and went to bed but as you can see I'm back up with an aching back .. they think dad has bowel blockage again .. please continue to pray for him .. he is in so much pain.

oh it’s cold again!

May ends with rain showers and temps dropping .. June starts with the cold & cloudy skies!  We played games with friends last night and the guys won the first 2 games and the women won the last 2.  We’ve been busy with just life things but not really much to blog about.  This summer appears to be a summer of life and all the bumps in the road.

My dad is not doing well again, now my sister is having some health issues and our oldest son is struggling with some personal issues.  I ask that you remember all 3 in your prayers.  We are thankful that we can be here for all of them. 

 

I did snap a picture of my Lilly's before they died out .. they are beautiful just don’t last long enough.  We have been discussing and trying to plan what we want to do this winter.  It’s hard to decide what we should do with all that is going on in our lives right now.  It’s seems to be a toss up between Florida and Arizona.

Posing for Grandma

Hailey is still staying with us.  We are truly enjoying our time with her.  She wanted to do some posing for my camera and of course i couldn’t resist.

I took tons of pictures of her and these are my favorites

 

these are precious of Hailey and our son Tyson .. these 3 are my favorites .. they bring tears to my eyes when i look at them .. the love a father has for his daughter is breath taking.

   

of course i had to capture grandpa .. yes i know he needs to smile

 

We even changed clothes like a real model would .. Hailey had a blast posing and grandma had a blast taking precious photos that will last a life time.

Princess Hailey is beautiful in her daddy’s, grandpa’s and grandma’s eyes

Memorial Day Weekend

We’ve been busy enjoying life and family and friends.  Sunday was a cook out with our oldest son Tyson and the grandkids, my brother Ronnie, his wife and grandkids came over to spend the day.

the girls enjoying the pool

 

the boys enjoying the pool

 

Our neighbor has a bird next in his water hose .. they are so adorable

   

Monday we spent the day with our grand daughter and later our son Tyson stopped by to visit.  We’ve had a great busy weekend and more to come with our granddaughter.

 

I’d like to thank all those who have served our country as we do not forget the true meaning of why we celebrate this holiday.  Happy Memorial Day to you all.