In Case You Were Wondering

Mommy & Daddy brought home a "squirrel" on September 12 . . . a noisy, wiggly squirrel.  The first few days were tough on us because tons of people were visiting and - for some crazy reason - they weren't here to see us!

We are still getting used to our new life of interrupted sleep and sharing our space and people, but we're adjusting so far.

Love,
Steve & Pippin

Welcome to Our Family

Our little blessing . . . Miss Katherine Leigh!   "Kate" was born September 11, 2012 at 11:08am weighing 7 lbs. 2 oz. and 20 inches long. We are proud, humbled, blessed, and already a little tired. ;)  Kate is more beautiful than we could have ever imagined!

Another Goodbye

We lost my Great Aunt Rita on Sunday.  She was like a grandmother to me because my Dad and I spent almost every weekend with her and Uncle Charlie.  She spent time playing games with me, teaching me to read (I read at age 2!), took me places, taught me Sunday School, helped me with college finances, talked about All My Children with me, and even taught me to drive a stick shift in their Jeep.  We won't mention that it's surprising she didn't die that day . . .  :)

Aunt Rita, Uncle Charlie, and I on my wedding day.

Aunt Rita and Uncle Charlie were married almost 65 years!  Can you believe that?  They were the model for marriage to my family and I.  The love they had for one another was precious and rare.  I now worry for Uncle Charlie because he has lost the love of his life - literally.

I am thankful that I had the chance to see her Saturday night and  take the time to stroke her hair, tell her I love her and say goodbye.  I knew it would be the last time.  I just felt it.  Now I'm imagining how heartbroken Uncle Charlie truly is but also imagining her in Heaven with the many who went before her.  Yes, we'll see her again someday, but we sure do miss her now.

Jeffrey Update, 9.13.11

I had a long & late day of work, so here is Mom's note from today.  Go Team Jeffrey!

"Today has been interesting.  Dr. Q said the xray showed some improvement even from yesterday.  Rick wanted me to ask about a rating on a 1-10 scale.  Doc said Jeff started at 0 and is now a 5.  The identification of the specific bug he’s fighting with antibiotics to treat and the hyperinflation of the lungs is what he says is helping.  Also today the staff got Jeff up to a cardiac chair for just over an hour.  At first he really enjoyed it – signing “go, store, coke”.  He all too soon learned that those were waiting but complied.  After about 40-45 minutes he was tired & asking to go back to bed. By the time he got back to bed he was really tired & went to sleep.  It took 5 people to move him because of all the stuff to clear but went extremely smoothly. His heart rate & blood pressure held really well.  He is still on the vent of course. 

Again it’s a slow process but I feel that Jeff is really starting to gain some ground. Thank you all for being such an important part of his success.  Every single person makes a difference.  I’ve said it before & will again “Jeffrey either brings out the best or the worst in people – they reveal who they are”.  Obviously you all are a great group of people.  We thank you all & love you all.  We’ll stay in touch again soon.  Love,  Jeff & Family"

Brother & Sister Time, Update for 9.5.11

Day 23 in the hospital, Day 18 in the ICU.

I spent several hours at the hospital today just hanging out with my brother.  I hadn't seen him since Thursday night, and I really missed him.  Thankfully Rick stayed at the hospital last night & Mom went home and slept for 13 hours straight.  It was her second night sleeping at home in over three weeks.  Sleeping in chairs (not reclining chairs) isn't the most restful, comfortable sleep for anyone.  However, being the awesome Mom she is, she refuses to leave the hospital.

Jeffrey looked good today and seems to prefer the trach to being intubated.  I don't blame him.  He was very interactive with me today, asking (signing) about his bag, his toy, work, and more.  I slathered lip stuff on his lips in hopes they will get some moisture.  I irritated him and wiped his face with a wet washcloth.  I charged his iPod.  Not much else I can do, unfortunately.  Jeff wanted to hold my hand almost the entire time I was there & I was more than happy to do it.  If I offered him my left hand, he pushed it away and grabbed for my right hand.  So maybe he's a little rotten now!  :)  After Mom got there, I became the evil sister and Jeff didn't want much to do with me.  Yes, rotten!

Since I had my left hand free, I sneaked a quick shot of this:

Obviously taken before Mom showed up and turned me to chopped liver.

Jeff will have a cat scan of his chest tomorrow to see if there are any other abnormalities or issues.  His left lung is still not fully inflating as it should be, and doctors want to see if they are missing anything.  Depending on what the scan shows, they may/may not start the weaning process to get him off the vent.  Jeff is not on any other medications other than an NG tube for nutrition (can't eat or drink yet) and a saline drip.  He did get some potassium through his picc line and after a percussion treatment and suction, he requested medicine and got one unit of morphine.

All in all, progress is very very very slow.  We'd love to just get him out of that bed and take him outside or give him a Coke to drink, but that can't happen until he can breathe on his own.  I just want him to be better, and we're all praying like crazy for that to happen.  Thanks for your continued prayers for my brother.  If you'd like to leave a note for Jeff and/or Mom in the comments, I will get it to them.

9.2.11 - Trach Day

Last night was tough for Jeff's sister.  I had a hard time leaving the hospital and cried off and on before and after I finally headed towards home.  To much of the outside world, Jeffrey may not "look" perfect.  However, he is my perfect brother to me.  I hate, hate, hate that he is going through all of this after being chosen by God to live such a difficult life as it is.  I am upset that Jeff's perfect appearance will be further altered.  At the same time, I want my brother back.  I need to be back to the place where I'm irritated with my little brother for his "call of the wild" (screaming) and signing work incessantly until your arm is sore from his signing so hard with his arm.  I'll just have to remember how much I'm wishing for it when it starts up again!  :)

After working a 12-hour work day and being banned from the hospital because of a sore throat, I'll share with you Mom's email from today after the tracheostomy.

"Trach placed without any problem.  Nurse stated not much bleeding.  Almost strange to see his mouth without the big tube in.  Think he'll like it much better.  He'll start waking up in a bit; morphine ordered for pain.  Dr. Q (the ICU doc) looked further into lung & said it looked good.  Jeff was a little anemic so he'll get 2 units of blood today.

Rick brought his razor & shaved Jeff this AM before procedure.  Jeff was sleeping before procedure so didn't put his sunglasses on today.  We're back in the room with him now (we = Jeff's parents - Dad, Joyce, Rick, Mom).  Dr. S (doctor who performed the trach) was so nice.  He said even though this is a simple procedure there can be complications and he likes to pray with patient & family if that was okay.  He said a great prayer.  He is such a nice man & so impressive in all respects.

Our thanks to all of you for your visits, thoughts, prayers.  Today could be a great day for a new beginning.  Love to all, Jeff & family"

Here's to new beginnings . . . goodness knows Jeffrey is due one.  Thanks for the prayers that have gotten us this far.  We're asking for more so that continues.

Jeffrey Update, 8-28-11

15 days in the hospital, 9 days in the ICU . . .

As of late this morning, Jeffrey is completely off all sedation.  He is opening his eyes, but he can't communicate much since he is still intubated and lightly restrained.  The progress of improving his lung function has been minimal.  The left lung still holds a good amount of fluid, and mucus is still present.  Because of this, he can't be taken off the ventilator.  Weaning him off the vent has been basically non-existent.  Respiratory comes in every four hours for percussion treatments and breathing treatments in hopes that will loosen the secretions.  Jeffrey has to be able to cough up things to breathe on his own.  The scariest part of all of this is that the pulmonologist (lung doctor) wants to do a tracheotomy on Wednesday if Jeff's not off the vent by then.  I am opposed to this idea, but I also don't want him vent-dependent either.  It's such a fine line of what is best for Jeffrey now and in the long run.

I stayed with him for about four hours today and shipped Mom and Rick off to the movies and a bite to eat.  Jeff wasn't overly thrilled with the idea of his sister kissing him and being in his face, but he was still nice about letting me know to stop.  In the time I was there, he was suctioned multiple times, a full breathing and percussion treatment, two sticks to draw blood, one injection of insulin, and having his mouth cleaned and suctioned again.  However, through all of the poking and tubes and pounding and prodding, Jeffrey is still such a sweetheart.  Neurologically, his personality and mind are still intact.  This is relieving because we still have as much of our Jeffrey as we can right now.  I just want my little brother off that damn ventilator.  I told him today that it was time to bust out of that joint, so he needed to cough a lot and get the tube out.  And when he finally got rid of the tube, he could have all the coke he wants.

So . . . please keep your prayers coming.  Pray that Jeffrey is able to get off the vent by breathing on his own and getting extubated.  Pray that the need for a trach disappears.  Pray for my Mom, too, because she is wearing thin now (though she wouldn't dare let anyone know it) and needs support as well.  Your prayers are being heard.  We appreciate all of you and your prayer groups.  Keep it up!

Jeff Update: Monday 8/22

This will be very brief since I'm completely spent after surviving the first day of school.  Jeffrey is still critical but stable.  The ICU staff and the many, many other medical staff that help him are amazing.  For that, we are blessed.

Preliminary biopsy results are coming in, so we hope to know more soon.  Of course, there is a strong chance we will never know why Jeff had the seizure that began all of this, but we can hope.  Please continue your prayers that my brother's body can get some rest and healing from the ventilator and sedation.  Doctors hope to slowly wean him from the vent over the next couple of days.  It's going to be a process that will take longer than we might like/want, but it is what is best for Jeff.

Thanks for everything --- Jeff's Family

Prayers for My Hero

This is going to be as detailed as I can get in my exhausted, emotional state without being too much.

My brother, Jeffrey, has been in the hospital for eight days now.  As you may or may not know, Jeffrey is handicapped and has been through more trials in this life than anyone should have to endure.  Jeff has a smile that is contagious and a laugh that can make you lose your own breath in laughter.  He had a generalized seizure on Saturday the 13th while with our Mom and her husband.  They were shopping at W.al.mar.t and thankfully paramedics were shopping in that same store when 911 was called.  After they checked him, Mom decided to take Jeff to the ER of the hospital where she works.  They decided to admit him, and he's been there since.

In trying to determine the cause of the seizure, doctors found that Jeffrey has chronic mast.oiditis and fluid in his ears.  A lum.bar puncture was planned and happened last Tuesday (I think).  His proteins in his fluid were more than double of the high end of the normal range which is a sign of inflammation.  After infectious diseases ran a battery of tests on the spinal fluid, blood cultures & such, it was found that Jeff has no viral or bacterial issues that may have caused the seizures.  Therefore, a meni.ngial biopsy was then scheduled for last Thursday to determine the cause.  The surgery went extremely well & Jeff was scheduled to stay in the ICU for observation that night.  His poor head is bandaged like a nun's habit, but he was comfortable on pain meds and doing well.  Friday is went things went to crap.

The ICU doctor - who just so happened to be the doctor who saved Jeff's life twelve years ago when he was in the same hospital with a collapsed lung - was on the ICU floor when he noticed Jeff's oxygen didn't look good.  He determined that Jeffrey had an obstruction and within minutes, Jeff was sedated, his lungs suctioned for mucus, and placed on a ventilator.  He has been on it since (now over 48 hours).

Our hopes were that extubation would occur today, but when the respiratory team tried to wean him off the vent, Jeff's fragile lungs and body couldn't handle it.  They left him intubated, but even with the ventilator doing most of the work, Jeff's oxygen saturation was subpar.  Medical staffers finally got everything under control right around the time I got to the hospital.  When you have a mom that is a nurse, you follow her lead.  When things started going downhill, Mom got scared.  When I spoke with her by phone, I got scared.  Everyone got scared.  And we still are.

I know there are probably more details, but between working twelve hour days preparing to return to school tomorrow and worrying about Jeffrey, my world has been rocked.  I will ask for some specific prayers at this point, but general prayers for Jeff's healing will be gladly cherished as well.

Specifics:
Pray that Jeffrey can be extubated and his lungs will function independently.
Pray that biopsy results return with a cause of the seizure that can be easily treated.
Pray for my more than tired Mom who has spent all but a few hours one night in the hospital with Jeff.
Pray for the continued wisdom and caring of the medical staff caring for Jeff.
Pray for comfort and peace for our entire family and for all who love my brother (which is MANY).

Family Time

As a family, we are preparing for Whitney to leave for college.  She's our first to fly from the nest, so many of us (esp. her Mom, her Papa, and me) are struggling with it.  While Whit will do awesome, it's hard to believe that she is an adult now and will be on her own.  It is a time of excitement, fear of the unknown, and filled with pride.

Another bbq at Papa & Marilynn's was planned & we all had a great time!  Everyone was there (meaning my sisters and our families).  Here are some shots of Whitney with the family before she breaks our hearts heads out on her own and takes on the world!

Whitney smiling while True (age 5) acts silly.

Whitney is great with little kids - ha!!  (Whit & Hayden, age 2)

Whitney & her Papa (my Dad)

The first four of my beautiful nieces - Courtney (15), Kilee (11), Ashley (16) & Whitney (18).

Me with Whitney . . . my "Sweetie Girl," my first niece, my love.

Go get 'em Whit - and Hook 'Em!!!!

California Comes to Texas!

For the first time since I can remember, a large part of the California Clan of our family came to Dallas for a visit.  My Uncle Al (my Dad's brother), Aunt Ruth, Cousin Jeff, Cousin Alicia, her husband Tom, and their kids Kelsey and Kaeton were here for only a couple of days.  They flew from California to Missouri, where they then drove through Oklahoma and to Texas.  Quite a tour!

We all went to lunch at The Pub in downtown McKinney.  Afterwards, Jeff and I hit the Landon Winery for a tasting while the others shopped.  Later in the afternoon, the "grown ups" looked around downtown McK.  I introduced Alicia and Kelsey to Sam Moon while we dropped off Tom, Jeff & Kaeton at Dave & Buster's.  Dinner was catered BBQ at Dad and Marilynn's.

Here are some pics.  I hope to get more sent to me by the CA gang.





We always have such a great time together.  It was great to see everyone, but the time was too short.  We're hoping they visit again soon!  (Hint, hint:  I know you're reading this, Aunt Ruth!!!!!)

Whitney's Graduation!

June 7, 2011:

There is nothing like getting up at the butt-crack of dawn during your summer vacation to suffer through morning traffic while driving downtown to watch 1100 students graduate at 9:30am.  Seriously, who does that to that many people, uuhhh. . . I mean, high school seniors???

Well, despite the early morning, the walking to find a seat in the convention center arena (with an ankle I sprained walking the dogs), the heat, and the time . . . I would not have missed it for the world.

My first niece graduating from high school?  PRICELESS.

And photos:

Kilee excited to see her sister graduate.

1100 kids ready to walk!  Where's Waldo?

Me (looking awful) with my graduate!

Aunt Kristin and her girls.

Whitney's family

2011 Graduate

Congratulations, gorgeous!

Oh, and did we tell you that Papa wrecked his truck taking us to lunch?  Yep.

Rewind: Proud Aunt

May 21, 2011:


Whitney asked me to take photos of her before prom, and I happily obliged.  (Aunt Kristin knows how to get invited to important events - have a camera!)  Whit looked so pretty and happy.  It was still hard to see our little girl going to prom.  Ugh.

Here are just a few of the over 250 shots I took:

Pretty!

Whitney and her date/boyfriend, Cole.

Whitney & friend Kelsey - Hook 'Em!

WOW.  Where did my little girl go?

Whitney with Dad and Mom.

Cole putting on Whit's corsage.

Cole has a great sense of humor.

The twenty "kids" taking a bus to prom and to the lake afterwards.

Whitney and Cole ready to go.

Rewind: Easter 2011

April 24, 2011

Easter Sunday was spent with family and friends - good food, good wine, great company, and an Easter Egg hunt for the kids!

My baby brother and his family.
(Danielle, Aeva frowning, me, Will & Mike)

Lovely pic of my SIL and her Dad.

Family & Friends: Mom, Me, Noble, and Martin

Mom & Rick with their kids.

My Mommy and Me!

Preparing a plan to snag eggs inside and out!

Aeva cracking open some eggs.

Will smiles and says, "CANDY!"

We are blessed!

OUR Wish

I heard this song on my iPod while driving to work this morning, and it made me smile.  After Todd and I shared  our "first dance" at our wedding reception, we invited our family and wedding party to join us on the dance floor. This is the song we chose to play - "My Wish" by Rascal Flatts.  What a special time that was to be surrounded by our loved ones.

Whitney's Month

February 2, 2011:

Whitney officially becomes a Longhorn!

 It was quite a wild ride for her since the metroplex was iced in and there was no power in their neighborhood on National Signing Day.  After several HOURS power was restored, Whitney received her letter of intent by fax, and was finally able to sign & return it.

February 16, 2011:Whitney turns 18!

And gets a scary-ass homemade cake from Aunt Kristin!

Surprise!  Told you it was ugly!

Whitney loved the cake & said it was "the best cake of all!"  

Uncle Todd soon after burst her bubble saying this was the LAST cake she'd get.  Whitney's reply was, "I thought this was a lifetime thing!"  Yeah, I can see my 80 year old ass baking & decorating ugly cakes for her when she turns 55.

The Birthday Girl and her tired, cake-making aunt.  God, I love that girl!