Busy December 2014 Week

It was a very busy week - all the way around.  On Tuesday, 12/9, I took Mom for her Cardiac Rehab Assessment.  It was a two hour event, but it was mostly paperwork.  She did walk on the treadmill for 6 minutes, hooked up to a heart monitor.  Mom was very stressed about it, but I think she felt more comfortable with the upcoming rehab.

On Wednesday, I took Mom to for her follow-up visit with the cardiologist from KC who comes to St. Luke's Medical in Clinton a couple of times a week.  It was a different doctor from the group, Dr. Scharf, and Mom really liked him.  He increased her blood pressure medicine to 50 mg. twice a day due to having the two night need for nitro.  He wasn't concerned about the nitro and said she could take it every day if she needed it.  She hasn't needed it in almost two weeks now - yea!  He wants to see her in 3 months.  She has no dietary restrictions except to monitor salt intake.  Both the doctor and the rehab lady said she SHOULD eat dairy (she doesn't want to) to keep her bones strong.

Mom ran errands with me on Thursday.  Ron came home sick (I don't think he was too sick, but he did throw up once).  He was quarantined to the bedroom - poor guy - moved his recliner in there - had a remote, a TV, Sprite and crackers - sat and watched TV all day - he was in hog heaven.  I didn't want Mom to catch whatever he had, so I cleaned the bathroom again (had just done it) and lysoled everything.  All is well now.

Friday, I left Clinton around 6:30 a.m. to spend a fun day with Amanda!  I was thrilled.  We shopped and shopped - had lunch with Peyton at her school, went to Garrison's Christmas party at day care, had dinner at McDonald's (kids choice) and then took the kids to a birthday party in Olathe for one of Garrison's friends.  Garrison and I left Olathe at 8 p.m. to head for Clinton for the weekend.  Peyton, Amanda and Chad had plans to go to The Nutcracker on Saturday and didn't think Garrison would have much fun, so we were fortunate enough to get to have him in Clinton with us.

Garrison did great on the trip home and cooperated great getting ready for bed when we got home.  He slept with me downstairs in Amanda's bedroom and loved it!  He got the "flashlight gene" from his Great Grandma Mintun and liked shining the flashlight on the ceiling after we turned off the lights.  He slept with it under his pillow and asked about it first thing when he woke up.

On Saturday, we had a busy day.  After breakfast, Grandpa and Garrison went on a "man" trip to take the recycling and to return an item to Walmart.  We made Christmas ornaments out of paint sample strips and marshmallow pops for him to take home to his family.  At 11 a.m., we went bowling - he loved it.  He took a 3 hour nap, then we played and had McDonald's for dinner.  After his bath, we all watched Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer before bed.  He slept great again.  On Sunday morning, we went to church, then we all went to OP to take him home.

We went to Blue Moose for Sunday Brunch and caught up on the weekend with Peyton.  She had a great time going to the Nutcracker and taking a friend and also to Lidia's for a fancy dinner.  They dressed up and had a great time.

Sunday night I went to the First Baptist Church Christmas Program with Donna Briggs.  Monday, I'll take Mom to see Dr. Scott and then to rehab - Monday/Wednesday/Friday.

Lots of family memories.

All Around Child Christmas Program and More December 2014

The week started out pretty stressful.  Mom had chest pains both Sunday and Monday evenings and had to have nitro pills both time to get relief.  Luckily, it only took two pills each time, and she has not had any chest pain since.  For that, we are thankful.  She has felt a little better each day and is getting stronger each day.

On Thursday, the three of us traveled to Overland Park for the kids' day care Christmas program.  Chad's parents joined us at Amanda and Chad's house for a delicious chili supper before the program.  Garrison sang, and Peyton danced in the program - it was a great time.  Mom stayed at Amanda's with her "blind" phone which is programmed to call my cell phone with one button in case she needed us, however, she got along fine.

On Saturday, Mom went with me to church to practice the organ, as I played the organ at both church services on Sunday.  I think she enjoyed the "concert".  I took her to the cemetery, and she stayed in the car while I ran into Walmart.  I think she enjoyed getting out.

Saturday evening, Ron and I met our Supper Club at Mallard's for our Christmas dinner.  As we were going to be gone a couple of hours, Kelly came to stay with Mom.  I think they enjoyed visiting while we were gone.

Sunday, I played the organ at both services.  Ron only went to the 8:30 a.m., so Mom was only alone about an hour and did fine.  We had a lazy Sunday, taking naps and then watching the Chiefs game.

A busy week coming up.  Mom has her evaluation for Cardiac Rehab on Tuesday which is supposed to take 2 hours - she sees the cardiologist on Wednesday - Thursday I take brownies to Project Christmas Cheer and may go for an hour or so - and Friday, Amanda and I are going Christmas shopping in KC - Ron is taking the day off to stay with Mom and to go to Roger Cook's retirement party in the afternoon.  I get to bring Garrison home with me for the weekend, as Amanda and Chad are taking Peyton and a friend to The Nutcracker and out to dinner.  This will be the first time we will have him for any period of time without Peyton.  We plan to do some fun things!  Can't wait.

We are blessed.  Priceless memories.

Peyton's Clinton Birthday Party (6) and Thanksgiving 2014

It was a huge weekend for the Todds/Arthurs and Mintuns! Before we get to that, Ron, Peggy and Grandma went to the Siegers on Thanksgiving Day for a lovely meal and day.  Grandma did good and felt pretty good throughout the day  

Thanksgiving evening, Grammy headed to Walmart around 5 p.m. for the Black Friday pre-sale.  When the Todds arrived in Clinton shortly thereafter, Amanda met me there.  It was a busy evening locating all the things on the list, but we had a great time getting to visit between the 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. sale!  Yes - we were there 3 hours!  After we got the TV Amanda and Chad wanted at 8 p.m., check out was a breeze and we headed home.  Garrison was already asleep, but Peyton was still up and Grammy had an opportunity to talk to her a bit before she went to bed.  The guys and the kids had a good evening while we were at Walmart.  Peyton thought it was fun to get to sleep in the same room as Grammaw for the night.

Bright and early Friday morning, the weekend fun began!  Ron, Chad and the kids decided to play golf - the kiddos had a great time playing 3 holes, then running to Grammy's house from the 3rd green - convenient!  Before that, Peyton had received a little play sewing machine for her birthday from Aunt Christy and Uncle Clint on Thanksgiving Day, so she was anxious to try it out.  She and Grammy had fun making her "cupcake" and a purse.  She was thrilled.

We had our 10th annual baking day, baking peanut butter Reese's Peanut Butter Cup cookies, a new recipe for coconut kiss cookies, peppermint ornaments and several other things.  Garrison and Peyton unwrapped the pb cups and kisses and had a good time putting the peanut butter balls into the mini muffin tins.   Friday about noon, Uncle Mark arrived in Clinton.  He joined us for lunch and a visit before he and Grammaw went to 810 for the rest of Friday and to spend the night.  Joe joined them later that night to also spend the night.  Mary, Tom and Lenny arrived on Saturday noonish.  

About 4 p.m. Friday, we went to El Camino Real Mexican Restaurant for an early dinner before attending the annual Christmas Parade on the Clinton Square.  Prior to the parade, we went to Hawthorn Bank's event at the Elk's Club with Christmas crafts and refreshments.  After the parade, the kids visited Santa in the courthouse - both sat with Santa and told him what they wanted for Christmas - success!  

Saturday morning, it was golf - round 2 for all four of them!  We also frosted and decorated Peyton's birthday cake - a Frozen Theme - and started preparing for the Thanksgiving celebration to take place around 4 p.m.  There were games of Go Fish and Old Maid - puzzles - visiting - and a Thanksgiving Feast.   The entire family was able to be here again this year.   Peyton and Garrison had such a good time with the St. Louis Mintuns, playing and laughing - laughter filled the air.  

Also - this weekend Grammy and Grandpa surprised the kids with a Disney Cruise/Disney Parks vacation for Spring Break in March 2015.  They received bags of Disney clothes and fun items for the trip.  We watched a DVD explaining some of the fun things to do on the cruise - we are all looking forward to it.

On Sunday, we went to church and decorated the house for Christmas.  Sunday night after Grandma had been in bed about an hour, she was awakened with severe chest pains.  Ron and I were still up and helped her with a nitro pill and then 5 minutes later another nitro pill.  After the second one, she had quite a bit of relief but decided to sleep in the recliner in the living room where she was more upright.  She slept all night and is much better this morning - answered prayers.  God is good.

A simply awesome family weekend full of love and precious memories.  We are blessed.  

We are Blessed - November 2014

It's been a very busy and stressful couple of weeks.  Mom had not been feeling very good for a few weeks, but on Thursday night/very early Friday morning, 11/14/2014, she called me at 3 a.m. asking me to come over, she was having a lot of pain in her chest and stomach.  Since this had happened very similarly on Monday when I was there to spend the night for Dancing with the Stars, I was able to talk her into going to the ER at Golden Valley Memorial Hospital.  We arrived there about 3:30 a.m.  They immediately did an EKG and did some tests.  It was determined she needed to be admitted, because it appeared she had had a heart attack at some point - but they said it could have been an hour ago or 10 years ago.

She was a patient at GVMH until Monday.  The days and nights had their ups and downs - she was confused a couple of times, not even knowing me, but mostly they controlled her pain.  She had several visitors - Amanda was there Sunday afternoon, Debbie Sieger, Deb and David Mills, Roberta Edgett, Lisa Wallace, Kelly Briggs, Sherri Albin and Donna Briggs.  On Monday, they did an Upper GI on her, as they thought her pain was due to acid reflux.  That was ruled out with that test.  She was given a stress test to rule out heart problems.  They said that her heart was slightly larger on one side than the other, but they still didn't think her pain was due to her heart.  They decided it was probably arthritis and muscle problems in her chest and were discharging her with a prescription for Flexiril - a muscle relaxer.  Before they got the paperwork done, Mom had a heart attack and was life flighted to St. Luke's Hospital Heart Institute.  

David and Deb Mills had come out after one of the nurses who knew we were friends called them.  They followed Ron and me to KC so that I would have a car up there when Ron came home.  They determined she was stable and decided to wait until Tuesday morning to do the angiogram to see if she would need stents, etc.

Monday night from 10 p.m. - 1 p.m. was absolutely the worst of my life.  Mom was delirious and totally not my Mom.  She was kicking the nurses, confused, mean - telling me she was so ashamed of me, and what was I thinking bringing her to this place - those were the nicer things she said to me (she doesn't remember any of it, and I will never tell her).  They decided maybe she was having another heart attack at one point and did an EKG - it took 6 of us to hold her down for it.  It was awful.  They finally gave her Heprin and some other sedative, and she went to sleep.  She basically slept through the tests, etc.   Amanda came to spend the day with Ron and me on Tuesday and was of great comfort and support.  Grandma was sure happy to see her when she woke up.

The tests showed she had so much coronary disease and no "hot" arteries, so they could not put in stents - it would have taken too many to do any good.  She is not a candidate for bypass surgery because of her age, etc.  They will treat her with Plavix and several other medications to open up her arteries and make the blood flow better in her heart.

On Wednesday, Joe came over from St. Louis to visit Grandma.  She was discharged about 10 a.m., so he came on to Clinton with Ron, me and Grandma, visiting here until mid-afternoon.   She was so pleased he came to see her and enjoyed his visit.

Mom DOES NOT KNOW that she wasn't eligible for stents or by-pass - she just thinks that medication is the best treatment for her, which it is.  She is very scared and remembers the pain associated with the heart attack.  It was her first ever ride in an airplane (helicopter) - wish she would have been awake for it.

Mom says she does not ever want to go home - she is scared and lonely.  For right now, she is living with Ron and me.

Mom has been doing very well, recovering quite nicely.  We have her all set in the front bedroom.  We all went to Amanda's on Sunday, 11/23/2014.  Amanda and Chad had tickets to see the new Hunger Games movie and did some Christmas shopping while we were able to play with the kids and take them to Culvers for lunch.  Peyton received an owl craft kit and enjoyed putting it together.  Garrison's favorite word yesterday was "never'.  Hmmmmmm.

Looking forward to our entire family being together on Thanksgiving - celebrating the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

HALLOWEEEN 2014

It has been a busy week!  Thursday was the annual Rotary Chili lunch - I picked up carry-out for Mom and me - Ron ate while working the event.  It was good.  We had a church meeting that evening.

Friday, Mom and I went to a garage sale.  Ron took off work at noon, and he and I headed to Overland Park to spend trick or treating time with Peyton and Garrison.  Amanda made us cute and tasty hotdog mummies for a quick dinner before they took off to trick or treat - dressed as Elsa and Jake the Netherland Pirate.  They were so cute - but it as sooooo cold.  After then returned, they gave out some candy to other children before we brought the little ones back to Clinton with us for the weekend.

Garrison overheard Peyton talking about sleeping with me (like she usually does when her parents aren't in Clinton), so when we arrived home, Garrison said to me with his sweetest little face, "I want to sleep with you guys" - melted my heart - so guess what - the three of us slept in the king size bed, and Grandpa graciously slept downstairs in Amanda and Chad's bed.  Garrison basically slept on Ron's side of the bed, and Peyton and I shared 1/2 of my side of the bed - she likes to snuggle next to me.  Ditto for night two!  It was wonderful, and I loved every minute.

Saturday morning, Peyton and Garrison wanted to go get Grammaw and wanted to go get donuts at the Donut Palace, so off they went.  It was a pajama day, so they went as they were - so cute.  Ryan Pitts (Kelly's niece) had shot a 9 pt. buck that morning on child hunt weekend, so they stopped by to show us the deer - dressed out.  It brought about a lot of questions of why - blood - shouldn't kill animals - what kind of gun - how did she see where she was shooting - and it went on for 2 days.

We had an early lunch of chicken strips from Hardees and macaroni and cheese (made me think of Tom).  I laid down with Garrison for his nap before I went to a funeral to play and sing.  Garrison slept the whole time I was gone.  After returning home, Garrison woke up shortly and we loaded up in the van and went to the playground at our church.  Peyton went across the monkey bars at least 10 times.  Garrison enjoyed picking up sticks, leaves and acorns - and acorn "lids" - he knew about them from his nature walk at school.  We all went to McDonald's for dinner (Grammaw too) and Grammaw spent the night.

Sunday, we went to church and then Ron went to Holy Rosary to get turkey dinners for all of us.  After a morning of play and fun, Ron and I took the kids - reluctantly - back to Overland Park.  Sunday evening we had our monthly Supper Club gathering - chili and potato salad.

It was an absolutely awesome weekend - we are blessed.