Day 902

My needle-point project. Not bad for a beginner!
I'm going to put the blog on the back burner for awhile. Not much to photograph when I'm stuck in this hospital room and some days I'm just not up to it. Once I get back home, I will pick it back up. Thanks to all who still visit this crazy blog. It's definitely something I miss doing and I am hopeful it will be something I can revive in full soon ♥♥♥

Day 901

I got out of bed and took a chair by the window to catch Abilene's big firework show. Haven't been keeping up on my photo-a-day for a week or so, but I couldn't help getting a (horrible) shot of the show.

Day 900

My mini-fridge.

Day 899

Grandma and Abby-girl.

Missed another day - boo.

Day 898

A packet of little miracle cards Joe bought for me. Full of uplifting massages, I love opening one everyday. Today's was "Smiles help me remember that the sky is only dark between the stars."

Day 897

Alora and her mama and baby sister (Denise & Cassidy) came by to visit today and then my sister showed up with her three, so I had a crowded room today! Loved it. Alora and Caitlyn quickly made friends and danced and twirled around the room.

Day 896

The beautiful angel the Kallas brought me when they stopped by to visit. Love it.

Missed today - oops.

Day 895

Jesi and Julia came to visit me today. Pixie cut Julia (can you tell she got ahold of scissors recently, lol), maybe she'll grow up to be a hairdresser.

Day 894

My IV pole.

Day 893

Sorting through greeting cards and postcards I have to mail.

No posts since late April, guess that goes to show how sick I've been. But 365 is something I truly miss and, since I've been feeling a bit better lately, I'm hoping to start back up. So keep this page watched, I will be back.

I was re-hospitalized back in early May :(

Day 839

Had some visitors today - that was nice. Our old friend Kelly stopped by and brought me a snow cone (wedding cake, yum) and then Jesi brought her crew by for some loud, distracting fun. Still working on adjusting to being home, everything requires energy and everything seems strange after being hospitalized for so long. But I'm taking it step-by-step. I can do this.

Day 838

My bed. I slept through the night without being woke for blood tests or vital signs, it was amazing. Today was long, though, I could nap all day if I wanted (I don't). It's a BIG adjustment, being home and getting settled. Going to have to find a routine of some kind, but that takes time.

Day 837

Today we came home. I haven't been in my own bed since I was in Fort Worth, so sick. It is a strange feeling, leaving one house and coming home to another. I am nervous! It will be quite an adjustment, getting used to not having nurses hovering over me and having my Joe taking care of me instead. I tire easily and could probably sleep all day if I let myself, but I want to stay awake as much as possible, catch up on my TV shows and have people come and visit. One day at a time.

Day 836

This is the Obol. I am a big fan.

Day 835

My hospital gown pattern. Today I almost forgot a photo.

Day 834

Books!

Day 833

A rose from my Grandma's garden.

Day 832

Chicken and Stars for dinner tonight.

Day 831

Today we are discussing going home! HOME! I could just weep. It's been over six weeks now of straight hospitalization and I think I am hitting an all-time morale low. The days blend together and the outside world seems surreal to me. Home is hope ♥

Day 830

Julia and me.

Day 829

The corner of my room. The wreath was made for me by Kimberly (love it).

Day 828

Today has been 100 years since the Titanic sunk. The nurses brought me this sweet little cupcake in commemoration..

Day 827

The IV pole, my constant companion.

Day 826

Today Kelley brought the kiddos for some very distracting fun. LOVE these two (happy Friday the 13th!).

Day 825

Today I had a visit from some of my favorite people: The Millers came by and sat with me for awhile. Brought me some sketching materials and books and all sorts of goodies. Sadie chose these beautiful roses from their garden and Ashton sent me his precious seashell (I love it). It's been a better day.

Day 824

Haven't been sleeping. Had CFA for dinner, that was nice.

Day 823

Almost forgot a photo today. Worst night ever. This is Joe's cot - all folded up.

Day 908

Today was awful! Woke up at 3AM and didn't ever really get back to sleep for any significant piece of time. I was absolutely exhausted all day, pain was hard to manage and I had another unsuccessful CAT scan in the afternoon - but a visit from Nick, Camila, and this adorable little Az helped get an evening smile out of me. Friends (especially ones from those with such bright, sweet kids) can really help a bad day.

Day 821

Happy, happy Easter!
Oh, I am so happy to be in Abilene for Easter! I got to see my whole family! First Kelley and her kids came by and helped Joe wash my hair in the sink and they went to KMart to buy me some make-up and a nice outfit to wear for the holiday. I felt so much better in a pretty dress with clean hair and a made-up face. Then Grandma and Lisa stopped by and then Kayla came by with the babies! Aidan was everywhere and I got to see sweet Faith in the daisy outfit I bought her a few weeks ago. What a DOLL! Then Kelley swung back by with Jacob and Caitlyn and then Jes and Jeremy brought their three monsters after that. It was a little crazy, a good bit exhausting, and a LOT of fun for me.

Day 820

Today Nici came and sat with me while Joe went with Kelley, Garret, and Travis to pack up the Saginaw house. She brought some hard boiled eggs and a dying kit and we dyed some eggs. It was totally fun. Learned one thing, though: I need to get a better grip on visitors. I had too many today and probably overextended myself. Gotta start scheduling people, today was a bit too much.

Day 819

Not such a pretty view as the one I had in Fort Worth, but a whole lot more comforting, that's for sure.

Day 818

Today started out wonderful; two of my favorite nurses, Salina and LaShan, stopped by my room at 5AM (of course I was awake, hospitalization has turned me into a zombie) to bring me gifts! An exquisite Easter Lily, some sweet goodies, and a beautiful book about Miracles; they told me I have touched their hearts. I will miss these incredible people so much. Then a few hours later my case worker comes in with the news that the Abilene transfer WILL go through today! Whoop! Joe and Jeremy packed up all the hospital room junk and got ready to sit amd wait to leave (we were told it would take a few hours). But the ambulance arrived around noon (MUCH sooner than expected) and the transfer was uncomfortable and I was a painful, cranky, mean ole mess for awhile upon arrival. My nurse Connie got me calmed down pretty quickly and now I am just relieved to be HOME. Wahoo.

Day 817

Well, I'm still not in Abilene. "Hopefully tomorrow," they say. Yeah.

Day 816

Today has been bad. Between a brash, incompetent nurse spilling stomach juice down my leg and the pain turning into something I can’t seem to catch, I feel like my day is getting worse and worse and I'm about ready to break down and cry - but that will just lead to more drugs and I’m so tired of the round and round. Looks like another day with no transfer to Abilene and I am just an emotional WRECK.

Day 815

Today I received a care package from my cousin Heather who is working as a speech therapist in Hawaii. The loot!! Hawaii pajamas I cannot wait to wear, a jumbo HK coloring book, sleep masks, hair clips, adorable mustache stickers, and on and on. I practically squealed as I pulled each item from the box. I cannot wait til she is back on the mainland and I can give her a big hug, she has made my day today. My transfer to Abilene is having to wait, as apparently there are no beds open for me there yet, but this Hawaii loot did a perfect job of cheering me up!

Day 814

No April Fools' Day pranks today, but I did get a ride from Joe outside in a wheelchair. This is my last day here at Plaza Medical Center in Fort Worth. Tomorrow I will take a very long ambulance ride to Abilene, where I will be transferred to Hendrick. Back home after less than a year (for me). We are thrilled to be going home, but I have to say I will miss this place. The situation that stranded me here is awful, but my 27-day long stay in room 618 was as pleasant as it could be, considering. Nurses Gina, Emily, Salina, LaShan, and Tiffany will be especially missed. But goodbye, DFW, I'm homeward bound tomorrow!

Day 813

The new teddy bear Joe gave me wearing my new sleep mask. I had a purple, flimsy one leftover as a prop from a bachelorette party and they just were not cutting it for sleeping. And then I lost them. So I bought myself these little beauties and they helped tremendously. A good purchase for sure.

Day 812

When Sarah visited the other day she bought us this Mad Gab game, but we didn't get a chance to play. So tonight the McGallians and played with us and we had so much fun! We have to play it again sometime, it was such a mood lightener we could not stop laughing. Good times.

Day 811

This is my Joe, sleeping in an uncomfortable chair so that I can wake him up more easily if I have a bad dream. I've been having nightmares lately, vivid ones brought on by the mixture of meds I'm on and Joe is such a hard, deep sleeper that he is hard to wake up for comfort. So, for a good portion of the night he stuffs himself into the most uncomfortable chair here, so I can wake him if I need him. Poor Joe. You are the best husband a girl could wish for.

Day 810

My bed, or as Julia refers to it, "Aunt Randi's white hospital bed."

Day 809

The backscratcher Joe bought me for this damn itchy rash.

Day 808

Miss Kira Kate and her mama (Sarah) came to visit me today. She is so fun.

Day 807

Jeremy and me, before his crew headed back home to Abilene. The guys (Joe, Mark,Jeremy and Garret) all went to breakfast this morning and I stayed behind (of course) with Nic and Jes. We talked and laughed - It was a great day today!

Day 806

Lots of visitors today. Visitors are my favorite distraction while I'm stuck in here. Nici and Garret and Jesi and Jeremy (my usual crowd ♥) came by a couple times then Kinsley stopped by with her friend Heather. Oh, and Mark drove all the way from Shreveport to visit and stayed for a long while, catching up and reminiscing with Joe and me. I keep being overwhelmed by the kindness of my friends. I am SO blessed.

Day 805

Joe bought me a Hello Kitty lamb, isn't she adorable? I am super disappointed that I won't be able go to The Hunger Games tonight; I've been looking forward to today for what seems like forever :(

Day 804

Ashlynn hugs are some of the best you can get. The Leach family came by with Nick Strickland today, on a day when my crankiness was probably reaching an all-time high. Thank God for good friends.

Day 803

Grandma and Aunt Lisa visited today, that was awesome. Also my old high school (grade school, for that matter) friends Kimberly, Alissa, and Shelley came by to boost my spirits and make me laugh. A good day.

Day 802

Today was the day of the NG tube. What a nightmare. On their way back out of town, Jesi and Jeremy brought me this movie (which I have been dying to see). Let me say, those McGallians are worth their weight in gold. I don't know how Joe or I would've survived a moment of this without them standing right behind us.

Day 801

Bad day today.

Day 800

I was SO PSYCHED about seeing The Hunger Games this coming Friday. Yesterday when she visited, Kelley brought me all kinds of HG loot (including this Mockingjay pin - which I love). So on Friday, instead of seeing the movie I've been obsessing over for months, I will be recuperating from surgery. Bummer, bummer, bummer.