The moment at which I knew she was ok

This week has been unlike any week I've ever had in my life. Well, I suppose the week of my mom's surgery during breast cancer was a bit similar, but this IS different.

Mom had open heart surgery on Monday. Scary. We waited in the ICU waiting room for about 7 1/2 hours that day, waiting to hear how Mom did. There was work with a valve, a single bypass and cauterizing of the heart to keep her in rhythm. Not minor, but major work.

As we waited we busied ourselves with various activities:

 Reading the paper

 Playing the DS

 Coloring

 Eating donuts...and eating chocolates...and eating cookies...and eating...

And reading magazines.

With visitors and things to occupy ourselves, time seemed to pass a little faster once we were into the day. But then the minutes came as we knew she was going to be finished and then time creeped by slowly again. About 3:30, the time finally came to see her.

Things were as we expected when we saw her-tubes, beeps, medicine hanging (11 bags to be exact)-all of these things we knew would be present-nothing was a surprise. Mom started waking up about an hour or two after coming out of surgery and when she was "awake" enough to know surgery was done she started spelling. Yes. Spelling. Words. With her left hand (that was strapped to the bed so she didn't pull anything out). Correctly. First it was C-O-L-D. She was cold and wanted more blankets. Then it was H-E-A-D. Her head itched or something on her head bothered her. We took care of that too. 

There was a "change in shift" as I left her room and Dad came in. They don't like a lot of people around the ICU, which is very understandable. They're constantly moving around in there. Adjusting, reading numbers, pumping meds...anything and everything you can imagine. I came back in at some point and things happened in the room next door. The thing you hope doesn't happen out of surgery...I listened to a whole code blue as the gentleman next door passed away. Horrible. As I was in Mom's room, with commotion happening next door, she begins to spell again. H-O-T. She was hot, so we took covers off. Next it was T-R-Y. She wanted to try to get the tube pulled so she could be off the vent. We couldn't explain that to her because we didn't want to have her panic. But...

the moment at which I knew she was ok...

was when...

she spelled...

S-N-O-W. Snow! She wanted to know if it had started snowing outside. She wanted to make sure that Dad didn't have to drive home in the snow. If you know my mom (or me) at all, you know that weather is at the forefront of her mind most of the time. She wants to know that everyone will be home safely. I knew she was ok, because her mind was thinking about snow. And I was right!

We are so blessed to have mom at the point where she is today. She is healing. She is eating. She is breathing well. We are just waiting for a few more things and she will be on her way home! Praise the Lord. We are so THANKFUL for all of the prayers. But we are most thankful for Him, through with all things are possible. Amen!

Now it's real

Yes it is.
Going to a heart class does that to a person.
Makes it real.
Makes it scary.
Not that it wasn't scary already.
But now we know what's going to happen.
Kind of.
We won't really know until Monday.
Until 2 days from now.
Until then, we're playing basketball.
We're ice skating.
We'll eat.
We'll play with friends.
Go to church.
Have fun with Mamma and Papa and Gayle.
But then it will be real.
On Monday.
We'll be surrounded in prayer.
And we know it's common.
To have this kind of surgery.
But as a friend said
It only happens once with your mom.
My mom.
Love you mom.

Happy Heart Day!

Happy Valentine's Day from these two babies,

 and these two toddlers,

and these two preschoolers,

 and these two goofballs!

We hope this Valentine's Day brings you all sorts of love. From those you love, to those who love you; from those you love from afar to those who you love close. It doesn't matter where you are or who you are, just as long as you are loved, can love and feel loved. We love you!

6 more weeks of winter

It's inevitable. There are definitely 6 more weeks of winter here. How could spring even think of coming when it is 0 degrees outside. Yes, ZERO.

Phil didn't see his shadow in Pennsylvania, but here I see a glimmer of sunshine, meaning more winter here. I always wonder how people think a groundhog is really going to predict the weather. But then again, I hope they know he really doesn't do the predicting. It's fun to watch though!

The kids were really hoping for spring to come early, but I had to break it to them...in Minnesota, it doesn't really matter what Phil says. It's just the way it is here!