Bret's Surgery - Frank Dr.'s appointment

Today Bret had the two tests the doctor wanted him to have before scheduling surgery and everything was good. His ulcers had healed up, and he had one polyp which I am sure they removed; so his surgery is scheduled for Tuesday, August 25th. I know we will all be glad when it is over and Bret is recovering and not anticipating surgery. He has always been my healthy son and I know that will help him get through the surgery.

I took Frank to our local doctor yesterday, and he put Frank on some more pain meds and a anti nausea pill. As soon as I got the meds, Frank took them and almost instantly fell asleep and slept for several hours yesterday. It was badly needed sleep and this morning he feels much better and went for his walk around our subdivision. The doctor will work with him to help with the drug withdrawals. Much better than Frank trying to do it himself. So for now things are looking much better, and as soon as Bret's surgery is over we all will be relieved. DARE I BREATH A SIGH OF RELIEF NOW?

Up Dates on Bret & Frank

Bret went to the Urologist yesterday and will be going back today for another CT Scan as the doctor wants to get a better picture of blood vessels, etc. The doctor will be there to tell the tech where to go in the kidney so he can see the areas that he wants to see. The doctor also wants Bret to go through some more tests to make sure he is healthy enough to withstand surgery. Dr. Scott (first name) told Bret that he will not take out the whole kidney and if he went to any other Urologist they would take the whole kidney. So as it stands now, Bret will have to have some more tests, a Colonoscopy and an Endoscopy, and the CT Scan before we will know any thing more.

Another update---- Just got off the phone with Laura and she told me that Bret is scheduled to have the other tests tomorrow in Mesquite at Mesa View Hospital. Dr. Scott wants to schedule the surgery as soon as possible. So it may be with in a week or so.

Frank got sick again last night. He was throwing up all night long and is feeling really bad. We have an appointment with our local doctor at 11:00 AM this morning and hope to get some answers and medicine that will help him get through this horrible ordeal he is going through. If it wasn't for the terrible pain in his left leg going from his knee up to his thigh he would be doing a whole lot better too as his back his doing great. I am on the constant edge of tears and feel like I am going to explode. Just too much stress in my life right now. WHEN WILL IT END!

Bret Bad News - Stroke Like Symptoms a Blessing

I took some rice pudding over to Bret. I can't help still being a Mommy and thinking that one of his favorites, rice pudding might cheer him up.

Bret, Laura, and Merritt came over to our house last night with some very bad news. I was in the computer room doing genealogy and I heard their voices as they came in the door. It was kind of late and an uneasy feeling came over me as I knew he had a CT Scan that morning. This was a follow up from the scare of the stroke like symptoms. I had been wondering about it all day hoping all would be well with it. I was going to call Bret earlier and then I thought to myself that he may not be able to get the results until Monday.

Bret was able to get CD copies of the X-Ray and took them to his doctor here in the Valley, where he received some bad news. He has a growth in his right kidney and by the way it showed up on the X-Ray (it glowed) it looks cancerous. I can't give the technical terms that is on the results, but all I know is it is bad and Bret will be seeing a Urologist in Vegas on Monday. He thinks they will remove the kidney and by the way the X-Ray and blood work looked it is contained to just the Kidney.

I had to fight the tears back because I knew if I started to give in to them, I would be hysterical and I didn't want to upset Bret any more than he was. He didn't really want to break the news to me but knew that he had to as he had a good friend of his and another neighbor give him a blessing. Word gets around fast in a small town like ours.

I feel like a dark cloud came over our family last October with Frank's knee surgery, then my surgery in January, and Verelen's (Bret's Mother in law) had surgery the same time I did. Then Frank had to have a complete knee replacement, that led to his recent back surgery and at the same time Dean Bret's father in law was having heart surgery, a scare with Renee going to the hospital with a pain in her lower stomach, to this. Just when I think things are getting better, something happens. I can't help but wonder "When Will It End"! Things could be worse is what I keep telling myself. So the stroke like symptoms led to finding a growth that usually does not show any kind of symptom until it is too late. So I am grateful that the stoke symptoms caused the follow up CT-Scan. Someone up there is watching over us, and for that I am grateful.

Renee's Visit - Progress of Baby

Renee came out to Logandale to visit us and her cousins last Thrusday the 6th. We hadn't seen her since Frank's surgery, and I couldn't believe how big the tummy is getting. Rozlynn is growing and the way time is flying it won't be long and we will be seeing her growing on the outside.

It was a nice surprise when Renee called that morning and said she was coming out. She brought some Carmel popcorn my favorite, my recipe, and Renee says I am the one who taught her how to cook. Actually, she worked in restaurants and learned a lot of fancy cooking. She always loved to cook and still does. The top picture is the most recent and you can see from the other pictures how much the baby has grown. Rozlynn is due November 22, and that will be here in no time.

Some things about me

I was just getting a good start on my Scrapbook for Sherry, when Frank had his back surgery. I haven't had time to get back to it nor have I had the energy to get started again, but I need to get going again on it if I am going to have it ready for Sherry's birthday which is August 26.

Today as I was washing the bedding in my guest room, the quilt that I have on the bed brought back a lot of memories.

I made the quilt around 1974. I used to make some of Sherry's and Lori's school clothes. The quilt is made out of scraps from those items. I can remember Lori, Sherry, and I looking at the quilt and them telling me which pieces were their outfits that I made. We would look at clothes they liked and then pattern and material shop. I would spend the whole month of August sewing. I sure can't do that any more.

I love tied quilts and today I had to order a new quilt for our bed and mentioned to Frank, "I sure wish we could make us a tied quilt, I really loved them on our bed." Frank used to help me tie them and we would make them during the summers we spent at our Elk Meadows Condo. Those days are long gone.

Something Positive

Frank is finally up and has been eating solid food. I bought some G-two Gatorade and he has been drinking that, and also he is eating a small banana for Potassium. Hopefully his electrolytes will be balanced and make him feel better. He felt good enough to go for a walk today, so that is good as that is his physical therapy for his back and Knee. He felt good enough to play his favorite computer game, Poker. He is now laying down as he went to Dr. Bret's with me to have his neck worked on, and that wore him out. I sure will be glad when we can look back on this and say, "Phewwww glad that is behind us." THANKS MEG FOR THE GOOD ADVICE.

Drug Withdrawals - Poor Frank

Frank has been doing really well as the pain has finally subsided, and he was walking a little further each day. He was cutting way back on his medications, and then all Hell broke lose. He has been on strong pain killers since last Oct. when the knee problem started. You know the kind that the perscription has to be a hand written one from the doctor. I was worried about him being on them so long.


Starting yesterday afternoon, Frank started to alternate between chills and then hot flashes with drenching sweats. Then the stomach started to roll and rumble. Then the back door trots as I call it started. We were awake off and on all night long and finally Frank went into our guest bedroom as he thought he was disturbing me. He was drenched when I checked on him this morning. He got up and showered and I was hoping that would make him feel better.


He ate a small bowl of Cream of Wheat, and later on tried to drink his hot coffee substitute and that didn't stay down long at all. I decided it was time to call Bret and have him come over with our next door neighbor Kyle and give him a blessing. When all else fails It is time to depend on the Lord for help. I worry about dehydration and I am trying to give him sips of water, which comes right back up. So later on I will try ice chips. I keep telling myself and Frank that this too will pass. Boy! will I be glad when we can look back at this as another one of those bad life experiences.