Well It's Over

I hope everyone had a great Christmas, ours was very nice. I enjoyed so much having my honey off work and home with us on Christmas day for a change. Here are a few pictures of my Christmas ....

I look kind of tired in this picture, I was ... it had been a long day.

Tiff opening a gift

Kids opening their gifts

My dad and sister

Merry Christmas

I wanted to take a few minutes and wish each and every one of you a very merry Christmas. I hope you all enjoy your day tomorrow and remember Jesus is the reason.

(yes that is me in the photo when I was a baby, many years ago)

Thanks Debi

Thank you so much Debi for my clutch, watch and necklace, they arrived here Friday, I just love them all. The gift bag and all it's accessories were just beautiful, even the ribbon, just gorgeous!

Thank you so much for your kindness my friend...

Are Y'all Ready

Wow, isn't it so hard to believe that Christmas is almost here. This year has just flown by.

We had a really busy weekend but between everything going on (visitation and funeral) we managed to do a little shopping. I am thinking a couple of the kids are going to just get money though because I'm tired of going shopping and walking in circles.

I am really excited about this Christmas because my honey will have Christmas day off! WoooooooHoooooooooooooo!!!!!! This will be the first one in nearly 5 years I guess. A lady that works with him called and ask him if he wanted to be off, she told him she'd work in his place so he is taking a vacation day and we're going to have him home with us. I can't tell you how it seems so much unlike Christmas when he has to be gone to work for 12 hours but we'll be smiling this year and lovin' every minute of having him home with us!

I want to show you what has kept me busy last Thursday and today, little Madison. She's our great niece.

Isn't she precious ....

Thursday was her 5 month birthday and I was the first person she's ever been left with, so I feel special. :-)

We're Losing Him

* He passed away around 3:47am this morning (12-18-08)


There is never a good time to lose a family member but as if Christmas and New Year's haven't been sad enough over the past nearly 13 years from losing my paternal grandmother on New Year's day and nearly 4 yrs ago we lost my maternal step grandmother on New Year's Eve, now we're losing my uncle.

Today his blood pressure dropped again, more internal bleeding so he went back to surgery for the second time since his main surgery on the 10th. He went into cardiac arrest today during the procedure to stop the bleeding, they were able to massage his heart and get it started back. I just was so afraid though after hearing he had to go back to surgery it would be too much for his body, he's really been through alot during all this I hate so bad to see him pass away but I also hated to see him suffering as he was. He is a great Christian man so there is no doubt where he's going when he is called from this place.
I hate I'm not with my dad right now but I have kids in the bed and my hubby is working. My sister and of course my mom are with him. I'll tell you something you're just not supposed to hear your daddy boohoo'ing and crying like I heard mine over the phone tonight. I am just so sorry for him and I wish I could take away all his pain and bring his brother back all healthy. I wanted to share a picture with you all of these two great brothers who love each other so much.
My dad is the tallest one and of course the other is my Uncle Stanley. These two are so much alike, they walk alike, laugh alike even my son and my sister's son have confused my uncle for my dad at times. My dad is known as Papa to his grandchildren and my uncle is known as Pop to his 4 grandchildren. Also...let me tell you, there aren't any two Papa's or Pop's out there that love their grandchildren as much as these men do.
We are waiting on the call from my cousin, my uncle's blood pressure is steadily dropping and they're giving him meds but they aren't doing anything so the doctors are saying it's only a matter of time. I hope something works but I'm so afraid we are losing him.

Back From Iraq

As some of you may remember my husband has a nephew (Brandon) who had been serving in Iraq, as a matter of fact it was his second tour of duty there. Well yesterday he arrived safely back home. I'm happy for him and his family. What a great Christmas present!
His children are only 6 and 8 yrs old, during their short lives he has served twice in Iraq and once in South Korea, I just can't imagine!
I have to tell you how Brandon surprised his wife yesterday. She knew he was coming home this month but thought it wasn't until the 23rd.
He had his mother to call his wife to meet her at a restaurant, so his wife went thinking she was going to meet her mother in law and then Brandon walked in. Don't you know she was surprised!

Secret Santa Shindig Gifts

As you know I participated in Kori's Secret Santa Shindig, Well today the UPS man delivered my goodies.
My goodies came from Rhea in Texas. She did such a great job picking out my gifts, I love them all. I got a beautiful holiday picture frame, some cozy holiday socks to help keep my feet warm (these will be so nice because my feet always stay like ice!), six of the prettiest glass Christmas ornaments, several really cute holiday goodies to use in my kitchen and a "Real Simple" magazine. I just love everything and I thank you so much Rhea.

And look, even the box my goodies came in brought joy to our cat (Sara), she's so funny, as soon as I unpacked the box she hopped right in it, curled up and went to sleep.

Total Gastrectomy

I had never heard of someone having their whole stomach removed either, I had Someone asked about it so I thought I would post this information for you all.

Surgery is the most common treatment for stomach cancer. The type of surgery depends on the extent of the cancer. There are two main types of stomach cancer surgery:
Partial (subtotal) gastrectomy - The surgeon removes the part of the stomach with cancer. The surgeon also may remove part of the esophagus or part of the small intestine. Nearby lymph nodes and other tissues may be removed.
Total gastrectomy (Which is what my uncle had)- The doctor removes the entire stomach, nearby lymph nodes, parts of the esophagus and small intestine, and other tissues near the tumor. The spleen also may be removed. The surgeon then connects the esophagus directly to the small intestine. The surgeon makes a new "stomach" out of tissue from the intestine.
It is natural to be concerned about eating after surgery for stomach cancer. During surgery, the surgeon may place a feeding tube into your small intestine. This tube helps you get enough nutrition while you heal. The time it takes to heal after surgery is different for each person.

From what was explained to me our stomachs are just like holding tanks, so by connecting the esophagus directly to the small intestine works just like a stomach would. Of course is is smaller, they said he wouldn't be able to eat alot at a time but he would need to eat very often. One thing I don't understand though is I thought the enzymes that help break down the food came from the stomach, I don't understand how his food can get broke down. When I hear an answer to that question I'll let you know.

* Just talked to my mom, she said he started running fever during the night. Seems one thing gets straightened out and something else goes wrong.

Yaya Christmas Winner

I woke up to a great surprise this morning, I learned I won the 7th Yaya Christmas giveaway prize from my sweet friend Debi. It's such a cute clutch, necklace and watch, woooohoooooo, I'm gonna be so snazzy! Everyone should go over and check her out, she's such a great gal, and she has such a great blog!

On another note, if I come up missing you'll know I've floated away in a ditch or creek somewhere. Yep, woke up again this morning to more rain here in Alabama. Ughhhh!
I guess we do need it though.

I have very happy news to share about my uncle! Yesterday his heart rhythm stayed good all day, the cardiologist said he didn't see any problems with his heart, they think the problems he's been having it just from all he's gone through and the medications.
Also, they are going to take him off the Dialysis machine today to see how things go. Things are looking up but he does still have alot of recovering to do.
He is still critical in ICU. We'll all be glad when he's more alert and doesn't have all the tubes so he can talk.

Saturday Update

I just walked in the door from Birmingham. Went to the hospital today to see my uncle.
Things are still very critical BUT he seems to be slowing making little improvements.
We went back in ICU and saw him at 11 am, oh it was really sad. So many tubes and wires. His heart rate was all over the place.
We went back again at 1 pm, his heart rate had got more steady.
At the 3 pm visit he could squeeze people's hands when told to, he wiggled his toes when he was told to, and he opened his eyes a little. So that was great! We're hoping he's making a turn for the better.
Also,,,they flew in a special dialysis machine from Jacksonville Florida for him. This one isn't like a regular one, they say it's a more gradual type dialysis.
From what I understand when the doctor talked to the family around 2pm he said basically since he had to go under anesthesia twice so close together that his system was basically holding on to all the drugs, etc. and it was just taking a while for him to get rid of it all, that is another thing with this dialysis, hopefully it'll help even more clean out his system. Also more really good news his kidneys are working some now on their own.
I didn't see him yesterday but they said he was so near death, my aunt and cousins said they knew that was the end. It's so great things seem to be getting better.
Keep up the prayers...

Friday Update On My Uncle - Not Good News

Things just aren't looking good at all. Seems one thing after another is going wrong.
As I mentioned yesterday morning he had to go back in surgery to stop internal bleeding.
This morning around 1 am he started having serious heart trouble, I think they have it stable now. Also today they were informed he does have a tumor on his pancreas, after being told Wednesday his pancreas was fine. I just learned his kidneys are shutting down, they think it could be from the anesthesia so they're putting him on dialysis.
I'm really hating now that I didn't go by his house and see him before the surgery. I was hoping we'd get to the hospital in time to have seen him Wednesday before the surgery but we didn't.
My heart breaks for my Daddy because I know he's worried to death. :-(

Secret Santa Shindig Mailing Time

I just got home from the post office, got my Secret Santa Shindig gift off in the mail. I really hope my partner likes her gift. I decided on a Godinger Dessert Dome, it'll be great for those holiday pies, cookies or other treats. It can be used any time of the year so I hope she gets alot of years of enjoyment out of it. I also hope it arrives safely without getting broken. (It looks really small in the picture below but it isn't)

Great Giveaway-Fiesta Ware

Attention people! You have to read this, there are so many great giveaways out there but I think this is the one I'd love the most to win! It's a four piece place setting of Fiesta dinnerware!
WooooooooooHooooooooooooo, now I love Fiesta ware, I have alot of it but don't think anyone could ever have too much of that stuff, I love love love it!
Get on over and visit Jaci at Ravings of a Mad Housewife and get entered! Guess what, you even get to pick what colors you'd like, isn't that great! (no discontinued colors though).
Ok....I'm off to go decide which color I'd choose and leave my comment for my entry.

17th Birthday

Happy birthday to my son Wesley ... today is his big 17th birthday.
Goodness how the years go by so fast ! :-(

My Uncle - Thursday Morning

My mother just called and said my uncle's blood pressure dropped during the night, they are taking him back to surgery right now to open him back up and try to stop the internal bleeding.

My Uncle - Update

Just wanted to let you all know that my uncle's surgery.
The doctor said things went as well as could be expected. They did remove his whole stomach, his spleen and surrounding lymph nodes.
The doctor was pretty concerned about a couple of spots on a lymph node by his pancreas but he didn't want to mess with it so he put a sort of clamp there so if the oncologist decides to do radiation he'll have a target to shoot for. It is good news that his pancreas looked ok.
He is in ICU tonight, he'll be there for 4 or 5 days. My aunt and cousins got to go in a see him tonight and they said he looked no different than he did before the surgery, he was talking to them just a little groggy.
Everyone was told of the serious risk involved in this surgery, most of them are after the surgery, such as infection, blood clots, etc.
We were talking today how it is so scary because my grandmother had to have surgery on her stomach back in Dec. 95, she went through her surgery fine, got moved out of ICU and into a regular room, she finally got to eat real food and was doing great.
My uncle and dad were with her one morning and decided to go to the cafeteria to get breakfast while the nurses were changing my grandmother's sheets and helping her bathe off, they heard them call code blue to my grandmother's room. She had a blood clot and just slumped over in the chair she was sitting in and died, that was on New Year's day 1996.
So even though the surgery is over there are still great dangers. Please continue to keep him in your prayers.

My Uncle

I would like to ask everyone to keep my uncle in your thoughts and prayers. His name is Stanley.
A couple of weeks ago he was diagnosed with stomach cancer. Tomorrow they are doing surgery on him in Birmingham to remove his whole stomach. I have never heard of anyone having to have their whole stomach removed before but they said the doctor said he performs those type surgeries all the time. There are alot of risk involved in this surgery so I hope even after the surgery is over he has no complications.
He is my dad's only sibling so you could imagine my dad seems pretty uneasy about it all. Me and my honey are going to drive my parents to Birmingham tomorrow so we can all be there. So please remember us all tomorrow.
I'll try to post when we get home tomorrow night and let you all know how everything went.

Dear Santa

Dear Santa Claus,

I have a blogging friend Trina who wrote you tonight so I thought heck, I might as well write you also.

I am pretty content and really don't need anything. I was so happy when I got my Christmas present a little early the other day. I do appreciate it so much and I thank you so much for bringing it to me early.

My wish has to do with someone else. Since you're Santa Claus you know who I'm talking about without me having to mention names and embarrass anyone here on my blog.

My first wish for this person is for her to receive a heart, I guess she has one but I think something must be wrong with it because she does such ugly things, no way she could have a healthy heart, so my wish is for her to have a great big healthy heart full of love and joy for all the world.

My second wish is for this person to have a new pair of eye glasses. I think she must need some, otherwise she would see how ugly she treats people.

My third wish for this person is a pair of shoes, a used pair so she can walk a mile or two in them. It would really be great if these shoes could have belonged to her ex husband or her children. I bet if she walked a mile in their shoes she'd really be amazed to see some of the things they've gone through and felt because of her.

My fourth wish for this person is the gift of common sense, this person pretends to be so well educated I think she really has no idea what common sense is.

My fifth wish for this person is for her to have a Merry Christmas with her children. I hope while she's enjoying this day with her children that she really thinks long and hard about her mother and father which she hasn't spoken to in years. There could come a day when her own children do her the same way so may she enjoy this Christmas with them.
I guess this will complete my list of Christmas wishes for this person.
May she have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year !

A Sunday Post

Hope you all had a great weekend. I've had a pretty nice one even though I really didn't do much. I don't have anything exciting to talk about tonight but I didn't want to miss a day posting, since I've been doing so good this month.
So.......there you have it, my Sunday post. Maybe tomorrow's will be more interesting.
Goodnight :-)

Still Love Them

I'm talking about, it's the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Today was the SEC Championship game and sadly we were defeated by those darn ole Florida Gators. Yes, I'll admit it...I'm a very sore loser.
Most people didn't give Alabama a snowballs chance at winning today, I'm so proud of Bama for playing such a great game, Florida won but I'll tell you it wasn't an easy task for them.
Now that we don't have a chance to play for the National Championship and since I'm such a sore loser I've just gotta shout "Boomer Sooner".

Rolllllllllllllllll Tide Rolllllllllllllllllllllll and keep your head held high, all your fans still love you and we're so proud of you! We all know you're the best !!!!!!!

My Great Great Grandfather

Your tombstone stands among the rest;

Neglected and alone,

The name and date are chiseled out

On polished marbled stone.

It reaches out to all who care

It is too late to mourn.

You did not know that I exist.

You died and I was born.

Yet each of us are cells of you

In flesh, in blood, in bone.

Our blood contracts and beats a pulse

Entirely not our own

Dear Ancestor, the place you filled

One hundred years ago

Spreads out among the ones you left

Who would have loved you so.

I wonder if you lived and loved,

I wonder if you knew

That someday I would find this spot,

And come to visit you.
Author Unknown

Small Town Christmas Parade

Tonight was our town's Christmas parade. Isn't it something how the coldest nights of the year always seem to be on parade night. We didn't get too bad cold though, we got there early enough to get a good spot to park so we could sit in the vehicle to watch the parade.

After we got parked I looked down to the car to our right and I felt so bad for pulling up there in my BIG vehicle, knowing I messed up them being able to see good. Molly didn't help the situation any when she looked at the little old couple in the car and said "Awwwwww Mama this might be their last parade". Things worked out ok though, us younger folks (me, Molly, Wes and Lindsay) were all sitting in the vehicle trying to stay warm and the older people were running grabbing the candy being thrown, haha ..... was cute to see.

Made me think, I hope me and my honey can be out at the age having fun, enjoying the parade and grabbing candy.

My MIL is in a club and their float won first place tonight (the photo below), it's the West AL Svc Club. You'll notice the manger in the photo, one of Molly's dolls had the honor of playing the roll of baby Jesus on their float. It was such a pretty float, the cross was just beautiful.

Sorry I don't have more pictures to share, I took alot but they didn't turn out good at all.

Feelin' Like A Blogstar

For those of you who missed out on all the fun yesterday over at SITS I hate it for you, it was such great fun. I did work so hard at it though I was up until probably 1 am Tuesday morning doing a little holiday decorating on my blog so all my new visitors would feel welcomed and hopefully want to come back and see me again, of course I also had to get my blog linked up with Mr. Linky, I was so proud to be #5 on the list, well you would know that ole Mr. Stinky Linky quit working and I had to email my link to that gals at SITS and after all that I was down to #85 on the list.
Of course I didn't win one of the great prizes that were given away, no surprise to me.
It was such fun to go check out all the other gal's neat blogs and leave them some comment love, I spotted quiet a few I hadn't seen before and will for sure have to visit more often from now on.
The best thing about yesterday, who doesn't just love getting comments on their blog? I know I sure do! Well check out my post below this one, yep...that's right, 77 comments! Woooohooooo .... I feel like a big blogstar or something. Thanks Heather and Tiffany for such a fun day and you truly gave lots of gals out here a SITSteriffic day!

Merry SITSmas

Christmas is a perfect time

To stop and reminisce

About the many hours we've spent

Discussing that and this-

The laughs, the smiles

That we have known

The wonderful things we've done

That make the friendship that we share

A very special one!
Have a very special Christmas, my friends

Author Unknown

Merry SITSmas SITSstas!

Check This Out

Wow! I just had to share this exciting news with you all.
Tomorrow is Merry SITSmas day over at the SITS blog. Tomorrow is going to be a great day at SITS, they're giving away a prize every hour from 6am until 10pm, their grand prize winner will have their blog featured as Friday's favorite andddddddd a $200 Target gift card, who couldn't use that here at Christmas time so everyone go on over and check them out, I promise you'll have a blast, it's such a fun blog!!!!