Feeding Tube

As you can see, I went into the UCI Hospital to get my feeding tube put in. Although this is a state of the art Medical and Research hospital, The beds are still not comfortable. If you know me well, you know I am almost always cold. Here at the hospital I can say I was actually hot. The surgeon was wonderful, the nursing staff overworked but nice. I can tell you that I thought I had died and woke up in hell. I lost 3 pounds while there for my 42 hour ordeal. You can't believe how thirsty I was! I didn't sleep the entire time I was there except for short snippets that left me sore and uncomfortable. I came home much more exhausted, thirsty and hungry than I went in.

I had wonderful support while there from Larry and Linda Howson (Larrys sister) Denny Howson and my dearest Sister Pam and my niece, Kelly. Linda wiped my eyes dry, Denny kept an eagle eye lookout while Larry smuggled in the contraband. Kelly gives the most Wonderful neck, back and legs and my sissy knows whats really going on.
I am so glad that's over. I got a great nights sleep (11 hours) and I'm finally no longer thirsty! Part of my swallowing problems and thick saliva was from being so dehydrated. I'm good to go now!

Surgery update from Lisa

Just got word from my Dad that the feeding tube surgery was a success. They will most likely be keeping her over night. They have lots of help and comfort from my Aunt Linda and Uncle Denny who are vising from Washington.

Thanks for keeping my Mom in your prayers!

Visiting Teachers

I have to say a word about those unsung heroines of the Church I belong to called "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" otherwise called Mormons.

Every woman in our Church has a Visiting Teacher or sometimes two. These woman visit at least every sister in our Ward boundaries. I have been blessed by some wonderful women as visiting teachers in my life. I joined the Church when I was 18 and never regretted it.

Today, I have a visiting teacher who is an angel, just like the one before her. Her name is Sherry and she unconditionally takes care of me. She makes sure we have meals brought in on Sundays and Wednesdays. She comes over to my house on Sunday morning to help me dress and get ready for Church because my dear husband is the Bishop of our ward and has early morning meetings. She drives me when Larry can't. She takes me shopping. She schedules ladies to come in on certain days that I choose to help me with the projects I still need to finish.

My last visiting teacher is a working lady and can't serve me like I need, so they changed visiting teachers on me, but, before she left she gave me and Larry a gift certificate to her favorite restaurant.

I believe Visiting Teaching is an inspired concept. I was a visiting teacher for years until I got to sick to serve others. It makes me sad that I can't be of service to my fellow men anymore. I guess its time to be humble and accept my new roll. Bless all the Visiting Teachers who do so much good in this world. They visit the lonely ever month, take care of the sick and cheer up the women of our church like angles do!

My flap has flopped

Today I had the privilege of going down to the Orange Regional Family History Center to train my replacement. She is a wonderful, energetic, and organized person. It was awkward to use my master key for the last time, but I know this is what the Lord wants. She kind of got "baptism by fire" today. Denise is a quick learner, but we were all confused at the loss of 4 order cards today, although it had 4 of us working to solve this problem. On a lighter note, Lucine Fox, Jim Keffer, Denise Sorenson and I were just sitting around talking and Lucine made the comment that she thought "there was a little flap in the throat which kept the air side and the food side separated and kept you from choking", I promptly replied "in that case, then my flap has flopped". We all had a good laugh. Laughter is good for the soul.

I want to tell Denise Sorenson how happy I am that I am turning the responsibility over to her. She may not know it yet, but she will learn all she needs to learn and really be a benefit to those she trains. Bless her heart for accepting this call. I gave you more training than I got when I took over. Make this calling your own. Change all files with my name on it to your name and delete anything that looks personal, use what you can and enjoy the ride!

Girly

What an amazing woman our daughter has become! I miss her enthusiasm already. Her energy is amazing. Who would have ever thought that that snotty, hard-headed, know it all teenager would have grown into the most amazing woman I have ever known?

Intuitively woman smart, a fabulous mother, a wise wife, a good ironer, the best Relief Society counselor I have ever seen, a great photographer, a rental manager, a babysitter for her friends, soccer coach, AYSO treasurer, a financial whiz, a gourmet cook, a thorough cleaning lady, a plasma doner and a great friend who knows how to keep confidences... this list is endless as is her energy. She is all the best parts of me, Larry, Gloria, Irene and Caroline Melissa Coleman, her 3rd great grandmother. But I see in her myself the most, does that make me conceited, if so I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that.

I want to publicly thank Lisa for her willingness to put aside her responsibilities to come and serve me. I enjoy her very much! We had a good time putting up the Christmas Decorations and shopping for Christmas presents. I can't wait for Thanksgiving.

I would be remiss if I didn't thank John, Caleb, Davis and Beckham for sharing their mom and wife. And a HUGE THANKS to the special friends in St. George who took her kids and fed her family so she could come serve me. You will all be blessed for your sacrifices. I am so thankful to everyone who helped this week.

I love you Girly

Lisa here...

I wanted to let you all know that I have stolen my Mom this week so that we could enjoy setting up the Christmas decorations together. It has been a priceless week for me to spend time reminiscing and learning from her.

Her strength continues to slide. We have had a few sad milestones this week. The first is that she no longer has the strength to push herself up onto a stool or get up from the ground unassisted. This has been hard in light of the fact we are decorating but she adapts with a good attitude. She does an amazing knee walk on the ground to the nearest chair or furniture available.

The second milestone is a little harder and was learned a little harder too. She can no longer drive and go out without assistance. Unfortunately this lesson was learned after taking a fall in a parking lot yesterday evening. Her left arm has no mobility left so she could not break her fall at all. Not to mention since she can no longer get herself up she was quite literally stuck on the ground with no cell phone and no one around to help her.

She can no longer lift her left arm and uses a swinging motion to get it where she wants it. Eating has also become much more difficult and we are hoping that her feeding tube will be put in a week from tomorrow.

That all comes out sounding so bleak and yet for us its normal day to day life. She goes about it all with a smile on her face and joking about the changes that have come. Last night we got laughing so hard all over something so silly and we couldn't stop laughing.

That's one of the hardest things about ALS - while her speech slows and her limbs lose strength her mind is the same and sometimes its hard for us to remember that. My mom is not an old lady, nor is she mentally handicapped. She is as smart and sharp as ever, if not more so from the unique perspective that she has. She is amazing and being here with her this week has been a joy and blessing for me.

Sometimes people tell me they don't know how to act and I think the most important thing is to remember to let her do for herself what she can and not talk down to her. Slow down, go her pace, and just take the time to enjoy the process and not worry about being productive. That's what it is about, the joy of the process - not always the ending result.

“Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed. The fact is that most putts don’t drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to be just like people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, and most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is just like an old time rail journey … delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.”

-President Gordon B. Hinckely

what still works!

I am defineatly feeling weaker, Although my right hand still works well, and my legs are getting me around good, my core balance is getting weak. We all take "getting out of bed" for granted, but I don't anymore! With only my right arm working, its hard to turn over, or fix the bedcovers, and going from a lying position to a sitting position takes core muscles of your abdoman, mine doesn't work so well anymore.

My swallowing is holding its own, but Larry worries about my pills. The big ones are hard to swallow and he worries about me aspirating, so, now he grinds the big pills and I get to take it with chocolate soy pudding. You heard right, Larry bought soy pudding! He thought it read Soup Plantation in stead of Soy Pudding. I ask him what he was thinking and he really told me he thought it said Soup Plantation! I've got to get that man glasses for his 63rd Birthday, which happens to be today. Happy birthday sweetheart, I love you.