Saturday and Breakfast at Sirloin Stockade

I will pick Bob up at 7:20 to go to breakfast this morning. We take turns driving.

I slept really well last night. It took a little while to fall asleep but then I slept through the night...very rare.

I want to go out to Wal Mart this morning and buy toilet tissue and paper towels for the church and then  take them out there tomorrow. We have our shoe box packing party tomorrow starting at 10:00 until 12:00 noon. Johnna will show the latest video of the distribution....wherever it went this past year.

We will have a brunch in the middle of the morning. I am taking a large coffeecake. Others will bring breakfast or lunch items.

I'm not sure at this stage what I will do with the rest of the day today.So, more later...I need to get Missy her breakfast.  She is lying here patiently waiting for me to finish......

Missy got her breakfast and after 7:15, Bob and I did too. We are going to go to Dollar Tree in Independence after lunch and then eat lunch at Big Cheese. 

Marilyn called awhile ago to tell me she is fixing a big pot of chili and wants all of us to come to the Living the Questions group at 6:00 tomorrow evening.  I e-mailed everyone.  Karan and Bobby are planning to come. I also heard from Mona that she and Richard are planning to come too. Joyce may come. She is leaving Tuesday for California. I don't know about the other Richard yet. I will pick up Bob and Gary.  That's ten already counting me and Marilyn. I don't know whether Ramie will be there or not. That's Richard and Mona's son.  That should be a good group.

More later....

Bob and I went to Independence this afternoon so he could get the toys, etc. for his shoe boxes.  Then we dropped by Big Cheese and had lunch.  That should hold us for awhile.

We have some pie Marilyn R. brought us. We will have that this evening. 

Friday and to Bartlesville

Today I will go to Bartlesville with Bob. More later...

Bob came by at 9:00 and we left for Bartlesville. We went to his doctor's appointment and then  to Lowe's to look for a shelf to put above my TV and then later to Garfield's to have lunch. I had their wonderful fish and chips. He had their chicken and veggie stir fry over rice. He said it was really good too.  I brought half of mine back in a box and gave it to Marilyn. I knew I couldn't eat all that food.

When we got home, I took it over to Marilyn's.  We visited awhile about Betty and Betty's dilemma. Betty called me right after we got out of the doctor's office. It seems, Fred, the noisy man from across the street that she evicted, trashed the house before he left. There were crayon marks on the walls, a broken window in the door and lot's of damage.  She showed it today and hopes to rent it to an elderly man. But first it will have to be cleaned and repaired. She wants me to let her know if  Fred comes back. She wants to have him arrested for trashing the house and doing all that damage.

I told Marilyn about it.

Tonight we will watch Brooks and Shields on PBS. We always enjoy their political commentary.

More later...

Bob left at 7:00 and I tried to watch TV but kept falling asleep. So I am heading to bed at 8:30.

Thursday and Back to Ministerial Alliance

Since I am no longer working, I have decided to go back to Coffeyville's Ministerial Alliance. I was their secretary/treasurer for eight years before I went back to work. They meet the first Thursday of each month. I think our church needs to be a part of the community's Christian community and our three pastors all have full time jobs so I am the one free to re-join.  I made a reservation for their luncheon yesterday.  I know many of the ministers of the community from my previous association. It will be good to see them all again.

I told Bob yesterday that he would be on his own for lunch today unless he wanted to go with me. He chose not to do so. He took some of the spaghetti for his lunch today. (Then he ate it for his supper last night) :) I still have some so he could take it home today if he doesn't mind eating it again.

Tomorrow he goes to Bartlesville for his doctor's appointment there. I may go with him to help him with the paperwork. Then we would probably eat out there tomorrow. If Bob doesn't take that spaghetti today, we would have it on Saturday.  We always eat out on Sunday too with the church group.

I slept pretty well last night and talked to Keith and Esther on the phone before bedtime. It's always good to hear from them.

I will not eat breakfast with the girls today. Marilyn is in Winfield and Karan is at the hospital with Bobby. Gretchen has moved on to Arizona, I believe, to look for property. She is looking for a new home for her husband and herself and was just visiting here. It would have just been Joyce and me and Joyce is preparing to leave for California on Tuesday.

More later...

Bobby was released from the hospital Wednesday night and was doing better. He went back in as an outpatient this morning and had the MRI he missed while the machine was down. He will have an appointment on Monday with the neurosurgeon and find out what the result was and what the next step will be. 

I attended the alliance meeting but no one spoke or welcomed me until an old friend came in. Then he asked to sit with me and we had a good conversation. The program was good. Katie, from the library, did a fine job and then after the meeting broke up I rejoined the alliance. There were several I did not know.  Ministers change often. I will get re-acquainted eventually.  

After the meeting I went out to a rain storm. I made it to my car without getting too wet...I had parked nearby...and got on back home. I had my mail and Scott's book had arrived. I went to the post office and sent it off. It will be a week or ten days before he receives it.

Then I came back home and pretty much relaxed the rest of the afternoon. Later in the evening, I went over to Braums and bought ice cream. Late, Bob came over and we had a bowl of it. After he left I took my bath and Missy and I sat in the recliner and watched a TV program.  Then we went to bed.

 

Wednesday and a Restless Night

I had a restless night. I guess I was too tired when I went to bed. Anyhow, I got up about 4:00AM. No sense just tossing and turning any longer.

Today I will fix spaghetti for lunch with a veggie and Bob's salad and garlic bread.  I will have fruit for dessert with the cookies.

I intend to attend the ministerial alliance meeting tomorrow for their lunch and also rejoin. Now that I'm no longer working I want to get back to these alliance meetings. I think it's important to participate with other churches. We need to have a presence there. I was their secretary/treasurer for eight years. Now I will just be able to sit and listen and participate.

Later today around 2:00 I will go back up to see Bobby and Karan at the hospital. Even later today the two specialists from Tulsa will be coming to do the scanning of his chest area and stomach to try to find the primary location of the cancer.

I got all the dishcloths and dish towels from yesterday's dinner washed and dried and folded last night. I may run them back out to church later this morning.

It's 5:00 AM now and I will go feed Missy and myself. I will be back to this later.....

I took some photos yesterday at the hospital.  I'll share them here.

This is Bobby.

The woman on the left is my daughter, Leslie. The one in the center is Bobby's daughter, Becky, and the one on the right is Bobby's wife, Karan.

I thought you might be interested since I talk about them from time to time.

This old babe is me. As you can see, I've aged a lot since Doug took that photo in 2007.

Karan just called.

She talked to Dr. Gillis this morning and he said those tests he ordered did not show any primary tumor. And by the way, he also told Karan that  a lesion IS a tumor. Karan asked him about that. There is no obvious reason this has happened so far. He saw no primary tumor in the chest or the stomach in the tests they did Monday so he has added a neurosurgeon to the group coming from Tulsa late this afternoon.  

The mystery deepens. Bobby is more lucid this morning. They have taken him for more tests right now and Karan is going home to shower and change her clothes while he is gone.

I suspected a stroke or a TIA but that would have been fairly common and easy to diagnose, I would think.  I found this on WedMD.

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) Directory

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a temporary blockage of blood flow in the brain that causes brief stroke symptoms. A transient ischemic attack is often called a mini-stroke. It is considered a warning sign that a more serious stoke will happen in the future. Transient ischemic attack symptoms do not last long. They may include weakness on one side of the body, dizziness, blurred vision, confusion, and speech problems. A TIA is a medical emergency.

More later….

Karan called me after she talked to Dr. Ogundapeh, the oncologist.  They were going to do another MRI but just as Bobby got down there in the machine, it went down. They have someone working on it now. Because of the lack of other symptoms, like headache, there is a chance that the two lesions  are connected…kind of like a barbell. Dr. O thinks they need to do a biopsy.  He told Bobby and Karan that just because he is an oncologist doesn’t mean Bobby has cancer. If that would turn out to be the case, it could be an infection.  Bobby asked about the procedure of the biopsy and Dr. O. told him he would need to talk to the neurosurgeon because that is out of his area of expertise.   The neurosurgeon has not come yet.  Neither has the radiologist. They should be there this evening. Bobby is staying in the hospital one more day just in case they need more tests.

I went up to see them after I left the senior center at 3:00 and took a card everyone there had signed.  Soon after that Dean, his brother, and his wife also came.  I left at 4:00. He had enough company.

We had a good lunch and had some of the Cherry Pie Cake for dessert. I had forgotten I still had that. 

I went to the senior center to play Bunco from 1:00 till 3:00.

Tuesday and the Celebration of Life

Lots of stuff going on this week. In a little while I will bake my cherry pie cake and take it out to church at 9:00 before I take the cakes to Independence. I have five in my trunk. Then I will come back to church to help Leslie and Sue with the preparations for the 10:30 Celebration of Life. While they are gone to take the ashes to Independence, I may have time to run home to the hospital and go see how Karan and Bobby are doing. Then back to the church for the 12:30 lunch for the family. After we clean up after that, maybe I can spend some time with Karan at the hospital. She may have lots of company there because she is very popular.

I slept well last night. I went to sleep praying for Karan and Bobby. They are going to need to be aware of God's spirit right there with them helping them to get through all this.

Now Missy is waiting patiently for her treats and I need to get something down for breakfast and get that dessert in the oven too.

So more later....

Well, I got the dessert finished and will leave at 8:30 to take it out to the church. Then on to Independence to take the cakes in to the First Christian Church. Then back to the church for the service at 10:30.  The dinner isn't until 12:30 or 1:00 so I will have time then to decide whether to run in to town to see Bobby and Karan at the hospital.

Leslie and I will go in this afternoon late or early this evening to administer to and pray for Bobby.

Karan just called with some more news about Bobby’s tests. Dr. Gillis believes it’s cancer…metastasized  from some other site. They are calling in an oncologist and a radiologist today to do further testing. They will be in the hospital today and tomorrow and probably release him on Thursday to go home until a treatment of some sort can be discussed. The radiologist will scan his chest and his stomach to try to find the original site.

Please continue to keep both of them in your prayers.  So far, Karan is being strong…realizing this is all out of her hands.

More even later.

It was a huge afternoon with the services and then the dinner.  I did all the dishes and everything ran late. Otherwise, everyone pitched in and the dinner itself went really well. I got home about 2:30. I had been gone since 8:20 this morning. I took the cakes to Independence after leaving my dessert at the church and helping Leslie decorate.  Then I came back to the church at 9:00 and again helped Leslie do some more decorating.

The service started at 10:30...at least they were supposed to have. The daughter of the deceased ran late and wanted to go into the sanctuary and do some decorating after the mourners were already seated.  I stopped her and had her put her decorations in the foyer. Then the mourners straggled in until 10:45.  Finally the service was over by 11:30 and they all went to the cemetery in Independence to leave the urn  next to the grave of the daughter's stepdad.

They didn't get back until 1:00...again the daughter held everything up.  The dinner was done and cleaned up by 2:30 but that same daughter was still there.....piddling around....a classic case of only childitis.  Ever since I've known that woman, it's always been all about her. She never considers the anyone else's time.

She wants Leslie to take her home and I'll bet a dollar she will hold her up ....just talking to her. We have an appointment to go to the hospital to anoint and pray for Bobby. But that will not even occur to her.

Grrrr...I know, I'm completely unchristian this afternoon. This woman stretches me to the utmost bounds. Dear Lord, I have to apologize.

Leslie will call me when she can get to town to go to the hospital.

Leslie and I went to the hospital and prayed over Bobby.  They still don't have a definitive diagnosis.  Now they are calling them two lesions.  I'll have to google the difference.

Bob is not coming over this evening and I have to admit I'm glad. We are both exhausted after this day.

Monday and a Busy Day

I will clean house today here at the apartment. I'll wait until a little later so I won't disturb Jeannie, next door,  with the vacuum sweeper. I did my laundry last night while watching the game.

I slept pretty well last night but have been having heartburn now and then and took a couple of Tums while watching the movie and a couple more in the night at 1:00AM. Both times that took care of the problem. I slept well after that. I didn't eat any supper, not even my usual yogurt. and that may have been part of the problem. I have always had a cast iron stomach but lately have been having some heartburn. It's probably the mileage.

I will call Cathy in a little while and see if there is any chance of getting my hair done today instead of tomorrow. Tomorrow is Leeann's mother's Celebration of Life and we will also serve a dinner. It will be close if I have to have my appointment tomorrow. The Celebration of Life is at 10:30 and my hair appointment is at 9:00. It's my color and cut day too and that usually takes an hour. We have a three mile detour off tenth street road and the detour is rough.  I also still have to take the cakes up to the Christian Church tomorrow. Lot's of complications.

Missy is waiting patiently for her treats so I will get back to this later.......

I managed to get my appointment changed to 11:00 today.  That will simplify tomorrow.  I will bake my cake tonight for the Christian Church and the cherry pie cake for the Celebration of Life in the morning.  We will have a 1:00 lunch today. I will fix tuna cakes and fried potatoes with a veggie. Bob will bring his coleslaw. We will have fruit and cookies for dessert.  I will mix up the tuna before I leave this morning.

I wanted to clean this morning but may do it this afternoon instead.

More later this afternoon...

I got the house cleaned before I went to Independence to get my hair down. She worked me in at 11:00. I came home afterward and fixed dinner, That worked out fine and I baked my cake afterward. Later, after it cooled, I iced it.

While Bob was still here, Karan called to see if Bob was still here. I told her he was and was in the bathroom. She said that was fine but not to let him know she had called.  I agreed.  When Bob walked in he heard the conversation because I always have the speaker on so I can hear without straining. She called back a few minutes later to say she was talking about "her" Bob. He had been acting very strange and spacey lately. She was worried about him. She found him at his brother's house. He was supposed to have been bringing her cake to me at 1:30 and had not come home.  She called his doctor and the doctor said to get him to the emergency room for a brain scan. It may be a TIA...a mini stroke.  I went by and picked up her cake and her salad for tomorrow's dinner after the Celebration of Life.  I put her cake in my car trunk and took the salad out to the church.

When I got there, my daughter was there cleaning and I helped her a bit and took the trash  and put a new bag in the trash can there. I also ordered flowers for the services from the church members. They will be delivered in the morning at 9:00... at the church. My daughter will be there then. There is a family meeting this evening at the funeral home. That helped to run up the cost for the family.  Any time you use their facility, they charge extra for that.  Funeral homes take advantage of the grief of the family. This family has no insurance money at all. Lots of stuff going on.

When I left the church, my daughter was going down to Bartlesville to pick up bulletins for the service.  Then she was going to go home and print them.

Lots going on right now!

Later all the girls brought their cakes over (and Bob) and I loaded them into the trunk of my car.  I will drive up to Independence tomorrow and take them to the First Christian Church for their dinner tomorrow evening.

Right now, I've had my bath and am ready to sit and watch TV with Missy in my lap...until 9:00. But first...I need to call Karan and see how the hospital visit went.

Later....

It was worse then any of us thought. Bobby has been diagnosed with a frontal lobe brain tumor. He is in CRMC, our hospital here in Coffeyville, and Karan stayed there last night with him.  They say he will have to have brain surgery. I suppose he would have to go to Tulsa to have that done.  We do not have a neurosurgeon here. What a tragedy. Who knows what comes next.

Sunday and Church

Today is Communion Sunday at church. Karan is presiding and Sue is speaking. After church Bob and Phyllis F and I are going over to Cherryvale to "Just Us" for lunch.  I will pick Phyllis up after I pick Bob up this morning at 9:00 and she will not have to leave her car at church.  I don't think any of the others will go with us. For some reason they are not impressed with "Just Us". It's a buffet.  But it's a buffet with lid covered food. The $10.00 we pay for lunch includes dessert and drink. We will enjoy it..I'm sure. We always do.

When I get home I will do the congregational newsletters for church. I will have to buy some stamps. I only have two left. and I usually need four or five for those without e-mail. It depends on who attends today. If they attend, I don't send the letter. They will hear the announcements. Next week we have the Samaritan Child shoe box filling project and no church school or church. We will also have a brunch. I will take my coffeecake.  

I slept well last night. I awoke twice but managed to get back to sleep both times. I just had a banana for breakfast and two cups of coffee. I ate too much yesterday evening. I had a small black walnut milk shake while Bob had a hamburger and tea. I will make up for it at lunch today, I'm sure.

The Royals won again last night and if they win their next game, they will win the World Series this year.

I had better go to the bank and get some money for lunch.

Back later....

We had our worship service and then afterward Phyllis F, Bob and I went over to Cherryvale to "Just Us" and had a real good lunch. We may do that more often on Sunday. When we eat with the 8 to 12 others, I seldom have an opportunity to visit with anyone. Everyone is talking at once. This way the three of us have a real good visit and a good lunch too.

I got my newsletters finished and in the mail.  Now I can change my clothes and relax awhile.

More later....

It turned out to be  alovely afternoon warm and sunny and miracle of miracles, Justin mowed while I was at church. I let Missy out to roam around and lay in the sunshine and went out with her. After an hour or so, I texted Bob and asked him if he would like to come over and sit out and enjoy the sunshine. He came and stayed all afternoon.

Captain Phillips was on one of the Fox stations so we watched that until 7:00.  And then the World Series began and I watched it as long as I could.  Missy, of course, lay on my lap and enjoyed having her feet rubbed.

The Royals won 7 to 2 in New York and are the World Series winners. I know folks from Kansas City who are ecstatic.