HOME!

After getting the good news for home

 We finally got the news today that Mom could go home!  We were so excited!  The cat scan came back great.  Her brain re-aligned and there was no sign of blood or leakage!  Her brain had shifted to the left 1/2 centimeter.  We compared the 2 scans, the one from Friday and the one from today and there was a HUGE difference.  We will go back next week for another scan and follow up with her other doctors to make sure no cancer came back.  This was truly a miracle!  Thank you all for prayers!

How is Caden holding up during all of this?  Just perfect.  He's happy to finally hear his Grandma's voice.

Finally reunited with Molly!  At peace!

Brain Surgery

Friday afternoon I got a startling call from my Mom.  She has just left her MRI and was headed straight to the ER for emergency brain surgery.  She didn't know much information and she was very shaken up so I talked to her friend and I was at a loss.  I hung up the phone and I was in shock.  I had no idea what was going on and I was clear in San Diego and didn't know what to do.  After several hours of texting and calling other friends of hers I immediately booked the first flight out of Iowa.

My Mom was rushed into surgery for brain surgery.  My brother and his wife Carrie were rushing from Des Moines to the hospital to try to see her before she went into surgery.  Luckily my Mom was not alone and she had a lot of her friends there surrounding her to help her get prepared for surgery.  The priest came and gave her a last blessing and just as he was finishing my brother and Carrie made it in.  They were able to talk to her for about 5 minutes before she went into surgery.  My Mom mostly talked about where to find things if something happened to her, it must have been terrifying for my brother to listen to that.  How do you take in information you parent is giving you like they may not return.  He was strong though and kept me updated on the surgery.  I'm so glad and thankful that he and Carrie made it in.

Head wrap getting taken off

My Mom had what is called a subdural chronic hematoma-which was not even the worst of it.  The entire thing caused her brain to shift completely from her left side to her right side.  She had about 6-8 weeks of blood and fluids accumulated in there.  The surgeon drilled 3 holes into my mom's head-2 on the right side and one on the left side.  He said when they finally were able to drain, the fluids rushed out like crude oil.  The procedure went as well as it possibly could thanks to the awesome surgeon.  The cause of this is still unknown.  She had no trauma, she had just been having horrible headaches (which after 3 doctors was finally resolved as everyone told her she had ear infections!)

I was able to get in at about 5pm to the hospital the next day (Saturday).  She looked great for just having brain surgery!  I stayed with her until she fell asleep then I made my way back to her house.  It was freezing cold and a blizzard was coming.  Windchill was about -5 below.  Horrible horrible weather!

3 cuts and 1 hole for the tube

Over the last few days I've been spending time at the hospital taking care of my Mom.  My brother and Carrie left Sunday afternoon-it was great having them here to help take care of my Mom's dog Molly, her and Ella loved playing together and kept each other company.  My mom was thankful to have their support too.

New scarf!

She has been recovering well and got the tube (we call it the brain drain) out yesterday (Monday).  She had a little more than a 1/2 cup of blood that had accumulated but the doctor felt comfortable taking it out.  This morning she had another cat scan to see how things were going up there...right now we are (or at least I am) patiently waiting the results, my mom on the other hand is very jittery like usual.  Everything is a waiting game and we just are thankful that she has made it and is here with us right now.  It is a scary thought to have something happen like this so quickly.  I'm just thankful that everything has gone well so far.  It's just another reason way you should cherish every moment you have and not take anything for granted.

Thank you so much to every ones prayers and thoughts headed our way, I greatly appreciate it!

Finally the weekend!

I'm so happy it's finally the weekend.  I've been working in San Diego this week at Adam's Mom's house and it's been so beautiful outside-it's hard to get any work done.  I just want to be outside and sunbathe.  It's supposed to be 80-90's this weekend.  So I plan to take Blitz and Caden to the beach and tan all day long.  Adam will be recruiting of course, but at least he only has to work from 11-6pm tomorrow  on home visits, much better than his 14hr days.  It's so nice being back in a big city and having stuff to do around the town.  Tonight I think we are making Ginger bread houses with Jon, Cory and Petra-hopefully Adam will be back in time to join.  

After that Monday, I am headed back to Denver for work and a baby shower!  I'm so excited!!  It will be my first baby shower.  I can't believe that the year is almost over and before we know it our little baby will be here :).  

The 19th we fly back to Iowa for the holidays and will be there until the 30th.  It's been so long since I've seen my family-except my Dad who came out for a football game.  I'm excited to see them, I'm sure they will be surprised on how big my belly is!  Caden has been moving around and kicking like crazy still.  I have been feeling really well and I caught up on some sleep last night.  I think i was in bed by about 7pm.  

PS I officially can't zip my jeans anymore-LOL

The cutest booties in the world

Jill and Jon-Christmas Time!

Yesterday Jill, Jon and I went to see some Christmas trees and hidden in all the stuff were the cutest football booties EVER.  I'm totally going to have Caden wear them home form the hospital.

San Diego

Well we made it safely back to San Diego again!  I decided to take the venture with Adam and work out in San Diego while he recruited.  He was going to be gone too long and I was going to miss him too much so I decided to take the plunge.

We got in around 10:30 on Sat night.  The ride went will except for all the bathroom breaks of course.  We decided to take all the pets and for the first part of our trip we are staying with Adam's Mom.  She set a little room up for Java as Ellie (their cat) and Java won't mix well.  Java is pretty much scared of everything and not the nicest cat in the world.  Blitz was excited as usual to see everyone.

Blitz, Beach, Baby and us

Sunday Adam, Jon and myself all went to the beach to take Blitz for a swim.  Cory, Mark, Petra and Bosco (their dog) all met us up later too.  Blitz swam for about 2 hours and was so sore and tired after wards.  Jill made him a little bed the next day for recovery.

Blitz's Beach swim

SO HAPPY!

Grandma's bed for Blitz for his recovery after his swim.

Blitz and Bosco-best friends and cousins

Petra making a sand angel

CAKE!

Later that day we celebrated Jon's (Adam's older brother) birthday.  It was really fun.  The entire family came over and we ate some awesome home cooked (compliments of Jill) Mexican food and hung out. 

Lynn, Jill and Birthday boy Jon

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Adam, June, Jim, Cory, Brent and Mark

Now, it's back to work for both of us.  I'm working out of Jill's office and Adam's is recruiting all day!

Baby Crib

My Mom bought us a baby crib for Caden-Consumer Reports best rated crib!  Of course would Caden have anything else?  Adam got home last night from recruiting up in Albuquerque for the past two days but was eager to set it up-mostly I think he was just trying to make me happy though.  I was really excited and I know he was tired, but we got it done.  It took a little over an hour-but it's beautiful.  It's also HUGE.  It turns into like 4 different beds-it's really nice.  I can't wait to get our little guy in it.  After Adam and I got done putting it together we just stared at it and were smiling and laughing about how very soon a little baby will be peaking out of the crib looking for his parents.

Caden's Dresser-still undetermined on where to put it

little beachy knobs we bought

Starting to come together! Still a mess though

Future Punter or Soccer player

Caden has been kicking like crazy.  Now you can see my entire belly move and the places where he kicks.  You can't see any actual body parts but you can definitely tell where he kicks on my belly.   He is mostly active in the morning and at night.  Also, usually around 2pm he starts rolling around or something-it's like a weird feeling.  Like he is trying to reposition himself.  I really like it except when he wakes me up in the middle of the night.  I'm up to 13lbs gained so far.  i love feeling him move.  He is the size of a large mango now.

Today we got our crib and Adam and I are going to put it together when he comes home.  I can't wait until the little guy comes.