Changes

Tuesday afternoon of last week I got a phone call from D's mom Sabita. It began as a normal conversation but little did I know it would end with me needing to find a way to get her to the hospital as fast as possible. She mentioned that after eating some lunch she had felt the left side of her face growing tingly and numb. She called one of her best friends Hazel... a 98-year-old neighbor... who sent her grandkids over to check on Sabita.

One of them talked to me on the phone and said they were almost positive that she had experienced a stroke and that there is absolutely no time to lose, get her to the hospital immediately. I was so confused because she had talked normally to me but they said when they got there Sabita was mumbling and couldn't make words out. D rushed out of work to pick her up and took her to the IMC ER.

This has all been such a whirlwind and we keep saying to each other, "I can't believe this has happened," but it is amazing what has happened in just over a week. D's mother is an absolute fighter. The doctor said she had a severe stroke. When the stroke happened, it hit 3 areas of her brain so it is as if she had 3 major strokes on the right lower side of her brain. I could go on and on about the details of last week, but in a nutshell she was in the Neuro Critical Care Unit for 5 days. We were worried, confused, and not feeling as hopeful then. All of this is so new to us and D and I have wanted so badly to be with her at the hospital throughout those days of crisis in order to talk to doctors, nurses, evaluate Sabita... but that's been tough given that someone has to work (D) and someone has to tend to the needs of a 20-month-old (me)! However we have been able to either both of us or one of us be at the hospital each day. My mom and dad have made this possible. Thank you two, we love you so much.

Tuesday of this week Sabita was moved to the rehab floor. The results of the stroke are: she can hardly move her left arm/hand/fingers, her left leg/foot/toes, she has some vision in her left eye affected (still not sure how much), and she still cannot swallow at this point. But here is what is incredible: her speech is top-notch. In the beginning days after this her speech was very slurred and there was some stuttering but last night when D and I went to see her, she looked so so good and we are so so grateful. We know that to some extent she is the one with the will to heal but we also know that it is the prayers flowing from others that has gotten her to this point. Thank you!

There are thousands of thoughts, decisions, feelings, etc. racing through our minds but no action yet because we don't know how long Sabita will be recovering in the hospital. We are feeling hopeful now that it won't be as long as we originally predicted; the doctors can make NO predictions so it is frustrating. Up to this point Sabita was totally self-reliant, living on her own... she is only 60 years old. She does have diabetes and high blood pressure, which contributed to the stroke. But we are pretty sure she won't be allowed to live on her own from here on out so the questions are: will she move in with us or will we move in with her but we can't answer those for a few months. We are just so happy to see her doing so well now!

I still can't get over how her mind/speech have been left intact the way they have. We've understood every word (though sometimes slurred) she said since the day this happened to her. She was even telling us to take out the stinky garbage and to please go buy this Thomas train for Crosby's Christmas present because it won't be on sale at Big Lots much longer! When we asked what she needs from home all she requested were a picture of each grandchild: one of Crosby and one of Eden. She asks us to hand her the pictures, takes them from us, kisses them both, and then lays them on her chest, hugging them to her.

Still in the denial stage a bit. D had taken her to the hospital in her car and when I was going through it I found her clothes wadded up that she had worn the day the stroke happened, along with her tennis shoes. I looked at those shoes and wondered if she'll be able to ever walk again. It makes me sick to my stomach to realize the sheer damage that takes place with a stroke. D was saying how she walked out of the house like normal on the way to the hospital and didn't even lock the screen door because she though she was coming right back. These kinds of things keep circling in my mind and it breaks my heart. We learned that the effects of stroke don't manifest themselves until a day or two after it occurs. However, it is important to stay hopeful. We have every reason to because her recovery seems to be going quite well. She has speech, occupational, activities of daily living, and physical therapists working with her 6 times a day and so we are settling in for the recovery process.

Of course when times of stress like this take place, who doesn't get sick or injured?! Over the weekend Crosby and I got sick and then early this week D tweaked his back and then yesterday I wrenched my neck. Of course! But luckily D and me got the minor stuff... my sore throat and cold lasted literally only two days and D's back is just going to take a week of healing. Crosby is the one we've had trouble with... Monday we found out from an x-ray that he had the early stages of pneumonia. But he's doing so much better now! We now have a new apparatus in our home: a nebulizer. Learning so many new things lately :) But all it is is albuterol solution that he inhales through a mask 3 times a day and then we'll get him checked out next Monday to make sure he's all better.

I will take a short second to brag about my child. He is the most amazing little boy. We love him over the moon and back a million times. He was SO patient with the doctor and then getting the xray and now when we have to do his little treatments all I have to say is, "Croz it's time for your mask!" and he inhales this huge noisy breath of excitement and starts doing this little dance with a HUGE smile on his face. Now I'm thinking it's not the mask he loves but the Thomas shows he gets to watch while "doing his mask." So darling! He is patient, he is sweet, he is adorable, he is funny. We are so lucky that I can't think too much about but rather feel overwhelmingly grateful for how blessed we are to have been given this incredibly special child to love and care for. He is joy beyond joy!

And my parents. I ask my parents to watch Crosby and they don't even blink before saying, "I would love to..." I constantly apologize for "burdening" them but all they can say is how they wouldn't want to be doing anything else. My mom and dad are the most helpful, compassionate, kind people. I love them so much! And I am so glad they are here for Crosby. I know how much they love to spend time with him, but do you guys realize how much he LOOOOVEs to spend time with you?!

So last night I had to snap a pic because Granny B had wanted us to take her balloons home from the hospital for C to play with and so I picked out this fish one for him and last night he was screaming with pleasure while playing with it. Then it was time for his mask but he would NOT let go. I usually hold him on my lap while we do this but I set him there and he just sat there, kept his little mask on, and held tighter than ever to that balloon while watching his show.



He has been SO cooperative and sweet, what a doll!

And then yesterday we were on an errand and Croz was playing with an old cell phone that my parents gave him. I had my camera in my purse so I whipped out a video while driving; yes I was careful and you can tell from the video that I was def. watching the road but I love hearing the inflections in his voice and watching his little mannerisms when he's talking on the phone.



Times like these... when a loved one's life or health is compromised... never fails to cause lots of thinking, lots of reflection. Please think of the people you love the most and express your love to them now. Life changes moment to moment. Also it has made us rethink our habits of health. It is so important to stay active, number one. I know some health issues can't be avoided, but this has made me want to go for a walk or run each day to keep that blood flow movin'! Just makes you want to take good care of yourself and the people close to you.

Love to all and thanks to all who have been offering help and expressing concern. It means so much!