Well! We are gearing up for our first Bixby Christmas. Mom is doing pretty well. She is mostly happy if you give her something sweet! She's down to 130 pounds. When she was first diagnosed she was about 180. So, we indulge her with the sweet stuff. Today is Justus 6th birthday, so we are going to eat out Mexican food with the whole family! Fortunately for mom, we have 2 birthday cakes sitting in the kitchen for our dessert after dinner.

I suppose it is time to finish out the year with some celebrations. The biggest of which is that dad is well!

He was in the hospital for 6 days with ecolli poisoning. Even better yet, he is going to church with us every Sunday. In fact, he committed his life and heart to Jesus just 3 weeks ago at church. Yesterday, he told me he loves his church so much. We go to www.lifechurch.tv It is a very ROCKING church with most of the congregation under the age of 35. He absolutely loves it. They are opening a campus in Bixby in 2008, and he wants to be a greeter.

Ambulance ride!

Well, Hopefully this is the last bit of "drama" for a while, but I still need prayer!
On this past Thursday, dad couldn't stand up for severe dizziness. He was having chills & sweats. He couldn't make it to the bathroom without literally falling over. After calls to doctors & no responses, I finally resolved to call the ambulance - 911. Sean took mom & the kids and I rode with dad in the ambulance to St. Francis. The best call I ever made. By the time they got here dad was flat on his back vomiting everywhere and pouring sweat like an open fire hydrant!
His fever soared over 103, and he threw up for the entire ambulance ride and several hours afterward. Now after an arduous hospital stay and lots of anxiety for all, we now know he had eccolli (sp?) in his bloodstream that had traveled from his bladder. He was septic and ever so sick.
Somewhere back at Monday's angiogram he picked up some "bad stuff" at the hospital. Go to the hospital to get sick!
There has been lots of schedule-juggling, mom-juggling, kid-juggling... and oh yes! the car broke down too if you can believe that!
At last, he is finally gaining strength and probably going to be released from the hospital tomorrow. I AM asking for cards. His address is Earl Collins, 3115 E. 144th Pl. S., Bixby, OK 74008. He has been very strong and fought very hard to get well. He is very weak and tired... Mostly from throwing up. I know that a note or card would mean a lot to him. It's kind of lonely being sick so far from "home".
Please pray for mom. She is doing just fine, but she is confused at why dad isn't here. She can't seem to remember he went the hospital. She has been to visit 2 times but comes home exhausted. Tomorrow will be a big day getting him home, so pray all my bases remain covered... so to speak.
Love to all,
Carol

We're gonna need this address???

Sorry to all who've checked my blog to find NOTHING over the past several weeks. I've been spinning as usual.

About 3 weeks ago, dad & I went for his initial appointment with his new cardiologist here in Tulsa. To my shock and dismay, Dad's heart was functioning at 30%. Just yesterday, he underwent an angiogram to discover he has NO BLOCKAGE. His heart is damaged. Most likely some type of virus has caused the cardio-myopathy. We are going to try meds to help the problem.

So... there I was with mom doing her parkinson's tremoring as she held my hand and dad thrashing in recovery from anesthesia. YIKES! When it rains sometimes it pours for a little while. Yes, I survived it, but I have to share this story.

Dad is wheeled back in his hospital bed. It's been about 2 hours since the procedure and he is resting. The lovely little round nurse gently explained that mom & I had about 45 minutes to wait until they would get daddy up to walk him around. Mom had been so sweet and smiling since her awakening and dressing at 6AM. It had been one long day in the waiting area. We had colored in coloring books till she told me that was boring. We had held hands. She had smiled widely and wildly and everyone who went by, and we had made a few friends with other families waiting for their loved ones test results. Needless to say we had not wanted to miss our moment with the doctor, so we had stayed glued to the recovery area. It was now almost 2PM. We were hungry!!!!

The sweet nurse with the wide hips and the nonchalant manner had given us the "permission" to go get some food and take a break. I grabbed mom by the hand and said, "Let's go get you some food! I think you need a chocolate shake. Overjoyed mom said, "Oh Yes! Yes I do! That's right! That IS what I need." I began gathering up the purse, the jackets, the planner, the coloring books... Then mom starting saying to the nurse, "Now wait just a minute here. Now wait... Now wait... If we're gonna leave here... If we are gonna leave him here, then we are gonna have to write down this address." The nurse & I just laughed & laughed. We better get that address written down, so we won't lose dad. How cute!

Well, I'm putting dad in Depends now. He has been having trouble holding his bladder. His first "usage" was a fiasco. He put them on wrong and was wearing the leg as the waist. So, now I am using a sharpie to mark the "back tags" in his new special undies.

FUN! FUN! abounds!!!

I'm tired!

Whew! I'm tired of being tired!

Today, I finally think I can say that my house is getting organized. No it's not clean! But atleast I can walk through my bedroom and all the bills are paid! That is organized enough for me now.

I never have time to post. I never have time to shower! LOL!

I am going to try to start back running or atleast exercising. It seems that has just fallen by the wayside. Hopefully with a little motivation I can get myself on track. I've decided to stop life-coaching others and life-coach myself.

Alzheimers Walk

If you'd like to walk with me to raise awareness please click the link to the right! We can walk together in Tulsa on Saturday, September 28th! You can also donate even $10 to the cause. Brenda Avadian of The Caregiver's Voice has also graciously offered to donate some of her books to those who contribute. Remember if you want to walk, let me know and I'll have a T-Shirt made just for you as well.

Here's Brenda's Incentive!!!!
Dear Carol,
To HELP you achieve your team goals of $500 and 6 members, I will do the following...

In HONOR of your Mom, Joy Collins, I will donate 2 personally autographed and dated Finding the JOY in Alzheimer's: When Tears are Dried with Laughter to the first 2 people who donate OVER $75 or more to your team walk.

In MEMORY of my father, Martin Avadian, I will donate 1 autographed and dated "Where's my shoes?" My Father's Walk Through Alzheimer's to the FIRST person who donates OVER $100 to your team walk.

These gifts will allow your team to receive a lasting impact and truly personal gift beyond (any sore muscles after) the walk!

Living in BIXBY

THE HOUSE

Yes! We did it! Yes! with a little help from our friends! We been faced with the challenge of moving our 2 families due to a job transfer to the Tulsa area. Unbelievably by God's grace we sold 2 homes, packed 2 homes, moved 2 small children and 2 aging grandparents under one roof and things are going unbelievably well.

I just "took a break" and took Mom, Dad, Justus, & Annaliese in the car and drove to the Arkansas river for a very fancy lunch at an elegant cafe' on the riverwalk. Dad loved getting to stare at the river drifting by us. He was proud to be a "Tulsan". Mom enjoyed her chicken salad croissant with grapes & almonds. I've just been dragging her all over Tulsa, and she's doing just fine!!! She even made a good trip with us to the farmer's market.

We actually live in Bixby; the coolest place on earth! It is a little country community quickly turning into a trendy thing. Y'know me always wanting to be in on what's "HIP"!

Here are some random pics of what's going on this afternoon.

The new bed is mom & dad's!!! It is a pillow top queen with soft & luxorious sheets. They had been in the same old bed for over 35 years, and it was a bed they bought at a yard sale. So welcome to Bixby!

Here is Dad in his new sitting room with his flat screen TV. He is doing what he does best... napping. Well now mom has something to do besides watch him nap!

You will see above that she has "snuck" upstairs to be with her granddaughter. She just grabs that handrail and off she goes to play with the kids. Annaliese is more than thrilled to babysit Grammy and play in her new room.

Come for a visit! We have a cool guitar room as well. Sean would want me to include these pics.

Justus has all ready rode his bike across the street to play with his new buddy Caden!