I.C U.

Yes, ICU stands for Intensive Care Unit, where my mom is vacationing at the moment. Bad joke- I know. Hardly a vacation. But she does have an air mattress which inflates and deflates to help with her circulation. Way more luxurious than having someone turn you over every half hour. For a gal who has failing kidneys, on oxygen, can't pee for herself, hasn't eaten more than what would fill a sandwich Ziploc in the past 4 days, has bacteria flowing through her veins, hooked up to a swan thing, and the anticipation of future heart surgery....she can put us all to shame with her positive outlook and her amazing attitude. Those who know my mom know that she is a remarkable woman- and these past few days prove it even more. Obviously perfection is attainable in this life. She shows us how.

P.S. In my case ICU stands for I'm Completely Useless.

Answers- yet still lots of Questions

Keep in mind that I am still very tired and I need my hair cut (I may say something stupid or forget some important detail due to these two facts). So here is the low down-
Mom has blood poisoning, bacteria in her blood, a staph infection.
I know it is lame of me to not attempt to give more details, but I don't have time to type since an already busy life has been filled with even more. I truly love everyone of my brothers and sisters. The situation and experience we are going through is stressful, difficult and requiring a ton of sacrifice. I am grateful for the diversity and varied talents and abilities in each of my siblings and their spouses. I am grateful for each of them and the ways in which they add to my life experience.
And yes- I love my dad too. Very much.

Exhausted!

So do I try to stay awake or try to sleep some more? Either way I will be tired. My brain is not that functional right now- so why am I blogging? Cause I am a DORK and I am required to do at least one dorky thing a day.
Last night at approx. 7:30 I receive a phone call from my dad asking if I would come over and help mom. Liz, Tyler and Blake had just left so the timing was perfect for me to jump in the car immediately and take the long journey to my parents home 6 houses down.
What I found upon arrival was not the normal. Dad was trying to help mom and mom was in the wheelchair slumped over.
This is where I am going to leave off temporarily. I have had less than four hours of sleep this past night and I believe a shower will help revive me for the next few hours of responsibilities.

Great place to leave off. ;)

Reminds me of a phone call I received once, "Karen, it's Eldon. Don't panic. Chad's been shot."

What? No pictures?

I really do believe that this will be my very first blog without pictures. How can this be? Didn't I take OVER 4000 pics while in Japan? What of the video clips and pictures of Amanda at the OHS Ballroom competition this last Saturday? Andi's color guard had their first performance this past week- and I'm positive I can find pics and videos of that. I didn't even TAKE the camera with me to Jayden's and Cooper's birthday celebration on Saturday. What on earth has come over me? I hope this state of being is NOT permanent!

Aack!

Jewelry Day at Becky's

These are the FANTASTIC earrings

I created while at Becky's home.
These are the AMAZING pairs
Becky created in the same time
it took me to do my five.
She is a wiz at creating creative creations.
(hee hee)
In the future I will let you know how to
view MORE of what Becky makes.
Remember the beautiful hair floweres
Andi's Colorguard wore during parades?
Becky made those.

Chad & Katy drop by for a visit.

Katy and Chad had an errand to run.

Braxton and Michael were left in the

expert care of Andrea and Grandma.

"Don't let them get wet.", Chad says

as he and his wife hop in the car.

Lucky for the little boys-

Grandma has a hearing 'problem'.

Oh-no! Someone is a 'little' wet.

That's okay.

We can dry Michael off

and mom won't suspect anything.

We played with bubbles

colored, played air hockey,

and made paper airplanes.

Ready, Set, GO!