Kim

When you think no more can happen to make things worse, don't kid yourself! Because of the Staph infection Kim's 'pic' line for IV fluids had to be replaced by a peripheral IV line when she was hospitalized last week. The plan was for the visiting home healthcare nurse to change-out the peripheral every 36 hours or so; didn't happen. She said she didn't want to replace it because she was afraid she wouldn't be able to get another one started, so she left it in place. Kim had to remove it herself because the puncture sight became red and swollen with infection! Kim had to go back to the hospital last night to have a new one put in. Because she wasn't getting the needed fluids yesterday and the day before her blood pressure dropped too low again and she passed out and hit her head on the door jamb and had to have a CT scan to make sure everything was okay. Does anyone other than me think she has a big bull's eye painted on her body for trouble? My heart breaks for her; why can't she catch a break?
Liv

Week 3 of SSS Challenge

Hey Y'all,
Here is a layout I did for the guidelines of the third week of Sunshine Studio Scraps Wonder Week.

Radar Love Collab Kit by Wonder Girls;
Glitter and Rings: Troublemaker by Flergs; Paint splats: PsychoMagnent by Flergs

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend.
Liv

Wake Forest

Well, Kim made her appointment to see Dr. Koch at Wake Forest University Baptist Hospital this morning. They cannot do any needed blood work or surgery until the staff infection has cleared up. The stomach emptying test that she took earlier this year showed that after four hours only 4% of the food in her stomach had emptied; Dr Koch said that this is as bad as it gets. When she is able to eat solid foods she has a tendency to over eat because she does not have any sensation in her stomach (cannot feel like she is full). He said when he can do the surgery to put the 'J' tube in (for fluids and/or nutrition) he will insert it directly into the intestines as her stomach is too fragile for the surgery. She is to continue with several meals a day consisting of liquids and one meal she can take with her family if she is up to it. She has to consume at least one liter of water a day. She is anemic. Did I tell you she can no longer drive? I knew this but when the doctors tell you it seems to make it sound worse. Well, the good news is that she is fighting to get well again; as you know, she sometimes gives up.

Hugs,
Liv

Kim is home

Hey Y'all,

Kimberli was discharged from the hospital late yesterday afternoon. I went up to be with her for a while today. While there the hospital had a wheelchair delivered for her. For the life of me, I don't know how she is going to 'wheel' herself around, she's just too weak. There is a seat belt to hold her in should she faint but, unless someone pushes her, she's going to be stuck in one spot!

I got to see Joshua for a few minutes before I had to leave. He's so happy to have his Momma back home. I think I have to go back tomorrow and do the groceries. I took a meal up there and I think I will have to cook tomorrow too.

Here is a layout of me with my little baby Kim back in 1969, it's called Heart Strings:

Vintage Roses paper by Chantilly Lace;TatteredPapers2 by Misty Cato; Heart on wire, pink rose by SAS Designs; Flower sprig, ivy sprig/Near the Wall by WaterLO Project;Sparkle Curtain, strings/ Invisible World by Newlife Dreams; Fushia sprig, fern fiddle, fan/Bright Side of Life by Newlife Dreams; curled ribbon, fern, fabric flower,frame, heart, lace, swirls: Listen to your Heart by Manuela Zimmerman; Journal label by Ziggle Designs of ScrapOrchard; Hanging hearts: Creative Victorian Designs/Forever Mine; Cupie: Tricia Curtis/Forever Mine; Graphics using PS CS3

I used elements from so many different designers but my favorites are still those from Newlife Dreams at Shabby Pickle. The layout should be clickable.

Have a nice evening,
Liv

So much for the sigh of relief . . .

Thought we got a reprieve when the diagnoses was changed from Mercer to Staff infection of Kim's blood. NOT!

A neurologist was called in for a second opinion on the fainting and weakness (Kim was afraid of a possible brain tumor or aneurysm). The doctor told Kim that her health, as far as the fainting and weakness, is going to be 'touch and go' for the next few months and that Kim is lucky to be alive considering all the ramifications of the Staff infection combined with the diabetes. Kim will be unable to perform the simplest tasks as she cannot stand without fainting and she is so weak that holding a book to read is an exhausting proposition. The neurologist said it will take months of antibiotic and fluid therapy until Kim will be semi-well again. We have no idea the effect the infection will have long term on her heart, lungs, and other vital organs.

We are at a loss to know what to do about everyday care; Joshua cannot be left alone with his mom since she cannot take care of him; Kim cannot be left alone because she needs someone to take care of her. If Kim comes down to stay with us she won't see Joshua except on the weekends until she is well enough to take care of herself. And . . . that's if someone can stay with Joshua at night while his father works! Rock and a boulder again! Kim desperately needs a break from all of this heartrendingly devastating news. The old adage of 'one step forward two steps back' is more like 'two steps back and then one mile back'; there seems to never be any steps forward at all.

I know that this constant whine and bad news posting that I have been doing is very off putting and I don't blame any of you if you never come visit my blog again.

Here is a layout of me with my Mom, Dad, and brother on Easter 1954.

All papers and elements except for the ball chain and butterfly heart are from Sunshine Scraps Wonder Girls February kit, Radar Love. The chain and butterfly are by me.

I forgot to thank my Vicki for bestowing another blog award on me: Thanks so much Vic but I could never have a blog as lovely as yours!

I am passing it on to Marina, Brooke, M Kate, & Kara.

Speaking of M Kate! This lovely, lovely lady sent me an absolutely gorgeous package of goodies from Malaysia! You will all see what was in it when I finish the shadow box I am filling with my treasures. Such a surprise and show of love from such a sweet person to someone who needed her heart lifted, me!

I wish you all loving Valentines day and happy weekend.
Liv

Kim

Well, we had quite a scare for the past 24 hours! Kim was diagnosed with Mercer. It is a blood disease that is quite contagious and is passed between patients, usually by health care workers. It can quickly cause death if not treated in a timely fashion. There are only about 5 antibiotics that can be used effectively against Mercer because it is very resistant to ordinary treatments. Kim was allergic to the antibiotic that she was given (do we really expect anything less or for things to go smoothly?). She was quickly put into the ICU, in isolation. They removed her pic line and started regular IV lines for her fluids and insulin and other treatments. Removing the pic line is very traumatic for Kim because she needs it in order to receive her IV fluids every night and without the fluids she ends up being hospitalize 3 out of seven days! Fast forward to around 9:00 a.m. today. They were mistaken; she doesn't have Mercer, she has a staff infection. Staff infections can be very bad but they are infinitely more treatable than Mercer. They are now able to treat the infection with an antibiotic that doesn't cause an allergic reaction. Their reason for the misdiagnosis is that Kim's inability to have stable, non-fluctuating, blood pressure and debilitating weakness are a major side effect for Mercer. Now they need to find out what's causing the low blood pressure and weakness. These guessing games as to how to treat her are getting old.

Thanks for listening,
Liv

Kim

Just a note to let you know that Kim isn't any better and had to be hospitalized this morning. They are going to try and give her some nutrition through the pic lines she has in her arm. She doesn't want them doing surgery for a permanent feeding tube just yet; wants to wait until she sees Dr Koch on the 16th and see what he says. If she doesn't start getting enough energy to sit up or walk (at least with the walker) she is going to be put in a nursing home or come here to live with me. I'd rather she was with me but she wants to be close to Joshua.
Thanks,
Liv

Challenge

Hey,
I wanted to post this layout I did with a challenge freebie by the Wonder Girls at Sunshine Studio Scraps. Each week they give you one part of the kit (this month is Radar Love) and you have to use it to make a layout with at least 50% of the layout with that weeks part. Only thing I used other than the partial kit was the staples. Wanted to post it because it is a great photo of Kimberli on Christmas Eve 2008, just before she started going downhill so fast. I spoke with her today. She was alone because her family had some things they wanted/needed to do. She said she was okay but still too weak to do anything and still too nauseous to eat properly. Thanks for keeping her in your prayers.




Hugs,
Liv

Was a good day for me.

Hey Y'all,

Today was a good day for me; I have been back on the Mona Vie since Tuesday afternoon. The pain and stiffness is now relieved in my hips and ankles, and is gone from my knees and elbows! I actually vacuumed the 'living' area of the house, went out and did the remainder of my groceries, and came home and prepared a couple of meals.

I haven't seen Kim this week. She hasn't been able to get out of bed most of the week. The vomiting has left her so weak that she has to have someone help her with the walker to get to the bathroom. I went to their house, yesterday, and left some goodies on their porch but didn't ring the doorbell to visit. I made Joshua a Carpenter's Apron so when he 'helps' the guys rebuild the house next to his he can have his nails conveniently at hand! LOL! The renovators actually look forward to Joshua coming home from school so that he can come over and help out with the nailing and such. He has such a great time doing it and the men all think he's something! He called me when he got home from school to thank me for the apron-he actually said it 'looks professional!' He's such a sweet kid; he doesn't deserve to have his life so torn up by his mom's illness. He is a big help to her though. He always checks on her and asks if she wants or needs anything and can he 'do' anything for her. He always has a hug and a smile for her no matter what and he can make her laugh when no one else can.

Kim wants me to have legal papers drawn up for her and her husband to sign that will give me visitation with Joshua no matter what happens to her or him. She is concerned that once she dies, Joshua will be at the mercy of people who do not have his best interest at heart and will not get the love and support he is use to getting from her and myself. I think all parents worry that if they suddenly die, their children's lives will no longer be the most important thing in the lives of their caretakers. We all have to be realistic about this subject; death can happen to anyone at anytime, without warning.

Well, enough downers! Y'all have a great weekend and know I'm thinking of you. Hope to have a new Freebie for you soon.

Hugs,
Liv

What a game!

Whoa! What a game! I think that was the best Super Bowl game I have ever witnessed. So many '1st' and different plays and wasn't it special that Arizona made it to the Super Bowl? I wish they had won. Pittsburgh wins all the time. Anyway I'm a Panthers fan and that means the National Football Conference for me, therefore I rooted for the Cards. That Roethlisberger guy is one BIG dude! It takes an entire defensive line to bring his butt to ground! And that last play by Holmes was a study in 'being in the moment' to keep his toes planted to make the goal! All in all, I thouroughly enjoyed 99% of the match.

Today was cooking day for me but I'm not moving too good this week so it was s-l-o-w going. I started drinking Mona Vie last April or May and I ran out last Tuesday and haven't had any since. Man! I never knew that stuff helped me THAT much with my arthritis! My knees and hips can hardly bend without pain, my thumb joints are swollen and sore, my shoulders feel like they belong to one of the Cardinal's linebackers, and my wrist and elbows are aching like crazy. On top of that, it has evidently been helping with night sweats that I didn't realize I had until this week! When the new shipment gets in on Wednesday, I'll be drinking double my usual trying to get back to my 'normal' load of pain! LOL! If any of you suffer with arthritis or fibromyalgia please do yourself a favor and try one bottle of Mona Vie. I'm definitely not loosing any weight on it but that's not why I started drinking it, so I don't follow any 'Oprah Diet Plan' or anything like that.

Kim has been very weak for the past 10 days or so. She has lost over 15 pounds and is beginning to look way too thin. She takes three different forms of anti-nausea meds but they don't always work and her fluids are not replenishing at the rate she needs them too. There is still trouble on the home front and all prayers are greatly appreciated.

To all of you wonderful and sweet blog friends out there (you know who you are) that I hardly ever get the chance to visit anymore: Hello! I still love you and your blogs and hope to one day be able to visit regularly again! For now I must get back to working on my digital vintage catalog!

Hope you all have a wonderful week.

Hugs,
Liv