Okay, here's the clue...

We (Nana, Gina, me, and some of my kids) were sitting in the living room visiting and I looked up at Nana and asked her "Can you see very well, today?" She looked at me funny and said, "as a matter of fact, no I can't see very well today, I don't know what's going on." I said "maybe it would help if you wore your own glasses!!"

She was wearing my glasses, not hers!!!!

Good job, Dee.

Can You Guess What's Wrong With This Picture???

Look closely, There is something wrong with this picture....Can you guess?????

She Said, "No" to the Steroids

The answer to the big question is a big fat NO. Nana has decided not to take the steroids, at least for now. The Lortab seems to be helping so we'll just stick with that, for now.

She's had a very sleepy couple of days, but seems to be doing alright. Her vitals have been pretty sporadic, but they always seem to calm down. Her bruises are as purple as ever, but I think they've finally stopped growing! She's still sore, but not too bad. She's eating better and is very happy for the change in the temperature. We've gone from 90 to 60 in one day!!

Sorry this is so short, I just wanted to let you know what her decision was.

Thanks to Everyone!

I just wanted to thank everyone for your thoughts and prayers in our behalf. She received several cards, phone calls, messages on the blog, etc.

I am thoroughly amazed at how well Nana has done this week. While her left hip and side are very purple, and she is somewhat sore, I am happy to report...she really isn't doing too bad!!!

Clarine, our hospice nurse, has suggested we put her on a steroid treatment to help with the swelling and joint pain in her hand and arm. We are trying to decide if we are going to go through with it. She kind of scared Nana telling her about the side effects, and that she couldn't just stop it if she decided it wasn't working. We would have to ween her off of it. I told her to pray about it, and we'll see.

Happy Birthday Nana!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GREETINGS FROM ALL OF US THAT LOVE YOU IN CALIFORNIA!!!

WE ARE THINKING OF YOU AND WANT YOU TO KNOW YOU ARE ALWAYS IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. ALL OF OUR LOVE ALWAYS

A Dedication...

I wrote this poem and I'd like to dedicate it to everyone, especially Nana my second mama.

"People we meet may come and go,
but there are those who leave a
lasting impression upon our hearts.
Though they may move on, we will
always remember them.
And because of them, our lives
will never be the same."

I love you all very much. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your lives.

Feeling the Pressure

I didn't sleep much last night. For some reason I was dreaming of Nana all night long. Maybe I just had her on my mind because it was her birthday. This morning when I woke up, I started thinking about my time I have spent with her.

I pretty much spent every day of my life with the family from the moment I met Deanna when we were in fifth grade until they moved to the house on Apache. Then I spent as many weekends as possible there and the entire summer of 1977.

I have so many memories of the times we had. It was one of the happiest times of my life. I actually felt wanted and loved. Thank you for that.

Well, the summer of 1979 they lived in an apartment in Westminster. I was blessed to have been able to stay with them for the summer again. One of my memories of that summer was that Nana really put the pressure on me. Any time we (David, Deanna, and I) went somewhere Nana would look at us and say, "You guys know how to behave and what is right and wrong and what I would approve of you doing." Then she looked at me and said, "I know you won't lie to me, Heather, so I hope you don't make me ask what you guys do or where you go." Talk about pressure. It worked though. She was right, I couldn't lie to her. She really loved us and wanted to make sure we were safe. Just one more reason I love her so much.

Miracles Never Cease!!

Just a quick note to let you know she did have a wonderful birthday today in spite of her fall last night! I can hardly believe it, while she is definitely sore, and pretty bruised, (I'm sure we haven't seen the last of the bruising), she hasn't suffered too much today! She hasn't even asked for pain killers today, at all. We did put some ice on her arm, that seemed to help.

She told me to thank everyone for all your prayers, she's sure that is the reason there wasn't more serious repercussions from that fall. You are the reason she is still going! Love and Thanks to all!!

"Ooops, she did it again??!!!"

Just a quick entry for now, I'll post more later, given the chance. But yes, Nana had a bad fall again last night! She fell in the bathroom, again, and hit the tub pretty hard. I'm not sure just how bad, as of yet. I am confident she didn't break anything! It never ceases to amaze me at how lucky (blessed) she can be. I called hospice last night and told them I wanted someone out here to check her out this morning. I think her whole left side is going to be VERY sore and VERY bruised.

She's been doing so well, lately. We're not entirely sure what happened. She got up to go potty, made it into the bathroom without me even knowing it. She said she wasn't dizzy, her legs were weak, and as she teetered a little bit she went to grab the sink to steady herself, she didn't have the strength in her hand to hold on, and her legs gave out. I heard her go down and hit the first time, it seemed like it took me FOREVER to get in there, all the while I could hear her hit several times. I got in there and she was up against the tub with her arm inside the tub. I careful lifted her off the edge of the tub and held her close till she could calm down. We assessed her injuries, she could wiggle her toes, then move her feet. We got her up on her feet, she could stand. Put her on the potty (she hadn't got that far yet, before she fell). I checked her out, she already had some swelling on her hip and side. A little bit of a friction burn, too. I called hospice, but by the time they called me back she was walking, slowly and cautiously, but not too painfully back to her room. I was convinced she hadn't broken anything, and she would be fine for the night. I just asked them a few questions and requested she be seen in the morning. I've checked on her this morning and she seems to be sleeping well for the moment. She just kept apologizing to me over and over. She was sorry to make more work for me in taking care of her. I have to keep telling her, I am the one who's sorry.

We are having an Open House Birthday Party for her all afternoon and evening. I am hoping she'll be up to visitors, still.

Oldies, but Goodies!!

Gina wrote a post a couple days ago about the good morning song, and in my comments my mind went started to go nuts about some of the songs Nana used to sing to me when she woke me up or put me to bed. I mentioned that I had way too many to keep going in the comments field, so here's a few....

I don't even know the name of this one, but I'm sure you'll remember, she sang this one all the time...Bubbles, maybe??

I'm forever blowing bubbles, pretty bubbles in the air.
They fly so high, they nearly reach the sky.
Then like my dreams they fade and die.
Fortunes, always hiding...I've looked everywhere.
I'm forever blowing bubbles, pretty bubbles in the air.


I fell in love with you the first time I looked into... them there eyes.
You have a funny little cute way of flirting with...them there eyes.
You better watch it, if your wise.
They sparkle, they dazzle, they're gonna get you in a whole heap of trouble.


How much is that doggie in the window?
The one with the waggily ta a a a ail.
How much is that dogggie in the window?
I do hope that doggie's for sale.


Shoo fly pie and apple pan dowdy makes your eyes light up and your tummy say howdy.
Shoo fly pie and apple pan dowdy I never get enough of that wonderful stuff.


Ain't she sweet, see her coming down th street.
Now I ask you very confidentially, ain't she sweet.
Ain't she nice, Look her over once or twice.
Now I ask yo very confientially, ain't she nice.

Just cast an eye, in her direction
Oh me oh my, ain't that perfection.
Voo de oh doe de oh

I repeat, don't you think she's kind of neat,
Now I ask you very confidentially,
Ain't she sweet.


I'll be loving you, always. With a love that true, always
When the things you've planned need a helping hand,
I will understand, always.
Days may not be fair, always. That's when I'll be there, always
Not for just an hour, not for just a day, not for just a year,
But, Always.

I suppose I could keep going, but I must get on with life.

Veggies

Nana was a prettty good cook, well at least to me. I loved all her meals, some pretty creative ones two, seeing how at some times she was cooking for an army. But man her spaghetti, her tacos, and yes the lamb ribbets. Loved it all. Until that horrible day. Her and Deanna (whom I still blame to this day) decieded to become veggitrians. Such a horrible word I probably didn't even spell it right. Anyways mom would say "if it has a face we don't eat it" Even milk was out of the question.
Can't recall how long this phase lasted (maybe cause I was so delerious from lack of meat) but one day I remember so clearly. Me and RJ were sitting in the living room watching television when it happened. At first it was a faint scent but it grew stronger with every sniff. I turned to RJ he looked at me. We both belted out in song, "do you smell what I smell" "Its meat, it meat cooking on the stove, oh how beautiful it smells to me." (all this to the tune of that christmas tune do you see what I see?)
In doing this praise of song we both got up and ran to the kitchen. And yes there it was meat cooking of the stove. Yes nana broke we were going to eat meat. And what a glorious night it was. She was soon back to cooking her awesome spaghetti, tacos, and them sweet tender lamb ribbets. Way to go nana!!!!!!!!

Good Morning

The door slowly creaks open and the loving soft whisper fills the room. "Good morning to you...Good morning to you." The voice raises with each footstep to the bed. "Wake up in our places with bright shining face" You flutter your eyes open to see the brightest eyes smiling down on you as one of your favorite people sit on the edge of the bed, rubbing your arms, urging you to get up for school.

That was how I woke up every morning when I lived my Nana! What a WONDERFUL way to wake up! I loved it! And still love it! I try and wake my kids up the same way and they always wake up with smiles!

Nana Update...

I'm trying to be a good girl and keep the updates coming. Life is really crazy right now with only 3 weeks left of school. Lots of end of year activities, programs, and graduation exercises. I am so excited to have to the kids home and get lots of projects done, and yet not so excited. I'm not sure how it will play out with all the excitement around here all the time with Nana.

Nana, while she seems to be very clear headed, is in lots of pain most of the time now. We tried to put her on half of the water pill, to see if that would help with the swelling. While it makes her go potty more, it doesn't seem to be helping with the swelling. Then again maybe it's just not letting her get more swollen. I'm not sure. It doesn't seem to be helping with the pain, either. I was hoping it would help with that. She won't take the morphine, because of the hallucinations. We have her on Lortab. It seems to work somewhat, it at least makes her more comfortable than not, but she sleeping a lot again. I'm afraid she might be losing mobility of her right hand, she can hardly hold onto anything, it hurts too much.

We took her off the diabetes medication and are checking her blood sugar levels everyday. Her levels are great for almost two weeks now. Does that mean she's not diabetic anymore, I don't think so. Just another chapter in her already perplexing case!!

I just took a break and gave her a shower, she seems to be having a good day today. It really hasn't been a good week, so today is especially nice to be having a good day!

Keep thinking up memories and stories, we need more posting to keep it fun for everyone!!

Modern Day Pioneer

My mother was born into the catholic church. It wasn't until she met my father that she joined the mormon religion. I don't know much about the catholic church but I do know that must have taught her the basics of faith. At first my mother did not want anything to do with the mormons. in fact every time the missionaries would try to talk to her she would be very mean to them. She would slam the door on them, yell at them, even spray them with a water hose as the came on to her front lawn.
I am really not quite sure what got her to listen to them but she did and was in time baptized. Which was just in time for us kids because even tho the James family were mormon they were what in Utah called Jack-mormons. In fact I find interesting was that she was baptized by Connie's cousin. (yes dads third wife). Interesting dad could not stay away from the mormons seeing how he married into it again.
Well mom ran with it teaching us kids the importance of faith and family. We went to church every sunday and she taught us the teaching of the church. She re-established the church to the James family. Some time down the road when I was about nine she decided she did not want to go to church any more, yet she sent us girls. She said she was going to drink, curse, and smoke. Every sunday she would ask us what we had learned. Now I am not quite sure how much time really did pass but she started going to church again. I never really in that time she wasn't going, ever see her drink, smoke, or curse and I do believe she did still read her bible and prayed.
Mom was very strong in the church and did bare her testimony often to us kids. To everyone really. Now some of us go to church and some don't. Some of us belong to other churches. But one thing I can say is she taught us all the foundation of faith and about our Heavenly Fathers love and the sacrifice of the brother Jesus Christ. So I am sure I can speak for all of us kids, ex-husbands, sisters, grandchildren, great grandchildren, cousins, who have you, that we all thank her for that faith.

modern day pioneer

Look Who's Been Outside!!

Well I got home safe and sound to find out that all that worry before I left was in vain!! Aside from a huge cold sore on her lip, Nana was healthier than when I left! I couldn't believe it. She wasn't dizzy, still a little weak, but she has been able to get out of bed and take herself to the bathroom. She is eating better, talking better and her vitals are improved! Her oxygen levels are back in the high 80's, low 90's. I'm not sure what happened, but here is another perplexing chapter of Nana's illness. On Monday she asked for a shower, she did great. She wasn't completely exhausted from the excursion and since it was a beautiful day outside, she went out on the porch and sat for a whole hour!!!! She hasn't been outside AT ALL since January!! She came in and had lunch at the table with the kids and promptly went to bed for a nap. She really had a great day! And yes, just as Dee wrote in her post, she seems to be very clear minded.

She is quite swollen, her hands, feet and face mostly. Her whole right arm, hand and wrist have been in quite a lot of pain. I'm wondering if it's because the doctor took her off her water pill. I'll be asking Clarine, our hospice nurse, about that when she comes.

Tuesday, she had a hard time waking up. Not as good a day, but still not as bad as before I left.

Thursday, she's very dizzy and weak. Not a good day.

Today she's in a lot of pain in her arm and wrist again.

Sorry it has taken me so long to get back on here.

Thanks for the welcome home, Gina. We had a GREAT time, but it is WONDERFUL to be home!!

Tootsie Boxes

Let me start by saying my childern call nana tootsie. It all started when my mother brought home a tootsie roll home for Megan and said, "Here tootsie", Megan from that point on called her tootsie. The rest of the kids followed along with it. Now tootsie boxes. My mother moved to Utah when Megan was 2 years and Jesse about 5 months. So when it came time for birthdays or Christmas, Valentines or what have you she would send a boxes of goodies. In these boxes were stickers, penscils, littles books, and a shirt, just little things that weren't much but meant the world to a kid. As I continued having more childern and they continued to grow, more and more tootsie boxes continued to come. It didn't matter who was next in line to recieve one of these boxes because everyone enjoyed seeing what treasures awaited for the lucky kid who the mailman had come for. To this day they still talk about their tootsie boxes.