Tuesdays, Thursdays and less and less time

On New Year's Day Grandma was taken in to the ER with what they thought was pneumonia and UTI. There are a lot more details about the events that lead up to her going to the ER, but I will save her dignity and leave it there. But she had had a round of chemo the day after Christmas and her immune system and white cell count was so low that they weren't even real sure she was going to make it. Luckily, she is doing a lot better and will hopefully be out of the hospital in the next couple of days.

It turned out that what they thought was a UTI wasn't so. They did an abdominal series (whatever that means) and found that there is something on the colon again where the infection was the last time she was so sick. There is a word for it, but please forgive that I can't remember what it is called other than it starts with a "p". Basically what it is is a perforation or scar or something of the like that is causing problems. She is going to need major surgery for this, the way we understand it as of today. Aunt DD is going to be making some calls tomorrow to find out exactly what all is going to happen. However the way we understand it thus far, it cannot be done through a scope. They will essentially have to cut her open and pull out her colon and do the work that way. I also don't know at this point if they will cut a section out of the colon or if they will just cauterize it. I will let you know when I know more.

At any rate, the surgery can't be done until one of the drugs that's in her chemo cocktail is out of her system. The way I understand it, this medication prevents clotting.... not good when you are talking surgery! They drug has to be out of her system for at least 3 weeks. Again, one of the questions DD is asking is if that is 3 weeks from getting the dose or 3 weeks after it has flushed itself out of the body. (i hope this is all making sense.) The earliest they will do the surgery, as far as we know, is the 23rd of january.

Aunt DD is trying to get it set up so that from the time Grandma gets home from the hospital until she goes back in for this surgery someone is with her all day every day. She can't be alone. She is too weak and can't be trusted to sit and be good. So we are going to have to start babysitting her. She refuses to go to a home. That's fine. But for now, we are going to try and have someone in at all times. That's where the Tuesdays and Thursdays come in. Every week, from now till her surgery, I will be leaving the daycare in Jeremy's hands and going to Hastings to take care of my ailing Grandma. I am so thankful that I finally have daycare families that are in agreement with me that family comes first and that she should be my priority.

So, adding more to my already full plate. I can handle it, but it's gonna be tough goin for a while. I don't know how often I will be here to update you all, but will do my best. Please keep my dad's family in your prayers. It's much needed.