The last several days, the output of Pop’s right kidney (he has a catheter directly into his kidney that drains out into a bag) has been getting darker. He didn’t seemed worried about it so I didn’t worry. But this morning I looked at it and I was sure he had blood in it. He did say it looked darker than it had. Sooooo…..

We called my daughter and she called the doctor and talked to the nurse. It had been 2 weeks since he had the catheter put in his kidney and the nurse thought we should have it checked out.. So that meant a trip to the ER.

My son Mart was visiting (he is working for Choice Books and when he is in Idaho he stops in, when he is in the area.) He had left on his route, so my daughter met us at the hospital. Mart happened to be working at a store close to the hospital, so till we got there, Mart was there, too.

11:50 am - We went in, did the necessary paper work and was shown to a room. Room #7

Mart went on because there wasn‘t anything to do at the hospital but wait..

The wait begin…..

12:20pm - The nurse came in and took his blood pressure 185/90. His Temp was 98.5.

12:50 pm - .Pop was getting restless. We told him to calm down the doctor was probably busy. He thought about it and calmed down. They had him take his shirt off but leave his jeans on. They gave him a gown to put on instead of his shirt, so he wouldn’t get cold.

1:10 pm - The ER Doctor came in, talked to him, said they would take a sample, and be back with the results. Somewhere between noon and 1:30pm they looked up his blood work, which he had done yesterday, so they could get the results before his next procedure, next Wednesday. His creatinine level was 3.0 which was good, for him

1:50 pm - he said “a person could be dead by now” He got out of bed, went out in the hall, found a nurse, and the poor nurse apologized all over, Said that is was fine that Pop came out and got him. Pop came in and got back in bed. The nurse came in and took some more information, a urine sample, and departed.

2pm - Pop was getting hungry by that time sooooo… He got out of bed, went out in the hall and asked the nurse if he could get something to eat. The nurse said “Sure my friend I’ll get you something right away, thanks for asking me” Pop came back in, got into bed, looked at me and said “you better get and walk around a little bit, you have sat quite awhile by now” So I obediently got up, walked around his bed and sat back down.

2:30 pm The food arrived. It looked good and Pop did eat (I ate half of it, because he said it was too much for him.) Valerie had went after something for her and myself.

2:50 - Pop put on his shirt and said he was going home. After Pop got dressed, he went out into the hall. Valerie and I still sat in our chairs, We could hear Pop talking to the nurse. “Hey, I’ve waited for 3 hours and I’m not dead. So I might as well go home and wait for the results there.” the nurse answered “We don’t want you to leave, my friend, the doctor will be here in about ½ hour."

3:30 the doctor arrived and said Pop had an infection, he would give an antibiotic, and Pop could go home. We stopped at K-Mart left off the prescription and went home.

Pop went back later for the pills (a good thing we only live 2 miles form K-Mart)

So it was another long day, but I am thankful we caught it this time before it got worse, at least he didn’t have to stay in overnight this time.

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I was surfing the blog world last night and it didn’t take me long to realize that my troubles were small. There is so much heartbreak and pain out there. I feel frustrated because I can’t do much about it, although your encouraging comments have done a lot for me, so I try to pass it on. It helps so much when one believes in God, He gives peace and comfort like nothing else can and when other Christian friends leave a word of encouragement, it make warm circles go around my heart. I don’t know how a person make it without God and Christian friends. There is a song that I listened to just last night and the ending phrase is “Thank God for my Christian friends” And, I AGREE, whole heartedly.

I love you all, “good night”

"This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it"

There has so much been going on in my life lately that,......what?  I sit here and don't know where to start.  I get to feeling really guilty when I have bad days. Especially so many of them in a row.  I thank God that I feel better today.  I feel like I've let laziness take over...Although the doctor said I'd have more days of fatigue as time went on. I won't accept it,  I can't accept it.  It seems like if I use that for an excuse, I'll get to the point where I'll be good for nothing. ( I already have days when I struggle with feeling good for nothing and I mean nothing,.)  In the back of my mind I know that God has a reason for me being here, if only I can fulfill His purpose for my life.

Yesterday as I was sitting in my chair, I tried to analyze why it is that I'm so comfortable just sitting around or taking a nap.  I thought to myself  "This is ridicules" so I forced myself to get up and then it came to me.... I have no pain or strain when I'm sitting or laying (for this I am thankful).... when I get up and move around it is an effort and after awhile my back feels tight and begins to hurt, my legs ache and I'm a mess. 

I first noticed my aches and pains a couple years after me moved to Idaho. We moved from a 17 room house to a 7 room house.  I blamed it on the house being too small = I was too big for my house.  I finally got so tired I went to the doctor about it, along with my speech problem.  I told the Dr. as best as I could, my troubles, I explained to him exactly how I felt including ny feeling that I was too big for my house.  He made no comment and soon after he left the room. I thought he didn't pay any attention, till he came back and said, "I've got some medicine for you that will make you feel better and also make so you fit into your house"

You want to read about more of my troubles....... Pop,is a man of many words and many questions. and I have a big problem talking to him as much as likes me to and that causes many frustrations, for me anyhow.  (Maybe he's glad because I can't argue with him anymore.)    He is feeling better and he goes to town and comes back and tries to tell me all the stuff he seen on sale and all the prices that have gone up, this young kid driving a big pickup with no idea how much it costs for gas, Pilot has the cheapest gas, there is a new Love's station going in and that will hurt Pilot big time, he met Mr.? in town and Pop don't understand how that guy makes it with a family, (you never see him working,) The neighbor got a new lawn mower that almost bigger than his yard, he don't how the neighbor will turn the thing around in his yard. And I just grunt once in awhile and Pop seems happy with that.  He asked me a question about something this morning and I told him, NO. He laughed and said, he could still understand when I said "no" and he hopes I never lose the ability to say "no" he thinks it's cute.  grrr    

I thank God that Pop is feeling better, although he has to be very careful or he gets weak and shaky.  The other day he thought he could trim up the lawn.  It wasn't too long till he was back in the house on his recliner.  He still waiting to get strong enough for another surgery in which they will go in and remove his kidney stone and hopefully the one catheter that drains his left kidney.

If only I knew where the time goes.  It's been so long since I was on here, I hardly know how to post anymore.

Busy as in..... Going to doctors, trying to adjust cooking and planning meals that will keep Pop healthy. We had lots of company (which I like) I can't sit and talk with the visitors but I like to listen.  And since I do have a talking machime now, I get things said once in awhile.  Now everyone sits up and listens when I do say something via the machine becuse it has a whistle that I can press when I want to say something.

Pop is doing better, although he is facing 3or 4 more surgeries.  The Doctor told him today that he was complicated case (I could have told the doctor that a long time ago)  I guess Pop has so many things wrong with his kidneys and bladder that they hardly know what to do first.

Our daughter drives us to every doctors appointment, which I am very thankful for.  One of my granddaughters is staying with us now.  And tonight my #3 son and his wife are here.

I won't know how to do things myself when we are left alone again.

I'm tired of doctors and hospital and I'm quite sure people are getting tired of hearing about them.

God has been so good to us, there is less talk about dialysis now than there was at the beginning, for which I am thankful.

Everyone is in bed and I had better get there too.  Maybe if I don't write so long I'll be able to post more often.

I BELIEVE THAT LIFE IS GIVEN TO ME SO I MAY GROW IN LOVE, AND THAT IT IS HE THAT GIVES LIGHT TO MY DARKEST HOUR AND THAT IF I AM STILL AND KNOW THAT HE IS GOD, I WILL HEAR HIM IN THE SONGBIRDS. FLOWERS, WIND AND THUNDER. I WILL HEAR HIM IN THE STILL DARK NIGHT. IN THE QUIETNESS OF ANY DAY. 

I THANK GOD, THAT HE IS.

Just a quick post: Pop came home form the hospital Sunday afternoon. He is feeling much better and his creatinine level  is 3.8 which is way down from 9. when he first went to the hospital.  Our God answers prayer and we thank Him.

I also want to thank all my friends who have so faithful in praying for us. You'll never be forgotten.  There were some days that my brightest spot was to come home and read your comments. 

But it's not over and I trust you will continue in prayer for us as we go thru a couple surgeries yet. We feel like we're thru the worst of it. God knows and I know God will be with us come what may.

On Sunday before Pop left the hospital he told Dr. Smith "Thank you for saviing my life"  The doctor replied "I didn't do it, your family did, they wouldn"t let you die"   Once when Pop was in Boise, between his room and the waiting lounge, there were 35 of the family there at one time. I wonder if they felt the same.   (children, spouces, gradchildren and great-gradchildren, and don"t forget his wife.)

I'd better leave you awhile again and get to bed or I won't wake up in time to get to Boise by 8:30am.

Thank you Lord for all you've done for us and for your healing power. Thank you for friends that trust in you and pray. Amen

I for one will be glad when this summer is overwith,.  Although I can honestly say it's been good summer inbetween doctors and hospitals.  

I enjoyed so much my daughter, Robin, who was with the month of June.  I enjoyed the when the family was all here when Pop was in the hospital.  My children each one has been as good to us, as any parent could desire.

I guess my title pretty well tells the tale, that's right Pop is in the hospital again. This time with kidney infection in both kidneys.  The nurse told us when we left the hospital in Boise that he will get kidney infection.  We tired hard to take every precaution but it happened anyhow.  They told us with all the hardware he had in him, he was bound to get infection. 

He chilled all day Thursday and that night when we took his temp, it was 100.8 and then a few minutes later it was 100.4. My daughter called the home nurse and he told her that it was too high for Pop with the condition he had, my daughter took him to the ER and they admitted him to the hospital. 

I was sick all day yesterday so my daughter, Valerie took him in.  It makes me feel bad, my children are busy enough with out them having to babysit us.  They are being so sweet about it. but nonetheless I feel like they are busy enough.

I have to think of a older couple Pop talked to in Kansas when we were coming home this spring. They told Pop they were from the east coast and were to visit their son in Nebraska. They had been there 7 days and only seen their son one night when they went out for pizza.  The couple was getting older and they wanted to live close to their son, they liked the town where their son lived but when they told the son they wanted to move there the son told them he didn"t want his parents living in the same town.  I ache form head to foot when I think about those parents. Imagine not being wanted by your children. 

I AM SOOOO BLESSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pop was booked for surgery on Tuesday July 8, 2008 and the doctor says he wants to get him over the infection so he can go ahaed and have the surgery on Tuesday.  He will be in the hopital until this afternoon or Sunday.

I ask that you would please continue to pray for healing and grace to accept what God has for us.

Seems I'm not home long enough to blog or to read blogs as I spend my days in the hospital.  If I had a lap top I could write real lllloooonnnngggg posts

I'm again reminded to be Strong and of good courage, because the Lord my God is with me where ever I go. Praise His name. !!

Today we took Pop for another doctor's appointment. He's doing ok but, they are going to do an out patient surgery on his prostate and when he recuperates from that they will go in and remove a kidney stone also try to remove the stint from the left kidney.  Modern medicine never ceases to amaze me. 

Pop is not getting better as fast as they told us he should but he shows improvement everyday.  His nausea stays with him and his feet ache a lot.  The doctor says it's because of all the hardware that is in him. Once he gets that removed he should feel better.

Just when I think my world is crashing in, all I have to do is look around. This time it is just next door.  Our neighborman's son (who is about 30, and has a wife and a couple children) was boating on the river near here with 2 of his friends.  They went under a bridge which the highway was doing constuction on.  There was an unmarked cable hanging down in the water, and when the boat went under it, the cable came up and beheaded the neighbor's son.  The other 2 were unharmed.

GOD HAS BEEN SO GOOD TO US.  I CAN'T PRAISE AND THANK HIM ENOUGH.

Guess what I finally was able to find my blog.  I'll be back later to do a real post.

As I sat down to write this post, on my desk is a index card with the verse,  Be strong and of a good courage: be not afraid neather be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with theee whithersoever thou goest.   Joshua 1:9   That means He is ever present, and I like that.

We brought Pop home from the hospital Thursday, June 12, 2008.  Since he has been home he has had some pain, but is getting stronger everyday.  Today he went outside for the first time and he did ok.

He goes back to the kidney specialist Monday June 23, 2008. he is also facing another surgery in about 6 weeks.  It is too soon to tell wheather there is permenant damage or not but the doctors think there may be.

I don't know what I would do without family also the prayers and encouagement from blog friends.

My oldest daughter (Robin) is with us now. She came the night of the 4th and is staying till the morning of the 30th.  She is from PA. and I know her family is sacrificing a lot for her to be here but they being sweet about it. They will never know how much it means.

All nine of the children were here at one time or the other.  My son-in -law from Oklahoma cleaned out the back fence row, mowed the lawn and installed an air-conditioner in the garage for us.  Pop is a person that likes to do things his way, himself. but he was thankful and releived when he found out what had been done.

Our one granddaughter is a sales rep for one of the big hotels, therefore she got us a big discount on the rooms we stayed in.  At one point we had 7 or 8 rooms rented. I give a great big thank you, I apperciate it more than words can say.

Mrs Darling along with 2 other daughters seen to it I got a talking machine, while we were in Boise.  My oldest son stayed with Pop at nights so I could get my rest. My second son (Ted) drove 2 1/2 hours to be here when we got home, in case we needed help getting Pop in the house.  Son #3 (Mart) bought Pop a beautiful bouquet of flowers in a vase that was a ceramic Ford pick-up.  Son #4 brought his family over. they live over 400 miles from here, as do most of the children, and when they went on a walk in th gardens around the hospital, the children brought back pine cones for grandpa.  The little 4 year old girl placed her neatly on the bed, the 2 year old boy threw his to grandpa. Our 4th daughter and her husband was ther to do whatever needed to be done and they lended me a lot of moral support.  They all was as kind as they could be, The children and the in-laws, I don't know what I would have done without them.   My 5th daughter and her husband brought their family of nine children down to the hospital and they sang some songs with with us, which was a blessing.

All in all we had a blessed time together, in spite of the fact it was a rather a sad time, wondering what each day would bring forth. 

I find it true and I found it true again these last couple weeks that truely "The Lord our God is with us withersoever we go." 

Pop was put in the hospital at Ontario. He was not doing very well, so Thursday, June 5, 2008.  he was transferred by ambulance to Boise (which is 50 miles away)

Pop, being Pop, in spite of his condition, waved to the grandchildren waiting in the hall to tell him goodby.  He has been in the hospital since and was supposed to come home tomorrow.  He had a lot of pain again tonight so I don't know for sure if tomorrow will see him at home.

He had complete kidney failure and they drained over 2 quarts of fluid that had backed up in his bladder that he couldn't eliminate.

In Boise they put in a couple of stints to help, but the one stint didn't do the job, so they put a hole through his back to his kidney and placed a catheter into his kidney so it could drain. At that time they found a big kidney stone that the doctor wants to remove when he gains more strength.  (in about 5 or 6 weeks)

When he went to the hospital the doctor told us that creatinine level of .8  to 1 is normal.  at a 7 they put a person on dialysis.  Pops was a 9. But thank God it has slowly come down to 4.08 and there's hope that it will come down further.

All I can ask you to do is keep praying.  God is keeping His arm around me, and giving me strength, although yesterday I have to admit I had a 12 hour "pity party" and God seemed very far away.

Can one get discouraged without feeling sorry for themselves?  It's when I focus on me, instead of my loving Father, that I think I can't make it.

I'm not throwing stones at anyone who has been discouraged, I'm not judging them by myself.  I don't know what they have been through.  I've walked some deep dark valleys in my time and so have some of my family.  I know that sometimes discouragement can be caused a chemical imbalance, but I am asking myself, do I get only get discouraged when I take my eyes off of Jesus?

I thank God for what He Has done so far, and I know He will walk with our family through this valley, also.