Awake for Christmas

Our dear Papa has been in a medicated coma for 12 days. His body feverishly fighting this awful bacteria consuming his flesh and tissue. He's been on a ventilator as he couldn't breathe on his own, his lungs filled with fluid. His kidneys stopped functioning and has been on dialysis the last 4 days. His blood pressure so low and on medication for that. Toxic blood levels, 4 antibiotics, on morphine and propofol to keep him knocked out.

As they tried to back him off the propofol to see how his body would respond to being more conscious his heart for several days went into afib (not firing correctly). On medication for that.  This poor man, healthy one day and struggling with every fiber of his being the next.

They backed off on the morphine and propofol yesterday and our dear Papa started to respond to the family around him, his wife and daughter. They could ask him questions and he would respond with a nod and he was even giving smiles! The most beautiful smiles.

Last night, my husband along with his brother who pull the night shift with their dad were able to talk with him, joke around and make him smile. Papa stayed awake all night, stretching and moving and motioning to have his skin rubbed. He is very itchy right now. Probably from the thousands of different medications that have entered his body. The nurse asked if he wanted medication to help him sleep. He declined! Think he's had enough sleep!

Today, I believe the plan is to lower the ventilator a bit more and see how he does. They seem to think he is breathing on his own now and they will also try and remove the gag tube.

It was a blessing to see him awake and responding. He still has a long road of recovery ahead of him. But just to see that smile was encouraging and to know at least now he can fight the fight on his own and not by machine or with so many meds.

Welcome back Papa... we've missed you.

Update on Papa...

Per Julie his daughter this morning...

"Still haven't seen the docs but it's been a rough morning. His condition is getting worse. A few positives...he came out of afib and blood pressure is holding. His low grade fever is back. They are giving him 100% oxygen but his oxygen level in his blood is still low meaning he's not using it as he should. Showing kidney failure at this point given he is on a diuretic and only putting out what a normal person would. He will go in for dialysis today. They consider breathing as an organ so now he has two organ failures. Doc may order ct scan to check for any missing pockets of infection but we're still waiting to see the doc and understand where we are today."

Please pray for Papa...

Flesh Eating Bacteria...

My husband's mom and dad. He is also known as ~Papa~. He is the most kind, genuine, soft spoken, generous, unselfish, Godliest man I have ever met. A wonderful and loving husband, father, grandfather, and father-in-law.

I wish I was posting pictures of my new wood stove full of fire and heat. First issue was that the tile was not set properly therefore all the tiles popped off the floor. One assumption is because of the varathane on the wood. So my husband purchased concrete board to put down under the tile.

However, that evening we received horrible news from California. Nick, my husband's dad was not feeling well and was at the doctors. First went in for what appeared to be a torn pec muscle. He had a slight swollen lump near his armpit, by that evening he was in so much pain he was admitted and within a short time they discovered he was suffering from the beginning signs of Necrotizing Fasciitis, also known as Flesh Eating Bacteria. Within a few hours that lump and covered his chest, shoulder, arm, underneath his arm and back with black and grey decaying flesh.... yes, that fast.

My husband took a flight out Saturday afternoon to be by his dad's side and to support his family.

He was admitted into ICU on Saturday evening and within hours was fighting for his life. Not only does this bacteria eat your flesh and tissue, but also shuts your organs down. If you are not treated quickly, you could die in just 2 days, or at minimum lose a limb. Within a day, they talked about his liver numbers being elevated and the possibility of losing his arm. They immediately started him on 4 antibiotics at extra strength. He has been kept sedated due to the pain, has had 3 surgeries so far to remove dead skin and tissue and has low blood pressure. His blood is toxic and kidneys are impaired. Today they discovered an afib in his heart which means it doesn't fire normally and now on medication for that. He also received a blood transfusion today and will need dialysis tomorrow and possibly in the future.

He has a long road of recovery ahead of him. That's after this bacteria fight is over.

The stress and overload weakend my immune system and I came down with the flu...  horribly! I've been trying to keep things running normally here and even tried to bring the fake Christmas tree out. Had my boys go down in to the basement in search of a beautiful one I picked up last year. What I ended up with was a horrendous pile made out of 6 fake Christmas trees, out of the boxes, nothing labeled, limbs and parts everywhere... I'm not quite sure what happened down there over the years... but my fake trees got all piled together.

When you are sick and running a fever... that mess doesn't go over very well. I threw all those trees and tree parts outside and decided to go with the white fake tree, with white lights that I always put in my dining room. That one is easy and the tree branches don't come off, instead fold up. Told the kids that under the current circumstances, this is what we will use this year.  Pulled the 3 pieces of that tree out, stuck them together, placed it in the living room bay window, plugged it in and low and behold... the mid section doesn't light up ~sigh~

So this year, we have a white tree without lights or ornaments... that is currently laying on it's side? Funny the things that happen when you fall asleep with a high fever and exhaustion.

We are thankful for each day that passes that our Papa is still with us.

PS: I need a maid and a chef and someone to fix the stupid Christmas lights.

Surprise... a wood stove.

One of the things I miss most about my old Kansas farmhouse is the 1) free natural gas on our property, hence free heating bill and 2) the big brick fireplace, aka warm heat.

When we moved to Idaho and purchased this newer home, it did not have a fireplace and had an electric heater. Since we've lived here the last (8 years) I've looooonged for the warmth, view of the fire and that cracklin sound. Every year we tried to put enough money away to purchase a wood burning stove but never managed, until now.

I was out shopping with our friends and upon entering my home... this beautiful Vermont Castings wood burning stove was sitting in the corner of my living room with a big red Christmas bow gracing the front :)

Hubby ran a lightbulb into the top of it so it was glowing in the darkness.  What a surprise to come home to! It was our early Christmas present. I am a very happy girl and anxious for all the benefits of a fire, not to mention the lower electric bill.

Last night, our friend came over to help with the tile. Here are some pics of that process.

We decided to add one more row of tile... it's curing for 24 hours and tonight they will start the grout. Hubby says the stove should be burning by the end of the week :)  Will post more pics as the progress continues.

Black Saturday.... cupboards that is.....

I've lived with my kitchen cupboards primed and doorless for quite a while as I tried to figure out a color for them.  I went white several months ago, that was a huge mistake. Between my kids and all the ones that visit - I realized that white was a mistake the evening it was painted. I did try red and it didn't feel right.

I have always LOVED black cupboards. We looked at a victorian on the market once that had black cupboards and I've always wanted to try them. Saturday morning, on a whim I decided to just go for it. I started at 10:30am and didn't finish until almost midnight. They got a solid 2 coats and 3 coats in most touched areas. I do plan on putting a protective coat on them to help with the wear and tear.

Here are the before and during pics. The white made the kitchen feel very cold and not cozy at all.

I had my husband remove the stove fan/light fixture. Putting a shelf there instead.

The bar/counter wrapping to the dining room still needs another coat.

I love how they turned out. The feeling in the kitchen is clean and cozy. I put garland with lights and berries about the cupboards. The walls need to be painted and our wood floor will go in soon. It was a LONG Saturday, but sooooo worth it.

This kitchen cupboard is my next project.... red.

First Snow

Happy November

with love from Idaho

Halloween 2011

Was such a fun evening. Spent with great friends and family. After all was said and done my house looked like a tornado had zipped through and left behind make up (all over the counter) in 7 different zombie colors, fake wound glue, now a permanent fixture on my kitchen counter, costume pieces, fake hair, teeth and fake fingernails all over the floor. But it was worth it.

Miss Emma

Bride of Frankenstein

LOVED the wig!

My Nazi Zombie

My Edward spoofer

My kids and their friends... awesome group of kids.

My brother and his family

Steven Curtis Chapman

I was driving down our beautiful Hwy 41 that connects my small town to the next. Along that Hwy is an electronic billboard that Real Life Ministries has up to advertise functions, service times, etc. As I drove by, the sign flashed STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN and a date... What?! I asked the kids in the car if they saw what the sign said. On my way back, I drove much slower so I could read the entire post about Steven.

He was coming to Post Falls! How cool is that! Steven coming to our small town? I knew right away I wanted to go see him with my little girl and have a girly date night.

Me and Emma ~ She is my Rainbow daughter

Our friend Victoria joined us

Was a wonderful evening and so thankful that Steven honored our small town with his presense. On my wish list - a new, better camera with a better zoom capability.

A very fun junk day

I read about an estate sale on craigslist today, that just so happened, was on the way to another errand I had to run. I am ever-so-happy I went! I only wish I had gone first thing this morning. I walked up and first eyed some old Atlas and Ball canning jars with the wire on the rims. Asked how much he wanted.... .25 cents. Grabbed those all quickly. Found a small red/white enamel potty pot and he again replied .50 cents. At that point I was very happy ummmm freakin excited about the prices and the junk loaded upon the tables. He asked me if I wanted a box... Oh yes! A box would be perfect! The first table was loaded with wonderful little juice glasses... I simply adore the 50's and 60's juice glasses. On the same table were Fire King dishes, loads and loads of them. I dug through the boxes and discovered lots of little treasures.

Got 6 of these dinner plates from Fire King

All these wonderful juice glasses

I can't wait to see these cleaned up... he said they were all stored in the basement

Love these bowls... they are chipped and cracked but I love the textures and colors nonetheless

Some of the jars, bucket and an enamel platter

Enamel lids bowls and pots

Cute glass caddy

I loved this cheese grater. I love to put tea lights in them at christmas. I've never seen one with the "scalloped" graters

Found this very cool lamp, I'm guessing to be from 30's or 40's. My son wants to rewire and restore it.

Love the claw feet

 

Did I come home with chairs... why yes I did :)

My son also bought a very rare slide projector. All piled up.... guess how much I paid. $10.00.  Love those kind of sales :)  I'm going back again tomorrow morning. He's bringing a few more things out and all her clothes. Love vintage cardigans and hoping to find a few.