How long does it take to recover from vacation?

More than three days, apparently.

I am flat worn out, and my vacation was 10 hours of driving and a full day less than Art's. I don't know how she's functioning. She really is amazing.

I am so glad we went, even if I didn't get much sleep. My toe nails still look fabulous after our trip to the nail salon (note to future manicurists: if you act like you're doing me a huge favor by allowing me to pay you to massage my feet, you can pretty well kiss your tip good bye....and if you get up and walk away from my friend after starting hers first, you will definitely miss out on a good tip. You may very well be in the wrong profession. You kind of have to be a people person to make a living as a manicurist....I'm just sayin'.), I have a small stack of books to keep me busy when I finish the book I'm currently on thanks to an awesome resale shop Diana took us to, and I have SNL skits stuck in my head after hours of watching them on Hulu with the girls.

But most of all, I got to spend hours talking to & laughing with Art on the first road trip we've taken together in years. I got to laugh and cry and laugh some more with Diana as she told us what a wonderful man her Justin was. I am amazed at her ability to share her feelings no matter how raw they may be. Most people, six months after the loss of a loved one would answer with a generic, "I'm fine," when asked how they are doing. Diana will tell you she's fine if she is at the moment. She'll tell you otherwise if she is otherwise at the moment. We could all be in tears one moment and laughing out heads off the next.

On the way to Diana's, Art and I stopped by Grandma & Grandpa M&M's house. This coming weekend they are moving into an assisted living apartment. That means a massive downsizing of their belongings. QM, Aunt Silverbell, and Inkling's mother had been working on packing and sorting their belongings all week. It's was really hard to see their lives and belongings reduced to what will fit in a 700 square foot apartment, but on the same hand I'm also glad things are happening the way they are.

Grandma and Grandpa will be somewhere where they will have the help they need when they need it. We don't have to worry about Grandpa falling and Grandma not being able to get him up or him having to lay and wait for someone to get to the house to help. I love the fact that Grandma and Grandpa are still here. That we are not dividing up their possessions because we've lost them. I love that they will know that the things they've worked so hard for and held so precious will be loved and cared for by those that love them.

It's been a hard week, but the blessings have far outweighed the costs.

The Fun is Coming

You may remember earlier in the year when I asked you to be praying for my friend Diana and her husband Justin. Justin died after suffering serious complications from a surgery. Diana is a pre-k teacher and soon after Justin's death, she was told she wouldn't have a job this year. To say she's had a rough year would be the understatement of that particular year.

Art and I have been trying to arrange our schedules so the two of us could travel up to see Diana since February or March. Finally, here near the end of June, we're making the trip. We're driving up Friday and coming back to my neck of the woods on Saturday. I know parts of this trip will be hard. Diana is hurting. We hurt for her. But we are going to do and be what ever she might need. Please pray for us in that.

That being said, I am crazy excited about this weekend. Art and I get to spend hours in the car together and that normally involves hours of laughing and singing and being silly. Once we get to Diana's, I know there will be even more laughing and silliness. As Truvy would say, "Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion." I fully expect that. And I fully expect feeling like I've done 10,000 sit ups by the time we get home Saturday night. That's how I always feel after spending the day laughing with (and at) Art.

And to top it all off, this is my first real night away from the kids. I've been away from up to three of them at a time taking B.B. to The STL for his surgery last spring and taking QM home to TN when Daddy was in the hospital last summer. But I have never been away from all four children at once for "frivolous" reasons. To answer your question, No, I am not going to spend any time moping and crying because I miss my children. I love them, but a break is long past due.

QM is coming here to hold down the fort in my absence. Husband and I were discussing sleeping arrangements. We do not have a guest room. We do not have any extra beds. We are not really equipped for overnight guests. QM will be taking BabyGirl's bed in the room the girl's share. BabyGirl will be sleeping in my bed with her dad. Bitsy isn't happy with this arrangements. She thinks her Grammy should sleep in Mommy's bed where Mommy sleeps.....with Daddy. Daddy and Grammy disagree.

I can't imagine why.

My request has changed.

Please pray for Diana. Art called me this morning & Justin lost his battle early today. There's nothing else to say.

First of all, more on Justin from Diana's page: "justin update- oh what a beautiful morning! 2 liters of fluid removed yesterday and they tested his lungs by changing the respirator setting to CPAP for a 1 1/2 hours. he did good, but got tired, so he's not quite ready to be taken off. i slept at a hotel last night and got pretty good rest despite how worried i was. m...ore dialysis today, still hoping the kidneys wake up soon." - Wednesday around 11 am

"best justin story - i asked him did he want a kiss, he nodded yes. i kissed his hand and asked was that ok? he shook his head no and then pursed his lips around the respirator tube. he wanted a kiss on the lips and nothing else would do! love that fighting man of mine!" -Wednesday around 11 am

And today around 10 am- "justin update - now we are in for the long haul. he is generally out of danger, but mostly they just say stable. he still has so far to go, that no one would dare say he's out of the woods. his bedsore is smaller today, they are planning on taking off 3 liters of fluid and he made it quite clear that i had to stay at t...he hospital to sleep last night. boy, am i tired!"

Keep praying!!

************

And now for something entirely different....sort of.

I've been battling a kidney/UTI for 2 months now. 2 rounds of heavy duty antibiotic hasn't nipped it in the bud, so my doctor sent me for an ultrasound this morning. I'm waiting to hear back from him. If nothing shows up on the u/s, next is a CAT scan. He's looking for abnormalities, cysts, tilted bladder, and the like. If none of the scans show anything, he's going to refer me to the local urologist. He said he would expect her to put me on a schedule of sorts of antibiotics. Fun for me!

Updates on Justin

Via Diana's Facebook Page. Things are looking up!

Saturday night at 7:45: "officially, justin will finish this hardcore antibiotic tomorrow morning at 9:30ish. he then has to wait 2 hours to be sure he won't bleed out (side effect of drug) before they put in the new line and then start dialysis. no more nitric oxide, no more blood pressure meds. he's holding it on his own!! GO BABY!!"

Yesterday morning at nine: "mini justin update - back on little bp meds, but he's handling the turning and rotating very well. he has a bed sore, but they are handling that well. he had 6 different bugs in him, but they were all his own, none from the hospital and thus easier to fight. they stopped the antibiotic a little early so they can get dialysis earlier. i will update after dialysis and how he handled that. Pray on! still a good day."

And late last night: "justin update- he came through dialysis like a champ! barely even a flicker on bp in reaction. he's been rotated, poked and prodded galore and had no complaints. we had a brief interaction where he responded to me before they upped his sedation again. all in all, a great day. after these successes, we claim up to step 20!!! i am also good. nice visits, good dinner, awesome snuggie."

Keep those prayers going!!

Keep Praying, Please

More updates from Diana about Justin:

Yesterday: "update-my man is tough! blood pressure holding steady. one pump of meds is off, and another is being lowered in dosage. heart rate is down closer to normal. oxygen levels are good. still no kidney function and he is intubated. can't get his temp down, but that is also a sign he is just fighting away! i compare it to st...airs on an aztec temple-we are only on step 4 & there are a lot of steps to go, but we are climbing."


And: "team justin motto- In the end, everything is okay. If it's not okay, it's NOT THE END!"

Today: "Justin is here for another day and coming on strong. his temp is down in the 98s, bp meds are almost all gone, heartrate great. that puts us on step 13 of our giant temple climbing. But no backslides... he has just under 48 hours to get his kidneys started before they start dialysis. he is fighting, fighting, FIGHTING!!! thank you all for your prayers and support"

Keep praying!! It's working!! Praise the Lord!

Please Pray!

I know I bring a lot of prayer requests to you all, but I know God listens & I know you all pray.

Real first names this time.
I have a friend from high school named Diana. Her husband, Justin, had gastric bypass surgery shortly before Christmas.

Yesterday he ended up back in surgery. I don't know the details, but these are 3 of her status updates since yesterday:

"it's not good. he had a leak dropping bacteria from the throat and mouth and it's trying to kill him. they fixed the leak, cleaned out the infection, and now we fight. fight hard. his kidneys are trying to shut down, lungs having trouble, blood pressure down. the dr. said this is not something where he'll be out in a week. looking at 1-2 months. it's not good."

About 3 hours later- "justin update - he is semi conscious. his blood pressure is still trying to just quit and bottom out, but his kidneys are working a little. he is intubated and with it enough to shake his head no when i threatened to sell his truck and mac computers. we'll take it. FIGHT ON!!"

And today- "most important - he is still here and fighting. last night @10:30 they told us to gather the family because we might be losing him. worst moment of my life. dr. says he is worse and i told him he is wrong. his blood pressure is closer to stable with meds, unlike yesterday when it didn't seem to matter. heart rate is down and less infectious goo is coming out. FIGHT AND PRAY, PLEASE!!!"

I think Diana has said it all.