It's been a while...

Well hello everyone! It has been a long time since I have posted on here. The last time I posted it was right after dad passed away. It has been a rocky time since then to say the least. But I am able to say that I am truly at peace now. (at least for this moment) My mom is hanging in there also. There are times where I find myself crying at the oddest moment and my middle son will say something like "don't cry over Papa mom; he is in a much better place and is not suffering anymore". Profound for a nine year old in my opinion.

Anyways, I feel that it is time to begin updating the blog when I have the chance. We are excited, it is Spring Break and the entire family has earned and deserves some time off! We are headed to Winter Park tomorrow and CANNOT wait! I am going to try to ski (attempt) ... in the past I haven't because I hate it that much. But now that E and D are older they will ski with me.... I will try to post some pictures and updates. Basketball practices, baseball practices, doctor's appointments, allergy shots, basketball games... NONE of those for at least a week! :)

To give you a brief update on everyone:

Big D - his team did not make the playoffs but they had a good one, finally bought himself his "dream" truck in September

E - has to get braces, is now in full swing middle school mode (interesting to say the least), playing basketball and baseball right now, about to begin golf for the summer

D - took the family to Dallas with the Elks Lodge basketball freethrow state contest (FUN :), had ear surgery last summer - doing better, allergies improving, playing basketball and baseball

T - Is at school with his brothers, PreK - smart as a whip! Cannot believe this little man is like a sponge, played basketball for the first time, and will play tball in two weeks!

Me - graduated in Dec with Masters in Education (FINALLY!), training for first triathlon to be on dad's birthday in Galveston at Moody Gardens (:)), began internship last week for principal certification ; will finish up after taking 4 classes this summer, HAPPY :)

Anyways, that is all of us in a quick one paragraph nutshell :)

Will post again soon .

Arrangements have been made...

Services for my father will be this Thursday, June 4th in Lumberton, Texas. A rosary will begin at 9:30 followed by a mass in his honor at 10:00. It will be at Infant Jesus Catholic Church.

Following the mass a private burial will occur at Veteran's Memorial Cemetary in Houston as per his wishes.

My dad was very specific in his wishes following his passing.

Thank you once again to all of you for your continued thoughts and prayers.

God bless each and every one of you,

-Natalie

Dad passed away today.

I was hoping that I would not ever have to post this to this blog. But today my dad and best friend passed away. At about 3:00 he was deemed terminal by the team of doctors due to the returning leukemia and the pneumonia. He passed away peacefully at about 6:00.

Thank-you once again for all of your thoughts and prayers.

Please continue to pray for my father's soul. And also pray for strength, comfort and peace for my mom and me.

God bless all of you,
Natalie

An update

I am in Houston right now with my mom and dad. As of yesterday the doctors were not hopeful. My dad has orders that if he is deemed terminally ill that he does not want extraordinary measures made for his life. Yesterday the doctors were pretty certain that his lungs were filled up with leukemia that is back though the only was to find out for sure would be another bone marrow aspiration or a biopsy of his lung which would involve a surgery. It would be difficult to find a surgeon who would open him up while on a venilator though. My mom and I had some tough decisions and things to discuss yesterday. I spent last night with him and not much happened overnight though I had some strange dreams about him. When I got up this morning at 6 (they wake you up at 6 because there are no visiting hours from 6-8) his oxygen level was at 50% which is great considering that when I got here yesterday he was at 100% (meaning that the machines were giving him that much oxygen). At 50% he is holding his own; the respritory therapist also adjusted his pressure (we are shooting for a 5 on this one) and when my mom and I left at lunch time he was at a 8 (down from 12 yesterday). The doctors met with us this morning and said that his lungs appear to be better today and he hasn't run any fever in a day and a half. So, though we are at a crossroads on decisions to make right now his body appears to be healing though really slowly. God's will will be done; just as dad would want it. We just don't want him to have to suffer any more that he already has had to. His doctors also mentioned that the longer you are on a respirator the harder it is to get off of it. He has been on for 7 days now. We are on our way back up to see him.

I know that my mom has talked to most of you and if she hasn't please keep praying.

Pray for strength, comfort and peace.

God bless all of you,
-Natalie

Please pray ...dad is in ICU on life support
Hello everyone. I apologize for not posting sooner but things have been crazy and this was the last thought on my mind. This week has been bad. Dad was doing some strange things like talking to himself, slurring his speech and acting confused since Monday. They thought it was his meds. On Tuesday he went for his daily blood and blood work and his oxygen level was 90% so then transferred him to the ER and kept him on oxygen until they got him a room. He finally got a room Wednesday night. He had a rough night that night and on Thursday morning he stopped breathing. They called a code blue and took him to ICU. He has been there ever sense. I got her Thursday at about 12 and spent last night. At first his heart was having some issues. beating out of sync. That did straighten itself out but now his lungs are in bad shape. When we left last night he had gone from 100% to 60% oxygen. When my mom and I got there at 8 this morning they had bumped him back up o 80%. We met with the doctors and his lungs are filling up with fluid and white blood cells. He is on anti fungal, anti viral and anti biotics to fight whatever kind of infection is in his lungs. He is sedated and has been since they took him to ICU. He also had a procedure to see if there is blood in his lungs. Preliminary reports were that he did not. I stayed they day with him and they did an ultrasound on his arm and he has a blood clot in it but since his platelet count is so low they can't do anything about it. The doctor said they are scared his lungs will begin to fill up with blood since his count is so low. I am in the process of finding out if he can get my platelets. I know that will help. To be completely honest it does not look good. We are waiting to see if he is responding to the medications and if his lungs hold out. Right now the machine is doing all of the breathing for him. My mom and I had a priest come today and bless him, anoint him with the oils of the sick and give him absolution.I am about to leave to spend the night at the hospital (right now I am with at their appointment because there are no visiting hours from 6-8).Thank-you for all of your thoughts and prayers. Dad has fought a long and hard battle and God will do what is best with him. I am trying to remember that. If you would like to email me at nfikac@yahoo.com my iPhone does work there at the hospital (I don't have my laptop) and I can let you know how it is going.Thanks.-Natalie

Please pray ...dad is in ICU on life support

Hello everyone. I apologize for not posting sooner but things have been crazy and this was the last thought on my mind. This week has been bad. Dad was doing some strange things like talking to himself, slurring his speech and acting confused since Monday. They thought it was his meds. On Tuesday he went for his daily blood and blood work and his oxygen level was 90% so then transferred him to the ER and kept him on oxygen until they got him a room. He finally got a room Wednesday night. He had a rough night that night and on Thursday morning he stopped breathing. They called a code blue and took him to ICU. He has been there ever sense. I got her Thursday at about 12 and spent last night. At first his heart was having some issues. beating out of sync. That did straighten itself out but now his lungs are in bad shape. When we left last night he had gone from 100% to 60% oxygen. When my mom and I got there at 8 this morning they had bumped him back up o 80%. We met with the doctors and his lungs are filling up with fluid and white blood cells. He is on anti fungal, anti viral and anti biotics to fight whatever kind of infection is in his lungs. He is sedated and has been since they took him to ICU. He also had a procedure to see if there is blood in his lungs. Preliminary reports were that he did not. I stayed they day with him and they did an ultrasound on his arm and he has a blood clot in it but since his platelet count is so low they can't do anything about it. The doctor said they are scared his lungs will begin to fill up with blood since his count is so low. I am in the process of finding out if he can get my platelets. I know that will help. To be completely honest it does not look good. We are waiting to see if he is responding to the medications and if his lungs hold out. Right now the machine is doing all of the breathing for him. My mom and I had a priest come today and bless him, anoint him with the oils of the sick and give him absolution.

I am about to leave to spend the night at the hospital (right now I am with at their appointment because there are no visiting hours from 6-8).

Thank-you for all of your thoughts and prayers. Dad has fought a long and hard battle and God will do what is best with him. I am trying to remember that. If you would like to email me at nfikac@yahoo.com my iPhone does work there at the hospital (I don't have my laptop) and I can let you know how it is going.

Thanks.
-Natalie

FANTASTIC NEWS!!

Sorry that it has been almost a week since I have posted. A lot has happened. In my last post I mentioned how terrible my dad was doing; well since then he has had a turn around!! His WBC count is now as of this morning up to 1.5!!!! He is set to go home tomorrow!!! WOW!! His new bone marrow is engrafting and this morning he had a bone marrow aspiration as is protocol every thirty days.... not really sure why though. He is feeling well and his spirits are high. He is a little bit weak and tired but that is definitely expected. On Mother's Day we went to Houston to see my mom and we spent some time with dad... he looked pretty good and his spirits were high! When he is released it will be difficult as well. He will come to MD Anderson every day for 4-6 hours to take blood and possibly get blood products..... every day since he has been in he has gotten whole blood, platelets, plasma or gamuglobin. This is normal.

So, THANK-YOU to all of you for your daily thoughts and prayers,,, they are working!

Please continue to pray for strength for my mom and dad, healing and remaining healthy!

God bless all of you!

-Natalie :)