OK, I am so tired as everything is finally catching up with me. I really just want to go to bed, but I probably should wait until at least 8:00 and make sure showers are done.
I've never been a big fan of roller coasters. The fear of seeing what was coming ahead and bouncing all over the place is not my idea of a good time. The past 72 hours has been one wild roller coaster ride, but the difference was not being able to see what was coming ahead, yet being bounced all over the place.
First getting the news Friday night was difficult as every time Kev's parents call we wonder if it's bad news. They are just getting to that age (mid 80s) that you never know. Kev's dad has had so many issues with his health that to get the phone call that it was Max who was in the hospital was really a surprise, although we have seen a decline in her health each time we see her. Then not knowing what was really going on didn't help. Thank goodness for my family who was able to help out. We were able to intercept Gene at the house and offer for Doug to give him a ride to Iowa City. My brother was so good to stay and get them situated and try to get some answers for us. What Gene understood was that surgery was needed.
Kev had decided to stay put on Saturday when he heard she was being transferred. He was going to coach his 2 baseball teams at their scrimmage to take his mind off what was going on. Just before scrimmages were to begin, he learns surgery and is calling me to book a flight. He comes home, throws some things in a bag, takes enough contacts for 2 weeks (not sure what that was about as he didn't have enough clothes to last 1 week), gets his GPS and some cash, and at the last minute decides maybe he should take a coat. Good move, since snow still covers the ground! I send Ky to the scrimmage as I wanted Kole to have some moral support and it really freaks me out when one of us isn't at one of their sporting events in case they get hurt--not sure where that fear stems from. Kev and I take off for Hobby. Debated the whole way which way to go and of course picked the wrong way--felt like I was picked the wrong check-out lane! Got him there in plenty of time. His flight was 4:00 but he was hoping to get on 2:30 standby flight. The first person he checked with put him as #12 on the standby list. Once he got to the gate, he sweet-talked the person to moving him to #1 on the standby list. Unfortunately every person checked in and he had to wait until 4:00.
By the time he got to St. Louis a rental car was waiting for him. My cousin works for Enterprise and got him a deal, although Kole was disappointed it wasn't a sports car. 250 miles later at midnight he gets to the hospital in Iowa City. Both his parents were waiting up for him--once a parent worrying about your child's safe return, always a worrying parent! An hour later his brothers and their wives pull in from their vacation in Florida. After everyone sees Max, they sleep in the lobby for the night.
Sunday morning, Kev calls and says she doesn't look good but she's responsive. Drs still suspect it's some infection. While in church get a text to text Kev when I get out, do not call because he can't talk. I knew at that moment, he meant he couldn't talk because he knew he'd lose it. Sure enough, since seeing her SUN morning, she started to go downhill in a hurry. Yet Kev asked me not to tell the kids yet. But I did manage to get the kids to make her a "I Love You" video that Kev could show her off his phone as we knew this would be a way to cheer Grandma up! Thank goodness Kole and I were busy writing a compare/contrast paper about Tubman and Lincoln and citing text evidence that we were busy. They were supposedly meeting with the DRs at 3:00. Phone call never came until 4:30 and it wasn't good. The next 24 hours she would either begin to show signs of improvement or crash--that simple.
Kevin agreed it was time to tell the kids so they could start to prepare. When Ky got home from MYF, we discussed the situation. Ky grabbed an afghan Max had made her and went outside to text or call her Cho-Yeh family. Kole shared how worried he was for grandpa and how lonely he'd be if grandma did die. Eventually we got through the night and I saw a difference in their attitude. Yes, they were still sad, but they were concentrating on all the wonderful memories and maybe thinking about the sermon that day--conquering fears.
We all tried to go to bed early. Apparently there's caffeine in a strawberry limeade as I couldn't fall asleep. I think I was worried the phone was going to ring, but it never did. I woke up at 5:00, made sure I didn't miss a call, and no text either. I try to live firmly by my dad's words--no news is good news! And there was no news. Kev called about 7:00 and said they'd been in to see her, but didn't appear to have any change. They would see the DRs later in the morning. Her white count had improved and her kidneys were still producing urine, but still long road ahead. The Drs are pretty sure it is an infection that has spread throughout her entire body, which has also caused her great difficulty in trying to communicate. She understands everyone but just can't talk that's understandable. This is a result of the infection attacking her body. They may never know the source of the infection. At this point, surgery is not needed, but have all the necessary papers signed to rush her in if an emergency arises.
Today was the first day Max smiled. Her grandson Erich arrived and her sister Vivian visited her. The Drs are being cautiously optimistic. They do feel like the slow recovery plan is best for her, so they'll keep pumping her full of antibiotics.
It has ben so hard being away from Kev and listening to him deal with all of this. He's been super-strong and I'm so proud of him! He is so glad he went up and glad he got to see her, but he feels it's time to come home. His brothers will stay through Friday and then they'll divide who's going to stay with him for different weeks. Kev will go back up at spring break if needed.
So tonight, normalcy started to return to our home. I cooked a good meal (maybe that's not so normal), we ate at the table together, we went to the batting cages, and worked on homework. Tomorrow is Ky's first water polo game of the year (and that'll be a roller coaster ride in itself going against #1 team in district). We will pick Kev up at 6:40 tomorrow night and then be back together. I know he misses the kids tremendously and can't wait to see them. Then Wednesday is the first baseball game for the Rattlers.
He says this is the hardest thing he's ever had to do. It's been a learning experience for all of us. But all the ups and downs have been so draining emotionally. It's time for a good night's sleep!
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