A Peaceful 3 Day "Vacation"

Dad and Mom have been enjoying their last three days together. With it being Christmas, the hospital seemed a lot quieter with less staff. They felt like they were able to enjoy Christmas just the two of them without any distractions of tests and doctors, etc. They got just what you all prayed for, a quiet peaceful time to enjoy each other this Christmas. We skyped first thing their Christmas morning, which was our Christmas night. They opened their gift from us, this photo album in the picture above. It was so great to get to see them flip through all of the pages and watch them smile and watch them cry. They got to see the kids play with their new toys and games, including ones from them. Though it was a bitter-sweet day, combined with the joy of celebrating Christ's birth; there was also the sadness of being away from our loved ones especially in such trying times as now. So with the knowledge of that coming up, I had been praying that I would be able to have an amazing Christmas skype with my parents. Its never been a clear connection since they've been in the hospital, and we've been mostly having to talk by phone. But our Christmas skype was the clearest its been; we could see each other clearly and there was no 4 minute delay like usually. With no delay, and dad sitting up and talking- it was perfect~ the best Christmas present ever!

Other than skyping with us, here's the rest of their Christmas day. They started their morning off at 3 am with red popsicles that the nurse gave them, while they were up doing the normal regimen. Dad has still only been on ice, so that was a nice treat. They went back to sleep, but woke up at 6 to skype us (before we went to bed). They scared the next nurse on staff though, because when she came in and saw dad's bag (the one sucking out his stomach), and that it was all red- she panicked! Dad and mom had to quickly explain to her that the last nurse gave them popsicles (haha). After they finished skyping with us, they read the Christmas story together, opened a couple of gifts from family, watched movies together and took naps. Mom was told that all the spouses in the hospital could go to the cafeteria for a free meal. I'm so glad she went. She said that the cafeteria was full of spouses that looked so sad. I asked her if she sat with anyone; it just broke my heart knowing that my mom was sitting their alone on Christmas eating her Christmas dinner. She told me that she sat at a table looking out the window and talked to God (mostly crying). After she ate, she went back to be with dad (she tries to never eat in front of him- so its not torture for him). They spent the evening skyping my brother and his family, watching them open gifts including ones from them. They also talked with my mom's parents, my dad's mom, and their brothers and sisters. It was altogether a nice day relaxing together.

As I skyped with mom and dad tonight (their evening of the 26th), mom was telling me about the joys of being together these last three days. Then tears began to fill her eyes, as she said that they will face reality tomorrow when the doctors will come back to work and they will proceed with the PET SCAN. I know what she means; its almost as though you're living in a bubble sometimes and then BAM reality can slap you back in the face. We continue to pray that "reality" will come with some positives in the form of a miracle.

After three weeks of being in the hospital, in the "dungeon" as dad calls it, they let him out! He had a walker and walked out of his room and up and down the hallways. Mom said he was moving way faster than she thought he would. "He was hallin'!" she said. He has continued receiving transfusions and still receiving some physical therapy. Even though the physical therapist is gone for the holidays, mom keeps doing with dad what she sees the therapists do.

Please pray for mom and dad as they prepare for this final PET SCAN. Please pray for the future decisions that will have to be made. Thanks for your love and support!