Thursday, May 21, 2009

On the road again..good freaking GOD we're on the road again...my butt is sore and bubba has pooped again. And i can't believe we're on the road again!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Got to emporia ks around 530. Ate at applebees.
On way hm. Driving to emporia ks

Friday, May 15, 2009

Arrangements

Here are the arrangements for Grandpa B.

Sunday Visitation at Trimble Funeral Home 1700 1st St, Coal Valley, IL 61240-9336
from 4-7pm

Monday Funeral at Trinity Lutheran Church 2815 W 3rd St, Coal Valley, IL 61240-9661 Service at 11am.

For more information go to www.TrimbleFuneralHomes.com and click the name William E. Burgess. The complete obituary should be up tomorrow morning online.

Oh and I think my Nephew James said it best about Grandpa's life....

"Well you just have to think, he had a good long life, a great wife and daughter, 2 awesome grandkids, and 3 really attractive great-grandkids...what more could a guy ask for?"

Thursday, May 14, 2009

I'll Miss You Popeye.....

Grandma and Grandpa Burgess

There is no easy way to say this so here it goes.

This morning my Grandpa Burgess died in his sleep.

We were told by G&G's Pastor who came to the house. The hospital had been trying to get a hold of us. They called my phone five times only leaving one message to call right away. I took the phone at home off the hook because Randal was sleeping and I am so mentally and physically exhausted I needed to rest and not have people calling to see if we had decided on a nursing home. I told Pastor about the phone situation and he told me "It's okay you have every right to do that. Randal needed his sleep and you need to take care of yourself"

When we saw Grandpa Tuesday he was doing really well. Knew who we were and looked good. Randal was in his stroller bouncing around, talking, and smiling. Grandpa looked at him and said "Gosh...He is so adorable" He mentioned Katie and I showed him the latest pictures of her. He just beamed and said "She doesn't look like she's almost three"

On Weds I talked to his nurse Susie (I love Susie...Susie will get stuff done and doesn't take garbage from anyone!)and she told me that he was doing good in the morning and then started to get worse. Told me that he was trying to get out of bed. He knew that we were there but was very tired. Asked when I was going back to Texas and I told him "In a couple of days" Yesterday was just an over all bad day and I don't want to talk about the whole nursing home situation because it just makes me angry.

I talked to Grandpa's Dr today and asked him some questions. One of them was how long do you think he has? He told me that he thought maybe a couple of days to a couple of weeks. We all knew the outlook wasn't good. I knew Sunday with the signing of the DNR that it would not be long.

Grandma is hanging in there. I'm keeping an eye on her (except when Randal is asleep and I get to go to the library to post on the blog) and her friends, family and church has (or will be) coming over to see her.

I'm glad I listened to the vibe and didn't go home yesterday. I knew that if I did I would be making the trip back up.

I want to thank you all for the prayers and vibes for the past month. I just ask that you keep them going for the next couple of weeks or so. Adam has a flight out on Sunday to come up here and we will probably leave a couple of days after.

We love and miss you all...

B and Bubba Randal

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Happy Birthday Katie Johnson! We miss you.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

to gma about hospice. Will be going there in a couple of days.
Ok day today. Gpa more alert. Knew who we were. Bubba was adorable trying to get his attention and talking to him. Still talking some nonsense. Dr talked

Update

I lasted 5 days without the Internet. I went to the Library yesterday and got back on the computer. I'm sorry I haven't updated more on from my phone. This is what is going on. I'm sorry it's so long.

Thurs: Got to Grandma's at 5:30. Had dinner. Watched Bubba basically bask in the attention that we were both giving him. Put him to bed around 9. Talked to Grandma until 11:30. She told me that his general Dr called up and told her that Grandpa is a very sick man. Thinks that he may have pneumonia. Grandpa is still talking some nonsense. Told Grandma that he wanted her to go to Texas with me and stay there.

Friday: Got a meeting with the cancer Dr's nurse Dan on Monday at 9:30. Went to the hospital in the afternoon. He was breathing heavy. He knew we were there. He told me that I should have driven up here but he was glad that I was here.

Saturday: Went to the hospital. Seemed worse. Knew that we were there. Getting worried. Didn't like nurse because I felt she was talking down to Grandma and calling her "Honey".

Sunday: Grandpa's Dr called up and told her that he was in no condition to take the ride to the other hospital for the meeting on Monday. (we agreed). Then mentioned dialysis for his kidneys. Told Grandma that we he walked in Grandpa didn't know who he was. Met one of the Dr's at church. I told him what the other Dr told me. I then asked where is the cancer (since no one will tell us). He told me the pelvic bone, some ribs and in the bladder. The reason why is kidneys are failing is because the cancer is blocking them from emptying into the bladder. My friend Darwynn came to visit and we all went to the hospital. We got there and he was worse. The nurse talked about DNR. I had Darwynn take Bubba out (and for her to get my phone that I left in the car). He knew we were there. I went out and called Bill and left messages. Text paged Adam and told him I was not coming home Weds. When we left I told him we would be back on Monday. He started talking about Mom...which had me start crying. Told me that he did love her even if she bossed them around.

Monday: Dan called to tell us that he would not be at the meeting but someone would be there to talk to us about the test results. Got in right away and then waited for 30 minutes. The Dr came in talked to us for 5 minutes and then left. I was LIVID but decided it wasn't worth getting upset about it. We decided that if we had any questions we would just call Dan. This is what the Dr told us "Radiation or pain pills for the pain." I couldn't look at him because I probably would have screamed "Have you even LOOKED at this man!?!" He then talked about how cute Randal was. Grandma asked how long and he told her "radiation for three weeks" Told us to tell him he said Hello and "you know your way out right?" and then left.

After lunch we went over to the hospital. Bubba sucking up all the attention from everyone in the hospital. Grandpa was sleeping. A friend of Grandma's was there and just about to leave. I noticed on the board that there was no nurses name so I went and asked for his nurse. Told her who I was and asked how he was doing. She said he had been sleeping most of the day. He did sit up and did eat some food but was not feeding himself. He would open his eyes and then go back to sleep. Breathing heavy. We left after ten minutes.

Got home and Grandma said "I don't know how much more I can take of this." I put Bubba to bed and went to Walmart to get stuff. Grandma called her friend who was at the hospital and asked her what she thought. Her friend is a retired nurse and she said that the nurses were talking about him while she was in the room. She told Grandma "You better tell your granddaughter not to go home yet."

Tuesday: Going to see Grandpa later in the day and then have dinner out with my cousin Virginia. Went to Walmart and now here to type up the novel of what is going on.


Sunday I told Adam what his Dr told Grandma on the phone. He told me that if I wanted to stay I could. I told him that I would see how he was doing and have the meeting with Dan on Monday then I would decide. After Darwynn left I told Grandma that I talked to the nurse and got her opinion on if I should call Bill or not. I told her that I called him and told him to come up if he could. I also told her that I was not leaving on Weds. I've had this vibe since Saturday that if I left I would be getting a phone call telling me to turn around. (and you all know I don't ignore the vibes!)


So that is what I can remember of what is going on now. Adam told me that Katie is doing well. Thursday night he fell asleep watching her on the TV and within 15 minutes she got out of bed, found some sparkly lip gloss, covered her hands in it, played with the computer mouse, then went into our bathroom to wash her hands and while getting her stool to the sink she woke Adam up. He also told me that Friday night he looked on the TV and she was not in her room. He looked all over for her, started to panic, and then found her BEHIND HER DOOR! I am THANKFUL that we have family in the area who can watch Katie while I am gone and Adam is at work. I'm also thankful that I brought Bubbaman...He has been a Godsend and has been taking our minds off of things.

I will try and update in a couple of days. Please continue the prayers and vibes. I miss you all.

Love,

B. and Bubba Randal

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Happy mother's day. I miss you Mom!

Saturday, May 09, 2009

Saw gpa today. Had sono on kidneys. He is having problems breathing. I Did not like the nurse.
Should have brought my knitting. No cable. No internet

Thursday, May 07, 2009

At grandmas
Took break to stretch out. Bubba needed to get out of the bucket. Eta now after 5
At rest stop past des moines
In iowa around noon. Eating lunch
At rest stop near holt missouri.
Bfast. Car packed. Get gas and starbucks then on the way. Prob get there around 4
Morning. Did not sleep well. Up every two hrs. Getting bfast. Est leaving 8

Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Going to bed. Plan on leaving around 8 or so. Goodnight!
Trying to watch lost and get bubba down for the night
Watching princess bride on bravo
At hotel in emporia
Lunch!
Pit stop near still water.
Taking a break
At rest stop in oklahoma.

Tuesday, May 05, 2009

Said goodbye to katie. She is staying with grandma tonight
Test

Road trip


image014
Originally uploaded by FlipSide3
Tomorrow morning Bubba Randal and I will be taking a road trip to Coal Valley, IL where my Grandparents live (Mom's parents). We will be staying over night in Emporia KS Weds night and then get to IL sometime Thursday afternoon

The reason why we are going is because Grandpa B has been in the hospital now for over three weeks. The first week he had two surgeries on his kidneys for blood clots. This was something due to Prostrate Cancer that he had back in 1999. He had been cancer free since fall 1999.

Then Saturday Grandma told me that Grandpa now has bone cancer in his lower back. Right now we have no idea what type or what stage it is at.

I have talked to my cousin who has been helping out and keeping me updated and we decided the night before Grandpa's second surgery on his kidneys that I should go up there. (I also got a vibe that told me that I needed to go...and you know me I don't ignore the vibes)

After looking at prices and many options I have decided that I was going to drive up there and bring Randal with me. I will be staying there for a week. Adam and family will be taking care of Katie (and she still has school).

So if you can please send vibes and prayers for my family. I will try ( or Adam will) and do updates every couple of days.