Happy 90th Birthday Mommy!

Today, my Mommy was 90 years old!

90? Seriously?

Even when we told her it was her birthday, She was surprised too!

This was the first time in 13 years that all 4 of us kids had been together in the same room.

Why so long? 

It doesn't matter.

What matters is that we were all together for Mommy.

And we had fun.  Lots of laughing.  Lots of hugging.

Lots of love.  That's the best part!

Because Mommy would want that.

Our Mommy is a survivor.

She's survived the depression, picking cotton, being a nurse, raising 4 kids, a son in Viet Nam, the death of a brother in Belgium, during WWII (and whose body is buried over there),  the death of a brother to emphysema at 26, the death of her parents, breast cancer, the death of her husband (Pop)... and she has survived for 11 years with dementia and Alzheimer's.

When I was in 20, and went to see an eye specialist in Dallas, we were told "there's nothing that can be done for your eye". 

Mommy's said "I'll give her one of my eyes." 

Seriously?  Yes.  And she would have done this for me too. 

I wish that Mommy knew about my miracle.  But, she will.

Mommy is strong.  Because she is a Mommy. 



Do YOU Believe In Miracles?

Definition of a Miracle:
Act of God: an event that appears to be contrary to the laws of nature and is regarded as an act of God;
Amazing event: an event or action that is amazing, extraordinary, or unexpected;
Marvelous example: something admired as a marvelous creation or example of a particular type of science or skill!!!!!!!

I can NOT believe it's been over a month since I last posted on here!  There has been a LOT going on!  So, I'm going to do a quick update...which will be of no interest to anyone except maybe my family and me...so I don't forget everything that happened!

•  Jan. 11:  Saw Dr. Herman at Vision Quest.  They did HOURS of tests on my eyes.... but more on the left (blind) eye than the right (good) one, which is the one we were worried about. He said that the pressure was down on the good eye. (They did 2 sonograms on the left eye.)  BUT, he said that he felt certain that once they got the cataract, from the bad eye, which is big and dense, that I would have sight in my left eye! "WHAT....are you kidding me?  SERIOUSLY?  In the eye, that I haven't been able to see out of for 54 years??  SERIOUSLY?"  That's all I could keep saying!  They immediately got an appointment with  Dr. Wang @ Texas Retina Associates; he thinks there’s something behind the cataract going on with the retina. Wrote 3 prescriptions for me to use 2 days prior to surgery and gave me a list of things to do/not to do.  This day was such a blur for me.  I cried and laughed....cried and laughed!  I just couldn't believe it.  MIRACLE!!!!!
• January 14, 2011: Texas Retina Associates started with MORE tests and then I finally saw Dr. Wang. He says that I have Retinoschisis, which is an eye disease characterized by the abnormal splitting of the retina's neurosensory layers. He wants to see me after the cataract surgery.  Before he walked out of the room, he said "I want you to understand, you won't have 20/20 in your left eye."  I said "Are you kidding me....I don't have that in my good eye!  Anything will be good!"  MIRACLE!!!!!!  This was also Larry's 30th birthday!  He told me this was better than any birthday present he could receive!
• Jan. 19, 2011: My sister Martha and her daughter Melody and I went up the night before and spent the night with her other daughter Wendy.  We were at the Surgery Center at 6:30am.  Dr. Herman took the cataract out of my left eye. Said that it was like a rock.  Taped my eye down and put a shield over it. Kept it on for 4 hours. Got the first round of drops in. Back home.
• Jan 20, 2011: Feels like I have gravel in my eye. Not a lot of bruising at all! Dr. Herman’s assistant called to see if I’d had any vision at all yet.  Nope.  At about 6pm I put my hand in front of the computer and saw the outline of my hand. NOW THERE IS A MIRACLE!!!!!!!
• Jan 21, 2011: Webber took me to Greenville to the Vision Quest Office there. Saw Dr. Joan Abernathy. She said that I have lots of swelling in my cornea and the pressure is still high, and wants me to come back AFTER I see Dr. Wang.
• Jan 25, 2011:  Drove for the first time, by myself.  Went Kroger ... had a really strange feeling.  Couldn't quite figure out what it was.  Once I got outside, I realized what it was .... I could see out of the side of my left eye.  BONUS...ANOTHER MIRACLE!!!!!!!  There's no way I can explain this feeling to anyone...I kept feeling like there was someone right there with me.  AND there was!  It was GOD!
• At this point...we started getting the snow and ice, so appointments were cancelled.
• Feb 5, 2011:  Feeling a LOT pressure in my left eye. Feels like someone is poking their finger through my eye.
• Feb 7, 2011: Talked to Martha in Dr. Wang’s office. Will work the schedule today and get back in touch with me.
• Feb. 8, 2011: Called back to Dr. Wang’s office. Can’t get me in until NEXT Thursday (2/17).
• Feb. 8, 2011: Still having the feeling of pressure in my eye.  Talked with Monica in Dr. Herman’s office and told her about the pressure problem in my eye. She suggested I get with Dr. Thomas here in Paris. Called his office, can’t see me until Thursday morning at 10am. Told me to continue keeping the patch on my eye if it helps with the pressure.
• Feb. 10, 2011: Saw Dr. Thomas at 10am. The cornea is still swollen, but the pressure is not dangerously high. He says that Dr. Herman needs to do the right eye really soon, because the angle is narrowing. He was amazed at how the left eye looked now and wanted to hear all about it.
• Feb. 17, 2011: Saw Dr. Wang at the Sherman office of Texas Retina. Said that the cataract surgery that Dr. Herman did looked very good. BUT, I have a tractional detached retina. He wants to let my bad eye heal some more and then on March 3rd he will do a dye test to see if there is any leakage…if so, they will laser it to fix that part and then see about when to schedule the retina surgery.
• Feb. 18, 2011: Saw Dr. Abernathy at Vision Quest. After hearing what Dr. Wang said, she wants to wait until April 6th to do cataract surgery on right eye.  She did some simple tests on my left eye, I could count the fingers that she was holding up....as long as she'd hold her fingers down and really close.  HEY...that's ok!  It's more than I've EVER seen before!   MIRACLE!!!! 

The Difference

Hunter Kelley is only 2.  And he is now blind.
In 2010 he was diagnosed with Retinoblastoma, which is a rare eye cancer, it has affected both of his eyes. He went blind in one eye, and at the end of December he had his other eye surgically removed.
He won't remember his Mommy and Daddy.
He won't know his colors.
He won't remember "things".
He's 2.

I'm 54. I'm blind in one eye.
I'm having surgery on my only good eye on Tuesday of this next week.
God has blessed me with sight for all these years. I have faith that all will go well. AND...I have many people praying for me.
IF something were to go wrong, I've seen everything I need to see.
I know what everyone looks like.
I will remember "things".

Hunter is only 2.

Christmas at Mommy's Nursing Home

Mommy and her girls...

From the left:  Mary, Martha, Molly & Mommy

This is the look that Mommy gives me when she says
"What have you done to your hair?"

My sweet Mommy will be 90 in February ... She is just happy all the time! 
We are so blessed that she IS happy and that she still knows us.

Nightmare

You know that nightmare that you have, when you're in your underwear, in front of a crowd of people...or the nightmare where you are running from someone?  My nightmare has always been that I would have to have surgery on my "good eye". 
And that nightmare has come true.
Yesterday I went for my yearly eye exam.  The Dr. checked, put drops in my eyes, checked some more, more drops, more checking, more drops..... you get the idea.
Finally he said that not only do I have a cataract that has popped up over the last year...but, I have very HIGH pressure on my good eye.   If it gets any higher, it could cause my eye to "have a stroke" and BLOW! 
So, on January 11th, I will go to Dallas to an eye surgeon, for a consultation and find out when I have surgery.  OR...if the pressure is any higher, they will send me on in to surgery THAT DAY.
To say that I'm scared, is an understatement.  Terrified.  Frightened.  Petrified. Horrified. In Shock.
You know....all of the above.
These procedures are not that big of a deal...unless you only have one eye. 
I know that it's in God's hands and that he will take care of me!
Isaiah 65:24 Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.

I am a Cooper Bulldog



Tomorrow night is the Cooper High School Homecoming!  AND I'M GOING! 

I haven't been to a game in ... I really don't know.

They have a new school, that I've been to, but I've not been to the new stadium!

I'm so EXCITED!

I've fb'd lots of my classmates from 1974 (& others too) and hope that they will come and visit and show them young whippersnappers how to sing the school song!

CAUTION: DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE A QUEASY STOMACH!

Ok...I understand designers wanting to "showcase" their new line of shoes.  They are proud of their design and want the world to buy their shoes.

But, why on EARTH, would you use a "foot model" that has ugly feet? 

Why would you put THAT foot in your new EXPENSIVE designer shoes, that you are advertising all over the internet?

Things to make you go HMMMMMMMMM!

Where Has The Time Gone???

Abby is now 9 and cheerleading for her brother Sam's football team.

Sam is the quarterback and is amazing!  (I didn't get close enough to him on Saturday to get pictures of him.)

All Things Candy Corn

Last year I posted a blog about one of my favorite things! 
(Click here to go to that blog.)

I LOVE Candy Corn. 

LOVE LOVE LOVE CANDY CORN!

Did I tell you I LOVE CANDY CORN??

So, here's my 2010 installment of "All Things Candy Corn"!

Don't you think that if I got this costume, that I would like a

"Super Sized Candy Corn"? 

Candy Corn Candles....wafting through the air! 

Candy Corn Cookies 

Candy Corn Vine....this is REAL!

 

PLEASE...feel free to send me this beautiful/edible flower arrangement!

Candy Corn Stockings

Candy Corn PIE????

Candy Corn Heels...to go with the stockings!

Candy Corn JELLO?

Candy Corn Lights

Candy Corn Earrings

 

Candy Corn Tie



Never noticed...

I met an "older" lady the other day who was also named Molly.  We talked about how you don't meet many grown Molly's, only little girl Molly's.  Today I was on-line and saw Molly The Trolley, and it got me to thinking about Molly "stuff"...

Introducing....Miss Mia

I'd like to introduce you to my new baby, Mia.
When my friend Sabrina told her Mom (Terri) about Lucy being killed, Terri gave me this precious little girl.



Mia is 1/2 Miniature Dachshund and 1/2 Yorkie.  And if you put the 2 together, you get a Dorkie!

She is the tiniest little baby ... and has one ear up (Yorkie) and one ear down (Dachshund).  Makes her look a little mischievious!

Thank you Terri & Sabrina for my new little ray of sunshine!

Lucy - 8/14/10

This past Saturday I let Lucy out to go potty...a car came by and she took off after it.  Normally, she would come right to me, if I heard a car and hollered at her.  It just all happened so fast, and it was so quite, that I still can't believe it. She never moved or made a sound.
We took her to Cooper to bury her on the hill where I grew-up. 

This is one of the things I will miss the most...her sitting in the window, watching for me to come home, or looking for someone that would have the nerve to come down HER street!
She was my Security Service!