This blog is being established as a record of our Mother's medical journey, which began on August 28, 2010... through and to recovery.... It will also serve as way for her family and friends to follow along with us on this long journey. For together we are stronger, with you and with Faith we will handle all there is to come. We Thank You for all your good wishes, positive thoughts and continued prayers!

~Lori, Monica and Jeanette~







Friday, December 31, 2010

Happy New Year!!



‎”2010 is almost history, 2011 is still a mystery, ring out the old and bring on the new, I am ready, how about you???” So much transpired in 2010 and much more awaits in the new year… We again, thank everyone for their support, good thoughts, kindness and prayers. You ALL are the BEST Gift we received in 2010!! While Mom’s had to undergo this misfortune, it brought us all closer and for that we are forever grateful… Friends and Family, a most precious gift… HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Friday, November 5, 2010

November 05, 2010


Day 70… Monday Mom had her visit with Dr. Zane, the Surgeon who performed the colostomy. He formally ‘released’ her to full activity level which includes driving and resuming regular activities. “Yeeeeeee----aaaayyyyyyy!!!” Mom is still under weight, she’s lost 15 lbs and has to build up her endurance levels BUT life for Mom will be ‘somewhat’ back to normal … For a while anyway. :-/ She’s greatly looking forward to finally being able to visit our sister Barbara … She hasn’t been able to visit with her since August.

Dr. Zane also told Mom she’s been scheduled for the ‘next step’ which is Reconstructive surgery to disconnect the colostomy and ‘reconnect’ her colon to the healed colorectal area. Her surgery is scheduled for March 22, 2011… with recuperation time we’re looking at almost a year total in dealing with this entire episode, all resulting from a ‘routine’ colonoscopy procedure.

Mom wants you to know how VERY MUCH your prayers, good wishes and thoughts have meant to her… She’s loved your emails, cards and phone calls… You’ve made her feel so cared for, SO LOVED!!! She ‘Thanks You’ with all her heart and we do too!! ... xoxoxo

Saturday, October 30, 2010

October 30, 2010

Wish Heaven had a phone so I could hear your voice again. I thought of you today, but that is nothing new. I thought about you yesterday, and days before that too. I think of you in silence, I often speak your name. All I have are memories and a picture in a frame. Your memory is a keepsake, from which I'll never part.......God has you in his arms, I have you in my heart! 6 years today... We Love & Miss you Dad... ♥

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

October 27, 2010


Day 61… Mom ‘celebrated’ Day #60 by finally feeling up to getting a mani/pedi at the Nail Salon. Photo courtesy of Andrea, who took it when Mom wasn’t looking! ;-)

While Mom’s healing and getting stronger this time has us experiencing various ‘de ja vu’ moments, like helping Mom with doing her laundry. Mom has a very ‘specific’ way she likes it done and supervises us while we do hers ‘just to make sure’ we’re doing it her way… (silent eye roll)… But, we do it!

Curiously, Sunday was my 3rd week of doing MY laundry ‘Mom’s Way’ just to see if there really was a difference… and wouldn’t you know it… my husband actually asked why the bed sheets I did on Saturday (my old way) DIDN’T come out smelling like or feeling as soft as the T-shirts I’d just done!!! :-P Once again… Mom knows best =D

Which is why when our Cousin John Ortiz sent us this email it made us laugh out loud and want to share a few ‘gems’ with you… So true, so true!!

Things I Owe My Mother
**************************************
1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.
"If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."

2. My mother taught me RELIGION.
"You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL.
"If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

4. My mother taught me LOGIC.
"Because I said so, that's why."

5. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
"Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

6. My mother taught me IRONY.
"Keep crying and I'll give you something to cry about."

7. My mother taught me the science of OSMOSIS.
"Shut your mouth and eat your supper."

8. My mother taught me CONTORTIONISM.
"Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"

9. My mother taught me about WEATHER.
"This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."

10. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
"If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"

11. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.
"I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

12. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
"If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they're going to get stuck that way."

13. My mother taught me HUMOR.
"When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

14. My mother taught me about my ROOTS.
"Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"

15. My mother taught me WISDOM.
"When you get to be my age, you'll understand."

Best of all…
16. My mother taught me about JUSTICE.
"One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you."

Ahhhhh….. So True, So True and Mom we hope we’ve turned out to be as good at being ‘Moms’ as You … Thanks John! =D

Monday, October 25, 2010

October 25, 2010


Day 59… We HAD to share this photo and text message we received from Andrea, who’s living with Mom during her recuperation….. As ‘background’ it must be noted that when Mom was 1st admitted to the Hospital on an emergency basis there was no preparation for what was to be an initial hospital stay of 23 days! When they released Mom to go home at Day 23 we discovered with irritation >:-( an infestation of gnats from fruit she had in her kitchen… Ugh!

Well then, Mom was back in the hospital at Day 30 and remained so until Day 45. Upon Mom’s return home… ‘The War on the Gnats’ began with earnest!!! >:-/ It was beginning to look like the Gnats were going to take over… Until today when we received a text message on our cell phones from Andrea (Mom’s granddaughter, Monica’s daughter) which said, “Brandon and I went out and got Grandma an electric racket for the gnats!”

Huh??? An electric racket for gnats??? HILARIOUS!!!!! =D Then we received another text message from Andrea…. “Team Grandma 10…. Gnats 0” Honestly, we couldn’t make this stuff up!!!

Hugs all around! xoxoxoxo

Sunday, October 24, 2010

October 24, 2010

Day 58… Each day has Mom feeling stronger and stronger… Last week she went in to Dr. Zane’s office and they removed the staples from the abdominal incision. A total of 22!! This next week she’s hoping to feel up to getting a mani/pedi at the Nail Salon… She last had it done right before she ended up in the hospital and the nurses commented throughout her stay on “How pretty” the flowers on her toes looked! =D

Mom’s been doing well, trying to get used to lifestyle changes and finding her appetite again. She’s scheduled to see her surgeon, Dr. Zane again on November 1st. At that time they’ll be discussing what ‘the next step’ is going to be for Mom. She’s not yet been able to go see Barbara but Monica has and says Barbara looks good and is doing as well as can be expected… So right now, all is ‘status quo’ on the home front for now!

Mom has not yet been given the “Okay” to drive but she is feeling much better and is FINALLY feeling up to visitors and chatting on the phone again… So if you have the inclination or if you have the time please feel free to touch base with her sometime!!
The best number to reach her at these days is her home number (310) 635-2119.

We hope you are all doing well and once more we Thank You for all the love, prayers and support you’ve sent Mom and Barbara’s...

Hugs all around!! xoxoxo

Monday, October 11, 2010

October 11, 2010

Day 45… Woooo Hoooooo!!!!! Broke Mom outta’ the Big House and she’s HOME!! Like Kevin said, “Don’t look back and keep on running!” =D

When she was told she was being released she told them, “Ok. But I want to take a shower and shampoo before I leave because I want to be spiffy going home!” When I got there to pick her up I found her freshly shampooed, showered and eating lunch…. Helped her get dressed, picked up her meds then drove her home….

Though ‘Home’ she still has a long road ahead of her… still has a boatload of meds she has to take and now has to live life in a way no one would dream of in their worst nightmare!! Mom’s pretty feisty but we think the reality of ‘being home’ is weighing on her too… She’s feeling nauseated, suture site is giving her pain, discomfort and she only ate 2 bites of her dinner tonight.:-( She says she’ll try and eat more tomorrow….

It could be that the combination of being back home, regular eating and reality setting in is culminating in intestinal distress… It does for me when I stress out!!... “Normal!” ;-) Can’t fix that, just have to deal with it… Added problem is, no news on our sister Barbara… Mom may not say anything but that is probably adding to her stress level… Hoping tomorrow will be better… xoxoxo