It is good to hear from Chad and Erica! We don't get that nearly enough. If you guys need painting supplies, you can borrow ours... you don't need to buy them. Change of plans with Cambrie. The Dr came in to see Cambrie this morning. From about 8 pm last night till 10 AM Cambrie was running a low grade fever and Cambries heart has been doing palpitations...over 100 beats per minute. The Dr ordered an EKG, which is always a sure way to make it go back to normal, and it did, before they got the EKG done. The DR and Cambrie thinks that the fever/palpitations are a result of her being dehydrated. The Dr hates to send Cambrie home miserable and so they are going to keep her and thinks they will put in a PEG line, surgically into the intestine. Doesn't sound like that decision is written in stone yet, but for the few days that they did have the feeding tube in, Cambrie wasn't nauseated, so that is the last possibility of help. It isn't without it's risks. Camb...
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So... I post. It's been a while - I've been busy. Erica's asleep on the couch right now, dropped dead from exhaustion. I thought things would slow down once we were married. They have, but only a little. Our schedule is still hectic, with every day being packed with things we need to do. And many things get perpetually bumped to "tomorrow". We get burned out sometimes and just crash. Recently Erica's started watching season 1 of "Lost". She likes it. We're still uncertain what we're going to do with our other house. We have decided to repaint it before we do much else. We want to get that done asap, since it's been costing $1700 month (mortgage + utilities). That will go down next month - I refinanced! With my FHA loan, I was able to refinance for free, from 6.625% to 5.5%. That's slightly more than $150 / month I don't have to pay. That will be good if we choose to rent it. We pray every day for Cambrie & her ...
The Latest Cambrie's update: I talked to Cambrie this afternoon. It sounds like tomorrow they will send her home. They have tried every anti-nausea drug known to man, and nothing works now. Even on TPN, as she has been for a few days now, she lost 2 pounds in 1 day-from dehydration. So they will increase the amount of fluids they are giving her. But there is no reason to keep her in the hospital: they can't do anything for her except give her TPN and fluids, which she can do at home. She says that her mother in law will keep Kiera for the rest of the week, and then she will come home. She will see if she can keep up with Kiera with her weakened abilities...and probably have a ward member take her for 2 hours a day or so so she can rest. That will probably be good...Kiera will not be a happy camper being caged with a mommie that isn't up to her usual activities. So there ya have it.
Just got this from Saundra: " Btw, Christine just went to the doc today with chest pains. They did tests and found she had enlarged heart. That is what Sally died from. It’s a genetic thing so be aware. Lynette has an 11 yr old granddaughter that was just put in Primary Childrens with genetic heart problems. Anyway Christine will be having all kinds of tests for the rest of the week. Make sure all of your kids are aware they may have something with the heart " No, I'm not aware of any genetic heart problems in our family other than my Grandfather died of a heart attack. Patty's heart problems were because of damage done by Rhumatic fever when she was young, and Saundra's problems are related to the same thing, or so I was told
If any of you out there in Groneman Family Blog land are thinking that my lack of reports on Cambrie means that things have been peachy...think again. Cambrie has been in the hospital all week this past week. They started a feeding tube, inserted through the nose, past the stomach and into her intestines. That came with some significant pain/irritation/distress. To go down into the intestine, a thicker stiffer tube is used, and it is inserted with a wire that they extract when in place. So she had difficultly trying to adjust to that (the medical staff there told her she was the first pregnant lady they had ever seen that let it stay in even 24 hours. But Cambrie was determined to make it work (and her determination far exceeds others determination), so it was still there like 3 days after they inserted it. The feedings were fine...bypassing her stomach bypassed the nausea too. However, night before last, the tube got clogged, so they had to pull it out. So yesterday, they tried...
GUESS WHAT? I am flying to NYC for about 5 days the end of February! I am excited! Ann is going out for the whole month of Feb, to be there when Malesa's baby is born. Malesa called me last night to get some instructions on doing a baby quilt, and said, "You should come out the last week my mom is here so you could go do NYC with my mom. The baby should be 2 weeks old by then, and I would like there to be a slow transistion between having my mom there 24/7 to not there at all. So if you came you could go do stuff with her in the day, see NYC for very cheap (it is the non tourist season there, so things are cheaper and my housing would be free). As you know, Kim does NOT like to travel, so he's happy that I have found someone to go with, and he gets to stay home. So Feb 25-Mar 1 I will be in NYC! We are going to go to Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, a play (either Wicked or Les Miserable), go to the memorial at the Twin Towers site, check out Central park, go t...
Well, we got 10" of new snow out of that last storm, yesterday, and guess what? It is snowing again today. We are loving it! Well, I thought I would give you all a brief update on Cambrie. As I predicted when they released her from the hospital on Sunday, that she would be back in today. She is. So much for zofran (?). It doesn't work this time either. So Cambrie says that they are going to insert a nasal feeding tube first and see if she can tolerate that. If she can't they will either surgically put one into the intestine or start her on TPN. She is so weak that she needs assistance to walk from her house to the car in the garage, and Breanna goes to get a wheelchair to get her from the car to the hospital. It is a good thing that Breanna knows that this is a very rare condition or she might decide never to give me Grandchildren! Anyway, keep your prayers going for Punkin, please everyone. Steve's mom is going to take Kiera next week, all week and just brin...
GREAT NEWS!!! Jacob just took about 7 steps all by himself from his physical therapist to me!!! His new therapist is a real stickler and does not let tears and screaming get to her-- she patiently sticks to her guns and waits for Jacob to do what she knows he can. So there was a lot of crying, screaming, and coaxing before it happened, BUT HE DID IT! Twice! I have to admit that I cried the first time he made it to me, and I think the therapist thought I was crying because she was so hard on Jacob, but I wasn't-- I've just waited for so long for this moment! I'm so happy!! Jacob can walk!!!
We got snow up to my knees! About 10" of new snow over the old. Kim just came in because he snapped the cable to his snowplow after pushing snow around for 3 1/2 hours! UPDATE: This is Kim. We have about 12" now and I stayed out all morning doing driveways. It's still snowing. (I fixed the busted cable) Click on this picture
LET IT SNOW! This has been a great winter. Snow, snow, snow. It's like the winters I remember as a kid. We've had snow on the ground since before Thanksgiving. I haven't seen my lawn in weeks and weeks. I LOVE SNOW!!! It is now about 5:30 am and I'm just anxiously awaiting 6am so I can hop on my ATV and go play in the new snow that fell last night (and is continuing to fall) without bothering the neighbors too badly. I have the day off today. I play, the neighbors love me, and we get treats and other good stuff delivered. It just doesn't get any bet t er than this. On top of that Brett and Katie stopped by for a little bit last night just to share some Chocolate cake with us. Poor Katie looked like she could fall asleep right in the chair. Life is good.
TRUE FRIENDSHIP (none of this cutesey sissy stuff...I get tired of that junk in my email inbox, just the plain truth about how a true friend really acts.) 1. When you are sad--I will help you get drunk and plot revenge against the sorry idiot who made you sad. 2. When you are blue-- I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you. 3. When you smile -- I will know you are plotting something that I need to be involved in. 4. When you are scared -- I will laugh and laugh and razz you about it every chance I get. 5. When you are worried -- I will tell you horrible stories about how much worse it could be until you quit whining. 6. When you are confused-- I will use little words. 7. When you are sick--Stay the heck away from me until you are well again. I don't want whatever you have. 8. When you fall-- I will point and laugh at your clumsy sorry self. 9. This is my oath.... I pledge it to the end "Why?" you may ask;"because you are my friend"...
I cut Chad's hair for the first time yesterday . He was brave enough to trust me. In high school I used to cut my guy friends' hair (but I've never really been taught how to do it--I make it up as I go). We bought a hair cutting set with one of our Target gift cards. I think it turned out pretty well! Luckily his hair is super easy to cut! :) Love you all!!!
The good news is that Cambrie won't have this problem...well, maybe she will! So Cambrie called again this morning with another update. She spent the night in the hospital, of course. She told me that her blood sugar was at 50 (normal is 80-120), and that was after the 2 bags of glucose solution they had given her the day before at Kaiser. Her Potassium was also low and she was experiencing chest pain yesterday and last night, as the heart needs potassium to function. They spent the night draining one after another bags of different stuff she needed, and she finally got to sleep at 4:30 am. Then they came in and woke her up at 5 am. Short sleep/long night, but she is in great spirits, because they are giving her the help she needs. Her Dr is listening to what Cambrie is telling her happened before, and the stuff that Cambrie had bad experiences with, they are going to avoid, but they will try the drugs that were tried before and didn't work "because every pregnancy is d...
UPDATE ON CAMBRIE : So, after the Kaiser Dr sent Cambrie home to starve yesterday (after thinking all he needed to do was give her saline solution to re-hydrate her), Cambrie got an appt today for a Dr with Loma Linda University's Health insurance. This Dr sounds good. She plans on putting Cambrie in the hospital, and not turning her loose until either they have found a drug that helps her to keep her food down, or they will start TPN before they send her home. The RS pres is arranging babysitting for Kiera, however, I think that would be hard on her to be passed around a bunch of homes where she isn't used to being, away from Mom....so if they want me to, I will go down to keep her in her own home, with occasional trips to the hospital to see mom. But it sounds like if I do that, it won't be for very long. Once Cambrie gets her strength back, she won't need me, and she can send me packing back to Utah. Cambrie and I are both relieved at finding a Dr who is dete...
This is in response to Kim's comment. This is too long to put in the comment section, and I would like everyone who may not read all of the comments to read it. One thing I have learn about trials: They really do work for our good. I have never been as happy (in my entire life) as I am now. Why? because the trials that I have experienced over the last 40 years have each helped to bring me a little closer to the Lord. My view on life and trials is dramatically different now than it was even 5 years ago. Trials have become easier for me to deal with, indeed, much of what would have been a huge trial for me 5 years ago, is now water off a ducks back. I am GRATEFUL for the trials that I have passed through, for they really have "been for my good" as the scriptures say. So when I pray to ask for the Lord to guide the Dr to help Cambrie , I always add "but if there is more that will bless her life by passing through this trial yet again, and it is to be for her good, th...
FLY AWAY HOME Good movie I didn't think it would be good from the description but I really enjoyed it. A true story. It kept me smiling all the way through. Not related but: We were dressed and ready to go out for the New Years Eve Party. We turned on a night light, turned the answering machine on, covered our pet parakeet and put the cat in the backyard. We phoned the local cab company and requested a taxi. The taxi arrived and we opened the front door to leave the house. The cat we put out in the yard, scooted back into the house. We didn't want the cat shut in the house because she always tries to eat the bird. My wife went out to the taxi, while I went inside to get the cat. The cat ran upstairs, with me in hot pursuit. Waiting in the cab, my wife didn't want the driver to know that the house will be empty for the night. So, she explained to the taxi driver that I would be out soon, "He just went upstairs to say goodbye to my mother." A few minut...
I just talked to Cambrie. Her Keytones (which is what your body produces as it cannablizes itself to live on, and at high levels keytones do damage to some of your organs-the medical people know tons more about this than I do-but they are damaging) are high enough to be seen by a Dr today and so Cambrie is in hopes that she can get some medical intervention to nourish her today. She would like to have a feeding tube put in today. If they put it far enough into the intestines, she won't be able to throw it up, and she won't be so weak: She'll at least be able to function while she is nauseated 24/7. So I know she would appreciate your prayers in her behalf, that they will cooperate with her plan of a feeding tube. The TPN they did last time isn't the best option this time because wearing an IV with Kiera pulling on it isn't a good option, and they are not covered 100% with insurance, so their co-pay for TPN would kill them ($1000.00 per day). My concern is that b...
JUST FOR FUN: 1. At Lunch Time, Sit In Your Parked Car With Sunglasses on and point a Hair Dryer At Passing Cars. See If They Slow Down. 2. Page Yourself Over The Intercom. Don't Disguise Your Voice. 3. Every Time Someone Asks You To Do Something, Ask If They Want Fries with that. 4. Put Your Garbage Can On Your Desk And Label It 'In.' 5. In The Memo Field Of All Your Checks, Write ' For-Smuggling Diamonds' 6. Finish All Your sentences with 'In Accordance With The Prophecy.' 8 . Don't use any punctuation 9. As Often As Possible, Skip Rather Than Walk. 10. Order a Diet Water whenever you go out to eat, with a serious face. 11. Specify That Your Drive-through Order Is 'To Go.' 12. Sing Along At The Opera. 13. Go To A Poetry Recital And Ask Why The Poems Don't Rhyme? 14. Put Mosquito Netting Around Your Work Area And Play tropical Sounds All Day. 15. Five Days In Advance, Tell Your Friends You Can't Attend Their Party Because You're Not...
Yer mother has gone to do her visiting teaching . She doesn't go visit individual sisters any more. In our ward they have visiting teaching "groups" where a gaggle of women get together to shoot the bull. Yea. Visiting teaching. I think they should do the same for the men and home teaching. Everyone can get together at the football or basketball game and do the fellowshipping that's supposed to happen. Maybe have a group meet at Home Depot and look at tools then report in. I'd sponsor a home teaching ATV ride and my home teachers could fellowship me all day. Why leave all the fun to the sisters? No longer any reason to wait until the last day of the month!
The original "younger Groneman Family" has been and will be out of commission for a while. Chad got the Flu on Tuesday (yes I got my flu shot), and is just now getting over it. Just in time for Erica to catch it (we think, but we hope not). This one had me miss three days of work. It gave me a 102 degree fever, made it so I couldn't get warm, even with all the blankets in our house, and made my entire body ache like a shoulder aches when it's been slugged. I was exhausted the entire time. Erica made me stay in bed most of the time. We went to the insta-care place when we saw my 102 fever. That place was fast. We finished signing the papers giving them permission to examine me, and they gave us a form to fill out to describe what was wrong. Erica started filling it out, and had only two questions filled out when they called me back. The nurse questioned me, and told me the doctor would be in, in a few minutes. She left, and within one minute the doctor came...
I'm very happy to announce that I've got morning sickness (well, I guess all-day sickness). I don't know if anyone has ever been happier than me to have morning sickness. My hopes are high that that is all it will continue to be. It is wonderful to think that it might even go away in a month and a half! I'm nauseated pretty much all day long, and am only able to eat a little of very bland foods, but I'm SSOOOOOO happy about it. I don't know if the Lord decided to make this one easier since we didn't really have a choice in whether or not we were pregnant right now, or if it is all the prayers that have been going up in my behalf, but whatever it is I'm grateful. I went to the doctor today since I've lost 9 lbs in 2 weeks, but they said it's not a problem as long as I'm able to stay hydrated (and I am). I got an ultrasound picture out of the deal too. Imagine a really tiny blob in the middle of a black and white ultrasound picture....ye...
Jacob is a big believer in making himself comfortable, and to him comfort is feeling the breeze on his little nethers. He continues to take the liberty of making himself comfortable anytime his parents are not looking. He also does so at night if not in a zip-up sleeper. Two nights ago all his sleepers were dirty...
Brett's Update Yep. Still engaged. School has started back up, and it's still looking busy enough. Lets see . . . I finally got my bike fixed today. I put my new derailleur on that Dad gave me for Christmas. It works nicely Dad. Thanks. Then I had to try to patch two holes, and fought that for way too long. When I realized that one was essentially unpatchable, I made a trip to Macey's and bought a $3 bike tube . . . If I would have known that they were only $3, I wouldn't have spent so much time on it to begin with. As someone stole my bike pump and my electric car pump doesn't do anything firmer than a latex balloon (didn't know that when I bought it. Good thing it's got a gage for 200 PSI and won't go past zero), I just walked it to a gas station to fill up the tire. So it's in working condition now, so I can ride it again -- when the 7 inches of new snow from last night melts. Katie and I decided that since we've got a while until ou...
Danthony is officially gone. He is temporarily staying with another foster family in running springs (where aunt nadine lives) and should be going to an his aunt's soon. Good thing he is gone-- I feel like just taking care of Kiera is hard enough right now. But, we are currently managing ok although I wouldn't define it as fun.
yes, we are pregnant! Surprise!!!! Are we nervous? Yes. I'm just now experiencing my first day of nausea (although only slight so far). The moment we found out we were pregnant I started eating everything in sight as they say that if you have a history of hyperemesis that it is wise to start off your pregnancy a little overweight. What a strange thing to do after trying so hard to loose the weight from my last pregnancy!!! I also quit running which seemed a little crazy since I ran my half marathon just a week or so before we got pregnant and I was doing so well! It's a darn good thing that Danthony will be leaving us in the next 2 days or so since I'm having a hard time keeping up with 2 babies! We are due september 4th. Hopefully this one will not be as difficult as the last one as they can treat the problem sooner and they already know which drugs don't work. I'm going to ask my doctor for a feeding tube this time instead of an IV. Anyway, I would app...
When I was quilt shopping the other day , I had a first: There was a lady shopping with her 2 little kids in a stroller, and they were happy little clams: She had a portable DVD player playing a favorite show. Christa, maybe a way you could getJacob to enjoy hiking again? Well, I thought it was brilliant even if it does look like the kids are the ultimate couch potatoes! (This is a picture of our new $69 bedroom set)
I have 2 reviews for the day: 1. Pirates 3. Thumbs down. 3 out of 10. Too long, too complicated, too dramatic and cheesy, and battle scenes WAY to long. 2. Shade Clothing Thumbs up. 9 out of 10. It is a clothing line started by LDS people. It was recommended to me so I bought 1 undershirt. I thought it was a bit pricey ($17) but I've honestly worn it every single day since I got it in the mail (4 days in a row now). I can wear it under any shirt in my wardrobe and never have to tug or do anything to remain modest as I move throughout the day. Definately worth the $. Check it out at http://www.shadeclothing.com/product/Products.aspx
I just got a Christmas card today from Emily Mullholland . I was shock to read that "she and DAVE" are doing fine. I knew a couple of years ago that Alan was going downhill with his Parkinsons Disease, but I didn't realize until today that he died back in April of 2004! It was a form letter and Emily was assuming "we all knew" about Alan's death and that she remarried this guy, Dave Bradstreet, this year. So, that came as a blow to us. Alan was a great guy, and he played a part in Kim's getting his testimony, albeit small. But they were great neighbors, and Alan was one of the 2 men in the ward (Newell Jensen being the other), that gave me a powerful blessing 4 days after Breanna was born, that helped me to survive the dying of my thyroid gland until they finally had proof they needed to treat it, 4 months later. It makes me sad that he is gone. Emily sent news about the boys. If anyone wants to read it, let me know and I will send it to ya, via E...
1. A vulture boards an airplane, carrying two dead raccoons. The stewardess looks at him and says, 'I'm sorry, sir, only one carrion allowed per passenger.' 2. Two fish swim into a concrete wall. One turns to the other and says 'Dam!' 3. Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in the craft. Unsurprisingly it sank, proving once again that you can't have your kayak and heat it too. 4. Two hydrogen atoms meet. One says, 'I've lost my Electron.' The other says 'Are you sure?' The first replies, 'Yes, I'm positive.' 5. Did you hear about the Buddhist who refused Novocain during a root canal? His goal: transcend dental medication. 6. A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel and were standing in the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories. After about an hour, the manager came out of the office and asked them to disperse. 'But why?', they asked, as they moved off. 'Because,'...
A new experience at the Groneman home. Last night Brigham & Christa called up to see if we wanted to play Settlers of Catan with them. Sure. http://games.asobrain.com/ It took yer mom and I a while to catch on to the interface (old dogs, new tricks...you know), but once we did the game proceeded and we had a rousing 4 player game. Marilyn won, but just barely. We were able to chat online during the game right in the interface..it was fun (but we stayed up later than we should have).
Just wanted to show you some of our "winter colors" we are enjoying. yes, the trees are just changing colors (well, some of them). Others are just plain old green like usual. This picture was taken a few days ago when it was "cold" (55 degrees). I usually take the babies around the blog for a walk twice a day or so.