Today was our big trip to see the Neurologist. Prior to the doctor's appointment, Carol took a nice long (45 minute) walk with our neighbor and good friend Gina. Carol's strength continues to improve daily. Her memory also seems to be getting better now. She has been eating and sleeping well and seems very much at ease with her recovery.
The doctor was also pleased with Carol's progress. He will be taking her off one of her two seizure medicines next week and indicated that he will evaluate the possibility of reducing further her medication at her next appointment in three months. Our hope is that she can discontinue all meds within a year. The doctor further indicated that Carol can return to work within three weeks and begin driving in three months assuming no setbacks in her recovery.
In the past few days, Carol has ventured out to wander through a few stores. Her ability to purchase has not been adversely impacted by the seizures. We have been to Harris Teeter, Target and WalMart, and her next project is to purchase some new clothes at Talbots! It's obvious that she is feeling better. You may see her out on the town before too much longer.
Our family has been blessed with much love and support in the past three weeks. We have a new appreciation for the power of prayer and the importance of friends. We are confident that Carol's condition will continue to improve in the weeks to come, and I will continue to update her progress and even offer a few ramblings of my own here in the Blue Skies blog.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Wed (1/23) Update
Carol went visiting today! She made the short journey across the street to have lunch and visit with some of our neighbors. It was good for her to get out of the house and enjoy some fresh air and the company of good friends.
Her condition continues to improve and her stamina is getting better day by day. She still needs lots of rest, but she is in good spirits. Her memory seems to be improving ever so slightly. We have a doctor's appointment next Monday and hope to learn more about her long term prognosis.
Carol's appetite has certainly not suffered as a result of her illness! She is eating well and enjoying all the wonderful food provided by neighbors and friends. Support from our church, Fellowship Presbyterian, continues to pour in. We are grateful for all the prayers and offers of assistance.
There is another groups of folks whom I would like to thank for all their help. Paramedics from Guilford County EMS and the doctors, nurses and staff at the Moses Cone Health System provided Carol with prompt and compassionate treatment. We are very fortunate here in Greensboro to have such well trained and caring medical professionals.
Once again, we would like to express our sincerest appreciation for all the prayers and support!
Her condition continues to improve and her stamina is getting better day by day. She still needs lots of rest, but she is in good spirits. Her memory seems to be improving ever so slightly. We have a doctor's appointment next Monday and hope to learn more about her long term prognosis.
Carol's appetite has certainly not suffered as a result of her illness! She is eating well and enjoying all the wonderful food provided by neighbors and friends. Support from our church, Fellowship Presbyterian, continues to pour in. We are grateful for all the prayers and offers of assistance.
There is another groups of folks whom I would like to thank for all their help. Paramedics from Guilford County EMS and the doctors, nurses and staff at the Moses Cone Health System provided Carol with prompt and compassionate treatment. We are very fortunate here in Greensboro to have such well trained and caring medical professionals.
Once again, we would like to express our sincerest appreciation for all the prayers and support!
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Sun (1/20) Update
Good Sunday Evening!
Carol made a trip out today with the family to pick up dinner from a local pizzeria... she has been wanting a slice of pizza for a few days. Her condition continues to improve. She is now able to accept brief phone calls and visits. She still tires easily, so we ask that you limit conversations and visits to no more than 20 minutes. She generally naps for a couple of hours in the afternoon as well. Please call us before you stop by to make sure that she is up for visitors.
Carol's memory is still a bit cloudy, so if you speak to her or see her, please understand that she may not remember exactly who you are or be able to recall specific occasions. Do not hesitate, however, to remind her of people, places or events. This helps her to build her memory back up. Her spirits are good and she continues to regain her strength. We are optimistic that her memory will improve with time.
We appreciate your continued thoughts and prayers!
Carol made a trip out today with the family to pick up dinner from a local pizzeria... she has been wanting a slice of pizza for a few days. Her condition continues to improve. She is now able to accept brief phone calls and visits. She still tires easily, so we ask that you limit conversations and visits to no more than 20 minutes. She generally naps for a couple of hours in the afternoon as well. Please call us before you stop by to make sure that she is up for visitors.
Carol's memory is still a bit cloudy, so if you speak to her or see her, please understand that she may not remember exactly who you are or be able to recall specific occasions. Do not hesitate, however, to remind her of people, places or events. This helps her to build her memory back up. Her spirits are good and she continues to regain her strength. We are optimistic that her memory will improve with time.
We appreciate your continued thoughts and prayers!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
A nice, warm cup of coffee...
Carol and the kids enjoyed the trace amount of snow we had today (Thursday). While she didn't go out to play, she made the kids some hot chocolate and assured they were dressed warmly. Carol's condition continues to improve daily and we are pleased with her progress. Thanks for the continued prayers!
On a cold and snowy day, it's nice to have a warm up of coffee. A friend of mine, Greensboro Firefighter Jimmy Clark, sent this to me. I believe that it is very appropriate and worth sharing:
You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again...
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as though just as one problem was solved, a new one arose.
Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners.
She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what you see."
"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.
Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did, and noted that they were soft.
The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.
Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee.
The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently.
The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.
The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.
The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.
Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?"
Think of this: Which am I?
Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?
Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart?
Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level?
How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?
Please read this its worth it!
The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.
When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.
You might want to share this message to those people who mean something to you (I JUST DID); to those who have touched your life in one way or another; to those who make you smile when you really need it; to those who make you see the brighter side of things when you are really down; to those whose friendship you appreciate; to those who are so meaningful in your life.
If you don't share it, you will just miss out on the opportunity to brighten someone's day with this message!
It's easier to build a child than to repair an adult...
This is so true - May we all be COFFEE
We are each the Love of someone else's life...
On a cold and snowy day, it's nice to have a warm up of coffee. A friend of mine, Greensboro Firefighter Jimmy Clark, sent this to me. I believe that it is very appropriate and worth sharing:
You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again...
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as though just as one problem was solved, a new one arose.
Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners.
She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what you see."
"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.
Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did, and noted that they were soft.
The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.
Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee.
The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently.
The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.
The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.
The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.
Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?"
Think of this: Which am I?
Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?
Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart?
Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level?
How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?
Please read this its worth it!
The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.
When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.
You might want to share this message to those people who mean something to you (I JUST DID); to those who have touched your life in one way or another; to those who make you smile when you really need it; to those who make you see the brighter side of things when you are really down; to those whose friendship you appreciate; to those who are so meaningful in your life.
If you don't share it, you will just miss out on the opportunity to brighten someone's day with this message!
It's easier to build a child than to repair an adult...
This is so true - May we all be COFFEE
We are each the Love of someone else's life...
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Wed (1/16) Update
Good Evening!
Just a quick update tonight... Carol is again in good spirits today and continues to make steady progress and regain her strength. There have been no changes in her recovery and we are optimistic that she is progressing well.
With three kids, our attention has turned a bit towards the impending winter weather event that is forecast to bring us some snow followed by a mixed bag of wintry precipitation. All the action should begin overnight, and I expect that we will wake to find schools closed and a coating of snow on the ground. Will it be enough for sledding? We're not sure yet but at least we have the sleds ready to go and plenty of hot chocolate!
Just a quick update tonight... Carol is again in good spirits today and continues to make steady progress and regain her strength. There have been no changes in her recovery and we are optimistic that she is progressing well.
With three kids, our attention has turned a bit towards the impending winter weather event that is forecast to bring us some snow followed by a mixed bag of wintry precipitation. All the action should begin overnight, and I expect that we will wake to find schools closed and a coating of snow on the ground. Will it be enough for sledding? We're not sure yet but at least we have the sleds ready to go and plenty of hot chocolate!
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Tue (1/15) Update
Carol continues to make slow but steady progress. Last night she went for another back yard walkabout, she ate well and slept through the night. She is resting often but still tires easily. She is in good spirits and is enjoying her time with the family. Her memory continues to be problematic and we have not seen any significant improve there yet. But as long as her health and strength continue to improve, we are confident that her memory will soon follow.
I took Carol for a ride in the car this morning while dropping the kids off at school. She enjoyed the change in scenery and fresh air. For lunch, I picked up a bean burrito and a taco from Taco Bell (at her request). She chased the food down with her favorite soft drink, Dr. Pepper. She watched some TV then headed up for her afternoon nap.
Since last Wednesday, Carol had been experiencing some pre-seizure activity including nausea and numbness in her extremities on the left side. In the past few days, this activity has diminished considerably and we are now confident that the anti-seizure medicine is properly dosed and working effectively. Additionally, her appetite and energy levels continue to increase. This is all very good news.
We have noticed some interesting changes in Carol since her bout with the seizures. All of her senses, and particularly her senses of smell, taste and color vision have become much more sensitive. She commented today just how good her lunch tasted and has been mentioning how colorful certain items now appear to be. She detects odors like candles and sweets at very low thresholds. I am not certain if this will be a permanent change or not. Only time will tell.
Carol commented on how we are so blessed to have many wonderful friends and she wanted to make sure that everyone knows how appreciative we are for all the prayers and offers for assistance we have been receiving. She is still amazed how all this has so suddenly come about. We clearly do not have many answers at this point, but we are grateful for the outpouring of support.
More good news to come soon so stay tuned! :)
I took Carol for a ride in the car this morning while dropping the kids off at school. She enjoyed the change in scenery and fresh air. For lunch, I picked up a bean burrito and a taco from Taco Bell (at her request). She chased the food down with her favorite soft drink, Dr. Pepper. She watched some TV then headed up for her afternoon nap.
Since last Wednesday, Carol had been experiencing some pre-seizure activity including nausea and numbness in her extremities on the left side. In the past few days, this activity has diminished considerably and we are now confident that the anti-seizure medicine is properly dosed and working effectively. Additionally, her appetite and energy levels continue to increase. This is all very good news.
We have noticed some interesting changes in Carol since her bout with the seizures. All of her senses, and particularly her senses of smell, taste and color vision have become much more sensitive. She commented today just how good her lunch tasted and has been mentioning how colorful certain items now appear to be. She detects odors like candles and sweets at very low thresholds. I am not certain if this will be a permanent change or not. Only time will tell.
Carol commented on how we are so blessed to have many wonderful friends and she wanted to make sure that everyone knows how appreciative we are for all the prayers and offers for assistance we have been receiving. She is still amazed how all this has so suddenly come about. We clearly do not have many answers at this point, but we are grateful for the outpouring of support.
More good news to come soon so stay tuned! :)
Monday, January 14, 2008
Mon (1/14) Update
Good Monday Afternoon!
Carol is feeling even better today. She was able to walk around the back yard for a few minutes last night and get some fresh air. She slept well and woke up ready to eat! After breakfast, she navigated into the shower, so now she is ready for lunch and then her afternoon nap. She has much more energy today, but her memory is still a little slow to come back. She continues to be in good spirits.
Carol is progressing well but is not quite ready for phone calls or visits just yet. I will be home with her for the next several days. Our neighbors have been helping out by staying with her from time to time so that I can get a little work done. We have had many offers of assistance... all of which have been sincerely appreciated.
The kids and I are managing well. We have plenty of food to eat. All three kids have been helping out with chores and taking good care of their mother. The kitchen is clean (relatively speaking, of course) and we all have clean clothes to wear! :) We all thank you for your healing prayers.
Stay tuned for more updates...
Carol is feeling even better today. She was able to walk around the back yard for a few minutes last night and get some fresh air. She slept well and woke up ready to eat! After breakfast, she navigated into the shower, so now she is ready for lunch and then her afternoon nap. She has much more energy today, but her memory is still a little slow to come back. She continues to be in good spirits.
Carol is progressing well but is not quite ready for phone calls or visits just yet. I will be home with her for the next several days. Our neighbors have been helping out by staying with her from time to time so that I can get a little work done. We have had many offers of assistance... all of which have been sincerely appreciated.
The kids and I are managing well. We have plenty of food to eat. All three kids have been helping out with chores and taking good care of their mother. The kitchen is clean (relatively speaking, of course) and we all have clean clothes to wear! :) We all thank you for your healing prayers.
Stay tuned for more updates...
Sunday, January 13, 2008
What happened to Carol?
On Friday morning, January 4 at 1:39 a.m. Carol had her first of six seizures. She was rushed to Cone Hospital where she was admitted to the Neuro ICU. Her condition was stabilized and she remained in ICU for 3 days before being transferred to a general room. For those of you who know Carol well, once she work up, she was ready to go home. She was discharged on Monday afternoon (just in time for her birthday party on Tuesday) only to find herself back in the Emergency Room on Wednesday (Jan 9) with two more seizures. As of today (Sun Jan 13), she is resting at home and has not has any additional seizures.
So what happened to Carol?
The doctors believe that she had a form of viral encephalitis. This caused swelling and damage to a part of the brain which then produced the seizures. The doctors have not found any indications of a specific virus nor do they have any idea of the potential damage, but they are optimistic that Carol's outcome will be favorable. She is currently taking anti-seizure medication and on bed rest. The doctors found that the amount of medication was initially not sufficient and that the deficit caused the second round of seizures. We have scheduled follow up visits in the coming weeks.
Carol is in relatively good spirits but is weak and suffers from memory loss. She is able to move about the house with assistance and in the past two days has eaten well. The kids have been great and really helped out around the house. Family and friends have come to our rescue, providing a variety of assistance including (but not limited to) food, companionship, cards, flowers, child care, and most importantly, prayers of healing. Our Pastor and members of our church, Fellowship Presbyterian, have been there for us every moment.
The are no words to express our appreciation for all that has been done for us. We could not have made it this far without the love and support of everyone. We continue to rely on our extended family and the power of God to help us through. Please continue to pray for Carol's speedy recovery. I will continue to provide updates on Carol's condition as often as possible.
Steve
So what happened to Carol?
The doctors believe that she had a form of viral encephalitis. This caused swelling and damage to a part of the brain which then produced the seizures. The doctors have not found any indications of a specific virus nor do they have any idea of the potential damage, but they are optimistic that Carol's outcome will be favorable. She is currently taking anti-seizure medication and on bed rest. The doctors found that the amount of medication was initially not sufficient and that the deficit caused the second round of seizures. We have scheduled follow up visits in the coming weeks.
Carol is in relatively good spirits but is weak and suffers from memory loss. She is able to move about the house with assistance and in the past two days has eaten well. The kids have been great and really helped out around the house. Family and friends have come to our rescue, providing a variety of assistance including (but not limited to) food, companionship, cards, flowers, child care, and most importantly, prayers of healing. Our Pastor and members of our church, Fellowship Presbyterian, have been there for us every moment.
The are no words to express our appreciation for all that has been done for us. We could not have made it this far without the love and support of everyone. We continue to rely on our extended family and the power of God to help us through. Please continue to pray for Carol's speedy recovery. I will continue to provide updates on Carol's condition as often as possible.
Steve
Welcome to Blue Skies
Hello and welcome to my blog spot entitled Blue Skies. I will be using this space to share my stories and keep folks updated on the happenings of my family. As many of you know, Carol has been quite ill lately. I will be posting updates here so that everyone can follow along in her recovery. Thanks for all the prayers and offers of assistance.
Steve
Steve
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