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Hey guys! Well, it has officially been a week since Nonie left us and besides the crazy weekend I spent in Decatur, it has been relatively calm. We did have one interesting thing happen though! On Sunday, we were all following each other to Oneonta from Decatur. Well, Linda (my Dad's sister) and Charlie (her 11 y.o. son) were riding together in the 4th vehicle. We get about half way to Oneonta and my Dad's phone rings and Charlie says that we need to pull over. My Dad tells Charlie that there is a gas station about 5 minutes down the road and asks if he can wait until then. Charlie says that his Mom says that we need to pull over right then. So we all pull over and Kev and I wait in the backseat of the car. All of a sudden we see everyone flying out of their cars and running back toward Linda's car. Then we see Linda being assisted (read: almost carried) to her my Mom's car. She can barely walk, her face is all red and swollen up and her tounge is about 4xs it's normal size. Kev and I get out and go back to check on her and find out that she had been stung by a wasp and was having an allergic reaction to the sting. At this point we call 911 and wait for them to get there. Once they did get there, they gave her a shot of epinephrine and a shot of Benadryl and we continued on our way. Way to knock the edge off of a stressfull situation! I will update more later! Ciao!

Obituary

For anyone who is interested. http://www.legacy.com/decaturdaily/DeathNotices.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=89439556

Arrangements

• Shelton Funeral Home, Decatur, AL
• Saturday June 23, 2007 6:00p - 8:00p - Visitation
• Lemley Funeral Home, Oneonta, AL
• Sunday June 24, 2007 1:00p - 2:00p - Visitation 2:00p - Funeral Graveside service following

Sad News

Well, I have been avoiding a new post like the plague. Nonie made it through all the stuff last week and actually woke up and spoke on Saturday and Sunday. They moved her to the step down unit on Saturday because she was doing so well. On Sunday they became concerned because she wasn't "out putting" what they thought that she should so they ran some tests and told us yesterday that she was in the stages of Renal failure. My parents, Linda and Peepaw stayed with her last night and she made it through the night. My Mom called me a little while ago and said that at last Nonie was at peace. I am flooded with a mixture of sadness and relief. She put up a good fight and in the end, it was her body that just couldn't hold up anymore. It was so difficult to see her suffer for the past few weeks and I know that she was really suffering. I am glad that all of that is over but I am profoundly sad because there was so much left for her to do. I don't know any of the arrangements yet, but when I do, I will post them. I ask that you keep my family in your prayers. Ciao!

Latest Update

Well, I don't know how long (or coherent) this post will be, but I will do my best! I will take you through it by days, I think that will be easier. MONDAY

• My dad called and said that Nonie is not doing well. They had called them at home at 1am and told them to get to the hospital. When they got there, they were told that her lungs were full of fluid and that the best way to get it out is a vent. However, her lungs are so bad that if they put her on a vent, she will NEVER come off. Nonie has a living will so that was not an option. They decided to try some meds to see if it could be controlled that way.
• He was having Mark (his youngest brother) fly into Bham and asked if Kev and I could go pick him up. I called Kevin, he threw some stuff in a bag, packed up the pups and I took of 30 mins early (to beat the traffic) and drove home, picked him and the girls up and we drove to the airport to get Mark.
• We got to the hospital in time for the 8pm visitation. Nonie was not doing well AT ALL. She was very agitated and was calling for her mother (who died when my dad was a kid)

TUESDAY

• We got up and went to the hospital for the 10am visitation. By this point, Hobie (my Dad's older brother) was here after driving up from Ft. Lauderdale. They went in at 10 and said that Nonie was resting a little better and that the fluid was almost all cleared out. At this point, they said that they didn't know what would happen. It is a waiting game.
• We continue with the visitations at 12p and 2p and then just before the 4p visitation, the Dr. tells us that the Carbon Dioxide is not leaving her body because she doesn't have the strength to push it out. The only way to get rid of it, is to do a Vent, we already knew that we weren't going to do this. He says that she will probably not make it through the night, but definitely not through tomorrow.
• Dr. stated that she is sleeping because she can't wake up (kinda like a coma, but not one) and that eventually, she will just pass away because of the build up of CO2 in her system. At this point, she hasn't opened her eyes all day.
• Dr. does tell us that he had a conversation with her the night before and she told him that she was ready to go, but that she was worried about all of us.
• At the 4pm visitation, I decided that I wanted to go see her (I had not gone up until this point because I didn't want to see her like that. If something happened, I didn't want my last memory of her to be like that).
• I go in to see her and hold her hand and I said "Hey Nonie, it is Lauren" at this point she opens her eyes and looks at me and smiles. I told her that I was very proud of her for fighting so hard and that I loved her and that I knew that she was tired. I told her that we will all miss her but that we will be fine. I told her to go ahead, when she is ready and to go. I kissed her head and hand and left.
• The priest and a nun come in and do Last Rites and we all turn it over to God, to do what is best.
• We decided that since there will be a lot of sitting and waiting and who knows when she will actually go, that Kev and I would go back to Bham and they will keep us updated by phone. I was supposed to be in Decatur this weekend anyway and had already taken Friday off, so I would just come back up then.

WEDNESDAY

• Nonie makes it through the night.
• I was back at work. It was actually a pretty good thing because it kept my mind off of what was going on.
• Around lunch, the Dr. says that he wants to try something else to help make her more comfortable, because she is really struggling to breathe. They put her on BPAP (I don't know what it stands for, but it is like CPAP but somehow different). This helps in her breathing and she doesn't struggle for breath like she was. They said that it might help rid her body of CO2, but we won't know if it is working until tomorrow.
• She still doesn't wake up, but she is sleeping peacefully.
• Nonie (being the fighter that she is) makes it through the day.

THURSDAY

• As of this AM (around 7) her CO2 levels are the same, no better, no worse.
• We are still in a holding pattern, if she does make it through (by some miracle) it will only be a matter of time because who knows what kind of damage her organs have sustained from the high CO2 levels. Also, they recently found evidence of the cancer in her abdominal area so the chances of her long term survival are 0(she can't handle any more chemo) so it is just a time game.
• So, here we are, just waiting, not knowing.

I am going home tomorrow, recital is this weekend, which I am supposed to be dancing in. Who knows though. If she is still hanging on, I will dance, if not, I won't. We will see I guess.

I will say it again, ALL prayers are greatly appreciated. I know it sounds bad, but I just don't want all the suffering for her! If it is His will that she make it through this, pray that that happen soon and if not, pray for her passing in a peaceful manner. We just don't want her suffering any more. Thanks for all the words of encouragement guys! I can't express to you how much it means to me!

Ciao!

Update

Well, last week was a week of VERY mixed emotions. I will start with the good first. It was my Birthday week last week and I had a GREAT birthday thanks to my fan-tabulous hubby! He got me an Ipod Shuffle, which I have been enjoying all weekend. He also got me this cool portable hammock that has speakers in it so that I can plug my Ipod into it and relax to cool music. It is AWESOME! We went to dinner on Friday night with Kev's family at Longhorn. It was delicious and we had a great time (once we actually got to eat, our 15-20 minute wait was actually a 2 hour wait...I was REALLY frustrated to say the least!) Then, Saturday night, we went out with some friends of ours to Stix (one of my favorite restaurants!) I have pictures that I will post at a later date! Now for the not so great. Nonie had her first chemo treatment about a week and a half ago and wow, it has really knocked her back! Well, she was really not handling it well so they took her to the hospital on Monday and they admitted her just to make sure that she stays hydrated and to try to get her back on track. Well, Friday night, they put her in ICU because she has pneumonia. Kevin and I were in Decatur yesterday and we went to go see her and they cancelled visiting hours so we didn't get to go in and see her. Well, I spoke with my Dad this morning and he said that they called them all in at like 1 am and said that she has taken a turn for the worse. Her lungs are filled with fluid and she is really struggling to breathe. They are trying a few alternatives but it looks as if, at some point, they are going to have to put her on a ventilator. Normally, this is just a temporary fix but with her, since her lungs are so bad, she will probably have trouble coming off of it. It is hard for someone with full lung capacity let alone, someone with lungs that are in such bad shape. I think everyone is really struggling with what to do. I am really sad and emotional and am really having trouble. I know that she can pull through, but it is going to be really hard. If you guys think about it, please say a prayer for her and for our family. We know that God is good and we are looking forward to seeing the miracles he has in store for our family. Ciao!

10 on Tuesday

• I haven't done a 10 on Tuesday in a while, so here goes!
• As previously disclosed, it is my birthday week...yay for birthdays!
• I just sent Kevin a "Honey-Do" list. Hey, he asked me to email him a list of things that need to be done..."ask and ye shall receive!" I don't think that he was expecting me to actually have a list prepared so quickly ;)
• There are LOTS of babies here lately. January: Jay and Bryce, February: Madison, March: Ava, May: Dash, June: Abbigail (Due 6/7)....the list goes on and on! The only months that aren't occupied are October and April...WOW people...good grief!
• We are going to go out to dinner with Kev's family for my Birthday on Friday. It will be fun! Eating with a 4 year old and a 1 1/2 year old is ALWAYS an adventure.
• We are going to dinner with a LOT of our friends on Saturday for my Birthday. I am SOOOO excited...we are going to Stix, one of my favorites! I can't help it, the onion volcano gets me everytime!
• I am dancing in the dance recital of my old studio next weekend. It is the 30th anniversary of the studio and I am dancing in the Alumni dance. I am really excited!
• I started my second semester of classes for grad school last night. I am pumped that at this time next year, it will be my LAST semester! Makes the end so much more attainable now that I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. (I am NOT, however, excited about taking Finance this semester...not my idea of a fun class!)
• Nonie had her first chemo treatment last Thursday and it has really knocked her back. I know that she is a strong lady, but it is just really hard to see her like that! I am SO thankful though that we live in a time where these drugs are available. I know that God has a plan!
• Kevin and I are going to the beach in September. I am beyond excited! I am SO ready for some beach lounging time!
• I worked in our flowerbeds this weekend and on our entryway flowers. It looks SOOOO good, I will have to take pics and post them! I just LOVE our house and I am excited for all the good times that Kevin and I have yet to experiance together while we live there!

**Well, that is my 10 on Tuesday! Hope everyone has a great week! **Ciao!

Update with Pics!

OK, so this post is a week late, but whatever. We spent Memorial Day shoveling rocks at Kevin's parent's house (As in over 1 ton of it!). Then we hung out with the rest of Kevin's family and watched Davis and Brock play in the pool. After all this excitement, Kev and I were EXHAUSTED, but it was great spending time with our family. This week is the week of my birthday. Yes, I know that I said that this week is my birthday. I have decided that instead of celebrating for one day, I am going to celebrate for the whole week. My Dad likes to point out that it was this way since the day I was born since I was born the day Mt. Saint Helens erupted and it has been spewing ash and rumbling for a week. Historically, I am a all week kind of girl. I am very excited! Well, enough of my jabbering for now! Have a great week!