90 minutes left in 2009

It's December 31st. It's 10:28 PM. The roads are filled with ice, snow, and drunk drivers. Web sites and TV shows are filled with Top Ten lists. Will and I just finished killing 2087 zombies in the game "Left 4 Dead 2". The ABC coverage of New Year's at Times Square is filled with a bunch of gag-inducing, masses-pandering, self-fellatio garbage. Sheesh!

As has been the case over the last few days regarding Granny, news only got worse. The radiologist took a better look at her scans and her body is riddled with cancer. It's made its way well past where we initially thought. And the spot on her lungs is many spots. At this point there is no treating it. She is going to have surgery on Saturday to install a colostomy bag. Hopefully she has the strength to make it. At this point we aren't assuming anything.

If she does, and once she is back on her feet, she is heading back home to mom and dad's. They are going to try and get a hospital bed in her room so she can live what time she has in the comfort of her own room. The doctor said that it won't be surprised if she doesn't get out of bed again. He also said that he doesn't have a crystal ball and says that she could last days, weeks, or months.

As for me, I'm doing okay... seriously, I'm okay. I mean, of course, I'm upset. But Granny's health was slowly going downhill. And recently things just nose-dived (nose-dove?). So while I was holding out hope for better news I am not really shocked by any of this. I've lost focus at work a few times and I'm not sleeping too well. The wife and kids see the stress on my face. But deep inside, I know things like this happen. My hope is that she gets to come home and enjoy a little time there before it all ends. I'd like to sit down with her and watch "The Guns of Navarone" or "The Bridge on the River Kwai" one more time.

Granny news is bad

Granny has rectal cancer. "Rectal cancer! Isn't that what killed Farrah Fawcett?" you may ask. Yes, yes it is. The butt-cancer is getting my Granny :(

They are still running tests and taking scans so we don't know how bad and all of that. But based on her white blood cell count the doctor is nearly certain that it is cancer and fairly certain that it is spreading aggressively. If it has reached her liver then the rectal cancer has reached Stage 4. I probably don't have to bother to mention that there isn't a Stage 5 :(

I'm going to cut out after work (hell, I don't think I'll last much longer than "after lunch") and go see her. I know a lot but don't have many details. So I can't say more for certain without talking to mom or surgeons or doctors.

I guess the best case scenario, at this point, is that Granny is able to live pain-free for as long as possible - whether it will be in a home or at home with my mom and dad has not been determined yet. Worst case... well, everything and anything besides what I just said was the best case.

Sick Granny, Sick Laptop, Sick iPhone, Sick AC Adapter... ARGH!

I've just about had it with computer problems in my house. Kelsey got a super-nasty virus and I've been battling it since the week before she went back to her dad's. I'm about to throw in the towel and post up a cry for help on one of the many tech forums I have visited in my quest to rid her computer of this problem. Will's AC adapter for his iBook is dead. I've had that laptop for nearly five years and never had an issue. He has it for less than five weeks and it's already in need of repair. Thankfully, the problem is just the cable/cord/plug and is a somewhat inexpensive fix. Hopefully Will has learned his lesson and will no longer use the power cord as a jump rope. Lastly, Will's iPhone was acting up the a few days after he got it. I deleted his non-core apps and that fixed it. At least that problem was simple.

More importantly, Granny is still in the hospital. She tested negative for CDiff and that's awesome news. Her blood count is still low and her body is fighting some sort of infection. And there is still blood in her stool. She is getting scoped at both ends tomorrow so we should know something very, very soon.

The best case scenario is this: She gets better, goes to a home of some type, falls in love with it, and lives the rest of her days happy and healthy. Worst case scenario... well, if she has something terminal and the prognosis is nothing more than a few weeks - that would be very, very bad.

Keep your fingers crossed (for Granny and for Kelsey's laptop)!

Granny is in the hospital

Granny had another accident this morning. She made a mess in the bed and on the floor. Mom was cleaning it up while Dad's friend was over. Afterwards, Granny fell again. This time mom and dad called the ambulance and had her taken to the hospital. My mom's sisters came over immediately (hell, my aunt from Shelbyville beat the ambulance to their house). Jooj and I waited until some of the dust settled and headed over there before and after dinner. She was doped up on morphine and didn't look good. I woke her up with a kiss to the forehead and she told me that my hair looked nice :)

Soooo, I suppose that Granny will be placed in a home after all of this is over. A social worker is coming to discuss options with the sisters later. RIght now, we have to get Granny back on her feet. She is suffering from anemia and also suffered a compression fracture in her back after a fall last week. She didn't let anyone know that she was in pain, that sly fox. They are readying a blood transfusion for her in case her blood count dips any lower. They have also found blood in her stool. We don't know what that means yet but that fact is fueling mom's suspicions that Granny is suffering from colon cancer and has been for some time. I sure hope not. Her legs and feet are swollen from congenital heart failure... her poor legs are actually seeping fluid.

I know that everyone needed to get their rest and had to go to their respective homes tonight to sleep. But I just hate the thought of Granny spending the night in the hospital without anyone there with her. I can't imagine how scared she might be, with her mental state that it already is in coupled with the fact that she's been doped up all day, if she were to wake up and not realize where she is. I feel so guilty that I'm not doing more for her. It's eating me up.

Christmas, Round 5

Christmas is done. Phase 1 was Sunday at mom and dad's. Phase 2 was Christmas Eve morning with the kids. Everyone had a good one. I got some Star Wars Galactic Heroes Cinema Scenes, a lamp, and the new Lily Allen CD. Phase 3 continued Christmas Eve at Mimi and Poppy's. It was frenzy of yule tide merriment. Phase 4 was lunch at mom's with her side of the family. Granny had some more "trouble" but Georgia scored a few bonus points by rushing over and taking care of the problem. We cut out and Jooj squeezed in a nap before Phase 5 at her aunt Jeanie's. We just got back and it was a blast. My feet are killing me and I have a bloated stomach from all the food and Guiness. Delicious!

I love this time of year.

Christmas, Round 1

We celebrated Christmas today at Mom and Dad's. Melisss and her fam were there along with my fam. We opened gifts first. It was Luke's first Christmas and Emma's first where she kind of knew what was going on (but still kind of freaked out by all of the hoopla). Jooj and I both got gift cards for Home Depot (a gas-powered blower and gas-powered edger are as good as ours). Kelsey got a drawing tablet for her computer and a set of specialty markers that she's wanted. Will got two Wii games as well as the two seasons of the Clone Wars (the Genndy Tartakovsky ones that kicked all kinds of ass). Emma and Luke loaded up. Mom got her baseball ticket thing that will let her watch as much baseball as she can possibly fit in. Dad got a new flag, the new AC/DC CD, and a gift card for Ear X-tacy. It was a good haul overall.

But this Christmas had a bittersweet tone to it. Granny's health has been in an accelerating decline and it is pretty evident that this will be the last Christmas with her. I hear stories from Mom and Dad how this or that and it makes me sad. Today I was around for several instances of the evidence that she is really losing it. It was sad. I just hope that my mind and body go at the same time. I'm not scared of death - and I haven't been for some time - but I *am* scared of living life well past my time. I don't wish Granny to not be with us... I just wish the situation were better.

I love you Granny!!!

The big announcement (UPDATED)

Spike TV's Video Game Awards show is in 1 hour. I normally wouldn't care. I mean, I'd watch it if I thought about it and nothing else was going on. But tonight, I'm going to be glued to it. Why? I'm glad you asked (er, rather, I'm glad I postulated the question in my monologue).

Tonight LucasArts is going to announce the next Star Wars video game title. Well, more importantly, they are going to announce what the next game is going to be. There is heavy speculation that the game will be called "Star Wars: Legends" already, based on patent and copyright papers filed some time ago. But what is unclear, and the object of my interest, is what kind of game it will be.

Will and I both love the Star Wars: Battlefront game series. I don't know how many, but I do know that he and I have logged some *serious* time playing each of the first two - even before Jooj and I met I had put in some heavy-duty time. So we both have our fingers crossed for that.

Some have suggested a new X-wing game. Or maybe a new TIE fighter game. Maybe it will be a sequel to the popular Force Unleashed game. Who knows? (well, I mean, besides the whole world in an hour and some change)

UPDATE: The game will be Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 2. Hmm... weak. The trailer was kind of cool. But I didn't play the first. Will blew through it. It looked like a button-masher. Will and I are both disappointed but we'll survive.

Mostly better... (and Secret Santa)

Sheesh, I'm doing my best to beat back this illness but I am still struggling with lingering effects. I'm still light-headed and I still don't feel my energy level has returned to normal. I have the company holiday cocktail party tonight and have been looking forward to it but I'm totally rethinking whether or not I should imbibe any drinkies.

I signed up for Secret Santa at work. I filled out my form and turned it in. Then I went back downstairs and rummaged through the "hat". I picked my own name! Teehee! I put it back, rifled through the group, and pulled another name. I picked myself again!!! What are the odds? Finally, on my third attempt, I picked... the CEO! D'oh!

Still sick (you will be missed, Rhonda)

Man, I'm having trouble shaking this illness. Hopefully, I'll get a good night sleep (after watching the Vikings win, of course) and knock the crap out of whatever is left of this nasty bug.

Due to my illness I was unable to pay my respects to Rhonda O'neil. She was Ross' mom and a fellow room parent with me this year and last. She passed away Wednesday morning after battling complications after going to the hospital for a separated shoulder. I don't even know what got her - I've heard H1N1 as well as staff infection so I don't really know. All I do know is that she was a force to be reckoned with when it came to pleasing those kids and she will be dearly missed. I only wish the best after such a terrible tragedy for her family.

St. Nick Ultimate Fighter Marathon

The morning started off with a bang. It's St. Nick day. Or whatever... the wife and kids convinced me that they got to open a Christmas gift. Sure, whatever :) Kels got a pair of boots that she's wanted. Will opened his big gift (big as in "size") and got a very large critter cage. We set it up and had a great time. But then I ran out of gas and realized that I'm still sick.

So I took my place on the couch and cozied up with the Ultimate Fighter Season 10 marathon. I've watched the entire season today. And you are not going to believe this, but Jooj has been watching about the last 6 hours with me. Fancy that :)

I hope I start feeling better soon. I need to go back to work on Monday. Mom called today and said that dad is still sick. Sheesh, we need to stop hanging around Melissa's kiddos and cross-contanimating each other :D

Sick

I"m sick. I was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection. I think that's doctor-speak for "sick".

I want to type more but I'm tired. I'll give my account of my recent "adventure" with the GE charcoal filter once the saga concludes. And I will also dedicate an upcoming post to the memory of Rhonda O'neil.