First of all, click on the link of Amazing Grace to your right- you won't be sorry! 

Secondly, its just a regular Monday here in Hawaii- the kids went to school. Vangie and I went for a run. I cleaned up our apartment- 9 days until our move!  And then picked the kids back up- they did their homework, we ate dinner and now they are playing. I heard from Chris on his submarine and he is doing fine- he is working, eating and sleeping- in that order!

Today was "The best day ever" as said by Mr. Joseph. After church and the girls napping, we went to the North Shore- to "Turtle Beach"- My wonderful friend Jen (Thanks Jen!) went with us- without her I would not attempt all these trips- she is so much fun to take and gives me the confidence to make new trips around the island.

The news had said there were 15ft waves along the North Shore- and after seeing them I would agree with that! They don't look that big when you see the waves way out in the ocean, but some were pretty large at the shore line. When we first got there we walked down the shore line to look for the sea turtles. Sometimes they come up and sunbathe on the beach but today we could see their outline and shadows in the surf. That was very cool. 

Joey and I went into the water- I make sure to hang onto this hand the whole time- there were a couple times when we were TAKEN OUT by a massive wave- like washed onto the ground, drug across the sand and not sure which way is up- we were taken out! Joey almost lost his swim trunks! I was laughing harder than I have in a LONG, long time and it felt really good.  Jen was holding onto Sophies hand further up on the beach and Sophie got knocked down by a wave too- she was coveredin sand and sea water. But it was okay- we wiped off and sat on our towels in the nice warm sun. The kids ate some snacks. Joey was very upset that he was covered in sand and could not wash off immediately, like RIGHT NOW. (That is his OCD coming through) I assured him that he would soon be dry and then the sand would just brush off! He was not happy with this answer but he did survive.  We went into the water one more time and then drove home- a wonderful Hawaiian afternoon.  NEW PICS POSTED ON NEW PICS PAGE.

Yesterday I took the kids to the pool to cool off- I was seriously sitting down and SWEATING in our apartment.  The pool was nice and cool. We also really like the hot tub. We get in the pool, then hot-tub, then pool- its quite relaxing. Joey and Sophia can swim like little fishes. They put the goggles on and Jump it! They burn of tons of energy. Even Vangie-pants  zooms around and around in her little tube, its quite hilarious.

Then last night I took the kids to Blockbuster and picked out a movie for us to watch. - and this is something that I NEVER do. I am not fond of Blockbuster because 1) its usually crowded, 2) the kids grad any movie they see and want to get it! (Texas Chainsaw Massacre?? I don't think so, Sophie.... and 3) its EXPENSIVE! 6$ for a CARTOON??? But I did it because the kids think its sooooo fun, and its gives us something we can all do together on a Friday night. It was quite a feat picking one that A) Was Child friendly and B) Didn't make me want to poke my eyeballs out. We found a cartoon we had yet to see, so it was a good night.

This morning my Church is having a Brunch to honor military women and wives. I am going because.... childcare is provided! BAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I love, love, LOVE my church and their childcare services. Its from 10am-1pm and I am supposed to send the kids with a packed lunch. No problem!  This afternoon we will drive to the base and watch a movie at the base theater. I don't think I can stand to sit in this sweltering apartment all afternoon!

I got an email from Chris this morning. He is alive and doing well. He says he is really learning a lot and staying positive and smiling all the time. lol.  He says things there will get more in a routine and then hopefully time will go by faster for him.

Things are good here. Joey and Sophie are in school and Vangie and I are planning a trip to Costco with my friend Jen. I am told its the place to be!  Lots of deals..... hopefully I find some today.

This morning I drove the 40 min to the kids school (usually its only a 20 min drive, but in the  morning there is traffic...) and dropped the kids off. Then Vangie and I ran for an hour- I like to run around where the kids school is because its easier to run and there are neighborhoods with hardly any traffic. Then we drove home (60 min total driving time) Vangie and I were supposed to have a play-date with my friend Kristen at noon, but at around 1030 I got a phone call from the kids school that Sophia had vomited in class! Oh No!

Vangie and I got back into the van and drove to get Sophia.1hr. 30min TDD (total daily driving) Sophia was in the nurses office holding a puke bucket when Vangie and I arrived. The nurse asked me if Sophia had breakfast "She says she didn't have any breakfast today, mom, did she eat breakfast?"
What? Of COURSE sher eats breakfast!!! Do you think I just got my parenting liscence yesterday?? I remember Joey telling a fib about the same thing when HE was in kindergarten! (he did it so he could eat breakfast at school!) Nothing irritates me more!! 

Sophia, Vangie and I drove back home (1 hour 50min TDD ) We ate lunch at home and Vangie proceeded to POOP HERSELF AGAIN! so she has gotten her mini-DVD player taken away AND she is wearing a pull-up like a baby. I think I will get her real diapers, she is intentionally pooping and should be in a diaper, if she is going to act like a baby then she can wear a diaper like one! 

We ate lunch and will leave here in about 30 min to get Joey from school- which will put my total drive time for the day at 2 hours and 30 min, whew! AND I need to fill up with gas AGAIN! We burn through so much gas driving up and over the mountain everyday! We will save so much time and money when we move into our house! (2 more weeks!)

Yesterday I had an EGD at the hospital to check for pre-cancerous anything and test for food allergies. When I original made my appt I thought Chris would still be here to watch the kids and drive me there, but he was NOT, so I had to count on some friends- My friend Jen watched Vangie-- and Vangie had such a good time. when I got her home yesterday afternoon she crashed and slept for 2 hours!  My friend Stacey took time out of her  busy schedule as a neurosurgeon to drive me to my apt and take me home. THANKS LADIES! One of the great things about Military women is our ability to count on one another.  I am so glad to have yesterday behind me. Everything went fine- I won't know any results for 2 weeks. I had a horrible headache all afternoon from the medicine they gave me for the sedation. The kids and I were in bed at 7:30pm.

I promised the kids I would take them to the pool this afternoon- Sophia seems much better now that she is home. She had some rice for lunch (yes, I feed my kids lunch.) and Has been playing with play-dough and making Chris some presents to give him when he gets home. 

We drove Chris to the airport yesterday so he could start his Navy Adventure! (At least thats what I call it!)  After we left the Airport the kids and I went to the base theater and saw "Aliens in the Attic". It was a fun movie for them and they really enjoyed the popcorn, candy and pop-- I DO let them have junk, just once in a while and not all day, every day!!

After the movie we came home and swam at the pool to cool down for about an hour. There was a woman there with a newborn baby and an 18month old- brought back memories, for sure! I definitely had my kids close together, but I wouldn't have it any other way. They are such good friends and playmates now.

After the pool it was baths, dinner, clean up dinner, brush teeth, vacuum, pick up all the toys strewn all over, take stella out to go potty, start dishwasher, prep coffee pot for the morning (because I NEED coffee right away!)  Oh, and the light in the kitchen- some monster florescent--- decided to burn out the minute Chris left because it knew I would not be able or willing to try to change it!
Then it was bedtime- say our prayers, sing 5 songs, read a bible story--- I let Joey stay up later with me and we watched "Dirty Jobs" together. 

It was hard when I was driving home from the airport. Usually after I would drop Chris off for a deployment I would call my Mom. She would always lift my spirits. We would talk about her next visit---when she was coming, what we would do.... about how the time would fly by, about anything and everything. I still can't believe she is gone. Its like I get a swift kick in the stomach when I think of her. Its not FAIR!  

This morning we are going ot the 8am service- its 6:30am right now. Time for breakfast! I must go, I hear some demands for breakfast!!

My daughter Sophia is a magnet for injury and destruction.  I have realized that God must have a big plan for Sophia-  because she has defied certain destruction many times. In fact , I am beginning to think that she must have 9 lives!! Like a Cat, I guess.

Life 1- Sophia fell 12 feet head first off the Trolley tower at Perkins Pond. She landed on her Belly (thank God) and walked away unscathed, although very scared.

Life 2- Sophia choked on a Weather's Original Hard Candy. She really wanted this candy (she was 3, almost 4 at the time) And I said. "Sophie, be VERY careful when you suck on this, you could choke." Then I walked away to do something- I came back to see my Mom giving Sophie the Heimlich maneuver!! The candy was dislodged and all was well.

Life 3- This past summer Sophie was riding on the paddle boat with Uncle Greggie and 5 other small children. The paddle boat was definitely above the maximum weight capacity- I think with Uncle Greggie alone the boat is above the maximum weight!!  So the boat flipped upside down and every surfaced except Sophie- Even though she had a life jacket on- I sprinted, fully clothed into the pond, lifted the paddle boat to find a wide eyed, half-drowned Sophia.

and Most recently, Life 4- Last night I made the kids a fruit salad with pineapple, strawberries and grapes. Sophie swallowed a grape whole, and it lodged itself into her throat. I heard the most horrific noise and saw a slimy grape fly onto the carpet. Sophie was very shaken up and crying, grabbing her throat. I guess I should make sure to slice all the grapes in half!

Since we are on the subject-

When JOEY was 2 a 9 inch TV and dresser tipped over on him. This resulted in a vomiting spell, a trip to the ER, and a CAT scan. Thankfully all was well. 

JOEY also walked off the edge of the paddle boat which was on the beach into water about 2 feet deep, but he was only 1.5 years old and so he didn't know how to get UP, and Chris had to sprint into the water a retrieve him.- After I screamed at him to do it. Chris is always a little behind the power curve with water rescues involving the children. I WOULD have sprinted in to get Joey, but I was 8 months pregnant at the time.

EVANGELINE choked on a piece of cauliflower driving up HWY 17 from Orlando to Charleston, SC. She was 1.5 years old at the time.  She literally turned BLUE. Chris had to pull over and I had to rip her out of her car seat and pound on her back to dislodge the vegetable.

EVANGELINE- Slipped out of her tube in the pool and Mommy had to Sprint across the pool deck and dive into the water to retrieve Vangie from UNDER the water.

Parenting is NOT for the faint of heart!

When I was gone to Michigan Vangie started pooping herself--- she has been potty trained now for a YEAR! So this was kind of strange. She REFUSES to go potty on the toilet! I have yelled, threatened, taken away her blanket, pleaded and finally just accepted that for some reason she is now NOT going to poop anywhere but her pants. She will pee in the potty- so I know its not the actually TOILET that she is afraid of....  So until she gets past this issue I have stocked up on pull-ups and wet wipes.

Also THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK-YOU Nana and Grandpa for the awesome birthday/Halloween box! The kids had a blast opening their gifts. They love everything. I think the "flash Card" things are the greatest- we have been going through all sorts of trivia questions! As I write this they are all coloring in there new coloring books, so thanks a lot!!

Tonight is our last night with Chris- we take him to the airport tomorrow at around noon. We will hopefully get to wait with him until his plane leaves at 2pm. Then our countdown till his return can begin! He is busy packing up his sea-bag with all his essentials.

Well, first of all I need to start my story by explaining how last weekend Chris and I cleaned out the cupboards- we got rid of all the nasty, sugar junk-food. When I was gone to Michigan a LOT of junk made it into he house. Grandma was here and the kids knew how to get pretty much whatever all the time- nasty fruit snacks, cookies, juice boxes (again, ALL SUGAR,,, and with the dental issues my kids have we do NOT need more sugar!)  all the sugar cereals--- for real, have you even read the INGREDIENTS list on a box of frosted flakes? YEACH! My kids have mood swings and get irritable and I can directly relate it to the amount of junk they consume.

When Grandma was here the lunches they took to school were 98% sugar- which the kids LOVED.... but now that MOMMYS back in town its a different story. Yesterday Joey's lunch had sliced apples, raisins, a a container of Peanut butter. Carrot sticks with ranch dip and a slice of cheddar plus some fiber cookies- (cookies with low sugar and high fiber). Also a bottle of water.  Well, when I went to pick him up from school her told me his teacher made him eat a Hot lunch because his packed lunch wasn't enough food??? WHAT? I was LIVID! His packed lunch had over 900 calories of healthy food- how can that NOT be enough?!? I was about to go to his class and have a conversation with his teacher. When I asked him (mothers intuition) "Joey. did your teacher SAY this or did you just get a hot lunch because you WANTED a hot lunch?" Well, his teacher never said that! Joey told a little white lie to me- to which I explained that I do not care if he gets hot lunch- in fact, I would be HAPPY! I HATE packing lunches!  

Last night Chris had a LONG conversation with Joey about the horrors of telling lies to your parents. I don't think Joey will do that again for a while.

I had a dream of my mom last night- It is the first dream I have had of here sense her passing. We were standing together and she told me that she had cancer. I just turned to her and said "Oh, Mom, I love you SOOO much." I put so much feeling and emotion into my words, like when I was at the hospital with her. That was it. Just a short, quick dream. But it was still nice- It was nice to know that I WILL dream about mom, and hopefully more will come.

Joey lost his tooth- It basically just fell out on its own because it was SO LOOSE!  Chris leaves Saturday for his 3 month deployment, we will miss him lots and lots but the worse part is his leaving. Once he is gone we count down to his return-- And I will be moving into our house so I will be keeping busy.

Check out the song on the RIGHT, which was recommend to me by my good friend, Kathy- Again, a song that perfectly describes how I am feeling inside.

Chris and I went to the bookstore yesterday and bought matching Study Bibles- he will read his on the sub and I will read mine on the land, but the goal is to read it together (but apart... does that makes sense?)
I miss you, Mom.

Well, I was tooling around the Internet, reading all my friends Blogs and then I thought, well, Maybe I should update MY blog..... But I really don't have anything to BLOG about.... its been pretty boring here. But, I will do my best to think of SOMETHING, so here goes--

Joey has ANOTHER loose tooth... the one on the side of his big bottom tooth- what one is that called? (April..... you should know this one!) Its basically hanging there by a thread- or a vein or whatever the heck holds your teeth in place. And he WON'T let me pull it out!  I think I scarred him the last time I held him down and yanked his tooth out. He is NO FUN!

Stella is equally if not more annoying than ever. BUT, still no fleas and she never goes potty inside anymore, she just occasionally vomits on the floor....at 5am....and then I step in it.  

Vangie is talking more and more but has digressed with the potty and often goes in her panties. This makes me very angry. Maybe  she is punishing me for being gone to Michigan for 3 weeks? I am seriously running out of panties here!

Sophia loves school and no longer cries when I drop her off, THANK GOD! Her teacher really likes her and says she is one of her "good" kids. This is truly funny to me because at home is often the most "un-good" of the three!

Chris is getting ready for his 3 month deployment that starts NEXT saturday.

As for ME, I am getting back into the swing of things! I am looking forward to moving into our new house on 10/8!

Today is Thursday, The Schmitt's favorite day of the week- WHY, you ask??? Because tomorrow is FRIDAY! the day before the weekend. And everyone loves the weekend!

Last night Vangie had a fun time blowing out her candles- she was so cute and so proud of herself! She opened her presents and spent the night playing with her new Play-Dough Ice Cream factory. She even shared her toys with Joey and Sophia.

Today I need to call and schedule the cleaning people to come and the carpet cleaning people to come and clean this apartment once we move out on the 7th of October- I already scheduled "2 men in a Truck" to come and help move the Day bed, TV and boxes of clothes and food-- Chris will not be here for the move, he is leaving to go out on the sub in about 2 weeks. He will be gone until December 12th. The kids and I will stay busy by moving into our new house.

Today my MIL and I are going to get our Nails done, and meeting my friend Jen for lunch- Anywhere but Ruby Tuesdays because ironically we both despise that restaurant, coincidence? I think NOT! After school I will take the kids to the pool to burn off their energy.

Sophia and Vangie have birthdays that are 3 days apart. This year is the first year that they are having "Separate" birthday parties. On Sunday Sophia went to Chuck-E-Cheese, and had cake and Ice cream once we got home. The house was decorated with "Little Mermaid" Streamers, Decorations and balloons. She blew out 5 candles on her princess cake and opened up her presents!

Tomorrow Evangeline will be turning 3!!! She will awake to a house full of Tinkerbell Decorations, streamers and balloons. In the evening she will blow out 3 candles on her TinkerBell Cake, and open her presents.

Vangie and Sophia want to thank everyone for the Birthday Cards that they have received in the mail. They took all there gifts of money and traveled to Toys-R-Us on Monday. Mommy Schmitt helped them pick out a nice birthday present that they can enjoy equally- and pooling there money they were able to afford- An ENORMOUS Barbie doll house!!!!! They have had so much fun playing with it. (and mommy had fun watching daddy trying to assemble it!- of course it didn't fit together right, that would take all the fun out of it...) 

So, a successful birthday week is in full swing. Its hard to believe my Baby is turning 3. And my Sophia is turning 5! It just gets more fun the older they get.

I left Michigan yesterday from Grand Rapids at 8am- My wonderful Sister Krysti drove me to the Airport at 5am!  (love You Krysti!) I flew to Chicago and got there at 8am (due to the hour time difference). I hung out in Chicago until noon- my flight was delayed 2 hours due to a mechanical problem with engine- THAT was reassuring! To know there was an engine issue! They fixed it in a timely manner (Thank God!) and I was airborne by noon.  The entire flight is about 9 hours from Chicago to Honolulu. I slept 2 hours in the beginning and again 2 hours before landing. I had a window seat so that was nice- I could lean on the window.

I landed at 4pm Honolulu time. It was amazing to see my family again! The kids look so big! Vangie is talking so much now- whole paragraphs. Sophia's hair is so long and Joey looks so different with his missing two front teeth. My Mother-in-law has been so amazing. She has helped Chris out so much my driving the kids all over the island, making meals and just being there. I cannot thank her enough!!! I also want to thank the ladies from the boat who met me at the Airport (with flowers!) What an amazing community Chris and I are blessed to be apart of! Thank You from the bottom of my heart. I know my family was in your thoughts and prayers during this time and that really made a world of difference.

We drove home and had dinner and Sophia opened up her Birthday Presents!! She is officially 5 years old! She got a keyboard (which she loves to play and sing with!) and a Barbie bedroom set. Also Papa Perkins got her a tinker-bell outfit (which she hasn't taken off yet!) 

Today we plan on just hanging out together and enjoying each other.  To my Michigan family- I love you and thank you for the past 2.5 weeks- a lot of memories were made and we saw Gods love up close and first hand. It was a time that will never be forgotten.

To view a video tribute of my mother,  click on the link to the right, also at this link is my Mothers obituary. The Smith Family funeral home did an amazing job on the video, I am very happy with it and I know my Mom would love it too!

I want to give a heart felt THANK YOU to everyone and anyone  who has prayed for us, all who have made food and brought it over (food is something we all need, but the last thing anyone would want to do at a time like this is cook....) All who have sent cards....and flowers.... it has all been felt and we have received it all with a heart of extreme gratitude. I could never fully express my families thankfulness, words cannot tell you the depth of our emotions. There are not enough Thank You cards in the whole world....  My Mom (and family)  has so very many friends, and knowing we are in your prayers  has been an amazing experience. THANK YOU  and GOD BLESS.

My Beautiful Mother passed away last night at around 5:30pm. It was very peaceful. She was surrounded by her close family. Thank you everyone for your prayers. Keep praying. The aftermath will be hard if not harder for the family.


Our Plans are- and these are not final until we meet with the funeral home today at 12noon- so unless otherwise posted, this will be the times:
Visitation and funeral will both be at Faith United Methodist Church in Edmore. Visitation will be Friday at 5-8pm.  The Funeral will be Saturday at 2pm. We will have the burial at Mcbride cemetery with a luncheon to follow at the Church.

Last nights post was a little on the "feeling sorry for myself"  side. I admit I was sad. I was having a "pity party" for myself as my Dad would say. Since that post my attitude has changed.

 Mom is no longer able to communicate coherently- she is sleeping, waking and sleeping again. Her eyes stay open for all of this, so it's hard to know when she is actually sleeping and when she is awake. She can hear us and she can acknowledge our presence.  She likes to be sitting up on an incline, and she is hot- she doesn't want a lot of sheets on- Dad told her that she was flashing everyone to get her to keep covered up! I read this is normal as someone gets ready to pass. Its like the sheets and clothes are "weighing them down" as they get ready to leave their body. 

Kim saw her Dad last night- (My Grandpa Don) She woke at around 2 am and Diana and I were sitting with her. She told Diana that she was "seeing people who weren't there."    "Who Do you see, Mom?" Asked Diana. "I see Dad," She said. "He's wearing a red shirt and work pants."  Of course my Grandpa would be wearing work pants!! " He's waiting for me...." Mom said. 

Mom also saw a baby. She asked where the baby went and we told her it went to heaven. She said "You lost the baby?" ; "Its in heaven Mom" I told her,  and then she smiled  Perhaps this is the baby that she miscarried 29 years ago? (There was a miscarriage between Myself and Greggie) Mom said it was a baby boy. I got goosebumps hearing these things!

Diana and I sat with her from 2am-4am. We gave her water and listened to her odd remarks- odd to us, but I am sure they are making sense to whatever she is seeing. At 4am Dad got up and sat with her, and read to her out of the Bible. I was able to fall into a dead sleep for 2 hours. 

We called Greggie, Nicole and Vachel and Krysti. I personally feel that Mom will be home very soon, although the nurses say she could be like this for two more days. Perhaps she is waiting to say goodbye to my brothers. 

Watching Mom's "re-birth" into heaven is a awesome thing. A miracle, really. She is getting so close, it feels magical.  I feel so honored to be hear, to witness one of God's sheep going home. How can someone be in this position and not feel God? And not be so THANKFUL that Jesus DIED for our sins so that we could live eternally with HIM?  

This life is NOTHING in the who scheme of things, A blink of your eye and its gone- think about what awaits us beyond here- no one knows how it will be, it will be so amazing our minds cannot fully comprehend. An eternity awaits us, and its up to us and our own free will to decide where that eternity will be spent!  If anything comes of My moms passing I pray that Jesus is in all of your hearts---- Just ask him to come in and he will!

First of all, click the link to the RIGHT-  Praise You in This Storm, by Casting Crowns. An excellent song that sums up exactly how I am feeling right now.

 

Secondly-  I am watching my Mother Die. I am writing her Obituary. I am holding her hand and offering  her glass of water because she is too weak and shaking too much to do it herself.  I am calling the nurses because she needs a catheter put in because she can no longer get out of bed to use the bathroom,  I am watching her sleep with her eyes open because they do not close all the way anymore. I am listening to her breathing- and counting her breaths to see if they are lessening. She is picking at her clothes- especially her chest area- a sign that the end is near according to the book of signs given to us by hospice. 

I thought I would drive back home to sleep tonight but I cannot leave. I can leave this building--- I can get in my car and drive away- But these images will go with me. My mother will still be HERE.  I cannot escape this until the Lord comes down and frees her beautiful soul from her ravaged body.  THIS IS NOT HER!

I look at my mom lying in her hospital bed- she wakes up and talks- and she is coherent! She knows who we are, she tries to talk to us. She even tries to comfort us still. I was holding her hand and crying and she pats my hand and tells me that this is the hard part, but we'll get through.  She asks the boys about the farm! She reassures them that she know they cannot be here because the pickles need to be harvested.... A true farmers wife until the end. 

This could be her last night.  I am wondering how much worse it can get. But God is here, I can feel him. I know we are not alone. 

Last night Dad spent the night here along with Aunt Wendy. Nicole and I drove back to Mom and Dad's and spent the night there. It was a restless night for both of us. I woke up around midnight, heart pounding, feeling sick--- I knew nothing was wrong because Aunt Wendy would call me to come in if there was, but still I couldn't help worrying. I woke up several times, each time sitting up and quickly finding the clock- as if knowing the time would help me. It did help knowing how long before we could drive back.... 

Nicole and I were both up early and were here at the Hospice house by 7am. The sunrise was beautiful on our drive- bright orange sunrise over the cornfields. Smokey white fog drifting through the trees and over the low-lying areas. It is such a bittersweet irony how beautiful the world is when your going through the most heartbreaking events. 

Mom woke up hourly last night, to adjust herself, to get a drink. Aunt Wendy helped her to go pee in the middle of the night- a wheel chair is needed for getting out of bed now. Moms urine output is WAY down- she went once in over 24 hours. This is a normal process of the decline.

This morning Aunt Wendy, Nicole and and I helped Mom with her shower- I believe that she will get a shower everyday until she has no more days- the water feels so good to her. She kept thanking us and I just say, No, Mom, its a privilege to help YOU.  Mom had to wear her Oxygen in the shower today- her levels are down in the low 80's WITH oxygen so its needed. She is also coughing more and has more phlegm in her throat/lungs. Today Lou (the head hospice nurse) came in to do Moms vitals- pulse 116. Blood pressure 80/50. O2 level- upper 70's, lower 80's. Temperature- 94. Also, the drain into Moms abdomen (NOT her gastric drain, the OTHER one..)is draining  out a brighter red liquid... a lot more blood is draining out. And the is because cancer is so vascular and is invading her whole abdomen. 

Mom is ghaving a harder time focusing, and she has double vison. She will be looking at you and then she is staring off into space- her eyes half way closed she will fall into a light sleep. And yet, through all of this she has NOT lost her sense of humor! She is still cracking jokes about her predicament. She will have us all laughing! We joke about riding in the wheelchair (please keep your hands and feet inside the chair at all times....)  She jokes about how short her attention span is. She jokes about if she were to get pulled over by the police "No officer, I don't know WHY you pulled me over..." she says in her slurred slow, drugged out  voice. "Have I been Drinking? No! the only thing I've had to drink is water.....and crystal light!" She slurrs... We were all laughing, holding our sides and wiping away the tears.

 

And she still has her FAITH!  "I may not look like it, " she says, gesturing to her face "because I am on so many drugs,  But I am so EXCITED to meet Jesus!"