Last Minute Roadtrip

Last weekend took us all by surprise.  Let me give you a little background information.  My grandmother has been hospitalized with the flu. She also came down with pneumonia while there.  In the meantime, my dad got pneumonia too.  My grandfather was taken from the nursing home with a kidney infection and severe dehydration...probably a result of overmedication at geriatric psych.  He went there during Christmas to regulate his meds.  My sister and I have been loading up on Tamiflu as a precaution since Kristin spent the day with my grandmother the day before she was diagnosed, and I slept in the same bed with Kristin during our Nashville trip.  My mom traveled to Jackson to help care for my grandfather, who was deteriorating fairly quickly.

Now that you have that background information...let's fast forward a few days.  It appeared that Pops was not doing well, and his prognosis was not very good at all.  So, Kristin and I decided we should be with my mom since my dad was sick and wasn't able to go.  Millie Janalee and Lee went along for the ride.  Kristin and Lee came through town to pick me and Millie Janalee up.  I'm terrified of the flu, so Lee graciously offered to stay in the car with Millie Janalee while Kristin and I gowned and masked up to visit Pops...who at this point was unresponsive and had pneumonia.

We're not taking any chances!

Playtime in the car!

After leaving the hospital, we ate supper at Keifer's and brought Mama some real food back.  She had not had a real meal the whole week she'd been staying at the hospital.  After visiting one last time on Saturday, we traveled to my cousin's house to stay for a day or two.  We joined them for church at Pinelake on Sunday.  Russ and I attended there during our time in Jackson, and I was excited to worship there again.  I also decided...because of my flu paranoia...that Millie Janalee would join us in "big church."  She did fantastic!

"How big is this church?"

"I'm excited about 'big church!'"

"Let's GO!"

"I promise to cross my legs like a lady during church."

Millie Janalee was a natural in "big church."  She was completely silent during the sermon, and she was wide awake the entire time.  She did let out one big burp, but other than that...she was perfect!  Ha!  We stood at the end to sing, and she started singing at the top of her lungs.  So cute!  And funny!  Then, the pastor asked everyone to hold out their hands as he prayed while many accepted God's grace.  Kristin and I looked over, and we were in LOVE with what we saw...

Even Millie Janalee felt His presence!

I joked that she was thinking, "My Paw Paw is a preacher.  I know what I'm doin'!"  Ha!  It was a sweet time with my baby girl, and I wish Russ had been there to see it.  After church, we met Mama for lunch at a local Mexican restaurant.  This was her first outing since she'd been there.  And her first change into clean clothes probably...which Millie Janalee christened immediately.  [sigh]  We took Mama back to the hospital afterward and spent some much needed time with Pops.  At this point, he still wasn't opening his eyes.  It seemed that he was trying to communicate, but he just couldn't.  We also suspect he had a stroke that wasn't showing up on the scans.  The doctor concurs with us.

Pops and his girls

We left the hospital a little deflated and very sad.  The rest of the afternoon at Jack and Clancy's was filled with watching Millie Janalee and ordering pizza while watching the Golden Globes.  We all received updates from Mama as things stayed the same or changed.  Millie Janalee pulled out all the tricks.

Let's walk around, "Aunt Clancy!"

Millie Janalee and Clancy played and "walked around" a bit on the floor while everyone made fun of me for putting these shoes that are still too big for her on her feet.  Millie Janalee kept tripping and stepping on her little shoes.  Ha!  I didn't care.  They were cute, and I know everyone else thought so too.

These shoes are made for walking...

Kristin and Lee

Waking up to "Uncle Jack" after his shift at the fire department

Monday, the doctor discharged Pops back to the nursing home to continue his treatment there.  Dr. Loper's outlook wasn't very good for Pops' recovery.  We all decided to pay Pops a "welcome home" visit.  I'm always very protective when Millie Janalee visits Pops in the nursing home, so she stayed her distance during our visit.  But, we told him she was there.  He could hear us, we're pretty sure.

Me, Millie Janalee, and Uncle Howard

Pops and his children (Mama and Uncle Howard)

Kristin, Lee, and Pops

Pops with his first great-grandchild

We left...still not seeing Pops open his eyes.  Uncle Howard got him to flutter his eyelids once, and we think he called Howard's name and said "Hey baby" to Mama.  It was all very difficult to decipher, but we're sure he knew we were there.

Russ and I had a meeting at Bethany the next day, so I stayed around town and decided to visit some dear friends while I waited on Clancy to get off work.  My first stop was the yogurt shop to play with Clark, Griffin, and Kelly.  We were the only ones in there the whole time.  Probably because it was threatening ice the remainder of the day.  Ice storm warnings were all over north Mississippi.  Ha!  Millie Janalee was enthralled with these boys and all their energy.  She just stared and watched them running back and forth.  I got a glimpse into what I have to look forward to in the coming months.  I need to rest up!

Millie Janalee and her arranged marriage husband, Griffin

Clark telling Millie Janalee all his secrets

"Mama, what are they doing?"

Love this sweet face!

After our visit with Kelly and her boys, we made a quick stop by Pat and Felicia's so I could feed Millie Janalee and charge my phone.  Only dear friends would understand such a drive-by.  I got a piece of Felicia's divine lemon cake, and left in time to pick up Clancy from work.

Nate loves to kiss Millie Janalee!

Toby thinks Millie Janalee is just "soooo cute!"

I love that my friends have so many boys for us to choose from.  Haha!  I also love these friendships that drop everything for a last minute visit and always have an ear to listen and folded hands to pray. 

Mama gave us all an updated report last night.  It truly is a miracle that Pops is opening his eyes and talking some.  Mama talked to him on the phone yesterday.  His speech is very slurred, but this is improvement.  We are all thankful for the time we have left with Pops and grateful that God's plan for Pops isn't finished quite yet.  Please continue to pray for Pops as he continues his treatment and hopefully improves.  Also pray for our family as we cherish this time with him.