Thoughtprints

I apologize for taking so long to get back here. Everything has been so crazy. My life feels amazingly surreal right now. I can't believe we're going through what we're going through. I wish I could report that everything has gone smoothly and wonderfully since Mom was transferred back down here to the nursing home, but I cannot. It's been quite the opposite. A nightmare, really. A nightmare we can't wake up from, and which keeps getting worse and worse. Hopefully some of the changes her doctor made yesterday will take hold soon and we will see some improvement in her condition. Suffice it to say that the huge amounts of pain meds, coupled with the general anasthesia administered to her during surgery, has taken an immense toll on her mental state. She's .... a completely different person. The doctor assures us that most of it, if not all, should disappear within a few weeks. We can only hope -- and pray.

Speaking of prayers, if you are so inclined, please offer up a few heartfelt ones for CJ, okay? She's going through a helluva time right now, and can use all the prayers, good thoughts and positive energy you have to spare!

So does another family here in my hometown. They are a couple whom I have known and been friends with since I was a young teen. They have two sons, both of whom are in the Marines, and one of whom is the same age as my son, David (20). His name is Jason. He was seriously injured in Iraq a few days ago. So far, what I know is that he has lost his sight due to shrapnel, as well as receiving severe chest and head injuries. The doctors changed his meds and he is now beginning to respond to voices, so they are hopeful he will be stable enough soon to be transferred to Germany. Their second son is scheduled to be deployed to Iraq in September. I don't know how parents can stand it. Please keep their family your prayers, too, okay?

It seems like all I'm doing anymore is asking you for your thoughts and prayers. I apologize for that, too. Maybe it's because I know what kind of people you are, and that you are more than willing to share your strength and energy through the bonds of friendship, for which I am eternally grateful. Thank you all so very much for all that you've done, for all that you've given, and for all that you've said. It means more to me than I could ever possibly articulate. ((((((((from me to you))))))))

Oh yeah, P.S. -- my puter's been acting extremely temperamental and went all goofy on me tonight, and I lost every bit of email I had saved, and everything that's been sent to me in the last 5 or 6 days. GRRRR! So if you've emailed me and have not received a reply, that's why. :( If you'd like to re-send, that would be cool. ;) If not, that's fine, too. Even though I didn't get to read it, I thank you for it, anyway. ;)

OK, I need to try and get some sleep ("try" being the operative word). I love you all! :)