A Stroud Thanksgiving - 2007

The Jones, Quandel, Stanfill, Gilbert, and Findley families enjoyed a turkey dinner and family time in Stroud this year, as we've done in the past. Catching up with everyone and stuffing our faces with homemade food always makes for a good day! Thanks to Erin (and helpers) for putting it together and setting up a homey environment. The kazoos were a hit. Peyton likes to sing words into it, and Lainey is still chewing on hers.

We all have a lot to be thankful for this year. In our family specifically, we are thankful that Jill's treatment and surgery are finished and the road to complete recovery has begun. Also, I myself am particularly thankful for God's presence in our lives and the guidance He has given us in '07. I can already see that my New Years' resolution will be to give more thanks and gratitude to Him by action - not just prayer.

Here are a few pics of Thanksgiving in Stroud. Was great to see everyone! If anyone else has pics, we'd love to see 'em.

Love,

Amber

P.S. We sure did miss Kris. Da** deer hunting... }:o(


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The whole gang having turkey and all the trimmings. I didn't have one thing that wasn't delicious...





Mark and Jr.






Mema and Lainey Paige (5 1/2 mos. old)





Erin, Lainey, and Kim (Before Lainey spit up on Kim. She does that a lot!)




Big girls Mary and Peyton played follow-the-leader with little London. (Check out the spread of food!)




Lainey, Poppy (Ivan), and Momo (Barbara)

Jill Update 11/19/07

It has been 16 days since Jill's surgery. She's still very sore but is improving everyday. Her bed has been the comfy red recliner upstairs at their house for the past couple weeks. It's easier to get in and out of as opposed to raising up out of a regular bed. We tease that the recliner has her permanent imprint now. The first 10 days or so were painful for her and restless. With medications (a complicated schedule, mind you), emptying bags of stuff drained from surgery areas, and tending to the girls, it was pretty busy. I know she was itching to help when Lainey cried and Peyton needed attention, so that was one of the tough parts (and still is). The mom instinct doesn't cease just because she can't hold them.

Peyton's lovin' alone with her hugs and snuggles works wonders for the spirit, and Jill hasn't been able (till recently) to take full advantage of those moments. Even a pat on the back still makes her wince. BUT, each day brings her closer to normalcy. She'll be able to drive soon, and in 2 or 3 weeks will be able to hold Lainey and Peyton properly. So begins the road back to normal life...

The emails, visits, calls, cards, etc., have been so appreciated. Thanks so much to those who showed up - either at the hospital or at her home or via phone call. You have no idea how blessed we all feel to receive those messages. I would have to say we've learned a lot about ourselves and how much people really do care. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Love,

Amber

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PICS

Jill and Peyton at the Christmas dance recital at Riverwalk Crossing. Both sets of Peyton's grandparents and Aunt Cindy were on hand to witness her big night!

Peyton is near the middle with a white brimmed Santa hat. See her kicking?

Lainey and Aunt Ber. Cute hat, eh?

Mom and Lainey, snuggle buddies in the chilly night. Look at the cute little red baby nose...

Jill Update 11/6/07

Hello everyone (all 50 of you :o),

Trying not to inundate everyone with TMI (too much information) but wanted to give an update since Jill got home. Will probably send another update in 2 weeks as usual, but if you want info before then, don't hesitate to call me @810-7214.

Jill is home now (since Saturday!) and is feeling better and better each day. The ride home was pretty painful considering the bumps and jostles on Tulsa's highways. Her spirits are pretty good considering... When she laughs, it hurts, so we're trying not to be too funny. :o) She has drain tubes stitched into her sides (on the outside - wow!) that empty the blood and gunk coming out of the surgery areas into two bags. She carries the those bags of "stuff" around, and they have to be drained and the amount and color recorded every few hours or so. Also, she carries a black bag with a pain pump (which I believe has run out now) that pushed a topical type of pain med to her chest area. A pewter cross that reads "God loves you" is in that bag every step of the way. (Love you too, sis.)

She took the initiative to put all her meds and the times they need to be administered on a spreadsheet so that caretakers can keep up. She's still sleeping and spending most of the time in the recliner for practical reasons (can't use her arms or chest muscles to get out of a real bed). Mom and Dad have been there 24/7 since Friday to help - love personified. Peyton is being pretty respectful of Jill's soreness, and Lainey is being her usual cute self, grinning at everyone in sight and sleeping through the night which means from about 9:30 pm to 5:30 am. The food from her school family has been a tremendous help since there's so much to be taken care of already.

She may be ready to have visitors next week sometime. Right now, she's sleeping intermittently and trying to get rest as much as possible. The next doctor appointment is thisThursday with the plastic surgeon to check on the surgery areas.

Love,

Amber

P.S. Thanks to everyone who sent cards and showed up at the hospital and to those who were praying for her Friday to get through the anesthesia and surgery well. I know there were a lot of silent supporters whose prayers were heard.

"There are no unbearable responsibilities in this world but those of our own seeking. Once life is realized as a succession of acts of loving service, undertaken in a spirit of joy, all such foolishness vanishes." -Evelyn Underhill, Letters

Jill Update 11/2/07 - Surgery

Jill is doing "well" after surgery today. She's resting in a private room right now, and everything went well with no unexpected twists or turns. Fantastic news, huh?! She's very tired and groggy, no doubt from the pain med IV drip, but in good spirits - even had a bit of real food to eat.

She opted to have 6 moles on her face removed by the plastic surgeon during surgery, so she looks like a soldier in from the field right now with the bandages and tubes everywhere. We were at the hospital at 6 a.m.; Surgery began at 8 a.m. and was finished at 12:30 p.m. Finally got into a patient room at 3:30 p.m., and we were sooo glad to see her and know she was okay. Her breast surgeon, Laurie Flynn, did her job in about 1.5 hrs., and the plastic surgeon, Arch Miller, was finished inserting the temporary expanders, removing moles, and closing at 12:30. Dr. Flynn was also on Channel 6 today at noon doing a doctor on call segment, so it was interesting to watch the doctor who just operated on her doing a TV spot just hours after surgery. She did come back this afternoon to check on her. We all really, really like her. This is her first year as a full-fledged surgeon, so since she is fresh from Johns Hopkins (Baltimore), she knows the latest procedures and studies on cancer. That, coupled with the fact that she has taken a real interest in Jill's situation and our family history gave Jill (and everyone) the confidence to trust her judgement and act in Jill's best interest.

Jerry and Mom are staying with Jill tonight (all night), and Dad and (cousin) Hayley are tending to the kiddos at Jill's and Jerry's house till morning. Friend Tammy will be watching the girls a while tomorrow while we all get some rest. Then, I (and possibly Jerry) are staying the night with her tomorrow, and she'll probably get to come home Sunday. Peyton and Lainey may go visit tomorrow; I'm sure she'd love to see them. There are 3 big bags of snacks for the caretakers... Even Boy Scouts would marvel at the preparedness on this front (thanks to Donna and Cindy)... gotta have that junk food to sustain ya!!!

Thanks to all those who came to sit and wait and eventually visit with Jill. It was a long day but definitely made easier by the shared company. We commandeered more than one waiting room today. ;o) Her comrade-in-arms, Becky, and twin 22 mo. old twin boys visited us and delivered a basket of muffins that have almost been devoured. Becky (age ~28) had her double mastectomy just a few weeks ago and is doing great as well.

Until this morning, I had been dreading this amputation of sorts, but while sitting, I realized this is the biggest (and most dangerous) step to move forward toward final recovery. The closer she gets to getting that blasted cancer out of her, the better off she is. See you later disease! You're, ahem, "tail" is getting kicked!

Love,

Amber

"There are no unbearable responsibilities in this world but those of our own seeking. Once life is realized as a succession of acts of loving service, undertaken in a spirit of joy, all such foolishness as that vanishes." -Evelyn Underhill, Letters

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Not many interesting pics can be taken in a hospital... Here's the waiting room at one point.