'Mama gaga, boo-boo she wawa'

Wha-huh? Unless you're a child of the '80s or a big Muppet fan, you may not know the song "I'm Gonna Always Love You" from the '84 movie "Muppets Take Manhattan." When my sisters & I were kids, we'd sing the song along with the movie with Mom. You can read more about the goofy song on Muppet Wikia, but it's about how Kermit and Miss Piggy knew each other as babies. It also inspired the adorable "Muppet Babies" TV series. Last week, when we were thinking of music to play for Mom while she was sedated, my sisters thought of this one. I brought it in to play for Mom. When she woke up this week, we played it for her again. It brought a big smile to her face. I wanted to share with you the music video of the silly song:

Dad was a little more romantic: He asked me to play John Denver's "Annie's Song" for Mom, whose first name is Ann and sometimes goes by Annie. The song was her bridal march 33 years ago, and I incorporated an instrumental version, played on the harp, in my wedding nearly seven years ago.

Funny or sweet, I do believe that music played at least a small role in Mom's dramatic recovery. I just returned home from the hospital, where Mom was showing some of the best vital numbers of her 13-day MICU stay. She also had a 30-minute breathing trial where she was breathing oxygen but was off the respirator. Woo-hoo! You can read more about her first trial today on my sister Jen's blog, The Happy Couple.

Good luck on tests & junk like that!

Mom continues to be more alert and look more like herself. I visited her Monday evening, and, before a peaceful nap, she was making faces that communicated her pain, that she thought things we were saying were funny and that she was curious about what was going on around her. I also read her some of her many, many cards that she's received, and I could tell that did her good, too. (At left is just a portion of what her friends and family have mailed her.) She seemed especially surprised that some relatives have sent her as many as 15 cards (you crack me up, Eric & Marty!) and that she's hearing from extended relatives and friends at Prairie Quilt Guild.

She became frustrated that her hands were too weak to do American Sign Language (Mom & I know the alphabet, which has come in handy in this occasion and others). She also was unable to write. But I talked with Dad briefly this morning, and he said that she was writing a little bit this morning and telling him that she doesn't like what they're feeding her through her feeding tube. That's our Mom! Another sign that she's on the mend. I told her that I hope a chicken fried steak dinner is not too far away. (My sisters & I tease Mom endlessly about her bizarre affection for chicken fried steak. If we go to a restaurant, Mom will study the menu for quite awhile. "What have you decided?" we'll ask. "Hmmm ... I think I'll go with the chicken fried steak," she'll reply. She really seemed to have no idea of this ordering routine until we pointed it out to her. Hee hee!) Need more proof that she's getting stronger? Mom watched the TV in her MICU room for a bit, too. She was pleased that she had control over the remote.

Mid-morning today Mom will try a new breathing test to help the doctors assess the strength of her lungs. She remains on the respirator but has been initiating breaths for most of the day. Her physical therapist, who first visited her on Sunday, also will come by to continue to teach us stretches we need to do hourly on Mom's legs and exercises that she can do on her own (lifting her arms, stretching her fingers, etc.) When I see her this afternoon, I'll make sure she's doing her homework!

Sweet, sweet smile

Mom's 11th day in intensive care was a very good one. She slept most of the day but is now off sedatives and is able to communicate with us in limited stints: She smiled when we told her that her cats, Lucy and Libby, miss her. She squeezed my hand and wiggled her toes when I asked her to do so. She nodded yes when I asked if she wanted me to read some of her dozens of cards she's received (they definitely cheer her up!) and shook her head no when I asked if she felt up for a shopping trip. (She also smiled when I asked her if she's been dreaming that she's in a giant fabric store where everything's half off.) Jen showed her a cross-stitch project she's making for her baby's room, and I told her about a quilt project I've been working on in her room. Amanda & Kurtis were in town to visit, and I know it did Amanda's heart good to see Mom's progress. What a relief after such a frightening week to be able to talk with her a little. I could tell that she's frustrated that she can't talk back right now. She motioned that she wanted to write to us, but she's not strong enough for that right now.

She still needs lots of rest and seems a little confused about what's going on. Her nurses continue to constantly monitor her vitals to make sure that they're finding the right balance for her blood sugar level, nutrition (she has a feeding tube still), other medication and breathing treatments. Her fever has subsided, but she is fighting a sinus infection right now. Another great blessing this week: The docs ordered a cat scan to ensure that Mom had no neurological damage from oxygen deprivation, and, thank God, the results came back clear. That one had me really worried.

Many of her family and friends hope to see her soon, but we must be patient and limit visitors for now in hopes that she'll continue to make steady improvement. Understandably, she's in a great deal of pain and discomfort, and we need to give her a chance to heal as needed. Thank you, everyone, for your understanding!

Her doctor is impressed with her recovery thus far, but it looks like she'll have a day or two minimum in the ICU before being released to a specific rehabilitation hospital in Wichita. She'll likely stay there for a few weeks to be weaned off her ventilator and work on physical therapy to regain strength. We're so pleased to have the opportunity to explain to her what's going on now. We hope that will relieve her anxiety a little bit and keep her emotionally and mentally strong for the days and weeks ahead. As long as she can keep smiling, I know she'll do great.

To have and to hold

Happy 33rd wedding anniversary, Mom & Dad!

They obviously hadn't intended to spend the day together in the ICU. Regardless, this week they have taught their children, family and friends an incredible lesson about unconditional love.

Dad has been with Mom as much as he possibly can, holding her hand, talking with her and being an advocate for her health. He's also been keeping others who love her informed about what's going on. On the nights I have spent with Mom in the ICU, Dad arrived early the following morning to relieve me eager to see Mom and what progress she's made.

For better or for worse, indeed. May today bring you both more wonderful moments, good news and happiness to celebrate in your life together. I love you both.


And may I say, by the way, that Mom was a total knockout on her wedding day! You're beautiful, Mom, inside and out. Hang in there!

Another good day

More good news to report on day 9 in the ICU: Mom fought off a fever today and initiated breathing for about 12 hours. She also had a test done today, but we must wait until tomorrow to hear the result. We have been telling her something she used to tell my sisters and me as we marched off to school: "Good luck on tests and junk like that!"

I am amazed by how strong she is. She is constantly poked and prodded by doctors and nurses, who must check her insulin levels, give breathing treatments, administer pain medication and more. When we're with her, we talk her through every step and hope that she can hear us on some level.

Before Mom was sedated on Sunday, I had asked her what I could bring her from home to make her stay more comfortable. She was unable to speak because of her breathing tube, but she wrote down "May" on a piece of paper. I knew that she wanted her copy of the wonderful book "Life With Mae," which I gave her for Mother's Day just a few weeks ago. I have been reading a few pages to her at a time and hope that it eases her mind.

Fan mail (get well soon cards) are pouring in. We have many on display in her ICU room. I read those to her, as well. The doctors believe that her hearing the voices of those closest to her will help her through this, so I appreciate the encouraging reading material!

(I love the photo of Mom that I've included in this post. I took it in February at a bridal boutique. Mom, Jen, Amanda, her future mother- and sister-in-law and I engaged in a day of dresses. In this photo, Mom is admiring my baby sis in her drop-dead gorgeous gown.)

Beautiful baby steps

Mom made some great progress today. We want her to be better and back on her feet, but the doctors are reminding us that every little improvement is huge right now.

Mom is still unresponsive, and we all yearn for communication from her. But it's a blessing that she showed progress with her spontaneous breathing exercises, which means for periods (nine hours today!) she was less reliant on her ventilator. The doctor also approved a change in the drug that's keeping her sedated. It's a milder drug that she is tolerating well so far. Dad and I met with Mom's pulmonologist and the pharmacist approving all of her drugs to get much-needed answers to many of our questions and concerns. A long day. Another trying day. But baby steps are still steps in the right direction.

Now time for us all to get some rest so we can be strong for her. As Mom always says, "Happy face in the morning!" Here's to the promise of another good day.

Keep those prayers a-comin!

Mom made some good progress today, including initiating breathing for six and a half hours this morning and coming down significantly on the dosage of medicine that's keeping her sedated.

She's still not able to communicate with us or respond to commands from the doctors and nurses (she doesn't squeeze your hand when instructed or look at you when you say her name, for example). The docs say that she's struggling with anxiety issues and pain and is not able to make additional progress because of it. It's clear, though, that she is aware of her surroundings to some degree. We've been asked to stay strong and positive when we're with her. I believe that she's in the process of digging down deep and finding the faith and courage to fight through this! I've heard from so many people this week who love her and who are rooting for her.

Needless to say, it's not been an easy week. But if Mom can push through, so can we. Thanks, everyone, for your faith and friendship.