Interrupted by Life!

So, in case you didn't miss me, it's been nearly a year since my last post. The reason is simple and complicated - LIFE!

On October 4, 2009, my husband Jeff was taken from church via ambulance to the ER for an apparent stroke. After lots of testing, it was determined that he had not suffered a stroke, but had experienced a Transient Ischemic Attack or TIA - commonly called a mini-stroke. What's the difference? Well, as near as I understand it, the difference is the lasting damage. A stroke damages more of the brain and these damaged areas can be seen on scans. TIA's generally do not cause as much damage and often you cannot even see the damage on brain scans.

You know what the problem is when the tests all show nothing. Doctors won't make a diagnosis. So you keep going from one to another. They all say something's wrong, but no one knows what the problem is.  VERY discouraging.

So, since October we've been going to a lot of appointments and tests. Jeff has gotten worse almost on a daily basis. Currently he is having trouble with memory loss, confusion, getting lost, forgetting what he's doing, personality and mood changes, numbness and tingling in his arms and legs. This week he's also having trouble with nausea and vomiting.

We have put in a request with the VA to have his disability rating increased as well as to have Jeff approved for an additional payment for Aid and Attendance. This will pay extra money so that someone (me) can stay with him 24/7. 

Not sure when my next post will be. My writing has been put on hold for the next little bit. Right now I am focused on taking care of him.

Please pray that the doctors will find out what is wrong with him and that it will be something that can be treated. Also, please pray for us financially as this is really putting a strain on our finances. Finally, please pray that the VA will approve his increase and his Aid and Attendance quickly.

Not Blocked, Just No Time

As you can tell from my post on Sunday, the last week or so has been very busy for me. And of course, the first thing that seems to go is my writing time. I've tried working on my WIP and editing while I'm in the van going to and from Jeff's appointments, but I've started to get sick in the car. I guess I'm getting motion sickness as I get older. :-)

So, Sarah's Hope is now in two versions. One longer, and one shorter. Hopefully, I'll be able to submit the shorter version by the end of the month. I started NANOWRIMO, but like every other year I've tried it, life interrupted and I haven't exactly gotten a lot written.

Jeff's health is doing about the same. He did have a procedure to break up the kidney stones, and it appears to have worked, and on Thursday he'll go in for a pain management conference. Hopefully, they'll be able to control his pain level. Kids are doing well. Keeping up with their schoolwork and hoping for snow again this year.