Thanks Brooklet!
You're the best & we are, for sure, going to miss you!
12 May 2011
07 May 2011
our dads-May update
Orlan made it home last Monday from the hospital & seems to be recovering okay. His ever vigilant wife/LPN/caretaker has been monitoring his meds & checking his blood pressure as this was somewhat of a concern when he got discharged this past week. Getting him up & moving around to recover from his surgery is a high priority. His oncologist is not proposing any chemotherapy treatment at this time & seems optimistic that with careful monitoring, he may not need it. His lymph nodes came back clear of cancer as did his margins. Although the sac around the removed kidney tested positive, it appears the cancer did not extend beyond the fat. Thank you for your prayers on behalf of the Miller family.
My Dad finished his radiation treatments on Good Friday and thus begins the waiting until he's scheduled for a bone scan on May 10. He has lots of pain and so my mom has been vigilant in attempting to contact his oncologist & radiologist to determine what he can take, how much & how often. It was an overwhelming weekend (last) as he had 3 terrible days in a row (lots of pain, no appetite, nausea, numbness in his legs) and was prompted to park the truck. Trucking for my Dad has been a source of focus, accomplishment, and a passion for a long time & this decision was not made lightly. My uncle Butch has been slowly but surely picking up his loads here & there; however, with planting season here, my brother-in-law, Mike, graciously agreed to help Dad out until he himself receives a clean bill of health. (Mike has been having pancreatic & gall bladder problems since February, and thus hasn't been able to resume his long distance trucking job yet).
As I type this, I'm back in NW Iowa for a few days to spend with my parents. Haven, of course, LOVES their attention and especially loves it when they laugh at her tricks...it's good to be able to help out when necessary and just be with them. Dad has some good days & more often than not, bad days as well where he is unable to get out and do spring field work. He is in the tractor this morning, planting...I'm sure to his heart's delight :) 1/2 days, at best, are usually what he can put in before his pain catches up with him, he gets too tired or both. The bone scan & MRI's next week will determine what is the next decision.
Please continue praying & know we are SO grateful for those prayers. It is an encouragement to my Dad, my Mom and all of us, when we know "the prayers of righteous men avail much" [James 5:16].
As of Friday, May 6, my Dad now has a CaringBridge website:
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/verlynkellenberger .
My Dad finished his radiation treatments on Good Friday and thus begins the waiting until he's scheduled for a bone scan on May 10. He has lots of pain and so my mom has been vigilant in attempting to contact his oncologist & radiologist to determine what he can take, how much & how often. It was an overwhelming weekend (last) as he had 3 terrible days in a row (lots of pain, no appetite, nausea, numbness in his legs) and was prompted to park the truck. Trucking for my Dad has been a source of focus, accomplishment, and a passion for a long time & this decision was not made lightly. My uncle Butch has been slowly but surely picking up his loads here & there; however, with planting season here, my brother-in-law, Mike, graciously agreed to help Dad out until he himself receives a clean bill of health. (Mike has been having pancreatic & gall bladder problems since February, and thus hasn't been able to resume his long distance trucking job yet).
As I type this, I'm back in NW Iowa for a few days to spend with my parents. Haven, of course, LOVES their attention and especially loves it when they laugh at her tricks...it's good to be able to help out when necessary and just be with them. Dad has some good days & more often than not, bad days as well where he is unable to get out and do spring field work. He is in the tractor this morning, planting...I'm sure to his heart's delight :) 1/2 days, at best, are usually what he can put in before his pain catches up with him, he gets too tired or both. The bone scan & MRI's next week will determine what is the next decision.
Please continue praying & know we are SO grateful for those prayers. It is an encouragement to my Dad, my Mom and all of us, when we know "the prayers of righteous men avail much" [James 5:16].
As of Friday, May 6, my Dad now has a CaringBridge website:
http://www.caringbridge.org/
06 May 2011
Friday's Funny-humbly speaking...
So at first, this post wasn't a Friday Funny....but now looking back, I can chuckle because my little darling wasn't hurt-only her mother's pride.
About 2 months ago, we went out to dinner with Orlan & Carol at Outback Steakhouse in Bloomington. Once finished we headed to the car & I was putting Haven in her car seat. She always likes seeing & playing with my car keys, so I flung them over to the front driver seat [as WAS my custom] and buckled her in. I must have hit the lock button on our opener because once I shut her car door, poor little Haven was locked in...and, I'm pretty sure my stomach HIT the ground and my heart starting pounding a mile a minute!
I'm such a terrible mother.
Will someone notice Haven & call DCFS?
Will Haven think I'm abandoning her?
What in heck was I thinking?
My usual, quick-thinking, clear-headed husband didn't speak & I really needed him to react much quicker than he did. To Arlan's credit, he still says "I couldn't believe it had really happened!" :)
While I was trying to locate a locksmith on my smart phone, up pulls our good friends, Brian & Katie with their daughter Hannah.
[side note: while we don't see them often enough, we seem to pick the most random locations to accidentally hook up: Indy's Keystone Mall for instance or Tanner's Orchard's or in this case, Outback Steakhouse while I've locked Haven in the car]
Brian quickly jumped into action, looking for something in his trunk that could pry between the door...to no avail. Thus I convinced Arlan that because a child was in danger, calling 911 was our best option. Haven by no means, was in danger, crying, or even in distress but what if a locksmith took 3 hours?
The Bloomington Fire Dept. was dispatched and had Haven happily out (she loves firetrucks) in under 5 minutes from the time I placed the call. Grandpa Miller had kept her entertained my making faces through the car window during our short wait.
The whole ordeal took under 15 minutes.
And of course, our good friends, Brian & Katie, who we see not near enough but at random places....also happened to have their camera along...of course :)
About 2 months ago, we went out to dinner with Orlan & Carol at Outback Steakhouse in Bloomington. Once finished we headed to the car & I was putting Haven in her car seat. She always likes seeing & playing with my car keys, so I flung them over to the front driver seat [as WAS my custom] and buckled her in. I must have hit the lock button on our opener because once I shut her car door, poor little Haven was locked in...and, I'm pretty sure my stomach HIT the ground and my heart starting pounding a mile a minute!
I'm such a terrible mother.
Will someone notice Haven & call DCFS?
Will Haven think I'm abandoning her?
What in heck was I thinking?
My usual, quick-thinking, clear-headed husband didn't speak & I really needed him to react much quicker than he did. To Arlan's credit, he still says "I couldn't believe it had really happened!" :)
While I was trying to locate a locksmith on my smart phone, up pulls our good friends, Brian & Katie with their daughter Hannah.
[side note: while we don't see them often enough, we seem to pick the most random locations to accidentally hook up: Indy's Keystone Mall for instance or Tanner's Orchard's or in this case, Outback Steakhouse while I've locked Haven in the car]
Brian quickly jumped into action, looking for something in his trunk that could pry between the door...to no avail. Thus I convinced Arlan that because a child was in danger, calling 911 was our best option. Haven by no means, was in danger, crying, or even in distress but what if a locksmith took 3 hours?
The Bloomington Fire Dept. was dispatched and had Haven happily out (she loves firetrucks) in under 5 minutes from the time I placed the call. Grandpa Miller had kept her entertained my making faces through the car window during our short wait.
The whole ordeal took under 15 minutes.
And of course, our good friends, Brian & Katie, who we see not near enough but at random places....also happened to have their camera along...of course :)
and here are our 2 darlings, only about 1 week before my car-locking incident...we had stopped by after church to catch up, and coincidentally had them dressed alike...of course!
the story of our friendship-it's meant to be Brian & Katie...no getting rid of us!
the story of our friendship-it's meant to be Brian & Katie...no getting rid of us!
02 May 2011
easter in iowa 2011
I can't believe Easter was just last week! So much has happened in 7 days...I finally have time to sit down and post a few pictures from our time out in Iowa over Easter. My 2 aunts from Phoenix were home, along with my cousin Kolette and her two boys. It made for some busy yet fun family get-togethers!
the kids waiting for pizza while coloring
Aunt Emmy getting in on the fun
my darling red-head niece, Mali (Lonn's) with Grandpa-she loves rubbing his smooth head too!
Haven trying on Grandpa's boots!
I think she looks like a hufflepud from Narnia's Dawn Treader, except they only have 1 foot :)
I think she looks like a hufflepud from Narnia's Dawn Treader, except they only have 1 foot :)
Haven's highlight of the trip~riding in Grandpa's truck & getting to honk his horn!
She is obsessed with trucks right now & any time she's sees them when we are driving [especially on interstate], she wildly honks her little horn or waves!
She is obsessed with trucks right now & any time she's sees them when we are driving [especially on interstate], she wildly honks her little horn or waves!
Haven & Macy [Lonn's] playing!
Aunt Emmy got plenty of smooches from Haven :)
Haven loved playing hide-n-seek with Aunt Lois & Aunt Vonnie-these 2 make her laugh!
I had a better picture of the play, but was pretty sure Aunt Lois would NOT have thought it was good! :)
I had a better picture of the play, but was pretty sure Aunt Lois would NOT have thought it was good! :)
Haven's new favorite past time-coloring!
the kids at Mali's birthday party getting ready for the Easter egg hunt!
Haven's treasure
Mali ready to dig in!
Easter morning with Grandpa & Grandma
29 April 2011
Friday's Funny-signs
It's a bit hard to read, but too funny not to share what you can actually read...this was an auction item at the first annual Miller/Schlipf silent auction. All proceeds of the random knick-knack items at the family silent auction go to charity. Competitive spirits are a must for this family event :)I believe this random sign ended up with Amber...or she's at least the one who provided me the picture!
28 April 2011
orlan's surgery
Yesterday, Arlan's Dad, underwent kidney surgery to remove the large kidney tumor/cancer that engulfed his right kidney. The entire kidney was removed along with a larger than anticipated tumor. The urologist seemed pleased that the surgery went well taking into account his amount of blood loss & size of tumor. We are headed to the hospital today and are prayerful he had a good first night with pain controlled and able to rest as he will have a several weeks of recovery. Pathology tests (hopefully received this Friday) will show if the cancer has possibly spread outside the kidney area.
Thanks for your prayers & please continue to pray for:
Also, it's been over a month since I've posted on my father & although things have been quite hectic, I do plan on updating soon.
Blessings,
Katie
Thanks for your prayers & please continue to pray for:
- Orlan's pain & that he can slowly but surely begin to regain back movement & functions.
- Carol as she stays by his side during long hospital days.
- The grace to accept the outcome of the biopsy report.
Also, it's been over a month since I've posted on my father & although things have been quite hectic, I do plan on updating soon.
Blessings,
Katie
22 April 2011
Friday's Funny-political irony
"Two decades from now, I'm willing to take a look at it, but I'm not willing to take a look at it right now."
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on any changes to Social Security.
[published in World magazine: April 9, 2011]
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