been a while!

whoa....I'm back alive!  I miss bloggin! :)

so long, no see!

I know it has been a while...

I recently told my parents that 2009 has been the most "rollercoaster-y" chaotic year. 

My loved one wrote.....

"Perfecting Grace"

I may not know where you want me to go,

It may lead to regions unknown.

It may be a path that strikes fear or despair, 

But make me willing to go when I'm told.

Lord, give me the strength to keep walking

Until I'm to the end of this life's race.

I'm not on my own, I realize, 

I've been bought with the price.

And I'll find rest in your perfecting grace.

I may not known what you want me to know

Until I've gone through the fire. 

But I'm willing to walk where I've not been before

Just as long as I know It's your desire.

Lord, give me the strength to keep walking

Until I'm to the end of this life's race.

I'm not on my own, I realize.

I've been bought with the price.

And I'll find rest in your perfecting grace.

I wish you happy holidays!!  :)  

The Dukes of Hazzard

ACCORDING TO THE FACEBOOK,
Suzanne completed the quiz "What movie is your life?" with the result The Dukes of Hazzard.
You are a wild one. You know how to have a good time even if you only have a penny in your pocket. Family comes first in your life and Second is the weekends. You'd rather be outside than inside and you'd say champagne is not your thing.......

Oh, yes...it definitely describes who I am!

sayings of the weekend

Quita:  You want a serious joke, funny joke, or something?

Jeremy:  How can a joke be serious?

"He [Jesus] must become greater, and I must become less."

Me:  When will you be 15?

Boy:  I don't know.

Me:  You know your birthday?

Boy: April 23rd

random thoughts

My thoughts within the last few days...

1. wow...I think it's such a miracle to see how God heals Dad. Several days after Dad's mild heart attack, Dad asked me if I could drive him to a hardware store. I immediately agreed because I was tired of being stuck in a house all the day with Dad alone...so we did enjoy our first outing after his hospitalization. I begged Dad to let me do all lifting because most of tools weighted over 10 pounds! I thank God for Dad!

2. It's about time to give my car a much needed bath! The Silver Weasel is covered with bird poops, pollen, coffee stains (from my clumsiness), smashed bugs, sand, etc. Ugh!

3. I think I am falling in love with Shoe Station, the largest shoe store in the South. I went there last night with two friends. We spent almost 2 hours exploring the entire store, except the men's department. I bought two pairs of super-cute flip flops.

4. I prefer buying clothes at second-handed stores, such as Ross and my friend's consignment store - less money, more cute clothes! Or I steal some of my mom's clothes. :)

5. I better go now because my friends and I are planning to visit Gulf Shores/Orange Beach for the night - sunset, seafood, shopping, the Wharf, people watching (numerous Spring Breakers are passing my house on their way to beaches), etc.

Have a lovely weekend! :)

a scary time for us!

Last Monday, Dad started feeling nauseated and tightness across his chest and went to the doctor.  They thought it was something related to sinus infection.  But he continued not to feel well, but he went to work Tuesday.  Again, he decided to go and see his doctor Wednesday afternoon.  After checking his heart rate and blood pressure, he immediately told him to go to hospital.  Dad said, "Sure...let me call my wife, so she can take me."  The doctor said, "No, I already called for an ambulance."  Dad asked, "Is it serious?"  The doctor said, "Yes, it's serious."  Later, it turned out to be a mild heart attack.  

Soon, I received a text message from Mom.  She said, "Your Dad.  In a Hospital.  Chest Pain.  High BP.  The doctors wants to do some tests on your Dad.  We'll be fine."  I would impulsively jump in my car and drive all the way to Birmingham, about 4 hours away.  My both sister and mom then told me there was no rush.  For me, it was hard living far away and not knowing what was going on!  My best friend Beth (my parents call her an "adopted" daughter) bought me a relief by checking on them in ER and emailed me a picture of them in their calm mode since she lived closer to them.  I already made a plan to visit them that weekend when I get off work Friday afternoon.  

Thursday morning, Dad had a heart catheterization.  That's when the doctors found blockage in his heart and said that stent placement wouldn't work.  Thursday noon when I was fixing my students' lunch, my sister texted me, "You might want to come up here because they are talking about doing open heart surgery."  My boss and co-workers encouraged me to leave and go, so I drove straight to Birmingham and realized that I would need to borrow my mom's clothes because I didn't stop by my place and pack anything.  All the way to Birmingham from Mobile, I prayed, teared up a little bit, reflected on my times with Dad, prayed, contacted my friends to pray for Dad and our family.  That was a scary moment for me because I wasn't ready to let go of Dad.  He was only 52 years old.  He has inherited high blood pressure and all the men on his mom's side died from heart disease.  

When I arrived at St. Vincent's Hospital, I met my mom and a church deacon outside the hospital.  When I walked with them to Dad's Surgery ICU room, Mom was giving me all the details about how it started.  When I walked into the room, I almost wanted to break down because I didn't like to see my own precious, strong dad being hooked up with IV and oxygen tubes.  Immediately, he smiled at me and signed, "Why did you have to drive all the way up here?  I don't need all of that attention!"  I quickly went to his hospital bed and give him a bear-y hug and a kiss on his forehead.  He knew how to make me feel better by making me laugh.  He was such a trooper!  Although he seemed swollen and groggy, he enjoyed cracking jokes and being "friendly" with everyone on the floor.  He introduced all the nurses to us and even bragged about his girls to others.  We think that morphine had that effect on him.  I was amazed at how Dad continued to sign well with me even though his hands were covered with IV tubes.  Also, his hands were shaking like usual because of his Parkinson's Disease.  I decided to give him foot massages, and then he asked me if I could give him some neck/back massage.  When I did that, he kept saying, "Yes...yes...Oh, I'm in heaven!"  LOL!  We had some great conversations sprinkled with laughers and a few tears.  

His current and former college students, church friends, colleagues, my sister's assistant band director (who wrapped Dad's favorite candy bar in "Hey Baby" music script - their "inside" joke), family members and Mom's co-workers/bosses came by and visited Dad during visiting hours in his ICU room.  I was amazed at how many people made the time to visit Dad and they told us how much Dad has made an impact on their lives.  Several of my childhood friends told me that they could never forget how wonderful Mr. Jay was.  Many people across the country have been praying for Dad.  I realize how blessed I have been to have Jay Mattox as my dad - what a privilege!  

Dad said that one of emotional moments for him was when a man who has attended his church for decades prayed aloud for the very first time in front of him!  Sweet times!  I asked him if he was scared.  He explained that he already had peace with God and felt that God wasn't done with his life here on the earth yet.  He believes that God still wants to use him.  I sighed and realized how much I'd love for him to walk down the aisle with me, marry me and my future husband, see my sister graduate from high school and college, and meet his grandchildren.

Yesterday, we were waiting on a team of cardiologists to come and give us a report on Dad's health.  After waiting for 8 hours, I was running out of patience.  Both Mom and Dad tried to ask nurses a few times when they could meet with cardiologists.  Finally, I got up and walked back and forth in a hallway until I confronted a nurse by myself.  I demanded that she will call the doctor immediately because Dad's fever was 100 and breathing was harder on him.  She quietly nodded and picked up the phone in front of me.  I mouthed, "Thank you."  A few minutes, the doctor showed up.

The cardiologist explained to us that the blockage turned out to be a clot that can be dissolved by Plavix and other medicines.  Medicines for heart repair, too!  He also explained that open heart surgery was not needed because medicines were progressing well.  Dad will need to do cardio rehab after his recovery.  Praise the Lord!  

We all thanked God for miracles and that Dad didn't need to undergo open heart surgery.  We continued to pray that medicines will continue to do the work!  When the cardiologist left, Dad prayed with us (Mom, my sis and I) and a nurse. 

Right now, Dad is moving out of his ICU room and into a private room.  He should be home by Monday.  :)  

"dressing up" season is over!

I realize I've not updated my blogspot in *ahems* a while!!

Within the last month, I felt I've put on a lot of make up and worn dresses almost everyday - for my childhood best friend's wedding, her showers, and Mardi Gras balls with my Mobile area friends. Sometimes, I just wanted to put on my swimsuit and head to the beach with no make up on.  However, I did have fun getting all fixed up and dressing up - I meant once in a while.  :)