December 30th, 2008 by Jennine
With all the trouble a Minnesota winter storm brings, it also has the ability to give everything a fresh perspective.
But then again, so does Jack Daniels.
December 28th, 2008 by Jennine
Life has been so full of gloom in the last several days that I was beginning to wonder if we would ever have joy again. Just moments ago joy arrived in the form of an eight-pound, seven ounce package as my sister, Alyssa, gave birth to her fourth child: Addison Joy Mack.
Not all hospital visits are sad.
I’m headed out, with camera in hand, to meet the newest member of our family and I can’t wait to post pictures of what will undoubtedly be the most beautiful newborn in the world.
Congratulations John, Alyssa, Callyn, Owen and Jillian!
December 28th, 2008 by Jennine
Thank you to everyone who has left a supportive comment regarding my mother-in-law’s illness.
For those of you who are interested in following us on our difficult journey you can visit http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/caroljohnsonscandia
December 24th, 2008 by Jennine
Darren and I woke up at 4:30 this morning to shop for Christmas presents for the children because we apparently like the insanity of last minute shopping and gift-wrapping.
It took us about three hours and an obscene amount of money to choose just the right gifts for our beloved offspring and as we brought the gifts into the house where the children were all resting comfortably in their beds, we felt clever for accomplishing the mission of not letting the kids figure out their presents ahead of time.
And then we received a phone call which will forever change our lives.
It was Darren’s father, Doug, who was obviously upset.
“Jennine, I have a problem.”
He explained that Carol, Darren’s mom, was having memory problems and he was worried that she might be having a stroke. I listened in silence as Doug shared his plan to immediately take her to the hospital. His weeping prevented him from saying anything else and then the telephone went dead.
Darren and I jumped in the car and raced to the emergency room in complete shock. We had just been with Carol at Kevin’s wrestling tournament last Friday and she appeared to be in tip-top shape. It was unreal.
The ER doctor ordered a CT scan of Carol’s brain, assuming that she may have a small bleed, but it didn’t make sense to him that she was not experiencing pain or numbness. Her only symptom was short term memory loss.
The CT results came back quickly and Carol was diagnosed with a tumor in her brain. Because of its location, the “silent part” of the brain that handles memory, it wasn’t unusual for her not to experience the pain normally associated with a brain tumor.
The doctor ordered an MRI which futher revealed a malignant, tennis ball-sized tumor.
My mother-in-law is fighting for her life.
I don’t have to tell you how this has impacted our family or how miserable and horrific it was to watch my seven children go from the excitement of Christmas Eve to the devastation of learning their Grandma is dying when only five days ago she was teasing and laughing with them.
We are all in shock and the joy of this holiday is gone. I wish I could wish you all a wonderful, happy, Merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart.
I just don’t have it in me.
Instead, let me wish you the deep-rooted and firm understanding that life is fragile, each day is a miraculous gift not to be taken for granted and you never, ever know what the next phone call might bring.
Please pray for Carol and for the doctors to have wisdom. And while you’re at it, please pray for my husband and children who are in the gruesome pain of knowing that life is anything but fair.
Jennine
