Another update...

Hi... my dad was awake off and on most of yesterday.  Good news!  :)

However, he slept most of today.  He is so weak that he tires out very easily.   I'm hoping he will be able to be awake more tomorrow.

My mom is getting very stressed out and I wish I could take that away from her, but I can't.   So I keep praying that she will be able to handle what ever comes our way and for dad's strength to return.

I'm very thankful for the prayers and thoughts you all give.  It means more than I can say to my heart.  It also means a lot to my mom, as I share them with her as well.

I've been getting a lot of crocheting done, during my time at the hospital for the past two weeks.  I still have this week to go, so there's not telling how much I'll have done by the end of the week.   I'm hoping my dad is moved out of ICU and into a regular room, this week.  Then I will feel better about not being at the hospital with mom, next week, as I have to return to work.

Hugs to you all!


God bless and keep you,
Sonia

UPDATE

Hello All! 
I apologize for being away for the past 10 days.    My dad finally woke up today twice, after 10 1/2 days of sleeping.  He was able to be awake about 30 minutes both times.   That is an answer to prayers.   He is on his way to recovering now, though it may be slow. 

Here's how the past weeks have gone.

Last Monday: Surgery = eight hours.  He had 3 graphs and 23 laser cuts to his heart, so that new veins will be grown. 

Last Tuesday: his oxygen was lowered too much too fast, startled his eyes opened, unfocused and he grabbed the breathing tube, without searching for it, and pulled it and the feeding tube straight out and then threw them.  They tried to see if he could breath on his own, but decided later in the afternoon to put a CPAP on him.  He got very agitated and I was afraid he was going to break open his incisions.  So he was sedated again so that the breathing tube could be put back in.

He slept.

Last Friday: He awoke for about 5 minutes, long enough to focus on us and know who we are.  Then later in the night he bit his breathing tube in two.   So, he was sedated again and another breathing tube was inserted. 

He slept.

This Monday: his breathing tube was removed and he was given a tracheotomy, so that he could recover faster.  So he was sedated once again.  

He slept.

He was also put on pain medication and two broad spectrum antibiotics, because he came down with an infection and a bacteria growing in his blood.

He slept.

My dad has dementia and it takes him longer to recover, so being sedated so many times and being on the many medications, has had him sleeping very long.

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Have a great weekend!

God bless and keep you,

Sonia

Update on my Dad

Hello all!

It's been a very long day, but one I can say ended well thus far.

My dad in now in ICU.  His surgery lasted 8 hours.  They did 3 graphs and cut 23 laser holes in his heart.  The holes will heal up and new veins will begin to grow to feed his heart.   His vitals were fine, before I left the hospital this evening.   They hope to have him up and eating in the morning.

I will post an update tomorrow evening.

I thank you all for your prayer support.   I firmly believe God has His hand on my dad.

An awesome thing to share... nasty weather moved in overnight, but amazingly the roads did not get too bad to travel.  My thoughts... that's a God thing. 

Why?, you may wonder.

I believe it's a God thing, because I prayed trusting God to make it so that I could still be with my mom at the hospital today, during dad's surgery.   It happened - no trouble on the roads.

Well, that's it for tonight - mentally tired and have another long day at the hospital tomorrow.

Until next time,

God bless and keep you,
Sonia

Today's Journey...

Hello!

I'd like to begin with a prayer request.

My dad, John Benton, will be having open heart surgery, Monday morning (2/13/12).   Please remember him in your prayers and add him to any prayer list you may have. 

The weather is suppose to turn nasty tomorrow night, into Monday.   I hope the roads are not too bad, as I want and need to be there with my mom, during dad's surgery.

I am so thankful I have friends like you, who I feel comfortable making such a request too.  It means more than you can know.  :)

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I was going to make a tote bag today, but when my daughter asked if I wanted to go flea marketing today, I chose to do that instead.   After all, she's only going to be 15 once.  :)

Here's what I found today. 

A cookbook, the proceeds go toward mission work.

A set of cathedral window blocks.  The hard part is already done, the cutting, folding and pressing.  Two were already sewn together with the center block started.  I finished it off for this picture.  The center block pattern was in the bag also.   I plan to work on these while we wait on dad's surgery to get done.  It will be about six hours.   

I also found a pair of Americana place mats, that I plan to use either on a cedar chest, piano or hang one on the wall.   I like their look, and they will go well in my living room.

As we walked back into our house around 5pm, the smell of cinnamon rolls was in the air.  My sweetheart, baked cinnamon rolls today and they are yummy!   

My hubby is such a good man to be blessed with, and I'm not just saying that because of the cinnamon rolls.  :)

 

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I realized this evening, I have yet to submit my block of the month.  

I will try to get that done, this next week.

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Comfort

~Sonia R Parham~

6/18/02

Worries and fears

Overwhelm us, 

Causing tears.

When that bleak moment comes

Remember, there is One,

Who can calm the waters

And chase away the dread in our heart.

Just hand it over to the Lord, 

Feel your burden depart.

Know He is beside you day and night.

Holding you in His hands, 

Keeping you in sight.

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Well, that's it for today.   I hope you are having a great weekend!

God bless and keep you,

Sonia

On One Hand...

Hello!   Hope this finds you doing well.  :)

I apologize for being away this week, but it's been a weird week for me, in a way.

On one hand it's been a "blah" week, having my car break down, finding out more are going to be laid off next week, rainy, and chilly.

On the other hand, I have been at peace within, knowing the Lord is with me always.  I have been singing with the Kingdom Bound Quartet and gospel music on the radio in my car.

I haven't really been inspired to write this week, until this morning.

Last night I bought a Chris Tomlin CD.  I listened to it this morning and his song,"How Can I Keep From Singing" came on, and I realized it fit my week. 

Here it is, if you would like to hear the song. 

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WEEKLY RECIPE

This week's recipe is from my friend, Fannie Porter. 

One word to describe it:  YUMMY!

Quick and Easy Cake

by Fannie Porter

1 box Duncan Hines yellow cake mix and ingredients to make it
1 jar applesauce
1 large box strawberry jello
Cool whip or Reddi Wip

Follow directions on cake mix box, bake in a 9X13 pan until done.  Let cool completely.  Slice the cake lengthwise, so you now have 2 layers.   Take the jar of applesauce and the box of strawberry jello and mix together.  Spread between the layers of cake.   Place in fridge until jello is set, about 30 minutes.  Frost cake with whipped topping.    This will keep in the fridge for a week and only gets better. 

It's quick, easy and YUMMY! :)

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I thought I'd share a easy organization tip with you.   

My friend Charlotte, showed me a picture of her sewing area.   This is how she keeps up with her embroidery threads.

Use a peg board, attach it to wall or side of cabinet, which ever works best for you.   Insert number of pegs you need for the thread and organize in color, size of spool, or which ever way works the better for you.

This works great for other sewing tools as well, scissor, rotary cutters, rulers....

You can also hang rolls of ribbon, or baskets to hold smaller items.  This will help you save some room by using vertical space.

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Microsoft clip art

God does not take away the darkness, 

but He guides us through it.

~ Quilted Hearts~

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What have you been up to this week?

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Have a fabulous Friday!!

God bless and keep you,

Sonia

Creative Twitch

I woke this morning with a creative twitch.  I had nothing planned, so I pulled my scrap fabric tub down and pulled out some scraps and created a mug rug and a coaster.

Then I moved on to another block for my Scripture Afghan.  This one is called the Crown.

I looked it up and I found there are 84 scriptures in the Bible that has the word crown in them.

I won't list all the scriptures, but the books they can be found in are...

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, 2 Samuel, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Esther, Job, Psalm, Proverbs, Song of Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Nahum, Zachariah, Matthew, Mark, John, 1 Corinthians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Timothy, Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, and Revelation.

The verse the spoke to me this evening was in Proverbs.

A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness to his bones. ~ Proverbs 12:4

I think this verse is a great reminder of how a lady should act.  :)

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WEEKLY RECIPE

Pumpkin Cake

1 cup brown sugar

1 1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 1/4 cup Crisco

4 eggs

1 can of pumpkin (16 oz)

2 3/4 cups all purpose flour

3 tsp. salt

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 1/2 tsp. pumpkin spice

1/2 tsp. ginger

1/2 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350°.  In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugars, Crisco and eggs.  Beat for 2 minutes, then add pumpkin.  Sift flour, salt and spices together and add gradually to the pumpkin mixture while beating it at low speed.  Once all the ingredients are mixed together, beat it for another 2 minutes on medium speed.  Stir in nuts.  Pour into a greased and floured cake pan and bake for 50 - 55 minutes or until it tests done with a toothpick.   Cool the cake for about 10 minutes,  before removing it from the pan.

This cake is more dense, than most.  I sprinkled powered sugar on top, but it is rich enough to eat as it is.

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Well, it's getting close to midnight, so I guess I better sign off and try to wind down, before I go to bed.

I'm reading a good book called The Spider Catcher.  It takes place during the Revolutionary War. 

It's about an English ship builder, who becomes a doctor and travels to America to practice, gets caught up in the Revolutionary war and begins building ships again to fight against the British.

This is a new author for me and so far I like the story.  :)


Here's wishing you beautiful Sunday!

God bless and keep you,
Sonia

Inspiration, Felt

Hi!

A friend, at work, gave me some felt the other day.  This evening, I took out my pinking shears and played with the felt, so see how it would work.   I ended up with a heart ornament and a flower pin for my handbag.

I'm thinking the felt would work good in some pin cushions too.

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INSPIRATION FOR TODAY

Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you, He will never leave you nor forsake you. ~ Deuteronomy 31:6

Hearts that are open to the love that is God, feel loved in loving and served in serving.
~ Edward Gloeggler~

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God bless and keep you,
Sonia

an ostensible was designed with green mold