A New Journey In My Life

Wow, I can't believe my blog is still here! I have been following a blog about the daughter of a very good friend who has RSD and is in a Ketamine coma with hopes of curing it. I pray that it works.
Speaking of chronic illnesses, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis just over a year ago. It has been a difficult journey. Most of last year was spent in and out of the hospital for "non-MS" surgeries and illnesses. It started with all kinds of testing with the wonderful doctors I worked with at the MS Center (yes, I was actually working in MS Research prior to my diagnosis). Once they got me to the point of diagnosis, Dr. Riskind suggested I go to Beth Israel Hospital in Boston to a neurologist with whom he used to work. She diagnosed me with Primary Progressive MS. Sadly, there is no treatment for this type of MS. She had me do a 9 day course of steroids to see if it helped, but it didn't. During the steroids, I started getting this lower abdominal pain. I thought it was just from the steroids. I also developed a cough, so I went to the ED and a very estute doctor was more concerned about my belly pain. It ended up being diverticulitis. So began the new year. I think I was in for about a week for that one. My liver enzymes were extremely elevated too, but came down during my stay. About a month or so later, mom was here with me and about mid afternoon, I asked her to take me back to the ER because my pain was back. This time my enzymes were sky high again, and the surgeon said I needed to have the infected bowel removed. This was a 2 week stay with the worst pain I have ever had! So I came home to recover. Luckily I had retired on disability because I can't imagine having to miss so much work, so I guess it worked out for the best. So around June I think, I woke up with a sore throat, which got worse as the day progressed. By evening my temp was 102.5 and I was sooo sick. I guess when you have MS, any time you get sick it really knocks you out. My mom wanted me to go to the ER again, but I told her I was too sick. The next morning I managed to get myself downstairs to the couch, and when my mom came over, she picked up the phone and called 911. I have a raging fever and could hardly walk. Back to the hospital again and again admitted with a strep throat and elevated liver enzymes. Finally the doctor did an MRI and found my common bile duct was completely blocked, so they needed to do a simple proceedure called an ERCP. This is usually a day surgery type of proceedure where they put a little camera into your stomach and he put a stent into the duct, once he got it unblocked. Somehow, I managed to aspirate when he was taking out the tube, and I ended up in the intensive care unit on a respirator, with pneumonia! Not fun! I finally get released about a week later, back to my wonderful home to recuperate. I had one more ERCP about a month later to remove the stent, and thank God, it went perfectly. I have been out of the hospital since.
Wow, that was a long paragraph!! It's now 10:30 pm and I need to get to bed. I'll write more soon!

I'm Back!!

Well, it's been 4 months since my last posting. We are doing alright, though we miss Jan very much. Life has been very busy...my babies get bigger every day. I can't tell you how much I love them. They have been my strength during these difficult times. They get bigger every day. Perry is starting to talk and Ella is such a darling...I want to eat them up!!

We have also added a new Maine Coon to the family...His name is Apollo. Our Bruschi ran away from home, and I believe he is in heaven with Janice (I got him when Jan was going through her first round of chemo). First, Jasper joined our family, another Maine Coon from a breeder in Massachusetts. Then a couple of months ago, the breeder had another litter, and I couldn't resist. Apollo, Jasper's half brother, came home with us (same father, different mother). He is crazy!!

The babies have so much fun with them. Jasper is an amazing animal. He is huge and so distinguished looking! He is always with me wherever I am.

One of my favorite times is when I get to give my babies a bath. This is a picture of Ella when I asked her to give me "Butterfly eyes". She flutters her eyes, and it is so cute!!

Steve and I joined the Y and have been taking Perry and Ella to the pool. They both love it. It's good for both of us. I'm going to add some more pictures to bring you up to date. Enjoy!!

A Beautiful Life

I am sorry to have to report that Janice, my beloved mother-in-law, passed away in the early morning hours of December 27, 2006. She valiantly fought ovarian cancer for 3 years, but in the end, the cancer won out. We will miss her dearly. I will share with you my eulogy from her church service.

Family and friends,

Today we have come to the end of a long and difficult road. Those of us who loved Janice traveled it with her as far as we could. Today, though, she has gone on ahead of us and we are left to mourn.

We are left to mourn someone who was the heart of the family. We are left to mourn someone who was always there when she was needed. Yet despite our sorrow, we are glad that her suffering is over and that she is, at long last, at peace.

Janice died bravely and with great dignity. Worn out though she was by her pain, she didn’t want to leave those she loved but her time had come. I know she knew that she would always be with us in our hearts.We think, of course, that her life was cut short too quickly. She had so much more to give and we feel today as though she has been snatched from us. Yet in her time with us she gave us so much.

There is an empty place where she used to be. Nobody else can fill that place. Yet she has left a lingering presence and it is a happy presence filled with love and understanding.

There are traits of Janice left in her grandchildren. I see her innocence and trusting in Kelly and Cassey, her caring spirit in Elizabeth and Patrick and the twinkle in her eye in Caitlin. Her kindness will carry on throughout the generations. When we look at one child we will see a part of Janice, when we look at another we will be reminded of her in another way. Perhaps that is the real secret of life over death.

Janice was one of the most loving people I know. She had a great big heart and her hospitality reflected that. Janice always made you feel warmly welcome. She was good company and you would never get bored if you were with her. She could talk with you for hours. She also loved to go visiting, whether it was friends in Florida, Arizona or Springfield. If she was in the area, you could always count on her coming by.

She hated meanness in any shape or form and would let her feelings be known very plainly. Janice did everything methodically and couldn't leave the house without checking every plug, the stove, the oven, the toaster or anything else that might bring disaster upon the house while she and Perry are at church or out to dinner. She was always the last one out the door, which frustrated Perry to no end!!She loved the fresh air and enjoyed walking, especially with her Cleo. She always had to have something sweet after every meal, whether it was some ice cream, a cookie or jello. We also had what we lovingly called “O’Leary Dessert” at family dinners which meant that just as soon as the table was cleared from dinner, the desserts immediately appeared, and Janice usually had “just a bit” of each one on the table. She loved music and on Saturday the 23rd at Perry’s 82nd birthday party, she made her way upstairs at my house and sang a song while Steve accompanied her on his guitar. She was so happy to finally get him to play for her so she could sing along. It was a special moment.

We won't hear her voice anymore. We won't hear her telling us to wash our hands. We won’t hear her telling Perry exactly how, when and where she wanted him to do things. We won't hear her lament over losing again and again at her Friday night card games. Or hear her joy when she finally won!! Sometime in the future, though, when somebody else says something we'll think, “That's just what Janice said.” Sometime we'll hear a song and say “That's the song Grammie sang” and we'll smile through our tears.

Today we are crying for ourselves because Janice is gone and already we miss her so much. Yet she is at peace now and pain free and for that we must be glad. So Janice, it's time to rest.


Today there's a feeling of peace in the air

Of a journey that's over and done

And though we are sad because of our loss

There's a feeling too that we've won

Because it was hard to see you suffer

To watch you when you were in pain

And yet from your courage and bravery

We all had so much to gain

So rest easy now as you go on your way

To the Heaven's above and as we say

Our final farewells with tears in our eyes

We know that despite these so sad goodbyes

You've given us memories to cherish, hold dear

Goodbye, rest with God and you'll still be near.

Happy Halloween!

I can't believe that we have had our second Halloween as grandparents!! And not only that, but have doubled the number of grandchildren since last year!!
Yesterday, I went to the doctor and found out that my "cold" that won't go away was a sinus infection...I felt misreable. But it was Halloween!! My babies were getting their babies dressed up for this unique holiday and how could I miss it? So I went home, shut my eyes for a few minutes then drove over to Elizabeth's for Trick or Treat. Needless to say, it was so very worth the "effort"...Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin welcomed me with ear to ear grins, and any aches and pains were quickly forgotten.
My little guy is now walking, and my little girl is crawling (she was only 7 1/2 months old when she started!)

Ella has started eating solid foods, and loves green beans best of all! She has the softest skin and the most intense blue eyes I have ever seen. She is pensive and gentle like her mommy and daddy. Her belly laughs are sometimes times earned and other times spontaneous. She loves her mommy and daddy, her constant companion Trafton, and my cat Brady. And she loves me!

Perry, he is my little man...and such an amazing mix of his mom and dad. His ready smile and easy laughter fill your heart! You watch his first tentative steps, his unwillingness to give up, and the pure joy he expresses at his accomplishments and your heart melts!

Enjoy my pictures and we'll see you at the holidays!!

Happy Fall 2006!!

Hi Everyone,
It's hard to believe that fall is upon us again. The colors are peaking in this area, and the swamp maples are especially brilliant. I went for a long walk with Elizabeth and Ella today. I marveled at the blue fall sky which brought to mind the color of Ella and Elizabeth's eyes. When we got back to my house, I took a picture of the two of them with just wonderful results. I'm not sure I have ever seen such beautiful eyes...you drown in their gaze.

We took Perry apple picking a couple of weeks ago. We loaded him up in the backpack and took a hayride into the orchard along with his grammie and grampie O'Leary. He experienced for the first time in his young life the crisp, warm, tart taste of a freshly picked apple. If I ever moved out of this area, I think that experience would be one I'd miss the most.

Both Ella and Perry are making wonderful progress in their attempts to master the art of movement. My little guy took 3 well balanced steps on Friday!! It was so amazing to watch! And tonight, our little princess actually crawled forward with determination! She gets so frustrated, but she keeps at it!!

Steve and I had both of them on Saturday night for the first time. I have to admit that we did quite well!! I had them sitting in high chairs next to each other and I fed them both at the same time. Then Steve had Perry duty while I changed Ella into her PJ's, then we switched. It was really a terrific evening.

Well, that's it for now. I'll write again soon.

Love, Kathy

Our Cape Cod Vacation

We got home from our week on Cape Cod yesterday. We stayed at a timeshare in Falmouth. Kelly, Perry and I were there fo the entire week, and everyone else came at different times. The week started out last Saturday with a pizza party at Chris' house. He imported a pizza oven like the one they use at Bertucci's. My brother David came over and did most of the cooking. It was pretty amazing...and delicious!! Mom and Dad were there as well, and dad had

that twinkle in his eye again. It was a night we feared would never happen. Being together like that was magical. Perry was able to put away at least 3 slices, with his favorite being the roasted red peppers (we roasted those in the oven as well)

We pretty much hung around for the rest of the week, but it was fun being with the babies. Elizabeth, Ella, Steve and I went up to Wellfleet, then on to Provincetown for the day. Ella, at 6 months, is showing her personality now...so darned cute! She smiled at anyone who looked at her as we shopped along the narrow streets in P'Town. What a little flirt! She is now onto new culinary sensations! Elizabeth has been giving her homemade baby food...and she is loving it!

I have to say that both babies were really terrific. Ella didn't sleep as well as she does at home, but rumor has it that mommy's snoring may have kept her up! I never her a peep though. And Perry slept like a log, going down at 7:30ish and not getting up until after 8.

On Friday we all went down to the Popponessett marketplace, to the Raw Bar restaurant and had one of their famous lobster rolls. It was amazing..lived up to all the hype! You HAVE to go if you get the chance. We loved it!

Well, that's about it for now. I'll put on a few more pictures for you to enjoy. Check out those blue eyes!! Just like Mommy's!!

My Dad

My dad "went away" for a while last week. A wrong combination of medications prescribed by the doctor very nearly cost him his life. Our family closed in ranks around him and stayed at his side as long as we possibly could, providing him the comfort of holding his hand, or wiping his brow with a cool cloth.

When I am faced with a difficult life lesson, I try to take away some new knowledge about myself. One of these lessons was that I realized that no matter how old you are, you cannot prepare yourself to lose a parent. There is so much more living to do, and to have gone without Perry and Ella remembering him would be so sad. He still brings so much joy to our family.

For the first 2 days, he was in a coma like state,where he was hallucinating, seeing and conversing with people from his past. He was re-living his life right before our eyes....It gave us a unique understanding of dad's innermost feelings. What came through was a man who loved life, making people happy, and who agonized over difficult decisions he had to make. His love of laughter was right up there. If you didn't know better, you would have sworn he was wide awake and talking to you. But when you looked at his eyes, nothing was there, no glimpse of recognition. For more that 36 hours, his entire body shook, he ran a fever, and he didn't sleep. David came up from the cape, and I think that he somehow knew Dave was there because he actually became somewhat peaceful when he held his hand. Dad has always adored David, his beautiful firstborn son.
When dad finally came back to us, he was overjoyed to see all of us there. Unfortunately, Ian and Sophia had gone home and dad couldn't remember them having been there. He also couldn't remember Marc or Rob visiting either, but he was thankful that they were there. I'm sure he felt their love and caring.
So, what else did I take away? I need to tell my parents that I love them and that each hold a special place in my heart. I need to thank them for giving so generously of their time to their grandchildren and great grandchildren. I took away the knowledge that when I am on my deathbed and reliving my life, that it be full of laughter, love and family and good friends.
I want my brothers and sisters-in-law to know that I love them and only want love in return. I want to see my dad in the kitchen at Chris and Doe's house with a roaring fire in the pizza oven. And I want to see Perry and Ella run over to their great grandparents and say I love you nana and nonu!

Work Hard Dad and Come Home!!