Family

Living for today, hoping for tomorrow - no regrets about yesterday!

As most of you have heard, Mom is in the Devon Hospital. She has been struggling for a few weeks with fatigue, shortness of breath and mild confusion. With the help of family, we were able to encourage her to see Dr. Patocka. Immediately Dr. Patocka flew into action with tests and kind words. Mom was sent to Grey Nuns for a CT scan via ambulance. (You know there just isn't a nicer looking group of professionals - sweet deal - I was able to tag along)! OK we did ask for a quick stop at Olive Garden or any shopping mall but with slight hesitation we were politely refused. Trust me, we had the ambulance rocking with laughter and stories and bonus, we didn't get kicked out to the curb (as you remember with the chemo room).

We are awaiting final test results but there is some swelling of the brain which would explain some confusion! There has been a lesion detected but no word on if this is cancerous. Her lungs are clear and oxygen seems to be helping with the shortness of breath. Mom remains in hospital until contact can be made with her oncologist for further investigations. I will continue to keep everyone updated on her progress.

Phone calls or visits are welcomed and encouraged by everyone. This weekend was filled with laughter and giggles as Joey, Rick, Joni, Jack and Tess were all here. Special thank you's to Joey who stepped up by sitting with Mom in Devon and kept his nephews and nieces entertained. He jumped right in and helped me gather some belongings for Mom! He was so thoughtful and brought Mom a book entitled "Always Looking Up", which was so appropriate that I went out and bought it to read together with Mom. Another special thank you to Joni, superb BBQ'ing - she is truly one of the best chefs ever! Although I do hear Robb makes some scrumptous seafood. She was my secret rock to lean on. Thank you Joni! OK Rick, now your turn, upbeat, positive, and hopeful. True strength demonstrated as we all needed this weekend. Thanks for entertaining the kids with a crushing road hockey game - always entertaining! Aunty Mo always close at hand to offer her help and support - Thank you for keeping everyone updated! She is amazing as she is preparing for a garage sale, working and continually scurring about she still makes time to call everyone!

Thank you to all the family! I hope to write daily but do to our "temporary camping" home computer access may be limited. Not to worry only 6 more weeks until our house is completed - sure wish our other house didn't sell so quickly. Snow in April, in our travel trailer is rockin'. Quite an adventure, checked that off my bucket list!

Love to you all,
Jacquie

A story from Hawaii

2 days into our wedded bliss, we are booked to go to a Luau. We arrive at a beautiful location and they show us to a table where we can meet other people and wait for the show to start. The announcer comes over the loudspeaker, asking for some volunteers, I turn around to look at my husband of 2 days to see his hand up waving to volunteer. I am a little annoyed because that leaves me alone, by myself, alone.
He leaves, and then they call our table up for the buffet to begin, well, like the newly wed that I am, I rush up to get in line (he can catch up with me when he is done volunteering!).
I am standing in line, trying to decide if I should eat the pig that they just pulled out of the earth (it was cooked that way, in a hole in the ground?!) when the show is starting on stage.
I look up to see what is happening, and there are three very weird looking hula girls on stage.
I continue on getting my food, when the music stops and I look up again, and then I see it.
Oh
My
God
My husband of 2 days, is on stage, in a grass skirt, and a coconut bra, dancing....


I rush thru the buffet line, drop my plate at the table, grab the camera and rush to the front of the stage, this I have to get a picture of!
The announcer is talking to Austin, asking him about his stay, he announces that we have just gotten married 2 days ago and points me out to the announcer.
He asks " Did you expect this on your honeymoon?" "No" I say, with a few other words under my breath.
I snap a few more pictures, go back to my table and wait for my husband to get out of his skirt and bra so that we can have a little chat.
Needless to say, he thought that this should not be mentioned to our families, and I completely agreed.
Welcome to our family Austin!

Wedding Pictures from Hawaii!

Hi Everyone

Sorry it has taken so long for the pictures, been busy getting used to farm life.

Austin and I are now at the family farm where we have 12 cows, 2 bulls, 2 barn cats, 1 house cat and one dog. I am learning alot about farm life and married life and it has been great!

Hope everyone is doing well, spring is coming, life is good!!

Lisa and Austin

Injuries

Now I wish I could say that I am surprised, but I'm not. I'll just take everyone back to the O'hara reunions of past and ask everyone; can anyone recall one reunion where there were no injuries? Nope didn't think so. Now I know this is not a reunion, but let us revisit cousin Rick's past. There were a few incidents of self inflicted stabbing (climbing and falling perhaps where a young lad shouldn't), possibly a couple of roll-overs in the infamous odyssey treks, hmmm I could go on. All joking aside Ricker I am glad to hear that you are up and around. However, 6 weeks is not near enough to let that heal. Take a break and heal up proper!!
Take Care Everyone!

Back-Atter

Rick loves hockey.
Rick coaches hockey.
Rick plays hockey.
Rick breaks his back at hockey.

Now that I have your attention!

What a way to get the blog rolling again!

Next time Rick no need to break a bone - I would be happy to write any other blog on your behalf. Back to Rick (oops bad pun).......

Rick was playing lunch hour hockey with the guys. Now I didn't receive any info if these were the 20 something crew and forgot to tell Rick he is to enter in the ALMOST 40 league......but he did manage to take a trip into the boards with another defenseman. Now Rick being Rick skated off the ice (not sure if he finished the game). Turns out he has broke T5 and T6 in his back - not to worry he is moving very slow and enjoying a few pain killers. He is threatening to be back-atter in 6 weeks but maybe next season would be a better idea.

Rick our hearts and family love is sent your way! We all wish you a very speedy recovery -enjoy your time at home and don't forget to take out the garbage!

Super Nan and You

Hey O'Hara's,

Here's an update on Nan in Devon hospital. As most of you know, Nan has been hospitalized for twelve days (not counting the four hours she spent at home before returning to hospital).

She remains very weak and has oxygen running most of the time. Tomorrow she is going for an ECHOcardiogram in Leduc. This is a preliminary test to determine if surgery would be an option for her at this time as she has some blockage in the aorta area and this is causing the chest pain, fatigue and loss of appetite. She has told us that she wouldn't be favorable to any major surgery but would welcome something like an angioplasty, which would relieve her symptoms.

She loves her phone calls and has a phone by her bed. Her # is 780 987-8200 and she would love to hear from all of you(That was Mom).

(Rick Post) Visited Nan today. She is feeling pretty good. I say that because she immediately told me a story about her beating a teacher when Uncle Dan was in grade 1. Something about a Ms. Nelson telling Dan his ears were too big. You don't need to know all the details but know that Nan gave her 110 pounds of peed off Mommy in a school hallway and then pushed her down on a icy sidewalk. Course I might have some details wrong but you get the gist. She still has the fighting Irish in her.
She did offer me one of her T3's so I'm not sure what thats about either.
Suffice to say she likes visitors.
Hugs all round...
Rick

Vegas update part 4375

Hey Everyone!
We don't really have any news, I just felt like posting something on the blog. Okay, that's not true, I always have something to say.

Well, our dear little Checkers made it through surgery just fine. He had a luxated (sp?) patella which means that his kneecap and associated muscles kept slipping to the side of his leg. He's home and supposed to be taking it easy, not supposed to be jumping around or moving. So since he's an O'Hara dog, he's crafted a bungy cord out of elastic bands, invited the rottweiler from next door over and the poodles from down the street and having a krunk party. (I don't know what that means but the teenagers on our street keep talking about it).

Other than that nothing is new. Jay O'Hara is in town for a convention and I got to see him briefly (we really enjoy seeing any family - seriously - even Jay... ; ).

I really wish we could've made it home for the Aussie invasion but it just didn't work out for us. Sorry Dave.

Hope everyone up north is doing well, we miss you all .

Dale