Happy New Year!!

I can’t believe a full year has gone by already! We hope 2015 brings us the same health and happiness we have enjoyed in 2014. 

Looking back over the 2014:

Health-wise, Brian was still on his maintenance chemo that finished in February.  He has had his three monthly follow-ups since February and all have been really good.  Blood work is all normal, he is feeling very well and has been in complete remission.  Of course throughout the entire year, Brian has always been keeping up on his exercise – running, biking, weight training, walking – no wonder he stays in such great shape!  I still say that Brian’s overall fitness and his good eating habits (thanks to me……well for the most part anyway!) has gone a long way in keeping him in remission.  He was completely able to tolerate the chemo he did have and, of course, he has no other complicating medical ailments, so we feel very fortunate that he has done so well. 

Vacation-wise, we did manage to go to Florida for a week last February and Brian was back again to Florida with Breanne and family for a week in March which he thoroughly enjoyed spending time with his much loved Annika and Selena; while in the meantime I stayed home with the dogs – Timmie and Mavie!  Not that I minded though, being the introvert and loner that I am, I thoroughly enjoyed having a full 10 days all to myself.  Also in September we took our Mediterranean cruise and we had a great time with our friends from Australia and we had such beautiful weather and saw parts of the world we had never seen before! 

Family-wise, in November we got to welcome our first grandson into the world.  Although worrying that he was only 30 weeks of gestation, he weighed just a little over 4 lb and since then has come through with a fighting spirit and even though he is still in hospital, he is doing so much better now and we anticipate a discharge home sometime in January.

Our children, David (Jenn) and Breanne (James) are all doing well.  They are all very busy with their work and families!

Our two granddaughters, Annika and Selena, have been growing like weeds this past year.  Annika started grade 1 and Selena started Full Day Kindergarten in September and they are just so much fun now.  We feel very fortunate to live just around the corner from them so we can see them whenever we like – Brian often meets them after school to walk home with them or bring them over here for an hour. 

My dad is doing great!  He struggles with his bad leg but still manages to get around with his cane or walker.  Dad will be turning 93 in February 2015!!  Bob, Roy and I hope that we have those longevity genes within us as well!  I wouldn’t say that dad is all that enamored with living at Arbor Trails Retirement Residence but he does his best to accept it, knowing that it is the best place for him at this point in his life.  He talks to Ivy every day over Skype and that is a bright spot in his day- that seems to be when we see dad the happiest.  Ivy too looks good when we see her on Skype and I know she enjoys being able to talk to dad as well.  What would we do without the technology of today!  It must be mind-boggling for people of dad’s age to see so much change in 10 decades!

Last but not least are my two brothers and their wives, Bob (Gwen) and Roy (Pat), and Brian’s sister, Carole.  It is hard to believe that all of us (with the exception of Pat!) are now 60 to 70 years old.  Both Bob and Roy have completely retired from working now – I would say it was about time! We are all enjoying life in all our own ways and I hope that continues right through 2015.

I am adding a few pictures below but I want to wish all our friends and family from near and far – a very Happy and Prosperous 2015!!

I finally got to have a real cuddle with Levi on Boxing Day!  He is now just over 5 lbs and is now able to swallow so is getting some feeds on the breast and by bottle (with breast milk in it).  He tires easily though, so it will probably be a week yet before they remove the NG tube from his nose. 

My handsome Timmie – freshly groomed just for Christmas!

David and Jenn enjoying a couple of hours with us on Christmas Eve before heading back up to the hospital to be with Levi.  Their Christmas was spent at Grand River Hospital celebrating with Levi! 

Papa playing with his two favorite girls!!

 

James with his new “trail running shoes” and enjoying watching the activities.

Since Breanne and I take all the pictures, this was the only one I could find with her in it!!  David, Breanne and Jenn looking at pictures of Levi on the computer!

Happy New Year everyone!

December 21, 2014–Levi update

Well, we thought Levi was going to be transferred on Friday but the hospital decided to wait a few more days.  Levi is still spitting up some of his feeds and when his stomach starts to get full, he starts to desat – meaning his blood pressure goes down and his oxygen saturation drops.  Apparently, because of the earlier diagnosis of NEC, they need to make sure that there is no problem still in his bowel like scar tissue or a narrowing where the feeds cannot get through at a regular pace.  They have slowed his feeds again back to 2 hours, 28 mL infused over an hour by a pump pumping it through the NG tube in his nose.  He is still passing gas and having bowel movements, so they are not too concerned that it is not getting through, but they need to keep an eye on it until they are assured all is okay.  They just don’t want to transfer him, only to have him return to Hamilton if there is still something wrong in his intestine/bowel.  So we wait, not unhappily mind you, as we feel he is in the best place possible but Jenn gets a little discouraged to see other babies born around the same time or after and their babies are being transferred out.  Otherwise though Levi looks great and doesn’t appear to have any problems just looking at him.  He is beautiful in every way – love his little fingers and toes, cute little nose and ears! 

It is hard to believe that Christmas is almost here.  I’m looking forward to going to Parkwood Church on Monday night to see my brother, Bob, participate in their Christmas concert.  We are picking up dad so that he can watch too.  It should be a nice evening. David and Jenn are celebrating Christmas with us for a few hours on Christmas Eve daytime before they head off to Church and then back to be with Levi.  They will be spending most of Christmas Day at the hospital with Levi and then heading to Jenn’s family for dinner on Christmas Day.  During the past month, we did find time to spend with our other two beautiful granddaughters setting up our Christmas display at home and going to their Christmas dance recital and Christmas concert at school. Both Annika and Selena are patiently waiting to meet their new cousin in the New Year. 

I will post a few pictures below and I also want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your thoughts and prayers during the past month with the early arrival of Levi.  We feel truly blessed!

Selena helped Nana put the Christmas village and Angels together in the dining room.

Annika meantime worked with Papa putting together our Nativity Scene.  She was very adamant that she wanted to set up “Baby Jesus” as Christmas is all about Him and the best part of all!

 

Of course, Timmie and Mavie kept guard at the Window!

Last but not least baby Levi as of December 21st – he will be 35 weeks tomorrow!

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Levi update–Dec 16

Our precious little Levi is doing very well now! This is definitely the best early Christmas present ever!   He was taken out of the incubator yesterday and is now in a crib.  His PICC line was removed and he is on the list for transfer to Grand River Hospital in Kitchener.  He weighs in at a hefty 4 lbs 14 oz!!!  We are not sure how soon the transfer will take place, I guess that is up to the ambulance service but I would say he will at least be in K-W before Christmas.  Jenn will be happy to finally be able to move back home again as well! 

Holding Daddy’s hand!

Playing peek-a-boo with daddy!

Just hanging out with daddy!

Levi making great progress!

Well, Levi is now up to 6 mL of breast milk every 2 hours now and is tolerating it all very well.  He has had a couple of poops and they are normal with no blood at all, much to the relief of us all.  We are now cautiously optimistic that he is now on his way to growing and meeting all the criteria needed in order to be discharged.  We anticipate that as long as he develops no other issues that he will be discharged sometime in early January.  He is really looking good now too.  He has excellent color and tone and he is just so handsome (I know this is nana speaking here!).  We are continuing to pray that Levi continues to do well and before we know it, he will be home.  He will be 34 weeks old on Monday and entering his 35th week.  When I think back to when Breanne was born, she was a 35-weeker at 5 lbs 13 oz (where as David was a 38-weeker at 8 lb 13 oz) and Breanne was sent home weighing 5 lbs.  Levi has now past his birth weight of 4 lbs, so it won’t be long before he reaches 5 lbs if he continues to tolerate his feeds until he is on full feeds for his age.  We are truly blessed!  Breanne and I have predicted that Levi will be discharged home on January 8, 2015.  We will see how close we are!  Here are a couple of pictures taken this week.

Levi update–Tuesday Dec 9

So far so good, Levi started on 2 mL of breast milk yesterday and 24 hour later, he doesn’t seem to be showing any signs of upset in his gut or bowels.  The general surgery team saw him this morning and said they are pleased with how he tolerated that and today they can up to the amount of 4 mL infused slowly and see how he tolerates that.  Jenn said that he is not so fussy now and yesterday he was practically in a deep sleep all day!  Keep your prayers coming!  We are really pleased with his progress so far.  

Sunday, Dec 7–Levi update

Good news!  Levi will be starting back on his feeds Monday afternoon!  He has gone without food for 10 days and according to the doctors, they are pleased with how his belly and bowels have responded to the antibiotics and bowel rest.  The doctors can compress his abdomen with no pain to Levi and they cannot feel anymore distention.  I’m sure he is feeling hungry so I pray that all goes well with this feeds now and he has no further problem with NEC.  I will update again this week to let you know how he is doing. 

These were taken today.  Both Jenn and Levi look amazing!!

Levi post-PICC insertion

Jenn sent me a picture today of Levi and I wanted to share.  I realized that my previous post may have been upsetting that he was not doing well.  He is doing well just has a few problems to get through. I think it is harder on the rest of us watching him having to go through these things than it may be for little Levi.  He is a tough little guy and I think the PICC insertion was a bonus.  No more worry about the IV falling out of his vein and although he is not allowed to have breast milk for the next 7-14 days, they have upped his TPN to include a little more sugar which a PICC line can handle better than an IV can, so hopefully he doesn’t feel starved! 

Hard to believe he is now two weeks old!! 

Prayers for our little Levi

 

I am dedicating this song sung by Josh Groban, Raise you Up, as a prayer for our little Levi.  He has had a rough road to bear since Friday and may God Bless his little soul to keep him strong and safe as he gets through these hurdles.  Levi is being treated for NEC (necrotizing enterocolitis) right now and he has had a severe burn to his leg from the IV slipping out of his vein and the IV fluids were going into his tissues instead.  Today they inserted a PICC line into the vein of his arm and out his chest wall to give a more stable environment for his IV fluids.  He is on antibiotics and cannot feed for 7-14 days as they treat his suspected NEC.  He is such a little trooper and it is heartbreaking to see him have to go through all of this. All our prayers are for you little guy! 

Update on Levi Michael Sharratt!

Well it has now been over a week since little Levi made his entry into this world and he is doing really quite well.  He has had no major complications although has had smaller issues with apnea/bradycardia episodes – this is where he forgets to breathe and has to be stimulated to remind him to breathe.  They have given him some caffeine in the last couple of days and those episodes have greatly reduced.  He is regurgitating a lot of his feeds which is an issue they are working on now.  He has had ultrasounds of his abdomen and also of his head (to look for brain bleeds) and those ultrasounds have come back normal; so all things are positive.  These smaller issues are completely expected in preemie infants but difficult things for all of us to witness.  Jenn is getting back on her feet slowly but feeling very emotional which also is to be expected as her body gets back to its normal pre-pregnancy state.  She is staying at Ronald McDonald House which is right next to the hospital so she can be closer to Levi.  David has gone back to work this week but tries to get up to see Levi as much as he can.  Levi is certainly a little fighter and I know he is going to do well.  He will be in hospital for a few more weeks or until he reaches his actual due date sometime in January. 

Here are a couple of new pictures:

I’m a very proud Nana!

Jenn and Levi – a very proud mama!

David is just a rock!  Loves his little boy and has even changed his poopy diaper!!! 

Levi sleeping peacefully in his incubator!

Our new grandson born November 19, 2014

It has been a rather hectic week; Jenn (our daughter-in-law) went into pre-term labour on Monday and was taken to Hamilton Health Sciences Center and Wednesday, November 19, 2014 she delivered of a baby boy weighing 4.1 pounds at 30 weeks of gestation.  Pretty good weight for a baby of that gestational age!  Both Jenn and baby are doing great!  Our little grandson will now celebrate his birthday with Selena, who had her 4th birthday yesterday. 

I feel my mom had a role to play in this.  November 19th was a pretty significant day for her; everything that happened to mom (good or bad) happened with a date of the 19th.  My mom wanted me to know her presence for the birth of Selena and I also feel she did the same with our new little grandson.  Thank-you mom!! 

The baby’s name will be forthcoming.  They are still deciding on the name but they promised to have the name picked today. 

Here are a few pictures: 

 

David doing selfies with his wife and baby son.

Me looking at my grandson for the first time – made me cry!

Beautiful boy, beautiful coloring as well.  He looks very healthy!

He looks very long but I never asked David/Jenn the length!

A picture with Jenn after she arrived back from the operating room.  Well done Jenn!! 

Remembrance Day 2014

It was an honour for Brian and I to attend the Remembrance Day Service at Arbor Trails with dad today. Residents, staff and visitors really made the veterans feel great. There were plenty of hugs and kisses and thank you's to all the veterans as we honoured them for the freedom that we so enjoy because of them. Thank you dad from the bottom of my heart - love you forever! I will never take for granted the sacrifices you made for us. Two little drops of water fell on Brian's seat in the auditorium today; he looked up and couldn't figure out where they were coming from. Only two drops fell.........they were Tears from Heaven from his dad who paid the ultimate price for his sacrifice, never to meet Brian although he knew Brian had been born just two short months before he died. Frederick William Sharratt - we honoured you today as well. You are always in Brian's heart.

All the veterans at Arbor Trails!! 

Ah dad…….love you so much!

 

Staff members and visitors alike were so happy to give dad a kiss and a hug………of course, dad loved every minute!!

Dad and another fellow veteran after the service.

 

My dad…………my hero – always there for for me through all these years!

Dubrovnik, Croatia

After a day at sea, we arrived in Dubrovnik, Croatia and once again the sky is blue and the air very warm.  We can’t get over how we have had an entire 21 days in Europe and had nothing but sunshine!!  It has really made exploring around the towns very enjoyable!

We took the shuttle bus from the dock to what they call “Old Town”.  Dubrovnik is a beautiful Mediterranean port that once rivaled Venice for dominance of the Adriatic Sea.  The “Old Town” is one of the world’s finest and best preserved medieval cities and designated as a world heritage site. Defensive  walls have protected the Old Town for a thousand years.  The walls were never breached.  They are 9 to 18 feet thick and up to 75 feet high with 5 forts, 16 towers and bastions and it surrounds the entire city. You can actually walk around it but we did not do that today, we just visited the old town and took some pictures.

This is a picture overlooking the Old Town and all the “red roofs” on the houses and buildings.  It really is a breathtakingly beautiful city.

This is standing on part of the promenade walk along the wall and a picture of one of the forts

Walking along  part of the wall

Brian is afraid of heights so  this was his “safe” way of looking over the wall!!!

The water is just beautiful and clean.  I took this by hanging over the cliff with Brian standing way back saying to me “How can you do that”!

This was inside the castle walls, a very quaint little shopping center. 

This was the Clock Tower in this little shopping area and we see that there is actually going to be a Marathon run on the wall this coming Sunday!

A last look of the village before we went back to the ship.

Tonight we leave for Kotor, Montenegro and this will be the last city we visit.  We then have another day at sea on Friday and arrive in Venice on Saturday morning but unfortunately we won’t see much of Venice other than what we see on our way to the airport to head home.

I have posted two posts today, so to read Naples, please see the post below this one.  

Naples, Italy

We are now nearing the end of our cruise as this week comes to an end.  We are finding this a long week as we are more than ready to come home now.  Twenty-one days is definitely too long to be on a cruise ship from our perspective.  It starts to lose its lustre after the first two weeks and some of the things done on the ship is repeated again as most people travel only two weeks.  So needless to say we are looking forward to coming home on Saturday.  We are a bit worried about disembarking the ship in Venice as we have been told that there will be eight cruise ship docking in Venice on Saturday so they are warning everyone about how busy it will be there as there will be people disembarking and new people coming on the ships, so we are talking thousands of people!!  We are very happy that we had arranged for the ship to make our arrangements to get us to the airport as taxis and other modes of transportation are going to be very hard to find and there could be long waits. 

Well, back to our ports of call since Rome, we arrived in Naples on Monday and we were not impressed at all.  Most people took excursions to Sorrento, Pompeii or the Almalfi coast which was a smart choice if they did.  Naples itself was a very dirty city, not well taken care of and very dingy; we did not feel safe there at all and we ended up walking up a narrow lane and got a bit lost after trying to find our way back and we were both feeling very vulnerable being obvious tourists and this was definitely not the tourist part of town and more where the people actually live here.  We finally found our way back and the rest of the day just stayed on the ship!

This is a picture of the city as we walked off the ship.  It didn’t look too bad from here! Traffic though was horrendous and they had warned us on the ship to be very careful of traffic, in particular, the scooters.  Apparently here, the scooters can knock you down and then steal from you, so that worried us as we walked around as they were right about the scooters, they were everywhere coming at you from every direction and we were constantly jumping out of the way.

This was one of the streets we walked up, it looked safe enough at the start!

This is when we realized that we were not in the tourist section of town and were trying to find our way out. 

We then decided to just look around the docking terminal and have coffee and pizza and a free wifi connection where we sat to send my Rome blog.  We felt very safe here although the pizza wasn’t that great and it probably would have been better to try the pizza in town if only we had felt safe!

On Tuesday we were at sea and travelled around the boot of Italy on our way to Croatia through the Adriatic Sea.