Weekend Update ~ Christmas Weekend
FRIDAY
Hardly anyone was at work. The phone hardly rang. I brought the boys' presents with me to wrap at work.
Got home my usual time. I forget what we were doing but Rob got a call that his grandmother collapsed. Though his dad lives closer to his grandparents but since he had chemo therapy he's been a slow mover. He rushed over to their home.
SATURDAY
His grandmother was rushed to the hospital. Spent the night in ICU. Liver and kidney failing. They did a surgery to see what was wrong because her blood pressure was super low and she wasn't responding to the transfusion. She was going to die, and with the surgery she at least had a chance to survive if they could fix whatever the problem was. Turns out somehow her stomach ruptured and they removed part of her stomach and intestine and what they removed was gangrene. So then her lungs were failing as well, but she was able to come out of surgery alive.
Took the boys to the mall. I got my nails done. Then I got my lip waxed. Don't ask me how, but my spiked heel cut and made a hole in their bed. I was so embarrassed and apologized profusely. The lady told me not to worry about it but I felt like an ass. I got the boys their haircuts.
Went to the grocery store to pick up last minute food for tomorrow since Rob's mom wasn't able to get food for us together like we usually do on Xmas.
Went to visit my dad, stepmom and brothers. I was surprised to see Josie's neice was still living with them. I felt a hint of jeolousy, I mean, I am their DAUGHTER and I had to leave after 9 months, but this is Josie's blood, so of course she would want to keep her around and not me, a product from her husband's first marriage. It makes me feel like shit, to be honest.
SUNDAY
Christmas dinner at Rob's parents was 'cancelled' because of his parents spending time with his grandmother and grandfather so I made a lunch tray and salads and other stuff to bring over there so we could still eat as a family. Rob's dad's hair has been falling out since the chemo and he surprised us on Christmas day with his head shaved bald. I know that was a shock to Rob and he was visibly upset to see it.
He's going through a lot right now with his family and I don't know what to do or say to him. I never had to deal with this in my family before, so I dunno. I know when I am upset/troubled I like to be left alone, so I just try to leave him alone to stay out of his way. He's been super emotional the past week. If he isn't morose then he was yelling and screaming at us angrily.
The boys said their Christmas was "Great." I hope so. They are pretty oblivious to all that is going on it seems.
I watched 2 of my Desperate Housewives DVD Season One set. I pretty much lied in bed and did nothing else.
MONDAY
Cleaned the kitchen and living room most of the day. Wasn't in much hurry to go anywhere or do anything. My stepmom and my dad stopped by (with Elaine, her neice, of course) because they remembered something they meant to give the boys.
N*** called, asked if I could work. Rob let me go. I would have liked to stay home but just with Rob's mood swings lately and all I really wanted to get out of the house.
Exchanged presents with Rob's grandfather and his parents. The boys were excited for more new toys.
Got to N***'s. Went to AFH for an embalming. On the way, had to turn around b/c N*** got a called to go to the "gift registry" to pick up boxes. I wasn't sure what the "gift registry" was, but I was picturing something like JCPenney's wedding registry or something. We went to this business park and N*** backed into a garage at a place called AGR. We were in a big garage and the guy that met us there seemed really enthusiastic to see N***. I learned what AGR is: Anatomy Gift Registry. They receive bodies that are donated for medical research. The guy (his name was Brent) took us into this room to show us a new pass-through freezer/fridge. He explained how the bottom tray is for receiving bodies and they bring them into the room and then they remove the tissue they need and put the body on the top tray so someone on the other side could retrieve him or her. He took us to another room being built. As we walked through, there were deep freezers everywhere. I mean, the kind my dad has in his basement to store the surplus of breads, meats, ice cream etc. Except these were labeled: KNEES, SHOULDERS, TORSOS AND ARMS and etc. We went into a room being built and Brent explained how they will have a HUGE C-shaped Xray machine and they will be able to Xray the bodies and the room will also be half an autopsy room. They don't do autopsies, but they will have the room available for someone who wants to do one I suppose. Anyhow, it sounds very morbid but I did not see a single body part (I did see a body-entirely intact-in the pass-through fridge,nothing unusual about that) or any blood. It was very clinical and clean, except for the construction going on. N*** talked to the guys for a while, a couple hours at least (they also received a new walk-in fridge/freezer they are refurbishing.) They showed us a news paper article about their non-profit business, which was interesting, and they talked about how they were able to get approved for the business and the licensing and etc etc etc. It was really interesting. Coolest field trip ever. LOL The boxes N*** were picking up were the boxes people used for transporting a body to them (I guess they are one of the few AGR's in the country or something.) That I think can double for cremation boxes or something...I'm not really sure, but they throw them out and N*** is all about recycling what can be reused. N*** said sometimes you can walk in and there are body parts lying around in the room if they are in the middle of removing tissue they need, or a tray full of heads. It's just so damn interesting to me and probably anyone reading this is grossed out but I am not. All I could think of was my book: Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers.
Went back on our way to AFH. N*** ate at Burger King first. I wasn't hungry. Got to AFH. It took me FOREVER to comb the knots out of this lady's matted hair. N*** said if it were up to him, he would just cut it. I couldn't let that happen, she had little hair on top of her head where they shaved it and had stitches and a drain put in, so what little bit she had left, I felt she should keep. I'm sure the hairdresser could do some sort of comb-over for her or something with the rest of it.
Hardly anyone was at work. The phone hardly rang. I brought the boys' presents with me to wrap at work.
Got home my usual time. I forget what we were doing but Rob got a call that his grandmother collapsed. Though his dad lives closer to his grandparents but since he had chemo therapy he's been a slow mover. He rushed over to their home.
SATURDAY
His grandmother was rushed to the hospital. Spent the night in ICU. Liver and kidney failing. They did a surgery to see what was wrong because her blood pressure was super low and she wasn't responding to the transfusion. She was going to die, and with the surgery she at least had a chance to survive if they could fix whatever the problem was. Turns out somehow her stomach ruptured and they removed part of her stomach and intestine and what they removed was gangrene. So then her lungs were failing as well, but she was able to come out of surgery alive.
Took the boys to the mall. I got my nails done. Then I got my lip waxed. Don't ask me how, but my spiked heel cut and made a hole in their bed. I was so embarrassed and apologized profusely. The lady told me not to worry about it but I felt like an ass. I got the boys their haircuts.
Went to the grocery store to pick up last minute food for tomorrow since Rob's mom wasn't able to get food for us together like we usually do on Xmas.
Went to visit my dad, stepmom and brothers. I was surprised to see Josie's neice was still living with them. I felt a hint of jeolousy, I mean, I am their DAUGHTER and I had to leave after 9 months, but this is Josie's blood, so of course she would want to keep her around and not me, a product from her husband's first marriage. It makes me feel like shit, to be honest.
SUNDAY
Christmas dinner at Rob's parents was 'cancelled' because of his parents spending time with his grandmother and grandfather so I made a lunch tray and salads and other stuff to bring over there so we could still eat as a family. Rob's dad's hair has been falling out since the chemo and he surprised us on Christmas day with his head shaved bald. I know that was a shock to Rob and he was visibly upset to see it.
He's going through a lot right now with his family and I don't know what to do or say to him. I never had to deal with this in my family before, so I dunno. I know when I am upset/troubled I like to be left alone, so I just try to leave him alone to stay out of his way. He's been super emotional the past week. If he isn't morose then he was yelling and screaming at us angrily.
The boys said their Christmas was "Great." I hope so. They are pretty oblivious to all that is going on it seems.
I watched 2 of my Desperate Housewives DVD Season One set. I pretty much lied in bed and did nothing else.
MONDAY
Cleaned the kitchen and living room most of the day. Wasn't in much hurry to go anywhere or do anything. My stepmom and my dad stopped by (with Elaine, her neice, of course) because they remembered something they meant to give the boys.
N*** called, asked if I could work. Rob let me go. I would have liked to stay home but just with Rob's mood swings lately and all I really wanted to get out of the house.
Exchanged presents with Rob's grandfather and his parents. The boys were excited for more new toys.
Got to N***'s. Went to AFH for an embalming. On the way, had to turn around b/c N*** got a called to go to the "gift registry" to pick up boxes. I wasn't sure what the "gift registry" was, but I was picturing something like JCPenney's wedding registry or something. We went to this business park and N*** backed into a garage at a place called AGR. We were in a big garage and the guy that met us there seemed really enthusiastic to see N***. I learned what AGR is: Anatomy Gift Registry. They receive bodies that are donated for medical research. The guy (his name was Brent) took us into this room to show us a new pass-through freezer/fridge. He explained how the bottom tray is for receiving bodies and they bring them into the room and then they remove the tissue they need and put the body on the top tray so someone on the other side could retrieve him or her. He took us to another room being built. As we walked through, there were deep freezers everywhere. I mean, the kind my dad has in his basement to store the surplus of breads, meats, ice cream etc. Except these were labeled: KNEES, SHOULDERS, TORSOS AND ARMS and etc. We went into a room being built and Brent explained how they will have a HUGE C-shaped Xray machine and they will be able to Xray the bodies and the room will also be half an autopsy room. They don't do autopsies, but they will have the room available for someone who wants to do one I suppose. Anyhow, it sounds very morbid but I did not see a single body part (I did see a body-entirely intact-in the pass-through fridge,nothing unusual about that) or any blood. It was very clinical and clean, except for the construction going on. N*** talked to the guys for a while, a couple hours at least (they also received a new walk-in fridge/freezer they are refurbishing.) They showed us a news paper article about their non-profit business, which was interesting, and they talked about how they were able to get approved for the business and the licensing and etc etc etc. It was really interesting. Coolest field trip ever. LOL The boxes N*** were picking up were the boxes people used for transporting a body to them (I guess they are one of the few AGR's in the country or something.) That I think can double for cremation boxes or something...I'm not really sure, but they throw them out and N*** is all about recycling what can be reused. N*** said sometimes you can walk in and there are body parts lying around in the room if they are in the middle of removing tissue they need, or a tray full of heads. It's just so damn interesting to me and probably anyone reading this is grossed out but I am not. All I could think of was my book: Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers.
Went back on our way to AFH. N*** ate at Burger King first. I wasn't hungry. Got to AFH. It took me FOREVER to comb the knots out of this lady's matted hair. N*** said if it were up to him, he would just cut it. I couldn't let that happen, she had little hair on top of her head where they shaved it and had stitches and a drain put in, so what little bit she had left, I felt she should keep. I'm sure the hairdresser could do some sort of comb-over for her or something with the rest of it.