The Cline's Nov. 2009

Mother and her Grandchildren

Finally Posting Again!

Well it looks like the last time I wrote anything on here was August so I think it is about time for an update. It seems like August was forever ago along with September and October. I spent almost the entire month of October in Vanderbilt Hospital. When I left the hospital, I stayed at Mom's house and was waited on hand and foot. She has to be the best caretaker I know! I couldn't even let her leave the house without panicking which was a little inconvenient for her! After coming home and having sitters everyday, I finally got to where I could stay on my own. I have good days and bad days and I still have trouble eating. (imagine that!)

As this Thanksgiving rolled around, I have been so thankful that I am here and able to enjoy this time with my family. There were so many days that I did not think I would be here for another holiday season. If it were not for all the prayers that are being offered in my name, I know the outcome would surely be different. I still have a ways to go and the truth will be told in January when the scans are done so please keep me in your prayers.

We had 30 plus gather at Mom's Thanksgiving day and we started by having another family photo made of everyone. The last one we had made was in 2003 and we have added Cannon, Cord, Will Carter, John Ed and Mary Hollis since then. The children were more than willing to participate because Nita brought a treat box and anyone of the children that smiled and looked at the camera got a treat. After the picture, we circled up and counted (35) to eat and had the traditional Thanksgiving feast. After dinner, a crew loaded up and went to Opryland to see Ice. I was completely worn out so it was bedtime for me. It was a wonderful time and wonderful family memories were made!

Happy Birthday Cannon !

Happy 3rd Birthday!!!!

A GREAT DAY!

Hello out there if I have any blog readers left. I have really let my blog slip in the past few weeks. I feel like I am now back among the living! The prayers, good caregivers, the new medicine and being past the first chemo treatment have brought me through a rough patch and the past couple of days have been great! I finished week 2 of radiation today and that means only 5 more to go and 2 more chemo and we will be on the other side of this plan. Today my driver was Darlene Slater and we had a great time! She told Corinne that I might be bruised a little from banging me in the wall with the wheel chair but that was the only incident that we had. Any of you that remember us from high school remember we were always getting into something but today it was pretty calm, just a lot of laughing!
Darlene connected with several families in the waiting room and was just as inspired as I am everyday by the friends we have made that are going through the same thing. After treatment, she took me to Cracker Barrel for lunch and we had great food and more laughs. We came home and Darlene was taking picks and sprays out of her purse and going to town on my hair. The next thing I knew, it looked like I had all kinds of hair!

Written by Patsy (Mom)

Well, we have passed the #3 mark of radiation - and she is back at home. Tracey took her today and the trip and treatment went without incident. I was waiting on the front porch when they arrived home. Kim had ordered "two egg in the nests" for her lunch so quite naturally I was equipped with eggs and bread in my basket. We came in and Tracey was putting water in a beautiful arrangement of flowers that are from Patti Bearden with a lovely note to accompany them. I busied myself getting ready to make her requested lunch. She sipped on a Diet Coke and seemed to be tired but at that point not nauseated. She ate the meal and then went to her room to check her Facebook and catch up on her messages. She had a phone call from Darlene and one from Brad. I finished cleaning the kitchen and started the dishwasher and went to join her in her room. She was lamenting the fact that her bedside table was so full of stuff so we began to clean it off and she instructed me as to what to put where. When I finish this note I will put dates on the backs of her cards from several days so that she can remember when she received them. I believe that she has quit listing them in a book (very sensible I think). She told me that if she were to describe her feelings she would tell me that she feels like someone who has the flu - shaky, weak, feverish, etc. I was glad to hear this, even though it distresses me that she feels like this, because now we have an idea of how she really is. Her throat doesn't seem to be quite as sore and she has not told me about her head. If I was guessing I would say that she probably does have a headache. The mask that she has to wear during her treatment is very tight and leaves some lines on her face - they fade soon but that tells you how snug it fits her. So far she has held her lunch and that is a big PLUS. I will give her a banana in a litle while for a snack. This is all of the news I have at this time.
Love to you all, Patsy

From Corinne

FYI......Kim had her post-op visit this afternoon with Dr. Netterville at Vanderbilt. He said her incision was healing nicely, the swelling was normal, and to use Vitamin E cream to reduce scarring. She told him about her daily/severe headaches and he explained how normal that is considering her status. The cancer in her throat, the nerves he cut in her neck, and the overall tension, stress, and depression she's experiencing are all reasons for her pain. She described how the pain is not just in her head but that it covers one side of her face and goes deep into her ear. Again, he said that was expected. He told her how to adjust her pain medicine and to come back and see him when she completes her chemo and radiation treatments. She and Brad were grabbing some dinner to go on their way home. All she wants for now is her dark bedroom with no phone calls or visitors. I'll update you all again after we see Dr. Murphy (the chemo therapist) on Thursday. Please increase your prayers for Kim and her family. Thank you.
Corinne Smith

Today is Leslie Shea Moran Pigg's 33rd Birthday! Dicky had us all over to his house for a celebration! We had grilled hamburgers and all the fixings! Above is a slideshow of some of the pictures I took. Happy Birthday Leslie, I love you very much!

Dear Friends

My Daddy used to tell us if you could count your true friends on one hand that you were a very blessed person. I am blessed to have so many true, faithful friends in my life. Today I had a wonderful visit with two of my very dear friends that have been in my life since 1981. We worked together at Comdata. Patsy (Kerr) Fulton was our boss and she was the boss that taught you work ethics to stay with you for life. She might have been rough and demanding during the day, but you knew that she was pulling out of you what she knew you had inside. Comdata was the best education I could have ever received and we were paid handsomely if we were willing to work. We partied hard when we were off work and formed bonds that have lasted all these years. We all credit Patsy for keeping the connections going. We usually try to all get together once or twice a year and she is always the one to get it all set up. She gets the word out if anyone has a need still. Now she is on Facebook so she can really keep up with everyone!

Belinda Yoder and I became friends immediately. She was loud and confident, funny and smart and I wanted to be just like her. Belinda and I have been through many life events, deaths, births, marriages, divorces,and job changes together and even if long spans of time went between our conversations, we always pick right back up from the last conversation and run with it.

Belinda, Kim, Patsy

Last week Sharon Herndon Morgan came over with lunch and for a visit. I met Sharon at Comdata and we lived together before Danny Evans and I got married. She was one of the maids of honor in my wedding. We had so much fun looking at old pictures and laughing at old memories.

If you have special people in your life, please keep the connections going. Make sure that they know you love them. Don't wait until you have time, make the time, it is so worth it!

Birthdays today....

Happy Birthday to Courtney Blair Wiseman! She turns 18 today and I can not believe it! It was only yesterday that she was at my condo at Cedarwood and she would love to play office with all my supplies. We would pull out all the craft supplies and make things, we would laugh and shop and go out to eat. I always called her Missy and she called me Kissy. I am proud to say that I take credit for her love of jewelry and nice handbags! And now, here she is getting ready to start her senior year of High School. She is so sweet and fun and kind and she is girl that everyone wants for a friend. I love being on facebook so I can see pictures of all the things she is involved in. She loves the Lord, her family and her friends with all she has and I could not be more proud of her!

Happy Birthday Sweet Courtney! I love you very much!!!!!! XXXXOOOO

This day is also our precious Ashley's birthday too!!!! Ashley has such a big heart and has always been such a blessing to our family. I hope you have a wonderful day Ashley and I can't wait to see you !

Happy Birthday I love you!!! XXXXOOOO

I'm Back!

I had planned to put an update on here for weeks but honestly, my Mother always said..."if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all". I am progressing as the doctor said I would just not the way I would like to. I have had good days and bad days in this recovery process and I am doing everything I can to get strong enough for what is ahead. It all became very real to me yesterday at Vanderbilt as I laid on the CT table and they made a mask of my face and measured where the radiation would be given. They took Mom and me in the room and showed us the machine where I will get the treatments and gave me a paper with appointments from August 17th until September 30th. I go to the chemo oncologist on August 6th and she will coordinate the chemo plan with the radiation and I will have that once a week while I am there getting the radiation treatment. So, on Patrick's 24th birthday, I start the journey to end this dreaded disease.

There have been many times in my life that I did not understand the reason or the plan that God had and I have to admit that this is one of those times. I will say that because of this, I have found out that I am very loved and cared for by so many people. I have found that it does help to send cards or emails or to call those in need. I have found that it is important to say I love you, I care for you, I am there for you. It does help to prepare a meal and take it to someone so they don't have to think about that. It does help to visit and most of all, the power of prayer. When I am past this, I do intend to learn from this experience and reach out to others with the love I have been shown. As I have said before, I am overwhelmed by the out pour of love that has been showered on me since this all started. To all of you that have prayed for us, brought food, sent flowers, emails, called, sent cards, cleaned the house, or came for a visit, I cannot begin to tell you how much it means to me. To my family, you have gone above and beyond the call of duty for sure. I thank you from the bottom of my heart and I will never be able to express my appreciation.

I continue to claim this scripture :

"I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future".

Jeremiah 29:11

I am so blessed and I have complete faith that I will be cured from this dreaded disease. Thank you again and please keep us in your prayers.

D Day Eve!

Well as I go over my last "To Do List" I finally have everything marked off but to steam Brad's shorts! I think I will take his advice and throw them in the dryer and call it a day! I would be dishonest if I said that I was not a little nervous about tomorrow. I am so ready to start the recovery and be done with all this "c" talk. I have been so blessed with all the prayers, calls, gifts, food, cards, visits and kind deeds done for me but I am anxious to be on the other side of it all. Today, Starr came with lunch and just quietly worked around the house folding laundry, straightening up and even set up a leash system for Buddy to go outside to the bathroom unassisted and keep him from running away from me. Patrick came by for a visit and to run errands and handle the doggies getting baths and haircuts.

This afternoon, Mom. my sisters, Ray, and Emily came by to visit with me and the next thing I knew my deck was filled with some very special members of my church family. They came to sing some songs and pray for me. I can't begin to express the love and concern that I witnessed in each face. I am so humbled and touched by the overwhelming out pour of love and concern that has been shown to me during this time. I am without adequate words. Michael Greene prayed the sweetest prayer and then the mood was lightened with their rendition of the Gloria Gaynor song "I will survive". I am going to have to put the video on here to show what a special time this was with these friends and my family.

My sweet Mother prepared a delicious dinner of my favorites, country style steak and gravy, creamed potatoes, green beans, apples, rolls and chess pie. I told her that I wanted to just leave it in my mouth so I could keep tasting it! After dinner, Phil Barnes, minister at Madison Church of Christ, called to let me know that I would be prayed for all day long tomorrow.

I will now pack my bag to take to the hospital and rest for a few hours and then it will be "D Day". Brad and I have to be at Vanderbilt at 6:00 am and my surgery is scheduled for 8:00 am. It is expected to take between 4-6 hours. Corinne already has my book that has all my notes and phone numbers and I am sure that she will get an email out as soon as the surgery is over. Mom is going to be posting updates on her blog at : http://postingsfrompatsy.blogspot.com/

Please keep up the prayers, we still have a ways to go!

Love to all!

Catching Up!

First of all, I need to back up to Friday, June 26th, 2009 and wish Russell Pigg a very happy belated birthday! I left him a message on Leslie's facebook but I know that doesn't count. I will combine that with Happy 11th anniversary to the Pigg's on June 27, 2009 and tell them how happy they make me and how extremely proud I am of them and their family. It seems like only yesterday, that we shared in a beautiful ceremony at Community Church and then joined them in Destin, Florida on their honeymoon! Next, I will move on to Sunday night when my brother-in-law, Mark Smith and the quartet he sings in, Mercy Road performed at Dalewood Baptist Church. If you have not been to see them, you are truly missing out on a huge blessing. Starr picked me up and we met Corinne, Jacque, Wayne, Mom and Sandra Pigue and her friend for a very moving hour of music .

After the performance, We headed down to Battered and Fried for dinner. We had lots of laughing and good food !

Yesterday started out with Starr and Samantha coming over to help work on my "To Do List"! Samantha brought lunch that her sweet husband had prepared of brisket, homemade tortillas, rice and beans and it was delicious. Carolene Lewis came bearing curtains for the bedroom to shade me from the hot sun that beams through the french doors. After lunch, Starr and Samantha got busy getting them hung and making sure that I would be able to sleep in a dark room! They cleaned, worked on laundry, did my nails and eyebrows, gave me texting lesson, and proceeded to mark items off my list left and right! Marti McDonald stopped by for a visit and the next thing I knew Brad was home from work and ready to go grocery shopping with his list!

These pictures are pretty self explanatory! Talisa Cowden came by bearing a warm chocolate pie fresh out of the oven. We have always had our best times sitting up in my bed talking and laughing and last night was no different!

My Thursday and Friday....

Yesterday, after hearing that Farrah Fawcett had lost her cancer battle I was so sad. I had just watched her documentary a few days ago. I was so in awe of the courage she had as she fought to live. I remembered being in the 8th grade and going to Max at Castner Knott and asking for the "Farrah cut" wings and all. I held on to those wings for years and most every one of my friends at the time did as well.

Then the news reported that Michael Jackson had died. I can't imagine anyone that can not relate to his music. As they played clips of his songs, each one reminded me of a different time in my life and wonderful memories of singing and dancing along like crazy. I remember in 1983 when he did the Moonwalk the first time on the Motown special and everyone talked about it forever!

My sweet husband came home from work yesterday at noon and took me on the first date we have had in a very long time. We had lunch at Friday's and went to the movie Hangover. It was so funny and we laughed the whole way through it. The language was rough but it was so funny and we needed to laugh in a bad way! We were going to take a self portrait and Ludye Wallace was walking by to his table and he said to let him take it and so we did.

I got a call from the doctor at Vanderbilt yesterday to tell me that in my pre-op physical, they had detected a heart murmur and they wanted me to have an echo cardiogram before surgery. Due to the expected length of time of the surgery Wednesday, they wanted to make sure that everything was in order. So that meant another trip to Vanderbilt for more testing today. Patrick took me today and of course we made it into a fun trip! The doctor called this afternoon to say that the murmur was not significant enough to postpone the surgery. The test did show that I have an aortic valve that is leaking that I will need to deal with after surgery.

More sisterly love this afternoon! Nita and Corinne came after work with dinner from Whitts Barbecue and their cleaning clothes! They tore into cleaning and now my to do list is almost finished! It is so nice for an OCD person like me to mark off a list of things that "must" be done.

My Today and Tuesday.....

This is true love of a sister.....take a half of day off work and come clean at your sisters house! I am pretty sure Tracey did not realize what she was volunteering for but she never complained. She just worked and worked and made things so much better over here!

As you can see by my lovely shoulder, I have the remnants of a Florida "tan". I remember how important it used to be to have a tan. I always thought that everyone looked better with some sun. After 3 years of no sun, I have learned that tanning is very low on the priorities list!

Starr came yesterday to accompany me to my pre-op appointment at Vanderbilt. They put me through the ringer. I had chest x-rays, EKG, physical, vitals, and 5 tubes of blood drawn. I told Starr that we would only be there for about 20 minutes based on all the pre-op appointments I have had in my life. Little did I know that Vanderbilt does lots more than Skyline or Hendersonville to get you ready for surgery. When we finally finished 2 hours later, we decided to stop and have dinner.
We had a wonderful dinner at Amerigo's on West End. I haven't been there in several years but it was as good as I remembered.

Today I have the day off from work and I have a "To Do List" that is growing by the minute. Lot's of last minute details to attend to before next week.

Happy Birthday Connor Cline Pigg!

Five years ago today, Leslie gave birth to our precious, Connor Cline Pigg! He is been a constant joy and delight to me every day of his life. We bonded from the minute I met him on his first trip to Nashville from Houston when he was just a few weeks old. One of the sweetest sounds I ever heard was Saturday. When I drove up to his party, amidst the mass of adults and children, all the activities, out of nowhere, he came running full speed to me and embraced me yelling Kimmie!!! It was a priceless moment that I will never forget. Happy Birthday my sweet Connor Cline, I love you dearly!

Our week in Destin in Pictures

Mom, Patrick and I had a wonderful trip to the Beach and I have lots to write about our trip but I am still pretty tired and I will do it tomorrow!

There will not be any postings for a few days because I'm........

My Saturday....

My day started out here, on our deck watching the sun come up before work. It was so beautiful and quite and a perfect spot to read. I worked until noon and then took a nap. I just can't seem to get enough sleep these days. I watched a little Lifetime TV, talked on the phone, wrote some notes, made some lists and slept some more.

My sweet precious friends Starr and Samantha had offered several times to come over and get me ready for our trip tomorrow and I took them up on it.

This is not the perfect setting for a manicure and a pedicure with our needy dogs but luckily, Starr did not mind them wanting to watch and play while she worked.

Then Samantha came loaded down with all the products to color my grey roots and give me some blonde highlights!

While my hair was processing, Starr started getting my clothes ready and packed. Samantha and I watched and agreed or disagreed on Starr's selections. It is amazing that 90% of clothing that I own is black. How many black capri's or black pants does one person need?

When Samantha went to cut my hair, she realized that she did not bring her scissors with her. Not to worry she said, she could cut with anything, the magic comes from her not the scissors! So, she cut with a pair of scrap book scissors and she was right! Starr rearranged the furniture in my gazebo and then we were back inside for the highlights. Which by the way, Starr ended up needing some of those too!

While Samantha was drying my hair, we all played with my hair extensions.

It was such a fun time being with these two very special friends. I now have the cutest toes, nails and hair and it does make me feel so much better! My clothes are ready and I can hardly wait to hit the road in the morning with Patrick and Mom!