HELLO!

I hope that you all are doing great. We are all doing okay.. we still have our days, though. It seems to be getting a "little" bit easier for me. I can't say that about everyone else. Losing Bob has forever devestated us, but it has also brought us so much closer.

We went on our last camping trip for the year. It was strange without him.. Danny and Eric had to do all of the "Bobby" things and they did pretty good. I know that he would have been so proud of him. After we came home, Danny and Eric cleaned the outside of the camper and we helped Mom with the inside. We probably won't take any more trips in it this year. :(

On Sunday, we all went out to Grandma Brumley's. We had a HUGE meal.. let me give you an idea so your mouth can water!! We had dumplings, taco dish, fried potatoes, salad, mexican chicken, brown beans, green beans, rolls, homemade garden soup, manwich, dressing, chocolate cake, homemade peach cobbler, and cherry dump cake. My mouth is watering now!!! She is such a sweet lady and she can cook better than a lot of folks I know! After lunch, we all went out and watched the kids play kick ball. When I say kids, I mean Danny, Aunt June, Barbara, and Tammy. They were all pretty good and took it easy on the other little kids! You have to love our family.. they are NUTS!

Anyway.. I will go for now. Sorry that it has been so long since I last posted. Thanks for your prayers and please continue to pray for us.

Much Love,
Mandi

Hello!

Hello to all. I know that it has been a while since I last posted, but we have been a little busy. My poor little dog has PARVO and she has been taking up lots of my time.

I still continue to go to the cemetery every morning. I just can't keep myself away! Things are getting a little bit easier for me to deal with. The kids still ask questions. I thought that Seth really understood where Bob was and that he wasn't going to ever come back to us. BUT.. it seems he is confused. About three weeks ago, we made plans to take Mom camping for the last time this year. The kids have been pumped up and are so excited! The closer it gets to the weekend, the more Seth asks " We are going without Bob?"
Poor little Anna talks about him all the time and is often asking us if we are sad. Saturday, she had my hair pin and I said, "Give me that bobby pin or you can't go with me." She then replied, " It's not bobby pin, it's BOBBY RAY!!!".
Abby seems to be doing okay for now. It is still unreal to me. I still have to make myself realize that it is real.
Yesterday, we all went out to Grandma Brumleys for lunch. It was so good. Dressing, beans, cornbread, a "tarco" dish(that's what she calls it), and so much more. Last but not least, she made me a big bowl of chocolate pudding, and it was just delicious! I really love her and the rest of the bunch. We also got to see Aunt June and Uncle BJ. June is a hoot and BJ is the sweetest man I have ever met!
Anyhoo.. I won't bore you all any longer. Please continue to pray for our family. Thanks so much for everything!

Mandi

A LETTER TO A GOOD FRIEND

AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, STEVEN, MY BIOLOGICAL FATHER, AND BOBBY RAY WERE CHILDHOOD FRIENDS. THEY ALSO WORKED TOGETHER AND SHARED SOME AWESOME KIDS AND GRANDKIDS! HAHA! MY DADDY POSTED A LETTER ABOUT BOBBY ON A RACING FORUM AND IT REALLY TOUCHED MY HEART. HERE'S THE LETTER. I HOPE YOU ENJOY IT. I ONLY HOPE THAT BOBBY KNOWS WHAT HE MEANT TO MY OTHER DADDY!



Im sure that few of you may not know who Bobby Brumley was. He was a friend of mine and a stepdad to my two oldest girls. When my first wife and I divorced he married her later on, and became my kids stepdad. On the 18th of aug Bobby died at the age of 53 at St Benards Hospital in Jonesboro Ar. Bobby and I went through School together, We worked together, and were friends even after he and my ex wife married. Its not everyone that would be willing to share their kids and grandchildren with another man but I just wanted to let everyone know that I was proud to share mine with him. He was a good man and I couldn't have ask for a better person to step in and share what once belonged to only me. I was at his funeral yesterday and I saw how much my kids really loved him. Since I wasn't around to see my kids and grandchildren interact with him at his house, I never knew they loved him so much until yesterday at the funeral. I thought Bobby and I were a lot alike in many ways and when he died It was another reality check for me. I couldnt help thinking what if that were me in that coffin. I guess it was like being at my own funeral in a way. There were my kids crying over their dad who had just died. There was a lot of my friends and family members who will probably be at my funeral(I HOPE) And as I grow older I can't help but wonder WHO"S NEXT! When will my time come I wondered. Will It be one of my brothers, Will it be my mom or one of my friends I saw at the funeral, my kid or grandchildren? A lot of things went through my mind like this as I watched people come and go at the funeral home the other night. I kept reliving Bobbys life that i remembered and thought about how short life really is. This kind of stuff bothers you when you get to a certine age. we all start thinking about our own mortality at different times I guess. The funeral procession drove right past his house yesterday, and as we passed I looked at his nice ford pickup sitting out behind his house so lonely looking. It was like a mans pet waiting and wondering when its owner is going to return.He loved his truck and a mans truck is like an extension of the man in a way. It was HIS machine. He washed it and cleaned it and it knew only his touch since new.His truck knew him better that even his family did in a way. But now all his machines that he used on this earth are silent. Never to see him or hear his voice again in this lifetime.The same goes for his wife and family. The many nights he came home are over now and all they have left of him are their memories of him. Although I wasn't around him much after he and my ex wife married I feel I have lost a good friend from my childhood and I will remember him always. Life is so uncertine, you never know when you leave a friend or family member if you will ever see them again. You take it for granted that they will always be there. But this little story about Bobby Isn't all sad, Bobby was a Child of God! He was saved and a good Christian man who was active in his church. We should all pray that it will be said about us at our funeral. Well now you know a little bit about a man you didn't know who died with the love of a lot of family and friends. A man the existed on this earth for a short while and left suddenly to take a trip to heaven. And if there are pickup trucks in heaven im sure Bobby is driving a brand new one right now. Rest in peace Bobby. Your buddy Steve May.

HELLO

I JUST WANTED TO STOP BY AND CHECK IN ON EVERYONE. I HAVEN'T POSTED IN A WHILE BECAUSE MY COMPUTER HAS BEEN DOWN. THANK THE LORD, IT IS FIXED NOW!

I AM STILL FINDING MYSELF VISITING BOB'S GRAVE EVERY MORNING AFTER I DROP THE KIDS OFF AT SCHOOL. VISITING HIM IS THE FIRST THING I THINK OF EVERY MORNING. MY HEART IS STILL BROKEN AND I AM SURE THAT I WILL NEVER GET OVER LOSING HIM. EVERYTHING REMINDS ME OF HIM. I DO MISS HIM SO!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR US.
I WILL POST LATER.

MANDI

HELLO..

GOSH, WHAT A LONG MONTH AND A HALF IT HAS BEEN. I HAVE BEEN READING MY SISTERS COMMENTS AND IT MAKES ME CRY. SHE IS SUCH A SWEET WOMAN WITH A HEART OF GOLD. SHE IS MY BEST FRIEND AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN.
SHE AND I DO SHARE SOME OF THE SAME THOUGHTS. I TOO, PRAYED FOR A MIRACLE FOR BOB. I DIDN'T PRAY GODS WILL EITHER. I JUST PRAYED FOR WHAT I WANTED. AS YOU ALL KNOW, I DIDN'T GET WHAT I CONSIDERED A MIRACLE. BUT, ONLY GOD AND BOB KNEW WHAT WAS BEST FOR BOB. FROM THE TIME BOB WAS CONCEIVED, GOD KNEW HOW LONG HE WOULD WALK THIS EARTH. I AM JUST GLAD THAT BOB WAS SPIRITUALLY READY. HE WASN'T ALWAYS READY, BUT HE DID GIVE HIS LIFE TO THE LORD ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO, AND THAT HELPS US A LOT. I SPEND A LOT OF TIME TRYING TO IMAGINE JUST WHAT HE IS SEEING AND EXPERIENCING. IS HE GETTING TO SPEND ALL DAY LONG CATCHING UP WITH HIS DADDY, GRANDPA ALLIE? IS HE ROCKING LINDSEY DAWN, LIKE HE ROCKED ABBY AND ANNA? I TOO WONDER ABOUT THE NEW TRUCK.. IS HE STILL A FORD MAN, OR HAS HE WENT BACK TO DRIVING A DODGE?
THE OTHER DAY, WHILE WE WERE IN THE POOL, ABBY ASKED A GOOD QUESTION. SHE SAID, "MAMA, DO YOU THINK PAPA-DOO CAN SEE US SWIMMING?" IT MADE ME WONDER.. IS HE SEEING US CRY ALL OF THESE TEARS THAT NEVER SEEM TO DRY? I HAVE ALWAYS HEARD THAT THERE ARE NO TEARS AND PAIN IN HEAVEN. I AM HOPING THAT HE ISN'T SEEING ALL OF THIS SADNESS.
I FIND MYSELF VISITING HIS GRAVE AT LEAST ONCE A DAY. SOMETIMES IT IS TWO TIMES. I AM AFRAID THAT PEOPLE THINK I HAVE LOST MY MIND. MY HEART IS STILL SHATTERED AND I DON'T KNOW THAT IT IS EVER GOING TO HEAL. I FEEL SO BAD FOR MOM. SHE HAS YET TO STAY ALONE FOR EVEN ONE NIGHT. I KNOW THAT SHE HAS TO BE JUST MISERABLE. I CAN'T STAND IT WHEN DANNY GOES ON A WEEK LONG HUNTING TRIP. I STILL CRY THE WHOLE TIME HE IS GONE. I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO KNOW THAT HE WILL NEVER COME BACK. BUT.. MY MOTHER IS A FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN WOMAN. SHE HAS ALWAYS SET A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR US TO FOLLOW. I, BEING THE REBELIOUS ONE, HAVEN'T ALWAYS FOLLOWED HER LEAD. BUT, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE WAY SHE RAISED ME. SHE ALWAYS TAUGHT US TO PAY OUR TYTHES. I CAN REMEMBER TIMES THAT WE WOULD BE BROKE, BUT SHE NEVER FAILED TO PAY THEM. GOD ALWAYS SEEMED TO MAKE A WAY FOR US, AND I GUESS THAT IS BECAUSE SHE HAS ALWAYS HAD FAITH.

MY REAL DAD, STEVE, WROTE A LETTER ABOUT BOB. I WILL TRY MY HARDEST TO GET IT ON HERE SO THAT YOU ALL CAN READ IT. HE HAS SO MANY MEMORIES WITH HIM. HE TOLD ME THAT HE AND BOB WORKED TOGETHER MANY YEARS AGO. BOB WOULD PICK HIM UP FOR WORK. HE SAID THAT BOB'S FAVORITE SONG WAS- I FEEL LOVE... BY DONNA SUMMERS. (I THINK!) HE SAID HE WAS NEVER SO TIRED OF ONE SONG! HE SAID BOB WOULD PLAY IT OVER AND OVER!
HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT HE USED TO DROP BOB OFF AT THE BEAUTY SHOP SO HE COULD GET A PERM (OR AFRO). CAN YOU IMAGINE BOB WITH AN AFRO? LOL

ANYWAY.. I WILL LET YOU ALL GO. I NEEDED TO VENT A LITTLE. PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR ALL OF US. WE REALLY NEED ALL WE CAN GET. YOU ARE GREAT FRIENDS TO US AND WE APPRECIATE ALL YOU HAVE DONE.

THANKS AGAIN,
MANDI

BOB'S OBITUARY

I THOUGHT THAT I WOULD POST THIS FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DIDN'T GET TO ATTEND THE FUNERAL. THE FUNERAL HOME COULDN'T HAVE WORDED IT ANY BETTER.


IN LOVING MEMORY OF BOBBY RAY BRUMLEY
MAY 26, 1955 - AUGUST 18, 2008

BOBBY RAY BRUMLEY WAS BORN IS OSCEOLA, AR., TO ALLIE JACOB BRUMLEY AND IMOGENE WILBANKS BRUNMLEY. HIS FATHER PROCEDED HIM IN DEATH.

HE WAS EMPLOYED BY PCI AS AN INSULATOR IN COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION.

BOBBY WAS A FAITHFUL MEMBER IF THE PENTECOSTAL CHURCH OF GOD IN HOLLAND, MO., WHERE HE SERVED AS SOUND TECHNICIAN, AND ALSO BUILT AND DROVE THE FLOATS FOR THE CHRISTMAS PARADE. HE LOVED DOING THINGS FOR THE CHURCH AND WAS A GREAT "PASTOR'S HELPER" AND A GOOD FRIEND.

AS A YOUNG MAN, HE LOVED HUNTING AND FISHING. IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, HE ENJOYED WORKING IN THE YARD, TINKERING WITH REMOTE CONTROL CARS, AND CAMPING WITH HIS FAMILY. HE WAS A WELL-LIKED, FUN-LOVING, "KID AT HEART" WHO LOVED TO TEASE AND JOKE. HE WAS A WONDERFUL GRANDFATHER.

HIS FAVORITE FOODS WERE PORK CHOPS, AND CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH BROWN BEANS ON TOP.

HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE, HOPE MILES BRUMLEY;
TWO SONS: BOBBY RAY BRUMLEY, JR. OF IUKA, MISSISSIPPI, AND BRANDON DOLLAR OF ETOWAH, AR.
THREE DAUGHTERS: CRISTELL STRIEDER OF PROCTOR, AR, MANDI STUTTS OF MANILA, AR., AND CHASITY GUTHRIE OF STEELE, MO.
HIS MOTHER, IMOGENE BRUMLEY OF WEST RIDGE, AR.;
THREE BROTHERS: HAROLD GENE BRUMLEY AND GARY BRUMLEY OF FLORAL, AR. AND BJ BRUMLEY OF WEST RIDGE, AR.
ONE SISTER; JUNE MONTGOMERY OF TRUMAN, AR.;
AND THIRTEEN GRANDCHILDREN: JOHN JACOB BRUMLEY, SIERRA CHEYENNE BRUMLEY, TRISTA NICHOLE MILLER, BRIANNA MICHELLE BROWN, JONANTHAN BAILEY, HUNTER BAILEY, DEREK STUTTS, LANDEN STUTTS, SETH STUTTS, ABBY GUTHRIE, ANNA GRACE GUTHRIE, KYLER DOLLAR, HAYLEE DOLLAR, AND ONE EXPECTED GRANDCHILD.

HELLO

I JUST WANTED TO CHECK IN. MONDAY WILL BE TWO WEEKS SINCE BOB WENT TO JESUS. AS HAPPY AND EXCITED AS I AM FOR HIM, MY HEART STILL HURTS. I TRY MY HARDEST TO BLOCK MY FEELINGS, BUT MOST DAYS THE TEARS START ROLLING AS SOON AS I THINK ABOUT HIM. I SAW HIS TRUCK TODAY AND IT MADE ME SAD. THURSDAY, ON THE WAY TO THE CEMETERY, WE PASSED MOM'S HOUSE. THERE SET HIS TRUCK IN THE BACK YARD. HE REALLY LOVED HIS TRUCK. I CAN'T IMAGINE THE PLACES THAT IT TOOK HIM. OBVIOUSLY IT TOOK HIM LOTS OF PLACES, BECAUSE HIS MILEAGE WAS REALLY HIGH! IT MADE ME SAD, KNOWING THAT HE WOULD NEVER DRIVE THAT TRUCK AGAIN.
AND THEN, THERES HIS REMOTE CONTROL TRUCK. HE LOVED TO RACE THAT SILLY TRUCK. ABBY AND ANNA WERE SO SCARED (OR SKOOKY AS AB CALLS IT) OF THAT TRUCK! HE WAS SO PROUD OF IT!
WHEN HE FIRST GOT SICK AND WENT INTO THE HOSPITAL, I WENT OUT AND GOT HIS DIRTY LAUNDRY OUT OF THE TRUCK. I WASHED IT AND BAGGED IT UP, NOT KNOWING THAT HE WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO WEAR IT AGAIN. AND WHAT ABOUT THOSE SHOES WE GOT HIM FOR FATHERS DAY? WE WENT ALL OUT TO FIND HIM A PAIR THAT WEREN'T SOLID WHITE.. WE WERE TRYING TO GET HIM OUT OF THE 80'S! HE REALLY LIKED THEM, BUT DIDN'T GET ANY WEAR OUT OF THEM.
I HAVE ALWAYS SAID THAT I WOULDN'T WANT TO GO BACK. BUT IF I COULD, FOR JUST A FEW MINUTES, I WOULD. JUST TO TELL HIM THAT I LOVED HIM AND APPRECIATED HIM VERY MUCH. TO TELL HIM WHAT A GREAT GRANDPA HE WAS TO MY BOYS. I HATE IT THAT GOD TOOK HIM. I KNOW THAT HE HAS A PURPOSE FOR EVERYTHING THAT HE DOES, BUT IT ISN'T FAIR. I FEEL LIKE MY WHOLE LIFE HAS CHANGED FOREVER. I KNEW THAT I LOVED HIM, BUT NOW I REALLY KNOW JUST HOW SPECIAL HE WAS TO ME. IT MAKES ME ANGRY THAT HE ISN'T HERE TO SEE HOW WELL SETH IS DOING IN THE SECOND GRADE. HE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT ABBY MADE IT THROUGH HER FIRST FEW WEEKS IN KINDERGARTEN. I KNOW THAT I SHOULDN'T BE ANGRY, BUT I AM.
YESTERDAY, MOM HAD ANNA AND HAD SOME THINGS SHE NEEDED TO DO, SO I WENT OUT TO WATCH ANNA. MOM INFORMED ME THAT ANNA FOUND BOB'S PHONE AND SAID, " NAN, I WANT TO TALK TO PA-DOO AND I WANT TO CALL HEAVEN." SHE THEN ACTED LIKE SHE WAS CALLING AND SAID THAT HE DIDN'T ANSWER. I FEEL SO BAD FOR HER. SHE REALLY DOESN'T HAVE A CLUE. SHE IS PROBABLY WONDERING WHEN SHE WILL SEE HIM. I HOPE THAT SHE REMEMBERS HIM AS MUCH AS THE OTHER GRANDKIDS. THEY ALL HAVE WONDERFUL MEMORIES OF HIM.

ON THE BRIGHTER SIDE.. MY BIOLOGICAL FATHER, STEVE, AND MY STEP-MOTHER, SONYA, BOUGHT THE KIDS AND I A DOG. SHE IS AN 8 WEEK OLD YORKIE AND WE NAMED HER LULA BELLE. SHE IS ALREADY A DADDY'S GIRL. I THINK THEY BOUGHT HER TO TAKE MY MIND OFF OF ALL THAT HAS HAPPENED. I APPRECIATE IT, BUT NOW, I'M NOT ONLY THINKING OF THAT, I AM NOW SLEEP DEPRIVED!!!!! LOL!!! I FEEL LIKE I DID WHEN SETH WAS BORN.. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.. I DOZE OFF DURING THE DAY AND I ABSOLUTELY DREAD NIGHT TIME! I KNOW THAT SHE WILL BE HOWLING HER LUNGS OUT! BUT, I LOVE HER AND SHE IS JUST BEAUTIFUL!

IN CLOSING, THANKS FOR LETTING ME RAMBLE ON AND ON. I SURE NEEDED TO RAMBLE TONIGHT! PLEASE CONTINUE TO KEEP US IN YOUR PRAYERS. THANKS FOR KEEPING UP WITH THE BLOG!

MANDI

Just checking in with you all..

HEY! I'M NOT EVEN SURE IF ANYONE IS READING THE BLOG ANYMORE, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE THE ONLY WAY FOR ME TO VENT. IF YOU ARE READING THIS, I HOPE YOU DON'T MIND ME GOING ON AND ON AND ON.

AS I SAID IN THE LAST POST, THIS WEEK HAS BEEN THE HARDEST WEEK OF MY LIFE. I LOOK AT THE PICTURES AT MOMS AND LOOK AT THE PICTURES ON THIS BLOG, AND ASK MYSELF, " MANDI, HOW DID YOU NOT KNOW THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG?". HE LOOKS SO HEALTHY IN ALL OF THE PICTURES AND IT IS SO STRANGE TO ME! THERE WAS A PICTURE OF BOBBY AND MOM THAT WAS TAKEN EARLIER THIS YEAR. THEY WERE IN BRANSON FOR MARRIED COUPLES RETREAT. THEY BOTH LOOKED SO HAPPY AND HEALTHY.

I AM REMEMBERING THE TIMES WHEN I WAS GROWING UP. I WAS SO REBELIOUS, BUT ONLY TO MOM. BOBBY LET ME DO MOST OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED. HE WAS THE ONE TO GIVE ME GAS MONEY AND LOAN ME THE TRUCK- EVEN WHEN I DIDN'T HAVE DRIVERS LICENSE. I AM SURE THAT MOTHER RAISED THE ROOF WITH HIM WHEN HE WOULD LET ME GO OUT WITH MY FRIENDS! I FEEL SO BAD ABOUT THAT NOW. I FEEL GUILTY BECAUSE I TOOK HIM FOR GRANTED.

THE LAST WEEKEND THAT HE WAS HOME, I WAS BABYSITTING FOR CHAS AND ERIC. IT WAS EARLY SUNDAY MORNING ( 7AM) WHEN MOM CALLED ME. SHE WANTED ME TO GET THE KIDS UP AND BRING THEM OUT TO HER HOUSE SO BOBBY COULD SEE ALL OF THEM BEFORE HE LEFT FOR CHURCH. BEING A SELFISH TALE, I TOLD HER THAT I WASN'T WAKING THEM UP. EVENTUALLY, I HEARD A KNOCK AT THE DOOR AND IT WAS MOM AND BOBBY. ABBY AND ANNA GRACE HELD ON TO HIM LIKE IT HAD BEEN MONTHS SINCE THEY LAST SAW HIM. IT HAD BEEN WEEKS, I'M SURE. HE HAD BEEN GONE MOST OF THE SUMMER. I REGRET BEING SO UGLY ABOUT IT.

TODAY, WE STARTED CLEANING BOBS YARD. WE HAD TO MOW DOWN THE GARDEN BECAUSE IT WAS NOTHING BUT WEEDS. DANNY AND ERIC JUST DIDN'T HAVE THE TOUCH TO KEEP THE GARDEN ALIVE. I TEARED UP AS MOM AND I PULLED UP THE OKRA AND TOMATO PLANTS. I KNEW THAT WAS THE LAST GARDEN THAT HE PLANTED AND I WAS SAD TO SEE IT GO. WE ALSO CLEANED OUT HIS SHOP. IT WAS A MESS, BUT JUST THE WAY BOBBY LIKED IT. HE COULD FIND ANYTHING IN THERE, BUT MOM COULDN'T. ERIC, CHAS, DEREK, MOM, AND I WORKED ALL DAY. WE THREW AWAY LOTS OF EMPTY CANS AND BOTTLES AND CHARGERS FROM GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT. BOBBY WAS A PACK RAT AND WOULDN'T THROW ANYTHING AWAY! AS BAD AS WE HATED IT, UNCLE BJ CAME AND GOT BOB'S TWO BIRDS. HE AND GARY WAYNE CLEANED OUT THE SIDE OF THE SHED THAT THE BIRDS WERE IN AND TOOK IT ALL TO BJ'S HOUSE. THAT WAY HE CAN HAVE A PART OF BOB ALSO. ONE GOOD THING IS THAT MOM WILL NOW BE ABLE TO GET THE LAWN MOWER IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP. IT LOOKS SO NICE IN THERE AND I AM SURE THAT BOBBY IS PROUD OF THE SHOPS NEW LOOK!

I DID VISIT THE CEMETARY BEFORE I CAME HOME TONIGHT. IT STILL ISN'T ANY EASIER. I DREAD THE RAIN AND SNOW THAT WILL EVENTUALLY COME. I REALIZE THAT HE ISN'T IN THAT GRAVE, BUT IT IS STILL HARD. I WOULDN'T WISH THIS PAIN ON MY WORST ENEMY.. NOT EVER! MOM SEEMS TO BE OKAY.. I AM SURE THAT SHE CRIES HERSELF TO SLEEP EVERY NIGHT. SHE GETS UPSET WHEN CHAS' GIRLS ASK WHERE THEIR PAPA-DOO IS. ANNA SAYS SHE WANTS TO GO TO HEAVEN TO SEE PA-DOO. IT IS SO SAD.

I WAS THINKING OF THE THINGS I'D MISS ABOUT BOB. EVERY SUNDAY MORNING, WHEN THEY WOULD BRING SETH HOME, SETH WOULD SMELL JUST LIKE BOB. I WILL MISS THAT SMELL. IT WAS CURVE, I THINK. I WILL MISS OUR CAMPING TRIPS, THANKSGIVING, CHRISTMAS AND EVERY OTHER HOLIDAY. I REMEMBER FATHERS DAY THIS YEAR. CHAS AND I BOUGHT HIM A NEW PAIR OF TENNIS SHOES AND A BOOK ABOUT DADDY'S. WHEN HE READ THE CARD, HE TEARED UP. NEXT MONDAY WILL BE THE FIRST HOLIDAY WITHOUT HIM. PLEASE PRAY THAT IT WILL BE AS EASY AS IT CAN BE FOR US. WE WILL FOREVER MISS HIM!

I WON'T KEEP YOU ANY LONGER. PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR US. PRAY THAT THE HURT WILL GET EASIER FOR ALL OF US. THANKS SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU ARE AND ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR OUR FAMILY. I WILL POST LATER.

THANKS SO MUCH,
MANDI

THANK YOU ALL!

IT HAS BEEN FOUR DAYS SINCE BOBBY LEFT US. OUR HEARTS ARE SHATTERED AND THE HURT IS HORRIBLE. IT SEEMS LIKE A DREAM AND THAT WHEN WE WAKE UP, IT SHOULD BE OVER. BUT, THE TRUTH IS THAT HE ISN'T COMING BACK TO US. ALL WE HAVE IS MEMORIES AND THEY ARE ALL SO SPECIAL TO US! WE KNOW THAT WE WILL SEE HIM AGAIN, BUT OUR HEARTS STILL ACHE.

THANKS SO MUCH TO ALL THAT SENT FLOWERS, BROUGHT FOOD, AND CAME TO THE VISITATION AND FUNERAL. IF YOU DIDN'T GET TO MAKE IT, FOR WHATEVER REASON, WE UNDERSTAND. WE KNEW HOW SPECIAL HE WAS TO US, BUT WE HAD NO IDEA OF THE FRIENDS THAT HE HAD. HE WOULD HAVE BEEN SO PROUD TO SEE THE TURNOUT. THERE WERE SO MANY FLOWERS. THE FUNERAL HOME TOOK AT LEAST 10 SPRAYS TO THE GRAVE SITE. THIS MORNING, THEY DELIVERED 29 HOUSE PLANTS TO MOTHERS HOUSE. THIS AFTERNOON, THEY BROUGHT OUT FOUR MORE PLANTS AND 3 MORE SPRAYS. NEEDLESS TO SAY, MOM'S KITCHEN LOOKS LIKE A FLOWER SHOP!

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THANKS TO BOBBY'S FRIENDS FROM HIS JOB. YOU ARE A GREAT GROUP OF MEN AND HE NEVER SAID ONE BAD THING ABOUT ANY OF YOU! EVERY ONE KNEW T-BONE BEFORE HE EVER INTRODUCED HIMSELF.

IN CLOSING, THANKS AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING. WE COULDN'T ASK FOR A BETTER GROUP OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS. DON'T THINK THAT WE ARE FINISHED WITH THIS SITE. A FRIEND OF OURS IS MAKING A VIDEO OF BOB AND WE WILL PUT IT ON THE SITE AS SOON AS IT IS FINISHED.

GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.

HOPE BRUMLEY, DANNY AND MANDI STUTTS AND BOYS, ERIC AND CHASITY GUTHRIE AND GIRLS, BOBBY AND JENNIFER BRUMLEY AND KIDS, STEVE AND CRISTELL STRIETER AND KIDS, & BRANDON DOLLAR AND KIDS.

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS

THE VISITATION WILL BE WEDNESDAY NIGHT.. 5PM FOR FAMILY AND 6PM FOR FRIENDS. IT WILL BE HELD AT CARNEY FUNERAL HOME IN BLYTHEVILLE. THE FUNERAL WILL BE THURSDAY AT 1PM AT MOM AND BOBBY'S CHURCH IN HOLLAND, MO.

IF YOU NEED DIRECTIONS TO THE CHURCH OR FUNERAL HOME, PLEASE CALL CALL ME OR CHAS. MY CELL IS 870-780-4538 AND HERS IS 870-740-6946. YOU CAN ALSO REACH US AT MOMS.. 561-8099.

AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS. YOU HAVE ALL BEEN SO WONDERFUL THROUGH THIS AND WE CAN NEVER THANK YOU ENOUGH. OUR HEARTS ARE SHATTERED, BUT WE KNOW THAT HE IS WITH THE LORD & HE ISN'T HURTING ANYMORE. PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR OUR FAMILY.

THANKS,
MANDI

BOB

BOB PASSED TONIGHT AT AROUND 6:30. MOM, CHAS, BRANDON, AND MYSELF WERE THERE WITH HIM. LITTLE BOBBY AND CRISTELL DIDN'T MAKE IT IN TIME. IT WAS REALLY HARD TO LET GO OF HIM, BUT WE DIDN'T WANT HIM TO SUFFER.

I WILL LET YOU ALL KNOW WHEN WE MAKE THE ARRANGEMENTS. PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR MOM AND ALL OF US. WE ARE MISSING HIM TERRIBLY!

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT. WE LOVE AND APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!

MANDI AND CHAS

SUNDAY, AUGUST 17TH

I JUST SPOKE WITH CHAS. SHE SAID THAT BOB HAD A FAIRLY GOOD NIGHT. THEY STOPPED THE SEDATION MEDS FOR MOST OF THE NIGHT TO SEE IF HE WOULD WAKE UP, BUT HE DIDN'T WAKE FULLY. THEY HAD TO START THE MEDS AGAIN THIS MORNING BECAUSE HE WAS MOVING AROUND AND HIS HEART RATE JUMPED UP. THEY ALSO HAD TO GIVE HIM MORPHINE FOR PAIN. HE HASN'T BEEN CLOSING HIS EYES.. THEY AREN'T SURE WHY HE ISN'T CLOSING THEM, SO THEY SAID THEY MIGHT HAVE TO TAPE THEM. THEY DON'T THINK THAT HE IS SEEING ANYTHING. MOM SAYS IT LOOKS SCARY. LIKE HE HAS FEAR IN HIS EYES. I KNOW THAT THEY ARE KEEPING HIM COMFORTABLE AND OUT OF PAIN, SO I THINK THAT HE IS PROBABLY JUST WONDERING WHAT IS GOING ON.

TODAY HAS BEEN A MONTH SINCE BOB ENTERED THE HOSPITAL. HE HAS MISSED SO MUCH. HIS ABBY-DOO STARTED SCHOOL LAST THURSDAY. DEREK, LANDEN, AND SETH START TOMORROW. I SO WISH THAT HE COULD BE HERE WITH US TONIGHT. I WISH THAT HE COULD HEAR SETH TELL ABOUT HIS FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. BOB WAS ALWAYS WORRIED ABOUT SETH AND WOULD ALWAYS CALL IF HE KNEW THAT SETH HAD SOMETHING "BIG" GOING ON.

I KNOW THAT IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME FOR HIM TO GET HOME TO US. I KNOW IT WILL HAPPEN WHEN GOD IS READY FOR IT TO HAPPEN. FOR NOW, I WILL LOOK FORWARD TO THANKSGIVING OR CHRISTMAS. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING BOB IN THE KITCHEN ON CHRISTMAS EVE... SITTING THERE FILMING WITH THAT SILLY SMILE, WHEN SANTA( MINE AND CHAS' REAL DAD) COMES OUT AND GIVES THE KIDS PRESENTS OUT OF THAT BIG RED BAG! IT'S THINGS LIKE THIS THAT I MISS SO MUCH!

ANYWAY- PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR A MIRACLE!

LOVE TO ALL,
MANDI

SATURDAY NIGHT POST

JUST SO YOU ALL KNOW, I DID ATTEMPT TO POST THIS MORNING WITH MOTHER'S HELP. AS I TOLD YOU LAST NIGHT, MOM CAME HOME FOR THE NIGHT. THE BOYS AND I MET HER FOR DINNER AND IT WAS 9PM BEFORE WE MADE IT BACK TO MANILA. YOU COULD TELL LAST NIGHT THAT SHE WAS A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT LEAVING BOBBY. JUST AS SOON AS WE GOT OUR FOOD, SHE ASKED FOR A TO-GO BOX. SETH STAYED THE NIGHT WITH HER. SHE SAID THAT SHE WOKE UP ABOUT SEVEN TIMES DURING THE NIGHT, BUT IT SURE WAS NICE TO STRETCH HER LEGS OUT IN THE BED! SHE HAS BEEN SLEEPING ON THE COUCH OR IN THE RECLINER FOR ALMOST A MONTH. TOMORROW WILL BE FOUR WEEKS SINCE THIS ALL STARTED. WHEN I GOT TO HER HOUSE THIS MORNING, SHE HAD THE NEW POST WRITTEN OUT JUST THE WAY SHE WANTED IT. BUT.. I SEEMED TO HAVE MESSED IT UP! SORRY MAMA!

LINDA AND BJ STAYED OVER NIGHT WITH BOB LAST NIGHT. HE ISN'T RESPONDING TO ANY COMMANDS, BUT LINDA SEEMS TO THINK THAT HE RECOGNIZED HER VOICE THIS MORNING. CHAS IS WITH MOM TONIGHT AND SHE SAID THAT HE ACTED AS IF HE KNEW THAT THEY WERE THERE WITH HIM. BOTH OF HIS EYES ARE OPENED AND SHE SAID THAT HE WOULD TURN HIS HEAD TO MOM WHEN SHE WOULD SPEAK TO HIM. CHAS SAID THAT SHE WALKED TO THE FOOT OF THE BED AND HE LOOKED DOWN AT HER. WHEN SHE MOVED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF HIS BED, HE TRIED TO RAISE HIS EYES SO THAT HE COULD SEE HER. WE REALLY AREN'T SURE IF HE CAN SEE US OR NOT, BUT WE ARE HOPEFUL. THE VENT IS STILL TURNED UP TO 100%, BUT HIS OXYGEN IS BACK UP.
BEFORE I GO... ALWAYS TELL YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT YOU LOVE THEM. WE ALL, MYSELF INCLUDED, SEEM TO TAKE SO MUCH FOR GRANTED THESE DAYS. I KNOW THAT BOBBY KNOWS THAT WE LOVE HIM.. THAT'S NOT IT. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THINGS LIKE THIS WILL HAPPEN TO SOMEONE CLOSE TO YOU. OUR KIDS DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY CAN'T SEE THEIR GRANDPA. THE MISS HIM SO MUCH. I MISS BEING ABLE TO CALL AND TALK TO BOBBY AND MOM. SORRY IF I SEEM LIKE A WINING BABY, I JUST WISH THINGS COULD GET BACK TO NORMAL. WE ALL KNOW THAT IT WILL BE A LONG TIME BEFORE THINGS ARE NORMAL AGAIN..
ALSO, I DO APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU WHO CHECK THIS BLOG DAILY. I ALSO KNOW THAT LEAVING A MESSAGE CAN BE A LITTLE CONFUSING. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU WOULD ATLEAST TRY TO LEAVE BOBBY A MESSAGE.. I WANT HIM TO BE ABLE TO READ ALL OF THE COMMENTS. IF YOU NEED ANY HELP WITH POSTING A COMMENT, JUST EMAIL ME @ mandistutts@yahoo.com AND I WILL HELP YOU AS MUCH AS I CAN.
THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO CALL, VISIT, AND PRAY FOR BOB! I WILL POST AGAIN IN THE MORNING, JUST AS SOON AS I HEAR SOMETHING!

THANKS AGAIN.. KEEP PRAYING AND BELIEVING!

MANDI

UPDATE

THIS MORNING BOB'S HEART RATE GOT A LITTLE HIGH. WHEN THEY TURNED HIM, HE WASN'T GETTING ENOUGH OXYGEN FROM THE VENT, SO HIS OXYGEN LEVEL DROPPED IN THE 80'S. THEY HAD TO TURN THE VENT BACK UP TO 100%. HE HAD DIALYSIS TODAY AND THEY TOOK OFF 5 POUNDS. YESTERDAY THEY TOOK OFF 10 POUNDS. IT IS 9PM, AND HIS OXYGEN IS BACK UP TO 95% AND HE IS STABLE, BUT STILL HAS A LONG WAY TO GO. HE STILL DOESN'T OBEY COMMANDS OR HEAR US, BUT WE ARE PRAYING FOR A MIRACLE.

MOM IS HOME WITH SETH TONIGHT. LINDA AND BJ ARE STAYING THE NIGHT WITH BOB SO MOM CAN REST. PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR US.

THANKS!

MANDI

UPDATE

WELL.. I SURVIVED THE DAY WITH MY TWO YOUNGEST AND ANNA GRACIE. SHE WAS JUST AN ANGEL! WE TOOK MOM OUT FOR LUNCH, AND THEN SHE KEPT SETH AND ANNA WHILE I FINISHED MY SCHOOL SHOPPING.

BOBBY LOOKED SO MUCH BETTER TODAY. HIS LEFT EYE IS STILL SWOLLEN, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, HE LOOKED PRETTY GOOD. HIS OXYGEN LEVEL IS STILL UP, SO DR. SAVAGE TOLD MOM THAT THEY MIGHT TRY TO OPERATE ON MONDAY AND PUT THE TRACHE IN.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY! WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL!

MANDI STUTTS

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15

I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM MOM THIS MORNING, SO I AM ASSUMING THAT EVERY THING IS STILL THE SAME. WHEN I TALKED TO HER LAST NIGHT, SHE SAID THAT HE WAS REALLY SWOLLEN. LANDEN, SETH, ANNA GRACIE, AND I ARE HEADING OVER TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH MOM AND BOB. PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL GIVE ME STRENGTH!!! I WILL NEED IT.. HAHA!

BOB MISSED ABBY'S FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. CHASITY SAID THAT SHE WAS SO EXCITED AND READY TO GO. OF COURSE, CHASITY CARRIED HER CAMERA( SHE IS JUST LIKE MOTHER!!). SHE TOOK PICS OF HER GOING DOWN THE HALL AND WHEN SHE GOT IN THE CLASS, SHE ASKED THE TEACHER IF SHE COULD TAKE ONE OF ABBY AT HER DESK. THE TEACHER SAID YES, AND ABBY JUST ROLLED HER EYES! I AM SURE THAT ABBY HANDLED IT BETTER THAN MY SISTER DID.. ABBY HAS GROWN UP SO FAST.. AND I MUST ADMIT, I AM A LITTLE SAD TODAY!

I WILL POST LATER!

KEEP PRAYING!

MANDI

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13

I JUST SPOKE WITH AUNT TERESA. SHE SAID THAT THEY HAD JUST TALKED WITH DR. SAVAGE AND HE DID HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS. HE SAID THAT THE HOLE IN THE LEFT LUNG WAS CAUSED FROM THE FORCE OF THE OXYGEN THAT THEY ARE GIVING HIM. HE SAID THAT BOBBY'S LUNGS DID LOOK BETTER TODAY. HE TOLD MOM THAT BOBBY'S OXYGEN LEVEL WAS LOOKING GOOD, BUT IT STILL WASN'T AS GOOD AS HE WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO BE.. BUT REMEMBER.... BABY STEPS! THEY GAVE BOBBY ANOTHER UNIT OF BLOOD THIS MORNING.
THEY HAVE HAD SOME TROUBLE GETTING HIM TO WAKE UP. HIS LEFT EYE IS OPEN MOST OF THE TIME, BUT HE ISN'T ACTUALLY SEEING ANYTHING. BEFORE, THEY COULD GET HIM TO WAKE JUST BY SPEAKING LOUDLY TO HIM, BUT NOW HE ISN'T REALLY RESPONDING TO THAT. HE WILL MOVE AROUND IF YOU MESS WITH HIS FEET, SO WE KNOW THAT HE IS STILL OKAY. THEY ARE DOING SOME TESTS THIS MORNING TO FIND OUT WHY HE ISN'T WAKING EASILY. THEY ARE HOPING IT IS JUST THE MEDICINE THAT THEY HAVE HIM ON. THE SWELLING CAME BACK ON SUNDAY, AND HASN'T REALLY GONE DOWN, BUT THEY SAY THAT IS NORMAL.

AUNT TERESA SAID THAT MOM IS IN BETTER SPIRITS TODAY. SHE WAS SO HAPPY TO HEAR SOME POSITIVE NEWS.

PLEASE KEEP PRAYING FOR A MIRACLE.. WE ARE SO READY FOR HIM TO AT LEAST BE ABLE TO SIT UP AND KNOW THAT WE ARE THERE WITH HIM. THE GRANDKIDS WOULD LOVE TO SEE HIM AND I AM SURE THAT IT WOULD MAKE HIM SO MUCH BETTER IF HE COULD SEE THEM.

I WILL POST AS SOON AS I HEAR SOMETHING ELSE!

THANKS SO MUCH,
MANDI

Tuesday, August `2

Well.. Aunt Teresa called this morning to update us on Bob. It seems that the left lung has collapsed. He now has two tubes in his right lung, and one in his left. Mom was really upset, so Chas and I went over and spent the day. He was really swollen today. That left eye seems to get bigger and bigger every time the swelling comes back. They did dialysis this afternoon. It isn't an easy thing to watch. We are still praying for a miracle.. please continue to pray for us.

Mom is looking so tired and worn out. I know that she would feel better if she could come home even for a full day and get a good meal, hot shower, and a good nights rest. But, she refuses to leave him and I don't blame her. If it were Danny laying there, I would do the same thing. She didn't say anything about her stomach bothering her today, so maybe the new medicine will take care of that problem! Please pray for her as well.

I will post again in the morning. Thanks so much for all you guys are doing for our family!!

Mandi Stutts

UPDATE

I TALKED TO MOM EARLIER. SHE SAID THAT THINGS ARE PRETTY MUCH THE SAME. THE SWELLING IS BACK... AGAIN. THE RESPIRATOR IS STILL AT 80%... YIPPEE!!!... SHE ALSO SAID THAT HIS OXYGEN WAS EITHER 90 OR 100%. PLEASE FORGIVE ME FOR NOT BEING TOTALLY ON TOP OF THINGS.. THESE PAST THREE WEEKS HAVE BEEN SO HARD AND EVERYTHING SEEMS TO RUN TOGETHER.. LATELY, I CAN'T EVEN KEEP UP WITH THE DAY OF THE WEEK, MUCH LESS KEEP UP WITH HIS NUMBERS!
PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY.. WE ARE ALL TAKING BABY STEPS.. ALSO, KEEP MOM IN YOUR PRAYERS.. SHE IS HAVING SOME PROBLEMS WITH HER STOMACH.. PROBABLY JUST HER NERVES AND THE FACT THAT SHE ISN'T RESTING OR EATING THE WAY SHE SHOULD.

PLEASE SAY A PRAYER FOR SETH, DANNY, AND I. WE HAVE A MEETING AT SCHOOL TOMORROW, SO PLEASE PRAY THAT THE MEETING WILL GO WELL.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING!

MANDI

Monday, August 11th

I talked to Mom earlier. She said that they have turned the respirator down to 80%!!!! That may not sound like much, but it is a huge step for us! The doctor said that Bobby will take baby steps!! Mom said that he looks much better today and that the swelling is down!! The doctor told her that his lungs do look better, but there is a mass on one of his lungs. We have decided not to worry about the mass right now.. it could turn out to be NOTHING! That is something that we will worry about later. Dr. Savage also said that he was trusting in God and praying for a miracle. It is nice to have a doctor that believes in healing and not in himself only!

They are doing the dialysis today, so please pray that they get a lot of fluid off today. Friday, they got off 6 pounds and they got 10 pounds off Saturday.

Mom also told me that Cristell, our OLDER sister, found out that she is having a baby. I know Bob will be tickled to hear that!

Please keep praying for our family.. we greatly appreciate it!

love to all,
Mandi Stutts

SURGERY

WELL... WE ALL WENT OVER THIS MORNING FOR BOBBY'S SURGERY. THEY TOOK HIM TO SURGERY TO PUT THE TRACHE IN, BUT HIS OXYGEN KEPT DROPPING AND THEY COULDN'T GET IT TO STAY WITHIN THE NORMAL RANGE. SO... THEY CANCELLED THE SURGERY AND THEY ARE GOING TO TRY AGAIN IN A COUPLE OF DAYS.

MOM SEEMED REALLY DISCOURAGED, BUT SHE HAS FAITH IN THE DOCTORS. HE DID LOOK GOOD TODAY. THEY CLEANED HIM UP THE OTHER NIGHT.. HE NO LONGER HAS THE SANTA BEARD AND HE LOOKS REALLY RESTED!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR HIM! I WILL POST LATER!

UPDATE

I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO SURGERY ON BOB TOMORROW MORNING AT 7:30. THEY SEEM TO THINK THAT HE IS STRONG ENOUGH TO HAVE THE TRACHE PUT IN. WITH THE TRACHE, THEY WON'T HAVE TO KEEP HIM SEDATED NEAR AS MUCH, AND THEY THINK THAT HE WILL IMPROVE MORE IF HE IS FULLY AWAKE AND ABLE TO FIGHT!

MOM CAME HOME TODAY FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS. YOU COULD TELL THAT SHE WAS RUSHING TO GET BACK! PLEASE SAY A PRAYER FOR HER.. I KNOW THAT SHE WILL BE A NERVOUS WRECK UNTIL THE SURGERY IS OVER AND SHE HEARS THAT HE IS OKAY!

ALSO, THANKS AUNT LINDA FOR STAYING WITH MOM THIS WEEKEND! YOUR SUCH A SPECIAL LADY!

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR ALL OF US.. ESPECIALLY BOB! I WILL POST AGAIN TOMORROW NIGHT WHEN I GET HOME!

LOVE TO ALL,
MANDI

Saturday, August 9th

Mom is at home for a few hours. The doctor says that all of his vitals are good and his oxygen is at 96%. They did a bronch test and he was on and off of the vent for a while. He did well! They are going to try to lower the vent again to 90%. A specialist is coming in today to see about maybe putting a trache in tomorrow. They are going to try to run a cat-scan of his stomach to check out his liver, gall bladder, and kidneys. The ultrasound didn't show anything.
That's about all for right now.. will post again when we find out more. Keep praying!
Mandi

Friday, August 8th

Well.. I have talked to Mom a few times today. She hasn't had a lot to say. She has had quite a bit of company today. She did say that they will be doing dialysis today, tomorrow, and Sunday. They normally only do it on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, but they want to get off as much fluid as they can over the weekend.
Sunday will be three weeks since this all started. It seems like forever. I found myself thinking today, about how much I would miss if I was asleep for three weeks. My kids do several things each day and I wouldn't want to miss any of them. Bobby has missed church for a month, he has missed talking to Mom and us, and has missed seeing the grandkids. And Lord help his yard. Eric tries to mow it like Bobby would, but Eric isn't perfect. Danny does his best on the weed eating, and Derek attempts to vacuum out the pool. When Bobby comes home, he will probably have to work for months to get the yard back just the way he likes it!
Anyway.. I am a little sad today. I hate it that I can't be at the hospital 24/7, but I have to tend to these three rowdy boys.
So, please continue to pray, call, and visit. Mom and Bobby need all the support they can get!
Love to all,
Mandi

Update

Seth, Landen, and I just got home from Jonesboro. Bob looks so much better today. The swelling in his face has gone down. His chest, arms, hands, and legs are still swollen. I told Seth that he looked like Superman and he thought that was cool. He really does look better! Please continue to pray.. it is working!
The boys and I took Mom and Aunt Betty out for lunch today. We had dinner at Mom's favorite place.. TaMolly's. We then took Aunt Betty on a shopping spree! Her son Joe is getting married on Sat., and she needed something to wear ( like her closet isn't full enough!). She had purchased a cute jacket, loaded down with BLING BLING, and she needed a skirt to wear with it. I made the mistake of taking her to Dillards. Guess what.. she came out with about five things.. but nothing to wear with the skirt! I am telling you this because I think the world of her. She has been with Mom and Bobby all week, and she hasn't complained once! So, THANKS, Aunt Betty!
I really want to thank all of those who have stayed and visited with us. We have all grown closer through this ordeal. Mom's side of the family has really grown attached to Bobby's side of the family. They think that Grandma Brumley is just an angel.. and she is! I am looking forward to having a big welcome home party for Bobby, and I know that ALL of the family and all of the friends will be there!
Also, I want to thank my sister for updating the blog for me. As she said in the last post- she isn't as good as me at this, and I agree with her! Just kidding, Chas! You did an awesome job! I love ya!
I will post as soon as I hear any news.. Keep praying for a miracle!
love to all,
Mandi

just to recognize a few

this is Chasity, signing in for Mandi. She is having a busy morning.....so she wanted me to update. a big thanks goes out to Souls Harbor Church in Manila. Bro. David Fair and the church annointed a prayer cloth to be placed under Bob's pillow. Mandi is headed to J'boro right now to take it to Mom. They sent word that they are just believing in God for a Miracle.

In the middle of this post, I spoke with Mom. She said everything was pretty much the same. Bob will have dialysis on Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays. She did say they tried to lower the % on the ventilator, but his oxygen went down. She said they will just keep trying it. Mom sounds tired, but she seems in an okay spirit. I will have Mandi post again when she can, I am not as good at this as she is!!! again, thanks to all. keep praying~love to all, Chasity

Wednesday, August 6th

I just returned from the hospital. They put him on dialysis after lunch. I went in to see him at about 5:30, and before I went in, Mom warned me. He has air underneath the first layer of his skin, which causes the skin to swell. The man I have always known, weighing 130 pounds soaking wet, looked to weigh about 200. His chest and arms look like Superman.. the left side of his face is so swollen, and his eye is just huge. It was so scary. The doctor said that his lungs did look better and they are doing everything they can do, but they still aren't sure what brought the ARDS on.. they still don't have an answer.
Aunt Betty is there with Mom tonight. She took my place :) . Sweet Grandma Brumley brought over her famous garden soup ( umm..) and I took over a hot fudge cake. They will enjoy their supper tonight. Last night, Meme, Chas' mother-in-law, brought over homemade macaroni and tomatoes, jack mackerel patties, and homemade cornbread. Mom said it was so good. I want to thank Meme for that. She is an awesome lady. She is so good to not only Chas and the girls, but to all of our family. She makes our holidays even more special. Danny loves her noodle salad!
Anyway, I will go for now. I will post again, just as soon as I hear from Mom.
Thanks for everything you guys are doing for us! We love you all!
Mandi

Wednesday, August 6th

I just talked to Aunt Betty. She told me that they are going to put Bobby on dialysis after lunch. The doctors don't seem to be giving Mom much hope, but she isn't giving up and neither are we. We know a woman that survived ARDS and she is living a perfectly normal life. God saved her and we know that he can do the same for our dad. Please pray for my parents. Pray that God will give Mom the strength that she needs to get through this. My mom is a very good lady and she has more faith than you can imagine. She is faithful to God, her church family, and everyone else around her. I know that God will take care of them, because they are so dedicated to Him.
I want to thank everyone that has been with Mom through this. Aunt Teresa, Aunt Betty, and Aunt Florence have been staying over night with Mom for these past two weeks. ALL of Bobby's family have been there every day to help support Mom. Grandma Brumley has really been a trooper! She acts like a 25 year old and I really love her! Both sides of the family have been really good about staying and helping out in any way that they can and I appreciate it. Our family has gotten much closer and it feels wonderful!
Please continue to pray for our WHOLE family. I will post again when I hear from Mom.
Thanks!
Mandi

Tuesday, August 5th

Hey! Sorry that I haven't posted until now.. Landen's arm got worse over night, so we went back to the doctor. He thinks Landon will recover, so please say a prayer for him!
I have talked to Mom a few times today. She is really quiet and doesn't offer too much information. Please pray for strength for Mom. She did tell me that they gave Bob a couple more units of blood this morning. I am not sure what all is going on with that, though. She also said that the doctor said he may have to put Bob on dialysis sometime today or tomorrow. His kidneys aren't functioning the way they should, but obviously they are better than the doctor thinks, because as of about 7 o'clock, they hadn't talked about the dialysis again.
Please continue to pray for a miracle.. and thanks for the wonderful comments!
I will be at home tomorrow, so I will be able to post any new info. I will be in Jonesboro tomorrow night and most of the day on Thursday. Seth and I are going to go over and spend the night with Mom. I will post as soon as I get home Thursday afternoon.
Keep up the good work, guys.. your prayers mean so much!

Monday, August 4th

Hello to all. I am sorry that I didn't post yesterday, but I was crazy busy! My little Landen Buchanan got bit by a brown recluse, so we ran to the doctor. Everything was fine.. he got a shot and they put him on a Z-pack. His arm looks so much better today!
I did get to visit with Mom yesterday. I didn't get to visit with Bob, because he seems to do much better when we all leave him alone! He did have to get two units of blood yesterday, but everything else seemed okay. On Sat, when Dr. Cohen came in, he didn't give us much hope. When he came in yesterday, he told Mom that he was amazed at his improvement, because he really didn't think he'd make it past noon on Sat. He said that he was still very critical.. the lung still has a hole in it, but the other lung was able to do most of the work. Come to find out, Bobby, Seth, and I are all RH neg., so I am planning on going over to donate blood on Thursday. I encourage you all to donate, no matter what blood type you are, someone can use it!
Thanks again for your prayers, calls, and visits. We appreciate you all so much! Spread the word about the blog. Please continue praying for a miracle!
Mandi

Saturday, August 2nd

Well.. today was a scary day. Chas called and woke me at 6am, saying that Bobby's lung had collapsed and that Dr. Cohen told them that his liver was failing. When I got there, the whites in Bobby's eyes were brown. It was really scary. They didn't expect him to make it through the day.
BUT.. Bobby is a fighter! He was awake most of the morning and he had a waiting room full of family and friends, but the good thing was that ALL of his kids were there. Chas, Little Bobby, Cristell, Brandon, and myself were there all day. Bobby really held on to Brandon's hand this morning. It was so sweet. Once, he lost hold of Brandon's hand, but he felt around the bed until he found it again. I know that things happen for a reason, and if our family becomes closer, then that will be great. I can't wait for him to come home and for us to have a get-together!
To Bobby, Cristell, and Brandon- thanks so much for being there today! It really meant a lot to me and I am sure that it made Bobby rest much better, knowing that we were all there together!
Also, thanks to all that came today.. we couldn't have made it without you all!
Love to all..
Mandi

Wow! What a great afternoon we had!

Danny and I went to the hospital this afternoon to visit Bob. Mom, Danny, and I were in his room and Mom attempted to wake him. After calling his name a few times, he just opened his eyes and looked at her. She pointed to Danny and asked Bob if he knew who Danny was. He then shook his head yes. After that, she told him that we loved him and told him he could go back to sleep.
Chasity called me later and was tickled to death! She said that he was awake almost the whole time they were in there during the last visiting hour. She said that he was letting them rub his feet and she was so excited!
Please continue to pray for him. He has a long road ahead of him, but with all of us, the road will be smoother! The new lung specialist will be here on Monday. Pray for good news!!
Thanks so much!

Some news on Bobby

I talked to Mama earlier. She said that Bobby got a fever last night and his heart rate was pretty high, so they bumped the oxygen back up to 100%. They have also called in ANOTHER lung specialist.
It seems that he takes one step forward and two steps back. We hate seeing him lay there like that and we can't wait for the day that he can sit up and talk to us.
Please continue to pray for all of us, especially Bobby.
I will keep you posted.

Today was a better day..

Seth and I just returned home from the hospital. Each day, Mom seems to handle things a little better. She still tends to be a little sad, but she has a constant flow of company to keep her feeling a little better. Today, Aunt June, Grandma Brumley, & Aunt Teresa were there with her. Grandma is such a ham.. her and that cellular device of hers!! Also, June's granddaughter, Brittney, and my little Seth, have fallen "in-love". Don't freak out and think bad things of us.. Bobby isn't our blood father!! lol.. Seth and Brittney are quite a site and she is just a bit more relaxed about things than Seth is! Seth walked around with a red face all afternoon!
Anyway.. Bobby looks the same. He is resting well and actually looks better than I have seen him look in the past two weeks. The ventilator was breathing for him 100%, but this morning it is down to 90%. Please pray that it will continue to come on down. They have finally figured out what is causing this. Bobby has ARDS ( acute respitory distress syndrome). The question now is what caused the infection. They are treating him with four different kinds of antibiotics, so hopefully they will do their job.
Please keep praying for a miracle. Thanks so much!

I just talked to Mom. She said nothing has really changed since last night, but his blood gases are up. They took some x-rays this morning and we should know something by noon. Keep praying!
Thanks :)

Just to catch you up...

As most of you know, Bobby has been in ICU for the past week. Last Sunday, when Mom came home from church, Bobby was on the couch coughing up blood. She drove him to Great River Medical Center in Blytheville and they told her that he had developed pneumonia. They put him in ICU that night, and on Monday afternoon, they moved him to a regular room. Later that night, his oxygen levels pretty much bottomed out, so they moved him to ICU again. On Tuesday morning, they moved him to St. Bernards in Jonesboro.
We all went over and we were all pretty upset. They put him on oxygen and it was really hard seeing him lay there like that. The force of the oxygen was causing his body to sort of jerk and it was a very scary sight. Things were the same for the next couple of days. They were giving him three different kinds of antibiotics for the three different types of pneumonia. On Sunday afternoon, Bobby coded. They then put him on life support and he is still on it. As of this afternoon, he is stable. They have sedated him, because when he wakes up, he tries to remove the tubes and gets upset. As much as we would love for him to set up and talk to us, we know that he is better off being sedated. That way he can get all the rest he needs and will hopefully get moved to a private room out of the ICU.

We have had so many visitors this week. Thanks so much for the prayers, visits, and phone calls. I hope that this blog will make it easier for everyone to keep in touch with us! I also want him to see just how much everyone loves him and I am looking forward to him reading your comments!
Please continue to pray for Bobby.
Thanks so much!