Another Update on Dad

I have started a website with caring bridge for Dad. The address is www.caringbridge.org/visit/harolddotson. I am heading to KY as soon as a load of clothes gets dried. I will have friends update that site often with what is going on. Please continue to pray!

"Happiest Moment Of The Game"

While attending our first home football game at MSU this year they announced the promotional event below. I couldn't help but add a "Happiest Moment Of The Game" picture from the 2007 egg bowl. My son and his girlfriend sat and made this poster Thanksgiving night. It was right after Ole Miss got in trouble for some of the players stealing pillows and radios from hotels. Hope you enjoy the picture as much as we enjoyed that game.

Sonic "Happiest Moment Of The Game"

Welcome to the Sonic "Happiest Moment of the Game", brought to you by Sonic.

Each week during the 2008 Mississippi State football season, Sonic wants Bulldog fans to submit their best fan photos from the game (no action shots of the game itself, please), with the winner to receive a gift certificate from Sonic. Here's how it works:

1) Fans are asked to e-mail their "Happiest Moment of the Game" fan photo (limit one photo per person) to marketing@athletics.msstate.edu by 6 p.m. CT each Sunday following an MSU football game. In the e-mail, please include your name and best phone number to contact you (should your fan photo be the voted as the winner). Photos should be sent in standard .jpg format.
2) The top three fan photos will be selected and posted on this page by 6 p.m. CT Monday for voting.
3) Fans can then vote for their favorite photo until 9 a.m. CT Wednesday, with the winner to be posted by Noon that day. Winners will receive a prize courtesy of Sonic and the MSU Athletic Department.

OH BTW how bout them DAWGS winning 34-10!!!

An Update On My Dad

First off, I am not wanting a pity party. I seriously doubt many people read my blog since I very seldom have feedback LOL. So this post is for people who have inquired about Dad and to help me through the hurting process. The past couple of days have been really hard for me. It all started on Wednesday (my birthday) when I spoke to my Mom. She said, "let me see if Dad is strong enough to wish you a happy birthday." He got on the phone and said something along the line I better wish you a Happy Birthday as I may not be there for your next one. Dad has been in the hospital 27 nights of the last 43 that is more then half. Alright I passed that part of math LOL. So here you go on the update. It will be long and I apologize in advance.
On August 21st Dad was released from the hospital after an 8 day stay. He had been on antibiotics and they felt he was strong enough to go home. When he got home he continued to run fever. On Tuesday August 26th the fever was still hanging on. Mom put a call into the Dr. and they wanted to see him within the hour. Once they got there they decided to start chemo. He did ok through the chemo sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday. On Thursday he had a reaction in which they counteracted it with Benadryl and was able to continue the chemo. After that session he was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. So he has been in the hospital since August 28th.
We arrived there on Friday night August 29th and David (my brother) informed me Dad looked real bad and that he would not be surprised if he did not come home. That night they gave him 2 more pints of blood. Saturday the Dr. came in and said we have good news and bad news. The bad news is that there is bacteria in the blood. The good news is that we know which antibiotics to give. When I saw him Saturday his color looked good but he obviously had no energy and looked really weak.
They have decided to do chemo 1 week and he will be off 3 weeks. They did a biopsy of a spot on his lung, they said that was not a concern as the leukemia was there main concern. They will do chest x-rays daily at this point. He is still running fever and they called a disease specialist to come in yesterday. So you can see things are really hectic now. Mom refuses to leave him alone at night and I know she is really tired.
Now is my time to vent on my feelings so you can know how to pray for me. My prayer has been that Dad will live long enough to allow Paul to get stronger so he can be with me. The main prayer to is that he does not suffer and when the time comes he will die peacefully, I would prefer it happen in his sleep. I pray for my children as they have yet to really experience death, and that God will make me strong to help them through this time. As I sit and read this paragraph I noticed my prayer request was that God will let him live long to allow Paul to get stronger and now that Paul is stronger dad is getting weaker. I spoke to Paul about this last night and he reminded me to pray as Jesus prayed, “Thy will be done.” This is hard to say a part of me is stubborn. I pray that when the time comes that I can let go. I know I can let go as I will have to BUT I pray I will be OK. Does that make sense?
Thanks for allowing me to vent and for your continued prayers. Have a great BULLDOG weekend!!!

Happy Birthday ..... To Me

Well as you guessed today is my birthday. Let me take you back a few years to the setting and a cute story. My parents were living in the moutains of Eastern, KY. They were married for 3 years when they had their first child and she was stillborn. They were devastated and dad swore he did not want anymore after the loss. I am glad that 3 years later they decided to have another one. Of course I was that other one. When I was born I weighed 10 lbs and 7 ounces a big - little girl. Mom had big babies and it passed on to me as all 3 of mine weighed more then I weighed. Well anyways during the birthing process I was smashed in the chest and had to be placed in a special area in the nursery. There are two thoughts that come to mind. Imagine the fear my parents went through during this time (after losing their first child) and looking at things now my chest definitely did not have any damage LOL. Well the cute story since Mom stayed in the hospital for almost a week Dad would go work in the coal mines during the day and come visit her at night. YES I was born a Coal Miner's Daughter (Loretta Lynn must have had me in mind when she wrote that song). One night he came to visit and he ask well did anything happen etc... She said, "they came by today for the name on the birth certificate" and Dad said, "well what did you say." She said I named her, "Dender Lynn." Dad said, "you named her Dender Lynn?" I can see him thinking now he said, "Chris (my Mom)I will be back I need to step out for a second." He walked down to the nurses station and said, "I have no idea what my wife was thinking when she gave you the name Dender Lynn but our little girl's name is Karen Elizabeth." I wonder if that is why I stay so confused today? With my Dad being in the hospital today with pneumonia and leukemia I wonder if his mind goes back to many years (HA HA thought I was gonna tell you huh?) ago when he was there for the birth of his little girl. I know my parents will never read this BUT I am so thankful that God blessed them and gave them me and that he has blessed me with them!