Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-12-27

Posted on December 27th, 2009 by Cliff Ames Jr.

• Aunt Becky is sedated and is resting comfortably. Still no word on what is causing the siezures/strokes she is having. #
• Looks like I'm once again working on my medical degree today… WebMD, American Medical Journal and a dash of Wikipedia #
• RT @JohnPiper: Thank you, Matt Chandler, for another good word to us all. It is better to go to the house of mourning. http://ow.ly/O5Ej #
• Holy Cow… My Grandmother just informed me that she met Hagrid and got to hang out with him… #
• I favorited a YouTube video — Billy Joel #4 – How To Play "Piano Man" fill and ending http://youtu.be/tQari-FP5vg?a #
• I favorited a YouTube video — Billy Joel #1 – How To Play "Piano Man" Intro http://youtu.be/U9Mhy1KmC04?a #
• I favorited a YouTube video — Billy Joel #2 – How To Play "Piano Man" main part http://youtu.be/Q6bwO6vUg6M?a #
• I favorited a YouTube video — Billy Joel #3 – How To Play "Piano Man" upper octave verse http://youtu.be/XdUQ_elEcv4?a #
• I favorited a YouTube video — Let Me Think About It http://youtu.be/DJFPhrsHnSI?a #
• I favorited a YouTube video — Windows 3.1 Launch Party http://youtu.be/OvcHNKUA6So?a #
• I favorited a YouTube video — Shorewood Lip Dub http://youtu.be/T7TI-AJi2O8?a #
• This morning her EEG show NO siezure activity!! On top of that pnemonia has cleared & she was able 2 B awake for 1.5 hours! PRAISE THE LORD! #
• Granny and I are settled in for the night and have order some subs from Jimmy Johns Gourmet Sandwiches… MMMMM MMMM! #
• So after 1.5 hours our JJ's finally arrived… Despite that I look forward to giving a BIG Christmas tip to the delivery guy tomorrow. #
• Excited to start my Netflix account back up and running… now if I could only get my Flickr Pro working again… #
• My Sister & her BFrend got here safely. The tree is up & decorated. We're going 2 CMasEve Srvc and the over 2 the Hospital 2 pray. #
• My grandmother just called me a poo head…. She was justified though! #
• About to enjoy a Candlelight Service at my Grandma's Baptist Church… I'm a recovering Baptist so this is gonna be tough… #
• On our way to Dennys for dinner… Good thing we have GPS… Granny Positioning System! #
• Aunt Beckys Vitals 2day were the best ever! She was mostly awake & communicating using hand sqeezes & head shakes>> #
• >>She Also smiled @ our jokes and was attempting to laugh. Kind of hard with a ventilator but VERY encoraging. Best CMas Present ever!! #
• Flipping between "MythBusters" and "A Christmas Story" Marathons… "In 3…2…1… — you'll shoot your eye out kid!" #
• Watching "Home Alone" for movie night tonight! #
• Headed to the theater to see "It's Complicated" with Granny my sister and my sisters bfriend… Looks pretty funny from the previews! #

Tags: Twitter

Update On My Aunt #05

Posted on December 26th, 2009 by Cliff Ames Jr.

Dear Friends-

I just want to thank you again for all of your love and support and prayers for my Aunt and my Family as we’ve been battling through these tough days.

My Aunt’s condition continues to improve and is being called a miracle by the hospital staff. A week ago today she was having uncontrolled seizures and today she is talking and communicating with us and wants to come home. To us, she’s back to her old self minus the fact that she won’t be able to talk for some time due to the muscle mass loss. Her Numerologists are scratching their heads wondering how she has been able to bounce back so quickly and so completely compared to several other patients they have been treating for months. We point them to the Great Physician every chance we get. The Doctors and Nurses have seen us praying over her every chance we get and are astounded by the fact that hundreds of people are waiting for updates so that they can pray too.

As my Aunt continues to get better it is very apparent that some things need to drastically change with her home care in order for her to stay well and get on the Kidney Transplant list. My Grandmother has done her best for the past 50+ years caring for her children and she can no longer do that on her own. For being 71 she’s tough and motivated, but her body is weak and needs rest. As a family we are praying through some tough options and we desperately need wisdom and guidance to make the right decisions with the best outcome. We’d appreciate your prayers for this as well.

You can also pray for patience for my Aunt and well as us. My Aunt is still coming down off the heavy sedation she was on and is having mood swings as well as other psychological side-effects from being in a coma for 4 days. Some of these are as simple as memory loss other are as complicated as misinterpreting what she is told and being upset or frustrated because she doesn’t understand. Once we get past this de-tox period it should be a smoother transition but right now it’s a challenge to communicate clearly with my Aunt.

Again, thank you all for your prayers and I will do my best to keep you updated.

Thanks,
Cliff Ames Jr.

Tags: Update On My Aunt

Update On My Aunt #04

Posted on December 21st, 2009 by Cliff Ames Jr.

Dear Friends-

Thank you all so much for your love and support. Your prayers are being answered:

1. I had a VERY safe trip from LA to NV with no traffic problems and very few people on the road. The weather was also beautiful and a reminder of God’s control over everything.

2. As soon as I arrived I was able to hug and cry with my Grandmother who feels overwhelmed by everything that is going on. She has been misplacing keys, phones and other important things that are necessary for her being able to function and take care of my Aunt. I have now been able to step in and get things organized for her and already the results are obvious. We were able to go to church together on Sunday and then go to lunch and talk about how she’s doing. We came up with a game plan and things are going better now that she has the support that she needs.

3. The Lord has been so good to me over the past few days. My roommates and some good friends were able to pray over me right as I got the news that I needed to leave and when I texted and emailed folks I received over a dozen responses filled with Christ’s love and the Scripture. The theme that keeps coming up over and over again is peace and I have been overwhelmed by it. My Grandmother’s Pastor preached on it Sunday and it has been leaping out at me from the verses I have been reading. Philippians of course is where I land a lot but the Psalms and Proverbs also have been rocking my world.

4. Because my Aunt is more stable than she was before my sister can now wait until Wednesday to come out here and not have to worry about flying or driving at the last minute. She can take her time planning the trip and will be supported along the way.

5. Here is the latest on my Aunt’s condition: She is in a medically induced coma in order to break the cycle of seizures that she has been having. She has NOT had a stroke that we know of and the Doctors are confident that the seizures can be controlled with medication. Although they can’t find the exact cause of the seizures they are confident that the cause is not life threatening and her condition is stable enough now for them to begin treating the underlying symptoms. Once they determine that the seizure cycle has been broken they will begin bringing her our of the coma in order to wake her up and see if any brain damage has occurred. They are fairly certain that there will be some damage but they are just as certain that some of it can be reduced with time, treatment and therapy. While all this has been going on my Aunt has been sedated and resting comfortably with no incidents.

6. The Doctors and Nurses from this latest hospital stay have been competent and very helpful in explaining what is going on. They are supportive and have responded to our concerns in a timely manner and truly care about my Aunts condition and progress. Both of the Doctors we saw yesterday explained everything clearly and were VERY honest even about the negative side of things. It’s not just hard to ask those kinds of questions, it’s hard to answer them as well.

On Behalf Of My Family,
Cliff Ames Jr.

Tags: Update On My Aunt

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-12-20

Posted on December 20th, 2009 by Cliff Ames Jr.

• For my next trick I will find a reliable full time job, a new place to live and figure out how to not go crazy all by February 1st, 2010… #
• Sneaking in to an event… Video and report to follow… #
• Mission accomplished!! Got in and out without incident… A few close calls but… Video to follow! #
• Here is the video as promised! Some day I'll tell you why I say I "snuck" into this event! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtBlelrrdOs #
• Just got a copy of our lease 11 months after asking for it… Glad we're gonna be done with this place! #
• Got another installment of my Obama money today! #
• RT @MattChandler74: Big day tomorrow…pathology report and discharge plans… #
• When I saw this I threw up a little in my mouth… http://twitpic.com/tlevi #
• See how many times you can say Dongle and not laugh! #
• Trying Pinkberry for the first time! Not bad… #
• RT @tonymorganlive: praying for matt chandler, his family & the village church: http://bit.ly/6FBkB9 #
• "Like an unexpected song, an unexpected song that only you are hearing!" #
• I now have every season of "The Shield" Thanks CDL Boss! #
• RT @tonymorganlive: New post: The Day I Walked Away from Ministry http://tonymorganlive.com/2009/12/18/the-day-i-walked-away-from-ministry/ #
• I'll be participating in Operation Chokehold in 9 minutes! #
• Thank you Chase bank for reversing $460 in outrageous fees! Wells FU should learn from you! #
• Please pray: My Aunt Becky is in the hospital again. She was having small strokes and a severe nosebleed. Pry 4 peace and comfort. #
• Thanks Marcus R, Paul K and Jordan S for having dinner with us! #
• No new updates on my Aunt. Hoping to hear something more by tonight. #
• Update On My Aunt: My Aunt is continuing 2 have worse strokes. My Gma is loosing strength and needs encouragement. I am driving 2 NV now. #

Tags: Twitter

Update On My Aunt #03

Posted on December 19th, 2009 by Cliff Ames Jr.

Dear Friends-

In about 30 minutes I am going to be leaving to drive to Las Vegas, Nevada to be with my Aunt and Grandmother. My Aunt has been have repeated strokes for the past 48 hours and is getting worse by the hour. My Grandmother is very discouraged as she is loosing her other child only a year and half after loosing my Mom. She also beginning to be weakened physically and needs someone to be there for her and be emotionally and physically strong for her. For now that person needs to be me and so I would covet your prayers for many things.

1. Pray for a safe trip
2. Pray that God would strengthen and encourage my Grandmother
3. Pray that God would strengthen and equip me for this time of suffering and trial
4. Pray for my Sister’s safe trip when she is able to go out there sometime in the next 24-36 hours
5. Pray that God would grant rest and peace to my Aunt
6. Pray that I will be patient with the Doctors that are treating her

I’ll do my best to keep you updated via this Blog or viat my Twitter account which updates in the last column to the right.

On Behalf Of My Family,
Cliff Ames Jr.

Tags: Update On My Aunt

J2B-2009

Posted on December 14th, 2009 by Cliff Ames Jr.

I snuck into Journey To Bethlehem this year. Some day I’ll tell you why I say I “snuck” in…

Tags: journey of faith church, Journey To Bethelehem, Manhattan Beach

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-12-13

Posted on December 13th, 2009 by Cliff Ames Jr.

• Decorating the tree with tha family! http://twitpic.com/shjer #
• Super bummed I'm not going to be a part of the SCMC any more… #
• I favorited a YouTube video — GLEE – "True Colors" & "Defying Gravity" Mash-Up http://bit.ly/4xL1UR #
• I rated a YouTube video (5 out of 5 stars) — GLEE – "True Colors" & "Defying Gravity" Mash-Up http://bit.ly/4xL1UR #
• SNOW MODE ON BLACK STALLION!!! http://twitpic.com/sw3yk #
• I just discovered Glee… and I might be… in love! #
• petition @perrynoble to meet & B reconciled 2 JDuncan #pajamapages #NewSpring http://act.ly/1hy RT to sign #
• I favorited a YouTube video — Buzz Report Special Report: Windows 7 House Party http://bit.ly/ncKFO #
• I favorited a YouTube video — CNET Buzz Report: Google builds a better Google http://bit.ly/8d1n48 #
• Can't wait to see The Lovely Bones – December 2009 – http://tiny.cc/mXAx9 #
• Sometimes there are just times when tech support can only go so far and common sense must be present in the customer… #
• I favorited a YouTube video — Keith Olbermann Slams Glenn Beck's "Communist" Rockefeller Center http://bit.ly/sycBT #
• I hate it when I wake up before my alarm clock… Even if it's only by 6 min… Gonna be one of those days! #
• Final Score: Cliff=2 Printers=0 #
• Gotta love the sound of rain and Christmas Music! #
• Working on my Graphics Portfolio in hopes of finding some work. #
• What the heck!? I just saw an advertisment for Disneyland with Kermit and the Muppets!! That's NOT okay! #
• Gotta say that I LOVE Hulu Desktop Beta for Mac! #
• Watching a Logic Board replacement on an iMac G5… What a beast! #
• You're In The TwiCliffLife Zone: Almost done editing my Dad's Wedding and almost done posting my Mom's Memorial Service… Do do do do… #

Tags: Twitter

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-12-06

Posted on December 6th, 2009 by Cliff Ames Jr.

• Back to SCMC rehearsals tonight! Only 13 more days until rehearsal becomes performance! #
• N the darkages tonight! We R w/out power due 2 planned maintanance! Stupid SoCal Edison! Don't they know these are prime YouTube hours! #
• Looks like big changes and challenges are headed my way again. Guess it's time to fire up a prayer request email and send it out. BOTLO #
• Check my video out — How To Fry A Turkey http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nxpx3FzxJrM #

Tags: Twitter