Mom went back to the nursing home today...she brought a huge box of donuts and personally took them around, visiting everyone who cared for Dad...
The superintendent of the facility was there and thanked Mom again for her written thank you note for the beautiful flowers they sent for Dad's funeral. She gave him a picture of the flowers so he could post it. She also shared pictures from Dad's funeral with everyone.
Everyone was so grateful for the pictures and commented how beautiful it was. Mom visited with Doctor-Doctor, Pickles, the Skin Angel, the Head of Nursing, and all of them wanted to know how we are were doing. Doctor-Doctor mentioned my brother E_____ had come in to extend his thanks for the excellent care Dad received there. She and the others were quite touched he made the effort to come in.
Mom asked the Superintendent for some business cards. Several people in her Support Group had requested cards as well as Mom's physician. He was very impressed we felt so positive and wished to pass along referrals to others. We all agreed how happy we are with the care provided to Dad with such genuine compassion and love.
I know it was not easy for Mom to return to the nursing home, especially by herself, but I am so proud of her and I know how welcomed she must have felt by everyone. We really feel they are all an extension of our family. We have shared such an intimate experience together...
I still miss Dad. I know I always will. Some days I feel raw and very emotional and other days I can think positive, happy thoughts of Dad, eternally youthful, pain free and full of love and joy. I like to think of him running along a beach with his favorite dog, Brutus, running along side of him...as fast as his stubby legs can carry him.
I know it made an easier transition for Mom, in that Dad had been at the nursing home these last four years instead of being at home with Mom. The day I left her house to return to CA, after picking up Dad's remains...she got a phone call from a good friend. The previous week Mom and her girlfriend and her husband shared lunch at a church function. Her girlfriend called to tell Mom he had died. I know Mom will be a comfort to her, but despite my Mother's strength and faith, it has to be very difficult going to so many funerals...
The day of Dad's funeral, as we were leaving, I got a call on my cell from my dear girlfriend I used to co-write poetry with, had suddenly died. She and I had been on the phone long hours the week before as she did not have a computer and I was helping her by giving her phone numbers of places to check out in San Francisco as her daughter's husband had just gotten a job there. We were laughing and sharing and I told her I wanted to come visit her before they all moved...
Unfortunately, I did not get the opportunity to visit. Her daughter said they are having her cremated and will keep her remains with them during the moving process and after they are settled, plan on having a Memorial service in Lake Tahoe, which is where she lived so many years and raised her daughter. My husband and I would love to drive up for it...
Our neighbor across the street from us, discovered he had a tumor in his brain and his lung three months ago. He just died Friday, September 13, 2013. We attended his funeral September 16th.
My daughter's Mother in Law has terminal cancer and has been very ill. Another neighbor down our street just found out she has inoperable cancer on her rib cage and clavicle. She is stage four and very sick...
I realize at our age, unfortunately, we hear about and experience more serious illness and death, especially living in a Senior Community.... It is never easy to accept, but it is a part of life's process coming to a full circle. We are so thankful to learn our youngest daughter, who just got married July 20th of this year, is pregnant. She is due in April. My brother B____'s daughter in Ohio is also pregnant and due this December. It is God's gift to our family... and we are grateful.
Showing posts with label Daughters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Daughters. Show all posts
Monday, September 30, 2013
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Today Was Definitely a Good Day...
This has been a rough week of visits with Dad... I arrived this past Thursday; my brother arrived last Monday and has been visiting every day. The last two days we found Dad in bed sleeping. He was so sleepy yesterday we could not even wake him up except for a sip of water...
The day before he was cold and afraid. I got him an extra blanket and rubbed his back while my brother read him the Bible and rubbed Dad's head.
My daughter Jodee wanted to visit with us today and drove up from Riverside county. Mom, my brother, Jodee and I went to visit Dad, prepared for the worst. When we arrived, we found Dad sitting in his wheel chair in the lunch room waiting for lunch.
Dad is so pale, gaunt and weak, but he perked up when he saw us. He was thrilled to see Jodee, his grand daughter. We took Dad out on the patio and parked him at an umbrella table with his back a wee bit in the sun.
He was happy to see us and chatted in a weak voice, but with more volume than we have heard most of the week. He was flirty and feisty. He asked if we had ever gone with him up the elevator to the top floor of the nursing home (it is only one story) but in Dad's mind, it is a skyscraper and went on and on about the view and his office up there.
His caretaker brought his lunch outside. It looked and smelled devine! Meatloaf with gravy, mashed potatoes with gravy, diced beets, strawberry ice cream, pudding, bread and butter, milk, grapejuice and coffee. My brother fed Dad dessert first from one side of Dad and I fed him his lunch from the other side of Dad.
He told us his ear hurt. He said it was "pounding" but then told us when he goes to the beach it is always so loud...so to be safe, I told the nurse of Dad's complaints. I also noted his appeared to have a swollen spot on the upper right side of his nose. Dad also complained of me hurting his nose when I wiped it for him. He told me I hurt him...
I apologized and told him I was sorry and he told me, "Well, then DON'T DO IT AGAIN!" Feisty!
He was very taken with my daughter Jodee...(because he is such a shameless flirt) he told her how much he loves pretty girls and wants to kiss them...but he wants to kiss them a hundred times! We all roared with laughter.
When it came to drink, Dad usually coughs because he is either having difficulty swallowing and/or he coughs and chokes. When he was drinking his coffee, I kept warning him to sip and not guzzle.... He tried to guzzle and started to cough, so to hide the fact he was coughing, he coughed, then went..."HAHA..HOHOHO...HEEHEEHEE"....we all laughed again.
My daughter took pictures and promised to send us copies, so I will post them when she has time to send them to me.
The Social Worker came out on the patio as we were finishing up the pictures and asked if we needed any services for Dad. I told her Dad needed a hair cut, his eye brows trimmed as well as his ears, nostrils and mustache. I mentioned Dad's complaint of the pounding in his ears, the sore nose and the little swelling on his upper lip.
She asked if he needed to see the Dentist and we told her NO. I also told her he needed his nails trimmed on his fingers and toes.
Dad has not been eating well all week, but today, he ate 100% at breakfast and 100% at lunch! Very happy for all of us to see Dad so animated and wanting to eat.
After finishing lunch, Dad thought it would be good to go back inside....so we wheeled him back inside and toward his room. While walking down the isle, we greeted several of the staff members and gave them hugs. His male caregiver for the day wanted to look at Dad's upper lip and told us Dad used to have a scrab on his upper lip and he kept picking it...he felt it was OK.
Two young nurses and Doctor-Doctor came up to Dad and began talking with Dad. We all said our good byes, but Dad was totally focused on the young woman and treated us like "chopped liver". We told him we would all see him tomorrow and he told us he would look forward to it.
Tomorrow all six of Dad's children will be there in addition to some spouses, and grand kids, for Father's Day. We'll have to take up a couple of tables...we'll have so many family members...it should be a good day for Dad.
What a relief to see him more alert and social. My daughter was thrilled as I had prepared her for the worst. She was very happy to have such a positive time with her precious "lil' Papa" as both my daughters refer to him...Mom, my brother and I were very relieved too.
"Let's have lunch at In and Out", my brother suggested, and we all agreed. Today was definitely a good day.
The day before he was cold and afraid. I got him an extra blanket and rubbed his back while my brother read him the Bible and rubbed Dad's head.
My daughter Jodee wanted to visit with us today and drove up from Riverside county. Mom, my brother, Jodee and I went to visit Dad, prepared for the worst. When we arrived, we found Dad sitting in his wheel chair in the lunch room waiting for lunch.
Dad is so pale, gaunt and weak, but he perked up when he saw us. He was thrilled to see Jodee, his grand daughter. We took Dad out on the patio and parked him at an umbrella table with his back a wee bit in the sun.
He was happy to see us and chatted in a weak voice, but with more volume than we have heard most of the week. He was flirty and feisty. He asked if we had ever gone with him up the elevator to the top floor of the nursing home (it is only one story) but in Dad's mind, it is a skyscraper and went on and on about the view and his office up there.
His caretaker brought his lunch outside. It looked and smelled devine! Meatloaf with gravy, mashed potatoes with gravy, diced beets, strawberry ice cream, pudding, bread and butter, milk, grapejuice and coffee. My brother fed Dad dessert first from one side of Dad and I fed him his lunch from the other side of Dad.
He told us his ear hurt. He said it was "pounding" but then told us when he goes to the beach it is always so loud...so to be safe, I told the nurse of Dad's complaints. I also noted his appeared to have a swollen spot on the upper right side of his nose. Dad also complained of me hurting his nose when I wiped it for him. He told me I hurt him...
I apologized and told him I was sorry and he told me, "Well, then DON'T DO IT AGAIN!" Feisty!
He was very taken with my daughter Jodee...(because he is such a shameless flirt) he told her how much he loves pretty girls and wants to kiss them...but he wants to kiss them a hundred times! We all roared with laughter.
When it came to drink, Dad usually coughs because he is either having difficulty swallowing and/or he coughs and chokes. When he was drinking his coffee, I kept warning him to sip and not guzzle.... He tried to guzzle and started to cough, so to hide the fact he was coughing, he coughed, then went..."HAHA..HOHOHO...HEEHEEHEE"....we all laughed again.
My daughter took pictures and promised to send us copies, so I will post them when she has time to send them to me.
The Social Worker came out on the patio as we were finishing up the pictures and asked if we needed any services for Dad. I told her Dad needed a hair cut, his eye brows trimmed as well as his ears, nostrils and mustache. I mentioned Dad's complaint of the pounding in his ears, the sore nose and the little swelling on his upper lip.
She asked if he needed to see the Dentist and we told her NO. I also told her he needed his nails trimmed on his fingers and toes.
Dad has not been eating well all week, but today, he ate 100% at breakfast and 100% at lunch! Very happy for all of us to see Dad so animated and wanting to eat.
After finishing lunch, Dad thought it would be good to go back inside....so we wheeled him back inside and toward his room. While walking down the isle, we greeted several of the staff members and gave them hugs. His male caregiver for the day wanted to look at Dad's upper lip and told us Dad used to have a scrab on his upper lip and he kept picking it...he felt it was OK.
Two young nurses and Doctor-Doctor came up to Dad and began talking with Dad. We all said our good byes, but Dad was totally focused on the young woman and treated us like "chopped liver". We told him we would all see him tomorrow and he told us he would look forward to it.
Tomorrow all six of Dad's children will be there in addition to some spouses, and grand kids, for Father's Day. We'll have to take up a couple of tables...we'll have so many family members...it should be a good day for Dad.
What a relief to see him more alert and social. My daughter was thrilled as I had prepared her for the worst. She was very happy to have such a positive time with her precious "lil' Papa" as both my daughters refer to him...Mom, my brother and I were very relieved too.
"Let's have lunch at In and Out", my brother suggested, and we all agreed. Today was definitely a good day.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Family Updates...
Got a good report from the Hospice nurse today...Dad was in activities when she visited him. He was very upbeat, polite and flirty with her, answering everything she asked with, "Yes, Mam". All his vitals were good, but he told her he had pain. Dad could not explain where it was....and when she inquired further, Dad told her someone told him he was in pain.... I will have to follow up on that...The nurse told me she called Dad's doctor and let him know. The doctor prescribed 5/350 tab of Vicodin for pain as needed. I asked if it could be taken with his Lexapro and Namenda, and she assured me it could.
**********************
My daughter Jodee and her Fiancé Jeff are engaged and will be getting married July 20, 2013. They had a photo shoot for their 'Save the Date' photo and other photos for their wedding. Some of the pictures have their son Jacob in them, but during the shots of just them, her sister, my firstborn daughter Holly and her sons kept Jacob entertained...
I don't usually show pictures of or mention the names of Holly's sons, the ten year old and the eight year old... Holly prefers I don't. Holly is expecting her third son, my fourth grand son this month...
I did however, get the OK to post the picture above of the ten year old, Jacob, Jodee and Jeff's son, and the eight year old walking ahead of their Mom at the park where the photo shoot took place. The boys always look forward to getting together and enjoy one another so much.... I just LOVE this picture.
*******************
My only sister Holly (yes, my daughter Holly is named after her Auntie) arrived today to visit for a week. She and I will drive back together to California to attend her daughter in law's baby shower on the 10th. I will be staying with my Mom a few days and then return home to Nevada on the 12th.
Have a good week everyone...I KNOW I WILL!!!
**********************
My daughter Jodee and her Fiancé Jeff are engaged and will be getting married July 20, 2013. They had a photo shoot for their 'Save the Date' photo and other photos for their wedding. Some of the pictures have their son Jacob in them, but during the shots of just them, her sister, my firstborn daughter Holly and her sons kept Jacob entertained...
I did however, get the OK to post the picture above of the ten year old, Jacob, Jodee and Jeff's son, and the eight year old walking ahead of their Mom at the park where the photo shoot took place. The boys always look forward to getting together and enjoy one another so much.... I just LOVE this picture.
*******************
My only sister Holly (yes, my daughter Holly is named after her Auntie) arrived today to visit for a week. She and I will drive back together to California to attend her daughter in law's baby shower on the 10th. I will be staying with my Mom a few days and then return home to Nevada on the 12th.
Have a good week everyone...I KNOW I WILL!!!
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Holding His Own...(& Sharing Grand Son Stories)
I called the nursing home today to check on Dad. He is eating well and gained a pound. He weighs 133. Dad is weighed every Sunday, so tomorrow I will find out if he kept that pound on or lost more.
Super Bowl Sunday they called to tell me Dad lost two more pounds...
Last Tuesday, I called the nursing home to check on Dad and the Supervisor answered the phone. She told me she meant to call me the night before, but it was so late...she wanted to let me know Dad's physician took him off the Aracept and put him on Namenda. I knew he was going to do this as he had told me in his more recent email. Apparently the Aracept has a weight loss side effect, which Namenda doesn't and Namenda is better for the later stages of Alzheimer's.
The supervisor also told me the doctor had lowered Dad's Digoxin from 2.5 to 1.5 and put Dad on Remeron to increase his appetite. I IMMEDIATELY TOLD HER IT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE ON DAD'S CHART NOT TO HAVE REMERON.... that is the medication the psychiatrist used to keep switching Dad from it to the Lexapro. The Remeron made Dad agitated, mean, combative and he wanted to leave, calling Mom and yelling at her.
The Supervisor said the doctor had just left so if she hung up she might be able to page him. We hung up and I immediately sent the doctor an email, reminding him of why Dad was not suppose to be on the Remeron.
I called the nursing home back and she told me she reached the doctor and Dad would not be getting the Remeron. Dad's doctor also emailed me, assuring me he stopped the order before Dad got it. He also told me he had done another cryotherapy treatment on Dad and he had tolerated it well.
I emailed him back letting him know I did not think we should give Dad meds to increase his appetite. If he truly is in the later stages of Alzheimer's and slowing down....I don't think we should force him to eat if he does not want to.
I wanted to speak with Dad, but he was sleeping. His male caretaker for today told me he was up in his wheel chair and went to activities today. I thanked him for all he does for Dad and encouraging Dad to eat and join in. We are very, very blessed to have Dad where he is...
************
Sharing stories and pics of my grand sons: The ten year old had just come home from a band performance, having just found out he made Advanced Band (he plays the clarinet)... dressed in dark slacks, a white long sleeved shirt and tie. His Mom told him he looked like an FBI agent and my grandson retorts, "I feel more like James Bond. Take my picture Mom and I'll pose..."
So she grabbed the camera... He touched his tie, cocked his head to one side, and posed like he was alertly walking... She snapped the picture....
Chuckling, my daughter commented on his pose, and my grand son says, "I like my cereal shaken, not stirred." (After Bond's famous line, "I like my martini, shaken, not stirred.")
She forwarded his comment and the picture to me via text on my phone and my husband and I cracked up. Both my daughter and I were laughing when I called her after receiving the text. What a character! Our family is blessed with a WONDERFUL sense of humor.
The ten year old's brother, the eight year old, is catching up to his older brother in height and clothes size. He is wearing a size 12, the same as his older brother. The ten year old complained to his Mom, "Hey, I am suppose to be the alpha brother, I don't want to share my jeans with him."
The eight year old overheard his comment and quipped back, "Then you better eat more popcorn like I do, instead of all those vegetables."
The ten year old rolls his eyes up at his Mom and said, "See what I have to deal with? I can't wait for G****** (his soon to arrive brother the end of March or beginning of April) to get here...then I'll have someone to share the load." If I ever want to write a children's book, I got plenty of material and dialogue!
The eight year old is fearless, gregarious, also has a sharp wit and often figures out difficult video games when his older brother is stumped....which ticks the older one off despite being proud of his younger brother, calling him a wizard.
The ten year old is into all sports, everything & anything, doing everything well, except for his biggest challenge of keeping quiet in class. Both boys do very well in school. The ten year old is not fond of sports, but loves making music, creative writing, computers and video games. He is more reserved, but can hold his own often making comical or poignant observations.
Little G***** will arrive soon...their little brother, my fourth grand son and our tenth shared grand child...(My older daughter Holly, prefers I don't post pictures or their names at this particular time...)
Here is my latest pictures of little Jacob, my youngest grand son... so far. He is 2 years, 5 months.
Swinging at the park in January on Mom's day off...
My youngest daughter Jodee and Jacob in February, just before Valentines Day, at Disneyland.
I will be visiting in California for my oldest daughter Holly's baby shower, babysit my husband's two grand daughter's a few days, visit Dad, family and drive back with my daughter Jodee as she will be attending a trade show here in Vegas. We have shopping and planning to do for her upcoming wedding in July....
Everyone have a great, safe and happy weekend.
~dkb~
Super Bowl Sunday they called to tell me Dad lost two more pounds...
Last Tuesday, I called the nursing home to check on Dad and the Supervisor answered the phone. She told me she meant to call me the night before, but it was so late...she wanted to let me know Dad's physician took him off the Aracept and put him on Namenda. I knew he was going to do this as he had told me in his more recent email. Apparently the Aracept has a weight loss side effect, which Namenda doesn't and Namenda is better for the later stages of Alzheimer's.
The supervisor also told me the doctor had lowered Dad's Digoxin from 2.5 to 1.5 and put Dad on Remeron to increase his appetite. I IMMEDIATELY TOLD HER IT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE ON DAD'S CHART NOT TO HAVE REMERON.... that is the medication the psychiatrist used to keep switching Dad from it to the Lexapro. The Remeron made Dad agitated, mean, combative and he wanted to leave, calling Mom and yelling at her.
The Supervisor said the doctor had just left so if she hung up she might be able to page him. We hung up and I immediately sent the doctor an email, reminding him of why Dad was not suppose to be on the Remeron.
I called the nursing home back and she told me she reached the doctor and Dad would not be getting the Remeron. Dad's doctor also emailed me, assuring me he stopped the order before Dad got it. He also told me he had done another cryotherapy treatment on Dad and he had tolerated it well.
I emailed him back letting him know I did not think we should give Dad meds to increase his appetite. If he truly is in the later stages of Alzheimer's and slowing down....I don't think we should force him to eat if he does not want to.
I wanted to speak with Dad, but he was sleeping. His male caretaker for today told me he was up in his wheel chair and went to activities today. I thanked him for all he does for Dad and encouraging Dad to eat and join in. We are very, very blessed to have Dad where he is...
************
Sharing stories and pics of my grand sons: The ten year old had just come home from a band performance, having just found out he made Advanced Band (he plays the clarinet)... dressed in dark slacks, a white long sleeved shirt and tie. His Mom told him he looked like an FBI agent and my grandson retorts, "I feel more like James Bond. Take my picture Mom and I'll pose..."
So she grabbed the camera... He touched his tie, cocked his head to one side, and posed like he was alertly walking... She snapped the picture....
Chuckling, my daughter commented on his pose, and my grand son says, "I like my cereal shaken, not stirred." (After Bond's famous line, "I like my martini, shaken, not stirred.")
She forwarded his comment and the picture to me via text on my phone and my husband and I cracked up. Both my daughter and I were laughing when I called her after receiving the text. What a character! Our family is blessed with a WONDERFUL sense of humor.
The ten year old's brother, the eight year old, is catching up to his older brother in height and clothes size. He is wearing a size 12, the same as his older brother. The ten year old complained to his Mom, "Hey, I am suppose to be the alpha brother, I don't want to share my jeans with him."
The eight year old overheard his comment and quipped back, "Then you better eat more popcorn like I do, instead of all those vegetables."
The ten year old rolls his eyes up at his Mom and said, "See what I have to deal with? I can't wait for G****** (his soon to arrive brother the end of March or beginning of April) to get here...then I'll have someone to share the load." If I ever want to write a children's book, I got plenty of material and dialogue!
The eight year old is fearless, gregarious, also has a sharp wit and often figures out difficult video games when his older brother is stumped....which ticks the older one off despite being proud of his younger brother, calling him a wizard.
The ten year old is into all sports, everything & anything, doing everything well, except for his biggest challenge of keeping quiet in class. Both boys do very well in school. The ten year old is not fond of sports, but loves making music, creative writing, computers and video games. He is more reserved, but can hold his own often making comical or poignant observations.
Little G***** will arrive soon...their little brother, my fourth grand son and our tenth shared grand child...(My older daughter Holly, prefers I don't post pictures or their names at this particular time...)
Here is my latest pictures of little Jacob, my youngest grand son... so far. He is 2 years, 5 months.
Swinging at the park in January on Mom's day off...
My youngest daughter Jodee and Jacob in February, just before Valentines Day, at Disneyland.
I will be visiting in California for my oldest daughter Holly's baby shower, babysit my husband's two grand daughter's a few days, visit Dad, family and drive back with my daughter Jodee as she will be attending a trade show here in Vegas. We have shopping and planning to do for her upcoming wedding in July....
Everyone have a great, safe and happy weekend.
~dkb~
Monday, January 9, 2012
Happy Birthday to my daughter...
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Teething, Legos, Monopoly and the Bachelorette....
I arrived yesterday to my oldest daughter Holly's house. Jodee and baby Jacob had arrived just before me. Jacob has been cutting his upper teeth. Jodee was very concerned with the huge spacing between the teeth. Turns out, he is cutting all four of his top teeth. He was not fussy, per se, but made a lot of grimacing looks as he chomped down to help pop those teeth through..
Jacob is crawling on all fours very well. The 9 year old and the 6 year old encouraged him to chase them and climb all over them. The boys called Jacob the Wrestling Drooler and were hysterical when he drooled on their faces...
We had a rousing game of Monopoly, with rules quite unfamiliar to me... apparently they have traffic cones players can put on their property now... The boys delighted in collecting those fees when we landed on their property.
Jacob discovered he could crawl much faster by pushing the top of the Monopoly box around the living room with his hands and pushing with his knees. The look on Jacob's face was priceless, wish I would have captured it on film... he was so proud of himself. I am not sure who was more entertainment for whom, the boys for Jacob or Jacob for the boys...but there sure was a lot of laughing going on!
The 6 year old entertained us with a repertoire of his favorite dances, complete with facial expressions and a lot of booty shaking. He completed his finale with a perfect succession of "arm pit farts".
The 9 year old did some excellent drawings of castles.... he is quite intrigued with all things Medieval...
Being a lover of castles myself, I enjoyed them immensely...
After Jodee and Jacob left, the boys were showing us their latest Lego creations...a Scorpio bike...Part scorpion and part hover bike, capable of shooting poison, Blaze, a robot capable of shooting flames out of his head and arms (because the arms are candles). The last creation was an upgraded version of Blaze called Android 19 which was bigger , more powerful and waaaaaaayyyyyy deadlier. Android 19 can only be powered down by putting ice on his candle arms. (That's a quote from the 9 year old)
While the boys took showers, Holly and I watched The Bachelorette together. I swear, Ashley is going to KICK herself when she watches the show back and see how pathetic she appears, always talking about how much she misses Bentley, and discovers what a COLOSSAL JERK he is!
Today I am watching the boys so Holly can get every one's suitcases packed and get everything ready for them to leave on their two week vacation tomorrow morning.
I have fed them both two pieces each of my famous french toast for breakfast. Now we are watching videos, playing video games, played a game of UNO (also with new rules I am not familiar with) with the 6 year old while the 9 year old and Holly went out to buy him new water shoes.
Upon their return, the 9 year old and I are having a discussion on Lego design and possibly working for Pixar in his future....
Gotta' go... they are hungry again....
Jacob is crawling on all fours very well. The 9 year old and the 6 year old encouraged him to chase them and climb all over them. The boys called Jacob the Wrestling Drooler and were hysterical when he drooled on their faces...
We had a rousing game of Monopoly, with rules quite unfamiliar to me... apparently they have traffic cones players can put on their property now... The boys delighted in collecting those fees when we landed on their property.
Jacob discovered he could crawl much faster by pushing the top of the Monopoly box around the living room with his hands and pushing with his knees. The look on Jacob's face was priceless, wish I would have captured it on film... he was so proud of himself. I am not sure who was more entertainment for whom, the boys for Jacob or Jacob for the boys...but there sure was a lot of laughing going on!
The 6 year old entertained us with a repertoire of his favorite dances, complete with facial expressions and a lot of booty shaking. He completed his finale with a perfect succession of "arm pit farts".
Being a lover of castles myself, I enjoyed them immensely...
After Jodee and Jacob left, the boys were showing us their latest Lego creations...a Scorpio bike...Part scorpion and part hover bike, capable of shooting poison, Blaze, a robot capable of shooting flames out of his head and arms (because the arms are candles). The last creation was an upgraded version of Blaze called Android 19 which was bigger , more powerful and waaaaaaayyyyyy deadlier. Android 19 can only be powered down by putting ice on his candle arms. (That's a quote from the 9 year old)
While the boys took showers, Holly and I watched The Bachelorette together. I swear, Ashley is going to KICK herself when she watches the show back and see how pathetic she appears, always talking about how much she misses Bentley, and discovers what a COLOSSAL JERK he is!
Today I am watching the boys so Holly can get every one's suitcases packed and get everything ready for them to leave on their two week vacation tomorrow morning.
I have fed them both two pieces each of my famous french toast for breakfast. Now we are watching videos, playing video games, played a game of UNO (also with new rules I am not familiar with) with the 6 year old while the 9 year old and Holly went out to buy him new water shoes.
Upon their return, the 9 year old and I are having a discussion on Lego design and possibly working for Pixar in his future....
Gotta' go... they are hungry again....
Friday, May 20, 2011
8 Months Old Today...And Another Fall In The Family...( pic posted)
My youngest grandson Jacob turns 8 months old today...
Unfortunately, his mommy, my youngest daughter, fell in front of Target today while doing some errands on her lunch hour. She ended up going to Urgent Care. The x-ray revealed she sprained her arm.
They all just returned from a wonderful, relaxing beach vacation, so with this mishap, it may be awhile before she can get the rest of pictures to us... I will post them as soon as I get some.
Heal quickly sweetheart...love you...
Looks like they caught him mid sentence...he is getting to be quite the chatter box...
Unfortunately, his mommy, my youngest daughter, fell in front of Target today while doing some errands on her lunch hour. She ended up going to Urgent Care. The x-ray revealed she sprained her arm.
They all just returned from a wonderful, relaxing beach vacation, so with this mishap, it may be awhile before she can get the rest of pictures to us... I will post them as soon as I get some.
Heal quickly sweetheart...love you...
Monday, April 25, 2011
What A Wonderful Weekend To Remember...
I called yesterday and today, checking on Dad. So far, no more temperature. Yesterday afternoon, it was 99.2 but back down to 98 this morning. Sunday morning he was at 97. He just finished antibiotics for his UTI, now, they have him on some antibiotics for the cough, temp and wheezing. They are also giving him expectorant medication and breathing treatments.
He has his great appetite, so he must not feel too badly. Personally, I need to hear his voice so I can judge for myself how he is doing...but I seem to have a knack for calling when the nursing station is dispensing medication, despite what time I call.
I called several times today to speak with him, but my last call, the nurse told me Dad was eating his dinner and enjoying a movie. So far, he seems to be doing well.
"Grandma and Grandpa, I'm coming to see you....Yippeeeeee!"
When they pulled up in front of the house, I immediately went outside to greet them and (let's be honest) grab my precious baby grand son... We were all surprised when Jacob waved to me! Both Jodee and Jeff told me this is the first time they have ever seen him wave!
We put Jacob in his activity spinner and introduced him to Izzy. He was quite mesmerized with her and Izzy was very gentle and respectful with him...
Jacob's tee shirt says, "This is what HANDSOME looks like..." So true, so true...
Jeff, Jacob's Daddy is a major animal lover and outdoors man, so we decided to go to the Springs Preserve (I wrote about it Saturday here on my other blog). The weather was warm, so after several hours of walking all over this huge preserve, we were all ready for a nap.
After our naps, we went to the two for one buffet at Green Valley Ranch. We had a nice, leisurely, enjoyable dinner and stretched it out to over two hours. The men left to gamble, Jacob slept, and my daughter savored some precious alone time. Jacob woke when we got back home; Jodee fed him and he went back to sleep. I listened for him on his monitor while Jodee and Jeff enjoyed the spa in the back patio.
Easter morning I awoke early to the delicious sound of Jacob's high squeal and jibber jabber. My daughter had Jacob in my rose chair in the living room, attempting to take an Easter morning picture. Together, with a little help from Izzy, we were able to get these shots...
He has his great appetite, so he must not feel too badly. Personally, I need to hear his voice so I can judge for myself how he is doing...but I seem to have a knack for calling when the nursing station is dispensing medication, despite what time I call.
I called several times today to speak with him, but my last call, the nurse told me Dad was eating his dinner and enjoying a movie. So far, he seems to be doing well.
Early Saturday morning I received the following photo/text via my cell, from my daughter Jodee, which read...
When they pulled up in front of the house, I immediately went outside to greet them and (let's be honest) grab my precious baby grand son... We were all surprised when Jacob waved to me! Both Jodee and Jeff told me this is the first time they have ever seen him wave!
We put Jacob in his activity spinner and introduced him to Izzy. He was quite mesmerized with her and Izzy was very gentle and respectful with him...
Jeff, Jacob's Daddy is a major animal lover and outdoors man, so we decided to go to the Springs Preserve (I wrote about it Saturday here on my other blog). The weather was warm, so after several hours of walking all over this huge preserve, we were all ready for a nap.
After our naps, we went to the two for one buffet at Green Valley Ranch. We had a nice, leisurely, enjoyable dinner and stretched it out to over two hours. The men left to gamble, Jacob slept, and my daughter savored some precious alone time. Jacob woke when we got back home; Jodee fed him and he went back to sleep. I listened for him on his monitor while Jodee and Jeff enjoyed the spa in the back patio.
Easter morning I awoke early to the delicious sound of Jacob's high squeal and jibber jabber. My daughter had Jacob in my rose chair in the living room, attempting to take an Easter morning picture. Together, with a little help from Izzy, we were able to get these shots...
This was his reaction to Izzy "sitting pretty' standing on her hind legs...
Here, she had just licked his cute little toes...
Unfortunately, she barked and startled him, making him sob big crocodile tears...Grandma went to his rescue and held him until he calmed down. Izzy did not bark around him the rest of the weekend. I was so impressed with Izzy's sensitivity. This is the first time she has ever been around a baby.
We called my oldest daughter Holly in California to wish the 8 year old and the six year old Happy Easter. Holly had them grading cheese and cutting string beans for their holiday dinner. The 8 year old is a DVR hog, (it being 95% full) recording so many of his shows, his Mom can't record hers... So as a special Easter gift to his Mother, he told his Mom he had cleared several of his shows. "I wanted to clear it to 75% Mom, but I went a little crazy and stopped at 68%." We got a kick out of his big sacrifice...
I fixed a big breakfast of sausage patties, bacon, scrambled eggs and my famous french toast...AFTER I cleaned up all the broken glass from dropping my big glass Pyrex lid...shattering into a million pieces, shooting out into the dining room, the front hall way, and all over the tile floor of my kitchen! What a mess!! I caught the side of my finger on the hot lid and when I set it down upon the counter, it was not all the way on it and fell...
We spent several hours being immensely entertained with baby Jacob...
He loves his Grandpa...
Oh my gosh...do you see those cute dimples on each side of his sweet little face?? Just like Daddy...
It just doesn't get much better than this...
While Jacob napped snuggled next to Jodee, we enjoyed the weather on the back patio and played a fun game called Table Topics. Basically, it is a box of questions which prompt some pretty fascinating conversations. My husband worked his magic on the BBQ grilling his legendary steaks, while Jodee and I made a salad and some fresh, white corn on the cob.
After dinner, Jeff, Jacob, Jodee, Izzy and I decided to take a "nature hike" above the canyon where we live, out on the hiking trails which lead out to the open desert. Jeff used to own a pet store and owned many snakes he kept as pets. He carried one of those crooked metal snake stick tools to lift rocks so he could look for critters. We had an agreement I had absolutely ZERO interest in seeing or getting near any snakes...
My daughter bundled up Jacob and strapped him to her chest in a papoose carrier. Once we reached the bluff above the canyon, the view was spectacular and I wished I had not forgotten my camera...It was pretty windy up there so we had a crystal clear view of the valley below....
Jacob had passed out and fell into a deep sleep, all snuggled and covered with blankets. Out on the trails, the hills are quite steep going up and going down. We saw a couple other families pushing strollers up and down the hills. I marveled at my daughter carrying the baby the entire walk. Jeff offered to carry Jacob, but she said she loved holding him.
Once we reached the open desert, we stood on the path and talked, while Jeff went down into a riverbed and snooped...He shrank into the distance as he happily explored. When we saw up curving back around to the trail up ahead, we walked down to meet him. Always wary of coyotes, we made sure we were well on our way back before sunset.
Jeff could not stop talking about how much he enjoyed the walk. He supported Jodee's back and pushed her up the hills, helping her climb the hills with the baby. Thankfully, I had Izzy pulling me up the hill...but I could not talk, I was too busy huffing and puffing...
Ironically, we saw a couple bunnies and some Quail once we reached my neighborhood, and never saw anything on the trails or when Jeff was in the desert.
My husband was still sitting on the patio when we returned, enjoying a cocktail. He had been visiting with various neighbors who normally walk their dogs past our house so their dogs can visit with Izzy... I was exhausted, so before I could announce I was tired, I had fallen asleep on the couch. My husband did too.
Jeff had to be at an important meeting at 10:00 AM this morning, so they planned on driving back at 10:00 PM or 11:00 PM Sunday night. They woke us up before they left. Jacob was sound asleep in his carrier, so we all hugged and kissed good-bye. I will see them next month over Mother's Day...so it is not too far away. They promised to call us when they got home, which they did. I stayed awake watching TV until their text at 3:30 AM. They had to make a couple stops so Jodee could feed the baby, then he went right back to sleep.
What a good, happy baby he is...what a wonderful weekend to remember...the only way it would have been better, is if the rest of the family had been there with us....
Sunday, March 27, 2011
One Heck Of A Crazy, Chaotic Week...Between Heaven and Hell...
This has been a real crazy week! We came back from California to plumbing and appliance problems. I had previously scheduled our annual warranty check this Tuesday for our fridge, washer and dryer and our water heater. I scheduled a repair appointment for the fridge because I noticed we were getting some floaty, whitish, opaque things from the water dispenser. YUCK!
To make a long story short, each of the check ups turned into separate hellish nightmares. By Tuesday night, AFTER all the check ups passing all inspections with flying colors, we had no hot water in our water heater. I could not run the WASHER MAGIC (for built up soap and residue, recommended by the tech) due to no hot water... And, we had no ice or filtered water because the tech refused to reconnect our source water from the wall, until we called a plumber.
I called the contracted plumbers for a "look see", who were hired by our housing community, due to an ongoing community law suit against Pulte/Del Webb. Pulte built the homes with yellow brass or high zinc contact fittings which deteriorate with the Las Vegas Valley water.
The tech had warned the corrosion caused from these particular fittings could clog and potentially damage the refrigerator, which would null and void our warranty protection agreement. A new solenoids would cost from $300-$500.
The plumbers advised us to go to Lowes or Home Depot and purchase an additional filter to protect the fridge from the source water. We went to Lowes and the appliance salesman looked at us like we were from another planet. He told us in 35 years he had NEVER heard of such a thing. He said he would love to make a sale, because we would additionally have to purchase five feet of new line to make the filter fit behind the fridge, but the only thing we would accomplish, in his opinion, was smaller ice cubes.
Frustrated, we left without purchasing anything but the Washer Magic and the lint brush for the dryer lint trap, suggested by the Sears tech.
Again, I called Sears, once we got home and I began to clean the washer...when I discovered we had no hot water and to have someone help us with the fridge. I remembered this really nice tech named Rocky. Two years prior, he repaired our ice maker and was not only friendly, good at his job, but full of helpful information. I requested him for both the fridge and the water heater. I was so fed up with Sears. I have never been a big fan, but my husband is....but that is another story...
So Rocky came Thursday and I almost kissed him at the front door! I told him our tale of woe, and he promptly went into the garage to check out the water heater. He determined we had a small leak which was putting out the pilot light. The previous tech, who took all of two minutes to check it,and had pronounced it "fine". Rocky told us it would be replaced, but we would probably pay extra for code upgrades and permit.
He checked out the water I had saved from the wall source water and agreed with the contracted plumbers, we needed to put an additional filter and five foot line. We told him we were going to pay $80 at Lowes for the supplies. He told us he would do it for $46. We have to change the filter in 8 or 9 months, and replace the white hose line with a grey hose line, if we should start to notice an odor. He told us to call him back and he would install it for us if we had problems.
Friday, our new water heater was installed ($186 for permits and code upgrades). The Sears plumbers told us the replacement Kenmore water heater (made my American, our former water heater) had a nine year warranty...."if" we would have bought it ourselves, brand new. The fact it was replacing a water heater on warranty, we would only have whatever warranty remained on our current warranty, which expires this August. (This morning, two days after the install, Sears woke me up to ask if I wanted to renew our warranty...FIVE MONTHS before it expires!) Total for our "free" annual check ups...$252, including the Washer Magic and lint brush.
Saturday, was spent cleaning and doing laundry which had piled up from no hot water...as well as dirty dishes, stored in our dishwasher. I actually had sore ears from all the phone calling and answering of phones this week!!! I felt like a frazzled switchboard operator!
No, that is not Izzy, but she was extra interested in the dishwasher this week...
We did have a good time in California. We left last Friday, the 18th and returned to Nevada this past Monday, the 21st. It was sooooo wonderful to see my daughters, grand sons and grand pup...
Normally, when we take Izzy in the car, we tell her we are going "Bye Bye" and she runs straight to the car. This time, we told her "Road Trip". Her head did a tilt, hearing this new word...
Pardon my unmade bed and attempts at video recording...
She traveled well like she always does. This time I had her seat belted in, (instead of locked in her crate) which tethers her enough to look out each side of the windows in the back seat. I put her crate on one side of the back sear and left the door open, and her dog bed on the other side, preventing the door from closing.
She napped contently on the pink bone blanket my oldest daughter Holly made for her. She happily went in and out of her crate, checking out the window scenery as we drove. I could almost hear her asking, "Are we there yet?"
Upon our arrival to my oldest daughter, Holly's home, we introduced Izzy to Dutch (my 3 month old chocolate lab, grand pup).
We let her say hello (smell his butt first), and when it was his turn... he attempted to mount her. She did not appreciate his enthusiasm and promptly, turned and did a snap and growl at him. My grand sons, the 8 and 6 year old got a huge charge out of this! They belly laughed with glee seeing our scruffy terrier with a pink bow on her head, attacking like Kujo, to their dog, twice her size! My 9 year old grand son was highly impressed with her warrior attitude.
Holly cooked three delicious dinners for us during our three night stay. Spaghetti and meat balls on Friday, chicken on Saturday and Tacos with all the trimmings on Sunday. Friday night I watched the DVD, Despicable Me with my two oldest grand sons. Both of them had seen it so many times, they took turns acting out the movie for me and saying all the lines! It was glorious and I laughed til' my face was sore...
Saturday we watched the 6 year old's T-Ball game. He made two great hits, one of them a home run, plus two great field plays resulting in two outs. He received the game ball and was so excited he slept with it. We all laughed the next morning when he walked out with the game balls inscription, tattooed to his cheek!
Sunday, Jacob turned 6 months old. My youngest daughter, Jodee, her boyfriend Jeff and baby Jacob came over to join us for dinner. They wanted to share in the celebration and to see Jacob debut his first time eating oatmeal...
First taste of solid food...
Oh yeah, he likes it...
Proud Daddy thinks his son is still hungry
A storm was due on Sunday, so I had brought Izzy's rain jacket in hopes my daughter could come up with a solution, since Izzy's expanding belly prevented it from fitting her. My genius daughter Holly invented an expander band of black felt with Velcro, allowing Izzy to fit into her jacket once again. She finished it just before the rain began to pour!
Pretty awesome, huh?
Holly suggested we go to Pet Co and buy her some sausage rolls, "made of all natural ingredients, no fillers and good for her". My daughter does her research and knows what she is talking about, so off we went. I bought the turkey flavor and Izzy LOVED IT.
I walked Izzy every2-3 hours since she was more confined than she usually is. We called it the Gauntlet, because every house in their neighborhood has at least two or three big dogs, plus several were off leash. I had to do some "posturing" to prevent them from charging us. Course Izzy was doing her stiff legged robot dog routine...to let them know they better not mess with her. She has a Napoleon Complex with bigger dogs...
Holly and I talked in the living room, where I slept on the couch in the same room with Izzy in her crate. It was so good just sitting and talking, looking at my daughter's beautiful face and hearing her voice... I miss these precious moments more than I can express... Our home is so quiet, and I felt emotional just hearing the sounds of children laughing and playing, the hustle and bustle of all the family talking, cooking and visiting...it was just pure heaven to me.
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