Today

Last night, very late, I got a call from my dad's primary care doctor. My dad had taken a turn for the worse, he said. They were doing everything that could be done, but things did not look good. He told me that he expected to be calling me during the night.

I tried to sleep. I must have, because I woke up to the sound of a distant train whistle. Normally in July windows would be shut, but it's been cool here and I clearly heard a whistle.

Being that my dad is an old C&O Railroad guy (welder) I half expected to get a call saying he was gone. "Life is Like a Mountain Railroad" started playing in my head.

But, I fell back to sleep and woke up as THGGM was leaving for work.

A few minutes later I got a call from the doctor.

My dad's condition had improved. His doctor seemed very surprised by this.

No one here knows just how long he will be able to keep this up, but, it was a very nice surprise to have him call me at the usual time this morning and have him tell me what he had just eaten for breakfast.

That's why I have posted the video above of him eating his lunch.

Presently the doctors are working to find the correct balance between keeping his kidney function up and his fluid levels down.

My family and I would appreciate your prays for him.

We know he is in good hands, and he knows he is in God's hands.

Wish I Were Here

Okay. Not really.

I'm glad to be sitting right here at my computer.

It's been a looong week already, so glad that Monday night was beautiful!

That reminds me of one of my favorite quotes.

The weather is here. Wish you were beautiful!

Kado is one month old today! I just find that SO amazing!

Tonight I got to hold him, but he preferred cuddling with Pake. They were even wearing matching outfits. Sadly, I forgot to bring my camera.

My dad is improving every day. In an effort to avoid going to a nursing home for rehab he is having nurses, OT's and PT's coming to his home.

Today we took a trip to the nursing home to see my mom. She was doing very well, and even looked over at me, nodded towards my dad and said, "He looks GOOD!".

My dad was able to feed her her afternoon pudding. I think it helps SO much for him to feel useful.

I spent the morning setting my dad up with "Lifeline". Now he has a bracelet with a button on it that he can push anywhere in and around his home that will summons help. We tried it out and it works very well. I highly recommend this service.

Soon we shall work on getting him new phones. Phones that he will not have to get up to answer. Phones that do not have cords.

But, everything NEW is not as easy to figure out when you are 83 as it is when you are say, three. I might have to ask Daughter if she could loan Jonge to my dad for a day so HE can explain to him how all this new fangled equipment operates.

And now, exhausted, I drop into bed.

First Monday of July

I tried, but I couldn't get all of Jonge in the picture today! He is a big boy now at 3 1/2.

Famke had just gotten up from her nap and was still very cuddly.

I'm finding it hard to believe, but Kado is three weeks old today.

He also had his first doctor's appointment.

His weight is now 9 pounds, and he is 22 inches long.

Happy, healthy and hungry!

There was a 'bee' in the house (actually, i think it was just a rather large fly) and Jonge wanted me to get it. I asked for a fly swatter, but he said he didn't have one. So, he brought me this. He said it would work. I said it wouldn't. He told me that at least I could TRY.

In other news..,

My dad seemed some better today!

Fancy Famke

Famke looked adorable in her Easter finery.

She and Jonge are suffering from colds. His has left him with a very sore upper lip.

Today they were subdued.

Jonge doesn't care to eat, and Famke only cared to eat candy.

No one knows why, but Famke's language has turned into something that sounds very much oriental. It's cute, although a bit surprising.

We had a lovely Easter with the extended family.

I tasted no residual rye flour in the lemon fruit pizza. It was good. In fact, I ate everything that was made, and behold, it was VERY good.

Now I am off to bed, with a very good book my niece loaned to me yesterday. It's "Another Country" by Mary Pipher. I started it tonight while I was donating plasma. The time just flew by.

You Might as Well Laugh

Oh, I am tired. It's after midnight and I should be in bed. Instead, I am losing to myself in Pathwords, which for some strange reason relaxes me.

Anyway...

My dad seems to be making some improvement. I still haven't talked to his doctor yet. They are removing fluids and also taking a closer look at the ankle that has been giving him so much trouble lately. Something on his chart caused him to be put into isolation, but no one 'in the know' has any idea why. This isn't much of a hardship, as it means he gets a private room. And I get to play 'dress up' with cool gowns and rubber gloves. I take my entertainment anyway I can get it.

THGGM arrived home at the same time I did. We made the hasty decision to go out for dinner.

Remember how I have been trying to go for a more 'vintage 40s' look in my kitchen? I've been experimenting with vintage linens flung over wobbly old wooden kitchen chairs. It's a charming look, in my opinion anyway.

Although it wasn't so charming when THGGM took off his jacket at the restaurant only to discover that he had been WEARING a vintage strawberry print table runner. He must have grabbed that too when he took his jacket off the back of the chair he had hung it over.

Our waitress was very sweet, but it was the 'early bird' hour and I must say that I admire her for the kindness she was showing to the elderly crowd. The couple behind us could only be described as rude. Yet she patiently answered every one of their questions. The very same questions, numerous times. They had menus, but didn't seem to care to read them. Just ask me, and I could repeat back to you EVERY soup, vegetable, and dressing available. And, I could tell you that you may choose ONE side with a sandwich and TWO sides with a dinner. I only know this because I heard it SOOOOOOOOOO many times.

Of course, we looked weird too, as we had a vintage table runner with us.

Dinner was lovely. I have no idea what THGGM had, but I had the Chicken Monterrey (TWO sides - green beans, and salad with blue cheese dressing).

THGGM had some sort of hamburger. He asked our overworked waitress for ketchup but before she could get it she was hailed over by the rude couple.

We were in a hurry and I was hungry (ONE side with his 'sandwich', so I had more food to eat). Most likely this is why THGGM was noticing my food more than he was noticing his. Or at least I hope that is why he leaned across the table and said to me:

"That's an awfully small breast you've got there."

Listen. Can You Hear That?

It is very windy here right now.

I'm listening to the plastic that is covering my breeze-way windows as it flaps around. It isn't a pleasant sound.

Late this afternoon I had to call an ambulance to take my dad to the hospital.

When he called me he could just barely talk, he was so very short of breath.

It was nap time over here. I don't have a car and had two sleeping children. So there wasn't much else I could do BUT call an ambulance.

His doctor's office requested that he be taken to Butterworth Hospital as they have the city's Heart Center. I made this request when I called.

Daughter made it here quickly and I waited for THGGM to drop me off at the hospital.

This would have worked just fine.

Except that he wasn't at the hospital I was dropped off at.

He was at Blodgett Hospital.

Thankfully, Youngest Son and Cousin Chris arrived first, caught the error and came to my rescue. I cannot begin to tell you how happy that made me. I believe it was at this very moment that the migraine that had been trying to dance in my head all day went away.

What a wet and nasty drive it was from one hospital to the other.

But, I arrived.

Of course, by the time I arrived my dad had already been there for nearly two hours.

He'd had blood work, x-rays and knew he would be spending the night.

This same thing happened last June.

I'm hoping that the hospital stay helps him as well this time as it did then.

One can always hope, and pray.

Me and My Great Ideas

I really thought it would work, that idea of mine to move Famke to the table.

It did actually seem like it was working, until tonight.

I'm going to just chalk it up to THGGM and I being tired. But, by the time we had finished supper, there was a cat eating chicken off the kitchen table (this is NOT allowed).


Famke had a full diaper (as she did during breakfast AND lunch also) and no longer wanted to sit.

When she took her cue from the cat and climbed ON the table.., well.., even extremely tired grandparents will not put up with that.

One more day to go.

It's been fun. But I am SOOO tired.

The high chair has been called back into service.