Friday May 23, 2008

Wow, where has the week gone, getting ready for catering this wedding tomorrow has taken a tole on me already! Dad, Todd and I are doing fine, no big stories to share at this time either, he seems very restless this afternoon, but some days are like that. I just wanted to touch base quickly so all of you know we are good. I will be gone from 9am to midnight on Saturday with great caregivers coming in for the entire shift...then Sunday and Monday we haven't decided if we are going to bring someone in to do something fun, boat, harley ride, or golf or maybe nothing! The weather is suppose to be beautiful, but I know after the wedding catering job, I will be needing down time. So we will see. Have a wonderful blessed Memorial Weekend, and thank you all you Vets! Love to all.

Sunday 18th May

This past weekend was so busy for us, with our main cook on vacation and our backup cook giving us a weeks notice, we have been in the kitchen at the Down Under since Mothers Day! We prayed earlier in the year for several very important issues in our lives, and one of the main requests was to have a staff at the Down Under that could free us up so we could enjoy life. Our prayers are being answered, it just seems that about the time we think we are there we get a snag in the plan. This week with AJ giving us notice he wanted to work 3rds in a factory about broke the camels back, but guess what??? God sent us a young man who is so excited to learn our kitchen and is so willing to work and adds enthusiasm and drive back into our staff. So we spent the weekend training Collin and AJ agreed to still be "on call" so that really helps us. That is an update on our work scheduling! Hopefully this week will calm down a bit more and Todd can be freed up to do some outdoor work he has had to put off that he enjoys dong. I am catering a very large wedding this Saturday so my week will be more hectic than usual, but again, every so often it is the price we have to pay to pay the bills!!!

Dad and I had a beautiful week, and he was so thankful that Todd and I was able to go to church this morning as Kathy called to come and sit with dad so we didn't have to miss again. What a blessing she is to us to give of herself. This morning after bathing, shaving, breakfast, he was too pooped by the time she got here to visit with dad, so she was disappointed they didn't get to talk. With Todd and I working both Friday and Saturday nights, the caregivers we hired said dad was missing me alot, but understood the need to do what we were doing.

I pray for this week ahead for the wedding plans to go smoothly that I am catering, and that dad has an understanding of my busyness again this week.

Only You

Here it is May 15th, what amazes me maybe the most is I thought by being home so much more than before dad came, I would have time for home things that I have put on the back burner only to find out how much time it does take to care for dad with normal caring, such as feeding, bathing, getting up and putting down as well as he isn't able to get his own drink, shoo a fly away from his face, fix the covers, change the tv channel, make a phone call, just every little thing we take for granted he needs done for him. I want to make certain it is understood that I am not complaining, just explaining, it is different than I thought it would be. As I was thanking God for this opporutinity this morning and to use me any way God want for me today, I was reminded that all those projects and things I thought I would get done while being home right now really doesn't matter, and a year from now it won't matter...so enjoy the day, what I have been given, and if I get one window washed or one drawer organized while sitting there with dad...that is a good thing. I feel a quiet small voice telling me to count my blessings, fnd the good in this walk of life, and find laughter with dad in what we share. Which leads to today's title "only you" Yesterday was a day of bowel movement, THREE TIMES ! ! ! We woke up to a huge mess, then again twice before lunchtime! I looked at dad and said I would do this nasty cleanup for only you dad, and he began to sing that song "only you"

ONLY YOU (Platters)
Only you can make this world seem right Only you can make the darkness bright. Only you and you alone can thrill me like you do and fill my heart with love for only you.
Only you can make this change in me, for it's true, you are my destiny. When you hold my hand, I understand the magic that you do.
You're my dream come true, my one and only you.

Its those times that I want to share with those of you that I am allowed to experience and maybe you can smile as you are reading this. I am going to get the morning going, we feel your prayers, please continue praying for us. Thank you ! With love and blessings to you on this 15th day of May.

May 13, 2008

We had an eventful weekend, with visitors and dad thinking he can get out of bed without help was overwhelming. The other change that dad continues to call me "Ikie" touches my heart. When he wanted to call Ty one morning, he recited a prayer for a good minute of scripture and prayerfullness, it was beautiful. I think Ty got to hear a good portion of it as his voice was clear and louder than normal. On Mothers Day during our morning devotions dad shared many words of wisdom about Grandma Lovey and I shared my wonderful memories of mom, we cried, laughed and counted our blessings. We didn't get to go to church again, so listened to PulseFM and sang along what we could. Then we got a call from AJ that he was sick so we scrambled around to find a way to get his shift covered, only to find that it was us to cover, so Scott was called in to stay until Julia, one of the caregivers on our list was able to come and stay till we got home late Sunday night, and were we busy! ! ! Whoo, glad that is behind us. Dad did fine which is the important thing.

Along came Monday and Tuesday already, always eventful with hourly visits from hospice chaplin, nurse, social worker, caregiver, almost too much! But we are working through this with hospice. It just wears dad out and disrupts our home, so we are trying different visits and such. Dad will tell anyone that will listen that he and I had a funny experience Monday, while trying to move him from the commode to the bed, we tumbled down, both of us, and thankfully neither of us were hurt, and laughed and laughed and laughed. Brooke-Lynn was here all day so sick, so I was able to help care for her also so Michele could work for our cook that is off for a week. Todd worked at Down Under then met Arlen to work on the fishing boat. That is pretty much of our weekend up to date. Dad just seems so content and happier...I am praying that I can continue to care for him, it is hard, and still feels so life changing. Thank you everyone for prayers...I feel them!

Blessings are all around me

Wow, I thought I'd be able to write daily, where does the time go? I thought when deciding to take dad in, I would have more time at home to get caught up on much needed things since he seemed to sleep so much with my visits to the maples...Not! Dad sleeps for 10 minutes, then wakes up with needs, which, that is what I am here for, just thought I'd get stuff done that is so badly needed around here. No biggie, maybe a routine will fall in to place one day soon.

Dad still is calling me his sister, crying out in the night for Ikie...needing a drink, never cold enough and reciting scripture often. It is really a new experience for Todd and I and one so far do not regret. Again, once in awhile I get feeling sorry for myself, those that get to just go when they want, jump on their Harley for a quick lunch with friends, stuff like that, but I get over it about as quick as it comes.

Tomorrow is Mothers Day, no plans so far, I didn't get anyone to come and sit with dad so we could go to church. I guess I was hoping someone would volunteer. Lisa asked us to meet them half way but we decided to wait and have a time together longer than an hour, so we are getting together soon. Scotty is busy with his apartment so maybe a cookout later in the afternnon will be what we do.

Thats about it for now...happy mothers day for all you mom's, I surely miss my mom, what a blessing an example of what a mom is...