It is with a heavy heart that I am writing this post. After two horrible days of watching mom fight for breath, and the only options being hospital and ventilator or Hospice, Dad and I chose and called Hospice this morning.
What that means is that right now she is still here at home, and she is getting no meds/needles, etc., except those needed for pain relief. Mom’s mind was clear last night and this morning, and she knows and condones the choice we made.
Now it is in God’s hands – she is a strong woman, and even though her lungs and heart are working triple time, she could conceivably be with us for a month or more – but by the same token, she could be gone next week.
If you are close enough to visit, please do so…if not, please say a prayer that mom suffers no more – and that Dad and I are strong enough to get through this for her.
Thanks so much for your good wishes and prayers – they mean the world to us!
Friday, February 18, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Feb - takin' care of mom...2011
So...here it is, Feb 8th, 2011. Last time I updated I was embroiled in the RV lifestyle as manager of Lone Star Corral in Hondo, TX. Someone thought that it was time to be flexible...I got a call from my Dad Dec 27th that mom was back in the hospital - could I come. Well, my folks rarely ask for my help, so Jan 1 I flew from San Antonio to Pgh, PA...mom stayed in the hospital in Meyersdale for three weeks, recovering from pnemonia.
We brought her home and within a week she had a stroke. So, off to Somerset Hospital...then to Meadow View Nursing/Rehab facility. Fifteen days of that, and we finally were able to bring her home last Friday, Feb 4th.
Our days are filled with physical therapy exercises, breathing treatments, and mind games, hand eye coordination exercises, and memory games. It is devastating to watch her struggle to put together a 25 piece jigsaw puzzle, when she used to think nothing of sitting down to a 1,000 piece puzzle and call it fun.
I want to thank everyone at Lone Star Corral for their wonderful understanding - and also to the new managers, who agreed to come in a month early to take over running the park - and to our assistant managers, who stepped up to a 40 hour work week instead of 16... Most of all I'd like to thank my partner and love of my life, David, for encouraging me to do whatever I need to insure the folks are ok...and for 'batching it' while I do so!
I'm hoping to get back to the park by the end of March, beginning of April. David and I have a wonderful trip planned to get the motorhome back here to PA by the end of the summer - and we still hope to do it, God willing.
I am cherishing each and every day with Mom & Dad. I hope to have a real travel blog again by mid April...and I'll try to update this one sooner :)
Tonight I made bbq'd country style ribs, baked red potatoes, corn, salad and we topped it off with home made plum pie...yum yum!
Have a great Valentine's day all!
We brought her home and within a week she had a stroke. So, off to Somerset Hospital...then to Meadow View Nursing/Rehab facility. Fifteen days of that, and we finally were able to bring her home last Friday, Feb 4th.
Our days are filled with physical therapy exercises, breathing treatments, and mind games, hand eye coordination exercises, and memory games. It is devastating to watch her struggle to put together a 25 piece jigsaw puzzle, when she used to think nothing of sitting down to a 1,000 piece puzzle and call it fun.
I want to thank everyone at Lone Star Corral for their wonderful understanding - and also to the new managers, who agreed to come in a month early to take over running the park - and to our assistant managers, who stepped up to a 40 hour work week instead of 16... Most of all I'd like to thank my partner and love of my life, David, for encouraging me to do whatever I need to insure the folks are ok...and for 'batching it' while I do so!
I'm hoping to get back to the park by the end of March, beginning of April. David and I have a wonderful trip planned to get the motorhome back here to PA by the end of the summer - and we still hope to do it, God willing.
I am cherishing each and every day with Mom & Dad. I hope to have a real travel blog again by mid April...and I'll try to update this one sooner :)
Tonight I made bbq'd country style ribs, baked red potatoes, corn, salad and we topped it off with home made plum pie...yum yum!
Have a great Valentine's day all!
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Merry Christmas!
Hi y'all :)
We have had much beautiful weather here - some frosty mornings, but ALWAYS into the 60's in the daytime - and more often than not into the 70's...can't beat it!
We had a marvelous Thanksgiving...and yesterday were invited to our friends, Walker & Evelyn Lane for a repeat of Thanksgiving dinner! Walker got an electric turkey fryer he wanted to try out, so Evelyn pulled out all the stops and made potatoes, yams, ham, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and a wonderful million dollar cake - I took a green bean casserole (told ya it eas a repeat!) and enjoyed their company as well as Ernie & Barb Richardson...we were stuffed to the max!
Thursday evening about 15 of us from the park when caroling through the park - we had a great time and several people came up to me the past couple days saying how much they enjoyed it. We will be caroling again either on Wed or Thurs night this week. Fun fun fun! Nice to go Caroling when you don't have to wear boots and mittens!!!
Friday evening we went to San Antonio - we've been waiting to pay for the boat tour until the Christmas lights were lit...and it was time :) We went into town, found a great parking place for $4...and walked down to the riverwalk. We walked through the shops at LaVillita, then on down...had a wonderful dinner at Texas Republic (I had queso and fantastic Chicken Tortilla Soup - David had Enchilada's and shared my queso), and when it was just getting dark (about 5:45) we got on our boat. 40 minutes of fantastic history and gorgeous christmas displays! Well worth the $14.25 price for the two of us :)
We did manage to take the camera, but I don't have the pics downloaded yet!
Thanks for the prayers for Dawn's safety in Afghanistan - please continue to remember her in your prayers.
Thanks to all for some great memories - and David, as always thanks for being the love of my life!
We have had much beautiful weather here - some frosty mornings, but ALWAYS into the 60's in the daytime - and more often than not into the 70's...can't beat it!
We had a marvelous Thanksgiving...and yesterday were invited to our friends, Walker & Evelyn Lane for a repeat of Thanksgiving dinner! Walker got an electric turkey fryer he wanted to try out, so Evelyn pulled out all the stops and made potatoes, yams, ham, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and a wonderful million dollar cake - I took a green bean casserole (told ya it eas a repeat!) and enjoyed their company as well as Ernie & Barb Richardson...we were stuffed to the max!
Thursday evening about 15 of us from the park when caroling through the park - we had a great time and several people came up to me the past couple days saying how much they enjoyed it. We will be caroling again either on Wed or Thurs night this week. Fun fun fun! Nice to go Caroling when you don't have to wear boots and mittens!!!
Friday evening we went to San Antonio - we've been waiting to pay for the boat tour until the Christmas lights were lit...and it was time :) We went into town, found a great parking place for $4...and walked down to the riverwalk. We walked through the shops at LaVillita, then on down...had a wonderful dinner at Texas Republic (I had queso and fantastic Chicken Tortilla Soup - David had Enchilada's and shared my queso), and when it was just getting dark (about 5:45) we got on our boat. 40 minutes of fantastic history and gorgeous christmas displays! Well worth the $14.25 price for the two of us :)
We did manage to take the camera, but I don't have the pics downloaded yet!
Thanks for the prayers for Dawn's safety in Afghanistan - please continue to remember her in your prayers.
Thanks to all for some great memories - and David, as always thanks for being the love of my life!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
November doings...
Hi all! It has been a very very busy November for us! The folks have rolled in steadily here at the Lone Star Corral, and it has been wonderful greeting many of these folks that we haven't seen since March/April...and we were so busy learning how to manage this park that we really didn't get to know them very well - which we are trying very quickly to remedy!!!
We've made several more trips to the Va for David - hopefully the last one until April will be tomorrow, when he sees the Ear Nose & Throat specialist regarding his hearing problem. He's had a scan, so the results will be talked about tomorrow!
We've taken the motor home to Class A RV Repairs in Pipe Creek TX, and must say they have a very nice facility. They did everything we needed and it wasn't a huge bill!
Last night, I was honored to ride the SKP float in the Hondo, God's Country Christmas parade! We took a third place ribbon and were very excited!
The bad news this month is that our daughter, a Captain in the Air Force, has started a 1 year tour of duty in Afghanistan. We're devastated - she is at a forward operating base with very limited amenities - not even buildings, just tents. If you're reading this blog, please remember her in your daily prayers...her name is Dawn. Please also remember her family - it is hard to be without the mama in the family. Thank you!
All for now - have a very happy Thanksgiving and may you shop 'til you drop on black Friday :)
We've made several more trips to the Va for David - hopefully the last one until April will be tomorrow, when he sees the Ear Nose & Throat specialist regarding his hearing problem. He's had a scan, so the results will be talked about tomorrow!
We've taken the motor home to Class A RV Repairs in Pipe Creek TX, and must say they have a very nice facility. They did everything we needed and it wasn't a huge bill!
Last night, I was honored to ride the SKP float in the Hondo, God's Country Christmas parade! We took a third place ribbon and were very excited!
The bad news this month is that our daughter, a Captain in the Air Force, has started a 1 year tour of duty in Afghanistan. We're devastated - she is at a forward operating base with very limited amenities - not even buildings, just tents. If you're reading this blog, please remember her in your daily prayers...her name is Dawn. Please also remember her family - it is hard to be without the mama in the family. Thank you!
All for now - have a very happy Thanksgiving and may you shop 'til you drop on black Friday :)
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Oct 2010
It has been quite a while since I updated the blog – so here goes with just some highlights!
Several trips to Kerrville for VA appointments. Always fun when we stay at Kerrville-Scheiner City park – great camping right along the Guadalupe river and across from the VA – makes for a great weekend!
Wonderful Labor Day celebration – we did NOTHING :)
Sept 11 – 26th we went to PA to visit my folks – I’ll try to post some pictures that David took of the fall foliage. They certainly don’t do it justice, but they are pretty! There was a picnic in our honor (David say’s my family will jump on any excuse to have a picnic) and lots of great food was prepared and eaten by all.
This trip was to see Mom and Dad, as well as evaluate how their health is holding up, and unfortunately, not as well as we’d hoped. They are 81 and 82 years old, and Dad is mom’s caregiver although they both lean on each other since they’ve been married over 60 years. Mother is a diabetic – Dad has rheumatoid arthritis and it has decimated his hands and is now working on his feet.
We are under contract here until end of April, 2011, and we sincerely hope that we can stay here until then and finish up our contract.
If all is well, we will be taking a circuitous route back to PA, arriving there in August…we hope to stop and see David’s brother Johnny in St George UT, Grand Junction CO to see our first great grandchild, as well as the rest of the family, spend some time in Cheyenne, WY and Longmont CO, seeing friends and saying goodbye since once the MH is on the east coast, there is no telling how long it will be until we get back out here.
The plan is to attend National at Holyoke, CO with the Red Dale Wagon Train the end of June, on to Pender NE to get our Blue Ox tow system refurbished, on into Charlotte MI to see our friend Wendy, then moseying our way to PA. Should take us about 3 months if nothing goes terribly wrong!
Our friends Ron & Kathy Bernard arrived Friday, Oct 15th for a week, and we’ve been having a great time – we went into San Antonio and shopped at the Mercado for hours…we topped off the day at Johnny Carino’s – yum! It was a great way to celebrate our 1 year anniversary on the road!
All for now – I’ll try to get some pics posted soon!
Several trips to Kerrville for VA appointments. Always fun when we stay at Kerrville-Scheiner City park – great camping right along the Guadalupe river and across from the VA – makes for a great weekend!
Wonderful Labor Day celebration – we did NOTHING :)
Sept 11 – 26th we went to PA to visit my folks – I’ll try to post some pictures that David took of the fall foliage. They certainly don’t do it justice, but they are pretty! There was a picnic in our honor (David say’s my family will jump on any excuse to have a picnic) and lots of great food was prepared and eaten by all.
This trip was to see Mom and Dad, as well as evaluate how their health is holding up, and unfortunately, not as well as we’d hoped. They are 81 and 82 years old, and Dad is mom’s caregiver although they both lean on each other since they’ve been married over 60 years. Mother is a diabetic – Dad has rheumatoid arthritis and it has decimated his hands and is now working on his feet.
We are under contract here until end of April, 2011, and we sincerely hope that we can stay here until then and finish up our contract.
If all is well, we will be taking a circuitous route back to PA, arriving there in August…we hope to stop and see David’s brother Johnny in St George UT, Grand Junction CO to see our first great grandchild, as well as the rest of the family, spend some time in Cheyenne, WY and Longmont CO, seeing friends and saying goodbye since once the MH is on the east coast, there is no telling how long it will be until we get back out here.
The plan is to attend National at Holyoke, CO with the Red Dale Wagon Train the end of June, on to Pender NE to get our Blue Ox tow system refurbished, on into Charlotte MI to see our friend Wendy, then moseying our way to PA. Should take us about 3 months if nothing goes terribly wrong!
Our friends Ron & Kathy Bernard arrived Friday, Oct 15th for a week, and we’ve been having a great time – we went into San Antonio and shopped at the Mercado for hours…we topped off the day at Johnny Carino’s – yum! It was a great way to celebrate our 1 year anniversary on the road!
All for now – I’ll try to get some pics posted soon!
Saturday, July 17, 2010
July 17, 2010 Hondo TX
Once again it is over a month since I blogged! For some reason it is awfully hard to blog when we are sitting still - we are doing fun and exciting stuff, new experiences and new friends...but it doesn't seem like I have anything to write about...and that is just plain silly!
We've had several trips to Kerrville to the VA for David - things being poked and prodded, stuck down and up, and the prognosis right now is favorable :) He does still have COPD, but here, at this altitude, he is doing well. Of course the hot and humid temps aren't helping, but still, he is functioning without the oxygen tank except at night.
We took the MH two of the times we went to Kerrville, once we camped at the Kerrville Scheiner park, and it was very nice, $27 per night, full hookups, no wifi, no cable...second time we stayed at Riverside RV park in Bandera - NICE. $20 per night, full hookups, cable and free wifi, also right along the Medina river with miles of trails to walk...Cinder and I took full advantage in the early mornings and late evenings!
We continue to love being here at the park - I'm enjoying being able to do some mowing/weedeating as well as the office work (in the summer I can put up a sign, and leave a radio...anyone needs me they just call). Last week and this week we concentrated on working in the clubhouse - we took all the 'stuff' off the laundry room walls, spackled, painted, added corkboards and new signs, wiped down all equipment, and just generally spiffed it up!
Today, we did a long hall-way the same way - and it looks pretty sharp too! Next week we will work in the main room of the clubhouse, followed by the library, then, hopefully by mid-August we will be working in the office. It has been more than 10 years since it was painted, so it is way past time!
Our trees and flowers here are absolutely gorgeous, and I'll leave you with some pictures of them.
Thanks for having patience with me as I try to update the blog.
We've had several trips to Kerrville to the VA for David - things being poked and prodded, stuck down and up, and the prognosis right now is favorable :) He does still have COPD, but here, at this altitude, he is doing well. Of course the hot and humid temps aren't helping, but still, he is functioning without the oxygen tank except at night.
We took the MH two of the times we went to Kerrville, once we camped at the Kerrville Scheiner park, and it was very nice, $27 per night, full hookups, no wifi, no cable...second time we stayed at Riverside RV park in Bandera - NICE. $20 per night, full hookups, cable and free wifi, also right along the Medina river with miles of trails to walk...Cinder and I took full advantage in the early mornings and late evenings!
We continue to love being here at the park - I'm enjoying being able to do some mowing/weedeating as well as the office work (in the summer I can put up a sign, and leave a radio...anyone needs me they just call). Last week and this week we concentrated on working in the clubhouse - we took all the 'stuff' off the laundry room walls, spackled, painted, added corkboards and new signs, wiped down all equipment, and just generally spiffed it up!
Today, we did a long hall-way the same way - and it looks pretty sharp too! Next week we will work in the main room of the clubhouse, followed by the library, then, hopefully by mid-August we will be working in the office. It has been more than 10 years since it was painted, so it is way past time!
Our trees and flowers here are absolutely gorgeous, and I'll leave you with some pictures of them.
Thanks for having patience with me as I try to update the blog.
Friday, June 4, 2010
June 4, 2010
Wow, it's been almost a month since I posted - shame on me! Just to bring you up to date...
We had a big water project that needed done, so we rented a backhoe, bought many feet of pipe, replaced valves, hoses, etc., and people now have lots of water pressure in the East side of the park...yaaay!
We have a new Manager's Assistant that started 3 weeks ago, his name is Brian and he is a good worker and a very nice man. He is interested in all sports (at least it seems that way) and rides his bike 15 - 20 miles at a time. I have no desire to ride a bike that far :)
David and I have done several things that merit a mention:
We had a big water project that needed done, so we rented a backhoe, bought many feet of pipe, replaced valves, hoses, etc., and people now have lots of water pressure in the East side of the park...yaaay!
We have a new Manager's Assistant that started 3 weeks ago, his name is Brian and he is a good worker and a very nice man. He is interested in all sports (at least it seems that way) and rides his bike 15 - 20 miles at a time. I have no desire to ride a bike that far :)
David and I have done several things that merit a mention:
- Attended a Missions baseball game - they are the AAA team for the Dodgers I think - it was dollar night so lots of people and $beer, soda, hot dogs, popcorn - a great inexpensive evening!
- Had a terrific Memorial day picnic with about 40 of our friends here in the park.
- Attended Funtier Day in Bandera - what a hoot! Took the scenic route home and ended up in Sabinal
- Every Friday afternoon either root beer floats, sundae's or banana splits...fun!
- Every Tuesday night - Pizza Hut with the gang
- FRESH corn on the cob...omg, so good! The farmer's here are picking their first crop...yum!
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