Saturday Goodbyes

     This morning grandpa K had a shower and a shave. He looks quite refreshed. Have I mentioned he cleans up nice? 

     For breakfast there was an English muffin sandwich with eggs, bacon and cheese.

     OT did ranging which is the range of motion in hands and arms. They like what he can do. 

And PT did range of motion in his legs, they liked the fact that he could stretch and his range of motion.

     They brought him an electric wheelchair and showed him the things they can do with it. They are concerned with his lack of range of motion in his left arm that he may not be able to do a manual wheelchair. They left the wheelchair in the room. He will get to test drive it on Monday. He will be roaming the third floor hall on his own in no time.

    Speech was here doing more testing, he is in the upper percentile in all the tests. This last test was comprehension. He had a difficult time. His neck hurts, he has to hold it up on his own and he has always had support from the pillows on the bed. He finished the test and was ready for a nap.

     For lunch he had a slice of triple pepperoni pizza and a plate of fresh fruit which was slices of watermelon, grapes and orange pieces. 

      Andrew and I stopped at Subway and headed home. I need to arrange some things for him. We want to beat the winter storm. 

    

   

With Family

     Today in PT grandpa K said he was on his stomach on his the elbows. It didn't work very well because his left elbow is very weak. So they had to stop. He said they had him up at 6:30am again.

  The Speech therapist was testing him on his short term memory. He got everything right but a synonym for a steeple, guesses anyone. Tower or spire hmmm

    Lunch was salmon, rice, green salad and water melon slices.

    OT was turning the wheel, he had some trouble with his left hand, so they took it easy on him.

     The speech therapist returned for more testing, so we took the children to see the outdoor garden patio, alas it was closed for the season. So, we went on the walk. 

Scorpion hair do

     Debbie and Larry Wharburton are here and sang a guitar duet. They gave us some CDs of beautiful music. Thanks for stopping by, it makes our day.

     Ben put grandpa k's gift together from aunt Kathy. It is an ipad holder.

      We left grandpa to take an afternoon nap. 

      We returned to the hotel and the brothers played some outdoor bb. 

      

Ben took us all out to Toscana's. We ate way too much. Good thing we went for a walk today.

   

A Thanksgiving to Remember

     Seen in the parking lot

            Didn't get to the hospital until 10am, grandpa K had eaten breakfast. It is a holiday so we slept in. Grandpa K was sleeping, they had gotten him up at 6:30am again. 

     Duncan and I sat talking with Grandpa K until Luke and family arrived. Ben came at noon. The nurses got Grandpa K into his wheelchair and wheeled him to a conference room where we joined the rest of the family. We had gone to the hospital cafeteria with trays full of a turkey feast. Some of the grandchildren had pizza and pie and gator aid. The grow ups had traditional turkey dinner. It was good food.

    Bruce had gotten pumpkin pie so I traded him my pecan pie, he owes me.

     Hallie is playing peek a boo with grandpa.

     We lost two of the grandchildren who ended up in the elevator first and the doors closed before the slower adults got to them. Matt, Wyatt and I went down the stairs to try and catch them, we made it down the stairs, some faster than others. The girls were in the elevator with their parents. 

     Went for a walk looking for the signs of the trinity along the path. The grandchildren found piles of snow to jump in and throw at each other. It was the plowed snow from the parking lot.

      We returned to grandpa K's room where we had left Ben and baby Brent to entertain him. It was three o'clock and time for grandpa to be back in his hospital bed. 

   Luke, Baby William, baby Brent and Ben

     Matt is showing baby Brent the singing get well card.

       Grandpa K was asleep in less than three minutes, we wore him out. I headed to the hotel to play with my grand babies.

        We returned to the hotel, donned our swimsuits and headed for the pool. 

I had to sit in the hot tub with the younger girls, someone had to sacrifice to do it. I hope insurance pays for some hot tub therapy for Bruce. Then I got to hold baby William, four months young. I think he might have been overwhelmed with all the noise we make. He wasn't squirming very much, my kind of service.

     Andrew rubbed a spot open on the bottom of his foot, I found him some paper towels. The hotel office had a small bandaid, which soon came off, so I headed for our room to change clothes and then to our car for a first aid kit. He found something in the kit that worked.

     The girls and I went to Subway for sandwiches and lo and behold it was closed! So they called a couple more fast food places and they were closed too. We went to Target and everyone else in Boise was there. Electronics was crazy. I found three pair of long shorts for Bruce to wear and the DIL's found some frozen pizza, jalapeño Cheetos. Ick  I got in line and waited for them to catch up to me, the line went pretty fast.

    We returned to the hotel and Ben had been feeding the children with the complimentary microwave popcorn, the floor was a popcorn crumb fest. Lindsy made frozen chicken florentine on the stove top and I put the frozen pizzas in. The grandchildren were watching Cars and the boys were watching college bb. Of course the grandchildren wanted pizza too and I joined them on the bed watching cars. 

      It has been a Thanksgiving to remember. We are thankful to be together, for our good health, for Grandpa K's progress, safe travel and fun memories. We are wondering what next Thanksgiving will bring. 

The Day Before Thanksgiving

   The entry way for my brother in law, Curtis.

     Bruce is really tired. They got him up at 6:30 am. He has tomorrow off. A lot of people are on vacation. 

     For breakfast he had three pieces of bacon, 2 biscuits and sausage gravy, an ensure milkshake and a small bowl of blueberries. He fed himself, had a problem with the blueberries in a bowl so I spooned those to his mouth. Alas he ate everything including all three pieces of bacon. 

       The wound nurse, Candy is here checking out the wounds. She says she will be back in a week. He looks good. 

   The OT therapist is here, Beth, she is a ducks fan, went to school there, grew up in Bend and played bb against us. Poor thing asked about our children, might take a while to tell her about all of them. She says he has spasticity in his left hand. She is slowly moving and stretching each finger. She says she will work on helping him with grooming, getting dressed, using the phone and accessing the email on his iPad.

    I went for a walk, a beautiful sunshiny day, temperature is 42 degrees. I took the stairs down and lumbered up three flights. I know Lori Miller would tell me to do them four more times. Next week...

   Saw these on my walk today. For uncle Bill.

     The room is dark and the curtain is closed. A man with white hair and a beard is doing an ultrasound on his legs. He put the patient to sleep. I hear a chainsaw.

     Tim and Robyn Carper from Elgin stopped by on their way home from Texas.

     Lunch was beef stew in a bread bowl, vanilla milkshake and a bowl of fresh strawberries. 

      He is back from a shower and feeling very relaxed. They have a wheel in shower, he got a shampoo and a scrub down. 

       PT goals include balance in sitting up, transfers, mobility in wheelchair, car transfers, and maintain range of motion. 

     Grilled tuna sandwich, tater chips and ensure milk drink and for dessert strawberry short cake.

     Andrew is here! Bruce and he are talking bb.  Luke, Taylor, William and Duncan finally arrived. We went to register at the hotel. We wanted to be together for the holiday. They had a free evening meal; hot dogs and hamburgers and chocolate chip cookies. 

     Luke brought his wii. They hooked it up to the TV. I am watching Hallmark movies next door. They are predictable, cheesy, and family oriented. 

     Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. We are grateful to be together and someone else is doing the cooking. 

  

Saying Good bye

     I left my toothbrush at home, got one from the couple I am staying with. 

     Breakfast for Bruce was a fried egg, cinnamon raisin bagel with cream cheese, ensure and raspberry yogurt.

    We packed up all the cards and personal belongings.

     Lunch was Cobb salad, I had to look it up to see what it was.  A plate of lettuce with rows of tomatoes, shredded cheese, chicken, bacon, hard boiled eggs, and cucumbers with blue cheese dressing, lemonade, a cup of fruit and corn chowder soup.

     For PT Grandpa K got to work with a Peg board, he put the pegs in with his right hand and took them out with his left hand. He had a little trouble with the left hand it he did all five pegs.

     He used a UBE machine which is like pedaling a bike only with his hands. He said it was a lot less painful than the stretches the PT put him through. 

    

     Some of the staff from SWIACH gathered to cheer and say goodbye. Jamie ordered some oatmeal and raisin cookies when we come back to visit. They want to hear Mr. Kevan whistle. Some have even promised to check up on us, I mean visit us at St Al's.

     Here is our new address:

Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center

c/o Bruce Kevan #3430

1055 N. Curtis Road
Boise, ID 83706

     We have the same lovely view of a roof with white rocks. There is a couch and nice picture on the wall. Bruce says he will sit with me on the couch. 

    The new place requires street clothes so Aunt Kathy and I went to Ross to buy 3 shirts, slippers and draw string pants. I will bring more from home next time I go.

     Reed and Debbie Waite stopped by on their way to Montana to play with grandchildren with a family size bag of Reese's Peanut butter Cups. A sweet visit.

     For dinner in our new abode Grandpa K had a Philly cheese steak sandwich, French fries and a banana. He ate everything but a few french fries.

     A nurse came in to do a nose swab. We haven't had that before. They want to make sure since he is coming to a new place that he doesn't have an infection.

     Grandpa K and Aunt Kathy are doing a lot of reminiscing. It is fun to hear their stories, a little brother that jumped on the back of a garbage truck for a ride, going to 12 different schools (they were in the military) and about aunt Kathy coming home from Mexico as a blonde (she said the sun bleached her hair). 

    They play Brahms lullaby when a baby is born. We have heard it three times so far. 

     Thank you aunt Kathy for the company, meals and laughter. You warm our hearts and glad you are a part of our lives. 

    I met a couple getting into the elevator on my way out and I asked them if they were LDS. They looked like it to me, he was in a suit and she was wearing a dress. They were there visiting the man next to us. He had fallen off a haystack and is paralyzed from the waist down, he has a five percent chance of recovery of motion in his legs. He will spend Thanksgiving with his family. The man visiting is the Stake president in Nyssa, President Peterson. He said he knows our Stake President, President Chadwick and he was in a meeting with him on Sunday. He said to stop in and talk to our neighbor tomorrow. I told him our son had wrecked the car while we were gone. He told me not to buy any lottery tickets...

     I set Bruce's cd book up for him to listen to. He is very tired, the PT, visiting all day and the move have worn him out.

      A good day.

      I locked my 'tupid' car keys in the car. (We are not allowed to say stupid) 

                 Good thing Andrew is coming tomorrow. Sigh 

Great News!

   Sorry I just saw the last two posts didn't publish. I redid this one to get them in the correct order.

     A new and improved grandpa K! He got up to 45 degrees on the tilt table. He has gained weight, up to 200 lbs, a 10 pound gain. He is using his regular voice. He is doing the hokey pokey with his left foot. 

     They are talking about moving us tomorrow to St. Als rehab. Or we have to wait until next Monday because of the long weekend. They say we will be there 4 to 8 weeks and then we can go home! Yeah!  They would have him wheelchair ready. So he would be able to move from toilet to chair, to car, to chair to shower chair. We would continue therapy in La Grande. All those in favor say "aye". 

      Bruce's sister arrived about 3pm this afternoon, she gave him a big, long hug. She hales from Basalt, Colorado. We talked for 2 hours straight. She is an enthusiastic talker too. Must run in the family... We talked about Kathy's volunteer work with teaching the Hispanic children English and calming techniques in Colorado, family history, future plans and our children. After we solved everybody's problems dinner arrived. 

    So we drove to Eagle road and then back down town, stupid GPS. I drove Aunt Kathy to dinner at the Cottonwood Grille by the river (a posh restaurant with cloth napkins and a fireplace) and says she will take me to lunch tomorrow too. Who am I to deny her blessings? 

     Bruce had a chicken salad burrito, vegetable soup with a soda cracker and a fruit cup. He said he ate everything. I set up his cd book and headed for my friends home. 

        

                      Andrew getting ready for Fall Ball wearing his dad's suit.

Another Day

      Was greeted with a tired man this morning. He was sweaty, hot and awake, had all the blankets off and a fan on last night. He said now he knows what it feels like to have hot flashes. Then he got cold, shivering and needed heated blankies. He said he wanted to curl in a ball to keep warm and he can't do it.

     He was using his regular voice, that was a nice surprise. 

     He was sitting up with breakfast in front of him when I arrived this morning. He had dos fried eggs with pepper, dos sausage, whole wheat toast with jelly and butter, a banana and a fruit smoothie. He ate everything. He is still getting an IV for water and food supplements at night. He needs 4000 calories a day to help his body heal. Did I already tell you that?

   They found he has a small blood clot in his left arm and some arthritis in his shoulder. They are not sure what is causing the pain in his left arm, that may or may not be it. They think it might be the nerves or ligaments trying to restart. Or just the injury. The Doctor said the small blot clot would break apart on its own. They give him ice, Tylenol and heated ultrasound to help. I massage his swollen left hand and push the blood down to help with circulation. 

    They got him up in the wheelchair. For lunch he had a burrito with salsa and rice, salad, milk and apple pie. He ate part of the burrito, some rice and two bites of pie. They gave him all these pills to swallow and he was full from them. One pill is huge. He kept drinking milk to help it go down. He will get an egg salad sandwich at 3 so that should tide him over.

     I left at noon for La Grande. Andrew has Fall Ball tomorrow and I want to be there to help him with that. The weather is good so it was smooth sailing. I need to get snow tires on and a couple more errands. 

   I will take a break from the blog until Monday.

Thank you for your cards, hugs, tears and love. It is surprising and nice to have so many people who care about us. 

Party Time

     Seen on the way to hospital. It reads " WAY".

      Last night when I was leaving, Bruce said" Good night my love." Sigh

I get pretty tired by the time I write these, there are so many ups and downs.

       Bruce slept well last night, was still asleep when I arrived. He said he was talking and his voice cracked and his normal voice was heard. He said it was like when he was going through puberty. 

      Two days ago we called our oldest son to wish him happy birthday, Bruce wanted to talk to him. The grandchildren just howled with laughter when they heard grandpa's gravelly voice. 

   Breakfast this morning was yogurt with granola, 2 slices of bacon, an English muffin with butter and brown sugar, a bowl of oatmeal with butter and brown sugar, a small bowl of grapes, and a can of ensure. 

     I showed him pictures of the La Grande high school bb practice on Facebook on the Observer page. We saw Andrew's back and the line up as they watch free throws. They all had their mouths open watching. Is that a man thing or indicative of their intelligence? 

     They got Bruce up in a chair for lunch. He had chicken Cordon bleu, white rice with butter and pepper, Mater soup and soda crackers and a plate of watermelon and strawberries. I ate a chunk of watermelon.

     Russell and Wendy Perry stopped by for their monthly visit. They say they can see improvement over the last time they were here. 

     After lunch we wheeled down to the gym. Bruce was Hoyered over to a moveable mat (it is electric and moves up and down) They had him sit with his legs in front of him, hands by his side and he worked on balance. This is called the frog position. He was able to sit by himself! Ta da! He got a little dizzy but did really well. Next they moved him to a regular wheel chair, first time, we now get to keep the chair in our room. Yeah! 

     This is Jamie, a PT, from Columbia, he was trying out one of the new slings. He did not like it as it is more horizontal. We use a sling for the Hoyer that is more like a chair position. 

    Mark and Louise Sheldon and his mom and dad stopped by. Aubrey, Mark's mom, left us with a word of prayer. Bruce and Mark talked for a while about school and retirement. Got nice big hugs all around.

      For dinner Bruce had coconut shrimp (is that a Hawaiian dish?), white rice with butter and pepper, a roll, garden salad with Ranch dressing, milk and ensure. 

     Our case worker Coleen says because Bruce has progressed so much today, they are moving his move day up to next Tuesday. Yeah! Party time! His sister Kathy says she will bring the balloons. Here is a list of more things we will have to work on. 

Jokes from the Third Grade

    He slept well last night, wasn't nauseous this morning.

Ate all his breakfast which was a sausage, cheese and egg burrito with salsa, hash browns in a triangle shape with catsup, fruit cup, AJ and ensure.

      Kristie sent another children's video with jokes for Mr. K. Here it is:

Third grade reading
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YbuCsbOZw0

Mr. K sent them a joke: How do you make a turkey float?

You take 2 scoops of ice cream, some root beer and a turkey. Ha ha

      

     They put him on a tilt table this morning. He usually can do 30 degrees, then gets nauseous. Today he made it to 40 degrees! Yeah he likes to feel the pressure on his feet.

      A nice lady is here doing an ultra sound. The machine is small and fits in a rolling backpack. She put gel on his left arm and holds a camera she called it a transducer that rolls on his arm. The machine looks like a laptop with well just look at the photo and that will help, maybe, explain it. She is looking at all the veins in the arm. She says the radiologist will look at the images. She downloads them to a computer and the radiologist looks at them.

     Bruce is cold, got him a heated blanket. For lunch he had a French dip sandwich, (Did I tell you he was born in France? Fontainebleau, France, military brats, his father was in the Air Force) garden salad, vanilla ice cream and ensure. He held the sandwich and did the dipping.

       Bruce slept most of the afternoon. They got him up in the chair and we went on a field trip to the gym. I read him some news from the iPad. We read about the three feet of snow in New York and he says, "and we were worried about 8 inches."

   I showed him the cafeteria where I eat and a small classroom next to it. We will ask if we can use it when some of the children come for Thanksgiving. 

     He is listening to Post Captain by Patrick O'Brien the year is 1803, during a lull in the Napoleonic war. It combines the sea battles of C S Forester and drawing room dynamics of Jane Austen. The reader did the Harry Potter series, he is good.

     Dinner was meat in a mater sauce, smashed taters, gravy and pepper, corn, vegetable soup, ensure. He was tired so I fed him.

     I set up another CD for him to listen to. 

River Dance toe special

     Bruce had a bad night last night, his arm hurts him. He didn't get much sleep.

 For breakfast, he had a waffle with butter and syrup, 2 pieces of bacon, I almost told him they sent only one piece, but I let him eat both, sigh, he drank his ensure and had two bites of his fruit smoothie.

    I let him rest til the nurses come in. They want him up and awake during the day so he will sleep at night. The chainsaw sound is reassuring to me.

      Not much happening here, stuck in the waiting room with a man in a diaper. (My sister says Diaper Man is the new name for a Senior superman) They are giving Bruce a suppository, lesser of two evils I suppose.

   They found Kenny, aka Diaper Man naked in the street. Apparently his stomach exploded. He has been here for nine weeks. He had cancer and they think it was a result of something done earlier. Very talkative, says he has another month to say here,  he is blind in his right eye, a viet nam vet, no balance, he uses a walker. He wants to get his only daughter some jewelry for Christmas. No I don't know any stores having a sale. He is waiting for his sister to come visit. He asked me to ask the nurse for a root beer. Now he wants me to get the nurse to take him back to his room. The nurse at the desk asked me if was room service. They brought him his root beer. I asked for a root beer float, just kidding and they said they would bring me one. Now they told him his room was wet, mopped the floor.  So they brought him a heated blanket. They are taking him back to his room. Bye my new friend.

   They are doing an X-ray on Bruce's shoulder. So back to the waiting, lounge conference room, which doesn't have any toys in it, just a TV, a  computer, table and a nice bookshelf. I found an interesting book about the Knights Templar or supposed places they have found evidence.

     I was telling Bruce about my new friend, he said I always did talk to strange men, meaning my biker friends in Union. I am sure you saw those pictures on Facebook. Kenny talked to me first. 

    So Bruce says he moved his left big toe up and it would spaze down. He did it over and over again. He figured he was doing a river dance. Also, also, this is good, the nurse Patrick last night was trying to find the peg tube, it was underneath Bruce, without thinking Bruce reached his right arm across his body and rolled up. Patrick found the peg tube and said " what did you just do?" Bruce said he just did it automatically. He hasn't tried it again.

    He is getting more realistic sensation in his legs. Before he could feel pressure when someone touched his legs and now it feels more like a real touch. Which explains why now he can feel me tickling his piggy toes.

     We did not get approved to go to rehab because of Bruce's issues with hypertension. So another week here to get him ready or until Dec. 1. They want him to be able to sit up to do therapy for 3 hours a day. 

    They set him up in a chair and he was able to eat most of the taters by himself. Lunch was roast beef, smashed taters, fruit cup and a Caesar salad. The PT lady, Aytree took him to the gym. He was able to sit up for 10 min before he got too dizzy. He doesn't have any strength and his blood pressure makes him dizzy. He just needs more time to heal. She showed me how to stretch out his legs so I can do that with him when she is not around. 

     They asked me if the man I was with in the lounge was dressed, apparently he has been in there before without anything on underneath. Oh my. They have had to take him back to his room and get him dressed. 

    Came back to the room and Bruce is now resting.

     For dinner Bruce had cottage cheese and fruit, a salad and  cherry pie. He didn't finish his pie.

Hmm, he must be sick.

  Falling asleep, will write more tomorrow.

No Tacos Tuesday

     For breakfast I cut up the sausage links and Bruce tried to spear them. He couldn't see them, even sitting up straighter they are at an angle. I cut up the fried eggs and fed him those, then just ended up spearing the sausage and he uses a fork to bring them to his mouth. I buttered the English muffin and applied brown sugar. Bruce can hold the slices and eat them without assistance. He drank all his orange juice. I refilled his sippy cup. He got a little dizzy after breakfast. He was telling me about a Hallmark movie he watched after I left last night. Must of used too much oxygen talking. They said being dehydrated can make you dizzy too, or irregular blood pressure.

    He is playing chainsaw (a nap) while we wait for PT to get here.

They have removed the trach bandage. It is scabbed over and looks like a small black scab on his neck.

     He is getting an IV since he is not drinking enough liquids. The bed sore ladies are here, I was informed they are " wound nurses". They are changing the bandages on his bed sores. They take pictures and measure them. The nice nurse asked if he smiled for the camera. Her name is Robin, like my baby sister.

     Bruce brushed his own teeth! I put the toothpaste on the brush for him and he got it to his mouth.

     They did a weight, he has lost 35 pounds total.

     Bob arrived to tell us about the inpatient rehab program they have at St. Als. It is in the south tower on the third floor in the hospital campus. It is the same building the helicopter lands on. We are waiting for insurance approval to move on the 19th or 20th.

   As they were stretching Grandpa K to put him in his chair, Jamie, the PT, told him to push back with his right foot and he did. They set him up in his chair. Lunch was chicken salad with pepper, rice, and fresh fruit. He is able to eat the sliced apples and oranges by himself.

     I showed him some videos on the volcano in Hawaii where it burns someone's house. 

     Cheri and Dallas Hibbert arrived with a bag full of chocolates, that is a forever friend. We got big hugs and some company to talk to. They said the roads are clear. 

      For dinner Bruce had mac and cheese and a sprinkle of pepper, French Onion soup with 2 soda crackers and a dash of pepper, salad, chilled pears, milk and a sweet roll our case worker, Colleen brought for Bruce. She is spoiling him. Actually she is trying to fatten him up he needs more calories. I don't like that he has lost so much weight.

     Ray and Carol Westenskow came by. They are going to help with a new grand baby in Utah. 

      Casey from St Als and Colleen our case worker came by. They need to make sure Bruce is ready for the move. They want him breathing on his own, check, eating on his own, almost check (he can do finger foods, he has a harder time with scooping his food, he can't see it as he is at an angle in the bed and can't look down) and healthy enough to do therapy for 3 hours a day. Bruce is doing one hour of sitting up a day. He gets dizzy when he sits up. He is getting stronger every day. We will see what they say tomorrow.

      I left Bruce listening to a conference talk. 

    

     

Sabbath Sermon

    Left for church this morning and was detoured because of flashing lights and orange cones. Arrived to find someone had taken a power pole out and it was blocking the road. One of our sons almost did that when he was beginning to drive. Apparently someone slid into one of the supporting wires and the pole came down. No lights or heat in the church, we are just having Sacrament meeting and then will head home.

     A young man spoke about the Bismark and it being unsinkable. It was hit in the rudder and could only go in circles. Will have to google the story. Bruce said he read the book. We need to make sure our rudders are in place and we know where we are headed.

      Spiritual self reliance was the topic of the first adult speaker. Are we ready to approach the throne of God? Six things to do to avoid discouragement. Take responsibility for your own spiritual development. Take responsibility for your own physical well being. (diet and exercise) Embrace voluntary obedience. Become really, really good at repenting. Become really, really good at forgiving. Accept trials, set backs and surprises as part of our mortal existence. (tell me about it)

    He told the story of the ten virgins, oil in our lamp is our testimony. Make sure we have enough oil in our lamps. 

     The final speaker used this scripture John 14: 27 peace I leave with you. He said his daughter wrecked their car while playing in the snow. He said he didn't have peace when that happened. He said as we seek the Lord, He will bless us and protect us. A quote  from Isaiah he used was Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. I can remember that scripture because I was singing it in my head as he said it.

     When life is a drudgery find joy in helping others. He said as he focused on his daughter and she was okay in the wreck, he was able to have peace. Be nice to people when you have unkind feeling toward them. The key to peace is service. 

    The best story was last, the Bishop spoke about a son that was trapped in Michigan during a snow storm. It snowed up to his second story window. The whole town was shut down. He was a college student and all he had to eat was popcorn. That was okay for the first day. The second day he got his skis out and went out the window and skied down a ramp someone had made to the front door of the store. Nothing was on the shelves, drano was all he found. He looked some more and found a couple cans of green beans. He bought those and skied home. The Bishop said since we have more time today we need to take inventory and see what we need to be prepared in case this happens to us. End of Sunday Sermon.

     Bruce was sitting up when I arrived. He said he only ate half his breakfast. He held the croissant by himself. He hasn't gone to the bathroom so they will have to give him a suppository. That should make things happen. 

    Got another card from Rosala with a fabric strip. Thank you Rosala it makes my day, I love the mail. We marked on his menu the food he will have for tomorrow.

     The nurse is giving him a washcloth bath, change of hospital gown, a shave and cleaning him up. 

     He is shivering and nauseous. They gave him something for the nausea.

     Bro. Robison and a man named Bruce with blue eyes, just like my Bruce, brought him the sacrament today. 

    Bruce feels well enough to eat and he ate all his lunch. He had nice bland biscuits and sausage gravy with pepper, a small Caesar salad with croutons and two Oreo cookies. He didn't want the lemonade.

   He is shivering, put a blanket on him and his hat. The nurse, Gregg came in and saw him with his hat on and told him he was not going outside. 

     The sweet nurses gave bruce the suppository, I made a hasty retreat to the visitors lounge, just outside the door. Gregge gave me the thumbs up so I could return to the room. Bruce said he can feel when he has a movement, just can't control it. He is getting closer. 

    He is sleeping now so will call my mama. My mom must have been lonely, she talked for  45 min. 

     Gregggg is one of the nurses here. He spells his name with a couple of g's. And the nurses tease him and add more g's. He is a Washington Husky fan and Bruce likes the Oregon ducks so they like to razz each other about football games. 

    They are getting him ready for the chair. (sounds like an electric chair) He feels well enough to sit up in it. Wouldn't you know it as soon as he is set up to go and everything is fine and the nurses leave he gets dizzy? I push the button for help and two nurses arrive. They tilt his chair back and soon the dizziness goes away. We remember he hasn't been up for two days. We should have tilted him first and then straight. They tell him to drink more fluids. 

   He did feel better and we got his baked tater with pepper, butter and sour cream down, then a small garden salad, then some fresh fruit, kiwi, strawberries and blueberry yogurt. I am coveting the kiwi. He is finished eating and I can have a bite of the kiwi, he didn't want the orange slices or chilled pears. 

    I go to the cafeteria to eat and call my sistah and brother. No answer from either.  My sister calls me. Baby brother calls. Finish talking to sister, call brother and no answer, maybe tomorrow we will connect.

     Watch the Hallmark channel with Bruce, sweet Christmas story on. Leave for home, feeling sorry for self and son calls so have to buck up and tell him about the day. 

     Ready for the this Sabbath to end. I'm tired. Sleep sweet.

  

     

    

     

Sat All Day

      Bruce was sick this morning, had nausea and vomiting. (Glad I missed that.) 

He told the nurses he didn't feel well. (if a child says that it is fair warning) The nurses were in the room, so they rolled him to his side and caught it in time. They are well trained. They gave him nausea medicine. I fed him some oatmeal with brown sugar and butter and a banana. I ate his bacon (a sacrifice, didn't want it to be thrown away) he said he had a fever and didn't sleep last night. He is sleeping and snoring now. 

     I brought a couple of wool kits to work on. I finished the first one, a pumpkin, a small rug (that you use for a table topper) and am working on the second, a circle flower autumn one, which will be a pillow. 

     The PT evil lady torturer came in to see if Bruce was ready to sit up and he told her he had had a bad night so she left him alone, maybe this afternoon we can get him up when he feels better. The nurse took a urine sample to see if he has a UTI, urinary tract infection.

     Reed and Debbie Waite stopped by bearing gifts and a nice card from past Central staff and a container with bite - size cookies for me and I suppose Bruce. The cookies are from Barb Ely, 

Almond Meal Cookies with Chocolate Chips and Coconut. Gluten free cookies, what? Are these healthy? They smell good. Bruce said he couldn't fight me for them. I suggested arm wrestling. The cookies taste like coconut macaroons! Yummy. 

     For lunch Bruce ate the rice with pepper and half of the glazed salmon. Can I have the rest? I had two bites of the salmon, and he had the protein chocolate drink and some water. 

     I put some plum berry hand lotion on his dry hands and dead skin caked feet. The lotion is good for my hands too. 

    He wanted to listen to a church conference talk. It was a 10 min talk. He was asleep in 5 min. 

    Can anyone beat that record?

     Forgot to mention yesterday one of the young nurses was checking the sores on Bruce's bottom and said " You have a nice backside." I said, " I am usually the only one that says that to him." She assured me she meant it in a professional manner. His bedsores are healing. Ahem

    More visitors are Jean and Kevin Rogers, they are down to help fix their daughters broken cars. Thank goodness for dads that can do that.

     Pres. Richards texted to see if we want visitors. Yes we do! He keeps telling Bruce he looks great. He says he will bring Krispy Creme donuts when he visits next. Andrew would like that.

   Bruce gets sensation on the top of his head. It occurs after his medications. We get a dry washcloth and rub hard on the top of his head until the feeling goes away. 

    We received a card from Tommy Thompson, it stated that a monastery Our Lady of Guadalupe Trappist Abbey in Carlton, Oregon was praying for us!  I googled the monastery and it looks like a quiet, peaceful place to visit. We are talking about visiting and thanking them. 

Here is what I found: 

Our Lady of Guadalupe Trappist Abbey is a monastery in a rural area of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is located about 30 miles (48 km) southwest of Portland. Currently the Abbey is home to about 28 monks. 

The Abbey is located on 1,300 acres. It is an income-generating enterprise which includes a book bindery, a wine warehouse for local wineries, and a fruitcake bakery. They have hiking too, no children, pets, phone or TV. Thank you for including us in your prayers.

     Bruce says to say the hearing in his right ear has improved, he could hear before, but the hearing is much better now.

     For dinner Bruce had s hot opened face roast beef Sandwich and gravy with pepper and smashed taters and gravy, corn, soup with soda crackers and a banana Creme pie. He ate the entire entree, a couple bites of soup and almost all the pie, his appetite is back.

 The nurses came in and turned him on his right side, he is making like a chain saw now. 

Before I left I set up his book on CD for him to fall asleep to.

 On the drive home, I slid once, one person passed me and someone was in our oncoming lanes trying to turn left in front of us. I slowed down and figured they must've from outta town like me. 

I finished my second wool project. It will fit a 10 inch pillow form. I found out I do not like wool kits. They make my arms itch. Back to the hexies.