Another Goodbye

We lost my Great Aunt Rita on Sunday.  She was like a grandmother to me because my Dad and I spent almost every weekend with her and Uncle Charlie.  She spent time playing games with me, teaching me to read (I read at age 2!), took me places, taught me Sunday School, helped me with college finances, talked about All My Children with me, and even taught me to drive a stick shift in their Jeep.  We won't mention that it's surprising she didn't die that day . . .  :)

Aunt Rita, Uncle Charlie, and I on my wedding day.

Aunt Rita and Uncle Charlie were married almost 65 years!  Can you believe that?  They were the model for marriage to my family and I.  The love they had for one another was precious and rare.  I now worry for Uncle Charlie because he has lost the love of his life - literally.

I am thankful that I had the chance to see her Saturday night and  take the time to stroke her hair, tell her I love her and say goodbye.  I knew it would be the last time.  I just felt it.  Now I'm imagining how heartbroken Uncle Charlie truly is but also imagining her in Heaven with the many who went before her.  Yes, we'll see her again someday, but we sure do miss her now.

More Prayers

I know I haven't really blogged much about it in the past THREE MONTHS, but my brother Jeffrey is still in the hospital.  He was moved back to ICU yesterday.  Please keep him in your prayers.  He is much more resilient than the rest of us because our family is pretty worn out.

Guest Room - New Pic

Damn dogs.  They are all that plus a bag of chips.  Guest room door is now closed.

Outed

Todd and I have been keeping this secret for years, and we finally let it out at our friends' Halloween party last night.

We are mobsters.  The whole teaching thing is a ruse.

Halloween

I know . . . I'm going to be murdered in my sleep by Pippin and Steve.  Todd just rolled his eyes and looked at me as if I was a crazy woman with my hair on fire.

Pipp was happy being a sweet banana split - and SO CUTE!!!  She ran around with a big smile on her face and even posed for a few shots.

Then she tried on Steve's submarine costume (after he ripped it off & ran around with it in his mouth).  She kept posing and smiling, posing and smiling.

After Pippin tried on both costumes, Steve became jealous and succumbed to the fun.  This is the only photo he let me shoot while facing the camera.

Every pic after was only of his banana head, ice cream scoops, back and butt.  Wonder if that had anything to do with the fact that he ran to Dad and Todd said, "I know, buddy.  It's like you've had your balls cut off again.  I'm sorry."

For the record, *I* did not take him to have his balls cut off.  I stayed home and cried like a baby.

Up next: I'm dressing Todd up for Halloween.  Pics to follow, but he may pull a Steve on me.

Of course!

OF COURSE he loves me.  Why do you ask?

And Happy Belated Blogaversary to us.  Have some ice cream, pie or a cookie.  I'm not big on cake.

Day 32 Update: DUDE

Dude . . . I'm the King of My Tubes.  See 'em?

Just don't touch my tubes.  They are mine, ya know, & I don't want you messing them up for me.

Vent settings were decreased slightly since a very slight improvement was seen by the doctor today.  With the help of five people to adjust tubes, lines, and more, Jeffrey spent almost two hours in a REAL chair today.  Go Jeff!!!  Mom said as soon as he got settled in the chair, the "conversations" began.  "Clothes . . . shoes . . . store . . . Coke . . . goodbye . . . work . . ."  The man has a plan, that's for sure.  Sometimes you just look at him and it seems as if Jeff is quietly plotting his next move.  He was completely exhausted after being up for the first time in over a MONTH, but that's okay.

My brother and I hung out for several hours tonight and talked some more about . . . store . . . Coke . . . and work.  Seeing a trend here???  Being the awesome big sister that I am, I taught him how to pull the mask from my face and snap it back.  I'm sure someone in the hospital will be a lucky recipient and appreciate me for that!  :)  We also did some random cognitive stuff (I touch my eye, he touches his, etc.).  He's much more compliant and cordial than my students.  That's for sure!  I'm big about putting stuff on Jeff's lips.  They've been SO dry and because of the vent, he's only allowed to use a minty cream provided with his mouth care stuff.  After a few hours, his lips looked much better.  Another crazy thing is that Jeffrey has a black eye - still don't know where it came from - and it seems to be darker and more swollen today.  Poor guy.  Looks like he's been in a fight, but I think he won!

One funny story is that I placed a pillow under Jeff's right arm this evening.  Right after that, he moved the pillow and set it atop his arm.  I said, "Oh, you want that on top of your arm.  Okay."  Less than a minute later, HE put the pillow under his arm.  Rotten creep!

Before I close, I wanted to share that Mom received a really neat email today from the mother of one of the guys that lives in Jeff's group home.  "S" and Jeffrey go back many years.  They went to school together in Austin as young teenagers.  The email said: "When I took S back to (the house) on Sunday afternoon, he stopped and checked Jeff's chair to see if he was there.  Then he went to the dining table and checked.  I don't give S enough credit so many times - he is more aware of his surroundings and people are more important to him than I imagined.  Of course L (who works at the workshop where the residents of Jeff's home work) had told me on Friday that Jeff was still in the hospital.  While so many family and friends are praying and watching Jeff's progress, his friends from the house and workshop are also missing him."

That message made me smile and warmed my heart almost as much as seeing and spending time with my brother did tonight.  Thanks to all of you for continuing to love and pray for our amazing Jeffrey!  We WILL get him out of this hospital eventually!