Saturday, May 31, 2008
FMCA, Family Visit, Good Sam, etc.
Last week end we attended the FMCA rally at Sandown Racetrack near Sydney by the Sea. It was most enjoyable weekend. We got reacquainted with many friends that we haven't seen for quite awhile. Though we have been a member of the Vancouver Islanders FMCA chapter for a few years, we haven't clicked on their Rally dates for the past two years, so there was much catching up to do. Several members have newer rigs, and there was even another Monaco Monarch there besides ours, so we had much to discuss, tho, the bottom line was we were both happy with our rigs. (click on the picture to get a really big view)
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We were no sooner back from that then Catherine, Margot(+1), and Joel arrived for a 3 day visit, which went very well. Mom was over at our place two evenings for dinner and visiting, and she handled it very well, probably glad to get out as she has been spending all of her time in her room since she escaped from the hospital. She was getting a little cabin fever methinks. Anyhow we ordered a great feed of Chinese food Monday night from the Crystal Jade Restaurant. Most recommended, they do good food. And Carolyn cooked a great meal Tuesday night. David dropped by Monday to visit, and on Tuesday night Lyn, Alan and Tena visited, which worked well. In a way my brother Jack, Jamie and Andrew visited as did Noni, via the wonders of Skype and webcams. That new Skype has greatly improved sight and sound, just simply marvellous. Margot and Joel stayed in the clubhouse and Catherine stayed in our spare room. Everything worked out great. Catherine brought a variety of beautiful necklaces she has made as gifts for the ladies which were welcomed with the kind of delight that women save for such occasions. lol. Margot brought 3D ultrasound pictures of their little girl, you can see them at Margot Facebook page..JPG)
Thursday Rob, Sue, Carolyn, John, Suzanne & I went to see the new Indiana Jones and it was a great ride. Fantastic visual effects and all done in the same manner as the old ones. Quite enjoyable esp. if you enjoyed the first ones.
Friday we picked up Ann Eng and took her with us to the Good Sam Rally at Sooke flats that was happening this weekend. We only went for the afternoon as I have a Lion's pancake breakfast to attend on Sunday morning, so we couldn't take the rig out. We went to Mulligan's restaurant which used to be a club house of golf course that no longer exists. Being turned into housing I suspect. The food is good and the companionship great. Ann enjoyed seeing everyone as did we.
That pretty well rounds out one busy week. Mom has seen the Doctor as well and he made some medicinal changes but thinks she is doing great and is no way ready for a nursing home. The social worker has increased the help hours and some one will be taking her down for at least one meal a day, maybe two, which will help her state of mind immensely. I had taken her down for two lunches and that worked out well, though we sat by ourselves at a table for two. Friday was the first time a attendant took her down, and she wanted to go early so as to reclaim her normal chair that someone else dared start using. (lol) and she did. Yeah she is getting better.
Ciao and Peace.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Like Helen I have been waiting to say something exciting in the blog but we have just been plugging along. Mom has found that living on her own isn't as easy as she thought it would be. However, after nearly two weeks she is progressing. Her Nephew and Niece in law, Joe and Dorothy stayed with her for 3 days this past long week end which worked out well, especially since Dorothy is a retired RN. Her input was invaluable. She feels Mom will eventually be able to manage with assistance. The Cridge has been very good to her, all her meals will be delivered to her suite as long as she needs. The Health Authority is providing whatever assistance she needs. However, we are all in agreement that we encourage her to get back to the dining room as soon as she is able for the socialization. I think she is ready and we will be trying that next week.
We have been busy cleaning up the Motor Home. We are going to a rally nearby this weekend with the Vancouver Islanders group. We haven't connected with any of the Rally's for the past two years so it will be great to catch up with a few friends we haven't seen for awhile.
The Celebration of Life for Tony went very well. He was a very popular guy, and near 400+ attended. Several speakers, including the Mayor of Victoria, spoke of his generosity, love of life, humour, and love of people. The reception following allowed all to express their sorrow to Ann, Julie and Sandra.
Rob and Sue have returned a month and half earlier than planned so Rob and I have resumed our weekly movie outing and we saw "Ironman", with Robert Downey Jr. and Gwynth Paltrow. For a Marvel Comic character it was very well done. I quite enjoyed it and give it a thumb up.
The Good Sam group is having a rally on the June 1st W/E, however we can't attend that one since I have a Lion's event early on the 1st. The 24 Hr Relay at the university is that weekend and Sunday morning we do a Pancake breakfast and I'm the acting Treasurer. However, we will go to the Friday evening dinner Good Sam Group and take Ann with us as she and Tony were part of that group.
Speaking of Lions, I have been busy with them. We helped the Esquimalt Lions Last Weekend at the Highland Games and then we Marshalled the Victoria Day parade. That was a busy week end. The Parade went well, with over 120 entries, 32 bands, many from the U.S. Very successful.
Carolyn has been fighting with the gardens. She is trying to get them back to a state where the gardeners will look after them. She spent many hours digging up the roots of a very pervasive ground cover. I tried to help but it meant kneeling a lot and my knee complained, so I did what I could from a standing position, which my back complained about. Even Lyn came over and helped for an afternoon (as a Mother's day gift). Still lots to do. Mother's day was a subdued event as that was the same day of Tony's celebration of life. All the kiddies called, sent cards, and/or flowers, but we spent dinner with my Mom, which she appreciated.
Well that pretty well catches us up.
Cheers
Ta ta & Peace.
We have been busy cleaning up the Motor Home. We are going to a rally nearby this weekend with the Vancouver Islanders group. We haven't connected with any of the Rally's for the past two years so it will be great to catch up with a few friends we haven't seen for awhile.
The Celebration of Life for Tony went very well. He was a very popular guy, and near 400+ attended. Several speakers, including the Mayor of Victoria, spoke of his generosity, love of life, humour, and love of people. The reception following allowed all to express their sorrow to Ann, Julie and Sandra.
Rob and Sue have returned a month and half earlier than planned so Rob and I have resumed our weekly movie outing and we saw "Ironman", with Robert Downey Jr. and Gwynth Paltrow. For a Marvel Comic character it was very well done. I quite enjoyed it and give it a thumb up.
The Good Sam group is having a rally on the June 1st W/E, however we can't attend that one since I have a Lion's event early on the 1st. The 24 Hr Relay at the university is that weekend and Sunday morning we do a Pancake breakfast and I'm the acting Treasurer. However, we will go to the Friday evening dinner Good Sam Group and take Ann with us as she and Tony were part of that group.
Speaking of Lions, I have been busy with them. We helped the Esquimalt Lions Last Weekend at the Highland Games and then we Marshalled the Victoria Day parade. That was a busy week end. The Parade went well, with over 120 entries, 32 bands, many from the U.S. Very successful.
Carolyn has been fighting with the gardens. She is trying to get them back to a state where the gardeners will look after them. She spent many hours digging up the roots of a very pervasive ground cover. I tried to help but it meant kneeling a lot and my knee complained, so I did what I could from a standing position, which my back complained about. Even Lyn came over and helped for an afternoon (as a Mother's day gift). Still lots to do. Mother's day was a subdued event as that was the same day of Tony's celebration of life. All the kiddies called, sent cards, and/or flowers, but we spent dinner with my Mom, which she appreciated.
Well that pretty well catches us up.
Cheers
Ta ta & Peace.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Mom's home; Happy Mother's day
We got Mom home Friday, and she is finding being on her own tiring. She thought getting around to do things would be easier than it turned out. Simple tasks are complicated with a walker in her way. Despite that she is happy to be home. The Cridge is delivering her meals to her room until she is settled, and able to make the trek to the dining room. Follow up support will assess her abilities to do just that when they visit next Tuesday. It is likely they will provide assistance to walk to the dining room, which consists mainly having someone walk with her just in case she needs help. I equipped her bed with a grab bar, and we rearranged some of her stuff to make it more accessible. She can handle the phone, so she will catch up on calling everyone, and if you are calling her, be patient, if she is not next to the phone it may take her a bit of time to get to it, on the other hand she does have caller ID and she will return your call.
Today we will be going to a celebration of Life for Tony, afterward we will go Mom's and have dinner with her to wish her a Happy Mother's Day.
A man loves his sweetheart the most, his wife the best, but his mother the longest. ~Irish Proverb
TTFN
Today we will be going to a celebration of Life for Tony, afterward we will go Mom's and have dinner with her to wish her a Happy Mother's Day.
A man loves his sweetheart the most, his wife the best, but his mother the longest. ~Irish Proverb
TTFN
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Friday it is!
Yes it is Friday morning that Mom is paroled and heads back to her suite. She is happy. I ran around all day picking up various equipment she will be needing from Red Cross, dropped it off at her place, picked up her pill dispenser at the suite, talk to the manager and kitchen, then drop the dispenser off at the hospital, so they could show her how to programme her new drugs, most of which have changed. Then off to Metchosin to pick up a wheelchair, kindly donated by my Lions club, who also donated the walker she has been using. Back to the hospital to talk to the physiotherapist to get the exercises she will need to continue with, visit with Mom, talk to the pharmacist, then home for supper. Hmmmm, come to think of it, I'll be glad when she is back in her suite. Actually today was busier then it had to be, only because of the off chance she would be released tomorrow. It does make for an easier day tomorrow. Just pick up most of her things and take them and the wheelchair to her suite, and pick up a month supply of her new drugs at the pharmacy. I will be able to manage to get in golfing tomorrow morning.
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Noni and John came to town yesterday and as a result we were dog sitting Duckland (aka Duck - I know its weird) last night and today. He is a Heinz 57 variety of Lhasa, Maltese, etc. Cute little guy but totally spoiled by Noni. Suffers from separation anxiety, often wandering around looking for her.
The two pictures are before and after his first clipping. Cute in both cases, but I think cuter clipped. Carolyn felt weird calling him outside,
"here duck, here duck". Neighbours were looking askance. lol.JPG)
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They pick him at suppertime before heading back home to Comox. They were in for a business thingy with their company.
Just in case I don't blog in the next couple of days Happy Mother's day to all you Mother's out there.
Well TTFN
Ta Ta & Peace.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Tony the Magician.
Tony, our friend, magician, and camping buddy has passed away. He fought a valiant battle against his cancers, but the Merkel Cell cancer returned while being treated for his Leuchemia. This put tremendous strain on his immune system allowing a blood and bowel infections to set in, even then he was fighting, however, he succumbed to the battle, peacefully, this past Sunday with Ann by his side. He was an active, friendly, kind, loving and well loved guy; who was into just about everything. Racquetball, fishing, camping, magicana, wood work, you name it, he was always on the go. At too young 62, he leaves thousands of friends and family and will be sorely missed.
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Mom's & Alan's Birthday
Well there is one thing you can say about staying in a hospital, it makes a good diet. Mom has been there for 35 days and she has lost 15 lbs. I guess it is a way a commentary on the institutional food they serve. It hasn't been all that appetizing and as a result she eats less, and she can't snack in between times, as nobody brings her any fattening stuff because of her diabetes. She is looking forward to getting back to the Cridge dining room. .jpg)
We were invited to Ken & Bernadette's for dinner last night along with some "old" " Air Force friends. We haven't been together as a group in a long time, although we do see them individually fairly frequently.
It was a great meal, and yummy dessert (sex in a pan for those in the know), and great friendship. Surprisingly it was 11 pm before any of us realized how late it was.
Ken was the photographer and is missing from the picture.
Noni has returned from Montreal she was there on a management course sponsored by her employer. She enjoyed it. In the meantime Chelsea headed for Italy, she will be there a bit more than a month, partly holiday, partly sponsored by UBC. She was so excited. She will also her good friend Jasmine who has been working there for the past year. We are all excited for her.
Tonight we had Lyn and Alan over for dinner. Carolyn did some lovely ribs, mmmmm. It is Alan's birthday tomorrow (Cinco de Mayo).
Happy Birthday Alan.
TTFN
ta ta & Peace
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We were invited to Ken & Bernadette's for dinner last night along with some "old" " Air Force friends. We haven't been together as a group in a long time, although we do see them individually fairly frequently.
It was a great meal, and yummy dessert (sex in a pan for those in the know), and great friendship. Surprisingly it was 11 pm before any of us realized how late it was.
Ken was the photographer and is missing from the picture.
Noni has returned from Montreal she was there on a management course sponsored by her employer. She enjoyed it. In the meantime Chelsea headed for Italy, she will be there a bit more than a month, partly holiday, partly sponsored by UBC. She was so excited. She will also her good friend Jasmine who has been working there for the past year. We are all excited for her.
Tonight we had Lyn and Alan over for dinner. Carolyn did some lovely ribs, mmmmm. It is Alan's birthday tomorrow (Cinco de Mayo).
Happy Birthday Alan.
TTFN
ta ta & Peace
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Progress
Mom is still progressing well. Her main problem area is her right shoulder. She is moving the right arm well at and below the elbow, but has touble moving her arm outward from the shoulder. So they are working on that. She can dress herself completely, and is walking reasonably well, though not for very long, distance or time wise. However, bit by bit she is improving everyday. She is getting better rest now which is helping too. We have been having a few cribbage games and she still plays well, though dealing is a trial, but she perseveres. The cards continue to arrive and she appreciates all the thoughts and kind wishes that accompany them.
Catherine blogged and announced that Margot and Joel are expecting a girl. My Mom and Carolyn both say they thought it would be a girl, I new for sure it would be one or the other. Catherine is over the moon at the prospects of a beautiful granddaughter.
That's the news for today.
ta ta & Peace.
Catherine blogged and announced that Margot and Joel are expecting a girl. My Mom and Carolyn both say they thought it would be a girl, I new for sure it would be one or the other. Catherine is over the moon at the prospects of a beautiful granddaughter.
That's the news for today.
ta ta & Peace.
