Sunday was an amazing day. G’Pa has been talking about seeing Pumpkin Ridge Golf Course for a long time. Since the physical therapist worked with us last week to show G’Pa and us how to get him in and out of the car, we decided to take him to Pumpkin Ridge on Sunday. With help he was able to get into the car. When we got to the golf course, he was amazed. He thought it was going to be some little shack with a little nine hole course. Of course, it is not like that. There are actually two 18-hold course, one for members and one for the public. The Club House for the public is lovely and we had considered it for Julie and Kevin’s wedding. We took him around to the 1st and 19th tees as well as watching people practice ion the driving range. Inside we went into the pro shop so G’Pa could pick out a Pumpkin Ridge cap. Then he wanted to go get something to drink–we hesitated and then Evan said, “Oh well, it can’t hurt!” So G’Pa ordered a vodka tonic. He probably drank half of it and kept saying how strong it was. He was very content to just sit and watch the golfers and visit. We probably sat there an hour before heading home. When we got home, he kept thanking us. It was all worth it!
Sunday, February 17, 2008 February 17, 2008
I can’t believe I have written in this work two weeks! I have actually been working. I substitute for an elementary school counselor in Hillsboro who is on the OEA board and she has to go to a lot of meetings so the OEA pays for her to have a substitute. It has been fun and definitely allows me to do something I really enjoy. This school has 3-4 classes per grade level and is multi-cultural. There are quite a few middle-eastern kids which is new for me. I get to run little groups with kids who need to learn to get a long with others, I go into classrooms and teach lessons on bullying, respect, problem solving, and personal safety. I love going into the primary grades. They all know me as Mrs. “J”. I worked three days last week and two this week. I work next Friday, and then I don’t work again until April. Because G’Pa thinks everything is about him, he thinks I am working to help pay for his care! Speaking about money, G’Pa has not received his military pay since September. I have called, written letters, called again but still haven’t received it. He is getting his military mail, like his military magazine and a card will all of the pertinent information including his new bank info. I called again last Tueday and talked to a real person. She check and finally discovered that his pay had been suspended because they tried to send it to his old bank and it was returned. She said she would clear it up and he should get his back pay by next Wednesday and it would be good from then on….we’ll see! G’Pa is basically the same. He still talks about going to Hawaii, but mainly to see what is going on. He knows we have renters but he thinks he needs to check up on them. Whenever he mentions going back, I either ignore him or change the subject. He says, “You can’t keep putting me off!” Oh, yes I can! I have told him that it would cost us over $8,000/month to have 24 hour care and he can go back when he figures out how to get that kind of money!!!! G’Pa always reports his dreams when he wakes up. They are usually about something or someone from his childhood or early adulthood. However, the other day he said, “I told John no!” When I asked what he meant, he said that he dreamed that John McCain (his hero and his candidate) asked him to be his running mate. G’Pa turned him down. Darn! Now none of us will get to visit him at the White House or in Washington DC! He said that he turn John down because he doesn’t want to live in DC! This weekend has been interesting. Evan came home from North Carolina really sick! He has been in bed all weekend and I have been Nurse Betty or Florence Nightengale! He has been sick enough that he hasn’t even checked his emails or phone messages in two days! We canceled the caregiver for today and will probably cancel for tomorrow because I think Evan should stay home another day. He is feeling better today–but not even 75%. I went to the store yesterday and loaded up on Vitamin C, Zicam, apple juice, orange juice, and soup. I talked to Magalie yesterday. She is feeling fine and everything is going as expected. They are going back to the doctor on March 6th and will get another ultrasound–nice birthday present for Grandma Suzie!
Monday, February 4, 2008 February 4, 2008
We woke up Saturday with about 6 inches of snow on the ground! What a suprprise! It was an OK day–but G’Pa pouts if he is left alone too long. Evan went into town to get groceries and go to the cleaners. He said the roads were fine once he got down to the bottom of our hill. We got G’Pa into the wheel chair and out to have dinner with us. We were having leftovers and waffles–he refused the waffles but ate plenty of other food. He seems to enjoys sitting and talking with us–but then has to go back to bed. We think it has more to do with body functions than with being tired of sitting in the chair. He had Evan stop by the office (Julie’s old room). He said he wanted to see it because when he comes back to visit us again he thinks he should stay in that room rather than using our room….Hmmmmm!
Sunday we left at 10 when Charlotte arrived. We told G’Pa that we were going to a Super Bowl party and he was invited but he declined. We did a little shopping then went to our friend’s house at about 2. We had a great time–even though the game was a little slow until the 4th quarter. My hero was Kevin Boss, who is from Philomath, just 10 miles west of Corvallis.
After the game we talked for a while, especially about G’Pa. Other people just don’t understand what we are dealing with–not that we want sympathy. Harley said we just need to use “tough love.” If he gets mean, just leave him in his soiled Depends until he can’t stand it–oh yea, that will work! Or if he refuses to eat, don’t bring him anymore until he asks for it! This might work for a 10 year old, but this man has been stubborn, self-centered and self absorbed, and mean when he doesn’t get his way all of his life. We certainly aren’t going to change him now! The easiest things I do is leave the room and do something enjoyable like playing with the dogs or knitting!
When we got home, G’Pa and Evan watched ESPN analyze the game. According to Charlotte, G’Pa watched the entire game but he reported that he only watched part of it. I think he said that because he can’t remember all that happened.
Today, G’Pa’s new flat screen LCD TV arrived. It won’t be upgraded to HD on Direct TV until Thursday so the picture is a little distorted. It is amazing how thin it is compared to the big tube TV.
Thursday, January 31, 2008 February 4, 2008
G’Pa was really in a funk today. He didn’t want anything to do with Terry, the physical therapist and was quite rude to him. Terry left after trying to cajole Arden into participating in physical therapy. The rest of the day was terrible– didn’t want to eat, be changed, drink his Ensure, watch TV, be nice, or anything else. I was quite relieved when Alivia showed up so I could leave! Fortunately Alivia was able to get him in a better mood. Evan got home before I did and as I entered the house I could hear them laughing. It turns out that Evan spilled juice all over the bed and G’Pa and G’Pa thought it was hilarious! I helped Evan get G’Pa into the wheel chair so I could change the bedding…G’Pa continued to laugh the rest of the evening.
I went bowling with my friends and then to dinner tonight. I actually bowled pretty good–102, 121. I am making progress from the 70’s and 80’s that I use to get!
Up date on lunch with Lynne Dagg February 4, 2008
I enjoyed my lunch with Lynne Dagg (Bob Burco’s ex-wife). She and her husband bought a condo at the base of the OHSU tram. The view is spectacular, but the unit is small. They seem to like it because they can take the street car up to PSU, downtown Portland, and most other places they want to go.
Lynne gave the a update on her kids: Douglas and his wife Greta live in Seattle, somewhere in NW. They have a little girl named Maggie. Lynne says this she is not named for Grandma Margaret (No one every called Grandma Margaret “Maggie” anyway.) She said the Greta always wanted to name her first girl Maggie. One of the twins–I think it is Julia is married, has two kids and lives in South Dakota. The other twin–Katie–live in Davis, Calif. and is not married. I don’t remember what Leslie is doing.
I enjoyed spending time with Lynne. She is an intelligent woman and very easy to talk to. She shares some of my ideas about the Burco side of the family, but we don’t dwell on that topic!
