Monday 5/21

I saw these pictures on Moms phone the other day. She doesn't remember taking them, but they sure cracked me up! Wanted to share these with all of you. Here is Mr Jack, cool daddy, Rhodes! Haha!!!!!





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Thursday 5/17

Dad is about the same. He's been confused quite a bit this week. He's lost more weight. He's lost about 17 lbs since Dec, and about 40 lbs all together. It sure is hard seeing him the way he is. I don't know if it's pregnancy hormones, or that I've just started to "grieve over the daddy I have lost". Yes, he is still with us, Praise the lord, but he is not the same Daddy that I have known for the past 29 years of my life. I can't help but shed a few tears after almost every visit with him. I guess my you could say I'm finally "mentally" accepting all this. I'm realizing my daddy won't be there for the birth of my 2nd child like he was my first. He's not there for me to call up and ask for his advice. I no longer receive those phone calls asking how in the heck he does certain things on the computer or anything else technology related. =) I miss having to remind him he has a cell phone for a reason, and there is no reason to have one if you keep it turned off when you are out and about. There is no better way to put it, other than
This sucks. None of this makes sense to any of us right now.... Hopefully one day it will. Something a dear family friend said to me back in August has stuck with me ever since. He said God is good all the time, but that doesn't mean there isn't suffering in this world. And amen! That is the truth. I remind myself of this almost daily. Thanks, Mr Don.
I was given the Jesus Calling app by another one sweet family friend. I love this app! It's a daily devotional and I feel like so many of these are just for us! I'll send Mom some from time to time and they always seem so fitting for how we are feeling. This is one of my favorites.....

Keep your eyes on Me! Waves of adversity are washing over you, and you feel tempted to give up. As your circumstances consume more and more of your attention, you are losing sight of Me. Yet I am with you always, holding you by your right hand. I am fully aware of your situation, and I will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able to bear.

Your gravest danger is worrying about tomorrow. If you try to carry tomorrow’s burdens today, you will stagger under the load and eventually fall flat. You must discipline yourself to live within the boundaries of today. It is in the present moment that I walk close to you, helping you carry your burdens. Keep your focus on My Presence in the present.

Gosh.... I tear up every time I read this. Friends, please take a moment and let your loved ones know how much you care for them. You never know what tomorrow may bring.

Before I sign off ( I have been interrupted 4 times while writing this post by a certain 2 1/2 year old), I want to share a few pictures. Gracie and I had Pop duty last wkend since Mom was in Oxford. Gracie and Pop did some coloring and she decided she wanted to hold his hand while she colored.





If that doesn't melt your heart, I don't know what will!!!!!



Dad sent Caroline a picture Sat morning letting her know he was thinking of her and cheering her on back in Heber.
I hope each and every one of you has a wonderful weekend. We are 3 weeks away from welcoming Baby Carley, so lots of "relaxing" is in order for us this weekend. (Is relaxation even possible with a 2 1/2 year old?!?!?!)

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Tuesday 5/8

Since Dad became ill, I've learned of many stories from his Lake Village and Hendrix days. Some I had heard bits and pieces of before and others I had never heard of. Some of these stories I wish I would have known of while I was younger, so I could have reminded him of them when I was in trouble (which of course hardly EVER happened!). Anyway..... Dad received a card in the mail yesterday. I'm not sure if the author of this card reads the blog or not, but if you do, please know we all got a good laugh.... Especially Dad! It involved some boys and the Mississippi River/Greenville bridge back during Dad's Lake Village days. It does us so good to see Dad happy and reminiscing like he did today after reading the card. He had the biggest smile on his face! =) He also reminded me not to believe everything I'm told.... Especially stories from Wilson Bynam! Ha! Although his stories are the best!!!!!
I'm attaching a video of Dad getting down with his air guitar. Mr Bill Johnston brought him some CDs on Friday and he has really enjoyed them! One of the therapists said he passed his room and saw him "strumming his guitar" and had to stop and join him for a second! Lol

Caroline graduates from Ole Miss this weekend. This is such a happy time as well as sad for our family. We never would have dreamed Dad wouldn't be there to see her walk across that stage. If you know Dad, you know his love for Oxford and Ole Miss. I am staying behind as well to check in on dad and traveling long distances is no fun when you are 8 months preggo. My Aunt Terri is going with Mom and they are heading out Friday morning.
I'll end with a picture of the little girl that keeps our world turning. I honestly don't know that any of us could have made it through this without her. She is a light for all of us and definitely keeps us going.

 

Monday 4/30

Dad is still not feeling well. He stayed in bed all weekend and slept the majority of the time. He tells us he feels lousy. =( Gracie and I just left from seeing him and he barely opened his eyes the entire time we were there, which is not like him at all. Gracie wanted to "play catch" with Pop.
We worry so much when he gets sick and doesn't feel well. His body is so weak. Please say a lil prayer that he is better soon.



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Thursday 4/26

I'm sorry I don't update as often as I should. There isn't really anything "new" to report on, so I am at a loss of things to post! I find myself writing a post, then realize it sounds like I'm being negative and trying to have a pity party, so I usually delete it. We did find out today that Dad has a respiratory infection and they have started him on antibiotics. He sounds hoarse and says he doesn't feel well. He has had a lot more mucus than he normally does. We worry about him chocking cause of this. Also, they have stopped therapy on him. We learned this a couple of weeks ago. His knee was hurting him tonight and Mom went to move it and he made the worse face. I know it hurt, since he's not moving it as much. We have to start working with him on that.
I went to see him today around lunch and I walked in his room to find him sitting in his wheelchair with the tv off just looking around. We worry he gets lonesome during the day when we aren't there. Today I pushed him up and down the halls. He waved to everyone we passed and said hello! =) Just like my Daddy! They had a guy singing in the dining room and we sat and listened to him for awhile. I hated leaving him, but I wasn't feeling so great myself. Gracie and I usually go visit him after I pick her up from school and Mom is up there with him every afternoon after work until he goes to sleep. (usually 9 or so) We are wanting to get the house handicap accessible so Mom can bring him home. That is our plan for late summer, lord willing.
Josh and I celebrated our 5th anniversary Saturday! We celebrated by moving!!! Lol! Sounds fun huh?! Let me say that moving, unpacking and all that jazz is NOT fun when you are 7 1/2 months preggo! I thought I was super woman and did so much yesterday that I have paid for it today! I got in bed at 7:45 tonight. That NEVER happens, but I'm so thankful Gracie allowed me to do so! =)



I learned last week that Gracie is NOT a fan of the automatic car wash!!!!! Look at that face!!!! Ha!
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Friday 4/20

I can't believe we are nearing the 1 year mark. Still seems like a dream and I keep hoping I'll wake up. Sunday, the 22nd, will be a year since our lives all changed. It's been a rough, weepy week. I think we all thought by this time, things would be much better and we are hurt and discouraged that they aren't. I can't help but fight back the tears when I'm sitting listening to my daddy talking to me. Half of the conversation I can understand, the other half I usually can't. He doesn't get too discouraged, but it sure breaks my heart.
However, the main reason of this post, was to inform everyone of Dads new room number. He moved to room 508 on Wednesday. Same hallway, just closer to the nurses station on the right side of the hallway instead of the left. We have all his cards and pictures hung up and one of the aides said it looked like a lil dorm room! Lol



Saw this on Facebook the other day and thought it was pretty fitting.

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Sat 4/14

Lil funny to start the day........ Mom went to see Dad after work yesterday. She noticed he was picking something out of his mouth, so she started looking on his hands and in his mouth and saw a few orange "speckles". She went up to the nurses station to ask if anyone had given him something to eat. Of course they said no and mom proceeded to tell them about the speckles he was picking out of his mouth. One of the aides then told Mom about a resident that carries around orange slices (the gummy candy) and stops to visit Dad often. Yesterday she stopped by to visit him on her way out to smoke (Dads room is right by the smoke door). Well mom was telling me this story and she said when they put him in bed, I'm gonna look in his chair and see if I can find the rest of it. Dad looked at her and said, "You won't, I ate it all!" We laughed and she asked him if it was good. He said, "Real good!" Soooo..... In the past couple weeks, he's enjoyed a sucker and an orange slice! Lol. I told mom we needed to talk to therapy about the fact he ate the candy and didn't have any issues after the fact!!!!!
Gracie and I are in Memphis for the weekend packing things up. We move next weekend.... moving 7 months preggo is not very fun!! At all!!!!!!!!
Hope everyone has a great weekend!!!!!!



G and Pop during one of our afternoon visits last week!!!!

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