Coming Home!

Just a very quick post to let everyone know that Dad is going to be coming home on Thursday. We will be discharged on Thursday afternoon and then see a cardiologist before we head home. Dad had his assessment today and all the therapists continued to talk about the great progress he is making.

We will be setting up his on-going therapy so he can continue his progress once we get home. I'll be here until Sunday to help Mom with the transition back to home. Fortunately, Mom has spring break next week so will also be able to manage the transition home a bit more easily.

Sorry for the lack of updates - having all of us home, the time here with Dad, and trying to get some work unfortunately cuts into the blog time. But, this is great news and we are excited about this giant step forward!

Yes, It is Good to See You Dad

Yesterday, I arrived in Omaha around 1:00 and Jacki picked me up and we went right to Sioux City. Dad was finishing up PT and it was so wonderful to see him. I gave him a hug and he asked me, "Do you feel better now that you have seen me?" And the answer of course, was "Yes I do Dad". He quickly introduced me to his therapist and then we walked part way back to his room.

Just as Jacki was amazed after 11 days, I was obviously even more amazed at his progress having been away for 25 days. He is making tremendous progress and we could not be more proud of all his hard work. From many of the comments yesterday, it is obvious that he is much more aware of what is going on, where he is, etc.

Dad chatted about how many of the questions they ask him in therapy are very difficult and many people would not know them. Dad asked the therapists about this fact and they told him that he was right - many people would not know these facts. However, they know his "level" and these are things that he should know. For example, they listed "dollar, peso, lira" and Dad had trouble with this one - he started listing Australian dollar, Canadian dollar. When the therapist started to give clues - i.e., Japanese - Dad was able to come up with Yen. The key is to get him to recall these facts in his head. And he was later able to tell the story to us and remember Japanese Yen which is exactly what we want.

Dad also made a comment to me about how is getting better, but isn't all better yet. Another indication of his awareness. And of course, Dad is still joking around which is great to see as well, I told him I got Tanner's (my 2 year old) hair cut, he quickly commented "it's about time!" He was more than aware that Tanner was in need of a haircut (which he had told me in January when he visited).

Jaima came over after work and the 4 Karlen women hung out with Dad for a few hours. The Munderloh's and Maul's stopped by for a bit and then Dad was ready for bed after a very busy day. We enjoyed a very nice dinner at Raspberry's (and ran into the Munderloh's and Maul's there :) . Definitely a lot to celebrate.

A Hand to Hold

I actually chatted with Mom, Jaima, Jacki, and Dad today. What a treat! Talking with Dad - even if only for a couple minutes - was the highlight (no offense to my sisters or my Mom of course!). I was driving the boys home from school and Dad heard them screaming in the background when he got on the phone and said it sounded like things were pretty normal for me. It was nice to chat with him on my way home -- just like we use to.

Mom said that Dad had a good day of therapy. After they finished having lunch, Dad got into bed for a nap because they are better able to elevate his feet in bed. There is still quite a bit of swelling in his legs so they try to keep them elevated as much as possible. Mom took a nap in the recliner and they feel asleep holding hands. Very sweet.

Mom also mentioned that Dr. Bacon stopped by to see how Dad was doing (Dr. Bacon is the ICU doctor and was seeing another patient, but just stopped to see Dad). Dr. Bacon asked how Dad was doing and if he knew where he was - to which Dad replied, "Oh, sh*t". It seems Dad grew used to Dr. Bacon and his questions. :) Apparently, Dad's ornery side was also coming out today when the "interns" were visiting today. Mom said he was showing off. Good ol' Dad - putting on a show. Makes me smile.

Jacki and Sean are staying in Sioux City tonight and going out to dinner - guess they are trying to make the best of their spring break! Mom was at home tonight and enjoyed a walk on the beautiful day and a drink with Steve Munderloh. And then a night of grading papers - fun stuff.

What a week!

Sorry for the lack of posting this week. It has been a crazy week here, but the good news is that Dad is having a great week! Yesterday, he was able to walk WITHOUT the walker 3 times. In addition, he was able to get out of his chair by himself. Just last week, it took two people just to get him to stand up. So, he is making amazing progress!

His hardest questions to answer are what day it is and where he is - he actually told a visitor these were his hardest questions. But, with the "harder" cognitive questions he is just flying which is wonderful.

Jacki and Sean are there all week and have been helping with the dogs, running errands for Mom, getting the medical paperwork in order, etc. I know Mom is very thankful to have them there to help out. I can't wait to be home and Friday and see the progress for myself.

GREAT Day!

What a great post for today! Both Jaima and Jacki called to tell me what a great day Dad was having. Jacki was completely amazed by the progress he has made in the 11 days since she left. He is up and about walking with his walker as he pleases. His speech therapy went REALLY well today. One of the speech therapist told Dad that she had seen him on Wednesday and could not believe the change between today and then.

Jacki was with Dad all day and said he was lucid and "the old Dad" all day. What wonderful news! He was even able to remember the visitors he had the day before - this is a first. All of these signs are wonderful news. We are of course, still worried about other health issues -the swelling in his legs, the blood clot, etc., but all the progress is in the right direction. I am very excited to continue receiving great news.

Mom also checked out of the hotel on Friday and will be staying at home now. Jacki and Sean will be there through March 2nd, and I will arrive on Feb 27th and stay through March 8th. Mom did enjoy a bit of time away today and attended Mickey Mouse Clubhouse with Jaima and her girls. I'm sure this time away was a great break and a special time with her grand-daughters.

And on a lighter note, Jacki's husband Sean is going to be working with Barney to make him a house dog. What a way to spend spring break, heh? Of course, Dad thought this topic was quite amusing - I would expect no less. Dogs in Pender don't live in the house now, do they?

Nydra was right

What a difference 11 days can make. wow. Nydra was right - I am more than impressed.

Dad is making amazing progress. He had a great Saturday of rehab. Mom said he had his best day of speech therapy yet. He was asked to give synonyms to many words and got almost all of them correct. He also was able to give explanations for descriptions of certain situations (some when mom and I didn't even know the answer). In OT, he put together a difficult puzzle that the therapist said five days ago could not have been completed. And, as his granddaughter Alyssa said while watching him do his PT, "he is walking perfectly." She was right. If he keeps this up, the walker will no longer be needed! More importantly, he is understanding everything!! Where he is, why he is here, and details about all the staff he meets even hours after meeting them.

It will all continue to improve with more time. I can't wait for Julia to see his progress. We are all so proud.

Keep up the good work dad! We LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!

Oh, to be home

It's a pretty quiet night here at the Peavy household. The boys are in bed and the hubby is off playing poker. Jacki and Sean flew to Omaha today and a family friend picked them up and took them straight to Sioux City to see Dad. I know Jacki was so excited to see Dad and all the progress he has made.

Jaima stopped in to see Dad during her lunch hour again (like she has been doing most days) and said that Dad was having a great day. It is so nice to hear the little stories about what he is doing (playing the card game "war" with Mom yesterday) and the progress he is making.

It would be great to be home with everyone now. It's hard to be needed in two places. I'm just thankful for all the support that Dad and Mom are getting and I'll be home soon enough - and yet, not soon enough.

A Sister's Point of View

An email we 3 girls received from our Aunt - Dad's sister, Nydra. I think it is a great summary of today and I know it touched all of us. Thank you Nydra for your positive words.

I was with Jerry most of the day and he really impressed me. I’m sure it's hard for your Mom to see the progress but between my last two visits, he had totally lost the hallucinations, crawly things or the reaching out into the air like Alex did at the 3-D IMAX movie. That was all gone.

He walked 5-6 tines in two different sessions from the back of the exercise area to the middle of the hallway. And the staff required that he find his chair, etc. And he did. He was nodding off in the first speech therapy session, so when the occupational therapist came to dress him, we put him to bed. I lifted his legs, put pillows under them and spent a major portion of the day making sure his legs wouldn’t be swelling. He slept for over an hour and the next sessions of therapy he seemed much more awake.

His wheel chair legs were too short for elevating his legs. Since he asked to have breakfast in the lounge area, he was in his chair. I thought that was a great sign and he chatted with two men at the table. Everything was very cordial. I hope he keeps asking to eat outside of his room. Anyway, the PT man, Dennis, put a block of wood under his air cushion seat. So it raised the seat about ¾ of an inch but also removed the sag so his legs could more comfortably be elevated.

When your mom got back from school, she saw him and was all smiles. He is really making great strides. I think Jacki will be very surprised at the advancements. He still has vision problems but there has been so much progress over the last week.

Jerry always used to say a person who gets mean when they are drunk, is really mean underneath—that they is just mask it when sober, and I can see that in Jerry with his predicament he finds himself in. He is still the same sweet amiable guy as always. He is frustrated with his recovery so if possible, tell him how far he has come. That really seemed to give him the energy to keep going. He worked really hard in his therapy.

Again, the dignity of Jerry seems to shine through and all the staff treat him accordingly.

I love you girls. Jerry and I may be old, but he is still my big brother and I feel about you as you must feel about your sisters’ kids.

Love, Nydra

Hump Day

Well, I have to say that this week seems to be an exhausting one for all of the Karlen family - at least we are getting over the hump this week. Dad is working very hard in rehab and has been exhausted from all the therapy. They have him up and at 'em very early. On Tuesday, he was showered, shaved, and dressed by 7:30. He has been doing very well with his physical therapy and all the walking he is doing. He is now using a regular walker and is able to support his entire body weight on his own. Denny and Georgia visited on Tuesday afternoon and had a nice chat with Dad and then went out to dinner with Mom and Marian. Today Mom and Dad were able to work on a crossword puzzle together, but it made Dad very tired.

The rehab is going well. At times, Dad seems a bit bored with the activities and they must get him to focus and tell him why it is important he do these things (you've had an injury and these activities will help you heal). Definitely more hard work in store for Dad, but we know he can handle it.

Movin' on Up (to Rehab)

Ok - technically, I think he is moving down floors, but I couldn't help but have the song from the Jefferson's in my head (which is better than the Amy Winehouse song about rehab I have been singing all day). So, he is still in Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, but is now in the Rehab Center where there is a much more intense focus on his therapy.

He had his cat scan this morning, but the results are not known (we're going with the "no news is good news" theory). He finally got to eat solid foods - a chicken salad sandwich and was saying "mmm" as he ate it. The processed food must be pretty gross if a chicken salad sandwich from a hospital tastes good.

And it is good to hear that his sense of humor is still there - he was introducing Mom as his "current wife" to the rehab staff. The move does seem to have confused him today, but hopefully with some consistency and focus on rehabilitation in his new environment, we'll see improvements again.

Mom is headed back to the classroom tomorrow and our family friend Marian Andersen is there to help out this week. We are so thankful for all the family and friends that have helped us during this difficult time.

"Pop" Quiz Results

And here are the long awaited answers to the "Pop" quiz. Thanks to all that participated - we enjoyed reading your stories - definitely brought smiles to our faces.

1. Where was Jerry born? Dad was born in 1941 in Beemer, Nebraska (50% answered this one correctly). 40.5% answered Omaha.
   
2. From which high school did Jerry graduate? Dad was an Omaha Benson Bunny - yes, the Bunnies. (61% of you answered correctly).
   
3. Which high school reunion year will Jerry celebrate this year? Dad graduated from high school in 1959 and will be celebrating his 50th reunion. (51.2% of you got this one right).
   
4. Where do Jerry's children live? Julia lives in Denver (95% correct). Jaima lives in Pender (100% correct). Jacki currently lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan, but will be moving back to Minneapolis after she and her husband receive their graduate degrees this spring. (76% correct).
   
5. What year did Jean and Jerry get married? Mom and Dad were married in Dodge, Nebraska in 1969 and will celebrate 40 years together in June. (38% answered correctly).
   
6. How many years did Jerry work at Automatic Equipment/Blue Ox? 41 years! Wow - quite an accomplishment. Dad retired in March of last year. (40.5% got this one right).
   
7. What subject does Jerry's wife Jean teach? Sociology. Jean is currently in "phased retirement" and teaching 2 classes this semester. Thankfully, her colleagues at Wayne State have help cover for her during this time. (92.9% of you answered this one correctly).
   
8. Which of the following activities does Jerry enjoy? Dad enjoys pheasant hunting, fishing, coffee at Popo's, playing cards, and time with his daughters and their families. Surprisingly, Dad doesn't like deer hunting (always talked about his inability to kill Bambi) and Mom is the one that loves moon risings.
   
9. How many grandchildren does Jerry have? Dad has almost 5 grand kids. Jaima is due with her 3rd at the beginning of August. She and her husband Cam have two daughters - Alyssa (4) and Anastin (2). Julia and her husband Marshall have 2 boys - Drake (5) and Tanner (2). Jacki and Sean have a dog named Maj0r. He is also part of the family - his mother is Pepper and his brother is Barney (both of those are Dad's dogs). (95% of you answered this one correctly.)
   

Lazy Sunday

The Geiserts delivered the flowers and card from Julia, Jaima, and Jacki today. Dad enjoyed them. He walked farther than he has in any previous days during physical therapy today. Tomorrow morning, they will do a cat scan to check on the bleeding. They think everything is draining on its own, but they want to check. In addition, the cat scan will serve as a baseline for rehab.

Dan and Tammy Bodlak and Bill and Maureen Wenke stopped for visits yesterday. Dad also talked to each of us on the phone and wished up Happy Valentine's Day. Very special. Hearing "I love you sweetheart" like he has said so many times before is just that much more special these days.

A Poem and Flowers for Dad

Valentine's Day definitely reminds me of Dad. Since I was about 7, Dad always gave each of his daughters flowers on Valentine's Day. We would come home from school and there would be a white vase with a single rose sitting on the table by our bedsides. I always looked forward to coming home and seeing the flower there for many years to come. However, the tradition did not end there. As we went away to college, left the state, and got married, he continued to send us flowers. You can imagine how special it was to get flowers in the college dorm - what a surprise and of course, everyone wanted to know who the flowers were from! We'll be continuing the tradition this year - 3 roses for Dad - one from each of his daughters. A Day to celebrate love indeed.

Jacki found this poem and I thought it was the perfect post for today.

Delightful and loving,
Loved and admired,
Dad, you're my hero,
My life you've inspired. And when all my blessings
Are counted each day,
I thank God in heaven
For Dad when I pray. Dad thanks for your presence
Throughout thick and thin;
You're more than a parent,
You're my wonderful friend.

Sealed with a Kiss

Just in time for Valentine's Day....... Dad was able to walk to the door and then to mom and then to the wall and was able to give Mom a really loving kiss. He walked more asking for another kiss and Mom said it was like a moment in a movie – people were looking and smiling. What a wonderful day for Mom as well.


He had 2 assessments today and passed both of them. Dr. Durward was pleased with his neurology test and that indicates things are going well with the drain being gone. He also had his catheter removed today. So no drain, no catheter - no tubes! This also means he is no longer restrained. More good news.

Denny and Steve Munderloh stopped by and they had a nice chat with Dad. Dad also fed himself today for the first time which is a great thing. By next week, Dad will be out of the "hospital" and he has qualified for rehab (still located at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City).

Dad is making amazing progress every day - especially for the type of injury he sustained. Although he is able to take directions, carry on conversations, etc., he is still having trouble with his orientation and can be easily confused or distracted. The short term memory, the ability to remember where he is, etc. will be back eventually with rehab and continual work. We're looking forward to those days. In the meantime, we will continue to celebrate how far he has come in a such a short time.

As I was saying to my husband last night, I have always thought of my Dad as a sturdy and hardy individual........he is certainly proving that to us all now. We love you Dad, keep up the great work.

"Shuntless"

Yesterday's cat scan came back looking very good so Dad will have his temporary shunt removed today. They will then monitor him to see how he is doing - is he sleepier? less lucid? etc. Depending on his response, the next cat scan could be as late as Monday to check again for the swelling, drainage, etc.

If he is doing well, he will not need a permanent shunt. However, it is at this point that they make the decision for a permanent shunt or no shunt at all. There will be no temporary shunt as of this afternoon. woohoo! Getting rid of the temporary shunt also gets him one step closer to a rehab center as you can't leave the hospital if you have a temporary shunt.

Dad is enjoying his private room and got a good night's sleep last night. Dad's sister Nydra came up to be with Mom and help out. She was planning to stay the night, but with 5 inches of snow predicted, Mom is trying to get her on the road so she is not stuck in Sioux City!

I Like to Move it, Move it!

The procedure to address the deep vein thrombosis was done this morning and went well. They inserted a filter in his abdomen so the blood clot does not go to his lungs. In many cases, they treat the DVT with anti-coagulants. However, that is not an option for Dad as he will never be able to take these types of drugs again (the inability of his blood to clot was the reason for his stroke).

Unfortunately, there will be pain and swelling in the legs for weeks. And the key to getting the blood clot dissolved is to get him and up and moving around. So, Dad better be singing (as they do in Madagascar), "I like to move it, move it". Maybe we need to get the grand kids up there singing along!

Dad will also have another cat scan today. Yesterday, they raised the bag that is currently connected to his shunt (and collecting spinal fluid). This process helps them see if the spinal fluid is draining on its own or if there is pressure on the brain caused by the bag being raised. The cat scan today will be able to tell them if the brain is swelling due to this process. The good news is that the spinal fluid that is draining through the shunt is much less red which means the blood around the brain is also dissipating.

Dad is also being moved to a private room today which I sure he will be happy about. In addition, he has been more lucid for longer periods of time the last couple of days. yeah! Little victories every day.

DVT

Otherwise known as Deep Vein Thrombosis. Unfortunately, Dad has one in his leg and they will be doing a procedure tomorrow morning to address this blood clot in his leg. The good news is that Dad was able to tell the physical therapist that his leg hurt and they were able to do some tests and discover this clot.

Dad had a great day with speech therapy. He did very well with the cognitive tests that were done. Mom and Dad's friend Georgia Munderloh was coming to go to dinner tonight with Mom and Marian. They were going to try and catch tonight's moon rising, but being in San Francisco tonight, I'm not sure on the cloud cover in Sioux City, Iowa. I hope they were able to catch a glimpse of it.

A good beginning to a new week

Dad had a really great Monday. First, it seems the new antibiotics may have done the trick with the fevers. He had no fevers last night or today. yeah! Dad also was more aware of his surroundings than he has been - improvements each day. He sat in his chair today for four hours and then was able to take a long, needed rest this afternoon. Getting that smart brain back to 100% is hard work!

Our very close family friend, Marian, came up from Omaha today to stay with mom through Wednesday. The two of them were going out for 1/2 price burgers at Minerva's tonight. Unfortunately for mom, it is a cloudy sky in Sioux City tonight so the moon rising will not be visible. Maybe next month.

Special Visitors

Dad had some special visitors today - his two granddaughters Alyssa and Anastin. Apparently, Alyssa was quite the chatterbox and talked Dad's ear off. He was very happy to see him.

They removed the "regular" IV today has they have had to replace it 3 times this week. It is very hard to find Dad's veins so the nurses are unable to put in the IV. Since anesthesiology must come down to do the IV line, they have decided to put in a more permanent line into his chest so they don't have to keep replacing the IV. They also switched to some new antibiotics today as Dad is still running a fever. Hopefully, these new ones do the trick.

Jacki left for Michigan today and Mom's friend Marian will be coming tomorrow to help out for a couple of days. We are very thankful that Jacki was able to stay so long and also thankful she had a ride home - thank you Ann! After Wednesday Mom will be holding down the fort alone for awhile, so I'm sure she would welcome any dinner dates. Thanks again to everyone for all your help and support.

Walkin' Away

Dad was up and at 'em with Physical Therapy 2 times again today. He walked out to the nurses' station and back to his bed. And Jacki said, if you knew how far that was in comparison to what he has been doing, you would be impressed. Great stuff. He also fed himself breakfast today and was drinking out of a cup by himself as well.

Dad's sister Nydra and her daughter Ann came up today. Jacki will be riding back to Michigan with Ann on Sunday and then returning on February 20th with her husband, Sean for their spring break. Jaima, Cam and the girls came up today to stay in Sioux City and are having a "staycation" tonight in the hotel - nothing like a hotel pool and the $3 movies to keep kids entertained.

Thanks to all for your continued support. Look for the answers to the "Pop" quiz early next week!

Successful Surgery

Dad's surgery went well and he got back to his room around 10:00. Now we will be waiting for the anesthesia to wear off and probably a lot of sleeping today. And maybe that darn fever won't come back tonight.

How Much Do You Know About Jerry?

We designed a quick little survey to see how much you really know about Jerry. We would love to have you participate and we will post the right answers in a couple days. Have fun!

Click here to take survey

Surgery Scheduled Today

Dad is scheduled for surgery today at 9:30 to remove the current shunt and put in a new shunt. It is standard procedure and he should be back in his room by noon today. Hopefully, this will help with the fevers he has been getting in the afternoons.

We're anticipating a lot of sleep this afternoon after the surgery. Here's hoping to another successful step in the recovery process.

A Sleepy Day

Dad has been sleeping all day. One must be pretty tired to do that in a noisy hospital. We've had a couple of questions about the cheer cards you can send through the hospital so I've posted the link again here today. We so enjoyed reading all the cards we have already received.

Mom saw Dr. Durward this afternoon and he plans to replace the current shunt with a new temporary shunt. They believe the current shunt may be causing the fevers that Dad is having in the afternoon/evenings. The new shunt will be in for at least a week and it looks like he'll be in this room for another week.

A couple of fun updates from last night.

• Mom and Jacki enjoyed dinner with Bev Novak last night
  
• Mom and Jacki checked on Dad last night and Dad knew how long he and Mom had been married and told Mom that she is "the most wonderful woman in the world".
  
• Dad remember that his first car was a 1949 English Ford
  

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Or - how about several pictures worth several thousand words? We put together a few pictures of Jerry and family just for fun. We can't wait until he enjoying all these activities in full force again.

Cat Scan Results

The results from Dad's cat scan came back with good news. One ventricle is free of blood and the other is continuing to drain appropriately. yeah!

Dad is very tired after a long day of therapy. There is a noisy guest next to him which is distracting him from sleeping soundly this afternoon. He tends to get interested in their conversations and has a hard time falling asleep. Surely he would love a private room, but right now, he needs to be in this room with more monitoring for his condition, etc. Hopefully, the chatty guest will be tired soon!

Hump Day

Mom was up early this morning to be sure she caught Dr. Durward on his rounds this morning. She is feeling better that she was able to chat with him about some of her concerns. She found out that Dad will be staying in the Stroke Ward until he is ready to move to Rehab.

Dad is making daily improvements, but we are still asking for no visitors as this tends to confuse him at this time. This morning Dad had almost an hour of Physical Therapy. He was able to sit up on the bed, stand up and then take 4 or 5 steps. Way to go Dad! He was then able to move over to the chair and was all settled in for a nap, when they came to get him for another cat scan. They want to make sure the fluid is still draining correctly and check the position of the shunt. Potentially, he could have another temporary shunt put in at the end of this week.

And as we continue to celebrate small victories, Dad was able to drink two glasses of orange juice today by himself. Yesterday, he couldn't even get the glass to his mouth. We're looking forward to many more victories in the days ahead.

Tuesday Afternoon Update

Dad had Physical Therapy this morning and they said he was making great strides compared to yesterday. He was able to sit up straight and pull himself up to stand. Obviously, this made him very tired. When the physical therapist said she would be back for more in the afternoon, Dad said no she wouldn't. When she came back in the afternoon, Dad was so tired she could not even wake him and she was only able to do some stretches with him. Guess Dad was right - no more PT today. We expect he'll be sleeping quite well tonight.

Who is better looking? Jean or Jerry

Yesterday was Dad's first full day out of the ICU. Julia left to go back to Denver, but hopes to be back soon. Jacki, Mom, and Jaima will be holding down the fort for now. Yesterday was a big day - the move, eating, PT and OT and Dad was very tired and slept most of the day. Mom and Jacki were a bit worried as he wasn't responding to standard questions as well has he had been in the past (and also worried because we have a new room, new nurses, less monitoring, etc) so we are figuring out how to work the system in the stroke ward.

Fortunately, Mom is pretty persistent (and resourceful) and the ICU doctor did come up to check on Dad this morning after Mom and Jacki voiced some concerns. Dr. Bacon was able to wake Dad up and once they got him up, he was much more alert and responded correctly to the questions being asked -

• who is your wife? (Jean)
  
• how long have you been married (39 years)
  
• who is better looking? (there is no competition there - I am)
  
• who is this? (Jaclyn - she is my daughter)
• where does Jaclyn live? (Michigan)
  

So, this definitely made us all feel better after we were a bit worried with his confusion over the last 12 hours. We are still getting used to all that is happening with Dad and learning when to be worried, when he is sleepy, etc. And learning what a long road we have ahead, but there is a road to take and we are very thankful for that.

Food, but not food

Dad had his first "dinner" tonight. It included a spread of pureed foods - roast beef, corn, mashed potatoes, broccoli, and jello. He told the nurse the beef was "bland" but seemed to enjoy the jello. He ate a good amount, despite how awful it looked.

Mom and Jacki grabbed dinner and created a list of an additional nine questions for the nurses in the stroke ward. Don't worry - we are following mom's "p's" - personable, polite, persistent, and patient. They love us!

Dad was pretty tired tonight after a long day of occupational therapy, physical therapy, being moved to the stroke ward, and two meals. Although he is confused from time to time, he is getting stronger every day. We are hopeful for another good morning tomorrow.

Good night from Sioux City. As always, thank you for your continued prayers, positive energy, and supportive thoughts.

Our new "address"

Hi everyone,

Just a quick update. For those of you who want to see all the beautiful Karlen women, you can find us in the 8th floor Visitor's lounge. However, dad is not ready for visitors. We will keep you updated on his progress.

After the move from ICU, dad was seen by the physician therapist. It was a good first step, but he wasn't ready to sit up. As my dear friend said, "Therapies will be his best friend. They are hard work, but well worth it." He will definitely know soon enough how true that is.

The Karlen Women Thank You!

There are of course too many people to thank for everything at this point. We received the Cheer Cards this morning and were overwhelmed by all the support that we are getting from all of you. Dad will certainly enjoy reading these cards when he is able.

We are thankful for:

• All the help with kids (both in Denver and Pender)
• The food, flowers and care packages
• Doing our laundry, bringing things up from Pender, etc.
  
• Dr. Matt Felber for educating a very curious group of women and providing us with the information we are craving
  
• Rides to and from the airport
  
• Amazing husbands and all their support
  
• The wonderful words of encouragement and support via the Web, email, and phone
  
• Wayne State friends for helping cover Mom's classes and all her "extra duties"
  

I'm sure there are several things that we are missing, but we just want to let you know all know that the support that has been shown for all of us and Dad is greatly appreciated.

Humor for the Day

Here's a bit of Jerry humor for the day. The occupational therapist said she was going to give him an assessment in bed and Dad joked, "I've never had one of those before. You better set high standards.".

Jacki and Julia thought it was pretty funny.

Stroke Ward - Here we come!

This morning we got the news that they will be moving Dad up to the stroke ward on the 6th floor. What great news! He had already had visits from the speech pathologist and occupational therapist this morning. He is a bit weak on this right side (especially his shoulder). Of course, after telling Mom this, she informed us that he hurt his shoulder shoveling ice out of the dog kennels. Probably hasn't helped to have it inactive all week.

The physical therapist will be by today and they will get him out of bed today. So, a big day today with lots of activities which I'm sure will make Dad very tired. He is now taking many of his meds orally and they did hook him up to an IV again to give him more fluids (as he ripped out his feeding tube two times already and isn't quite eating enough yet).

We'll work to keep you updated on the transfer. Happy Monday!

Pittsburgh Wins!

Jacki, Mom, Julia, and Nydra (Dad's sister) watched the Super Bowl tonight and ordered pizza. The pizza was late (to which Julia's husband commented "are you surprised?") but we really enjoyed the 4th quarter and exciting end. Julia, Mom, and Nydra then went over to see Dad when the ICU opened again at 9:00. Julia told him that we watched the Super Bowl and asked if he knew he won - and he said that he assumed that Pittsburgh did.

Dad definitely had a great day, but gets tired as the day goes on with all the chatting, the eating, etc.

H2O Please

Steve Munderloh and his son stopped by today. Steve and Julia went in to chat with Dad, and Julia told Dad that Steve's Grandma was upstairs and Dad asked what happened to her. Steve told her that she broke her pelvis and Dad then proceeded to tell Steve to tell his Gramma that he knows what she is going through. He then preceded to talk about his hips and the recovery he had when he had those replaced. Every time we go in there, he is impressing us. Right as Julia left, he called her name and asked for a glass of water. Julia gave him a swab with water and after he had it, he said "I know about the swabs, I want a glass of water." Ha!

Jacki then went to get some ice chips for him and he told her to express his disappointment quote, "with a kick in the groin" (yes, we have a male nurse). Oh, Jerry is back.

Good news! Mom just came back from Dad's time with the speech therapist and he passed his swallow test. So, he will get some broth tonight. He was very happy about the applesauce. He won't be eating much because it is a LOT of work for him and he hasn't had any food in his stomach for several days. (to which Dad responded "at least I should be losing weight").

Immediately after we sat down, Dr. Reeder came in and gave us an update. He said that Dad is looking great. He still has a bit of a fever, so they will run the brain fluid bag to check for infection. And then he said over the next week, they will start raising the bag to see if the brain fluid is able to drain on its own. Before he left, Dr. Reeder said that Dad is "remarkable." And of course, we think so too.

He's got the TV on and watching the pre-game activities for the Super Bowl. What a day.

Sky Walk

Jaima and Cam went to see Dad and Julia took the girls to see the cars go underneath us. It definitely is the little things that entertain - they squealed with glee whenever a car went under the sky walk.

Good, Good Morning

We came back to the ICU when it opened at 9:00. The nurse told us that Dad had a good night and was much more lucid. Jacki walked in the room and Dad had his eyes open and said "hi Jacki". She was in the room with the nurse and the nurse told him what happened. Dad asked quote, "what's the prognosis?" and Jacki told him the doctors are hopeful for a full recovery to which Dad replied, "better than a not full recovery".

Jaima and Mom then went in to chat with him and were giving him some ice chips. Jaima asked if they tasted good, and he said, "yeah, but not as good as a good glass of gin." For those of you that know Jerry well, this is a good sign :)

Cam and Anastin arrived this morning, and then Cam and Jaima spent some time with Dad. Cam was telling him that he went to Popo's last night and Jaima said "they miss ya down there Dad" (for those of you that don't know, Dad goes down to Popo's for coffee every week day and for breakfast on Saturdays) Dad then said "I bet so. I am at 30% of their revenue. Certainly, 50% of their tips." It is GREAT to see Dad's personality coming out.

The nurse even said that he thinks that might be moving out of the ICU and have Dad up and about soon. Wow!

GO DAD! GO POP! GO JERRY!

Good Night, Good Friends

After running errands this afternoon, Julia, Jacki, and Mom went back to the waiting room when the ICU opened at 5:00 while Jaima and Alyssa swam at the hotel pool. Dad had a really good day. Julia gave dad a swab with water on it to wet his mouth after the nurse did not come back. Jacki told Dad that Julia did the swab because the nurse never came back and Dad commented "we got stiffed on that request" which amused Julia and Jacki. He was much less sleepy and was able to carry on some short conversations.

The Munderlohs and Mauls came to visit and everyone commented how much better Dad was doing today. Dad and Denny chatted about pheasant hunting and Dad remembered Al and Sharry's daughter Alisha. Right before the ICU closed again at 7:00, the nurse told us that Dad is doing wonderfully. woohoo!

We ate dinner down on 4th Street - within walking distance of the hotel - and enjoyed some time away from the hospital. Mom especially enjoyed herself and the good day that we had. A wonderful time with family and good friends celebrating Dad's successes for the day - it will be so much sweeter when he will be abe to join us in these celebrations.

We returned to the ICU at 9:00 to check on Dad before bed. The nurse told us that earlier he had been able to identify both the year and month. These little successes are so nice to hear! We spent some time with him and he was able to identify Julia from her voice and called Jacki "Julia" accidentily and immediately corrected himself. Although disoriented at times, these steps make us smile and thankful for another day of recovery.

Dad is getting some insulin which is due to the current food (aka sugar type brownish liquid) he is receiving. So many things to monitor and watch.

We are thankful for this wonderful day. Of course, every day has its dark spot. Jacki just spotted kids going into the room next to us with beer and you can hear them partying away. Lovely. Nighty night.

Waiting, Waiting

Jaima and Alyssa are here today to hang out in the waiting room. We're pretty sure the waiting room was a pretty boring place before cell phones, computers, portable DVD players, and wifi. We're planning to take mom out to dinner tonight - she is requesting a salad. I'm pretty sure none of us have seen a vegetable since we got here. Lots of fruits, but no veggies - will be good to know they still exist. :)

Anatomically Correct

This morning, Dad had another cat scan. Jacki spent some time with him and the speech therapist came in - she had him practicing some words, sticking out his tongue, etc. He also had a couple ice chips with the speech therapist and she said he did very well. Jacki also got him to giggle a couple of times.

Mom then spent some time with the ICU doc - Dr. Bacon - and he said that things are looking good. He also talked about how the sleeping is part of the healing process and it is a good thing for him to be getting some rest (which we of course know, but we just want to make sure everything is ok).

Dr. Reeder then stopped by and told us that the cat scan looked really good and that the left ventricle is back to ordinary size. He said, anatomically the brain is moving in the right direction. Mom then said "we just want to hug you" and Dr. Reeder said he would take a hug. It is great to get good news and I'm guessing it is nice for Dr. Reeder to be able to give it as well.

Of course, we also have to worry about other things now - bed sores, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, etc. so hopefully, we can avoid these things, but they are a concern.

We're enjoying the sunny day here in Sioux City - almost 50 degrees today. We're feeling the sunshine is a good sign for the way we are feeling today.

HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY DRAKE!

Ok - I'm hijacking my blog back today for a personal post. My son turns 5 years old today and I will be missing his birthday party. It was very difficult to leave under such a stressful situation - telling my 5 year old that I had to leave because Pop was sick and that I would be missing his party (actually, I told him I was leaving and he immediately mentioned that I would be missing his party and started to cry).

In any case, I wake up this morning with 4 men in my thoughts:
1) My Dad - and being thankful we have another day to help him get better.
2) My husband - and being thankful for all he has done this week and knowing what a hard week it has been for him with me gone.
3) My big boy Drake - and being so proud of the wonderful boy he has become.
4) My little guy Tanner - and missing the joy in his face.

Happy Birthday Drake Karlen Peavy - I love you very much.



Drake and Pop - May 2008

Cheer Cards

If you feel like sending Dad (or Mom) a little support and good cheer, you can send a cheer card via the hospital Web site. They will then deliver them to Dad's room.

Thanks to all the cheer you have already sent our way.

Hanging Out Pays Off

Jacki and Julia were hanging out by the elevator waiting to go out to dinner. Dr. Reeder actually was coming out of a surgery consultation right by the elevator and stopped to chat. He then he said he would go check on Dad - right place - right time! He gave us an update and said that Dad was doing everything that he asked him to do. He also told us that he would order a CT Scan tomorrow morning to make sure the sleepiness was not caused by pressure on the left ventricle (and then asked if that would make Mom feel better). They are monitoring the pressure every hour and everything has been fine with that.

Also, you can keep up-to-date on the health care policy discussion now. Enjoy!

We're headed back to the hotel to check on Dad and then get some ice cream. Of course, ice cream will NOT help Julia's New Year's resolution. Ugh!

Julia's 35 (even though she looks 25)

At 2:00, Julia went in with the nurse when they woke Dad up. He's very tired today after what the nurse technically termed "a ton of Avitan" he was given last night. He's getting Avitan to keep him calm and help him sleep.

When the nurse woke him up, Julia told Dad she was there. The nurse asked how Julia was related to him and Dad said "my daughter". He also knew Julia was 35 (although the nurse thought much younger - hehe) and he also knew he had 4 grand kids (and named Drake and Alyssa).

We've had a steady stream of visitors which is always nice. Keep the good thoughts comin'.

TGIF!

Julia has returned to Sioux City after taking care of the house - watering plants, running the dishes, packing a bag for Mom - and taking care of the dogs.

The nurses said that Dad had a really great night and got some good sleep. Jacki and Mom saw Dad this morning and everything seems to be going well today. He is complaining of eye pain so the nurses were going to contact an Opthamologist. Mom mentioned that Dad has an Opthamologist and the nurse said we should get that information. Mom got to work and got the information very quickly and took it to the nurse who proceeded to tell Mom that "she rocked". Good to keep Mom busy with some tasks here. ha!

And a correction from yesterday - apparently, Julia doesn't know who the county attorney is. Al is not - Al's daughter Tammy is. However, Dad has always called Al the county attorney. :)

I've also had a couple requests about Jacki's health care policy position (for those of you that don't know, Jacki will get her Master's Degree in Health Services Research from the Michigan School of Public Health in April). I will try to find a link to the article - stay tuned.

Also, for your viewing pleasure, here is a picture of Jacki and Julia (and a random lady) in the waiting room. Jaima is at work today (she works in Sioux City) and will be coming up after work with her husband and girls.

Night (re)cap

Jaima and Julia returned to Pender tonight so Julia can drive Mom's car to Sioux City tomorrow morning and pack some things for Mom. Julia and Jaima attended the spaghetti feed benefit for the band (Jaima did not want to cook) and watched the Pender's girl's basketball game. So many people were asking about Dad and Mom and sending good thoughts our way. It is wonderful to know that so many people are thinking and praying for all of us.

Jacki stayed in Sioux City with Mom (we have moved to a hotel room with a fridge now). Some dear friends of Dad's made the visit to Sioux City again today and did take time to pop into Dad's room. The nurse stopped them and asked who they were. Denny (Munderloh) said who he was and the nurse asked Dad if he knew Denny and Dad said "get him in here". Al (Maul) also was there and when the nurse asked if Dad knew Al he said, "he is the county attorney and also my attorney" (and for those of you that don't know Al - Dad's answer is correct!). He also told Al and Denny to take care of Jean. What a wonderful way to wrap up the tonight's blog. Thinking of dear friends that Dad is actually able to recall. One can only imagine that knowing so many friends and family are pulling so hard for him can only make him stronger.

Good night from Pender, Nebraska.

Thursday Afternoon Update

Just a quick update for all of you. We met with Dr. Reeder this afternoon. Dad had another cat scan this morning and there has been no change - a good thing. They will continue to drain the spinal fluid and monitor the pressure on the brain. We are waiting for the clot to liquify and this process will take up to two weeks. So, during this time, the key is to keep him calm and his blood pressure down so this process can happen as quickly as possible. A feeding tube has also been inserted into this stomach which I'm guessing dad thinks is a good thing - gotta have some food!

Although an extremely difficult time for all of us, we are optimistic about the direction we are headed and happy to have all of us here together. And an update on the health care policy discussion, we found it quite amusing that today's USA Today had an article to support Jacki's position - we're contemplating giving it to Dr. Reeder :)

Many thanks going out to all of you from the Karlen family.

Thursday Morning Update

Good morning everyone! It is a hazy day here in Sioux City, Iowa. Mom, Jaima, Jacki, and I all stayed in the hotel room connected to the hospital last night. Last night they put an oxygen mask on Dad to help regulate his breathing - which is better for him than the ventilator.

Jaima stopped in to see Dad before she went to work, and he was asking for Jean. His blood pressure is much lower this morning which is obviously a good thing and key to his recovery. However, Dad is still a bit agitated and his visits will be limited again today.

I'll do my best to keep you updated throughout the day. We are so thankful for all the support we have received during this difficult time.

He's a "miracle"!!

We spent 35 minutes with a neurosurgeon, Dr. Reeder (Dr. Durward's "back-up") tonight...it was wonderful! He was able to answer all of mom's questions (she had a "list"...does that surprise you?) :)

He started by stating that the CT scan showed that it was NOT an aneurysm (very good thing) but a brain stem hemorrhage. Right now, the main thing we need to focus on is making sure dad is calm and that the bleed can clot. In order for that to happen, he needs lots of rest and quiet time (so basically, we need to stay away for now!). After 7-10 days, they will see if the clot has dissolved on its own and continually check the pressure on his brain. Based on the results, we will determine if he would need a permanent shunt. We are obviously optimistic and so thankful for this wonderful news.

And it was quite amusing that we all had questions and the doctor was more than patient with us. And we even started to engage in a health care policy discussion (and Jacki even asked who makes the shunt product) - oh fun times at the Karlen household.

Thank you for all your prayers and thoughts. We don't know how long we will all be here, but we have margaritas and cosmos (thanks to Steve Munderloh) and each other. Mom of course, was trying to figure out the plan for all 3 of us (daughters) and how long we should stay up in Sioux City, but as the doctor stated, we might be here for both dad AND mom. So, for now, we are very optimistic and thankful for our miracle.

No News is Good News

Hi everyone. We are still waiting on the results of the cat scan. According to the nurse, no news is good news in their world. So, Jaima and Jacki are resting at the hotel and mom has taken a little nap.  Currently, dad is resting and we are checking on him periodically. 

Story of how dad got here...

Around 3:00 on Monday afternoon, mom & dad were heading home from Lincoln and dad started to get blurred vision and a headache. He thought he was having a migraine. When they arrived home he began to throw up, which led them to believe he had the flu. He was starting to feel better when he fell asleep for the night. He woke up around 2:30 a.m. to go to the bathroom and mom started to realize he was disoriented. She then called Jaima & Cam to help her get him to the hospital. When they arrived at the Pender Hospital he slipped into a coma and after the original cat scan, Dr. Felber discovered a brain bleed. The life flight was called and he was taken to Mercy Medical Center (Sioux City) and arrived around 5:15 a.m.

Jaima drove mom up to Sioux City and were met by Dr. Durwood (neuro surgeon). He informed us that dad had a major bleed in the center of his brain and that the most important thing for them to do was to release the pressure, which they did. Tuesday was a long day. Dad is in ICU and the next 3-4 days are going to be critical.

We were able to stay with him throughout the night and at numerous times he was responsive and trying to communicate (through nodding, mouthing words, and even spelling out words by "writing" them on the sheets of his bed!).

He is having a cat scan this morning and we'll post more when we know the results.

Thanks again to everyone for your thoughts, prayers, and your support!

~ The Karlen family ~

Dad's Update - check back for more updates

Hello everyone. Dad has had a good night and is off the ventilator. He is communicating with us. We are currently waiting for the cat scan - it has been pushed back a couple of times. We intend to update this blog as we know more so please check back for more information.

Thanks to everyone for all your thoughts, prayers, food, calls, emails, etc.

The Karlen Family

Stock Show (and other January events)

It seems as if I always start my posts with a "I can't believe it is almost (fill in the blank - i.e., Thanksgiving, Christmas, and in this case Drake's 5th birthday!)". Busy times at the Peavy household just as it is as the homes of all my friends and family. I thought January was to be the month when things slow down after the holidays. Apparently, we did not get that memo.

Stock Show
Unlike previous years, we made a last minute decision to attend the Stock Show on a week night to catch a little dog agility competition. My friend Nadja and her dog Henry compete and the boys just loved cheering them on (Tanner was yelling "go Hennie" and pumping his fist). I can highly recommend a week night attendance. We practically had the petting zoo to ourselves, caught a glimpse of a few small animals (but missed the $6 pony rides which didn't hurt our feelings too badly - Drake's feelings were another story); and with so few people, the boys were able to run around much more freely which makes the event much more enjoyable for all.




MLK Day
I am fortunate to have MLK day off and enjoyed a wonderful trip to the Children's Museum with the boys. Drake has been several times - we took him for his first birthday - but Tanner has never been. And yes, I understand Tanner is over 2 years old - what do they say about the 1st child getting to do everything? ha! Drake had been telling Tanner all about the fire engine and when we got there, Tanner could hardly contain himself. It was so fun to watch. The only bummer was that it was about 70 degrees outside and we were in the museum, but what a treat to see the boys having such a great time.



California Trip
Last week, I traveled to California for 4 days. It was a pretty intense trip, but great to see co-workers from around the globe and refocus for the new year. There are so many benefits to my work from home situation, but I am always thankful to reconnect and just get some face-to-face time with those that I work with so closely on a daily basis. It's also nice to have a hotel room to myself, a few adult only dinners, and social time with friends. And fortunately, the boys were great for Marshall which makes his long week feeling just a wee bit shorter (hopefully).

1:1 time

Some times you forget the joy your children can bring you when they have you all to themselves. This morning, Tanner was under the weather and slept in late. Drake and I enjoyed a lovely morning together. He wasn't focused on how he could pick on his brother, cause trouble, and there was just a lot less (no) screaming. We chatted in bed, we had a nice breakfast, took in some Curious George, and Drake read "Sam and Al" (the book he checked out from school) to me. It was just a truly enjoyable morning and very special.

There are so many wonderful things about having two children - they play together, they look at for each other, and hopefully will be great friends in the future (and also have each other to share the never ending stories about "remember when Mom said this" or "Dad was so annoying when he did this") . But today, I was thankful to have Drake all to myself (and I think he was pretty happy to have me all to himself too). What joy he brings to my life.

When the Door Wins

This is what happens when your run face first into the corner of a door. The swelling is definitely down (but still tender) and the draining of the bruise is giving me more color underneath my eye. It is a very dramatic look. I've tried to cover it a bit with makeup and match the other eye a bit, but it still looks like I got out of control with the eye liner. I wonder what the folks at the elementary open house thought this morning?

A Week Off

The week between Christmas and New Year's was thankfully spent relaxing at home with the boys and my parents. My parents arrived on Sunday, December 28th, and left on January 2nd. We enjoyed happy hour at the local seafood place, happy hour downtown with a view of downtown and the mountains, shopping with my mom, watching football (including Nebraska's win over Clemson), and quality time with the boys. Drake had a bit of cabin fever during the week, but really enjoyed having "Nana and Pop" here to entertain and keep busy.



We enjoyed a couple days of very nice weather. It allowed us to get the ice off the back patio and also trim back the perennials in the front yard. We even enjoyed our lunch on the front porch one day. New Year's eve was pretty low key - we enjoyed a seafood dinner - lobster tails, crab legs, and shrimp. Marshall, the boys, and I headed over to friends for a couple hours, and I came back with Tanner to celebrate New Year's with my parents. We finished a puzzle and some of us even made it to midnight ;)



A picture of Tanner with Nana and Pop in the rocker from the Karlen farm.

It was so nice to have them here more than a couple days. And of course, the time always goes too quickly.

A December to Remember

January 3rd already. Wow! I didn't have any time to update my blog during the month of December - too many great things going on! Here's a list of some of the highlights - Check out the photo slide for some pictures of our highlights too.

1. Gramma and Granddad's week long visit - early Christmas dinner and Christmas presents - as Drake would say - "Christmas #2".
   
2. Celebrating Tanner's 2nd birthday with a trip to Zoo Lights and cake and presents after the festivities.
   
3. Breakfast with Santa. Tanner was not too excited about sitting on Santa's lap and Drake was a bit apprehensive at first, but warmed up to him enough to ask for the Polar Express book.
4. Time with friends - Christmas celebration at the Snow's house, our "stay-cation" downtown and drinks and dinner with Nadja and Ryan, the party we forgot with friends - but still made, New Year's Eve with NWU pals.
   
5. Starting our own Christmas traditions - fish chowder in bread bowls and sugar cookies with Grasshoppers on Christmas Eve, wrapping Christmas presents on Christmas Eve drinking Prosecco.
6. Singing Christmas carols with Drake - we've almost got the 12 days of Christmas down!
   
7. The magic in Drake's eyes when he realized that Santa did come.
   
8. Spending Christmas day in our pj's playing with our new toys.
   
9. Nana and Pop's visit - happy hour with the view of downtown, shopping with mom, seeing my dad sitting in the rocking chair (with Tanner on his lap) that his Pop sat in on the farm.
   
10. 7 days off from work and precious time with the boys.
    

Wishing everyone a happy new year and a wonderful 2009!

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Thanksgiving Holiday

It is hard to believe that only a week ago I was attending the Nebraska/CU football on a beautiful fall day in Nebraska. What a great game we were able to see - with the 57 yarder kicked right in front of us. Thanksgiving seems like a lifetime ago and Christmas festivities are now in full swing.



The minivan definitely served us well on our road trip to Nebraska. Only 2 stops each way! We must be raising good little travelers (and DVD addicts maybe). We drove Tuesday afternoon/evening and it was so nice to have Wednesday to relax and enjoy our time with family. Marshall was able to hunt (he shot one, but the dogs couldn't find it). And yes, I do believe he actually shot one because my brother-in-law was there to witness it.

We, of course, ate too much, drank too much, and slept too little. But, we were able to see family and friends, watch football, eat turkey and other Thanksgiving type activities. The boys enjoyed their cousins and we even attended a birthday party for my niece which of course, is very exciting for Drake. Presents, candles, cake and ice cream - what more do you need?



Of course, the time was too short and the drive too long, but it is always wonderful to be with family. Every day I am thankful for my family - I'm just reminded of it more during the holidays and after spending precious time with them.

Banana

A little video of us trying to get Tanner to say "banana" (which isn't actually a word at all). The cutest part of the video is the fact that Tanner kept trying to do his "smile" for the camera. He sees the camera and automatically says "cheese" and "winks" his eye. Of course, trying to hold this for 30 seconds is pretty cute to us as parents.

Three Nights, 2 Chiminea Fires, and 1 S'more

Before the weather turned frigid this week, we were able to take full advantage of the nice weather. We fired up the chiminea a couple times, got out the camping chairs, and enjoyed roasting marshmallows. Sunday evening was so enjoyable it was easy to forget about all the negative news lately. However, it also makes you realize the truly important things in your life.

Birthdays

Yesterday we celebrated Marshall's birthday. It was so wonderful to have Drake be so concerned about Marshall's birthday.

• Where are we going to have the party?
  
• Who is going to come to the party?
  
• Where should we hide the presents?
  
• What color should we make the frosting?
  

I was able to pick the boys up early so we could get ready for the party (it was hard for him to understand that the party was going to be at our house!). We were able to wrap and hide the presents as well as start making the frosting for the cake (we made the cake the night before). When Marshall came home, he had to finish his own cake frosting (I'm definitely NOT a baker). Tanner and Drake had pizza and we were able to light the candles, sing happy birthday, and open presents. Was really nice to celebrate Marshall's birthday with those that mean the most to us. And the joy knowing that Drake was so concerned that we didn't have very many presents for Daddy was precious.

Marshall and I then went out to dinner at the Izakaya Den and enjoyed a night out at a non-kid restaurant with our friends, Darin and Heidi. We had a great time sampling different tapas and sushi rolls and Marshall and I enjoyed the cold sake that we ordered. Was a great time and I look forward to celebrating many more birthdays with my PV boys.

Parent Teacher Conferences

This week we had parent teacher conferences for both Tanner and Drake. It is funny to think that you have a parent teacher conference for a 23 month old. But, Tanner's teacher had a great little book made up that shows us all the things Tanner is working on in the classroom. It was so nice to see the things they do during the day as it is so different than what they do when we pick them up and drop them off.

The meeting with Drake's teacher was also great. She said he is just exploding in the classroom and his confidence and pride is definitely up. He recently passed his United States map and is now half way through Europe. He is also loving math and reading, but doesn't spend too much time in the sensorial or practical life areas - mostly because he is too busy with all the other areas of the classroom. We, of course, are thrilled he is learning all of these things, but I truly just want him to enjoy school, what he is doing, and ensure that he is a good boy in class. Fortunately, this school has been a very positive experience for him and we are well on our way to hopefully raising a good, caring, empathetic individual (and if he turns out pretty bright after everything, that's bonus).

CB & Potts Happy Hour aka CIC Memory Lane

Tonight Marshall and I met for happy hour at CB & Potts. It's actually not terribly far from where we live, but we have not been there in ages. We picked it because it is very close to Drake and Tanner's school - which happens to be across the street from the company where Marshall and I met. So, needless to say, CB & Potts was a place we frequented in our younger years when we were both working at Customer Insight Company. The funny thing is, I don't believe Marshall and I ever went to CB & Potts together so it holds different memories for each of us.

One thing I don't think is different - being there definitely brought back memories of a fun time in our lives. Regular happy hours, good friends, carefree times, last minute trips, and 4 weeks of PTO! Of course, we had to wrap up this happy hour quickly so we could get the boys before school closed at 6:00, but what a wonderful little "date" for us. The quote of the evening by Marshall, "Do we have to go pick up the boys?" - all in fun of course. And although our lives are obviously different now, one thing that is not different - Marshall and I have a wonderful time together. We laughed. We joked. We had a couple beers together. Good times. Good life.

We're going to bed early!

There are those elections that stick with you for one reason or another. In 200o, I was getting married in a couple months and was getting laid off the day after the election. Marshall and I were going to stay up until the election was decided. Well, of course, that was 2000 and we didn't know the next President for several days after election day. I don't even remember where I was in 2004. Obviously, 2008 is an election day that I will remember. A newly elected black President, a sense of hope in trying times, and many feelings I don't even know how to put into words. Change is coming. It won't be easy, but this is a start. And unlike 2000, I'll be going to bed early knowing who will be leading our nation going forward. And for that, I am truly thankful.

Election '08

A cool way to follow the election online.

Slovakia and Voting

Today is obviously a big day in the United States. I am truly hopeful that it will be a day where we will avoid any questions about the validity of ballots, polling place problems, etc. I found myself driving back from the boys' school with such a sense of pride today - just like I did when I turned in my mail in ballot last week. How fortunate I feel to live in a country where we can select our leaders without fear, conflict, or violence.

Every time I vote, I am reminded of my experience as a college freshman in 1992. I was touring Eastern Europe and Russia with my college choir and had a home stay in Slovakia. There were a few key things I remember about that visit:

1) My hosts could speak very little English. However, the girl's boyfriend spoke a bit of English and had a red translation book he used.

2) The boyfriend used the book to tell me that Slovakia was now like the United States and they were able to vote and that they had political parties like Democrats and Republicans.

3) I remember thinking - here are people that can barely speak English, but know the political parties in the United States and are so full of hope that they can now vote. Their excitement and passion has had a profound effect on my pride as an American and all that comes with that.

4) I made a vow that day to vote in every election and not take my ability to vote for granted. How much my eyes were opened as a young 19 year old.

5) They offered me a glass of milk and I hadn't had one during my trip. I was so excited to get some nice cold milk. When they brought me warm goat's milk, I was of course, a bit shocked, but of course, drank it all since I had been so excited to receive it.

I am proud to have voted and I am thankful for this opportunity - especially during times like these.

Bloomin' Geraniums

What a warm, warm fall we have had. It has been the 70's all week and the weekend did not disappointment. We were able to get some great yard work done today and have the boys help water, trim, and rake (and do a little playing as well). I even noticed that my geranium has a new bloom and some of my morning glory plants still are flowering. It's hard to believe with it being November 2nd.

Last night we enjoyed having a few NWU folks over to watch a few minutes of the Husker game - we were down 28 - 0 before 5 minutes in the quarter had gone by. 5 offensive plays ended up in 3 turnovers (and 21 OU points). However, it will still great to watch college football with some folks (we later turned on the Texas/Texas Tech game which was much more exciting). It had been some time since we had gotten together with everyone so it was a nice reason to hang out and catch up. I'm not sure where our time goes, but I suppose with two kids, two full time jobs, and just life in general, it can be pretty crazy. I am thankful for the wonderful balance we have in our life and truly hope we can hold on to it for a bit longer.

Happy Halloween

Well, Halloween has finally arrived and we already have buckets full of candy. We are getting our money's worth with the costumes this year. Of course, Drake is on year #3 with his firefighter costume. He has yet to figure out that you can get new costumes. It really makes you appreciate the innocence of a child.



We enjoyed a wonderful trip to the Vail Valley last weekend to see a couple different sets of friends we hadn't seen in a long time. The weather was beautiful and we were able to partake in the Beaver Creek trick or treating. Both the boys really enjoyed watching the ice skaters and the zamboni - more interesting than all the zombies and such apparently.

On Tuesday night, we carved our first pumpkin. Drake loved turning off all the lights and seeing it glow. Tanner on the other hand......... not so happy with it. It was a beautiful night and Marshall was sweet enough to scrape out the seeds and toast them for me. Drake informed me "he loved them" (and he also loved my meatloaf this week which was a nice surprise!).

On Thursday, we took the boys to the Dish Network Halloween Party. We have done this for several years - it is a great activity for the kids. Fishing, tattoos, pumpkin bowling, haunted houses and candy of course. Drake really was into the haunted house and doing all the activities. He made a mask and it became part of his costume today - so we have a masked firefighter attending school today.

And finally, Halloween has arrived - costumes at school, trick or treating, special lunches and all. What a Friday! Tanner really was indifferent, but Drake's eyes lit up when I asked him if he wanted to put on his costume before we went into the classroom. He carefully looked through the window to see if other kids had on their costumers and after that confirmation, he joyfully put on his costume.

I'm looking forward the wrapping up our festivities tonight with some trick or treating and our Friday night ritual - take out !

My first iMovie Video

Well, I am not terribly creative, but had a fun time playing around with the iMovie function on my MAC. Here is my first attempt at a family video.

Enjoy!

Poker, Salsa, and Pumpkins

The time on the weekends really does fly by. Sometimes, I wonder what it is that we actually do on Saturday and Sunday. This weekend was one of those weekends where everyone got to do something fun just for themselves. Friday night Marshall was able to take in a poker game which he always enjoys. I got some time with the boys and some good alone time which is always nice. It's funny, I'm alone all day working, but having the evenings to myself is a completely different feeling. Apparently, I am still able to separate work and play.



Saturday morning saw a trip to the pumpkin patch on a very warm fall day. We enjoyed picking our own pumpkins, funny gourds, and Indian corn. It took quite some time to get out of the pumpkin patch, but I was able to catch some of the Husker game on the radio during that time and was happy that we came away with a win this week. Marshall also celebrated a Buff win, but unfortunately, the WSU Cougars ended there consecutive game record without a shut out at the hands of USC - ugh.

Sunday saw yard work, car cleaning - Drake was quite a good helper, and organizing the boys' fall clothes. I put away much of Tanner's summer clothes and it is always with a bit of sadness to put away more and more of his "baby" clothes. It is obviously a joy to watch him become such a big boy, but it is also hard to think of my baby growing up so fast. Drake actually took a nap and I was able to take a lovely walk around the park. When Drake woke up and learned I had been on a walk, he was quite distraught. So, he got on his scooter and another walk was in my future. What a treat - two walks in one day - I can't remember when that happened last.

Sunday night was a night of dinner and salsa dancing for me. It was definitely intimidating, but I did get out a dance a few times - poor fellas that asked me. Fortunately, they all survived unscathed. I need to get back and take full advantage of the free lessons next time. And of course, it was nice to just get dressed up and go out - it doesn't happen nearly enough.

Benihana's

Tonight we celebrated another milestone of Drake's school accomplishments - passing his 12th book! He is now on "big" books. It is very exciting to see him reading sentences. I typed some words on the computer and Drake was able to read them. Of course, writing sentences with 3 letter words with short vowels is a challenge.

Drake really enjoyed the dinner and loved his meal. Of course, Tanner ate some rice. But, they both were very well behaved and Marshall and I enjoyed ourselves as well. We don't get out much so any dinner besides McDonald's is a treat.

Surprise!

Our surprise trip to Pender was a success! Not only did we surprise Mom, the flights were on time, and the weather was beautiful! We arrived on Thursday afternoon and had cocktails over at Jaima's and surprised Mom when she got home from work. We stayed at Jaima's and Drake and Alyssa had a sleepover which went very well actually (thankfully).

Friday morning started with coffee at Popo's, shopping for Nana's birthday present and enjoying the nice weather with riding bikes and a trip to the farm to harvest the last of the tomatoes. We enjoyed cocktails on the porch and then headed to Drake's first football game - Go Pendragons! Unfortunately, Pender was slaughtered by Bancroft-Rosalie. Drake came home and said that Pender didn't have many points - that's an understatement. But, the weather was beautiful and Drake enjoyed the popcorn, walking to the game, and seeing his first real football game.




Saturday was another wonderful day with breakfast and Popo's and Mom's birthday party. Drake was a big helper with the party preparations. Unfortunately, the Hukers couldn't pull off a victory, but at least they were in it! The party was great and the weather cooperated. I am so glad that we made the trip and was able to celebrate my mom's birthday with my sisters and parents. What a wonderful time.

I love you a lot and fake coughing

You know - I really think there are so many things that just pass me by during the days. There are things you really just wish you could bottle and hold on to forever. Sitting on the park bench with Drake on Sunday I told him I loved him. He said, "I love you." Paused and then said, "I love you a lot. I love you all the way to space and back." And then asked, "how much do you love me?" Of course, I replied, "I love you all the way to space and back." And Drake said, "that is a lot." Yes, Drake it is. More than you will ever know.

Tanner is of course, fun, fun, fun. He does everything Drake does - the fake coughing is particularly amusing right now. He loves Thomas the Train (marketing works on kids for sure!) and really enjoys his time playing in the basement with all the toys and trucks by himself. He put 2 words together finally - "Daddy down" - I really think we are going to be seeing more and more of that.

Guilty Pleasure

Although there is definitely a lot of work that happens on a business trip, traveling for work (when one only has to do it about 2 times a year) is definitely a mini-vacation. Even airplane travel is relaxing (compared to flying with two kids). Of course, there is the guilt of leaving Marshall at home with two kids, but one week is doable. Business trips really allow me to focus on the small, positive things in life. From driving a Mustang (instead of a mini-van) for a few days, to mornings and evenings without kid craziness, business trips allow me time to relax and rejuvenate. And in my case, a time to connect with co-workers face-to-face, have a team dinner, meet co-workers for the first time, and participate in meetings that just can't happen on the phone.

This trip was even better with a special night in downtown San Francisco. I stayed at the Hotel St. Francis right on Union Square. I had a nice big corner room and also had free breakfast in the morning. The evening was spent out with girlfriends - chatting, drinking, eating, and repeat! It was a wonderful visit to the city. Of course, Friday morning had me wishing Marshall was there to share the city with me - maybe next time.

Truly, I hate leaving all my boys, but after indulging myself for a few days, I'm definitely a better mom and wife. I'm excited to be with them, hear everything they have done (like Drake passing his United States map!) and be truly engaged with all of them. Like I said, rejuvenating and focusing on the positive things in life. Of course, until work catches up with me on Monday morning... ha!