You got it Pat! If you need a stop over going to or coming from Texas, just let me know! Sooo happy for all of you about Baby Margaret! Love ya all, Judy!!

It is all very hard to deal with emotionally - both for Mother and Daddy.  I try not to think deeply about it most of the time because it's too sad.  I still think Mother is still there and it is sad when I realize she's not.
On a happier note, Baby Margaret should be arriving soon.  Molli went to the Dr. today and she is dilated to 2 and 75% effaced(?).  If she doesn't go in to labor before Wednesday she will be induced on that day (the 4th).  Her Dr. said that she would not be surprised if she does not deliver before then.  As soon as we get the word, we are heading to Texas for a week.  I'm very nervous about all this, but at the same time, very excited to see that baby's face.  Keep us in your prayers for a safe delivery and a healthy baby.  Love you, pat

Jamie I hate all of that for you! I had the flu or what felt like it ( hit me on the way home right after the funeral) but started an antibiotic since it felt it was going to my chest and I'm almost over it all. Maybe it's time to go to,the doctor about it?? Stomach bug I didn't have nor do I want!!lol. I do know what you mean about not facing the whole thing but doing it in little bites has helped. I've had several meltdowns but try to get out of that deep hole ASAP! if you need to call to talk, just call! I've been in wedding mode since Christmas ended and once that's behind me, I'll probably be calling you!! Take care of yourself!! Dad is doing ok! Love to all, Judy

Sorry I haven't been on here..I'm still trying to feel normal again..or some version of normal! The flu hit me about an hour outside of LakeCity after I left Dad and I just can't seem to shake it. My head and cough are starting to be better, I think.. Now I've got a stomach flu as well and I just dizzy all the time. I've been back in to see the eye doctor thinking this new prescription might be off so he did put me in a new trial script and u swear it's worse!! I see him again on Friday! I say a prayer for Dad every day..the whole thing is so gut wrenching I really still just can't let myself think about it.. I just feel so out of sorts..not normal at all.. My mind just doesn't work and I feel so disconnected from reality.. I've got to find a way to get my life back in order but I can't seem to find a way or the will to work on it. I hope as I start to get over this flu for real,I'll start to get back on track. I think I thought I would feel more relief that Moms suffering is over but I'm not there yet...hope things are going good on your end..Love you all,Jamie

It will always be weird there without Mom I'm sure. I still can't say her name or have anyone ask about her/me without crying. Getting through the wedding will be hard without Dean and Mom being there. Leisa and Bryan both found a dime today which makes her feel Dean is with her which is awesome! Love to all, Judy

I went to see dad today. He ate great as in cleaned his plate ! Debbie said he did this morning and all yesterday. She ordered a chest x-ray for dad because he has a cough . He just disn't say much of anything today. I kept talking and he really never replied
d. They had gotten him up for the x-ray so maybe he was tired. It is so weird down there without mom
Being there. It just has a different feel for me right now. Anyway he was ok. Didn't ask where mom was---I was glad. Still haven't seen the other Margaret! Love you all, jeanie

Pat did you see the one Ryan posted on Facebook too? Oh wait I know you did under Molli's account!!!lol. I had a hard time yesterday too but have had the flu I think ever since I got home and not sure how to divide the tears between feeling awful and sadness! I just have to keep reminding myself of what Jim said about what a great Christmas Mom had in heaven! I know that's true too but sometimes I forget because I miss her and what she stood for. Hope all of you had a great Christmas with family/friends! Love to all of you, Judy

Jeanie, that was an awesome picture of all of you with Daddy.  I'm so glad you went to see him.  How was he?  I just feel so sad for him.  Today was their anniversary and I've thought about them all day.   I still find it hard to believe that Mother is not here anymore.  I find myself looking for her when I go to LNC and it seems so strange not to see her laying there in her chair.  Will they put Daddy in another room?  I know he will be totally confused when they do and it makes me sick to think about it.  Hope all of you had a great Christmas.  love you, pat

Pat that is so sad about dad, and makes me want to just cry for him and me both! I hope he makes some friends and thinks someone else is Mom. Uggggg! merry Christmas to all of you if possible! Love, Judy

Jerry and I stopped by to see Daddy on our way to Pam's today.  He was sitting in the eating room at a table by himself.  He hadn't gotten his food and it was so sad to see him there alone.  I asked Margaret if he could sit in the other dining room with someone and they moved him to a table with a man I had never seen before but who seemed very nice.  Of course, I cried because it was so sad.  He asked where Mother was and I just didn't say anything.  They said he had asked a few times.  Anyway, we sat with him for a while as he ate.  He was not very alert and I'm not sure he even knew us.  love you, pat

Jeanie and Bruce went today to see daddy and she said he was doing good. I'm sure she'll post in a bit but we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our daughters! Brittney will be here in about an hour. They got 4" of snow in El Paso after they left! Crazy!! Ryan and fam should be at Jeanie's about 7. I'll be glad when the long distance travels are over for today! I know seeing Mom's grave will be sad for us all for a long time but eventually we will be able to go there without crying I think because I can go see Dean now and not cry. Merry Christmas to all of you! Love you all! Pat be sure to spread the word on Molli and Margaret ASAP!! Lol Love, Judy

Amen, Judy!  As sad as it was, it was an awesome service.  Jim absolutely did a great job.  I can't imagine going through that without all my sisters.  I am so thankful I have you all.  Can't imagine life otherwise!  Jerry and I drove out to the cemetary yesterday because I forgot to look at the headstone.  It was really hard to see the beautiful roses laying there on the ground.  Of course, I cried some more.   I plan on going to see Daddy tomorrow.  That is also hard to do.  I'm scared he will ask my where Mother is.  I hope he continues to do well and doesn't remember a whole lot about the last several days.  It's all so sad.  Love you, pat   Hope you all have a great Christmas!!

I just had to post a note on here telling all of you how proud I was of us in losing Mom. I think we all handled it with the utmostrespect for her and I know she would be so proud of all of us. Pam, please tell Jim that the service was so appropriate and fitting to Mom. He did an AWESOME job! It truly did help me and made me feel good about Mom and remember where she is now and what a gift indeed for her!!! When we lose someone who means the world to us, a piece of us dies with them but yet our lives have to go on and live with hopefully that piece shining through so others see her inus. I'm with you Pat, I love you Mom!! Thank you all for being my sisters and I love you all dearly!! judy

I LOVE YOU, MOTHER!  pat

Yes I meant to tell you that too plus Pat the card from Molli was adorable too!! I never send Christmas cards so don't be looking for one from me!! Love, Judy

Pam, I meant to tell you that Cary's Christmas card was precious.  Tell her thank you and the picture was adorable!   pat

Thank you Pat for the note!! I love having something to read besides what I wrote myself!!lol Wow your new granddaughter will be her sooooo soon!! how exciting!! You have to try to not think of the nerve wracking stuff!! I'll see you all Wednesday with MY favorite thing which may or may not be yours!!lol
Love to all, Judy

Judy, you are too funny!   Well, I am officially free for 2 weeks!  Of course, I have a ton of stuff I need to do, but probably won't.  It's going to be strange this Christmas without Molli and Marty here.   Jamie, Addison wore her UK hoodie today and she looked adorable.  Jennifer took her picture in it and  she was so cute.  Jeanie, are you finally able to walk again?  
Molli went to the Dr. this morning and she is dilated 1cm.   I know some people are like that for quite a while.  If she does not go in to labor beforehand, they will induce her on Jan. 11.  I can't believe it is so close.  Very nerve wracking and exciting at the same time.    Okay, I'll see ya'll on Wednesday.  love you, pat

And yet Another note from myself?? Is anyone out there?? HELLO!!!!!lol. Come on girls drop a note or two already!! Love, Judy

Ok I'm writing back to back notes on here and I know Jeanie and Jamie both went yesterday to see mom and dad!! Where are your notes girls?? Come on you can do this!!!!lol Love to all, Judy
P.s. did we EVER decide on our get together this year? I'm ready anytime between now and the 23rd when Brittney and fam get here. Just let me know when and where

I'm reading this daily but I have nothing new to report! I pray for mom and dad daily and know hey are in God's hands so it will be ok. Love to all, Judy

I called Debbie to ask about mom and dad . She said they were doing fine. Mom had had a shower and was up. Dad was up but sleepy. She said that dad's sugar was ok. I asked if she thought mom was the same or worse. She said she was the same and that she'd changed the bandages on her skin tears. She said mom was responsive. Anyway I've tried to call the dhs office here fri and three times today with no one talking to me period ! I'll try again tomorrow. Love you all, jeanie

Ok, I'm sorry to report that I won't be able to go see mom and dad
today. I have hurt my back or pulled a muscle in the groin area or something stupid! Anyway I can't walk for now. In fact I'm using Judy's wheelchair and Bruce is being my legs ! Lol! Anyway, hopefully I'll be up tomorrow. Today is day three for this stupidity! Love you all, jeanie

I went to LNC this morning.  They were both in the big room asleep in their chairs.  I tried to wake
Daddy up, but he wouldn't stay awake.  One of the girls said that Mother ate 75% of her breakfast and she quit feeding her when she began to choke.   Anyway, nothing new.  I took the new clothes that Jeanie bought for them and the lotion.  The girls said they would hang them up for me.  Pitiful as always, but that's just how it is.  Love you all, pat

I called and checked on Mom and Dad today but they were both sleeping and all Donna had to say was that the day nurse didn't say anything about them so she assumed it was status quo. She did say that Dad's blood sugar was 96 this morning and they had given him snacks. I told her that was NOT good for his sugar to get that low!!! Mom evidently has another small skin tear on her leg now too. This whole thing just breaks my heart!! UGGGGGGGG!!!! Love to all, Judy. Oh Pam is going around supper time and she will post or I will based on her text.

Jeanie and I went to see Mom and Dad today and it wasn't a good visit for us. Mom was partially slumped in her chair and I held her head up while Jeanie fed her. She is just pitiful and it's so sad! There were only a couple of things she said that I understood and one was when I hugged her and asked if she was doing ok and she said "no not really". I wanted to just cry!! One other time I told her that we all loved her and she said "I love you too" but it wasn't totally clear and maybe it was just me wanting to hear that. Dad was in bed and wouldn't get up for lunch. He told Debbie that he wasn't. Going to and obviously he didn't want up because he was flat on his back, no feet, and mouth open wide sleeping up a storm. They put his tray in his room and said they'd try to get him to eat later. Debbie said his vitals and blood sugar was fine today so I guess he was just sleepy from being up and to the ER last night. He never woke up the whole time we were there. The girls all said that mom had been very vocal earlier in the common area so maybe she was just tired. I thought when we first got there that she was breathing awfully hard andyou coukd see her heart beating in her neck and it seemed fast to me too. She did aeem better about that after a while though. It all makes me sick to my stomach!! Anxious to hear how she is on someone's next visit. On a positive note Brittney told me today that Frank's leave was approved and they will be here around 12/23 and stay till after the wedding. Ive never had Christmas with her whole family and am anxious!!
Love to all, Judy

I have called the last two nights about 11 and was told both nights that they would make sure the heat was on and Jeanie said today that they told her that it had been warm in there the last two mornings so it must be working!! I'll continue to call for a few more days to make sure they don't slack off. Jeanie and I just got home from shopping and she had a message on her machine that dad had fallen while trying to get into someone else's bed and they were sending him to the ER to be sure he was ok. Well that was 4 hours ago!!!! Jeanie just called and he's fine and already back! NO clue why they didn't call her cell or someone else!! We are going tomorrow to see them and I'll post. Jeanie went today and she said mom was so good she was scary!! Hopefully she'll be good tomorrow and that will be the best Christmas present for me! Love to all, Judy

Thanks for the postings on Mom and Dad!!  I've read the blog on my phone, but I'm on the computer this morning so I can post! So glad they are doing well...I agree about Daddy..he is thin! Are they still weighing him every week and if so, has his weight dropped? I don't guess they've talked about a stimulant  for him?  I've been nonstop going since getting home!  After Jason and Brandon head to New York, I'll have a little more time...even though I'm no where near being done with shopping, Christmas cards or wrapping.  A day through the week for us to get together would really work for me...but whatever works for the masses! I guess I probably should get that shopping done at least huh?   Ok, gotta get back to cleaning, running a few errands and generally preparing for Saturday!! YIKES!!   Love you,  Jamie

I did go see Mom and Dad on Mon. I'm getting horrible about posting! Sorry, but I'm just busy. They were both in bed when I got there. I'd been talking to Jon for over an hour and missed most of my chance to visit. Debbie and Margaret both told me Mom ate 50% at lunch and breakfast Mon. That was AWESOME! Mom's vital signs were still all good and she was again so alert. They were laughing that she'd been calling PAT! Her eyes were open and all when I went in to see her, but she fell asleep pretty quickly. Dad was awake and didn't talk much about what I could understand, but I thought he looked good---color and all. He is thin, but he's been getting thinner for a while. He's kind of getting into the routine of eating a big breakfast and not much lunch. His sugar was good and he wasn't yelling. He didn't want them to take off his glasses, but when I talked to him with them, he said ok. Margaret and Missy both told me that they had complained to Debbie and Michael Smith (even met Michael Smith at the door to complain) about Mom and Dad's room being so cold in the mornings. They said the shift that comes on at 10 and works until 7 turns on the a/c or else turns on the heat but turns the temp down to the coldest setting. They said that Dad doesn't want up it's so cold and they were worried about Mom since she just had pneumonia. Anyway, they decided to complain to me so I could file a grievance. They didn't want me to use their names. SOOOO, I'm having Judy call late before she goes to bed to ask about please make sure their heat is on. Tomorrow when I go, I can then ASK Margaret and Missy about the heat and when they say no (if that's their response) then I can complain for real! Anyway, holding steady for now! I'm so glad. Love you all, Jeanie   OH! When are we going to try to get together? I know, Jamie, that Jason leaves this weekend and you won't be able to until after that. Pat, do you get out of school a week from this friday? Pam, does Jim? Maybe we can get together either that weekend or one day the next week? We can get together any day next week as long as it's after school for Pat and Pam? Just asking. I'm pretty free as to times! LOL!

Pat it's awesome that dad knows you at least and that's a positive thing! We have to take those where we can find them! With this rain we are having, I'm changing my day to come on Wednesday afternoon
after my dentist appt to have 2 fillings (yikes!!) and will spend the night that night and go see them on Thursday. I just hope Mom stays status quo till then at least! Love to all, Judy

Jerry and I went to LNC this morning.  They were both in the big room.  Daddy was getting a manicure.  He told the girl "that's Pat and her husband Jerry".   I really didn't understand a lot of the stuff he said after that.  He looked good, but I'm like Pam, he is so thin.  Mother was laying there in her usual way.  The nurse said that one of the girls accidentally nicked Mother's finger when they were cutting her nails, but they were going to keep it bandaged and put neosporin on it.  Jeanie, their room looks great with the balloons, flowers, and Christmas tree.  I sure wish they could enjoy them.   Anyway, not a bad visit considering.   Love you all, pat

After seeing Mom today, I realize that being back at LNC was what needed to happen. She has improved since the hospital. She had her eyes partially opened, and she responded to my voice and touch. She responded to some of my questions. She even looked at me once and said hi! She looked at dad and said dad. She ate pretty good, just very slow and little tiny bites. I stayed about an hour and a half, but needed to go, so a young aid took over for me. Dad ate about 50%, but it was greens, creamed potatoes, ground up chicken, I think, and apple sauce. He looks thin to me. His shoulders are so boney. He mumbled a lot, but there was a little girl visiting someone else, and he talked to her just fine. He did ask me where Jamie was, and he told me to be careful going home, but other than that, I can't understand what he's saying. But all in all, an ok visit. Love, Pam

So glad you checked on them and posted Pat cause I'm hungry for any and all news! I tried calling the nursing home this afternoon but after 15 minutes and the lady even coming on to ask who I was holding for, no one ever came to the phone. Part of me is a nervous wreck when I call because I'm so scared it will be something bad. I have to get over that though and I'll work on it! I plan on coming back one day this coming week and hopefully they're no worse. Love to all, judy

I went to check on Mother and Daddy when I got off work this afternoon.  They were both in the big room.  Daddy knew who I was because he said Pat and Patricia, but he was not very alert.  He was holding Weezie(?)'s hand and talking to her like he thought she was Mother.  She looked at me once and said, "I don't know what he wants."   I checked with the nurse and she said Mother ate zero at breakfast and 25% at lunch.  She looked about the same.  Jeanie, the balloons and tree were adorable!  Thanks for doing that!  Anyway, not much to report.  I wish Mother could eat!  love you all, pat