Hello From Rockville

We've had a little rain, just a nuisance as I hardly needed the wipers on but had to use them occasionally, the blessings I saw in the rain was NO SNOW, but we could get some later on.  Nothing exciting went on today, I spent the afternoon with Harlan.  I needed to shop at K-Mart for a few things and we were next door to the Pizza Ranch that's where we had out treat, a small pizza with nothing to take home. 

It was a good day.............Fran

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Hello From Rockville 

Today was my day to work with the school children to help with reading, I also caught up on all the coupons we save - Campbell's, Box Tops for Education and Register Receipts from Cashwise, in a few months we will get them mailed in.  Save them and turn them into your school, they can be used to get school supplies and play ground equipment.

I did go home for lunch then I went to spend the afternoon with Harlan.  He tried to call me several times this morning and I had forgotten my phone at home (I hate when that happens) so I didn't talk to him until I got to the VA.  I also missed out on seeing the picture of Heidi's new baby girl born around noon today, she is absolutely adorable. 

When I got there Harlan was ready to get out of there and that's exactly what we did after tasting chocolate chip cookies freshly baked in the main dinning room.  After the cookie treat we headed to the Pizza Ranch for our fill of pizza, hadn't done that for a L-O-N-G time and it was good, Harlan really enjoyed the pizza, he was hungry as he had decided to skip lunch.  The afternoon ended the way it always does with Harlan taking his meds and neb going to supper and me heading home at 5:30.

Today was a good day and my time with Harlan was great, I always look forward to spending the next day with him.....Fran

Hello from Rockville

Today is Sunday and Denese and I went to church, first Sunday School then to church.  As soon as we get a warm Sunday we plan on taking Harlan to church and we'll do it together.  Today after church we  had lunch at IHOP then Denese went home and I spent the afternoon with Harlan, first we napped then I took him to  Culvers for an ice cream treat, he had a two csooper and I had a one, we hadn't been there for quite some time so this was a great treat.  When we returned to the VA we napped again then it was meds time.  One of the nurses told me that last night Harlan had a bowl of cereal and a banana and he ate the whole thing they try to give him something before he goes to bed, still trying to put some weight on him they are so good to him. 

We still have a lot of snow on the ground and with temps only in the twenties and low thirties there isn't much snow melt, all in good time it will be gone.

I had a good day...........Fran

Bingo/Saturday

I spent the afternoon with Harlan.  Today was Bingo he played well finding most of the numbers but he didn't win any games, he was not disappointed about loosing.  When I first got there I showed him the picture I had of him and me on my phone he looked at it and says, " It's a good picture of me too bad you had to be on it!"

I took him with me when I gassed up the van then got it washed and for a treat we stopped at McD, we had sundaes and coffee.   When we got back it was time for his meds, he did not want to take any medication at first but he did by the time I left.  I stayed until 5:30 when he went to supper.

I picked up a couple of sub sandwiches for our dinner as Denese was busy painting my bed room and we needed an easy to fix meal.  After painting she rearranged the furniture and we'll finish putting stuff away later.  It looks nice, I needed a change.

Today was a good day..............fran

SPRING MAY BE BACK

We have a lot of snow but it should go by the end of March, I hope :).

I had to stop back to have my car checked so I was late in getting in to see Harlan.  He met me at the door of his room and was glad to see me.  He was so tired, after his meds he took a nap.  Ellie one of the nurses told me she gave him cereal last night, I think he gets a late night snack every night as he needs all the nourishment they can get down him.  When I see him walk down the hall I see this little old man not capable of doing much and I feel so sad, I know if he were in his right mind he would not want to be this way, he can't do much for himself, he used to be so active. If something needed to be done he did it and always completed everything he ever started and now he is not even capable of shaving himself.  When I leave he always holds my coat so I can put it on, sometimes upside down or backwards but he always tries, he opens the door for me when we go for a treat, not the car door but doors to buildings.  He is aways considerate of me.

Today was a good day a very special day, a day with Harlan....Fran

Hello from Snowy Minnesota

I did not leave the house today, too much snow.  There was a lot of snow in front of the garage but it didn't keep Denese from going to work.  I did not go in to see Harlan but I will see him tomorrow.  I caught up on some things I needed to do like going through my Christmas cards and throwing and saving and checking on addresses, I'm behind in too many things.  This was not a very productive day and I missed seeing Harlan, I did talk to him and he missed seeing me.  Just a quiet boring day.....Fran

Hello From Rockville 

When I checked my blog I discovered that the last writing was on Thursday.

Things are about the same here.  Denese painted my living room and rearranged the furniture and for what ever reason the room looks bigger, I love it.

Friday I met with the care group at the VA then spent the afternoon with Harlan.
Saturday was bingo for Harlan, he won one game.

Today is Sunday but because of his cough I chose not to take him to church, we did take him out for BBQ ribs at Grizzlies he did not eat a lot but we did take advantage of all the peanuts we could eat I don't think he had a lot of room for the ribs.  Rick and DeeAnn joined us just for conversation, Harlan enjoyed seeing them.  After eating I took him back to his room and we napped, just nothing to watch on TV.

I enjoyed my time with Harlan, each day we have together is a very special blessing and today was no exception.........Fran

Hello From Rockville 

Harlan greeted me when I came in to see him, they told me he had been up all night walking the floor, he looked so tired.  I took him to the Park Diner for a root beer float, this would give him nourishment and fluids, he needs both.  He drink most of his float and we returned to the VA for a nap, we both fell asleep.  I took him in a wheel chair to the car as the distant from the elevator to the car is quite a walk, he had a hard time following directions on sitting in the wheel chair to put his feet in the right place while I pushed him and getting out of the chair when I got him back.  We had a good time together eating and napping.......Fran

Hello From Rockville 

Yesterday I brought Pizza for Harlan to enjoy and he did enjoy, today I brought cookies from Perkins for him, they weren't enjoyed as much as the pizza.

I spent the afternoon with him but he was tired so the afternoon was spent sleeping and he did sleep.  When I left home for home at 5:30 he would not wake up to walk with me to the elevator, consequently I could not get him to go for supper, I hope he ate something later on.

I enjoyed the time with him but I wish there was a"magic" way to get him to eat........Fran

Hello From Rockville

Harlan called me several times during the night, it's been a while since he has been able to do that.

I went to Sunday school and Church this morning then to the VA to spend the afternoon with Harlan.  A missionary spoke this morning at Sunday school very interesting.  Harlan was just ready to eat lunch when I got there, he ate very little of his lunch.  I took him to Perkins in the afternoon for one of his favorite meals, he had breakfast - pancakes, an egg and two sausage links- he literally "Licked the platter clean",  he enjoyed every bite.  We went back and napped and I helped him take his meds and nebulizer and I went home at 5:30, Harlan's supper time. Mary Jo met him as I left and escorted him to his spot at the table, she is so good with him, she even makes sure that he has a treat before he goes to bed, cookies and ice cream.

Today was a good day....Fran

Hello From Rockville
Spring has to be around the corner, day-light savings time starts.  Wind chill here zero, cold!
I spent time with Harlan yesterday but he slept most of the time I was there, he took his meds but would not go for supper when I went home.  Today was better, he did go for for bingo and was up some but still very tired.  When I left I was able to get him to go for supper.  Tomorrow is another day and I'll spend time with him and see if it works to take him out.....Fran

Hello From Rockville 

I left a little early to go see Harlan, he met me just outside his room.  His comment to me, "You are early".  Me, "Maybe ten minuets".  Harlan "You are early".  When I looked at the clock I guess I don't get there until about 2:15 and it was 2:00, so he was right.  Karon was about to take his lunch tray away, he had not eaten anything and decided to leave it in case he would eat something.  Well, when I took a good look at him his teeth were gone (again) only this time it was his upper not the lower so Karon and I began a search of his room, in his bed, under his bed, in his closet, in his night stand, Karon even "patted" him down checking his pockets, no luck.  We checked the bathroom and the room across the way (they were found there once before).  I got down on the floor next to him to do a good search under his bed (I have found teeth and hearing aids there) and when I got on my knees Harlan commented, "Are you praying?"  My response to that, "Yes, to find your teeth."  About that time Mary came in (she cleans) and she had seen them right next to the phone but they were not there now, I guess she knew where to look and found them behind his chair in the corner, another place to check next time.

I cleaned his teeth and returned to his mouth and decided he needed a hair cut after the hair cut I changed his t-shirt and sweater to get rid of any hair clippings that would make him itch and we went down to the dinning room for "Happy Hour" and a treat.  They were serving scones and juice which we partook of, after that we went back to his room for our afternoon naps.  We did a bit of napping but then he wanted to sit up on the bed and would fall asleep just sitting on his bed but I was not able to convince him to lie down so he wouldn't fall down, his understanding and being able to follow directions just don't work for him.  

At 5:30 I convinced him to go for supper and I went home, so was my day.....Fran

Hello From Rockville 

This morning I had a surprise, Harlan called me, it was breakfast time for him and he told me he was going to eat, this was good.  

When I went in they told me he did eat some of his breakfast but he didn't eat lunch.  I took him to play birthday bingo and have birthday cake and ice cream then we went out for a treat he had sliders at the Park Diner, then we went back to the VA and took naps and I guess I needed the rest because I "rested" beyond going home time this was okay as Harlan's supper was waiting for him when we got there and I went home.
I had a good day with him and we'll see what tomorrow brings..........Fran

Hello From Rockville
We just got home from the ladies meeting at church, a good meeting and a good meal.  

This is Tuesday and my day to help with reading at school always so rewarding, the children are great.  I came home for lunch then back to spend time with Harlan.  When I got there he was sitting in the eating area near the nurses station with no eye glasses or hearing aids, we went back to his room and retrieved them, he didn't me recognize until I got near to him but it's understandable with no glasses.  His lunch was brought to him but he hadn't eaten and I didn't have much luck at getting him to eat either.  The afternoon was quiet we both napped and at 5:30 I left for church and now I'm home.  

This was a good day.....Fran  

Hello From Rockville

I'll recap yesterday.  Denese and I went to Sunday School then Denese dropped me off to spend the morning with Harlan, I stayed until he went to lunch.  Denese picked me up at 12:30 then we went to the house to pick up my cell phone (forgetful me I forgot it) and we headed down to Wayzata for a baby shower for Heidi.  She got so many beautiful things she will have a girl and the stuff for little girls are absolutely adorable.  That will be the best dressed baby any where.  

We had not seen Paul and Megan's finished basement so that was out next stop before heading home.  Their basement really looks great, a fun place for friends and family to gather for TV, games and just conversation, a place they will enjoy for a very long time.
Now it was time to head back which we did - into nasty weather.  We were on the road close to two hours, a trip that should have been a little over an hour.  Not a good end for a really fun day.
On the way in to see Harlan today I stopped at Fleet Farm to pick up several pair of jeans for him.  He needed a smaller size and I picked up 32's, in just a short time he has gone from 36's down to 32's a big size change.  When I got there he was in the TV room in a recliner just resting.  We went back to his room and I helped him try on the jeans to make sure they fit, they were a good fit now his name will be put in them but I'll need to pick up another pair to make sure he has enough.  He did take a good nap (and so did I) and I left at 5:30 his supper time.  I had a good day with him, so until tomorrow good night.............Fran

Hello From Rockville 

Today is Saturday, I was tired last night so I neglected to write.  Yesterday was an interesting day.  When I got in to see Harlan and as I always do I headed right to his room but he wasn't there my next stop was the bathroom and he wasn't there.  So I headed down the hall way toward the nurses station and I spotted him asleep in a recliner by the fire place and he was so hard at sleep I didn't wake him but I noticed that his glasses were missing and headed back to his room.  Sure enough his glasses were right were he left them, on the floor between his bed and the wall, I rescued  them, cleaned them and returned them to his face all with out waking him.

My next stop was to see if I could locate some of his lost clothing, I checked with Gene, he made a phone call to the laundry facility and I headed down there and found several lost items, shirt, sweater and jeans.  I'm so thankful for the walk way at the VA as my walk took nearly as far as the auditorium, all under cover.  When I returned Harlan was still sleeping, I got him up and we went to his room for another nap.  

One of his meds have been taken away from him and we hope that will eliminate he drive to get up and walk all night and he will get some needed rest at night, only time will tell if this helps.  

I now stay with him until supper and take him down to eat I hope that helps stabilize his weight he is so thin.

Yesterday was a good day....Fran

Hello From Rockville

Sarah called me this AM, (I had just finished with decorating our community room for St. Patrick's Day) just to see if I wanted to meet her and Rick for lunch some where in St. Cloud and of course I never turn down a chance to eat out!  We met at Five Guys, Sarah and I had hot dogs and Rick a hamburger after a good time eating and chatting I headed to the VA and time with Harlan.  Harlan met me at the elevator we went back to his room got his coat and headed out for the Park Diner for a treat (he has eaten very little today).  He had a couple sliders and ate every bite.  Rick joined us, Harlan enjoyed seeing him.  When I had taken Harlan out he had a hard time walking the length of the basement from the elevator to the car, I picked him up at the door, on the way back I took him up to his room in a wheel chair.  He doesn't understand how important the nebulizer is and how much it helps with his breathing.  He complained that when he has problem with his breathing and asks for help they don't do anything for him and I then explained to him how important the breathing treatment is and how much it helps him, he just does not understand.  I don't think he likes the mask over his face and the treatment isn't instant help which is what he wants.   Lately he has been having problems with his breathing and I wish there was some easy way to help him.  I stay until 5:30 and take him to the dinning area for supper hoping he will stay and eat something and when I do they tell he does stay and eat.
I had a good time with Sarah, Rick and Harlan.........Fran

Hello From Rockville
Today, Wow, another COLD day!  I am looking for spring.

I spent the afternoon with Harlan and because of the cold I did not take him out side the VA.  I took him for a treat to the canteen at the VA.  He had not eaten, no breakfast or lunch and he did not eat much at the canteen.  I stayed with him until supper time, he was so tired when I took him down to eat I hope he ate supper.  He no longer calls me so I really don't have any contact with him when I leave there.  He is getting so thin his jeans are so big for him, it is so sad and hard to see what is happening to him.....Fran