A Beautiful Day :)

Some of you have asked me to continue my blog and I will.  This will my way to let you know my feelings and how I will fill my time, there is a BIG hole for me to fill constructively every afternoon.  

It is one week today since the service in North Minneapolis, leaving me with many wonderful memories.
Sue left Rockville on Tuesday, Denese, Sue and I went down to Maple Grove where we met Rick and Becky, Sue went home with Becky, she lives near the airport.  Sue flew out on Wednesday and had a good flight.  She wanted to take a plant on the plane, one of the plants we used for Harlan's funeral and they were very kind about storing it so she could take on with her.

Yesterday I joined Sarah for the Lemon Aid Fair at St. Cloud State and as with all Fairs you eat - eat - and eat some more.  Walked a lot and saw a lot neat things, watched a band with various drummers and took in a "Belly Dancer" performance.  It was a cool day with very little sun and even a sprinkle of rain.  
Last evening Denese hooked up a DVD so we could play the Memorial video of  pictures of Harlan and I'll show it today as Harold and Marilyn are coming for a visit this afternoon and I was able to show it to Rale and Mel last evening.  
God is so good to me, He has put people and activities into my life to make life good, there are many people praying for me, I sleep well at night and my days are full........Fran

Hello From Rockville

In just one week so much has happened.  About this time last Saturday (10:30PM) I received the phone call from the VA that Harlan had fallen and Sunday morning I went with him for x-rays which determined the seriousness of his fall, a broken hip, and early Tuesday morning he was gone, I did not get to say "Good-Bye" as no one else in our family was able to either he just quietly went home.  Becky had planned to be here on Tuesday to see her Dad and Sue came home on Wednesday, her plans were to see him too, God had other plans, plans to take him away from all his pain and his struggle to breath.  

The next several days were busy making plans to celebrate his life and with the help of Denese, Rick, Sue and Becky we put together a beautiful "story."  We had his burial in Minneapolis with a chapel service which Harold did with Paul singing Amazing Grace and the congregation sang Jesus Loves Me.  Harold gave a great message explaining the message of salvation and Sarah and Wes (both in uniform) unfolded the flag and draped his coffin with it.  At the grave side Harlan was honored with the Honor Guard giving him their respects with the 21 gun salute and taps.  The flag was folded and Sarah in uniform handed me the flag.  Before handing me the flag she saluted the casket.  The whole service was so touching.  

We then proceeded to Jenny's for a wonderful lunch which gave me a time to visit with so many friends that came.  It was a very touching day, a day that I will long remember.

Today was his memorial service at Granite City Baptist Church, another day that I will remember.  Pastor Campbell was the speaker of the day with Denese and Sue doing Harlan's obituary and reminiscing over things he had done with the Kids when they were young and Kristen with no accompaniment sang Amazing Grace (yes, we did it both days) it was beautiful.  Pastor Campbell also delivered a message on salvation.  We then proceeded to the Fireside room for another great lunch.    

There were so many people at both services, many more then I had ever dreamed would be there and they all touched me in so many ways.  

My next "job" will be to acknowledge everyone with a note of Thanks, this should keep me busy and out of "mischief" for a while. 

My life will change as it does when there is a void that has to be filled (every afternoon was occupied with a trip to the VA and about two and a half hours with Harlan going out for a daily treat, laying down with him and TV time together, Jeopardy and Millionaire,  I will miss him and that!

I most likely will not do a lot of Blog writing as my reason for writing was to put my feeling on paper, I love you all for reading this and I know many of you prayed for me in some of our difficult times, please don't stop I still need prayers.........Fran

Hello From Rockville

So much has gone on since I have written although I have only missed a couple days.  Monday Rick spent the day with me and early Tuesday morning Harlan passed away.  Becky came up on Tuesday and Sue flew in on Wednesday.  Megan picked her up at the airport and brought her part way to St. Cloud and Denese and I met them and we brought her to Rockville but first a stop at the funeral home to tie things together.  Today we had nothing pressing to do but managed to keep really busy.  The day ended with food at our monthly pot-luck here at John Clark.  Tomorrow will be the service at Crystal Lake Cemetery in Minneapolis with lunch at Jenny's.

Saturday will be a memorial service at Granite City Baptist Church in St. Cloud.  Tomorrow and Saturday will be hard for me but with all the support of family and friends I know things will go well.  God is so good He will walk with me through it all..............Fran

Hello From Rockville fplatzer@mywdo.com
Thing have moved quickly, faster then I could keep up with.  Harlan passed away this morning at about 2:30 AM and we are now planning his funeral which will be Friday at the cemetery  and Memorial Services Saturday at the church.  I am so thankful for family with all help for making decisions and helping everything to fall into place and it has.
Blogs will now be farther apart as my reason for blogging in gone and I may not have much to write about.  So Good Night until another time......Fran

Hello From Rockville 

Rick came and spent time with me.  First he stopped to see Harlan, I joined him then Sarah stopped.  Harlan seemed to know both Rick and Sarah, he had some discomfort while we were there and Sarah and I rubbed his arm and it calmed him.  His pain meds have been increased from every 4 hours to every 2 hours and that has helped him rest more comfortably.  

After our time with Harlan we went for lunch and I completed other shopping I had to do and Rick and I headed for Rockville and some visiting, he left for home and I headed back to the VA.  Denese was already with Harlan when I got there.  Denese said Harlan seemed to know her.  When I talked to him he opened his eyes to acknowledge me also.  We stayed with him until after 6:00.  The increase in his pain meds have helped but also that make him sleepy.  When he speaks it is hard to understand him as it's more of a mumble then words.

Becky will be coming up tomorrow to spend time with us, I look forward to seeing her.......Fran 

Hello From Rockville

I'm writing this blog with a heavy heart.  What a difference 24 hours can make in one's life.  Yesterday Harlan played bingo and won two games then out to McD for a hot fudge sundae, we enjoyed our time together, and as I have often said each day together is a blessing and yesterday was.  On the way back while walking to the elevator we were about to meet several kitchen workers but before we could meet them they disappeared into the kitchen as they disappeared Harlan commented under his breath, "Chicken" and laughed. Today he is bedridden with a severely broken leg, he fell last night in his room and the prognosis isn't very hopeful, he would need surgery followed by PT and with his COPD surgery would be risky and with his dementia PT is almost impossible, he can no longer follow instructions.   The PT would probably hurt at the least be very uncomfortable and he would not cooperate.  It is very hard to see some one you love who has been so active both physically and mentally be reduced to the mental capability of a 2/3 year old. 

I will try and write to let you know how things are going..........Fran

Harlan at McDonalds

Hello From Rockville fplatzer@mywdo.com

Harlan's Hearing Aid

Hello From Rockville 

I talked to the staff about the things Harlan has lost in the last several weeks - billfold, hearing aid, remote control and teeth - hoping these items could be located.  I also talked to them about replacing his teeth, this will be looked into.

I went to see Harlan and noticed he needed to take his neb and I told him if he wanted to go out for a treat he needed to do that and he agreed to.  I found a hearing aid on his night stand and it wasn't working so I replaced the battery and put it in his ear, it worked.  While Harlan was doing his neb I cleaned his glasses then went to the nurses station to deposit the spent battery, Priscilla asked if I heard about his hearing aid and I hadn't.  She went to see if she could encourage him to take his meds, inhalers etc. and asked him to spit out the candy or what ever he had in his mouth, she got a Kleenex for him to spit in and guess what he had in his mouth - his hearing aid - good thing he only has bottom teeth or it would have been history and he may have been too as the hearing aid battery has Mercury in not the best food to eat.

We went to Culver's for ice cream and stopped at McD for coffee.  We got back to watch TV, do meds and take a nap, at least Harlan napped.  I was able to convince him to go to supper but it took about 10 minuets of coaxing before he would go, he did and I went home.  So ended another day.....Fran

Thoughts on Sunday

Hello From Rockville

Sunday was a hard day for me but in thinking back on it Harlan said some humorous things.  His lower teeth were soaking in a "dish" and I knew if he wanted to eat I had to put them back in his mouth, I cleaned them and asked him to open his mouth so I could put them in he just couldn't open his mouth wide enough and he looked at me and says, "Nothing that big should ever go in any ones  mouth!" He just wanted to be left alone,  so I asked him if I should go home he told me yes.  I did a few things in his room, he never opened his eyes but retorted to me, "Are still here?"  Even when things are difficult we can always find things to laugh about and life goes on.

Now about today - A very warm day but that will come to an end tomorrow is suppose be about 30 degrees cooler then today, it may even feel chilly.  Because the temps were in the very high 90's I chose not to take Harlan out.  I gave him a much needed hair cut, he used to complain about how short I was cutting it but now with his mirror covered he doesn't know he has a "butch" and because he no longer can keep it combed it always looks neat when it's short.  I shaved him too, he no longer has any desire to shave and really doesn't care if he is shaved or not.  I do try to shave him daily.  I just like to help him look neat and clean, he used to be concerned about how he looked and did a good job.

We had a good day today, tomorrow will be a busy day but much cooler........Fran

Hot - Hot - Hot ! ! ! ! !

Hello From Rockville

Yes, today was hot and tomorrow will be similar.  When it is over 90 in Minnesota it's hot and with high dew points it's even worse. 

First this morning was Bible Study with Mary and I washed clothes. At 9:30 it was time to deliver the mail, I posted a note pertaining to our garage/patio sale had some lunch and it was time to spend time with Harlan.

I took him to the Park Diner and he had sausage, scrambled eggs and pancakes he ate some but not a lot.  No, he does not have his teeth they have not been found.  His billfold is still missing and also his one hearing aid.  He now has two pair of glasses which I'm thankful for as he really needs glasses to see and when one pair is lost or down for repair he does have a spare. 

Today was a good day and I enjoyed our time together...........Fran

The Diamonds Are Gone

Hello From Rockville

Denese finished painting my bedroom, the last to go were the "Diamonds" DeeAnn had carefully painted on the wall behind my bed.  They no longer matched the new colors in my room and my bed no longer rested in front of them.  I'll miss them!

I went to see Harlan, today was bingo and he did not win a game but he was able to find some of the numbers called, I'm glad he can still participate a little bit.  When I came in he was excited to see me and gave me a big hug and mentioned that tomorrow was church and he wanted to go.  Then came bingo after that we went to McD for a treat, a hot fudge sundae and a cup of coffee.  He seems some better but now his eyes seem sore first the left one then both.

He was unhappy when I left and I could not figure why, he would not give me a "Good-bye kiss", he wouldn't even say good-bye. 

He is still missing his teeth, billfold and a hearing aid.  Tomorrow is another day, maybe some will show up tomorrow........Fran

A little rain and a little warm

Hello From Rockville

I did a little shopping today B4 I went to see Harlan.  I watched him sleep as he was so tired, he was running a fever which may have accounted for his tiredness.  I did not take him out, too hard to figure out what he should eat.  He asks about his teeth and his billfold, that is gone too, also one hearing aid.  I'm sure he put them some where but we don't know where, and he doesn't either.  These items have disappeared B4 and have showed up hope it happens again. 

I met Denese at Shopko, they had hanging baskets on sale, we picked up two to add to our patio and I think we are done with flowers, no where to put any more.

Tomorrow is another day with more surprises we'll what they are...........Fran

Cool Car

Hello From Rockville

I made three trips to St. Cloud.  I had an 8:00 AM car appointment, the usual, oil change etc. and I needed to get my AC fixed.  This time they found the problem and needed three hours to fixed it, I was not going to hang out there for that amount of time.  They had already taken me to the Park Diner for breakfast and now they were going to take me home.  I did not need to be home right away so I just went along for the ride while she "delivered" several other customers to their work places then it was my turn.  At noon a phone call informed me my car was ready and as soon as my transportation arrived I was on the way.  It was so good to ride in a "cool car" once again.  A stop at Tuesday Morning with a return then on my way to spend time with Harlan.  Harlan is not feeling very good, he just wants to sleep and I let him sleep because with no teeth (they have not been found) there was no point in taking him out, what can he eat, certainly not his favorite sliders.  When I checked his closet he was completely out of jeans, tomorrow is bath day and he needed jeans so I went home to pick up the jeans (trip number three) I had two pair one 32 and a 34, the 34's will be a little large, that is better then Pj's for the day.  

He has one pair of glasses back and today his second pair went down for repair, the lenses keep falling out.  

So went my day, tomorrow should be quieter...........Fran 

I think spring returned today

Hello From Rockville
A beautiful day.  

My day started with a clean house that was followed by a meeting at the VA, this was our support group, we meet several times a month.  We had a good meeting and an excellent speaker, we learned much.

I then preceded to building 50-1 to spend time with Harlan only to find him in his room with no upper teeth but he did get his glasses back all repaired and ready for him.   The next dilemma,  "When I take him out what can I get for him to eat?"  He loves hamburgers but without teeth how do you eat hamburgers or anything of substance?  We settled on a hot fudge sundae, no nuts no cherry, I didn't want him to choke, he didn't eat it all and all the while eating it he asked me if I hadn't found his teeth yet.  They tore his room apart looking for them, they were no where to be found, hope they show up tomorrow.  

Before leaving the VA the security system went in to lock-down mode, you couldn't get in or out of 50-1 all doors locked and the elevators wouldn't run this was in effect for about 5 min. until the system was "fixed".

That was my day...............Fran