Hello From Rockville

I did not write yesterday, I did visit Harlan, he had problems with breathing, the humidity is high and that makes breathing hard for him.

Today (Saturday) I went in to see him early as I was going to Minneapolis for a funeral for a dear friend our ours and we were to leave about noon and the time I would get back would be after dark. He was so much better then yesterday and because of the short time I had with him we did not go anywhere.

Funerals are reunions, so many people to see and talk to. A large van and several cars came down from Crosslake and there were five of us together from St. Cloud which included Myrna. The service was beautiful, a wonderful celebration of Arlan's life. We had one of the warmer days so far this year, a safe trip down and back, I got home a bit after seven.

It's 11:30 and Harlan just called and asked, "What's new at your place?" Tomorrow is church and I'll pick him up, we'll go to church then out for noon lunch. So until tomorrow Good Night.....Fran

Hello From Rockville

Today was a very unplanned day. Before I get up I try and have my devotions and today was no exception. While reading my Bible the bow on my glasses broke and I found I could wear my glasses but they did not stay on my face where they should but were doable. I made several phone calls to my eye Dr and LensCrafters and I found out that by afternoon minus a "few bucks" I could have new glasses. I then called Harlan to see if he wanted to go out for lunch. After many phone calls I finally got a hold of him. When I did talk to him he said that he'd been in another part of the building far away from his his room and he'd had a fast ride in a wheel chair, he'd had an ex-ray but didn't know why. I called and cancelled his lunch and asked about the x-ray, it was because of his difficulty in breathing during the night, they also did blood work on him. His white count is slightly elevated but in the normal range and the x-ray was no different then the last one he had. The humidity is high and he always has problems breathing when the humidity is up. I took Harlan and did go for glasses and had lunch between the time I ordered them and was able to pick them up. We had lunch at Grizzles, a sports bar in the mall, we won't go there again. The food was good but too much and too messy, we had a burger and it was topped with too much stuff. After we were done eating and I was trying to get Harlan cleaned up (each bit I took I had BBQ sauce from ear to ear) the waitress was so nice she came out with a wet cloth so I could clean him up and it really helped, we picked up my new glasses and headed back to the VA, took a nap and I went home. Harlan had a hard breathing when we went back to the VA so I took him back in a wheel chair from the car up to his room. Tonight when he called he didn't complain that he had a hard time breathing and I never ask because if he was having a hard time he'd tell me without me asking.

Today was a good day so until tomorrow again good night....Fran

Hello From Rockville

Today was laundry day, clean house day and out to lunch day. I met Harold and Marilyn along with Ed and his sister-in-law for lunch at Red River Inn in Cold Spring. It was so good seeing them. While in C S I made a stop at my insurance co with questions and got answers. From there I went in to spend time with Harlan. There was a birthday celebration going on and cake and ice cream was served, good stuff and we enjoyed some. Harlan was having problems with his breathing and he wanted to get away for a bit, we got a wheel chair and I took him to the car and to Fleet Farm where we exchanged the jeans I bought earlier for a better size. I took him back to his room using the wheel chair and they gave him the nebulizer which helped his breathing. We had the cake and ice cream earlier so we skipped stopping for a treat.

The construction that is going on is loud, we hope it soon ends.

This evening he called me to tell me he was having trouble breathing, I called the desk and the line was busy so I called him back and explained to him how to use the call button. He was able to understand how to use the button but as soon as he pushed it he expected an instant response which does not happen, while I was on the phone some one came to help him and I have not heard from him so I think it was all taken care of. The humidity is very high and that does affect his breathing. I think with the warmer weather he will be having some difficult days.

Today was a good day....Fran

Hello From Rockville

Today was a little on the busy side, we had our board meeting at 10:00 this morning then I had had a dental appointment at 1:50 in Cold Spring. After the appointment I went directly to St. Cloud to see Harlan, he was waiting for me and in a very upbeat mood. He was little concerned because they taken his blanket to wash and his concern was he wouldn't get it back. When I talked to him at supper time (I called to make sure he went to supper) he had gotten it back and he said it looked good. He did not think it needed to be washed but I don't think it had ever been washed so I'm sure the wash was needed as he sleeps on top of it with his clothes on.

They were very noisy with the building going on in the basement and today Harlan noticed the noise but did not complain nor get upset about it, no tears, I'm so glad.

As I was later in getting in to see him (the dentist appointment delayed me) we did not go for a treat just sat and talked and did a little TV watching and I was home a bit after 5:00. We had a good day and he seemed better then he has been in several weeks. So until tomorrow, good night.....Fran

Hello From Rockville

This morning I woke with a start at 7:40 and I had an appointment for an 8:00 haircut, needless to say I got dressed and rushed out and was there by 8:00, I really don't like to rush like that.

I went in and spend time with Harlan and told him about my morning rush and he looked at me with a straight face and said, "I bet you didn't shower."

We made a treat stop at Perkins, he had a sandwich and I had pie, then we headed back to the VA for his 4:00 appointment. The Dr. asked him what part of the day he was the happiest he said "When Fran is here." He is back to his prehospital weight, a bit over 150# fully dressed.

Tomorrow will be a busy day, I'll you about it then.....Fran

Hello From Rockville

Harlan called me this AM and was very down so I told him maybe I shouldn't take him to church and I would stop after church to see him, he did not like the idea about me going to church without him, he perked up and wanted to go, I told him to eat breakfast and I'd be there to take him. I left the house at 8:30 stopped for breakfast (my usual - breakfast burrito and orange juice) at McD. I took two coffees with me to the VA. We enjoyed our coffees before Harlan got ready for church. After church we stopped at Culver's for burgers and no sundaes then went across the street to Manard's and I found a few things I "needed". From Manard's we went to Fleet Farm, Harlan pumped gas for me and we went into the store and I picked up several pair of jeans for Harlan he needs larger sizes. We had time for short nap at the VA before I left for home.

Today was a good day and tomorrow he sees Dr. Fox and we hope for help for his sadness, so until then Good Night....Fran

Hello From Rockville
Weather Forecast - It should be near normal in mid-week!

Today was Bingo for Harlan, he hasn't played since before Christmas and it went quite well for him, he never won a game but that's okay he played. We did not go out, I brought him coffee and I picked up Apple Dippers from McD.

He has decided not to eat too much as his jeans are getting too tight, too hard to button. Today he skipped breakfast and picked at his lunch. I'll pick up larger jeans for him which will help, I don't think his weight is back to 150# which is what it was before his hospital stay a year and a half ago.

I had to go back out to the car for something and when I got off of the elevator on Harlan's floor, I set the alarm off, that indicates I should not have been on the elevator. When Harlan and I leave it's suppose too but not when I'm alone. When I got to Harlan's room I told him what had happened his response was, "You have been hanging out with me too long!"

Well tomorrow is Sunday and the weather is suppose to be okay, a break from the cold will be nice, so until tomorrow Good night.....Fran