Hello From Rockville fplatzer@mywdo.com

Rick and DeeAnn came up today and two things were accomplished, DeeAnn went with me to get my chair from Slumberland that I had ordered a while ago and I love it and Rick put shelves in my laundry area and now everything has a place and doesn't have to sit on the floor. I think he had a hard time putting them in as there was very limited space next to the washer and dryer, but he managed to do it and I know I'm going to love having an orderly place for everything. Before all the above the four of us joined Wes and Sarah at Granite Edge for lunch.

I went in to spend time with Harlan and Rick and DeeAnn joined us at the Pizza Ranch so they could spend time with him too. While we were enjoying our time together Harlan looked at Rick and says, "Will I see you in church tomorrow?" Rick and Sarah surprised us one Sunday several months ago and I guess Harlan remembered that and would have liked to have that happen again.

I had to leave the VA earlier then I usually do as we were having a pot luck here and we were supposed to eat by 5, I was late, got there about 5:30 but there was plenty of food left and because I'd had a piece of pizza earlier I really wasn't hungry and a helping of lasagna was enough with a little dessert.

Harlan was not upset that I had to leave early as I have talked to him several times and he didn't sound stressed out. Saturday evening he always calls wanting to know what he should do about tomorrow, he is never quite sure what his role is in getting ready for church.

There will have to be some adjustment on when I leave the VA because I don't handle driving after dark very well so I'll need to leave there before 4:30. I think the antidepressant is really helping him and I'm so thankful for that.

I see Harlan's pictures are still up as Service Man of the month, they have been up since August, (a long month) I keep telling him he must be important for his pictures to be up for so long.

Today was busy but a good day. Tomorrow will be a more relaxing day with Harlan and we'll enjoy more quiet time together. Love to all..........Fran

Hello From Rockville fplatzer@mywdo.com

The weather has not been nice, we saw a bit of sun but now we are getting a mix of rain and snow.

I went in before lunch to see Harlan, we went down stairs to the restaurant at the VA and had a cup of coffee, at first he didn't want to go but then decided it would be a nice thing to do. We had an outing at church and I had signed up to go which was the reason for the early visit with Harlan, we had to meet at church at noon for a trip down to Delano and The Apple Jack Orchard. We had lunch at Apple Jacks and just looked around, I bought apples, caramel dip and Apple butter. When we have gone down before (this is the 3rd time) the weather was nicer and we were taken on a hay ride through the orchards and saw many, many different kinds of apples, some still on the trees. There are a lot that go to waste because there are just too many grown and I don't think they let people go in and pick apples on their own as they may be destructive to the trees. We had a devotion before leaving there and a good ride back. It was a fun day.

When I started my car to leave church the low tire light came on so instead of going to see Harlan I went to McKay's to see if someone could check it out, the service department was closing but they were kind enough to put air in all the tires and the light went out, sure hope that takes care of my problem.

I had a good day and Harlan seemed okay with the mixed up schedule.

Untill tomorrow, Good Night.........Fran

Hello From Rockville fplatzer@mywdo.com

I missed writing yesterday so today you get a double dose!!!

When I took my paper in I had a surprise, Rale had added a small pumpkin bread and it was good I ate most of it at lunch time, the rest I'll have tomorrow for breakfast.

Today was our redecorating day in the community room here, we'll do it again next week as we did some decorating for Halloween and next month is Thanksgiving and ghosts and goblins have to go.

This morning I got a phone call from Mrs. Campbell Pastor's Mother, she is a joy to talk to as she has such a sweet spirit, even when things are not going well she is bright and cheery. We usually sit behind her in church and she is always "dressed in a smile", a very special lady.

Yesterday I took Harlan to Applebees for his treat and we each had a dinner, he had ribblets, too much for him to eat so I had a great lunch today.

Today it rained most of the day, at this point we don't need any more as it is making it very hard for the farmers to finish up their harvesting. Because of the rain we went to the Mall area and stopped at Caribou's for coffee and a bar, they have some good bars to go with coffee. We picked out two and shared giving us two different ones to go with our coffee.

After Caribou we made a stop at the bank then back to the VA and Harlan took his meds and the neb machine, he needed the neb as his breathing was laboured, the high humidity is very hard on his breathing.

We had about an hour to just relax and watch TV then it was time for Harlan's supper and me to leave.

I enjoyed my time with Harlan, it was a good day...........Fran

Hello From Rockville fplatzer@mywdo.com

Today was an interesting day, Harlan called me several times and he talked about making apple juice, I did not understand what he was talking about and I would check it out when I got in. When I got there Vicki met me as I got off of the elevator and said they had made apple pies and Harlan and I should stop for some before we left, it would be done around 3 O'clock, that's when I found out what that was all about. They had talked Harlan into helping with this pie making. He had put on a jacket because he was going to meet me and go for a treat, he has never done that before, so when he was asked to help he was dressed to go out side, much too warm for inside work. I guess after working for a while he told them he was done working and he quit because he was too warm. When I talked to him about it he said he sat between two guys to work and they never did a thing he did all the work and he wasn't going to do that again. The pie was great, it was warm and served with ice cream.

After the pie we went to Perkins, Harlan had grilled cheese, fries and hot chocolate and I had soup and salad, I brought the salad home and had it for supper. Two cookies were sent home with us, I think mine will be for tomorrow's breakfast, but I think Harlan ate his tonight.

He called me tonight to tell me to watch "Are You Smarter Then a Fifth Grader?" and told me what channel it's on, he has never done that before, he does amaze me at times on what he can do.

Today was bath day, he said they had gotten him up before 6 for his bath and a while after that he said it was 4 when they got him up, I didn't check with anyone on the time but I don't think it was even before seven.

His depression seems better and his sense of humor is returning, I feel each day is better then the day before and then again some days there is no change it even could be worse, but I enjoy each day we have.

We'll talk again tomorrow...Fran

Hello From Rockville fplatzer@mywdo.com

I spent the after noon with Harlan. He was upset because they had given him new medication replacing the one he had trouble keeping down. When he was given the new medication he was also given a treat (life saver) and he thought the candy was part of the medication, he complained to me that it was so hard if he hadn't had good teeth the medication would have broken his teeth, he chewed it up and swallowed it in stead of sucking on it. Priscilla came and tried to calm his unhappiness and it seemed to help. By the time I left he seemed okay with the proceedings of the day.

He likes the Pizza Ranch so much that that was our treat for the day. After Pizza Ranch we shopped a little while at K-Mart, it's next door, then back to the VA and he was a little depressed as he stressed his unhappiness at being at the VA. He did his meds and neb machine and we had a little time to lay down and rest, that has a calming effect on him.

His pictures are still up, he keeps checking to see if someone else has pictures up, I think he really would like to see his down.

He went to supper and I went home......Fran

Hello From Rockville fplatzer@mywdo.com

Harlan and I went to church, it had been 2 weeks since we'd been there and good to be back.

After church we went back to the VA and changed clothes then out to eat. We went to the China Star, very good food and on weekends they have a lot of shrimp, my favorite is the cold shrimp, you have to peel it then enjoy.

We went back to the VA and watched the Vikings lose, so they aren't perfect!!

Harlan was having some breathing difficulties, to help with his breathing they gave him his neb a little early and that really helped, I wish he could understand how important the neb machine is. They did not give him the red pill that will not stay down, tomorrow I hope they have an answer for that problem or can give him something different that will do the same thing.

To day was a good day even Harlan mentioned that today was good. So until tomorrow Good Night....Fran

Hello From Rockville fplatzer@mywdo.com

We had a good day, Harlan and I. This being Saturday Harlan played bingo and after bingo we went to Perkins. We were both hungry, he had a sandwich and fries and I had a dinner and I skipped eating tonight, I ate just enough to take my evening pills. He is having problems taking one of the pills he takes in the afternoon, he takes two and one just won't go down and stay down, there has to be something else that's easier for him to take, they will check on that. The difficulty he is having with this pill has been going on for a while but I thought it was just something with him, it does seem strange when he takes them both at the same time and one stays and the other doesn't. The one that he keeps down is his antidepressant and I'm glad for that. He has been in a much better mood so I feel the antidepressant is helping and I'm thankful for that. He just doesn't seem as sad as he was for a while.

Tomorrow is church and he is looking forward to that, we missed the last two Sundays because I had a cold one Sunday and the other do to other plans.

Until tomorrow, Good Night.......Fran