Nice Moments...

Nice Moment #1:

I am very grateful for digital pictures, Facebook and text messages...most of the time. One of their biggest benefits is the ability to watch this first great grandmonster grow even though they live 8 hours away. And I am grateful Katelyn and Drew are good at taking and posting pictures or texting them to me. Such a blessing.

This last Friday, while Papa and I were gallivanting through the countryside, Katelyn and Drew were enjoying little Raelyn. She is really working at holding her head up for long periods of time. To encourage that and record it for history, they posted a series of pictures with Drew holding her in a sitting position and Katelyn taking pictures. They even took a video clip. Amazing!! This is my favorite picture from the group.

I think our little dear may have just about had it with her parents antics at this point. I mentioned to Katelyn that it was great fun to have a baby to play with. She agreed. Nissa, our daughter and Raelyn's grandmother, says this picture reminds her of a kewpie doll. I just think she is cute as all git out!!

Nice Moment #2:

I stopped at the Love's Travel Plaza to fill my car with gasoline. The Scott County firetruck was parked there. In front of it was a mother wrapped in a blanket with a little boy. I was hoping she had not been a victim of a fire and that was what she had left. Turns out this little family of three was from Dayton, Ohio. Her little guy LOVES fire trucks and she was out in the cold letting him check this one out under her watchful eye while daddy filled their car. 

The fireman was headed into Hardee's and turned and saw them. He came back and asked if the little guy wanted to see inside the fire truck. They were happy to have permission for him to walk around and touch the truck. The father returned and I asked if I could take a picture for our Sadieville Facebook page. The family and fireman agreed.

I truly don't know if the little guy was happier or the fireman was happier to have the attention of this little guy. 

Then the fireman went inside the truck and came back with a plastic fireman's helmet. He gave it to a very happy little guy. This was just one of those really precious moments. How many hard things do firemen have to do in their day. How good it must have been to share his world with a very interested and eager little boy. I was happy I was able to enjoy this moment in time. Like having those nice moments in our days.

Nice Moment #3:

This last week I was able to visit with three of the sisters in our ward (congregation). We have a program called 'Visiting Teaching' in the Church. Each of us are assigned ladies to visit and be sure they are okay. If something happened in their lives and they needed help, they would call me first and I would set up help in the form they needed. Mostly, we just get to know each other better and build wonderful friendships. 

I have been the visiting teacher for two of these ladies for years. The third was my first time visiting her. Each of the ladies has many different and varied needs. 

I find myself sometimes wondering about things in my own life. Why is this happening in my life? What in the world am I supposed to learn from it? Am I making things harder by my feelings or actions? You know, all those questions that we drill ourselves with that sometimes help and sometimes just make us feel worse. I had been in the middle of one of those times and then I spend a week visiting others. 

Each visit was 1 1/2 hours or more. Each of these ladies have trials they must bear and what they needed from me was a listening ear and an understanding heart. I could do that. And, in the process, become aware of my own questions and how insignificant some of them are and what the real answer is to some of the real pertinent questions that do have bearing on my life. It fills me with awe that the Lord can place in our lives times like this where answers are received and perspective is given that truly lifts me up. That is the tender mercy of the Lord in my life. I recognize it and am grateful for it. None of these ladies had any clue that as I came their homes I too needed answers. None of these ladies know that I found them by listening to them and their personal journey. It is just how these things work and how we sometimes receive answers to prayers and questions we have. 

Tender mercy, very tender mercy. 

Time Out With Papa

Friday Papa and I spent the day taking a nice long ride in the countryside. He picked the route and away we went. 

Along the way, as we drove down a mountain, I noticed an overlook with a car on it that looked interesting below us. I told Papa we needed to check that out. I pulled into the entry and we went down the hill on a very narrow road. Sure enough, we had to make room for that car I saw while coming down the mountain as it tried to leave the overlook and come back up to the highway. We parked in the little parking lot. However, you couldn't see over the edge from sitting in the car. The name of this place is 'Broken Leg Falls'. You will see the irony as you read this post.

I got out to go find a spot to take a picture. I thought Papa was staying in the car. I walked back along the parking lot to where railing was built and a platform for a picnic table. I looked back and saw Papa getting out of the car. My heart started to beat faster. Here's why.

Papa as a young man had absolutely no fear of heights. He could stand right on the edge of a cliff and have no qualms at all.  Today he has very poor balance. When he starts to walk he begins to lean forward and gets faster and faster until he falls unless you slow him down. This is especially true on any little decline at all. Now I saw him at the edge of the cliff trying to get a peek over the side.

I started to yell at him to be still until I got there. His pride kicks in and he is sure he is okay. I tell him if he goes over the edge I can't help him. Please stay still till I get there. No. He is not going to do that.

Now, they had a series of for of those wood beam steps going down from the parking lot to the next left of the edge near the car. To my dismay, Papa started to go down these steps. I saw disaster in our future as I continued to yell, "Please wait till I get there. Don't take any more steps." Papa continued to take steps. My heart was in my throat.

I made it to that last step just as Papa took it and really started to go forward out of his own control. I reached to get him and he fell forward. There happened to be a tree on the edge of the cliff and Papa put his hand out and the tree stopped him. I said a silent prayer thanking the good Lord for that tree growing right there. 

I told Papa to follow me and we would walk to the part of this lookout with railing for us to hold on to. Papa turned back toward the cliff where there were more steps going down that edge. No rail and they were cut into the rock. I assured Papa we were not going there. He turned and followed me to the area that was railed off. Once I got him to the rails I felt better about going ahead a bit. 

I made it to the bottom with the intent to take a quick picture and then back up the hill to him. He was headed to the bridge I was on to see what he could see. He was holding those rails on both sides and made it safely to where I was. 

Quite the adventure for us to get there. A very pretty and interesting view. Then it was time to try and make our way back to the top. This would totally exhaust Papa. He just plodded along until we got back up that hill and across the parking lot to the car. I had a Mello Yellow in the front of the car and he had some of that to get some liquid in him. Then we were off again on the highway.

Now I must insert that during this month Papa has had two heart episodes. He didn't go to the hospital but he was in enough pain he called for my support. His INR readings have vacillated between blood too thick and blood too thin, never in the acceptable range. As I left him in his apartment, he was so very happy to be in his chair and resting. But he kept thanking me for that wonderful day on the road enjoying the countryside, the blossoming trees in the spring, the lay of the land as the trees get ready to fill in with leaves and those views will then be different. He was a happy and very tired man.

When I got home that night I reflected on that possibility that he could very easily have gone over the edge. It was all too close for me. 

I called Papa the next night to be sure he had taken his 6pm medications. We talked about the joy of the drive again. Then I told him my thoughts after our visit to Broken Leg Falls. I told him I thought about the fact I could have been the reason my father was at a place where he fell over the edge of a cliff and died. I told him I was feeling very bad about that until my mind caught hold of the next thought. It was, "At least he was doing something he really enjoyed and had one more adventure." Then Papa and I laughed at that. It was okay.  We did have a good ride. 

Saw a man walking up and down in front of Wendy's with a real wooden, life-sized cross on his shoulder. He was wearing a fatigue jacket. No sign to tell us the reason he was walking. It was the beginning of Easter weekend but there was no church in sight. You never know what you will find on a drive like that. But it was beautiful and a good day for both of us.

Happy Hubby...

My hubby, Claude, has found a wide variety of interesting things to fill these retirement years.  One of them is serving on the board of the Senior Center here in Scott County.  In that capacity and also because he is the Mayor of Sadieville, he receives an invitation to help deliver "Meals on Wheels" to senior citizens each year. Last week he had that opportunity again. This is one of the three pictures I have of him providing this service. You can tell by the look on his face it is something he truly enjoys being asked to help with.

Last Friday he went to Northern Elementary School to participate in 'Career Day'. He would talk to five different groups of third to fifth grade students about being the Mayor of Sadieville. I must admit he was very nervous about this one. He wasn't quite sure how to make this interesting for them. We talked about it. He made some notes. Then we talked again Friday morning before I left for the day. I gave him all the ideas I had. Told him he should take his business cards with the Japanese translation on the back and give to the kids. They would probably enjoy that he represented Sadieville in Japan. Suggested he take a sign from when he ran for Mayor as the name 'Christensen' is a mouthful for kids. Turns out he had a great time. When he got home he told me one of the kids looked at him and asked, "Would you come to my birthday party?" He has never had a birthday party invite. Cute, very cute.

One evening we were watching television at the end of a long day. I looked over at Claude and he was intently coloring. Jake, our son, gave the family a coloring book for all of us to use over Christmas. Claude has purchased himself another coloring book. He works between the two some evenings. I sent Jake this picture and thanked him for giving his father a new hobby.

Sunday I got home about 5:30pm. Claude got home before me and had time to take a little nap. I came in and found that the Easter bunny must have come to our home!! Hmmmmm...

How happy I was that he made his appearance. At the end of that day I really appreciated that Cadbury Easter egg.

Cell Phone Madness...

I am tethered to the digital world and struggling with it a bit. It seems our lives are all held in the palm of our hand in that little cell phone. I live with my calendar which has Claude's calendar overlaid on it. I have all Papa's medical information in there to grab if needed. Facebook helps me stay connected in some small way with my life back to my childhood. I use the alarm regularly to get myself going in the morning. So many features that I use throughout each day of my life. But the most important is knowing that is the number Papa has programmed into his home phone and that is the one he will call first if he needs anything. So...I need to have my phone.

About a year ago we purchased new batteries for our cell phones. They were not holding a charge. That really did absolutely no good whatsoever.

My phone was three years old in January of this year. That means it is obsolete compared to today's technology. Mine is a Samsung 3 and they now have a Samsung 7 version. That is so very, very, very frustrating to me. My phone has the ability to do all I need. Just because the company needs to keep 'improving' and 'updating' means my phone gets behind where everyone else's phones are and I have to keep buying something new so mine will even function. It seems like progress to others but to me I see a downward spiral of monetary proportions and hours of frustration with a new phone because, let's face it, it never really loads our contacts and everything just like it was before. 

My phone has gotten so bad that we drove for an hour with my phone plugged into the car charger. At the end of that hour I had 20% less battery than when I plugged it into the car charger. And...the little lightning bolt was on the entire time like it was charging. 

When we were in Michigan, I plugged my charging cable into the outlet and attached my cell phone to it. The lightning bolt was there. I went to sleep. At 6am my phone is making the noise telling me my battery was at 15%. What in the world is that all about? Yep, the lightning bolt is still signaling that it is charging but it really isn't. 

I took part of one afternoon last week and went to the AT&T store to talk with them. I felt and they agreed that it is with the phone. I have four charging cables. They all work on my Kindle and they all work at various times on my cell phone. So, the option is to buy a new phone with all the new plans that they have now. Goodness. 

Claude will get a new phone at the same time I do just because it's what we do. We have to decide on a couple of things with this change. Do we get rid of our land line? Do we switch to DirectV and made the bundle price better? Which plan with DirecTV comes closest to what we currently have with Dish in terms of channels we really watch? I am weary of it all. Weary I tell you. Just plain weary.

But, I am tethered to this digital world and it is most important as I care for my father. So I'll continue to run from outlet to outlet and try to keep my phone charged while I hope and pray Papa doesn't need to make that call. Ain't life grand? Joy in the Journey people. Joy in the Journey.

Papa Update...

And someone asked, "How is Papa doing?" 
  
Wednesday, March 2nd, I took him to see Dr. Thomas, his cardiologist. Papa had had no issues and so he was given a good go ahead with the only change being to reduce the amount of one of his meds. That is always good.

Since Dr. Weckman is in the building next door, we walked to Dr. Weckman's office for his INR to be done. This time it read 1.2. It should be between 2 and 3. This meant his blood was too thick. We were asked to return in a week. 

The very next morning at 6:30am I received a call from Papa. He had experienced what he thought may have been a heart attack. It didn't last very long but felt strong like the February heart attack. How ironic it would occur the day after seeing the cardiologist. Papa was feeling better but he felt I should know. 

One week later would have been the 9th of March. That afternoon I spent at Frank Shoop getting new brakes on my car. We did not get the INR done that day. Instead I took Papa on Friday, March 11th. This time his count was 1.6. Getting better but not quite right. I was told to keep his dosage of warfarin the same and bring him back in 2 weeks. 

This is where I messed up. I put the day for the next INR at one week instead of two. We were in Dr. Weckman's office waiting to go back for the INR when I realized my error. I was a week early. However,  On March 16th while Bonnie and Shannon were hear Papa called and was sure he was having a heart attack. I rushed in to find him much better. However, as I sat beside him while he was stretched out in his recliner, I noticed that his breathing is as irregular as his heart beat. When I felt his pulse after I arrived he would have 3 or 4 very strong heartbeats and then a pause like it skipped a beat. This is the AFib. When he slept, he would breathe really deep so that his belly rose way high with the breath getting continually more shallow and then I found myself looking to be sure he was still breathing for what should have been a breath or two. Very concerning and I'll mention this when we visit Dr. Weckman next. Because of this episode I asked Justin, the RN, if they would still check the INR to be sure his blood was not too think. Justin said he would surely do that. The little test read 3.8. That means Papa's blood is now too thin. Great. Dr. Weckman said to return in one week and leave the meds like they are. Justin asked me to actually return on the 24th (Thursday) as Dr. Weckman teaches classes on the 25th (Friday). I will try to get that right...except...

Papa has his 3 month check with Dr. Weckman on Wednesday the 23rd. I'm hoping Dr. Weckman will do the next INR then so I don't have to tramp Papa around the next day to the doctor's office. We'll see. 

In the meantime Papa thinks his hearing has improved!!!  He just got a Q-tip and cleaned his ears because he heard on his television set at 100 that most hearing problems are just wax in the ear. Sunday when I got to his apartment he assured me he was hearing so much better. I grinned and told him I was happy to hear that. Well, I yelled it because the television is really loud at 100. Then I sat and crocheted while we watched television and talked. I said something to him as I bent over to pull out more yarn. He assured me he couldn't hear me. I looked up and him and said, "Then I'm just not sure your hearing is that much better." He laughed and we went on with our conversation. Trust me, a little ear wax is not his hearing issue. 

We'll just keep on doing the best that we can for Papa. Life is what it is for him at this point. I'll try again this Friday to get him out for a drive in the country. That is truly his best medicine.

I also printed the 'Essays' they have posted at lds.org. He will enjoy reading them over the next little while and they will surely give us fodder for more discussions. That is also a good thing.