Thursday, September 25, 2008
Busy, Busy, Week
Whew! What a busy week
Bob was surprised this last Sunday with a visit from his daughter Tina and most of her family. Pat made home made lasagna for us. It was so good that it only lasted two days. If you have never had Pat’s lasagna then you are really missing out on a treat.
Bob had a good time visiting with his grand daughters and catching up with their lives. Helen is now in college which couldn’t have made Bob more proud. She is studying to be a nurse. Christina is the youngest general manager of Fire House Subs in Florida. Wow! What a huge accomplishment for someone only 18 years old. We know she will do a great job.
Bob loved the visit with Pat who is still recovering from a horrible motorcycle accident earlier this year. We praise God daily for the leaps and bounds Pat has made in his road to recovery. He still has a long ways to go, but with friends and family behind him he will succeed.
Tuesday, Bob had his cataract surgery and you all know that it went well. Wednesday, he had a follow up visit with the doctor. He had to get up early again and was not happy about that. He is not a morning person, but that is alright because neither am I.
I kept asking him the whole way to the appointment if he could see things better and he kept telling me just a little bit. We got to the appointment and they checked his eyes and I was amazed that he could see so well. He started reading the chart right away. I turned and looked at him and said, “Wow, you can see a whole lot better. Why didn’t you tell me you could see? Your eye sight has almost doubled in just one night.” He just looked and said it was a little better.
The optometrist, Helen, then needed to put a drop in his eye and when she came near him she asked him if he was going to fight her like he did last time she needed to put a drop in his eye.
He looked at her and asked, “Did I fight you last time?”
“Like a bear.” She replied.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” He said. “I didn’t mean to. It must have been because I was Horney.”
Well, I yelled “POP!” and Helen bent over in laughter. The two of us laughed for a good four minutes solid. And Pop just sat there not knowing why we were laughing. When Helen finally got control again and started to put the drop in his eye, Pop looked at her and said, “I’m sorry hon. At my age, I know what I said, but have no idea what it means.” Well, that started both of us going again.
Helen said that Bob made her day!
After Helen was done the Doctor came in and looked at his eyes. It only took a few minutes. When he was done with the exam Bob asked him, “Is that all?”
“Yep, that’s all.” The Doctor replied. “You can go home now.”
“Well, that’s why you got me up so early in the morning for? I could have come this afternoon for just that.” He answered.
The Doctor laughed and looked towards me. I laughed and shrugged my shoulders. “Sorry, Doc.,” I said. “He is in rare form today. What can I say?”
Well, next weeks appointment is even earlier so he really won’t like that one. That’s alright because there is a Bob Evans restaurant right down the road from the clinic and they make a great breakfast. It’s a hard toss up between the fluffy pancakes or the biscuits and gravy.
Thursday we went bowling, but Bob has a weight restriction so he just watched the kids bowl. He said he had a great time watching them. We went to lunch afterwards and talked up a storm. That is a great sign. He is itching to get out in the yard and do something, but he isn’t supposed to bend or stoop for a week. Pray that I can hold him down that long. He has been practicing with paint and drawing. We might work some word searches and crossword puzzles.
Give him a call this weekend! He loves hearing from you all.
Bob was surprised this last Sunday with a visit from his daughter Tina and most of her family. Pat made home made lasagna for us. It was so good that it only lasted two days. If you have never had Pat’s lasagna then you are really missing out on a treat.
Bob had a good time visiting with his grand daughters and catching up with their lives. Helen is now in college which couldn’t have made Bob more proud. She is studying to be a nurse. Christina is the youngest general manager of Fire House Subs in Florida. Wow! What a huge accomplishment for someone only 18 years old. We know she will do a great job.
Bob loved the visit with Pat who is still recovering from a horrible motorcycle accident earlier this year. We praise God daily for the leaps and bounds Pat has made in his road to recovery. He still has a long ways to go, but with friends and family behind him he will succeed.
Tuesday, Bob had his cataract surgery and you all know that it went well. Wednesday, he had a follow up visit with the doctor. He had to get up early again and was not happy about that. He is not a morning person, but that is alright because neither am I.
I kept asking him the whole way to the appointment if he could see things better and he kept telling me just a little bit. We got to the appointment and they checked his eyes and I was amazed that he could see so well. He started reading the chart right away. I turned and looked at him and said, “Wow, you can see a whole lot better. Why didn’t you tell me you could see? Your eye sight has almost doubled in just one night.” He just looked and said it was a little better.
The optometrist, Helen, then needed to put a drop in his eye and when she came near him she asked him if he was going to fight her like he did last time she needed to put a drop in his eye.
He looked at her and asked, “Did I fight you last time?”
“Like a bear.” She replied.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” He said. “I didn’t mean to. It must have been because I was Horney.”
Well, I yelled “POP!” and Helen bent over in laughter. The two of us laughed for a good four minutes solid. And Pop just sat there not knowing why we were laughing. When Helen finally got control again and started to put the drop in his eye, Pop looked at her and said, “I’m sorry hon. At my age, I know what I said, but have no idea what it means.” Well, that started both of us going again.
Helen said that Bob made her day!
After Helen was done the Doctor came in and looked at his eyes. It only took a few minutes. When he was done with the exam Bob asked him, “Is that all?”
“Yep, that’s all.” The Doctor replied. “You can go home now.”
“Well, that’s why you got me up so early in the morning for? I could have come this afternoon for just that.” He answered.
The Doctor laughed and looked towards me. I laughed and shrugged my shoulders. “Sorry, Doc.,” I said. “He is in rare form today. What can I say?”
Well, next weeks appointment is even earlier so he really won’t like that one. That’s alright because there is a Bob Evans restaurant right down the road from the clinic and they make a great breakfast. It’s a hard toss up between the fluffy pancakes or the biscuits and gravy.
Thursday we went bowling, but Bob has a weight restriction so he just watched the kids bowl. He said he had a great time watching them. We went to lunch afterwards and talked up a storm. That is a great sign. He is itching to get out in the yard and do something, but he isn’t supposed to bend or stoop for a week. Pray that I can hold him down that long. He has been practicing with paint and drawing. We might work some word searches and crossword puzzles.
Give him a call this weekend! He loves hearing from you all.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Surgery was a Success
Cataract surgery was a success. It of course didn’t go off without some morning disasters, but that is what I have become used to so I was prepared for them. I had given Bob a bath Sunday night and told him a number of times not to put cologne on. The eye clinic had stressed to us that this was important to them.
Well, we all get up Tuesday and right before we are ready to walk out the door, Sarah caught Pop in the bathroom. Yes, you guessed right, he had put on heavy cologne all over his face. Well, it was rush and get cleaned up really fast. Thank goodness I was prepared and could take care of things while shouting orders to Rob and Sarah to put things in the car. We arrived right on time with even four minutes to spare at the clinic.
The surgery went fine. He will have to wear an eye patch for almost two weeks because he always wipes his eyes and that is something that he must not do. The patch is just to prevent him from naturally doing this. The patch is clear and he can see through it.
He can’t see any better yet, but the doctor explained that it will take a few weeks before he his sight will improve. There are a number of reasons for this. First, his cataracts were not that bad, second, his nerves don’t work as well as most peoples. Every day he will see a little bit better and over time he will be able to see fine.
We will be talking to the doctor about a future date to get his left eye done. Most likely that will be after the start of the New Year.
He is pretty worn out at the moment and is resting in his room. He has a follow up visit with the doctor tomorrow and then he should be back to normal.
Thanks for all of your prayers and thoughts you sent his way. I know a number of you were thinking of him this morning. He was nervous and I know your prayers helped him.
Well, we all get up Tuesday and right before we are ready to walk out the door, Sarah caught Pop in the bathroom. Yes, you guessed right, he had put on heavy cologne all over his face. Well, it was rush and get cleaned up really fast. Thank goodness I was prepared and could take care of things while shouting orders to Rob and Sarah to put things in the car. We arrived right on time with even four minutes to spare at the clinic.
The surgery went fine. He will have to wear an eye patch for almost two weeks because he always wipes his eyes and that is something that he must not do. The patch is just to prevent him from naturally doing this. The patch is clear and he can see through it.
He can’t see any better yet, but the doctor explained that it will take a few weeks before he his sight will improve. There are a number of reasons for this. First, his cataracts were not that bad, second, his nerves don’t work as well as most peoples. Every day he will see a little bit better and over time he will be able to see fine.
We will be talking to the doctor about a future date to get his left eye done. Most likely that will be after the start of the New Year.
He is pretty worn out at the moment and is resting in his room. He has a follow up visit with the doctor tomorrow and then he should be back to normal.
Thanks for all of your prayers and thoughts you sent his way. I know a number of you were thinking of him this morning. He was nervous and I know your prayers helped him.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Bob went to the doctor on Thursday and had a good report. He is cleared for surgery on Tuesday for his right eye. The things the doctor wants him to work on is eating and drinking plenty of fluids. He is having food issues now. He has become extremely picky on what he eats. He also isn’t drinking enough fluids. Being a picky eater is out of character for Bob. This is part of the disease. He hates spaghetti now and pretty much anything with noodles. He won’t touch many vegetables and is picky on what kinds of meat he eats. I pretty much have to run the menu by him now to make sure he will eat it. Well, at seventy eight I guess he has earned the right to be a picky eater. I mean if your going to eat it might as well be something you want.
Every night right around 9:30 I make Bob a chocolate milk shake. He loves chocolate and I buy the vanilla ensure or what ever brand is on sale. I then add good chocolate and sometimes honey (don’t tell him) to the milk. I make it good and cold and then take it back to him with his nightly medications. He loves it and looks forward to it every night.
After the doctor’s visit we went to have lunch at a local restaurant. The waitress there always fusses over him and gives him a hug. It makes him feel special. He had a large hamburger and curly fries. Yummmm!!! He ate the whole thing.
After we got home the eye clinic called and went through the list of procedures before surgery on Tuesday. We were told that it will take four to six hours. Rob is taking off work that day so the whole family can be with him for the big event. Remember him in your thoughts and prayers that day. We are hopeful that he will have a good response to having his eye fixed.
Bob worked on the beach for about an hour Thursday afternoon. He loves working on the beach. He told me that he knows that if there is something green on the beach then it is a weed and needs to go. He can’t get in trouble for pulling anything up from the beach.
Give him a call this week end and give him good words for Tuesday. I will let you all know how it went Tuesday evening.
Every night right around 9:30 I make Bob a chocolate milk shake. He loves chocolate and I buy the vanilla ensure or what ever brand is on sale. I then add good chocolate and sometimes honey (don’t tell him) to the milk. I make it good and cold and then take it back to him with his nightly medications. He loves it and looks forward to it every night.
After the doctor’s visit we went to have lunch at a local restaurant. The waitress there always fusses over him and gives him a hug. It makes him feel special. He had a large hamburger and curly fries. Yummmm!!! He ate the whole thing.
After we got home the eye clinic called and went through the list of procedures before surgery on Tuesday. We were told that it will take four to six hours. Rob is taking off work that day so the whole family can be with him for the big event. Remember him in your thoughts and prayers that day. We are hopeful that he will have a good response to having his eye fixed.
Bob worked on the beach for about an hour Thursday afternoon. He loves working on the beach. He told me that he knows that if there is something green on the beach then it is a weed and needs to go. He can’t get in trouble for pulling anything up from the beach.
Give him a call this week end and give him good words for Tuesday. I will let you all know how it went Tuesday evening.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
All Systems Go
All systems are a go for Bob’s eye surgery September 23, 2008. The time of the surgery will be known to us that day. He went for his appointment on Friday and they said he is good to go. The only thing that can keep us from this appointment will be his medical doctor that he sees September 18. This surgery is for his right eye only. The left eye will be done at a latter date.
I will be glad to get this done. It has taken forever and Bob is very frustrated and depressed over this situation. He doesn’t want to paint anymore and is very down on life in general. When he rides in the car he doesn’t look at things he just stares straight ahead.
This state of depression is somewhat puzzling since we know he can read street signs, work word search puzzles, and read at a normal distance. So while his eyes are bad, he can still see. We do not have to tell him to watch his step; he can see steps, puddles, and things on the ground.
I just hope getting his eyes fixed will lift his spirits dramatically. Yesterday while going to the eye doctor I fussed at him to start living his life. To be thankful for the sun shining, the cool breeze, the good music on the radio, and to be with family who loves him. There are so many things he has to be thankful for and not dwell on the negative side of life. He told me, “You don’t understand. You will be old some day, and then you will understand how bad it is.”
Oh, I pray I never let myself know that. I pray that I will always thank God for the day he has given me and praise his name for allowing me the opportunity to influence someone’s life. I hope that I wake everyday with aches and pains, struggling to get out of bed, and then look out the window and smile as I feel the warmth of the sun knowing God has provided another day.
Hopefully, after Bob gets his eyes done he will come to the same place in life. We can only hope and pray.
He baked chocolate chip cookies on Monday with Sarah. The whole house had a wonderful smell. The cookies lasted two days. Every time Bob would come into the kitchen he would grab a cookie.
Encourage him to hang in there one more week. The weather has been great so he can get outside this week end and if nothing else just sit in the sun. The only days we ask that he not go outside are Monday-Wednesday. That is because Rob and I are at work those days. Encourage him to get out and start living his life.
I will be glad to get this done. It has taken forever and Bob is very frustrated and depressed over this situation. He doesn’t want to paint anymore and is very down on life in general. When he rides in the car he doesn’t look at things he just stares straight ahead.
This state of depression is somewhat puzzling since we know he can read street signs, work word search puzzles, and read at a normal distance. So while his eyes are bad, he can still see. We do not have to tell him to watch his step; he can see steps, puddles, and things on the ground.
I just hope getting his eyes fixed will lift his spirits dramatically. Yesterday while going to the eye doctor I fussed at him to start living his life. To be thankful for the sun shining, the cool breeze, the good music on the radio, and to be with family who loves him. There are so many things he has to be thankful for and not dwell on the negative side of life. He told me, “You don’t understand. You will be old some day, and then you will understand how bad it is.”
Oh, I pray I never let myself know that. I pray that I will always thank God for the day he has given me and praise his name for allowing me the opportunity to influence someone’s life. I hope that I wake everyday with aches and pains, struggling to get out of bed, and then look out the window and smile as I feel the warmth of the sun knowing God has provided another day.
Hopefully, after Bob gets his eyes done he will come to the same place in life. We can only hope and pray.
He baked chocolate chip cookies on Monday with Sarah. The whole house had a wonderful smell. The cookies lasted two days. Every time Bob would come into the kitchen he would grab a cookie.
Encourage him to hang in there one more week. The weather has been great so he can get outside this week end and if nothing else just sit in the sun. The only days we ask that he not go outside are Monday-Wednesday. That is because Rob and I are at work those days. Encourage him to get out and start living his life.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
First Week of September
Bob was surprised last Friday with a package of old movies from his brother Ronnie. The movies were of Sherlock Holmes, The claw (an old serial), John Wayne and some others. This really brought back memories of how his Dad would take the family up the street to the park where old movies were shown. For about five cents a person you could watch the movie and the kids got to ride on the merry-go-round. For another five cents you got a bag of popcorn to share with your siblings. He said his dad always felt like it was too much money, but in the end it was worth it to keep the family happy. Thanks Ronnie for allowing him to share those memories with us.
We had a few days that we had a communication problem with the doctor office and it caused Bob to be without his medication for two days. It’s all fixed now and I am fairly confident that it won’t happen again. Without his medication, Bob was a little confused for a few days. So if he tells you he walked four miles this week just chuckle and go along with it. He did walk this week, it just seemed like four miles to him.
Bob also was surprised with a package from his childhood friend Harold. Harold sent him a white silk tie that he would like a horse’s head painted on. Well Harold, Bob is going to wait until after his eyes are operated on in a few weeks to try that. We will do a practice run on some paper first. He put the tie on his dresser in a safe place. Thanks for giving him a goal to try and reach for.
Sarah and Bob baked a lemon cake this week. It was very good. Bob told me that Sarah did most of the work. When I questioned Sarah about it she told me that she had put the icing on the cake. “Why didn’t you let Pop help you decorate the cake?” I asked her. “Awe, come on Mom, It’s decorating a cake. That isn’t something a guy’s suppose to do. And besides, I wanted it to look nice.” So it was alright for a guy to help bake the cake, but just not put the icing on it. Hummmm, there has to be something deeper going on there.
Bob’s niece, Lesa sent him the UK Football schedule for the season. He was very pleased to receive that. The schedule is listed on the blog with times and dates. Thanks Lesa he looks forward to the games. We are hoping that after he gets his eyes operated on he will enjoy the games more. It will be nice for him to see clearly.
Saturday we all worked in the yard. Bob lasted for one and a half hours. He did really good sweeping out the carport and pulling weeds from the bushes. I know it felt like it was all morning he worked. The yard looked much better when we had all finished. After work we all got cleaned up and went to get something to eat. He rested the rest of the afternoon. He needed it.
Give him a call this week. He loves to hear from you all. Give him praise for working in the yard. The more he is up and active the better it is for him. I tell him all the time that he needs to exercise the body and the mind to keep them both healthy.
We had a few days that we had a communication problem with the doctor office and it caused Bob to be without his medication for two days. It’s all fixed now and I am fairly confident that it won’t happen again. Without his medication, Bob was a little confused for a few days. So if he tells you he walked four miles this week just chuckle and go along with it. He did walk this week, it just seemed like four miles to him.
Bob also was surprised with a package from his childhood friend Harold. Harold sent him a white silk tie that he would like a horse’s head painted on. Well Harold, Bob is going to wait until after his eyes are operated on in a few weeks to try that. We will do a practice run on some paper first. He put the tie on his dresser in a safe place. Thanks for giving him a goal to try and reach for.
Sarah and Bob baked a lemon cake this week. It was very good. Bob told me that Sarah did most of the work. When I questioned Sarah about it she told me that she had put the icing on the cake. “Why didn’t you let Pop help you decorate the cake?” I asked her. “Awe, come on Mom, It’s decorating a cake. That isn’t something a guy’s suppose to do. And besides, I wanted it to look nice.” So it was alright for a guy to help bake the cake, but just not put the icing on it. Hummmm, there has to be something deeper going on there.
Bob’s niece, Lesa sent him the UK Football schedule for the season. He was very pleased to receive that. The schedule is listed on the blog with times and dates. Thanks Lesa he looks forward to the games. We are hoping that after he gets his eyes operated on he will enjoy the games more. It will be nice for him to see clearly.
Saturday we all worked in the yard. Bob lasted for one and a half hours. He did really good sweeping out the carport and pulling weeds from the bushes. I know it felt like it was all morning he worked. The yard looked much better when we had all finished. After work we all got cleaned up and went to get something to eat. He rested the rest of the afternoon. He needed it.
Give him a call this week. He loves to hear from you all. Give him praise for working in the yard. The more he is up and active the better it is for him. I tell him all the time that he needs to exercise the body and the mind to keep them both healthy.
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