Mini Cousin Reunion
1 day ago
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Farewell to a Great Man
I've been absent from the blogging world recently. Much more important things were going on at the time. My dad passed away on Friday, May 20th. You can read his obituary here. He was 84 years old. He was 46 when he married my mom, then they had five kids. He had a mini-stroke in 1997 and suffered from dementia, diabetes, and other ailments over the last 14 years. My brother talked at the funeral last Thursday and mentioned that, back in 1997 none of us were married and he (my dad) had no grandchildren yet. We all didn't really know how much longer he had at that time. But he was given the gift of time - 14 years in which all 5 of his kids got married and 11 grandchildren were born.
The Sunday before Mother's Day, May 7th, we all got together at my parent's house for a Mother's Day picnic and party. Dad/Grandpa was there and really enjoyed watching the kids hit the pinata. Mom said he hadn't been feeling well lately, and he didn't look so great either. But we had a good time. On May 9th, my parents came to my piano recital. They have always been so nice to come and support me at each recital that they were able to attend. It has really meant alot to me. On May 11th, my mom called at around 7:00 pm and said Dad had fallen and they were at University Hospital. We rounded the kids up and headed to Salt Lake. He had a subdermal hematoma and they were worried about his spine and neck from the fall. The kids were not able to see Grandpa because they had an age restriction in the NCUU, 14 and older only. Jorgen was really upset that he couldn't see Grandpa. My brother Ben came too, and he and Dan gave my Dad a blessing. I couldn't be in there because I was out with the kids. Later both my Mom and my brother mentioned that they knew he wasn't going to get better after this blessing.
He was in the hospital for 4 nights, and I don't really know for sure everything that they did there, but I know he ended up with a feeding tube (he has had problems with swallowing for awhile, and it was getting worse). On Sunday the 15th he was transferred to Legacy Rehabilitation center in Layton. We went and visited him that night, and the kids were glad to see him. They had drawn him some pictures that he was glad to see. My brother and his family was there too, and he was reading them comics, just like Dad used to do for us. My sister Eilene had driven down from Oregon that weekend and was able to come visit as well. Monday and Tuesday I sent Dan to work and the kids to school, then Eilene and her daughter Serena, and Jorgen and I would go and visit Grandpa. He seemed to be cheered up by our visits. One day he even wrote down Jorgen and Serena's names, it was pretty cute (he was struggling even to write). He was still on a feeding tube, but didn't like it at all. He was becoming famous for pulling out IV's and the feeding tube.
On Wednesday the 18th I went with my mom to meet with the care center specialists who had evaluated Dad. They were suggesting long-term nursing care. Basically he was getting to be too much for my mom to take care of by herself. So we discussed various options but didn't really decide anything. On a side note, nursing care is very, very expensive! And my parents are not rich. Anyway, we had been planning to meet as a family that coming Saturday to figure out what to do and how to pay for it. Later that night (the 18th) the nurse called me at my house. Earlier that day Dad had pulled out the feeding tube again and my mom decided to not put it back in. In the process of trying to eat, he had aspirated food into his lungs. The nurse didn't think he was going to make it through the night. I hurried over to Layton, called all my siblings, and we spent the night there. It was a long night. There was really only one place to lay down, which my mom got, so the rest of us were on the floor or in the lobby. It was kind of crazy. My sister came down from Logan, and another sister drove all night from Blackfoot and got there around 2:00 am. Dad did make it through the night that night. The next morning we all talked with the doctor. He basically said that we could choose to let him go or try to prolong his life, but he probably would not last much longer and would suffer. It was really hard. I think we all cried, but all felt it was best to let him go. Later that morning he was given a blessing of release.
Thursday morning, I went home to get the kids to school. Dan had to go to work. Then I came back and spent most of the day there with Jorgen tagging along. The staff at Legacy was so nice and never acted like the kids were in the way. We watched movies, joined in Bingo, worked on puzzles. That afternoon I went home to be there when the kids got out of school. Bethany went to Activity Days, and I taught 3 piano lessons. I later wished I had cancelled because I was so tired! I couldn't keep my eyes open. I was seriously falling asleep as my students played, it was kind of embarassing. After a quick dinner we took the whole family over to see Grandpa. I know he was calmer when there were more of his family in the room. We spent the evening there, then all the kids held his hand and said goodbye. Even up until that very night, he remembered his grandkids' names, each one of them. I was very touched. I honestly didn't think he would make it through the night, but I was so exhausted I went home to sleep.
Friday morning, the 20th, he was still okay for the moment. I sent the big kids to school, showered, ran to the store, and we finally made it over (me, 2 of my sisters, and our kids) that afternoon around 1:00. Mom was a little annoyed that we took so long - sorry! I had a house-full of guests and no food, thus the necessary trip to the store. I cancelled all my lessons for the day. On a side note, Dan was in charge of the 11-year-old stake campout which happened to be scheduled for that very weekend. Talk about bad timing. He was at home getting ready for the campout. When the kids got out of school he brought them over to the care center and was going to head to the campout. I had taken Jorgen out for a walk around the care center. Dad had been doing progressively worse as the day went on. As I was on my walk, Dan called that he was there with the kids. I was turning around to come back in, when he called again and said that my Dad had passed away. It was all kind of surreal. I didn't really know what to think or feel. I hurried back inside and hugged my kids, my husband, whoever was there. I'm sure I cried but I can't really remember. I know Dan only helped set up the campout, then came back to be with me, which I really apprecitated.
We spent the next week planning, cleaning my mom's house, and hosting out-of-town family. Then this past Thursday, the 26th we had the funeral. It turned out to be a nice funeral, and as hard as it was I felt comfort and peace. I have thought alot about eternity and death, and do I really believe that I will see my dad again. And my answer is yes! I know I will see him again. It doesn't really make it any easier, at least at first, but it is comforting. I am so grateful to have the gospel and to know the Plan of Salvation, which is also called the Plan of Happiness!
The Sunday before Mother's Day, May 7th, we all got together at my parent's house for a Mother's Day picnic and party. Dad/Grandpa was there and really enjoyed watching the kids hit the pinata. Mom said he hadn't been feeling well lately, and he didn't look so great either. But we had a good time. On May 9th, my parents came to my piano recital. They have always been so nice to come and support me at each recital that they were able to attend. It has really meant alot to me. On May 11th, my mom called at around 7:00 pm and said Dad had fallen and they were at University Hospital. We rounded the kids up and headed to Salt Lake. He had a subdermal hematoma and they were worried about his spine and neck from the fall. The kids were not able to see Grandpa because they had an age restriction in the NCUU, 14 and older only. Jorgen was really upset that he couldn't see Grandpa. My brother Ben came too, and he and Dan gave my Dad a blessing. I couldn't be in there because I was out with the kids. Later both my Mom and my brother mentioned that they knew he wasn't going to get better after this blessing.
He was in the hospital for 4 nights, and I don't really know for sure everything that they did there, but I know he ended up with a feeding tube (he has had problems with swallowing for awhile, and it was getting worse). On Sunday the 15th he was transferred to Legacy Rehabilitation center in Layton. We went and visited him that night, and the kids were glad to see him. They had drawn him some pictures that he was glad to see. My brother and his family was there too, and he was reading them comics, just like Dad used to do for us. My sister Eilene had driven down from Oregon that weekend and was able to come visit as well. Monday and Tuesday I sent Dan to work and the kids to school, then Eilene and her daughter Serena, and Jorgen and I would go and visit Grandpa. He seemed to be cheered up by our visits. One day he even wrote down Jorgen and Serena's names, it was pretty cute (he was struggling even to write). He was still on a feeding tube, but didn't like it at all. He was becoming famous for pulling out IV's and the feeding tube.
On Wednesday the 18th I went with my mom to meet with the care center specialists who had evaluated Dad. They were suggesting long-term nursing care. Basically he was getting to be too much for my mom to take care of by herself. So we discussed various options but didn't really decide anything. On a side note, nursing care is very, very expensive! And my parents are not rich. Anyway, we had been planning to meet as a family that coming Saturday to figure out what to do and how to pay for it. Later that night (the 18th) the nurse called me at my house. Earlier that day Dad had pulled out the feeding tube again and my mom decided to not put it back in. In the process of trying to eat, he had aspirated food into his lungs. The nurse didn't think he was going to make it through the night. I hurried over to Layton, called all my siblings, and we spent the night there. It was a long night. There was really only one place to lay down, which my mom got, so the rest of us were on the floor or in the lobby. It was kind of crazy. My sister came down from Logan, and another sister drove all night from Blackfoot and got there around 2:00 am. Dad did make it through the night that night. The next morning we all talked with the doctor. He basically said that we could choose to let him go or try to prolong his life, but he probably would not last much longer and would suffer. It was really hard. I think we all cried, but all felt it was best to let him go. Later that morning he was given a blessing of release.
Thursday morning, I went home to get the kids to school. Dan had to go to work. Then I came back and spent most of the day there with Jorgen tagging along. The staff at Legacy was so nice and never acted like the kids were in the way. We watched movies, joined in Bingo, worked on puzzles. That afternoon I went home to be there when the kids got out of school. Bethany went to Activity Days, and I taught 3 piano lessons. I later wished I had cancelled because I was so tired! I couldn't keep my eyes open. I was seriously falling asleep as my students played, it was kind of embarassing. After a quick dinner we took the whole family over to see Grandpa. I know he was calmer when there were more of his family in the room. We spent the evening there, then all the kids held his hand and said goodbye. Even up until that very night, he remembered his grandkids' names, each one of them. I was very touched. I honestly didn't think he would make it through the night, but I was so exhausted I went home to sleep.
Friday morning, the 20th, he was still okay for the moment. I sent the big kids to school, showered, ran to the store, and we finally made it over (me, 2 of my sisters, and our kids) that afternoon around 1:00. Mom was a little annoyed that we took so long - sorry! I had a house-full of guests and no food, thus the necessary trip to the store. I cancelled all my lessons for the day. On a side note, Dan was in charge of the 11-year-old stake campout which happened to be scheduled for that very weekend. Talk about bad timing. He was at home getting ready for the campout. When the kids got out of school he brought them over to the care center and was going to head to the campout. I had taken Jorgen out for a walk around the care center. Dad had been doing progressively worse as the day went on. As I was on my walk, Dan called that he was there with the kids. I was turning around to come back in, when he called again and said that my Dad had passed away. It was all kind of surreal. I didn't really know what to think or feel. I hurried back inside and hugged my kids, my husband, whoever was there. I'm sure I cried but I can't really remember. I know Dan only helped set up the campout, then came back to be with me, which I really apprecitated.
We spent the next week planning, cleaning my mom's house, and hosting out-of-town family. Then this past Thursday, the 26th we had the funeral. It turned out to be a nice funeral, and as hard as it was I felt comfort and peace. I have thought alot about eternity and death, and do I really believe that I will see my dad again. And my answer is yes! I know I will see him again. It doesn't really make it any easier, at least at first, but it is comforting. I am so grateful to have the gospel and to know the Plan of Salvation, which is also called the Plan of Happiness!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Sleepy Jorgen
I was making dinner and Jorgen was drawing. He drew quite an elaborate picture of a train and train track. One minute he was drawing, then the next minute I looked over and he yawned a big huge yawn. I said, "You look tired, Jorgen" and then he put his head down and fell asleep. It was pretty cute. He must have been tired because he slept through dinner and clear til morning. He was pretty hungry for breakfast!It is ironic because I am up late posting this because I can't sleep. Wish I could just fall asleep like that!
1st grade Program
Andrew had his 1st Grade Program last week. He did a great job! The theme was Dinosaurs and they painted their own shirts. I love that Andrew's shirt has volcanoes on it. It was super crowded and I didn't get any pictures until after, but Dan got video of it. Jorgen was super grumpy the whole time, fun fun! I can't believe Andrew is almost done with 1st grade, where did the time go?Promontory
The kids were off-track on May 10th so we decided to go see the trains at Promontory. It takes about 1 1/2 hours to drive there from our house. It turned out to be a fun day, despite the rain. We got to see the two trains up close. We didn't think the kids would sit through the ceremony, so we just went back in the gift shop, then it started pouring rain! Good thing we didn't stay outside. Dan even had to help a lady get her van unstuck from the mud. He roped a few Box Elder High band students into helping also.
We ate our picnic lunch in the van (because it was raining) and then we decided to go over to ATK and see the rocket garden. The kids loved this, and it had briefly stopped raining so we could walk around.
Then we still had a little more time, so we drove to Ogden and went to the train museum at Union Station. Jorgen was in heaven here. He would live there if he could.
Jorgen LOVED the trains running through the walls. He ran around trying to find where it would come out.
They also have an auto museum:
The big trains outside were pretty cool too.
The big trains outside were pretty cool too.
Spring Recital
I had my Spring Recital last week. Everyone played so well, I was very happy with it. I only remembered to take one picture of Bethany, so that's all you get. I gave out a bunch of awards and we had refreshments. Now I am ready for a break! Only a few of my students take summer lessons, so it's nice to slow down a bit for the summer.
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