Day 24-Healing

Overall dad is looking so much better-talking, eating, drinking, and joking (as usual) very well.  Keep the healing prayers coming!  We still have a long road ahead of us.  

Today marks 4 weeks of recovery from the open head fracture (1st fall). Dad, I made this card just for you!

Day 23-Lots of Matzo Love!

They say, love is supposed to hold a family together, but our secret ingredient can be found in matzo ball soup. So, today I cooked up a batch, grabbed some bowls, and we had soup for dinner with dad!

Just one box of soup, served up nice and hot is all that is needed to help heal your soul, find comfort in this world, and be reassured that everything will be alright! 

If you have never tried it, you can buy the mix at any grocery store-make sure it says mix and soup on the box.  It's chicken broth with a matzo dumpling. Just add eggs and oil.  You can add carrots, celery, and chicken! Yum! It's served at Passover, but I make them year round, more like monthly! My girls know how to make it now! 

People love eating matzo balls-they set world records for the largest..488lbs.

People eat them in competitions...78 matzo balls in 8 mins. -I think I will stick to my 3 or 4. So filling!

Matzo Party with the Family

                                                             

Daddy's Girls!

Day 21-22 Birthday Wishes

Busy two days for dad...

Dad's longtime friend Art visited from Cleveland for the afternoon and took mom out to dinner.  We are so thankful for friends!

Dad got a nice close shave and a 20 min. break from the neck collar. He cleans up well!

Also, Addison turned 10 today.  She didn't get to spend it with her Papa, but was able to talk to him on the phone.  We will bring cupcakes tomorrow when we visit.  We miss you so much!!



Day 19-20 Bombs Away!

Nothing much going on over the last two days, Dad has been very tired and uncomfortable. Not very exciting at Heritage House.

However...
being at the courthouse downtown on Monday morning was very exciting!! 

We arrived at 9 am right when word was getting out that there was a bomb threat.  The building, and surrounding government buildings, were evacuated.  Family inside had to walk 7 flights of stairs out of the building.  We waited anxiously outside on the sidewalk.  Within minutes, 9 sheriffs pulled up, bomb sniffing dogs paraded around, a helicopter hovered, and the news team showed up to investigate the breaking news.  Much to our horror, we were on tv (in the background, looking like idiots). After an hour, the threat was cleared and the drama ended.  

Day 18-Sausage Gravy Sunday!

There's nothing more enjoyable than a homecooked meal. Todd made his famous sausage gravy breakfast for dad. Prior to the accident, we would make it every Sunday morning for dad to enjoy.  It was nice to get back to old routines.

Here's dad learning how to drink from a sippy cup, laughing hysterically as we joked about the circle of life. Dad never had sippy cups growing as a kid, so here's his shining moment, his chance to throw his cup on the floor, knock it over, whatever makes him happy.  He's one of the big kids now. 

Today was filled with more good times! Dad's longtime childhood friend, Jerry, came down from Michigan for a few hours. Todd's family stopped by with the Grandmas in tow, bringing homemade apple and peach pies.  And to top off the night, Kent and Shay stopped by to say hello!

Dad is ready to fly the coop! He's about one more rubbery pancake away from doing it!

 Mom and Dad

Grandkids!

"Sausage Gravy Master" Chef Todd & Me

 

 A bouquet of yummy apple and peach pies made just for dad by Mary!

 Having fun with the goofy glasses..laughter is the best medicine

 (although not as good as oxycodone)



Day 17-Visitors

My dad is lucky to have a wonderful network of family and friends.  It shouldn't surprise me, and perhaps I am a little biased, but my dad is so funny and an amazing guy with so much charm.  His stories draw you in, his love for everyone embraces your heart, and his ability to put everyone else first is truly remarkable.

 

Nancy, a dear friend of mom and dad, visited today.  Thanks so much for your time. :)  Quite honestly, it's a pretty boring place without visitors-counting ceiling tiles to pass time isn't my idea of fun. As mentioned before, there is no ice cream truck to look forward to this summer and the cable tv could use a few more channels like HBO or Showtime.   

 

Nancy posted on FB the following:

 

 I spent a wonderful hour with Justin at the Heritage Rehab yesterday. He looks good and is mainly his old self, except for some bandages and the neck brace. He's up in his power chair all day and telling stories and laughing and I think he entertained me as much as I did him. He is an inspiration!
As I looked around his room and listened to his accounts of his family and friends' help and visits and gifts, etc. I couldn't help but think how blessed he is in many ways. But Justin, I want you to know that you have built this network of love, hope and support through your own amazing life. Your friendships and your family life are so much the result of your own good nature and generous spirit.  And I'll be back soon to take part in the journey.
I stayed long enough to meet up with Marsha out in the breezeway of the center and we sat and talked for a while. What an amazing woman... making the adjustments and carrying on with humor and hope and resilience. I hope that I would do as well, given the same kind of challenges.

For those of you who are reluctant to visit - don't be! He absolutely adores having people come to see him. It made MY day!

 

 

Not only did dad get to spend time with Nancy, but Nikki brought the grandkids up (Shane and Damien) for a visit too!  What a great day for dad!

Day 16-Ice Cream Man!

I am convinced that life acts in funny, odd ways.  When we were younger, the ice cream man filled our youth with happiness and excitement.  The adrenaline rush was our ultimate high...chasing the circus music as it blared throughout the neighborhood, scrounging around for spare change under the couch cushions, and running like hell, as fast as you can just for that strawberry eclair or the red, white, and blue rocket popsicle. 

And now, sitting in a nursing rehab facility, helping dad get comfy, trying to relieve his pain, it has all come down realizing that the older we get, the ice cream man no longer has the same magical effect as it did in our youth. 

Sadly, the excitement is spent waiting and counting the hours on a daily basis until the medicine push cart comes around. It's just a small cart on wheels filled with oxycontin and other pain relieving drugs.  You don't have to chase this cart, and medicare pays for the goodies inside.  There are no stickers or decals on it, no scary man with a scraggly beard pushing it, no music blaring throughout the halls of the nursing unit, nothing...just a plain, small, cart.

So I say, let's bring cheer to the nursing home! Put a stereo system on it, make drug time a happy time, don't take away our youth! Oh, and let's hook up a cooler filled with ice cream too.