Goodbye Dad

Memories that came to my mind the morning, after Dad died:

It's amazing how soon you can go back in years, when you go down memory lane. I thought about

when Dad would tell us that if we get the dishes done in x amount of minutes, he would take us to the dairy queen. It was normally an amount of time that wasn’t realistic, but we did beat the clock at times.

I can still see him at the bottom of the stairs, making sure he gave us all good night kisses as we went to bed before turning off the light.

I have many memories of having my head pressed to the cold air register upstairs that was just above their Living Room. Back when Dad was a pastor there would often be company there, past my bedtime. It was a good place to try and hear what the subject of conversation was downstairs. Dad also knew that we children could hear through that register, so there was many a time that he would give Mom real loud smooches for our entertainment.

These past weeks, when Dad was so appreciative for what we were doing for him and as he expressed his love for us, it brought back so many good childhood memories.

This past week, the little things that Dad tried to do when he could no longer express himself, were very special. The little jerks of the head and movement of his mouth to tease me, as if to bite me or just simply to scare me. At time, he would just lean forward and give you a kiss. Many times in this past week us children and Mom felt like we were on Holy Ground, as Dad was having encounters with the Heavenly. It was Obvious when he was seeing and experiencing things that we couldn’t see. We may not have seen, but what we experienced was emotional.

More reflections onhttp://carolmil.blogspot.com/

Picture of us girls with our Hero

Carol-Dad-Kathy-Ann

Not too much longer

A short post for those of you wondering about Dad.  It appears he is in the last stage of his life here on earth.  At this point, we wouldn't be surprised if it's a matter of hours or days.  We are aware that it could go on longer, but the Nurse did say that he might get his wish soon.

He Leadeth me

Post that I wrote yesterday that failed to post.

On Sunday, I got a great massage right off the street. As I was lying face down, listening to the traffic noise, being a bit uncomfortable about the lack of privacy and wondering how this will be, all of a sudden I realized that the music was all Hymns. The 1st song was, He Leadeth Me.

I may or may not, confess at the end of the week, just how many massages I will have had.

So far each day we have taken the bus into town.


We walk, look at our map and walk some more. I would Not want to be driving on these streets. It's crazy.

This morning, we went into town around 8:00, for breakfast, walk part of the Malecon, rest on the beach briefly then came back to our place. We ate left overs for lunch.

Tonight, Wil had Seafood soup and I had Shrimp Al Pastor taco's.

Views from our room






- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone Kathy Beachy

Mexico

Great Mango Margarita's!



Great food!



Great place to stay!



Thursday night, the 11th, my Dad had a rough night and I had some apprehensions about this trip. Hospice made some changes on Friday and Dad gave us his blessings to go.

We drove to Chicago Friday evening and our flight left early Saturday morning. We arrived in Puerto Vallarta in the afternoon, only to Discover that you can't use an INterra Card in Mexico. They let us use our credit card to pay for our taxi. It started us out on a bad foot but fortunately we had some cash along and were able to exchange that. We have a great restaurant right where we stay, so we can charge that all to our card.

Melissa told us what # to call for American Express and so today, we got more cash.

Our room the 1st 2 nights was a bit of a disappointment but ok. We couldn't keep our deck doors open because it went right out to the pool where there were screaming children. Today, they moved us to the 7th floor, where our view is breath taking. I actually got tears as I sat on the couch and took in the view.

Today and yesterday we took the bus to Old town and downtown and walked until we could almost no longer walk. You could get massages on almost every street. I have already enjoyed two of them!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone Kathy Beachy

Henry update on 11/3

Different people told me they keep checking my blog for updates on my Dad. I took off work a few hours so Mom could go to Sylvia Yoder's, funeral. So as I sit here and Dad's sleeping, I'm trying to decide how I can best tell you how Dad is.

A couple weeks ago, he was weak enough that I didn't feel good about leaving on Nov. 12th for our week long vacation to Mexico that we planned in March. Wil, kindly cancelled that vacation. Now this past week, he seems to be somewhat stronger and you might say more irritable at times. Norm and Carol also have plans to be gone that week, but their schedule isn't as easy to change as ours. However, It's much easier for me to take off work when they are off, but, if we would both be gone, Ann would be Mom's only night relief. Of course, then you also factor in the fact, that it's hard to enjoy a vacation when you always wonder how Dad is doing.

My sister, Ann had an interesting experience with Dad, during the early hours last Sunday morning. She sensed Dad was dying and also sensed our sister, Ruthie in the room. When Dad woke up, he said, "I thought I was dying". She told him, that she thought too that he was.

Us girls have been taking turns spending the night with Dad to give mom a break.

I didn't get this posted yesterday. I ended up spending the night with Dad and was up every 1-2 hrs. except for one 3 hr. stretch.

Tonight we are looking to see if we could possibly go to Mexico after all. I still have mixed feelings about it.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone Kathy Beachy

Interrupted Nights

It used to be, that when I slept on my parents sofa, it was because I was ill. It was a time when mom would grease my chest with Vicks and then put a warm towel on me. Sometimes I was there with a bowl on the floor beside me, in case I got sick. Even though I felt cared for while there, I'd often dream that I was floating towards the door or that someone was chasing me.

These are the things that I think about, when I lay on my parents sofa, yet again. This time because my Dad is ill and someone needs to be there to help him, 4-6 times during the night. As I lay awake, waiting to go back to sleep, till I am assured that he is sleeping again, I remember the good old days.

The days when my Dad was a healthy and full time working man, plus being a pastor. In spite of all that, he still found time to play with us. I was always very proud of my Dad.

It's really hard to see my Dad become weak, frail and discouraged. Right now yet, he has his good moments. However, there are more, not so good moments. It's all a part of his journey. Just like some runners, he is struggling with the last part of his race.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone Kathy Beachy

Hospice

I had so many mixed feelings today.  This morning Mom called to say that Dad had a bad night and was in a lot of pain.  They wanted Wil to stop in and see if he should go to the Hospital for Morphine.  I quickly called Monica to say that I couldn't watch the boys and headed for Mom and Dad.  Wil still had to finish getting ready for work.  I gave Dad pain medication as soon as I got there.  Carol and Wil both got there before his pain subsided.  I made several calls to Home Health and the Cancer Center Nurse.  They talked about Dad in their morning conference and agreed that it is time to put Dad in the Hospice Program.  I went into Goshen to get Morphine and while I was waiting for for it, I got a call from the Hospice Nurse.  It was decided to give the other  pain med every 4 hours before we give the strong medication that I just picked up.  This new one, would probably have him sleeping most of the time.  Today he did ok with taking something every 4 hours.

Back to my mixed feelings.  Throughout the day, I was reminded that this is really real, my Dad really isn't going to be here much longer.  10 months ago we admitted Wil's Mom into Hospice, and now here we are at it again with my Dad.  It's a great program and I'm grateful for it.

It's tough to see Dad becoming so frail, and seeing him in so much pain.  It's also hard to see Mom struggle and hearing her wonder what she will do without Dad. 

I pray God, that you will keep Dad from suffering and that you will grant his request and soon take him home, where he can have complete healing.  May this journey peaceful.  As my tears flow, I ask that you place a hedge of protection around him and our family, guard our hearts and give us peace. Amen

My Dad

How much can one man take? It seems when my Dad is almost standing tall, he gets knocked back down. He has had heart and hip problems for quite a while. The Tuesday before Labor Day, we thought we were loosing him. It's tough to see your Father vomiting blood and extremely weak. We called 911 to take him to the Hospital and there we found out that he now has Lymphoma.

Tuesday morning after he came home from his Radiation and a Stress test, his hip popped out. That was the 3rd time in the past year. They tried to pop it back in the ER but it didn't work. The Dr. warned us of the risk in taking Dad to surgery but there was no other option.

Dad seemed rather disappointed that he woke in the recovery room rather then in Heaven. He was told he would probably always need to wear the brace to keep it from coming back out.

We brought him home today noon.




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone Kathy Beachy

Lot's of Sylvia-Especially for Grandma!

Check out Portland

 We started our 1st day out by going to the Rose Garden, Powells Bookstore and Nate and Deb's favorite coffee shop. Then we went on up to Mt Tabor Park.  I could easily have spent a full day there!  My favorite spot that day.

In the evening we ended up eating dinner at a restaurant called, Toast.  Great food.