Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Update on Dad-October 22, 2008

As I looked at my sidebar today I realized I have not updated on Dad in a while, mainly because there is little new to say. He has definitely gotten back into his routine at Victoria, and seems much more comfortable there. To me, his breathing seems much better, and his color and general appearance looks much better.

While his physical body seems to be improving slightly, his mental condition is of concern to David and myself. Dad continues to be very "fixated" on certain ideas, most of which seem to be things that happened to him 15-20 years ago, mixed with present day plus a little bit of ????? we have NO IDEA. His main concerns right now revolve around getting the keys back to his "brown station wagon in the parking lot" (Dad has not driven or owned a car in several years...had the station wagon over 20 years ago), and "buying the preschool down the street" (again we think this is something he is thinking about from when they DID buy/own the preschool...well over 20 years ago.) These things are as real and current to Dad as if they are part of his life right now, and he is very frustrated with us when we try to explain it is not reality...not something happening right now. I feel so bad for Dad in his frustration, as he believes so furvently that these things are real. We are thinking this is part of the Parkinson's Dementia that many patients develop 10-15 years into the disease, but have not gotten that specific diagnosis from his Dr.

So, we are kind of back to where we were a few months ago, before the hospital visit, except it seems his mental condition has changed. We don't know if this is a temporary thing, or a condition that will just "be this way" from now on. It is very discouraging.

Once again, Dad loves to recieve mail, and can get his mail at:

Stanley Monson
c/o Victoria Health Care
340 Victoria Street
Costa Mesa, CA 92627

You can also email Dad (it will be printed and brought to his room) at:

www.victoriacares.com

Click on the "Contact Us" section and then towards the bottom click on the "Email a Resident" button.

So this is the update for now. I will try an keep the updates more consistant :-)

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Happy 8th Anniversary!

Eight years ago today I married my best friend. The day seemed to go without a hitch, and flew by...with beautiful friends and family there to witness us promising each other that we would walk together from that day forward for the rest of life's journey.

 


And we have. Not always easy, but so very worth it. Going through lifes ups and downs (but mainly ups) together has strenghthened and united us. Raising two beautiful daughters has been the joy of my life so far, and I cannot imagine travelling that journey with anyone but you. You are such a wonderful father.

 


So I look back at October 21, 2000 as one of the most important days of my life, the day I began a new life with you by my side. Honestly the 8 years that have followed have seemed to flown by, and we have had many adventures together...some amazing adventures during that time. But I look forward to the next 38, or 48, or 58 years we have together, and know we have just gotten started.

 


The Best is Yet to Be.

 


I Love You so very much honey. I feel honored...and like the luckiest girl in the world to be your wife.

Happy Anniversary!
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Thursday, October 09, 2008

FINALLY...some good news!

Well, this is the update I've been wanting to give for 7 weeks now...Dad has been moved back to Victoria! David got the call yesterday afternoon that they were ready to move him, and everything had been coordinated between the hospital and Victoria to get him back in his same room, back where he is so much more comfortable. Both David and I feel a little concerned about this, as we have seen so much up-and-down with his condition...but we both feel he is so much more comfortable at Victoria, and that is where he wants to be, so we are just taking it one day at a time.

He is still receiving oxygen, but is down from 8 liters per day to 3. Also, they are still giving him antibiotics for his left lung (Dr. says it's still a little "cloudy") but they are able to manage that at Victoria. All in all I think it is a very positive move, and now we hope he will continue to improve.

Thank you for everyone who has sent prayers Dad's way, I know they make a big difference!

Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so. (Mary Jean Iron)

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Just a little humor, folks...

Okay...I know this is really stupid. But it made me laugh. And I'm not even a "Cruise-hater" but this just cracked me up.

A little levity. Hey...I get it where I can!



Happy Wednesday.

Monday, October 06, 2008

Saturdays are for soccer!

Well, the soccer season is in full swing around here, and what that means for us is practice 4 days a week, and two games on Saturdays. This weekend was another great day for the Warren girls, as we had wins all of the way around.

 


I'll start with Zoey's team, the "Maniacs" even though their game was later in the day. They are still undefeated, and have been kicking the boo-teh of every team they have faced. This week was no exception. At the half they were 4-0, and the coach warned the players to take it easy, as a new rule this season mandates if a team gets up by 5 points, they must bench TWO players, and play 6 players against 8 for the remainder of the game.

 


Indeed, about 60 seconds into the second half they scored their 5th goal, and two players had to take a seat. But the girls fought hard, and still came out victorious...winning 6-2...even playing basically half of the game two players short! We were SO PROUD of them!!!

Avery also had an awesome game, scoring 2 goals during her game. With her age group the team is split onto two fields, so there are two games going on at once and "no score is kept". Yeah, right! The "RazzleBerries" went down in a stunning defeat, and the Firecrackers remain undefeated. That makes 9 goals that Avery has scored during games so far this year, and again we just love watching it happen.

 


Of course by the time it was late afternoon and she was at her sister's game, just waiting on the sidelines for it to be over so we could go home...her enthusiasm for the game had waned. It's tough to be a soccer star...
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Update on Dad-October 6, 2008

My updates have been few lately, and mostly because there is not much to report...or maybe just not too much positive, so I hate to report it.

Dad seems to be mostly the same, and that is to say he is still at Kindred Hospital in Westminister. He is still on oxygen, and still receiving antibiotics for his lung infection. His condition seems to me to go up and down by the day, especially mentally. One day I will see him and he seems pretty clear mentally, and the next he is impossible to understand, mumbling about things that don't make sense. On these days he seems to stare at the ceiling, and be completely "out of it". Yesterday, on his birthday, it was one of those visits. Very discouraging.

Rob and the girls and I went to see Dad for his birthday, and I doubt that he was aware it was his birthday, which is very unusual for him, as those types of holidays have always been a big deal for Dad. The girls had made him "birthday cards" or drawings for Grandpa, and they were anxious to share those with him and explain what they had drawn. Normally he would have really enjoyed that, but yesterday he seemed unable to really focus on what they were saying, or the drawings they were showing him. He seemed very thin to me, or just very drawn and frail. His eyes looked pretty glassy, and seemed to look at things that were not there. All in all, the visit was very discouraging, and when we left I felt very down. I called David, who had been there earlier in the day, and he had had a very similar experience. We both really question the reality of Dad getting back to Victoria any time soon.

I guess the reason this is so puzzling for us is that earlier, or mid-week Dad seemed to be doing quite a bit better. He seemed much clearer mentally, and his eyes were clear, his color looked pretty good. On Wednesday of last week I would have said it was only maybe a matter of 7-10 days before he would be ready to go back to Victoria. Then, just a few days later he appeared really no better to me than when he was admitted to Kindred, almost 5 weeks ago.

What causes these ups and downs I do not know. What I do know is it is very discouraging, and seeing him that way is extremely depressing, and frustrating. I feel so very helpless, and wish more than anything he did not have to go through this...and many times a day I wonder why he does.

Please send your prayers his way.