Crappp!!!!!!!!

I better take a minute and let everyone know what has been happening. Last night after months and months of good things, Patsy decided to have a seizure. It was not a big one and I game her some stuff to hold it in check so that it wouldn't become one. Kari came over and helped me get her to bed and she has been resting every since. The medicine I gave her knocks her for a day or two and I wasn't real surprised when she slept most of the day. She did wake up a couple of times and I felt pretty good about what I was seeing.

She looked like she was in pain today and so we gave her a pain pill. That helped her but it also kept her down. Looking at her tonight I may have to give her another tonight.

Carol says she has a spot on her C7 in her back which I think is where she was having problems before. Not sure what we are going to do about it.

So we keep going and we do what we need to do. My life is sure interesting. I didn't get much sleep last night and I thinkk I was grumpy today.

Chad and Carey are going camping thursday and we were going to go along. Not sure what to do now. If she gets back on track and they don't go to far, we may load up and go. The bed in the camper is as good as the one here is not better so we will see. The journey continues and sometimes I wished I could see the end of the road. We will get there eventually. RAZ

Who is that mystery woman in my bed!!!!!!

I slept with a woman last night. First time since before November of last year. HOLY WHATCHATHINKING!!!!!! I slept with patsy in our bed. She has been sleeping in the front of the RV and for a long time I slept in the recliner here by her bed. Then about a month ago I started sleeping in the bedroom and just getting up every two hours to move Patsy to a different position. Well, yesterday I cleaned the back room and moved Patsy to the bedroom last night. It was okay but I got less sleep then when I got up every two hours to move her. If she snored, I woke up!!!! If she moved, I woke up!!! If she made any kind of noise, I woke up!!!! But, it was still nice to put my arm around her and hold her.

The reason I made the move to the back is because I am trying to get the plumbing all done. It hasn't been to bad because I use the bathroom and shower in the kids house. We have been hauling water to do the dishes etc. But after a year of hauling water, I have decided to get everything hooked up. I have all the plumbing run but I need to hook it to the holding tank and the pump. And guess where that is??? Yup, under the bed where Patsy was sleeping. So, I have moved her. But, I ran out of money until the first so I will do what I can on other things. I need to mount the sink and put in the new counter tops. If the guy I do a little part time work for needs me this next week I might be able to do some sooner.

Patsy seems to be holding on. She is eating really good and drinking better then she was. We use a product called thickit and it makes the water easier for her to swallow with out getting in her lungs. She really seemed to have fun on our little camping trip. The kids are planning to go again on thursday to lost lake. She says she want to go and I have enough fuel to get us there and back. (I think)

So, life goes on and so do we. It appears that tonight is the night that I get to help Patsy go to the bathroom. Kari informed me of that as she was leaving. I'll get her for that!!!!!

Thanks for sharing our journey, RAZ

Well, we did it!!!! We went camping for three days and we really had a good time. The worst part of the trip was trying to blend her food so that I could feed her. I cooked some soup but then had to separate the broth from the chicken and noodles, etc. I then had to smash that with a fork and then added the broth back in so that I could feed it to her. Thanks to Carey I was able to find a battery powered blended that is rechargeable and next time things should be better. Also, it got a little warm on this campground because there is now shade so we won't go there again until next spring. I was able to figure out a way to get her in and out of the camper okay and when the kids showed up, Chad was a big help. If I can find enough gas money, we are going to Lost Lake in two weeks. I wished you could have seen here today when Kari asked her if she had fun. I really think she did and she wants to go again. I will take her.

If something is going to happen to her, I can't think of a better place then in the mountains that she loves so much. But, things seem to be getting better so I am ready to go again. Here are some pics.

We are heading for the hills

Patsy has always liked camping. She could tell many, many stories of times when she shared a campfire with a group of young girls as she took them on camp outs. Patsy loved it when the girls would thank her for taking her on a real pack in trip and taught them how to pack their own food and then cook it over a fire. Even laughed when she got caught running the girls underwear up the flagpole at girls camp as the fearless leader.

Add to those experiences the family trips we all took together and the memories we created. Some good, some bad!!!!!

But most important to me was the time that we have shared around a campfire. Looking up at the stars on a clear night with amazement. I would do anything to have a few of those days again. We almost did not get to go this weekend because of some catch up that I had to do because of the teeth work that I had done. But guess what???? Yep, today a card came in the mail with enough money to put some gas in the truck and tomorrow we are out of here for a couple of days. We are not going far, but we are going. Carey and Chad are coming and they can help me with Patsy. Every time I tell her we are going camping, her face lights up and you can tell that she is looking forward to it.

As I have said before, I don't know how to make things any better for her. I believe that the powers to be will make that decision. I just want to do everything that I can do to make her life the best it can be. I believe that means sitting around a camp fire once in a while so tomorrow we are going to give it a try. I can't tell you the work involved in taking her anywhere, especially camping. But if it gives her just one bit of enjoyment, it will be worth it.

One final note and then off to bed. For a long time now, Patsy's back side has been really a challenge. Because of her weight loss, her tail bone was like there was no meat on it at all and that is why it has been such a chore to keep the bedsores away which we have done with great success. But now, Patsy is getting fat again, LOL. Well, not really fat but she is putting so weight on and her butt is a good start. I have noticed lately that she is looking much better and that should help prevent future problems.

Speaking of butts, it is time I get mine headed for bed. Thanks for listening and riding along on our journey. I know with out a doubt that I am being blessed for taking care of a very special lady, and I know that you are being blessed for taking care of me. Someday I hope to pay it forward as they say. See ya when we get back and I will have some pics to share. RAZ

A Camping we will go!!!!!!!

Help!!!! I am taking Patsy on a camping trip this weekend. Sounds fun right???? Well, here is the plan. I am going to lift her out of bed and put her in the wheelchair. Then I am going to take her out to the truck and lift her into the truck. Then I am going to head for the hills. When I get there, I will unload her out of the truck and into the wheelchair. Now the work begins. HOLLY FASTFOOD RESTRUANT!!!! How do I puree food with out a blender. It is going to be interesting but she really wants to go so, we go. I will give a full report when we get back and maybe take some pics. RAZ