Thanks to Everyone

It's hard letting someone you love go no matter how much better off you know they are.

I'm thankful Mom was able to spend the last week of her life with Dad. Jess told me the day before she went to the hospital they were both sitting up in bed eating breakfast, told each other hi and that they loved each other.

Dad is fairing well and did amazingly well the week of all the funeral prep. He seems better than he's been in some time. His blood sugar continues to spike and some of you may not be aware that he's been diagnosed with diabetes. The medical people are giving him appetite pills which is beyond us because we never saw him refuse a meal. But they said he was losing weight...which he's put back on and we can't seems to satiate his hunger now. Ha.

He and we were glad to see many of you and since most of us didn't get to attend the reunion it was a long time since we'd been together.

Kelly, Tracy, Lindsey, and Leslie did a beautiful job singing "On the Wings of a Dove" and Cody's girl-friend, sang "Angel" beautifully. Dad's pick was "Speckled Bird" and we all enjoyed that. Chip and Tonya found "Go Rest High Upon that Mountain". All-in-all we had lots of comments that the service was very good. We were a little frustrated that they didn't turn the lights down during the slide show but it was such a small thing.

Pastor Mat Matlock had known Mom since she was 12 and spoke of his first memories of her were her riding her bicycle everywhere. He told the story of how she was only nine days old and had contacted whooping cough. Grannie had heard that breathing into people's mouths had sometimes helped them and since Mom had turned black and then white she tried it and saved her life. God had a destiny planned for her life and none of us would be here had her destiny not been fulfilled. She raised us up to know Jesus and loved us well. Jeremy Strain spoke beautiful words also, and we believe no one left the funeral without realizing life was brief and that we all need Jesus.

For all the prayers, phone calls, the cards, the visits, those who attended, the flowers and plants, thank you. Each fell like rain bestowing grace with them from family and friends and loved ones. We hope you'll have time to visit Mom's memorial. http://www2.mem.com/ContentDisplay.aspx?ID=10449830

A poem I wrote a couple of days after Mom passed is shared below:

Dear Mama
Karen Magill
7/30/09

I look to the tree tops
I look to the sky
And I wonder, Dear Mama
How Far did you fly?
How long, Dear Mother
How long will it be?
How long will be till your face I will see?

From the day that I remember
You’ve always been near.
You held me and you loved me
And you made me feel dear.
You cared and watched over
Me When I was small
You made me feel special
As I lived through life’s all.

As I grew up you taught me
That for a short while we’d part
And you told me about Jesus
Right from the start
Love Him and trust Him
We’ll all be together someday
Just hold on to Him, dear
He’ll show you the way

For the first time I’m facing
My life without you.
Dear Mama, Sweet Mama
It will be hard to do.
I can almost hear you whisper
In your comforting way
It will be Okay, dear. It will be okay.

I look to the tree tops
I look to the sky
And I wonder, Dear Mama
How Far did you fly?
How long, Dear Mother
How long will it be?
I’ll hold on to His promise that your face I will see.

We love you all and are so grateful for the loving family God has placed us in.

Karen

Update on Dad

Dad is comfortable. He's not in danger and that's saying a lot as he fell several times before we followed the directions of the dr.s and admitted him to the home so he'd have 24 hr. care. He had given himself a couple of black eyes and lots of bruises from those falls and and we were all struggling about what to do. He called Chip and Jessica in the middle of the night many times and our concern grew immensely the night he wandered off, fell and a lady called 911. He did not know where he was. At that point he was admitted to the hospital and was throwing things at the nurses and very angry and very confused. He went to Abilene for a couple of weeks where they worked on his meds and recommended a nursing home.

He does ask when he's going home but not as often. It's very hard and an adjustment for all of us. He sleeps 99% of the day away. The nurses have problems getting him to get up. When Chip and I go to visit we try to get him up and take him for a ride, to visit Mom, or even just to sit in the shade at the Lodge.

He's pleasant but tires very easily and is very feeble. He barely is able to walk to the bathroom and back and getting him in the wheel chair is a shakey experience and into and out of the car is hard on him. When we do get him up and out he is ready to go back to bed almost as quickly as you arrive at your destination.

He hasn't smoked in years but the nurse told asked me yesterday if he did smoke. Somehow, somewhere he'd gotten a cigarette. I told her wasn't a big deal if he wanted a cigarette as long as someone was watching that he didn't burn himself or bring harm to someone. I was just glad to hear he'd gotten up and was outside with people. They have recently diagnosed him with diabetis and are currently treating him for that. He has blood in his stool and the dr. said it was up to us whether to have a colonoscopy to search for the reason. He's bled from his rectum for years and we believe it to be hemroids. There's a lot of risk in perforating a bowl or that his body wouldn't be strong enough to go through the procedure. If the procedure would show any cancer or problems we don't believe Dad would be strong enough to take chemo or radiation. They put him on iron which caused him to have diahrea and while it was keeping his blood count higher he was hospitalized because they were concerned of dehydration. The is was during the reunion. I had thought I'd take him for a day but the nurse practitioner said she didn't recommend him being taken out of town. They did take him off the iron. Three hours would be an eternity for dad driving in a car.

I read to him and he likes for his family to be there but usually sleeps through your visit if you stay long. He won't watch TV...even Westerns. He has no interest in anything but does eat well. Yesterday he said Buddy came to visit him and I said...you mean Chip? He said yes but a few minutes later he said Bud had just left. He's talked about going to see his Mama and I take it to be my mom and quiz him and he'll say yes but then will talk about seeing Mama and how she brought him into the world.

He's very sweet and it doesn't hurt anything but it brings us to the reality that's his memory is failing him.

We know everyone doesn't want him to be there and believe me, we don't want him there either but our denial had to stop...He can't take care of himself and we can't be there to take care of him 24 hrs. a day either. I feel pain for him when I'm not there, when I am there and when I knew he was home alone. It's one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life. I'm thankful God made a place for him at Valley Fair Lodge. The nurses and staff are kind and considerate and they are very clean and the only time I've smelled anything was when it was a current issue...not from uncleanlieness.

I wish that Mom would go up there. She's so determined not to but at least she'd be able to see Dad more. That's a whole nother issue. She's in poor physical health and sleeps all the time, too. Both of them just want everyone to leave them alone so they can sleep. We know it's not good for them but what do you do? They're still have vey strong wills.

I try to stay on top of things.

God bless you,

Karen

2009 Update

I'm way behind on keeping our blog-spot updated. Since I didn't get to attend the reunion last year I've felt like I was on a different planet. LOL (Lots of Laughs)I sent out invitations to Face Book to some of you and Ernest reminded me they'd been able to look at the site without "signing" up so maybe this will work better for you. It's just a little harder on me...I guess you too, if we don't get it updated. Dad said Uncle Don sent me a CD with pics but Jess carried it home with her and can't remember to bring it to me. It may be lost by now.

I've added picture links, as well as links to info you might need for the reunion. I'd love to have e-mails but so far don't have many.

I get a lot of my news second-hand and I'm not even sure how many of you still have the link to this news. Most of you have already heard and know everything before it gets printed anyhow but "just in case" you're like me and seem to be the last-to-know I'll go ahead and blog what I know.

The reunion is scheduled for June 14-17. (Sunday thru Wed. for some)Our kids from Louisiana are coming this summer and we're hoping their visit won't conflict with us coming. Deacon has a car show Fri. and Sat. before ..12th and 13th so if I can get him to come...(You know how it is when we get older...it takes longer to rest up.)

Dad has been the hospital the last four days. He's having trouble breathing and his potasium level was way high and sodium low. They've curtailed his fluid intake and he's not near as swollen as he was and seems to feel better. He gets confused when he's not on the o2 but they're trying to ween him off.

Jess said Aunt Jerry and Uncle Dub came by the hospital to visit Dad and they talked "garden." LOL.

Mom is "okay" but sleeps almost 24 hrs. per day. She's been in the hospital a couple of times (once was an air-lift to Abilene) and she and Dad were actually in the ER on the same day a few days ago. She was sent home, though and they thought she'd be okay. The nurse thought she had a "crackle" in her lung.

I hear Aunt Betty is going through some medical trauma. It seems they've found a mass that they believe to be too close to her heart to try to cut out so they're treating with meds.

Tracy's daughter Jenny will be married soon. She sent out the sweetest "unique" invitation DVD for her wedding.

I barely knew Tracey and Tom had moved to West Texas and now I'm hearing Aunt Joyce and Garland are planning to move this direction, also. I don't know why they wouldn't. I guess Lauren would be the only daughter not close to her if she does move.

I haven't heard from Bill or Annette.

Cheryl came to visit last weekend. She still lives in Houston and works two jobs. I'm "smitten" by my new granddaughter, Amrylin. I couldn't resist posting her picture. She's four months old now. I have gotten to see her every three to four weeks and am jealous of my sisters who have their grandchildren and kids so close.

Connie and Wes are doing okay. Wes was laid off a few weeks ago. He'd just gotten back to work from a back injury when they let him go. They're not sure what they'll do yet. Connie keeps Sadie and Avery often and tries to see the other grandchildren as often as she can.

Jess and Tony stay busy. Tony went to work at the prison and Jess has a full-time job taking care of Mom and Dad through Interim. I'm glad they allow family to work for them. It's worked out well for everyone. She gets to keep her three little granddaughters several days a week, too.

Chip, Tonya and family are good. Chip is busy working in the "wind turbine" fields and Cody works out there, also. Tony is finishing up school to work with them but he may be Chip's and Cody's boss some day cuz he's determined to finish school. Kalea is a twirler in high school and involved in U.I.L. and other activities. She keeps everyone quite busy. Tonya is still watching lots of sweet babies.

I run into Charlotte at the grocery store every now and again. That's how I heard about Aunt B. Seems like I don't hear news unless it's bad.

Of course Brenda's daughter works as a nurse so I saw her and she gave me a little bit of update...she's as poor on family info as me though...LOL.

If someone from each family will send a monthly note with news I can cut and paste it into the blog...(Maybe) and get the news out that way. If you sign up to google or g-mail I think you can add comments and that would be great.

Okay, I'm gonnia quit typing for now. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone soon.

Love,

Karen