Update on mom

Good afternoon,

I thought that I would write and let you know that mom is doing ok. She came down to Kansas City on Saturday the 26th to visit and have some fun with the kids. Of course she brought her video camera down, so if you stop by, I'm sure that she would love to show you Ali and Zac playing their favorite game "catching butterflies". I'll just leave it at that. We also colored Easter eggs and went to Cold Stone Creamery for ice cream. I think that mom enjoyed her coffee and vanilla combination. If she didn't, she sure did a good job of licking the spoon clean. :)

She was on the road shortly after 4:00. Mom wanted to get home before it started getting dark. For some reason the deer just love to jump out in front of her while she drives on the back road of Iowa.

Danna, Nic and I call her regularly. When I call and someone beeps in she will say "I bet that is one of the girls". Sure enough, it normally was. I'll get a few of the pictures posted tonight when I get home.

Better get going.

-Andy

Message from Nic

Hello all, Nic here again. I know that Andy has posted a few things and mom did as well. I know she plans on keeping the post for a while. It is nice for me to go back and read the 1st entries that dad wrote. Plus I heard many people tell me how thankful they were for the blog. It is nice to know all my ramblings helped keep people informed.

I wanted let you know that we were overwhelmed with the support of the community, friends, and family throughout the past few weeks. As Bill's daughter, I always thought he was a wonderful dad and a great guy, but it was nice to have the support and hear the stories of others who felt the same. Thank you all.

When I was driving home yesterday to hang out with mom, I saw many farmers in the field. I think in the back of my mind I thought dad would pass in the spring. He surely considered all the people that he thought might come to visitation and the funeral and wouldn't have wanted them to miss out on too much work in the field. Or would he want them to have to work extra at night and take away from time with their families. Dad was always thinking of others, I think even in his death.

We have all been keeping busy, as dad would have wanted. I think he would laugh at the number of times we have been shopping lately. He didn't mind going shopping, but surely would have questioned what else we needed. We also have been getting lots of things done at the house. We got the basement cleaned up and Kevin installed a new electrical outlet and a new cable hook up for the tv. Kevin is also hoping to get down to frame up mom's wood shop soon... we will keep you posted.

Not much else to report, just wanted to write, say hi and thanks to everyone...

Nic

Message from mom

I thought I would write a quick note to let you know that I am back to school. My days are busy which is great, it's the nights that aren't. I have been able to rake a little in the yard, visit with my neighbors Elaine and Susan, that helps. One night I even ventured back to school to watch part of the speech recital.

I haven't started to write the multitude of thank you's yet. Maybe I will start on that this weekend. So for the plants and flower arrangements still look great, but it is a job to remember which one I watered last.

I'll try to keep you posted about what's happening. Thanks for checking.

Carol

Mom's Bill Watchers

Hello all,

This post is for the men and women that mom affectionately calls her "Bill Watchers". These were the people who volunteered their time to come and sit with dad while mom went to school part time. They were more than just someone who occupied a chair while mom was away. They provided emotional support for both mom and dad as they coped with dad's illness.

I don't know everyone's name, so I will not try to list each of you. I want you to know that your support gave my parent's the strength to make it through some very tough times. Your support and kindness will continue to be called upon in the weeks and months to come.

Thank you for the kindness and love you gave to mom and dad.

-Andy

Memories of a wonderful man

Hello all,

First of all, I want to say thank you to each and every one of you that take a moment out of your day to stop in and see how my dad was doing. Thank you again.

-Andy

The struggle is over

Hello all,

This afternoon at 4:30 PM my father passed away. His passage was peaceful. At my father's bedside was my mother, sister Nicole and myself. The family is gathering at mom's house tonight.

Say a prayer for my dad as he is welcomed into HEAVEN. He is in a better place now.

Thanks for all your prayers and well wishes, they came to mean a lot to my father.

Sincerely,

Andy, Danna and Nic

Visitors from KC

Well Andy and the kids came up today to stay with dad while mom was at the blood mobile. Dad was pretty worn out again today. Yesterday he had his bath when Jill from hospice was there, which always tires him out. He was really sleepy last night while I was there. Mom and I had a wonderful time last night. I brought some more salmon down to grill and we enjoyed that for a late supper. Then I baked 2 batches of chocolate chip cookies for the blood mobile today. Mom had made 2 batches of brownies and a batch of rice krispie treats. I also made a pan of peanut butter bars. So I hope they had enough! : )

Dad got a very nice letter from one of his former students yesterday, too. She graduated from Villisca and fellow NWMSU alum, then went on to become an elementary teacher and girls basketball coach. She said that dad was a great teacher and when she started coaching basketball, she understood why they had to do the things she didn't like to do in practice, she said it finally made sense. It was very touching and I would like to thank her for the letter, of course I forgot to write her name down....

I called mom this morning to make sure that she was up and around. She had to be a school by 09:45, and had a few things to do before she went. She said 3 times what a nice day it was today. I sure hope she gets to have her coffee on the porch or outside by the pond with the kids, after school. I also called Andy around lunch and he and the kids made it safely. They were having fun playing, but were perplexed why Nana was not there.... I guess that would be weird, you go to her house and she is gone, hard for little kids to get. They were just getting ready to eat lunch, Andy said that mom was going to try to come home for a bit to see them and check on dad. : )

Yesterdays visitors were Colleen Alley and Jill from hospice. Colleen brought more "sunshine" for dad's room, she brought flowers again. They are very cheery and bright, thanks Colleen!
Today Stan and Shirley Schaaf were out early to the house before Andy got there from KC. So a big thanks for taking time out of their Friday morning.

I hope that the blood mobile went well today, I will tell you about it on Monday. I am headed home tomorrow morning. Mom has a hair cut in Glenwood and plus, I want to see Andy and the kids before they go back to Missouri! Danna and Kevin are going down on Sunday and since the weather is supposed to be nice, they are going to bring the dogs with them. They always have a good time running around the farm!

Hope you have a great weekend and thanks for checking on dad.

Nic

Elbow trouble

Mom somehow twisted her elbow wrong yesterday and was in some pain. She took some ibuprofen and put some ice and heat on it and was feeling a bit better this morning. She was having trouble pulling dad up last night and she told him that she didn't think she could move him. He said "we're screwed". Which is a strange comment for him to make, but still funny! But she was able to get him repositioned this morning ok.

Dad ate all but one bite of the food mom made for his lunch, which is good. Then he slept most of the afternoon. Bill and Alena Fichter are watching Mark and Benita's children while they are out of town and so they had Isaac with them. They were commenting on how busy the kids were, they were keeping them hopping. Bill was telling mom that some of the tree branches they were trimming may be worth some money. So mom is going to try to find out more about that before she burns them all.

Mom also said that her students pies turned out pretty good. I think she was pleased and happy that another busy unit was complete.

This morning when I called the guy that wanted a fuel tank, Mr. Beetle, was there and had written her a check for the fuel tank. He said she was the only person who called him. They were waiting for Tom Polluck to come help move it with a tractor to his trailer. He volunteered to help, which was very nice. Mom said that Mr. Beetle knew Tom from a management meeting of some kind, small world. So I didn't get to talk to her too long this morning. She said that dad had a good night and was sleeping when I called.

That is about it, thanks for checking on dad.

Nic

More sunshine today and new gravel on the driveway!

Well another bright morning and it could get up to 50 today. Mom was looking forward to having her coffee and a cookie on the porch. The hospice nurse Karen brought them chocolate chip cookies today! That was so sweet! : ) Thanks Karen!

Mom said that Dad had kind of a restless night, he was up at 3 and 5, but managed to get back to sleep. This morning Karen, the nurse said that dad is getting a new spot on his back, they are hoping to keep it from becoming a pressure sore. He ate about 10 bites of breakfast and took most of his pills too. So all in all, not bad. Mom had called the manor and Glen Howard, because he is going to take Aunt Dorthy to get her hair done. Plus Wayne called about the gravel. Yesterday afternoon mom and dad had more gravel delivered for the driveway. Mom said that he didn't need to bring anymore for up by the cars and that it looked great!

Yesterday afternoon Gordon, dad's cousin, visited and brought ice cream from Pat's Place in Malvern. Apparently dad was sleeping so they didn't get to visit, but thanks for stopping by. Dad enjoyed some of the ice cream last night before he went to bed. Grandma Scott sent a nice card too...

Mom also said that yesterday morning that some guy called the elephant shop wanting a diesel fuel tank with a pump. Mom called around to see how much she should sell theirs for, then called him back. He is going to come over and look at it today, I think. She went out and took a picture of it and emailed it to him, as well. Mom said if he did want it, that it would pay for the new gravel, so not a bad trade if it works out.

The students pies went pretty well too. Mom said that all the pies were done baking and cooling when she left. They ran out of lemon juice, but did some improvising for the last lemon meringue pie. Mom hopes it won't be runny. She said it was a busy afternoon with all the pies and one of her other classes doing a muffin redo lab. They have to change the ingredients and have them still turn out ok, like adding applesauce for the fat, and such.

Today the visitors are Bill and Alena Fichter and Uncle Cliff, I think. I keep forgetting to ask, I should remember by now! Oh well...
Thanks for checking on dad, he is hanging in there!
Nic

Welcome March

It is hard for me to believe that it is March 1st already. March always makes me remember high school English class with Mrs. Malcom and "beware the ides of March," the warning from the soothsayer to Julius Caesar. Strange what stays with us from our past. Fremont Mills will definitely miss her when she retires. A big thank you from me for making us work hard - I can't imagine how hard college would have been without having her for one of my teachers.

This morning went well for mom. She slept well last night and dad woke up only once. She said he had kind of got uncovered, so she covered him back up and he went right back to sleep. That doesn't seem to be much of a problem for him lately. He did have a few bites of breakfast today and was sleeping when I called. Mom was on the phone with Aunt Kathy when I first called, then Danna when I called back, but the 3rd time was a charm. She had been very productive so far today. She had called James' Grocery for the ham and buns for the Bloodmobile on Friday and a few things she needs for school today. That way she will just have to stop and get them, then head to school. She also called and got Aunt Dorothy's tax appointment with her accountant. Plus she had the letter and envelope all ready to go for the FCCLA Cluster Meeting registration. She said it is amazing how much more you get done when you get a good night of sleep. I agree, plus the bright sunshine helps too!

Yesterday she said that her pie demo went pretty well. She wasn't too pleased with her meringue. She said probably should have rewashed the bowl, because sometimes they don't do a great job getting them clean after they cook. But the kids all thought it looked great. Most of the kids did a great job with the crusts for their pies. This was their 3rd time making crusts, so it should have been pretty easy. Hopefully making the fillings goes ok today, too.

Yesterday's visitors got along fine. Dad slept most of the time. One of the guys hauling grain stopped in to see them yesterday afternoon as well. I didn't get his name, but that was nice of him to stop and say hi. Mom said dad was kind of nauseated in the afternoon yesterday. He did sit up and eat a few bites for supper, then watched or listened to part of a couple of college basketball games.

Today's visitors are Elaine Costello, mom and dad's neighbor, and Jill from hospice. Danna and Kevin are heading down tonight after work to visit.

That about sums it up for today, thanks for checking on dad.

Nic