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Showing posts from January, 2009

25 Random Things from Facebook

I know, I know, this is supposed to be a Facebook exercise but I can't bring myself to write a note. I think I will start 25 Random Things for Bloggers . Here it goes: 1. I drool like a maniac. I always have, and am pretty sure this will continue until the sweet Lord calls me Home. My dad often joked I would go to the prom with a wet chest. Thankfully, I didn't, and was also able to attribute some of my nighttime drooling to my retainers as I got older. Now I have no excuse. I am 24, married, and I drool like a fool. Sweet. 2. I was only 20 months old when my brother was born. I was terribly jealous. His blood count was low when he was born and the doctors gave him blood without my parents permission - big no no. To make a long story short, the doctor was a friend of the family and my parents never felt like they could do anything about it. So, a week later when purple spots appeared all over my brother's body my parents freaked out! The pediatrician's conclusion - pin

My First Visit at PV

Mom and Me Mom and a friend passing in the hall. George and Mom walking. Reid, Dad, Mom, and Me Reid, Mom, and Me. This is how she travels around the hallways in what we call her Mercedes Benz of wheelchairs. I have never seen anyone so good at using their legs to "walk" themselves in a wheelchair! What a treat! Leave it to Mare to bring her a coke for dinner. I will update more later. I just wanted to get the photos I took posted. Mare

Eye Doctor

Our good family friend and eye doctor went and visited my mom today. He did an out patient eye exam on her and determined the health of her eyes is still good - no cataracts, glaucoma, etc. He did agree with our conclusion that whatever sight trouble she is having is directly related to the progression of the disease and it's effect on the sensory organs. In other words, her brain is not sending her eyes the correct messages anymore. On an exciting note, I get to see her on Saturday! I am heading to LR this weekend and I am so excited! -- Post From My iPhone

The Grandle Family

I thought I would share a picture (the only picture of all of us) from last Christmas in Dallas. We forgot to take a picture this Christmas (celebrated at Thanksgiving)... Oops! Oh well, there will be many more! Denny, Debra, Reid, me, Trevor, and Cori -- Post From My iPhone

Strongest Dad in the World

I had the opportunity to read this article in Sports Illustrated years ago. I really have no idea what made me think of it tonight, but I wanted to share it with you. It is an incredible story about the bond between a parent and a child. I hope it touches your heart like it does mine. by Rick Reilly Eighty-five times he's pushed his disabled son, Rick, 26.2 miles in Marathons. Eight times he's not only pushed him 26.2 miles in a Wheelchair but also towed him 2.4 miles in a dinghy while swimming and Pedaled him 112 miles in a seat on the handlebars--all in the same day. Dick's also pulled him cross-country skiing, taken him on his back Mountain climbing and once hauled him across the U.S. On a bike. Makes Taking your son bowling look a little lame, right? And what has Rick done for his father? Not much--except save his life. This love story began in Winchester , Mass. , 43 years ago, when Rick Was strangled by the umbilical cord during birth, leaving him Brain-damaged and un

A Mountain Top Day

Most of our days the past few weeks have been spent in the valley. Today, however, God gave us, what I will call, a mountain top day. She had what we call a "window" this morning. From the moment she saw my dad this morning during his visit, she was aware enough to ask him to take her home. Home this time was their house. She became increasingly upset during this "window," not understanding why she was at the nursing home. The nurse gave her a does of the medicine used to calm her down in these situations and it worked quickly. By the time my dad left my sister had arrived to feed Mom lunch, and with that the window closed.  The hardest thing about these "windows" is that she has no memory of them ever occurring, but we forever will. I will always remember her asking me and George to take her home with us that night at the hospital. She knew us, knew the visiting time was limited and even said it wasn't long enough. We all bare the emotional pain of a

Happy Anniversary!

Wedding Day! One Year Anniversary! Picture in Nappa wine country this summer! Two Year Anniversary! 

Mom and Toby!

After almost a month apart, Mom and Toby, lovingly referred to as her fourth baby, were finally reunited outside on a walk at the nursing home. George captured the sweet moment. He said my mom and Toby were both so excited, and she kept hugging him saying, "Good boy." Toby has been pretty sad without my mom at home, so I am really glad he got to see his Mama.

Coming Back...

When I was in Little Rock for two weeks in December the thought of coming back to Dallas was never daunting. After living here for two years Dallas feels like home. I think there are several reasons for this.  The first is that I have an amazing husband who I feel I grew even closer to during our time in Little Rock. There is something about experiencing deep pain together that can either tear you apart or draw you close. I have to make the decision everyday to share my feelings with Reid and to allow him to grieve with me, instead of isolating myself from him. Thankfully, I am married to a patient man! He is also supportive of my desire to return to Little Rock twice a month over the next few months. With a job that already requires him to travel during the week, I know this will be a season of sacrifice for both of us. I am so thankful for a loving and compassionate husband. I also thought about the great friends I had in Dallas to support me. We are not all in the same home group an

Her new home - PV

Since my parents wedding day they have lived together in a house on  Rivercrest Drive. That changed Monday when my mom was moved into Presbyterian Village. I have had a vast array of emotions this week as I have tried to wrap my mind around what my dad must feel every night he goes to bed alone. I try to put myself in his place, even as much as I am hurting, but I can't imagine his loss. Twenty-five years of memories in a home, and you are forced to move your wife somewhere else for reasons you can't control. And, yet, his strength and dedication should be admired by every married man. Mom had no trouble adjusting to life in the nursing home. It is almost as if she never knew anything changed. The lenient visiting hours have been so much better (on our family) at least. My dad is able to see her right before she goes to bed at night, and sees her at different times through the day. I think my mom has had more visitors than anyone else on her floor! She was always a social butt

Back with Luke and Emme

I got to see my little friends today! I missed them so much...and thankfully they were glad I was back, too. ;) After a morning check-up at the doctor's office, we played with their new toys from Christmas. What fun things Santa brought in his sleigh. UPS brought a package to the door this afternoon and Luke asked if it was Christmas Eve again. HA! The high in Dallas today was 75 and we spent the rest of the afternoon playing at the park and feeding the ducks at the pond nearby. There is a HUGE white swan that the kids thought was really funny. The pictures are from two weeks ago when we first met Mr. Swan.  Tonight, on our way home from the park, Luke said, "I am pretty sad, Mare." When I asked him why he was sad he said it was because he missed his Mommy and Daddy. I told him it was OK and that we  were going to have a fun night (they were out celebrating his dad's birthday) and preceded to list everything we would do together. Then he said, "Mare, just say, &#

Back in Dallas

I visited my mom for the last time today in the Geri Psych Ward before I left to drive back to Dallas. She will be released sometime next week, and make her home at Presbyterian Village. After that Hospice will step in when the end is in sight. We do not yet know if at that time she will go to a Hospice facility or back to our home. We are hoping, as we have up to this point, to know what to do when the time comes.  She has been acting so much more alert since they cut back on her meds. She was laughing a lot today. I still, am not sure how much recognition she has of people, and she certainly does not remember names consistently. She did ask where her sister went when my aunt left the room, though. She said some really cute stuff, things that wouldn't have made much sense to anyone but family, but it was a great New Year's present for those of us there with her. To see her finally in brighter spirits was what we have waited for - and today we saw it!  The nurse reminded us tha