I can't seem to scoot these photos below the words, so they will stay on top! Today Austin was able to "jump up" on the bottle at the play area. He was so proud. He made it b/c I took his socks off...shhh, don't tell mom!!
I had the best day with Austin today. My first day off and he and I went by the dollar zone, bought lots of things for my STLP and I told him he could have one thing. He found a cool sword in a sheath and that's all he asked for. He bought one for Matthew as well. Matthew and Maggie went to the doctor today with Becky. After the store, we took muffins to mamaw and papaw and visited for a very short while.
I know the visits with dad will be among the last we have. He may linger on, but each day he looks weaker. As you know, we played Rook twice a week for the past two years or so. About two weeks ago, he played but wasn't himself. Then last week, he said he didn't feel like playing. This week he didn't either. So, we may have played our last game of Rook with mom and me against dad and Kent. It was a fun time just sitting next to dad for so many games. I could pat his hand or his knee or pick up a dropped card for him over and again. I could laugh at the times he made "small one line jokes" about his hand. He remains funny to this day.
On Monday, his foot was swollen and red. The girls went by earlier in the day and mom said they think it may be gout (how do you spell that...does it have a silent "h" or something??) Anyway, when I came in and he saw me, he said "I'm charging a dollar a look"....although many days I needed to get home and do a little cleaning, or cooking, I truly tried to remember that those things could wait, but my time with him may not. Both Martha and Beverly are very good at this as well, so none of us will have to worry that we should have been there more often. For each of us, our dad truly is the best. When we count our blessings this Thanksgiving Day, we have that on the top of our Thanksgiving lists, I'm sure.

Beautiful Fall Day

Today was almost 60 degrees and we had a nice ride out Pisgah Pk. to Midway. We love the ride in the convertible where we are able to see all the countryside. I had a blanket on my lap, but really was warm. Darlin' Jeans is our favorite rest. there...we LOVE the bagel melt...the best fries and shared a huge salad. We took the time to walk down through the town and just enjoyed being together.

Becky and Jason took Matthew for a visit that Austin and Maggie didn't get to go, so we LOVED having them for a short while. They ran in the backyard and laughed, Austin was looking for treasures for his bucket. Here are a few pix of them today.

Sunday

I am always thankful when Becky and Jason return to pick up the kids and they have not had any accidents. As Vickie said of Parker "he isn't going to get hurt on my watch" (similar?) and I agree. On our watch (with God's help!), we want them to stay unharmed! On anyone's watch we pray for their safety. They are so good and we had fun with them. Matthew was insecure and asked several times when would mommy and daddy be home....then a couple of times he cried. I assured him they would return and would always return. I told him they would not ever leave their kids anywhere and not come back for them. That they needed to get away some but they would always come back.

They went into church today running all the way down the breezeway (what do you call that?) and were so happy. Here are some photos of today.

I told you mommy would be here when you woke up! A weekend in Louisville for sessions in the adoption process is just what the doctor ordered. They came back very happy to be home and see the kids. Adoption may be awhile, but they are getting all their ducks in a row!

Weekend with the Grandkids

Jason and Becky are in Louisville at a conference for those in foster care who are planning to adopt. This was a weekend away, alone in a motel, and on top of that, classes that are super saturated with information, help, support and encouragment for taking care of their three. It's late at this moment and I should be in bed. This may not all be worded exactly right, but I wanted to post a few photos. I picked up the boys at Tots and Jessica brought home Maggie from Woodford Co. We all played outside while it was nice, then took off for Sir Pizza. Went to the mall after that and the boys played so nice. We even thanked them for leaving without one word or tear. Just a nice night. Getting all three to bed wasn't as easy, but it is done and if I don't get there soon, they will be back up!

This has been a great Veteran's Day. I have loved seeing all the red, white and blue at Clays Mill. The 3rd grade had a program and invited the Veteran's to come and honored them. In my lab, I showed a video on how to say "thank you" in sign language and as each student left, they signed thank you to me, practicing for when they see a soldier. I made a card for my dad and one 3rd grade class all signed it along with me. I took this to dad with a little gift snack basket. He served in World War II in the Navy.

These days he is fighting his own private war just to get up in the morning without falling. To arm himself with a cane on very good days, a walker when he's a little more weak, and like today, he gets into his wheelchair for my brother to wheel him to the bathroom.
While most of us are comfortable in our own skin, he is cold. I turn up the electric wrap that he sits under 24/7 to high today until he gets warm. His hands are still cold. He doesn't drink much doctor told him this would cause him to retain fluid. He is in battle against too much fluid in his abdomen and then he has to get out to the hospital for this to be removed. It has been three weeks since he had the last six or so liters removed...due again in a week (less or more). This is my dad's own personal war. Keep fighting dad. You make us proud. Happy Veteran's Day.

This is today outside of dad's house.

Busy days tired nights!

Jason Allen closed on his new house last week on Tuesday. He took off Wed.-Fri. to change over all his utilities, pack, and paint the house in Winchester. Then on Fri. my brother Kent, Kevin (Angie's husband), Clyde and Jason moved all his belongings to Lexington. The house needed new paint inside so they moved everything to the garage. Now starting last Sat., Clyde and Jason are painting his new home. The ceilings are tall so it has been slow moving. Here is a picture of his house.

The guys have been working so hard, so last night I made them a pot of cheesy potato soup, cornbread and some staples for a quick snack so they wouldn't starve! They are at it again tonight...we are out with friends on Fri. (thanks Julie) and Sat. Jason and Cassie are off to the UK EKU football game (thanks Michelle & Fred)......they will enjoy it all the more since his time has been spent at work then getting home and WORKING. GO BLUE!

If you are reading this and haven't checked out Becky's blog you need to. She is honoring Katie this week as it was one year ago that she was injured. I am sitting here with no words in thinking how Katie's family has to suffer when thinking of this. I know they need continued prayers as well as Matthew needs to be remembered as he heals and lives his life to the fullest. This is a picture of the sunset tonight looking out my back door. This reminds me of Heaven.