Last one of the bunch.

She's gone. We are so sad. She was my baby. We got her at 6 weeks old, one year after Oscar. They were full brother and sister, just different litters. She went to find Oscar, Little Man, and Minnie yesterday afternoon. It hurts so bad.

The end is in sight

Waiting for carpet. Mom and Dad are both planning on the 1st of Sept. to come home. Still up in the air as far as we are concerned. No notice from doctors or therapy staff so the date is still iffy.

Took Dad to see Mom yesterday, then took both of them to see the house Heather is building. No, not hers that way. She is the contractor. Beautiful house, in Eagle. Not where I would want to be because of the all the extra costs, but nice house anyway. I guess it could be hers to live in if the people wanting to buy it, back out of the deal. She is building the house with that in the back of her mind. The way she would like it to be.

Taking Rob to see a surgeon tomorrow. Seems he has a hernia. Lisa has one also. She was born with hers and didn't know it. Will find our more tomorrow with Rob.

Vacation seems to be coming into reality. Told the folks that 1 week after they go home, we are leaving. They agreed that it has been well earned. So keep your fingers crossed that nothing else goes wrong.

Thanks to all for the good thoughts and wishes.
Later, Cathy

Photos...finally!

before

next

same corner, different perspective

Now, just no carpet yet

entry into kitchen before cleaning and deconstruction

after widening doorway and before paint

after paint

before

after

this is the ramp installed

More later. Yard work to do.  Later Cathy

Another week passes

Today is the 20th of August. It is about 9:33 am. Been up about 2 hours, and am now on "home" mode. We were back at Mtn. Home last Monday afternoon, and stayed until last night. As we drove up to the house, we looked at the yard expecting to see very dried up grass and trees, but no, there was standing water everywhere. Got around to the back and found a broken pipe in the well house and water going full tilt. Pump was doing a good job of irrigating, sand and all. Don't know how long is was running, had to be at least a day, but no one bothered to let us know about it. Neighbors were supposed to be checking daily. Evidently not.

Anyway, we got the family room painted, trimmed, and semi cleaned up and ready for carpet. Hopefully next week. Mom and Dad want to get home ASAP so we are on "get it done" mode. Informed both brothers they need to be available the weekend after carpet to help move furniture into room. No excuses allowed. They need to help.

Tried to upload photos, blog won't let me. I can't get spell check to work either.

Another week starts

Here it is, Sunday evening, and we are getting ready to leave home again. Tomorrow we head for Mtn. Home to get more done. The walls are ready to be finished, be that more paint or trim around the windows and crown moulding. We got a small air compressor instead of renting one. Rich has the days planned out pretty much. Have to call DirecTv tomorrow to get the wiring reset for the tvs cuz somebody cut them to fill in the holes in the wall. I wonder who would do that? Nobody I know. Ha Ha. I get to handle all the financial stuff for my parents. That in itself is a chore. I finally got the account to balance, for this month anyway. Along with the inside fixes, the VA installed a ramp for the front entry. It extends all the way to the front sidewalk. Rich told me it is worth approx. $4k. He expects someone to try to steal it as it is all aluminum. Gues we will see, as we are bound to be there.

On Satuday (July 30) we took dad car hunting. Mom hated their car, so he decided to find something for her. Found it at Dennis Dillon. A 2004 Lincoln Town Car with all the bells and whistles. Rich brokered the deal and we finalized it after we took dad back to the ISVA. Now the car is used to pick up dad and take him to see mom or it sits in our driveway. Sure got some long looks from the neighbors when that car appeared.

Last Tuesday morning, we had a meeting at the VA for dad and his progress. Doing well, thank you. Then we took off for Home Depot in Meridian to collect a window and the paint we ordered. Got to Mtn. Home safely, unloaded the window and tools, etc.

Wednesday, the rest of the windows were to be delivered, the ramp installed and the walls had to be sanded in prep for paint. The ramp got installed on time. Took most of the day. The walls got sanded. The windows, however, were supposed to be there by 3:30. At 4, I called. Seems the big truck broke down and all the windows had to be off loaded by hand where it sat. So the windows actually got there about 6 pm. Thursday, the window installers got there about 8:30 am, and we spent the day helping them by getting supplies and an extra door sidelight to be put in also. Friday, the head installer returned to do the finish carpentry, some drywall, and be a general helping hand for Rich. He answered all questions professionally and helpfully. The guy is really good at his job. By 8 pm, we were exhausted. Rich had already said we would go home on Saturday, but, as I was on the phone, he came into the room and said "let's go home." Yea Rah!!. So we packed up and went home. Got here about 10:30 pm. Sure did feel good to be home. Yesterday, we picked up dad to go see mom. We are getting burned out quickly. Going back to Mtn. Home tomorrow some time. Hopefully we will be done, other than carpet, in a couple of days. Keep your fingers crossed. We could use some good luck.
Later...Cathy

We are having FUN!!!!

Today is Thursday the 11th. We have been in Mtn. Home since Tuesday afternoon. We have sanded the drywall, are getting windows installed as we speak, and finding more stuff. STUFF. Seems to be an affliction of those who survived the depression era. Not my dad but my mom. She is very ingenious when it comes to hanging stuff. Curtains are on nails, pins and whatever else other than real live curtain rods. The only ones on rods are the ones in the front room, and that because Heather put them up. Above them are pins to hold the Christmas lights that we took down last week. Tomorrow, the painting begins. Think happy thoughts!

Cathy

Home Coming

The latest news that is all the news. Well, maybe. Anyway, the latest to date.

Thanks to all the well wishers.

Mom is still in Life Care Center. Dad is still in the Idaho Vets Home. He likes it better than Mom does. Her test came back positive for the colitus, but she is not symptomatic. So trying to get her to VA with Dad, and they are hesitant. She had a meltdown yesterday after they told her she couldn't go. Now we have to wait until our "meeting" for Dad and his problem to know what to do with Mom. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday morning. She may have to stay where she is, cuz Dad may get to come home sooner than later.

We have been back to Mtn. Home again. Left here last Sunday and got home yesterday. While at MH, we got insulation installed, drywall installed, and a wall (about 16" worth) taken out to widen the doorway for wheelchair access, and the windows will be installed next week. There will also be a bathroom reno when we can get it done, and the front walk was measured for a modular ramp. Got lots of photos, but they are on Dad's camera, so I don't have access to them right now.
Mom is so upset about all the changes. She feels we have taken all decisions out of her hands. In a way we have. The house was so bad, and she would not admit it. We got rid of a lot a junk, and put alot in the shed out back. Standard answer to any of her questions about her "stuff" is "it's in the ham shack." (Dad's old radio room) Hopefully, we will get paint and carpet in before either gets to go home. Mom is still iffy about her future, but her goal is home, so she is trying to do more each day in rehab. Her legs are swollen, her feet are swollen. Lymphodima (?). She has water blisters down the front of each leg.

I have to go mow the lawn now. (Thank goodness for riding mowers) After that, we have to go to the carpet place to get some samples for Mom to look at. She has to pick the colors for the wall and trim and carpet. Later everyone.