You're a Good Man Charlie Brown

Thursday, November 18th 2010 was Grandpa Brown's viewing. It was amazing to see how many people came to pay their respects to their family member, friend, co-worker and teacher. Grandpa truly touched many people's lives. 

Friday, November 19th 2010 was Grandpa's funeral. There was another viewing at 11:00 AM and again I was amazed by all the people. Sadly, not everyone got to see him. We had a family prayer and then we said our "final" goodbyes before they closed the coffin. (That was the hardest part.) Then we had the funeral at 12. It was a beautiful ceremony. Then we headed to the graveyard. (The next hardest part.) 

Here are a few pictures of me and Grandpa. 

"A Grandpa is someone you never outgrow your need for." -Unknown

Holding his first Grandchild

Temple Square

Taking me on some rides at Hershey Park

Grandpa has a picture napping with each of his Grandchildren :)

My 15th Birthday

My 16th Birthday

At our wedding

I love and miss you Grandpa. We'll be together again someday.

Hospital Update

Grandpa - still in the hospital and will be for while. He is at Pioneer Valley Hospital in the ICU. He is currently sedated and intabated. (I don't think that's spelt right, but I can't spell!) He was breathing very well on his own and actually had CO2 poisoning. He also has a sever infection in his lungs. As of day, his labs are looking better and his lungs sound better.  We take it one day at a time and are here for each other as a family.

Grandma - is having a really hard time with all of this. She doesn't like going and seeing him and when we are there she doesn't stay long. She is worrying about everything little thing at home to keep her mind off of what is wrong, which is driving me nuts, but I know she needs me. She also is forgetting a lot more because she is so worried. (I don't think she has cried yet.)

Please keep them in your prayers and thoughts. I will try better to keep this blog updated for everyone.

Paramedics

Grandpa hasn't been doing very good since Sunday. He is much more confused and much less mobile. He hasn't been eating and all he wants to do is sleep. His oxygen levels are very low causing everything to get worse. Today he had an appointment to check his heart. But when it was time to go, he couldn't get out of the chair. We couldn't get him out either. He was too weak and weighs too much for me, Grandma or Maria to get him up. He tried one last time to get up and was almost all the way up and decided he was too weak, so he fell to his knees. We lied him down and I called 911. The emergency crew came and took him to Pioneer Valley Hospital. We aren't sure yet when he will be home.

Is my face blue?

Because I feel like I am talking till I'm blue in the face and no one is listening. I talk to Grandpa and he either forgets or ignores me. So I put up notes and he ignores them too. I suggested to put in hard wood floor to make it easier for Grandpa to get around. And nothing was done. Now he complains that it's hard for him to push the walker on the carpet. I suggested that we find a senior center for Grandpa to go to during the day for scheduled activities and to socialize with others his age. And all I got was that's a good idea we'll look into it. Now his sleeping schedule is completely turned around. I have now asked for help either from family or bringing in a nurse because it is getting to much for me and Grandma. Honestly he needs to go back to the home, but no one wants that. However they aren't here everyday. He keeps Grandma up all night and has started waking up us. He sleep all morning. He has tripled in size. He is always sick to his stomach. He needs more and more help doing everyday things. And he has gotten really mean. If something isn't done, I won't be able to do this anymore and will have to move out. Then what will happen?

Autumn!

I have been loving my Grandparents yard! It is so full of color and textures! I thought I take some pictures and share them.

ENJOY! :)

This vine type plant is so pretty! It's my favorite!!!

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

The Good:

Grandpa made lunch the other day.

The Bad:

He made lunch because Grandma fell and didn't feel well.

The Ugly:

I don't want this blog to sound like I am complaining or being negative, but not every story is a "this will be funny later". In reality, Grandpa is getting worse. He doesn't want to get out of his chair. He doesn't want to do anything for himself. And everyday things are getting very hard for him. He has also started to forget people's names and dates of events.

Just to warn my family members, not all of my posts are going to be happy and "funny". And I may post something that you think isn't "appropriate". But I am doing this so that the family knows exactly what is going on.

Let's Talk

Yesterday's conversation:

Grandma: "Oh, Matlock! I forgot this was on now."

About a minute later:

Grandpa: "What are we watching?"

Grandma: "I'm not sure"

(Looks it up)

              "Matlock, I forgot this was on now."

Grandpa: "Have you seen this one?"

Grandma: "I've hardly seen any episodes of Matlock"

Grandpa: "Does this episode look familiar?"

Grandma: "NO...does it look familiar to you?"

Grandpa: "NO...lets watch this"

I DON'T GET IT

ALL THEY WANT IS MCDONALD'S!!!

And I don't know how to talk them out of it anymore. I've cooked, offered Chick-Fil-A, bought rotisserie chicken at the grocery store. Any suggestions on what else to do!?!?!?!?!

Grandma

Well, our journey just got a little harder. Grandma has the early onset of Alzheimer's. Right now, she doesn't want to take medication for it because she doesn't want to believe that she has it too. But I see signs of it everyday. And some days, as hard as it is to take care of them, I know that I am needed and that I will be blessed. I am very grateful for the opportunity to take care of them and I feel that I am the lucky one.

It's August Grandpa :)

So the other night I was doing laundry and all of the sudden I could smell something. At first I thought it was the dryer, but after checking on the dryer and smelling anything but clean clothes, I began to wonder if I was imagining the smell. So I went back to folding clothes. I could still smell something and I was starting to get very warm. I decided to feel the air vent. Sure enough, it was warm air blowing out. I realized I was smelling the furnace when you first turn it on in the winter. So I went and checked the thermostat, it was on heat. I changed it back to cool and set the temperature to what we usually have it on at night and went back to doing laundry.

Above me, I heard Grandpa get and figured he was using the restroom. A minute later, I smelt the furnace again and starting getting warm again. I grab my robe and went up to their bedroom. Grandma was out of the covers and clearly hot and uncomfortable. Grandpa was under at least 3 covers. I asked them why we had the heat on?! Grandma had no idea and was mad because she was 'dying' from the heat! Grandpa told me he just turned it back to cool. I explained to him that I had done that earlier and he just turned it back to heat. He said that he didn't turn it back to heat and that his feet were keeping him up. Sometimes you just have to laugh and add a sign! :)

Grandma and Grandpa

I am very blessed. I have all 4 of my grandparents still. But they are starting to age and as much as I hate to say it...decline. My Paternal Grandpa got sick and was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and Dementia in April, 2010. My husband and I gave up our awesome rental house next to my parents and moved into my grandparents basement to take care of them. This blog is dedicated to our journey and a journal for our family.

Grandpa and Me :)

Grandma and Me :)

Why Grandparents 101 you ask, when I am not a Grandparent....Well, since I am taking care of them, it's kind of a "How To" on taking care of Grandparents.