Katy and Brody reading to Pop

Feb. 28. 09 - Saturday

Today was the big move to Laurenwood nursing home in Duncanville. It is about 2-3 minutes for their house. He was pretty peaceful about the whole deal. Of course, Pop has stopped talking much at all anyway. This is his way of shutting down. The doctors told us that they have done all they can for him. They are telling us that it will be soon. His body is slowly shutting down. They have had to put him on oxygen, because of his shortness of breath.
This afternoon was his frist dinner at the home. At the table we meet 2 nice guys. Pop wouldn't talk much, but he did eat. Then we rolled out the 'living room' area and look out so he could see where he is. Hopefully he won't try to escape with the wheelchair!!! We are pretty upset with the bed...no rails. I know he is going to try to get up and get out of bed during the night. I told him that floor is hard and you have to have 2 men lift you up. I know all we can do is pray and place him is God's hands.

Day 3

Day 3: Rough day today. Pop is pretty weak. Tomorrow Pop will be moving to Laurenwood Nursing & Rehab Center in Duncanville. It is a nice place and only 2-3 minutes from their home. Mother will be able to go down and stay with him during the day.

The doctors have told us it won't be long before he goes. His body is slowly shutting down. We are ready to let him go to his better home. He has come through a lot in his lifetime. Pray that he go in peace.

Feb. 27,09

Pop is in a room today. He has a very cool bed that is almost like a recliner. The doctors are trying to still figure out why his body is shutting down. What we have found, doctors really don't listen to each other and each have their own opinion. This is the same thing that happened to us in January. We have been told by 2 doctors that should know that Pop is having urea poisoning. His kidneys are not taking the toxins from the blood. Because of this, he is losing motor control and is confused. This is also effecting his diabetes.
According to Medicare, Pop has 3 days in the hospital before we have to move him to a skilled nursing home. Mother and I are looking at a couple that are close to her. This is a very hard thing for her to do...please pray that she has the strength and wisdom to do the right thing.
I'll leave you with this verse from Psalm 41:3 "The Lord will sustain him upon his sickbed; In his illness, Thou dost restore him to health". We are praying for peace. Pop know he has a better home waiting on him!

Wednesday Evening

Welcome to ER! Yes Pop was ready to go to the hospital this morning. He had had a rough night and was weak getting out of bed. After breakfast, he was ready to go. Most days he sits in pjs till 10:30! Mother had called the kidney doctor the afternoon before only to get the return call this morning. From the way Mother described him, the doctor said for us to bring him to ER in an ambulance. Funny, it was the two young guys that had been there before. They joked with him and said they couldn't believe he really was going to let them take him to the hospital this time.
Mother and I meet them at the hospital. We weren't back with him when the nurses were trying to figure out why he was there. Pop really doesn't think to clearly now days, he told them the doctor sent him.....finally we got it all straight. They did blood work, chest x-ray, and a CT on his brain. I think they were trying to rule out him having had a stroke. Everything look clear as a bell! I really don't think they know what's wrong. They are going to admit him with having a bladder infection. I think really deep down they wanted to say to us, he doesn't need to be here, he needs to be in a nursing home. We talked with a Social Worker that was real nice. She is going to help us find a skilled nursing care home, this is different than a nursing home. He would have RN looking after him all the time. Medicare will pay for 20 days, then they have ARRP that will pay for up to 100 days. That will be an answered prayer, Mother is pretty wasted. I know she appreciates your love and prayers. This morning on the way to the hospital I told her God had reminded me of Phil. 4:4-7 again. We have made our requests known to God and we have peace that He is in control!
Thanks again for being a praying family!

In the hospital

Pop was extremely weak this morning so Nanny called the Dr. (not sure which one) and he said to go ahead and bring Pop in to the hospital. Right now they are in the ER waiting on a room. I'll update as I know more.

It was a good weekend

We had a really good visit with Nanny and Pop this weekend. Katelynn is still talking about Pop wiggling his ears! She made him do it before she would leave!! It was really good to see everyone and we can't wait to come back in a couple of weeks for Spring Break!

Feb. 23, 2009

We had a great visit with the kids. They decided to show up this weekend just to visit and encourage all of us. Katy was a lot of fun and uplifted all of us. She says the cutes things!

At lunch, Katy sat by Pop, she acts shy around him but as I watched they were communicating with their eyes. Pop would wink at her and she would smile. But then Pop did the famous 'ear wiggling' for her and Katy just watched and then put her hands over her ears. Later I asked Katy what was Pop doing to you? "He was wiggling his ears!" I hope Katy will remember that about her great-grandpa.

Each day Pop is getting a little weaker. He is in the wheelchair most of the time now. Thanks goodness they got a lift chair for him, that has saved mother's back! We are looking into some kind of home care. Thankfully I can run over and stay with him while she goes to the store. We don't think he would get up by himself, but he really isn't thinking to clearly these days.

60th Wedding Anniversary

In my family blog I posted a blog about the small 60th Wedding Anniversary Celebration that we had for Nanny and Pop. If you would like to read that please click here. Michelle (Justin's wife) also has a blog about Nanny and Pop's 60th Wedding Anniversary. If you want to see her blog click here.

Quick Trip

The past couple of days have been really difficult for Nanny and Pop. They met with 3 Dr's this week and all of which have confirmed that Pop is in kidney failure and that he will not get any better. So now Nanny and Pop have decisions to make and these will not be easy! Please pray for them as they make these decisions and that they will have peace during all of this!

Even though Spring Break is about 3 weeks away Jon, Katelynn, and I decided to make a quick trip to Duncanville to visit Pop this weekend! We are hoping that this will lift Nanny and Pop's spirits a bit!

Please pray for us all as we have a good visit this weekend!!

Hello, our first blog!

Hello Follow Bloggers!
Kathy decided to make a blog for Pop and Nanny....or L.B. and Martha....or Uncle Ducky and Aunt Martha. So between the two of us, she thinks we can keep you updated with their going ons!
Pop was in the hospital for 2 weeks starting the day after Christmas. They were 2 long weeks! We have found that he has a malignant tumor in one of his kidneys. After much discussion between 6 different doctors...Nanny and Pop left the hospital to go home and go see a cancer doctor. Since he has been home, Pop continues to have problems with his kidneys, not really due to the cancer. They have been failing for a while. We are beginning to see more symptoms weekly.
This week has been one of the hard ones. Pop can't seem to get his legs and feet to move where he wants them to. We have a wheelchair and a lift chair for him now. Nanny is trying to hang in there and be a great little nurse. It's hard to see him going down so fast.
But, he does still have his sense of humor, and stubborness! And for you Vaughns....he is true to form!!!!