A new day but not much new

Terry

Really not much new today.  I did talk to her twice yesterday and went to visit her with the rehabs "facetime".  That is locating the correct room and then talking by phone as you look at each other!  I will try to find out who to talk to today as the promised call of Tuesday PM has NOT happened.  That is about all for today.

As for me the time has been taken up with trying to find some info for a facility in St. Paul for Terry but no sucess yet.  So I do not know what is going on in terms of what/when/where.  I did pick up some dirty clothes at the rehab center and washed them so will get them to Terry sometime today.  That is all so now for a few memories:

Here is Mom, Grandma and Grandpa Lee, Great Grandma, Ronald, Janet and Joan.  I am guessing it was in the late summer of 1943 or early 1944.  In the past I have posted a picture of Great Grandma washing Ronald's face and she is on the second step of a stepladder so it must have been a few years after this! 

Here is a sign we drove past as Terry and I entered a camp ground in one of the southern states!  We thought it was it was pretty funny!

Here sister Helen is congratulating Glorine on her wedding day.  Sorry Glorine I can not remember the day or year of this.  I think Dad staged this picture as I think a hug would have been a better way to do it!

That is it for today.  We have had a nice rain this morning and that will help the flowers and grass as it has been dry for a long time.  Yes, we did get  some rain a few days ago but that has been it for a long time.  This past fall and winter season we had NO tennis rainouts which is great for tennis but not so good for nature.

I had french toast today and wasted the first two slices of bread as I thought the bread soaked in egg etc would be enough to keep it from sticking but I was WRONG.  Yes, the FP was made, sipped and enjoyed.  That is all.

Twenty-eight down--wait there may be a oops which will change things

Terry

There is a LOT revolving around Terry but the details are not worked out yet.  After a 25 minute talk with the Dr. yesterday it was clear what they would like to see.

• They still do not know what is causing Terry's condition so they would like to see her moved to the Twin Cities and get services from the University of Minnesota Hospital.  The Dr said Terry's condition is EXTREME and she would like to get to the bottom of it.  Her advice is Terry would get much better care in Minnesota than here.  Staying here would be a second option.  
• In terms of Terry's health now it has not changed a lot.  It seems that they are NOT treating her as a corvid 19 case but rather a case that they have not found the root cause of her illness.  
• So at this time it is kind of wait and see as I was told that I would get a call yesterday PM but it did not come through so I am expecting it today.  After that we will see IF/WHEN we can move.  It will be a test of getting her to the airport, on the plane, off the plane and into a facility in the Twin Cities.  Will it happen, I am not sure but in the mean time I keep my phone near me so I do not miss the call.
• Given all that I am left here wondering how I should implement house lockup IF we leave next week.  That is always a joint effort of Terry's and mine but alone I am not sure.  AND then how can a person bring what they need in 2 suitcases when we usually bring a van FULL of things?  It will all be worked out but how/when is yet to be determined.

As for me it is once again same old same old.  As I sit here I do not remember if I had a swim yesterday.  I may not have as I wanted to stay near my phone.  Today I will make another visit to Terry and then drop off Agatha's birthday present in the mail as May 4th is fast approaching.  Yestereay I started putting things on a bed that need to go back to MN.  Not 100% sure that will happen but I think it will.  Anyway not much new from me today but there are a few memories that I would like to share.

I guess I would label this HATS!  Aaron was born in August so I am guessing this is sometime in the winter of 1974.  I think that fork that Travis has in his hand is still in the Lee kitchen in St. Paul!

Here is Dad with his three boys.  Looks like it was taken shortly after Aaron was born in August.  Notice my pants, they are in need of patching.  Not sure if that means I had been working hard or if we were just too poor to buy new!  I know with my mop of hair and long side burns I am kind of a sorry looking sight but I am sure in my mind I was already saying, "Why 3 boys and no girls as Gail wanted a girl in the worst way!"  Of course that came 7+ years later.

This is taken in the kitchen of 710 Third St. in Devils Lake.  Take note of our really expensive kitchen table!  Before one laughs know that we were thrilled that we had a house even if it meant eating on a card table in the kitchen.  We did have the REALLY important things in life like a freezer and a piano!   Just so you know the fridge came with the house as we would not have purchased a brown one BUT if I am open to admitting some foolish mistakes I will admit that we purchased a Kirby vacuum!!!  AND a set of World Books!

Enough for the day.  For now I skipped breakfast.  Oh a strange thing this morning.  As I opened the door to the pool area there was a bird inside the cage.  I looked and looked and could not find HOW it got inside.  Luckily I was able to shoo it around the cage and it stepped out!  NO idea how that bird got IN the cage.

Anyway the FP is now down to the last 1/2 cup so I need to figure out what I should do with the day.

April 28th, 1990

Yes it happened on this day 30 years ago.  Helen tied the knot and with Mike at her side she KIND OF settled down to be almost normal.  She still had this desire in her, and to this day, to be active, to be social, to travel and MAYBE at times be a tad bit naughty but in a good way if you can be naughty but nice!  I would say she was a very beautiful bride.  Dad flew down for the wedding and Mom stayed with us in St. Paul.  As always Dad had a fun time!  Sister Helen I wish you the very best in the coming years.  Although Mike left us a few years ago I know your marriage was a fun time and I also think you have more fun times ahead of you.  Love, Carmen & Terry

Day 25 down and 15 to go!

Terry

There is not much new.  I have not talked to a Dr. for several days.  Terry is continuing to do PT every day.  I think yesterday was a good day in that she got to get into the shower.  I really have no idea how her strength is doing as the best I can do is walk around the horse shoe shaped building and then talk on the phone as we look at each other through the window!  I think she looks good but that darn strength has to return.  We have her bike down here and it would be glorious if she could get on it for a short ride before we head back to MN BUT that may be a dream more than reality.  She continues to not eat a lot but some and then drink the protein drink.  I am hopeful that the Dr. may call today but that sits as a  hope because nothing has been said.  IF she indeed can be released May 13 we then have 25 days behind us and 15 days ahead of us.  That sounds better than if it were reversed.

I have said before that one of the things Terry really would like to get done is have the garage floor redone and new cabinets put in.  I did get a garbage can full of junk onto the curb this morning.  It is really difficult to determine what goes and what stays.  I THINK I may have to resort to the rule that "anything that has not been needed, used or handled in the last 5 years goes".  Of course that leaves out anything that should have been used but was not because I was lackadaisical.  Let me admit that without the computer I would not have been able to spell that last word for sure!  My schedule, or lack of it, may be the same today as the last few days.  Make a card and get it to Terry, got on a couple of bike rides, jump in the pool a couple of times and pretend that there is an electric fence around the fridge.  That last one is difficult.  So that is it for my news and now it is on to some memories:

Here is Aaron celebrating his first birthday since moving to St. Paul.  The kids always got to pick what kind of cake they wanted and it looks like Aaron had his eyes on football!  He is standing on the west side of the house in front of Kohler's tree.  I would say he looks pretty darn happy!

Here Aaron and John are taking care of the fall leaves.  I would say it is the fall of 1974.  Aaron has his dump truck and I think it may take him many loads to clear the lawn especially if he dumps it back on the lawn!!!  When we moved into our home in the fall of 1970  there was a cement wall in front that was about 3 feet tall.  Over the years that came down and we landscaped the front yard to slope so there was no need for a wall.  With left over cement from Lake Ready Mix I poured a new front step and the entire driveway in the back.  I am not sure why the front lawn looks like that because I think the grass pretty much grew and it looked nice.  John, Travis and Aaron were always willing and good workers.  

I never was one for those small plastic swings for kids so I went ahead and made my own.  As you can see underneath the swings they got used a lot.  Between the swings, the sandbox in the back and then the garden near the alley the kids had plenty to do.  They also used the long cement driveway (30+ feet long) to play with those Tonka Trucks.  When they were old enough they would go up the alley about two houses and there were a bank of garages that had cement aprons so they and those trucks could go back and forth for a long ways.  It was an excellent way to wear holes in the toe of your shoes as that seemed to be the mode of stopping!  A funny story as you look at the back of the house. We had cable TV put in but after a few months we decided it was a waste of money so I called and said for them to disconnect it.  Sure enough the next day we had a snowy TV.  Some time later when I was working in the yard I noticed the hookup and it looked strange.  I looked at it closer and it looked like they had just come and cut the cable!  I thought that was kind of strange but I just kind of stuck the two ends of the wires together and presto we had TV again.  Whenever I think about that I chuckle and wonder if that worker who took care of it moved up the ladder in the cable company or if his ways were at some time exposed!

Enough, I had a traditional kind of breakfast today, something I  had not had for a while.  There were the 3 links cut up and fried and then the hash-browns with two eggs stirred and poured on top.  I think that, along with the FP, will hold me most of the day.  I have written down my weight AM and PM over the last 4 days and my progress is SLOW but it is there so I need to keep on track to lose a bit of weight.  Maybe more FP and less food.  I have not had a lot of bread and that helps.  That is all for today.

A new day, a new week and we see progress

Terry

Terry called this morning about 7:45 as I was retrieveing the papers.  When I called back she sounded like she is a bit better.  She is looking at PT twice today and maybe even a shower which she said she wants.  She was somewhat afraid as she knows it will be exhausting.  I did drive over yesterday afternoon and found the window to her room.  It was fun to see her even if we could not hear each other through the window.  I will deliver a card today and see her again.  We are now looking at 16 days until her release and of course the hope is she will be able to get around at that time.  She mentioned yesterday that I could look for a walker and a chair that she could sit on for a shower.  We look forward to progress this week and MAYBE if she gets a LOT better FASTER she could be released early.

Not much planned for the day.  It may be same old same old.  A couple of times in the pool, a couple of times on the bike and a trip to the rehab center.  I doubt that the stores are open that would have things like a shower chair or a walker but that can wait as we have many days and the stores may be open by then.

I talked to the tennis pros yesterday and they are hopeful of opening the courts a week from today.  There would be MANY stipulations but IF it happens that would be nice.  I will not go into all the things that players would have to do but most are related to keeping ones distance and being safe.  I am not sure who or how many would be open to playing as some may think it is just too early BUT I for one would be ready!

Some memories

As Terry and I pulled into the parking lot in Yellowstone National Park Old Faithful was about ready to perform and it was fun.  IF I remember it usually goes off about every 50 minutes or so.  Yellowstone was a fun place to spend time at.  We camped there for 4 days and took day trips to different places in the park.  It was in 2014 but it seems a long time ago.

Not a picture of ours on the farm but really the same.  I would use it to sharpen by knife so that I could stand a board up from several feet away and practice throwing.  I got so I could pretty much stick it every time.  We also used it to sharpen bale hooks etc.  It was a nice tool and ours was nicer than this rusty one, I THINK!

I use this picture that was taken on Sam's ranch where we went hunting deer out west.  It reminds me that each day is new.  Each day as the sun comes up one makes a decision.  Do I want this day to be one of happiness, progress and do I chose to be positive as I go through the day?  OR do I chose to be on the other side and feel sorry for myself and anticipate that this day will not be a good day!  Of course what happens is often not in our hands BUT what is in our hands is how we think and deal with things.  I sometimes think of the boys high school soccer state tournament one year.  They had lost in the semifinals of the state and it was not only a heartbreaking loss but one that was pretty much decided by the officials.  One of the fathers had a printing device and he printed out kind of a tiny tiny book that was titled something like, "But the sun came up the next morning".  I actually think about that and try my best to remember that whatever happens during a day the next day is kind of a new beginning and we certainly have a choice as to how we approach it.  

I skipped breakfast this morning and now at 10:10 my stomach is telling me that maybe I should eat so I will sip the last of my FP and see what is in the fridge.

Now complete

Terry

Not much new about Terry.  She had PT twice yesterday and even though she says they do not do much I think they are doing as much as possible and it wears her out.  It sounded that they once again had her stand for just a very short time.  No news as to the tests that they have done however it seems that the tests that have come back so far are actually good news as they have not shown anything beyond her feeling sick.  They did a brain scan a couple of days ago and that was negative.  I am very thankful that I am not scheduled for a brain scan as I am certain they would not find anything at this moment in time!  So it in now into day 23 and counting.

Helen and Joan sent me pictures from our Jamestown gathering in 2018 so I will repost yesterdays and add the one I could not find yesterday

Helen thinks this is on the farm, maybe but I don't remember the fridge being there.
Joan confirmed this is at the farm
Pretty sure Helen was in the Air Force at the time

What lake is this at and what year about?
This is at Judi/John's cabin

2011in the Blackhills

2018 in Jamestown

I could add that long marriages are a trend in the family.  I think I am correct when I say This y Joan/Ron at 59, Dave and Marlys at 55 and Judi/John at 51 I think. I do not intend to leave our Glorine, John and Judi but will add some pictues tomorrow as I feel we are all siblings.  I am thankful for life that includes ages of (this year) 73, 78, 70, 76, 84 and 84.  I have included Glorine and John in with the sibling ages.  As anyone would know we have so so missed Janet and John over the last many years.  Janet would be 81(?) and Ronald 84.  If you want to add Mom/Dad's marriage at 50+ and their ages at death in their mid 80's I would say for the most part in age our family is above the average AND of course above average in talent!!!

On to more.  I enjoyed Rich/Betty and Liz/Karl coming over for a visit yesterday.  We sat around the pool and visited for almost 2 hours.  This being alone for the last 3 weeks as me almost forgetting how to have a conversation.  It was a fun time for me.

No plans for the day.  I will get a card to Terry but I do not know when I will talk to her.  She said she was scheduled for PT at 8:00 this morning and early afternoon.  Maybe we can get a talk in between those times.  I will have to get a bike ride in.  When I woke up this morning it was to the sound of glorious rain.  We have been so so dry and the rain just sounds and smells great.  It has now stopped but I think it is going to rain again this AM.

I have been passing some of the time by watching on Netflix stories of WW II as they have at least 2 series on.  The one I am watching now is one season but I think I am going in to the 10th 50 minute reel.

Some more time for memory lane

Here was bath time as we camped in Lincoln Nebraska for 6+ weeks in the early 70's.  Our home for the entire time was a blue canvas tent and our cooking was mostly over an open fire.  John was 2 1/2 and Travis was 6 months.  It was an adventure to remember!

We spent 4 nights in Denali National Park on our 2014 camping trip.  When we arrived there was a campsite for only 2 nights and somehow Terry got it for 4 nights!  These pictures were taken on a bus ride that we took that was about 50 miles into the park from our camp site.  We had gotten up that morning and really had nothing in mind except to go to the park headquarters to see what was happening that day.  We got then just before the bus was going to leave.  I rushed back to the car to get the blanket and we got on the bus.  It was certainly one of the highlights of or Alaska trip.  In additon to the caribou and grizzly here we saw Dahl sheep WAY up in the mountains and other wildlife as well.  It was four days of fun as we camped in the park.

Day 1 of week 4

Terry

We talked for a short while this morning.  She is getting tired of the hospital BUT it appears to be a long while ahead.  She sounded tired BUT the nurse came in and she had 10 minutes until the PT started.  I know Terry can do this BUT the road ahead is not going to be easy.  Some good news.  She was helped up out of bed by two people and she thought they took their hands off as she stood.  I can kind of see the picture and I am sure it did not last long.  I will be talking to her again perhaps this afternoon as I am sure she will be exhausted after her PT.  She said she was kind of short of breath and that is concerning to me but am sure she is OK.

On to the day ahead and some memories

I do not have anything planned today.  I really should start to clear things out of the garage as it would be nice to redo that floor but somehow I just do not have much "get up and go" in myself today.  I tossed and turned last night and then settled down for some sleep until really 7:30.  I have no plans to go anyplace except to bring a card to Terry.  

Bill Haring is from Cayuga and graduated from HS in 1970.  He has been in education all of his professional life.  He became ill just a few months and was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.  At this time he is on Hospice and it appears that he is near death.  Another Cayuga kid who just has too short of a life as he graduated in 1970.  He was big into music and the political side of education.

I THINK those sibling pictures are in the right order.  I have NO idea of the dates except I am sure the last one is from 2011.  I am not even sure where the first and second ones were taken.  I am wondering about picture #2.  It seems that Mom should have still been living but she is not in the picture.  IF siblings can help me out send an e-mail.  For the life of me I can not find the picture from our 2018 Jamestown gathering but I know they are hidden someplace on the computer.  Probably shows how organized my computer is!  Anyway I will not say a whole lot but these are some of the best siblings anywhere.  Then to make it better they brought in to the family great people like John, Judi, Glorine, Charlie, Ron, Marlys and then I take credit for Gail and Terry.  

Enough for the morning.  I have some dishes to wash, the kitchen to clean and the WHAT?  

I woke up to a glorious rain this morning.  My phone shows we had about half an inch which is very very welcome as we have had an extremely dry winter.  

My FP is gone and I let breakfast  come and go without eating as I am trying to get in the mode of only eating when I am hungry.  Come to think of it I may be hungry now!!!

Day 21 and there may be some light at the end of the tunnel!

Terry

I expected to hear from the Dr. yesterday AM but nothing.  I stayed near my phone and each time it rang I looked like kind of a young man as I dashed to pick it up!  ONLY to see the screen "POTENTIAL SCAM".  I finally decided to take a bike ride with my phone.  As I entered the garage my phone rang and I wrestled it out of my pocket like a pro only to see the words "NO CALLER ID".  Well I never answer those BUT thought this may be an exception so I answered and the Dr. was on the other end, yippee.  I was surprised to hear that she THINKS Terry had the covid-19.  Her opinion is that she got it somehow kind of early and by the time the second and third test were done she was through it.  She said Terry showed some signs of it.  After the call I went on line and looked up symptoms and I did not find many if any that related to Terry but the Dr. sounded pretty sure.  I find it pretty hard to believe when I did not have it BUT it does , if true, explain her weakness, not being hungry, heaves with only mucus etc.  IF the Dr. is correct then it does put some sense into Terry's condition.  

On to our conversation.  I told her the nurse read to me that Terry's release date is May 13th and the Dr. was happy with that.  She said usually they have a limit of 2 weeks in the rehab but 3 weeks would be wonderful.  GOOD (I know that is good BUT)   Then she said Terry seems to be somewhat stronger.  Yesterday in PT she was able to lift her left leg off the bed.  The day before she could not do that.  I never, in my wildest dreams, thought about being able to lift a leg a couple of inches as much progress but that was good to hear.  The Dr. said she was going to be off for a few days and Dr. R???????? would be in today.  I understand that the personal need days off but I was just a bit disappointed about that.  I am not saying anything against Dr. R but the Dr. yesterday just sounded like a better choice!

It was also mentioned that there are a couple of test results that they are waiting for.  I asked if they would contact me when they came in and the answer was yes.

So it is kind of wait and see for the time being BUT Terry will be getting PT everyday.  She did mention yesterday that she was so exhausted after PT that she slept for a couple of hours.  That is pretty much it for the day.

We had to take a picture of our last state park.  Minnesota has 75 and Lindbergh was our last one.  It was on October 2 late in the afternoon.  We were coming home from a LONG trip both in time and miles.  There were 3 Minnesota parks that we did not have so we decided we would do it now.  As we pulled into the park office it was closed but they do have stamps located so you can stamp your book. We were a bit disappointed but thought that is fine.  We were about to leave when a ranger came out of a building and walked over to ask if he could help us.  When we told him this was our last park he was actually excited as he said he had never stamped a book as the last one!  So we got our stamp, we got our coupon for a free night of camping and later when we sent the info in we received a pin and a plaque so a fun ending to a fun journey.

Joshua Tree National Park was fun to see.  It is in southern California and has trees and trees and more trees of the kind you do not see most places.  We arrived early afternoon of September 2nd shortly after a storm.  The ranger said the park was temporarily closed as they had not checked all the roads.  We could however view the park video.  As we came out of the theater the gal at the desk said they had just opened the park again but she suggested we unhook our camper as there may be some places kind of rough yet.  We did that and then drove through the park.  The trees and scenery were wonderful as it is the kind of thing you do not see out of that area.  

How about Route 66.  I would like to, some day, drive from the beginning near Chicago to the end in California.  This was in Arizona and we did stop to have a malt!  I thought of brother Dave when I saw the pickup!  As we zig zagged from place to place we occasionally found ourselves on Route 66 and then off again.  To drive the entire orginal route would be a hoot for sure!

So ends my FP for the day and another day of waiting to see how Terry is.  I try not to call her as I never know if she is in PT or eating or napping.  She has a very difficult time napping but IF she is tired like yesterday it can happen.  As I sign off this morning it is 9:00 and of course I am a bit concerned.  She has not called and when that happens I wonder if she is not feeling well.  I will wait for a while longer but IF there is no call I will make a call closer to noon.  I am finding myself less and less useful as the days go by.  It seems like I should be able to kind of "pull on the boots and get busy" but that is easier said than done for me at this point.  I enjoy getting 2 or 3 bike rides  in BUT that often means encountering someone who asks about Terry.  Don't get me wrong I am so so thankful people are concerned and want to know BUT it does get old.  I would like someone to just ask what I think the weather is going to be!!!  I do know one thing.  IF God happens to be saying that Terry's well being depends on prayers she will be well soon.  Enough.

Day 20 but who is counting? Oh I guess I am!

Terry

I missed a call from the Dr. yesterday but have been assured that she will call today.  I have several questions for her AND they are written down.  I would say Terry's health is about the same.  They did have her up in a chair or in a wheelchair at times but I do not think her strength is any better today than in days past.  I was amazed yesterday as the nurse talked.  She said there is a tentative discharge date of MAY 13th.  Wow that is way out there. I do not see how they can predict that but then what do I know.  The nurse did talk about some options when we return to St. Paul BUT I think returning is more of a thought than a plan at this point.  We will see.  I will make sure my phone is near me every second today as I do not want to miss the call from the Dr.

On to today.  Same old same old as I will get a card to Terry today and then get a bike ride in.  I got a call from a tennis teammate Karl.  He said a few of the guys would like to come over this Saturday to just talk.  He said they would bring chairs and any drink or eats thay wanted and we could just sit in the driveway.  I am excited about that.  My tennis team has in some ways been a lifeline to the world out there as I have not gotten out a whole lot over the last many many weeks.  

On to memories

For the last couple of years we were in Devils Lake we enrolled the 3 boys in ice skating classes.  The first year John was a bear with a costume that Mom made.  He was UPSET when he say the costume because it was brown and he wanted to be a polar bear!  Here John is doing a dance with one of the girls.  Travis and Aaron were so young they did things with the entire group.  IF I remember correctly they did this for 3 years.  Another year John did a dance with a girl and they were Jack and Jill.  It was a big production as they had one of the radio dis jockeys do the PS system so it was kind of professional and a lot of fun.

Here the boys are with Grandma Saunders when they stayed there one time.  I am guessing it was around 1976.  They took the canoe out to Alkali slough (it has been up graded to a lake now) and paddled out to what they called woodtick island!  Back in the early 70s it was a dead slough that was not used for anthing but today it has a depth of up to 16 feet and has several species of fish.  I am sure Grandma checked them out when they arrived back at the farm.  Grandpa Saunders loved that canoe and had a sail for it that he loved to put on and use.  Notice Aaron's NEW pants!  I think that may have reflected our income level at the time!  With this darn pandemic we make need to go back to the good old pants days!

So that is my day for now.  I cheated and had a frozen sandwich today instead of making real breakfast.  My FP is gone so I am now into the day where the time is 9:00 AM.

We focus on the future now but Terry is in her 19th day of her hospital stay.

Terry

Terry is now in rehab and last night she wondered if I should send some things for her to wear rather than her sleep wear.  I would say that is progress.  Is she any better than 24 hours ago?  Maybe not at this time but we will go forward and I am hoping she will be home in a relative short time.  By that I mean in weeks, not months.

What is one to write about as the days go by and things are pretty much same, same and same.  I did eat breakfast this morning and of course I had that wonderful FP so I am set for the day.  There will be prayer time, a couple of short swims, a couple of short bike rides and then maybe some more work on the floors.  So we will go back a few years and relive special times!

This is from the summer of 1969, that is only 51 years ago!  Gail and I had finished our schooling and I was set to teacher in the fall at the School for the Deaf.  I would be teaching 4th grade, a group of young people who many of the teachers felt was a group that was wild at best.  It contained two Lorens.  One was a fiery red head with a bent for mischief and actually some learning too.  The other was a dark haired young man whose, we did not know this at the time, destiny would include prison time and more!  Lucky me, I was young enough so I was able to dodge the point of the compass ans well as the strong kick and a fist from this young man.

Anyway it was summer and I had fetched a job driving cement truck.  There were very few jobs in the Devils Lake area so I was happy to get something that would bring in some income.  We were young, naive and pretty much clueless as to what the world and life was all about.  BUT we did know one thing.  Gail was pregnant and there would be a baby sometime before Christmas.  So we decided that it was time to start to save.  Little did we know that in the years ahead saving would be pretty much a forgotten word as raising four children on the teacher's salary meant "not much to put away". But for sure it was a special time and we enjoyed it each day.  Little did we know that in another year we would want to buy a house and would almost NOT get to close on it as we had no credit rating.  No loans, no credit cards and so on.  Ron, at Gate City Savings, saved the day for us BUT it certainly was a learning experience.  Of course we did not have any health insurance either as I would not start teaching for another month or so.  John need not worry as he has been paid for a long time now!  Oh for the naivety of young people!  Gail wanted a baby with red hair as her dad, sister Deb and brother Mark had red hair.  I pretty much wanted a boy so God blessed us with a boy with red hair!!!  AND one of the reasons I know this was in 1969 is John turned 50 a few months ago.

Enough for today.  Oh I do ache for the days with a waist like that!

We have relief!!!

As I promised, Terry first

I received a call from the nurse yesterday early afternoon.  He said they were in the process of getting Terry ready to be moved to rehab.  Her third test had come back negative and her lumbar tap had not shown any thing wrong.  I refrained from calling the rest of the day as I did not want to bother her or interfere with what was going on.  About 9:45 last night she called.  I had already decided I would not hear until morning so I was taking my last swim in the pool and did not get the call.  I was surprised when I looked at my phone and I did call her right back.  She sounded like a NEW person.  Granted, she is not any better than yesterday morning BUT just getting off the covid-19 floor and into a new place was like a new beginning.  We feel that NOW they will focus on getting her better and on her way home.  We still have NO idea why she is in the state she is in but perhaps we will never know.  It looks like there will be intense rehab daily and her stay of course will depend on progress but we could be looking at something as short as 12 days or something as long as 20 days.  I guess they have told Terry 20 but the nurse said something a bit different.  We are now on day 17 and we could be looking at another 20 BUT still the future looks so so so much better.  I perhaps will not be updating everyday now but will only mention as she hits milestones in her recovery.  a million thanks for your thoughts and prayers.

I love this picture.  I THINK I am in the middle with bib overalls on but not sure.  It had to be taken somewhere between 1953-1956.  I see where one of the girls has a cup but I am guessing most of us, maybe the boys, just used our hands.  You can see the outhouses in the back, that is great.  One for the girls and one for the boys.  I remember wanting to use the outhouse during school because they had toilet paper and of course at home we had the catalogs!  I wish I had a picture of what one would see to the right of this picture.  You would see high swings, a merry-go-round and the teeter totters.  On the opposite side of the school was our ball field.  I am guessing the bell has rung and we are about to go in for classes.

Not much else to say or do.  I am guessing there is a short swim, a bike ride and then IF I can muster up the energy I may use the machine to scrub the kitchen floor.  I know that would make Terry happy when she comes home.

No breakfast this morning, only FP and that will do until noon.

Happy Birthday Michael, a milestone!

Here we are into the year of 2020 and Mike turns a milestone birthday.  Here is a guy who does it all. From great husband, to super dad and a tremendous employee at his school Mike is the model.  Happy birthday Mike and keep up the good work.

Day 17 and counting for Terry

In case there are any persons who use this blog to find out how Terry is doing I will update her health each day the first thing.  That way you do not need to be bored going through my rambling thoughts.

Terry

I talked to her twice yesterday.  She is about the same as in the past.  We have hopes that she will find out today that her third covid-19 test is negative.  It seems that the results should be in as the test was taken last Thursday.  As for the tests on her spinal fluid we HOPE that comes through today or soon.  I feel that may tell us what is happening in her body.  She remains VERY weak as it sounds that her legs are useless at this time.  As yesterday and two days ago it is a wait and see day for us.

Here are two families that spent a lot of time together.  Grandma and Grandpa Lee are with Joyce, Marvin, Jerry, Leanne (sp), Gayle and Mary all Halvor and Alta's family.  For us there is Joan, Janet, Ronald, Dave, Helen and I.  We lived close to each other and many holidays etc were spent together. Ronald, Marvin and Jerry did a lot of hunting.  For the younger ones, like me, there were evening games like hide and seek, kick the can etc.  I am guessing this picture was taken maybe in 1956 +/- a year or two.  Grandma and Grandpa Lee were the best.  There are a lot of good memories with our family and Halvors.  I always liked Halvor as it seemed like he always had a positive attitude and a joke that he thought was really funny!  As for Grandma and Grandpa, on their farm, there were many kinds of berries, many kinds of apples and a big garden that we often helped harvest in the fall.  It also was fun visiting them and walking in the pasture to the south of their buildings.  Grandma told this story more than once: "I remember one day Ruby came to visit with you and Dave.  When you came into the house you said, "Mom told me not to ask for a cookie!"  Grandma thought that was really funny.

Not much happening today.  I will shave!  With all that is going on my face is kind of itchy which means I have not shaved for a while.  There will be a couple bike rides, a trip to the hospital with a card and not much else.  

I have been overeating so I am skipping breakfast.  I do not know what the deal is but yesterday a neighbor brought over doughnuts and another friend had a box of cookies!  I, of course, thanked them and enjoyed them but I need sweets like an extra leg or arm.  NOT

The FP is about gone and so am I.

Day 16 but who is counting? Both Terry and I are!

I will update Terry and then just ramble on until I get tired of writing.
Terry is about the same.  We are just waiting for the virus test to come back and the test that was done with the spinal fluid.  I am hoping that happens early week.  IF we get result that tell us something then plans can go forward towards recovery and coming home.  What it looks like and when that could happen is only a guess so will leave it at that.
So today there will be a couple of pictures and then some stories that perhaps have been told before.  IF that is the case I hope they follow the same lines as I try to remember and be honest with what I write.

You may think this is about sister Helen but it is not.  Given, she is pretty darn special but my words today are about other things in the picture1

You can see the basketball hoop on the light pole.  I THINK Ronald helped Dave and I put the back board up.  Actually maybe Ronald put it up with a little help from Dave and looks from me.  What can I say, I am guessing it was put up when I was pretty small.  I do know that Ronald brought home the net for the hoop and I think Dad bought the hoop but I am not sure.  Anyway my story is a far cry from what you see in the picture.  It looks like the old combine is in the way and the pole is surrounded by weeds.  That means NOBODY is using it at the time of this picture.  Helen is sitting on the "M" tractor which was our main tractor that was used for picking corn, pulling the combine, pulling the 3 bottom plow and directing the Jayhawk haystacker.  The Ford was used to cut hay, rack the hay, seed the grain, drag the dirt fields and pull the dreaded rock wagon!  I do not know where the tractor in the background came from as we did not have that when I was at home.  There is also an old car that I do not know about.  BUT the other important item in this picture is the pole by the barn door.  I would shimmy up the pole and spend hours on the far side of the barn roof dreaming about my future.  I admit my dreams did not include spending time in FL or playing tennis.  One can see a couple of windows in the barn.  On the other side there were perhaps 4 or 5 of them and IF I remember right there were always some panes broken.  Each window had 4 panes of glass.  On the south side of the barn which you can not see was where I would take the scoop on the Ford and level out the barnyard by the barn.  It would also get the cow manure away.  Then I would take the rake and smooth things out for my ball field against the barn wall.  I have to admit I, in my mind, was really good!!!  You maybe see the can on the exhaust of the "M".  No exhaust with a flipper on for us.  Always a tin can at night in case it rained!

This was pretty much a life saver.  It was my mode of transportation from the spring of 1966 to the summer of 1968.  It brought me to Hugo's cabin in Minnesota where the Saunders family would often spend the weekend!  It was not a good situation when I did not come home Sunday night because of a storm.  Mom and Dad went driving around looking for me in the ditch! Monday AM, when I arrived home, I got a "Dad stare" and kind of a loud "Where were you?" but that was it.  What could I do as they had NO phone.  My Sprint got me all around Fargo Moorhead as I was going to college.  It got me out to the golf course at sun up and then out of there before they  opened the course.  It usually meant a few holes of free golf.  Maybe I should not admit I was so bad.  I probably would have died during the summer of 1966 if I had been stranded on the farm without any wheels.  Like I said it was a life saver.  It was during that summer that Ronald's death was only 19 months in the past and Janet's death was only 3 months in the past.  One can imagine what it was like around Mom and Dad and I certainly do not blame them for their grief.  It was always a fun time to have certain people ride with me!!!  Not so fun on the night we got caught in a rain storm and took shelter on an abandon farmstead.  We were rescued by Chic's farm truck!  The cycle took me up to the hills to the south of the farm where there were several lakes with summer cabins.  Just a joy ride as I did not know anybody there.  My Harley Sprint, it is one of the very best memory makers in my life.  

That is enough rambling today.  Time for a bike ride.

Just passing time, not very interesting for most.

I am just looking to keep my mind off of Terry as I seem to walk from the back of the house to the garage door and then I turn around and may walk back again.  Oh there is often a stop in the kitchen where the fridge door may be opened and maybe or maybe not something taken out that I certainly do NOT need.  So I decided to put into pictures and words what a North Dakota guy did for eduction as he was growing up and then turned into an adult.
Here I go and it could be long and boring!

Grades 1-3 were spent here.  It is the place where I had the SAME spelling book for 3 years.  By the time I was in third grade I had the book finished way before the end of the year!  It was the place where ball games could go on way beyond the recess time IF the teacher did not feel like calling us back in.  It was the place where hot lunches consisted of government peaches that went well with our lunch from home that most of the time consisted of peanut butter sandwiches or hard boiled eggs!  I would say that it certainly was a place where memories were made that are still with me today.  Did it get me off to a flying start in education?  My spelling NEVER recovered from those days of just memorizing words with no clue as to how to sound things out.  Oh, my penmanship never recovered from the sloppy writing that I did just to get those 1000 sentences done.  I know I talked too much during school hours BUT what should one do when all your work is finished and there is another 20-30 minutes of class left?

This is NOT Cayuga school but is pretty similar.  For some reason I do not have a picture of Cayuga School but wish I did.  Anyway this is were I spent grades 4-8.  In 4th grade we were in the basement on the right side of the school.  In 5th and 6th grade we were on the first floor on the right side.  In 7th  and 8th grade, that was when the high school started at Sargent Central, we were in the top floor on the left side.  I perhaps have told too many stories already about Cayuga school.  I am sure that in 5th grade I was able to break the window with the soft ball--it was a homer!  It was here that I read more than 100 books in 7th grade and again in 8th grade.  It was here that as a 5th and 6th grader my stuttering was something that made me freeze if I were asked to talk in class.  It was here that during recess the boys and girls played a game where we had to catch the girls and then they went to jail.  Don't know what happened then!  As most of the time, recess was the best part of the day as we could play ball.  Well I did get good grades but that was not very difficult in those days as we did not have a class that were world scholars!

Grades 9-12 were spent at Sargent Central High School which was in Forman 25 miles from our farm.  It was here, as a freshman that I discovered girls!  It was here that Football and basketball seemed to be my major.  Oh yest there was baseball as a freshman and track as a senior but the best, for sure, was football.  For some reason I just loved to hit guys in a good way!  It was here that Terry and I were classmates for all four years yet never dated.  She did give me advice!  It was here that classmate JoEllen entered my life and made things interesting.  Of course I had a large part in that too.  It was here that I started dating Gail in the last half of my senior year only to break up as she went off to college and then get back together for 41 years.  It was here that my friend Larry and I played sports together and to this day I consider him my best friend ever.  Of course that is in the boy area!  It was here that I spent 1000's of hours on the bus to and from school and to and from sports events.  For the most part high school was a fun time but as I have gotten older it is easy to see that I could certainly have made better use of my time during those 4 years.

I started my college days in the near building, Reed Hall.  It was here that I found out that the world was full of people who loved to drink beer (not me), party a lot and not really pay attention to school. It was here that I found out what being away from home meant.  

The building on the right is where Larry and I stayed during our sophomore year at NDSU.  Here I found out what it was like to be on your own in terms of food!  Hot dogs in cream corn were often the  hit of the menu.  It was here that I started to think about my future but did not come to any conclusion about life.  It was this year that I had my motor cycle and that gave me freedom that I had never had before.  It was this year that I got my job in the barley department at school and for me it was perfect.  I could work alone and get my hours in. The following fall of my junior year Larry and I moved into a house with several others but I have NO idea where that house was so will skip it.

I continued my education by enrolling in Minot the winter of my junior year.  I have already written about that part of my life so will keep this to education.  I graduated from Minot in the spring of 1969.

I picked up my education again in the winter of 1973 by taking a class at Devils Lake Junior College. I do not remember what kind of class it was but at that point I had decided that I would like to get my masters degree and have it by the time John started school.  It turned out to not be a fun time.  I was teaching during the day and putting a lot of hours in.  We had John who was 3 and Travis who was 1 and I am afraid that I was not the most helpful father.

In the winter of 1973 I applied for and got a grant to go to summer school in Lincoln Nebraska at the University.  We borrowed Grandpa Saunders' camper and pickup and off we went for 2 months.  We camped out just outside of Lincoln and Gail cared for the two boys as I took class all day.  It was an adventure that turned out good but as I look back we were kind of crazy.  We rented ourDevils Lake house out to a lady who was a veterinary and we never met her!  What the heck!  Anyway it was several credits towards my degree.

In the spring of 1974/75/76 I took classes at the University of North Dakota.  I would leave Devils Lake early Monday morning with clean clothes and a cooler of food.  I would finish classes on Thursdays and head home.  Gail was left to care for Aaron, Travis and John during those times and
I know it was often more than a hand full.  I decided to do a graduate paper on the advantages of an educational program in dorms at a residential school.  Ann, the wife of our principal, agreed to do the educational program in the dorm twice a week.  I looked at the test scores of the kids in the program and the kids that were not in the program and did my graduate thesis on how the two groups did.  The conclusion was there was great value in a program on the dorm.  I still have my paper if anyone is interested in it!!!  With cap and gown and Gail, John, Travis, Aaron AND Mom and Dad watching I marched across the stage in August of 1976.  It was the end of a long long journey and a good ending.  A side note was after playing in maybe 120 games in sports in high school and not having Mom or Dad see me once play they watched as I walked across the stage to get my degree.  I never did figure it out but I remember I was happy they were there.  This is perhaps a bit awful on my part but I always suspected that Dad never wanted his kids to outdo him.  If one wants to criticize me for saying that go ahead but I do think it was true.  

Kind of my last steps into education were at the Universiy of Minnesota.  I had my master degree and felt that I wanted to get my specialist degree in administration so that I could get out of the classroom and into a better paying job.  In the fall of 1984 I was in the middle of my third administration class at the U.  We were scheduled to have a quiz in the next class and John's SPA soccer team was going to be playing their first game in the state soccer tournament.  What is one to do.  Well I could NOT miss my quiz so I missed the soccer game.  Lucky they won and I got to go the next time.  BUT it made me think.  Do I really want to put myself in a position of classes and then then once in administration be tied up so that I miss many family events?  I decided NO.  That was the last class I took but I was able to file them with the school records so that it put me on another pay scale.  

So ended my college days.  Many places, many hours, many $$'s and it goes on.  Did I ever regret ending it like that.  Well to be honest there were many times I wished I had gotten out of the classroom but to sacrifice it for family, NO WAY.

Day 14 for Terry

I would say they do not need to be concerned about social distances 

What will today bring?  Yesterday Terry did have her lumbar tap and we just have to wait for the testing on the fluid that they took.  They will do a "rush" on it so maybe by early nest week??  

The really big issue yesterday was the retest of covid-19.  The test came back NEGATIVE which we thought would happen but in this virus thing one never knows.  The dr said in a case where there was retesting and the result was different they have to do a third test!  We do not know know when that will happen but I am guessing that if they are to move her off the covid-19 floor that will not be done until the results of a third test are in.  WHEN???

The dr was talking about a rehab plan BUT I am sure they need test results before that can happen.  It is hard to believe that this has been going on for two weeks now.

Terry is drinking some of the protein drink and some bites of food.  Really tho she has not been all that excited about hospital food.  But I would say IF she were hungry that would not be a issue.  

Her neurologist, Dr. Vickers, is now involved.  I think he is a very very good Dr. so I was glad to see him involved.  He has the nickname of "dr talk a lot" and he says that is because he wants to help people.  I guess he did some nerve tests on Terry yesterday with his pins!

That is all about Terry today.  I do not know if we expect anything to happen today as test results etc are most likely not available until next week.  So the wait and the separation goes on.

Here are Travis, John and Aaron at Ann and Otto's 50th anniversary   Gail had sewed the jackets and they kind of were the hit of the party.  I have to admit there were pretty darn good looking guys!

How does your garden grow?
We purchased our house in Devils Lake in the fall of 1970.  The people who we purchased it from had a large shed in the back full of antique furniture and wanted to be able to leave it there until the following spring.  They paid us something and we said fine.  So in the early spring of 1971 the shed was moved and we had this large plot of land that was bare.  What better use than to make it into a garden.  I went to the hardware store and purchased a tiller and we went to work.  Chet, the custodian at school, had a pickup and another friend knew of a farmer who had a large mound of old manure so we were set.  I borrowed Chet's pickup and brought home a full pickup of manure.  What you see is just a tiny bit of our garden.  My goodness it grew like nothing I had ever seen.  The kids loved it.  It looks like there is a Jack in the bean stock to the left of John.  It was out of this garden that ate lettuce, tomatoes, carrots etc. that I took in a cooler in the trunk of the car towards the end of summer school in Grand Forks.  It was not really important but I kind of prided myself in the fact that I would fill the cooler with garden things and eat out of the cooler Monday-Thursday without spending a penny.  I was usually able to arrange my class schedule so that my last class of the week was on a Thursday and then I could come home.  

That is it for the day.  I had my FP and that is it for breakfast.  Although maybe I should reconsider.  There was a story of a lady in New Ulm Minnesota who celebrated her 112 birthday and she said the key to her long life was a good breakfast!  I just need to get into the mode of eating when I am hungry and not eating just because I want to enjoy the taste of food!  This pacing back and forth in the house lends one to be in the kitchen way too often!

I am off on a bike ride.

A new day kind of

Here it is 12:03 AM on Thursday, April 16th.  Tax day is in the past but not really as it has been extended until July I think.  Leo's birthday is in the past and now he embarks on his teenage years AND I am certain they will be great years for him.
As for me it has been a sleepless night/day.  It is a strange time.  I really have done very little yet I am exhausted.  I feel so helpless and useless for my Terry.  As the sun comes up this morning she will be starting her 13th day in the hospital and yet really no answers.  As I sit at home and wonder, worry and pray I feel that time is just passing by with nothing happening.  I know that is Not true but yet it seems that way.  I actually start this day with renewed hope that there is an end in sight with some answers.  We should hear today if she tested negative or positive AND regardless I think they plan to do a lumbar test by tapping her spine and getting fluid out to see if they can solve the puzzle as to what she has.  It seems that I am a nothing in this whole thing as I can not see her, can not see the Dr and that makes it so so difficult.  Mind I am not feeling sorry for myself I just feel so for Terry as she is lying in bed with little strength but I believe and hope that God will prevail and she will be  well soon.  Yesterday the thought came to mind again about when we will head north.  I felt like slapping my face and saying "Carmen what in the world are you thinking?"  Of course going north is absolutely the least of our concerns at this point.  I went to bed at 10:30 and thought I was good for the night but here I am with prayers on my lips and concerns in my mind.
I put the flowers on today as I thought they would be a cheerful reminder that Terry is going to be OK and there will be a sunrise at dawn!
Now maybe I can get some sleep and wake up to that FP coffee and then MAYBE we will find out what my Terry is so sick with.

Here I am back at the computer and the time is 7:45 AM.  After a restless night it is time to be up and about.

I admit, this picture has the quality of well it kind of makes me think of my tennis game.  NOT so good at times!  This is our driveway in Devils Lake and it shows what I needed to get through in order to get to work sometimes.  I mentioned one time that I put chains on the car and left them there for a month or so.  This may have been that time.  Once I opened up the driveway then I had this kind of snow for several hundred feet in the ally before I got to a plowed street.  To the right the ally was only behind 2 houses until I got to the street BUT it was up hill enough so that often I would just sit and spin the rear tires so it was drive the long way most of the time.  

Why in the world am I putting this picture out today?  Well it could be to remind myself that at this time in my life, as I sit by the pool, I have it made!  But that is not the reason.  I put it out there because I have shoveled some to that point but I have a long way to go until I get to the end of the driveway.  Well I feel that is where Terry and I are at with her health.  Here we are starting day 13 but I fear there is a long road ahead.  First the Dr. needs to get to the bottom of what is making her sick.  Then they need to treat that.  After that she needs to heal and get her strength back.  Wait, we will take it one at a time so lets hope and pray that what the Dr. does today makes inroads towards solving Terry's health condition.  When we get that then it is on to treating and healing.  As I think of that I think of our St. Paul home with many steps down to the laundry and the 16 steps up to the second floor.  People may think I just pulled the number 16 our of the rabbits hat BUT I promise there are that many steps because I put them all in new!  Lord I pray that the Dr. will bring some clarity to Terry's health today.  AND then we can go forward.  Absolutely the BEST thing that could happen today is a negative test report and then a move to a different floor!  Oh my that sounds great.

As for me I have very little to say or do.  What can a person do when the dishes are done, the floors are clean, the messes are pickup up and and and.  Well actually there are many things that could be done as I just have to tackle them with more energy than I have displayed over the last several days.  

Oh, a bike ride sounds good this morning.  Of course that is NOT on the list of usefull things that I could do but really it is a good idea.  

Carmen, remember that Terry is the one who is sick and she is the one who needs much support and prayers.  So pull up your boots by the straps and make life worthwhile today.  After all the FP should have given you the needed boast!