Kay

I was blessed with a wonderful mother-in-law.  I cannot express how much I love and care about her.   

At the end of June she had an emergency hernia surgery.  After that, she began having some forgetfulness and confusion.  When I went to see Dr. Stagle with her we were told that if she had the beginnings of dementia, an event such as the surgery could accelerate it.  That seems to be what happened. 

It's hard to believe how fast things have changed.  She also began having delusions.  One day she told me that there was a story on the National news about the riot that took place out in front of her home and that she was in that "fight".  She confided that she isn't strong enough to fight and didn't know why it happened.  She hoped the family wouldn't be embarrassed.  

It has been difficult to see all of this happening.  

Two weeks ago she had two abscesses rupture while at home alone.  She called an ambulance and was taken to the hospital and then transferred to Neenah.  Pat brought her home a week ago Friday.  Shorty was at the house when I got there to help clean up the mess left behind.  He decided to stay there until Mom got home.  Once she came home, he decided to stay through the holiday weekend.  

We got word that she can go live at Oak Haven, assisted living facility.  It will be a good fit for her.  Yesterday she decided that the drain tubes coming from her abdomen were the cause of her infection and she cut them off with a scissors.  Pat went over and through the assistance of the Spirit was able to fix them until they go back to the doctor on Thursday. Today she told Polly that she was only staying at Oak Haven for two months until she was all healed.  She doesn't realize yet that she cannot stay in her home alone anymore.  She gets dizzy and she falls.  

I pray for her to have the opportunity to go "home" to live with her family members who have gone before her.  

 

Shed Building

While serving on our mission in Nauvoo, Pat had the primo wood shop/cabinetry shop in which to work.  He was able to learn a lot from some of the other missionaries and he built a few very nice things.  He kept saying that he needed a shop when he got home.  

Last fall, he had Tony pour the concrete.  Then we covered it with some foam insulation so it would be protected somewhat from the cold weather.  Then he decided we needed a building permit.  Long story short, we paid for a survey and got a variance which was an extra $400 but was granted.  We found out that the alley behind our home isn't exactly where we thought it was.  It actually goes through the Krueger shed and garage.

We started the build a few weeks ago and i had to learn how to use a very powerful nail gun. 

We got some of each of the walls up but didn't finish as we need to cut the plywood.  Good thing.  We go in and out of the interior of that shop through the walls which is very convenient.  

Jeff helped put the first truss up and then it was discovered that the pitch of the roof is not true so Pat had to do some modification.  I helped him put up the next two trusses and Tom helped put up the rest.

Together we put up the roof decking and then the steel.  There's a lot yet to do but it is progressing and I'll be happy when I can do some of the work again.

To be continued.

Chestnut Visit

While serving our mission in Nauvoo, we met and worked with Margy and Lee Chestnut.  In fact, she painted with me.  I wasn't sure if we were going to hit it off at first but I decided that since we would be working together, we needed to be friends.  From then on, we bonded.

On Labor Day weekend, they came for a visit.  They are on a two month trip around the country to do a bunch of bike rides.  They arrived Friday afternoon.  Pat was still busy with his mom so I made dinner and we ate well.  On Saturday morning I made a big breakfast and they headed off on the Mountain Bay trail for a 40 mile bike ride to look at some of the barn quilts.

We enjoyed just visiting and taking them to church with us.  It was a very beautiful weekend, weather wise, so they had a good time being here.  

On Sunday evening we got together at the Gourley home.  Clint grew up with Margy's children in Orem.  They lived just down the street.  It was fun for them to catch up as well.  

I never expected anyone from our mission to actually come visit us here in Wisconsin.  After all, we aren't really on the way to anywhere except here.  If they ever come back, I'll make sure that I have a bed in the main floor bedroom.  The stairs were a bit of a challenge for Margy.