Independence Day

Things are starting to get back to normal, a NEW NORMAL for dad. Our trip to the University Iowa doctors revealed that his vision has improved marginally and probably won’t get any better. We still hold out hope that things will improve but the medical staff stated he’s probably were he’ll be for the rest of his life, They don’t believe his vision will get any worse as the optic nerve swelling is gone. 

Dad notes that he sees colors one day and they disappear the next just to re-appear after a day or two. His vision is hard to predict as sometimes it appears to me that he can see some item that is very small but other times he can’t see his glass of water on the table. Things are strange and it may be his brain just learning how to interpret the imaging it’s now receiving. All this vision talk I almost forgot to inform everyone that his hip is doing great. We perform PT twice daily and he’s stronger every day. A couple of days ago the kitchen sink drain plugged which required me to go in the basement to clear the plumbing of the clogs. Dad wanted to go downstairs with me to instruct me how the drain needs to be cleared (Of Course). Karen and I were both very concerned about his traversing the stairs but there are strong railings on each side of the stairwell and I thought he’d do OK. Well, he went up and down the stairs like he was 30 years old again. We should have known that he’d show us what’s what. I have to admit that he knew just where the clogs were located and his presence did make it easier to fix.

With everything that’s happened he seems to be keeping a positive outlook, or at least he seems this way on the outside. He is becoming more and more independent and is walking with a cane, cooking on the stove, showering (just don’t drop the soap) and believe it or not Karen has him sorting and organizing his and mom’s pills. It appears to me that the best medicine is him knowing that he doesn't have to rely on anyone for the majority of his daily needs. Karen and I have been able to leave the house and feel confident that he and mom can take care of themselves. We were able to travel down to the Quad City’s and see our great friends Mary and Sandy from Texas (From S/V Senior Moments). They were up here in Canton for Maury’s 60th class reunion.

Lunch with Maury and Sandy. Miss you
guys already.

Mom is very much that same and my biggest worry with her is keeping her eating. She seems to not think about eating or just not want to eat. Once we can get her to take a bite or two she’ll decide that the food is good and eat very well, but it’s almost like we have to force her to take that first bite. Smoking on the other hand she has not forgotten about. For years we tried to get her to quit with no luck and at this age it’s her one vice so I guess it’ll have to be OK. For me it’s horrible to see how much she smokes, I can’t imagine the addiction she has to cigarettes. For that matter it seems to be a bit of a country thing as our un-scientific observations prove to us that many more people out here smoke than in the urban areas. My sister, Hannah, Karen and I watched a very pregnant woman smoking away at the Clinton Iowa 4th of July celebration. We were amazed.

Good July 4th Parade. Lots of
Fire Apparatus

Classic

Water wars went on for hours.

Speaking of the 4th, Hannah came to spend the holiday with us and we spent the day in Clinton Iowa watching the parade and all the other festivities. We all attended a Clinton Lumberkings baseball game against the Kane County Cougars before the fireworks began. After the game we had a short 5 minute walk over to my sisters motorhome where they made a campfire and we made smores and prepped for the fireworks. We all commented that we can’t ever remember eating that much junk food in one day. Needless to say the ride home was longer than normal and we all slept like logs.

Hannah and I being Patriotic after Smores

Louie the Lumber King with decorated veteran Henry Langrehr
throwing out the first pitch. Quite a man.

Hannah and Karen feeding goats at the
petting zoo.