Meet Lucy Jo Lane

What an incredible day! Today I met my five-day-old great-granddaughter, Lucy Jo Lane, for the very first time. She is healthy, beautiful, and already surrounded by so much love. 

Her mother and father are doing a wonderful job as new parents. It didn't take long for Lucy to steal my heart, and I know she will bring endless joy to our family in the years ahead.

Two Years in Edgewater

It is hard to believe that nearly two years have passed since Debbie moved to Edgewater. I have become very comfortable with the ebb and flow of life there. Edgewater is in my backyard just a block away and I can see a glimpse of it from my back deck. The facility is about 18 years old and some major remodeling is in progress. A water fountain feature and an endless path of overlapping figure eights with nice landscaping was added. It is very nice and it was built with donated funds.

As I look back over the last few months it is easy to notice Debbie’s continued cognitive decline. But at the same time the tragedy of her cognitive decline is offset by her being calmer and I dare say happier than she was even six months ago. Perhaps it's because she understands less about what she's lost or maybe we are doing a better job of taking care of her needs. Regardless, I'm grateful for her current happiness. At this stage, peace and comfort feel like victories.

One unexpected source of comfort has entered Debbie’s life. She has “adopted” a baby doll who we call “Baby.” She treats it like a living baby, talks to it a lot and apparently it is talking back to her because she holds conversations with the doll and it makes her very happy.

Debbie has been sleeping 12 to 14 hours a day which is not uncommon for a resident in memory care. The problem was Debbie often slept those hours consecutively and that was causing her some issues with incontinence and preventing her from taking her medicines at a regular time. I contracted for additional help for Debbie to come four hours a day from 10 am to 2 pm. This person helps Debbie to get up in the morning, take a shower, get dressed, take her medicines, and eat lunch at an appropriate time. I am certain that we are doing the best we can for Debbie, that she is living her best life, and everything else is up to God.

Even amid the challenges, life continues to move forward around us. I still find work at the Iowa FAIR Plan both enjoyable and rewarding. I am looking forward to the birth of my first great grandchild in June. My granddaughter Allison graduated from the University of Nebraska and has been accepted into medical school at Des Moines University. So, she will be in Des Moines for at least the next three years!

I've made two trips to Kearney, Nebraska to see family over the last three months. When I return from my trips and walk in the house it now feels like home. I greatly appreciate that feeling. I am still meticulous about keeping the house clean and tidy, e.g., when I return from a trip everything is unpacked and put away while the washing machine is going strong. Within a couple of hours, you would not know that I had ever left home. I must need that type of orderliness. It gives me comfort, and on reflection perhaps that is because so many other things in my life are out of my direct control.

As I get older, perhaps even wiser, I refrain from giving unsolicited advice and often defer when asked for advice because it is so often ignored. But I am going to break my rule and reiterate the advice given in a previous blog. One lesson this journey has reinforced for me is the importance of having affairs in order before a crisis arrives. Everybody reading this should have a living trust and/or a will with appropriate powers of attorney documents for healthcare and for financial issues along with a living will in place today. If you do not have that in place right now or it hasn't been reviewed for years, take care of that today!

Onward and Upward! Bob

Mazel Tov!

My grandson, Jackson, is a good person. That may be my highest compliment besides respecting those that are lifelong learners. 

Jackson was given the promise of a full ride scholarship to any University of Nebraska location when he was in 8th grade. He would forfeit the scholarship if his grades sagged or if he got into any trouble. I became concerned when he acquired a steady girlfriend, Cassidy, in 10th grade. 

Girlfriends, good grades and staying out of trouble are often mutually exclusive. Over the years that they dated I got to know Cassidy and was impressed with her kindness and character.

They continued to date through high school and entered University of Nebraska at Kearney together. Four years later they both graduated and then landed great jobs in Kearney. 

Jackson and Cassidy married and my heart is full of joy for them. They deserve each other and they are a blessing to their families and many friends. 

The Kearney Krew Visits Iowa

 

A Visit to Kearney

 A pleasant time was had by all.