Guard Rail is in

The guard rail was finally put in along the road where my dad's truck went off and flipped over. This would not have been done without the hard work of my Uncle John. I know my dad would have done the same thing if one of his family members had passed the same way. Thank you Uncle John for all your work.

Guard rail

My Nieces and Nephew

A long cold winter in Minnesota

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. This is the time of year that I hibernate. It has been a very cold winter. Colder than the average winter in Minnesota. The kids can't even play in the snow because it is too cold. Dennis is usually the one that goes outside with them. So I have no pictures of the snow. I tell people that I am allergic to the cold and snow! It is absolute torture to go out to the bus stop with Lexi. Even to do daily errands is torture when it is 10 below zero. When going somewhere with the kids it takes 30 minutes to get everyone dressed with coats, boots, hats, mittens. So by the time I grab my coat, gloves, and bag they are sweating so bad they start pealing their clothes off, and so we start all over again. Well, it is now March 1 8:30pm and the temp is 8 degrees. I am so ready for NOT spring but Summer. Spring in Minnesota is still winter to me. I will try to post some pictures soon when Lexi and Timmy get well. Lexi has strep throat and Timmy has a bad cough. Hope everyone stays warm!

Timmy's surgery

Timmy had a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy on Dec. 9th. He had horrible sleep apnea. Every time he would catch a cold his tonsils would get huge. Two weeks before the surgery the sleep apnea was so bad that he was put on oral steroids to try to shrink the tonsils and adenoids a little to make him breath better till he had surgery. The surgery went well. The doctor said he had never seen such bad tonsils in a child. He said they looked like an adults tonsils full of scar tissue like someone who had had many infections. I am thankful that they are finally out.
Here are some pictures of the hospital stay.
Picking out a flavor lip smackers for the mask to put him out.

Getting put out. This was the worst part for me.

In and out of sleep from the anesthesia.

This was the best part for him. After a few days he was sick of Popsicles.

Happy on pain medication.

November 22 Timmy's 5th B-day

Happy 5th Birthday Timmy!
I planned a small party for Timmy this year. Only three friends came. It was very small but it was a good size for him. I also made a gluten, dairy and egg free cake for him due to his many allergies. He would not even try one bite. Oh well. He just stayed with the dairy free ice cream.

Every time someone would ask him what he wanted for his birthday he would say "Geo Trax". This is a train set that he got for Christmas last year. It has extras that can be bought like more track attachments. This is his absolute favorite(or obsession). He looks at the diagram on the instruction manual of the different ways the track can be assembled and he can spend hours assembling and disassembling.

November 9th 40th Birthday Surprise

I was really wishing this b-day would just disappear. Turning 40 is hard but the memories of this time of year are harder. One year ago on my birthday was the last time I talked to my Dad. He tragically passed away 4 days later on Nov. 13th. So, Dennis and my sister Karen decided to change the bad memories into good memories. They surprised me with Karen and her kids showing up for my birthday weekend. Dennis planned everything from the babysitter to dinner out at a Japanese Restaurant for Teppanyaki. I knew about the dinner but he also surprised me with a limo. Here are some pictures of the weekend.
Pictures are out of order. I still don't know how to do a slide show.

Get the Kleenex

OK, I finally finished it. I have been trying for months to get the posts done of the pictures and things said at my parents memorial services. I am not a procrastinator (ask Dennis) but this was something that was very hard to get done. Scroll down to Sept 13 and then to older posts to read about my mom. Also, click on the links of you tube. These are the songs played at their services.
___________________________________________________
Jeremy Camp "There will be a day"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TipLsmZgjI&feature=related

Isaiah 25:8.
He will swallow up death for all time, And the Lord GOD will wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth ; For the LORD has spoken.
Revelation 21
3. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
4. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
5. He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
6. He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.

Walk for Autism

Walk for Autism

Lexi, Timmy and I did the walk. Dennis was still not able to walk very good after his surgery so he sat and watched us. Dennis and I recieved some shirts from the local christian radio station. On the back it says"I am walking for________". We had to fill in the blank. So Timmy wanted to write "Daddy" in the blank. I assume he was thinking "Daddy needs his name on Daddy's shirt". On the back of Dennis' shirt is written in Timmy's handwriting (which is illegible because of his fine motor skills) Daddy/Timmy.

The walk was on a horse track, which is only a mile. When we first started Lexi and Timmy both asked "are we going to win?" I said "everybody wins". So we were not even a couple of yards into it when Lexi starts in...... I'm tired..... I'm hot...... Can we go over there and rest?...I want to stop....How much longer? All this was said with whinning and attitude. "OH JOY!" I'm thinking.

I look behind me and Timmy is lagging behind hot and tired with no complaints looking down at his shadow. So, half way through Lexi's mood changes when she sees all the people behind us and sees the finish line in front.

When we finally finished. They both asked (can you guess?) Did we win?

Thank you to all who donated!!!! It really means a lot.

Dennis' Surgery

Dennis had his hernia surgery yesterday. It was a little more involved than they anticipated. Instead of laproscopic they actually had to open him up due to old scar tissue from a previous surgery. So the recovery will be longer. He has been in a lot of pain today, needing to take his percocet every four hours. Please pray for a quick healing. Here is a picture of Timmy and Dennis in the hospital when I came to pick him up. The nurses were so nice to Timmy. They dressed him up, gave him apple juice and finally a ride in a wheelchair like Dad.

Too Cute!

Lexi's cute outfit

Mom and Dad's Internment

The Grandchildren:Timmy, Jacob, Emily, Rachel, Lexi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doaHIOXIhH0&feature=related

My Mom

Words spoken at my Dad's Memorial Service

My Memories

Most of my memories with my dad are going into someones woods to cut trees and get wood.Karen and I would sit in his truck while he pushed it into the woods. Most had no trails and I have no idea how he knew where he was going. I remember we would sit in the truck waiting for him or just walk around. I would be so bored wanting to go home. But now I appreciate those times with him. He loved the peace and serenity of the woods and nature. When I was twelve years old my dad taught me how to drive. We started with the Pontiac Tempest on the driveway. Then moved to the truck on the trails in the woods. One day when Bruce(dad's best friend) was over I got the Tempest stuck in the woods and my dad and Bruce got the truck and a chain and pulled it out. When I started proper driving lessons they only taught with automatic cars and my dad put up a big fight to get them to teach with a stick shift. When I finally got my drivers licence he mad a point of telling me "don't drive on the highway". Maybe he was overprotective or a little fearful. Little did he know then that I would be driving on the California freeways. Once he came to visit me in San Diego he made me drive everywhere saying I drove better on "these" roads. The first car he got for me was a '71 green Chevy Nova which always broke down. He would make me stand outside with him over the car trying to explain to me what was wrong and show me every part in the engine so I could possibly fix it myself. I would like to think he just wanted to spend time with me. There are so many memories that I am so thankful for. I admire his lifetime friendships. I loved the times when these friends would come over and hang out. Every Christmas Eve I would be so excited to see Bruce and Mary. I want to thank you... Bruce, Dick, John, Joe, George for being his friends and accepting him for who he was. You are family to Karen and I. I also want to take this time to thank Janice Ford for inviting Karen and I to church and driving us to Sunday School every Sunday. If it were not for you, Karen and I would not be where we are today and dad would not be where he is today...with the Lord. And, thank you Dad for you. I love you.

In My Eyes

He was rough and lacked etiquette, Society would say

He had no classy attributes, To help him on his way

He was not a fancy dresser, and not so trimmed and neat
With simple clothes and simple shoes, he wore upon his feet

He didn't belong to a club, or drive shiny cars

And if he took vacations, he did not go very far

He didn't dine on fine cuisine, to him fast food was a treat

And he may have used a plastic fork, when it was time to eat

He worked long hours at his jobs to make an average pay

And even when he was tired or sick, he went to work each day

His job was as a handy man, his pay just made ends meet

But a few good friends and family, made his life complete

He was not well versed in poetry, theater or the arts

And wisdom was not something that he had to constantly impart

The wealth that God had given him to treasure and adore

Two loving daughters, who could ask for more

He never had much money and his life was not a show

But he is still the richest man that I will ever know

To others he was a simple man and fame he never had

But he's the greatest man I know, I'm glad to call him dad

Words spoken at Mom's memorial service

Mom, I can only imagine, are you walking by His side ? What are your eyes seeing? Is your face before Him? I can only imagine.... Surrounded by His Glory... What is your heart feeling? Are you dancing for Jesus or standing still in awe of Him? Are you singing hallelujah or are you able to speak at all? I can only imagine... I can only imagine... Are you forever worshiping Him?


I can only imagine is she forever, forever, worshiping You, Jesus?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FS5GYvg6uU&feature=related


Mom, You gave me life, nurtured and cared for me, and when you felt the time was right, you set me free. Through the years, never once did you complain or wish for things to be any different. You simply took your life in stride, no questions asked, embracing the happy moments along with the sad, accepting all things for what they were. That was your way.
Now, as a grown-up, I can reflect with such admiration and respect on the wonderful woman and mother you were. You stood with courage to meet the responsibilities that fell upon you, and sacrificed so much for the love of your daughters. What you have accomplished is more than you will ever realize. When I think of all that you have done for us and all the love you have so generously poured from your heart, I feel humbled. There will never be enough gratitude to offer to you. But my heart will always be filled with the joy of knowing your love. It is the most precious gift I have ever received. I love you for being a caring person, a remarkable woman, and an exceptional mother. This love that you have given will forever live within me. Thank you for being my mother.

First day of Preschool

Today Timmy started "normal" preschool. He is being integrated into a normal classroom. Or should I say a non-special-ed class. When we walked in he went right over to a group of girls playing with some kind of interlocking plastic pieces that can be made into different designs. The kids were taking turns putting pieces on top to make a tower. When he took a turn, he reached for his piece and the corner of it hit the tower and it completely fell over. The look on his face was complete horror. Then all of a sudden the kids burst out laughing and then he joined right in with them. I was shocked. If this had happen at home he would have had a complete melt down. I was very proud of him. I will keep you posted on how he does with "normal kids".

He is still going every afternoon to Fraser day treatment program. He gets Speech Therapy twice a week at Fraser also. I still drive him to a different place for Occupational Therapy.