Guess Who Came To Visit On Sunday

Ben enjoyed sitting with Grandpa Decker.

Isn't he a cutie?

Amanda helped entertain by reading books

and playing with puppets.

Jayden made a NEST for the birdies
out of the many knit scarves.
The ball weights are hidden underneath
the assortment of birds as large blue eggs.

It was a real treat
to have a houseful of fun little people.
It made Grandpa and Grandma
smile really BIG.

Kauai 2009

The spot we ate lunch

on our last day there.

Looking down towards a beach

we had to climb down tree roots

to reach the shore.

The area we climbed down to.

I think this is the same beach.
Photo taken from the point
we descended the cliff at.

Bruce and I
This is the waterfall Aurelia
passed everyday when she rode
the school bus to and from school.

Yvonne and my older brother, Richard.

My older sis, Aurelia and her husband Ben.

In the condo right before we

left to go to church at the

same chapel we attended so many years ago.
Even Kauai has it's autumn colors.

Roosters can be found EVERYWHERE

you go on the island.

Leaves on a tree.

Photo taken near the wet and dry caves.

These are Ne Ne's.

Pronounced nay nay.

Probably taken just outside our condo.

Bruce and I were treated to a remarkable vacation by Aurelia and Ben. This trip had been planned since last February. At the last minute Dad and Mom were not able to make the trip with us as expected. Richard and Yvonne were able to make the hurried arrangements to join us. The whole experience was amazing and definitely memorable. I feel very blessed that I was able to be in Kauai with my two oldest siblings and visit the home we lived in 46 years ago. The places we went were beautiful and worth remembering. I was so young at the time we lived there that even with being in the same place again, nothing sparked any memories from the past for me. Happily both Aurelia and Richard were able to recall things from their memories and experiences. My favorite activity was snorkeling and being on the beaches. Bruce especially enjoyed the big waterfall we drove to on the last day we were there. Poor Bruce got sick the second day we were there. He did his best to enjoy everything despite being miserable. Today we found out that he has bronchitis. Silly guy!

Thank you, Aurelia and Ben, for making this vacation of a lifetime possible! Thank you, Richard and Yvonne, for dropping everything and being there! We had a GREAT time!

OHS Homecoming 2009

Paul Raffensparger asked Amanda to Homecoming.

Amandas corsage was especially gorgeous and unique.

She loved wearing it. It smelled beautiful even the next day

when she wore it to church.

Here is the fun and charming 'group'.

Yes...she had fun!

Define 'Well'

Mom is out of surgery as of approx. 1:45 this afternoon. She is reported as doing 'well'. The Tri Cuspid valve is infected, yet looks 'good'. Her Dr. said it was a miracle she survived long enough to do the surgery.
Miracles are welcomed.

Cute Sentences

In my immediate family we like to keep record of sentences people say....the kind which make us smile. Here are a few of the most recent.

"Her pacemaker does have vegetation growing on it." Message update being retold to someone regarding the most recent test results of the findings by doctors caring for my critically ill mother.

"Nani does have good taste in men, that's another talent." Said by Greg (her adorable husband) after someone had praised something Nani had done and called it a talent.

I.C U.

Yes, ICU stands for Intensive Care Unit, where my mom is vacationing at the moment. Bad joke- I know. Hardly a vacation. But she does have an air mattress which inflates and deflates to help with her circulation. Way more luxurious than having someone turn you over every half hour. For a gal who has failing kidneys, on oxygen, can't pee for herself, hasn't eaten more than what would fill a sandwich Ziploc in the past 4 days, has bacteria flowing through her veins, hooked up to a swan thing, and the anticipation of future heart surgery....she can put us all to shame with her positive outlook and her amazing attitude. Those who know my mom know that she is a remarkable woman- and these past few days prove it even more. Obviously perfection is attainable in this life. She shows us how.

P.S. In my case ICU stands for I'm Completely Useless.

Answers- yet still lots of Questions

Keep in mind that I am still very tired and I need my hair cut (I may say something stupid or forget some important detail due to these two facts). So here is the low down-
Mom has blood poisoning, bacteria in her blood, a staph infection.
I know it is lame of me to not attempt to give more details, but I don't have time to type since an already busy life has been filled with even more. I truly love everyone of my brothers and sisters. The situation and experience we are going through is stressful, difficult and requiring a ton of sacrifice. I am grateful for the diversity and varied talents and abilities in each of my siblings and their spouses. I am grateful for each of them and the ways in which they add to my life experience.
And yes- I love my dad too. Very much.