This is where Bob spends most of his day...watching the cabin being built..
no workers today...much snow, some sleet and very cold.
His physical therapist managed to get here before everything started shuting down...
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Another Good Day...four in a row !!!!
I purchased a web cam and Brian and I "skyped" for about half an hour after school...then for another half hour last night...with Eddie and Bobby...Bobby played his saxaphone for us...its great fun to be able to see one another while talking long distance like that...and except for the cost of the web cam (about 30$) its free! I'm hoping Laura will get one so we can also see one another while conversing..
The postman delivered a wonderful gift from our friends in Texas...Joe and Chris Santee (our "Care Group" leaders) made a DVD for us...He recorded our church friends saying goodby to us....our Care Group, Bobs Saturday morning mens prayer group, his Wednesday morning "breakfast" group, ...what a blessing it was to see all of them again...and for Joe to take the time to carry his video cam to those functions....very special people. After Bob watched it his comment was "Those are the best people in the world."...amen to that.
and also...
the golf cart I purchased was delivered...can't wait to get Bob out in it...it will provide mobility for him...around the property (3 acres)...coming and going from our house to this one...we can even ride over to Ron and Beckys (who live in the neighborhood).. :)
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Things to do at 3am
First....make a pot of Dunkin Donuts Hazelnut Coffee...guarenteed to help you get back to sleep Duh
Second...see if you can find any biscotti's left over............good for the figure....Duh
then check your email and spend a couple of hours on the computer...
The next thing you know it 5:30 am...............
My only "real" email buddies were my family and friends here in Alabama and as I now reside here and see them every day my inbox is usually only full of junk...
however there was a message from my 15 year old grandson in Texas...What a treat!...the one who hardly has three words to say when we were together now sends me emails :) I LOVE IT...
I seem to have had a writers block of late...(not that I was ever very literary...)
Laura, in Texas, calls most every day...Herk and Nicki, in Texas and Chicago , don't do "computer"...so I know they do not see my blog...
There has been much going on...
First and formost, Bob is getting better!!! He often walks short distances (from room to room) and is awake more of time....he even watched a little football this past weekend.
Yesterday his doctor said his lungs were pretty clear of the pneumonia and has ceased his IV antibiotic and we are weaning him off oxygen..Praise The Lord!
He has been a wee bit ornery and stubborn at times, which is a good sign!...
I am less reluctant to leave him with others...I attended a baby shower on Sunday and yesterday I had a minicure!
'Still cold and rainy here...
Second...see if you can find any biscotti's left over............good for the figure....Duh
then check your email and spend a couple of hours on the computer...
The next thing you know it 5:30 am...............
My only "real" email buddies were my family and friends here in Alabama and as I now reside here and see them every day my inbox is usually only full of junk...
however there was a message from my 15 year old grandson in Texas...What a treat!...the one who hardly has three words to say when we were together now sends me emails :) I LOVE IT...
I seem to have had a writers block of late...(not that I was ever very literary...)
Laura, in Texas, calls most every day...Herk and Nicki, in Texas and Chicago , don't do "computer"...so I know they do not see my blog...
There has been much going on...
First and formost, Bob is getting better!!! He often walks short distances (from room to room) and is awake more of time....he even watched a little football this past weekend.
Yesterday his doctor said his lungs were pretty clear of the pneumonia and has ceased his IV antibiotic and we are weaning him off oxygen..Praise The Lord!
He has been a wee bit ornery and stubborn at times, which is a good sign!...
I am less reluctant to leave him with others...I attended a baby shower on Sunday and yesterday I had a minicure!
'Still cold and rainy here...
Thursday, January 21, 2010
future Emerile's
These little boys love to stir, stir, stir...mix, mix, mix,....add, add, add
“Patience is the ability to idle your motor when you feel like stripping your gears.”
and Barb has the patience of Job!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
New Girl In Town
WHAT A WEEK !!!!!!!!!!!!!The morning after my last post we had to go back into the hospital. When Bob's Home Health nurse came to see him his oxygen level was 34%...his heart rate was 110..he had pneumonia and we spent five days at Huntsville Hospital ...got back home on Friday...Friday evening our Texas kids arrived for the three day weekend...
Our eldest, Bob Jr. with his sisters, Laura and Barbara...early morning stroll outside...in our PJs
Our two sons and son-in-law, David
Little Bobby, in the middle, came with his dad ...the two great-grandsons, Thomas and Cooper are always happy when he comes and want to spend the night here with their MeMaw...
On Saturday, the 16th....our 10th great-grandchild was born..little Caramia Lousia Gentle...guess I should change the name of my blog from "Bob and Me Plus 23"...to "Bob and Me Plus 24"...
Barbara is now the proud grandmother of three boys and one little girl..
On Sunday, Barbs birthday, some friends furnished delicious lazanya, salad and cake...we enjoyed a meal together ..sang our favorite hymns, read scripture and shared a devotional. Bob was aware part of the time and slept some of the time.Barbs best friends, Lori and JuJu have sung together for many years.
Monday, January 11, 2010
going downhill
He seems to be drifting inside himself...so unaware of everything...I scream silent screams...I've had no existence without him...I don't know how to do this....I sit beside him, lay beside him, touch his body, caress him, tend to him, ...but only ocassionally do I know that he is there...when he squeezes my hand in response ....I want more than his body to care for....I miss his voice...He's so compliant now...I miss his stubborness..
I want him back..........
oh damn it! That was all about ME...what about him...I dare not consider too deeply how he must feel...no control. on his life...nothing to break the endless days and nights...is it AM or PM he asks....is this Friday?....I hear his heavy breathing through the monitor as I sit here ...my heart breaks and many tears fall but offer no comfort....
How can everything else go on as usual?...cabins are being built, football games are being played...blogs are being written....meaningless birthdays come and go...it all seems so unimportant now..... His eyes are cloudy and oft times a look of confusion on his face...He speaks only when he needs water to try and clean his mouth, or when he needs the bathroom, or when he needs cover...too weak to reach down and cover himself..yet strong enough yesterday to get into his wheelchair and be taken outside for a few minuets...just a few brief minuets of resisting his illness....
I don't want to live in that cabin alone...it is HIS cabin...
I read of others loss of their young children and oh, how that must shatter their life and will always be a part of it....and still others say, "Well, he is 80 years old, he's had a full life...how blessed he was...we don't live forever"...All of that is true but I wonder if those who think that way have ever loved someone for 60 years...had them be a part of themself...and then expect to go on living without that part...it's such an empty, hopeless feeling.
I speak as tho he were already gone...in a way he is...maybe this is part of letting go...I WILL NEVER LET GO...
"The body from spirit doth slowly unwind,
until we are pure spirit in the end."
'Sorry children, I know these words are painful...'don't know why I feel compelled to write them...I realize how difficult this is for you, especially you who are not able to be here with us.
This is not Gods doing...good things are from God...you five children are from God, our love for each other is from God...this is from Satan...this is from evil...there is much good in this world but there is also much evil...our lives are touched by both.
I want him back..........
oh damn it! That was all about ME...what about him...I dare not consider too deeply how he must feel...no control. on his life...nothing to break the endless days and nights...is it AM or PM he asks....is this Friday?....I hear his heavy breathing through the monitor as I sit here ...my heart breaks and many tears fall but offer no comfort....
How can everything else go on as usual?...cabins are being built, football games are being played...blogs are being written....meaningless birthdays come and go...it all seems so unimportant now..... His eyes are cloudy and oft times a look of confusion on his face...He speaks only when he needs water to try and clean his mouth, or when he needs the bathroom, or when he needs cover...too weak to reach down and cover himself..yet strong enough yesterday to get into his wheelchair and be taken outside for a few minuets...just a few brief minuets of resisting his illness....
I don't want to live in that cabin alone...it is HIS cabin...
I read of others loss of their young children and oh, how that must shatter their life and will always be a part of it....and still others say, "Well, he is 80 years old, he's had a full life...how blessed he was...we don't live forever"...All of that is true but I wonder if those who think that way have ever loved someone for 60 years...had them be a part of themself...and then expect to go on living without that part...it's such an empty, hopeless feeling.
I speak as tho he were already gone...in a way he is...maybe this is part of letting go...I WILL NEVER LET GO...
"The body from spirit doth slowly unwind,
until we are pure spirit in the end."
'Sorry children, I know these words are painful...'don't know why I feel compelled to write them...I realize how difficult this is for you, especially you who are not able to be here with us.
This is not Gods doing...good things are from God...you five children are from God, our love for each other is from God...this is from Satan...this is from evil...there is much good in this world but there is also much evil...our lives are touched by both.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
Happy Birthday to me...from Laura
Ummmm. strawberries, bananas, apples, pineapple, grapes...and (drum roll please!) chocolate....Thank you Laura...they're delicious
Congrats to Alabama
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Hookem' Horns
A house divided...our son is a Tx.Ex...our daughter was raised in Texas and as a family my husband and I have lived in Texas most of our life....and loved it...our son-in-law, whose home we are living in, has lived in Alabama all of his life and is an AVID tide fan...gonna be an interesting night.
I'm just looking forward to a great effort from both teams and an exicting game.
artwork by Thomas...a Tennessee fan :)
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Great-grandsons
David (the largest "little one") is not little but his papa is named David also...hence, "little David"... These two little cousins were born one day apart...little David was a premmie, ..was MUCH smaller than Cooper but has outgrown him.
Cooper's big brother, Thomas, 
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Today is yours and mine
Our cup is full
We've found our way
The fruit is on the vine.
Tomorrow remains another day
But today is yours and mine.
We've found our way
The fruit is on the vine.
Tomorrow remains another day
But today is yours and mine.
It Is Well
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
When we honestly ask ourselves which persons in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving much advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a gentle and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, would stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is the friend who cares.
Henri Nouwen
"Out of Solitude"
Henri Nouwen
"Out of Solitude"
Friday, January 1, 2010
a full house
On Monday the "crew" from Texas arrived via UHaul and auto...all safe and intact..Many thanks go out to Eddie, Laura, her son and sons-in-law, good friends SaRita and David Powell for loading up all our posessions and to my granddaughters Summer, Heather and Laura Beth for cleaning the apartment for me.
Eddie, Laura, Laura Beth, Bobby and Brian added to the Gentle/Watson family who live here (Barb, Dave, Ben, Momas, little David, Laura Leigh, Jason, Cooper and Thomas) as well as Bob and myself...made up for a lively few days before the "Texas" family returned today...see for yourself ..
Laura Leigh and Laura Beth...cousins
Cooper and little David
Barb gave her sister Laura a haircut and color...isn't she pretty!
Cooper covered Eddie up with Pillows...
Ben and Mamas...little david is going to have a sister in the next few weeks..
the fight is on...cousins on the top, siblings on the bottom...
Jason and Laura Leigh (or as we call her "Double L"
OK...who's got he most hair left...nephew Ben or Uncle Eddie...
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