WW: Grandpa {Linky}

Last Tuesday I didn't post a WW because I was miles away at a funeral. I thought about not posting this, but death is part of life. I wrote about my Grandpa passing away, but never wrote about his funeral. I say - he lived to 93 years young. I have nothing, but happy memories from my Grandparents on my Mom's side. My Grandma died many years ago from Alzheimer's. My Grandpa just like most people at 93 was really forgetful. The brain has to age just like the rest of your body.

Just this year I taught Grandpa how to take Selfies.

A few months back he went to the hospital, and lost 1/2 his blood. Even the doctors were surprised he made it through that.

This time he fell really bad. He was all bruised up, but didn't break anything. They did find a tear in his vertebrae by his neck, that was from an old fall. He was doing well, sitting up, and eating, had a massive seizure, and that was it. I'm so glad he went that way. They wouldn't have operated on his neck. Living with pain isn't the way to go.

I felt like I was doing ok at the funeral. Mica was a Paul Bearer for the first time.

My cousin asked if they should line up in age order, or height order? Mica at age 14 is 6 foot.

Isaak wasn't a Paul Bearer, but sure was cute. 

He's with his youngest cousin Edison in this photo.

I saw my Great Uncles and lost it. I know they are so close! One lost his wife, his daughter, and now his best friend and brother, my Grandpa. The other had just gotten out of the hospital two days prior to the funeral. On all there were seven of them.

To top it off, when we went to go to the graveyard one of my Great Uncles was using a cane my Grandpa had made for him. The cane broke, he fell, and had to be rushed off to the hospital. He's ok. Just a big egg on his head!

We had a military service. My Grandpa went into the Navy.

Kind of random, but my Grandpa always had a stash of hard candy in hidden in his car. He loved Root Beers, Butterscotch, and Coffee. I passed a few out to people I was around.

Each Paul Bearer left their boutonniere on the casket. I have no idea if that's a tradition, or not.

We left roses on our family member's graves. My Grandma was Dorothy.

So much of me thinks of life being like a circle. One person dies, another is born. Just like seasons, and our calendar revolve in a circle. 

Who is the closest person to you that's passed away? 

I'd have to say my Grandma Dorothy was to me.

Happy 93rd Birthday Grandpa!

My Grandpa turned 93 yesterday!

As Larry David in Curb Your Enthusiasm would say...

He did have a scare when we were on vacation. He lost 1/2 of his blood. It's a miracle, or he's lucky to be alive if you don't believe in miracles.

Blood transfusions kept him alive. YAY for modern technology!

He's still pretty with it. Don't get me wrong, the brain gets tired just like everything else does. Sometimes he'll forget things that happened, mix up his great grandchildren, or forget that someone passed away. BUT he still has a sense of humor, he can still vocalize what his needs are, he loves us, and is a giving man.

I made him take usies with me:

He kept making faces, and I told him to "Stop it!"

We got together at my Aunt's house for fried chicken, potato salad, bbq beans, and a Costco cake. If you haven't gotten a Costco cake, you're missing out! It's inexpensive, and good!

Here's most of the Great Grands. Minus 3. My niece lives in KC, and my nephew (her brother) didn't hear us call them to come pose with Grandpa. They are the two oldest ones in the family. Often we mix them up for grands. I have a cousin that's the same age as my niece. Emerson is heavy, and won't stand up on his own, so he's missing too. All together he has 4 daughters, 9 grands, and 15 great grands.

What's the oldest someone has lived in your family?

Grandpa

Right before we left, for our week long trip they found my Grandpa laying on the floor. Blood was coming out of him instead of stool.

I was nervous to go out of town. We hardly do go out of town.

We left. Every day I got texts saying how he was doing. I didn't feel like there was anything I could say to make things better. I felt guilty texting that I was doing all these amazing things, when my 93 year old Grandpa was in the Intensive Care Unit at the hospital. At the same time I knew if I came home he could go on living.

He ended up loosing 1/2 his blood! They kept giving him blood. He was confused, kept seeing things like many really sick people do.

They didn't know where to send him. He's in an assisted living facility. He doesn't have the care he might need if this happens again.

He made a great recovery! He's up and walking, with a walker. Doctors are amazed with how well he's doing. Most people pass away that have gone through what he went through.

I visited him when we got home. We spent an evening watching fake wrestling. I think he thinks it's real. He does say some things that are off. I think the brain is just like everything else, it gets old and tired. I'm glad he can talk. Some people his age aren't be able to.

One of the off things he said, "I think I'm living in this place for free. I haven't gotten a bill." I said, "Maybe the Navy is taking care of it." Really I know my aunt is paying for him to stay there. I said, "I wouldn't worry about it Grandpa. Just let them take care of you."

Isaak's routing for him to live to 100. We shall see.

Random Tid Bits

I'm writing this a week early. Classes started this week, so I know I'll be super busy. If you comment, I'll be sure to get back to your blog.

1. I gave my fall sylabi to the Education Director in the spring, well before classes were over. She never went over them; that I'm aware of. I find it kind of insulting; considering I plowed through to get them to her before my surgery. It's less than a week before classes start, and she still hasn't given them back to me with any changes. I emailed them on over to the Director (a different person) of the school. She emailed me back asking, "Did the Education Director approve these?" I just replied with a, "Yes." There are times where I want things to be right, and there are other times I just choose my battles. At this time I just chose to let it go. Yes she's reviewed them in the past, so there's that.


2. I was surprised to see a guy teacher back at work. Why was I surprised? Last year he told the student it was his last year. He also told me that he has Alzheimer's Disease. 


3. Last year I had lots of workbooks for my kids to work on during the summer. This year I didn't. For one they stop making a lot of workbooks in upper elementary. For another I've read a few articles here's one that being bored is good for kids. Here I was trying to give them something to do all the time.
   
   Instead of always giving them things to do I encouraged this:
   
   

   

   Source

4. Mica's new to doing laundry. I went to go make Isaak's bed, after asking Mica to go get what was in the dryer. It was all wet. He put it in the dryer, but never turned it on. I just can't believe he brought them up and didn't think, These feel a little wet. We made him put them in the dryer, turn the dryer on, then I said, "Don't worry about it. We all start out laundry with mistakes."
   
   Travis piped in, "Mica I've washed a load of water before. I forgot to put clothes in there." Travis did that as an adult! I think us admitting we've made mistakes helped establish that he can come to us when he makes a mistake. 


5. We have a Family Reunion on my Mom's side once a year. In a way it's too much of the time. In another way it's just once a year. Here's a photo of my Grandpa with his siblings that are still alive. He's had 2 sisters, and 1 other brother that have passed away. These 3 have always been the closest of the siblings.
   
   My 91 year old Grandpa is the one in the front with the darker skin. I swear he looks part Native American, but I have no proof of that. 

What's your oldest relative? 

WW: Nap Time {Linky}

My sister posted this picture. It's my nephew Emerson and my Dad (Grandpa) having a nap. I just thought it was so funny.

Later my sister posted a video of Emerson laying on the ground, and Edison his brother taking his diaper off. I guess he did it 6 times that day. He's going to be her trouble child. LOL

I'm so glad Emerson is wearing Isaak shirt. Yay for hand me downs. It was a shirt I got that was pretty small when I got it. Isaak looks so little! I think he's changed his mind about what he wants to be 10 times over again since then.

Please Check Out My Giveaways on the Sidebar. 

We Took My Dad - AKA Grandpa Out For a Birthday Breakfast

I don't know how people can skip breakfast. It's my favorite meal of the day. 

Over the weekend my sister's and I took my Dad AKA Grandpa Spiehs for breakfast at First Watch. I love their food because they do have healthier options, or you can splurge and get a traditional breakfast. We're taking our parent's out more and more over getting gifts. Once people hit a certain point in their life they don't need a whole lot. I'm at that point. We did get him a book he wanted.

After our morning out we went back to my parent's house, and asked our Mom to take pictures. We had a good laugh because every shot she jerked the camera, she cut off my Dad's head in a good shot where he was smiling. Then my oldest short sister said, "If she goes too much higher I'll barely be in the picture." :)

My mom sits on one side of the couch only, so the couch is really worn down on that side. Everyone looks taller than my Dad, who is super tall. Look at me, I'm a giant. 

My Dad always takes the photos. I don't think I've ever seen a camera in my Mom's hands.
 
I post these shots on FB per my sister's request. My Mom wrote in a comment, "Why is everyone's faces stretched?" I didn't do anything to anyone's faces. I did not know what she was talking about.
 
I did what any punk of a daughter would do and stretched our faces big time, and tagged my Mom. Then I asked my sister Terra, "What in the heck was she talking about?" Terra didn't know. She was laughing at the on purpose stretched photos. Her high tech Kindle that she sometimes knows how to use must have been stretching our faces.
 

I feel pretty with an egg shaped head. LOL
 
Seriously I love my parents though. They love me - even when I'm goofy. I know I'll have my pay back moments. Mica and Isaak have my crazy sense of humor as well.

WW: Story Time With Grandpa {Linky}

This weekend we went to celebrate my Mom AKA Grandma and Brother in-law AKA Uncle Eric's Birthdays.

I got some great expressions on camera. The sucky thing was the lighting. I had the camera set to manual, I bumped up the light, and they still came out grainy. Oh well.

My Dad AKA Grandpa was telling Mica and his cousin Evan all about how he met my Mom AKA Grandma.

Mica and Grandpa

Mica, Cousin Evan and Grandpa

Bunny Ears

If you have a moment enter my low entry Ergonomic Pen - The UGLee Pen Giveaway

Panda

Isaak has a FurReal Panda. He drinks a bottle, gets the hiccups and snores.

He hasn't played with him in awhile. Yesterday I got him out. Isaak was giddy to have his "CUTE PANDA BABY!"

His panda bear started snoring. Isaak laughed and said, "That sounds like Grandpa sleeping!" Yep my Dad, Grandpa Spiehs likes to take a lot of naps!