Home...

Dad has gone home to be with the Lord. 

 He passed this morning at 11:00, literally 3 minutes after I arrived at his bedside.  He was very peaceful and was pain free.  Amy was holding him and I was holding his hand as he took his last breath.  We are all morning the loss of an amazing man, father and grandfather.  Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers these past few months!

Dad has transitioned to the more active stages of dying...he has become increasingly weak and exauhsted with very minimal food intake.  Thankfully his pain is well controlled on the pain pump and he has a lot of support from Hospice.  He has been able to visit with Becky, Alex & the kids and his sister, Margie, came in town --so he has been able to have some nice visits with her.  He tends to sleep most of the day, but does perk up when people come to visit.   Last week he was able to get out of bed to use a wheel chair to get to the bathroom and sit at the table to eat, btu that changed a few days ago.  He stays in the hospital bed in the living room and they have 24 hour in home help as needed.  Through it all he remains very gracious for all the help he is recieving and he continues to be the gentleman he always has been.  It is difficult to see him in this condition but we have comfort knowing he is very well cared for by Amy and the Hospice help.
This whole processes is very reminisent of mother's passing, which is very hard for Bill to see--it has only been 4 short years since we lost her.  Bill takes comfort in all your thoughts and prayers, we all do.  We know both mother and dad's memories will be kept alive through all the great memories they shared and created with us and we share those with our children.  It is also very comforting to know we will see them again...

Ali put it beautifully when she said,

 "When Poppa goes to heaven he will be all better and so happy.  We are lucky beacuse we know we will see him again and we will all be happy together!"

...home

Dad made it home tonight.  He has a hospital bed, a pain pump and pretty much any thing else he needs.  He continues to be very fatigued and we are very thankful for the pain pump.  Hospice is coming in the morning to make sure everything is lined up and add any services that maybe helpful.  Now we wait...

Made it...

So happy to share that Dad made it back to Cleveland safely!  They had a good flight from Cali--besides a bit of nasty weather.  The transition was amazingly smooth--Thank you Cleveland Clinic (even if they are the "dark side" they know how to get things done)!  Dad is back in his "usual" room on the Pal med floor at the Clinic, the staff got him straightened right out and started his pain pump up right away.  The plan is to get stabilized and then head home--not sure how long that will take...he is still very tired and having quite a bit of pain.  The most difficult thing it to see him have trouble trying to talk.  It is not the act of talking that is to hard (but it does take some energy) it is getting his thoughts out--and it is very frustrating for him.  We just keep telling him, it's okay and to rest.  I think that is the hardest part for everyone--the pain meds help with the pain, but there is not much to do for problems with verbalizing his thought.  They started a higher steroid dose to see if that may bring some brain swelling down, but no luck yet.  He can speak short sentences, but most importantly he can still recognize everyone and understand how much we love him!

Thank you again for all your thoughts, prayers and offers to help in any way!  We are so blessed to have such amazing friends and family!

xoxoxo

We are trying to get Dad home from Cali--it will probably be a medical flight to Cleveland Clinic or home, whichever is best.  He continues to be very weak and lethargic, his pain is somewhat controlled--the side effects make him not want to use the pain meds as much as he probably could.  We are thankful Dave and Charity are there for support, we wish we could all be there, but mostly we hope he can make it home--where he wants to be...

Thin spaces...

Dad took a turn for the worst while in California.  They arrived safe and sound Wednesday and had a lovely dinner with the Cali Scott clan.  Dad was able to go the Dave's hooding ceremony--which was very important to everyone.  But yesterday his back/liver pain got much worse.  The changed their fight to come home on the red eye last night, but before they could go to the airport, Dad's pain got much worst.  So they called the squad and went to an ER.  He is very tired and in some pain still...the hospice team in Cali do not have high hopes for him to come home....needless to says it has been a rough night.  Waiting for an update this morning...All your prayers and thoughts are very much appreciated!!!

I know it has been forever...again :(  Sorry!  I know I always have a reason for being so late--just so busy!  Work, Kids, husband, new roof, solo trip to Cali :) to see my sister graduate with her MASTERS!!!, more work, nice weathering and enjoying the BNEs--any way here is a little up date...
Dad is still active with hospice, he is not needing daily support and is feeling okay, just mainly tired.  They are trying to enjoy every day, especially enjoying the garden and flowers.  Dad turned 71 last Sunday--we got to help celebrate with a couple pineapple upside down cakes--Dad's fave :)  They are hoping to go to Cali for Dave's DOCTORATE graduation!!  June 6-12, it will be a long trip but so worth it for them to see the Calli Scott family!
Bill just got fitted for his tux for my sister's WEDDING!!!  Work is good and he survived the weekend alone with the kids while I was in Cali :)
Liam is 9 months old now!  He is a big boy who loves to eat, smile, laugh and roll all over the place!  He hasn't crawled yet, but it is coming!  He is still in love with his sister :)  He is going for his first hair cut next Saturday--I am not ready to let that long baby hair go, but is is pretty ridiculous ;)  He has to look super handsome for the wedding :)

 Love!

Dancing Princess!



I swear, he usually loves his sister! ;)

9 Months! 

The Family on Easter :)