Summer and Dad.

Well the summer is flying by to quickly. It has been very hot humid and rainy this year here in the Midwest. Our Family has been very busy with several activities. Eric graduated from High school this year. and has been going to the dentist and doctors appointments getting ready to turn his papers in for his mission.

Don had 3 weeks off of school in June it was nice to have him home for a while. but this semester he is gone 4 days a week instead of 3 so I miss him even more. 1 more semester after this one and he will be done with that part of his schooling. he will have his Baking and pastry degree next is the culinary arts degree. that will only be another 2 years. but he will have his bachelors degree. he is getting strait A's and is loving school. He is already getting job offers this is good. As for me I am working to pay the bills. it is hard to believe Don and I will be empty Nester's all to soon.



Dad's Alzheimer's is progressing little by little. I notice slight changes here and there. He has been running a low grade fever off and on this week (99-100). When I see him he most of the time does not respond much any more. He does like it when I take him out and when I take him to the coffee shop for some Ice cream or a root beer. He tires easily more and more every time I see him. here are some pictures from my last visit. the one shows some spots on his arm. I asked about them and they were not sure how they got there. they did say that he might have hit something. sometimes in the morning he get combative when they are trying to get him out of bed. He is not on any kind of medication that could cause the spots I am going to ask the doctor next time I am down there if they are still there. he is still choking on his liquids so you have to be careful that you do not give him more than a tiny sip. I did notice his hands appear to be curling in more and more. I will get a picture of that my next visit as well.

I hope you are all well I miss you all. Love you all so much. Jo Ellen

Fathers Day 2010

Wow how time flies.

Life here has been crazy we closed our Pizza place in Carthage and are opening in Nauvoo. so life has been crazy need less to say.

Dad is doing ok for the stage of Alzheimer's he is in. He continues to lose a pound here and there and then gain one or two here and there. but mostly he continues to loose. he talks less and less smiles once in a while. He is eating a little better but is chocking on his liquids most of the time now. This is because he is forgetting how to swallow. I tell him how much each of you love him every time I see him. I also tell him thank you for being such a good Dad. He smiled this last time and said thank you. He is still on Hospice car I am so grateful for this it means he gets more baths every week and he has lots of visitors.

Here are some pictures from the past few months of Dad as well as others. There are a few before and after shots of his hair cut.

There is a country song called Daddy's hands that I think of often
part of the chorus goes "Daddy's hands were soft and kind when I was crying. Daddy's hand were hard as steal when I've done wrong. Daddy's hands weren't always gentile but I've come to understand there was always Love in Daddy's hands."


I hope all is well with all of you Love you all Jo Ellen

Hello Everyone I am so sorry I have not updated you anything for a while. I am running all day with Census work and the restaurant and visits to Dad that this is the first time I have had a chance to update you.

Dad was at the same stage for a while and there was nothing new to update but in the last month and a half there has been a progression of the disease.

Dad no longer opens his eyes at all and talks very little if at all. usually when I visit he does not respond except to squeeze my hand while I am holding it. once in a while I can get a smile out of him but it is getting less and less.

The Nurses continue to get him out of bed every day and put him in his wheel chair. it is a nice chair that tilts back so he can not fall out.

he is eating less and less all the time. unfortunately they only weigh him once a month so I could not report his weight until today he is down to 152 pounds. that means he has lost 11 pounds this last month.


He continues on hospice care thank goodness. this means he gets bathed every other day as well as visits from them.

I am sorry I have not sent pictures lately because he is so thin he looks awe full. it makes me cry to look at them. If any of you would like a picture I will take one tomorrow when I go down to see him.

We are supposed to have 80 degree weather tomorrow and I want to take him down to the flower garden and help him smell the flowers. He loved that last year.

Well I will write soon until then I hope this finds all of you well and happy.

I truly love and miss you all
Jo Ellen

I hear

I just heard that there needs to be a big Congratulations sent out to Dawn and Larry. They recently got married. I am so happy for you. May you have many long happy years together.

Visits with dad

Our Veterans day visit 2009
Me Nichole, her 4 little ones (Jessica, Bethany,Miriam, Beck) and Eric.






Dad was not having a very good day. I think he is getting sick.

more pictures

Grandpa and Back
The pizza the grand kids helped make.
Happy halloween
Helping grandpa make pizza
Monkey Bethaby
Princess Jessica
Chicken Bethany
60's Nichole and bunny Beck (beck is wearing the costume Peter wore his first Easter)
Fall colors

Nauvoo temple fall colors
Erics Birthday he won 1,000 tickets


We went bowling

some pictures

Erics 18th birthday

Nauvoo Temple
Erics eagle project
Reflections at Nauvoo Temple