Febuary 4, 2012 Bob’s update
Good Morning all ,
The pic you see here is one taken abour 5 years ago on a trip to my sons home in Philadelphia , Pa.
Just wanted you all to know that our trip over to Virgina Mason Transplant Center in Seattle on Jan 17-20th was canceled due to very extreme weather in Seattle , we will be resceduled sometime this month . The weather was not only bad , snow ,ice , closed Mt. passes , but on one of the days we were to be there they had unforseen ice storm that even closed the airport for more than a few hrs stranding over 32,000 people .
We know we would have been stranded as well , trying to get to the hospital in unfanthomable conditions The staff at the hosital were to have been surely behind or absent altogether , due to the conditions . This would have been extremely tolling on Bob , heathwise as well as mentaly .
You know I was thinking again about those 4 days the other day , and I came to the conclusion that it was not Bob’s time yet to make that visit , thus we were stopped from going . God raised His mighty hand and the wind blew , the snow came and we were halted . In the 5 days following that tuesday Jan 17th , we alone recieved over 26 inches of snowfall here in Leavenworth . That tuesday Jan17th was a reminder of three years ago to the day that Bob was being transported to Harborview Hospital , in critial condition suffering a massive stroke . Even tho I was ready to go , nearly packed , and getting things together ,I was at peace , not worrying or thinking too much of that very same day 3 years before , The Lord had other plans for us , to keep us safely nestled in our little home , just watching the beautiful snow fall instead of driving in it and enduring extremely difficut circumstances while we were there .
I was talking to my dear friend Jordan and he and I agree , Bob was not quite ready yet to make such a big trip and needed a little more time .
As I write this part I am humbley in tears, very emotional day for me today , as a little bit of Hope drifted into our lives yesterday.
It was my birthday a week or so ago , and Bob always gets me something for that day ,even if just a beautiful card and my favorite candy bar , always popping up behind me and saying Happy Birthday Sweetie.
This year was different , he drifed in and out of sleep for many days before and after my b-day , sometimes remembering as I showed him all the beautiful cards and gifts I recieved , but he did not seem to really understand .
Then on Thursday this past week , Bob had a really hard time at dialysis , the tech-nurse had a really hard time inserting the needles , took over 30 min and he came home beaten down .How that must hurt , in and out with the needles for 30 minutes , in the same place . It hurts me to think of it . I feel for my Bobby , how hard this is and how much more courage he has than me.
Then yesterday , I felt I could come to work for a few hours while he rested at home . It was about 1:30 PM , the door opened at our little shop and there was Bob , he told me he had walked down , he stopped and rested at a few hotels along the way..He walked though the icey patches and cold tempetures ( about 20 degrees yesterday) putting one foot in front of another . He came over to where I was sitting and pulled something out of his pocket, a gift , he said . He had stopped at starbucks , my favorite place for a hot drink , and proceeded to fill my card up with a months supply of drinks . he said at he kissed my cheek ” Happy Birthday Sweetie ” .
It has affected me greatly today , as I think of what that took , how hard it was for him to do that , a man that can barely walk around the grocery store a few times a month . He had to walk about 5 long blocks to get to our shop from our home.
I looked at that act yesterday and I told Bob , maybe now is the time God will begin to heal you , I pray for that everyday < I pray that God will touch Bob with His mighty hand and heal him completely , whole and new . We have seen a miracle in Bob’s life once , and I fully prepare to see another in God’s timing .
Well as I sign off today < my prayer is that all will experience this kind of Love in their life , the kind of Love that is selfless and enduring through whatever Life brings.
God Bless All < Peggy and Bob
January 12, 2012 > Bob’s Update
1 Chronicles 16:11
11 Seek the LORD and His strength;
Seek His face evermore!
Good Morning all ,
Well, here we are at the gateway to another path on the journey we travel .
Bob is sceduled to go for a complete evaluation for a Kidney Transplant next week . We will have to travel to one of Seattle’s finest Transplant Hospitals , Virginia Mason Hospital to get this done .
The travel alone will be such a challange for Bob , whom does not leave the house except to go to and from Dialysis 3 times a week. We will stay for three nights in a hotel near the hosptial for convience sake .Bob will have to see several doctors on two seperate days . This will include class room time as well . To some this may seem an easy task, for Bob this will be a burdan , he cannot remember things for more than 5 minutes at time and still has difficulty understanding due to the aphasa he has from the stroke he suffered 3 years ago to the day,that we are to be in a Seattle Hospital once again.
He has Chronic pain and that alone seperates him from other dialysis patients . I will be Bob’s side as much as they will allow , holding his hand , telling him it will all be well , telling him how JESUS our LORD will be at our side as well, holding us both up and getting us through whatever we need to get through. Bob will also have to have outpatient Dialysis while there , the third day after 5 hrs of appointments we will travel to a dialysis center and be there until 6:00 pm or so .
I will not drive this time , a very good friend has offered to take us over , from there transportation will be provided for us .
I am asking for prayers for strength for Bob and for myself as well , sleep for both of us, and for me to be able to retain and record all the information we will here there including the classroom material.( not my strong suit ) This is the time I wish I had a secretary available , he , he .
We have HOPE in this trip , HOPE,that Bob’s health will allow him to be able to have a lifesaving kidney transplant , HOPE , that Bob could return to some of the activites he so loved , maybe even riding his HARLEY once again . Thats a reach , but with GOD ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE .
Dialsyis is not working well for Bob , we all know that , for some it is works wonderfully for some not , Bob is one of those .
Ending up here , just want to say ” I wonder what the Lord has for us to do at Virgina Mason Hosptial > we will be there a long time , I can only imagine what God has prepared for us to accomplish while we are there , looking so forward to that part as well . God will work through us as He always does , who knows what stories I will have to tell when we get back
Thank you all for your continuing prayers for both Bob and I > we feel them each and every day .
Blessing’s to all , Peggy and Bob
December 8, 2011 Bob’s Update
Psalm 3:3
3 But You, O LORD, are a shield for me,
My glory and the One who lifts up my head.
Good Morning everyone ,
Has been awhile since I posted about Bob’s progress on Diaylsis .
Dialysis for Bob is the hardest thing he has ever had to endure , like I have said in previous posts this man is one of the most couragous I have ever met . Raw courage , the kind you get when you are at the end of the rope and cannot hardly hang on any more . This is what it takes to endure dialysis for Bob. I am told for some it is not this way ,it is easier , they can work, play , carry on with their life . For Bob this is not the case , he is at the end of that rope , barely hanging on . The insertion of the needles continues to be a very uncomfortable part of the procedure , Bob’s fistula being one of the more difficult to use . Was not intended to be that way , that is just the way it matured over the months . The folks down at the clinic are doing everything they can to make this easier for him , they try so hard, but i believe when you sit a big active man down in a chair for four hours , three times a week , unable to move his left arm or hand , that alone is brutal. But it is what it is , Bob goes , even tho he does not want to most days , we will see what the new year will bring for him , hopefully it may get easier , and he will feel better , in the mean time , we pray for comfort for him and for the pain to decrease .
The picture here is one taken several years ago at our little shop at Christmas time , such great memories .
Blessing’s to all this Holiday Season
October 29, 2011 Bob’s update
Psalm 94:18
18 When I said, “My foot is slipping,”
your unfailing love, LORD, supported me.
Good Morning everyone,
It has been awhile since I have posted > time gets away from me. Bob is hanging in there , nothing easy for him with dialysis . Every step of this new life is difficult . He has just recently completed his first 90 days. They all told him he would be feeling better by now , but low , he is not much better . With that said , he is still with us and smiling and laughing once in awhile when he watchs a comedy movie . He prays that this will end one day soon for him , he is spent , he tells me in his own words . His joy is that someday he will be with his Lord and Saviour , Jesus Christ . Forever out of pain, and walking the streets of gold .
In the meantime , he gets up every morning and puts one foot in front of another , getting through one more day >>>>>
Blessing’s Peggy
October 5, 2011
Good Morning to all this day:
1 John 4:4
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
This bible verse is one I have heard my sweet Bobby recite over and over again all the nearly 16 years I have known him , it is one of the first scripture verses I memorized so long ago when we first met.
Bob is doing better, finaly we are seeing some improvement , he is not soo sick anymore and is getting used to going down to dialysis, not that he likes it any to keen, but things are going a little better , Still having trouble with the insertion of the needles , sometimes they go better than at other times . He still does not have any energy to speak of , but getting slightly better a day at time .
The kidney Dialsis diet is so different than other diets ,have to eat lots of protein , eggs , meat , fish , chicken , not much whole grains ,and really have to watch water consumption , including everything you eat that contains water ,such a fresh pears , which are plentiful here now , you would not believe how much water is in a fresh pear. On the dialysis diet you cannot consume more than 32 oz of water a day , not much for sure . That is tough for Bob as he takes pills throughout the day and has to take a drop or two of water to help swallow the pills .
The crew down at dailysis are wonderful people , with a tough job, they are an amazing testimony to the health community .
It is fall here in NorthCentral Washington , a beautiful time of year , hope you all are enjoying it wherever you may be as well .
Blessing’s < Peggy
AUGUST 22, 2011 > BOB’S UPDATE > PATIENCE
Titus 2:2
2 that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience;
A very good morning to one and all ,
Well, here we are nearing the end of summer. Soon we will hear the children laughing and chatting as they near the school across the street from us . Bob loves to watch these children come and go each day , He knows exactly what time they start school , when they have recess, lunch and when they are dismissed each day.
He misses them when they are not there in the summer , he misses seeing these children play and laugh . But they will return very soon and he will be happy to see all the little once again .
Bob is truckin on , he still does not have much energy , and rests alot . He feels better , and dialysis is going smoother , but still so hard to adjust too.
He is sober , he is sound in his faith , in love and in patience . He feels 80 he says , when asked how old he is, he responds 80. He is only 62 , but this is how old he feels.
His memory is not good , but you know mine is not that great anymore either , He is calm and the severe and constant sickness has drifted away for now , hopefully , forever . He is content resting in his big recliner chair, watching old reruns of things like , Little house on the Praire, Dr Quinn Medicine woman > and so many more movies the library offers . He said he never has had an opportunity to stay home like this , day after day. He always had to work each day .
So all in all , it is a good week , one more the Lord has given us .
Blessing’s to all <Peggy
AUGUST 11,2011 > BOB’S UPDATE >ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD …
Romans 8:28
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Hello all ,
Hope you are all enjoying your day today ,
Bob is doing well for the most part , each Tuesday, Thursday , and Saturday he gets to go to town for what he used to call a day off . Funny he used to be so excited about
going to town on those days we took off of work to enjoy a meal , some shopping and just time off from work . Now he goes to town for a whole new reason , to stay alive . He thinks of it alot differently now . Yet, he smiles at the friendly drivers, Big Dave, or Leo , who drive him to and from dialysis , chats away , and go with a positive atitude .
Later in the evening on dialysis days , he will ask me , do I have a day off tomorrow or do I go to my dialysis ? He loves the days off that he doesn’t go to town now . He actualy has two days in a row off , on sunday and monday each week , he likes those days .
Today he told me , that there was a new nurse (RN) still in training that was taking care of him . He told her that the most important thing she could do was to write down what she wanted to have done if she was criticaly ill ( a Living will ,or sometimes called an Advance Directive ) She said “Why is that” ( a young girl most likely would not think about this kind of thing . He said “Oh because it is so important for the family to know what you would or would not want done if you could not speak for yourself . He told her
My Peggy took me off life support ( all but a breathing tube ) I was breathing on my own ) in the Icu at Harborview Hospital , after 14 days ,when I could not speak for myself , and three days later God began to wake me up . He told her the Drs said he may never walk , talk ,or definately ride his harley , but I did ride my harley , about 22 times last summer .Why he wanted her to know these things I am not sure , but maybe he felt there was a need for her to know about these things .
We know that all things work together for the good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose . His purpose today was for Bob to tell a new student nurse how he was able to ride his harley , when most had lost hope for that ever happening again., and that she should write down her wishes just in case she could not speak for herself.
We are well , we are safe and we are enjoying each other every day , the way is suppose to be , the way love was designed by Almighty God > be kind to one another , you never know when or how something might take you by surprise .
Love and Blessing’s , Peggy
AUGUST 6,2011 > BOB’S UPDATE > GLORY OF THE LORD SHALL BE YOUR REAR GUARD
Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Good Morning to all ,
Hope all are well this beautiful and joyful day the LORD has made . Bob is doing well , his dialysis is finaly going well after a rocky start . Next on his adjenda is to reduce his hrs to 3 instead of 4 , after that he wants to pursue getting a kidney transplant if he meets all the criteria for that . An evaluation comes first , then visits to the transplant hospital if he is accepted into the program . We are just taking one step at a time , guided by Gods mighty hand . This whole process takes lots of time .
Since Bob was feeling like he wouldn’t fall over when he stood up this week , he made up his mind he was going to try to go to water exercise at our local pool which is about 4 blocks from our condo . We made a list of everything he would need to go , and off he went . He walked to the pool , did about 30 minutes of lite exersice , took out local trolley home . What a huge effort he made to get that much done , and with God’s help he did it . It was a wonderful day in a chain of long days and nites , for the last 8 months .
He told everyone down at the pool (who were all so happy to see him ) that he would be back .
God is so good , we trust in His ability to get us up and moving in the hardest circumstances . We are truly blessed
have a good week , Blessing’s Peggy
AUGUST 2, 2011 > BOB’S UPDATE > ICAN DO ANYTHING THRU CHRIST
Philippians 4:13
13 I can do all things through Christ who
strengthens me
Hello there everyone ,
Bob did not want to go to dialysis this morning , I knew he was struggling with even the thought of going . So I went over to him , got on my knees and prayed with him , prayed for the session to go well, prayed for Gods hand to touch him 2 hours in the treatment and make him whole once again . Prayed for peace Gods will , and prayed for peace .
When Bob got home at 1:00 , he said , it went okay, I was not in so very much pain today , Sat afternoon , after his session he came home to extreme pain in his back and shoulders . Today went better he said . As he sat there and ate his lunch today , he said he told the Rn that he may have to leave early today , could they unhook him if he did . She said why is that Bob, why would you have to leave early ? And how early? Bob said ” Oh maybe an hour or so early.” I would have to leave because I would be healed , Peggy prayed for me to be healed today and maybe today is the day . “Oh ,she said “
Bob then said “Just want you to know in case , so you can unhook me” . I loved that he said that , still praising God and expecting a Miracle .
The picture along side today is one of several horses Bob likes to visit once in awhile here in town . As you can observe from the picture this horse loves Bob as much as he loves the horse . This is percheran horse , the kind Bob’s grandpa Earl had when he was horse logging in Oregon so many years ago . Bob has such fond memories of his grandpas horses, Doc and Daisy . So once in awhile we go out to see these horses . Bob was pretty sick when I took him out to see these horses , but he wanted to go , so we went .
