LIFE IS CHANGING

I am behind again..Lots has been happening..I had to take Phill to the hospital on 1/28/11 he had a terrible pain in his abdomen..Of course when they did CT Scan it showed that his one remaining kidney was infected..They admitted us..By us I mean us..I always stay with him whenever he is in the hospital because he won't let them do anything unless I okay it..Well we got the kidney looking better after putting in nephrostomy tube and IV antibiotics and then he developed an illeus..started treating that and then he went into A-fib..got him back into normal sinus rhythm and then kidney started causing problems again..creatinine levels up and down for days..then he developed CHF..finally after almost 3 weeks they told us he could go to a rehab center or go home with hospice..after much discussion with Phill and the boys, Phill opted to go home..Mark stayed with him on 2/16 and I came home and made preparations to get him home..we had him transported by ambulance since he needed 15 liters of O2. We got him home 2/17 in the evening and he was so happy to get here..Mark, Hans and Belinda stayed with us all night and everyone was here most of the next day..The evening of the 18th with Mark, Hans, David and I beside his bed, he returned to his Heavenly Father..Someone said you did so much work to get him set up at home for such a short time, but let me tell you it was worth it even if he had lasted only a few minutes..He wanted to be home and we wanted him here.

We had his funeral on 2/26 and everything was so lovely..We only had family members on the program except for the Branch President of the church. We had the services at the Sandy Valley LDS Church and burial in the Goodsprings Cemetery..There was standing room only in the church and at the luncheon afterwards we were packed in like sardines..Phill was loved and respected by everyone he ever came in contact with..Prelude and postlude music was by our niece Annette, our granddaughter Lacie sang "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere", Phill's brother Ralph and his wife Linda sang "In the Garden", opening prayer was by niece Annie, closing prayer was by nephew Scott, nephew Douglas gave a wonderful talk and wrote a great poem, son Hans gave a wonderful tribute to Dad,daughter-in-law Lori gave an awesome talk, brother Ralph gave a great talk, nephew Richard dedicated the grave..I am truly blessed to have such a great and talented family. Grandsons David & Heath, nephews Richard, Douglas, Scott & Kevin were the pallbearers.

I had family here for over a week, and they would let me do nothing..now I just need to convince everyone that I can stay alone and don't need a babysitter..Guess I should be grateful that they all care..I rode into Vegas with Bonnie late this afternoon and when I got home I was informed that everyone was worried sick about me because I had failed to let them know where I was..Ha ha, the shoe is on the other foot now!!!

It was hard to let Phill go, but I know he is no longer suffering and that he is with Thad, Gery and Ronnie..I am so thankful to have Hans right next door and Mark a block away..David,our grandson, is looking to move back to Goodsprings and that would be great..Val is only 6 hours away in Scottsdale so that is doable in a day.

I will try to post more often and hopefully the future posts will be more upbeat..Thanks to everyone that sent cards, flowers, food and for all the moral support..You never appreciate family and friends until you really need them..I have the best. Ruthie

2011 ALREADY, NO IT CAN'T BE

Well as usual I have fallen by the wayside...just can't seem to keep this blog up to date..I don't make new years resolutions, but will try to keep this updated.

After my last post I got sick..worst cold/flu I have ever had..I ran a fever of 102-103 for about 6 days..It was mostly in my head and throat never did get into lungs..I was pretty much down for the count for 12 days..I finally made myself get up and get busy..Got all the gifts bought and wrapped for the school program and party..Got all the toys, bike and food for the Christmas boxes..I had to make 2 trips to Vegas to get all the stuff from Help of So. NV..First load was only toys and bikes, 2nd load was all food items..both times my truck was full, full, full..I have a 1 ton dually with extended cab and they filled the bed and the back seat.

We had the school program on the 17th and it went so great..the kids put on a good program and Santa arrived and gave all the kids a neat present..we had 9 school age and 11 preschool age children..On the 19th we had a party and sing along for all the community..I made a huge pot of chili and we had lots of cakes, cookies and fudge..Served wassail and hot chocolate..the weather had turned nasty so didn't have as many as planned for but it was a great group..We ate ourselves silly and sang lots of carols..We were quiet an eclectic group as we had mormons, jews, catholics, born again christians and agnostics all together singing Christmas carols and no one missed a beat..It was fun and everyone left in great spirits..

I finally got shopping done for my own family, got it all wrapped and was happy to sit back and relax..We went over to Hans' house Christmas morning to watch Carley open her gifts..She was cute and not that interested after the 1st one..It was a book and she was ready to sit down and read, after much coaxing got her to open everything and she was so cute..Little kids make Christmas morning..We went to Mark's house in the afternoon for dinner..of course we had more gifts to open and give..David, Belinda and Hunter, Hans, Shawntell and Carley came over also..Mark and Terry got Carley a doll stroller for her new baby and she and Hunter had a great time going around and around the whole house..They shared pretty good..All in all it was a great Christmas.

New year's eve day we had Hunters 4th birthday party out in Pahrump..Christi, Heath, Crista and Junior came up from Glendale, AZ, so we got to visit with them also. Belinda got a cute spiderman cake for Hunter it even had his picture on the cake..the picture was taken back in the summer and he had his face painted at the fair..We came home and went to Pinkertons for a little while and then home and in bed before the new year rang in..Well that pretty much gets us up to date..talk to you later..Ruthie and Phill