Hi it's Angie
I hope everyone has had a good summer! It has gone by too fast as usual and this blog has been neglected. It has been a summer full of ups and downs for our family. It seems like there has been a new crisis every week that has gotten resolved someway or another. We have come to realize there are a lot of very generous people out there who care about us and we are SO SO grateful!
It's hard to know what to say on here these days. Things are happening and this disease is progressing in my dad. Whereas for a while he's been able to transfer himself pretty well from his wheelchair to the bed or couch or bathroom, that is getting much harder and I don't know how much longer he will be able to do it. He was with me at my house all day yesterday and my back is so sore today from all the lifting and shifting of him I had to do. Unfortunately I am seeing that at some point in the near future he is not going to be able to stay at home. My mom can't be lifting him all the time among other things...
It is really a struggle to hear him even more so than before. Some days he just doesn't talk. I will ask him a question and he will just look at me but not answer. I know he hears me and understands me and has an answer in his head but it just won't come out. Or maybe he's just too tired and fed up to make the effort to answer. Other days he is really chatty and at those times I practically sit on his lap with my ear to his mouth and strain to pick out the words to piece together what he is saying.
Yesterday was a good day. I went and picked him up and brought him to my house. He played with the dogs and chilled in the sun and ate 7 popcicles (no kidding) and then my auntie Kimmy, his sister, came over and made us some yummy salmon. Johnny came later and helped me take him home and put him to bed so that mom didn't have to do it after being at work all day.
Here are a few photos from yesterday and earlier in the summer.
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| Yesterday, Norman and Phoebe patiently waiting for the next throw |
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| Johnny driving Dad home last night in the Alfa |
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| Seafair. Efrim, Dad and Larry Ellestad sitting in the lake at Firnstahls |
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| Johnny seafair |
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| Efrim and Dad sporting their "Miss DiJulio" t shirts in support of the family hydro |
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| Smile Dad |
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| Ok :) |
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| Scary look at Freshy's |
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| Happy now eating fish and chips. |
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| Me and Dad |
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| Phoebe |
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| Smelling the flowers |
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| Johnny was here too taking pics |
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| Puppy love |
