This is a difficult entry to make to the blog. There were lots of people at the wake on Thursday evening. Goldman and I had picked Pete up at the airport and after we took Goldman back to his car went straight to the funeral home in O'Fallon where Norman was laid out. Rose and Shirley came later. When Pete and I got arrived, there was already lots of people there. Friends, neighbors and family continued to come and go the whole evening. Quite a tribute to Norm, deservedly so.

Joe and Pete went home with Rose Shirley and me. Maudie Ree and Debby, Joe, and Kathy spent the night with Margaret. Tammy and Cyndi went to Chris and Shelly's overnight. Margaret is having a tough tough time. She had spent all night Monday with Norm and I'm not sure she's even had a chance to catch a nap or have a good night's rest this week. Chris and Shelly are having the remaining visitors for a big dinner tonight (Saturday). Pete has to go back to Idaho tomorrow.

The funeral service yesterday morning again gave tribute to a wonderful person. Reverend Purdy, a friend of Randy, welcomed everyone and spoke a few words about what a great man Norman was. Catrina played a song, "Yellow Bird," a favorite of Normans's, on the piano and Stephanie's son Jacob read the Twenty-Third Psalm and gave a heartfelt tribute to his grandfather. Next Rose delivered the an emotional eulogy in which she recollected meeting Norman for the first time and all about his devotion to his family. Reverend Purdy said that Rose stole some of his thunder from his sermon with her eulogy. After the sermon Chris told a story about Norman taking him to wrestling matches for his eleventh birthday and about an old photo he had found of Norman and his father and his Uncle Jack.

People came from all over the country. - Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Kansas, North Carolina and probably other places I either forgot to mention or didn't know about. The Abbott offspring are helpful to Margaret while dealing with their own loss. A difficult time for all.

Last night (Friday) there was a dinner with some music that was the kind of music Norm enjoyed most. Again a tribute to a Norm.

I didn't list the out of towners because I was afraid I'd leave someone out. I'll do that on a later post when I can talk with Margaret. I'm hoping some or all can come down to the lakehouse before returning back to their homes.

Catrina has provided us information about Norman's funeral service:

Visitation Thursday from 4:00 to 9:00 pm at Baue Funeral Home on Wood Street in O'Fallon, MO.
Service Friday at 10:0 am, also at the Baue Funeral Home.

His body will be buried Monday at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery at 11:30 am.

Norman V. Abbott died this afternoon at 3:48 pm CDT. Norman was the husband of Margaret, father of Stephanie, Sabrina, Randy, and Catrina, and grandfather.

Catrina just sent me this text:

"They are taking dad to CT now. Drs were all just in. Say he is worse than yesterday because he is on so much support for his blood pressure and to keep it from bottoming out. They are also concerned because his triponin (sp?) level was high so that could mean heart damage. Eyes are barely responsive and not much reflexes." [9:01 am CDT]

Shirley and I just returned from Barnes-Jewish Hospital West where all the Abbott Clan plus are gathered. The news about Norman is not good. He suffered a massive stroke this morning. There were plans in place twice to airlift him to Barnes-Jewish Hospital downtown for surgery to remove the clot in his brain. However, twice he suffered cardiac arrest. The six-hour window in which treatment of the stroke would have been possible is now closed. He is on life support, is heavily sedated, possibly unconscious from the stroke, and is in intensive care. The physicians are telling the family it will be 24 to 48 hours before they can adequately assess his condition.

Right before Norman was to be released from the hospital this morning, he suffered a stroke. Right now he is still at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Peters and is intensive care. I'll update about his condition when I return from the hospital.

This will be a short post but wanted to let everyone know that Norm does get to come home today. I was talking to Margaret on IM and she gave me the news abruptly and signed off. I'm sure he will regain some of his weight and strength with Margaret Ann's home cooking. I'll update more later.

I've got lots to write about but first wanted to update about Norman. He will probably come home tomorrow. He started him on whole foods yesterday after a good while on a liquid diet. Margaret said he was very hungry and is down to 149 lbs. I talked to Margaret just now and Sabrina and Norm were walking the halls. The doctors are concentrating on rebuilding his strength before they decide - or can - do further treatment.

More as I hear it. Suzanne is going to identify the girls in the picture either in comments or email. I'll tell more about girls' weekend later and will keep info about Norm as I get it.

As usual, I'm the first one up. Already talked to Rose. She had gone to see Norm yesterday and he wasn't having a good day. Most of the Abbott clan was there when she got there. I'm sure she'll update when she hears how his night went. Keep praying.

Last week one day Goldman and I went out to run some errands. I forgot my cell phone which I never do. When we got back, there was a car with New Jersey plates in the driveway. It was CHASE, Leslie's son, our neighbor in Springfield. He spent the night and left soon after breakfast. He's a professional photographer and is hoping to spend most of July in Springfield. He said he will dog sit so Sam and Leslie can come up. Sam loves to fish. Chase plans to come up again too.

I loved the Fourth of July crowd. As Goldman already said, the display was spectacular. I had the carpets cleaned last week and the man who cleaned them asked if this is the house that has the big show on the Fourth. He lives across the cove and said they always watch.

I'll write more later.

Mark Goldman, writer in residence at the lake this summer, sent this fine account of the July 4th weekend at the Lake:

The Fourth of July is always a big event at the lake house and this year we had a bigger crowd than we have had for several years. Doug and Suz along with Lukas and Josie were the first to arrive Friday afternoon to join Mom, Maddog and me. Groves followed soon after and we ate a delicious dinner of brisket and fried potatoes. Scott, Jalen, and Brayden arrived after ten and Beth pulled into town after midnight and we spent our first night of the weekend staying up way too late reminiscing about past Fourth of July weekends

Saturday morning Scott made one of his excellent breakfasts and early in the afternoon Dane Slayton, his girlfriend Deanna and his children Kale and Bailey arrived and they were soon followed by Mike and Stacy Derrington and their kids Bryton and Riley. Mike, who is in the Army, will be heading overseas to Iraq soon and this weekend will be one of his last hurrahs before his tour begins. The kids all enjoyed the lake and the swimming pool and two year old Bailey made quite an impression on all of us as she served “tea” from her little swimming pool and talked with the adults. Groves, who does not sleep during the night at the lake, joined the rest of us in the late afternoon following his nap. Groves is also known as Fabio or the vampire because of his long hair and odd sleeping habits.

Saturday night we had a great meal of BBQ ribs and pork steaks with Suz’s cheesy potatoes. We spent the rest of the night sitting around the table laughing and telling stories. By three in the morning all of us except Groves went to bed.
On Sunday Groves was still awake as usual when mom made her way downstairs at six in the morning and surprisingly he stayed awake until the rest of us awoke several hours later. Early in the afternoon Doug, Derrington, Maddog, Scott and I headed out on our annual pilgrimage to the fireworks stand. The Fourth is Doug’s favorite holiday and he is in charge of putting together our annual way over the top firework display. The people at the firework stand have gotten to know us over the years and needless to say they were very happy to see us. After an hour and a half of shopping and cramming every free inch in Scott and Derrington’s cars with fireworks we headed back to the house for a feast of fried crappie, onion rings, and Maddog’s famous homemade potato skins. Groves surprisingly still had not been to sleep and he and next door neighbor Skip made a ten dollar bet over who would be the first to fall asleep that day or night.

We shot off daytime fireworks while we impatiently waited for dark. Derrington took a blast from one of the fireworks in the eye but after a trip to Walgreens he was able to bounce back. The minor eye injury did hinder his ability to talk and like usual he shared his many opinions. Eric Nichols and family arrived just before dark with a boat load of visitors to see the firework show. Once darkness hit we shot off firework after firework as we attempted to beat an approaching storm. The short rain shower caused us to take a break for about an hour as the crowd scattered to take shelter. The rain stopped and we were able to finish the show.

After the display Eric’s group crowded on his boat and took off and we went about the task of burning the used boxes from the fireworks. It has become a stupid and dangerous tradition to throw fire crackers and bottle rocket into the fire and this year was no different. Groves finally went to sleep around midnight after 36 hours awake ten dollars richer since Skip was tucked in his bed an hour or so earlier. Skip sorely underestimated Grove’s ability to defy logic when it comes sleep deprivation. The last of us ended our day around three in the morning once again. I thought we were too old for staying up until all hours but I guess not.

Early Monday morning Dane’s crew left. They were followed out of town by Scott, Beth, and Groves. Doug took most everyone else on a long boat ride and then the rest of the afternoon was spent riding the spinning three seater tube that is referred to as the red thing. Maddog after much coaxing by Stacy took his first ride on a tube in twenty years and he survived to brag about it. Everyone had a lot of fun riding and there were lots of sore muscles and great stories afterwards.
There was talk of Monday night being an early night but several us were still up making toasts and celebrating the fourth and Derrington’s birthday at three in the morning. After we all finally went to bed Doug, Maddog and I laughed like little girls at a slumber party for another hour in our bedroom which doubled as the living room during the day.

Sadly the long weekend came to an end on Tuesday as the Hollensbes and Derringtons headed home. Jalen and Brayden are spending the rest of the week here with Mom, Maddog and me, and I will be taking them back to St. Louis Friday

Margaret sent an update about Norman to Sue and me last night:

Sabrina and I just got home from the hospital. It's 9:45 Sunday evening and the fireworks are really being fired off around here as there is no ban against them in this section of the county YET.

The patient, Mr. Abbott, was almost back to himself this evening. He was watching UNDERCOVER BOSS and stayed awake for the complete program. He is still very weak. Tonight he ate all his dinner and said he could have eaten his plate too. He has not eaten much since being there, now two weeks.

We are taking it one day at a time. He seems to be doing really well with his surgery, and right now it is the least of our worries. He has had a unit of blood and doesn't expect to need more. I told him just look at it as a pay-back for all the blood he gave when he was a military man. With his name starting with A, the medics were after him like a bunch of vampires. Nothing will be done about the cancer until his other problems are taken care of.

After being through all this, I have decided it is easier to be the one in the hospital bed. I think I will go to bed now. It has been a long day, and I am sure tomorrow will not be any shorter.

I love you sisters and will be talking to you tomorrow. Marg

Sabrina sent this prayer request to some friends. I am posting it here with a request for prayers from as many as possible:

"Friends,

Some of you might know that might Dad was diagnosed last week with colon cancer. He had a portion of his colon removed last Friday afternoon. Since the surgery he has become very weak and has developed pneumonia. Yesterday (June 29) his blood hemoglobin counts were very low so he had to have a blood transfusion. We also got the pathology reports back yesterday and they showed that his cancer is in stage 3, which means it is in his lymph nodes. The doctors can’t begin any treatment until he regains some of his strength. Most of you have met my dad and you know how very special he is to anyone whose life he has touched, and especially to his family. I just ask for everyone to storm the heavens with prayers and ask the Lord to get my dad on the road to recovery.

Thanks for your prayers and for being my friend.

Sabrina"

Not great news about Norman. The biopsy results show that he has stage 3 cancer that has spread to his lymph nodes. The more immediate problems are that he has developed pneumonia for which he is on antibiotics, needed a blood transfusion, is on oxygen, and has fluid build-up in his body.

Rather than his coming home this week, looks like he is in for a siege. He will see an oncologist about treatment options as soon as possible.

BRAYDEN

This is a video I made after visiting the Abbott Family as they waited for Norman to go into surgery. To play it click on the right arrow that is on the bottom left of the blank square. Then click on the four arrows to get the thing full screen. Make sure the sound is turned up on your computer.

I misspelled Kaitlyn. This is the correct spelling.

Anyway, Caitlin had to be nearly pried off the wave runner. John, Jana and Ellie went fishing a couple times after Caitlin went to bed. John got a fishing pole for father's day but I don't think he got to fish much what with baiting hooks and taking their catches off their lines. Ellie caught the most.

This weekend Groves and Mad Dog are here and Doug came down this morning. He wants to catch enough crappie for a fish fry next weekend. Goldman will be back tomorrow or Monday. Fourth of July is a big event and display.

I probably won't finish this post because lots has been happening. It's such a relief with the results of Norm's surgery. Maybe I can convince him and Margaret to come see me here at the lake after his convalescence. It took me a long time to spell that word.

My first weekend here Scott and the boys came from Louisville. As you can see by the pictures, each of the boys brought a friend. Beth came from Kansas City. Groves and Mad Dog were here. The boys love the boat and riding the tube behind it. Swimming in the pool and in the lake was also a great occupation. Groves would drive the boat when Scott got tired of dragging hem around. Since there was four of them and only three could ride the tube, they were good about taking turns in the boat or on the tube. At least, I think so. I sat on the sun deck and watched them.

After everyone left except Mad Dog and me, Mad Dog BBQ pork steaks we waited for Jana, John, Ellie and Caitlin. John was hungry and did justice {as we all did} to his pork steaks. They stayed until Thursday which wasn't long enough. Both girls loved the wave runner and the boat. Caitlin [who is 2} I"LL FINISH IN ANOTHER POST> MY CAPS LOCKED AND I HAVE TO REBOOT>

Margaret called at 6:15 to say Norman's surgeon said the surgery went just fine and the outcome is extremely positive. The surgery took about two hours, the cancer was contained and removed, and Norman will be back to norman in four to six weeks.

I went to the hospital this afternoon to find a big party going on. Margaret and Norm were surrounded by their kids and their grandkids, and everyone was talking, visiting, reminiscing, just waiting for the four o'clock hour. Norman actually sang about just how he longed for water, and I taped the performance. With some luck, I should be able to post the tape here.

Any way, so far so good. We think Norman dodged a bullet today.

Norman has been cleared for surgery. It is scheduled for 4:00 pm today.

[This is a whole lot like the Marshfield Mail Newspaper. If you haven't been reading earlier entries, you have any idea what this is all about!]

Sabrina, the middle Abbott daughter, called this afternoon with a health update on Norman. The CT scan looked good so no metastasis. Today he is having other tests, heart, blood, etc., to make sure he is strong enough for the surgery to remove the growth from his colon. If everything is a go, he will have the surgery tomorrow.

Sabrina said the surgeon called this kind of cancer "the silent killer," and Norman was lucky to catch it early enough. For all you Dear Readers age 50 and older, have a colonoscopy. Not only does the test catch this kind of danger early, it also can prevent cancers because precancerous polyps are detected and removed during the test.

More when we know more.

We want to let all the family know that Norman is in the hospital, Barnes-Jewish in St. Peters. He had dizziness and low blood pressure on Monday while visiting Stephanie and Dan. Stephanie called his physician who said he needed to go to the emergency room. From the ER he was admitted to the hospital. So far, tests indicate he has a mass in his colon which may or may not be cancerous. When I left the hospital today, he was about to have a CT scan. With the scan results and a biopsy in hand, the physician in charge will outline treatment options. That should happen tomorrow or Friday.

Norman had a CT scan about a year ago, so there is good reason to believe that this condition, whatever it is, is in the early stages and for that reason quite treatable.

Margaret, daughters Stephanie and Sabrina, and daughter-in-law Lynn were at the hospital most of the day. I will post more when we know more.

These photos sort of place themselves, so labeling is difficult. John, Ellie, and Kaitlyn in the water. Ellie and Kaitlyn feeding the ducks. Maddog and Ellie walking up the road.

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CAITLIN, JOHN, JANA, JANA AND ELLIE

I'm going to start this post but may have to finish it in two parts. I had five young men this weekend who got a lot accomplished (mostly Doug with Ding, Groves, Goldman and Mad Dog as helpers and gophers). They played cards until the wee small hours of the morning. When I played Bingo with my pals at BJEC last week I won a deck of cards which I brought with me. After some playing with the old deck, they guys decided to count the cards. They had been playing with a deck of 51! My winning came in handy.

Their major accomplishment was the installation of the stairlift. I thought I was going to learn some new words. Doug had never installed one before. We had country music on the TV. He is taking blood pressure medicine, and when I ask if his blood pressure was okay these days, he replied, "It's pretty high right now, what with this country music and the stair lift". Needless to say, he and his helpers did a good job. On Sunday morning Doug and Groves put the wave runner back in the water and on the lift. Doug had done some major work on it this winter. He did catch a 3lb. 7oz. bass, so I think that helped calm his blood pressure. Also, he got to ride the stair lift first!

Goldman is still sleeping {snoring). He sleeps in the dungeon in case I need anything in the morning. Everyone is more comfortable since I ride downstairs in the lift. I always get up first. It's raining this morning with thunder and lightning but is supposed to clear up. We had a torrential rain yesterday morning, but it didn't last all day.

Scott, Beth, Brayden, Jalen, Mad Dog and Groves will be here this weekend. Each of the boys is bringing friends The Hollensbes can't come so they will have other kids to play with . Goldman is going to St. Louis for his sister's 50th birthday party. John and Jana and the girls will get here the19th through the 23rd. Chase, my neighbor's son in Springfield who was just a boy when Den and I lived there, called me Saturday evening. He is now a professional photographer. He will come see me sometime toward the end of the month. I called Leslie Sunday after Doug caught the bass. Sam (Leslie's husband) loves fishing so I'm hoping they come up soon.

Pete called Saturday morning with his weekly call. He had had his first cataract done so now he says his bad eye is his good eye. Nancy had gone to Spokane to help Caitlin get settled in, and Merri had come out and cut their grass. Pete had already talked to Joe and said he's been busy at the RR Museum. .

This afternoon Sue and Goldman departed for an extended stay at the Lake. The car was so loaded with the stair lift parts that Sue had to sit in the back seat. As they left, Goldman, the wit, said, "Driving Miss Daisy to Daisy Road." [Sue's lake house is on Daisy Road.] Goldman is going to finish his historical novel, and Sue plans simply to enjoy her home.

Rose was invited to speak on a panel before about 100 people at the Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts in April. The event was part of an exhibit, "Dreamscapes," and the discussion was about ways of approaching dreams. In this segment Rose speaks about Carl Jung and Jungian Psychology, her specialty. I believe the Pulitzer has other segments from the evening uploaded, but this one was all I could find:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxP6oXHo8sU

Amanda, Erica, Sabrina in a run

We have news about the "Little Abbott Family," which is our designation for Randy, Lynn, Erica, Amanda, and Connor, to distinguish them from "The Big Abbott Family." Connor, as our dear blog readers may know, is a student at a prestigious boarding school in northern Missouri. He will graduate in one more year with two years of college credits. He has been accepted at Yale to attend an intensive day on the application process for admission. He and Randy are traveling to New Haven, CT, later this month to look over the campus and attend the seminar for application. Randy said only 30% of the students who apply for this seminar are accepted. He also told us Connor (with a whole lot of help from his mother) is looking at six universities, one of them Rice in Texas where he has already been offered a full-ride scholarship. Connor is quite the scholar!

Not to be out done though, Erica and Amanda are doing their thing too. Erica has a summer internship at Hussman where her Auntie Bebe (Sabrina) works. She goes to Spain for the fall semester--also on scholarship. Sabrina told Rose that she has introduced her niece to almost everyone at Hussman very proudly. Furthermore, Sabrina has been at the company so long she knows everyone! Amanda has raised the funds for her trip to Uganda. [Thank you to blog readers who contributed!] She leaves in mid-June. All three, Erica, Amanda, and Connor, are excellent students and have had jobs since they were old enough to work.

Sabrina has been training for a 10K race which is scheduled for tomorrow. Erica and Amanda are going along and doing the 5K section. Chris and Rose, slaggards that they are, are going over to Forest Park to watch. I am headed to the Lake this afternoon with Chris Groves. The home owners meeting is Sunday afternoon. It is a very important one because of the extra expense and decision-making prompted by the installation of the new dock. Weather promises to be perfect, that is, HOT.

Last evening I went over to BJEC for dinner and bingo with the friends I made while there. Sabrina once came for dinner and bingo, and everyone fell in love with her. They always ask when she is coming back. I won two games of bingo last night. Brayden is getting tired of my winnings--stuffed animals which I give to him.

Chris and I had dinner Tuesday evening at J.J.'s in St. Charles, one of his favorite places. After dinner we did a reminiscing tour around St. Charles. He has a hard time believing we lived in so many places when we were kids. He has a lot of fond memories of the Madison/Kingshighway Street years. Years ago, Joe would laugh and say that the way he found his way to visit was to look for a place with every light on. Still the case, Joe!

Brayden continues to excel at baseball. He plays shortstop and simply loves the game. So does Scott. Jalen, the artist and musician, has other interests at this point.

Danny Cullinane, who was at the lake last weekend, brought me a balance bracelet. This thing is some kind of magnet contraption made by Danny's company, Rawlings, that is supposed to help with balance and mobility. Two things I need! Last night at BJEC I ran into my two favorite physical therapists who were pleased with my progress. I showed them my bracelet and told them it seems to help.

We have ordered a chair lift for the lake house. Turns out the St. Louis company that gave us a bid last January wanted to tack on several hundred dollars because of the distance. We decided to order from the same company Margaret and Norm purchased theirs, and Doug will do the installation.

I need to correct something I misstated here. Brother Pete is having cataract surgery, not a colonoscopy. Pretty dumb mistake, huh? I think he had his surgery this week. Janet had her second cataract surgery last week and was very pleased with the results.

I know Donald and Vita were planning a trip to Europe about now. We hope they escape the E-Coli danger!

After a holiday weekend of three days, i'm sure there's lots of family happenings the country. I'll try to update some that I experienced and others that I heard about. Groves, Goldman, and I arrived at the lake Friday evening. Some were already there whereas Scott and the boys had farthest to come so were last to arrive. Oops! I forgot Danny Cullinane. He had to attend a wedding ((his daughters were flower girls) so he didn't get there until Sunday morning. He and Doug are fishermen and I believe Doug caught more than Dan. Josie and Brayden spent quite a bit of their time fishing, too. We figured Doug had 'limber legs' after driving the boat around with the new round 3-person tube and three kids at a time on the tube or just riding them around in the cove and main channel. The new dock is completely installed and the old one is gone. That's certainly an improvement.

I came home Monday with Scott and the boys. They dropped me off and still had a long drive to Louisville. Groves and I are going down tomorrow for the weekend and it's the annual homeowners' association meeting. Tonight I'm going back over to BJEC for dinner and to play Bingo. There's lots more news but it's time to go to dinner. I loved the FeLLin album.

Scott

Jalen

Sue

Brayden

Here is the link to Dave's photo album:

https://picasaweb.google.com/DLangstonian/20110519?authkey=Gv1sRgCIW-j7Og2Nu4FQ&feat=email#

You may have to copy and paste the link into your browser.

PHOTOS FROM TAMMY AND DICK'S WEDDING ON MAY 15, 2011. Both Glenn (Tammy's brother) and Dave Langston (Tammy's brother-in-law, husband of Cyndi) have sent us links to many gorgeous photos. We will post those links here when we figure out the technology. Thanks you, Glenn and Dave.

I'm up early this morning all set for the weekend. Everyone coming to the lake have to work today and are also all set for the weekend. The weather is supposed to be summertime-like, finally. I'm sure the kids will be wanting to go to the pool, in the lake, in the boat or on the wave runner. We call the downstairs bedroom the "dungeon," AKA the video game room, and they spend their time in there after dark.

I talked to Joe on line after the big tornado in Joplin. Mar'Ellen has some employees from the company she works for who work in Joplin and, though none of them were hurt, one lost everything. We had some storms here one afternoon and went to the basement, but they blew over, When I talked (on line) to Brother Joe, I tried to get him and some of his family to come up to the lake house for at least part of the weekend but, I believe much to his surprise, some or maybe all of them were going to make the 'cemetery run'.

After June 9 (I thought it was the 6th), I plan on being at the lake pretty much all the time this summer, and I love having company. Jana and John and the girls are coming June 19 through the 23rd. Ding and I went to supper last night because he and Shelly can't come this weekend, and we hadn't had our weekly outing lately. I talked to Margaret yesterday. She and Norm (and she wasn't sure else was coming) are spending the weekend 'down to the valley'.

Pete's weekly call last week brought information about Janet's cataracts. She was having the second done Wednesday (day before yesterday). When I'm at the lake with whomever, first they ask on Saturday morning "Has Uncle Pete called?"

Shirley and Rose have a big trip planned. In late July they are going for a week to Sedona, AZ, a place long on Shirley's "bucket list." Shirley has friends who are giving them a week's timeshare, and both Shirley and Rose have airline ticket vouchers. It will be hot in late July, but both are excited for the opportunity.

There's been tornado warnings sounding all afternoon interrupting me, and I thought I'd never get this updated if I didn't do it now. We went to the basement for the first sounding but I'm just going to keep typing now. Mad Dog and I got back from Louisville last week Thursday and then Groves and I left for the lake on Friday. Mad Dog was already there ahead of us. Doug was there with a trailer load of fire wood from a Maryland Heights tornado. They had the trailer unloaded before we got there. The new community dock is there but not completely installed yet.

I came back on Sunday to go to Barnes-Jewish for my periodic IVIG where I only have to stay one night. Lots of the staff remembered me which, in a place like that, isn't necessarily a good thing. Pete called with his weekly call. Janet was going to have her second cataract done this week, and Pete was going to have a colonoscopy in June. It's been 5 years since the last one.

Today is Shirley's birthday and Sabrina's, too. Glenn sent some pictures but I'll have to get Rose to post them later.

[Scan]

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Sent with Genius Scan for iPhone.

[Scan]

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Sent with Genius Scan for iPhone.

I'm in Louisville today. I flew over Thursday and my flight was over 4 hours late. Goldman too me to the airport and wouldn't leave until I was ready to board. It made a short night of rest for Scott. Brayden had a game scheduled for yesterday afternoon but it got rained out. We went to the batting cages yesterday morning. On the way home Scott told him that he and I were going to sit in lawn chairs in the outfield so we could see better and asked him if that was okay. He replied "But Dad, what if I have to talk to you about something? '

After Pete left Missouri, some of his family went right away to Spokane for Caitlin's graduation from Gonzaga. I think he drove up with Kelly. Caitlin is staying up there and only has two more classes to get her minor's. They did see Maudie and some of the boys are taking her with the camper over to the wedding. Some proud parents and grandparents, I'm sure!

Rose and Shirley drove up to Chicago Friday and are coming back today, I think. They ran into a lot of road construction on the drive so it took them quite longer than it usually does. Mad Dog is coming to Louisville this evening and we'll go home Wednesday. Scott is in the process of making breakfast {biscuits and gravy}. Brayden has another game scheduled for this afternoon but the forecast isn't promising. Jalen went on a field trip to Cincinnati and then spent the night with a friend so I've not got to see him very much.

Brayden's class had a field trip to the Louisville zoo this week. Aunt Shelly, he says the St. Louis zoo is much better and he told some of his friends and Ms. Gibson that he'd been there.

When we were at the lake last time, Brayden lost a tooth. He got up next morning and came out with a $10.00 bill. I asked where did he get that. He said "Either you or Dad." I said I thought it was probably the Tooth Fairy. He said he knew there was no tooth fairy because he 'googled' it.

Breakfast is ready.

I haven't posted all week and I'm finally going to update about the family occasion, amongst other things. I may have to stop in the middle and finish up after while. We had a great evening at the Friday night event. I'll try to list all of the attendees and must say we missed those of you who couldn't be there. There were Shirley, Rose, Margaret, Pete, Donald, Joe, Norm, Sabrina, Dave, Chris, Shelly, Randy, Lynn, Amanda, Erica, Brett, Alex, Connor, Mark and myself. If I missed anyone, there's probably a picture of you that Rose posted. Didn't she do a nice job with the camera?

I woke up Monday morning with cold and mostly congestion. I decided I'd best cancel both nights with my boyfriends and Bingo as well as my physical therapy. Nor did I go to my Apple lesson. Chris and Shelly did have me out for dinner Tuesday evening. Goldman and I had supper at Steak N Shake last night. Rose did a lot of work in the yard a couple days this week. It's beginning to look a lot like spring - finally.
i
Scott and the boys and a friend of Jalen's are coming to the lake this weekend. Also several of the big guys. They're going to play golf, and I hope one of them will take the kids up on the strip. I don't know if their Uncle Ding is playing or not.