Summer Vacations

Today as we remember the horrible events of ten years ago on 9/11, I thought that it was probably time to update the blog on some of our summer activities. Two years later than we had planned, we were able to enjoy a train ride through the Royal Gorge in Southern Colorado. We then spent a week in a condo in Steamboat Springs. Tara spent three nights with us and my cousin and her husband from Wyoming also spent three nights with us. Last week we took a plane ride to Spokane and drove into British Columbia for a few days to enjoy the scenery, orchards and wineries. After a couple of tasting room visits, Tania informed me that at the next stop she wanted her own glass instead of sharing one. Now that we are back home, it is time to focus on therapy, Bible studies and Travis and Laycee's upcoming wedding. Tania's recovery is continuing to show progress, but it is easy to grow impatient and want improvement to come more quickly.

Rollie

House Guests from Illinois

This week Brian and Linda have been staying with us on their vacation from Highland, IL to Colorado. While Brian played golf, Tania and Linda have been catching up since it has been 14 years since we lived in Illinois. They enjoyed shopping for clothes, traveling to therapy sessions and nice dinners with husbands, our kids and Saydie. Although it is slow, Tania's vision is gradually improving with her newest pair of glasses and with daily eye exercises. At Tania's six month appointment with her neuro doctor yesterday, she was told that she was making good recovery progress and that one of the meds could be reduced by a third. We are most thankful for the good report and for the great visit with close friends.

Rollie

Father's Day

This was an eventful weekend as Travis, Laycee and Saydie moved in with us for a couple of weeks until the closing date on their home purchase. Since their apartment lease expired on Saturday we are enjoying more time with them than usual. Ryan also came for a visit this weekend and returned to Avon this afternoon. Tara is planning to spend a few nights in a bedroom at our house this week as she has hardwood floors installed. So, our usually quiet home is going to be much more active for the rest of June. We had a cookout at home on Saturday night and enjoyed a meal at a restaurant for lunch on Father's Day. Saydie received a new outfit from Turkey from her other Grandma who returned from a Mediterranean cruise yesterday. Everyone smiled and laughed at her gypsy outfit. Tania's stamina is being tested, but she is thoroughly enjoying all of the activity (and commotion). She is spending a fair amount of time with a Bose headset listening to books on tape.

Happy Father's Day!

Rollie

Memorial Day Weekend Road Trip To Nebraska

Tania joined me on a six day road trip to Eastern Nebraska starting the Sunday prior to Memorial Day. She stayed with her sister while I travel into Iowa for business. The attached photos include her sister, friends from high school, aunts, close relatives and a good friend in Lincoln, NE. Tania's stamina is improving as she was able to stay up until about 9:00 p.m. visiting. She is getting accustomed to her new glasses, but is still struggling to see out of her left eye. Now that the weather is better, she is taking longer walks near our home. Have a good summer.

Rollie

Mother's Day

Tania enjoyed Mother's Day by attending church and having lunch at Tara's house. Tania was resting on a sofa at Tara's house when granddaughter, Saydie, arrived and crawled up besides Grammy for some "reading time". After several weeks of cool weather, today was beautiful with temperatures in the 80's.

Tania is scheduled to start vision therapy tomorrow and hopefully her new glasses will be ready later this week. This afternoon she walked (using a walker with four wheels and handle brakes) approximately a quarter of a mile. She is still enjoying books on tape from the library.

Best wishes for a happy Mother's Day.

Rollie

Saydie's Two Year Old Birthday Party

This evening Saydie came to Pa Pa and Grammy's house with her parents and Aunt Tara for a cook-out to celebrate her second birthday. She was much more energetic opening presents for her birthday than she was at Christmas. Her vocabulary is increasing daily and it was fun to hear her say "Wow" when she was opening her presents.

Tania enjoyed the evening and celebrated by staying up until almost 9:00 p.m. She is continuing her speech and physical therapy four times per week, but we are currently looking for a new individual to provide occupational therapy. She was fitted today for her fifth pair of glasses that have prism, bifocal lens. We are hopeful that new glasses will improve her vision and allow her to keep her left eye open more of the time. Thanks to everyone for your continued prayers for healing. Have a wonderful Easter this coming weekend.

Rollie

A Long Weekend in San Diego

This past weekend marked the one year anniversary of Tania's release from Craig Hospital. To celebrate we booked a trip to San Diego on Southwest Airlines and stayed two nights at John and Mary's home (Tania's first cousin) on Coronado Island. We learned the hard way that a lap child needs a birth certificate to board...I had to purchase a ticket for her at check-in counter.

Tania had a good flight and I was glad that she could nap since I got her up about three hours earlier than she usually does on Saturday mornings. We enjoyed meals and time visiting with family and friends on Saturday afternoon and Sunday. On Monday morning Tania was able to feel the sand on her feet as she took a walk on the beach. A lady on a walk agreed to take the photo shown above.

The trip back home went smoother as we had Saydie's birth certificate faxed to us. However, Saydie was tired and showed us some of her two year old attitude until she fell asleep about half way through the flight. The trip was encouraging that Tania is getting stronger and is able to enjoy limited travel again.

Rollie