Grandpa D

So another update on Grandpa. I found out this morning that they were going to stick in a feeding tube because he is not eating. They did a CAT scan or MRI (I am not sure, our uncles are not full of details), but they found some lumps in the lungs, liver and other places. They believe them to be cancer and are double checking before pronouncing it. If it is they will not place the feeding tube. So I have no idea what is going on but it is not looking good. I will keep you posted as I know more.

There they are.

On a more positive note:

We finished the landscaping yesterday. Or, should I say, the landscapers finished the job yesterday. If I can figure it out, I'll post a few pictures. In addition to the work on the front yard, they planted three fruit trees and two grape vines in the back yard. (Granny Smith, peach, plum. There's also a pineapple/guava bush somewhere in the front.)

Mom spoke with Danielle. Dad's back in the hospital, critical care, pneumonia. Double ugh. Keep Grandma DeGriselles in your prayers. I'm more glad, I guess, that I went back when I did.

So. I "linked in" per Allie's invitation. I'm now linked in. I'm linked in as Sharon DeGriselles. I give up. No more invites please.

Two corrections: the traditional parachute drops you at about 18 feet per second, which is still pretty fast. Fall off a second story roof and hit the ground a second later, for example. And, I believe parachutes do use rip cords, that are operated remotely or manually. But Dad jumped at the end of a static line. The last I knew, he still had one he actually used. I have seen it, at least. It's very heavily woven fabric. One end is connected to the chute, the other to a bar inside the plane. When you jump and then reach the end of the static line, your body goes from the speed of the plane to a standstill, at least for moment. Hence the training to drop your head to your chest over your folded arms so nothing gets caught when your body is "stopped" for a moment. Sorry for the two mistakes.

Easter then Dad DeGriselles

I get the awful feeling nobody reads these, but here goes. I wish each of you a good Easter day. I know there's candy and coloured eggs (we didn't do any this year!!!!), but remember the Saviour.

I spoke with Mom DeGriselles. Even she is now talking 24 hour care if Dad leaves the nursing home. She says he knows what's going an and is scared; but she also says there are many times when he simply stares, and seems unaware of his surroundings. I saw that myself when I was there a week ago, and she says he's really not any better now. Sometimes, with progressive amnesia, you almost wish the person goes sooner than later. Let me explain why I feel that way. (You may already know some of this, but indulge me.)

Dad DeGriselles has always been Superman. He served honorably in World War II and jumped out of planes in the old fashioned parachutes: the ones that dropped you at 32 feet per second. He had to be taught how to hit the ground and roll so he wouldn't break his legs in the fall. He had to be taught to automatically cross his arms and drop his head so he wouldn't be decapitated when the rip cord engaged. He never graduated from high school: there were too many kids, it was the depression, and everyone went to work. Thus, he was largely self taught. He worked his way up to management at Jewel Co. Inc., until newer management, college educated with a newer way of thinking, decided he didn't really fit in. He then went into furniture sales. By the end of the first week on the job, he didn't just know the prices: he knew how each piece of furniture was built, and what its strengths and weaknesses were, because he read up on all of it. He was a real salesman: he didn't feel he could sell it if he didn't know it. At the yearly family picnic (we attended a few when you older kids were really young), he would entertain everyone by taking a running leap and flying over the still loaded picnic table, without hitting anything, and landing on his feet. Back to the parachute business, I guess he'd told us he was a paratrooper in the war, but it never sank in until one day when I was on the outdoor porch on the second floor of the house in Detroit. Dad was on the roof of the detached, two door garage. The garage had a peaked roof. I saw Dad slip, I saw him fall backwards, and start to fall headfirst towards the pavement below. It's a worn out and trite phrase, but it's trite because it's true: but I felt my heart skip a beat. I then couldn't believe my eyes as he twisted his body mid air, hit the ground with his feet and rolled, and ended up in a standing position. He dusted himself off and went back up with nary a bruise. From that day on I realized he really had been a paratrooper. I still have a hard time believing what I saw that day as it was amazing.

So with that kind of thing in mind, perhaps you can better understand why seeing him so ill, so frail, and losing memory as well as motor skills, is a bit hard on your old man. I love my Dad. I wish him well. And I hope his illness is not overly prolonged.

heya everybody!!!

SO just an FYI just about to hit Alma... My target to stay on target is get through alma in a week... SHould be murder but ill get it done and at the end only have 160ish left.

I just wanted to talk about real quick how in The Isaiah chapters of 2nd nephi almost EVERY chapter it had a verse about "if you are prideful, you will fall by the sword." Just seems Isaiah REALLY wants to get the point across. Dont be prideful. And of course i think its very interesting just the progression of time so far in the books. It goes where chapters and chapters are spent at one time then in two pages 100 years go by. Even one of the people in Omni wrote "i am no prophet, but i am the only one who can write this so i must keep this going."

How is everybody else doing??

Challenge so far

Alright guys, just to let you guys know how i am doing, I just started Jacob and am 2 chapters in. If i keep at this rate i will be finishing by the tenth which i'm excited about so i will have a couple days of leeway. Also i am now 187 and still eating healthy and kind of working out. Hopefully i will be 180 by my birthday or lower! thanks for all the support and love all if you.

P.S. I think its great that all of you are deciding to lose weight and that's great BUT just to let you know of my thoughts when i asked you to join me, is that i was just thinking about the reading and the weight thing totally went over my head. Just something that i thought was funny.

I got on this because Allie's post ended up in my e-mail account. I don't know how to do it otherwise.

That aside, I'm heading to Michigan tomorrow morning: Tim is driving me to the airport and Mom will pick me up Tuesday if all goes well. Dad DeGriselles is in the hospital Mom is all shook up, he hasn't eaten much the past few days (why does the spell checker say DeGriselles is misspelled??), he's in and out, doesn't recognize people. The MRI was delayed (he still has shrapnel in his body!), but results came back negative. In any case, everyone there encouraged me to come, so I am. Danielle is coming down from where she is. I'll try to keep you up to date, and ask that you keep them in your prayers. If he passes I may be there a little longer. However, things haven't changed in a day or two, so perhaps that's good.

Dad

Tim's Challenge

Tim posted his challenge of weight loss (10lbs) and scripture study (the whole BoM) by Brittany's birthday..Uh, Uncle Doug's birthday..Uh, TIM'S birthday. I noticed that several people replied that is sounded like a great idea, but that Tim's goal might be too much for them. Here's my way of supporting Tim and the rest of us in our own individualized goal, whatever it may be:

On the left side of the screen I have up three week long polls. They are opened to be answered till mid May. I'll put new ones up every week. The polls are about scripture study, eating healthy, and exercise. How you answer the poll is up to you. If reading one verse a day is good for your goal, then count it. If taking the stairs instead of the elevator one day is your way of incorporating exercise into your life, then count it. If eating less salt, skipping the cheesecake, putting more veggies on your plate, or not stuffing yourself during dinner is your way of eating healthy for the day, then count it. Give yourself a little challenge and go day by day.

True weight loss and scripture study only happens by lifestyle change. So let's see if we can find some way to change for the better.

Emma-Lee' Baby Blessing

This past Sunday we were able to have Emma-Lee's baby blessing! Since we had it at a time that no one was really able to make it, I thought it would be good to share it with all of you. I am so excited to see how these blessings come to be and to get to know this little (really little) girl more. We love you all and missed you so much!

Emma-Lee Ann Degriselles, with the Melchizedek Priesthood that we hold, we gather together this morning to give you a name and a blessing. Your name is Emma-Lee Ann DeGriselles. The blessing that Heavenly Father would like to give you at this time is one of joy and happiness concerning your birth and coming into this family. Heavenly Father loves you so very much and is very pleased with the time that you’ve been able to devote to preparing for this life and with the talents that you’ve been blessed with. We bless you at this time with the courage to keep your testimony in this life and the courage to be able to share it with others. We bless you with the ability to love everyone around you and to be able to help those in the most need in this world. We bless you to be able to strengthen those that stand in need of comfort and to be able to help your fellow man. And that with your testimony you’ll be able to strengthen and uplift your family and you’ll be able to help your bother and sister who love you very, very much. We bless you with the great opportunities in life to be able to run and not be weary and walk and not faint. And to be able to hold the gospel and cherish it throughout your life. We say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

My new challenge!

Hey everybody! SO i know that this is going to be a strange post since it wont have pictures of adorable baby girls in it, BUT i wanted you all to know that i have decided to start a challenge. this challenge has two parts, i am first going to read the Book of Mormon, start to finish, and lose ten pounds, both by my birthday. I was thinking of ways that you all can help me on here and the best way i can think of you all helping is maybe joining me and reading the Book of Mormon by my birthday too! every couple days when i read a chapter that means alot to me or a topic ill be posting it on here so we can discuss it. Also Yesterday i read and am up to chapter 5 in 1st Nephi, and am at 190. Thank you all for the support!

3 Months Old!

(thanks for the pic Oz!)

Our baby girl just keeps getting bigger and bigger! It's pretty stinkin amazing that she is already 3 months old. It may be a cliche but it seems like just yesterday she was just a brand new baby in my arms and now she is just showing us her cute personality, it's so fun!

She is passing some really cool milestones too! She has officially rolled over from her stomach to her back and we know it's only a matter of time until she rolls from her back to her stomach. Another fun thing I just noticed this past Sunday was that Abby can now reach for stuff when you hold it in front of her. It was pretty amazing to me when I was holding up her binky in front of her and she reached out for it. She hasn't quite mastered grabbing yet but she can definitely see the object and it's just amazing to me how smart she is.

I just love my baby girl so much and it's been so incredible for me to watch her grow in front of my eyes. She loves to smile and boy does she love her daddy! She lights up whenever he talks to her and it has to be one of the cutest things for me to see. I can't thank my Heavenly Father enough for bringing Abby into my life!