Update on Dad

I wanted to thank everyone again for all your love and support during this difficult time. You can go to http://garyrupp.blogspot.com/ for an update on my dad.
Thanks again.

Remembering

You know, I never really blogged about leaving my old house - only the craziness of moving into a new home. Well, tonight on my way home from the hospital I sure starting missing my friends from my old neighborhood. I know that right before I moved I sure struggled with some things, but I really did love my old ward and my friends! I met some of the best people I will ever know there! We haven't quite found our place here yet but I know we will in time. I just miss hanging out with my friends, borrowing something, having lunch dates, just plain talking with them. I hope they all know how much I love and miss them. I guess you never know how important things are until they are not around anymore...

Thank You!

Please forgive this post if it seems a bit random and not put together - that is how I am feeling today! As I sat at the hospital today with my dad, I was overwhelmed with gratitude for many things. This week has been one of the hardest weeks my family has gone through. I was at camp Monday - Thursday. My dad went in for an MRI and more tests on Monday. Tuesday morning my mom called the neurologist and Dusty came over and they brought him to Utah Valley Regional Hospital. I kept calling to check on him, but my mom told me to stay at camp. I left camp on Thursday and came straight to the hospital. I wasn't expecting to see my dad in the state he was in. He had been going down hill everyday, and it was too much for me to take. He can't remember things and his brain is not working properly. The doctors are stumped right now - they can't understand why this came on so fast. They don't know if it's his Parkinson's or an infection that is causing this - or, if he'll be like this the rest of his life. I'm not sure I am strong enough for that one!

But, I am so grateful for many things right now. First of all, I have found a new love for my husband - he has been so great through all of this. He took Monday and Tuesday off work so I could stay at camp. I am so lucky to have him in my life. I keep wondering why he stays with me through all my crazy ups and downs - but, I am thankful he does.

I am also very lucky to have such amazing friends. I called my best friend Kristina on the way home from the hospital on Thursday - I was an emotional wreck! She offered to go pick up all Bree's dance stuff that she needed (she had a recital Friday night that I hadn't bought tights, leotard, or shoes for... ), and then she went and sat with my mom until Dusty and I got home. Well, Friday morning at 7 we got a call from my moms sister Joyce and her husband had passed away that night - I know, how much more can my mom take, right? Well, I told her to go to Magna to be with her sister and I'd go be with dad. I didn't know what to do with my kids and they only person I knew I could call that early was Kristina. She told me she'd be over in 20 minutes, and she was. She took the kids to IHOP, Cabelas, to get an ice cream cone - basically spoiled them! They loved it! I am so thankful for her and her friendship. We have been best friends for years and I always know I can count on her!

One of my very dear friends growing up, Stephanie, came Friday to see my dad with her mom and she took Myles and Jack home with her so we could focus on my dad and Bree's dance recital. I was so great not having to worry about all the kids and my dad! I've had several other friends call and text asking what they can do to help. I really feel truly blessed.

I know I've been rambling on a bit, but I just wanted to thank everyone for all their love and support. This is one trial I didn't want to face already, but I am so thankful to have such wonderful people around me helping me through this. THANK YOU!

p.s. the pictures on top are of my dad - I love the bottom one of him as a kid - he was so handsome!!

Weekend of Reflection

So, Friday night I went to a great movie with my husband - I wanted to come home and post something about it while it was fresh on my mind, but of course things got too busy - so, hopefully I can remember some of my thoughts from the night. We went and saw Julie and Julia - I LOVED it. I think Dusty was a little bored, but he agreed it was a good movie. I know some of you will think I am a complete dork, but I love to go to movies and I often reflect on my life after seeing some. This movie especially made me do some thinking. I loved the character played by Amy Adams, Julie. She was a woman who worked an office job and felt that she had no meaning in life - until she came up with the idea to start a blog about cooking - specifically, Julia Child cooking. She spent one year of her life making 524 recipes from the Julia Child cookbook. In this time, she "reinvented" herself. I just loved it! It made me wonder how I can do the same. Right now in my life, I definitely feel "stuck...". The past few months have been particularly hard for me - I think I've been hiding it well on the outside, but inside I am falling apart. I have not been able to loose my baby weight - in fact, I have gained more! And, those of you who know me well know I struggle with this. And, everything else just seems crazy right now. I am struggling with my children - they can't get a long and I can't handle that very well! I can't seem to talk to my husband very well either. I'm just feeling a bit lost. I wish it was as simple as writing a blog about cooking (for me that would be impossible!!), but it's not I guess. I just need to get through this and hopefully will be better for it.

We also had a stressful day yesterday. We took my dad to the ER because he was acting very strange - we were worried that he had a stroke. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's last month, so strokes are very common. I guess Friday it started - he just was not making sense when you talked with him. Dusty and I went over Saturday morning and we decided to take him in. Well, they did a scan on his brain and didn't find anything - which is very frustrating because we all know something is wrong. He can't remember anything, and he's just acting weird - almost delusional! He hasn't slept in days (either has my mother) and I am very worried about both of them. I cannot imagine my life without my dad in it, so he just has to get through this! We have to get a hold of his neurologist on Monday to try to get him for a MRI. I guess I'm scared because my best friends dad had the exact same thing happen to him, and when he got in to the doctor they found he had had 5 mini strokes - I just think the symptoms are all there!

Well, hopefully we can figure out what's going on with him - and I can figure out what's going on with me... :)

Thanks for listening to me ramble! I keep telling myself I'll be thankful for writing this all down one day...

Jack's Spelling Problem...

So, Jack has been into writing little notes all over the house for Bree to stay away - such as "Do not come in Bree - Do not touch this." But, this is his version - "Dow nuot kum in Bree. Dont tushit." Please notice when he writes touch this - tuSHIT. I think we might need to work on his writing, what do you think...