John Dilbeck Musings

Today is my daughter’s birthday.

Happy Birthday, Dena!

I hope this is your best year yet.

I love you.

We had a great time at our Christmas get-togethers yesterday.

I posted some Christmas 2005 Photos on Flickr and you’re welcome to view them if you are interested.

I had a very good visit with Mom in the nursing home, where she’s recovering from a broken leg, and then visited my daughter and her family in the afternoon. Dena was feeling poorly and spent most of the afternoon napping on the couch. The kids were excited, as you’d expect.

Dragons were the theme for my gifts yesterday. My brother and sister-in-law gave me a novel about dragons, and my grandkids gave me a great book on Dragonology.

I had a great time. I hope you did, too.

A few minutes ago, I heard someone drive up into our driveway, so I went to investigate.

It turned out to be some of the youth from the Grape Creek Baptist Church, just up the road. They brought some chocolate-covered cherries to Mom and wanted to sing Christmas carols to her.

What they didn’t know was that she had just spread out to do her monthly budgeting and check writing and was pretty much blocked into her chair. I quickly helped her move the things so she could come to the back door and rushed back to tell them she’d be there in a couple of minutes.

Using her walker, she made it into the kitchen and we blocked the storm door open. I put a chair right behind her so she could sit and enjoy the music.

For the next few minutes, they sang the old familiar tunes she loves so much and it really brightened her day.

A few people singing in the back of a pickup truck — sometimes it’s the small things that really make someone happier. Thanks!

Happy Holidays to all of you,

JD

December 05, 2004 6:31 PM

All day Friday, Mom was complaining of pain in her abdomen. After several calls to one of her doctors, she was advised to go to the emergency room, so about 4:00 pm we headed off to the hospital where she was diagnosed with gall bladder trouble. It’s been a rough couple of weeks for her, and this brings a new level of uncertainty to what’s going to happen next week. She has an appointment with her surgeon on Monday for follow-up on the surgery from a couple of weeks ago and I’m sure he’ll examine her for the gall bladder trouble at that point.

Last week, we were sure it was going to be her last week of radiation, but her doctor examined her nose and wanted to wait a few days before continuing treatment. So, we’re scheduled to resume the last 5 radiation treatments starting on Monday.

While we were at the hospital, however, there was good news, too. We were checking Mom in to the ER when someone slapped me on the shoulder and I turned to see my friend, Bill Grove, standing there. He inquired about Mom and then told me his good news.

His wife had delivered their twin daughters earlier in the day. Congratulations!

During the confusion, I didn’t get their names, but Bill said Mom and girls were doing well.