Well, after 38 Christmases together, this was the first Christmas for me (Alice) apart from my parents. What a blessing that we were able to be together all those years!!
Modern technology is great. Our family in Florida has acquired a Webcam, and Mom was able to see us AND talk to us on Christmas Day. Lois has a Webcam in Ecuador too! We have decided that Skype is wonderful.
Mom and Dad's health is doing Ok. The pain in Dad's legs makes it difficult for him to get around much, but he and Mom were able to get to Aunt Betty's for Christmas dinner! She was also a big help for them in Christmas shopping. Thanks, Aunt Betty.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
Things to be Thankful For
We are thankful that Mom Ames' recent PET scan showed no signs of cancer! Also, she has been discharged from speech therapy. She does still have some ongoing health concerns and is having tests to try to determine the cause.
Dad Ames' ability to walk has deteriorated significantly. It is very difficult for him to even get around the apartment. Because walking is painful, he does as little as possible, which of course makes it worse--a "vicious cycle." His irritability takes an emotional toll on Mom at times also.
We are so thankful for family and friends who are close to Mom & Dad and able to help them. It is hard for Lois & I to both be so far away.
We really appreciate your continued prayer for God's grace and strength for Mom & Dad, and pray you have a Blessed Thanksgiving.
Dad Ames' ability to walk has deteriorated significantly. It is very difficult for him to even get around the apartment. Because walking is painful, he does as little as possible, which of course makes it worse--a "vicious cycle." His irritability takes an emotional toll on Mom at times also.
We are so thankful for family and friends who are close to Mom & Dad and able to help them. It is hard for Lois & I to both be so far away.
We really appreciate your continued prayer for God's grace and strength for Mom & Dad, and pray you have a Blessed Thanksgiving.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Hanging in there
We are happy to report that Mom is noticing real improvement in her ability to communicate! She told me that she now feels confident enough to make business phone calls, something that has been difficult for her. It is hard when you just can't come up with the word(s) you need.
Also encouraging was the report from Mom's brain catheterization on Sept. 28, when her neurosurgeon looked at the area where she had her aneurysm a year ago, and reported that everything looks great!
Dad's health is stable at the moment too. His legs are staying clear of cellulitis, and his medication for Parkinson's is helping him be steadier in walking, using his hands etc.
It doesn't look like the house in Gorham is going to sell before winter. So we are planning to winterize it. We are so grateful for the good neighbors who have kept up the yard this summer!
Lois and Chris arrived safely back in Ecuador. However, the boxes they shipped are being held in Quito, pending their acquiring an "importer's license" - a new requirement they did not know about. Thanks for praying for them as they get settled, and that they can get their boxes soon.
Also encouraging was the report from Mom's brain catheterization on Sept. 28, when her neurosurgeon looked at the area where she had her aneurysm a year ago, and reported that everything looks great!
Dad's health is stable at the moment too. His legs are staying clear of cellulitis, and his medication for Parkinson's is helping him be steadier in walking, using his hands etc.
It doesn't look like the house in Gorham is going to sell before winter. So we are planning to winterize it. We are so grateful for the good neighbors who have kept up the yard this summer!
Lois and Chris arrived safely back in Ecuador. However, the boxes they shipped are being held in Quito, pending their acquiring an "importer's license" - a new requirement they did not know about. Thanks for praying for them as they get settled, and that they can get their boxes soon.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Ameses here and there
Greetings! Sorry it's been awhile since we've updated. Several have mentioned they still check this regularly--thanks for your interest, your patience and your prayers!!
The cellulitis in Dad's legs seems to be under control at the moment. He is still experiencing a lot of weakness and shakiness, which limits his activity. It is hard to put model trains on the track when your hand is shaking.
Tests show no sign of stroke. His neurologist has diagnosed him with Parkinson's, and he has begun taking medication to help control those symptoms.
Mom is seeing improvement in her ability to comprehend what she reads. She is so pleased, especially to read her Bible again.
Their house in Gorham is still for sale. We are thankful for wonderful neighbors; Susan who is keeping the lawn mowed, and Lucille who is keeping an eye on the place. Mom & Dad's homeowner insurance dropped them because the property is no longer owner-occupied, which caused them a lot of anxiety, especially because the realtor contract requires insurance coverage. Thankfully, their agent found a policy that covers vacant property. The premiums are rather expensive though.
I helped Mom submit a claim for her lengthy hospitalization last fall to an insurance policy that pays cash benefits to the patient, and this week she was thrilled to receive a check in the mail! That was a big blessing.
Lois and Chris and family spent August in Maine, much to Mom & Dad's delight. They put up more shelves in Mom & Dad's apt. and helped them organize more stuff; and Mom got to play with her grandchildren. Dad enjoyed them too!
Now Lois and Chris are in Florida, visiting us for a week! They have tickets to return to Ecuador at the end of September.
Please pray for Aunt Jane and Aunt Betty, who have been a great help to Mom and Dad with transportation and laundry. They are experiencing health challenges of their own and cannot be as available for the next few weeks. We are grateful for my cousin Stephen who is also helping a lot with errands.
God is good and faithful! We rest in His care and provision for all of us. Thank you so much for praying for our family.
The cellulitis in Dad's legs seems to be under control at the moment. He is still experiencing a lot of weakness and shakiness, which limits his activity. It is hard to put model trains on the track when your hand is shaking.
Tests show no sign of stroke. His neurologist has diagnosed him with Parkinson's, and he has begun taking medication to help control those symptoms.
Mom is seeing improvement in her ability to comprehend what she reads. She is so pleased, especially to read her Bible again.
Their house in Gorham is still for sale. We are thankful for wonderful neighbors; Susan who is keeping the lawn mowed, and Lucille who is keeping an eye on the place. Mom & Dad's homeowner insurance dropped them because the property is no longer owner-occupied, which caused them a lot of anxiety, especially because the realtor contract requires insurance coverage. Thankfully, their agent found a policy that covers vacant property. The premiums are rather expensive though.
I helped Mom submit a claim for her lengthy hospitalization last fall to an insurance policy that pays cash benefits to the patient, and this week she was thrilled to receive a check in the mail! That was a big blessing.
Lois and Chris and family spent August in Maine, much to Mom & Dad's delight. They put up more shelves in Mom & Dad's apt. and helped them organize more stuff; and Mom got to play with her grandchildren. Dad enjoyed them too!
Now Lois and Chris are in Florida, visiting us for a week! They have tickets to return to Ecuador at the end of September.
Please pray for Aunt Jane and Aunt Betty, who have been a great help to Mom and Dad with transportation and laundry. They are experiencing health challenges of their own and cannot be as available for the next few weeks. We are grateful for my cousin Stephen who is also helping a lot with errands.
God is good and faithful! We rest in His care and provision for all of us. Thank you so much for praying for our family.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Thank you for praying for our family during the last few months of traveling, separation, and preparing the house in Gorham for sale! It has been challenging, and we couldn't have done it without your prayers and help. God gave wisdom and strength when needed. The house is 99% cleaned out, and family & friends have graciously agreed to get the rest.
The children and I spent several hours with Mom & Dad on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning. We talked about the important things--realtor info, and how Heaven is our real home.
We flew home to FL on Wednesday evening. Evan & Regan sat in the last row of the plane, and Danielle and I sat in front of them. My seatmate, Bill, was a terminally ill alcoholic, thirsty to hear about God. Danielle and I read Scripture aloud to him for at least a half-hour, so the people in front of us heard it too!! :-) When we stopped he asked for more. He drank continuously throughout the flight, and by the end was quite fuzzy--he was sure that I was an angel. But he asked me to contact him with info on a good church in Daytona, where he would be visiting his daughter. Please pray for Bill.
My dad is battling cellulitis in his leg, requiring daily trips to the hospital for IV antibiotics. Mom feels she has to go with him, so she has missed many of her own appointments this week. It also means someone has to drive them. Dad is irritable about the whole thing, which is hard for Mom to deal with. So they need prayer too.
Chris and Lois are planning to be back in New England in August, and visit us in Florida in September!
The children and I spent several hours with Mom & Dad on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning. We talked about the important things--realtor info, and how Heaven is our real home.
We flew home to FL on Wednesday evening. Evan & Regan sat in the last row of the plane, and Danielle and I sat in front of them. My seatmate, Bill, was a terminally ill alcoholic, thirsty to hear about God. Danielle and I read Scripture aloud to him for at least a half-hour, so the people in front of us heard it too!! :-) When we stopped he asked for more. He drank continuously throughout the flight, and by the end was quite fuzzy--he was sure that I was an angel. But he asked me to contact him with info on a good church in Daytona, where he would be visiting his daughter. Please pray for Bill.
My dad is battling cellulitis in his leg, requiring daily trips to the hospital for IV antibiotics. Mom feels she has to go with him, so she has missed many of her own appointments this week. It also means someone has to drive them. Dad is irritable about the whole thing, which is hard for Mom to deal with. So they need prayer too.
Chris and Lois are planning to be back in New England in August, and visit us in Florida in September!
Friday, June 19, 2009
Cleaning out
The last few weeks, the cleaning-out process of Mom & Dad's house in Gorham has progressed steadily. My husband Jack and our children arrived on June 9 and Jack has been a great help. He is much better than I at staying focused on the task at hand and not getting distracted by reading all the fascinating things we find. :-)
Frankly, the situation is a strain on all of us. We would really appreciate your prayers. We are trying to spot items that Mom & Dad might want, particularly photos, and give those to them. However the sheer volume is staggering . . . boxes and boxes and boxes of photos. We have tried to sift through and take the "good" ones. This has not been satisfactory, as Mom wanted all those double prints and multiple similar photos to give to other people. (sigh) The problem is that their apt. simply does not have the space.
Mom has asked about other items as well, and it is hard to say, "Sorry Mom, that's gone." It is hard on her, because she feels that her home and possessions have been snatched away without her consent.
Tomorrow Jack and I and the children are going to Maine for Father's Day weekend. We will stay at Aunt Jane & Uncle Danny's farm Saturday night. Plans include a baby shower for my cousin's wife, eating out with Mom & Dad, and of course going to church with Mom on Sunday. Dad still hasn't gotten out to church.
Thanks so much for caring about our family! God is good. We need Him.
Frankly, the situation is a strain on all of us. We would really appreciate your prayers. We are trying to spot items that Mom & Dad might want, particularly photos, and give those to them. However the sheer volume is staggering . . . boxes and boxes and boxes of photos. We have tried to sift through and take the "good" ones. This has not been satisfactory, as Mom wanted all those double prints and multiple similar photos to give to other people. (sigh) The problem is that their apt. simply does not have the space.
Mom has asked about other items as well, and it is hard to say, "Sorry Mom, that's gone." It is hard on her, because she feels that her home and possessions have been snatched away without her consent.
Tomorrow Jack and I and the children are going to Maine for Father's Day weekend. We will stay at Aunt Jane & Uncle Danny's farm Saturday night. Plans include a baby shower for my cousin's wife, eating out with Mom & Dad, and of course going to church with Mom on Sunday. Dad still hasn't gotten out to church.
Thanks so much for caring about our family! God is good. We need Him.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Happy 40th Anniversary, Mom & Dad
We have been increasingly concerned about Dad, as he has seemed more frail in the last couple of weeks. Yesterday he didn’t even feel up to getting washed and dressed.
But today was better!! Mom and Dad had a lovely 40th wedding anniversary today, thanks to our dear friends George and Kathy Melvin. George and Kathy drove to West Paris ME this morning, as I was driving there from NH, and we all went to church with Mom.
After church we returned to Mom & Dad’s apartment and picked up Dad, and then George and Kathy took us to Portland! They had made reservations at DeMillo’s floating restaurant, and we had a table with a beautiful view of the harbor. As Dad watched the ships coming and going, he became more interested and alert than he has been in quite awhile. And Mom enjoyed it immensely as well. She has always loved the ocean.
After leaving the restaurant, we poked around Portland. We watched a crane unloading a barge, saw fishermen tending their nets, and stopped at the Portland Head lighthouse before heading back to West Paris.
It was a great day. We have much to be thankful for!
But today was better!! Mom and Dad had a lovely 40th wedding anniversary today, thanks to our dear friends George and Kathy Melvin. George and Kathy drove to West Paris ME this morning, as I was driving there from NH, and we all went to church with Mom.
After church we returned to Mom & Dad’s apartment and picked up Dad, and then George and Kathy took us to Portland! They had made reservations at DeMillo’s floating restaurant, and we had a table with a beautiful view of the harbor. As Dad watched the ships coming and going, he became more interested and alert than he has been in quite awhile. And Mom enjoyed it immensely as well. She has always loved the ocean.
After leaving the restaurant, we poked around Portland. We watched a crane unloading a barge, saw fishermen tending their nets, and stopped at the Portland Head lighthouse before heading back to West Paris.
It was a great day. We have much to be thankful for!
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