Category: JK Update

After all the deaths in the third quarter of 2016 and the upheavals of the fourth quarter, we have enjoyed a time of peace and quiet. End of an era I sold my parents’ house that they bought in August 1962. They both grew up in Chicago, married after WWII (high school sweet-hearts), lived briefly… Continue reading March 2017 Update #92

This election season has witnessed an uncountable number of October surprises. In our own way, we have had many surprises (August, September & October). Surprise grief My mother, Helen, passed away in August from natural causes. Her health degenerated quickly once she returned to my sister’s apartment after two months in and out of hospitals.… Continue reading October 2016 Update #91

In a normal quarter, problems beset us and we do our best to keep our noses above the rising tides. This quarter we actually completed projects and reached several goals. Julie’s joys The cardiologist came back with a positive report. Come back in a year. Otherwise, we just need to watch for obvious signs of… Continue reading July 2016 Update #90

First childhood Both kids did very well with their dental exams in February. Adam still has some teeth coming in and Julie will start losing her first teeth soon. Oh, joy! Losing my teeth accounted for 37% of my childhood fears. I can hardly wait to begin that process all over again. Julie celebrated her… Continue reading March 2016 Update #89

Looking back I wrote steadily for the first three months of the year, but stopped when Helen fell and required so much extra attention. I found that I couldn’t focus my mind. I began writing again once she returned from the rehab hospital and things settled down to a regular routine. Once she left in… Continue reading New Year 2016 Update #88

Helen comes and goes The day after pulling Julie’s button, Helen fell again and ended up in the ER from a panic attack. She had another panic attack the night after we had Julie’s independence party. No one told her about Julie’s status or the party, but she managed to find a way to firmly… Continue reading September 2015 Update #87

Julie’s Independence Shortly after sending the March update, we took Julie in for an evaluation with a feeding therapist recommended by Julie’s new GI doctor. We went through the usual routine of forms, questions, and explanations. Eventually, the owner of the clinic came to us giddy with excitement. Julie exhibits the classic symptoms of a… Continue reading Independence Day 2015 Update #86

Feeling at home Sarah and I still feel like we’re on an extended camping trip since our kitchen facilities span several rooms and two floors. Yet, we have come to regard our current situation as almost normal. Most of the emergencies have abated from daily to less than one per week. Helen’s accidents have reduced… Continue reading March 2015 Update #85

Camping out We finished cleaning Helen’s house around the middle of September. I began the next steps after coming back from Texas – organizing piles, reducing duplication, pitching trash, donating unneeded, cleaning carpets, and replacing switches/receptacles. Still, we couldn’t get over the feeling of camping out. We still don’t have all our stuff unpacked, Sarah,… Continue reading December 2014 Update #84