Jones Family Updates

The first IRONMAN Triathlon took place in 1978 in Oahu, I was fascinated by the race. Around that time my parents went to Oahu and, “all I got was a T-shirt,” I wore that T-shirt until it was full of holes. At SDSU, I swam for my lifeguard certification, biked Tecate to Ensenada races and ran AFC half marathons but I could never put together a triathlon much less a Ironman. After college, “life” took over; small business work, later marriage and children became my priority.  In 2006, “I’m much too young to feel this damn old,” becomes my life theme song. I was barely able to complete the 4th of July Fun Run. Then some of my friends got me moving again, I started coaching SR girls soccer, playing beach volleyball, adding short runs which lead to SR friends getting me to train for the RocknRoll Marathon, at age 53 I ran my first marathon. I started lap swimming to help my body recover, then swimming at LJ Cove, then SR Masters swims. In the back of my mind was the a youthful que...

I recently received an encouraging email from a friend who noted that once again we are in the holiday season. I appreciate that over so many years, our friends encourage and feel an awareness of the difficulties. I’ve shared, “it doesn’t get easier, it gets different.” Thank you for your prayers of encouragement. I have been able to have Kathie home for day-visits the last three Thursdays. We experienced bright eyes and awareness to sleeping the whole visit. Either way, I enjoy the day and Kathie seems to also. Last week I had her in our garage while I moved boxes and got down holiday decorations. The moments seemed so normal and so strange. I have learned to type and surf the web with one hand. Most of the time as I sit with Kathie, my right hand is massageing her head or arm. While I can’t carry on a conversation, she can know that I’m with her by my touch. Blessings as we celebrate the holidays with friends and family, Dave & Kathie

Kathie’s health has been good and she seems to have times of the day when she is very focused. I can even feel like we can communicate in a minor way. Over the years, we have tried a rudimentary one-blink yes, two blinks no with a variety of speech and communication specialists. A lack of consistency is the obstacle, but I keep asking and sometimes I get an answer. This morning I gave Kathie her hydro-tub bath and now we are sitting on the patio quietly enjoying a beautiful morning, the weather is very comfortable and she is looking at the trees and bushes nearby as a gentle breeze blows by. From Streams in the Desert, October 8:  Do not be anxious about anything.(Philippians 4:6) Quite a few Christians live in a terrible state of anxiety, constantly fretting over the concerns of life. The secret of living in perfect peace amid the hectic pace of daily life is one well worth knowing. What good has worrying ever accomplished? It has never made anyone stronger, helped anyon...

August 29th was our Wedding Anniversary, the bubble bath filled the tub and only her head was above the bubbles as she fell asleep. I reminded her that she is the most beautiful woman in the world. The bubble bath Wednesday, September 5th marked 13 years ago as the day of our Accident. Because the Accident fell on a Labor Day, I typically contact our children and remind them that I pray for their peace on the afternoon of Labor Day. Today Kathie has a cough, I gave her a very warm bath and she was very relaxed so I let her enjoy it for an extended time. We just finished with a mobile chest X-ray, and she is now intently watching HGTV and resting comfortably. Blessings as we move into the next season, Dave & Kathie

The end of July we celebrated Madison’s 25th Birthday. I was remembering when Kathie taught me how to care for a baby girl. I was a wide eyed new father learning how to bathe and care for our daughter. Much of what Kathie taught me then, I have applied to her bath care. Today, I gave Kathie a warm bath, but something wasn’t right, she looked uncomfortable. By looking at her face, I determined that I drew the water much too hot and by quickly draining and refilling with cooler water, her deminor changed, she relaxed and we completed a relaxing bath. Sometimes, I use a rudimentary communication of 1 blink = yes, 2 blinks = no. This is not scientific and does not always work, today we seemed to communicate but it takes my intent focus on her face to see and understand, The new care facility (as of February) has worked out tremendously well and I’m able to visit her twice a day on most days. Dave PS I don’t know if you read the Comment from Elise last month. The post is a great i...

Kathie is home today. She arrived wide eyed and we sat in the backyard until it started getting warm. Her eyes started getting heavy and I transferred her onto her bed, left the room for a moment and when I returned, she was fast asleep. I started working on my computer in the next room and heard a noise. Kathie was sleeping very hard and extremely relaxed. In a few minutes I will need to begin preparing her for the return to Care Meridian but for now she is home and relaxed. I enjoy her home visits. Take care, Dave

Tuesday, we celebrated a fellow patient who has healed enough to go home to his family for rehab. As I was driving home, I allowed jealousy to peak into my thoughts... had to take a moment and refocus on God's blessings in our lives. Kathie is doing well and we had yet another home visit, I enjoy how relaxed Kathie looks at home with the patio breeze blower through her hair. I've begun cleaning out Kathie's old, tattered clothing at Care Meridian and shifting away from pants to skirts and dresses. By having a seamstress cut open the back of dresses and add a hem, I'm able to improve the process of dressing and changing Kathie's clothes, plus she looks very pretty. Summer is Kathie's favorite time of year, so we will be spending more time outside. Blessings, Dave

"The plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations" (Ps 33:11). But we must be prepared to wait on God's timing. His timing is precise, for He does things "at the very time" He has set. It is not for us to know His timing, and in fact we cannot know it—we must wait for it... So take heart, dear child, when God requires you to wait. The One you wait for will not disappoint you. He will never be even five minutes behind "the appointed time."And soon "your grief will turn to joy" (John 16:20)." May has been an interesting month for Kathie and I. We were blessed by a visit from a pray-partner, friend from the East Coast. Kathie has been home twice for day-visits and massages. We celebrated Mother's Day, very thankful for Kathie's mothering. A dear friend and a mentor to Madison and Hannah passed away from a long battle with cancer. I observe God's timing in our lives b...

"There are times and places where God will form a mysterious wall around us, and cut away all props, and all the ordinary ways of doing things, and shut us up to something Divine, which is utterly new and unexpected, something that old circumstances do not fit into, where we do not know just what will happen, where God is cutting the cloth of our lives on a new pattern, where He makes us look to Himself." Streams In the Desert, April 5. We have endured a physical and emotional roller coaster ride the last few weeks dealing with Kathie's health. While she seemed to heal from the cold, she continues to cough and now has possible lung pain. Since Tuesday, I have experienced the uncertainty that I felt right after our accident, 12 years ago. This "new pattern" has increased how closely we watch Kathie's breathing. She goes from peaceful rest or watching television to coughing, followed by loud moaning. Note, loud moaning is actual...

Our dog, Kathie's pet Cockapoo, Wiki, had to be put to sleep last week, she succumbed to complications from skin cancer. This was especially difficult because of Kathie's closeness to Wiki and since we got her right before the Accident, she has been a constant friend throughout the years. For most of the last 13 years I have fed her and as our family has changed, moved and gone to school, Wik has been my companion, a part is missing from our household now. In the midst of all that we have going on, I was able to take multiple trips, all involved skiing. A brief vacation; a father-daughter weekend with Hannah; and a impromptu trip with my brother and sister-in-law. I haven't enjoyed so much travel and fun in quite a while. I am very pleased at the care that Kathie is receiving, which is a big reason I was able to take this break. I've recharged the batteries and back to the daily takes and care giving. Unfortunately today, Kathie has a cold. This becomes the "sc...

Sill in a busy phase of our lives. I'm still in the process of closing down our publishing business, probably another week to go. My relative passed last week, a grand lady and we made her very comfortable in her last days. Now, I begin the process of settling her estate. Yesterday, we moved Kathie to a new care facility, an exhausting day. Exhausting because it is a mixture of emotional good-byes; followed by meeting new caregivers and the paperwork that come with a new organization. I left Kathie at 7:30 last night and she was comfortable. This morning when I called, the nurse informed me that she had a good night. Some nights, leaving Kathie is very difficult, I haven't left Kathie with new caregivers in almost 9 years. She has a single room, near the nurse's station and I'm confident Kathie is in good hands. I have a ski trip planned with a good friend in a few weeks, I'm looking forward to the respite, recreation. Take care, Dave & Kathie

Busy, busy time for us. ·       After 24 years, the publishing business I’ve worked with is closing/retiring. Over the last 12 years especially, the people of our company have been a great sense of support and friendship. ·       After living for the past 8 ½ years at Care Meridian, Kathie’s care facility will be closing. I have found a new care facility nearby our home, about the same travel time. The staff has given Kathie wonderful care and we wish the best for all these friends. ·       Since November, I’ve attended 4 memorial services of friends. Kathie’s last roommate from Coronado Hospital, whom I’ve stayed in contact with, passed away after dealing with a lifetime of disability. We celebrated each of the 4 and prayed for the families. ·       In November, I added the task of caring for a near 90-year-old cousin. I am well versed at being a healthcare ad...