Jones Family Updates

Tough year for me emotionally.  December 25 marked 15 Christmas' without Kathie. The holiday season for me starts Oct 31 and ends Jan 1 with her Birthday during Thanksgiving week. Usually, I'm at Kathie's bedside as a way to help myself deal with the loneliness of another special day without her. In 2019, I drove 15,966 miles allowing me approximately 533 visits. I didn't realize the freedom and blessing I had to visit, bathe, and care for her. I had hoped the 28th would bring relaxed visiting restrictions but no change was allowed. In the first 76 days of 2020, I visited 125 times. After March 17th, only 24 visits some in person, most through a window or dropping of lotion and gowns. Pretty dismal. The good news is that Kathie didn't have any cold or flu symptoms for all of 2020. She continues to be very healthy. She is receiving excellent care at her care facility. I do visit her via the KathCam 6-8 times a day. The camera has a small microphone built in so I spea...

Kathie's Birthday. Each year, I struggle to use the term "Happy Birthday," on this day. Because her birthday falls so close to Thanksgiving and we are all counting our blessings, I have realized that I am grateful for the many birthdays I have been able to celebrate with Kathie. By celebrating the day she was born, I am able to thank God for all the lives she has touched. I especially thank God for her touch on my life.  Happy Thanksgiving, Dave & Kathie

September 5th marked 15 years of this "battle," I am weary with added Covid visiting restrictions and I'm worn down.  15 years is mind-boggling when you flashback through memories... I don't dwell too much on the years, it is very easy to get depressed and fall into "what if" thoughts. Yesterday I was sorting boxes stored in our garage. I looked through notes we received at the time of the Accident, old printed off emails of who was delivering us dinners for the coming week and my notes from Madison and Hannah. While somewhat depressing, my task also reminded me of all the prayerful and physical support we received as a family. I noted the encouragement and thanked God for this blessing. I have stretched my allotted hour of visitation with Kathie into extra unofficial hours, the staff has been turning a eye when I'm with Kathie, or at least not watching the clock. She is healthy and seems to relish the neck rubs I give during my entire visit. Her hair ha...

 Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me." John 11:41 Next month we will mark 15 years since our Accident. This verse embodies how I we have have been able to move forward each day. While I have again be "locked out" of my daily visits with Kathie, I have stood at her window and talked to her through the screen. While distasteful, I do appreciate the opportunity. My KathCam broke and I have had a difficult time reconnecting a new camera. After purchasing two camera and multiple trips trying to connect to the facility wireless, I finally connected last Friday. I am able to look in on Kathie anytime I wish. I'm not sure if she can hear my voice through the microphone on this camera, but I continue saying, "I love you Kath." Next the power supply on her TV broke, so I will be working on that as the new week starts.  Physically, Kathie is comfortable, healthy and relaxed, we are thankful for her care. My Father hears ...

The Covid era updates: The really good news last week was, I could visit Kathie! I was limited to 1 hour visits (which I pushed to longer visits). I was also limited to only 2 visits that week. I don't have to talk through the whole "time limit," the Director knows what I am going to say, so I try to do the opposite and not speak of that. By the way, this has been my continuing theme when I deal with most people concerning Kathie. Do the opposite of what I feel. Staff(s) are used to emotional anger and lashing out, I try to give calm fact-related discussions (or arguments) to my points. I am Kathie's ultimate representative and responsible for whatever care, so I bear that burden whether I'm at her bedside or watching her on the Kath-cam. Because I had to make an appointment to visit, I had no idea if Kathie would be awake or asleep. The first visit she was asleep! So I continue prodding and speaking loudly and finally woke her up... in my care-opinion, yes this...

Kathie and I hope you are doing well.  Kathie is healthy and no Covid-19 cases have appeared at her care facility. The question I receive most is "are you able to visit her?" No, I have been "locked out" of seeing Kathie since March 18th... 53 days. My head understands that this makes perfect sense, especially since this virus will kill her along with most of the at-risk patients. My heart struggles as I miss sitting at her bedside, rubbing her neck, reminding her of how much she is loved. In past blogs, I let you know that I installed a "Kath-Cam" in her room. While the nurses and staff balk at the camera (privacy of employees) they have been very helpful by positioning the camera where I have a better view of her. The microphone attached to the camera has ok sound quality, regardless, I talk to her daily telling her, "I love you." Obviously seeing her on a screen is woefully inadequate, but is causes me to pray for her peace as I sometimes ju...

Kathie and I are sitting out on the patio after her bath and haircut, it is a warm day with a wind blowing through her hair, she looks beautiful and I’ve told her that. 37 years ago, she gave birth to Andy. Regarding birthdays she would say,”why are children getting the presents, the mom’s do all the work!” Haha. Today she had her spa day and we celebrate Andy. Lately, she has been comfortable and very alert, looking at me when I speak to her with those eyes that can look right into me. We enjoy these days. Blessings, Dave & Kathie

The 2019 holiday season (Halloween to New Years Eve) as a difficult time for me personally. This was the 15th holiday season without Kathie, added it was the first time we celebrated without my Dad. In past years, the 2 weeks after the New Year are a depressing time, this year has taken longer to restart my year.  Kathie is doing well and we continue our daily routine. Her white blood count was up which usually means an infection, antibiotics knock it down and she recovered quickly. We have been blessed with minimal sickness even though the rest of the care facility shared the cold and flu season. As usual, I go though my devotional reading and apply my faith. I have began prayers of thanksgiving to God. We are thankful that Kathie can afford such wonderful care.  I am also thankful for the times that Kathie and I seem to connect. Her eyes follow my movements and seem to look deeply at me, in love. This life is not easy, but thanksgiving will ease my depression and ...