No Progress

Not much progress has been made on the manure spreader. Gus just has not felt well enough to go outside. He has put on a substantial amount of weight but not because of his eating. Gus is retaining fluid. After starting on Lasix, he has been able to drop 7 pounds. I know there are still several more pounds to lose before he is at his true weight. His ankles and feet still have swelling.

Gus has no appetite. He does not skip meals; he just does not eat very much. Nothing appeals to him. The pain is steadily increasing. With the pain medication that Gus is on, though, it is fairly easy for us to keep the pain controlled.

It is not unusual for Gus to take a lengthy nap in the afternoon. It’s been 2 ½ years since radiation. That was when Gus would go back to bed during the day to rest. Sleeping in his recliner has been his preference until just lately.

We have finally activated Hospice. For two months, Gus has been on Home Health so the same nurses will be coming to the house; they are just able to offer more services with Hospice. They will continue to monitor his blood levels and check his vital signs.

TJ, Gus’ oldest son, is talking about flying to Montana for a week-end. I am going to try and talk him into bringing his tool belt with him. I think it will only be right for Gus’ kids to spend the week-end putting the manure spreader back together.

It would definitely be a labor of love at a time when Gus really needs an emotional lift. Nothing would make him smile more than watching his kids have to reassemble something he disassembled.

Progress Report

Gus was very disappointed that not one of his friends commented on his life being centered around spreading manure. What are good friends for if not to ridicule?

As you can tell by the picture, Gus has been busy dismantling his project. I found a manual on e-bay for the manure spreader. It will really be useful once Gus starts the assembly. The new wood has already been delivered and is sitting in the shop ready.

Our trip to Fairmont was enjoyable. Gus did not feel well the Saturday that we drove there so once we arrived, he went to bed. He did feel good enough to enjoy our family dinner that night celebrating Lane's birthday.

Last weekend we drove to Missoula to attend April's grandfather's funeral. He passed away Monday January 24th from hyperthermia. Ron had dropped his daughter off at the airport and had only a few miles to drive to reach home. Somehow he became disoriented and drove into the mountains instead. The mountains in winter are not very forgiving for an elderly man, lost with no cell phone coverage.

We had never met April's grandfather, but you could tell by the outpouring of love at the funeral that he was a very loved man with the community as well as his family.