It's been so long

Sorry I haven’t posted in almost 3 months, but life has been every bit as crazy as it was prior to Tracy’s arrival home.  We were starting to get a routine before Mom’s passing, but had to re-establish those routines after returning home from her memorial.

We spent a week in Oregon attending Mom’s service.  The flights were a bit hectic but with Drew’s help we managed just fine, other than trying to find a place to eat that wasn’t fast food on the 4^th of July.

Tracy has received four IVIG treatments and one Rituxan treatment since my last blog.  She has finished her physical and occupational therapies.  She continues to attend a once a week group speech therapy when her treatments do not interfere.

The first part of August we took a few days and went to Chicago.  Drew visited Northwestern University while there.  It was nice to get away and relax. 

Drew has started his senior year and is busy seeking a college.

I have returned to work and am averaging approximately 30 hours a week. 

I stay home with Tracy in the mornings sometimes until 9 or so and some mornings I leave earlier. On those days I return home around lunchtime, as it is difficult leaving her for more than 4-5 hours at a time.  Drew gets home from school around 2:30 and spends most afternoons at home.  I don’t know how we would do it without him.

Tracy is back in the kitchen and usually has dinner ready by the time I get home.  Boy, is it nice to sit and eat her cooking as a family again.

This last Wednesday we started our one year follow ups with some of the doctors.  Yesterday’s visit wasn’t what we had hoped for, but God willing it will all be good.  The news was a small polyp that was seen last year had grown and biopsies were taken, but Dr. Dahlstadt assured us that everything should be fine.  He will schedule a surgery for a later date next week to remove it.

God continues to drive the Bowden bus, but this time there are three of us to keep the tires inflated (well you helped, too) but it is nice to have Tracy as an active participant this time

That’s all for now.

God Bless and “Never Give Up… Never Ever Give Up!”

Rob

We are in Oregon

We arrived in Oregon on the 4th of July.  The flight was very good and Tracy handled it really well.  I was a little unsure about flying with her, as she was not feeling her best the day before the flight.  But as I have said before and many times more, God is Good!
We left Portland for Medford on Thursday morning.  Picked up a Starbucks and hit the road, until Rice Hill.  You can not pass Rice Hill with out stopping for Umpqua Ice Cream, it would be a sin if you did skip it.  So at 10:30AM we had ice cream and a half hour later Dutch Bros. Coffee, just a couple of my favorite Oregon things.  I will try to post pictures of us here in Oregon.
It is really different being home and not having Mom here.  I know she is in Heaven rejoicing, but it still hurts not having her here.  Dad seems to be doing really well and the same can be said for my sister and brother.
We all are really tired and will soon be off to bed so I will close now with the Mom's revised obituary.
Thanks again for all you thoughts and prayers.
God Bless and "Never Give Up... Never Ever Give Up!"
Rob

Juanita Mae (Dunkin) Bowden was born on May 02, 1931 in Hontubbe, OK to Floyd Henry Dunkin and Grace Ona (Pickle) Dunkin. She attended schools in Heavener, OK and graduated Heavener High School.

The Dunkin family moved to Canby, California in 1948 following the timber industry.

She was employed as a clerk by Ralph L. Smith Lumber Co. sawmill in Canby, Ca. She there met the love of her life, Joe Bowden, a timber faller. Juanita and Joe were married in Reno, NV on June 11, 1949. They were blessed by the birth of three children, Diana, Ron and Rob. Juanita and Joe celebrated 63 years of marriage this June.

In 1953 they moved their family to Yreka, CA.  While living in Yreka , Juanita worked at Montgomery Wards, Rascos, Bob Carlson Insurance, Beverly Manor and Siskiyou County Mental Health.  Juanita and Joe were active members of the Yreka First Baptist Church .

She and Joe moved to Ashland OR in 1983 due to lumber mills closing in Yreka, as Joe was still working in the lumber industry. She worked as the Administrative Assistant to the President of the Ashland Chamber of Commerce until her retirement in April 1993. In 1992 Joe and Juanita moved to Medford, Or. They became active members of the Eastwood Baptist Church in 1984.

One of Juanita’s favorites things to do was to take rides in the rain. She also enjoyed fishing, playing golf, board games, cards, camping, traveling and most of all being with her grandchildren and great-granddaughters.

Juanita and Joe enjoyed cruises to the Panama Canal, Alaska, Carribean Islands, Cancun and Akumal, and travels throughout the U.S. 

She is survived by her husband, Joe Bowden and their children and families: Diana and Larry McCulley of Canby, CA and children, Tom and Jennifer McCulley, Megan and Chris Walker and daughters MacKenzie and Reagan; Ron and Ginia Bowden of Shelbyville, IN and children, Kimball and Lisa Bowden and daughter Aurora of Shelbyville, IN; Alexis and Sam Ray and daughter Cambria of Fishers, IN; Rob and Tracy Bowden and son Drew of Troy, MI . Other family members include her brother Jack Dunkin of Brookings, OR and sisters Dollie Mizell of Wichita, KS and Wanda Fulfer of Adin, CA

Memorial service for Juanita is scheduled for Saturday, July 7, 2012 at Eastwood Baptist Church, 675 N. Keene Way Dr., Medford, OR at 2:00 p.m., Rev. Randolph Miller officiating. Contributions may be made to Rainbow Acres Project at Eastwood Baptist Church at the above address, in memory of Juanita Bowden.  A fellowship dinner will follow the service in the Koinonia Building at Eastwood Baptist. 

In Oregon (w/corrected obituary 7-6-12)

Rob's mom passed away on July 1 (also Tracy's birthday). Tracy had another Rituxin treatment on Monday, and the whole family flew to Oregon on Wednesday. Please keep them in your prayers as they mourn. They will be returning next week. Here is a copy of his mom's obituary:

Juanita Mae (Dunkin) Bowden was born on May 02, 1931 in Hontubbe, OK to Floyd Henry Dunkin and Grace Ona (Pickle) Dunkin. She attended schools in Heavener, OK and graduated Heavener High School.

The Dunkin family moved to Canby, California in 1948 following the timber industry.

She was employed as a clerk by Ralph L. Smith Lumber Co. sawmill in Canby, Ca. She there met the love of her life, Joe Bowden, a timber faller. Juanita and Joe were married in Reno, NV on June 11, 1949. They were blessed by the birth of three children, Diana, Ron and Rob. Juanita and Joe celebrated 63 years of marriage this June.

In 1953 they moved their family to Yreka, CA.  While living in Yreka , Juanita worked at Montgomery Wards, Rascos, Bob Carlson Insurance, Beverly Manor and Siskiyou County Mental Health.  Juanita and Joe were active members of the Yreka First Baptist Church .

She and Joe moved to Ashland OR in 1983 due to lumber mills closing in Yreka, as Joe was still working in the lumber industry. She worked as the Administrative Assistant to the President of the Ashland Chamber of Commerce until her retirement in April 1993. In 1992 Joe and Juanita moved to Medford, Or. They became active members of the Eastwood Baptist Church in 1984.

One of Juanita’s favorites things to do was to take rides in the rain. She also enjoyed fishing, playing golf, board games, cards, camping, traveling and most of all being with her grandchildren and great-granddaughters.

Juanita and Joe enjoyed cruises to the Panama Canal, Alaska, Carribean Islands, Cancun and Akumal, and travels throughout the U.S. 

She is survived by her husband, Joe Bowden and their children and families: Diana and Larry McCulley of Canby, CA and children, Tom and Jennifer McCulley, Megan and Chris Walker and daughters MacKenzie and Reagan; Ron and Ginia Bowden of Shelbyville, IN and children, Kimball and Lisa Bowden and daughter Aurora of Shelbyville, IN; Alexis and Sam Ray and daughter Cambria of Fishers, IN; Rob and Tracy Bowden and son Drew of Troy, MI . Other family members include her brother Jack Dunkin of Brookings, OR and sisters Dollie Mizell of Wichita, KS and Wanda Fulfer of Adin, CA

Memorial service for Juanita is scheduled for Saturday, July 7, 2012 at Eastwood Baptist Church, 675 N. Keene Way Dr., Medford, OR at 2:00 p.m., Rev. Randolph Miller officiating. Contributions may be made to Rainbow Acres Project at Eastwood Baptist Church at the above address, in memory of Juanita Bowden.  A fellowship dinner will follow the service in the Koinonia Building at Eastwood Baptist. 

Well it’s been a while.

Once again I’m sorry, I haven’t updated this in a month.

As I said in the last blog, Tracy is home.  It is so nice to be a family again. 

Tracy is doing great.  I still notice a day or two once in a while where she seems to be a bit weaker, but God always provides and we see improvement again.

Please excuse me for a while as I write about my mom.

A brief history on my Mom: She has been battling Parkinson’s for many years and has had both hips replaced over the past couple of years and has been walking with the aid of a walker.  More recently her kidneys have been failing her.  Mom and Dad live in Medford, Oregon.

Last Friday, June 22^nd, I got a call from my Dad that he had taken mom to the emergency room to be checked out as she had fallen several times the past week and that they were currently testing her.  I was under the impression that she would be going home that evening.  But Saturday when I called home to see how the tests went I got no answer.  I was not too concerned as this is not all that unusual.  But later that evening we got a message from Dad that she was still in the hospital undergoing more testing.  There was no sign of a concussion or stroke, but she had a urinary tract infection and her kidney function was worsening.  I could tell Dad was concerned.  There was no new news Sunday.  Monday and Tuesday were the same.

Wednesday Dad called I could sense more concern in Dad’s voice.  Later I found out that my sister Diana, who had been with us the week earlier, was on her way over with Jennifer and my Aunt Bee.  

Diana texted me that evening that Mom looked and was better than she expected!  Thank God!  His Mercies never cease.  

Just got a call from my Sister, mom is dying.  This has been one of my biggest concerns since Tracy got sick and now it is staring me in the face.  I learned through Tracy’s illness that my Faith in God was so strong, but my Trust wasn’t as strong and that the two are different and go hand in hand.  I had Faith He could heal Tracy, but didn't have the trust in Him to see it through. I am now seeing God’s work in me these last few months as He has taught me that I can have all the Faith in the world in Him, but that Faith is really only as strong as my Trust in Him.

Tracy has her first Rituxan treatment in two months this Monday and it is a needed treatment in her recovery.  I will not be able to go see Mom until next Tuesday or Wednesday as the window for Tracy’s treatment is the next 4 days.

Please pray for my family, especially my Dad.  Diana said Mom is completely at peace as she (Mom), “says she’s looks forward to seeing us again in heaven”.  Diana also says Mom’s resolve is strong.  Oh how I miss her already. 

On to Tracy.

We have had numerous visitors this past month.  Janice and Val returned again, only this time to Troy and what fun it was to have those two here.  Tracy’s parents also came up for a week and got the house back in shape, not to mention prepared a home cooked meal every night!  Then my sister, Diana came.  It was her first time back here since Tracy and I were married.  She came out with my nephew Tom’s wife Jennifer and Laura, who were here for a seminar.  It was nice to spend all that time with my sister, I don’t remember the last time we had 5 days together.  While Diana was here my brother Ron, his wife Ginia and granddaughter Aurora visited too, oh how I wished Mom and Dad were here too!  Ron had not seen Trace since early February. 

And today we said goodbye to Tracy’s sister Susan.  Again it was nice to have her here too, Sue was here in October before everything blew up and then here as Tracy began her recovery in late February.  Thank you to all of you it was a joy to have you stay with us.

Tracy has had two treatment or 10 doses of IVIG since the last blog and has started Physical, Occupational and Speech/Cognitive Therapies at the Beaumont Neurotherapy Center.  She has progressed from walking only with a walker to walking occasionally with a cane.  She has prepared brownies and a pasta dish in her OT sessions and eager to complete her homework in her Speech/Cognitive sessions too.  She has lost some hearing, but it seems to be getting somewhat better at times.

Also Tracy will be celebrating a birthday this Sunday, July 1^st.  It would be improper to say how old she is, but it’s older than me J!  You have no idea what her birthday means to me as there were countless days wondering if God would let us celebrate another.

I will close, as this has been quite the emotional day for me.

Thanks for continuing on Tracy’s Journey with us.

God Bless and “Never Give Up… Never Ever Give Up!”

Rob

We came home Saturday May 26th!

 Overall it has been a great week, very busy but great!

Since the last blog so much has happen, hence the reason for no updates.  Sorry but this will get you up to speed.

Tracy went into work with me one evening last week.

Looks like she still runs the place.

It was so good to have her there with me again.

Tracy continued her therapy at Heartland until last Friday.  I prepared the house for her arrival.  As she says “He put grab bars all over the house”.  Not true only in the bathrooms.  I built a 4’ x 4’ step in the garage to allow her plenty of room to maneuver and Mike Titus put the icing on the cake with a railing fit for a Queen!  Well, Tracy is a bit of a Queen to me.

Thanks to all who visited last week and allowed me to get away.

Tracy’s sister Sarah and niece Ellen came up from Batesville Friday night for the weekend.  And what a weekend it was!

Saturday morning Tracy was discharged from Heartland and the festivities started.

Breakfast was enjoyed by all at the Breakfast Club in Madison Heights.  Followed by a Memorial Day Parade.  It had been a while since we had attended a parade, let alone a Memorial Day one and it was so much fun.  Let me take a moment to thank all of you who either serve, have served, or lost someone who gave the greatest sacrifice.  May God Bless all of you!

Afterwards Tracy and Sarah enjoyed manicures and pedicures, and grocery shopping too!  We went to Saturday Night church and returned home to a steak dinner, thank you Sarah.

Sunday was a good day for Tracy as she and Sarah went shopping while I played horrible golf with some of my bestest friends.  I know it’s not a word but that’s what we call each other.

Memorial Day was the day that we said goodbye to Sarah and Ellen, but look forward to their return.  You guys are always welcome!

Tuesday Tracy had an appointment with an Ear, Nose and Throat doctor.  It actually ended up being two appointments.  Tracy’s hearing has not been what it was and will, God Willing; get back to what it used to be.  The doctor believes that it may be the result of any or all of the following; Rituxan, IVIG Treatments or the paraneoplastic syndrome.  Hopefully as Tracy’s cognitive abilities continue to improve so will her hearing.

Wednesday, Tracy and I had a meeting with Tom Wosachlo to discuss some work issues.  Afterwards we toured an outpatient rehabilitation center and then had lunch at Five Guys.  Tracy said that she didn’t remember ever eating there before, just like she did a few weeks ago, but as soon as we walked inside she said she did and ordered like a pro and even said not to get the large fries as there is way to many of them.

Today we finally got Tracy the haircut that she has wanted for over week.  Diana Bono once again hooked Tracy up.  Thanks Diana.  Afterwards we had a late lunch with Diana.

All in all it has been a great having Tracy home, a start of a whole new journey, but a welcomed one.

I will be using the CareCalendar.org in the coming weeks to get some help with Tracy’s care.  I may put up a few hours for late next week in the morning to allow me to get into the office for a bit.  I will let you know in a future blog when I set it up.

Thank you for your thoughts, prayers and care.

God Bless and “Never Give Up… Never Ever Give Up!”

Rob