5.17.10

The story does not have a happy ending.
Somehow, despite all evidence to the contrary, I thought Rob would make it to summer so he could follow the kids to the pool and enjoy one more round of Friday night cocktails with neighbors and friends. He had been stable for so long, I ignored the signs and chose to listen to his "fighting words"....telling Dr. Barohn on Saturday that he had months left to live, and that he would start making calls on Monday to keep things moving on the HART project.
But lately he was having more trouble breathing and could only speak in whispers, and he had begun to ask the hard questions of nurse Holly. I should have known better, but denial is a powerful thing and I really thought that if we took good care of him, made sure he got plenty of rest and didn't "overdo it", he would be fine. Of course that is not the case. Rob passed away on Monday, May 17th - very peacefully, with Bob, Pat, Holly Carol and I by his side. He was not in pain, and thankfully, did not experience the drowning sensation he feared ever since his bout of pneumonia. He slipped away gracefully, a champion to the end, leaving the rest of us to wonder how we will ever live without him.

4.15.10

It's a beautiful Spring day in Kansas City, and about time I sat down to post an update. Truthfully, there hasn't been much to write about over the last few weeks, as Rob's condition has been stable and steady. The pneumonia seems to be behind him, we rarely need the "cough assist" machine any more, but he's still on oxygen and fairly weak. The good news is that his appetite has returned, and he was able to get into the shower last week for the first time since he left the hospital. He says it was one of the best showers he's ever had -- not quite as nice as the outdoor shower at Kim & Eric's house on Kauai, but pretty great all the same. We'll try again tomorrow and hope he's able to continue to enjoy these small victories.
Before I close, I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has pitched in to help over the last couple of weeks -- Rob's sister Becca was here, helping with Rob and the kids while I was on a business trip and the "Bobby Sitters" have made it possible for me to get out of the house to run errands or deliver the kids to one of their many activities. I couldn't do it without you, Rob and I both appreciate it so much!!
Love, L

3.16.10

Well, so much for my promises...I am still bad about posting updates regularly. But in this case no news is good news. Rob is feeling better each day, getting over a nasty bout of the GI flu and trying to avoid all the germs the kids bring home. (Robby seems to be ground zero for a variety of maladies this Spring...)
Things are going well enough that I was able to get out of town for a couple of days with the kids this past weekend, and we had a great time. Thanks so much to Bob & Pat, and assorted friends who pitched in to take care of the big guy! Now we're looking forward to visits from the St. Louis clan, and enjoying the rest of Spring Break with the kids. Oh, and warmer weather - we are SO looking forward to warmer weather!
Love to all, promise to write more soon ;)
L

3.5.10

Yes, I am delinquent with my blog postings! Apparently I am no better at this than I am at returning email or voicemail...but in this case, no news is good news. Rob has been steadily improving over the last few days, to the point that his lungs are now almost completely clear. We were able to dial the oxygen back substantially, which is a huge milestone!! He's still not feeling great, as the antibiotics and pain meds have really messed with his stomach. But we're a long way from where we were a week or two weeks ago, and that's a direct result of his positive attitude and iron will. Of course all the prayers and good wishes helped too, so thank you for keeping us in your thoughts.
So...Happy Friday everyone! Enjoy your weekend and I promise to do better with my updates next week.
Love,
L

2.27.10

Things are looking up! A good progress report from nurse Holly yesterday, and today he looks even better. It may have been Grandma Cookie's famous bundt cake that turned the tide, we'll never know. But he definitely seems to be improving, and is looking forward the MU - KState game tonight. Thanks everyone for giving us some breathing room (literally), it's definitely helped him save his energy and fight this nasty infection. Rob's a tough son-of-a-gun, as you all know, and he is determined to get through this so he can enjoy the simple pleasures of summer - watching the kids play baseball, Friday night cocktails at the pool, scrabble at the Stoltz's lake house, hanging out on the deck. We can hardly wait....
Love, L

2.25.10

Not much to report today. Rob rested much of the day and we had a good laugh over the comments everyone has posted....I nearly forgot about the "day of cheese" until I saw Jennifer's note :)

2.24.10

Had a good night last night, but a rough morning. Thank you Craig W. for finding the "cough assist" machine, it is truly a life-saver. I'm sure I will not embarrass him when I say that he had a sponge bath today -- you can imagine the stories he will tell about the 2 lovely ladies who shaved, massaged and pampered him!
Rob is resting now, snoring away. Anyone who has ever bunked with him knows that distinctive snore; I've certainly complained about it over the years. But I'm glad to hear it today, to know he's getting rest and giving his body time to heal. So...sorry John and Scott, and everyone else who wants to visit, but I'm going to keep it quiet around here for a few more days. (In truth, it's not the visitors I worry about, but his inability to remain silent that's the issue! We all know how he loves to talk, and it's just too tempting when he's surrounded by his buds).
Thanks everyone for your comments on the blog, and keep 'em coming. It's not as good as seeing you in person, but it's close.
Love, L

2.22.10

"Every day is a good day"...one of Rob's favorite sayings. We're having a good day today, enjoying the sunshine and the company of his favorite nurse's aid, Carol. I've learned to administer all the breathing treatments and meds, and so far, he's resting comfortably. I read all the blog postings to him and he really enjoyed hearing everyone's comments. As much as I hate electronic communication, it's been a blessing to be able to stay connected with friends and family all across the country.
A huge thanks to everyone who has delivered food and treats to the house -- my thank you notes are slow in coming, but please know that every bit is appreciated. We are well stocked for now (and into the future)...the kids feel like we have our own Golden Corral buffet. Robby asked last night, "mom, is it always like this when someone is sick?" It was one of those memorable moments that allowed me to talk about how special his dad is, and how wonderful it is to have loving family and friends.
More soon, keep the good thoughts coming our way. Love, L

2.21.10

Dear Family & Friends --
As most of you know, Rob was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia on February 4th. A simple cold progressed rapidly into a life-threatening situation, and he spent 10 days in the ICU at St. Luke's South. We brought him home on Monday 2/15 and with the help of some amazing nurses, have kept him comfortable and rested so that he can focus on getting well. It's been a rollercoaster, up one day and down the next, and I simply haven't been able to keep up with all the phone calls, emails and texts. So while I'm not a huge fan of blogs, this seemed to be the best way to keep everyone informed of his progress.
I know there are many people who want to stop by and visit the big guy - but his condition is still critical and frankly, he doesn't feel so hot - so we're going to limit visitation for a while longer. We'll take all the well wishes and prayers we can get, so keep the good vibes coming and I'll do my best to keep everyone informed.
Love to all - Linda