Just a quick note everyone. Nellie is back home as of Tuesday. She is still a bit tired and a little weak, but is making good progress and is VERY happy to be back home. She is receiving regular PT and OT here, as well.

Thanks to everyone who have written her, ESPECIALLY Connie, Betty and Judy. Mom appreciates the thoughts and prayers and wants you to know she is thinking of all of you.

Soon the Spring will be here in reality and not just on the calendar. I will post some pics of mom sitting outside enjoying the birds and flowers on the front deck of the Phillips Strickland House...

Take Care,

JAck

Update on Nellie

Hey everyone,

The past two months have been difficult for Nellie. In the middle of January she came down with pneumonia ( the result of getting the flu earlier) and was hospitalized for a week. She recovered, but was weak from all that time in bed, so she did two weeks of PT at a local Rehab facility. She did very well, and returned home.

After returning home, she developed a fever again and just spent another week in the hospital. Because of her CLL, she has trouble fighting off infections. She is better now, and is again in the Rehab facility, eager to get working at her PT so she can go home again.

We think she will be in Rehab for at least a week, but we'll see. She is happy to be out of the hospital and back to a place she knows and likes. THe staff there remember her and are very good.

I am bringing her mail to her from her home address, so any cards would be appreciated.

Keep her in your prayers, as you always do..

Thanks,

Jack

Hi everybody, long time no post.... The New Year is here, we have had a wild winter so far- two big snow storms, which Nellie really enjoyed.. from her bedside window, watching the snow pile up. 

We are in the middle of our usual January thaw now, temps in the 40s and even the 50s.... fog everywhere because of the melting snow. Tonight, however, winter is coming back with a bang. A big cold snap is coming and its going to be a doozy... Highs in the single digits and teens by the weekend.

Last week was eventful, Nellie came down with the flu, and was taken to the hospital, for about 3 hours. They checked her fluids, temps and all and let me take her back home. Since she had had her flu shot earlier, the doctor said she would not have a bad case, which turned out to be true. However, she did come down with a cold, which has hung around way too long. She has a cough... 

She also developed a pain in her buttocks, either a pulled muscle or a pinched nerve, which is causing her all sorts of trouble. It really hurts her when she coughs, and she has trouble putting weight on her leg. They x-rayed her today to rule out any hip or spinal damage, and it came back negative. So, she will be receiving some personal PT, to try and get that feeling better.

Other than that, she is very content, and is really looking forward to the Australian Open, which started today.

Mom always wants me to say how much she appreciates getting cards and letters from everyone, and wishes she could write back to you all... there, I said it...

Happy New Year everyone.

(remember, click on the pictures to make them bigger!)

These pictures are from our Christmas

 Nellie opening up a pair of PJs.

 Lucas demonstrating Dana's iPad.

 Dana and Lucas.

 Ben, mom and Lucas

 Dana and mom.

 The boys again.

 Ben, very happy, with a skiing video.

Me and mom.

Helping Nellie with a present...

Visitors from Ohio

Last week was very eventful. Nellie's oldest child, Bobbie, and her husband Bob (yep, Bobbie and Bob) and their son Justin drove through Hurricane Sandy from Toledo to Maine. They stayed Wednesday through Friday. Mom was thrilled to see them. None of them had been to Maine since Marisa and I got married in 1997, and they hadn't seen Ben or Lucas for about 5 years. Marisa and I used to go to Colorado for a music festival every summer. We would drop into Toledo for a couple of days every year, but we stopped doing that 6 years ago, so it's been a while...

They stayed at the big casino in town. It's only a mile to Nellie's place, so they were able to pop over multiple times each day. They all had a great dinner (lunch to you and me) with mom one day, and Nellie got to show off her family to all the people of Phillips-Strickland House.

We also had a great time at the Sea Dog Brew Pub in Bangor the night before they left. The morning of their return to Ohio they stopped by once more to see Nellie. Bobbie can tell you more if she wants to comment on this post, but rest assured, she was so happy to see how content and active mom was.

They also came by our house for Marisa's Halloween Chili and cornbread, AND got pictures at Stephen King's house... ON HALLOWEEN! (Justin is sending me pics ffom his camera soon and I will post them!)

Enjoy!

 Justin and Nellie

 Bob, Justin, Nellie and Bobbie

Ben (13) and Justin (31). They look like brothers! Ben looks older and Justin look younger!

 Bob and Lucas

 Ben and Bobbie

Justin, donning his lobster bib. 

 Bob is all set to dive in.

Bob and Lucas, playing pool 

 Lucas wants a new game...

Bangor local, hangin' out at the bar...

 Bobbie and moose. Yes, they are that big...

 Marisa and Bobbie

Maine Black Bear 

 The Sea Dog Brew Pub, on the banks of the Penobscot River.

 Bobbie and me, before they headed back to Toledo

Bob, wearing a UMaine Black Bears cap.

Last football game.

Hey everybody,

Last night was Ben's last football game of the year. Nellie came again, and this time stayed for the whole game! It was the best game of the year, and Nellie saw it all!

Exciting to the last, Bangor won 26-22. Ben ran back a kick-off for a TD, right in front of Nellie! He also ran for another TD, which was his best run of the year, breaking about 7 tackles on his own, cutting across the field from left to right, then making it to the end zone... only to be called back for a block in the back, which wasn't anywhere near him... that was disappointing! 

He also made a couple of great tackles early in the game, and mom noticed that after that the other team stayed away from his side! They ran every play away from him. Mom saw that from the stands, so you know she was seeing everything and watching closely!

When we got mom home after the game, it was too late for dinner, but the staff had saved her meal. They reheated for her and sat with her as she ate! We can't say how great they are at Phillip-Strickland. Mom is treated so well there. They all love her.

All is all, it was a great game, Bangor won, mom saw it all, and everyone was happy!

Next week, my sister Bobbie and her husband Bob and son Justin are driving up from Ohio to visit. The week after that, Dana is coming up from Florida. Nellie has a very busy social calendar....

Marisa and Nellie.

Marisa's mom, Ingrid joined us for the game.

 Ben, breaking out of the pack for a kick off return for a TD.

Pulling away...

 ...and he scores!

Mom got to see it. How great is that?

Ben doesn't go down easy...

 Seven people in on the tackle...

 Breaking away again..

 This is the one called back for a penalty away from the ball. Too bad.

 Smiling back at Nellie.

 

 Getting dark, but mom is toasty warm.

 It ended up taking five to bring him down.

 

 Me and Lucas. He took some of the pictures tonight as well.

Ben and his best friend, John.

Nellie Comes to DInner

Nellie came over for dinner tonight. Don't know why we haven't done this before!

 Nellie hasn't seen the house since 2005.

 No glasses anymore!

 Chatting with Ben,

 and Lucas.

 Dad, really, we're at the diner table...

 Time to eat!

 Me and my mom.

 Marisa, happy to have Nellie in the house.