My Grandpa's Memorial Service

This pix was taken on Grandpa's birthday May of 2006. I believe it to be the most recent photo of him. He had just turned 87 years young :)
We spent the day getting arrangements finalized. My grandfather had pre-planned his funeral so that made the situation a little easier. Still many decisions to be made and people to inform. My mom, grandma and aunt are so tired mentally and physically. Trying to do all I can to help them out-it is just a stressful time. I can even see my kids reacting. Taylor is singing at the service-I am proud of her for having the strength to do this for Grandpa. She will sing Amazing Grace-she has sang it at 3 other funerals since she was 9 years old.

The service is as follows for Ruel Edmond Rousselo, May 18, 1919-April 27,2008.
Visitation and funeral service at Bruce Funeral Home, Gardner,Kansas Wed. April 30th
Visitation is at 10am followed by the service at 11am. Burial will follow at Oak Lawn Memorial Cemetery, Olathe, KS.

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Tracy

Today was the day he chose

Today at 4:28 pm my Grandpa Rousselo took his last breath here on earth surrounded by loved ones. It is my prayer that he is with Jesus and being greeted in Heaven by those that have passed before him. He was 88 years old -21 days short of his 89th birthday. Please keep my family in your prayers as we plan his service, say our goodbyes and grieve.
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Tracy

Still with Us

My grandfather is still with us tonight. His earthly body continues to breathe. He isn't moving, making a sound or opening his eyes. It is so hard for all of us-we have said our goodbyes and told him it is ok to go-even that the fishing is going to be so much better in Heaven-LOL. He has always done things his way-so this is not different. the picture posted is from a family reunion in 1998 (I think)-of my grandparents, my mom and step-dad, my sister and brother in law, my 2 nephews, my husband and myself and the 3 kiddos.
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Tracy

Tough Day-April 24th

Today was a tough day emotionally-my grandpa Rousselo is in a nursing home and has suffered from Alzheimers for 5 + years. His journey here are earth is coming to an end. We as his family have been at his bedside all day, evening and now into the night. Taylor came home from college to be with us and her and I just came home after probably saying our last goodbyes. My mom, Grandma and Aunt remain at the nursing home. Hospice has been visitng him for months. They are amazing. A hospice nurse was in while I was there-she explained the process of death to us in a very truthful. clear and comforting way. My granfather is in the window of time where God is waiting for him but it is up to him when he will let go of his body and let his soul fly. It is so difficult to see in in the state he is now-his body is shutting down and he is so so thin. As I sit here typing I am wondering when I will recieve the call tonight or if it will be tommorow. I don't want it to be today-April 24th this the day my Dad passed away 5 years ago. How can that possibly happen? I dread the date each year-and now another death upon that day. Sounds pretty selfish huh? When they who have passed are the ones who are in or are going into the Kingdom of Heaven. God Speed Grandpa...Miss you every day Daddy!!!
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Tracy

Doctor Appointments

Update: tonight we found out there has been a snafu made and the paperwork for us to have health care coverage for 90 days after active duty hasn't happened. Imagine that?? Not sure if I am going to my dr. appt. tomorrow and if the appt. I had last week and my lab work is now going to cost us a fortune. Praying all will be straightened out with a couple simple phone calls in early am.UGGGH
Rodney had an important dr. appt. today. He needed to have the dr. fill out a form with questions about his abilities and if he could handle the physical issues of being deployed in a war zone. I just spoke with Rod and he said the dr. put no for most of the answers. He also raised the dosage on Rodney's blood pressure medicine since it is running even higher now. We now send this information from the dr. to those making deployment decisions and such. I won't say what I think will or should happen because I don't think the same way as the powers that be. Just another step In the process after medhold. there is a meeting scheduled next week with a American Legion Rep who will give us better insight into what the VA will rate Rodney's disability at and help with filing some paperwork. Just so many balls to keep in the air to make sure we are contacting the correct departments, individuals and filling out the correct paperwork.
Dr. appts seem to be a theme for this week..I have a dr. appt. tommorow and some really unpleasant tests on Friday (colonoscopy and endoscopy)...but then I have a massage appt. on Saturday (that is a big plus!) Thanks for checking in!
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Tracy

Childhood Memories

I opened up an email from my sister Lisa last night and before my eyes we were little girls again. It was a nice moment-I am guessing here but I think were were 3 and 6 (me being the tall older sister-she was always so short I towered over her for years). We are in front of our grandparents home that was torn down within the last 4 years. I was the agent who listed it and sold it-the location is now a dentist office.(I guess the file is too large to upload so I can't share the first one of us??) She sent me two other pics that also took me back. both were taken in Arkansas where my other set of grandparents lived. The one with the horse is with my Grandpa who loved his tennessee walker horses. Notice my sweet sister is sticking out her tongue! The other picture was taken at Dogpatch USA sometime in the late 60's. My mom (love the glasses), my sister and I with our corncob pipes-lol, and my beautiful grandma and great-grandma-I don't actually remember this picture being taken but I do remember so many special times in Arkansas. I was very close to my Grandma and spent 2 weeks each summer up until I was 14 or so with them. Miss them all so much! Thanks to my sister Lisa for sending me the photos! I love them.
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Tracy

The Price Update

I know it has been a week.. thought I would get on here and tell you all just some of the daily things that have been goin on..
1. I think Spring has finally sprung here in Kansas (and I do mean FINALLY)..It was in the 70's yesterday and very spring like today-WOOOOHOOOOOO!

2. Carley played a part in her high school theater production of "Peter Pan" last weekend-she was a pirate and made us laugh! The weekend prior her youth group held a spaghetti dinner and art auction to raise money for their mission trip in June. They are going to Philly! She has been competing in forensic tournaments with her duet partner-they finished up the season Monday night with third place. They didn't qualify for state much to Carley's disappointment but they are determined to do it as sophomores next year! She has regional band contest today. Carley is actually complaining about having nothing coming up to do-I told her she could take a week and dig out of the clutter in her room :) Plus it will be nice to see her smiling face around here more often! She actually starts lifeguard training at the end of the month for her summer job, so it won't slow down for long.

3. Connor is still playing in his competition soccer league but they are back outdoors. Their game and practices last week were cancelled due to weather but hopefully that will get better! They have a tournament coming up here next weekend.
He is also playing baseball and practices have just started. He is playing for Park and Rec. instead of competition this year for a couple different reasons. He will hopefully have a FUN season! School is still going good for him. They have their DARE graduation next week. Connor is still taking guitar lessons as well as getting involved with the youth group at church. He is growing up fast-needs new cleats for both soccer and baseball. We measured his height the other day and he is 5ft. 1in. with a month still to go until his 11th birthday. I can see our grocery bill increasing right before my eyes! We finally got his room cleaned up and clothes he had outgrown taken out of the drawers and closet. Taylor took him shopping recently-to Aebecromie for Kids-they came home with some cute shirts, shorts and a jacket-now he wants to wear the same outfits everyday....and his sister has exposed him to more expensive fashion-she is so proud. :)

4. Taylor will finish up her 1 year of college here in the next month, most likely changing majors. She plans on living in campus apartments next year instead of the dorms. We will have so much to move back home in a couple weeks-not looking so much to that. Where to put it all!!!! I am looking forward to seeing her everyday. Taylor will be turning 19 in May-I am wanting to take her on a trip to Chicago-trying to see if it is possible with her final schedule, my nephews graduation, end of school activities for the other 2 and that we can afford it. She has wnated to go forever to shop and see a couple shows! She will also be working at the aquatic center this summer. This will be her 5th summer! She will be a lifeguard and also work as one of the asst. managers. She said "I will be Carley's boss!" Connor's first thought was-Oh no I will have 2 sisters working at the pool! Taylor and her boyfriend Bryan have been dating for almost 3 years now-he is good to her and they seem to compliment each other.

5. Rodney hasn't went back to work yet. Loose ends to tie up and just taking a breather. He seems to be making some good contacts to figure out some of the issues with disability and medical follow-up. He has an appt. with a case manager with the VA tomorrow. He is wrestling with a couple decisions pertaining to the military. He bought a new mower and weed-eater-with spring here he can have some fun in the yard maintenance area-(he hates yard work!!!)

6. Me-Went to the Doc yesterday for more blood tests (Glucose tolerance test). My doctor is leaning towards diabetes-scary stuff! I just want an answer to all the symptoms I have been dealing with for a while now. It has really affected my quality of life in what I can get done and my energy level. I just try and get something accomplished everyday so I can not feel like I am a slug. A long stretch from when I was doing most at 120 percent! No matter what exercise and diet have to come into play-if I could just get started :( I will be starting on my nephew Ethan's senior memory slide show in the next couple days-I love doing them and want his to be special. I am still hoping that purchasing a house will happen this summer-purchase prices are so reasonable right now. I know the economy is not the best right now but for a buyer it is a good time-still pretty cautious though-I don't want to get stuck with a home if we get a chance to move to a better climate. Just have to pray and listen to what God has in store!
Enough for now..pictures later-my camera batteries are dead.

Keep Imagining!
Tracy

Off Active duty and Waiting for Answers

This is one of those posts that is really difficult for me to write because even thinking about the craziness of military system upsets me and I can feel myself going into panic mode. I hoped that this side of the battle would be easier and we would have guidance from some entity but unfortunately that isn't the case. Rodney has talked to many people in different capacities over the last 2 weeks and everyone has a different answer. What are our questions? Simple one..What happens to him now?
The others are about the ratings of disability for his wounds? Does he receive two ratings? One from the VA side and one from the Army? How are these ratings decided? What is the criteria for fit for duty? He has been deemed "Fit for Duty" but with a permanent profile limiting what he can do physically. My biggest question is can he be re-deployed? (remember he has a piece of shrapnel inside his heart) Rodney goes back and forth with with the deployment issue-he wants to but know how difficult everything has been due to it and being wounded. I of course fear it with my whole being! I worry about the follow up medical issues through the VA alot. We have heard so many nightmare stories-but also have heard the situation is getting better. I feel like somehow we have done something wrong over the course of the last year and a half and no one wants to speak with us. We have never to this day met another family with a wounded soldier. I feel like a freak!
I am starting to see Rodney floundering, his PTSD kicking up-he has had the military connection the whole time with working at the armoury-now he is going back to his civilian job. It is all so weird-we are in the same place we were over 2 years ago except now my husband has been to war, been wounded, and now we go back to square one?? We had started the process of buying a home but have had to put that on hold due to not knowing what he will receive in disability and we can't qualify without that extra income.
What a mess! I just want to scream because Rodney is in the place where he has to handle most of the phone calls and follow up-I can't help it seems. We argue a lot about what is happening, who he should call etc.. I am so distrustful due to the history-from day one it has been like this-a true battle. We are so tired. I wish I knew what to do. Please keep the prayers coming!
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Tracy

How I feel tonight

I used to have a cd with this song on it-it was broken many years ago-I used to listen to it with my oldest child when she was a pre-teen and discovering how God was working in her life. I was searching for something else and came across this video of a song that I hadn't heard for so long and it spoke volumes to me-I just need to know everyting is is going to be ok!! The music and lyrics make me feel I might just be important enough for God. Struggling some tonight with just life in general-I wanted to share...
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Tracy

FFF a day late..Beach Memories

BEACH MEMORIES




Favorite Foto Friday-on Saturday..but since we were at the beach a couple weeks ago and others from Florida last April.. I had to add photos. I love the Beach in case you didn't already know that. enjoy!
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Tracy

Thursday, Topeka, Turkey and a Tattoo

Back to normal life??? Rodney and I spent most of this dreary rainy day in Topeka -during our drive up we came very very close to hitting a wild turkey on the way-I barely even caught a glimpse of it from the passenger seat-I just saw a dark figure flying by and Rod yelling turkey!! I didn't even get that stomach in the throat deal when startled-no time. Pretty weird=so glad the turkey was faster than our car because my husband informed me that if we had hit it we would stopped and put it in the back of the SUV-I don't think so! We went to Topeka to visit Taylor at school and handle some college financial aid red tape. We had lunch at a place called Huhot(?)- really good food and actually kinda fun after you receive the complicated directions...you go thru the line and put your uncooked meat, noodles, veggies and at least 5 ladles of your choice of about 20 sauces-then you hand your bowl to the "cook warriors" and they fix it all up right in front of you-you have to stay in line in the same order in the circle so you get your correct mixture of food....whew-a lot of work and a little stressful for me. I was worried I wouldn't even like my "mixture"-I guess it is a trial and error deal... Plus there was pictures of Ginguss Kohn all around-I don't think he is considered a nice mascot for anything.-It was nice to spend time with Taylor..We found out little things going on in her college life we wouldn't have otherwise-and it is probably for the best she shared some of it while I was in a public place-Really all is ok! Next we went to the Tattoo parlor so Rodney could get his tattoo! He has wanted this particular one but the cost was a little high and it would've needed to be drawn up-so he will wait for another time for the eagle one- today he had the crown of thorns with a heart and cross put around his left arm-he acted like it didn't hurt at all until we got outside-then it was really bad-poor guy is even bruised underneath his arm on the tender flesh-ouch! It is going to look so good when it is healed. It means a lot to him and he was very brave. Taylor and I had a good time looking at all the tattoo possibilities-who would have thought I would be hanging out at the tattoo parlor with my daughter (actually this is the second time...mmm she was with me when I got mine 2 years ago)mmm...I think I will stop for now before I bring my parenting skills into question.. she is almost 19 now and I did buy her groceries! I will post a pic of Rodney's newest addition as well as Taylor's-she got her's a couple weeks ago (without me).
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Tracy