It has been a busy summer.  Right after my last blog, our son Ron and the Chattanooga grandkids came for a visit.  We went out to The Piper to see Pop Pop and Bob said right away "Well hello Ron, what are you doing here?"  It has been 6 years since Bob has called Ron by name.  He has called him "Harrel" all the time.  Harrel is Bob's brother, and since Ron and Harrel favor each other very much, it was understandable.  But this came out of the blue!  Ron said "Where did THAT come from?" From the deep recesses evidently!  He also called 7 year old Libby by name, and I really expected that, as they were best buddies.  He also seemed to recognize 13 year old Emme and 15 year old Nate, but didn't call them by name.  Libby stayed with me for the rest of the summer, and every time we went to see Bob, he called her by name and was excited to see her.  The other residents enjoyed it when she came as well, and she played her piano recital songs for them.  She is back home in school now, and the residents still ask me where she is, and when she will come play for them again!
Bob is much better physically and is able to feed himself again.  He is also gaining strength, and can stand to get out of the wheelchair.  One of the other family members told me he saw Bob get out of his wheelchair and walk to another chair.  The staff was racing after him, afraid he would fall.  That is a concern of mine as well.  They cannot be restrained by a belt in the wheelchair under any circumstances.  I totally understand the reasoning and regulations behind it, but it seems like it is a safety measure to me.  So when I leave I put him in front of the dinner table, and put a glass of water there, and that complies with the rules!  We used to give them washcloths to fold on a tray table attached to the wheelchair in the hospital, and that is OK as well.  Occupational therapy!
He is also more engaged in conversation, though most of it doesn't make sense.  Except the other day he asked how much I was paying a month.  He went on to say that however much it was, it was too much because "the doctors never come around to see me!"  Dear Bob and his money management!
He always did a great job of it, and read and thought a lot about the subject.
A couple of evenings ago was Bob's "gift of the day" compliments of Crossroads Hospice.  They let each client choose an outing they will enjoy.  They asked what Bob would enjoy, and I mentioned a Royals baseball game, but I said the logistics of doing that were too much.  Then I remembered that the Kansas City T-Bones (a minor league team) have a stadium almost across the street from the Piper.  They arranged a van to pick him up and take him back, and 2 of the workers from Crossroads Hospice accompanied us.  It was a beautiful evening, and so relaxing.  I think I enjoyed it as much as an of the hundreds of games we have been to, just in a different way.  Bob obviously enjoyed it as well.  When the national anthem was sung, he grasped the rail in front of him, stood up out of the wheelchair, and belted out the words.  He has a very good singing voice.  They got the cutest video of him!
Since we are talking about grandchildren in this blog I will close with an essay that Jaden, daughter Valerie's 12 year old son, wrote for a school project in April of this year. (Used with permission)

This is an essay on how God has helped my family.  I am doing this essay on my Grandpa.
My grandpa was smart, kind, and hard working, or so I've heard.  He didn't go to college, and he started working as a janitor at Shawnee Mission Medical Center (actually director of laundry and housekeeping) and he worked his way up to the President's assistant.  He also helped start a school and was a major leader in the Church.
Then about 10 years ago he got into a car accident and my Grandma started to suspect that he had Alzheimer's.  It wasn't until I was about 8 years old that they had definite evidence that he had Alzheimer's.  Even then it took until three years ago to get worse.
We are lucky that Alzheimer's came on slowly.  Because if not I might not have been able to meet my Grandpa.
Now he is living in a home, which has been good.  My Grandma visits him a lot.  Now we know that he is cared for at all times.
I look forward to meeting him in Heaven.  Then I can meet him as his real self.  That's what I look forward to the most.

I can't wait to reunite with the real Bob again in heaven as well, Jaden. What a day that will be!
And I know others reading this blog have loved ones they are looking forward to seeing again there.
God be with you till we meet again,
Betty