Joan here...A ray of sunshine flutters into our day!

We have been busy re arranging all our "stuff". Takes forever to go through and decide what we will be needing in our new place. Jake and Val and family have pretty much exhausted themselves trying to get the suite done in time for us to move in at the end of the month.

Rick and I have been struggling with all the changes he is experiencing! I live just a second away from crying at any given time. I came down with shingles just recently...hmm...stress anyone???

Rick still insists on bringing me my cup of coffee each morning so we can sit in bed and talk and talk and talk. That has been our thing for years! Only now, I watch him struggle to pull himself out of bed and try and walk to get to the coffee pot. I end up crying each morning as I lay in bed and watch him go through the process just to bring me a cup of coffee. The realization of how he struggles just to do that and what yet lies ahead is heart wrenching.

Amidst all of the sadness and tears....a ray of sunshine flutters into our day! Our little grand daughter Katie announced to her grandpa Rick and I that she was giving him all her "tooth fairy" money she had received from loosing her first tooth. She was giving it to him so he could give it to the ALS so they could find a cure for him!!!! She had her money in hand and ready to give it all away!!! We were so amazed by her love and care for her grandpa!

Joan here....Thanks family for your love, help and support this weekend!

Rick and I were very surprised at the family that came out this weekend. Our wood is all cut, split and piled for the winter. The sheeting and insulating is all done so we have a place to move our junk for storage. Mom cooked and prepared meals for all of us. We had such a fun time all being together. Thanks everyone for all your love, help and support!!!!

Today, Rick has resided himself to the use of bed side rail and toilet hand rails to pull himself up with. What is so crazy about this disease is that if you look at him sitting on his scooter or in a chair he looks like he is in great shape. But when you actually see him try and do anything it is so shocking at the weakness in his body! He felt so helpless this weekend with everyone running around and doing things and he could not help. I must say though he enjoyed the pointing with his cane when it came to instructing the girls where to pile the wood etc. lol!!!

He stopped taking his Lithium two weeks ago and we have now discovered that he has a clearer brain and is feeling more settled. We thank God for that!

PS Forgot to mention that Nick was awesome at "Elvis on the Red". Thanks Nick! If you want to check him out www.nickakaelvis.com

Rick here...

Hi All...well......have not blogged for a while as I can't stand to...I committed to Joan that I would only blog until I can truthfully and it has been real hard! I am the worlds best at avoiding reality but it is not working anymore! Life is shit!
Been in a hell of a slump for the last 3 weeks....I am the worlds best optomist but the beast has been on top lately.

I can not believe how fast this is moving...that is all I can write right now!

Rick and Joan here...Do you got connections????

Hi there,

Some of you have asked... do we need help???
Yep, here it goes....

1. Anyone who can help hang osb board, insulation and vapor barrier for interior of garage...our future storage place.

2. Anyone who can build a deck....so Rick can go in the back yard from our suite in the fall and spring.

3. Anyone who can split wood...it is our heating source for the winter.

If you know of anyone who can help or be hired to do it do please let us know....all our leads have gone to a dead end.

Thanks!!!

Joan here...Rick promises to write soon!

Friendly reminder that the "Elvis on the Red Paddlewheel Queen cruise" is on next Friday night! For more info or tickets give Rick a call or email.

We are moving at the end of the month. Jake has the lift built and installed! We have milked every moment of living in the city to the fullest! Summer in the city has been awesome for us! It is so hard to think of moving again right now and especially knowing what awaits us down the road!

We just celebrated a wonderful 10th Anniversary in a Hawaiian Theme suite! My romantic husband had champagne, dinner and breakfast served in our room, and presented me with a beautiful diamond necklace. There seems to have been some confusion that we actually went to Hawaii for the weekend lol!!! We wish!!!

We really enjoyed ourselves at the Whitemouth Museum Heritage Day Church Service. Rick spoke so well as usual. I am so proud of him! They will be sending the offering taken to the ALS Society of MB.

Rick has been asked to do some reading in the school also. The school adopted him last spring and the students will be in contact with us throughout the school year. It is quite an amazing thing that they have chosen to be involved with us in that way.

We have had numerous people from the community drop off health care aids at the suite for Rick's use at some point. We are so moved by the care and support of the community.

Now...for what you really probably want to know...how is Rick really doing???
He has given up hand shavers as he has cut himself a few times and officially has resigned himself to an electric shaver. He says he actually can't believe how nice it shaves. The shaver is actually very light and is cordless. His walker is his prized companion now.

With the reality of his fingers and hands starting to not work normally at times it has ushered in a new sweep of loss and realization of what shortly lies ahead!
We do not have full nights of sleep. Rick wakes up each night from the terrible dreams he is experiencing as a result of his body changing before his eyes. His stomach muscles have really let go and for the first time in his life he can identify with a woman's pain of stomach muscles letting go after having children! lol He cannot cross his legs without having to lift his leg over the other one with his hands. He is noticing that at times he is having a harder time to swollow or cough. It means that those muscles are starting to go also. We spend many a night holding each other, praying, talking and comforting one another!

I can't even imagine anyone going through this if they did not believe that God is a good God! Otherwise they would be in such anger, hate and blame towards God for what is happening. We are both at peace with God just not with the disease itself! I hate day by day watching it destroy my husbands body and what it is doing to attack his soul! I am so thankful that we have the relationship that we do have. We can talk about everything...the good...the bad...and the ugly!

Thanks for remembering us in your prayers!

Joan here...Not a good week!

Wow...August 23rd already! This week has been once again a difficult week. I almost hesitate to write anything. Rick had an evaluation this week. He has been feeling for awhile that he is not doing very well. Every time I watch him try and walk I just quietly cry to myself. I cannot believe this is happening still. I guess I will never accept it! It is getting harder and harder to write anything down.

His cane will not carry him much further anymore. He will be using a good "old" walker to give him balance. :( it is hard for the both of us to accept this. Both his arms are not doing well. We know now it is only a matter of time before they are like his legs.

We received an email lately from a group from Whitemouth who are dedicating their offering this year to the ALS Society of MB and want Rick to accept it on their behalf. That is so kind and generous of them.

We will be staying in Wpg still for awhile. The washroom is not completed yet. The kids are doing the best they can.

Rick is really struggling right now! We both can't believe this is happening!

Fund Raiser info......Elvis...September 19th on the Paddle Queen.....Includes Dinner, Dance and Elvis...all for only $48.00 each ticket. Please let us know if you would like some tickets. We can really say from experience that the ALS Society of MB have been sooooo supportive and helpful to us....we really encourage everyone to come out and have a great evening of fun!!!!!