Weekend report of Sept 28-29 for Todd

Todd getting to see Quito after a long time of separation. 

Kristi, Quito (our dog) and I  made our trip up to Tioga this past weekend to see Todd.  Quito was a big hit at the nursing home, and he behaved very well.  He was pretty excited to see Todd too, tail wagging on high speed.  Todd did pet him several times, and said he was a good dog or something to that effect.  

Todd seemed better than when I had last saw him.  He was walking more steady, and trying to talk, but not much of it makes sense, but he's at least trying to engage in conversation, though it sounds like babble, with a few words here and there.  

Playing the old video for Todd. My I look young! This in one of the 'family rooms' not too far from Todd's room.

We played for him the video of our Farewell concert in Kenmare back in 1992. I know it's old, but it's one of the few times, I have a recording of us singing together. He cried through a lot of it. Music seems to really touch him. On Sunday afternoon, I brought my guitar in and Kristi and I sang for him.  Every once and a while on a song, he'd start crying.  I believe music ministers where words fail.

Kristi and I visited the Tioga AG Church on Sunday morning.  I even sang a 'special' during the offering time. We met some wonderful people there, a few that have already gone up to visit Todd (although he was a sleep when they went).  They prayed for us (Kristi and I) and for Todd at the end of the service.  We also got in on some great church fellowship during a potluck dinner.   

 Speaking of food, on Saturday afternoon, Kristi and I decided we'd better find some food to eat, so someone recommended this little cafe/drive in (it's really not a drive in, just a pick up/take out window).  I have to say the food was REALLY good, but defiantly oil field prices. We each ordered a cheese burger and we shared one order of fries and it came to $17.85!! Wow, I think that is the most expensive burger I've ever eaten.  Gas there is about 30 cents higher than Bismarck.  Go figure, where the oil comes from it's higher than any where else, but then again, it's refined right here in Mandan, and we have higher prices than the rest of the state, other than oil field.

As before it was hard to leave, and exhausting for me. It's more than just the physical drain of driving etc, there's an emotional drain that seems to tap me and leave me exhausted.  It's so hard to see 'my man' like this.  I really don't have words to explain it, or wisdom to understand all this right now.

Todd and Quito

Some of the pictures we have hung for Todd in his room.

This is his bed. He's now in the room by himself, as his room mate is on Oxygen and Todd disconnected Jim's oxygen a couple of times, and tripped over Jim's machines, so for both of their safety they moved Jim to another room.