Quote of the Day - Jan 13 2012

Dad gets up from his nap and looks like he's trying to get up from the chair.

Me: "Dad, where are you going?"

Dad: "For a jog."

He hasn't lost his sense of humor!

Picture Request

All,

Please send your favorite 1-2 pictures of Bob to me. My email address is lkeegan24@gmail.com.

If you need to send more that's fine, just remember...I'm only one person :-)

Thanks in advance!
Bob's Daughter

The Happiness Song

Marcus and I may regret this later...we did this video with my dad at Thanksgiving per his request.  One of his bucket list items was to be on YouTube...so now he can check that off his list.  Enjoy and sorry Marcus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrcVrN93az8

The Doctor Visit - January 11, 2012

So I flew home to Atlanta this morning at 6am because I'm a daddy's girl and he WILL NOT be sick for long periods of time without me here.  He was in the hospital for a week and was released Monday night.  We (the fabulous four) went to see the oncologist today.  To save you from all the sad details, let's just say that this might have been the last doctor visit.  Hospice is coming to the house in the morning to begin at-home care. Bob sleeps most of the day and is on various medications to help with the problems he has due to a failing liver. He has stopped reading emails as he can no longer read them or stay awake long enough to read them.  He isn't really in the mood for visitors, as one could expect.  But please know that we as a family receive all of your kind words and emails and they fill us with joy to know that our father (her husband) is loved by so many people.  Hopefully the hospice nurses will be able to get him back to functioning a little more normally. And trust me, if that does happen...you all will be the first to know. Okay...maybe not the first, but you get my drift.   

Right now, I'm sitting in the living room and he is asleep in his recliner.  He has the blanket that I gave him for Christmas covering him (it has 30 photos of the family on it) and he is snoring. The rest of the Keegans in this house are about to have a drink!

Hospital Stay #2

Well, my dad is back in the hospital.  His first long-stay visit to the hospital a little after Thanksgiving can no longer be considered a fluke visit.  The new doctors at his new hospital think they have figured out why he has been unable to keep down food and has had several bouts with nausea and vomiting.  They did an ultrasound of his liver yesterday and found a blood clot.  The doctors say this clot is treatable and are keeping him in the hospital while they get "things under control."  He is very tired and taking a lot of medication. And if you know Bob at all, he's having a BLAST in the hospital (sarcasm).  I haven't spoken to him much, but my brother, Uncle Timmy, and my mom have been keeping me updated on his progress and his daily activities.  We are hoping he will be back home in a couple of days and once that happens I will be sure to keep everyone updated.

Share Your Best Bob Story (or two)

Please comment below and share a Story about Bob...your BEST Bob story...if you have more than one...that's okay too. Happy Holidays!

What I'd Like for Christmas...among other things

Life in Chicago is busy and hectic. I work 50 hour weeks and my days consist of putting out fires, dealing with angry customers, and motivating unmotivated employees. I'm away from my family during a time when I want nothing more than to be there with them.  Luckily, we all have so many frequent flyer miles that I get to travel home once a month.  I will be home again December 23rd and spending Christmas at home.

So, I bet you are all wondering...how's Bob?  Well...he's okay.  He finished ten sessions of radiation therapy for his bone cancer and the pain in his leg. This treatment wasn't meant to be a cure, but to help the pain in his leg. He will tell you that so far it isn't working very well. Hopefully, this will change in the next week or two.  He has helped pay for numerous salaries at his insurance company and at the local hospital that he spent a couple of days in recently.  Apparently one too many pain medications did not agree with my dad.  But not to fear, he is back at home and in good hands (with my mom and in his recliner).

For now, he is at home resting.  Which is probably making him mad since he has so much to do. Renovating the house, Christmas shopping, etc.  What can you do to help?  Send warm thoughts, nice stories, pray if you do, ... all of that stuff helps.  I asked my mom if she needed me to do anything this morning...and she said no. She thinks she's okay for now.  If we ever need anything from our big extended family, we will let you know.

What do I want for Christmas? I asked for an new iPod and some other stuff. But really, all I want is to be home, with my dad, and my family and to spend as much time as I can making more memories with them.