The way camp ended...

On Friday, July 25, I received a call from Dr. O'Brien, the camp director. The medication that had been prescribed for the rattle in Mike's lungs had sent him into a "full-blown psychotic episode". EMT's were called in, full restraint had to be used and Mike transported to the hospital. The hospital gave him some medicine and sent him back to camp. My nephew, TR, and I arrived at camp about the same time and gathered Mike's things to bring him home. Mike was slightly agitated and fixated. He believed we were leaving behind one (or 4) of his boxes and even though we double and triple checked his cabin and the infirmary, he was adamant.

TR finally gently, forced Mike into the backseat and I got in on the other side, buckled him up and we took off. He was upset for the first 10 minutes or so and then calmed down and asked for his book. The next 2.5 hours were fine with Mike reading and riding calmly. As soon as we got home and started unloading, the fixation on a missing box(es) started again and for the next 3 hours he did the following: paced around the house, paced out to the car and back, started walking back to camp, was retrieved and would start out again, went for a ride supposedly back to camp, until Hugh had to come and we got him in the house and into the shower, then he calmed down. So his camp experience was cut short by 2 days and initially he said he didn't like camp and didn't want to go back, but that changed in a few days. The camp would allow him to come back, they knew it was medication induced psychosis.

The next day was one of our best days. Mike helped me wash windows at Mom and Dad's, we ran some errands related to the party for Mom and Dad, started learning the new automated calf-feeding system and only had a short bout of thinking he left a box at camp. This time we called the director and she assured him he did not leave anything. With a heavy sigh he said "Guess I have to let it go."

Dad and one of his
granddaughter's in law, Courtney

The following Sun. - Thurs. were fairly rough. Lots of repeating, non-compliant behavior. We were all getting ready for Mom and Dad's big party (A combination celebration of Mom's 85th birthday

Guests beginning to arrive.
There were over 150 people.

Beautiful Mom.

Memories & flowers from
Dad's garden

66 Years of marriage

brother-in-laws...

on July 13, Dad's 90th birthday on July 31, and their 66th wedding anniversary on Aug. 8) I don't know if he was worried that he wasn't going to be included or what was going through his mind. I even wrote out what was happening on each day and kept writing "Mike is included", "Mike is part of all of the activities".

Whenever Mike was with all of the people throughout the weekend, he did fabulously. He helped set up at the church fellowship hall, enjoyed being at Mom and Dad's among all the chaos of people, and eating meals together.  At the party, he mingled, talked, was calm, and seemed to enjoy himself very much. I was so thrilled and able to completely relax and enjoy the party also with no worries. We had cut out another pill and he was needing Trazodone a good bit, but this was fantastic!  He would still repeat and lose it at home when we were alone, but it seemed like a good sign.

Sunday after breakfast, we went to see the Hidden Treasure at Green Meadows Farm house where my Aunt's family was staying and visit with them one last time. Mike did great and enjoyed the tour. Then we went to church and during the praise time, I praised God for how great Mike had been doing over the past few days. It was communion Sunday and when it was time to serve, Pastor Randy asked Mike and I to serve communion with him. It was very special and brought tears to our eyes, as well as, many others who know our story. Was a real sign of how far Mike has come and how much God has done for us. Faye, a member of the church who rode with me to Blacksburg one time, gave me a bracelet after the service that says "With God all things are possible."

That afternoon, when everyone was leaving, Mike was a little agitated and worried. I figured he had to be really tired and so about mid afternoon, we came back home to rest. He could not. Kept thinking "they" were calling us to come back over (to Mom and Dad's). I was very tired and tried to rest, but he couldn't. We went back up for supper, and now it was only Mom, Dad, and my sister, Vivian, there. I thought he would calm down now that he knew everyone was gone, party over, but no. He seemed so afraid that he was missing something.

From then until now, it has been like Psalm 13:12 says "Hope deferred makes the heart sick". It was like we had had "a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.", but suddenly the tree was cut down again.
After talking with Dr. Sellman several times, we are trying to taper off of some medication. I just didn't want to try yet another medicine. I want to see where he is without medication. Who knows? Maybe the medicine is causing this craziness, and how can we know unless we get him off of medication to see what he, by himself, is like.  This is not an easy time, so please pray for all of us who deal with Mike and especially for Mike. I again marvel at what his body can handle and still keep going. Today, he seems especially irritated with Max and is not being very kind. Please pray that Max sticks it out with us. These breaks are extremely vital to my well-being. I carry a lot of stress in my body, and need time to breathe and when I am not totally responsible for him. Being on constant alert is very wearing.

Want to get outside and cut grass, before Max leaves, so that's all for now. Thank you so much for continuing to lift us up before the throne of our Holy God. He has never left me, nor forsaken me.