Monday, January 26, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
In Memory of Uncle Jerry
Ok, so now many of you know that my Uncle has passed away. I wish all of you could have met him to see for yourself how strong he actually was. This is to give you some background & what happened (to me) the day he died & the weeks leading up to it. My information may not be completely correct, but it is very close. I may have a few things wrong, this is just what I've gathered from being told & listening from childhood to now. I hope you enjoy.
~Joscelyn~
*This is long so I apologize, but I felt like I needed to do it!!*
~Joscelyn~
*This is long so I apologize, but I felt like I needed to do it!!*
Gerald (Jerry) Hughes Gaines
Aug 14, 1940-Jan 9, 2009
A little background…
Jerry Gaines was born to J.B. & C.J. Gaines on Aug 14, 1940. He was the oldest of 4 boys all born in Etowah County, AL. Jerry enjoyed many activities as a young child; these include playing on the family farm (as well as doing some chores), running around, playing, fishing, & riding horses to name just a few. During the summer of 1953, just after the 4th of July, Jerry became ill with polio & was hospitalized. This disease ravaged his body & made him paralyzed from just below the neck down. Only being neck mobile Jerry, as well as the rest of the Gaines’ family, had to learn a new way of life when he returned home. Not only did they have to help Jerry in & out of bed as well as other things they also found out horrifying news from the doctors: Jerry was given only 6 years to live! I could not imagine what was going thru my Grandparent’s & Uncle’s mind when they learned this (on a side note my Dad was only 4 or 5 at this time!!) horrible news. My Grandparent’s must have vowed that Jerry would not die that soon because they whole family pitched in and helped with the care of him. My Grandparent’s were his SOLE caretakers though for most of his life. For the most part (@ least from what I can remember or have heard) Uncle Jerry was very healthy except for a cold or a minor sickness here or there.
In Nov 2008, this all changed when Jerry got terribly sick. He had been sick most of November but just before Thanksgiving he was taken to Riverside because of trouble breathing and was admitted. Shortly after arriving at Riverside he was asked if something happened would he want to be on a ventilator he said “yes” and not ten minutes later he crashed. After a couple of weeks in Riverside (mostly being over the pneumonia) & being put on a Trac Uncle Jerry was moved to St. Vincent’s East in B’ham. There he was to relearn to breathe with his lungs & go back home (or @ least that was the plan). His Doctor came in one day & said that he would be able to go back home, after the New Year, BUT his brain had forgotten that he could breathe without the trac & that would be coming home with him. Uncle Jerry didn’t seem to mind all he heard was going home & he was so excited. He thrived after hearing this until…Until New Year’s Eve when his tubing to the trac clogged & they almost lost him TWICE!! It must’ve frightened him terribly because he began to decline. Soon after his kidneys failed & his body began to fill with fluids (this is VERY painful, I know because it has happened to me). I got a call just before class & got to go see him on his last day. If you didn’t know I am sort of naïve & really didn’t see the signs but they felt that it was more humane to go ahead & let him go. So on that day Jan 9, 2009 I was there to watch him leave this earth. It was very heart wrenching & I really never meant to stay & watch BUT when it began I didn’t want him to wake up & see me leave so I backed up in a corner & cried. It was so sad & I really don’t want to have to do that again, but I am glad, glad that I got to tell him (thru tears-tears of grief & guilt) that I loved him & I would miss him terribly. He died around 12:25 or so peacefully & without any more pain.
I wish you could have known him. He was so strong and courageous & I know that he is in heaven completely healed & whole again. I have decided that I am going to remember him the way I ALWAYS saw him: with a great big smile on his face saying “Hey, How are you today?” as I walk thru their front door. How could he be so happy in that condition you ask, well he lived by the philosophy “If the devil gives you lemons, God can help you make lemonade!” He was a great role model of this saying & I want to live my lemons this way too. What a wonderful sight it will be when I get to see him run, walk & play. I’m wondering if he has gotten to meet his great niece, Haley, yet & if he is running around playing with her on the streets of gold. Also, if he is 13 again & reliving the childhood that the devil took away from home so early in life. It will be wonderful to see when it is my time to see them both once more.
Jerry & Haley met today,
Haley said “Hey, let’s go play!”
They ran, & jumped & sang & said,
“Don’t cry about us we will see you again someday”
A little background…
Jerry Gaines was born to J.B. & C.J. Gaines on Aug 14, 1940. He was the oldest of 4 boys all born in Etowah County, AL. Jerry enjoyed many activities as a young child; these include playing on the family farm (as well as doing some chores), running around, playing, fishing, & riding horses to name just a few. During the summer of 1953, just after the 4th of July, Jerry became ill with polio & was hospitalized. This disease ravaged his body & made him paralyzed from just below the neck down. Only being neck mobile Jerry, as well as the rest of the Gaines’ family, had to learn a new way of life when he returned home. Not only did they have to help Jerry in & out of bed as well as other things they also found out horrifying news from the doctors: Jerry was given only 6 years to live! I could not imagine what was going thru my Grandparent’s & Uncle’s mind when they learned this (on a side note my Dad was only 4 or 5 at this time!!) horrible news. My Grandparent’s must have vowed that Jerry would not die that soon because they whole family pitched in and helped with the care of him. My Grandparent’s were his SOLE caretakers though for most of his life. For the most part (@ least from what I can remember or have heard) Uncle Jerry was very healthy except for a cold or a minor sickness here or there.
In Nov 2008, this all changed when Jerry got terribly sick. He had been sick most of November but just before Thanksgiving he was taken to Riverside because of trouble breathing and was admitted. Shortly after arriving at Riverside he was asked if something happened would he want to be on a ventilator he said “yes” and not ten minutes later he crashed. After a couple of weeks in Riverside (mostly being over the pneumonia) & being put on a Trac Uncle Jerry was moved to St. Vincent’s East in B’ham. There he was to relearn to breathe with his lungs & go back home (or @ least that was the plan). His Doctor came in one day & said that he would be able to go back home, after the New Year, BUT his brain had forgotten that he could breathe without the trac & that would be coming home with him. Uncle Jerry didn’t seem to mind all he heard was going home & he was so excited. He thrived after hearing this until…Until New Year’s Eve when his tubing to the trac clogged & they almost lost him TWICE!! It must’ve frightened him terribly because he began to decline. Soon after his kidneys failed & his body began to fill with fluids (this is VERY painful, I know because it has happened to me). I got a call just before class & got to go see him on his last day. If you didn’t know I am sort of naïve & really didn’t see the signs but they felt that it was more humane to go ahead & let him go. So on that day Jan 9, 2009 I was there to watch him leave this earth. It was very heart wrenching & I really never meant to stay & watch BUT when it began I didn’t want him to wake up & see me leave so I backed up in a corner & cried. It was so sad & I really don’t want to have to do that again, but I am glad, glad that I got to tell him (thru tears-tears of grief & guilt) that I loved him & I would miss him terribly. He died around 12:25 or so peacefully & without any more pain.
I wish you could have known him. He was so strong and courageous & I know that he is in heaven completely healed & whole again. I have decided that I am going to remember him the way I ALWAYS saw him: with a great big smile on his face saying “Hey, How are you today?” as I walk thru their front door. How could he be so happy in that condition you ask, well he lived by the philosophy “If the devil gives you lemons, God can help you make lemonade!” He was a great role model of this saying & I want to live my lemons this way too. What a wonderful sight it will be when I get to see him run, walk & play. I’m wondering if he has gotten to meet his great niece, Haley, yet & if he is running around playing with her on the streets of gold. Also, if he is 13 again & reliving the childhood that the devil took away from home so early in life. It will be wonderful to see when it is my time to see them both once more.
Jerry & Haley met today,
Haley said “Hey, let’s go play!”
They ran, & jumped & sang & said,
“Don’t cry about us we will see you again someday”
Friday, January 23, 2009
Ok so I forgot something last time
Well last time I posted I forgot about Jan 12th!!
On Monday I took the kids to the dentist, after all the drama!! I went first, then David, & then Daniel. Oh my, let me tell you it is always a trip to take them ANYWHERE!!
David did ok, he just hasn't gotten his full dentist legs yet (if that makes since).
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Daniel on the other hand was VERY into it this time. He sat in that chair smiled, looked up at us & then opened wide. He is SO very funny.
Ok so that was that update & I added pictures to the last post-sorry they were late I forgot all about them!!
Tata for now :-)
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Our Week since my last post
My Dad & the boys~ They love their Pop!!
Wow!! It has been a long time since I blogged. I really didn't realize how long it actually had been. For those of you who are wondering, Yes, I have been READING your blogs I just haven't written anything on my own.
This is why.....
On Jan 7th, I started school back. My fist day in class I sat there thinking, "Oh my Lord! How am I ever going to take this class, math, work, & spend time with my family." I have to say that it has been hard & I am behind (some, thankfully I am more caught up today!) on everything but it has been worth it.
This is why.....
On Jan 7th, I started school back. My fist day in class I sat there thinking, "Oh my Lord! How am I ever going to take this class, math, work, & spend time with my family." I have to say that it has been hard & I am behind (some, thankfully I am more caught up today!) on everything but it has been worth it.
My Grandparent's (sitting in the chairs) talking the the funeral home director.On Jan 9th I got a call from my step-mom saying that one of my beloved Uncle's had been given 1 day to live. My 2nd day of class was fixing to begin & it came to me by shock. I had no idea that he had taken a turn for the worse, but kept my focus on school. After class however, I called Joey all teary eyed & told him the news. The last time I had seen/talked to my Uncle he had been doing better & was looking toward going home to be with his parents-it had been 2 weeks!! I decided to go to the hospital later on that night, after all I was already @ UAB and I had another class I HAD to be in or I'd be dropped. After a few minutes though I realized that God was pulling at my heart to go see him. I'm glad I did he died that afternoon @ 12:30 (40 mins after I had arrived!).
This is the sweet alter that my Aunts & step-Mom helped to set up.Jan 11th was a Sunday & was the memorial for my Uncle-it was SO nice. I'd like to make a separate post to honor my Uncle & God for all that God did for my Uncle during his time here on earth. We did go to church that morning & had planned to return to church that evening, but I just couldn't leave my family @ that time. Also, my Grandmother (my Uncle's Mom) had fallen & I wanted to be sure she was OK. So we ate & fellowships with one another. We also reminisce about my Uncle's life & what we remembered doing with him-Oh by the way he was quadriplegic & could only move his neck. He was a remarkable man.
A closer look @ the alter.
Jan 12th, A Mon, Joey called me @ 6am and said that he was in a bad car wreck. His car is @ the towing place & we expect it to be totaled out pretty soon. It was a horrible wreck, but it seems that Joey's car took the bulk of it. From what he has told me, he slid on a patch of ice in the road & hit the vehicles that were stopped in front of him due to another wreck on the highway. If you are wondering, yes he was one of the ten that morning. So I became his ride to work & I begged him to find someone that would be willing to bring him home. Wed I had a horrible time trying to stay awake during my biology class & I knew that I would not be able to last very long if that kept up. So that night after choir practice I made Joey call my Dad & step mom to see if we could borrow one of their cars. Thankfully-Praise God!!--they let us & we went to get it on Thursday evening. Joey hitched a ride home with his Mom (Thank You Helen) & I met them @ her house before going on to my Dad's.
Joe's wrecked car @ B'ham Towing.So far this weekend we've only done church-believe me I'm NOT complaining not one bit. I have enjoyed resting up & being able to catch up on my biology reading (which I'm not totally caught up on yet!) especially after the week that we have had. The kids have not seemed to mind either (this is a GOOD thing). Praise the Lord!!!
So I leave you this very late evening to say may God bless you this week & I hope to see some of you very soon.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
2008-2009
Reflecting & Reviewing on the past year & what I (Joscelyn) want for the present year. Okay so this past year we have had lots of changes to get used to.
*I started school @ UAB last year in January
*Daniel started at a new shool 2 days a week
*Lots of changes @ my work (changes I'm not particularly fond of)
*Lots of changes @ Joey's work (changes he doesn't seem to be fond of)
*David is having a hard time adjusting to the requirements of 3rd grade & RLC
*Money has been stretched to its limit (I know most of us have this problem)
Our FUNTIMES over this past year!!:
*We got to go to Alabama Adventure again this year
*We got to go to Gulf Shores & PCB with our family
*We got to visit our families throughout the entire year (gas prices going down)
*The kids had a fun time (well most of it) during this past summer
*CBC summertime program & AWANA program (this also seems to be challeging David also)
Ok, so there are some of the major changes & funtimes that we got to experience within the last year. Some things happened very close to the new year & others happened early in 2008. One thing is for sure..our family is not lacking in some areas. We love each other (kids included) & our family memebers & friends. We love God & try to serve HIM in every possible way (trying to not do busy work for HIM, but to do HIS service for HIM). Isn't that all you need in life?
Things that we want to see changed in 2009!!
*We want our debt to be gone asap (this will be a while, but it is in progress)
*We want our children to keep on trusting & leaning on God while keeping up in everyday life
*We want to be able to fix up our home so it can be ready to sell soon (this also is a work in progress)
*I want to be able to take 6-9 hours of school for spring,summer,& fall semesters so I can get done
*Joey wants to be able to "find" $200 to take the test to be a LAT3 so he can progress in his career & to find a 2nd job for a while (not forever)
*To not get lazy and stop going to Sunday school (we miss sooo much when we miss!!)
*To be healthier people: eat healthy,plenty of rest, exercise & to lose weight (for us grown ups)
Now for what we did to bring in the new year...we went to the Hillard's house to have chili, watch fireworks, & let the kids run themselves silly. Krittur & Greg joined us for the fireworks where we froze our booties off. I'm telling you...I had no idea it was sooo cold. BRRRR!!! I get chill bumps thinking about it again. The kids, Naomi, & I went inside as soon as the "pretty" fireworks were over & let the others enjoy them. Once inside the kids went wild and we rested & just chilled out together. We came home around 12:30 so Joey could get up in the morning & go to work. I needed to get up & go work on the house, but that didn't happen (I believe I've been fighting a bug & keeping it at bay thankfully) so I stayed in bed.
Nothing else has really happened to us this week & I have no updates on my Uncle as of tonight (due to me not feeling up to par). I will update asap, when I know something. The last time I saw him was ummm....Friday (26th) evening. I will go see him Sun or Mon to wish him a new year & to see what is going on. I have more "resolutions" but not too sure how to include them. They are personal for myself & I'm going to work hard on making them happen. So if you see some changes in me than it might be one of the things I'm working on.
Blessings to you & yours during this new year:
Joscelyn
*I started school @ UAB last year in January
*Daniel started at a new shool 2 days a week
*Lots of changes @ my work (changes I'm not particularly fond of)
*Lots of changes @ Joey's work (changes he doesn't seem to be fond of)
*David is having a hard time adjusting to the requirements of 3rd grade & RLC
*Money has been stretched to its limit (I know most of us have this problem)
Our FUNTIMES over this past year!!:
*We got to go to Alabama Adventure again this year
*We got to go to Gulf Shores & PCB with our family
*We got to visit our families throughout the entire year (gas prices going down)
*The kids had a fun time (well most of it) during this past summer
*CBC summertime program & AWANA program (this also seems to be challeging David also)
Ok, so there are some of the major changes & funtimes that we got to experience within the last year. Some things happened very close to the new year & others happened early in 2008. One thing is for sure..our family is not lacking in some areas. We love each other (kids included) & our family memebers & friends. We love God & try to serve HIM in every possible way (trying to not do busy work for HIM, but to do HIS service for HIM). Isn't that all you need in life?
Things that we want to see changed in 2009!!
*We want our debt to be gone asap (this will be a while, but it is in progress)
*We want our children to keep on trusting & leaning on God while keeping up in everyday life
*We want to be able to fix up our home so it can be ready to sell soon (this also is a work in progress)
*I want to be able to take 6-9 hours of school for spring,summer,& fall semesters so I can get done
*Joey wants to be able to "find" $200 to take the test to be a LAT3 so he can progress in his career & to find a 2nd job for a while (not forever)
*To not get lazy and stop going to Sunday school (we miss sooo much when we miss!!)
*To be healthier people: eat healthy,plenty of rest, exercise & to lose weight (for us grown ups)
Now for what we did to bring in the new year...we went to the Hillard's house to have chili, watch fireworks, & let the kids run themselves silly. Krittur & Greg joined us for the fireworks where we froze our booties off. I'm telling you...I had no idea it was sooo cold. BRRRR!!! I get chill bumps thinking about it again. The kids, Naomi, & I went inside as soon as the "pretty" fireworks were over & let the others enjoy them. Once inside the kids went wild and we rested & just chilled out together. We came home around 12:30 so Joey could get up in the morning & go to work. I needed to get up & go work on the house, but that didn't happen (I believe I've been fighting a bug & keeping it at bay thankfully) so I stayed in bed.
Nothing else has really happened to us this week & I have no updates on my Uncle as of tonight (due to me not feeling up to par). I will update asap, when I know something. The last time I saw him was ummm....Friday (26th) evening. I will go see him Sun or Mon to wish him a new year & to see what is going on. I have more "resolutions" but not too sure how to include them. They are personal for myself & I'm going to work hard on making them happen. So if you see some changes in me than it might be one of the things I'm working on.
Blessings to you & yours during this new year:
Joscelyn
Friday, January 2, 2009
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