Weekend in Pep, NM

We headed to Pep on Friday afternoon, after I got out of school. We made it to Portales around 6 PM so stopped by Heartland Recovery Center to visit with Grandpa. Grandpa fell several weeks ago and broke his hip, after hip surgery in Lubbock, TX he was transferred to the rehab center in Portales, NM. Having him in Portales makes it easier for my parents and Grandma to visit him.

It was very sad to see him in there. He has lived in Pep, within a quarter mile of where he was born, for almost 91 years (his entire life) - it is so weird to not see him at home but in this small, drab little room. He has always been so very active up until the past few years so it's not so much he can't get out & about, he pretty much stayed in his house anyway... its just not where he belongs. He belongs on his ranch in Pep!!!

After visiting with Grandpa we headed on in and stayed a couple days with Mom & Dad. We visited with Grandma a bit and went back into Portales on Saturday to see Grandpa. We were able to watch the Preakness with him and his roommate; much disappointment that Mine That Bird (the NM horse) didn't win.

Grandpa's therapy is going well, but he needs to use his arms more so that he can get upper body strength. Today he walked 90' the first time and then over 100' the last time - almost twice as far as he had been walking. With help of course, he had a PT and a walker but that's better than not walking at all. I giggled a bit as I pushed the wheelchair behind them as the PT kept telling him big steps - Grandpa hasn't walked big steps in 15 years... the past ten years have been more like a really, really slow shuffle than steps.

On a good note, Grandma seems to have bounced back - in February she seemed to really be declining, but now she is off of oxygen except at night and getting around a lot more and without her walker. Back to 'ol Grandma almost. I think having to make the trip into Portales to see Grandpa and having to walk around more has really helped her. She was getting very sedentary which wasn't like her at all.

Hannah & Maggie LOVED playing with Jake (parents dog) for the weekend. They wore themselves completely out - last night was a great night as they slept all the way thru! Friday night they kept wanting to go outside and 'find' Jake... URGH!

Mom & Dad seem to be doing OK too. Dad & Bryan went to shoot prairie dogs but the weather was so crappy (think Seattle in December) they didn't shoot anything.