• Dad had his final visit at the Wound Care Center--his toes are healing up fine. Since Dad complains of a pain in his right leg that is "the worst pain you can imagine," the doctor recommended that he get an arteriogram to see where the main blockage is and whether anything could be done, but Dad didn't want to do it.
  
• Mom took another Alzheimer's test during her visit to Dr. Rivera and did just fine. So I guess it's just the stress of living with Dad (including lack of sleep) that's causing her to be so forgetful.
  
• Mom's gastroscopy is scheduled for June 9. She's still having a lot of problems with acid reflux and coughing. Dr. Rivera said that she needs to add No Milk/Dairy Products to her list of Things She Can't Have--along with Salt and Beer. I've requested some books from the library about Acid Reducing Diets (ie, cutting out acid-causing foods). I think she's taking Protonix once a day pretty regularly. She's lost 10 lb since February from not being able to eat.
• Paul's surgery for his hernia is scheduled for June 9. Jo says it will be out-patient and he will be awake during the procedure! Oh, my!
• Caitlin says she's going to start studying Social Work in the fall.
• Cyndi is taking Natalie to NYC for her graduation present, and she is, like, totally psyched! They will be joined by Caitlin, Sue (Cyndi's sister) and Sue's kids and then they're going on to Philadelphia and Cedar Point. I had never heard of Cedar Point, so I was fascinated to read the following:

Cedar Point is an amusement park located in Sandusky, Ohio, on a narrow peninsula jutting into Lake Erie. It currently holds the world record for most roller coasters, one of which, Top Thrill Dragster, is the world's second tallest and second fastest roller coaster, reaching speeds of 120 mph (190 km/h) and a height of 420 feet (130 m). Cedar Point is also the only amusement park with four roller coasters that are taller than 200 feet (61 m). As of 2008^[update], Cedar Point has more rides (75) than any other amusement park.

It also has a mile-long white sand beach, an outdoor water park (Soak City), an indoor waterpark and hotel (Castaway Bay), two marinas, several hotels, and Challenge Park, which features attractions such as go-karts and miniature golf. Known as "America's Roller Coast", Cedar Point has been voted "Best Amusement Park in the World" by "Amusement Today" for the past eleven years.

It sounds like they are going to have a vacation to remember!

• I haven't heard much about the law suit--just that Anna is supposed to go into my lawyer's office for a deposition on June 12. I'll keep everyone posted.
• Barbara Bard's family threw her a surprise 80th birthday party on Sun., May 31. Mom, Gus, Fritz, Robin and I were in attendance. There were probably about 50-60 people there. Barbara, Gloria and Paula are Uncle Vince (one of Mom's brothers) and Aunt Carrie's daughters. B and G were Mom's best friends growing up, along with Sonny (sp?), who was one of Uncle George's daughters. Gloria, btw, has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, which is very disturbing for Mom, as you can imagine.
• Larry Beisler was also at the party--he's Uncle Vince's son. Or his grandson? I get these things confused... Anyway, he's the one who hosted the Beisler get-togethers that Fritz organized. There were two ca. 7 and 8 years ago. Larry's home is over in Indiana. He's interested in hosting another one--we're all thinking early September might be good. Just a heads up.
• Simone's strawberry patch is doing great! It's 10' by 10' and she got 2 gallons on one day recently. She rents three little garden plots and they're part of a larger garden community. This is a really popular thing in Germany, btw, and people have little "houses" in these gardens--with all the emenities (ie, coffee maker, fridge for beer and bed for naps). They call them "Kleingartenvereine," which means "Little Garden Clubs."
  

June Birthdays

• Daniel--Mon, June 7--27
• Jill--Tues, June 9--30
• Devin--Fri, June 12--29
• Alec--Wed, June 24--15
• Jason--Fri, June 26--33
• McKinzie--Sun, June 28--8?
  

• Dad got the results from the Dopplar Study they did on his legs--he has some circulation problems below the knees, but there shouldn't be any major issues from it. The doctor did talk to him about smoking and how the nicotine in his cigars (Dad seemed to think only cigarettes have nicotine) cuts down the oxygen that his body receives and makes the situation for his legs even worse. He also told Dad that surgeons make a lot of money on people like him (who smoke).
• Gus, Pat, JoAnn, Mom and I went to the Biergarten at the German-American Club last Saturday night and everybody had a good time. I think the highlight of the evening was watching Jo and Mom do the chicken dance!
• Mom finally got her bridge put in and is so happy to be able to chew better--well, if she could eat anything. Her acid reflux and coughing is still bothering her quite a bit. Her endoscopy is scheduled for June 9.
• I'm going to be house/dog-sitting for Mitch and Kim the third week of June. Their whole family is headed to Florida.
  

• Dad is having a Doppler Study done on his legs tomorrow to see how his circulation is doing. This is so they can better assess the sores on his toes, which Mom says are much better.
  
• Paul has a inguinal hernia and is going to have an operation on May 28. His address is 122 W 9th St, Apt 1, Cinti, OH, 45202 if you want to send him a card. I think Fritz had one of these, so it's something that all of us (esp. males in the family) could have a tendency to have.
• Bettie Schaefer (Tom & Dot's oldest child) called to let me know that Mike is in the hospital. He was taking their Golden Retriever out for a walk and the dog somehow got behind him and made him lose his balance. Mike broke the femur (thigh bone) in his right leg and his ankle on both sides on his left leg, so he'll be in a wheel chair for 2-3 months. Bettie's not in the best of health and I know she's very worried about what's going to happen. Mike's about 73 years old. Their address is 6501 Echo Trail, Louisville, KY 40299-5103 if you want to send a card. He'll be at University Hospital for the next few days till he goes to Rehab.
• Mom and I went over to Fred's on Saturday for dinner and a movie. Mom made meatloaf and we watched "Stardust." We're thinking we'll do spaghetti and meatballs next time. Let me know if you're interested and/or have a suggestion--Mom prefers comedies :-)
• Gus had his 40th DeSales High School Class Reunion this past weekend!
• Natalie is graduating from high school next week--same day as Paul's surgery.
• For all of you who missed the Clue Train (although I think I'm riding it alone this time), Caitlin is no longer in the nursing program. I think she switched her major to Undecidedness :-)
• Amy said on FB that Kaela did excellently in the horse show. We want pics, ya'll!
• Mitch survived a trip to Las Vegas with Shawn, Josh, and Sam.
  
  

• The toes on Dad's right foot are red and slightly swollen. There's a small sore on the 2nd toe (next to the big one) and there was puss coming out of his big toe (sorry for the details!). He's got an appointment with the Wound Care Center on Monday and I'm putting Manuka Honey (like Medihoney) on the first two toes. Mom thinks his diabetes is back. I'll keep you all posted.
  

• Mom and I went to "Muffins with Mom" at Samuel, Hannah and Sarah's day care this morning since April couldn't be there. Samuel was all smiles! We got a booklet with all the kids' favorite recipes in it. S's was for brownies. He said that April took out the mix and mixed it up, then put it in the oven at 60 degrees for 99 minutes and then they ate them ;-) He told me that he and Grandma (what he calles Mom) grew carrots together. That was after Mary's funeral when he came up to her and asked if they couldn't go grow some food.
  

• I went to the GI doctor with Mom today for a consultation about getting an endoscopy. He said that since the lungs and esophagus are so closely related, things that irritate one will affect the other. 1/3 of the people who took medicine for acid reflux had fewer asthma problems, for example. She has an endoscopy scheduled for June 9, and I'll be accompanying her then, too. He said for her to do three things: 1) tell Dad that he cannot smoke around her as it is a major irritant, 2) take her allergy medicine twice a day, 3) take a Prilosec or Protonix once a day. He also explained to her that if she takes medicine and starts to feel better that it's a good thing and doesn't mean she should stop taking the medicine but to keep on with it! :-) He explained to her that most medicine doesn't cure anything but instead simply helps to improve your quality of life.
• Kevin, Jo, Devin, Daniel, Paul and I were over at Mom and Dad's for breakfast Derby Day. Kev adjusted the dryer exhaust hose and replaced the drain hoses that Simone had put on the gutter drains with longer hoses to help get the water further away from the house, which Mom says has helped to keep the water from coming in the basement. Oh, Kevin and Paul cleaned out the gutters a bit, too. I guess that means Mom will make sure the sheet is on the bed next time you spend the night, Kevin!
  
• Daniel mentioned having a day when we all meet at Mom and Dad's to work on the house. Someone said that was done once, but I must have been in Germany cause I don't remember. Would anyone be interested in doing this? Any suggestions for a day?
• Gus has planted about 20 tomatoes with plans for at least 20 more. He took Mom and me to Thieneman's, which is like a conservatory or botanical garden with all of its different plants. I got 8 different heriloom tomatoes, which I'm going to plant in Mom's garden.
• Jim is coming to Louisville with the boys this weekend. There will be a get-together at April and Lee's on Saturday, May 9 at 5:30. Gus and Pat will take care of the meat. Please let April know if you're coming and what you're bringing. Her number is 241-1411 and you'll probably have to leave a message :-)
  
• Devin and Jo walked the Flying Pig Mini-Marathon on Sunday and were very pleased with their time. It was a hilly 4+ hour walk in the rain!
• Mom and I had our yearly Mint Julep, which Mom swore didn't affect her--till she found she couldn't hardly walk a straight line across the yard to return the soccer ball to the kids next door! Her TV didn't go out once during the race--yeah!
• My lawyer had filed suit again Anna for the house. I'll keep you posted about any developments.
• Mitch's company was sold to a French company, so he's rather anxious about what's going to happen with his job.
  
• I think April is working on an MA in Spanish--but I may be wrong!
  
• Chris is working as the custodian at a local church. I didn't realize until Mary's funeral that some people didn't know this. Here's an excerpt from an email from Caitlin in December: "I know it doesn't sound that great, but he loves it, which is what is important, you know? His last job, which was working at a place called Plasma Care , which is like a Hoxworth kind of place was very stressful, and the hours were tough, and he just wasn't happy, plus the job was all the way downtown, so he was spending a lot of time and money on the bus. This job is in walking distance of his apartment, and our house. He is really happy, so I am happy for him."