3 1/2 months later

I forgot about this blog.  I'm still here.  One day at a time.  Took a trip to NC to visit daughter, Lisa, who relocated from Austin, Tx.  Mountains were beautiful in the fall.  I raked lots of truckloads of leaves here and took them to the country.

I made a quilt of his tshirts and I sleep under it every night.

It's muddy, rainy, darkish winter days now here in KY, but kind of a still peace about it all.

I made some crafts and even did a craft fair for the first time in 40 years.  Was kinda fun.

Sometimes I'm in a fog.  I have paid bills twice or to the wrong billers.  I get my days mixed up.   Sometimes I cry without warning, but I laugh some too.  Spend some time with friends, volunteer organizations, and my dog, Daisy, and my cats, Hobo and Foster, who live with me.

Blake's Memorial Library across the hall with his shrine-like table of memories.

Have the plants there and in the hall for winter.

I sold his bike to one of his friends and park my car in the garage next to my bike.

I just really miss him a lot, but I feel he is with me, too, comforting and encouraging me.

The grandchildren are wonderful.

Blake flies with angels now

Blake's Obituary in Lebanon Enterprise

Blake took flight. His ashes in our lake. RIP Blake.

Blake took flight on Fri, 8.15.14 at 11:11am. This morning (Aug 21, Thur) I felt Blake saying, "Let's go to the cabin, MA. I want to go to the lake." We took our last ride to the country together with our Daisy Dog and Pa's ashes in the truck seat next to me as we listened to Nat King Cole's love songs on an old tape. I stopped to get his very favorite thing in Raywick as we often did, Judy Blandford's baloney sandwich. Together we went to our lake ( fondly known as "Blake's Lake."),and as we arrived, the sun came out. Into his lake, I sprinkled his ashes along with his last baloney sandwich. I read his favorite Latvian verse and saying which were also favorites of his Grandfather Ohsol. I finished with a saying Blake often said: " Surely goodness and mercy will follow us for the rest of our lives, and we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." We shared a very special private love and this was our very special private goodbye. He will live on forever in my heart.

another chapter in our crazy lives

Blake was walking around the house talking and singing most of the night! I was of course sleepless & now am wide awake. He just fell asleep and is now happily snoring! and laughing in his sleep!! ahhhhh! Another chapter in our crazy journey. hahaha grrrr

So nice having Lisa here!  She will be leaving shortly to go back to NC  and her new home and unpack boxes and clothes and get ready to start new job mon.

Blake sleeping 7.22.14 2 more days till....

He mostly sleeps. And is now disoriented when awake which is very little. This journey started October 24 when he was diagnosed with stage IV metastasized melanoma and was given 6 mos or less to live. In 2 days it will be 9 mos.I have been very blessed to have u all along on this journey supporting us every step of the way and I just wanted to again say thank you. Every day I still have him is a wonderful gift and blessing, and thank you for being along with me on the journey. You all are so loved and appreciated!

copy of post to facebook friends

Woke up with swollen eyes and wet pillow.  I woke up a few times in the night, and one dream, i was reaching for blake's hand, he was slipping on an icey hill, and i woke up falling out of bed! Landed between window and bed! :/   hahaha  Then this morn, I raced out in my boxers & muscle shirt(sleep clothes)to put the recycling out.  Then Blake heard me and came in and told me today is Wed.  Recycling tomorrow.  So i raced back out and took it in before I confused the neighbors!   hahaha  

Last night we read something that mentioned forgiveness and I encouraged Blake to forgive himself.  We both realized he's mad at himself that he's dying.   We both forgave ourselves and each other for  the sake of forgiveness.

This morning he is cheerful.  We are skipping breakfast as that's the meal he vomits.  He feels relieved he isn't going to try to eat.  He is doing some orange juice which he loves.

I'm gonna get dressed, take my vitamins, and head to the farmers' market down the street real quick.  Ya'awl have a good day, and all prayers appreciated.  We are praying for people who need it, too.  We love u all.

This Weekend in July 2014

Today, church was great as usual!  So much love for a tiny little church in the knobs!

 Pa (Blake) napping with Daisy and healing blanket niece, Bethy, made.

 Last night at the St. Francis picnic.  He insisted on going. Said probably his last one, but I still believe in miracles. We will see. It ain't over till it's over and only God knows when.

 Daisy went shopping with me today.  She loves to shop.  The dog treat section is her favorite.

 A normal afternoon by our front porch, out our front window.

 Lisa sold her Austin house same day she listed it.  Closing Aug. 7 with fax! That amazes this ole grannie!  She has her 26'boat on her car on a trailer which she will pull with a 26' UHAUL truck!  Today she said she has it almost loaded.  She had a week long estate sale and got rid of a lot. In NC, she will go to estate sales and buy stuff again.  She loves these sales! Moving to West Jefferson, NC. Has job already, (she's a PT), and leasing a condo till she buys a house.  We all love the mountains, and are very happy she will be only 5 1/2 hours from home instead of 20!

News of Blake July 11, 2014

Needing more oxygen & weaker & eating less but hanging in there! Thx for prayers!
u can tell this is one of his favorite t-shirts! holey and still wears it often! hahaha

One day at a time

Yesterday, Blake slept all day.  At a tiny bit of cereal and a pc. of celery all day.  We did a bath, then he mustered up the energy to meet Perry and Mary Kay at mex for our regular Wed. night dinner.  AND he ate a fish dinner!

This morning, he's feeling pretty good.  Hurray!  After a few days of feeling nauseous and sleeping mostly.

He is not as alert as he once was, and gets confused easily.

But he is still here and that's the best part!

Our walnut trees are dropping their walnuts prematurely.  Gardener sites say late cold spring and now drought caused it.  I know the real cause, tho.  They are crying because Blake is sick.

blake's angels

They take turns watching over  blake. (Foster, Daisy, Hobo)

MA & BLAKE & GOD

Blake hanging in there with the progressing Stage IV aggressive melanoma

Cancer and Blake's melanoma suck!  He has tumors in every organ all over the inside of his body including the bone which is very painful.  Thank God for Hospice!

He is now experiencing some nausea and vomitting.  Disease progression.

It all breaks my heart.

Some of his east coast family coming next weekend, June 13-16.  That will be nice.

Today he is watching French Open tennis.  He loves this and it takes his mind off how bad he feels.

I don't think people actually read this blog, so I don't post often.  For almost daily updates on Blake, see my facebook page.  We have many, many followers and lots of folks loving, supporting, and praying for us through this page.

Mary Ann Ohsol

You will see our picture on it.

SAMANTHA'S WEDDING

Our granddaughter made a beautiful bride! Michael handsome groom too!  Mr & Mrs M Moore and son, Ayden, our great-grandson.  They have been together 7 years and finally found the time to tie the knot! 

DERBY DAY 2014

Javen here playing golf with Dad, chilly weather, Daisy Dog in her long johns!

We have Sat. church at hospital chapel with Peggy Birmingham today, and are doing a little play.  Blake will be reading scripture.

We are so blessed to have this day together feeling good!  Cancer makes you appreciate each moment even more.  Reminds us of priorities of family, love, and feelin good !

Visit from family

 Blake gave Skip his little steam engine.

 Blake, brother Fred, Sister Alison

 Going through family photos and memories and passing photos on.

 Blake and MA at Oli's wedding, 1994

Javen and Jake spreading gravel for us.

 Fred, Blake, Skip, and Al visiting and enjoying crab Fred brought from East Coast.  He is from NC, and Skip and Alison are from VA.

Wonderful family gathering!

Our wedding 6.15.86

Finally married by soulmate and at that time, friend of 10 years.  We met in 1976. Worked at same insurance company. I left Kansas City and came to KY in 1979.  Blake followed in 1985, and we were married in 1986!  June 15.  My daughter Lisa's birthday!  (and his parents' anniversary which we didn't know until we looked at the engraving in his ring!  we married with our parents' rings.)

Good memories

Samantha, Javen, Grampa and Lindsey about 16 years ago.

GOOD MORNING!

Very cold, 9, but sun out!  That's nice.  Birds feeding heavily, and token squirrels about.  Still have 4" snow on the ground.  Planning a relaxing day and Blake listening to his audio book story.

BIG CHANGE IN WEATHER!

3 or 4" snow with 1" ice underneath!  

Javen at high school parking lot spinning around getting the feel.  He's an awesome driver!  fun fun!!!   Brody sleeping in today and Pa watching golf on tv.  I went out early to get more liposomal vit c from eric.  our stuff should be here soon so we can make our own.  it is supposed to kill cancer cells!  :))  prayers working great!  keep em comin!  Blake feeling good today!

This week

 yesterday fun nice day!  this morning, being lazy, boys playing oldies for grampa on ipad.  he's boogying in his chair!

So glad the grandkids are back from 2 years of living in TN.  Jimmy's KY boss of 16 yrs offered him more money to come back!  This time, a first!  They are living in town!  (E'Town)  No more half hour drives to shcool, games, shopping, etc. They love it!  I am so grateful they are only an hour away!

Black History Celebration Day!

Had a great day!  Had our Black History celebration and the grand opening of the Black History Museum.  We are chairpeople in NAACP, and we helped with all this.  It was very successful!  Great turnout!

We then went to MEX with Perry and Mary Kay to celebrate Jorge's fake birthday.  Ha Ha.  Inside joke.

We opened the back door this morning to find a spaghetti dinner complete with italian bread and chocolate pie!  Found out a few days later that our neighbor, Kathleen, left it.  She's an angel!

Also, a lady from church brought us a homemade loaf of bread!  

Blake feeling pretty good.  Stomach not great, and has shooting pain down leg sometimes.  We are still awaiting results of scan, but are living positive and creating that we are cancer free!

He had a couple days of garage tinkering, but it is cold again today, 40's, and supposed to be cold all week.  So indoor tv, reading, scrabble, etc.

Blake and Javen

Javen at Campbellsville Country Club with pro, Mike Keyhoe, getting lesson and getting fitted for new clubs as he as outgrown the old ones.  (He's almost 6'5"!!)

When finished, we played at the park.  While he was with Mike, I did the driving range then practiced putting.  Feels so great to have a nice warm day on the golf course!  That is the closest thing to paradise besides riding the motorcycle!!

Blake stayed home and tinkered on his bike.  He's putting a new battery in.  It's a Beemer and he has to pull the seat and tank to do that!  Ugh!  

Blake is feeling better!  We are awaiting scan results, but have decided to live as if we are cancer free!  

Javen went and got the movie, The Millers, and we watched it last night.  We laughed our asses off!  What a funny movie!!!