A Visit With Paul, Judy & Tayler

Tuesday September 15, 1992

Frank left for carving class at 8 a.m. I arose at 8:15. I dressed and took off for my walk. when I returned I had breakfast and got cleaned up.

Judy called and invited us for dinner. Paul will make spaghetti. I called Debby. We will all go to see her and the kids at 3 p.m. Phil will be at work.

I feel real good today. We arrive at Paul and Judy's at 2:30. Tayler is sleeping still at 3:30 so Frank and I go alone to see Deb, Joey and Sara. As usual Sara is overjoyed to see us. Joey looks thin in the face, especially his teeth seem too large for his face. We visit for an hour or so then return to Paul and Judy's where Paul has made us a spaghetti dinner. Tayler is so tiny but not thin. We stay til 8:30. I have felt wonderful all day.

Paul is Frank's son who lives in Palmdale, about a one-hour drive from Simi Valley. Paul drives more than an hour each way to his job for the Los Angeles Dept of Water and Power. Paul and his lovely wife Judy made a great couple, but sadly have since divorced. I have no photos of their daughter Tayler as an infant, but I did find this one that was taken 8 years later of Paul, Judy, Tayler and their son Nick. Frank's other son Phillip is also divorced from his ex-wife Debby.

False Labor

Tuesday June 30, 1992

Up at 7 a.m. I don't feel too bad. We take the truck to Thousand Oaks and leave it for a paint job. I call Ric at 7:30 and he answers. Darn, Chris is home. Her contractions have ended even though they were 5 minutes apart at the hospital at 4 a.m. this morning.

We go out to breakfast and I'm starting to feel bad. At home I force myself into the shower and at 11 a.m. I'm at the doctor's office to be sure I don't have pneumonia. The doctor doesn't hear anything, but prescribes antibiotic for good measure. I'm coughing bad and my chest and back hurt. I'm so tired and weak. At home I nap for an hour and feel well enough to go to Palmdale for Joey's hockey game. We have a great time, eat at the mall and shop some. We're home about 9. I sleep my way home.

Those darn Braxton Hicks contractions. Like most new moms, I have had them with every pregnancy. Too bad Mom had to call the house to see whether or not we were home or at the hospital. Today everyone carries a cellphone and can contact friends and family whenever and wherever they are. Such a huge convenience!

A Visit With Paul & Judy

Saturday March 14, 1992

Up and out early for Palmdale to visit Paul & Judy. They are expecting us and serve us lunch. Tayler is cranky until we take her in their new car to Costco. In the car and in the shopping cart she is an angel. She's also at the age she doesn't want anyone to touch her except Judy.

Frank helps Paul work the dirt in the backyard and takes him in the truck to the lumber yard.

Later we stop to see Debby and Joey. Sara is out with friends and Phil's at work.

We get home in time to eat pizza and dress for the Happy Squares dance. It's too crowded so we come back home to watch TV. We were too tired anyway.

In the above photo, Frank's youngest son Paul is shown with his wife Judy and two children approximately 8 years after this post. It looks like Tayler is around 9 years old and her younger brother Nick around 7. Sadly, Paul and Judy got divorced as did Frank's older son Phil and his wife Debby.

Bad Night

Tuesday November 5, 1991

Bad night! Many hot flashes. I haven't had those for several weeks. A funny feeling head to toe, then the heat, head to toe. By then I'm wide awake so a trip to the bathroom. I'm sure I went potty at least 12 times.

Up at the usual time but not feeling very well. Mostly tired. I lay around alot, unable to get back to sleep after breakfast. Finally, I shower and take a ginseng for energy. I start to believe I can make it to Palmdale for Joey's award. We arrive in Palmdale at noon, have lunch at Carl's and go to Phil and Deb's. We all go to see Joey receive a plaque and picture.

We all go for yogurt and over to Paul and Judy's. He have a great visit and all go to Pizza Hut for dinner. We get home about 9:45 and I feel fine.

She doesn't say what the award is for, but Joey always liked music, so perhaps something to do with that. Frank's son Phil and his wife live in Palmdale with their two children Joey and Sarah. His other son Paul also lives in Palmdale with his wife Judy and their two children. Both are now divorced. I have never taken ginseng. It sounds like it worked well for mom. Note to Chris: buy some ginseng.

Universal Studios

Wednesday August 14, 1991

Up early to feed Joey and Sara and get them ready. We leave for Universal Studios at 9 a.m. It's misting and cool. It will be a great day, not too hot.

We have done a great job explaining to Sara about pretending. She is not at all frightened by King Kong and Jaws and the earthquake. She loves the E.T. ride and holds her Papa Frank's hand all day. He likes that.

We have a really great day seeing all the shows and really love being with Joey and Sara. They are great fun! We finally leave there quite tired at 8 p.m. I'm no more tired than the rest. We manage to all stay awake coming home and eat more spaghetti before bed.

Universal Studios is a theme park in Universal City in the San Fernando Valley of California. Each of the rides and shows is based on a Universal Studios movie. How nice that Mom and Frank spend the day with their grandkids doing something fun for them. I find it hard to believe that Mom didn't fall asleep in the car on the way home. For as far back as I can remember, she fell asleep in the passenger seat within 10 minutes of Frank starting the ignition, even when she was the one doing the talking, it would suddenly get quiet, and sure enough she was sound asleep practically mid-sentence.

Joey and Sara

Tuesday August 13, 1991

After a great walk Frank heads for the Gledhill House and I prepare the house for company tonight. Debbie and Phil are bringing Joey and Sara over to stay. I make spaghetti sauce. I go to Gledhill to show the house to Klaus and Laura. I like them for the house and they want it badly. We'll see.

We all meet back home about 5:00. We meet Walka, Deb and Phil's Japanese exchange student. She speaks some English. We have a nice dinner of salad, lasagna, spaghetti and ice cream. They stay til 10 p.m. Phil plays pool with Walka.

Phil is Frank's oldest son. His son Joey is just a year older than my son Justin. Phil, Debbie and Joey are pictured above at Dolores' wedding in 1986. Joey is 6 here. Sara was born soon after. I knew mom had Justin down to visit for 2 weeks every summer, but I didn't know that Frank's grandchildren came to stay with them as well. They lived in Palmdale which is less than an hour's drive away.

Philip and Debbie

Monday July 22, 1991

Up and off to Kaiser for blood test. For the first time my white blood cell count is low. It is 12 days since my chemo. She had told us the danger period was day 7-10. Not to worry. I should just avoid people who are sick.

After Kaiser we head to Palmdale to visit with Philip, Debbie, Joey and Sara. Phil must leave for work a couple of hours after we arrive. Deb gets home from work at 2 p.m.

Sara wants lots of love and touching. She loves the white lace outfit we give her for her birthday. Joey wants attention too. He's really interested in war and army stuff. He is reading the Marine manual and knows all the details about guns, etc. I'm worried.

We get home in time to go square dancing in North Hollywood.

Philip is Frank's oldest, who is a few years younger than me. 2 years behind Philip is Frank's son Paul, who mom and Frank visited 3 days earlier to see their new baby Taylor and his wife Judy, and finally Frank's youngest is his daughter Dolores, who was married to Steve in 1986. The photo above is taken at Dolores' wedding with their son Joey, who is 5 years old here. Sara has not yet born in 1986.

Not to worry mom, Joey never did go into the military and he is healthy and safe. My son Derek is really into guns too and he plays "airsoft" with his friends several times each week, where battles are staged and they shoot plastic bee bees at each other, but he has no desire to join the military.

Closer to God

Sunday April 21, 1991

This morning I tell Frank, my Catholic husband, that I want more than anything to go to church this morning with Chris, Ric and Justin. I mean, of course, the Methodist Church where we have gone for Christmas Eve Services. He, of course, agrees to go.

I weep alot during church. Each song and prayer seem to pertain to me at this time. It is wonderful being there with my loved ones. I love going to church. The sermon is about gossiping, which we don't do.

After church I feel so good, we call Paul and Judy--we want to drive to Palmdale to see them and baby Tayler. I feel like I have lots of wind in my sails today. I feel slim and beautiful.

Tayler is a beautiful baby and destined to red hair like her mom. I love holding her, a new life, only 3-1/2 days old!

Later at Deb and Phil's, Joey gives me a large card he had made for me. I love it! Sara gives me hugs.

We eat Mexican food out.

Mom's faith was very personal. I never saw her pray or read the Bible, and she only went to church on Christmas and Easter. How I wish we could have prayed together during this time.

Palmdale is on our way home to Northern California so we take separate cars and continue north after our visit with Frank's son Paul, his wife Judy and their new baby Tayler.