Fourth Festivities Part Two

Grandpa De got to come home on Saturday to spend the afternoon and evening.  When we asked him what he wanted to do, he said, "Swim."  So we did.  We were all a bit nervous about getting him in and out of the pool, but joked around with him about how it would work.  Christopher suggested we get his motorized wheelchair going as fast as it could, then stop it suddenly and have the momentum launch him in.  I thought a gentle push from the side would be adequate.  Mom said we should lift him out of the chair and throw him in.  In the end, we opted for a combination of Christopher and Mom's suggestions, sort of.  Dad did drive himself down to the side of the pool, and he did get lifted up, but not thrown in.  Christopher, Eugene, Kent, and Corbin each took a corner of a supporter netting and lifted him out of the chair and into the pool.

Once in, Dad was pretty easy to move around.  We set a deck chair in the water so he could sit, and he even managed to get up and walk with the aid of his walker and Eugene and Christopher.  He was happy to be in the pool and we were happy to swim around him.  Blythe entertained Grandpa by jumping off the diving board for the first time, and everyone ate snow cones.

Following our swim, we had a little barbecue.  Dad sat at the table with us, but then felt a little light-headed.  Eugene and Christopher went in to help get him into bed, and somewhere between the chair and the bed, they sort of dropped him.  To prevent the bottom of the wheelchair from getting wet, Mom had put down a garbage bag, but then as Christopher and Eugene were trying to move him, he kept slipping down the chair.  There was a bit of panic and lots of people trying to squeeze into a relatively small space occupied by the wheelchair and three big guys, and in the end, we moved the wheelchair and just set Dad on the floor.  It was easier to get him sorted out from that position, and with many of us, we were able to lift him up and into bed.  A bit more excitement than we wanted.  I know Dad was happy to be home and hope he continues to make improvement so he can be home permanently.

Two group shots. 

The one below was actually taken first, but some of us were in the shade, so we did another. 

Blythe leaping in to Kent.

Brandt on Guy's shoulders.

Cute boys!

Brandt off the diving board in to Kent.

And Blythe too.

This was her first time! 

Dad in the pool.

He has his socks on to give him some traction.

As a result, his feet look like flippers.

Eugene, Sharae, and little Collin

Brandt and Guy, again, but with deep water support of eight noodles.

Blythe, Kent, and Brandt

I like this one.

What a surprise.

I wanted a family shot.

We tried and tried, five times.

The best one of all of us was blurry, so this is the best we got.

Brandt would not look at me and smile.  

I took four pictures without cooperation.

Then I said, "I think I need to pinch someone on the bum,"

and that did it.  

I got a smile.

Dad walking with his walker and sons.

Enjoying a snow cone.

Blake, Sharae, and Collin