Great Grandpa Jack

Baby Jack meeting Adam's grandparents in September or October of 2009

NonaJane and Mary Jane

I'm kinda jealous of Adam. Can you believe all four of his grandparents are living? Jack recognizes them all by picture and in person! As of 6 months ago we could have said they were all doing well, but unfortunately his grandpa Jack Schwatken (who we named our son Jack after) took a sudden turn for the worse.  It is hard to say where it all started. At Christmas time he complained of unexplained weight loss. Then he started to lose his balance and had some falls. We think he must have hit his head with some of the falls, but he didn't tell anyone that his head was hurt.  His balance got even worse, he had drastic memory loss, and affected speech which led to more falls.  He got to the point where he was falling several times a week, but was not always telling anyone when he fell.  He eventually ended up at the hospital where they found blood on his brain.  They placed several drains to remove the fluid and excess pressure.  They tried to let him return home, but due to his confusion he started to become combative and irrational with his wife.  To her dismay she had no choice but move him into a nursing home. 

Nona seemed to have quite a few smiles for her great grandpa.

Over the weekend we decided it best to get down there and introduce NonaJane, as his condition seems to only be deteriorating.  His face did light up when Adam entered, and he was emotional during our visit.  He knew who we were, but had a very hard time talking.  He was not able to participate in conversation, but could respond to simple yes no questions. I know it was hard for Adam to see his strong grandfather whom he has always admired in such a fragile state.  These are the times when I think about how cruel TIME is.  Time goes by so fast, our babies grow up before our eyes, our own lives seem to flash by each year. Yet, without the passing of time we would not get to experience the new lives that God blesses us with, like sweet NonaJane.  I am so grateful that we decided to name both our children after our grandparents.  It honors their lives, shows them how much they meant to us, and shows our children the meaning and importance of family.  

We took Grandpa out to the courtyard, but the visit really exhausted him.  This picture is at the end of our visit, Adam is getting ready to push him back inside to his room.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wish time could stand still when everyone is healthy and happy, but we are thankful for the lives we have been blessed with, and so thankful for Jack and NonaJane. May God bless them with long and happy lives like the grandparents whom they are named after.

Thanksgiving 2009.  Jack, his great grandparents, and his cousins Madison, Emma and Molly