Just returned from the hospital. Dad ate his first meal. He has had a feeding tub, which he does not like, he keeps trying to take it out. He ate pasta, peaches, squash, cookies and ice cream. He is still having memory issues. He was very tired when we got there. You can tell he is trying to remember things but just cant. They have asked us to bring pictures and try to get him to talk as much as possible. It looks like a long road.

As many of you know we are trying to keep everyone updated on Grandpa's progress. He has been moved to the Rehab Unit in the hospital. He is in room 2683, he seems to enjoy your visits. He sleeps a lot especially after his therapy. They work on him about 3 hours a day they take him for a walk and he comes back to his room and sleeps.Visiting hours are 6:00 pm Monday- Saturday and Sunday all day, we have a sign up sheet for people to be with him during the day and there is a nurse that stays with him during the night. Please check the schedule and see if there is a time you can stay with him. We appreciate all the prayers in his behalf. I am sure he feels your love for him.

Arvid's about the same

S. Arvid Dodge updates

HI-this is Karlene here, not Chris...:)
I decided with our rather LARGE family it would be a great idea to keep you posted on a blog. Chris will take over after I have to leave. For the sake of extended family that may not have heard any details, this is a sketchy version of what has transpired with dad so far.
On Sunday, Martin took Dad to ER because he was feeling poorly. His heart had liquid around it. It had been in a-fib for a while (the upper half) so they had turned that portion of the pace-maker off. They sent him home and Monday morning when Dad wasn't up and about, Martin found him still asleep. He woke him and in another short amount of time Martin went back in and found him half in and out of bed unable to do either, and pretty unresponsive. After taking him to ER where the liquid around his heart had increased severely, they admitted him.
He had a stroke in the lower R side in the back of the brain (occiptal) area. From the CAT scans, there were probably previous strokes there as well. He has lost the vision on his left side of both eyes. They indicate he will probably not recover from this. Besides his eyelids being very weak, he has no other indications of damage beside some Cognitive problems. I understand that being mixed up and not "all there" is usual for a brain injury. He is able to hear us and communicate a little bit. He is responsive to us and will talk and answer questions. He can squeeze your hand and adjust his body somewhat in bed himself.
Today (Wednesday Aug. 4) is the second day they have had him up and walking a bit with a walker. Today he took a pretty good hike half way around the block here on the 5th floor of UVRMC in Provo. He is currently in Rm 580.
Unfortunately, today he flunked his swallowing test and they are inserting a feeding tube right now. It's pretty miserable to listen to and watch. He coughed it up. They'll try again later.
I'll try to get this address into an email to everyone. Please forward that on to anyone you don't see on my list. I'm not sure of how many email addresses I have.
Love to all

We went on a Cruise in Jan with Bryce, Amanda, Don, Linda, Martin & Charlotte. Randy, Bryce, Amanda, Don and I went diving. It was the coldest Cruise we have ever been on. It rained and was record cold. But we still had fun. It was raining in Roatan when we dove.

We went to Dee's on Jan 27th to take Christmas to the kids. We had such a good time with them all. They are growing up so fast. Such a handful. Deanna is such a good mom . She is so good with her kids. They are good kids. Madison is so dependable and always there to help. Abby is so full of love for everyone and concerned. Gracie is so inquisitive . Rubie is so artistic. Zeke is full of life. Eli is running all over the place not wanting to be left out. When ever he is eating something he makes this funny mummm noise. He is way ahead of his time.
Abby made her first necklace and bracelet.
Kids opening their Christmas presents.

Clara and Marlee's Christmas dresses.








Clara Jan 2010.











On Jan 1 2010 Brett and Haylee blessed Marlee Ann Dodge. What a angel.