Christmas Kudos

A great big thank you to Judy Jendrzejewski for our delicious prime rib dinner for Christmas evening with Pete and Tracy, the girls and my mother. Andy, Ali and the boys will arrive on Friday for Muilenburg Christmas and Drew's birthday. For anyone interested in history or who is in the teaching field, I would highly recommend " The King's Speech". I took my mother to see it yesterday while Pete stayed with Norm.

As Christmas Nears

The last few days have been so busy, I haven't had time to write. Norm has slowed down some but continues to eat well, be in no pain and enjoy the family and LaRue, who arrived last evening with Andy. We hope that everyone has received our email/blog card and that you all have a wonderful Christmas.

Busy Day

Yesterday, what a day! Judy, Marge and Marge's mother MaryBeth enjoyed a lovely lunch at Albertina Kerr and hopefully fixed MaryBeth's TV to boot. The Borgen's ,in the meantime, visited Norm and John at the house and brought delicious Lemon Bars. John worked on our lighting issues. Norm and Marge went to the Drug Info party hosted by Dan and Colleen Colley where we enjoyed great food and funny "White Elephants". Lastly, we picked up at Sunset Transit Station our good friends from Minnesota, Mark and Karen Nealy. We are so appreciative of them coming all this way on short notice. We even got 6 hours of sleep. Life is good!

Christmas 2010

The Worst of Times - The Best of Times
The worst of times - last year,the day after Thanksgiving , getting Norm's diagnosis of a glioblastoma.
Losing Matt Winthrop, Ed Caldwell and George Rickles during this past year.The Best of Times
Living to see two great sons and two great daughters-in-law and four darling grandchildren with one more arriving in April.
Being able to travel this past year to Minnesota, Phoenix, Maui, Boston to see Norm's Dodgers with Andy and Pete, Cannon Beach two times and the Wallowas and having quality visits with family and friends. Enjoying visits from Norm's sisters in the summer. Dee and Larry Whyman, Debbie and Ken Kubota, Myrna and Koos last week, Mark and Karen Sat. and Marilyn and Stu early next year.
More Bests include celebrating our 40th anniversary at DeCarli's in Beaverton- our favorite restaurant, Drug Info dedicating their library to Norm, handicapped parking, all the delicious goodies that people have brought us, appreciating each day as a gift and the experience of hospice- the comfort, support and quality of the hospice staff.
Last but not least, LaRue, Andy and Ali's pug, who loves Norm as much as he loves her and was his constant companion while we had her.

Norm mentioned " Things I needn't worry about anymore"
Lady Gaga- Low T- 4 Hour Erection -WIKI LEAKS - Jersey Shore -taking out the garbage- cleaning the gutters-prostate exams - colonoscopies - and "old man's" nose and ear hair.


All in all, we have so much to be thankful for. We wish all of you the Merriest of Christmases and the Happiest of New Years. All our love, Norm and Marge

Yes,Virginia. There is a Santa Claus

Norm's sister and brother-in-law, Myrna and Koos have been here from Racine , Wi. and we've so enjoyed them. I've been doing all my Christmas errands while they have visited with Norm. Last night we went to our favorite restaurant, DeCarli's in Beaverton. We arrived at 4:32 for Happy Hour and all tables of four were already taken and a young woman beat me out of the table for two even though I asked her that since my husband was using a walker that we didn't want to sit at the bar. A kind lady holding a table for three friends gave us her table. We had a good time and great food, as usual. When leaving, I told the lady about Norm's condition and that he was on hospice and how much we appreciated her generosity. The young woman proceeded to grab our table in addition to her own.

Soup and Cookies

Today Irene,Dean and Gerry visited and brought us soup and then we shared Christmas goodies that friends have given. This lunch group(sans Norm and Dean) ( plus Martha and Marilyn)began when our boys were in the 4-5th grade at Terra Linda. It has evolved over the years . First it was lunch as we were mostly at home and then went to dinner as we all went to work and now is back to lunch again as some are retired or working less. What fun we have had - at times being asked not to laugh so loud. We've never been totally kicked out- at least not yet! Norm looks so good . No one would believe there was anything wrong by looking at him.It came over the news that Elizabeth Edwards passed away today and it is sad to think that in her last days she was living with such a cloud over her head.

A Ftting Tribute

The Kaiser folks dedicated their Drug Information Library to Norm. It is such a fitting tribute and we appreciate it so much.There is now a plaque beside the door- the Norm Muilenburg Drug Information Library.

OldFriends

One of the blessings of this past year has been visiting with old friends. Today, Margaret and Loring Winthrop stopped by. We have not had much time with them for quite a while as they lost their son Matt to esophageal cancer last spring. It was such a nice visit to talk in depth with them about their loss and life etc. We met in 1973 right after we moved to Portland. Our oldest sons are the same age and Matt and Pete were just a month apart.Their daughter,Amy, was in between their boys. From Margaret, we met the Jim and Jan Johnson who also had two sons Jimmy and Jeff. We all shared Thanksgiving for many years. Now, Jan is gone, Matt is gone and Norm is on hospice and it just doesn't seem possible. More later.

Coffee and PT

Today Norm's physical therapist visited and thought he was doing great. She gave him some new exercises and will see him again next week. Genie B., Anne N. and Nancy R. visited and brought us Starbuck's and pastries. We had a really fun time as we always do. It so happens that Anne's husband operated on Norm years ago at Good Sam. Nancy and her husband are from Minnesota and knew about Norm's championship basketball team. Everyone is connected.