The Latest

We left our friends house in South Dakota and headed toward Cahokia, IL near St. Louis.  We stopped in Iowa for one night and then in Missouri for an additional 2 nights.  We finally got to Cahokia RV Parque and spent a week there.  While we were there, we visited my mother, who is not doing very well.  The health center she resides in told us that she has congestive heart failure and is retaining fluids.  Her kidneys do not seem to be working.  We ended up signing a DNR and started to make plans at the funeral home.  She isn't there yet, but I guess it's time to get ready.  We left this morning headed to Branson, MO and as we crossed the Mississippi River, the phone rang and they were letting me know that they were sending her to the hospital for the fluid retention.  They also recommended we seriously consider hospis, mainly for her comfort.  We will have to give that a lot of thought.  This is our site at On Ur Wa RV Park in Iowa followed by our site in Lone Jack, MO.

The next photo is from our site at Cahokia RV Parque.  We had LOTS of power problems at this park.  Our surge protector kept dropping the power.  Come to find out, the power was a steady 132V.  It peaked at 134V.  132Vis the setting that the surge protector trips.  Once we reported it, they tried very hard to remedy the problem,  but when we left they had an electrician at the park troubleshooting the problem.  I'm sure they will get it fixed  should we have to go back to that park any time soon.

While we at Cahokia, we went to Effingham, IL to visit our friend who moved from Jacksonville, FL earlier this year, Dorthy Combs.  It as good to see her.  She is near family now and is in a very nice assisted living center. 

On our way from Effingham, IL to Vandalia, IL to visit my son and his family, we got to see the largest cross in the world.  They do admit that the one in St. Augustine, FL is taller, but theirs has more over all area.

We were able to visit my son and his family.  It was good to see them all.  Here is a picture of the brood!

Of course, while we were in St. Louis area, we did get to see the Arch, and while in  Collinsville, IL we got to see the largest Catsup bottle in the world.

Here is a picture of my mom on her good day.  She only had one good day while we visited her.

Then, while at a rest area in Missouri, we got a call from a friend of ours from our Good Sam Chapter, Rich Gaven, letting us know that his wife passed away this morning.  Needless to say, this has not been our finest day.  I ask that all of our friends include Rich and my mom in their prayers.  I know they will both appreciate it.
We plan on being her in Branson for 6 nights then headed to Millington, TN where we met and were married.  It should be interesting to see the old base and how it has changed.

I guess that's about it for now.  Y'all travel safe, and I'll type more later.

PS  Still no ham license upgrade in the FCC system.  I'm getting worried that it was lost in the mail.