Happy 98th Birthday, Papa Lou!

Ok, even though i have a few months of updates (i want to update them for my own keepsake even though i'm way behind!) i had to post today to write about my papa lou! Today is his 98th birthday. Can you imagine? 98 years? He is imobile now, and they have an aide during the day (they go through many aides, they are not very dependable or stable), but my grandma (who recently celebrated her birthday) is insistent, despite all of our wishes, that he live at home until his time is over, and i know he appreciates being home.

Papa had a mini stroke in July- so he now cannot eat or drink any food- he is on a feeding tube- but he still sat at the thanksgiving table with us before we ate and gave us a silly prayer- he is always joking around. (here's the video- scroll to almost the end to hear his prayer)



He LOVES to see his great grandchildren- the girls make him proud, and Justin and Jacob he adores- luckily, they are not afraid of him when he coughs loudly, etc- they go right up to him, give him hugs and kisses and make him smile- it makes me so happy to see him happy- imagine how his life must be- sitting at home every day, watching some tv, napping, not eating, not being able to bathe or feed yourself or walk by yourself- his skin is so thin now that he bruises when they move him from his wheelchair to the bed- he does still shave and brush his teeth himself- but, i know how much joy my boys bring to him and grandma. We were just there for thanksgiving and you can tell in the pictures how happy he was. This time, Justin played some cards with him, too!

Papa went to college in new jersey and was on the gymnastics team. He then went to grad school and got his PhD. He met my grandmother in New jersey. His parents were from Russia. Growing up, they did not have much money, and as a result, he always tells us to clean our plate at dinner- not to waste food, as he cannot imagine throwing food away when he used to almost beg for it!

He was a dairy science professer at LSU for years until he retired. He was an avid golfer, and even had a few hole in one's in his day! I am sure the day he could no longer golf was very sad for him. Growing up, grandma and papa came to visit us in houston every few months- my sister and i would watch out the front window as they arrived, honking their horn as they pulled in the driveway- and we'd wave goodbye the same way when they left. We went (and still go) to lousiana for every thanksgiving holiday- and every spring break growing up. We'd go see mike the tiger (LSU mascot), go swimming at the LSU pool, go to shows at LSU, play tennis on the LSU courts, roll down the hills at LSU and run on the track .. can you tell their life revolve(d)(s) around LSU? we'd also shop! Papa took water aerobics class at the LSU pool until he was 96 or 97, he'd go every week in his wheel chair and they'd get him in- we'd go with him when we were visiting. He also is a HUGE LSU sports fan- he and grandma used to go to all of the football games, and some baseball and basketball games, too. He still watches all of the football games, even if he doses off for a few minutes here and there!

After he retired, he joined a painting class- he painted alot of canvas paintings with oil based paint i think? he did some great work- grandma proudly displays them all over the house.

Our weekly phone calls growing up were every sunday- Papa was always asking if we were getting our calcium- (being a dairy science professer, he knows the importance of calcium for bone growth, teeth, etc).. and were we getting exercise. He gave many lectures around the country when my mom and aunt were little, they'd drive from one side of the US to the other for road trips and lectures.

I remember papa lou doing this train thing in their kitchen- he'd make a train sound with his feet and hands- and start slow and go faster and faster- i try to imitate it for the boys- and grandma sylvia- she'd sing in yiddish to us a bedtime song, which i sing to the boys on occasion but i cant remember it all- called afin pripizach? i have NO clue how to spell it.

Grandma was always telling papa 'lou! luge eh lane' (no idea how to spell that either) but it mean lou, leave them alone!!! whenever he'd quiz us too long.

Anyway- i just wanted to wish him a happy 98th birthday, even though my grandparents dont have the internet, maybe i'll print a copy of this for them to read!

Here are some pictures from our visit on thanksgiving this year:



jacob can make anyone laugh!



playing cards with papa



there's jake entertaining us again with a pot on his head



here's my mom, aunt, and grandparents



i thought this picture was so sweet











here are a few of his many painted pictures around the house- he told me to take a picture of them :)



these last 3 photos are from memorial day weekend- when lisa and little (my sister and nephew) were there, too- they didnt make it to thanksgiving this year because she has her newborn, emma, and her husband was not able to fly with her from NJ bc he is a wrestling coach and they had practice the day after thanksgiving. once again, jacob is making papa lou laugh!



little jule and justin giving papa hugs



lisa (pregnant with emma) and papa



I will update my blog from halloween through christmas while i'm on vacation :) i am off work starting the 25th until the 5th. We're going to a wedding Dec 27th in Houston at the Hotel Zsa Zsa, and nana and pawpaw are keeping the boys for us. The girls will be with regina. Jeremy and i are staying the night at the hotel, along with several of our friends...should be a fun time!