I'm sorry I haven't been here for about a month. My dad, whom I work with everyday on the rememberthedeadeyes.com site we have developed 8 years ago, passed away while I was with him, trying to save him from aspiration pneumonia. It was incredibly hard to see him this way. He passed away while my brother and I were there, with my daughter Lana who is a hospice nurse. It was just so gut wrenching to see this big, strong man of my childhood, turn into this weak, thin shadow of himself. We gave him his wish to have a military funeral complete with 3 gun salutes, and taps played twice - one close by for him and one far away for the soldiers who went before him. It was a beautiful service. Now, my daddy who was with me everyday, is no longer here. The day after the funeral we received calls telling us to get to Mom fast as she was failing (alzheimer's) right then. We were able to be with her, and about 20 family members all around, when she stopped beating. 6 days apart. We had Mom's funeral in a completely personal kind of funeral Mom deserved. She had the quilt she and I had sewn together on top of the casket, just like Dad had the american flag on his. For his we had speakers from all the different military related groups which Dad had been so active. I can't tell you how special it was. And, of course, the were buried right next to Ben's grave. We had it decorated with flowers to match the Red white and blue ones on Mom's and Dad's graves. It just doesn't seem real. Mom told aides that she was going to see angels tomorrow, and going to Heaven the next day. She hadn't been able to talk for about the last month. Before Dad died, when Lana could not feel a pulse and we were sure he would be gone within an hour, he suddenly had a rally. He put his head up and was fully aware of everyone around him and told them all special things about each one. He asked Lana if she wanted to go for a walk which they did many times when she was young. He stayed like this for about a day! He said he wanted to write and everyone quickly searched for something he could write on. and a pen. He started scribbling on the paper and we figured out he was drawing our family tree! That was unreal, and that time was a special gift from God. It lasted about a day and a half joyously greeting everyone.and calling them by name. After that came the emotional trying to save him. In the end he decided to be able to eat and live shorter, or to have a gi tube in and live longer. He chose the shorter and was eating ice cream as he passed away.All this was while my brother had the bad kind of flu, and his granddaughter Ellie had brain surgery. Then his other grandson suddenly had to be rushed to the hospital with a blood sugar count over 600! At least that was handled so he is a little guy where his parents will manage just fine. Ellie has had hemorages and two more surgeries. Then in the middle of Mom's funeral my son in law passed out the EMTs took him on a stretcher write then! He had dehydration and hadn't eaten all day, getting ready for the funeral. Whew! That was an amazing three weeks. Talk about stress! We are all exhausted, now the reality is setting in that I lost both parents 6 days apart, and I can't call Dad to help me with the website as I promised I would. Now comes the hard part, adjusting without them us.