19 months

Cali is 19 months old now!  She is a very active toddler these days.

Cali Stats:
- Loves to drink milk
- Favorite foods: pasta, cookies, chicken, ground beef, carrots, pears, peaches, french toast, crackers, goldfish and applesauce
- Cali wears size 6 shoe, 3 diaper, 18 month clothes
- Has 10 teeth
- Takes 2 - hour naps a day, sleeps from 8pm to 8am
- Loves to read books, play with her dolls and color
- Cali has a vocabulary of about 15 words
- Weights around 23 pounds
- Loves to play in or with water
- Likes to play dress up
- Loves to go for walks and play outside

Cali likes to play dress up!  Princess Cali

Funeral Arrangements

Raymond Allen Vitkus

A visitation will be held at Williford Funeral Home, Wednesday, September 29, 2010 from 6-8pm. 

201 E Academy St
Fuquay Varina, NC 27526-2248
(919) 552-2211

www.willifordfuneralhome.com

Funeral services will be conducted at Fuquay Varina United Methodist Church on Thursday, September 30, 2010 at 11am. 

100 S Judd Pkwy SE
Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
(919) 552-4331

www.fvumc.org

Interment will take place at Arlington National Cemetery on January 5, 2011.  Further details to follow closer to the date. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Legion Scholarship fund in the name of Raymond Vitkus. 

Well Done

Well done good and faithful servant - well done.

Ray Vitkus went to be with the Lord peacefully on Saturday September 25, 2010 at 5:45pm.  Mom, Mary and I were all there with him as he passed.  

Dad slept all day today and was never conscience.  Last night before bed he said he loved us, kissed mom goodnight and wanted his picture taken with a big smile on his face. 

Throughout this whole process he has been the example of what it means to faithfully chase after God.  Even today we had nurses coming in wanting to talk about dad's faith. Amazing!

Mary and I are spending the night with mom at mom's house tonight.  Tomorrow we will start to get things together and organized.  Monday we will finalize the funeral and burial arrangements.  I will let you all know the plans once we have them set. 

We continue to appreciate your prayers as this will be a long process for us all.  We are happy for dad but sad for us. 

A different day

Dad has been in the hospital since a week ago Wednesday, so this is day 10.   Mom, Mary and I have all been here since Monday.  The week has been a blessing for us.  Our family has been able to come and visit dad and say their goodbyes.  We have had great talks and laughed a lot.  The last four days have been such a gift!  It is time we will never get back and always remember.

God has also been present this week in everything.  We have had several God moments where it was clear He is in control and using dad for His glory.

Today has been a different day that last last few.  Dad is showing signs of wearing down.  He has been tired and a little fuzzy headed.  We will see what the next few days bring.

We continue to feel your love and prayers.  It has been such a gift to talk to so many of you via email, facebook, and phone calls.  We feel so loved.  

As this journey comes to an end, know that we are all confident in God's plan and know that He is in control.  

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

Hospital Party

Even though we are going through this really hard time we have been having a party here at the hospital.  It seems strange to be on a cancer unit with people who are at the end of their life and we are laughing.  Dad has so much joy and peace about his situation.  He is witnessing to anyone that will stand in the room long enough to listen.  We have even had a Dr. come in and say dad's attitude encouraged her to have a religious conversation with her mom.  Mom has also "friended" one of our nurses on Facebook.

This has been a roller coaster of emotions.  At the beginning of the week we thought that it was over.  So we all came to the hospital, said our good byes and tried to prepare ourselves.  But God isn't done with dad yet.

We have really been blessed with this opportunity to be together as a family.  Mom, Dad, Mary and I haven't been just the four of us since 1999.

Dying is a very difficult thing, but dad is doing it with style.

Staying strong

We are lucky to still have dad here hanging out with us.  His breathing has finally stabilized and he doesn't have to think about breathing anymore.  He is on 100% oxygen with a face mask and morphine.  The combination seems to be working wonderfully.  Part of "comfort care" means no IV fluids or TPN or vitals being taken or blood drawn.  So at this point he basically just gets oxygen and antibiotics.  He says he isn't in any pain and that we are "partying". 

Mom, Mary and I have all been here since Monday afternoon.  It has been really good family bonding time.  We have watched movies, laughed, and reminisced about family adventures.  Our wonderful husbands have been taking over full time kid care so we can be here with Mom and Dad.  They have brought the kids to visit each day. 

This whole process has been hard, wonderful, and a blessing.  Each day is a gift.  Dad has been sharing his faith with everyone.  It is clear that God is using dad even now.

Thank you all for your continued prayers and support.  They really do make a difference.  It is so amazing to know we have friends all over the world who love us and who have been impacted by dad. 

Comfort Care - A Dad update

Dear ones,

We have been assured that the doctors have done all that can be done for Ray. There are no other procedures that can be done at this time that will cause Ray to regain his breathing health.  The girls are spending the night with us here in the hospital.  Ray consented to comfort care that will remove any further testing and treatments other than what is needed for his comfort.  The TPN will be discontinued after tonight so that it does not add any extra fluid to his lungs.

Ray is at peace with all of this and feels the love and joy from his family, friends and mostly his God.

We have been and are still so grateful for your prayers and continual concern for Ray and our family.  God has blessed us through this season of cancer by your prayers, words of comfort and reflections on how this season in our lives has affected yours.  God does make good out of evil and that is so true in this case.

Ray is not and will not be in any pain, but our prayer is that he will remain comfortable as long as he is with us.  He is currently enjoying some yummy chocolate ice cream and juice.  It is the first food he has had in a few days.  

We have all decided to have a service here in NC and burial at Arlington National Cemetery when the time comes.  We will advise you at a later time.

With love,

Ray, Kerry, Mary & Pam