Grandkids, Dual Appointments, and Hair Stylist?

I must tell you our computer has been acting up lately. It's so slow, the page you're working on will suddenly go black, and the 'w' doesn't always work. So if you see a word that doesn't look right, see if adding a 'w' somewhere will help. 😊

 

Ally and I went out for lunch last week. I picked her up from school, we got some lunch and went to Target. It was so good to hang out with her again. I'm always thankful when she's willing to hang out with this old Nana.

 

 

Their cat recently got into trouble so her punishment was... love. Moxie hates to be held!

 

 Then Ally decided to 'style' Sharaya's hair. Hmm, not sure it'll become a popular look...

Diana's been sending pictures of Adelaide. It's amazing how fast she's growing and how much she's learned in just a couple months. Can't wait 'til our visit in June!

Beth and I had dentist appointments on Monday, one right after the other. We both needed fillings too. So she sat in the little wooden chair while I got my tooth worked on, then we switched. Thankfully we were only there about an hour. People are always laughing and relaxed. When I was in my early 20's I realized, "I'm an adult. I don't have to go to the dentist!" So I didn't for many years. Then I thought, 'I'm an adult. I really should go to the dentist.' Took me a while to find this guy and he's the best. We love our dentist!

 

 Beth also had a doctor appointment last week. Just a routine visit so the doctor could see her and get some lab work done before giving more refills on her meds. Her A1C is improved; thyroid is low... we'll be adjusting some of her meds for a while and check back in a few months. But basically, everything looks good.

 

That's all from here. It's late and I need to get to bed. The older I get I seem to have increased energy in the morning but by 6:00 in the evening I am wiped out! Hope you're doing well. Have a great day! 

Bubbles, Furniture, and Anesthesia

We have learned that the pets love bubbles. Well, Poppy and Moxie love them, Maya isn't too sure about these glistening things that float and then disappear right before your eyes. See Maya protecting herself in the cardboard fort?

 

Poppy is an absolute maniac with them. We get the bubbles out about once a day and give these guys a workout!

 

Some friends were getting rid of an old table and I've been wanting one behind the couch for keys and stuff right by the door. Now the cats use it as a perch to look out the window and earlier today we were looking for Poppy and Chuck spotted her laying under it. It's getting a lot of use!

At Beth's last dentist appointment he mentioned she had a cavity and the tooth needed to come out. He said the tooth looked really fragile and he was afraid it would break into tiny pieces so she had to have oral surgery. I was nervous about it so I waited until the morning of the appointment (the 25th) and tried to be casual (she knew she was going to the dentist to have a tooth pulled but that was all) when I told her the doctor was afraid the tooth would break so they were going to give her special medicine that would let her go to sleep and when she woke up we'd go home. She was very nervous when we were walking into the building.

We got her checked in and they let me come back to the room. I could tell it was sterile so I just stood at the door while they put on the BP cuff and put a paper hat on her. I told her I needed to go move the car (I had actually parked in the wrong area) and I'd be right back. I sat in the car for about 10 minutes, went into the waiting room, grabbed a magazine, and I'm not kidding, the nurse came out before I could even open it, to tell me they were done and she was ready to go! 

They wheeled her out and helped her into the car. She was so groggy! I helped her into the house and as I'm unlocking the door she quietly says, "I just wanna take a nap." I laid her on the couch and she was out! The next day she said she didn't remember being in the wheel chair!

The tooth came out in one piece, there was very little swelling, and she hasn't had any pain. I gave her ibuprofin before she went to bed that night but she hasn't had any pain at all. All of these things were such an answer to prayer!  She stayed home from work on Thursday and Friday, and she's doing great. Looking forward to church tomorrow. That pink thing on her arm is the stretchy gauze stuff that covered the IV site.

Beth Got One Of Those Perfect Moments...

Thank you all for your encouraging comments on my last post. I'm doing much better this week, everyone is healthy, spring has arrived, we've had some blue skies and I feel like I'm starting to get my life back.

Chuck hasn't had any more episodes. He's extremely bored and can't wait to get back to work, once the doctors clear him. We see the neurologist tomorrow.

Sharaya is supposed to see a new place on Saturday. There were two of them, one was a single story, the other is two story. She saw the one-story a couple weeks ago but that was a little small. They'll see the two-story this weekend. This place has a pool, weight room, so many amenities! She's excited to see it!

We went to Diana and Peter's a few weeks ago. Had a fantastic dinner and then sat out by the fire to watch the sunset. They have a spectacular view from their back yard! Peter's sister is coming out from New Jersey in a couple weeks and we're planning a trip to the tulip fields. I'm excited to take some new Tulip Field Family Photos with Peter!

 

The girls pets continue to bring entertainment to us all. The cats run and chase each other and attack each other and fight and sleep cuddled up next to each other... they truly act like any human sisters I've ever known. We got to pet sit Poppy last weekend. Her first overnighter without mom and dad! She did great at night, had fun playing with us, went right to bed, but was a little skittish when she woke up. Came into the bathroom while I put on makeup... but overall she did great!

Before covid hit, Beth was part of a group that bowled every Tuesday. Since covid, they've decided not to start it back up again. But, we've learned there's a different group that now bowls on Wednesdays with a lot of the same people from the original group. So today we drove her to the bowling alley and as soon as she walked in people were yelling her name and coming up to give her hugs. Almost made me cry. We paid for her and were trying to find her a lane and she was getting her things organized when we hear the leader call all the new people out to the lanes. We were trying to hurry Beth along as she was changing her shoes and getting out her ball. It all happened so fast I didn't get any pictures of it. With microphone in hand, John said to the 100 bowlers and employees that all the new people get to throw a ball and try to get a strike. If you do, you get $5.00! There were 4-5 people who went first but no one got a strike. Beth tentatively went out there and I'm quietly praying, "Oh Lord let her get a strike! Please let her get a strike!" And she threw a strike! She did it!! The whole place erupted! It was just one of those perfect moments, you know? Something she'll probably remember for the rest of her life.

With Friends Like That...!

Two days after Diana and Peter's reception, we loaded up a Penske truck and moved them across the country. 

We packed up the last few things from Diana's house and Peter came with the truck. His parents arrived and about the time we started hauling things out to the truck... it began to pour!!

I spotted Diana waiting in the car hoping it would slow down before she ran back to the house!

 And about the time we finished, the rain let up. Ahh, life. 😊

 

We all went out for brunch and then the 5 of us headed west. But I want to tell you about a site we saw just outside of Bozeman, Montana. They were doing some construction on the highway, not much, most were just getting off the highway and getting right back on again. But for some reason Google maps took us on this 5 mile detour. 

We're cruising along, trying to enjoy the sights when a pick up pulled out in front of us. We could tell they were locals and we drove along for a few minutes when all of the sudden...

 

This massive dog pops up from the bed of the truck! We couldn't even tell he was back there until he stood up. He was so big and was moving around the back... then we see this little dog pop up on the left side of the truck. I couldn't tell you what kind it was, a terrier I think. It looked like he put his paws up on the wheel well and we could see it's little head. 

And then all of the sudden....

Stop The Merry-Go-Round!

I think I have a few minutes to sit and write. Or, as the saying goes, I'm just forgetting something really important!

The last few weeks have been crazy. At work the Executive Assistant has retired and while we planned her retirement party (how do you sum up 29 years in just a few minutes?) her job responsibilities have been distributed to a few of us in the office. The girl who took over her position trained someone for her position and the person who took that position trained someone... but we're all so very grateful they've kept it 'in house'! Everyone gets along and already knows the inner workings of the office.

I took on some of the EA's (minor) jobs but also took on some of the major responsibilities of the person who took her job. Plus we're coming into the holiday season where I have a large responsibility over our Thanksgiving Outreach. Things are a little busy to say the least!

Beth is doing okay since she lost her job. Enjoying some of the perks of having Friday and Saturday nights off for the first time in 5 years! 

Sharaya's birthday is this week so we're keeping Allie overnight this weekend, then taking Sharaya out to dinner.

Beth's birthday is next week. Not sure yet what we're going to do for that.

The husband of a dear friend passed away last weekend. He had been ill and was given 2 years to live so it wasn't shocking, but just very sudden. Beth and I have been over to the house, bringing food and just being with C. 

Then my sister called, she's coming to visit! She'll be here in less than 2 weeks and is staying with us! When we fixed up Beth's apartment, we got rid of the extra bed and turned the den into my craft room. So now I'm trying to find space for all the stuff so she can put an air mattress down for the week. And she's bringing her dog. A German Shepard. It might not sound like it but I really am excited to see her. And to have a dog in the house again. I've missed having a pet around, just haven't missed the part of taking care of one. :) 

If you don't hear from me, that's why. Trying to keep my head above water and stay sane at the same time. I hope you all are having a wonderful start to Fall!

I took this in the parking lot at work ~

 

Has It Only Been A Week??

What a crazy week.

A friend and co-worker is on vacation so I'm filling in for her, doing her job as well as my own job. Working a lot more hours than usual. It's been busy, that's for sure but the biggest issue is my back. My co-workers chair is very different from mine and I've been using both of them this week. I think that's why I've been having muscle spasms in my lower back. Over the years I've learned to be so careful about what shoes I wear, how I move, to almost eliminate all back pain and this chair thing is the only thing I can think of that would be causing these spasms.  I'm glad she'll be gone only a couple more days!

Diana is dog sitting for a friend. We now have a boxer living at our house. She trimmed his nails this morning and cut one too close so he's been bleeding all over. She's tried a four/water paste on the nail and that's helped a lot. She also put one of her blankets on the couch and we're trying to keep him there. It's not working well though. As soon as he hops down, the nail starts bleeding again. Diana's shopping right now so he wants to be with me in our office area. I finally got the bleeding stopped again after he went outside to go potty. Ugh, dogs. I'm done with having pets. For 25 years we've had dogs, cats, guinea pigs, fish... I'm done with pets for a while. It may be selfish but I want a break from all the work that comes with having pets.

I was out mowing the lawn last weekend and hit a rock. The rock hit the back of my van and shattered the window. I just stood there in shock as I listened to the crackling of the window as it cracked into a million tiny pieces.

 

I called one place and gave them all the info: make and model, window tinting, wiper... they gave me a quote. I called a few days later to make the appointment and was told they gave me the wrong quote. It was actually going to be more than the original quote. Fine, it's still cheaper than the other places I called. We set up the appointment. The night before they were to come out, they call and say they don't have my particular glass in stock and they have to order it. It will take longer than expected and oh yea, the price will go up. No thank you. I now have an appointment for next weekend with a different company. In the meantime I'm driving around with white plastic duct taped to my car.

We got a call from Beth's doctor telling us the biopsy results are positive for Scarring Alopecia. Her doctor is sending off tissue samples for a second opinion and I should hear from them in a few days. The Nurses Assistant for the 'second opinion doctor' calls and tells me they don't have any appointments available until 2016. Oh. "But I thought our doctor was just sending tissue samples for your opinion?" The NA was just as confused as I was. I called our doctor back (and you know how it goes, they're with a patient or have gone home for the day and will be in touch... it's never quick and easy!) So a couple days later our NA calls and says, "Yes, take the 2016 appointment." But, but I thought you were just getting an opinion on the sample. "No, doctor T does want Beth seen by the 'second opinion doctor'". And while we wait, the alopecia continues to spread and Beth continues to lose her hair. Arrgh!

So, how was your week? :)

Tabbys and Westies and Labs, Oh My!

Thanks to Karen Dibert from The French Dog and  The Rocking Pony (I've followed The Rocking Pony for a while and have just recently started reading The French Dog and I must say, 'Louie' is hilarious!) I've been chosen the winner of a free tote bag!

I'd never heard of Tote Tails so I went to their web site: totetails.com and oh my!! Now I've got so many gift ideas for friends and family! They have the cutest animal silhouettes, plus paw prints... and you can customize your tote bag too!

I just ordered my free bag... I'll let you know when it comes in!