Venting Stopped

My Mom passed away the end of Feb. Will finish up in Nebraska and then go home. Hopefully by fall.

TheGroup

TheGroup
Originally uploaded by sfinds2003

This bevy of lovelies is what made Christmas so special!!

Christmas 2007

100_0531
Originally uploaded by sfinds2003

Christmas was good. Had a blast with the girls and even think Mom enjoyed the hubbub even though she didn't know who they were.

Shawn and I cooked..got one of the girls to make fudge. My pies turned out great.. They missed the bad weather coming up and the same thing going back. Had freezing fog the morning after they left. How lucky can you get.

skinny tree

skinny tree
Originally uploaded by sfinds2003

This is my skinny Christmas tree. Hope the granddaughters don't laugh
at it.

Mom is better the last few days. Seeing the tree and the presents I have put under it made her do some thinking. She said since she could not get out and buy gifts should she just write a check. I told her I would get gift cards and she could put cash in them. That seemed to satisfy her. I think getting to see her Great Granddaughters will be a good thing even if she doesn't know they are related. Of course, you never know what she might "know" in the moment.

The TV arrived and she says she still can barely see it but it sure is bigger and brighter than what she had before. Hopefully I will get to watch a few games on the "big" TV. As early as she goes to bed should not be a problem.

Shoveled snow this a.m. Got about 4 inches of powder. I am tired of it already. The cool rainy days of winter just north of San Antonio would suit me just fine.

Time to watch the latest DVD from Netlix.

Not As Bad

as predicted so far. There is ice under a light layer of snow but we did not get hit like the folks in Oklahoma did. #1 son has no power and did not know when it would be back on.

Took fifteen minutes and got a "tree" put up. This is one of those real skinny ones that I picked up at the florist shop. I like it. Doesn't take up much space, one string of 100 lights and one string of garland. My kind of tree. I think Mom enjoyed me putting it up.

She is really getting bad with her memory. Does not know who I am most of the time. I asked her who Amzi was (Dad) and she did not know. So sad.

Shawn and family are coming for Christmas if the weather holds. Should be a blast. Seeing the young ones AND their two dogs should be some entertainment for Mom.

In The 50's

this afternoon and was able to talk Mom into going along while I ran a couple of errands. She sure needed to get out. Another cold front due tomorrow so knew this was the only time to do this. Her eyesight has really deteriorated but think she is ready to at least get them checked.

I am still doing "little" things to make life easier here. That really does help.

Got the few Christmas cards I send out in the mail today. The folks that I do not have an address on will get a card from

http://www.jacquielawson.com/

December 1, 2007

Dec1ice
Originally uploaded by sfinds2003

Hello Winter,

The temperature is to go up to around 40 so hopefully this won't last long. At 6 a.m. this morning the driveway was a sheet of ice but it has started to melt.

Coffee

Made it out to the local farmers coffee hangout this morning for a cuppa. Was nice to get out for a bit. Tried to catch up with the fellow that does our farming but he was out of town. I'm thinking of pulling the trigger on what corn is in storage if it reaches $3.75 here.

Made It

out to walk almost a mile this morning. Still dark and about 22 degrees. Geez, I really have been here too long!

I've got to get back to reducing portions big time.

Downhill

slide out of November into December.

Nephew and his wife brought out a ham dinner yesterday. Made a remark that they may be quitting doing this. Well, they did not do it last year and I certainly don't expect it so guess I need to bring it up and get it clarified soon. They use to do it all the time the last few years Dad was alive. As far as I'm concerned, they did not have to do it this year or any year. He is extremely opinionated and I have excused some of it due to the fact he had no choice over who his mother is but I'm less inclined to do that as time goes on. Of course, I understand kindness is located in a frontal lobe of the brain and as one ages that area declines so will just attribute my lack of kindness to loss of frontal lobe cells and figure his is accelerated.

It is what it is.

Thank Goodness

I did find someone to come and replace the hot water heater and a good thing. By the time they arrived it was really getting bad. Would not have made it until Monday without shutting water off and still might have flooded the basement before then.

Of course it all came at a big price. $672.00. I remember days when it was MUCH cheaper!! Yea, the good ol' days..LOL

Another Thing

I hate about small town living. Yesterday discovered the hot water heater is leaking fairly badly. Called and found a replacement in a town 18 miles away. So far, so good. When can they install ????? a week from today! Fellow is on vacation. They did call someone else and he is older, can't get them up and down the steps but will "see" if he can make it before Monday. Near a BIG town, there would be someone to do it either today or tomorrow.

T-Day

So far, everyone is OK. Travel has really been rough for some of the kids.

Anyway, chicken stuffed and in the oven. Bottle of wine chilling and I am having a real problem feeling thankful. I do have things to be thankful for, just wish I was being thankful in Texas.

Flying By

#3 son arrived about 7:30 Thursday evening and took off before 6 a.m. the next morning. Mom was already in bed. She had said she would stay up but of course, denied it she said that, and went to bed before 7.

It was really good to see him and we had a good visit and a bottle of champagne.

WooHoo

Just heard yesterday that #3 son who is driving to Texas from Alaska was in Montana. He is hoping to see some friends in Colorado today and just maybe, will be here tomorrow night. If not, should be Friday. I am so excited to see him even though it will be a quick pass through.

Mom is now very depressed which I can understand. What she does not understand is her choices made in the last 15 years not only affected her but those who are around her now. No hearing aid and no cataract operation. Now, not hearing has put her in mostly isolation as we cannot visit with her. Not seeing means no more reading the newspaper or books. So sad. Hope I remember to do better in the next few years if I survive this period of time.

mascot

mascot
Originally uploaded by sfinds2003

My favorite NBA mascot! Go Spurs Go

moretree

moretree
Originally uploaded by sfinds2003

A view of the lake close to the RV area where we were cooking.

OKteepee

OKteepee
Originally uploaded by sfinds2003

Margie and me in front of an Oklahoma Indiana teepee. I cannot remember the tribe.

latrees

latrees
Originally uploaded by sfinds2003

This is a shot of Lake D'Arbonne (sp) when we first arrived.

Better

Finally got the screaming over with Mom. Don't know what I would have done if it had not been mostly resolved.

Took her to the Dr. today and thank goodness does not have a UTI. Has a red throat but they are going to treat it as viral right now. Getting her back on the nasal spray and back to two calium tabs a day. Give her a Tylanol PM if she gets me up to many times at night.

Received the Memory Foam topper for the bed and wow, it sure is nice. I swear I rested better. If it is a figment of my imagination, I don't care as long as it works.

The #3 son is driving to Dallas from Anchorage and hopefully will stop by here sometime next week. Will be great to see him and I hope the weather cooperates for him.

Cushman's on the Port A ferry.

ferry
Originally uploaded by sfinds2003

There were about 20 cushman's making the Corpus Christi Bay ride on October 27, 2007. The weather was beautiful.

This was on the ferry coming from Aransas Pass, Tx to Port Aransas, Tx.

brown pelicans at Cove Harbor, Rockport, tx

birds
Originally uploaded by sfinds2003

While waiting for the group at Off the Hook got a nice shot of these guys.

Returned to Neb.

Had a great time on the trip. The Dutch Oven Gathering in La. was great and the cabin was fantastic! Had the best catfish I ever put in my mouth at a little restaurant in Ruston, LA. Was stuffed with a crawfish stuffing and a little sauce drizzled over the top. They also had a killer white chocolate bread pudding. Picked up some pottery at a studio there, also.

Got to see the DGD play volleyball and was able to help my daughter out with meals and grocery shopping for her.

Horse sat at the coast. That does get tiring as you are tied down and scooping poop not my idea of fun. LOL . All the animals are old (except one) and need meds and watching.

Got to take a Harley ride with the ex s.o. that was a surprise and lots of fun. Plus go to the Party at Off the Hook. Went on both Cushman rides, one around the back bay (Nueces) and one around the front bay (Corpus Christi) and was able to visit with old friends. Had some great food in Rockport at a new Italian place.

The down side. Throw out bearing in the clutch went so lost 4 days. It went out on a Friday afternoon, naturally. Did not get to go to Hunt to see a close friend because of the lost days.

Got Mom out of the manor and hate to say, she has really deteriorated, in my estimation. Screams for me now, which is a new development and about to drive me nuts. Back to yelling for me all night so not getting much rest. Hope it changes soon.

Tomorrow

is the day Mom goes to the Manor. It is tough no matter how much I want to get out of here. She was somewhat depressed but when I wrote out how long I would be gone and that I was coming back, think that helped. Of course, she still doesn't want to go. I found out tonight I was not completely losing my mind. A few things happening in the living room and her bedroom that I did not remember doing. Yep, you guessed. She is WALKING with the walker. Suppose to be wheelchair bound for 4 more weeks but guess she is her own doctor! She is one damn tough old broad.

Update

Mom had an MRI on Monday. Was suppose to hear Monday afternoon or Tuesday. Well, This morning I walked over to check. The Doc had the report but did not understand it so was waiting to talk to the orthopedic doc who was in surgery until 10:30 a.m. So, hung around until about 2:30 p.m. Then got a call from my son and after that had a hair appointment. Still no word from the docs. It looks like we'll be hit with a lot of bills from the arm deal and now this. Unbelievable. I still am not sure what I will do about my trip. Will do the dutch oven trip for sure but may have to forego the Oct. in Texas part. Just have to see.

Now What

They are going to do an MRI to see if there is a fracture somewhere that is not showing up on the x-ray. At first, the Dr. said they would not do an MRI unless I was willing to do some minor surgery. Well, I was not ready to do that. So, then, he amazingly changed his mind. Wonder if $$ had ANYTHING to do with it. So, Monday is MRI day.

I AM going to La. the end of the month.