I'm so sorry, Janet. I know that this is so difficult for you. You know that I'm here if you need someone to talk to. You and your Mom are in my prayers.

Things are absolutely crazy here!!!! Damon got out of jail on Monday so he can get ready to leave for Teen Challenge. He has to be there by Friday but, I think, Dae Lynn's taking him on Thursday because she has started a new job!! So she's trying to get things together for Damon, find clothes for herself for her new job, and get Karlie ready for school that starts next week!!!

In the meantime she's left me with tomatoes all over the kitchen counter!!! I got them ready yesterday to do something with today but last night Damon went and picked MORE!!! I don't want to can!!!!!! Oh well!!!!

Dae Lynn's job started today and she's going to be a para at the grade school. She actually had several job offers in the last few days but this is the job she wanted. She'll be in the same school as Karlie is and will be working when they have school so it will work great for being with the kids. Plus she'll be home about 3:30 every day. So next week it will just be me and Dean here at home. So much easier!!!

Everything is just happening all at once and it's just crazy......like I said. It's definitely one of those "Calgon take me away" weeks!!!!

For good news......we're getting rain!!!!! Yay!!! It's been raining lightly all morning!!! Sooooo good for our crops!!! I think that the corn's a bust but we still have our bean crop!!!!

Oh....and one other thing.......Glen and I went for a 4 wheeler ride a couple of days ago when we had time alone and it was sooo nice out. We rode around the pasture next to us then up a nearby hill then I wanted to go and look through an old barn that's on one of our rentals that's going to be torn down......the people said that there's nothing there that they want so I wanted to find some old rusty things to put flowers in next year.

Anyway.......Glen went to look at what was in a cellar and he picked up a bucket and saw an animal so he told me to come and look. We took a while trying to figure out whether we saw baby bobcats or some manx cats......they were too big for manx cats and walked like they were young cats....you know that kind of crawl kittens do before they actually walk. Glen was poking them (there were two) with a stick and I told him to pick them up but he refused because they had 5 weapons!!!! I told him to scoop them up in the bucket and bring them out. When he did I scooped one up and held it like a kitten!!!! Every once in a while it hissed and threw out its claws.....and bit a couple of times!!! They were soooo cute!!!! We ended up calling a friend to find out exactly what we had.......baby bobcats!!! He came out with his family and we called the kids to come and see them!! That's not something you find often!!! Several of the kids got to hold them!! The second cat was a male and he was definitely more aggressive!! In all we held them for a couple of hours then we put them back in the cellar. Our friend said that the mama cat was probably nearby watching us but we never saw her. Glen checked yesterday morning to make sure that the mama was taking care of them and she had moved them which is what we expected her to do. The girls took pictures of them so I'll try to get some pictures. I didn't have my camera with me!!! Anyway it was an interesting day!!! I have scratches and Glen has a couple of small bites.......definitely worth every bit of it to hold them though!!!!!

Wow, Diana, you are busy!!!! Seems so strange for you to be canning tomatoes this time of year. Tomato canning was back the end of May here. It's too hot and dry to raise tomatoes now. The plants have all burned up and have been pulled up long ago. The farmers here harvested what little corn made this year over a month ago. Milo and beans are long gone too. Most of the cotton is picked, but here is still a little in the fields. I drove past a few fields today where the pickers were operating and the trucks were moving. Lots of huge stacks of the white stuff in the fields waiting to go to the gin.

We are busy bees! Regular work day, got some boxes to start packing, got my nails done, ate Mexican food for lunch and dinner, stopped at walmart for a couple of things, and since I have computer training all day tomorrow and Friday, I'm going to bed.

Ricky took me to the bus garage so I could bring that big yellow monster home. Now I need to figure out a seating chart, load the trash baskets and broom and I should be all set for Tuesday. I'm kind of ready to start on Tuesday, but kind of not...lol. Hope it's not too hot. We do have to go on Monday and get our picture for our ID's taken. Fun!!

I made it over to see Mom around 9:30 this morning. The CT scan had already been done. The Dr. said it didn't show any 'major' damage, but 'lots of little' places. He seems to think that she'll continue to do better with the stroke symptoms. She can smile now, her right arm isn't feeling heavy and her right leg isn't numb any more..... so far. Her speech is still very hard to understand for most people, but for some reason, most of the time...I understand her. The urinary tract infection is still there as is the C-Diff. Her antibiotic was changed from an IV to a pill in hopes that the metallic taste will enable to like the taste of food a little better.

They hadn't ordered breakfast for her yet and she wanted a donut. Then didn't have any in the cafeteria so I drove to the Meijer store and got her one. She ate about 3 small bites and that was it.

Her memory is so bad. She had to have asked me 10 times or more why she was in the hospital and about the same number of times asked what was around her ankles. There was nothing, but to her it felt like it. The have a dry erase board in her room so I wrote "Nothing around ankles" on it. There wasn't enough room to write why she is in the hospital. She seem shocked at other times that she is in the hospital.

Mom is doing physical therapy and speech therapy. I just don't see her getting better, but you know.....everytime we've thought it was the end.....she came back...a little weaker, but came back. Not sure what to expect this time, but I really don't think she will get any better.

I do want to thank all of you for your thoughts and prayers, it means the world to me.

i'm sittin' here waitin' for the tile guy to show up. Gary is gone to look at a deer lease a few miles out of town. He found (what looks like) a good deal on a year lease to hunt deer, dove, quail, turkey, and whatever, just about 30 miles from us. It doesn't have a camp house to stay in, but it can be easily driven most days, and if he wants to stay out there for a few days, there is supposed to be a place to hook a trailer up to water and electricity. I hope it turns out to be a good place because he really has missed having a lease to go to for the past couple of years.

After he gets back, I have a lunch meeting with a nurse practitioner friend. I haven't seen her in a while so it will be good to catch up. Then this evening I have a dinner date with 4 friends whom I only see every few months. We are meeting half way between when they live and Austin. It will be a fun evening!

Oh the tile guy is here. YAY!

Well damn, it was the mowers, not the tile guy. Thats good though because the tile guy had his wet saw (to cut tile) set up in the lawn and I was worried about him setting up before the mowers got here. So, now that won't be a problem.

The tile guy came about 30 seconds after the mowers pulled out of the driveway! Hopefully, he will finish up the backsplash tile today, not sure about the floor tile. He has to remove some old linoleum and also remove some tile that was pieced in up to the old desk. He has to replace 8 tile, but I think he has to take out pieces of about 8 tile. It may take a while, I'm not sure.

Well Gary just called and he didn't like the look of the deer lease so he passed on it. It's OK, he really doesn't NEED a lease, but I'm sure he will find one eventually. :rolleyes: He said there was too much pasture land and not enough brush land (for the deer to hide). The place also had a high fence (other ranches with a high fence to keep the game IN THEIR ranch) on three sides, so there was only one way for the game to get to this place, which is not real good for seeing lots of game.

Your kitchen will be done soon, Gayle!

I was driving up the main road in my community yesterday, making the usual car coming noise, when I saw what looked like a deer around the bend. Ordinarily, a deer would have bolted from the sound of a car, so I figured it's a big dog. Nope! A beautiful deer looked right at me, but not with that "deer in the headlights" scared look. Then it jumped off into the woods. It was a beautiful moment!

I guess some of the deer that live up here are accustomed to the noise, and have become much more brazen. It's also good eating over in the woods for them.

I canceled my hair appointment for today. I have to write the end of a story for my writing workshop tonight, and just don't feel like rushing. I also woke up with a really bad headache, which is now gone. I'm thinking sinus headache, which I have had every morning for the past week or so. Whatever is blowing around, I am allergic to I guess. I am glad to realize this, because it isn't going to last.

Janet, I am so glad Mom is feeling better physically. This is so hard for you though, waiting to see which way it will go. Seeing as she is so stubborn, whenever she does go, it will be her time, when she is ready.l My mom was the same way, and I felt that when she went, it was on her terms. I hope this gives you some comfort. You are in my heart, Janet.

Marilyn, for us this is the time for canning tomatoes.......from now until frost. Dae Lynn's made some salsa and some homemade Rotel for cheese dip. We have jalapenos to go in it as well. I was thinking that I'd just can some tomatoes for chili and soups. That's pretty easy.

Sandy, It's good to see that you're busy and taking care of yourself!!! I would love to get my nails done but I'm afraid that it wouldn't last one day but what I'd have the polish half off!!! I can barely keep my toes painted!!!! LOL

Gayle, I'm so excited to see your kitchen!!! I loved picking out tile and flooring when we built!!! And then to actually see it all coming together was the exciting part!! The tile styles have changed since we built so I'd have done some things differently but still I'm pretty happy with my choices. They're pretty basic but nice.

I'm sure that Gary is excited to even be looking for a hunting lease!! It will give him something to look forward to. I'm married to a hunter so I understand the desire to do it. I hope that Gary finds just the right spot!!!!

Janet, I so hope that your Mom continues to improve from the stroke. I know that all of this is so hard on you. You are a good daughter!!! Remember how fustrated you used to be with your Mom? Things have certainly changed and you two are so much closer now. I know that your Mom appreciates all that you do for her.

Last night Jaci called and invited Glen and I over for supper. I was soooo ready to get out of the house and away from the kids!! Jaci called and fixed something that I could eat on my diet.....tacos without the shell!!! The kids have been so good about helping me with my diet!! After supper we visited a while then we played cards. They both love to play cards with us!! We were there until 12:30!!! They very seldom invite Nate's parents over but have us over quite often. I think that Nate enjoys talking to Glen!!!

I'm going to have to come up with some things to do that gets me out of the house otherwise I'll probably spend all of my time taking care of the kids or trying to keep things picked up!!!

It ends up that Damon isn't leaving until Sunday. He found out yesterday that his plans to go to Teen Challenge in Missouri won't work because it's out of state and takes a lot of paperwork to do. So the plan now is that he's going to Kansas City which will be a lot closer for Dae Lynn to go and visit. We'll know more today after he talks to his probation officer, lawyer, and.....hmmmm......one other person.

Next week everything should be getting into a "normal" mode. School starts on Wednesday and Dae Lynn and Karlie will be leaving early for that. Damon will be at Teen Challenge and I'll just have Dean at home.......however.......he's a handful to keep up with!!!!......but he's so darn cute!!!!

Well, it was another work day.....Made a couple of sales calls close to home, then headed for the office. Handled a few things there and headed for Corpus Christi. Took care of a few things there and headed home. Lunch today was McDonald's on the fly and eat on the road. Hate doing that, but I ate a Filet of Fish and Fruit and Yogurt Parfait, so wasn't too bad. I had water with me so cheap lunch and it filled me up. Now Rex has gone to a meeting with clients and Garrett is eating vegetables for supper. He's on an all vegetable diet for a couple of weeks, so Rex and I will just "fend for ourselves". That means I don't have to cook. I'll clean up a bit around here this evening just in case I get THE phone call.

Karen really thinks she will end up going to her appointment on Monday and they will induce early next week. We were hoping it wouldn't come to that, and I haven't said anything to her, but I'm thinking she will be like me and be in labor for a few hours, not progress and end up with a C-section. She really doesn't want that, but I was told that as slow as things were going 2 cm after 10 to 12 hours of labor, it was the best option for both me and her. So, we'll see.....

Slept a little later this morning and then got my hair cut. Went to the Vet for some Phy-Cox for Penny's arthritis and some flean and heartworm for all of them. So freak'n expensive. I headed over to see Mom around 2. There wasn't much change except she was having a great time playing the bowling game on my IPad2. She beat my score 3 times...the booger. She thought she was something getting all the strikes that she did...lol.

After getting home I finally after all this time hooked my printer up so it will work on my laptop. If I wanted anything printed out I just used the desktop but it runs s o s l o w.

I need to start getting my bus information into this laptop and then I should be all set.

It sounds like Mom's memory is coming back, if she is playing bowling on the IPad, Janet! I sure hope so! Is she eating any better?

Marilyn, Jessie had c-sections with all 3 for the same reason. Turned out fine!!!

Diana, you are really going to enjoy your peace and quiet next week! Dean will be just precious, and it will be so nice for both of you! I hope all goes well with Damon getting into Teen Challenge.

Gayle, when is your hunting season? Are there a lot of deer, or has the drought affected them too? I hope Gary finds a good lease. We don't have that up here. I'm not sure how they work it out so the hunters don't shoot each other, but we hear lots of gunshots for about a week. They come from the woods. Lots of guys come up from the city, and you see men in camo outfits all over the place! Some of them never get to hunting, but they can buy a deer on the way out for about $600!

Very painful computer training class! It will be an awesome system when the whole company is up and running, but they expect me to learn how to use it and be the lead for my group of 67 people. Of course, I'll give it my best shot, but they'd be better with one of the younger geeks doing it.

I have the exterminator going out on Monday for the termite inspection and tuesday the house inspector will go out. If those pass my approval, I'll close and own a house next week. I can't wait to have it clean and crisp looking.

I'm going on an outing with my daughter and her family this weekend, then I've got to get down to business with packing and organizing. I didn't bring much from the house, but what I have is really spread out in this little apartment. I have so much junk trinkets.

Whew! What a busy day!!! I did have a great lunch with a good friend I haven't seen in quite a while. Then I ran a couple of errands for Gary, and next it was time to head north to have dinner with 4 old friends from our time together in graduate school. We sat and talked from 6-8:30, managing to eat dinner too. I hated to leave but we made another date for the middle of October, so hopefully we will do this every couple of months and stay in touch better than we used to.

On the way home mom called to say she needed some incontenence pads - she has to wear them all the time. So I had to stop by the pharmacy and get them and take them to her. I got home about 10:00. Then Gary and I cleaned up the kitchen a bit - we have tile dust all over the place in there. I cleaned off the counter tops and then swept and mopped the floor. I think it's gonna take a month to get all that dust out of the kitchen.

We are supposed to get our stove installed tomorrow, but we had the phone unplugged (the jack is right where the guy was replacing some floor tiles) and so we probably missed the call from Sears to give us the installation. I bet you money they don't come tomorrow. I'm getting tired of not having a stove!

Judy....Mom's memory isn't coming back yet...but she does pretty good in the moment. 10 minutes later...she'll forget. She is still asking why she is in the hospital. I have some things to get done before I head over to see her today, but wanted to stop in here first. Can't believe school starts on Tuesday, the time sure flies doesn't it!


Won't be long now Sandy and you'll be enjoying your new home. I bet you are feeling so good about all this now. I'm so happy for you.

Gayle it sounds like so much fun getting together with your friends every so often. I know when we had the informal class reunion the other weekend...it was so fun getting to see and catch up with everyone.

Guess I'd better get busy or I'll never be ready by Tuesday...lol

Janet, at this point, the fact that she is feeling physically more comfortable, it is a good thing. It would be great if she recovers her memory, but physical comfort is much more important. Prayers.

Gayle, I don't blame you for wanting your kitchen back! It will be gorgeous, but a mess in the kitchen can drive anyone crazy!!! Soon, Gayle!

Sandy, you are really such a mover and a shaker! Bought a house, went on a date, went to a meeting about fostering children! It is so exciting about the house! When are you planning to move in?

I went to my writing workshop last night, and read my latest story. These are talented writers, some are published. I take their comments very seriously, and have learned so much from them. I worked on the same piece the whole time last summer. They were very supportive, and we were all happy with it by the end. This summer, I have read 3 pieces, and they love them! I keep hearing how much the group leader, Barbara, loves my writing. Last night, Henry, who is a film producer, came to the workshop for the first time this summer. When I finished reading, he looked at me with his mouth open, and said "The first thing I want to say is that your writing has gotten so good since last summer. I have to think now about the second thing I want to say." Their were no revision suggestions made. They all discussed what they liked about the piece, and what they felt was so good about it. Then, on the way out, Jodie, who has been writing for years, told me that she loves my writing!

I have to say, that I am thrilled, but that I also don't really understand what is so great about my writing. I know that I have gotten much better since last year, and have started writing with dialogue, and focus, and so on. These are things they taught me last year. I also began writing fiction, which I didn't know how to do before. Still, I am not sure what it is they like so much.

I can live with it though!!!:rolleyes:

Judy, you should see if you can get published. I have a cousin who just got published. I haven't read any of her stuff. It's in a series called "Lawyers in Hell", which sounds depressing to me. She's always posting about it on FaceBook and sharing book covers and such. I do try to be supportive of her.

I'd love to read yours!!

That is so wonderful Judy. We all like to be acknowledged by our peers and it sounds like you've really got their approval. I'm so happy for you. I, too would love to read something you've written. Why not try and get something published...I think it would be wonderful for you. To top it off....your grandchildren can tell everyone their grandmother is a published author... :)

Judy, that is so cool that you got such positive feedback from your writing group. I really admire people who can write. I can do scientific writing, but I hate it. I have lots of published articles, but I hated writing every one of them and if I never had to write another word, I would be happy.

So, that is why I really admire those who can write, because it is H A R D!!! Congratulations on your success!!!

I don't mean to ignore everyone's comments but.......I feel like crap!!!! I started coming down with a head cold yesterday and didn't feel the best but today.......is another story. I didn't even feel like getting out of bed but I had the cutest little boy come in and get in bed with me.....chattering the whole time!!!

We're having a get-together and cook out tonight as a going away party for Damon, who is leaving tomorrow so there's no time to lay around and be sick. I've got food to buy and a house to clean up even though we're going to be outside......we're not sure how hot it's going to be so we're preparing for both. I sure hope I get to feeling better!! This is the pits!!!!!!!!!!

I hope you feel better quick, Diana! It is good to see that Damon got in to Teen Challenge! I will be praying for him.

Thanks for the comments on my writing! I do not particularly want to publish my stuff. I wouldn't even know where or how to begin. I am reading a piece at a writer's event in August, and another one in September. That's my whole claim to fame, because all of us are writers and it's fun. There's always good food too!

I know what you mean about science writing, Gayle! I had to write in grad school, and I had to read all these scientific papers. It really could kill someone, just by boring them to death! And then, using all these scientific terms when you write....bleeeehhhhhhh! I consider myself to be lucky to have lived through that!!!

Whew! What a busy day. We need some new baseboard for the kitchen and Gary got the wrong kind, so we went out to eat breakfast and then took the wrong baseboard back and got the right kind. Then I took Gary home and went and picked up my mom and took her to JC Penny's for some new clothes. She's gained a little weight since living in assisted living so she needed some new pants. She's also going to a class reunion next month and she wanted something new to wear. Penny's was having a great sale (we didn't even know till we got there) and we got 3 pairs of pants, two jackets, one blouse, and two knit shells for $180. Then I took her out to eat and before I took her home, she decided she wanted a few things at the grocery store. It was 2:00 before I got her home, and after that I had to do all my errands.

My toaster oven is as old as the hills and looks terrible. Well it looked particularly terrible after we got the new countertops, so I was shopping for a new one. Also, my red valance didn't look good with the new countertops either so I shopped for a new one. I had to go to three stores before I got the toaster oven. I got home about 4:30 and Gary was starving (its not as if there weren't things to eat in the house :rolleyes:). He wanted hot dogs and of course I didn't have any buns, so we ran up to a little grill in town that has really good hot dogs, several kinds. He had a chili/cheese and I had a kraut dog.

Then I had to go back to Target to get another valance (I thought there were two in the package but there was only). I also looked for mom a black knit top. She needs one to go with one of her jackets, but I didn't have any luck at two different stores, three if you count Penny's. Why doesn't anyone have a basic black shell???

When we got home I had to unpack all my stuff, iron the curtains, hang them and move the water in the yard. YIKES! This is the first time I've sat down all day. I'm pooped!!!

Diana, hope you got to feeling better, got your work done and had a nice evening!!!

Judy, sounds like you're enjoying your writing and that's the most important thing.

Wow, Gayle, you make me tired!!! I know what you mean about not being able to find a basic item. When you need a plain back cammy, it's the same problem!!!

Today, I washed again. I'm trying to keep all of Rex's clothes clean so when we get the call, he can pack quickly. He won't do it in a advance, and I can't do it for him. He's too particular.

Ran some ball caps to the embroider so they can put our company logo on them for a fishing tournament next weekend. I'm getting khaki Columbia fishing shirts and matching caps embroidered to give to the guys. I always look forward to this tournament, but have a substitute lined up to take care of things for me this year. I'm sure either Karen will have Emma naturally in the next day or two or they will induce early next week. I never dreamed that I wouldn't be back from California before next Saturday, but the best made plans....

Rex had a meeting with some prospective clients this morning and finished just in time for us to meet for lunch at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants, chicken, beef and shrimp fajitas will all the trimmings. Their flour tortillas are the best!!

Ran to the fabric store, and got some new Butterick patterns. They were on sale for $1.98. Bought some fabric and made me a new top this evening. With a 40% off coupon for the fabric and the sale on the pattern, I made it for around $7.50 and I have something new to wear to work on Monday. With all the flying we hope to do the rest of this year, everything we've bought for Emma, the software and computer expenses we just had, I really don't want to go clothes shopping right now, and I'm sick of all my clothes. So just have to get a bit creative!! :)

Gayle....just reading your post wore me out so not sure I can even type now...lol

Today I worked getting all the information for my bus route into my laptop. I did some yesterday, but I have it pretty much done. I'll finish putting the seating name tags up and put in the waste baskets tomorrow. Putting all the info in the computer is so time consuming. I have a total of 89 kids this year....not bad considering I can only seat 72...lol. Some won't be riding because they'll drive or ride with friends. I have 8 new kindergarten students. This should be fun.... NOT!

While entering all the info I did laundry. I have to do my whites again because somehow the softener got unplugged and now they have a bit of a yellow/rusty tint. I use this stuff called Iron Out and it makes them all bright white again.

I did go over and visit with Mom for a little while. She still isn't remembering much short term. Again, Mom asked me at least 10 times why she was in the hospital.....and then.....what's wrong with her....and then the subject changed and she told me it sure looks pretty out, is it hot? I would answer and then 7 minutes later....same thing. It is soooo hard to see her this way. I did get a chance to speak with the Dr. and he said most nursing homes/extended care facilities won't accept a patient with C-Diff so we'll need to get her over that first.

The boys and I went to town this evening and ate at Pepe's. It was so good and the beer was soooo cold.

Guess that about sums up my day today. Hope you all are enjoying your weekend. Diana....hoping you get to feeling better soon. It's awful being sick when it's so warm out.

Janet, so if the nursing home won't take her with C-diff, will you have to bring her home. I don't think she can be left alone now, so what is going to happen. I understand the nursing home wanting the C-diff cleared up, but that might not happen before she needs to be discharged. And what if it comes back after she is in the nursing home???

Oh and Diana, I hope you are feeling better. It is so yuky to feel badly and have to be up and around working.

I'm reallly not sure Gayle. I just can't see me bringing her home at this point. When I asked the Dr. when she might be released, the only thing he said was that they need to get the C-diff cleared up first before a facility would accept her.

If she HAS to be released and no one will accept her, I guess she'd have to come here, but she would have to pay someone to help take care of her. I know I would never be able to do it alone.

It sounds to me like the doctor is thinking that she HAS to go to a nursing home after discharge, since he said the remark about the C-diff has to be cleared up. But then again, maybe he was telling you that you are probably going to have to take her home. Maybe you should start investigating home health care. It is pretty expensive, and I've been told it is hard to find good help for in the home. Also to consider is finding someone you trust to be in your home when you are not there. Again, I haven't experienced this but have been told by family and friends that is is a royal pain to find good trustworthy in-home help.

I think the Dr said something about the nursing home is because I did tell him I didn't think I'd be able to bring her back home without lots of help. It would be hard to find someone to trust in my home, that's why I think it would be best for her not to come here. Tomorrow I will be calling a couple of different homes that are closer. In all this....I have a mandatory luncheon to attend (staff and new superintendent) so that is breaking up my day and we are also suppose to get our picture taken for out ID and then school starts Tuesday. I want to be able to visit the different facilities also.

I just knew something would happen when school was starting to make it all more difficult, but I can handle it....I hope. :)

Can't remember if I mentioned this, but I spoke with my Mom's attorney and he told me that the property Mom has in Florida is going to be a big headache...(great, right?). He can settle her estate up here, but an attorney, appraiser, and realtor will need to be hired in Florida. I was told it's best to not get a realtor/appraiser because we could end up with a lower appraisal. So isn't this something to look forward to?

Janet, it sounds like another hassle! But I'm sure you will figure it out. Why would a realtor end up giving a lower appraisal?

On Friday, we worked until 11:00 p.m. taking the vinyl fencing off the back deck. What a pain!!! I hope it isn't as hard to put back together.

We woke up early yesterday and put some paint stripper on the deck, waited an hour, and then tried to take it off. Some places worked better than others. Scott borrowed a pressure washer from the neighbors and pressure washed as much as he could off for 6 hours straight!!!

Then we went to the city, stopped to buy some wedding gifts for the next couple of weddings we're going to, and then we went out to eat, just me and Scott. It was really nice and he said we should start doing that every weekend we're home. We used to try to have a weekly date night when we lived in the city but haven't done anyting like that since we moved out here.

We stopped at my grandma's next to pick up a belt sander. She also had some more chemicals she said worked well to strip the paint off her garage doors, so we'll try that too. We were going to stop at my friend's house to make an appearance for her party on the other side of the city. We were halfway there when she said "Sorry, we're going out for supper" :confused::confused: So maybe nobody showed up at the party... anyways, instead we stopped at Walmart for some stain and then drove home. When we got home we Skyped with our new friend from Australia (from our Europe trip)!

Oh yeah, and one of my eyelids was red and swollen when I woke up yesterday morning. It's painful to blink but my actual eye doesn't hurt. Today it's the same. I don't know if I should be driving into the city today to go to a walk-in clinic for it.

I'm feeling better today. Yesterday wasn't good at all and trying to plan a party was out of the question........thank goodness Dae Lynn took over and everything came together just fine. We had a nice group that came for Damon's going away party and everyone said how much they enjoyed getting together and that we should do it again!!!

Damon left for Teen Challenge a little while ago. It was really difficult to see him say good-bye to the kids. He won't have ANY contact with any of them for a month!! No phone calls, no letters, and no visits. After that I think that they can see them a couple of times a month and talk to him on the phone. Dae Lynn's driving him up and I know that she'll be crying all the way home. I feel so sorry for them but in the end it's the best thing to do.

Damon's actually changed to Teen Challenge near Kansas City and will be there for a year instead of 15 months. Plus it will be a lot closer for Dae Lynn to go and visit!!! Now if we can just figure out a friend that lives there that she can stay with it would work out perfectly!!!!

Janet, I hope that everything works out for the best for your Mom. I know that the decisions are over-whelming but we're here for you!!!!

Judy, I'm so glad to see your writing progressing!!! I do wish that you'd put some on for us to read!!!

Gayle, WHEW!!!!! I was tired just from reading your post!!! I can't imagine running that much in one day!!! If I go to town twice in one day I'm fustrated!!!!! It sounds like you've got your Mom taken care of for her reunion and found some good deals.......and that you're getting your kitchen all shaped up!!! Busy.....busy!!!

Marilyn, the baby will come when it comes!!! Most of us have been in your shoes!!!! I think that being the mother of the new mother is a little harder on us too!!!! I'm sure that the baby will be here soon and you'll get to enjoy holding that precious little bundle!!!

Diana....I feel so sad for Dae Lynn and the kids. I know it will be hard on them, but if this program will help him and keep him on the right path....then it will all be worth it. Please give Dae Lynn a hug from me okay?

We had brought Mom small filing cabinet out to the house so today I went through and filed things where they should have been filed and destroyed papers that needed to be destroyed. I still have all the things for this year in a box to be filed. She had things everywhere and some were so old and need not be kept. This took the bigger part of the morning and then I headed over to see Mom.

When I got off the elevator on her floor, my two brothes and their wives were sitting at a table in the lobby area. Not sure what was being discussed and probably don't need to know. I felt like all eyes were on me though.

Now I'm home waiting on Big Brother to start...lol. Then I'll watch the Real Housewives of New Jersey if I can stay awake that long.

Tomorrow starts a whole new week....and one with all my kids.

Haha Janet I just watched Big Brother!

Diana, I hope this program helps Damon. At least something proactive is happening and he is admitting he needs the help.

I decided to drive into the city for the doctor this morning. It turns out I have blepharitis, an infection of my eyelash follicles. I got some drops to use for 7 days so hopefully it clears up!

I had to run around to a couple of stores to find some new sandpaper belts for the sander we're using on the deck. Scott called me saying he had already broken two! So I bought out all the rest in the store when I found them :rolleyes: Now he has 11 extras to break!

When I got home I used some new chemical stipper stuff on the deck stairs and it kind of worked but instead of just lifting it off the wood, it kind of made it into goo and I had to scrape it off. Scott only got about 6 boards totally sanded... it's going to take awhile. We will work on it in the evenings this week I guess. The paint is such a dark green color, and it's hard to sand in the cracks between the boards. I guess some of it will just show through. We bought some stain to apply when all the sanding is done, but it's semi-transparent. I think it's called woodland cedar.

Now I'm just tired. It's been a busy weekend!

Compared to you, Gayle, I am such a couch potato! You really get things done all of the time! I think it's wonderful, and I wish that I had your zest and energy!
I barely go into town....it's just too much trouble!

Diana, I am glad that you fell better today. My prayers go with Damon, Dae Lynn and the kids. It will be so good for him, and though he will be away from his family, the outcome will be so good.

Janet, the "bratty" brother showed up, huh? It sounds like they are afraid to mess with you, the way they were conferencing without you there!

When my father and stepmother's condo in Florida was sold, there was a realtor from Florida handling it. I don't know how they came up with the asking price. I wasn't involved, except to agree or disagree. The market was terrible, and it wasn't sold for much, but my stepmother wanted it sold so that she could move up north. It really didn't matter if it was sold then or not, but she seemed to be set on that idea. She had already started to forget a lot, and she was in her late 80's, so I agreed on the price. A nice man, who really was struggling with the economy bought it, which was nice. I can't imagine that you will have that much trouble selling your Mom's land, unless the market is still so low. Any chance that you would keep it, and have a place to go to when the cold gets to you?

Linds, that sounds like so much work! You and Scott are so handy! How does the doctor think you got that infection? I hope the medication helps right away.
Good luck tomorrow on week 2 of your new job!

I stayed in today. It was a rainy day, and I needed to relax. I had the kids from early on Friday till around 7 last night. They had such a good time! They played in the pool, and Mackenzie and I hung out while she looked at all of the cute boys! She is usually very stand offish, but she got over a little bit of her shyness. She asked 3 of the kids to be friends on facebook. I am really proud that she is overcoming her shyness. She is at that awkward stage, and thinks she is fat, has terrible legs, is weird, and so on. I took them down to the pool Friday night to try to see some of themeteor shower, but it was too cloudy and the full moon hindered us seeing anything. My friend Deb went down with her two girls, and I think that helped break the ice for Mackenzie. They have never spoken to her before! They don't speak to anyone except the people they have known for years!

They are going to Hatteras Island in about a week. I am going to miss them!!!

Hello busy bees! I'm a dull girl compared to y'all.

I took Laura and her family to Galveston yesterday. We dropped Jonathan, Andrew, Chrissy, and delaney at schlitterbahn and went shopping at the outlet mall. Picked Jonathan and the kids up around 8 and had some super yummy seafood, after walking on the beach for awhile. Special times.

Today, I played in the rain, packedup a few more boxes and did laundry. The exterminator is making his house inspection tomorrow and the house inspector is going out on Tuesday. I could close this week.

It is POURING here! I was thinking of going to get a mani pedi, but this is not weather to go out! I'm not sure what I will do, but probably laundry, floors, relax. I have to go to a friend's house at 4:30 to do a rehearsal for our readings on 8/20.
If this rain keeps up, she will probably cancel.

Judy, did you get to read with your friend? Did you get the 10" of rain?

I had a very quiet work day and got out of here on time. Brought more packing boxes, but don't have the ump to get off the couch. Tomorrow morning, I go out to meet the house inspector ... Praying it's good news.

We did do the readings. We are reading on Sunday at a party.

I am sitting here shaking after reading Diana's post. God was watching over him.

This morning I slept a little later for the last time.... :( at least during the week... :) Then I did a few odds and ends around the house until it was time to go for the luncheon at school. It was really nice to see all the drivers and the teachers. We really do have a great group of people at our school. The meal was bbq pulled pork, mac. salad, potato salad, chips, fruit bowl and these wonderful cup cakes. There was not meeting....just lunch, oh and we got our picture taken for our ID's.

That was over about 1:15 so I headed to a nursing home in Rossville for a tour of their facility. The staff seemed very nice and caring, but the place looked more like a clinic or hosptial. No carpet or decor, very very plain. I really think it's a good place, but I think that Mulberry may be better. It's much more homey looking and they have great care too.

Then I headed over to visit with Mom. She just doesn't remember and it's so hard. While I was there my husband came to visit her. He said that after I left she kept asking where I went to. I hugged and kissed her bye, but she didn't remember. When my husband got home, he was upset. Said he didn't know how much more he could take. Lost his Dad, then his step-mom and said that it was just too hard to watch Mom go downhill. I told him he didn't have to stop every day to see her and he said..."yes...I do". She's been like a second Mom to him since he was 17 years old, he's 58 now.

Since Mom can't make any real decision right now, I've decided to sell the property in Florida. If I wait until she passes, I'll have to hire an attorney, appraisor and realtor. This way will be much easier on everyone.

I finished calling as many students as possible to let them know approx. what time I'll be by to pick them up, got the bus ready and now...ready to go. I really am anxious to see the kids, just not ready to get up with an alarm clock...lol.