Hopefully everything will be much better for you Sandy once the divorce is finalized.

Gayle....I just hate that you're having so much trouble with the poison ivy. Maybe you should just stay home and walk around naked while dabbing alcohol all day. Either that or drink the alcohol....either one couldn't hurt.. :)

Today was cold. Tomorrow we aren't suppose to get out of the 40's...brrrrr. Long as we don't have snow....it's okay.

I hope Jerry can do the deal tomorrow so we won't have to bring Mom's car back home. We just don't have the room in the drive for another car during the winter months.

SANDY SANDY SANDY!!!! YOUR BAAAAAACK!!! YAY! YAY! YAY!

As you can see, I'm excited to hear from you!!! Sorry Carol is back tomorrow. It sounds like you are making good progress on your house! Yay!

Sounds like a plan to me, Janet! :D It's actually a little better today. The ivy on my abdomen looks like a burn so I bought an aloe vera plant (think I already told you that). Anyway, it looks a little better today, so maybe the aloe is helping!!!

Took mom to the orthopedic doc today. He couldn't find anything mechanically wrong so we are going tomorrow morning for an MRI. We'll go in Thursday afternoon to get the results. Mom is doing pretty good. She is scooting around in a wheel chair. She can transfer herself from the toilet, bed, and chair to the wheel chair. She can get dressed and get down to the dining room - so she's doing pretty good. I sure hope we can find out what this is!!!

There is some more big news in my family... on Sunday, my brother got engaged too! This is terrible, but the first thought in my mind (and Scott's) was that they were going to try to out-do our wedding, by maybe having theirs first, or right after, and doing it bigger and better, because that's how it always seems to happen... I was relieved when I found out they are planning it for 2013! I think that was really nice of them to let us have our day still.

Well, I have two weeks left at my current job, and then moving on again. I swear, this is the last big change I'm making for a long time!!!

Gayle, I'm glad your mom seems to be getting around well on her own, but I do hope a doctor can figure out what's going on. I am so sorry you're still having problems with that poison ivy! That must be terrible.

Janet, it has gotten pretty cold here too! I'm kind of hoping for snow :) I will not be saying that in January though.

Sandy, did you decide to prime and paint all the paneling?

Gayle...let us know what you find out about your Mom's leg at her Dr. visit. I hope they can get to the problem and make it better and that for now she can get around okay.

Regular stressful day. Knees are callused from praying for carol. She's looney. Plan to get me some geritol and get lots of housework done this weekend.

LOL! Sandy you are a HOOT!!! I hope your crazy manager gets some help soon - or a new job!!!

Well folks, my mom has a stress reaction in her femur (top long bone in the thigh). I'm sure you've heard of stress fractures - well she doesn't have a fracture, just a reaction which is causing her pain. They don't have a clue what caused it other than she walks with a cane in her right hand and the leg next to the cane (her right leg) has more weight on it, and thus, stress on it because a cane in your right hand takes the stress of the left leg. So the doctor said that always having more weight on the right leg could have caused the stress reaction - or not - who knows!

Anyway, it should get better with time and physical therapy. It will take a while, but she has to "push through it" as the doctor said. She can use the wheel chair, but she needs to get up and walk some everyday with a walker, which takes pressure off both legs.

I am very relieved to know that it is not something more serious. I'm not sure my mom WILL "push through it". She's a wimpy baby - but we'll see.

At least you know what to do now. I hope she'll use the walker and get better quickly, will she do that?

Good news, Gayle.

Yes Janet, she will use the walker. I'm concerned that she will spend too much time in the wheelchair though. She tends to use the way out. I know she'll walk some, but I'm concerned that she won't try very hard. I guess we'll see.

That's the way Mom was too.....she thought it was just easier to have someone push her in the wheelchair and she didn't walk as much as she should have. I tried, but she had a way that at times I gave in to her and I shouldn't have.

So far today I've run my morning route and then came home and went through the house like a tornado! I dusted every room and swept the floors and put away whatever needed out away. Let the dogs out, cleaned my kitchen and for this weekend....I'm done....sort of.

I'll run my afternoon route and then I'll be done for the day. Tomorrow I'm going to visit with a friend and her mother to celebrate her 94th birthday. We will be going out yo eat and while we are gone, the nursing home will be setting up for the party. That should be a lot of fun...I just adore her mother.

I'm hoping Sunday afternoon to get the dogs bathed. The look horrible and their nails need trimmed so bad. I've been such a bad dog mom recently. I'm just so tired of so many of them, but I don't think I could really let any go even though I want to so bad.

I'll just have to try and keep myself motivated. It's gotten so much cooler in the 30's and 40's so I mostly want to lay around and do nothing.

Dae Lynn and the kids are home today because there's no school. Dean and I have pretty much gotten in a routine so having the other two home really changes the day!!

We have our ladies group from church coming out today to ride 4-wheelers, hay rack ride, and roasting hot dogs. We have a lot to clean up outside to make things look better. Tomorrow we have Chi Alpha, a college church group, that will be coming for the day. They are such an interesting group to have because they have a lot of international students.

We haven't had much going on.....same ol'....same ol'. I've been getting into orchids so I've been repoting some of them and arranging them in my kitchen window. I have three that are reblooming and a new on that's about to bloom. That's exciting for me!!!

Gayle, I sure hope your poison ivy is about gone!! I've never tried aloe on it so I'm not sure if it helps or not.

I hope your Mom follows the doctor's orders. It is probably hard to walk when it hurts and pushing through wouldn't be fun. Give your Mom a hug from me!!!

Sandy, hang in there!!! Maybe you should pray that Carol would find another job!!

Lindsey, don't worry about your brother's engagement. Don't compete and don't worry about what they plan or are talking about. If you do it will take a lot of your enjoyment away. Be happy for them but don't let ANYTHING stress you out. If your future SIL is small enough to try and up stage you on this then she is a very small person and don't stoop to her level!!!

I was supposed to go to Kassidy's soccer game today, but since she was sick this week, they are keeping her home. I am going to see them tomorrow.

Today, there is a flea market nearby - clothes, I think, that were donated for flood victims, but weren't needed. Ya never know!!!

There is also a small vendor sale in town. It's a sidewalk sale, and maybe I can pick up some good produce. The apples I have gotten lately are so delicious!!!

Gayle, I hope your Mom feels better soon. It is so hard when the body gets old!

Linds, don't pay any attention to your future SIL. She is a bitch, and always will be. And, it seems that she will always try to one up you. Pray for her happiness. If somebody is happy, they tend to not want to annoy anyone else. Are her 2 girls your brother's daughters? I can't remember, but it would be best if they got married so the girls are happy. Anyway, she cannot outdo your wedding. The way you look in your wedding dress is unbeatable!!! And, you are wearing red shoes! No way she can top that! I bet she will have plenty of negative things to say about your wedding, so be prepared to ignore her. She really is pretty pathetic if this is the focus of her life. She sounds like she needs help!

Sandy, maybe that crazy boss will come back on medication!!! She sure needs it! I hope that gets better really soon! The divorce will be over before you know it, and then you are 100% free!!!:D

This is how my last couple of days have gone.............................................. ...........................

SSSSSCCCCCCRRRRRREEEEEEAAAAAAMMMMMMMM

I'm having an awful day!!! Dean's pressing buttons on the computer so I'm actually re-writing this!!! The kids have been awful.......Dae Lynn's at the jail visiting Damon so I'm left with them AGAIN. Dean keeps playing in the dog food and Chi Alpha is due at any moment! I'm so ready to head somewhere.........anywhere!!!! I have a headache that I'm starting to think may be stress related......I'm not sure! BIG DEEP BREATHE.......Please God help me through this day!!!!!

Oh no! Poor you, Diana!!! Maybe Dae Lyn has to get someone to help you when she goes out for the day. I'm sure there is somebody who can come over and lend a hand. Never try to be Supermom !!! Then, they expect it, and it just gets too hard! They forget that we are getting older, the kids are at a bad age, we aren't up to it, or whatever.

I just told Jessie that "No, the kids cannot sleep over tonight. They were home half the week with stomach viruses." Of course, I feel very guilty, but it's better than feeling very stressed!

Diana....since you watch Dean during the week...maybe you should see if Dae Lynn can get someone else to watch them on the weekend....maybe one of the older grandkids. That way you can have your weekends to do as you please. I know she wants to spend time with Damon, but you need a break too.

Judy's right...we just are not spring chickens anymore and the stress can really get to us. So...continue with those BIG DEEP BREATHS and hopefully they will help.

Forgot to say that I spent the bigger part of the day with my friend Diane and her mother. Her mother turned 94 years young. We had a really nice time. For lunch we headed to Lafayette to eat at Kentucky Fried Chicken. They have a really nice buffet there and Marian really liked it. While we were gone some of the staff decorated Marian's room for her birthday (she lives at the Mulberry Retirement Home).

When we got back we had cake and some of the residents stopped by to give birthday wishes, cards and to have some cake. There was a new resident across the hall so I went and spoke with her for awhile and took her a piece of cake. Turns out she knew Mom and attended the same church as Mom....small world. I was so glad that I included her in the celebration, she was so sweet.

Tomorrow...I hope I have the energy and motivation to get the dogs groomed...they need it soooo bad!

Got my divorce! I'm not celebrating because I do believe in marriage. Now, he's texting wanting to be friends. Now, he understands what went wrong. Boohoo, my fat butt! As soon as he transfers the funds, I'm blocking bus number. I do feel a huge release and am so glad it's done.

I ripped out the paneling over the bar area and have decided to take those cabinets out to open the kitchen up to the dining. I have room to build a pantry/pans cabinet on the open wall area.

I lost all my before pictures from my iPhone when I upgraded to the new software. I had pictures lots of pictures on there that I would dearly love to have back. No, they weren't backed up on my laptop. I'm just sick about it.

Church tomorrow and maybe some yard work and wall painting.

Love y'all!

I know you're not celebrating, but congrats on your new beginning. Hopefully he'll transfer the funds quickly and you will be able to move on.

Sounds like you're moving right along with your remodeling Sandy. So sorry you've lost the pictures.

Janet, is this a new picture of you? It's lovely! You are just so pretty! Yesterday sounds nice for you. Have fun with the dog bathing.

Sandy, congrats anyway. Onto the future woman!!! Did you rip off the paneling by yourself?

I have to go to Jessie's today! I haven't seen them in over a week, and I feel so guilty about not letting them sleep over last night. I was right, but maternal guilt sucks! Especially because Jess is sick, and works so hard with the kids. He helps, but they don't allow him to go out with them anymore. It got to a point where he was so grouchy (because he doesn't have a job????) that Jessie just told him flat out that the kids and she don't want him with them. I feel bad for him, but maybe he will learn to stick a smile on his face like most adults do. He is so self involved! She threatened to divorce him a few weeks ago. He didn't believe her that the kids can't stand his grouchiness anymore, so Mackenzie told him flat out. He kept asking Jess if they were getting a divorce, and finally she told him that she doesn't have the energy to get divorced right now. She loves him, but her kids come first. She is tired of being around someone in a bad mood too.

Maybe you could send some prayers their way? It would be good if they were all happy with each other.

I'm going for my under eye surgery tomorrow. I'm nervous!

Hope you all got some rest today.

Church was awesome this morning, then went to home depot to get more paint, went to cvs to get prevacid, got home and put the last coat of paint on that one living room wall. The molding is stained ... Should I paint it?

Sipped wine on the front porch and am turning in for the night. Let's go out there and have an awesome week. He'll yeah!

Sandy, I'm glad that your divorce is final. I know that you're relieved that it's finally done.......less stress for you now!!!

I'm sure that you'll have the house just like you want it in no time!!! That's rotten about losing all of your pictures.

Janet, I'm so glad that you went to the birthday party for your friend's mother!!!! She sounds like a sweet lady!! I'm sure it meant a lot to find a friend of your Mother's while at the nursing home!!

I have to say that your new avatar looks really nice!!!

Judy, don't feel too bad about not having the kids come and stay with you.......after all you don't want to deal with sick kids or getting sick youself especially with your surgery coming up. I hope that you're not in too much pain afterwards. And I hope the surgery is all that you want it to be!!! I'll say a prayer for you!!

Poor Jessie!!! Hopefully her husband will straighten up soon. She sounds like a strong woman......dealing with her husband and her illness.

This weekend was just hard. Whenever Karlie is around life is so different.......not that I don't love her. I have to keep reminding Dae Lynn that she's only five but she just knows what buttons to push and it keeps her in constant trouble!! Whenever Karlie is around Dean she does things to keep him screaming, then Dae Lynn's yelling and the whole house is in an uproar!!!

Dae Lynn went to the jail and saw Damon and he talked to her about where he should go when he gets out of jail because he wouldn't come here with Glen upset with him so Dae Lynn came home all upset and talked to Glen about how he would feel about Damon moving in with us.......and let's just say that it didn't go well. I talked to Glen and he's willing to let him but it's not without hard feelings.......so Dae Lynn was in tears. I feel trapped in the middle because I can see both sides.

During all of this we had Chi Alpha here!! They are such a great group of kids!! We didn't have as many kids this year so that was a disappointment. There are several that have been here before so it's always good to see them. One I talked to is going on to get her Master's so probably won't be here again. I was so sad over that because she's so friendly!! She's from Malysia......one was from France......another from Napal. There's s so many different accents that you know that they're from different places!!! They played games in the meadow........carved pumpkins........roasted hot dogs and smores.......then went on a WILD hayrack ride!!! Everyone says that there's not a hayrack ride that compares to Glen's!!!! Chi Alpha was a nice distraction with all of the things going on with Dae Lynn.

Yesterday was church. I had to do children's church for Amy since she's sick. She had a movie all ready so we did that for the kids and they were really good at sitting still and watching it. Then we went out to eat with Dae Lynn and the kids, Kera and Daya, and Jaci and Nate. Dae Lynn had asked me to watch the kids while she went back to the jail to see Damon but at lunch we decided to go 4-wheeling with Jaci and Nate. I could tell that she was upset but she didn't complain about it. She CAN talk to him on the phone now a couple of times a day now.

So.....we went 4-wheeling!!! Jason (Amy's husband) came with Daya.......Jaci and Nate and Glen and I all went. Later a few other friends came and after the kids' naps Dae Lynn and the kids came. It was such a blast!!!! We rode around a dry creek bed. One of our friends, Steve, is a real dare devil!!! He's usually one to get hurt.....and I noticed that he was the only one with a helmet and padding!!! I'm sure that his wife makes him wear it!!! I got some GREAT pictures of him in the air!!! I'll post them soon.

Later we went over to another place that was all hilly and it was so much fun to ride there. I was really careful at first but soon got the hang of it but there were still places that were too steep for me!!! I stopped a lot and took pictures of the others!!

Right before we were ready to leave Glen rode up the side....not over the top but just up on a side and, I'm not sure what happened but I saw his motorcycle sliding down the hill with Glen beside it. We all ran over there to help and Glen was limping around. He just sat for awhile and the guys got his motorcycle put back up. It was about dark so we were ready to leave and Glen insisted that he could still drive back to the pickup. He got on the motorcycle, started it, then bent over like he was checking something on the motor. Dae Lynn started asking him what was wrong when he suddenly just fell over!! He had passed out!!! It probably wasn't but about 20 or 30 seconds but scared all of us half to death!!!! We decided that he WASN'T going to drive back but was going to ride back on a 4-wheeler with one of us. So Jason took his motorcycle up closer to the road so he could pick it up easier and Glen got on with Nate and we all drove back to the pickup. The guys made Glen take off his boot so we could determine if we needed to stop at the hospital on the way home but his ankle didn't look too bad. He kept telling us that it was just sprained.

I have a feeling that we're headed in to the hospital today to get it x-rayed!! He can't put any weight on it so we're going to have to check it out.

I should mention that he didn't hit his head!! Glen goes into shock or something whenever he gets hurt. I've never had him pass out but he gets light headed or shakes and shivers. Even having a cold is hard on him at first. His body just doesn't handle things like that well. So......it looks like we've got a day at the hospital ahead of us. I think that I'll see if Tammy can watch Dean for me for a while.

I'm glad your divorce is done Sandy. Now you can just move on!

Janet, I'm glad you had fun with your friend and her mother! I love your new avatar too!

Judy, I hope things get better for Jessie and Steve. I know what it's like to be around someone grumpy all the time and I just can't stand it. I hope he realizes how hard it is on everyone else. Good luck with your surgery today!

Diana, I think you need a break too. Maybe you could talk to her about having another family member watch them on the weekends, like Janet suggested.

I had a talk with my brother about his wedding and they went on the weekend to look at a park/zoo to have it at. We had thought about that location too in the first place but we decided not to have an outdoor wedding because it's just more stress that day depending on the weather! But they are also renting the hall in the same location for the reception, which makes it easy to move inside if the weather isn't great. I am glad that they are going a totally different direction with theirs, so they won't compare. They will get married in July, 2013.

This weekend we had no plans, but ended up with lots of plans. We went into the city on Saturday, stayed overnight, checked out some churches for our wedding on Sunday, and then met up with some friends at a mall to hang out. We hadn't seen them since before we went to Europe! We didn't get home until yesterday evening, had a late supper, and went to bed. I kind of feel like I didn't even get a weekend!

Thank you all for the compliments on my avatar. It's a far cry from pretty , but at least I'm not scaring children...lol.

If possible Judy, let us know ASAP how your surgery went. I'll be on the nervous side until we hear from you. I'm sure everything will be fine, but you know how I am. I hope you'll be very happy with the results. Of course prayers will be said for them....as always.

Diana...when will Damon be let out of jail? Isn't there any place that they could rent for awhile? It so different when someone moves in with you, but when it's a whole family...it's really hard. Will Damon be able to find work? You know you and your family are always in my prayers.

I know you all have such great time this time of year with all the activities. I haven't been on a hayride in years, but do have fond memories. I've not heard of anyone reacting the way Glenn does when he gets hurt...what a scary thing to have happen. Let us know about the x-ray.

So glad your brother's wedding will not be a competition.now forget about their wedding and start enjoying making the plans for yours. I know it will bea beautiful event!

Glen decided not to go to the doctor. His foot shows a little bit of bruising but no swelling. Feyn and Jason have both broken their foot in about the same area and they said that there really wasn't anything the doctor did for it so Glen's decided not to spend the money to have nothing done. Anyway that's the decision for now. He got some crutches and got dressed....with a boot on one foot and a tennis shoe on the other......and is now sleeping on the couch!!! I know that he'll be out and about when he's ready.

Feyn was by this morning to check on Glen and we got to talking about Damon. He has very definite opinions about what we should and should not do. Anyway Glen and I have decided that before Damon gets out we're going to call a family meeting and have everyone help us decide what to do. Maybe it will help the family deal with this together. We'll see......

Janet, we're not sure when Damon will get out. He has another court date the middle of November and Dae Lynn thinks that they may let him out because he will have been in 5 or 6 months. Now she's not sure if Teen Challenge is where he needs to go and can't bear the thought of him being gone a year or more. It makes it hard for us to know what to do. Thanks so much for your prayers!!!!

Just a quick update. Mom fell today and we are at the ER. She had a lot of pain in the hip area when she fell, but has no pain now while lying still. I imagine she has broken her hip, but I guess we will know soon. Sigh.

The stress reaction in mom's leg converted to a stress fracture when she fell. So, the good news is she doesn't have a broken hip. They will have to do surgery to fix the femur, but that recovery will be easier than a broken hip. That's about all I know. We haven't yet seen the ortho doc. Probably won't see him/ her till tomorrow.

Oh Gayle I'm so sorry to read this. Thank God it wasn't her hip. I'm just about ready to sign off here and will then say a prayer for your Mom. Do you know how she fell? Well....they sure know how to keep us on our toes don't they? Give her a hug from your friend in Indiana!

Oh, Gayle, I'm sorry, stay In touch.

Regular stressful Monday. Stayed in my office and away from most of the whining. Had one of my girls go home sick, but he others were present. Started my name change process, hoping exxonmobil doesn't make it too difficult. Ironically, it seems natural to use my maiden name.

Take care

Gayle, hope you and your Mom got some rest last night!

Mom is OK today, no pain when the leg is still so she is just resting. They said maybe surgery around noon, but I haven't even talked to the surgeon yet and it's 11:00 so who knows.

Mom said she really didn't know how she fell or why. She said she was getting from her lazy boy chair to the wheelchair which she has done many times and then all of a sudden, she was on the floor. The leg may have broken and caused the fall, or the fall could have broken the leg, but I guess we will never know for sure.

I just met the internal medicine doctor who will follow her in the hospital and through rehab. I really liked her. She talked about some rehab facilities near our home, so that will be good if they are close to me. Mom will have to spend some time in rehab getting up and about again so she can go back to her assisted living apartment. She's not very hep on PT, but she's gonna have to do it.

Thank goodness your mom is okay! I hope she heals well and gets back to normal soon.

I am exhausted today and I have no idea why. I didn't go to bed TOO late but I just couldn't get out of bed this morning! I'm excited to be able to sleep in a little longer starting next week!

Mom is gone to surgery. Gary and I are eating some lunch. I really liked the surgeon. He was really nice and personable and was really nice to mom. Hopefully it is an easy fix!

Keeping her in prayer Gayle.

Gayle, I'm saying a prayer!! I hope all goes well. Keep us posted!

Dean woke up sick at his stomach this morning. Dae Lynn went on to work but called after a little while to check on him. He was still sick and not able to keep anything down. She ended up coming home to take care of him. He's too small to catch himself when he's sick so we both smell horrible!!! He seems to be doing a little better because he's keeping some food down now. I sure hope that this is over by tomorrow!!!

I've got the Alley in a little while so I'll take a shower here soon. I'm excited about going because I've been at volleyball games for a couple of weeks. I miss the kids and seeing what all they do!! Next week it's moved back to Wednesday nights.

Oh Diana, I remember those days. Once when Abigail was about 4, we were in Oklahoma staying in a hotel and she got a stomach bug. She threw up in the bed with her mom who has a queasy stomach anyway, so I had to sleep with Abi (well lay there anyway) and when I heard her starting to throw up, I'd just hold a towel so she could throw up in it. Half the time she didn't even wake up. We did that most of the night. We were supposed to stay another day and ride the train home, but she didn't feel good and Brooke and I were so exposed we were afraid we'd all be sick on the train, so we rented a car and drove home. I'll never forget that adventure.

Mom is back in the room. The doc was able to do the less invasive procedure so barring complications, she should be OK. She woke up belligerent, which I have never seen before. Usually she is whiny tiny, but I've never seen her be mean! LOL! She's sleeping now, hopefully she is getting rid of all the meanness!

Your poor mom Gayle! Here is to a speedy recovery... prayers are with you and your mom...