I am sitting in Amarillo in my hotel room missing my Missouri family so much. I had such an awesome time with Shannon, Chris and Alyssa! Of course, nothing warms my heart more than listening to my children talk and laugh, which they did plenty of this past week! This time, our vacation was enriched by Cat, Michael's girlfriend, coming along. She kept everyone laughing too and she fit in with the family so nicely. I think I can safely say that everyone liked her a great deal.
But of course, I have to talk about Alyssa. She has grown so much from that newborn that mewed when she cried. She now has a full set of lungs on her and she uses them frequently! However, the lungs are off set with the cutest little smile and a cuddle that makes you forget that she was screaming just a few seconds earlier. I fell so in love with that little girl and I can honestly say that my heart ached when I left her sleeping today. I have 106 pictures of her and a couple of videos. I can hardly wait to come back and see her again and how much she will change in between visits.
It was awesome to see Duane too and to share Alyssa's baptism with him. We didn't get much time together but what time we had was so nice. We feel so close to one another and when he left to go to Toronto yesterday morning, I missed him immediately. I haven't had much time to talk to him today but am hoping to get a few minutes tonight after he gets off of his conference call. We'll see. I know he has got to be beat after driving for over 10 hours yesterday.
Tomorrow we will get up, have breakfast and hit the road. We are hoping to be back in Phoenix sometime between 4 and 6 p.m. It would be very nice if we were home before dark! If Michael has anything to say about it, we will!
Until later.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Life Changes
I had no clue how my life would change after the last post. I was so looking forward to my vacation to Missouri. I would see Duane, play with Alyssa and see my parents, aunt and uncle and my sister. I did get to do all that but not exactly the way I had planned.
On June 19th, my mother had a pretty normal day up until about supper time. She heard a clap of thunder and went around the house unplugging all the appliances that she normally unplugs when a storm comes up. When she returned to the kitchen, she experienced a severe pain in her breastbone area that left her breathless. My dad asked if he should call 911 but she asked him to eat his dinner while she rested on the couch. She walked to the couch but then couldn't get her left leg up on the furniture. He helped her. He ate his supper...quickly and went to see how she was feeling. Although the pain was gone, she was unable to move her left leg at all. At that point he called 911.
The paramedics thought Mom was having a stroke and got her to Boone County Hospital as quickly as possible. Once there, it was determined that she did not have a cerebral stroke but they could not find any explanation as to why she was unable to move her left leg. They ran multiple tests and finally on Monday, they were able to determine that she had a spinal stroke. It is a rare ocurrance, happening in only 12 out of every 100,000 strokes. It has little or no chance of recovering what was damaged due to the fact that the spinal cord does not have many blood vessels allowing for a natural repair of the body. Thus, it appears as if Mom will never again have use of her left leg.
Never say Never is a good motto. Mom is at Rusk Rehabilitation to work on regaining her functionality and independence to the best of her ability. We will see what can be accomplished in the next month or so. Hope does spring eternal.
The most amazing thing has been all of the emotions I have gone through as I have watched my mother receive and realize the news. I have become fiercely protective of her and angry on her behalf. I have comforted her while she has cried and have tried to help both of my parents in whatever way I can. Unfortunately, though, my way is not the way of my other siblings. I have crossed swords with Charla and have been hurt that Craig has not responded to my calls to him. I have cried more than once for her and suspect I will cry more for her.
This journey is not over. The battle has not been fought and we are still just trying to figure out where the enemy has hidden himself. There will be many more blogs on this I am sure.
As for the rest of the vacation with Alyssa and Duane: it was absolutely wonderful. I am too tired to write about that tonight, but I will write. For Duane, Shannon, Chris, Michael, Alyssa and Cat became MY rocks. I realize how blest I am to have each and every one of them in my life at this very moment. I'll try to write about them tomorrow. Good night.
On June 19th, my mother had a pretty normal day up until about supper time. She heard a clap of thunder and went around the house unplugging all the appliances that she normally unplugs when a storm comes up. When she returned to the kitchen, she experienced a severe pain in her breastbone area that left her breathless. My dad asked if he should call 911 but she asked him to eat his dinner while she rested on the couch. She walked to the couch but then couldn't get her left leg up on the furniture. He helped her. He ate his supper...quickly and went to see how she was feeling. Although the pain was gone, she was unable to move her left leg at all. At that point he called 911.
The paramedics thought Mom was having a stroke and got her to Boone County Hospital as quickly as possible. Once there, it was determined that she did not have a cerebral stroke but they could not find any explanation as to why she was unable to move her left leg. They ran multiple tests and finally on Monday, they were able to determine that she had a spinal stroke. It is a rare ocurrance, happening in only 12 out of every 100,000 strokes. It has little or no chance of recovering what was damaged due to the fact that the spinal cord does not have many blood vessels allowing for a natural repair of the body. Thus, it appears as if Mom will never again have use of her left leg.
Never say Never is a good motto. Mom is at Rusk Rehabilitation to work on regaining her functionality and independence to the best of her ability. We will see what can be accomplished in the next month or so. Hope does spring eternal.
The most amazing thing has been all of the emotions I have gone through as I have watched my mother receive and realize the news. I have become fiercely protective of her and angry on her behalf. I have comforted her while she has cried and have tried to help both of my parents in whatever way I can. Unfortunately, though, my way is not the way of my other siblings. I have crossed swords with Charla and have been hurt that Craig has not responded to my calls to him. I have cried more than once for her and suspect I will cry more for her.
This journey is not over. The battle has not been fought and we are still just trying to figure out where the enemy has hidden himself. There will be many more blogs on this I am sure.
As for the rest of the vacation with Alyssa and Duane: it was absolutely wonderful. I am too tired to write about that tonight, but I will write. For Duane, Shannon, Chris, Michael, Alyssa and Cat became MY rocks. I realize how blest I am to have each and every one of them in my life at this very moment. I'll try to write about them tomorrow. Good night.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
I'm Tired
Well, it is Thursday. Do or die time. I have accomplished a lot this week but I have still a lot of things to do today. This time tomorrow we will be on the road. But I can tell you, for me to survive this trip, I am going to have to get to bed at a very decent time tonight. Last night it was 1:30 a.m. before I went to bed because I was working on my college homework. I still have two assignments to go before the end of the day today...and clean house...and finish laundry....and get the dogs to David and JoAnn's....and clean the pool....and gather Duane's stuff...and pack MY stuff....and why am I sitting here writing a blog??? Cuz I am too tired to move just yet. Dot started baying at 6:30 this morning and would not shut up until I got up to feed her. Now, she is just as content as pie and sound asleep in her chair. I, on the other hand, feel like someone dragged me under a truck!!! I'm gonna take a little snooze and then get busy. I will write more next week when I am in Missouri.
Smiles
Smiles
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Counting Down
Happy Birthday Michael!! Its hard for me to believe that you are 22 years old. What an awesome young man you have become. You are happy and while you stress over some things, you have a focus and a determination that you will be successful. I trust that you will.
One day is gone and I only have 3 days to get things done. I had a list of 30 "general" things that I needed to accomplish before I left for Missouri. Yesterday, I got 8 1/2 of them done. Unfortunately, they were the things that took little or no time to do. Today, I have to start doing the harder things...the bigger things. I was going to clean Vina's house today but Beth and Bob are staying one more day. I don't know if I am going to have time to get it done before I leave for Missouri. I have to leave for Vina's house in about 45 minutes to help her get dogs to the groomers. Then I have to work on the pool and then get back over here to get some things done from this location. Then I will have to go back and pick up the dogs and get them home.
Okay...time to get started. I'll try to write tomorrow and report back how well I have done.
Smiles
One day is gone and I only have 3 days to get things done. I had a list of 30 "general" things that I needed to accomplish before I left for Missouri. Yesterday, I got 8 1/2 of them done. Unfortunately, they were the things that took little or no time to do. Today, I have to start doing the harder things...the bigger things. I was going to clean Vina's house today but Beth and Bob are staying one more day. I don't know if I am going to have time to get it done before I leave for Missouri. I have to leave for Vina's house in about 45 minutes to help her get dogs to the groomers. Then I have to work on the pool and then get back over here to get some things done from this location. Then I will have to go back and pick up the dogs and get them home.
Okay...time to get started. I'll try to write tomorrow and report back how well I have done.
Smiles
Monday, June 15, 2009
Get Set! Get Ready! Go!!
Its Monday morning and I am ready to head out after I write this blog. It has been very busy since I last wrote with getting Vina moved into her house. Duane's sisters, Beth and Carol, came in with other family members to help move things and unpack boxes. The house looks amazing! I do believe Vina is going to love living there. Yesterday, Carol bought her a fountain for her front porch and it is truly striking.
Throughout all the weekend, Duane and I were very aware that it was our last weekend alone for quite some time. We did our best to make the most of it and I think we ended up closer than we have been for quite some time. We managed to get in some good meals, some laughter, getting some affairs in order and some quiet time. He left on Sunday and called me last night when he got in. He says the hotel is nice but there are still some financial issues with his company that need to be worked out. That part is still so frustrating.
After I dropped him at the airport, I went to Mike Lewellen's birthday party. I met Michael and Cat at the Chandler Mall and we did some shopping and then went to the party. It was a good time and just what I needed to keep me from being too sad about Duane leaving. I am so glad I went.
Today and this week are going to be busy. I am headed off to school here in a few minutes and then I am going to have lunch with Trish and Lesa. From there I have some birthday errands to run and then home to get some things done so we can leave on Friday. I have something like 30 things to get done and it means I am going to have to be moving almost every minute of every day between now and Friday.
So I am off!! Its time to get this party started!!!
Throughout all the weekend, Duane and I were very aware that it was our last weekend alone for quite some time. We did our best to make the most of it and I think we ended up closer than we have been for quite some time. We managed to get in some good meals, some laughter, getting some affairs in order and some quiet time. He left on Sunday and called me last night when he got in. He says the hotel is nice but there are still some financial issues with his company that need to be worked out. That part is still so frustrating.
After I dropped him at the airport, I went to Mike Lewellen's birthday party. I met Michael and Cat at the Chandler Mall and we did some shopping and then went to the party. It was a good time and just what I needed to keep me from being too sad about Duane leaving. I am so glad I went.
Today and this week are going to be busy. I am headed off to school here in a few minutes and then I am going to have lunch with Trish and Lesa. From there I have some birthday errands to run and then home to get some things done so we can leave on Friday. I have something like 30 things to get done and it means I am going to have to be moving almost every minute of every day between now and Friday.
So I am off!! Its time to get this party started!!!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Play the Cards you are Dealt
Its been forever since I have written anything. It seems like my days are flying past and I alternately think: OH MY GOSH!! and Oh well, it will all get done. I think, at some level, I must have two split personalities!! :) Vina and I will be leaving in a few minutes to go to her new house. I am in my swimsuit because I have to get into her pool and get it cleaned. We also have to tape up the two rooms she is going to have painted. We need to pay the electrician for doing the things we need him to do, I need to fix food for tomorrow, renew my SLP license, do my college homework, help Michael get moved into his room, get Duane ready to go to Tornonto...and now I am back to an OH MY GOSH mode!!
A week from today I'll be oh my goshing because I will be getting stuff ready so we can go to Missouri. I am so looking forward to our trip to Missouri. It will be fun to hang out with the kids...all of them. I can hardly wait to get my hands on Alyssa. I will write more about that later!
When we come to Missouri, we have to bring two cars. Duane is flying to Toronto and so we are bringing the Fit to give to him in Missouri. It will be filled with all the things that he is unable to take with him when he flies and all of the things that he missed so badly when he was in England.
I am running out of time but I wanted to add this last thought. I have been having such a hard time with Duane going to Toronto. I have been sad and weepy and just down in the dumps. Yesterday, Vina was getting her hair done and while I was waiting for her I picked up a newspaper to read. I was reading an article that talked about how we are unable to control the cards life deals to us. But we do best when we play the cards we are dealt with as much dignity and honor as possible. In fact, sometimes when we focus on the positive instead of the negative something good comes from the hand we have been dealt. That made me think of my Grandma Truby. Our family was always famous for playing the card game pitch. When Grandma would play, she would bid on nothing hands and make her bid and often win the game. She would smile and laugh as if it was nothing but I am guessing she was making the most out of the cards she was dealt. I am going to do the same!
Okay, so now I am off to get things done for and with Vina. It is a good day!
Smiles.
A week from today I'll be oh my goshing because I will be getting stuff ready so we can go to Missouri. I am so looking forward to our trip to Missouri. It will be fun to hang out with the kids...all of them. I can hardly wait to get my hands on Alyssa. I will write more about that later!
When we come to Missouri, we have to bring two cars. Duane is flying to Toronto and so we are bringing the Fit to give to him in Missouri. It will be filled with all the things that he is unable to take with him when he flies and all of the things that he missed so badly when he was in England.
I am running out of time but I wanted to add this last thought. I have been having such a hard time with Duane going to Toronto. I have been sad and weepy and just down in the dumps. Yesterday, Vina was getting her hair done and while I was waiting for her I picked up a newspaper to read. I was reading an article that talked about how we are unable to control the cards life deals to us. But we do best when we play the cards we are dealt with as much dignity and honor as possible. In fact, sometimes when we focus on the positive instead of the negative something good comes from the hand we have been dealt. That made me think of my Grandma Truby. Our family was always famous for playing the card game pitch. When Grandma would play, she would bid on nothing hands and make her bid and often win the game. She would smile and laugh as if it was nothing but I am guessing she was making the most out of the cards she was dealt. I am going to do the same!
Okay, so now I am off to get things done for and with Vina. It is a good day!
Smiles.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Friday
Here we are to Friday already. The time in the summer seems to fly. I was paying bills this morning and I was doing the scheduling for when they go out and suddenly realized that two weeks from today, we will be on our way to Missouri. In fact, if all goes right, we should be hitting the New Mexico border about this time!! Woo hoo. I've still got to make hotel reservations but I imagine I will do that next week sometime. I also have to do a lot of work for my college classes so I can be ahead while I am on vacation.
Yesterday, Vina signed the papers on her new house. It looks like her move in day will be Wednesday or Thursday of her basic stuff and then they will start to unload her big items on Friday. I am sure she will be happy to have this ordeal behind her. It will be nice to have her in the same city so that we can help her if anything needs attention.
Duane went to work yesterday and no one was there who could tell him anything about Toronto. I just love it when sweeping announcements are made and then everything is left in the air. I know he sent an email out asking some questions and got back, "We'll deal with that when we come to it." But we still don't know if he is having to drive to Toronto now or if he is flying...if he is in a hotel or if he is going straight to the corporate apartment..if he is coming back for Alyssa's baptism or if he is not...how often does he get to come home? GGGRRRR its okay that he's going...well not really but as okay as it can be...its just the unknown that drives me crazy.
We are getting Michael's windshield fixed today. It has a crack in it and it needs to be repaired. I am not sure he will be happy with me but the car is just sitting here and now is the time to get it replaced.
After this guy leaves, I am going to go clean the pool and then cross stitch for a little while. I get my nails done this afternoon and want to mail off some books to Charla. Maybe I should clean a little on the house too and do some laundry???? Hmmm I'll have to think about all that stuff!!
Smiles, for now.
Yesterday, Vina signed the papers on her new house. It looks like her move in day will be Wednesday or Thursday of her basic stuff and then they will start to unload her big items on Friday. I am sure she will be happy to have this ordeal behind her. It will be nice to have her in the same city so that we can help her if anything needs attention.
Duane went to work yesterday and no one was there who could tell him anything about Toronto. I just love it when sweeping announcements are made and then everything is left in the air. I know he sent an email out asking some questions and got back, "We'll deal with that when we come to it." But we still don't know if he is having to drive to Toronto now or if he is flying...if he is in a hotel or if he is going straight to the corporate apartment..if he is coming back for Alyssa's baptism or if he is not...how often does he get to come home? GGGRRRR its okay that he's going...well not really but as okay as it can be...its just the unknown that drives me crazy.
We are getting Michael's windshield fixed today. It has a crack in it and it needs to be repaired. I am not sure he will be happy with me but the car is just sitting here and now is the time to get it replaced.
After this guy leaves, I am going to go clean the pool and then cross stitch for a little while. I get my nails done this afternoon and want to mail off some books to Charla. Maybe I should clean a little on the house too and do some laundry???? Hmmm I'll have to think about all that stuff!!
Smiles, for now.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
On Tuesday, Duane gets home from work early. He walks in with a bottle of wine, puts down his things and says to me,"I have good news and I have bad news." My stomach dropped. In this economy, a spouse getting home from work early with a bottle of wine is not necessarily a "good" thing. I asked him to give me the good news first and he says, "I still have a job." That made me believe the bad news couldn't be all that bad. So, I ask for the bad news and he says, "The company is sending me to Toronto." Knowing they have a client there and they have wanted to put Duane on this project (and it would be good for him professionally) I ask the innocent question: "For how long?" He responds with, "That's the really bad news. They want me to be there for six months." The thing that makes it even harder to take is that he has to be there on June 15th!! That means he is not here when his mother moves into her new house. He is not here to go to Missouri with me. I am devastated. I had been so looking forward to showing Duane Centralia, to being at the christening for Alyssa together, to being together this summer after him being in England all of last summer. He, then, holds up the bottle of wine and says it is from his boss in hopes that it will make up for sending him away again this year. Nope...doesn't even come close although I did enjoy the wine.
He has to be there on the 15th for a two week training so we are hoping that the company will fly him to St. Louis on the 26th so we can spend the weekend together and he can be there when Alyssa is christened. The company is saying they will put him up in a corporate apartment but that they will not pay him a per diem. That stinks because now we have to take money out of our budget to pay for things the company normally would have paid for like some meals and taxi fare. They even told him he might have to drive his own car there. Our poor Fit. It will not do so well in the cold, I am afraid.
Duane's mom has been here almost since we found out the news. She knows but tonight she has gone home so maybe we can have some time to really process what this means for us both emotionally and financially. She will be back on Saturday to stay with us until she can move into her house on Wednesday or Thursday. By then Michael will be home from Boy Scout Camp and depending on the company, Duane could be on his way to Toronto.
So....here we go again.
He has to be there on the 15th for a two week training so we are hoping that the company will fly him to St. Louis on the 26th so we can spend the weekend together and he can be there when Alyssa is christened. The company is saying they will put him up in a corporate apartment but that they will not pay him a per diem. That stinks because now we have to take money out of our budget to pay for things the company normally would have paid for like some meals and taxi fare. They even told him he might have to drive his own car there. Our poor Fit. It will not do so well in the cold, I am afraid.
Duane's mom has been here almost since we found out the news. She knows but tonight she has gone home so maybe we can have some time to really process what this means for us both emotionally and financially. She will be back on Saturday to stay with us until she can move into her house on Wednesday or Thursday. By then Michael will be home from Boy Scout Camp and depending on the company, Duane could be on his way to Toronto.
So....here we go again.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Thoughts
Well, I'm into my second week of summer vacation and like always, my good intentions have remained good intentions. I was going to get up and work out early every day and I've gotten up one day and worked out. To be fair, four of the other days have been committed to other things like getting the 35,000 mile check up on the car, going into work, and having an electrician come and do some much needed work, but what about the other 6 days? Nope, I have no good answers or excuses.
I looked at my online class syllabus yesterday and I think it is going to be a very busy summer trying to get all of that work done. But, once these two classes are over, I will have one 3 hour class to go and then I will have my certificate in Assistive Technology. That will be an accomplishment that I will be proud of.
I"m looking forward to my vacation to Missouri to see my family. I can hardly wait to get my hands on Alyssa again, to see and hug Shannon, to talk and spend time with my parents, to laugh and talk to my sister. I am also really looking forward to traveling across country with Michael and Cat. We will have a good time together and that will be very very nice. It will be fun to show Duane my hometown and to spend time with my aunt and uncle at my parents' house.
This blogging things might be fun. I'm not going to open it up to a lot of people. Just a few family members and that should be good.
I looked at my online class syllabus yesterday and I think it is going to be a very busy summer trying to get all of that work done. But, once these two classes are over, I will have one 3 hour class to go and then I will have my certificate in Assistive Technology. That will be an accomplishment that I will be proud of.
I"m looking forward to my vacation to Missouri to see my family. I can hardly wait to get my hands on Alyssa again, to see and hug Shannon, to talk and spend time with my parents, to laugh and talk to my sister. I am also really looking forward to traveling across country with Michael and Cat. We will have a good time together and that will be very very nice. It will be fun to show Duane my hometown and to spend time with my aunt and uncle at my parents' house.
This blogging things might be fun. I'm not going to open it up to a lot of people. Just a few family members and that should be good.
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