Kat817

OMG Tracy!!! Pivotal Move? It not only made you really strong, it unlocked brain cells!!! THAT was the wording I was searching for yesterday, and it escaped me!!! Must have to give up chocolate for that knowledge!!! Another night of crappy sleep. I go to bed, and toss and turn til 2 or 3 AM---then sleep fitfully. So today I am going to have a headache.....but no caffeine...see if that helps. I guess I could drink a glass of tea this morning, regular tea, to avoid the headache, then nothing else caffeinated. Something has to give. My SIL tells me it is my age. Love that sentiment! Grrrrrr LOL Anyway, this morning I am exhausted, and sleepy. But I refuse to sleep at all until bedtime. I HAVE to reset this internal clock! The wind is blowing HARD today! And I have to go into town. Several things I need to do, that I forget when I am trying to get my Mom taken care of and all the things she needs to do done. It is chilly too. So gonna wear long jeans, and a ponytail, and tuff it out! Michelle, hope you are feeling ok, today might be a hard one. I had a surgeon tell me that the 3rd day following a surgery is usually the hardest, as all the internal anesthesia has worn off, and all the muscle aches are in action. He said if you can deal with the 3rd day it should improve from there. Will be thinking of you! Suzanne....I hear ya on the achy muscles. Something about gymnastics (aka falling in the yard) at my advanced age (previously mentioned) makes my muscles ache too!!! I cannot do Aleve, and try not to take anything before bed. I tend to reflux if I do. Rick told me last night, he wants to take me to do something this weekend---what would I like to do? I have no clue! The weather is supposed to be yucky---windy and rainy. Nothing jumps out at me, no movies I am dying to see, some would be ok. But nothing big. He even offered to take me to the dinner theater in Durango. But it was fun the one time, but not my thing really, especially since now we know no one in it. Connor is supposed to have a game tonight. We will see.....poor kids, they need a dust mask to go with their baseball uniform. Found out yesterday, that Rick's work is not likely to sponsor our team this year.....that bites. No softball. Well if I am going to town, and going to get my stuff done so I can go have lunch with my husband, I better get it in gear. Will talk to y'all later.

Great to see you posting Michelle! Keep your computer close, it will give you something to "do" without really doing anything, you need to seriously take it easy! So glad it all went well, and is behind you now!!! All the icky parts are gone, and only the fun ones left behind is how I looked at it!!! Tracy----I bet you did more for yourself and your sense of being able TO DO IT by spitting out that candy bar than you even know! Way to go!!!!!! I must get off the sugar kick I am on. I feel so sluggish, and know it is the crash following the high. I seem to have my days and nights mixed up, I am literally sleeping like a baby----awake every little bit, I can go back to sleep, but seem to have to wake up all the time, and want to sleep all morning long and not all night long....... Suzanne, I know you are not thrilled with going to the gym, but I love that you go, and your hubby goes too. That is great. When Rick had his heart surgery, we walked all the time together---it helped that he was home 24/7----now we do nothing exercise wise together, besides haul wood, or junk like that. Went to my inlaws last night. My FIL is not looking good. I mean I can only imagine trying to wear a catheter around all the time. He had not dressed, he was in his robe. But his color isn't great I don't think. They have a lift recliner that was Ricks Granny's. His Dad was having so much trouble getting up and down, I ask him why he wasn't using it. He got this dumbfounded look on his face, you could tell it was something he was so used to seeing, he just hadn't thought of it. Finally he grinned and told me "I guess because you haven't put it over here for me!" Rick was off riding the grandkids around on the golf cart, and assembling a can crusher for them, so I swapped out his recliners, and when he sat down, it is a firmer chair, he said it already felt better. Poor man.....that HAS to be uncomfy. MIL was telling me that the kids biggest issue is ME saying the land would not be in their name. Makes me crazy! Everyone wants to bitch and blame me for saying it, but it is TRUE! The thing about the land is, I said it, and the land will never be in my name either! So the hell what??? It is family owned land, and will always be in the kids --meaning Rick and his siblings names only. Tell ya what when you go through a divorce and lose everything that becomes such a non issue! Our son does not realize this, or will not admit it----but the fact is, if that land had been in his name when he walked out when finding out she was pregnant again, he would have lost that land, they would have given it to HER, not him, they were po'd at him! But it is better to be mad at me, and I don't care!!! They did tell us when Connors next 2 games were. And DIL called me.....so I am making nice, but keeping my reserve, it hurts too bad! My youngest grandson is fully mobile, at 9 months, going EVERYWHERE at full speed ahead! And he has his first tooth finally! So.......good thing I have a Great, great niece or nephew coming, we need a baby soon! Ours is insistant on growing up FAST!!! Well I am off to put away the things I bought. Took my Mom to town shopping for birthdays and graduation. Everyone be good. You CAN do this Tracy, and you can call me ANYTIME!!!!!!!!!!

Good morning---for another few minutes! Michelle--so glad you let us know all was well---rest, relax, do nothing for a few days and heal! Check in when you can. Ever have one of "those" days? Mine was ok yesterday morning, and went downhill, to a point Rick and I eventually found humor in my idiocy! I went out and decided to start mowing, before he got home. Was finishing up the front yard, was on the side, and stepped back, next to a brick flower bed, and I guess I misjudged it, and I fell---into the flower bed. I tried using the lawnmower to counterbalance myself, to no avail, and did not have time or the intelligent thought to let go of the damn thing, and almost rolled it right on top of me----still running! I hit my head on the sidewalk---didn't really hurt anything but my pride, because sure as hell, just as I fell, Rick pulled up!!! He freaked, took over the mowing....we moved on the back yard---I made him let me mow for a bit back there, and I hit something saw it fly off---was black---so I went to check it out---it was the gas cap off of the lawnmower! It fell off and I run over it! $25.00 kaching!!! Vented gas caps are not cheap btw! We come in, I sat down in my chair, and my watch fell off--slid down the side of the chair---we could not get it unhooked from the springs---finally about the 3rd time turning the chair over it fell free. I went into the kitchen to get some salad ready to go with dinner, and opened the fridge, and the carton of cottage cheese fell out, popped off the lid and cottage cheese went everywhere! I was ready to lose it! LOL Rick kept telling me to stay away from him! Finally we laughed. But I would go to sit my glasses on the table, and they would fall off. I picked up a cookie to eat (I know cookies again) I bit into it, the other half fell off and hit the ground. TONS of little things....but they happened all evening long! LOL Hopefully I have broke the curse! I have no support group. The Dr. I see in CO offers them, but they are 6 hours away one direction. I know several banded people, but none are interested in a support group, they all prefer to keep their surgeries quiet.....so.....I have no group available. I do better with summer. A grilled meat of some sort and a salad is fine with us. I don't feel the need for comfort food and cozy crock pot meals in the summer. We can make salad a meal....and Rick is SO easy with food, if I don't want to cook, he has no issue with grazing the fridge, or even eating a bowl of cereal. I feel the need to do more since I am no longer working. Tracy---good for you! I know you love Frank and want to keep peace, but you have to stay true to you too. If keeping the kids on occasion makes you happy, and is not interfering with family time---I don't see an issue either. Maybe he is concerned she will try to talk you into full time again. I know that was not a good thing. Well I am off to find something for lunch, then going to clean for awhile, and then go sit in the back yard and soak up some vitamin D---it looks sooooooo nice out there bright green grass, freshly mowed.

Hey Suzie~ Just got home. Manda broke the ball part of the joint. It is currently in proper position, just fractured through the center pretty much. She is going to be in the sling for another 6 weeks. They cannot cast it easily due to the arm pit sweating....and the best position for it is hanging down, with support. If it comes apart, then she will have to have surgery to place a screw in it to hold it together. He said he cannot test for the rotator cuff injury or anything else until this heals, as he does not want to try to move the arm unnecessarily. FIL went in and had his catheter removed, and still cannot pass urine on his own, so they put it back in for another week---can you imagine the misery? My Mom went to the dentist, but have not heard from her--I am half afraid to!!! I have heard nothing from Michelle--hope all went ok, and she is just recovering enough to head home. Amazing how they do these surgeries as day surgery now! And mine was not that long ago---but the advances are fast! I need to go to the station and get gas for the mower, so it can be ready when Rick gets home. Ugh. SO not in the mood to do this!! LOL And here I sit eating a cookie. Where is my brain??? Will check in later....if I do not get moving on this I will totally not do it!! I'll just eat more cookies!

Thinking of you Michelle! Taking Manda to the ortho today---she is driving, but our concern is how much pain she may be in when they move it around a lot deciding what has been done. She still cannot move the joint. Anxious to know what is going on. Rick made it home fairly early yesterday, we worked in the yard, and had a good day. He grilled burgers for dinner, then my folks stopped by on their way home from a prayer group, and they had a burger with us. It was really nice. Had to laugh, when we were working in the yard, Rick's Mom called, and he was talking to her, and she was wanting to know what was going on with the kids moving. Somehow it come up that he (son)was still mad at me, because I said that the property out there would never be in his name. LOL--Like that is MY decision??? I was simply repeating what had been said by my divorced husband many a time! If the property remains in at least Ricks name, then he would not lose everything in the event of a divorce! Ask Rick about buying homes and giving them away!!! So, he is mad at ME about a decision made by his DAD for HIS own good! Talk about communication break down! Then while talking his Mom let him know that the kids had not been paying their rent. Oh man! I knew that....thought he did. DIL told me they worked it off, I thought it was an agreement with the grandparents, because the kids DID do a lot of work for them. So I blew it off. So would Rick have if it had been an agreement. Then being yelled at about doing all the work took on new meaning. I guess he wants someone else to do the work (we are now) and he wants to live for free.......boy do they have a rude awakening coming! 2$ an hour more is not going to make up for living free. Emotional binds are a different issue, and I fully understand the need to get away and live on their own, and I don't blame them, but it is an idiotic move in this economy. But we all do it, we all learn our hard lessons. Hope the grandsons don't suffer for it. Got the irrigation water on this weekend, and boy the yard looks so good!!! We have plants ready to put out once the risk of frost is gone. And we plan to mow for the first time tonight. Supposed to be nice today and tomorrow, then wind and rain, the rest of the week through the weekend! I want some riding time!!! LOL. Mother Nature is not being agreeable! Glad your party went off well Jenn, post some pics!! Going to go get ready, think I will see if Manda wants to meet Rick in town for lunch. Take care!

Megan looked so beautiful......made me cry! She is such a good kid, sadly I am not sure anyone at home fully appreciates that. She pays for a lot of her sisters "mistakes". And her sister may not have done things the way her parents would have liked, but she is doing ok....she is trying to move ahead in the right direction. They always talked, well Mom always talked like Manda made such poor choices, by marrying young, and not getting education first. Which she did get, but she thought she should be single and have the experience! I heard all about the college funds, etc. Well I did not have the $$$ she did!! Then Liz, the older sister, got pregnant just before HS graduation. Got married, living with her parents, finished HS, tried to start college, had her baby, and tried going back, got pregnant again.....and they continued to live with Mom and Dad. Well now, her husband is in school in AZ, and she is working, and they are going it alone. But they stuck it out together. They are giving it the best shot they can! Unfortunately for Megan, they watch her like a hawk, and she is not allowed to do a lot because they want better for her. She is a good kid, I hope they don't shortchange her. I am soooo proud of her! And she looked soooo beautiful. Rick is working. Hopefully not ALL day. We watch our finances here pretty close. Rick is not ready to retire. Some days he says he is, but he would not last long! Right now, we have our income cut pretty seriously packing it into retirement accounts. We both max out Roth IRA's each year, and we put a full 25% into his 401K. That 25% would not be such a big deal, but we also pay back a huge 401K loan each month, at a tune of over $600.00 a month! Rick is not totally trusting of the 401....so he pulls the money out in a loan, we put it into other things---that WE manage, not the company. Then pay ourselves back.....so to speak. We have done it repeatedly. Makes our paychecks much smaller....but we could survive if need be for awhile! Our house is paid for, and right this minute we have no car payments, and CS will be done in 2 months, as well as the medical we pay in addition. So....that alone will help. Rick is being extra cautious after watching his parents retire. His Dad was a self employeed consultant in the oilfield, had his own drilling company for awhile even. He retired on what should have kept him living at his normal style for 20 years. It did not last. Inflation hit them hard! They NEVER bought on credit....anything! They cannot even get a cell phone! They paid cash for their homes, their cars, everything! But when he retired, gas was cheap, and you could buy a small car for under 10K. No one could have predicted the way things were going to go! And he found himself stressing about money at 80! I think he also did not see himself living this long! He went back to work! Dry watching wells, and watching flow back in drilling rigs, at over 80 years of age. Kinda scares Rick, he wants to be sure we can survive whatever happens. Well I am off to call and check on Manda, she is not doing great, we are worried it tore the rotator cuff, she still cannot move her shoulder socket. Dislocations usually don't seize up for that long...... Will check up on y'all later!

Hey girls~ What a nice evening! Rick made it home, he has to go out early, but we got time together anyway---spent some time in the backyard, just planning and saying "what if we....." lol Sitting up, waiting for Megan. They are stopping by, but it won't be until about midnight. One of the girls in their group was running so late, they did not make it by before leaving for prom, so since 2 of them have to be home at 12:30, they are stopping on their way to take them home....so I can get pictures. Even with his early schedule, Rick said be sure to wake him up! This little girl is part of our lives and part of our hearts!! When she was little our son would take off with her shoes, especially her favorite "hello kitty" platform sandals, and she would go nuts! Rick would rescue them for her, and she still acts like he can fix anything!!! But she also loves giving him a hard time! I guess she is going to Denver with us when we take Kinsey. Talked to my SIL there, and she said we could get one of her grandsons, that Kinsey gets along with really well to go ride things at the 6 flags there. We were going to take her and Connor, and that fell apart, so we will move on to plan B!!! She will be happy with it, she and Brandon played together really well, he is older, but small. Will be better anyway, they will both be tall enough to ride most things I think. Oh I will send you the info to look at her pics. You will laugh at the fake smile in some of them!!! The ones with the pink netting I had made into a collage---and also the last one, a close up of her face, I had a collage made with it large in black and white, and the 3 bright ones with all the flower backgrounds and the rock, in small ones down one side. That one is going to be a surprise for her Mommy from her for Mothers Day. It is soooo cool looking!! I am excited. I cannot see the collages on the website, or the highlighted pics. One of them, the same large one, we had just some flowers, and her eyes colored....the rest is b&w. FIL is doing better---he had some pretty serious bleeding, but MIL said tonight he was better. I have avoided going out, my cough is sooooo bad. The last thing he wants to do with how he is bleeding is be coughing like I am! YOWCH! Talked to my nephew who is going to be a Daddy today. He is kind of shell shocked, and shy about it, but happy too. His picture is in todays paper, he is a volunteer with Special Olympics, and shows him helping a boy in a volleyball game. He will make a great dad----which is really surprising, he had no role model. His Dad is a nice guy, but just not around much, and has an alcohol problem. Rick is hoping to be off early tomorrow too---but not holding our breath! We have a few things we want to do....but we'll see. Is his last day in the field. He likes his job so much better, it is a relief. I hope it remains something he likes as things are starting to pick up again..... I would have looked into the sleeve if it had been an option at the time Tracy, simply to avoid the trips involved with fills. Lucky for me, I have not needed but 3 since I had my band surgery--but even check ups are so far. Never adjusting would be nice!! DH changed jobs didn't he? What is the new insurance???? You mentioned part time work. I have 3 different people I know who went to work for Starbucks just for the insurance coverage for WLS.... I just hate seeing you unhappy! Think I will go get my jammies on and wait for the kids. My baby Megan, at prom....with a boy no less!!! UGGGHHHHHH

It rained the night of my daughters prom, her Junior year. Her then bf was driving his Dads Firebird (yeah Daddy had a massive mid life crisis going on!!!) Top it off with the fact that for that year she chose a very full skirt---the cinderella poofy type! In the palest pastel pink---showed EVERYTHING! She had her hair done in big rolls on top of her head--and her hair was long, so it was an issue to get it on her head!! LOL Jason come, and the rain had stopped somewhat, but the bottom edge of the car was mud spattered, and we knew her dress would rub it, so he took a towel and cleaned it, then laid another one there, and she went out to get in the car....well all that dress and she could not see, she went to slide in, and literally FELL in the car!! We laughed so hard at her elegance! He promised her he would clean it off each time they stopped. I was afraid for the type of car, and the roads.....was a nerve wracking night. Then my worst nightmare! At just after midnight, my phone rang (this was pre cell phone), and the caller ID showed the local hospital! I seriously almost peed in my pants. Sure enough it was Manda, and she wanted me to know they were going to be a few minutes late to the breakfast a friend was hosting, because they were going to stop by and show his Mom how pretty they looked---she is an OR nurse! I told her she scared the crap out of me! She said she was one of the only girls at the Prom that was not in the bathroom, trying to clean the bottoms of their dresses. And her pastel pink dress looked beautiful in the pics....and Jason had a streak of mud across the back of his tux pants! LOL Fun memories! Hope your daughter has a safe, and wonderful, memory filled night! She and Jason went to prom together 3 times. He was a year ahead of her in school. They had such fun with it. They were such good kids, he was a fun, somewhat needy, and neglected emotionally kid. He just kept those issues as an adult, and looked past his wife to fill them. He is still unfaithful in all his relationships. But to be around him, he is still funny, and makes you feel good. So wierd! He come to be there when Kinsey had her pictures made the other day---she loves her Daddy. At least he can't break her heart like he did her Mommy's! Rick is working this weekend. He is on straight overtime all weekend long. In the end it does make a difference in the check, tho not a huge one. It makes a massive difference tho in our stock purchases, and 401K contributions! When he works like this, it doesn't feel like a weekend! Well I am going to go call and check on the Dad's. And yeah y'all are right, that is without a doubt the best thing about this group of girls! Support in whatever is going on!

Suzanne.....there are so many reasons you were put into the path of my life....this post is representative of one of them. Where I was simply baffled, and even irritated, you opened my eyes with my inlaws. You allowed me to see them as they really are....elderly, unsure people who truly would not call and bother the Dr. if they thought there was another option....and you are right, they were using me as another option. The bleeding was an embarassment to my FIL, more so than a worry I believe! Sometimes I forget how much times have changed, and have to remember they are both over 80. I am lucky to still have them in my life, and I am incredibly lucky to have friends like you who not only listen to me whine and complain about things that are VERY minor, but who are able to put it into perspective for me. Thank you.......and I mean that in the most sincerest of ways....thank you.

I am home. My Dad's appt. went well, his Dr. says every single time he is his prize patient, he knows all about us as a family, and has even dropped by his house when he comes to the area to fish in quality water! Anyway....he is good, we go back in 6 months. Normal. So while we are in Albq. I had several things to pick up for us, my inlaws and parents at Harbor Freight. I had a question about a thing for my inlaws, so called them, figuring they should be through with my FIL's second roto rooter procedure today---he had to be there at 8:30. Sure enough they were home, and my MIL tells me they could not do the procedure--the tube would not insert, there seemed to be a blockage. So.....the plan was for him to go back in a week, hoping it was swelling. So we are shopping, and my phone rings, it is my MIL, saying my FIL is bleeding profusely. The bathroom, and he are both covered in blood. And she calls me 200 miles away???????? WTH? I ask her had she called the Dr.? my SIL who is minutes away??? 911???? No, she thought she would call and discuss it with my other SIL in Denver. OMG..........So I call my local SIL, she calls the Dr. they take him back in, I call Rick in out of the field, he meets them there, and he has been in the Dr. all day long. But seriously---she calls me knowing I am in Albq. I don't get it! So I talked quickly to Rick, he said they managed to cathaterize him, stop the bleeding, and the cath will stay in place, they got the procedure done, and the cath will provide pressure....and will stay in until Monday. But MIL was going to let him lay in bed with an ice pack to see if it would stop. I simply don't get it! Oh well...... Rick does not do the gym. He might if he ever worked normal hours....but he is pretty physical at work. I need to go, and like Tracy, I need someone else to have get up and go for me, and just drag me along!!! Will check in later. I need to go unload some things.

I don't have a problem with GC, but I LOVE salad....and they always have soooo many salad items!!! Their savory items are not what appeals to me so much. I do like the mashed potatoes, but they don't go well with salad! It isn't an issue so much with me. I don't have much issue with over eating anymore, apparantly where my band is placed, affects that whether it is filled or not. BUT.....as you pointed out, the dessert slides in no problem!!! My choices in general are my problem. Chips, and sweets. There is a Butterfinger in the kitchen, I bought 2 to put in Ricks lunches. I honestly caught myself thinking I could eat it, and replace it, and no one would know. Hello? No one else would care, and the only one it really matters to would have known and that would be ME! GAH!!!! WTH is up with thinking like that? We had such a nice day----laid around doing nothing. Snuggled on the sofa to watch a movie and woke up 2 hours later.....we ate the roast so I didn't have to cook anything, and we didn't have to go anywhere. Was good. My Dad and brother come over and I cut their hair. My brother needed it badly!!! He is thin on top, but the side and back grows fast and thick, he lets it go way too long, and I cut it short!!! He always freaks out a bit! Tomorrow I will be gone all day. I am leaving at 6 AM to take my Dad to Albq. for his check up with his cardiologist. Will check in when I get home. Y'all keep things under control for me!!!

Hey y'all, won't be around much today. Rick getting in so late, has to reset his work time....meaning he has to have 24 hours off to make him legal with DOT. So he is home today YAY!!!!! Will check in later when he is napping....yeah I am pretty sure he will do that!

Pictures went well, was going to go online and look at them again, and send you all a link, and the damn thing will not let me log in it says my email address is already taken!! Helloooooo???? yeah it is ----BY ME! Grrrrrr of course customer service is closed already........so maybe tomorrow. I wanted it NOW! Rick is stuck on a location that they are having a pump problem on, so he will not be home til early in the morning. Gonna be one heck of a paycheck! LOL Trying to think positive!! LOL Will be back later tonight. I have Kinsey. Manda rode with some friends over to attend a meeting tonight, regarding the team being sanctioned, and dues etc. They have made plans to take all the kids from a local childrens shelter skating this weekend. So they need to finalize some plans. Not a big deal, is nice to have the company with Rick gone.... BBL

All is well here.....I have been to the grocery store, grabbed a roast they had on sale, and have it in the crock pot, so no matter what time Rick gets home, he will eat tonight....none of his "don't bother" nonsense. Plus it is good for sandwiches for his lunch...... Waiting to go get the girls picture made. She is at the age she does the super fake smile, and tries to get it over with! Gonna be some work involved!!! We are just going to Sears, so not a big deal. OK.....gotta go. Will be back later, just didn't want everyone thinking something else happened!!! LOL I guess Connor had another game last night, but no one told us....I could have gone, since I didn't have a kid in the hospital, but since I missed that one, I am in the dog house again. Dogs pretty damn good company, I might just choose to stay here. Petty, infantile games. Immaturity, and it costs the grandsons.......yeah, a little angry. Sorta feeling like my son, easier to be angry than hurt. Oh yeah, has nothing to do with hurt, they are being asses! LOL

Michelle, for your cleanse, find something good to read, and have something for Teagan to do while you spend inordinate amounts of time in the bathroom!!! It will clean you out! Might not be a bad plan to buy some TUCKS. After that, the guidelines I have been given, were---I could drink anything I could see through EXCEPT red jello, or red koolaid. I could have broth, and juices of any kind. I drank lots of tea. The color dye in red things stains, even on the inside! So they want it avoided usually. The stuff they give me, I could make orange or lemon (yeah right) flavored. I mixed half in a pint and a half of water and drank it.....and then mixed the other half and drank it. Why in 2 doses? I have no clue! It took about an hour and it sent me into the bathroom, and there I remained for awhile!!! Why you are doing it for 2 days I have no idea. It WILL cause diarhea, but whatever you do, keep drinking, you do not want to head to surgery dehydrated, and that can do it! Good Luck with it. I'd sure come help with Teagan---I'd bring Kinsey! And help you in any way I could if we were closer. You will manage--and it will all be worth it. Suzanne, I remember your pain a year ago. I am so sorry it is still painful. You have worked hard, and dealt with some uncomfortable situations to make sure you all remained close, I am proud of you for that! Rick called a few minutes ago, he was headed back to the yard from Colorado, so he should be home before too long. I ask him did he want to eat, he said maybe a bowl of cereal. I offered to cook him breakfast, that is one of his favorites, but he said no, he wanted to get some sleep. And he just called and will be here soon, off to get things done!!!

After dinner, especially when Rick works late, or is having to go out early so goes to bed early---it is like I am occupying myself with food! Then it screws with my sleeping. DUH!!!! Chatted with Tracy in FB chat today, that was fun. Manda is doing much better. Still no feeling in the upper arm as far as stimuli goes, but there is pain, so the nerves are in tact. She cannot lift it, is not to try for a few days. But is doing good. Abbey has been giving her grief all day, sending her gory pics of wrecks worse than hers in derby----and keeping her spirits up! The guys sent her a bouquet of dead weeds from work, addressed to the tuff derby girl. So.....she is going to be fine. Kinsey was ready to go make sure her Mommy was ok. We will do her pics tomorrow. Casual, fun ones. I think she said she is just wearing capris and a t, and flip flops! But that is her normal. Well not really, there is no normal with Kinsey and clothes---omg she is gonna give her mama fits with that as she ages. I'm gonna sit back in the corner and giggle!!!! Will check in later~~

Tracy, that is always my schedule, eating til evening is in perfect control. I think my problem was the age old way I was taught to cook dinner. It ALWAYS involves carbs in one fashion or another. Potatoes, rice, pasta.....something! And it sets me up to want to eat all night long! If I make an effort to do a veggie or salad with a piece of meat, I don't try to devour the house all evening and night long. If I eat them, I want ice cream an hour later, and chips....and....and...and....it does not stop! My best bet is to find something I can snack on if I get the urge to snack, and have it on hand---like your almonds. Or make jello, or SF pudding or something. Then I can usually make it through! Well Manda is ok this morning. She slept fitfully through the night. The drugs would knock her out, and she would go to sleep, then when she moved---OUCH! So she slept, just not in long stretches, soundly. I am going to help her shower, then Abbey and I are going to get her car home, and she thinks she can go from there. This afternoon I might leave her home resting and take Kinsey to see How to Tame Your Dragon. She is supposed to have pictures made, but we will see. Mom being one handed does not do hair well!!! Seh made the call to the ortho, but the scheduler has not called back. Guess it is time to get dressed and get on with this day! Thanks for all the responses to my message! He never showed last night (surprise!!!!) he did call her and check on her. Looks like moving day is this weekend for him.....oh well. Rick left early......before 2. Should be home at a decent time I hope....but not holding my breath. On the positive side, the weather is nice, and he likes being out in the field for a change---so he is happy. Abbey is on her way so I guess clothes are in order!! Oh yeah, I got stopped last night on my way home, I guess I have a license plate light out. Cops around here love those things! Gives them a chance to see if I am sober!!!

I am afraid if I sent you meatloaf Cindy----by the time you got it, you may never want meatloaf again!!! I had Kinsey tonight while the girls had derby practice. She and I were at the grocery store buying Papa some Doans for his back, when my phone rang....said it was her Mama. But twas the other daughter...telling me Manda was hurt, and the ambulance was on the way! Seems they were playing freeze tag, in free skate, at the armory, just them. Abbey was chasing Manda, and she was looking over her shoulder, and slammed a brick wall, full speed ahead. She was in full protective gear, helmet (which was really good) mouth guard (also good) elbow, wrist and knee pads. But her shoulder took the hit. Abbey said she went down screaming. And she was still sobbing in pain by the time the ambulance got her to the hospital, and I got there! The bone of her upper arm, was out of the shoulder socket and was sitting up by her collar bone...she looked VERY deformed! They drugged her, put it in place, Xrayed lots of times, and loaded her up on pain meds and sent her home. She has no sensation, she cannot feel needle pricks or anything over most of the upper arm, they said it should come back, but she stretched lots of muscles and tendons, and interupted nerve patterns. So it will take awhile. Kinsey is in bed, Manda is in bed, Rick is in bed....I am trying to calm down so I can be in bed! I am still REALLY wired! The ambulance did a partial set of it, just getting her onto the gurney, the attendant did not support it. She said it felt a lot better after it happened, but it hurt like a you know what as it happen. She already ask the ER Dr. how long til she could roll again....as she still has tears seeping from her eyes, following 3 shots of morphine, and finally some dilaudid! He told her he would let the ortho specialist she needs to see decide that! Tomorrow Abbey and I will get her car back home. Abbey had another teammate drive it to her house, and she got all of Manda's stuff. We got ready to leave the hospital, and realized, she had no shoes, nothing......the ambulance all but stripped her, and she had nothing! Was kind of funny! Went and caught Walgreens just before they closed, and got her drugs----dilaudid for tonight, Lortab for tomorrow, and Valium for relaxing the muscles. She is liable not to remember today!!! LOL Stopped and got her a bean burrito at Taco Bell so she could have food in with all the drugs, but she was too uncomfortable to eat, until she got home, and settled in and it finally eased, and she ate. Fun, fun, fun~~ seems like it never ends!!! Rick made it in, after we had all got going towards the hosp. He leaves again at 2:30 this morning. I have his lunch all ready. Trying to make sure Kinsey is out good before I shut everything down and go to bed....she is like her Granny, a little chicken through and through!!! Will talk to you all tomorrow! Thanks for the replies to my message. He is not the one with the threats Cindy, he is just worthless pretty much. This will be the first time in his entire life he has lived alone! Gonna try to sleep now.........hugs~

Hey girls~ Was a nice trip to town. Got some news I am a bit uneasy with, will have to chat with you about it later, is something I need to get feedback on. Expect something from me. Found some shirts I wanted. Bought the cutest bib overalls for Corvin! Just found his size....so had to have them. Will watch for something for the other kids as sizes are available. Hit the bookstore....think I am set up for this week with Rick gone so much. Tomorrow Kinsey is going to go get pictures made. I need new ones, so that is all good. Suzanne, I hear ya about the fridge situation. We went white, because our house is so small. We have recently been discussing a move again, or at least a change. Won't be for a couple of years I'd imagine. But we are getting closer to retiring, and that makes us wonder what the right thing to do is!!! We have decided what the plan is with the property here since all this hullaballoo with DS. That helped make our minds up on some fronts. Anyway, our appliances are all white.....kinda boring, but I like it ok! The other thing that Becky hates about her stainless, besides her grandsons prints ALL over it---she cannot hang his art work! The magnets don't stick! I have grandkids pics on mine, so would miss that too! I watched the show you are talking about once or twice....but for the life of me, there has never been anything from my young life that put me in the shape I was. I was skinny, until my second marriage. The weight was directly involved to that, and my insecurity of my own judgement after that. It tends to try to go back further, and none of it relates. I had a happy childhood. As for the puting the fork down....I KNOW all that, I just need to practice it again. I used to seriously when I had restriction, to see if the next bite was going to be "it". Now that is not an issue...... I do really try to pay attention to my chewing tho, it makes a difference in how my food feels in my belly--might be in my head, but it does! Well I need to go mix the meatloaf! Everything is ready just to assemble it! Will shoot you all off an email here shortly.

Tracy, I can give you a way to reduce the pressure in your ears, if it is just refusing to pop. I was introduced to this following a flight to Hawaii. Take small sized styrofoam cup (1 or 2 depending if it is both ears or not), then take a paper towel, fold it to fit down in the end of the cup....then get it wet with as hot of water as you can stand. wring it out (carefully!) and put it in the bottom of the cup. Then take the cup and place the open end over your ear. Sealing it as tightly to your head as possible. And get comfortable. You will need to sit with it there for 15-20 minutes. You will feel it open up and release the pressure. The heat has to reach it, and allow it to open---the styrofoam is such a great insulator, it allows the heat to do it in a manner it remains open, andallows the pressure to stabalize. We actually saw people sitting in phone booths doing this! I ask the Dr. about it, and he said it is very safe....it should work, but if there is infection, the tube will just swell again, effectively closing the fluid behid the eardrum again. Rick is back in the field this week. He enjoys the time out--but it is longer than usual hours, odd hours anyway. He left this morning at normal time--will probably be the last time he does that for 10 days or so. We went by Abbey's yesterday, and visited with her and her DH and Corvin. He is such a character! He is HIGHLY mobile now, into run mode, forget the walk! He grabs my face or my neck and just hugs me so tight, and he grins the most adorable little smile! He and I are going shopping together at some point this week, so Abbey can get some things done without his help! LOL I love that little boy soooo much!!! He was telling us his new word over and over and over....cheese. And expecting us to go to the fridge and get it for him each time. When we played dumb, he drug us to the fridge!!! Speaking of fridges---have fun Suzanne!!! I really like our fridge in some ways---the ice maker and water out the door are GREAT compared to like Becky and Gary's. Ours spits crushed ice out FAST! You have to stand there forever for their ice maker to fill your glass. And theirs is a new one! BUT we have had to replace the valve where the water comes into the back of the fridge 2-3 times already, in 10 years! It is where it allows just enough water in to fill the ice maker trays and then shuts off, it has such pressure behind it, it goes out. If it happens again, we are going to put a valve on the line and slow the water pressure feed into it Rick said. It is a side by side....big ol thing. A pizza box will fit in the fridge. But I won't go side by side again next time. We bought this one partly because of the price. If you stand in front of it, the right side had a pretty bad scrape across the bottom side where it was unloaded. So we got a big discount on it----and that side butts up against our cabinets, so it doesn't even show! Same thing with our stove!! Our fridge is GE. LOL we have GE stock, but that is not why we bought it!!! LOL Yes Tracy we had the BEST ride yesterday! Weather was PERFECT! Not hot, not cold, no wind, the trees were all in bloom, the sky was blue, all the fields had new baby calves or colts in them....it was just enjoyable! Then we come home, and Rick grilled some Rib Eye steak---omg it was soooo good!!! Albertsons has it on sale for $3.99 a pound, and I have a meat marinade I use, and it was soooo good!!! I have 2 more marinating in the fridge. Tonight I am fixing a meatloaf, he LOVES meatloaf sandwiches, so that will give me something for him this week while he is working. But I have some things to do in town today, so guess I should get a move on. Too bad Rick is in the field or I could meet him for lunch! Connor has his first actual ballgame tonight. Doubt Rick will be back in time from work. Will have to see. Good to see you Jenn!!! You too Cindy! Miss you guys! Good luck on your prepping stuff for your surgery Michelle!

Good morning---for 10 more minutes anyway! I got up, the house was quiet, Rick was out getting our irrigation going. So I lazily sat and planned to read the paper.....uh huh sure.... Then a guy called that is going to come and cut down the trees the fire killed---so I had to get up and dressed, and brush my hair! The indignities!!! Well he took forever, so I started making plans, to fix some Breakfast burritos. Rick is in the field this week, so I can send them for him to eat for Breakfast when he leaves at 2 AM. I needed tortillas. So just as I got ready to walk out the door to go get them, I see the guy and his wife walking to our door. UGH! So they come in, and we went and looked at the trees, and made plans (3 weeks they are goners....60+ year old trees, huge, but the fire from the fireworks last year killed them). Then they come in and sat and visited.....so just finally got to go get the tortillas, and we had brunch.....or Rick had brunch. First bite, and I am stuck on sausage. I think it is a mental stuck!!! They didn't sound great, and it just didn't want to go down. I am not sliming, I have no fill to speak of, less than 1 cc. So I don't get stuck usually on anything except sausage..... So I am not eating. I was up a couple of pounds anyway so I can't imagine it will hurt me! We are getting ready to go riding. Motorcycles. Would like to get some saddle time in too, we'll see. Might run to Tim's and do both! Ooooh Rick just walked by he removed the gas light out front I have been bugging about for 5 years!! Gotta go look! See ya later!

Tracy, I understand what you are saying. I cannot tell you how thrilled we are that CS ends for us in 2 months. In this particular case it is not the money that is the big deal. Yeah it is a helluva chunk of change I will gladly keep for ourselves again, but it is the emotional stress of knowing they are still in our lives. It will be good to be rid of it all. The emotional weight is far more enticing than the financial. There was however a time that due to a change in legal status, we had to pay maintenance, until we got back into court, and it was hitting us for over $1100.00 a month. Added to our legal fees, to retain the attorney. On top of mortgage, a car payment, and standard bills. We also had credit card debt, because each time we go to court we have to go to Denver to do it! Time off work, unpaid, and travel expenses....it was killing us! I HAD to work to keep things afloat. Now it would be easy to say I resented it because it was not my kid.....but lol Rick could say the same thing!!! LOL When we got back into court, they reversed the maintenance, and we went back to just CS. But it put us in to years of struggle, and it is a hard thing to deal with. She sat at home, raising that child---we did not have the luxury. She sat in a home that had over $80K put as a down payment, because the courts awarded her the home.....it was hard for me to help support her, because to be honest I despise the woman. And it was hard for Rick, because he felt such guilt over me having to do it! On a good note.....it was worth it. It pulled us together as a team. It was US against her. It showed her we had something together that she could not destroy. The frame of mind, took awhile to acheive, but, it was worth the effort. We had a file we kept everything in in regards to the court junk through the years. We referred to it as our "sink the bitch" file. We did not prevail in the broad sense of the word. She still gets money we don't feel she is entitled to. But she did not break us....emotionally nor financially. And THAT was her goal. So we won. That is how we look at it. We are not heartless, the girl has had a hard life we are sure in the years since Rick was outcast. But....she too played a part in it. We are offering to continue her insurance if she is going to college---we'll see if we even get a response. She has some pre existing needs that she will not be able to cover otherwise. Rick is out fixing his Dads pump. Not sure how long that will take. Got the house clean, and just waiting for him. Chose not to go out there and wait. Suzanne, hope you had a GREAT time with your neighbor!!! We went to dinner yesterday with Becky & Gary, then hit opening ceremonies, in the wind and cold. We did not stay til all the kids left the field. And they never even told Connor we were there. Rick talked to him at his Moms last night on the phone and he was surprised to know we were there. grrrrrr should not be surprised I guess. Off to unload the dishwasher, then the kitchen is DONE! Already mopped. I feel so efficient!!! LOL

LOL, glad the testing is over Cindy! Tracy, the almonds and cashews are not bad ones for you, I just checked and the serving size is like yours 28 almonds.....they just have flavors....chipotle, sea salt and cracked pepper, or sea salt and olive oil....they are good, but I have a feeling they will be expensive. Speaking of nuts, I have a question for y'all....maybe I ask you before. Have any of you ever seen a cashew in a shell? My granddaughter ask me at Christmas. We were putting nuts in the shell in a bowl, and I was showing her what was in each one, and she kept asking for the ones she likes....which are the cashews, and macadamias...... Well I saw macadamias in Hawaii, but have never in all my years seen a cashew in a shell!! We went to practice. Was so good to see the boys. We saw Connor at my inlaws the other day but had not seen the baby in awhile. Then we went to dinner, and I must say....I married the greatest guy in the world. All this going on, and he tries to tell me what standing beside him means to him. Reduced me to tears in the restaurant! Whata guy!!! We have another couple of guys riding to Sturgis with us. One of them used to work for Rick. His Dad went to school a year or 2 ahead of Rick and I, he died from brain cancer almost 20 years ago. So the kid, kind of put Rick in the Dad position, calls him about big purchases, and job changes etc. When Rick had the bleed, and they thought he would not make it, the poor kid (who is not a little boy---tall and close to 300 pounds I'd guess), stood in the ICU and cried like a baby. Holding onto me and sobbing "not again" . He was soooo happy Rick was ok! He bought his first bike (at a special price) from Rick. He married Barbie. Seriously, she looked like Malibu Barbie! She moved like her too, in case moving suddenly would mess up her hair!!! They divorced, and he married an older woman!! She is really nice. But he and his brother in law---wifes brother are riding up with us. I am so happy! They just have to ride BEHIND me....his bike is LOUD! They added the Scorpions and someone else, I forget who to the concert line up.....will have to look. It is hot in our house, but by morning it will be cold again! These temp changes are unreal! Michelle so glad you spoke with your Mom, makes her being ok more real!! Cindy, why didn't they just do a flu test on your son, so he could start the meds if it is? The swab up the nose is anything but pleasant, but it can determine whether the meds are needed, they are most effective if begun in the first 24-36 hours. Poor, poor kid, I feel so bad for him. Hope he is better soon, and that he doesn't "share"..... OK Well I am out of here......DH has been watching the news, and is finally finished!!! See ya tomorrow!

Have you tried the new Planters Almonds and Cashews called Flavor Grove? We have a friend who drives for Frito Lay, and he gives us lots of things, there were some of them in the last box....mmmmmmm It really isn't any new drama Suzanne, it is like yours....ongoing. And some days, or even some minutes of some days I let it get to me....when I shouldn't. But I am so glad I have you guys to unload on, I don't say these things to Rick, or to anyone else. They always remained thoughts only, and ate away at me. Now I let it go, and no one is hurt by my outbursts! A lesson I think we all know who could learn from!!! LOL Most of what I complain to you guys about is worthless nonsense. Not worth the time I let it get to me. As for MIL, she has been this way forever--intensifies with age, but I should not be surprised! And with DS, I know all we can do is let it go....let whatever is going to happen with him happen. It is heartbreaking, so I dwell on it. Gotta go to practice~~~

Well Michelle, sad to say you will likely come home a good 10 pounds heavier than when you went! But soon all the fluids will leave, and you should find yourself normal again, and possibly a couple pounds lighter!! Wouldn't it be great to just come home and weigh 15 pounds less!!! But with the IV, and the tissue shock, the fluids will cause a gain....but it is temporary. Made a trek to the Post office, we are trying to title a bike out of CA, and they needed a signature we missed, so back they sent it!! So it is on its way again, but other than that, it appeared to be good, so soon we should have a title. Then I see DH spending money like crazy again. I unlike Michelle, ended up having to hit the inhaler in the grocery store---I could not quit coughing, and get a decent breath. Come home, and DIL was just hanging up on my answering machine. Wanting to know if we are coming to practice. I told her we would be there for the last few minutes....Rick does work, and after all this, I am not willing to go down there with everyone on my own. When my innocent Dad got drug into it, and now everyone wants to blame Manda--screw it. I will be pleasant, and no more. Son owes a lot of apologies, and he is not man enough to give them in my opinion. He would rather leave messages and talk like his psycho Mom. She always refers the the grandkids as the "babies" said in this purse your lips kind of way....and he tells Rick on the message...."don't take it out on my babies" he has NEVER in all the years referred to them as "his babies"--his boys or his kids, and yes the baby in regards to the baby, but NEVER "the babies" . Rick said it was like talking to the psycho bitch all over again, flash back 25 years, threaten to take away the kids, and then accuse you of abandoning the babies.....he is not thrilled, but we so badly want to see the kids. My temper is a little short today, probably not a great day for me to go alone. But that is my choice, based more on not wanting to get into it, nor wanting to visit with any of them, and also not wanting to sit in the wind, when I am having problems breathing. Pheeeeew..........thank you for letting me vent. That phone call irritated me. Acting like we were the ones making a choice not to come......and then having to pull words from her like pulling teeth. Grrrrrrrrr Soooo glad you are all here!!!!