Our Girls

This is Whitnee. Youngest granddaughter in her costume.
Lacey, oldest granddaughter and Heather, oldest daughter. Can't tell they all are related, huh?

Our girls are going to have fun tonight. Got these pics earlier tonight and just had to share. I am very proud of my girls. They are beautiful and I want to share them with you all.

A Story about my "Trip"

Daughter Lisa called last night. Seems Mom fell after getting out of the car and cut her hand and landed on her knees. Not too big a deal unless you know she has two knee replacements (one for each side) and is on a blood thinner for heart trouble. Dad can't help her up cause he had surgery on his hand, and goes looking for Lisa. This could be disastrous, as Dad likes to trip on a blade of grass. Lisa was asleep and had to get moving quickly to help. Lisa never moves quickly after getting woke up. She needs time to vegetate. Some relation to Richard. She gets Mom up and in the house, and calls me. Mom's hand bleeds, the knees turn black and blue and everything is swollen. So I call Mom and she comes clean about the falling. Richard asked her how high she bounced and if there was a dent in the ground where she landed. (My mother is not a small woman) We make arrangements for me to meet them at the pulmonalogist (?) office this morning. When I see her ouchies, it makes me cringe. I remind her that the blood thinner could cause her some problems, and to please call her primary care when they get home. Well, here is where the fun started. Her appt. was for 9:30, saw dr. at 10:30, got out after visit and recommendations at 11:30, went for chest x-ray at 11:45, and got to go eat after 1:15, the x-ray itself only took about 1 minute. Everywhere it was hurry up and wait. So, we decided to go to IHOP just down the road from St. Al's. Mom and Dad get inside, I finish a phone call to Rich, head in, and damned if I don't trip on thin air and fall in the parking lot. Skinned up my left elbow, left knee (my good one) and both hands. Luckily I didn't hit the curb with my face or head, just my shoulder, and skinned my cell phone. This was witnessed by an older couple who heard me turn the air blue. He left and she offered to help me up. I didn't bounce either or dent the concrete. Thank you West Nile. So Mom turns the tables on me about falling. I told her I really had no intention of literally following in her footsteps. I go clean up and we have lunch. On the way home, I am telling Rich what happened as I am driving. He asked if I could drive okay, then asked if I was sitting down and had my seat belt on so I wouldn't fall out of the seat. HA HA HA. very funny. If I knew when these things were going to happen, I could prepare for them, you know, padding, avoiding altogether. But tripping on air appears to be unforeseeable, at least for me. Of course, I'm blind as a bat.
C

Life resumes after hunting.

Richard got back from hunting...twice. Left on a Friday, came home on Tuesday, left again early Wednesday morning, home again on Thursday. No Elk. I was just getting used to doing the chores by myself. Stuff like feeding the dogs breakfast on time, getting them outside, getting ready for a class that ultimately gets canceled, you know.

Got to sit in at the last sewer board meeting for Rich. Still fighting an uphill battle. Trying to get approval to fix stuff, sell other stuff (fencing and posts), explain again why we can't it do "like we used to." We have one member that is stuck in the past. Checking had to change, he didn't like that. New laws for going into the sump, he doesn't like that. Having a person other than him in charge, he for sure doesn't like that. "When I was doing it" comes out every other sentence. He won't accept the correct answer, when you can get it in there.

The board doesn't want to have any conflict of interest, but it seems I get to do a lot of research for them. I can't do much legally because of Richard's position, but they sure don't hesitate to ask me look things up anyway. I guess that is what it feels like to be needed. I am learning to just present my findings, and maybe an opinion. Then it is up to the board. Of course, Rich hears it all first, and we discuss all the options. Then he is ready for the meetings. Sometimes, it takes all month to get the right info. I enjoy it anyway.

Next week, Richard gets to work on the sump again. The week after is when he starts all the medical stuff. I'll let him expound on that subject.

I still have some problems left from West Nile Virus. I am getting better at recognizing the symptoms and knowing when I will have "one of those days." Richard helps me deal with it on a daily basis. We have figured out that if I can play cribbage, then the day should be good. There are days when common sense enters the picture, and I stay home, or Rich drives everywhere. It's a good thing I don't have a "life".

Later. Cathy

More burn out tales

We went to mom and dad's on Saturday after the fire. I had packed some stuff in case I decided to stay. I did. Richard and Lucy went home without me. Mom and Dad were exhausted after all the hoopla, so tried to help. On Sunday, we made a list of lost items, besides the coach. Totaled over 5K but they were allowed only $3500, so had to do some paring and consolidating. Dad wanted every little item listed. Can do, Dad. Listed kitchen stuff, linens and bath, and then the bigger stuff.
This all may seem quick, but my father has to do things as he thinks of them, kinda like ADHD. I knew Rob got it from somewhere! Anyway, back to the story. Just to keep the peace, I took Dad around on Sunday and Monday to get his paperwork he wanted. The Friday of the fire, he got Mom's C-Pap machine replaced. NORCO loaned her one until they got another in. The new one came in on Thursday, she didn't like it and it didn't work well. Replaced it. So far so good.
On Sunday after the fire, we all went to Boise to do shopping for some essentials. Had lunch at the Olive Garden. We met Heather and the girls there. Dad was the odd man out. The only man. I had asked my brother Scott to babysit Dad, he couldn't. Then we all realized we needed Dad as he had the money cards. All Mom's burned up. Got wheelchairs for Mom and Dad, and went to the mall after lunch. Mom, Heather and I went to Macys, Lacey and Whitnee took Dad and went to Sears. Found what they were looking for, wore out mom and dad and went home.

Mom got up Monday morning and got started. If she doesn't have someone working with her, she tires easily. New drivers license in the late morning, new base ID in the afternoon. That was the end of her energy. Tuesday, we got moving by 10 to go to Boise for a new SSA card and Medicare. Visited with Mom's sister, Glenda, then went home. That was the end of that day.
Dad and I went to Wally World for some basics. He got Mom a phone, she didn't want it. New lotion, wrong stuff. And so it goes. They got replaced on the news by bigger stories, but still receive calls of condolences. Of Course, Dad had to tell everyone he saw and spoke to about the fire.

I am finally home, and enjoying it. I love my parents dearly, and would do anything to help them. I just need the weekend off please. Thankyou.

Richard worked on the pump system for the sewer district yesterday afternoon. When done, we took the rented ladder back, then stopped at RoeAnns. His cell rings, the alarm is going off at the pump station. Ate our food, headed back to the burb and fixed the pumps again. More coming later when they can replace one pump. The shit never stops around here. (get it?)

Richard is also getting ready for his vacation (hunting trip). Going food shopping today for supplies etc. Hope the trip is successful.

Hope all is well for everyone.
CB