Come For Tea

[abbas child]

Marta, have a good trip!

Liz, are you being silly right here?

I had a good visit with my ALSA coordinator, who was still here when the hospice RN arrived...three hours of conversation, followed by Benefiber in water and a plate of prunes for lunch. I kid you not. Then bed and a nap. I'm fighting to stay away from meds and things that eventually no longer work.

When the berries of summer arrive, I intend to have fun. There are blueberry bushes and black raspberries in the gardens--strawberries need to be bought but are locally grown. Growing your own is not cheap, depending on where you live--harder in the far north, I'm sure. But late winter and early spring are difficult nearly everywhere. Hmmm.

I'm getting better at this business of being cared for. The aide is really nice, and now more comfortable with me... and certainly it works both ways.

Kimberly, be sure and use some of that exercise equipment for me--a stair master, maybe.

 

[HelenL]

I know what you mean about the exercise... when my kids were little, my exercise program was lugging laundry up and down 3 flights of stairs (usually 2 laundry baskets at a time too!). And that's when I really started gardening, since I had to be outside anyway, I started diggin in the dirt so I wouldn't go crazy. Now I can barely walk across the room (and definitely not in a straight line, I look drunk) and I can push the baskets on the floor, but picking them up is really hard, even when sitting down. I used to take the steps 2 at a time running, and now it takes me 10 minutes to get up them, using the railing and my cane. I've decided that the stairs are now evil things!

Its been funny weather here today, kind of cool... sunny and blue sky, then overcast, then POURING rain, then a bit of hail in places, then sunny again, then rainy again... its currently sunny... but this is New England, it will change in a few minutes again!

 

[LizT]

Helen- sounds like Wisconsin. Dont like the weather? Just wait ten minutes... LOL.
Exercise? now thats evil. stairs are too.

 

[LizT]

Ann I sent you a PM

 

[Ladyinn]

I checked with my son to see how the dog is getting along in their household. He replied that MY dog has found all the burr bushes in their back yard so I shouldn't be surprised if he has a suimmer haircut when I get home! He has a bassett hound and a short haired black Heinz 57 varieties, so the burr bushes aren't a problem. Max, on the other hand, is a fluffy australian shepard and sheds and sheds!

The kitty, who is staying home, is wandering around the house whining, looking for the dog.

Tomorrow Kathy is going to help me pack and the plan is to head out through the Badlands on Saturday morning. I am taking the laptop so will stay in touch as best I can -- depending on wireless service, ya know.

 

[abbas child]

Diane, I've been thinking about you a lot. I was imagining you getting ready for your trip and thinking about your dog at your son's. Max won't like those burrs. I know Kathy is taking good care of you as you prepare. She's worth her weight in gold, which is saying an awful lot these days....

And I am very sad I felt it necessary to change our plans. Travel safely, dear friend. I look forward to hearing from you via your laptop.

Love,
Ann

 

[Jellycat]

Dianne, I do hope you have a good time away. Glad you have someone to help you pack. Kim, sorry about your dog. It is so hard to let go isn't it. Liz, great to see you. Can we be silly together? Ann, glad the comfort levels are rising. Know what you mean about stuff that works then no longer works, just trying to keep up with the scripts these days. AKmom - hope the kitchen is sparkling, courtesy of your son. If not he's fasting for the forseeable future!

Good news on my home front. Mum much better today, much more herself and able to have a giggle. She thought she was on her way out (so did I at one point). She came off the i/v tazocin today and went onto a lighter antibiotic through the peg. I came home much lighter and got through lots of stuff at home. No, don't worry ladies, no cleaning, just clearing out the bookshelves in her room. She sleeps in what was my dad's study. He passed away 3 years ago but we didn't get to sorting out his books before mum was diagnosed. I've arranged for them to go to the national architectural archive and to a new architectural school. Got the books to the archive and now just have to work out how to get the others to the school. We're both glad they are going where they will be used and it means that we can make the room more mum's own. Seems very timely since she spends most of her time there. Thinking of beds, time to get into mine. Night all.

 

[Jellycat]

oops, off to moderation. Didn't say anything bad...I promise.
Sorry Al for the trouble.

 

[momofsixkids60]

Well, Thanmk uou Diamne for lerting us know of yuor travels. (unlike sonme othres we wom't mention. LOL) Yuo will be in uor prayuers for a safe amd enjoyable trip. Amd I wamt pics of yuo at thje raves!

Ann, I am so glad trhimgs went well todauy for yuo. Amd I guesd every dau will get esaire with yuor new aide.

Liz, cat got uour tonguie? Yuo hjace been quiet lately! Amd that's the same thing they sauy abuot thr weathre in Florida. Juist wait 10 min.

Aly, Whjere's Aluy?

Avril, How is Mum diomg 2day? I prauy she is diong bettre and is comfrotable. What a womdreful dauhgter uou aer! I prau I am as belessd with a duhgter if the time evre comes.

Joni, I am sorru to pick om uou abuot givimg us a scaeer! Please take it kmowing that it is said im jest.

Amy1 intrested im sone used gym eqiupment? I have a bicycle amd treadmill 4 sale. Actually, tjhe treadmill jhas become a clohtes rack for my husnands thimgs I see. At lesat someone is gettimg use out of it.

I posted a new therad...I am lookimg 4 Wright! He has not been on ssimce Apr 21. I knmow he's a prof amd it's the emd of the school yr bnut it's neen 2 wks simce he wsa last on. I do hpoe he is okay! I tesaed him abuot me fimdimg Mr. Wright!

Well, Chris dug the hole amd now waitimg 4 the kisd to get home from school so we cam bury hjer. Wathc uot the waertworks! Mayne I will stray im the house.

HJace a good evemimg Ladies!

 

[joni51]

Kim, I am just tired, and run down. Just kinda feel blah, so i think I will call it a night. but I love each and everyone of you! You are all special!

 

[joni51]

Kim I don't get mad easy...lol I appreciate you all worrying about me!

 

[HelenL]

Joni, it wasn't you we were worried about, we were worried what you might do to any nasty tornado that came near you!

Seriously, just had a big yelling fight with hubby, as he seems to think its ok for me to pay for ALL the bills except the car and home insurance, and it's ok for him to just get up, go to work, come home, EAT, go to his bed and watch tv... EVERY night... while I, the one he moved home to "help" buys the food, brings home the food, cooks the food, cleans up after the food, and takes care of the kids every morning, cleans the house, etc. Oh, and during most of this time, he's been unemployed, so he could have done ALOT to the house, but no... "my back hurts, I can't afford to get sick..." But he's been "kicking butt cleaning"... really? Only when I tell him to do something does anything get done. The weekend we were supposed to clean out the basement nothing got done because I DIDN'T tell him to do it. He knew we were supposed to do it, but he won't start anything unless he is told to? Really? What a man. What motivation. What a work ethic. I'm soooo pissed off right now, I hope Al's not having to read this (sorry)... So then he starts yelling louder, like that makes him win the fight you know... whoever yells louder wins? I'm so done with all this, I wish the house would sell so I can move on from all this cr*p! AAAAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

THANK you for letting me vent... its too late to call my Mom, and the kids are off hiding in their rooms... at least I won't have to tell them to go to bed I guess! I need some chocolate and I need it fast!

 

[abbas child]

Kim, I am so sorry about the loss of your dear dog. I'm sure the tears have flowed today...but I think it's so sweet you were with her at the end.

Avril, great news that your mum's doing better, and clearing out bookshelves is sure to make you feel like you've accomplished something very useful.

Joni, I hope you feel spunkier tomorrow!

Helen, grab that chocolate. I heard your roar..."I am woman!" And I don't blame you one bit. Eat the whole bag. I'm glad you have Shawn. I hope that's his name.

Good night to all, and good day--I guess--to Aly!

 

[AKmom]

Avril I am glad your mom is doing better. What kinds of books were they to send to the national archive place? Although I am sure they deserve to be there...just really curious!

Kimberly, praying your heart and your families heart heals from the loss of your dog. We had to bury one of ours this year too. Always difficult.

Helen, with all respect to the guys who are here, men usually do need to be told what to do. At least that is the case around here. It makes not difference to me since I have to tell my youngest son (autistic) what to do and I have to tell my eldest son (cerebral palsy) what to do and I sometimes blame it on my hubby who is a computer programmer and very technical to the point of being paralized when it comes to figuring out the settings on a washer machine! Or even how to use the hamper! (1. open lid 2. put dirty clothes in 3. close lid). Of coarse he blames it on his mother who did everything for him that was domestic work (and she agreed with that even in her last days she appologiesed for spoiling her boys to me and my sil, without us saying anything to provoke her to feeling like she needed too). Now the logic of my boys is..."if dad doesn't do housework then why should we? We're men!". I tell them when they can get a job big enough to pay the morgage, utilities, food, insurances and repairs to the house..then I might consider their arguement, but until then they have to pay their way through working for me!

As for my eldest son and the kitchen, I told him this morning that if he wanted to eat he had to do the thing I asked him to do for the past 4 days. And it included taking the stove apart and cleaning under the grates. I told him he did have a choice to not do it, and that would be to use his time packing and moving out if he really didn't want to do the kitchen. When he started to moan, I quietly reminded him that we have supported him rent free since last Aug. so he can go to college full time. We have fed him for free. We have paid for his car insurance for free. We have given him student loans for free. We have paid his internet bill. I told him if he couldn't help his old disabled mom with a joyful heart knowing that we love him so much to be supporting his dream of graduating college, then he should at least know enough that God is the one blessing him to follow his dreams and he should have a joyful and greatful heart for the ones in need of his service, that God is using for him to go to college! You should see how clean and sparkley my kitchen is! And when I called him because his brother needed help for something, he came out of his room and said "Yes mom, I will do that for you!". Now with the Lord's blessing we shall see if this was a life changing attitude!

 

[laurel]

Ann, benefiber and prunes --my gosh you may blow yourself right out of bed tonight<LOL>. Very tasty combo I'm sure.
Laurel