Merry Christmas to all!

Well it has been a month since my last post. I've been busy recovering from surgery, working and trying to catch up on work from my 2 weeks off, getting ready for Christmas and learning all about diabetes. I didn't decorate for Christmas, other than candles in the window and the nativity scene...too sore still to lift out the boxes and put everything up. Tomorrow John, AJ and I are making a quick run up to Buffalo to see mom before she heads to Florida and help her with a few projects. Then drive back on Wednesday. I have full days to work on Thursday and Friday getting the books closed for the year. I am feeling better each day - but still suffering with alot of rib pain. We still do not have the results from the culture and currently are planning a repeat CT scan and pulmonary function tests in 2 months before deciding about medication.

Family time

We had a nice quiet thanksgiving. The boys learned how to make all the traditional recipes that they have grown up with - so now I told them that they were ready to take over the celebration. I say that "tongue in cheek" as I really, really missed being able to cook and get everything ready. It was kind of hard to let go of all my holiday preparations. But the food tasted good and we had great family times together. I sat at the kitchen table when I could and helped direct the food prep.
I have had alot of pain this weekend since going off of the morphine patch. I have a few more days of winding down off the other pain medications and hope that when I am off everything, that the pain will be at a managible level. Anxious to hear about the results of the culture and what my future course of meds will be. My blood sugar levels are a little elevated as I had a little of the thanksgiving treats - but they are still below the # my doctor gave me, so I should be fine. I am enjoying time visiting with John and the boys, watching movies and just talking. I can't think about putting up any Christmas decorations right now - so I will just wait and see how I feel in another week or so.

Back to work

First day back to work since 11/3 and it was my 4 hour day (thank goodness!) It was full of challenges (computer not working right, not being able to find things I needed, more pain that I expected) but the Lord is so good to me - placing me in a very caring and supportive environment. Monie stepped in and got my computer working and helped me get organized to get the deposit done - everyone was so patient. When John came to pick me up I was exhausted and in pain, but I made a start at 'real life' again. The boys are going to be here for Thanksgiving because of snow storm predicted and my sister is sick with pneumonia. I'm sure my mom is disappointed - I know the boys are, but we walk by faith not by sight. My oldest son went out today and bought all the food for our thanksgiving (with his own money) and he and my middle son have volunteered to do all the cooking if I would supervise. So we will patch together a little celebration. We have so much to be thankful for this year. And although we do not know what the future holds, we know our God holds the future.

Not quite up to speed

Saw the lung specialist yesterday and found out more about histoplasmosis. I was so excited that this wans't cancer in my lung, that I didn't really do much thinking about it still being something that needed treating. Anyhow, yesterday I found out that the complete culturing of the sample would take 6 - 8 weeks. Right now the surgeon thinks it is histoplasmosis but the lung doc said we really need to wait to get the full report before we can decide how to treat it. If it is "histo" the treatment is really long and hard on the liver. If they can't identify it then they will need to move in a particular way... which may involve trying to see if it has infected other organs. Meanwhile he wants me to recover from the surgery for about 4 more weeks before we start anything else. During this time he wants me to concentrate on the Diabetes.

Today I met with the nurse at the Diabetes Center and learned how to take my blood sugar levels. Right now she wants me to check it twice a day. My ankles, feet and legs are still swollen even with the diuretics - so it may be my sugar levels causing it. Well, all this new stuff to learn about should keep my brain sharp!!!

Back to Blogging

Successful surgery... not cancer but a fungus called histoplasmosis. I see the doctor tomorrow for my post-op and have my list of questions ready for him. I will let you know what I find out. So far the pain has been more than I expected but the doctor has me on a pain patch, prescription pain meds and OTC pain relievers for in between. I am able to get about an hour to an hour and a half of sleep at a time. Then I get up and do my breathing exercises, my walking, my arm exercises, and lay back down again. I made dinner for the first time tonight (just chili - but it's progress). Pray for Andrew this week - it's finals week for him.

God's wonderful children

Well it's the night before my surgery and I am so at peace. It has been a hectic day - getting everything ready at work for me to possibly be gone 3 weeks...but so good to know things are in order. I have received so many emails, cards and phone calls from dear friends and family assuring me of their prayers! Even friends of my son - people I haven't even met, but we share a bond in Christ! How marvelous God's grace is to surround me with the prayers of His children.
And He has provided so wonderfully for me. Once they remove the tumor, lymph node and part of the lung - there will be a pathologist there to immediately determine if it is cancer. If it is then they will be able to remove the lower lobe and possibly the whole lung if needed without a second operation. I am also going to be in a research study. They are trying to find a marker in the blood for lung cancer (like the PSA test for prostate cancer). If it isn't cancer, they will follow me for 2 years, if it is for 5 years. It would be so wonderful if they were able to identify this so that one day they could catch lung cancer even sooner.

Here is the verse that I am clinging to: “But this precious treasure—this light and power that now shine within us—is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies. So everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and is not our own. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going. Through suffering, these bodies of ours constantly share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.” 2 Corinthians 4:7-10

Please pray with me that I will keep shining God's light and power so that everyone I come in contact with at the hospital will see Christ in me.

Doctors okay surgery

Friday's surgery is a go. My chest xray showed some pneumonia but the surgeon said he is not worried about it. My white count is down from 15.8 to 13.6 and they put me on antibiotics. I am relieved as I just want to get it over at this point. I think I have the house pretty well straightened up, organized everyone's schedules, lined up a list of friends for John to call if he needs meals or help with anything. My suitcase is packed and the laundry is done. My friend who had the same surgery took me out to lunch today and gave me the "lowdown" on what it will really be like. The more information I have, the better I feel about it. I got the plants pulled up in the garden over the weekend, but did not get the beds "bedded down" for the winter. I hope we'll have some Indian Summer later this month and I can finish up outside. I don't know if I will have computer access at the hospital so this may be my last blog for awhile. Most of you that read this will get an email from John with the results of the surgery. Take care of each other!

Remember God's Timing is Perfect

The last 24 hours have been very interesting. Yesterday I had an urgent call from my doctor that my white blood cell count was elevated and I needed to go to the lab and have more blood drawn. I am so glad we switched doctors and now the doctor and the lab is just down the road! So I raced up there and got the test. This morning they called and said it wasn't as high but still elevated enough that he was concerned about me having surgery Friday - but if I would get a chest x-ray and it was clear and I would start an anti-biotic he would okay the surgery. So off I went again to the lab and then to the drugstore. I haven't heard the outcome yet. In the midst of all this I keep thinking about the song the group I sing with just sang at church..."Wait on the Lord". One of the lines says "His ways are perfect, His timing is sure". I so much want to be in control. First I wanted the surgery to be later in the month - then when the doctor insisted on this Friday and I am facing the possibility of it being postponed I am irritated! So I have been singing the song to myself all day and reminding myself that God's timing throughout my whole life HAS been perfect - so why should it be any different now? So as I wait, I am thankful that God not only has everything having to do with the surgery in control - He already knows the outcome! Praise His Holy Name!

Friday is Doctor Day

I get to spend my day off tomorrow going to the doctor times 3! First I have a 9:15 with the sleep doctor to go over my results from Saturday's stay at the clinic and to prepare for surgery. I have to take my cpap machine to the hospital with me.
Then at 11 I see Dr. Singh, my primary care physician for a pre-op physical and history. At 1:30 I go to the hospital for all my pre-op tests and instructions for my surgery and hospital stay.
What a way to spend a day off! Hopefully I will still have enough energy to work on my housecleaning when I get home. We are supposed to have frost tonight - so I parked the Beretta in the garage and moved more plants inside. Guess winter is just around the corner.

Surgery scheduled

After consulting with my pulmonologist and a thoracic surgeon, we have decided to follow their recommendation to biopsy the nodule in my lung. Surgery is scheduled for November 4th. I also found out that I have type 2 diabetes...so I will be attending classes at the Diabetes Center to learn everything I need to know (like testing my blood sugar, what to eat, etc.) It has been alot to digest in just a day. Good news from the MRI of the hemangioma on my spine. It appears to be benign. They did see some spondylosis - degeneration of the disks...but said it was a normal part of aging. Isn't it fun to get old??? One day at a time!

Last of the Canning

Well I think I am ready to put all my canning gear in the basement and call it a year! Put up the rest of the tomatoes as seasoned sauce - 10 quarts and 4 pints. It's too bad we are starting to have lows in the mid 30's as my peppers are blooming again and I even have zucchini growing! I may try to cover them for awhile, but it is probably time to pull everything out and get the beds ready for the winter. I hate to say good-bye to the garden - but the days keep moving on. Brought alot of the plants in tonight. We purchased two small three shelf greenhouses...so I can keep a few things on the porch for awhile. I am definitely not ready for the holidays to be here!

Started Walking Again

Well I rested my foot this weekend, did the stretches the doctor showed me, put gel inserts in my shoes and started walking again. I did 10 minutes in the afternoon and then 20 minutes after dinner. My foot is a little sore, but so far not the pain I was having last week. Hopefully I will be able to keep walking now. Had the MRI of my spine this morning...but I don't know when I'll hear anything. We should have answers on the Cushings and Diabetes this week. I am anxious to know. My blood pressure has been up again but I cannot link it to any thing. I bought a weight watchers home kit on Ebay this weekend. Hopefully I'll be able to figure it out...I hate having to follow a diet where you have to weigh everything and keep track of portions, but that's the diet the endocrinologist suggested, so I'll give it a try. I checked out a sample menu and it is way more food than I am eating now - so I don't know how it will work. I still think the key is exercise.

MRI ordered

Met with my new doctor today - I really like him. He will be my new primary care physician and is only 5 minutes away from my house! He has scheduled an MRI to further check on the hemangioma. I will have that on Monday. Tomorrow is my Glucose Tolerance Test to conclusively diagnose diabetes. So the tests and doctors visits continue. I am trying to live a normal life in between. Daniel is scheduled for a CT scan on the 27th and then will see the ENT right afterwards for the decision about surgery on his nose. We certainly are keeping the medical profession busy.

So tired of doctor appointments

I am a little discouraged after my doctor's visit today. During my last CT scan they found a Hemangioma on my L2 vertebrae. A hemangioma is a benign bone lesion. I have an appointment with a new doctor tomorrow morning to discuss if anything needs to be done about it. Usually they leave them alone, unless it is causing symptoms. Because I am having some numbness in my back and legs they want me to talk with this doctor.
On the endocrine front we have ruled out several things, but they need one more test to completely rule out Cushings. Two have come back negative. If I do not have Cushings - they will not surgically remove the tumor on the adrenal gland but will check it in one year to see if it has grown. She is having me take another test to conclusively determine if I have diabetes. Right now all she can say is that I have impaired glucose tolerance. I will take that test Friday. If I have diabetes, she will send me to the diabetes center here in town for education and we will discuss medication. She is also running a test having to do with growth hormone. I have lost 8 pounds and my blood pressure is still down.
I am finding it hard to continue to wait for more tests...a lesson in patience and trust.

Summer Lingers

Well I was really hoping to post more than once a week...where has the time gone? Anyway it is HOT here...89 the other day. But it should ripen up the last of the tomatoes. Saw my cardiologist yesterday and got a clean bill of health as far as my heart goes. The heart cath showed no sign of coronary artery disease at all and good pumping action. My blood pressure has stayed down, although they want me to continue to monitor it. I had my follow-up CT scan of the nodule in my lung today. They also wanted to repeat a chest x-ray. I do not know if the doctor will call me with results or wait until I see him on the 19th. The cardiologist said that my blood pressure may be down for a couple of reasons. First, with my gyn's permission I have stopped taking Estrostep, which was just to minimize the pre-menopause symptoms I was having. But it can raise blood pressure and can cause clots, so I'm off it. Hopefully the "hot flashes" won't come back! The other thing the doctor said is that I have dropped some weight and that even a little weight off can really affect the blood pressure. Well I'd better go check on the tomato sauce - still canning and canning!

Beautiful Day

The weather was just gorgeous today. After Women's Bible Study I spent the rest of the day outdoors. Picked green beans for dinner, puttered around, began cleaning up for fall. We are supposed to get rain and a big drop in temperatures tonight...but it will just be a taste of fall as the temps go right back to mid 70 - 80 by the weekend. So I won't worry about having to get anything indoors yet. Hard to believe it's almost October. Seems like I was just taking my seedlings outdoors to harden off before planting! Time keeps rolling on. I am having a few more lab tests done tomorrow, checking on the Cushings. Step by step we will get this nailed down. Daniel missed school for the first time this year...headaches again. John is going to take him to the ENT soon as we can get an appointment. With all my health issues over the last months, we completely forgot that we were going to see about sinus surgery or corrective surgery on his deviated septum. He hasn't had many headaches, but over the last week the frequency has really increased, so I guess we'd better get him checked out. We certainly are keeping the medical community solvent this year!

Rainy Monday

Hurricane Rita arrived in Cincinnati - no wind, just alot of rain. But it was fast moving and has already cleared out and the sun is back out this evening. Picked more tomatoes and am working on another batch of sauce. Tried to get a little housework done...I only have one more day of restricted activity and lifting. Unfortunately I am still struggling with the shortness of breath. I hope it is the adrenal mass that is causing it, so I can look forward to getting back to normal. But I also need to be willing to accept the limitations that God wants me to have. It is a little depressing to think I may not feel better, but may have to learn to live with this - but it is early to think that yet and John reminds me to let the endocrinologist do her work and take her advice. I was so looking forward to feeling better after the heart cath - thinking my symptoms were being caused by a blockage. I am very grateful not to have the blockage, but do hope that they can figure out why I feel like this and that we can do something about it. Wait, wait, wait, wait on the Lord! Patiently and cheerfully, dear Lord help me wait that way.

Being a willing vessel

I am just amazed at how God works through all of our lives. So often we think of ourselves as isolated and alone, that what we are going through is just happening to us. But we are interconnected with our family, our friends, neighbors, even strangers who cross our paths. Long ago I began the practice of praying that I would be "a willing vessel" in God's Hands, that I not only wanted Him to work through me, but I wanted to do so "willingly". Sometimes I feel that with His strength, I am willing - other times I know that I fight against what He brings into my life and yet He is patient with me, and brings me to the point that I let go and open my hands and pray "Your will be done". It is a growing process and I am thankful that we have a gentle and patient Lord.

With all the health things I have been going through, I have trusted that God is at work and has a reason for all of this. He has kept me calm and I have really learned the blessing He gives us by helping us rest in Him. It is so much easier to be calm and have peace when we get to the point that we know He has all things under control.

I have a friend who has asked me "Why would God put you through all of this, if He was going to remove the blockage" My answer to that has come through many of my family and friends' emails...sharing with me how they prayed for me. Here is one example from my uncle:

"Pat and I drove by Patti's house, this evening before dark, and Patti had just come home from work and was sitting on her front porch. As we drove up, she came down the steps holding her coffee cup and leaned down by the car window and we started to talk. Since we had not been in contact, as Patti had been working, she didn't know yet about the, "no blockage," when they did your catheterization. So, I told her. She let out a whoop, set her coffee cup on top of the car, clapped her hands together and said, "I knew it, I knew it." "I prayed that when they went in there that they wouldn't find any blockage. I am going to write that in my prayer journal." She knows that she was not the only one praying for your good report, but she was one of them. She was overjoyed, and we all were, too. Praise the Lord!"

God allowed this to happen in my life to strengthen our faith, to encourage us to pray for one another, to teach us that "all things are possible with Him". Everything is in His hands - I pray that each one of us remembers His lessons and that we take part in the blessing that He gives us when He tells us to trust in Him with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding! Praise Him for Him glorious gifts!

God's gracious gift

Well by now most of you who read this know that I had quite a surprize at the hospital yesterday. I went in to have a heart catherization after a nuclear scan indicated a blockage in one of my heart's vessels. For several months my blood pressure has been high...140/93 and 149/99. Yesterday my blood pressure was 117/53 just before the test and never got much higher during or after. When they injected the dye to look for the blockage - it was gone! No blockages at all and everything else about the heart looked good. So many people around the world were praying and I am so thankful that God provided this answer. I will follow up with the endocrinologist next about the tumor on the adrenal gland...and praying that God will remove it (either with or without the doctor's help)

Friday is here!

Yesterday was a very productive day at work...lots of stuff wrapped up to close the year and a good start on getting the new year in order. Today I worked on 3 baskets of tomatoes and we have a huge pot of spaghetti sauce ready to can. I am trying to get the house in a little bit of order before I go for my heart cath on Tuesday. We did get a good rain today, but it didn't cool things off at all. So I do a little housework and then sit in front of the fan until I dry off again. Interestingly I read today in an article about coronary artery disease and angina - that one of the symptoms is excessive sweating! I've been struggling with that for several years. Well, I am going to get started on some chicken fajitas for the boys' dinner tonight. I think I will pick green beans in the morning and put them in the crock pot with the little cottage ham I got at Krogers. I always think of how Daddy loved making beans and cottage ham....I miss him so much!

Wednesday Bible Study

Today was the first women's bible study for the new school year. I was so excited that they have changed the day they have it on to Wednesdays (my day off) so I am able to attend this year!! We are studying Hebrews. It was so nice to visit with everyone and actually have time to talk (it seems like Sundays there just isn't enough time to talk) I stayed after bible study and worked a half day - looks like we are ready to close the year (Sept 04 -Aug 05 is our fiscal year). Tomorrow I'll begin work on setting up the new year.

Heart Cath Scheduled

I was very happy with my cardiologist, Dr. Naz. She took time to answer my questions and explained the reasoning behind her recommendation to schedule a right heart cath. It will be next Tuesday at 10:45 am at University Hospital. They will not know if they will be able to clear the blockage until they perform the cath and put the dye in to see where it is and what it is. If you want to know more check out web md
http://my.webmd.com/hw/heart_disease/hw204075.asp

I am glad that this will soon be taken care of! Thank you for all your prayers!

Pizza Sauce

Put up 14 pints of pizza sauce using the pressure cooker today. John and I went out to the garden to pick some tomatoes for the vision banquet tonight. There are a ton out there again - so tomorrow when I get home from work I need to pick them and start on another big batch of spaghetti sauce.
I sliced the brandywine tomatoes and sprinkled them with fresh basil, white wine vinegar, olive oil and feta cheese. Everyone at the banquet liked them and it was so easy to do.
The vision banquet went really well and this year we had something I've been wanting us to do for years - a ministry fair. I hope alot of people signed up to help.
It's going to be a busy week, but I'll try to at least post something on Tuesday after I see the cardiologist.

Happy Birthday Daniel!

Daniel picked Seafood Casserole and Mrs. B's Share Cake for his 17th birthday celebration and wants to watch the movie "Spaceballs". So we are all set for a nice time at home. John and I gave him "Driving Classes" as his present. Since he did so well in Summer School, he was allowed to get his temps. Now we will set up the classes (which the state requires) and hopefully he will be a good student. I attended his Open House last night and was really impressed with Lakota East. All of his teachers are enthusiastic and helpful and very accessible. Daniel loves his Network Systems class and it is so nice to see him really enjoy studying in an area of interest to him.

Cardiologist appointment made

Well, I was so surprized to get a call from the endocrinologist's office this AM that they have made an appointment with a cardiologist for next Tuesday (13th) at 1:30. So when things start rolling, they really move! John will be glad, as we have met our deductible for the year and he is anxious for all these procedures to be covered! More later!

Test results are rolling in!

After months of what has seemed like endless waiting on test results - we are finally getting answers and results in a timely way! I LOVE my new doctor - she is an endocrinologist and so thorough and helpful and willing to spend time answering my questions. Today she called and offered to set up the appointment with the cardiologist for me. She also had more test results. My fasting glucose level was good, but the results of my glucose tolerance test indicated diabetes. She thinks the mass on my adrenal gland is causing the diabetes but is waiting for one more test to confirm that. If that is the case, it is good news because they can remove the mass and that should reverse alot of my problems, including the diabetes. It is a pretty simple surgery done with a laproscope. She said that my LDL cholesterol was low and that my triglyceride level was good. She even said I could email her with any questions!
So God is answering our prayers for a good doctor and for wisdom in analysizing the test results. Please pray for a good cardiologist!
On another note - tonight was Open House at Daniel's new High school, Lakota East. I was really impressed with his teachers and feel like he is in the right place. His network systems class is fantastic! Wish I could take it with him.

No wonder I'm short of breath

My stress test results came today: coronary artery disease. I need to see a cardiologist for a full explanation but evidently I have "1 vessel disease" and on the report the cardiologist who read my scan stated "moderate severity inferior completely reversible defect consistent with ischemia" Well - completely reversible sounds good to me. Guess that's why I've been having pain in my left ribcage....must not have been the ribs, but the heart underneath them. I am so glad to finally be getting some answers!

Quick Update

It has been hard for me to get posts on here with all that is going on at this time of year (school, end of fiscal year at work, doctor's appts, garden, canning)
I met with Dr. Amanda Denney on Wednesday - an endocrinologist. She is wonderful - I am very hopeful that she will nail down what it wrong.
One thing we know is that I do have the anti-bodies that attack my thyroid and that the thyroid is slightly enlarged and no longer smooth. I will eventually develop Hasimoto's thyroidosis (like my mom) but at this time it has not caused enough damage for me to need to take medication. We will keep watching it.
She was concerned about the tumor on my adrenal gland and that I may need it removed. She suspects that I either have Cushing's disease or metabolic syndrome. We are completing tests now to determine which it is. We are also more thoroughly checking about the possibility of diabetes. My sugar has continued to go up, even though I have cut sugar out of my diet. I have lost 7 pounds now - but my blood pressure is elevated.
Thursday I had numerous blood tests, a glucose tolerance test and a CT scan to check the adrenal tumor. Friday I spend 4 hours at the cardiac center having a thallium stress test - this will tell us if my heart is okay (because of the high blood pressure, shortness of breath and chest pains when exercising - she wanted a more thorough test than the echo I had) I will be completing a 24 hour urine test this weekend. So we should begin to get answers by the end of next week.
The group I sing with is doing a song called "Wait" and I am really holding on to the words: "Wait on the Lord, wait for Him patiently and He will lift you up on eagles wings and you will soar. His ways are perfect, His timing is sure, His heart is loving and pure."
Many people prayed for me to find the right doctor and I know He has answered that prayer.

Weekend Update

Well, it's been a busy week. And another hot and dry one. Tomatoes are doing okay with the weather, but everything else is suffering. I try to water a little every morning. Everyone's grass is brown. I'm working on salsa every day. The paste tomatoes aren't ready yet, so I haven't started on any tomato sauce. Andrew is done with his summer internship and home for a week. So we are enjoying visiting with him. The budget is close to being approved at work - which is the earliest they've gotten it done. So we should have a good start to the ministry year.

Hot weather returns

Well I must say that I am ready for some cooler weather at this point. It's hard to walk, hard to garden and hard to drive anywhere without a/c in the car. But the weather report says another week of hot mid 90's and little rain. Canned my first batch of salsa tonight. No word on my lung and heart tests yet.

Early Anniversary Lunch

John treated me to an early anniversary lunch at Smokey Bones! We had a good time - I told John all about the time my dad took Daniel, Andrew & I to Smokey Bones in Indianapolis - good memories! Tonight the women's group (Epiphany) is meeting to try to put together a new piece for the women's kick-off in September. We've lost two members, but have found two new ones! I am looking forward to practice. Didn't get to walk today after two days of doing my 30 minutes. I may try to walk when I get home from practice, since it should be cooler by then. I'm not sure about trying to walk in the morning, like I did Tuesday before work. I had great energy all day - but it was hard to get cooled down after my shower and I ended up going to work with wet hair. Next week I am working later hours and that will give me more time in the morning to walk and get ready for work.

Monday News

I have all of my websites and blogs transferred now. You can link to any of them by scrolling down and looking at the right hand column. Just click on whichever you are interested in.
We are back to the Hot Humid weather! I got up early today and did my walk before it was too bad. Then watered the garden - everything is looking pretty dry and droopy. But the hot weather is great for ripening tomatoes! Brought in about 10 today and some habanero peppers - salsa time! And I need to get working on the apples. It's a busy time of year - but great to begin to enjoy the fruits of my labors!

Garden Journal Up and Running

Well my new garden blog is located at:
http://mommoboysgarden.zoomshare.com
You can also get there by clicking on the link on the sidebar. Today I worked on trimming back the lemon balm, running soaker hoses through two more beds and beginning to clear the bed with the peas for another planting. I must have gotten too much heat, as I got a bad headache and severe stomach cramps. So I came in, took a shower and am drinking lots of water. The tomatoes are finally starting to ripen up and we are enjoying lots of salads with fresh lettuce, cukes and tomatoes! I think it's time to prune the petunias, as they are getting leggy. Last year the basket I pruned, grew back and bloomed again before the first frost - so I will try that with all of them. I can sit in the shade and do that!

Losing Websites

Well I am losing space on 4 of my websites - so I worked all morning at changing them to new hosts. I found two great free hosts with web building tools that were pretty easy to use. One is zoomshare.com and the other is freewebs.com. I have moved my Prayer Page and My Recipe Blog so far and will work on moving my Works in Progress site and my Gardening Journal this weekend. I have already changed the links to the prayer page and recipe page so if you click on the sidebar - it will take you to the new sites. Hopefully they will be a little easier for you to navigate. The prayer page is now set up as a blog - so you can post replies and comments to let us know that you are praying. Please email me with any requests you would like me to post - but be sure to keep me updated on God's answers. Email prayer requests to mommoboysprayerpage@zoomshare.com
Hopefully I will not have to change the sites anymore, but it always depends on where I can find free hosting.

Hot Hot Summer!

We are officially in a severe heat warning and none of our cars currently have working A/C! So driving anywhere is a real challenge to our systems! I might as well not do my hair...as I am completely soaked by the time I get to work. Good thing I have this perm...it looks okay even wet! Anyhow, it is only supposed to last a few days. And it is good for ripening tomatoes! Makes us so thankful for the air conditioning we have in the house...I can't imagine how awful it is for those who do not have it.

We Get Pictures Now!

Blogspot has added image capability to its blog publishing! So here is the first picture from my garden! I hope to publish all my new photos to a site that you can easily access and enjoy...will let you know when I get it set up. Until then, enjoy my sunflowers!

Hot Humid Saturday

I was in the garden by 8 AM and it was already "soupy". Got two raised beds weeded and then came in for a shower and a change of clothes, as mine were soaked through. Now we are having a thunderstorm....but it is only adding to the humidity not cooling us off. Will try to get back to weeding when it passes.
Having a great time with the digital camera and taking pictures. I will see if I can publish any on this blog - haven't looked into how to do that yet.
Well, it is my Dad's birthday today. He would have been 71 this year. Mom and Jacque are in Indiana at Andrea's wedding....they are going to go to the cemetary also.

Sleep Doctor's Opinion

Had my regular appt with the sleep doctor today. He is a pulmonologist (lung doctor). After looking over my tests, he thinks I need to have a broncoscopy done to find out what is going on with my lung. He adjusted my cpap machine to a higher setting, so I won't feel like I am suffocating and said that he would send a report to the lung specialist that I will see next week. If I do have to have a procedure done, I will need to be hooked up to the cpap machine during it, as the sleep apnea worsens when they put you under. I'll be glad when this next week goes by and I get to talk to the specialist. My fever is down to 99 today. Hopefully I can get in to work tomorrow.

Summer Bug

Well Michael and I have come down with our yearly summer bug....fever, headache, upset stomach. Hopefully it will be short-lived - it is definitely an awful time of year to be burning up with fever! I missed work today, but am feeling a little better tonight and hope to be able to go in tomorrow. Daniel and John must have stronger constitutions, because they never seem to come down with it. Hurricane Dennis has finally worked its way up here and we are beginning to get a little rain. We really could use a good soaking.

Checking in

We had a great fourth of July - Andrew was home and we did a bunch of "family" stuff - yardwork, movies, grilling and a wonderful time being together. I am getting alot of the front yard work done now that the garden is in its "growing" stage and doesn't need as much attention. The flowers are beautiful. I was just able to order a digital camera so when it gets here I can take pictures and post them on my gardening journal. It is really a beautiful time of year and although it is hot, the humidity is low and there is a nice breeze.
Well I know I am not posting much, but I am outside all the time. This week I have an appointment with the sleep doctor. I found out that his specialty is actually pulmonology....so I am taking him copies of all my tests. Maybe he can tell me something new.

Great News!

The PET scan was normal! So now I will see a lung specialist and have him review the tests, results and find out what he would advise me to do next. The GP said he would assume it was some kind of infection and repeat the CT scan monthly to watch the nodule. I will feel better to get a pulmonologist's advice. That appointment will not be until July 20th - the first available appt to a new patient with my type of symptoms. I've already been on antibiotics for 10 days - so I guess that should cover a basic infection. I will also consult with my GP next week (he's on vacation this week - so the nurse called me with the results, but couldn't answer any of my questions) and go over the scan in more detail. Thank you everyone for your prayers! God is so good!

PET Scan Day

Last night I found a great site that had PET scan images and lots of information
http://www.petscaninfo.com/
It made me feel much more comfortable about the test today and sounds like it is a very accurate test. We should have the results Monday or Tuesday. Well, time to drink another glass of water and get to the hospital. We appreciate everyone's prayers - please pray for clear results.

Thursday's News

Busy and productive day at work...closed the month of May and sent out all the third quarter contribution statements. Daniel and I picked out a new set of DVD's for the weekend and I took him to get a Father's Day card for John. It is really strange and sad for me...for as long as I can remember I have been sending a Father's Day card to my daddy. This is the first year that I haven't bought one - I don't remember how old I was when I started buying them myself but I know Mom bought them for me to give....anyhow it is very strange to not do something you've done for 40 + years. I never imagined how difficult it would be just to hear advertisements for Father's Day, or see it mentioned everywhere. The closer we've gotten to it, the more blue I've been feeling. Then next month we have to go through his birthday and mom & dad's 50th anniversary...it will be a hard month. I really miss him.

Wednesday and Labs

Wonderful weather....I wish we could keep it forever! I took the laptop to the porch to do my DMI work today (adding 90 new addresses) and got to enjoy the breeze and listened to the birds singing and looking at my beautiful flowers! The day started with coffee, danish and bible reading outside at Panera...a treat for me! Then on to the doctor's office for a TB test and a ton of blood work. I asked the nurse about what it means when they say "shadow" and she looked at the CT results and told me that the doctor that read it called it a "nodule". So...that's a little more info, but I still want to ask the doctor some questions before Saturday's test. I go back to the office on Friday, so I can see him then.

Update for Tuesday

Been outside most of the last week, no time for blogging when the weeds are growing and my flowers are blooming. Spending alot of time on the deck and our beautiful screened-in porch...transplanting flowers to the flower beds from my flats. Weather has been hot and sticky - more like August - until today....humidity is down, temp is a comfortable 79 and a wonderful breeze. We are supposed to have a great week. My health "stuff" continues...more tests to take and no answers yet. Friday I will know if I have TB. Saturday they are doing another scan on my lung. So really it'll be next week before we have any answers. Resting for now in God's Peace...so glad He is in control!

Gardening

What a great day to work in the garden. I was able to do quite a bit before my back started to hurt. I planted spaghetti squash, yellow squash, zucchini, acorn squash, cucumbers, 2 rows of pole beans, and all of my pepper plants. I did a little weeding and then took care of all the plants growing on the porch. Daniel put together the windmill and set it up in the garden - it looks really nice. There is still alot of work to do on the front flower beds...but I will just take it slow. I don't want to spend another 48 hours flat on my back. Tonight we are going to watch "I Robot" while I stuff the June newsletter into envelopes for DMI. It is supposed to rain tomorrow - which is fine with me, since I have to be at work. Maybe the rain will make pulling the weeds easier on Friday.

Here comes Summer!

Hard to believe that May is over and summer is almost here. Even though it technically isn't summer until June 20 - I always feel like summer has arrived when the kids get out of school. Daniel is taking final exams this week - his last day is Friday. Most days he just goes in and has one exam - so he's done by 9:45! The school that rents NCCC is out on Wednesday...so it really seems like summer.
My back is much better - just soreness left - I was able to walk 1/2 mile today without hurting it too much. I hope to be able to do a little gardening tomorrow. I have to go over to the hospital in the morning to have my chest xray done. The doctor wants to make sure that the pneumonia is gone. Then I have an eye appointment at 10:30. After that I hope to spend the rest of the day outside. If I work carefully, hopefully my back will behave.
Well I'd better get working on the eggplant parmesan or we won't have dinner tonight.

Happy Memorial Day

Well it has been a bittersweet weekend - so many wonderful memories of Memorial Day weekend with my Dad in Indy - La Quinta, the parade, the time trials, the race...so many wonderful times he provided for us to enjoy with him! It is really hard to believe we won't get to enjoy those things with him anymore...we miss him so much. But we are so grateful that we have those wonderful times to remember - so glad that we got to be with him and share all of his Indy experiences and stories. I think he would have loved this year's race with Danica Patrick!
So, another "first year without Daddy" marker has come and gone. I know that each of the holidays and anniversaries that come up this year will be hard...but I will hold on to the thought of being able to spend eternity with him and be thankful for all the memories I have to recall.

Garden time

Well we have reached the time of year where I find very little time for the computer...so if you do not hear from me for awhile, it means the weather is nice and I am outside. I cannot believe how much there is to do outside this time of year...no matter how much I prepare ahead of time, there is still hours of weeding, clearing, digging, planting, etc. to be done. Part of it is that I do not like to use weed-killers or pesticides, so I make more work for myself, but I think we are healthier.
Yesterday I cleared and weeded and planted 4 of the flower beds. I still have 4 more that need attention...then of course the vegetable beds. I transplanted tiny little pansies yesterday...I started them from seed and obviously not soon enough. I have no idea how long they will take to mature, but I will definitely start them much sooner next year.
Well today's job is to plant lettuce. I am going to grow my lettuce in containers this year and keep them up on the deck where I can control the amount of sun they get. Plus it will be convenient for picking for dinner salads. It's an experiment. Everyone have a great weekend!

Mother's Day

Daniel and I spent the day together going to FOUR different churches! It was part of a project for his Christian Studies course. We visited a Roman Catholic, a non-denominational seeker friendly church, a Japanese church (yes, the service was in Japanese!) and a pentacostal church. It was a very interesting experience. Today the weather has been gorgeous, I think the frosts are finally behind us. They are prediciting mid-80's all week. I have moved all the plants outside and now can work on re-covering my house. It is hard not to feel overwhelmed with all there is to do right now, but I am trying to take it in small amounts. I need to remember Flylady's idea of just doing 15 minutes worth of work and then either resting or changing to a different type of job for 15 minutes. It can be a little chaotic, but hopefully in the long run I'll get more done. I was able to transplant the brandywine tomatoes into bigger containers (it's just a little too soon for them to go into the garden) But I am planting the early girl tomatoes in the garden this week. I've slowly been weeding and working on the flower beds... getting ready for the marigolds and snaps to go out. One thing at a time.

Another Virus

Wednesday I came down with the same virus that kept Michael home from work on Tuesday - I wonder if we pick up all these viruses because he works at a daycare center or our immune systems are just not working well. Anyway it kept me home from work today, but about midway through the day I began to feel better...so I think it was short-lived. It looks like the cold weather may finally be on its way out - I hope so, because things are late getting into the garden. Maybe we'll have a nice long, warm fall and plenty of time to harvest late. I am anxious to get going on outside projects, but between the weather and my health it hasn't happened yet. My mom is back in Buffalo after a wonderful visit with her sister Georgia in Texas. The cool weather will be a shock to her system! I hope she will have a nice Mother's Day at Jacque's home... we will be spending Mother's Day taking Daniel to three different churches for a school project. One is a Japanese church! It should be an interesting day.

Mid-week Debrief

We come to the end of another Tuesday. Since I work on Monday and Tuesday, I find it is usually Tuesday evening before I post my first blog of the week. So catch-up time:
Sunday night's small group at the Pfeil's was great fun...it is always a good way to start the week. We just show up at Peter and Liz' with whatever food we have on hand and then enjoy a true pot "luck" dinner together. We love to catch up on what everyone has been up to for the last 2 weeks and there is alot of good natured teasing! Then we close by praying for each other. Monday and today were great days at work...lots of tasks completed. We even had a good staff meeting today! (Meetings are not my favorites, but today's was more of a brain-storming session) It has been so cold here...frost warnings last night and tonight. I checked my tomatoes and put an extra cover on them...they look like they are doing okay. Tomorrow is supposed to be the beginning of a warm-up - so I plan to be outside in the afternoon - maybe I can get the petunias in the hanging baskets. Well that's about it from freezing West Chester...more tomorrow!

Busy Weekend

Wow, alot has happened since my last post. Friday Walter, Marc, Joshua and William took Monie, Noelle and I to the Olive Garden for Administrative Professionals Week. It was wonderful (I had my favorites: Eggplant Parmesan and Tiramasu for dessert!) We really enjoyed talking with each other (with no outside interruptions) and just had a great time. That evening was the CHCA Sacred Music concert. The students did a wonderful job, Daniel looked and played great! I only wish that John could make it to one of these concerts - he would be so proud of Daniel! Andrew came home for the weekend - it was so nice to visit with him. We watched the Incredibles this weekend and really enjoyed it. It is one we'll have to buy. We also watched "Flight of the Phoenix" (the re-make with Dennis Quaid - not the original with Jimmy Stewart). It was entertaining...the female lead was Miranda Otto (Eowyn from LOTR). Now we are getting ready to go to the Pfeil's house for our small group dinner and prayer time. I'm taking Mexican (since it's Cinco deMayo this week).

Noodles

I've had the nicest day. Monie treated me to lunch at "Nothing But Noodles" and we both loved it! I had Pad Thai and she had Peanut Thai....they were excellent! It was so nice to chat with her and not have the telephone interrupt us! And we had a surprize visitor - Jodean - it was great to see her! So if you haven't tried it yet....you've got to go. It is on Mason-Montgomery by the Dick's Sporting Goods and Gold's Gym...next to Mimi's Cafe (which we want to try next) Then I dropped Monie off at church and went to visit the fabric store. I am looking for material to cover some chairs for the screened in porch and some fabric to make a duvet cover for Andrew's bed - which is going to be our new guest room, since AJ will be in Cedar Rapids all summer. I'm trying to find something bright with pansies. I also am so excited about something that happened for Deaf Ministries. The head of the organization called Peter (the treasurer) today and said that the work in Myanmar needed $2000 asap. Peter called to see if any checks had come in. I told him that I had $635 so far and two envelopes to open. They contained $880. Then I checked the mail and had two more checks, bringing our total to $2025! Isn't God good? I was so excited! If any of you want to know more about Deaf Ministries International - please check out their website at
www.deafmin.org
or email me and I can send you a newsletter. It is a wonderful ministry doing work in 12 countries.

Quick Post

Didn't have time to post last night. Daniel and I went to a College Information Night at school. It was all the details of testing, applications, resumes, college visits, etc. So much information, our heads are swimming! Lots of deadlines to keep track of. Daniel says, "I don't even know what I want to do yet, how can I start picking a college?" It seems early, but the colleges are so selective now and it is time to enroll him in the prep classes for the SAT & ACT. They want him to do 2-3 hours a week all summer doing practice tests. Oh boy! More "homework" to have to make him do!

Wonderful Worship!

What a wonderful morning of worship we had at church today! I drove to church feeling kind of blue about the cloudy weather and the snow which was covering up all the flowers, worrying about the apple trees and if this cold, snowy weather would mean no apples this year. Then I walked into church and was encouraged by all the cheerful "hellos" and kind inquiries about my health. Then worship began with such encouraging Scripture, songs and prayer and my spirit was lifted. I was reminded that God is in control of the weather, of the apple trees, of my health and everything will be as He has ordained it to be - I can trust Him to take care of my needs and to put before me the path I am to walk while I rest in Him. Praise be to God! How can we be discouraged when He has given us such wonderful promises. "Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Luke 12:6-8
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD , "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. "Jeremiah 29:11
We have a big week ahead of us: Monday night is a required college information night at the high school for Daniel and I. Tuesday he has an extra rehearsal in the early evening. Thursday afternoon we go back to the allergist with Daniel and then downtown to the church for his dress rehearsal for the Sacred Music concert at St. Mary's in Hyde Park. That will be a late night with rehearsal going until 9 PM! Friday is the big concert - if it is anything like last year's it will be wonderful! Well that is our plans for the week, I'm sure that God has His plans for us - so I will be expectant and flexible (anyway I pray that I will). Have a blessed week everyone!

Snow in Cincinnati

Can you believe that we woke up to snow on April 23rd? I think this is the latest we've had snow in the 15 years I've lived here. I hope my plants make it through. It was only a little, but the temperatures haven't gone above 40 today and are supposed to go down to 36 tonight. I brought in the flat of petunias I had just bought and there are several pots of different plants on the porch that I may set inside. That 80 degree weather we had, really spoiled us. I've been trying to get little projects done today without hurting myself too much. It's frustrating to do things in bits and pieces, but in the long run things will get done. Working on changing Andrew's room into a guest room for Gramee's visits (and anyone else who comes) Andrew is going back to Cedar Rapids for the summer, so instead of a whole room just sitting there empty - we are packing up some of his stuff and getting it ready for company. Don't worry AJ, I am labeling everything!

News from Kathy

It's Friday! We are busy around here with Daniel's upcoming Sacred Music Concert - lots of extra rehearsals to drive him to. And it is Deaf Ministries International Newsletter time again - so I will be able to rest my ribs as I stuff, label, stamp and seal 400 newsletters this weekend. We are having rainy, stormy weather all weekend and it is even supposed to snow on Sunday! Crazy Cincinnati weather! Well I have my cabbage and broccoli protected under a row cover and I only set out 4 early girl tomato plants and I have empty milk jugs with the bottom cut out over them. I may also put a row cover over them tomorrow for a little more protection. Time for lunch! Have a great weekend!

First Planting

John tilled one of the beds this morning so when I got home from work I planted the broccoli and cabbage plants. My ribs are doing better and only hurt a little more after gardening - I was very careful not to do too much. I hope on Wednesday I will be feeling well enough to plant some more. It will be one week on the medication and should be at full strength. We are having beautiful weather, so I really want to take advantage of it, but I don't want to make the ribs worse.

Saturday Stuff

Well I am still having rib pain - but the medicine is supposed to take a week to work - so I'm halfway there. Since I have viral pneumonia - there is nothing to do but wait for it to go away. Since I have been "laid-up" I have been working on computer stuff. One of the things I am working on is a Harris Website that my whole family can post to and put pictures on. I have the first draft of it at http://spaces.msn.com/members/harrishomepage/
I hope to expand it soon with my sisters and mother adding to it. If everyone posts at least once a week with what's going on in their family - we can more easily keep up with each other. We'll see how it goes. Well I need to post more pictures to the site from our family reunion 2 summers ago. More later.

Fridays & Doctors

Well John dragged me off to the doctor today because my rib cage is still hurting and getting worse. So I had x-rays, which I won't know anything about until Monday and was put on steriods - in case there is some kind of inflammation in the ribs. If it isn't better by Monday they will do a bone scan. The doctor is puzzled, as I haven't done anything that would have caused an injury and my lungs sounded clear. Always encouraging to puzzle the medical profession!
On a lighter note, I transplanted 60 snapdragons into bigger pots. And took all the seedlings outside again for some air. Can't wait to feel better enough to do some planting in the garden. Tomorrow we are supposed to have good weather again. It's also the fine arts festival at the high school and Daniel has two different performances - should be fun to hear him.

Wonderful Wednesday!

What a wonderful day! The weather is gorgeous - around 75. So it was an outside day. Cleaned up the deck and porch and John helped me get the patio furniture out. Planted my large deck planters with blue and yellow sweet peas. These are from England and are supposed to be highly scented. I can't wait to smell them. I set the bamboo trellises up in each planter for the sweet peas to climb on. Cleaned up three of my flower beds in the back. Plus the bed around the garden. The daffodils are up and blooming so pretty - also the hyacinths both the little grape ones and the big ones...they smell so nice and look so cheerful.
I gathered alot of sticks and piled them up for John to chip. I carried my tomato plants, peppers and marigolds out to the screened porch, to begin to get used to outdoors. There was a nice breeze, which will help strengthen their stems. Tonight I will bring them back inside. Set out the sun tea jar...so happy that Spring is here! I made a big Seafood Pasta salad for dinner tonight. It was so nice to sit on the deck this morning and read my bible! I also had another eye appointment today and the doctor wants to get me a stronger contact lens for my right eye. He says that I will have to get reading glasses to wear over my contacts for reading. Guess my eyes are getting old! Still having alot of pain in my rib cage - I am assuming it is from all the coughing I did a few weeks back with the bronchitis. John wants me to have the doctor check it out, but I think I will give it a few more days. New "Lost" episode tonight...I think Claire is finally going to have her baby. Have a good night everyone!

Basketball is over

Illinois couldn't quite pull it off, but it was a good game and a really good tournament this year. So Marc Champagne won our little bracket contest AGAIN! I came in eighth, but I enjoyed the games. Marc says that he won't participate next year, because it ruins the games for him - that he would enjoy cheering the Cinderella teams on if he wasn't cheering for the teams he picked. I understand what he's saying, but I still love to fill out the brackets.
They threw a big birthday party for me at work today, since I wasn't at work on my birthday. It was really sweet of them and brightened up my day! I got all the checks written today and am mostly caught up on the work I missed over the last two weeks. My seedlings are doing great, and I can't wait for my day off tomorrow to work in the garden. It got up to 78 today! Heard from my sister - she is really struggling with Daddy's death. I wish there was something I could say to help her - but everyone has to work through grief in their own way. I'll just keep praying for God to bring her comfort.

Opening Day in Cincy

Well it is officially spring in Cincinnati with Opening Day today and the Reds even won against the Mets! Beautiful weather here, everyone is outside and working on their yards. It was strange to go back to work today - thankfully everything was in good order and I think I will be able to catch up by Thursday. Tonight is the Final Basketball game between Illinois and UNC. I am making Chicken Wings for the boys and we will watch the game. Tomato cages were on sale today at Big Lots for 97 cents each - so I went there after work and got 10. Plus they had seeds on sale, so I got pumpkin, spaghetti squash, lettuce, cantaloupe, some herbs and watermelon. Those will all be direct seeded into the garden. John chipped a huge pile of branches today and put the chips around the trees for mulch.
Time to go work on dinner!

Back to Blogging after a Sad Week

Well for those of you who do not know, my dad lost his battle with Multiple Myeloma on Sunday, March 20th. But we rejoice that he is now out of pain and with the Lord. I am not ready to write alot of details about the past month - I spent the first half of March with another bad bout of bronchitis and then the last half in Buffalo with the funeral, travelled with my mom and sisters to Indiana (where Dad wanted to be buried) and then back to Buffalo. Drove back to Cincinnati yesterday (April 1st) I'm not anxious to get back in a car. The funeral service was very nice, as was the burial. I was proud to see how many friends and colleagues of my father's came. It was helpful to hear all of their stories. My dad was in the army, so there was a military part of the service, which was very touching - again, I was so proud of him.
My mom did a wonderful job taking care of him over this long illness and she did great through this difficult, long funeral process. She is much on my mind as she enters this new stage of life. My sister, Jacque also took wonderful care of dad (and mom) and my heart goes out to her as her life will seem empty in alot of ways.
I plan to get caught up at work and then spend time catching up with my plants, garden and blogs. Tonight I will watch the basketball games and think of daddy.

March came in like a lion

a whippin' up the water in the bay! Okay what musical is that from? And what is the name of the song? Answers at the end.
Yesterday was snowy and windy and utterly awful! So I guess it has to get better from that! Today it has been very, very cold but with wonderful, bright sunshine! Our big event of the day was taking all three cats to the vet...Dr. Zeke - the best vet in the world! Michael paid the bill - he is the greatest! Muffin and Shadow are both 14 # (2 pounds overweight! Diet time) and Ranger is 11 # (just right!) They got all of their shots (4 each) plus Ranger got an antibiotic shot because of his sore leg (he's been in a little fight) Muffin has pink eye and we need to give him eye drops for a week. Other than that - they are all fine.
Answers: Carousel and "June is Bustin' Out All Over"
Lost tonight!! Gotta love Wednesdays.

Friday Blues

Another blue kind of day for me, Daniel is sick again and missing school. After doing so well and getting good mid-term grades, now he will be behind again. Hard not to feel blue about not being able to nail down what is wrong with him. The doctor has him on antibiotics, thinking this is a sinus infection. He wants us to go to an ENT now to find out about possible surgery options for Daniel.
My father is not doing well, and that makes me blue also. I wish I could be there to help. Hopefully I can get up there again in a few weeks. Daniel and I spent the day watching movies and I worked on Michael's slippers. I have a chicken pie and apple crisp in the oven and I hope the boys feel like eating tonight. Andrew should be coming home in a few days for a brief visit....seems like it has been forever since we've seen him.

Back in Town

We had a very nice visit to Buffalo. No problems at all with the weather, although it did snow, they certainly take good care of the roads. I don't know what it is about traveling that makes one feel so tired, especially when John did all the driving - but I was so tired after work yesterday that I really didn't get anything done and went to bed early. But today has been better. Worked on DMI stuff, waded through hundreds of emails, got through all the mail, worked with my seedlings and planned out the rest of the week's meals. Daniel is still sick, so made a doctor appt for him tomorrow. Also had prescriptions to renew, vet appt to make for Shadow, Ranger & Muffin and an eye appt for me. Andrew is going to try to get home for a few days next week - which is good because we need him to get his taxes done and a few other applications filled out. Well, time to get some more done around the house. More tomorrow.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Another grey and rainy day in Cincinnati...good thing I spent alot of time under my light therapy lamp yesterday. It is awful to go through a whole day and have it seem like evening all day. Well it's February and that's what we get here. Not much to talk about today, work was okay and we are getting excited about our trip to Buffalo this coming weekend. Not sure what I'll work on this evening - may just surf around on the web and "veg". Tomorrow the staff is taking Walter out for lunch (a late birthday treat) and then staff meeting in the afternoon. Wednesday, I'll probably spend getting packed and ready for our trip Friday. It'll be nice to see mom and dad - hopefully Jacque and family will be feeling well enough to visit also.

Recovering

Well I have no idea how I caught a virus this week, but Wednesday night it hit me like a ton of bricks....Hope none of you have this one - the worst headache I've ever experienced. Today is the first day I've been able to get up. Nice sunny day today and I was able to enjoy that through the windows. Mostly worked on DMI stuff and did a little planting and a little sewing. Going to watch the first two superman movies tonight - I've been wanting to see them again. Check my gardening blog to see how the growing goes!

Busy Wednesday

Well, not a great day off...worked on DMI all day (my other part-time bookkeeping job). I did notice in passing that alot of my seeds have sprouted - so I need to check them out and record the results on my gardening blog. And my paperwhites are about 5 inches high - my first attempt at forcing bulbs!
Daniel and I have been having alot of headaches and Michael has another sinus infection. We've had warm, rainy weather for a few days and now it is supposed to snow tonight and tomorrow. I hate this time of year....and it is so dreary grey out. Well, I think I will spend the evening knitting (working on Cole's shepherds)that should cheer me up.

Short Friday Post

Day off, sunny, stuff to weave - sounds like a great day and I'm off to it.

Weaver's Loft

What a wonderful Wednesday! I took my Christmas money and drove about 45 min to an hour away to Dover, Indiana and visited the closest weaving supply store. A neat lady has a little shop on her property and it is well stocked with all kinds of thread, yarn and weaving supplies. I had so much fun looking through everything. Barb was so helpful and gave me lots of tips - it was like having a class! She invited me to the Greater Cincinnati Weavers Guild meeting tomorrow night - I'd like to try and go. They have a house and hold all kinds of classes, workshops and study groups there. If you join you can also have access to their library.
I bought white and blue carpet warp for my rugs and blue, white and 2 shades of yellow cotton thread to make kitchen towels. I also bought a boat shuttle and bobbins to use while weaving the kitchen towels, as the thread is fine and will work better on the bobbin than the flat shuttle I am using for the scarf. Tonight I have been cutting old jeans into strips to use in the rag rug. I am so excited! I also went to the garden center today and bought marigold and sweet pea seeds. I need to get the snapdragons started, they took so long to grow last year, I want to see if I can get them to bloom earlier. Well, back to cutting strips and I need to reload the flat shuttle with the river blue symphony yarn, so I can finish the scarf. I'm anxious to get it finished and off the loom, so I can start a rug! Looks like February could be a good month this year. It's snowing again tonight - nice big fluffy snow. Maybe we'll be snowed in tomorrow and I can weave all day (LOL)!

Weaving Away!

I have 18 inches of 8 inch wide fabric woven!! I am so excited! Now I want to make kitchen towels and placemats and fabric for sewing and rugs and.... I have a million ideas flying around in my head. I can't believe once you have the loom all set up how fast you can produce fabric. It is amazing. Now I want to go to the store and get all kinds of thread and yarn to use. I know now what kind of warp thread to get for the rag rugs I want to weave. This is the neatest thing I have learned for a long time. Thank you Sharlene for loaning me your loom - I'm hooked!
And our new dryer comes tomorrow...Thanks to Michael.

Weaving

Yesterday I made good progress in warping the loom. I am almost ready to weave. It definitely takes the most time to get the yarn onto the loom correctly. And it is hard to learn to do it from a book, but the one I have by Debbie Redding has excellent pictures and detailed instructions. I borrowed it from the library and would highly recommend it to anyone trying to learn how to dress a loom. The title is "Learning to Weave" and you can find it on Amazon, or check your library.
Today has been busy at work - getting all the W2's out and paying all the taxes. Thankfully we have a great payroll service that does alot of the work and then sends me a packet with instructions on what I need to do. Well, gotta run....meeting tonight.

Sing a Song of Springtime

I can't believe I haven't posted in 10 days - sorry! January is always my busy month, but I am pleased to say all the tax statements have been mailed out! So now it's time to turn to thoughts of spring and start my seedlings. Tonight I planted peppers, bell, jalapeno, habanero and cayenne. I will start posting to my gardening blog to keep a journal of everything that is planted and how they are doing. I also put together my little greenhouse John gave me for Christmas. It has three large shelves and is very light, so I will be able to move it around easily. Tomorrow I will try to warp the loom....I have been reading the directions over and over and I think I am ready to try it!
Well we were quite disappointed that the Steelers lost this weekend - they've had a great season. I don't like either the Patriots or the Eagles for the Superbowl - hard to get excited about either team. Well, I guess I'll go check in on my gardening journal. Hope to be more consistent with posting now that January's tasks are done at work.

Successful Saturday

The biggest news is that the loom is here! Now I have to learn how to use it!!! We had a great day taking all kinds of things to the Goodwill....furniture, boxes of stuff from the basement. We can even see the floor! It feels so good to begin to make headway on this. We will even have room to move the bowflex down to the basement. Then while I watched Pittsburgh win against the Jets, I worked on Deaf Ministries stuff. Peter says that Neville may want to hire me to do more for them. I love working from home!
We are supposed to get snow tonight...we'll see. Guess we'll keep the cats inside. Michael took all the stuff to the goodwill - he had to make two trips! Lots of trash for pickup on Monday also. Time to review my Children's Church lesson for tomorrow. I've added another blog link today - it's a blog that features crockpot recipes, I love my crockpot and this blog has some great recipes. Happy Sunday!

Thanks FlyLady!

I got rid of 9 32 gallon bags of stuff from the laundry room today = two actual trash and 7 for the good will! Wow, I never could have done it without FlyLady's encouragement. She has been sending me the best essays on how clutter is robbing us of peace and really making me look at why I am hanging on to the things I am. Part of it has always been a fear of needing something and not having the money to buy it. But I made great progress today and it is the first time in years that I actually think I can conquer the basement. I have to work tomorrow but first thing Saturday I'm going to keep de-cluttering the basement and re-claiming my peace.
The weathermen seem to be right...the temperature is dropping rapidly...guess it's back to winter for awhile.

It's summer here!

Well I opened the windows and screen doors and let the house air out today, since it was almost 70 out! It is only going to make me long more for spring, but one should never complain about a nice warm day in the middle of winter...it is a gift from God. Of course by Friday it is going to be only 17 degrees - BUT - it will be sunny! So still something to look forward to.
Today was "Take the Christmas tree down" day. Always a little depressing and as usual no one wants to help mom take down the decorations - we may have to come up with a solution for that next year. Tomorrow we (John and I) plan to get the laundry room straightened up and room made to get the new dryer in. And then the greatest news of all - Sharlene is going to let me have her loom for awhile! I am so excited! I have been wanting a loom so badly, reading all about them, watching ebay for a good deal, cutting up all the old clothes for weaving. And now I will actually get to try one out. Sharlene and Stan are remodeling their house and need the room, but she doesn't want to sell it, so she is letting me give it a home for awhile. I'm not sure where I will put it, but I want it to be somewhere near a window. And it is seed time! The catalogs are arriving and garden plans need to be made...spring is around the corner.

Still raining

The flooding situation is getting worse in Cincinnati and it is still raining. Although our temperatures are going up almost to the 70's tomorrow and then on Friday it's going to be 17! As Andrew likes to say "Welcome to the Midwest" No wonder we are all sick with weather like this! I switched my days off this week, so have Wednesday and Thursday off and will work on Friday. Guess I'll take down the Christmas tree since I have two days in a row to do it. Then we can get the wonderful Christmas present from Michael delivered....our new dryer! We can't wait!

Still Grey but ...

Well it got colder, but not cold enough to get snow - just a misty sleet - however the day was redeemed for me by a wonderful treat from Walter - swiss chocolates (thank you Berkmeyers!)
It was the best chocolate I've ever tasted...and brightened my day!
Then Daniel and I had a great evening - Papa John's pizza and we watched "The Terminal" with Tom Hanks and Catherine Zeta-Jones. A very good movie, much different than I expected - if you haven't seen it - rent it....very good. Tomorrow night we will watch "The Alamo" - Hollywood Video is having a special for $9.99 you can rent any of their movies marked MVP - as many as you want during a 30 day period. They don't have the newest releases....but if a movie has been out for 3 or 4 weeks, they qualify - so we signed up and now we will be able to see all these movies we wanted to see - but didn't want to spend the money on. An excellent idea for January since we are stuck inside so much. I am hoping that at the end of our 30 days "Troy" and "King Arthur" will be available.
Daniel continues to enjoy his film making class and is going downtown to make a video as a service project for a non-profit group...he will film and edit it and they will use it for their fund raising. Pretty neat!
I have a few things to tie up at work tomorrow, even tho it's technically my day off...then John and I are going to use one of our Christmas gifts (a McAlister's Deli gift card) to go out for lunch. Sounds like a good Friday to me. Happy Weekend Everyone!

Wet Wednesday

Still raining in Cincinnati....but getting colder, so maybe it'll turn to snow. At least white snow is more cheerful than dreary gray skies and brown earth. Guess I really need to start sitting under my light therapy light more regularly and try to ward off the Jan/Feb blues.
My voice is beginning to return and most of the bronchitis symptoms have let up - hurrah! I am back at work this week and spent today (my day off from NCCC) working on Deaf Ministries stuff. It's great to have a job that I can do from home, and still enjoy being around John and getting to talk to him while he is home and awake! I just need a few more bookkeeping jobs that I could do from home and I could work totally from home.
I am still working on a few Christmas presents that didn't get finished in time. A good reason to plan out what I am doing for everyone next year and begin now. I finished knitting the Joseph figure for my nephew Cole and hope this year to complete the shepherds and the wise men. Now that I am familiar with the pattern, I hope it'll go faster. Last year I made him Mary, baby Jesus, a manger and a sheep. The boys liked their slippers and Daniel's "hobo" gloves turned out nice. John wants a pair, but wants his knitted not crocheted, so the stitches will be closer and thus warmer, although I put Daniel's on and they seem warm enough crocheted. I haven't finished John's scarf or a present I'm making for my mom (which I can't talk about, because she reads this). Well, time to make chicken pie for dinner - sounded like a good choice for a cold, damp day!
Take care of each other!

Happy New Year!

Well I went back to work today - with a partial voice. I still need to be careful with it. We have had nothing but rain lately and it looks like more of the same all week. I wanted to start walking again, but probably should wait with this bronchitis still hanging on. We think that all the moisture was the cause of our garage ceiling falling down. What a mess, drywall everywhere, but nothing was damaged....just lots of clean up. It's hard to believe that Michael is 24 today... where has the time gone? Not much more to tell, watched tons of movies last week while John was home and I was sick - on New Year's Eve we did a marathon of the Lord of the Rings Extended versions....it took 12 hours to watch all three! I don't think we'll do that again soon, but it was kind of neat to see the whole trilogy.