Memorial Day

Lots of Veterans in our family. Ralph, my dad, Bobby and Pop are Navy, Big Ed, Rocco and Lou are Marines, George and George are Army. Ralph is at a Memorial Day ceremony now.

Sam is not doing well. Last night she called me 12 times in an hour while I wasn't home, to say that her phone wasn't working. When I called her back she knew something wasn't right. I called Hospice, and the nurse met us there. They changed her meds a little.

This morning her hospice nurse called, and I met her at Sam's. Lou said they were up til 4 a.m., and she fell in the bathroom. She was still somewhat confused, but sleepy. The nurse assessed her, which she dozed during, so we left them both asleep. Sam is looking weak and gray, but insistent that she will pass at home. I don't think it will be long, and I hope for her sake it isn't.

Sam has always been a private person, and it's so hard for her to have the constant parade of people thru the house. She was always the care giver, of her mom, aunt, and dad, and Lou, that it's hard for her to accept being taken care of. She's so apologetic when she asks for anything.

I know I'm too close to the situation for any objectivity. Ralph and Barbara and my physician friend Tom are doing the objectivity part for me, I'm just trying to follow her wishes. Four of the dogs and the cat have gone to their new homes, and when she passes I just have to make a phone call for the little dog to go to her new home. The wonderful hospice nurse took Freebe, the 23 year old cat, home with her. Who ever heard of a 23 year old cat!

It's been a 10 year battle since she was diagnosed, and I see the end of the road being in sight. I've been telling her that it's OK to go, that her Mom is waiting for her, and we'll be OK. Between us all we'll care for Lou and follow his wishes, and her plans.

When we were younger we used to joke about Death, and how we had our copy of The Final Exit handy. It's not so funny anymore.

Holly

39 years

Today is our 39th wedding anniversary! It's hard to believe it's been that long. When I got home from work today, Ralph was holding Miss Millie, and he said she was my present. That made me laugh, since she's so his cat.

We had a nice dinner out with Steph and Dan to celebrate. They leave for New Orleans two weeks from today. Manda and Ben are having a great trip to Italy- they've been to Rome, Pompeii, and Tuscany.

Steph asked us what we've learned in 39 years. My immediate response that we're each others best friend.

The part of the vows about being together in sickness and in health has described us. His kidney stone and brain tumor, my hysterectomy and arrythmia, and we've gotten thru it all holding each others hand.

The best thing we've done together is to have our three lovely daughters! We're so proud of each of them, and so glad we survived their teenage years!

All of a sudden it's hot out. It's been 90 a couple of days. Typical jersey, a week of spring then right into the hot weather.

And the beat goes on!
Holly

A Long Week

Last Sunday my cousin got really confused, so I spent the night with her. I'm too old to try to sleep in a recliner! I took Monday off, and slept part of the day, while Ralph stayed with her and her husband. I never did catch up on sleep- I'm still up for an hour or so in the middle of the night. So today I slept late and took a nap!

Manda and Ben arrived in Italy this morning, for a week with Ben's parents. It was over a 12 hour flight for them, in addition to the time changes. And Heather has started packing out of season items to the trip home. We're all so happy that they are coming back! Steph just finished day 3 of a 5 day seminar- the other two days are next week.

I guess the world didn't end at 6 pm, always a good thing.

This week is Sharon and Jim's 12th anniversary! And next week is our 39th anniversary! I don't know where the time goes.

I decided to use up all the little balls of leftover yarn. I made one afghan, just double crochet, and I still have some left! So I started scrap afghan #2. It's an easy pattern, and takes no concentration, which is good since I don't have any concentrating skills at the moment.

I DVR The View and Ellen every day, and I do manage to keep up with them, catching up over the weekend. All the other shows I like get DVR'd, and I'm way behind in watching them.

My friend Jean had brain surgery, which was scary. She had a benign tumor that was messing up her balance. The doc predicted 4-5 days in the ICU, then a week on the floor. She was out of the ICU in one day, and home in 4! Since Jean has been a nurse for over 50 years, we figure they sent her home for some peace and quiet. We love you, Jean!

And my friend Roseanne just became a grandmother for the 3rd time! Zachary was born last weekend. Her other two grandchildren live in California, so it's great for her to have him nearby.

No big plans for tomorrow. Ralph will do church with his mom, then we're having dinner with Frank and Charlotte. When we were all first married, we went to dinner together a lot. Then children and later grandchildren, and jobs, kept us busy.

Miss Millie is failing. She can't jump much, and her mouth is tender. She's about 17 now. Every time Ralph sits or lays down, she's right there on him. Getting old stinks, whether you're a person or a cat.

And so it goes.
Holly

So much going on

Life is hectic right now, and not in a good way. Work is work. We're getting close to the end of the school year, with all the paperwork that goes with it.

Heather and Ed and Eddie and Julianna made a real quick visit up, and we got to see them last night. Steph came over, and Dan came over when he finished his final, and we had pizza together and visited.

Florence is thriving in assisted living. She has friends in the same facility, so she can hang out when she wants, but have her place to retreat to. The cat seems perfectly happy- she has a nice sunny window to bird watch from. And Florence went to the Acme on the bus ran by the facility! We're so thrilled for her! (doesn't take much to make us happy).

I'm up almost every night at 0400 until 0500, then I doze off, so I'm exhausted all the time. Ralph and Steph are also not sleeping well- too much on our minds. Ralph has been doing a lot of yard work, getting rid of a lot of wood and cement pieces.

We dog sat Saturday while Steph went to a wedding in NY. Those dogs are world class nappers! of course Millie decided to go around meowing at 0400 and woke us all up, and the dogs decided they may as well go outside since we were up.

I'm working on yet another afghan, this one with all the little balls of yarn left over from the last several projects. It's just double crochet, so it doesn't require any concentration, which is good. It should be nice and warm.

I was given a Kindle DX by someone too sick to be interested in it anymore. I have it registered to me, and I've downloaded a few books that I can't get on my Nook. So I'm reading about 4 books and once, and i couldn't tell you what any of them are about.

I made 2 blocks for a block swap, but I can't put up pix of them yet. Eventually I will.
And so it goes.
Holly

May 1

237 days til Christmas! Spring break is now over, and we go back to work tomorrow. I hope being off settled the kids down a little. I was busy over break- spent some time with Sam, dog sat for a day, finished an afghan and started another, and I sewed! Just two blocks, but it felt good. I also cleaned off the sewing machine table, and the work table.

I read 9 books in April, 4 from the library and 5 either from my Nook or from my bookshelf.

Mom Florence and her cat go to Assisted Living tomorrow. We're all hoping she likes it, since she can't live alone anymore. Mom Mary Jane is having in home physical therapy.

The Royal Wedding- I didn't watch it live, but I saw several replays of it. It's amazing how many people from all over the world went to London to watch it. I loved the hats- The View ladies and Oprah did wedding shows complete with hats.

This is cleaning lady week, which always make me happy!
And the beat goes on!
Holly

Easter morning

The trifle is made and chilling, the roasted veggies are roasting, and when they come out of the over the potato casserole goes in. Then the mini hot dogs wrapped in crescents. When they all come out, it'll be time to go pick up Mom and head to Mike and Donna's. If Mom doesn't change her mind, as she well may.

Last night was a good night- I talked to all three of my daughters! Manda and Ben are having friends over, and eating dinner on the wedding china. Heather and Ed are waiting til tomorrow night to have the big dinner, when Ed, Jeanne, Michelle, Mia, Sienna and Bella are there. Steph and Dan are having brunch with his family, then dinner with us. Dan gets to ease into meeting the family- Mike, Mikey and Joe today. The men in the family can be overpowering, and they're all protective of Stephanie.

I made a new trifle, instead of Joseph's trifle. This seemed more springlike. Ladyfingers, banana pudding, strawberries, pineapple and bananas. It called for whipped cream on top, but there's no room in the trifle bowl.

We ate at Applebee's yesterday, and I had a new dish. Served on a hot plate, it's 2 corn cakes, topped with a half a chicken breast, topped with shaved ham, cheese, bacon, and barbecue sauce. It came with corn spiced with jalepano, which I substituted with fries. I brought half of it home, there was so much. But it was really good!

And so it goes!
Holly

Good Friday

We're off for the next week! The kids at school really need the time off. Food fights are starting, and they just need a break from school. As do the staff.

It was nice and warm, in the 80's, and now it's chilly again, and overcast. I never listen to the weather, I just call Mom and she gives me a report. She's got the TV on constantly, which would annoy me, but I think she uses it like I use the CD player, for background.

Easter dinner will be at Mike and Donna's. I have to go food shopping this morning. My contributions will be mini hotdogs wrapped in crescent rolls, roasted vegtables (Steph's favorite), a new potato casserole that I want to try, and a new trifle that I want to try. Our family dinners are great places to try out recipes, because there's so much food that if one thing isn't good, it can be avoided. Steph is going to make a vegan dish.

I'm still having nights of not sleeping well, so by the end of the week I'm so tired that I go to bed around 7. Both doc's agree that it's hormonal, but since I go right to sleep I don't want to take anything. And I don't want to take anything when I wake up at 4 a.m. because I have to get up at 6.30.

My goal for the week off it to get one of my flimsies up on the longarm and get it quilted. And to clean at least one closet. Sam has been wanting to go to Wegman's, and it's a place I've never been, so we're going to do that one day.

Steph is bringing Dan to Easter dinner. We've met him twice, and he reminds me of Ralph, which is a good thing. Heather and Ed and the kids will have dinner at their house, and Easter Monday Ed, Jeanne, Michelle and her three girls are going to NC for 4 days to visit. Ben is working the next launch, so Ben and Manda have to be in Houston over Easter. I haven't asked my Mom yet what she's doing Sunday. She said the other week that she doesn't feel up to going to Mike's.

The crocheting continues- I finished the purple afghan, and started on a multicolored baby afghan. The quilting patterns I want are all organized and stored, and the rest of the magazines went out in the recycling.

And my spring cleaning is being done! This week Sharon did all the windows, and what a difference! Last year I was too sick, and last fall didn't feel like it. Ralph said that having the house cleaned every other week has made him more aware of cleaning up after himself- I should have hired her years ago!

And the beat goes on!
Holly