SNOW DAY

We woke up to a beautiful sight this morning.

“All School Districts Closed for Teachers and Students”

scrolling across the bottom of the screen.
LOL
Yes, the white snow on the ground was beautiful too!
I’m not sure who was more excited, Alan or the kids.

I had to work, so, I still got up at 5:30am and showered and worked for a couple of hours before the rest of the family came downstairs. Alan made “daddy pancakes” for breakfast and we dug out the snow gloves and coats and sleds.


They had a ball!

By the end of the day, Will went through 4 pairs of pants (they got wet even under snow bibs) and about 7 pairs of socks. Alan walked with them to the park where there is a huge hill. They rode the sled for almost 2 hours straight. Will also rode his 4-wheeler in the snow. He liked the way it would slide when he gave it the gas!
We expect there to be a delay in the morning as the roads have some water on them that will probably ice over during the night.

Alan is doing GREAT. He went to the “Wound Center” on Wednesday so they could take pictures, measure, and make sure I’m caring for it properly. I am!! I’m not quite ready to sign up for nursing school. I did once think about going into pharmacy though.

My friend Julie called this evening and asked about the washing machine. YES, it is still working. We got the 2 lights replaced in the kitchen. I took the car to the shop yesterday. $228.13. I drove it for about 5 minutes today and the CHECK ENGINE light came BACK on. :sigh: Julie said it might be they forgot to reset the sensor. Let's hope so! We haven't bought a new over the stove microwave yet, but only because I haven't made it to Lowe's yet.


Blurry pictures (because I took them thru the glass window)



Will on the sled


Larissa's turn

Warming up by the fire!



Thanks for checking in.
God bless!

Diamonds on the front porch

Will and Larissa have FINALLY started playing in the woods and the little creek in our back yard. I have wanted them to do this for several years now. I’d fuss at them “Turn off that tv and go outside and play”. I now know the true meaning of “Be careful what you pray for.”


Yesterday and today (today was a school holiday – teacher work day), they have been “mineral hunting”. This means they raid my kitchen cabinet of every sandwich and gallon size baggie that I have. They go to the creek and collect minerals (aka ROCKS). They step in the mud getting it all over their hiking shoes. According to Will’s jeans, I think he’s spending most of his time on his knees and bottom. They then bring my baggies back to the front porch filled with these precious “minerals” that they must wash. One plastic bowl and bucket won’t do, they must have 50, and they are all on the front porch. If you ride by the house you’ll see the lovely array of various colored buckets out front. The rocks, I mean “minerals”, are on my little table out front. They are also neatly arranged in 2 or 3 shoe boxes in the house. Be careful sitting on the couch as you may sit on a precious stone. They only remember to take their shoes off after they are half way in the door, so, the entryway is a lovely color of gray. But, you can’t tell because the floor is covered in dirty socks and jeans. They can’t throw them in the dirty clothes hamper because they say “We’re going again in a few minutes”. I guess I can count my blessings that they are changing from dirty clothes to clean clothes when they come back in.
…
They are having SO MUCH FUN that I can’t for the life of me get mad at them! LOL I loved to play in the woods when I was a kid and I’m tickled that they are finally doing this.
Who knows, maybe the next pretty shiny white rock they bring up will be a DIAMOND!

Alan is doing well. He goes to the doctor on Wednesday.



Thanks for checking in.

When it rains, it pours....

Today has not been a good day.
No, Alan is fine. It just seems like everything is falling apart around here.

1. Alan has a big chuck of meat out of him.
2. The “Check Engine” light is on in my car. We had it hooked up to the computer at the mechanic’s. Its something to do with the fuel/oil mixer thingy.Sounds expensive, and yes, that is a mechanic term.
3. This morning the light in the kitchen wouldn’t come on. We replaced the bulb. It still won’t come on. The valence is brown so I guess it went out. I wanted new kitchen lights anyhow.
4. Tonight while “cooking” dinner (aka: heating up vegetable soup in the microwave), I put the bowl in, set it to 2minutes. Two minutes later it beeps and I take it out. It isn’t hot. Repeat. Repeat again. Who ever has owned a microwave that works but won’t heat? Guess what I do???? I march to Walmart and buy another one. Just a small one to use as a camping microwave. At least now we can “cook dinner”.

I’ve washed 5 loads of laundry today and still have a few to go. (totally sanitizing the house – washing all bedding, towels, etc.) I have to admit I’m expecting the washing machine to die here soon. And the refrigerator is 14 years old. Anyone want to take a guess at which one will go out next?

Those who know me know I always look for the good in things. I try not to be a “negative person”, so, I must end on a positive note.
I’m blessed that I do have insurance to help pay the hospital bills. I can afford to just buy another microwave and light. The car is fixable too. Although Alan’s MRSA infection was serious, it was not fatal. And best of all, Alan got a call from our close, personal friend (CPF) , Bobby today! It was so good to hear from them all the way in Kentucky.

So, yes, we're having a few bumps in the road, but, its gonna be okay.

I gotta run now, the washing machine is making a funny noise........

After the fact, It wasn't so bad

We got to the hospital at 6am. I got the kids up at 5:15 and took them to Bud & Jane’s. They took care of getting the kids breakfast and to/from school.
I was sitting in the waiting room all by myself waiting on them to get Alan settled with his IV and in the lovely gown and cap when my Pastor walked up. I was SO GLAD to see him and have someone with me. Alan and I have been married 14 years and in that timeframe, I’ve had 5 surgeries and countless other procedures/tests in a hospital environment. But, I’ve never been on the other end, the one waiting in the waiting room. (well, other than when the kids had tubes or tonsils out, but then Alan or my mom was with me then.).

So, Pastor Ken sat and talked with me and then we both went to sit with Alan while he was in the holding room. Ken also stayed with me during the surgery until Alan came out and was in recovery. What a comfort that was. I had brought my books and even contemplated bringing my laptop, but, no way would I have been able to focus on work. Thanks Ken for being there!!

And my poor friend Syndee. I didn’t get to talk to her Friday night so she just knew from this blog that Alan was having surgery. She left work Friday morning and came to the hospital to find me, only, she didn’t know which hospital we were at. She went to one and couldn’t find me so she called the other hospital. Alan goes by his middle name so, when they looked up his name, evidently it didn’t show up. I can just imagine her frustration knowing he was at the hospital but not able to find us. Hugs to you Syndee!

Alan’s recollection of the surgery is this. “After you and Ken left they said they were going to give me some ‘I don’t care medicine”. I looked up ready to enjoy the buzz. SECONDS later a nurse asked me if I wanted some ice chips. I looked up and told her I couldn’t have any until after the surgery. I then realized I was in a different room. I saw on the clock than it was no longer 7:30, instead it was 8:40. After that, I remember everything.”

I got Alan home and fixed him a bowl of soup. He raided the refrigerator several times during the afternoon. Bud & Jane brought over some vegetable soup, cornbread, and a pie. The kids ate 3 bowls of it! I can’t say enough how appreciative I am to have had Bud & Jane.

Saturday morning:
Alan almost passed out when he took the bandage and dressing off. I had to be encouraging and tell him “It looks really good babe”. It is HUGE. It looks like someone took a diamond shaped cookie cutter to his chest. Its about an inch deep I’d say. It’s open like a big crater. I had to pack gauge in it and I just pray I did it right. That’s my only worry right now.

So, Alan is good. No real pain, just a dull ache he says. ….and with a big hole in his chest! He’s pretty depressed the way 2008 is starting out. Perhaps he’ll get all the bad stuff over with and have a good year starting soon!

Thanks for checking in….

Home from hospital

We are home from the hospital. Alan is fine. I fed him some soup and he’s already planning his next meal. He says he feels great – much better than when he went in this morning.
No time for a long update right now. More later.

Thanks for your continued prayers and well wishes.