Home sweet home ALMOST 1-16-09

Hi all,
Well I didn't make it home on Thurs.When dad was brought out to Hemet, I figured I wasn't needed any more.But I was mistaken.On Wed.I told mom I'd be going home on Thurs.She seemed disappointed.So when I was in the mohome that night I decided to see if she wanted me to stay a few days longer ,just for company.She said she'd like that.So here I am.I'm leaving for home on Mon.
My dad is doing GREAT. They,ve started his physical therapy,and he's very determined to get better.
Strokes are a devastating illness.They take a very active ,intelligent person and make them unable to do anything for themselves.
My dads stroke paralyzed his entire right side.His speech was very slurred,he couldn't use or move his right leg or arm.He had trouble with his bowels.Also ,because of not being able to swallow right he would choke on any food or water.Because of that he aspirated some food and got pneumonia.
Once they taught him to put his chin down when he eats or drinks,he's able to eat and drink without choking.
THIS IS ONE OF THE MANY THINGS HE HAS TO RELEARN.
I'm so proud of mom and dad,because they're both fighting to get him better.
He will be 90 years young on the 28th.of this month.
It's been very hard for all of us kids because we've never seen him down or sick before.He's always been the strong one.
But we're all doing as much as we can to help and let him know just how much we love him.
Well that's about all for now.
Take care.
Jan

Home sweet home,12-30-2008-1-13-09

Hi all,
I know it's been awhile since I've blogged,but I've been rather busy.
All through Nov.and Dec.I was really busy catching up around home.The trip put every thing behind.Fall got here way too early.I raked leaves and burned leaves almost every week.In between I was getting ready for Christmas.I made up my mind to do all of my own stuff this year because I haven't been able to for the last 4yrs.
Thank God for Marion Chris Derek and Brad.I don't know what I would have done with out them.They did all the Christmas stuff for me when Papa was sick and then me.Thank you.
This was the yr. for everyone to be at my house.
The day after Thanksgiving I started putting up decorations outside the house.I had Derek bring my tree and ornaments out of the atic so they would be out when I wanted to put them up.I did have some help from Marion on the Santa on the roof,but I did all the rest.{I WAS SO PROUD OF ME}
Then I had all my cards sent out by Thanksgiving Day and almost all my shopping done.Igot my shopping done the first week of Dec.Packages wrapped before the 10th.{IT WAS GREAT!!I'VE NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE}Then it dawned on me that with my luck SOMEONE WOULD CANCLE CHRISTMAS.
They sort of did.My dad had a stroke on Dec.17th.So I went to be with him and my mom.I stayed 4days until he was stable and then I went home.Planning to come back mid Jan. when he came home from rehab.
We had a subdued Christmas ,but fun just the same.It was great to have my kids home and be able to love on the little boys.DEREK AND BRAD ARE TOO BIG FOR THAT NOW.
But my plans changed when my brother called and said "mom had broken her foot."I drove the mohome down onJan.1st.I brought Hershey with me because she got very upset when I left her at home on the first trip.When I Got here moms foot was much better.
Since moms foot was better and I didn't have to take care of her,I was able to concentrate on being sick.It seems I got a virus over the Holiday.Mom got sick 2days after I got here.It wasn't the same thing I had.Hers' came from being run down,mine came from Redding.Anyway neither of us could go to the rehab to see my dad.He started getting weak and not doing very well.It was 6 days before mom could be with him.The rehab had to admit him to the hospital because he had a bladder and colon infection.They gave him IV antibiotics and 2 units of blood.That's all it took and he was a slightly weakened form of his old self.
He's doing GREAT!!! now.He's being tranfered to a rehab. in Hemet today.This is great because mom can be with him much more every day.She can also take Cocoa{their DOG}to see him every day.This will also perk him up.
You must admit,this has been a strange Holiday season.
But for all the bad stuff there is soo much to be thankful for.I was able to get down to be with my folks when needed.My sisters and brothers were able to be with them and help them and just be there for moral support.My dads stroke was not nearly as severe as it could have been and he's already talking much better and he's starting to get some movement in his right arm and leg.He's a hard worker and very determined to get better.I'm soo thankful that moms foot was a slight sprain and not something much worse.
My brothers built a wheelchair ramp just in case he had to come home in a chair.But the way it looks he won't.Maybe a walker.So he'll still need the ramp.
I think the most important thing that we have all learned from this is that we're all mortal.
We don't ever think that death will happen to our parents,but it does and so we need to pay much more attention to them every day and thank God every day that we still have them,because so many of my friends don't have their parents any more.
So,SEE every thing here is doing much better,and I can leave for home tomorrow,if every thing is ok.
Take care and I promise to keep everyone up to date on my
Jan

My house 10/29/08

Hi all,it's me.

The top pict.is Grandson Tanner in front,from left to right Mandie and Micheal Derek and Sassy.This was taken at the pizza parlor were we had Tanners B-day dinner.

Next picts. are 2 of my cats.Black and white cat is Tuffy.Orange cat is Baby.Baby thinks he's the boss of all the cats.Little does he know.

I got a bug up my ear the other day and decided to redo a flower bed in my front yard.With the help of Marion I was able to make a beautiful flower bed next to my porch. After looking at it and then seeing the flower bed on the other side of my porch, I figured I better do something to that one.Luckily Derek came over yesterday so I had his muscle to help move a bench into the flower bed.Then Marion did her part by doing the design and Derek and I did the tilling and planting.Between the 3 of us we did a great job.Now both sides of my porch look great.

I think I'm done now until Spring.Then it starts over again.

I want to thank all of you for reading my blog.There are at least 3 of you out there.My 2 daughters and my mom.

Love ya all.

Take care.

Jan

My house 10/24/08

Hi all,it's still me.
This has been sort of a strange week.Last Fri. I had to see an eye specialist because I've been having trouble with blurry vision in my left eye.He told me I had had an "eye stroke".I don't exactly know what that is but it sure sounded scary.At least it scared me.He told me there wasn't anything to do but come back in a month.If it got any worse I was to call them and go in for some laser treatment to stop the bleeding in my eye.
Ok, I don't wait very well under the best circumstances, so after thinking on it and talking to some friends ,I decided to call for a second opinion.I got into see Dr Sumsion first thing today.GEE!There is something to try.I don't know if it'll work but I'm willing to try.Trying is almost always better then doing nothing.
On to some other stuff.Today is my grandson Tanners'7th birthday.I think I'll get to see him tomorrow.He's so cute and such a boy.He's really big for his age and trys to do all the stuff his big brothers do.I don't get to see him nearly enough.We went to pizza for Tanners B-day on Sat.He was all about his toys.[Why do kids never change]He ate his pizza and then we had cake.Man was it ever good.
I brought Derek and his friend Micheal home with me.They stayed in the tent out in the yard.They are both looking for work and trying to be grown up at the same time.Both of them are broke so they're saving money by staying in the tent at my house, Dereks house,Micheals house and their girl friends house.They are no longer asking for rides.Now they ride their bikes everywhere.
W it's Oct.28 and I've been in to see Dr.Sumion.they put some florescent stuff in my veins and took about 100 picts. of the inside of my eyes.It was very cool.The picts. showed there was;Branch Retinal vein Occlusion, in the left eye.That's good cause it might be fixable.He put steroids in my eye.It didn't hurt and I didn't flinch.Going in I was afraid of having a shot in the eye.No problem.I couldn't feel the shot and he put it in my eye off center so I couldn't see it coming so I didn't jump or close my eye or anything.
It's really amazing what we can learn every day.I now know that there really isn't anything to worry about.
My eye is a little burny tonight but not even bad enough to make tears.My vision seems to be getting back to my normal blurriness,so at least I'm used to that.
Derek and Micheal are still looking for work and they re starting to get some responses.Hopefully they'll both have jobs soon.
Well that's about all for now.
Take care.
Jan

My house 10/19/08

What's up?

Well every thing here is pretty good.I've been raking those pretty leaves I talked about last time.They're really starting to come down now.That's ok,I still think they're pretty to look at.
Hershey still thinks she's the biggest badest person around here.Ya, she doesn't know she's a dog. We have that discussion every day.So far I'm still second to her.She was trying to convince Legend[the horse]that she's bigger then he is.NOT!

She tryes to chase Babie[1 of my cats]all over the house.The other day Babie turned around and chased Hershey rite back were they came from.Now they chase each other all the time.

My animals keep me laughing most the time.This second pict. is Goldie setting on the curb in my front yard.Goldie is my cat that gets into every thing.He jumps on anything high.He tends to knock things off of shelves. So far he's broken a couple of coffee cups that I keep on a shelf that runs around the 8ft. ceiling in my kitchen.He got one of my hurricane lamps that was on my mantel.My poor house sitter didn't know exactly what to do.She cleaned it up and moved the other lamp.My loving cat climbs up the ladder I keep by my shed.He gets on the roof of the house and then when I go outside he meows at me and wants me to get him down.I make him get down on his own.It is one of his favorite games.Goldie thinks he's a dog.He follows me everywhere.If I'm in the garden ,he shows up in just a couple minutes.If I'm working out in the pasture,he's out there helping me.

In case you haven't guessed I like animals.I have 4 neutered male cats and 2 spayed female dogs.I love them all most as much as they love me.They can get into just as much trouble as my grandkids can,maybe more.

In order of age I have Lady 15 yrs. My Toughy 11yrs .Goldy 7rs.Papas Tuffy 5rs.Next is Babie 3yrs and last but not least is Hershey 1yr.

We do have a good time. They keep me busy just letting them in and out of the house.I don't have to take a walk for exercise I get enough from them.

I try and find picts. of them all for my next blog.

That's about all for now.

Take care.

Jan

At Home 10/12/08

Ben Lady

Marion

Hi all it's just me again,

Ben got out of his cast 10days ago,which was a Fri.on Sat. he had a sleep over at his friends house.I guess the boys mother told both boys several times to stop playing on the top bunk or they would fall off.Well Ben did.He landed on the draw that slides out from under the bed. Both Ben and the draw were broken.Bens' Dr. wasn't surprised.It seems that boys that break bones almost always repeat.They couldn't cast his arm last week because there was still to much swelling.So his new cast is being put on as we speak.He's not going to like this one. The last one was a soft cast because he had poison oak on his arm.This time he gets a hard cast. Hershey is finally all house broke.NO ACCIDENTS FOR 5 DAYS.She's doing really good around here.Her personality has started to come out.She's super funny.She plays by herself if non of the cats are around to pester.She throws her toys up in the air and chases them.She also trys to get Lady to play and it's actually starting to work.Lady has been mourning for Simba since I had to have him put down just before we went on the trip.I was hoping that getting Hershey would help her out of it a little.And it seems to be working.Lady has been more active this past week, then she's been since I got home.Mostly she barks and trys to nip Hershey.She doesn't try to hurt her she just nips at her with her tail wagging. I don't expect Lady to run and chase Hershey,but it's nice to see a little life back in her eyes. I've had more good news on the home front.My oldest daughter Stella[Bens' mom]got a clean bill of health from her oncologist yesterday.NO CANCER ANY WHERE. It's been 2yrs.and for the kind of cancer she had that's GREAT. THANK YOU LORD!!!! Next in my silly little life:My youngest daughter Marion[Dereks' mom] had to have her appendix out on the 9th. She was in the hospital for 3 nights all together.She got to come home on Sat. She's doing GREAT!!! THANK YOU LORD!!!We are in a great Fall weather pattern.The days are in the 80's and the nights are in the 40's and 50's.The leaves are changing colors and falling.But the trees are beautiful right now.In a few weeks we won't be able to have the doors open during the day to smell the fresh air because it will be too cold.I think I'll start thinking about Christmas.The things I want to put in the yard for decoration and the new things I want to make for my yard.Every one is coming to my house for Christmas this year so I try to decorate a little more. Well all that's about all for now.

Take care.

Jan

My house,Anderson 10/01/08

Hi all,just me again.

Every thing here is moving right along. We got the parts for the pick up today and we actually got it on and it works.I test drove the pick up after we put the light collar on it and it works and runs great.The only problem was the hood.Derek forgot to close it.I was going along at 60mph.and the the hood started to bounce up and down.Luckily I was able to get stopped before it flew up.So once closed tight,the pick up ran great again.NOW WE HAVE TO GO TO THE DUMP.

As you may have noticed I put in a couple of picts. from Yellowstone National Park.The first one is OLD FAITHFUL,and the second is from the MUD POTS.

It's really so cool.I can look at these picts.and remember just what we were doing and talking about when we took them.

Then there was Hershey.I'm afraid she hasn't impressed Toughy very much.He thinks she's quite the bother.He is a very shy and reserved cat and he'll take alot but I think he's had enough of Hershey.

It seems like Hershey gets chased by a new cat every day.First it was my Tuffy,then Goldy, then Toughy, and today was Lady[my 15yr.old dog].I do have to say Hershey learns pretty quick.She only had to be hissed at,growled at,smacked at and snarled at by each of the other animals once,and then she sort of leaves them alone,all but Baby.Baby is my youngest cat that is just as dumb as Hershey.They seem to have this thing going on.First one chases then the other does.At least it keeps them both busy.

Well .that's it for tonight.

Take care.

Jan