St. Patricks Day

This year was no different than any other. Bob seems to turn a little green around the gills in March for some reason.

Barb invited Bob and Ginny to dinner at Parthenon's on St. Patty's day. It is a Greek restaurant of all things. They had bagpipes, Irish dancers and music. Their table wasn't in the room where everything was going on, so when they wanted to watch they would just go to the doorway. Other than the noise, they had a good time. The food was good too.

I stayed home. I really didn't want to take my bare foot out into that crowd.

Spring Has Sprung

Spring

It was a beautiful day here yesterday, getting almost to 80 degrees. I went out and made it around the house with my camera.

Signs of spring were everywhere. I did not see my peonies coming up, but everything else is.

Monday our neighbor girl and a friend were sunning in the back yard. Monday wasn't as nice as yesterday. Shannon laid out yesterday. To cool down, she grabbed a couple of the grandkids water guns from the shed and filled them. When it got too hot, she would "shoot" herself. I guess it worked.

If you look close, you will see I even included my first dandelion of the season! I also included a weed.

Do you know which one it is?

1,000 x 13

Puzzled

Fourteen weeks. That can be a very looong time.

The first month was flat on the couch 24/7.

Then I progressed to the kitchen table. I gradually got to where I could sit up longer each day.

Casey had gotten me four puzzles for Christmas and I started on those.

Then Bob got out a box of my puzzles that I just never had time to do. It was a great way to pass the time when I would wake up in the middle of the night and not be able to sleep.

I haven't done any now for almost two weeks. Shannon got here and I thought I was going to be going back to work soon. Shannon will be leaving before we know it and it doesn't look like I will be going to work real soon.

Thirteen down. Eight to go.

DELIVERY !!!!

We had a delivery at our house Friday. It was for our anniversary. It had a great assortment of candy bars anchored in a floor of "kisses".

I went to pull out the card and there was three of them. None saying who it was from.

Later, Bob re-checked the envelope and found a fourth. Some " Smart Alec " put four in it !

Thank you Colleen and family.

Our First Sleep Over !!

Our First Sleep Over

I can't believe we did it ! We had all three of Dan's boys. Over night. That does include Peyton !!!

We had about 15 shaky minutes when Dan dropped the boys off. The older boys went right to dumping the toys and Peyton stayed back and cried. Bob and I just kept watching television. Soon, Peyton came to the end of the couch crying and peeked at us. We didn't push anything, just let him work it out. Soon he was into the toys with the other two and no more tears.

Of course there were Happy Meals. The older two ate theirs right away. Peyton just sucked ketchup off his french fries. He must not have an appetite when he is away from Mom and Dad.

Soon it was 8:00 and time for bed. I made one giant bed in the middle of the living room and put Peyton between the other two. Their Dad had sent a few of their favorite DVD's and I put one in, turned the lights out and waited. Nothing happened.

I'm not saying they went to sleep, I'm saying Peyton didn't cry. Damien went right to sleep. After 3 DVD's I turned to the news channel. Told the two "owls" they had their chance to watch their shows to fall asleep with and they blew it. My turn.

Still no crying. This wasn't boring enough to put them to sleep ! The last time I looked at the clock it was 10:45 and they were still awake ! I fell asleep. I woke up once at 2:00 and couldn't"t see Peyton !!! Panic !! I found him asleep around the corner of the couch. Put him back in the "bed" and went back to sleep.

All three were awake by 6:00. I turned on the cartoon channel and told them it was still night time and they had to stay in bed. That lasted until 7:00.

I took 50 plus pictures. deleted the really bad ones. Down to 49. How to choose 3 or 4, so as not to bore anybody. Solution. Slide show. Make you look at all of them. Enjoy.

Mom came at 10:15 they all went home. Geeeeze. The house was quiet.

We are going to try this again.

Anniversary

Today is our 42nd wedding anniversary. Seems like it was just yesterday!

"Swedeheart" loves you Bob and is looking forward to many more with you.

"Potty Break"

For Murphy. Our neighbor's dog.

Monday around noon our neighbor lady came over to talk to Bob. They has just gotten word that a brother-in-law had been killed in a traffic accident in Iowa. They needed to go and would be back late that night.

Their dog Murphy (a German dachshund with an Irish name?) would need a break. About 6:00pm. With nothing on his agenda, Bob said "of course". He was given the means to enter the house and instructions what door to open for Murphy.

I think they forgot to inform Murphy of the plans.

Bob got there at the appointed time. Let himself in and opened the door for Murphy. Nothing doing.

Murphy protected the house well from the unknown intruder. Not being the biggest breed there is, he kind of hid behind things and barked. A lot.

Bob called. "What should I do?" he says.

I said, "Go out the door, stand where he can't see you and wait". He says, " How long?" I said, "Long enough for him to do his business. Give him at least 30 minutes!"

Bob called.

No go. (No pun intended)

"What should I do?"

I said, "Lock up and come on home".

He did, Murphy didn't, and I don't think Bob wants to take Murphy on again.

Trailer

Here is the trailer for Slum Dog. It doesn't give away too much of the movie for anyone who may want to go see it.

Slum

Slum Dog Millionaire that is.

Casey wanted to know what I wanted for my birthday and I said I wanted to see this movie. He said he would take me, but he warned me. He said he wouldn't like it. Not his kind of movie. Nothing he would choose to see for his own enjoyment.

My birthday came and it was a bust. Cold and snowing. Being on crutches, it was decided not to go. Another day. We just stayed home and did pretty much nothing.

Another day came Saturday. We went to the afternoon matinee. Drinks and a huge bucket of popcorn. I sat back in my seat ready to be entertained.

I felt like I had a good idea of what the story line was going to be, and I was right. I just wasn't prepared for how it was told.

I walked out of the theater into my city, my state and my country. I thanked God. For our values, our ideals and our sense of right and wrong. For our most basic beliefs in human rights.

Maybe I even walked out of there feeling guilty. Did you see how I qualified that statement? Maybe. I did feel guilty. For all the things I have. My home, food, and something as basic as the faucets in my home that give me all the water I could possibly want. Then there are my "toys". So insignificant now. I am embarrassed to even mention them. Everything I take for granted.

I have to wonder if any of us can honestly say we have personally done anything to make anybodies' life better lately. Have we donated to the food bank? Have we donated clothing , furniture or any other items to worthy causes? And if we have, do we think it will help the needy or are we thinking about the tax deduction? Maybe, serving food at one of the places for the hungry? How about a couple of hours delivering food to shut ins? There are some things we can do that don't take a lot of time or money. All it takes is realizing that we could do something and then acting on it.

We left the theater and Casey said he was surprised. He liked the movie. He too had no idea how the story would be told.

Maybe entertained isn't how I felt. I felt like I had food for thought.

Maybe more "food" for my conscience than I wanted.

Four

Four's a charm or something like that.

Four posts in one day! Guess I better get back to the couch.

Appoinment

I had my doctor's appointment this morning. X-rays are always first. This is the first time since surgery that they were load bearing, meaning they wanted me to put weight on that foot.

The doctor was real pleased with the healing. There is only one spot on top of my foot where the bones aren't completely healed.

I told him about having hives and that it may be from the boot. That isn't really an issue now as he said I could start trying to walk on my foot and wean myself from it when I am able to walk. I can wear any shoe that will be comfortable and I don't need to use the stimulator any more either.

I was weaned the minute I walked in the door at home. I just haven't tried shoes and I don't intend to real soon. I also parked those darn crutches against the wall and I am using Bob's walker.

I can't describe the feeling in my foot. It is still really swollen. Numb is a good description. I don't feel sensation of any kind around the top of my foot when I touch it. It is like it is asleep but not really that either. Best described as like walking on a stump.

I am afraid with so little feeling in my foot and ankle, that I might fall. I really only have the walker there in case, otherwise I am trying to put my full weight on it when I walk.

He thought I would be ready to go to work in a couple of weeks. It will have to get a whole lot better fast for me to be able to do that.

Since I have been off work for more than 30 days, I will have to have and pass a physical given by the plant doctor to get back in the door. Any swelling or limping and I won't make it.

Time will tell.

I Survived !!

1. Grandpa and Peyton
2. Damien
3. Peyton
4. Raidyn
5. Peyton

Friday evening Dan brought the boys over. They stayed just long enough for the boys to see me and for Peyton to get interested in some toys. Then Dan and the older two left for the school carnival.

We had a few shaky moments at first, but we aren't first time babysitting Grandparents! We had a Big bag of M&M's hidden and ready to go.

That is what Bob is laughing about in the first picture. Peyton couldn't figure out where they were coming from. One would appear as if by magic in Grandpa's hand.

About an hour later, we had another streeeetch of shaky moments. Uncle Casey came home. When Peyton heard the front door, you could tell by the look on his face that he thought it was somebody to pick him up. Not Dad. It didn't help any that Uncle Casey sounds so much like dad, only looks soooo different. After some crocodile tears he settled down

One dirty diaper and an hour later you could tell he was getting really tired and needed to go home. After that it wasn't long and Dad came to rescue him.

Peyton has come a long way since mommy went back to work. I think we can do this again!

Experiment Gone Bad

Last Thursday morning I decided I was going to conduct my own experiment.

The swelling in my foot has not been getting any better so I laid down on the couch, took the @%&# boot off, threw it across the room and waited. Except for brief trips around the house, I stayed there.

Eighteen hours later (3 am Friday morning), I was amazed at the difference in my foot. I could even tell I had an ankle. I wanted to wake Bob up and show him ! It was hard, but I restrained myself and relaxed and worked on a jig saw puzzle.

@%&#! By 11 am it was swelling good, and really wasn't comfortable. My foot was ice cold and turning dark blue. Back to the couch. Back into the boot.

By 3pm, I had a little bitty welt. By 3:15 I had a lot of welts and they were growing fast. I took one of my pills, smeared some of that lotion on and hollered at Bob. By this time, one welt measured 1" by 2" and they were driving me crazy!

As soon as I could get to the car, we took off for my doctors walk in clinic. By the time we got there, thanks to that little pill, the welts were starting to recede. The Doctor told me to take one pill a day whether I had welts or not !! He gave me some more of those wonderful little things.

He also told me to talk too my surgeon when I see him Wednesday and discuss the boot. He thought maybe I had built up some tolerance against it, and then I blew it.

Back to the couch. Back in the boot. Welts are gone.

For now.