Update #2

Bill is doing better day by day.  Healing from back surgery is a long process...weeks and months of it.  Bill still sleeps a lot, but is up and around a little more during the day.  He has lost 25 lbs in the last 2 weeks.  It seems that surgery has killed his appetite, so he eats only small meals a couple of times a day.  Wish my appetite was that dead...but I don't think that I am willing to have back surgery to get there.  I guess I will just have to do it the hard way with will power.  Oh wait...that part of me is already dead.  I guess I will have to accept the chubby me.

I am excited that Mike and Lisa will be coming in a week.  All of my kids will be here for a few days!  I am also excited that we will have family pictures taken.  Who knows how long it will be until we will all be together again with Mike and Lisa in Arizona, and Sarah and Mark moving to New Mexico.   At least I will be able to look at the picture on my wall to see all of my wonderful kids and grandkids' faces.

I took the time at the beginning of the summer to get all my long overdue stuff done, i.e. dentist, mammogram, doctor appointments, glasses prescription, car repairs, etc., so now I am getting to some of the other bigger projects that need to be done.  One of my goals this summer is to work on preparedness.  I am in the process of doing an inventory of what we have so I will know what I still need to get in order to finish our year's supply.  I know, I know, I've said that I am going to do this for the last few summers, but this year because I am spending so much time at home while Bill is recouperating, I am actually getting it done.  It feels good to be more organized. 

Bill Update

It has been one week since Bill had his back surgery.  He is doing better.  The first couple of days he was still working out all the anesthesia out of his system.  He was not his old self.  He didn't sleep well.  He was up, he was down, then he was up again.  I felt like I was constantly running around trying to help him with things.  I thought to myself, "Shouldn't he be sleeping?"  The 4th day after surgery was the worst for him...and for me.  He was in pain, his incision was oozing blood, he was grouchy and demanding, he didn't want to see anybody, he couldn't get comfortable and I heard, "Oooooh honey!"  about 50 million times.  I'm sorry to say my patience wore thin and I was not very sympathetic that day. 

Fortunately, things have improved since that day.  His pain meds are working even though he has now cut back on how many he takes, he sleeps most of the day and night and is getting good rest (which should help him to heal), the incision is closing and shows no signs of infection, he is drinking lots of water (but still eats hardly anything), he wears his belt support, today he walked up and down the driveway and went on a short ride to the store to get out of the house (he didn't go in the store but waited in the car for me).  And most important of all, he is appreciative of my efforts to help him and he is trying to be more independent in what he can do for himself. 

When the pain gets bad, I keep reminding him that it will get better, it just takes time.  I guess that's one of life's lessons that we all have to learn...when things seem bad, remember that things always get better ... eventually.  Have patience and faith and things will work out.

Bill's Surgery

Five days ago Bill had back surgery to open up and fuse two vertabrae in his lower back.  Those 2 vertabrae were 90% closed, pinching off the nerve bundles from the spinal cord.  We had hoped to do it 2 weeks earlier, but were delayed because an irregular heartbeat showed up on an EKG when he was in the operating room.  During the next week, he had an ultrasound, EKG and an angiogram.  We were relieved to find out that there was a weakening in his heart but no blockage so we could proceed with the back surgery. 
The surgery went well and took less than 1 1/2 hours.  The first 2 days in the hospital went well too, Bill had some pain, but he was up and walking the next day.  Then we came home.  Not so good.  He is experiencing more pain and discomfort.  He had some bleeding from the incision yesterday (today it is much better).  He keeps saying that he never knew it was going to be this bad.  Since I have never had back surgery, I can't pretend to know what it is like.  I am sure it is miserable, just like the doctor said it would be initially.  I keep reminding him that this is temporary and that it will get better as he heals. 
His back problems had progressed to the point that it inhibited his ability to walk, travel and do anything that required physical activity.  I am hopeful that it will all be worth it in the next few weeks and months as he recuperates and that he will have much less pain on a daily basis than he has had for the last 10+ years.  We will hope and pray for the best as healing progresses.

Bill's Birthday continued

OK, OK.  I know I messed up.  But it wasn't because I couldn't get the pictures in.  It was some other inept way I have of dealing with technology.  So here are the pictures I was supposed to put into the previous blog.

Last Sunday my sweetheart, Bill, turned 65 years old.  I decided to throw him a semi-surprise birthday party.  He knew that I was doing something, he just didn't know what.  Thanks to Becky's great idea, we turned our home into a Senior Citizen Chinese Buffet.  All the kids and grandkids that live in the area came, as well as some close friends.  Becky and Matt came early and cooked Walnut Shrimp and Beijing Beef.  It was yummy!  Everyone contributed something to the buffet.  We had lettuce wraps, stir fry noodles, fried rice, cookies, brownies, fortune cookies, etc.  It was all great!  Thanks to everyone who helped to make it a success.  Of course we couldn't let the day go by without teasing Bill about his new senior citizen status, so we put up signs around the house like:  "Park walkers and wheelchairs here,"  "Apply Here for Social Security," and "Medicare Line Starts Here."  Bill was surprised at all the work we put into it and he greatly appreciated our efforts and had a memorable 65th birthday.

Here are a few pictures of our fun day:

Gratitude and Cake Making

I know, I know.  Don't faint because I finally wrote on my blog.  It's not easy for me.  I used to love to write, then life happened, kids happened, work happened, no time happened, and finally out of practice happened.  Only I used to do it the old-fashioned way...with paper and pen.  There's something more satisfying about using paper and pen for me than punching computer keys.  Sure the computer is faster and more efficient, but I miss the feel of the pen strokes and seeing the curves of my own cursive writing.  It helped to ground me.  Maybe if I had been born a generation later like my children, I would feel differently.

Anyway, the last two months have been filled with...work.  I am often there for 10 hours a day.  The beginning of the school year always kills me.  There's so much to do and even when you think that you have prepared enough before school begins, it's never enough.  I still end up staying late most days just to stay caught up.  The bad part is all the paperwork required, the good part is the great kids that I teach and the wonderful people that I work with.  For them I am grateful and fulfilled in teaching.  I'm also grateful to have a job.  It has served its purpose in providing for my family when I was a single parent with a work schedule that closely matched my kids and good health insurance. And it has helped Bill and I to make it through the rough times.  It has provided stability.

But work is still just work.  My joy and my life's fulfillment is my family.  It's kind of like making a cake.  I am blessed to have a wonderful husband who loves me and does all that he can to take care of our family.  He is the foundation or bottom layer of the cake.  He works hard and is kind and considerate.  He loves my children as well as his own.  Not easy for many men who take on a second family.  But he makes it look easy.  He likes spending time with the kids and grandkids and finds joy in being a part of their lives.  I have learned from him and seen personal growth in our years together.

And then there are my children ... the second layer of cake.  You are wonderful!  You have saved my life.  You have helped me to stretch and grow beyond what I am naturally capable of.  You will understand what I mean as you raise your own families.  Your variety of personalities and flavors make the cake delicious.  You have chosen wonderful spouses who have added depth to our family.  They help to fill in our gaps and add new flavors like the frosting in the middle of the cake. 

And the grandchildren....  They are the frosting on my gratitude cake.  They make the cake complete.  They are the sweet gooey frosting that is being swirled and shaped even as we speak.  They add color, flavor and decorate the cake in his and her own unique way. 

So that is my Gratitude Cake.  I have been making it my whole life.  I am now putting on the frosting.  How sweet it is!  Our children are working on the first and second layers of their own gratitude cakes.  Keep working on it.  It is worth all the time and effort you will put into it.  Enjoy the process of making your cake.  Laugh at the mistakes that you make, learn from them and continue on.  It will bring you joy and satisfaction. 

Here is a picture of my Gratitude Cake!

Last Days of Freedom

Only a couple more days and then my summer freedom is over.  I do so like being able to plan out my days during the summer.  But alas, I will go back to my regular routine on friday.  There are good things to say about routine though.  It forces you to be more organized.  You know what to expect each day.  You seem to be able to accomplish more things in a shorter period of time and you become better at prioritizing what really needs to be done.  The down side is that you have less thinking time.  (Something I've always enjoyed doing).  You don't get to choose where you go or what you do each day, you are pretty much required to spend a big chunk of the day doing what is expected of you so that you can pay the bills.  You only have snatches of time to cook meals, clean, do the laundry, take the dog out, exercise, do family history work, and spend time with family and friends.  Oh yes, and then there's the stress.  The ever present stress.  That is the part that I hate the most.  Maybe because I'm so OCD.   I guess that is my own fault, but I am working on it.  Maybe by the time I die I will learn how to chill out.

I have thoroughly enjoyed some of my summer highlights. 

 Like visiting all of our kids and grandkids in the Philadelphia area.  We love them and miss them.

It was hard to get Bill to stay off the phone however.

Playing with Jade.  She's still our shlupper pupper!

Going to Farm Country with the grandkids and having a picnic lunch.

Driving to California with John & Krista, Sarah & Mark to see me dad.  We went to the beach, the San Diego Temple and Knotts Berry Farm.  We made crepes and lasagna for my dad.

Scrapbooking with all the grandkids.  They did such an awesome job on their scrapbooks!

Spending time with my mom...going shopping, visiting the emergency room, going to the doctor, and movies with Sharon & Melony.

Hanging out with the girls.  Some of us got together for a Girls Night Sleepover.  It was fun.

Marie's baby shower.  Good fun, good food, great friends and family, and lots of presents!

And last but not least...spending time with my Billy Bob!

So that about sums it up.  My great summer of fun and freedom is over.  But the memories are wonderful.  And Marie can't help but be impressed that I actually added pictures to this blog all on my own!  See!  You can teach an old dog new tricks!