My JellyBean, aka LJ

We are in some serious countdown now. 2 days until JB's due date. I hope for Christina sake JB comes on time. There is nothing worse than going past the day that you have been waiting for for 9 months and no end in sight. I know, I have been there 3 times!!!!!

He will come when he is good and ready. I can't wait. I don't think I have ever been this excited. Ican't wait to see what he looks like, smells like, feels like. I am so in love with him already, I can't stand myself. I know this is how I will feel with all my grandchildren. This is a feeling that just doesn't get old. It's like puppy breath!

And so we wait......and wait.....and wait. If we think it is hard on us, it is awful for Christina. She has so much on her mind....the baby, labor, Joey making it home for the birth and all this snow that keeps coming and coming and coming. I know Joe will make it home. Christina will kill him if he doesn't. I think we should get a police escort from the airport!!! Anyone....can you arrange this!

Well, that is all for now. Will keep you posted.

Success!!!!!

As a lot of you know, on January 5th, I had my right hip replaced. It needed to be done. It no longer wished to be a part of my body. I can understand why...I have abused it over the years. As a young girl, I climb trees and fell out of them; I ice skated and did unintended splits, oh how they hurt; I was a gymnast and a cheerleader; I played field hockey, basketball, softball, baseball, rode my many bikes and fell off them. Yes, I can see why it no longer wish to be abused. It had had enough!

So now, I have a brand new hip and 50 staples, I think they made a mistake and put in a zipper. LOL I am up and walking around with the aid of a walker or a cane, depends on how I feel. My biggest challenge is getting in and out of bed but I am doing it.

I had the surgery at Hospital of St. Raphael's and got great care. My surgeon preferred that hospital to Yale because of the risk of infection. I had wonderful nurses everywhere I went and doctors. All in good spirits and not a bad attitude in them. I saw many nurses that I worked with when I did my clinical, they are still there, many years later. I have never had my name band checked so often. Not one pill goes down your throat that they aren't checking it. They were right on top of my pain. I have no complaints. Sheryl stayed after the holiday to be with me and of course, Sue is always with me because I just wouldn't feel safe without her there. Joey is home so he and Christina came up and Melissa from work. I kept falling asleep on them.
Sheryl went home on Saturday to avoid the snow. I will miss her.


PT came in the day after surgery and got me up and moving. Excellent. At first I thought she was out of her mind but I did it with her help. I was told I could go home Saturday morning but with a big storm coming my surgeon said if PT cleared me to go, I could go. I went! I was home just as the flakes started falling on Friday. Now I have PT and nursing through the VNA coming twice a week. Mostly to do my INR's and answer questions, take out the staples next week. I should be walking without any devices by the end of next week. There are so many precautions with hip surgery. And as I nurse I know them BUT when they pertain to you it is not easy. Each day I am getting stronger. Walking is my best exercise but I do some leg lifts and toe touches with my toe to the floor. I still can't sleep on my side well and I can't wait to do that. I think once the staples are out I will be able to do it. I am NOT a back sleeper!

Oh, the surgeon did tell me I have small bones....who knew! I knew there had to be some part of me that was small.

Well, I must go walk and take care of business. I will keep you posted.

New Year's Resolutions

I usually don't make resolutions at the beginning of the year, because like most people I don't keep them. This year I feel I want to try and succeed with at least one. I have made a few and if I can make it to the middle of February, then I am on a roll.

I don't need to quit smoking. I did that 2 years ago after my MI. And just a note....I will NEVER do that again. STUPID, STUPID, STUPID.

Resolutions 2011:

1. more postings in my blog;

2. more crocheting and knitting;

3. more projects completed;

4. learn and master some different crafts;

5. stay in touch with those I love...through letters, fb, emails, full page ads in all the major newspapers in the country....LOL

6. getting healthier and staying healthier.

I am sure I could come up with at least 3000 more but this is a start. I have to stay off this computer and get off my butt. I am going to have a grandchild soon and I want to be around to see him graduate from college.

I want to travel, and I want to move somewhere warmer with new things to do. I know I could just stay in New Haven and there are millions of places I have never been and should see. I am making a bucket list but I don't want to call it that. I have not been anywhere much in the USA and we have a beautiful country and I want to see it before I die.

Let's lighten this up. I want to do things again. The winter is a good time to sit and crochet, knit or whatever but the spring and summer I want to walk the beaches looking for sea glass. I love the stuff and it is exercise too.

The girls are doing wonderful and Joey will soon be a father and a husband. I have done my job with them but I want to be a fun and active Grammy or whatever LJ wants to call me.

So by writing this I am fulfilling one of my resolutions and it feels so good.

Life is good and I like it.

Saying goodbye to the old and welcoming the new

Here we are on the last day of 2010. Where has this year gone? Last January 1st, I thought the year would never pass. I didn't wish the year gone but I wanted to do that. You see, Joey had just left for Iraq. I don't think I have ever been so scared in my life. Scared for him...what do I know of war. I just know what the movies and the documentaries show us. He was not here for Christmas, not here for his birthday, the entire family was lost. The only way I got through it was thinking he was still safe down in Georgia at Ft. Stewart. I watched for his posts on fb because then I knew, for the moment, he was safe.

In March, Sue and I went south to North Carolina for Sheryl gastric bypass surgery. I had mixed feelings about this surgery but she assured me this is what she wanted and needed and I supported her. It is always scary watching someone you love undergo surgery for the first time...so much could go wrong. I don't often pray, but my prayers were answered and she came through the surgery fine. I am so proud of her. This surgery was a big life change, a positive one. i thought this surgery meant that she would only be able to drink liquids for the rest of her life. Nope, she eats everything, some things don't agree with here but they may one of these days. To date, she has lost a person. It is amazing. If I wasn't such a chicken I might consider doing it too, but there are side effects I don't like to do....like vomit!

Sue and I got a chance to drive around Raleigh. The weather was actually very warm for end of March, beginning of April. We turned on the AC. We had rented a mini van for the trip because we had to take Dani, Tank and Shania. The trip went better than anticipated. I wasn't worried about the dogs but Shi with the dogs....all the dogs. Dani, Tank, Romeo and Tyson. All went well. Just one altercation with Tank and Romeo over a puppy at the dog park. Romeo and Tank went to the vet's for treatment and are still the best of friends. Even though Romeo is little, he is still a bully breed.

Moving on. Sue and I enjoyed the trip but it is always nice to be home. I like having a mini van and the dogs love it. They have more space, we can fit their beds and they just settle and sleep. April brought Sue's birthday and we celebrated quietly. Sue shares her birthday with her stepdad so we went there for cake. All in all, April was quiet and so was May. Many, many family birthdays in May. Happy birthdays went around but phone and facebook. We should all meet at a park on a given day and have one big party. It would be nice to have all the families together in one place.

Joey came home in May for a month. It certainly was mixed feelings for me. We had to send him back to the war. Luckily, he was not in Afghanistan. Still, everytime I heard of something happening in Baghdad, I sent a message and he would tell me not to watch the news. Being superstitious, I had to watch the news. It was good seeing him, he looked healthy and happy. We didn't see enough of him but he had a lot of people to see. He went back in the middle of June, but before he left, he proposed to Christina. I was very happy and beside myself. Christina is wonderful and keeps Joe in line. A good thing so I knew this would be good thing. Christina takes over where the Army leaves off. And in May, I went to the 11-7 shift at work. I was having trouble keeping up the pace on days and my hip was killing me so I knew it was time to switch. It has made a big difference. I don't know why I ever went to days...I am a night person.

On June 25th, I got a call from Joey. He apologized for not calling sooner but sometimes it is hard to get the phone. He assured me all was well over there and with him. Then, he asked me if I was sitting down. I could not imagine what was coming next. I was shocked but so happy. I was going to be a Grandmother!!!! I have been waiting for those words for so long. I was so happy, I couldn't believe it and I couldn't wait to tell everyone who would listen. What a birthday present. Earlier in June, we celebrated father's day with a big picnic at our house. We had everyone, all the fathers and the mothers, sisters and brothers and kids. It was great. I think it should be a tradition. Maybe we wouldn't have steak every year but a cookout with all the fixings. And strawberry shortcake for dessert!

In August, Sue decided to venture out on her own and take on some dog walking. She is doing great and growing. So this has been good. She has been doing some overnight sitting as well but I don't like it. I know she will be a success. You go girl!!!!!

Stephanie decided she wanted to have the bypass surgery because she had had knee surgery for something that was not weight related. And in September I flew down to NC for her surgery which was also a success. And while I was worried about the surgery, Steph had had surgery before and done fine. I stayed with Sheryl while I was there and it gave us some time to have some quiet time which I have been missing. Sheryl, when she was in school, would be taking to her friends after school but would get off the phone when I came in because she wanted to talk with me. I always felt so honored. I guess I did something right. Steph came through the surgery just fine and came home with no problems and today, 3 months later, has lost 60 pounds. I am so proud of her...I know it wasn't easy. They both look fantastic.

I believe it was October when we found out for sure that we were having a boy and he was going to be named Joseph Michael. He would be called LJ for short but he would always be my little Jelly Bean (that's how big he was in his first ultrasound).

We haven't seen much of Christopher but he has busy in his own right with a very important job. We are very proud of him because his undertaking has taken a lot will power. We miss though at the family functions, but understand. We will be getting him more involved this year.

Well, it has happened. The hip needs to be replaced and that will be done very shortly. While I was all wrapped up with the hip, I realized that it was just a very short time until Joe was home. He was again on American soil on Dec. 5th. He was in Ft. Stewart and safe. He came home for the holidays on Dec. 23. He will be here for a month. The bad thing about him going back is he will be taking my grandchild with them. I think they should leave him here and they could come visit. It will only be a few months and they all will be home in August!!!! I new milestone to wait for.

This has been my year but I am looking forward to the new year and all it will bring. I am always excited at this time. Spring is around the corner, yes, it is. It is like getting ready for the new school year. I have learned to knit and crochet and I love it. I will be making lots of things. I want to learn how to quilt. I love beading and looking forward to doing more of that.

Life is good, and I am enjoying it.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!!!!

Lots of adventures

I am so sorry that it has been so long. I guess I have been busy and I have been. I changed shifts at work. I now work 11pm to 7am. Much better for me with everything and my health. I thought I was going to hate it but realized how much I missed it. I never should have changed to the day shift. So much harder!!!!

That in itself was one adverture. I was very nervous about doing it because it changes the whole household. But it all seems to be working well even though we are still working out the bugs in the system. Now I have also cut my hours from 40 to 32. Much, much better. More time at home to do things and be with Sue and the animals. You know the drill.

Now, last March, my Sheryl had gastric bypass surgery done. Today she has lost 108 pounds. I was worried about her and this surgery and even though I am a nurse I didn't understand it. I though she would be eating liquids for the rest of her life and that just didn't sit well with me. However, I have since learned that she can eat almost anything. Some things make her sick and she has to wait and try them at a later time. She has to chew her food well, which I know I don't do, and I am sure most of the human race doesn't do, either. I am so proud of her. I saw her in May and could see a difference in her, clothes were looser, jaw line more pronounced and she looked healthier. Did I say how proud I was of her for doing this? She is a very strong woman. But then, I didn't raise wusses!

Now, September 28, 2010, I flew to Raleigh, because my other beautiful, strong daughter, Stephanie, decided she was going to have the surgery and decided to use Sheryl's surgeon for many reasons. And I am very glad she did.

Now, I hate to fly. I don't know why, I guess because I am older, who knows, because I certainly don't know. The closer the date came to leave the nastier I became and I can only say it was because my comfortable world was being violated. Poor Sue, she took the brunt of it but was very patient with me and I do so appreciate it. Thank goodness we have been together 10 years because she knows just how to handle me. Steph arranged the entire trip and thank goodness she order wheelchair transportation in the airports because I really needed it. So the first bad thing for me was these were not direct flights. OHHHHH God!! I thought for sure I would end up in Southeast bumf**k with no cell phone service or something. I didn't. Only because the wheelchair people got me to the right gate at the right time. Thank you w/c people!!!! Okay, now, I left from Bradley, flew into Charlotte, NC but couldn't get off the plane and ride with Steph from Charlotte to Raleigh. Nope, not allowed. So went on to Raleigh, where the girls picked me up about 9pm. We had to be up at 3am to get Steph to the hospital by 5am. Done!

While Steph was in the hospital, Sher and I had some quality time. I have missed this since everyone has moved away. No longer can I call them and say want to do this or that. I didn't do it a lot but it was nice to know they were there. Anyway, Sheryl took me out to dinner at Los Tres. I haven't been to a Mexican restaurant since I got food poisoning at one here about 12 years ago. I have been dying to try again because I miss real Mexican food. I had the enchilada plate and it was sooooo goood! I ate every morsel on my plate. It was just nice to sit and talk to Sheryl and not have the dogs bothering us for something. Then we went back to her apartment and watched TV. I really enjoyed the rest while I was visiting. No pressure.

Too soon it was time to leave. Now this is really where the adventure started. The girls dropped me at the airport. I got to my gate only to find that the flight was delayed which meant I would miss my connecting fight. I was hoping the hour and a half layover would allow me to catch the flight. Well, come to find out, the flight was cancelled. Now I am really worried but I had to pull up my big girl pants and deal with it. I wanted to cry. I met a lot of nice women in the same predicament as me so we kind of hung together and helped each other. Needless to say, I made it to DC but missed my connecting flight. Changed my flight, got a new one, had some time to kill so I was watching the football game and reading. I was also people watching. I love that. I get a call from Sue that my flight is delayed. It hasn't even come up on the screens at the airport yet but it was true. Suddenly, someone must have hung an information sign on me somewhere because everyone was coming up to ask me if this was true. I guess I do talk louder than I thought. Wee, to make a long story shorter, I ended up with a 6 hour layover, and got home about midnight. Sue picked me up and I was never so happy to see her. I almost cried. Next time...I am renting a car and driving!!!!!

I didn't tell you how proud I am of Steph for doing this surgery but I am. I have seen a big change in her esteem and attitude with life. I know as the weight comes off, she is going to be a force to behold. Watch out world.

Just before I left to go down south, I found a wonderful blog called Me verses Lupus. I love, love, love the woman who writes it. She is so down to earth and honest. I try to read her everyday and have even written comments, which is totally not me. So I must really be comfortable with her. She just deals with life and lupus and some days that is not an easy thing to do. Trust me I know and unless you have it you will not know.

This has gotten longer than I thought but it feels good to write. I will try and do it more ofter, I promise because it helps relax me.

Thanks for listening and remember....Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.

Mother's Day

Today is mother's day and a beautiful day it is here in Connecticut. I say this not because of the weather but because all my children are home. It is only for a short time but I am thrilled. Sheryl was an added surprise. Once again I didn't know she was coming.

Today is what Mother's day is about. I am watching all my grandchildren. They are the 4 legged variety but I love them anyway. Someday I will have the 2 legged types but now the kids are letting me practice of Tyson and Romeo. They are all napping, these little darlings.

This is my kind of Morther's day. I am watching the Food Network channel. I love it. I am not dressed yet and I don't know when I will be dressed and I don't care.

I am going to take this time to tell all the mothers, new and not so new, of the world....HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY. I don't want anyone to worry if their kids forgot it was a national holiday. If they don't have kids yet, there are very few of them that know what it means to be a mother. This is the best and the worst job you could possibly love and hate at the same time. You love it because there is a little bundle of joy that will grow and become a human but in the time between joy and human, you will hate all the trials and errors that you will make. You will hate the heartbreak, the first time they tell you they hate you. You will hold back those tears and walk away. Take heart, they don't really mean it and if you stick to your guns about making their beds or cleaning up their toys....they will turn into wonderful humans.

I love all my children and I love having them visit but I am thrilled they are living on their own and doing so well at it. I would like to take credit for it but I think they did it more on their own. I wish I knew who said this but I don't know, but if you do this I think you will have success. And I quote:

There are two things to give your kids,
One is roots and the other is wings.

Fly my little birds, fly. I will always be here.

Love you all.

Update on George

I just thought it was a good time to give everyone another update on George. George has been sick and had to have surgery. Yes, it's true. George was evidently bitten on his neck. I felt the scabs and everything was fine. He was healing nicely, or so I thought. The wound developed a huge 5cm abcess on the side of his neck. He was feeling a little listless. I was keeping an eye on it. Day by day, this thing was growing. Sue and I decided to soak it. First we washed it with some hydrogen peroxide. George, of course, was loving this, yeah, right. After the washing, he was having no part of soaking this thing in warm water. Nope, that was too much like a bath.

Well, George was a little upset that night that he could not go out to go eat as his favorite restaurant, Sylvia's. It's a little place just down the sidewalk. A nice homey place, in a basement, but the food is great. There is only one waitress, so service might be a little slow and occasionally a fight will breakout over who should be served. Barring that, it's a nice place.

George settled in for a long night of whatever cats do when they can't go out. He slept for awhile in the chair in the bedroom. Had some milk from my "go to bed" snack of cereal. I save George the milk. We all settled in for a nice night of sleeping or so I thought.

Sue has been having a hard time sleeping past 1am or 2am so she gets up and does some work around the house or plays games on the computer. At 3:30 am she woke me up with the words "San, get up...there are maggots coming out of George's neck". If this doesn't get you up and moving FAST, nothing will. I muttered, "well, at least, the maggots are eating the infection." Spoken like a true nurse. Hey, you can't scare me, I'm a nurse!

It turns out that it wasn't maggots, thank the higher powers that be. It was bloody drainage oozing from his neck. This could be good or this could be bad. We decided not to take a chance. George went to the vet. He got a 2 week antibiotic injection (I was NOT messing with pills and a cat), his rabies vaccination, his neck was shaved and we were told he was going to need surgery. The vet kept him overnight and he had surgery the next day. We got to bring him home after 5pm the day of surgery. He looked so pathetic. He had a tube sticking out of his neck for a drain which would be removed in a week and the stitches would be removed in 2 weeks.

The drain was removed yesterday. He is doing well. He is quarantined for 6 months because it is a bite of unknown origin and his rabies had expired. So the moral of this story is....keep up with your animals vaccinations. George is not going to be happy when he finds out about this 6 month thing.

Now we are watch and waiting for Sylvia to accuse George of eating her cat's food and we can tell her he has been in the house!!!!! I will keep you posted.