Then This Happened...

Today promised to be an average day.  

It started by getting to Georgetown in time to take Papa and Tiny to the veterinarian .  We are taking Papa on a little 3 day trip in May and will need to kennel Tiny.  While she had all her other shots in January, I did not have them give her the one she needs to stay in a kennel.  Now that the trip is planned, Tiny needed that shot.  She also need her nails clipped.  This vet's office knows Papa and Tiny and treat us with great care.  Tiny hates it but patiently endures whatever we have to put her through. We finished and took Tiny back to the apartment.

Then Papa and I went to Dr. Weckman's office.  Time for the next INR for Papa.  Someone pulled out right by the entrance just as we arrived so we got a primo parking spot.  I took that as a good omen.  Then this happened...  I checked us in while Papa found us a place to sit.  Then we waited.  You don't have an appointment for an INR.  It is a little prick of Papa's finger to draw a drop of blood to go on a test strip to check his blood density.  Only takes a second, the nurses do all the work, they only take the results back to Dr. Weckman so he can tell us what to do with the warfarin and when to have the next INR. 

We sat for a while and then one of the nurses came to the door and called "Lawrence".  I told Papa they were calling him.  He got up and we started toward the door only to find it was a lady named Lawrence and it was not quite Papa's turn.  Back to our seats.

One hour and ten minutes later we are still waiting patiently.  One of the nurses came for someone else and looked at me and said, "Did you check in?"  I assured her I did.  She said, "You might check again. I don't think they have you down."  

Over to the counter I go and ask if she has Papa on their list of people to see.  Nope.  She doesn't have him.  I'm thinking she got confused with the Lawrence lady and thought it was a duplicate or something. Who knows?  She put us in the queue and we were called back quickly.

The nurse that called us back told me she had been back there looking for things to fill her time between patients.  Oh my.  Well, we were kind and patient and let it just roll off of us.  

They took Papa's blood and it was 5.7.  Yike!!  It should be between 2 & 3.  The higher the number, the thinner his blood.  The highest it has been since I started recording it was 4 and that was a year ago.  I looked at Papa and said, "Don't you cut anything or fall and start to bleed internally or we are in big trouble."  

The nurse talked with Dr. Weckman.  He said to not take warfarin and return Friday for another INR.  We can do that. 

I turned to Papa after we got him in the car and said, "You have been such a good boy, I'm going to get you a chocolate shake."  He just laughed and we headed to McDonald's for the treat.  I sat and visited with Papa a bit after taking him home and changing his medicine boxes. But he was exhausted and wanted a nap.  I left him nestled in his chair.

I treated myself to lunch at Jimmy John's and plotted the remainder of my day. Claude left while I was doing all the above for a meeting tomorrow in Owensboro.  I had the rest of the day to myself.  Lunch was nice and then I was off to Sadieville. 

When I got home, I opened the garage door and pulled into the middle of garage.  No other car to share the space with tonight.  Then this happened...

As I turned off the car I looked up and notice the door from the garage into the kitchen. This is what I found.  Before my hubby left he made me a sign and put it on the door with duct tape.  He is one class act I tell you.  Such a fun treat and made my evening great!!

I changed my clothes to do some weeding.  I weeded the front yard and decided to stop.  So many things to do and I wanted to get something of each thing done.  Inside I changed the laundry and cleaned up a bit.  Then I put in one of the DVD's by Truman Madsen about the life of the Savior that I am trying to watch.  Each DVD is in two segments and each segment is 1 hour long. I was on the third DVD and the second segment of it.  I watched it and kept the laundry going.  Then I watched the evening news.  Next came a half hour on the treadmill.  Now I'm doing this blog entry and then going to finish my outline for my Institute lesson tomorrow.  

Yep, it was an ordinary kind of day in the journey that is Sandi's life.  But that sign on the door from my hubby is just a treasure I want to remember.

Sunday Shenanigans...

Yesterday, Sunday, April 26th, found us sleeping in.  We had a lengthy discussion about how to handle our Sunday as we drove back from LaGrange Saturday night.  Claude's Jeep was in Papa's garage.  Our commitments for Sunday were to get the Jeep, me visit with Papa and teach a Temple Preparation Seminar at 4pm.  What was the smoothest way to accomplish all of that.  Hmm...

We finally settled on attending another ward's meetings (congregation) that met a little later, allowing us to sleep in a bit.  We went to the Pioneer Ward which met at 11am.

As we drove into Lexington, I was studying my Institute lesson.  Claude had me look up and this was flying overhead.  There is a little plane pulling a huge banner that appeared to read Fantem, or something close to that.  We used to see this kind of thing more frequently.  It was to advertise for something, sometimes it was a proposal from a guy to his girl, any number of uses for that flying advertisement.  We just don't see them at all in Sadieville.  It was a blast from our past to see this one flying over I-75 as we drove to Lexington.

We did our Church thing and had some lunch at City BBQ.  Then made it back to the Georgetown building in time to teach our Temple Preparation class.  There are three young men attending in preparation to go to the temple before their missions.  They leave in July and August.  Then we have one other couple attending.  Good class.  Good discussion.  

We went to Papa's and Claude retrieved his Jeep from the garage and headed home to Georgetown.  I pulled into the driveway and went in to spend some time visiting with Papa.  We talked for an hour or more.  His vision is so much better.  He often only sees one image and has not complained about seeing double for a week now.  So very happy about that.  

While visiting with Papa, my phone buzzed like I might have a text.  Sure enough, it was a text from Claude.  This was the thread of our conversation:

Claude:  The eggs hatched.

Sandi:  You have got to be kidding me.  The front door eggs?

Claude:  Yes

Sandi:  Are the babies alive?

Claude:  Yes, for now.

I posted a week ago about finding eggs in a nest on the wreath on my front door.  We just left them there.  Never saw a mother but the nest and eggs looks pretty so we left them.  There was a mother and she must have been caring for them when we weren't looking.  While we were in LaGrange, they hatched.  

When I got home I went out the garage and to the front door.  The mother robin flew away so I could take this picture.  Sorry, the sun was behind and the camera left a shadow.

We will leave the front door alone and let the mom raise these little ones.  

Now I'm wondering if the nest on the back porch will also yield babies and we'll have trouble then.  I really use the back door to get to the back yard to weed.  Need to do that this week sometime.  Ah, Nature...

And the Race is On!!!

Our son-in-law, Michael, has gotten a fitness bug big-time.  He started with a very strict diet.  Bought all his own food and cooked it himself. Lost some weight. And he has taken up running with a couple of other men in his neighborhood that were runners.  Michael has never been an unhealthy person.  He has refereed soccer for years and had to stay in good shape to run up and down that field several games in a row.  This work on his part just takes him to another level.  

The Kentucky Derby is a HUGE deal. There are weeks of events prior to the Derby.  There is truly something of interest to everyone in the various types of events and activities held leading up to the Derby.  One of those is a marathon race.  Those who don't want to do the marathon can do a half-marathon.  Michael has never run in a marathon so he started out with this half-marathon race as his first venture into that field. 

Andie wanted to cheer her hubby on but was not sure about taking the Mini's into that crowd of people and keeping up with them and getting pictures of Michael.  I volunteered to watch the Mini's so she could have this momentous occasion with Michael.  Besides the fact that Bailey is taking a Saturday class each week and needed to be at that class.  

Friday, Claude parked his Jeep in Papa's garage and we took my car to La Grange.  Michael needed pasta for dinner to carb up before the race.  Andie made a huge pot of spaghetti and we all enjoyed that for dinner.  Michael ate the leftovers in two meals on Saturday after the race. 

Friday night Bailey came downstairs sporting her new pajamas.  Oh my!!  She loves to take selfies with my phone camera and use fun settings which I never even think about having on the phone.  The pj's have reflective skeleton surfaces on them.  They are florescent and when the lights are off they shine.  

Saturday Michael was out of the house early.  Andie and Hayden were up next.  Then I made it downstairs and visited with Hayden while Andie finished getting ready.  Bailey joined us and then Claude.  Michael had given Andie instructions as to the best way to get into Louisville and to find parking.  He also gave her a bag of goodies he would need after the race.  Andie headed to Louisville.  Claude and the Mini's and I enjoyed a quiet morning. 

Andie set the television to record the news coverage of the marathon. It turns out they actually got a good shot of Michael running and waving at the camera.  We signed up for text messages about his progress in the race.  We only got a text after the race was finished.

Here is Michael and his two running buddies and one of their sons before the race.

Here is Michael after the race was over when he and Andie found each other in all the masses of people.

Michael was one tired and very happy man.  He ran 13 miles in 2 hours, 7 minutes and 37 seconds.  Claude figured it at 9.69 minutes per mile for the entire race.  Such an amazing goal to accomplish.  So proud of him for working so hard at it and achieving his goal.

When Michael and Andie pulled into the garage, we heard the garage door go up.  I told the kids they should cheer their dad's accomplishment.  Bailey opted for another selfie. Such is this generation!

The plan was to spend the night and let Andie and Michael have a date, if Michael felt up to it.  If he didn't, Claude and I were going to head back to Sadieville on Saturday afternoon/evening.  

Michael took an ice bath to soothe the aching muscles.  He ate pasta and peanut butter sandwiches to replenish himself.  He and Andie had naps.  

Then the troubles began.  It is always hard when little ones struggle with emotions.  As a parent, I dealt with that and handled all the emotions a kids could throw at me.  As a grandparent who doesn't deal with it every day, my knee-jerk reaction is to do whatever to get them back on track.  Whatever is not always the right response.  Bailey and Hayden are at the age where lessons need to be learned about some appropriate behaviors.  They both seemed to need that training at the same time in the afternoon about the time for Michael and Andie to go to dinner.  

We had determined to load the car since Andie and Michael would be home early enough for us to head back to Sadieville.  Bad weather was anticipated for the Louisville area and that weather included hail storms.  Our car would have been out in the hail.  So, if we could get home and protect it from that damage, we thought that best.  Andie and Michael would have an early dinner, close in to their home, and then we would leave for Sadieville before the evening storms.

However, Andie and Michael ended up having talks with each of the Mini's and the end result was they felt they needed to stay home and parent their kids instead of go out for a dinner with a free babysitter.  Bailey was a flood of tears.  Comforting words from parents to the Mini's regarding their behavior choices.  Such patience on the part of parents will only be understood by the kids when they are in that situation themselves.  Claude and I are aching to help make it right with a total understanding that lessons must be learned now before those teen years hit.  We hugged and loved as best we could and then we hit the road leaving behind a tearful Bailey and a sad Hayden.  

Later I received a text from  Andie with this picture.  Bailey determined the best way to get herself out of her emotional state was a craft project so she made this mask for herself and helped her mom bake some cookies for Michael.  I sent a message back to Andie thanking her for the visit and sharing our difficulty with leaving like that and our appreciation that she understood that was difficult.  I thanked Andie and Michael for being good parents and making the best choice, even though a dinner with just two of them was something they really would have enjoyed and appreciated.  My statement to Andie, "Parenting is not for the 'faint of heart'".  

It was a good visit.  So proud of Michael.  So understanding of helping kids grow and learn.  Families are so very important. 

Cute Comment...

Friday, April 24th, Claude had a ribbon cutting to go to for the Chamber of Commerce.  Bevins has built a new facility and this was their grand opening.  

Also attending this event were a friend from Church, Amy Clayburn, and her son, Ashton.  While sitting there Ashton noticed Claude up front.  This was Amy's post on Facebook.

Ashton and I are sitting at Bevins Motor Co and we saw Claude...Ashton asked me why I thought he was here. I reminded him that Claude was the Mayor. Then Ashton said, " Oh ya, he is the Mayor of Sandiville." I said, "well yes he is!" (smile emoticon).

Now that is just cute!

Papa's New Ride...

My poor father has lost the feeling in most of his legs below the knees.  When his doctor does one of those reflex tests with the little hammer on his knees, there is absolutely no reaction. The fortunate part of this is that Papa is still walking around.  The not so fortunate part of this is that his feet and legs don't register balance very well since the nerves are not sending signals as they should.  The result is Papa falls forward if he stands for any time at all.  When he tries to walk, he eventually starts to walk faster till almost running, which he can't do anymore.  Then he will fall.  He has compensated on some days with a cane.  But that only balances one side and has concerned me as he has gotten worse with regard to his potential of falling. 

I found a great walker.  It is actually called a 'rollator' by the company that produces it.  I've shared the picture with Papa who stated he was not ready for that item yet.  The phrase 'pride goeth before the fall' would be most applicable here.  

When we saw Dr. Weckman for his last regular check up, we discussed Papa's fall in February. Dr. Weckman told him to go nowhere without the cane. I explained my walker reasoning and the one I through he should have.  Dr. Weckman concurred and heartily supported getting one for Papa.  Papa still said, "I don't need that."

I finally determined I would just order the walker.  Then I would present it to Papa.  Knowing how Papa works, he would probably like it once he had it and then eventually it would have been his idea to get one.  That is fine.  Just want to keep him walking and doing that safely.

I ordered the walker.  It came to my home.  Claude and I put it together last Wednesday morning.  When I went in to Georgetown, I took the walker in to Papa.  

I first took in his laundry and put it away.  Then I went back out to my car and got the walker.  I strolled in and told Papa I brought him his new Jeep.  He was a little stunned and I'm not real sure he appreciated the Jeep analogy.  But I laughed it off and told him I thought I would look for a horn like they put on bikes for him to add to his 'new ride'.  He did chuckle at this idea.

After he looked at it a bit, he said, "I've been thinking it might be time to get something like this.  How much did it cost?"  We discussed the cost and I showed him how it worked.  I left it in the doorway to his little storage closet inside his apartment.  This left it accessible to him and yet not in the way so he would trip over it.

Friday I took him fresh bananas and visited for a bit.  Then I noticed the walker was not in his living room by his chair.  I asked him about that.  He said, "I thought I should get a little practice inside first."  Great idea Papa!!  He is very happy with it.

His chair is broken again and Claude came over after his meeting to check on it.  While Claude was wrestling his chair, I had Papa pose for a couple of pictures with his 'new ride'.

He is really happy with his new toy.  Now we have to go for a walk outside with it but it has been a little chilly for that kind of adventure.  We'll keep him on his feet a little longer.  Yeah!!