About Winter Being Over ...

 Nah...not so much! ::snort:: All the snow was melted off the car when I went to bed....its BAAACK!

I was happy to get activity points today....I walked, spent 25 minutes on the elliptical and then spent 40 minutes shoveling snow.  Every burned calorie counts! LOL 

Millie was in a playful mood. Stacia usually lets her run in the chicken yard before she lets the chickens out. That didn't happen today. Here Millie is trying to tempt Stacia away from Algebra with her toy....

C'mon! Lets play just a little....

Michael and Dad took Stacia to work and then went birthday shopping. Rumor is I have a birthday coming up. ::snort::  I took advantage of having the house to myself to shovel snow and take a long shower. Lingering outside and taking a long shower - both things I am not easily able to do unless someone is around to visit with Dad.  

I also stole a few minutes to read a chapter in this book which Stacia recommended.  I try to read at least a chapter of fun reading a day....and today I coupled it with a cup of vanilla chai. 

I told Stacia these mugs must have been on 
sale because they are left-handed mugs....

Millie did not enjoy the rain yesterday. She was a happier with the snow...but couldn't make up her mind. She wanted out....she wanted in! All day long. 

The highlight of my day was seeing friends via a zoom Bible study. Michael, Dad and Stacia read a chapter out of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. 

Looking ahead to tomorrow night and wondering what to do for dinner. We have a 2:00 p.m. appointment and won't be home until 3:30 or 4:00. We need dinner by 5 p.m. to make it to youth group.  What are you're favorites? 

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Every mile counts! Walking Tally 80.75 miles out of 100 miles

A Very Full Day

I was determined to get a walk in BEFORE the day took off...because I knew it may be a high caloric day....

I have been looking forward to this day for a few weeks. We went out for JAPANESE FOOD. Sakura Sushi has a full menu - not only Sushi - but it's a bit spendier than we usually do as a family. It's pretty good for "American" Japanese food.  Krista and Brittany decided to go on Monday. They invited Ali and Stacia...and then they decided to invite "the Moms" (Sandy and I), and then Siakayle. I invited Carrie and Olivia to go to lunch when I found out they were coming out to spend the day. Just like that it was a thing...it was nice to do something normal....and the teriyaki, tempura, and yakisoba was Oishi - yummy. A big thank you to Michael and Cy. They visited with Dad so us girls could get out with the gals. 

Olivia (Front), Stacia, Me, Sandy, Siakayle,
Brittany, Allie, Krista, Carrie 

It RAINED all last night and all today. All of our snow has melted. I'm wondering if maybe, this is IT....the end of winter? Then again, it could all FREEZE and be a humongous mess! Josiah and Michael spent time slushing water around, trying to drain low spots in the driveway before it freezes tonight. 

We played Grandpa's new game...

...and the girls baked cookies. I helped frost. 

My favorite almost 8 year old

The rest of the day was filled with visiting, dinner...and Dad's PT showed up in the midst of the chaos for an evaluation. The therapist feels the risks of progressing from a walker to cane outweigh the possible benefits. She stressed to him if he continues to fall he will eventually be injured and his care will be more than we can provide. She then spoke clearly to me about the fact there may well be a fatal accident in the future, or he may get outside one night before I wake up,  and I need to come to grips with the fact we can only do what we can do. Happy talks. ::snort:: 

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Every mile counts! Walking Tally 75 miles out of 100 miles

Annie Turns 2 and we Meet JoJo

Annie is 2 years old! BreZaak invited us over to meet JoJo and have cake with Annie. We haven't seen her in months and were a bit concerned how she'd take to everyone....

 She did just fine. She warmed up quickly. 

Annie has darling curls.

Of course, we came bearing gifts. 

Gideon, Bella & Annie

Where is Annie? 

This doll's eyes OPEN AND SHUT. That seems to be the big draw! LOL Bella said she'd like a doll with open and shut eyes too...and a bed. I told her Baachan can see about the doll and she'd better ask Daddy or Santa about the bed. LOL 

Today was also the day we met Josiah - JoJo. He is 2 months old and also took right to Papa. LOL 

 His features remind me of Bre's at this age. 

It was a red-letter day. Happy Birthday, Annie! It seems impossible it's been 2 years....

Friday Happenings

Teamwork! Stacia and I headed out at 0730 for Bible Study and the gym. I left the monitor and call button receiver in our room. Dad was sleeping soundly and I checked the fall alarm to make sure it was attached.  Our guess was dad would sleep until we were home. 

It was not to be...Millie wasn't happy to see us leave. Dad was wandering....no sleep at the house. Shew. 

Michael ran out for Bible Study with Alex; Stacia and I took over at home. I HAD to go to the bathroom. Dad SAID he was going to take a nap. I THOUGHT he was safe and taken care of. We don't activate all the alarms as we haven't had trouble with naps.  I heard a fall. Yep, he was NOT taking a nap. I found him on the floor. Millie was sitting beside him and nudging his shoulder. I'm glad he is off  blood thinners this week. 

Millie does seem aware of Dad and his needs. I am hoping she can eventually be trained to alert us when he is doing something he's not supposed to do...like practicing walking. This was the first time I was successful getting dad up from the floor by myself.  It is not easy. 

Arielle called in the midst of this "situation." 

"Hi Mom. What are you doing?"

"Trying to get Grandpa off the floor." 

Team CoRielle to the rescue. They brightened our day and changed our afternoon's focus! 

Cory texted me on the sly and asked if we could watch the boys so he could take Arielle out. Yes, we sure could.  Danny is 2 months old now, 16 lbs, and off the chart! We've suspected he may be a ginger, but we know hair color can change....it sure looked ginger today. 

We were happy to watch the boys. This is Arielle's first trip without Danny. They both did great. They DID end up eating in our driveway! BUT WE HAVE STARS out here. 

Baking with Benny....I had been wanting to make Aunt Gin's cookies (Doubletree cookies). I have made them totally sugar free and they were dry and dense. I subbed 1/2 of the sugar this time and they were good. 

Such an enthusiastic helper! 

What a character! 

Guess he isn't sure about the lemon juice?

It must have been o.k. as he was happy to snitch dough. He wasn't sure it was a good idea to get the dough off the beaters....when I saw him eating the dough I said something like, "Benny! What are you doing?" 

"Mama does it!" ::snort:: 

Benny moved on to movies with Papa and I settled in for snuggles with Danny. 

There were no end of volunteers for Danny snuggling. 

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Every mile counts! Walking Tally 71 miles out of 100 miles

Dad's Outing

 Look at that bruise! My word! I was glad dad had to wear a mask that covers his nose and mouth today when we were out.  The audiologist was a bit alarmed today when he took his mask off. 

BTW - we encountered the WORST handicap parking spot yet...there was barely enough room for the chair to fit between us and the SUV next to us...and my car covered half the ramp....LOL 

Dad got new hearing aids in July, and never made it back for the follow up appointment. Along the way he decided he didn't like wearing the hearing aids. We went in today to see if they were working. They were...but she she gave me a kit for cleaning them - which we hadn't gotten originally. She also stressed how important hearing is for positive brain activity. Having her say it confirmed what I've been saying and Dad has agreed to try the hearing aids again. 

I have an app on my phone which controls the volume of his hearing aides. He asked me repeatedly to turn his left ear down. She shared he has to wear them, let his brain hear all the noises, and his brain will then learn which ones to filter out....but if he doesn't wear them - that will never happen. 

It is nice when he wears them....otherwise we have to scream at the top of our voice to be heard...and that is hard for all.  

Dad's Day

Tuesday night

Dad had oral surgery this week. He looks like he's been beaten up. But he says it isn't "too bad." This is making me rethink that wisdom tooth referral again. LOL 

Wednesday morning 

 Walking Tally 64.5 miles out of 100 miles

Finding Normal Part 2

I have previously shared about "finding normal" in our new season. This week my goal was to add in ONE tea/coffee date, and two gym dates. 

We've had a few days go "off the tracks" this week and so the tea date didn't happen....but today....

Stacia and I made it to the gym for the first time since we brought Dad home from skilled nursing. It felt great. 

Michael has added in a chapter of reading with Stacia each night - I join sometimes...and sometimes I blog. LOL 

Nothing feels "effortless," but we're learning to coordinate schedules as we haven't had to do for decade. 

Another thing I did was come up with five "essentials" for me to feel productive.  I made a habit tracker and try to get these 5 done every day. If I miss one for 3 days, on the 4th day it is number 1.  They are Time in the Word, move (walk, elliptical whatever), read, blog, laundry.... Three are totally SELF CARE....spending time with Jesus, reading and moving....since I don't LOVE exercise, I am making sure I read at least one fun chapter a day. LOL  Laundry and blogging are both things that get away from me quite easily if I don't keep on it and are both things my family appreciates me to tend to. LOL

And NOW you know why there were a couple of early morning blogs today....I tend to let it slide. LOL  

Walking Tally 61/25 miles out of 100 miles