They Mean Well - Execution is often the Problem

We are doing well.....but we've been smacked by a bit of reality this week. Maybe because Michael's second med has been doubled and we've had to be aware of effects it is having. Maybe because of the VA appointments....but certainly reality has been served up to us by folks who mean well.

We've had a couple of conversations with well-meaning people who tried to encourage and educate us about Parkinson's.  In both cases they had family members with the condition. The stages of the disease were highlighted, ending with "....and then he couldn't get out of bed, we put him in a nursing home and he died alone. But you have a long life ahead of you - at least 10- 15 years before this happens."

Um - Wow. WOW!!!!! I suppose that seems encouraging - though you are 70 and Michael's 55 - it doesn't seem so long if you think about yourself in his situation. Empathy vs. Sympathy....

Spring walks - good for what ails you

I'm reminded again empathy never begins with "at least," and "I" or "my" statements should be carefully evaluated to make sure we don't forget the audience we are trying to encourage.  I've heard a lot of "at least" statements this week...

We've processed. We realize  this is a progressive condition.  We are living FULLY PRESENT because we desire to make memories and experience as much as we can now. We don't need others to remind us  there are 3 more stages of this disease....."soon" you'll need a cane, then a wheelchair and then you'll be bed-ridden.  WOW - that's helpful to know - none of the doctors or neurologists have thought to share these stages with us. 

Poppies are back! 

Here are some conclusions we've reached: 

1.  Not every patient progresses through every stage. 
2.  We ARE at the start of this journey and need to listen to our neurologist who tells us to get out and chase our dreams and goals. 
3. I need to keep trying to learn to pull the caboose, while we continue to save for a rig that will be easier for both of us  to drive. 
4. I'd rather move into an assisted living center together, than stay in a big home alone.... the tiny home movement has great potential. Those decisions are in the FUTURE and can't possibly be decided now. 
5. New discoveries are being made, research is on-going; we trust our neurologist, who belongs to a teaching hospital, to be abreast of the latest developments.  She tells us not to give up, not to make life about Parkinson's, to go travel,  we'll fight this together.... we are at the start....
6. There is no need for us to focus 10 - 15 years down the road and let anxiety of the  future rob us of the present! 
7. People mean well - they really do. 

BOO - Parkinson's; conversations meant to help which depress

YAY - Beautiful spring weather, poppies blooming, VA appointments getting done, no terrible side-effects due to med change, lots of family time, Michael is enjoying sermon prep for Sunday, we're two weeks ahead of schedule in School, lovely breakfast with Cheri and Benjamin! Life is good. 

*Note the photos have nothing to do with the subject matter of this post - other than we're enjoying spring walks interspersed with helpful conversations. ::snort:: We need to get out with real cameras and take some spring photos. 

I've tried very hard to keep my gift of snark in line during this post. I apologize if my tone seems snarky or harsh. 

VA Round 2

Today, I conquered fear. I drove to Sacramento, at 0830, with Michael as the passenger. Why? Because this is the week he is doubling the patch of  Neupro and we aren't sure how it will effect him. One fairly normal problem of the drug is sleep attacks.  I think I kept him on the edge of his seat. I do not like to be "pinned in" and driving in lane three of six....stretched me. BUT I made it there in 45 minutes, with very few close-your-eyes-and-squeal moments.

Via Google images

I enjoyed the conversations swirling around me during Michael's VA appointment. I got to listen and smile encouragingly as a vet of the Pacific Theater of WW2, the European Theater of  WW2 and Viet Nam shared stories and opinions.  We have just finished studying this time period. It was fascinating. These men and women provide a national legacy. All in all I had a very enjoyable time at the VA clinic.

Michael emerged with the diagnosis' of the active duty doctor's confirmed. He has some service connected hearing loss.  We're crossing the t's and dotting in the i's.  I think there are two more appointments next week.

Back at Fam Camp I had conversations with THREE fellow campers - always fun.  Betty, shared good advice about traveling with medical conditions - we may think of finding a civilian PCM in the near future...they make it SO much easier to schedule appointments! ::snort::  She also told me they regularly stay at the RV Park we are trying to get into for the month of April. They'll be there in May.  Randy, shared interesting info about the new Tanker group/squadron or some such classification standing up here, and Nick, Chelsea and Rosie are always  fun to chat with. Nick is incredibly handy and it's been fun to see all the upgrades and changes they've made to their rig.

I bought raw peanuts...raw nuts are good, right? The bag said to roast them before eating them. Whaaaat? This sort of worked.....I guess I'm going to have to oven - roast a bunch of peanuts tomorrow.

S'mores and stars - such a perfect combination. We love sitting out and watching the stars over the fields out here....Michael is reading through Patrick McManus around the campfire. Tonight we read about removing fishing hooks from friends and "it had a lot to do with Earls....," from A Fine and Pleasant Misery.   I was desperate to warm my chilled feet......

Where else can you warm your feet and cook dessert at the same time? 

Twenty-Eight Days

Just twenty-eight days until Bella Angel is set to make her appearance.  I'm quite sure, she'll be punctual!  It won't be long now! 

36 weeks - Isn't she adorable? 

It's a Good Life

Remember the Shasta Bread? Lava Bread has joined the ranks of unusual bread I can serve up. This rose too high, too fast and collapsed. Ah well - at least I KNOW what caused this. ::snort:: I think when we're in OR, I'll take the stuff to someone's home and make more than two loaves at a time....and have an oven with even heat. I think I will.

Nick and Chelsea gave me a tour of their 41 ft Toyhauler today! Wow! Residential tub and fridge....I love what they've done for the girls' room....so much we could do with another 90sq feet....but - we are supposed to be looking for a rig I can drive.....

Michael is excited to be invited to preach next Sunday in Yuba City. It's a fun answer to prayer. He's had a sermon percolating in his spirit for about five months...and God clearly told him to WAIT and there would be a time to share it. He's excited to have the honor to share the word with a body of believers this weekend. While we schooled - he studied.

Nolan and I made a trip to the library. We ARE going to miss having library privileges when we begin to travel.

At the end of the day we enjoyed a family walk. I like to WALK, my peeps like to walk, take some pictures, throw sticks in the water, sniff a gopher hole and then walk. ::snort::

Alex, Stacia and Nolan

The Waterfall 

Our Little Fam Camp Community

I love the Control Tower/Sutter Butte

An Invitation

Daughters are such lovely blessings. We are thrilled to be getting a new one - Larissa!!! Look what came today! 

Our new daughter is incredibly creative

Yes, she did design them....all the info, maps...very  cool.

Blooming Social Butterflies

We are blooming social butterflies this week!

Wednesday we enjoyed dinner with Father Frank and Ed. Always a nice event. 

Because the ipad can't levitate we missed getting Ed in the photo!

Friday the kids and I spent the afternoon with Rachel and her KIDS.....Alas, Eli cried when I held her....but she smiled big for Gemma as long as she was on RACHEL'S lap. I'll take it. ::wink::

Today, we spent a lovely afternoon with Ms. Sherry, a widow from The Rivers, our Yuba City church home. It was a lot of fun to hear some of her story, share some of ours, and hear what it is like to be a REAL long-time  resident of this area.  

It is always a blessing to share community with the body of Christ.....and Stacia and I are already looking forward to a breakfast meeting with Cheri and Ben this week. 

Full-time Planning

We have spent DAYS planning the upcoming months of travel. Full-time RVing takes a lot of planning....and reserving.  We envisioned driving until some town caught our eye, pulling into a wooded park and stopping until we moved again. We learned last summer it is wise to make reservations! Especially if you want to stay within a certain budget. We began with mapping our projected dates on the calendar....we highlighted stops in red. As I make reservations in these towns, they go green. Keep in mind we have to juggle events we want to attend and places we want to be with being in CA to get meds and keep medical appointments.  Boo - this is not the fun part of RVing; Yay - we are planning to be on the move again in April.

Before the calendar can go green - I have to check websites, aps, and make phone calls. I track this on a our route planner, moving confirmed reservations to the expense trackers, and campgrounds we don't stay at to the "alternate route sheet, so I don't have to duplicate research if we need to stay in the same area again.

In addition to this we've created a family financial Excel workbook. It started as me simply wanting an expense tracker to match the categories of our budget. It grew to 14 pages now.  A monthly expense tracker, an annual snapshot and a savings tracker. Our savings  is very fluid right now. We knew it would have to supplement our retirement income until our plans settled out - but we'd saved to be able to take a one year sabbatical.  We are trying to bank extras from various categories. I needed more info than a simple lump sum balance.

I think all this planning will be good - but it's not my natural bent.  I wanted something simple and this thing grew and grew.  We've both had to research HOW to make excel do what we wanted it to do....and we've had to learn anew how to communicate without frustration. ::wink::

Hours of planning - but our sites are reserved through May 20th and we have a clear picture of our financial situation.

The packet of info arrived from the Idaho State Park department. We are looking forward to that new adventure.

I will have more reservations to make in the upcoming week, but we're getting it all nailed down.