Wedding news...

Wedding news!!! no not me...Heaven forbid..I learned from the first mistake..

My daughter "E" is engaged to be married. She's only 22 and I think she's to young, to me she is still a 5 yr. old in pigtails, getting on the school bus for the first time but I know she wouldn't be doing it unless she wanted it too. She says they have been talking about it for a while now.
"B" is a very nice boy. He comes from a good family. The couple have known each other for about 7 years and have been a "couple" for about 3.
Right now they are living together in Madison, Wisconsin. They share an apartment with another friend of B's. E works for a non-profit organization and B works for the University of Wisconsin- Madison Campus fixing computers.
On Thanksgiving, I went to B's grandparents for the day. I can't drive long distances with out falling asleep, so his mom was kind enough to drive me out there, since she was going too. I got to meet the grandparents and some other family members.
Everyone was very nice.
The wedding will take place at the grandparents who have a small chapel on their property that grandpa built for his son when he got married. It needs a bit of cleaning but it will be very cozy.
There is an open flat area in the yard where they are going to put a tent, with tables, chairs etc... The food is going to be very simple. It sounds it's going to be more like a picnic then a wedding dinner, but that's the way the coupple is. Very relaxed.
I have gotten word that the wedding party will be wearing specially made Converse shoes, in the colors of the wedding, Navy Blue and Tan.
E went looking at dresses at one place so far and has two other places to go to. I'm not sure what the dress will look like, but I think it will be very simple. She mentioned something about a tea length dress. (It falls between the knees and ankles.) I had always kind of hoped she would wear mine but since I am 5' 2" and she is 5' 7", I don't think that is a possibility, even though when I wore the dress, it dragged on the ground. I bought it off the rack and it's not even an actual wedding dress. But anyway...I'll keep updating as needed.

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Winter has finally arrived. Last week Tuesday night and Wednesday. We got about 12 inches of snow followed by bitter cold. Besides all the snow, our electricity went out. I don't know if it was Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning, so I don't know how long it was out but it got down to 62 in the house. Today was the first day in 4 days that I was able to go outside and play with the dog. She had a wonderful time.
It was a heavy wet snow. They were calling it heart attack snow, meaning if you weren't in excellent shape then shoveling it would probably kill you. My snow blower broke while my son was using it to clean off my sidewalks. So I sent him shopping and found a new one.
I have most of my Christmas shopping done. I just need to wrap the gifts I do have, buy a couple more, and then put up the tree.
That's it for now.

Health news

Where to start...where to start....
On August (or about) 28, I went back to the hospital via ambulance with severe stomach pains and vomiting. The same type of pain that sent me in July. Normally, when I have had that pain in the past, it means I have to have a really good "movement", if you get my meaning. And by drinking prune juice or eating things like fruit and oatmeal aids in that movement thing.The pain actually started on Monday the 24th. After three days with no relief, I called the doctors office on Wednesday the 26th to see if I could get in, like at the end of the day. I feared that an old hernia had returned and was maybe creating a blockage. Of course there was nothing open until Friday, when he was working a half day and I could come in at 11:30. So I said ok, knowing that I was going to need to be seen. Thursday night, right before bed, the pain worsened, expanding from the area under my belly button to the upper portion of my stomach. At about 5:30 am I started vomiting, after about 3 hours of that, I finally called my son to take me to the hospital. He was at work and I got this voice mail, so I called his girlfriend Amy (I pretty much consider her my daughter-in-law). As soon as she got dressed, she came. He ended up getting the message I left anyway and so they met out in the driveway.
In that 15 minutes or so, I had become so weakened that I didn't feel like I could walk from the house to the car so I had Amy call 911. After getting to the ER, they did the usual blood tests and x-rays. It turned out that there was an intestinal blockage. They wanted to do a CT Scan but they didn't think I would be able to keep down the contrast that a person needs to drink. They had to insert an EG tube into my nose, down into my stomach and start sucking out my stomach contents, of which there seemed to be an endless supply. Emergency surgery was performed to remove a piece of mesh that was used to repair the previous hernia. It had become attached to part of my intestine and that's what was causing the blockage. There was also a small hernia but it was higher up toward my stomach. The surgeon fixed that too, even though he said it wasn't that bad, but in a year or so, it would have been. After 5 days, I came home. You know how they always make sure that you pass gas and have a bowel movement after surgery before you go home? Well, the doctor didn't really seem to concerned that I even though I had passed gas, there was really a movement to speak of. If I had been the doctor, I wouldn't have been satisfied with it. I came home on Tuesday, the first of Sept. I had absolutely no appetite, no hunger. I only ate because I knew I needed to. I ate oatmeal for breakfast thinking that would get things moving. It didn't. By Friday Sept 4th, I was vomiting again. Nothing I ate stayed down and again there seemed to be an endless supply of whatever it was taking up residence in my stomach. I had been vomiting for about 5 hours, when I noticed my incision had become to "weep". It startled me at the time, I thought I had been vomitng for so long that maybe I had ripped something open. Even though it wasn't bright red, it was a watery, pale red. So with another ride via ambulance to the ER, more blood tests, and x-rays, another EG tube inserted, it was determined that I had gotten an infection somewhere. With a couple of anti-biotics loaded onto my IV pole, along with the usual bag, I spent another 3 days there. The doctor said too that after a surgery involving the intestine, the body can have a problem getting back to normal. After 2 days of no food, and clear fluid being sucked out of my stomach, the doctor ordered the removal of the EG tube and put me on a clear liquids diet. Broth, apple juice, tea, that type of stuff. I drank so much apple juice that I got diarrhea. He started me on a full diet that morning he said I could home. He said try a regular breakfast and lunch and if it doesn't cause nausea and stays down, I can go home in the afternoon. I ordered a BBQ beef sandwich with chips for lunch. I figured if anything was going to make me sick, that would have been it. After not having an appetite for a few days and then not eating at all for the next few, it's the first time hospital food actually tasted good.
I am back home now since Monday, the 7th. I feel pretty good, have an appetite and eating normally. Everything else seems to be working fine too.
I hope you all had a good holiday. Summer is at it's end and winter is just around the corner. BBRRRRRRR!!!!!!!
Take care....

News Update

On Monday July 27th I woke up at 2:00 am with really bad stomach pains that radiated around to my back. I slept in and out until 5:30am, then got up and took my morning dose of pain medication that I take for my arthritis which I can't take on an empty stomach so I have a cup of yogurt too. At about 6:30 am I begin to feel nauseated which led to what you usually associate with that. After that, the pain continued so I finally called my son and had him come and take me to the ER. I thought I knew what it was from but I have never gotten the back ache before. They did an EKG and that came out a bit abnormal. So that led a whole bunch of other tests, including a heart stress test and an echo. The echo showed a blockage of some sort in one of the frontal arteries. So a cardiac catherization was suggested. At first I said no, but then I spoke to my regular doctor and he convinced me to do it. I was transported to another bigger, hospital in Green Bay because the hospital I was in doesn't do that procedure. After the procedure I felt fine, no pain or very little anyway. During the night and early morning, the nurse would come in and check it every hour or so. At 6:15 am there was noise outside my room window that woke me up. I turned over and the small incision, which it isn't really, just a small hole, started to hurt. About 1 minute later, the nurse, Josh, came in to check on me. I told me I felt fine up until the time I turned and asked if he could check it. He looked and said "I told you to let me know if you felt blood." I said " I didn't feel it. I didn't feel anything until just a minute ago." He said "I'll be right back." Ran out of the room, came back another nurse who was carrying a bunch of wash cloths and Josh had a package in his hand. While Josh put pressure on the sight, the other nurse started to clean me up. Almost down to my knees and half way up my stomach. They needed to change the sheets and my gown. He then put on a pressure bandage which caused extruciating pain. That stayed on about 3 hours. By the time the day time nurse took it off I was in tears. She got me up about an hour later in the chair. I ate lunch and my son came in to get me about 12:30. I was afraid to go home but he said he'd stay for a few days. If Josh had not come in, I probably wouldn't have said anything, I was expecting pain at sooner or later so I would have thought it was normal. The bleeding had stopped on it's own by the time he had come in, it looked worse then it really was.
After all this, all I need to do is take a couple of pills. A "statin": generic form of Plavix and a baby aspirin. There are no diet changes needed.
I was in the hospital in Green Bay from Tuesday the 28th until the afternoon of Thursday the 30th.
I feel ok now. I tire easily but that will pass. There is very little pain.
I had a actual running water shower last night. It felt sooooo goooood.

News

Saturday, May 23. 2009

It's been a while since my last entry, so I thought today would be a good day.
A week ago, last Saturday, May 16th, 2009, my baby girl, Erika, graduated from Ripon College, with honors! "Cum Laude", (which requires a Cumulative GPA of 3.40 or higher), "Alpha Psi Omega"(Honor Society in Theater) & "The Laurel" (Senior Honor Society). She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a Major in History and a Minor in Theater. She is the only one on my side of the family to graduate from college. Needless to say, I am extremely proud.
There were 194 graduates altogether. The ceremony was held outside and the weather that day was windy (20 - 30 mph) and cold (52 degrees). It really should have been held indoors, but I guess since the sun was shining they thought it would be alright. After an hour and a half of sitting, we were all partially frozen, except for the people smart enough to have thought to bring their winter jackets. May in Ripon is usually about 70 degrees or so..At first it wasn't to bad. Like I said the sun was shining, and we were surrounded by buildings so we thought maybe we would be a little protected but it seemed like the buildings only acted like a funnel for the wind and helped it to come in and down. There were nine of us that went, myself, 2 friends of mine, (Karla and her husband Mike), the next door neighbors (Bob and Betty), Erika's boyfriend, (Bryan) and his parents, (Patrick and Marcia.) After the ceremony, we met up with Erika because she had some stuff to come home that she couldn't fit into her car, then we proceeded to go to Fond Du Lac, a near by city, and ate at a restaurant that Patrick suggested, called "Theo's Chop House." The food was delicious. The restaurant was very nice and warm. (Literally and decoratively.) We all had a good time. Mike found out that he knew Bob's son in school. Bob (who is in his late 70's I think), used to be a school teacher and Patrick used to be Assistant Principal at the high school in Manitowoc, so they knew each other. Karla is my friend and Massage Therapist. We've known each other about 9 or 10 years now. She has been a big part of mine and Erika's life for a long time.
Erika came home on the 19th of May, brought some stuff home and packed some stuff to take back. She is going to live in Madison with Bryan and another room mate. She and Bryan have been friends for about 5 years. They were in high school together where they were in theater class together, but they didn't become a couple until about 3 years ago. I don't know him that well but, he seems like a very nice young man that comes from a good family. His parents are really nice and they adore Erika and she loves them too. She's even been to their family reunions a couple of times. He is a bit shy around me and says he feels intimidated by me, but I know that once he gets to know me, that will change.
It's hard to believe that the past four years have gone by so quickly. Seth and Amanda...cherish that little guy...kids grow up way to fast.

Everything else is the same as my last entry. I feel a bit better now that spring is making a fleeting appearance. Warm, cold,warm,cold. The winter seemed longer this year because it got cold and started snowing in November, earlier then usual. I always get a little depressed in the winter. The dog loves to play outside so that requires me to wear four long pairs of pants, four long sleeved shirts and a double layer jacket with a hood and four pairs of gloves. They get wet and I have to keep putting on dry ones. When I am out of gloves, it's time to go in. They usually last about 30 minutes or so, depending on how wet the snow is and how much spit there is from her mouth on the frisbee. I can't wear boots because the arthritis in my feet has rearranged the small bones causing a high bump on the top of my feet so the boots don't fit over the bump but my shoes are actually fairly warm. Plus I have a small paint pail that I fill with water so she can drink while we're out side. By the time March comes I'm pretty tired of putting on and taking off all the clothes. There are some days that it's just way to cold to be out. I don't go out if it's below 12 degrees with no wind or if there is a wind chill of less then 18.
I can't think of anything else to write about. Take care until next time. BYE

Catch up time....

It's been a while since my last update. so I thought I'd do it today. The weather is humid and rainy off and on, and the dogs frisbee is in the tree.

Last Saturday May 16th, 2009 My baby girl, Erika graduated from college,

Cum Laude,(requires a cumulative GPA of 3.40 or higher), Alpha Psi Omega (honor society in Theater), & The Laurel (Senior Honor Society). We just got her final report card yesterday, For the last semester. she got another 3.48 GPA for the semester. Cumulative GPA was 3.71. 3 A's, a B, an Two, AU's which I think is Audit or something, and a P for acting Lab.
I received a letter from the school congratualting her on making the Dean's List. And there is going to be an announcement in the home town paper about graduation. There is an article called "Student News", or something like that and they report news on college students. Whether they graduate naking the Dean's List or whatever. She's been in the paper all four years. There has been only twice when she didn't make the Deans List. When she was in Jr High and High School, there was only twice when she didn't make honor roll.
She is living in a city about a few hours from home. And she found a summer job with the same place as last summer. A place she likes and that's always important.
In case you can't tell...I am so very proud!!