RIP Tilly

today I wish I was home for my daughter Maura, her little fat momma Tilly dog (long hair chilaua) passed away right after she brought her home from the groomers, Maura said she was so pretty all fluffly and with a little bow in her hair. Tilly was 9 years young but she had a weight problem because of steroids that the Vets had given her awhile back. She will be missed. Every morning she would come and have me rub her head and scratch her under her chin, she was a very good dog. Brutus her son will be lost without her. At least now she will not suffer anymore. RIP Tilly

Tuesday in Las Vegas

Yesterday was a very busy day, I took my Dad to the Navy Hospital to start is treatment for his stroke, we got there at 9 am and he was checked into his primary doctor, then we had to go and be counseled on his medicine he has to take to keep his blood thiner, he has irregular heart beat caused by his heart as the doctor said, it squiggles and when it squiggles it caused clots and the clots cause the strokes, his heart beat was way up usually it registered out around 55 to 60 beats per min but yesterday it was at 127 beats. The blood thiner is called comdium or something like that and he has to go to a clinic just for that medicine and he has to have blood drawn every other week to make sure he is not over dosed and his blood gets too thin because then he could homorage even with just a small cut, he cannot use razors any longer, he has to use an electric shaver, but the doctor would not pull his drivers license, he stated they have a patient who is 101 and still drives herself to the clinic, so Dad has his car keys back. The physical therapist came to evalute him and he was so surprised at how strong my Dad is,he said he does not need him, but he is going to go back on Thursday to show him some exercises to help him keep his balance and strenght up. He also said this was the first time he came to a home and found a 93 year old stroke person who was not in a wheel chair or walker and just could not believe that my Dad was going to be 94 next month. That goes to show you that proper eating, proper exercise really works and keeps you going.

My sister did not get home until after 9 last night, originally they were suppose to be home Sunday and I had plane reservations to fly out Monday to Las Vegas at 11:30 am, when I get to San Diego she informed me plans changed and they were not coming home until Monday night, at that time I still had my plane reservations and I told her she had to make arrangements for someone to come and check in on Dad because I had to leave, but my wonderful hubby decided to drive down to San Diego so I could stay until Tuesday morning and I cancelled my reservations so now I have a credit for a future flight.

Monday was a long long day, after we finished up with the doctor he told me that after they got the lab results from the blood test I would have to go back to pick up his prescription, so off we went home and just as I walked into the door my hubby said the doctor called and I had to go back and get the prescriptions. Have you ever had to deal with a military hospital? well it is no bowl of cherries. Anyway back I go.

After that we went and said our goodbyes to the rest of our family down there went home and packed up and by 9 pm I was ready for bed. I was so excited about finally leaving San Diego, I woke up at 1 am and then again at 3:45 am and I got up and said the heck with it, we are out of here and we were on the road to Las Vegas by 4:45 am, we arrived just before noon and the trip over was hampered by rain,fog, and travel was slow, it poured all the way to stateline then it let up to just a drizzel. It was funny as soon as we hit the high desert our bones quit hurting, Pixie our dog was very happy to leave too. She is in better spirits. We will be at our friends house until very early Christmas morning and then we head home, we want to be back by 3 pm because Maura is making dinner for us and Peter's parents for Christmas.

It is bitter sweet leaving San Diego because of my Dad, but happy too since I have been gone for just over 2 weeks, I am ready to sleep in my own bed. My Dad told me yesterday he was so happy that I was there to help him get through all of the doctors visits, visiting nurse, physical therapist and getting his medicines all arranged for him, he said that he wished we could live closer, but I told him if he could not get the help with my sister because she is so busy, to just call me and I would come back and help. I feel confident that he will be ok and that all will go well, next month in January we will be going to San Diego to celebrate his birthday and also my Mother in Law, her birthday is the day after my Dad and she will be 90. WOW.......

Live is good, be happy, look for the good not the worse, smile, laugh, hug,

Sunday

Today is a dreary damp Sunday in San Diego, bones are aching, knees are creaking, and being sleep deprived. But it is a good Sunday, My Dad is home and he told me not to hover over him because he can take care of himself, he wanted to make bacon and eggs for breakfast and I asked him how he wanted his eggs, he informed me that he can cook and not to hover, hahahaha, so I said ok Dad you cook your eggs. We laughed together, we have had a wonderful time together, I am so glad I could be here and enjoy his company, it is truly a blessing. I will be both sad and happy to leave Tuesday Morning, sad to leave my Dad, but happy to get out of this dampness and maybe lose some of the aching creaking bones.

I have enjoyed reconnecting with my friends Linda and Roxanna. Linda and I have been close friends for 39 years and Roxanna and I have been friends for about 58 years, they are like sisters to me, we have been through a lot together and I am blessed to have them in my life.

Only 6 more days to Christmas and life is wonderful.

Daddy's home

today we sprung my Dad and he is home, I am very happy, but not too sure of what or where or how to get all the help here in San Diego for him, he still thinks he is going to drive, whew how do you clip a person's wings when he is not ready. This afternoon the home nurse is suppose to drop by, Monday we will take him to his primary care doctor at the Navy hospital and Monday night Debbie will be home and she will take back the reins and Tuesday we leave for home feeling good about leaving.

Yesterday Maura came over and we went to visit with Grandma Virgie, my Dad and then we went shopping until she dropped then we all went to the fishMarket for dinner, yum yum, there was Lorraine, Dannie (Lorraine's sister), Del and myself and of course Maura. Peter and Josh went to the Charger's vs 49's football game and they are on the 49's side and they lost, boo hoo, first time seeing a professional game they did it all, the tailgaters, the game and they had a blast,that was their Xmas gift from Maura, on 40 yard line and 8 rows up, loved it.

The weather has turned damp and cool down here, our bones will be happy to leave Tuesday morning. I am loving life.

a great update

Friday we get to spring my Dad from the rehab center, he is doing so well that he graduated from the walker to using a cane just to help with his balance once in awhile. He is getting his speech back very clearly. And he still thinks that he will be driving again very soon, I mentioned to my sister that she needs to hide his car keys because he can be hard headed and it could pop in his mind that he needs to take the car and go to the store. To give you an example, Debbie told me that he called on Saturday and told her and I mean told her, that she needed to come and pick him up and take him to the library so he could get some reading material, so off she went and he was waiting for her so she just picked him up took him to the library and returned him to the center, when I went to see him on Sunday I mentioned to him how nice it was that they let him come and go from the center and that I was glad he enjoyed the library, he said hell I did not ask I just went, hahahahah,,,,but the realization is what if something had happened to him, what would the libility be, so I made sure to tell my sister what he did and next time to be sure that she checks with the desk that he can go. We just had a big laugh about it this time. We are trying to make arrangements for the meals on wheels can come and bring him his meals for a short time, Debbie said she would not be able to drive him around and that he is going to have to make arrangements for cabs to come and take him places, he is not going to like that but at 94 years of age he should not be driving and Debbie has her job and will not be able to take the time always to drive. I am going to check out the senior center where he usually goes to eat lunch everyday and see if they have that senior transportation available for him.

The other thing that makes this a good day I now have all 4 of our daughters back in our lives, for that I am greatful and extremely happy. I am loving life today.

San Diego

I arrived in San Diego Thursday the 9th, My friend Linda picked me up at the airport at 11:30 we headed out for Coronado for lunch, it was so good, then we went and had a visit with my Dad at the Rehab center, I am so happy to report that he is doing so well, after our visit we went to the NEX so I could get some baby shower gifts for Saturday. Then we headed to the zoo, wow,,we only had one hour and the first place we headed for was the Panda Bears, since it was a bit after 4 pm they were out and active, that was so great, we saw the flamingos, and monkeys and we walked through an area that was very tropical, I want to go back when I can see it all. After the zoo we road through balboa park and then went to dinner at the fishhouse on the pier, yum yum, after that we went back to Coronado so we could see the Xmas lights and then back to Balboa to see the lights finally got to the house about 7:30pm, a long long day. Today I went to visit my mother-in-law for a bit then off to see my Dad, we talked and we walked and we sat and had coffee and a cookie together and then I was off to visit with my sister-in-law for a bit. Now I am back at the house relaxing. Tomorrow I will be going to a baby shower and will catch up with family that I have not seen in years, and I mean 10+ years so that will be fun.

I am so happy my Dad is doing so well and we are talking and he is telling me stories when he was a young sailor and places he has been.

Love your family, hug your family, enjoy your family, don't let time go by and then you say, I should have, I would have, just do it.

December 9th

One year ago on this date we lost a very special Lady to cancer, she was just 61 years young, she left behind 4 sons 3 daughter-in-laws 5 grandchildrenand a very special soul mate. Tomorrow one year from the date her son Justin will be graduating from his Military schooling as a Warrant Officer. His original graduation date was the 14th of December, he just found out a few days ago they changed his date and time to the exact same time she passed into the Lords hands. I think that she arranged for this to happen so that he will have memories of this date to celebrate other than her passing. God bless this family and keep them in your arms.

Wonderful family gathering

We had a fantastic family time today over at Marina's house, the food was great, they planned a Mexican feast for the Christmas dinner. The house was full, kids were running all around having so much fun, laughing, playing, the friendships were wonderful. I am so happy to have my family and that everyone is doing so great. This new year coming will be a good one, and I know all will turn around and our ecomny will turn around. Please sure to reach out and let your family know that no matter what, you love them and will be there for them, watch them grow. My wish for the New Year is family hapiness.

bah hum bug

I guess the holiday season is upon us, I am excited about Sunday the 5th, we are going to celebrate Christmas early with Marina and family, this is the only weekend that all of her children will be home so Christmas. Maura, Pete, myself and Del will be attending too. I am not excited about Christmas this year, we will not be home, I am going to San Diego to see my Dad and relieve my sister of his care for a few days while she goes to her company Christmas in South Carolina, then I will be flying over to Las Vegas to meet up with Del, he called his friend Emmet to make sure we could stay with them and next thing I know we are staying through Christmas, at first I thought awww good, but now I want to be home for Christmas, Maura and Pete are going to be here by themselves, all the kids cannot make it home so this is making for a sad Christmas. We got a Charlie Brown Christmas tree yesterday because the house needs some Christmas in it. I guess I have the holidays blues, no reason, just does not seem like Christmas. I don't want to decorate, I feel like I am overstepping here at Maura's, so I think I will just do the living room and leave the rest, Maura and her Dad can decorate outside tomorrow if they want. today all I want to say is BAH HUMBUG!!!!!!!!! Maybe tomorrow will be better.