Snow Day

Chalk it up to Farmers Almanac....Right on the money! They predicted Wyatt would be home the last few days in Feb and they were right, He's home and so is Mike. Snowing on and off all day today.

GK went to the Doc today despite the snow. John was here early this morning to pick him up and they got to town early for the apt. The Doc said his levals were "o.k", eight something and as I understood from the recording of the last apt, anything under ten called for a transfussion. Oh well, I'm not the doctor, nor do I play one on a "blog". He goes in next wednesday to make sure he maintains at least the count he has. He takes the dogs in tomorrow and then another doc apt Friday for his Lupron shot. Thats the shot he gets monthly from the urologist. His eyes are still kinda red today and he continues to be kinda squinty, but still doesn't want to go to town about it.
I think it's funny that Google chose to advertise eye supplies here.

Still can't find Grammy's glasses. She must have put them in a VERY safe place. I'm sure they will turn up soon, and in the meantime she continues to wear GK's.
I have been having problems getting her to eat lately. She REALLY likes candy and ice cream, but not much else. Last night I sat almost begging her to eat and didn't get very far. I try to make things she likes, comfort foods, chicken, veggies and biscuits. No go. She tells me she just isn't hungry and she really can't eat a bite. Then I ask if she wants ice cream and it's as though she won the lottery (I didn't give her the ice crean till' later). In other words I think she IS hungry she just doesn't like anything that isn't sweet. I totally know where she's comming from.
I asked her to at least have a little peanut butter on some bread. She agreed but covered the peanut butter in sugar. I got a banana and she dunked that in the sugar bowl. Do you see a patern? So tonight I'm making stew, maybe I will sweeten hers up with some whip cream. You know, dress it up a little.

Um, o.k, I think that may be it for now. Mike is in the mudroom putting borax on fish eggs. Don't ask, I don't know, nor do I want to. Wyatt is still in his underpants watching movies and begging for lunch. Since my show is on soon and I will need them to all leave me the hell alone for an hour I need to go take care of things now.

BREAKING NEWS

GK went to the eye doc this afternoon. His eyes were bothering him so much, he broke down and called John to take him to town. They had to wait over an hour to be seen, but it was worth the wait. Conjunctivitis. He got a prescrption for some drops and Mike is on his way to the pharmacy as I speak to get it filled. He needs to do the drops FOUR times a day for about two weeks and not wear his contacts.

When he got home there was a package waiting for him from the Carlsons. It was a new heating pad. Very cool, you can velcro it on so it keeps your back and hips warm. I told him I would spring for the extension cord if he promised not to wear it in the bathtub!!! hahaha, I thought that was pretty funny. Mike thought we should rig up some sort of hand held generator.

O.k, so under the ruse of taking snow pictures, I got my camera into the big house to get the long awaited picture of Grammy in her (GK's) glasses. Just so everyone knows, I am NOT making fun. I just think it is fun. E.

What The Flock

Oh my.....
I found out today that our he goose is a she goose. My first clue was the size of the egg. I think I would of heard the ducks hollerin if they had laid an egg that big.

Chicken egg, duck egg, GOOSE egg

Monday

Ahhh the weekend is over. Mike and Wyatt had a good trip and a nice visit. I never really did get to the point where I missed them, but I was happy to see them and am really glad their home. It must be cabin fever February. The Carlsons went to Big White for the week and got home on saturday and the Gerbers spent the weekend in Wyoming for a little R&R on one of lloyds trips. Sounds like fun.

We had a quiet weekend here. GK decided he must have rubbed some of his gout creme into his contacts hence the burning watering blindness in his eyes. Glad we got to the bottom of that. The gout is still hanging in, but seems to be getting better and all around it seems he's feeling pretty good. He goes to the Doc on Wednesday and will find out how his red cells are and with luck get out without another transfussion. His color and energy are both good and he has been eating well too. I went to the grocery store for them on Saturday and stocked the house with a variety of foods in hopes of encouraging more healthy snacking. If you know me at all you realize I really had to step out of my box to shop for "healthy" snacks, but I watch enough t.v to know whats good for you.

When I went to the big house Saturday morning I walked in to find Grammy sitting at the table waiting for me. She was wearing quite an attractive ensamble and to top it off a pair of GK's old glasses circa 1972. BIG square frames with a greenish yellow tint. I asked her where her glasses were and she looked at me as if to say... retard they are on MY face. She politely answered "right here" as she tapped her new eyewear. I asked if she could see alright with them and again she gave me the retard look and replied..."yes". So, for the last two days she has been wearing the latest in beavercreek high fassion eyewear and trust me, it's not easy discussing the latest political situations with her and take her seriously.
I hope we find her galsses soon. Lord only knows where they could be.

We are going shopping for Wyatt tonight. Time for some new shoes and he has already outgrown the pants we bought for him at the begining of the school year. Problem is, he grows out of the waist before the length so he ends up with pants that are four inches to long. Maybe I will get him some platform shoes.

Mike is feeling 100% better after seeing the chiropracter in Burlington. I guess he was really out of alinement. He was going to start seeing the chiropracter whenever he went to see Maddy, but I have it on good authority that he should be seen again this week, so I think we will set him up with GK's backcracker here in OC. You wouldn't think sitting all day would be hard on your back, but trust me, I know. I sat professionally for many years and it is VERY hard on your back. Add in the shaking and vibration fron the truck and you really have a mess. I think he might have to go in for Mikey maintenance on a regular basis.

I think thats all for now.

OHHHH! Today is weigh in Monday.
SEVEN POUNDS!!!
Now my last number ends with a TWO : )

Texas Update

Just when I thought I had the tiger by the tail, I wake up to a phone call from Jack. You may find this shocking, but indeed, he was already drunk. It was almost 10:00 Texas time so I guess thats right on schedule for him. I told him right off that Wyatt wasn't home and he said "well wait, I have some GREAT news to tell you". Nothing that ever comes out of Jack's mouth is great, but I was willing to bite, and asked "what".
I assume you are sitting down, but just out of courtesy I will ask you to sit now if you aren't already.
Dalton is moving to Texas to live with Jack. He arrives Saturday. He starts school Monday. Somebody needs to check to see if by chance Hell may have froze over. I can't even think of words to say how I feel about this. Either Charlene has completly lost her mind and is strung out on crack cocaine as we speak or Dalton has grown to be an out of control Jackass like his Father. That still doesn't give Charlene the right to put Dalton in Jacks hands though. Of course, Jack is thrilled about this because to top it all off, Charlene is going to pay Jack child support for the next two years. Maybe I am still asleep and just having some wierd dream.

Things That matter

O.k, I didn't want to talk about important things in the same breath as Jack. So, here are some things we care about.
Last night Grammy and GK went to dinner with Dohn and Jonna. They had a nice time and said the food was great. They tried a new place in Mollala and were happry they did. I'm not from these parts, but I think Mollala is the Sedro-Woolley of Oregon. Just an observation. After dinner GK's eyes were really bothering him and so was the gout in his finger. BAD. He was not in good shape. As I sit here and write this I am thinking to myself that the rich food and drinks last night would of made his gout worse. Hmmmm. Note to self. I called Kelly and she sugested I call a nurse info line. We don't have one around here, but I did go to the Mayo Clinic sympton site. Believe it or not, the symptoms he tells me he has come up as pink eye or hay fever.
Either would make sense, his nose started leaking the day his eyes started bothering him (hay fever) and he has been in and out of the doctors office and hospitals for the past three weeks (pink eye). Pink eye is at "epedemic" stage here this year. We have been getting notes from school and it's been on the news a bunch. Whatever it is it calls for a visit to Dr.B on Monday.
Grammy felt well yesterday, but of course by late in the evening was very confused and hesitant to go to bed and feeling the need to "go home". It seems she gets this way any time we leave the house, like it knocks the know out of her. I just told her we were going to stay "there" last night and would head for home in the morning. It upsets her more to contradict what she believes, so we just go with it. We did have to hide all her things for fear the people who live "there" might have taken them.

GK's eyes are better this morning and he was making himself some sausage when I got there. His gouty finger is really giving him the buiseness though. He want's to go to town today and buy some advil for it.
Grammy is still asleep and I am sure she will feel at home today and comfortable with her reading.

Mike has called and has a terrible headache today. he said his neck bothered him all the way up last night. I think it was from all the noise going in his ear! Anyway he is going to go to our chiropracter in Burlington this afternoon and hopefully that will help. Wyatt called last night and was thrilled to be with Wendy. She was happy to see him too and surprised how much he's grown since Christmas! I'm sure they will have a great day today : )

Back to the big house.

All The Better To see You...

Well, Since last night GK has been having problems with his eyes. They are watering and his vision has been blurred. I think there may be quite a few things that could be causing it and of course the thing to do would be for him to see the Doc about it. Easier said than done. When I mentioned that, he said it was no big deal and he would just wait for it to get better. I sometimes wonder which is the worse position to be in. The one who thinks they know what is best for another person, or the person who other people think they know what is best for. I myself have been in both, and think maybe they both just suck.
When I had my bad brain and the worst headaches EVER, Mike would tell me to take a pain pill and I would say "nooooo, I don't want to, it wont help, leave me alone", and be mad. Then, finally I would take something and of course my head would get a little better and I would be mad at him for being right. So, there you have it. It isn't easy for anyone when someone you love is having a hard time.

O.k, I'm talking about Wendy, but just a little bit. Someone said I might have come across a little to hard on her. I thought about it, re-read what I had written, and thought about it some more and came to this conclusion. She needs to get a job, but she is pretty and has a good personality.

You know what today is............
Today is the day Mike and Wyatt go to see the Family in Skagit County. Wow, I will really miss them. Starting sometime tomorrow afternoon. Until then I am just REALLY happy they are going to have a nice weekend spending time with Maddy and Wendy. Wyatt has been busy making out a schedule for the weekend. I imagine Wendy will be pleased he has taken care of all those pesky "what do we do now" moments. ; )
I have posted a picture of what I think Mike will look like driving to Mt.Vernon based on the fact as this is what he looked like driving to get pumpkins. You can't see in the picture, but Wyatt is in the back seat questioning the distance to the pumpkin patch, when we might be stopping to eat, what we might get if we stop to eat, if there would be a possibility of him going to the bathroom if we stopped to eat, sugesting that maybe we could just eat AND go to the bathroom at the pumpkin patch and then discussing the different things there could be to eat at the pumpkin patch if the pumpkin patch did have food.

GH is on

On The Road

There they go......................

Wait, do you hear something?

NEITHER DO I ! !! !! ! !! !!! ! !!! !!!

Not Much

Not much new........except Wyatt is IN SCHOOL today!
Everyone had a good night and is off to a good start at the Big House. Gk was up to the barn this morning and came in the house laughing at all the "stuff" up there. He said the roof is leaking pretty bad from the wind blowing off some of the roofing, but doesn't seem put off about it. I think he was glad to see all his stuff and walk around a bit.
John called and went over the Doctors apt a little more with me and reassured me Gk has a good attitude about things and a good repore with the Doc. I think we need to do something nice for John in return for all he is doing to help.

Wendy. I am choosing not to say anything more about Wendy until she gets a job.

Mikes hands are better, and thank you for the insights as to what could be causing the problem. he has been taking tylenol and that seems to help. He said it was snowing in the hills today so he may be home early. I hope not until after 5:00 eastern time because he will end up talking through the ANS trial and I could end up missing some important information. I don't get him....talks through the shows, quiet during the commercials. Drives me CRAZY. Other than that, he's a good person : )

If anything exciting happens later I'll let you know

Julie

I just got an e.mail from Julie in Big White.
I knew she was getting new ski pants, but who knew she'd look so hot in them!

No School

Some of you may start to think like I do that Wyatt changes underpants more often that he attends school. He was ready, we had good intentions, but the hitch in the giddy up was a substitute bus driver who never picked him up. The bus went up the hill, Wyatt went out, I went to the big house and an hour later when I came home to grab a tea I looked and saw Wyatt STILL standing at the end of the driveway : ( The bus never came back down the hill. Since GK was at the Doc, Wyatt stayed home.
He shed no tears over this development and was quick to mention that he would enjoy a little bit longer break.

What a busy morning it has been. GK and John have been to the Doc and back. GK's levels were good enough to bypass a transfusion today. 10.5 and anything above 10 is ok. The results are in from the MRI and there is cancer through the entire spine but the tumors are not "pinching the cord". GK seems to take all of this as very good news so I guess we follow his lead and be grateful. The goal is to keep the cancer from growing through hormone injections which helps to promote healthy bone marrow that produces healthy red blood cells that fight the cancer. Whew!
Grammy is resting, maybe sleeping off a sugar high. GK went to the store yesterday and brought home a box of candy. When I took dinner over last night, Grammy said she really wasn't that hungry, but thanked me anyway. I later looked and the candy box was near empty, so they either have problems with mice or they dined on a "pot-of-gold" for dinner. (That's their chocolate brand of choice) When I was listening to the recording of the doctor visit today, the Doc mentioned that GK's bp was a little high and GK made the comment to him he had "a little chocolate". Do I detect a guilty conscious?

Wendy's on the phone...hold on

I feel like MLK after he gave the "I have a Dream" speach. Wendy just called and I verbally kicked her ass and drug her down as far as I could and did the whole "I'm dissapointed" and "what would Aunt Julie and Uncle Mike think" routine and then told her how I knew she could "be the person she want's to be, live the life she needs to live blah, blah, blah" and compared her to Jack Swafford (only in the sense of being unemployed) and hopefully inspired her to get a #@*%!^ job. I told her that EVERYone has a job, including the guy who's job it is to re-posses her car when she can't make the payment.
I'll let you know how it turns out.
I could blame youth and ignorance on my decision to have children, but then what would be my excuse for the same lack of judgment fifteen years later? God help me when I turn forty-five.

I have to go have a Slim-Fast or an entire package of Malomars.

Not As Fat Tuesday

You are never gonna believe this... I have lost FIVE pounds since Saturday! I know, I could very well be fibbing about this, but I'm not : ) I got on the scale bare ass naked this morning and there it was.......the last number was four and when I started the last number was NINE. Can you believe it!!!! WoW. The big accomplishment will be when Grammy notices. She is always the first to tell me my butt is kinda big (she says ass) or if my pants are riding up. It's funny, she will lower her voice almost to a whisper and say.."Marilyn, your pants are riding up your butt crack. I wouldn't want you to go to town like that. It's not very attractive." I am always sure to thank her because obviously she has my best interest at heart. Alzhiemers is funny, you cant rember if you had breakfast, but you remember you shouldn't go to town in ill fitting clothes. Hmmm.

GK is feeling good today. He plans to go to town later today to pick up some dog treats at the store and maybe some potatoes. If they aren't doing road constuction maybe stop at the pharmacy. His MRI went smoothly last night and he hopes to hear the results tomorrow when he goes in for his labs. We sure are lucky to have John. He took GK last night and waited to bring him home. He always keeps GK's spirits up with his dumb jokes and wise ass remarks!

Wyatts birthday present came from Wal-Mart yesterday. It's one of those crystal growing kits, and he can't wait to get started. I told him it's a project he has to do with Mike. See, that makes Mike look really smart to Wyatt and get's me off the hook! As GK would say..."I may be crazy, but I aint stupid"! All I have to do is find some jars with lids to grow them in. I'll find those at the big house and then be done with my part of the project. Wyatt is in position on the couch watching cartoons this morning. He has a cushion fort built around him and all his toys inside. He said he's really tired and is contemplating a nap and has decided the cushion fort is a good spot because he's less likely to be disturbed. Can't argue logic.

So, Mike's hands are numb. They started feeling that way yesterday and still feel numb today. Any ideas? I hope it's nothing serious, we don't have life insurance and those crystals need to get done. ; ) Other than that, he feels fine, just numb hands.
Maybe he needs to go to the backcracker. He and Wyatt are going north next weekend. Wyatt will get to see Wendy and Mike will spend the weekend with Maddie. I don't envy him that drive. "Are we almost there Mike cuz I want to see my sister I'm hungry Mike can we stop at Mcdonalds Mike when will we be there Mike can I call my Mom Mike how much longer"

I need to go walk the dogs

Ciao for now.

Bow Wow Birthday Present

Look what Olin made for Wyatt!
A canine chronical pillow slip that he made HIMSELF!
Way to go Olin!!

No School

Uhhh, yeah. Today is Presidents day. No school. Wyatt informed me of that as I was trying to convince him bathing was not only necessary, but practical. He could wash his toy's AND himself. No go. No school. No bath. Today however is another day and with any luck he will be washed. How I long for the days of summer when we could wash him in the pool everyday.
So there is no school today OR tomorrow, teacher inservice. I don't seem to recall teachers going in for service near as often as they go now. But then again I didn't go to school very often either. So Wyatts "job" today is to pig up the house with his new birthday works, finish his birthday cake and soda pop, and watch cartoons. I think I want his job.

No word from Wendy in a couple days. Last time I talked to her she was on her way home from Seattle after doing a wedding with Mark. I know she makes o.k money working for him, but I wish she would hurry up and get a "real" job and help Mark on the side. I have visions of her with a "Burnside winnabego" (what GK calls a bum and a shopping cart) and a cigerette hanging out of the side of her mouth and a bad box dye job. I guess it could be worse, I could be Britney Spears mother.

Not much shaking at the big house today. GK is watching the news, his gout is better again today and his wife is relaxing in bed. I opened all the blinds in her room and I think she enjoys looking out at a different view. The Poodles (his dogs) are officially past their overly affectionate stage, so it's not like watching cheap French canine porn 24/7. What a relief that is. I think I can safely say that made us ALL a little uncomfortable.

All for Now

Dullsville

Not much new today. Mike, Wyatt and I went to town to do some errands. Wyatt bought some toys with his birthday money, we stopped and got some movies and then went to get some KFC for the big house. Grammy and GK were happy with dinner, and they both ate every last bite and had some Little Debbie cakes for dessert. Dinner of champions! Grammy had a full belly and was ready for bed and GK wasn't far behind!

Mike had a predictably slow start to his fishing season, but looks forward to a better run at it next weekend. I was happy to hear he gave the shrimp monsters to a less fortunate fisherman. eghk.
I did really well with my points today and am pleased to find that weight loss may not kill me after all. Nabisco Snackwell black forest cookies are THE BEST and come in at one point a piece, so even if I slip and eat the whole box I'm only down twelve points. Lets be honest, it could happen.

Gk goes in for his MRI tomorrow evening. John will pick him up and stay with him, and they have the prescription relaxation at the ready so it should be all systems go. After a couple of those little pills GK will think even Johns oldest jokes are pretty funny!!

Ok, I have to go make sure Wyatt is washed and ready for school tomorrow.

Good Night.

Party Day

Well, today is the day of the big pool party! Wyatt has been counting the minutes. : ) We went for dinner at a "noodle house" last night and we all felt a little odd being the only english speaking people in the place. The food was good and as I kept telling the family, we were creating a memory. Wyatt agreed, but noted that it would be a wierd memory.
Wyatt got his birthday present from Jack. It was a money order for a HUNDRED dollars that JACK endorsed. What an ass. When I called to tell him it had arrived in the mail but we would be unable to cash it, he replied...."you know I aint to smart". OMG.
Lord do I know that's true. Anywho, I'm not putting up the money for him, he will have to send a new money order. Really, who gives an eight year old a hundred dollars for his birthday.

Grammy and GK had a good night last night. Both slept well and GK's joint pain seems to be getting better. He's getting the gout in his finger again, but after what he's been through, I think he'd rather have the gout. When I went over this a.m he was quick to tell me Britney Spears had shaved her head for some tattoos. He was so dissapointed and believes she is doing all of this to keep up with the Hilton sisters. I for one think she did it to focus some of the Anna Nicole news back on herself. Of course he and I are following the ANS story and we both think Howard is behind it all and keeping our fingers crossed that Larry is the true Father.

I want to remind everyone that it has been THREE months since I quit smoking. I fell off the nicotine wagon the night Mom went via AMR to the E.R, but I only had a puff or two and was reminded that I am a NON-SMOKER. It really lacked that soothing refreshment I remembered. As it turned out Mom was fine, just an adverse reaction to some medication. It was a worthwhile trip though to find that she is in otherwise very good health.

Mike woke up early this morning and started on the honey-do's right away. He was making me tired just watching him, and I was currious as to why all the energy. I figured it out later when he said he was going to town to the "fishing store", his new favorite place. Two floors of fishing meca. The closest thing to heaven on earth. He and Wyatt were there for hours last week and everyone called Wyatt Skipper. So Wyatt got an unexpected monicker and Mike's fishing fantasy's were fufilled. Unfortunetly the river was to high to fish today so he spent his evening tying hooks to ready himself for the big day. He has all the maps, hat's, vests, rod's, reels, etc to ready quite a catch. Eeewww, yeah and did I mention the "live bait" in the fridge. Ugh it makes my skin crawl just thinking about all those albino shrimp monsters stuffed in the chineese food take home box.

I started wieght watchers today and it's already killing me. I can have 28 "points" a day and I did away with 10 points between a banana and a bowl of top ramen. I havent even had cake yet. : ( I think we will have to stop by the grocery store on the way home to pick up some resonable food for me to eat. Our cupboards are like food land mines. When I start to add up the points, it's easy to see how a person gains weight.

Belly Flop

Wow. Three kids showed for Wyatt's party. Let me tell you it was a real nail biter waiting for those three kids. Mike, Mom, Wyatt and I stood there looking in every passing car for familiar eight year olds. Alas, none. About ten minutes after four the faithful three showed up and the party was saved. I would have been rolled up on the floor crying, but Wyatt was happy to see his friends and anxious to get in the pool! They all had a great time swimming and eveyone got as much cake as they could eat and Wyatt was happy. What more could you ask for (other than the hundred dollars back you dropped on the pool)

We stopped by the store on the way home and bought some health concious food. Blech.
I think I will make it through the day with one point to spare, and yes that is counting the cake I had at the party.

I went to the big house when I got home to see what I had missed this afternoon. Mike C had called and Grampy was telling me about the Carlson Canadian weekend. John and Donna had spent the afternoon visiting, and GK always enjoys them. Grammy was already in bed, although she was still awake due to her head bothering her. After taking her pills, she was ready to go to sleep and would just keep counting to ten until she either fell asleep or her head quit hurting. I'll have to ask her tomorrow which came first ; ) Gk's finger gout is still acting up, but as with everything else, he takes it in stride. I'm sure the thought of leftover Sponge Bob birthday cake made him feel a little better too!

Mike is off early tommorow morning to fish the river. As with hunting, I think we could have bought a lot of fish for what you pay for all the fishing stuff and get to sleep in on your day off, but I guess that's not the point. I'm just looking forward to getting some of the shrimp monsters out of the fridge!