Pink Flamingo on Toast

Rules: Write 25 things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you. 1. I collect flamingos. 2. I enjoy "Historical" vacations. Show me a Fort or some Indian mounds and I'm happy. 3. Favorite color is green and then purple and then pink. 4. I always wanted to be in a band and name it "Tofu Iguana". 5. I often say names of places wrong. For example: Flagstaff becomes Stagflap *shrug* 6. In school I used my nick name Jeannie and in college decided I needed to grow up and use my given Jeanne (FR) but can't being called "Jean". In a drunken stupor Lloyd Ziel wrote my name Gknee and it stuck. Now most of my friends just spell it that way. 7. I met my husband on IRC in 1995. 8. I once had a $2400 phone bill. 9. I once managed a condo-hotel in Charlevoix, Michigan. 10. I've had a gun pointed at me by ...

A few years ago it was established that Mom and Dad would call here on Sunday morning at around 11am. They call from their cell phone and use the speaker phone so they can both hear and talk. The past few weeks it's just been me and mom talking on the phone, as Dad was in the hospital. Today, Dad's voice was the first I heard. It was great!! I am always surprised at how the little things are the things that move me the most. His appetite is back and although he gets winded right now he is out and about. The night Dad got home from the hospital my mom fell and bruised her tail bone and twisted her knee. If it's not one thing it's another. She said that she was doing better too. Ugh...I need to bubble wrap my parents! While, planning for a phone call every Sunday can sometimes put a crimp on planning the day, today I anxiously waited for the phone to ring. Did I mention it was great?

I've forgotten just how much food you actually have to eat on Weight Watchers. Wait..let me say that differently... I can't believe how much healthy food you can eat for the same amount of points of fast food. I actually have to have a little snack before bed to make sure my machine of a body gets enough fuel. Wheeee...snacks before bed makes this pudge happy

I *am* in shape! Round is a shape! - Garfield the cat. That's me....round. Tomorrow, I start yet another journey in life. I'm rejoining Weight Watchers for the umpteen time. Tuesdays nights will be my meeting nights which mean weigh in (WI) nights. Oof...I hate this, but I hate being obese more. I don't think I've ever blogged about this before so this is new too. I decided to go public for accountability. I need that... I've already signed up online and paid my first month. I have set up the mobile Weight Watcher site on my phone. Tomorrow after meeting, Jerry and I are going to go grocery shopping. I'll have all the information fresh in my brain so that should be good. Never eat more than you can lift. - Miss Piggy

Sometimes it's the little things that mean the most. Today Jerry took the day of to be with me We went to Target and got a new toilet seat. Wheeee! Then we stopped by one of our favorite eateries, Tijuana Flats. Being throughly stuffed we headed home to play Animal Crossing and nap (I didn't nap...) We headed to the nursing home to visit Jerry's mom. She was pretty upbeat which put my helped ease my worrying. We were both in the mood for some seafood after that so we headed over to Crystal River . They have good grilled shrimp. Jerry knows that sometimes I like to be waited on instead of getting something to bring home so we ate at the restaurant. It's true...I want people pampering me for a change! So nothing drastic today...but a bunch of little things that made me realize just how lucky I am!

Work - 4 day weekend! Yay! This little mini break is great timing. I know I just had 2 weeks off, but with all that is going on I needed this break. I'm finding myself frustrated with the littlest things. Dad - He's back in a regular room. Still isn't eating but I called him tonight and if the belly x-ray is good tomorrow he'll start with water. Slowly making progress. Mom - Freaked me out as she didn't answer the home phone or her cell for 3 hours. How dare she have a life Mom-in-law - hmmm...she isn't doing her rehab and I'm not sure she really wants to get better. I don't know if depression is settling in or what...I worry about her.

Dad is still in ICU. I talked to the nurses today and they said that he is getting better in some aspects. They lowered his oxygen so that it's not forcing it's way and is just a regular flow, and his blood oxygen numbers are good. So that's good. Still can only have ice chips though The nurse said something about clamping something to see if he gets nausea. I know he is getting tired of being sick. The nurse said the same. She did say that he does get flustered but always apologizes. That's good to hear acutally. Self aware is a good thing. I talk to my mom at least once a day. I can hear it in her voice that she is tired. I know from experience that going up to the hospital can take a toll on you quickly. Hopefully she won't have to for much longer. The is rumors that Dad maybe moving to a normal room soon. [insert air quotes here]  I wish I had more news...but I don't. Jerry's mom is doing pretty well. Still in the nursing home and s l ...

My dad had his bladder removed Saturday due to cancer. He was/is doing okay. The nurses didn't really like that his blood oxygen was so low so they put him on some oxygen. It got a little better so he was relieved from the mask and given the little nose thingies. Well..today he developed a slight fever..in fact Mom said the doctor told him it wasn't really a fever but he was feverish. Whatever that means.... Apparently Dad isn't filling his lungs fully and so that is why his oxygen levels are down. They moved him to ICU and told him he needs to breathe deeper or cough to get those lungs full. I know he doesn't want to cough because his poor abdomen is probably sore from the bladder removal. I hate being so far away... I told my mom I could be there in hours and she told me "no"....hmm....I don't want to upset her...but...it's my dad...gah...worst feeling in the world...helplessness...

Tomorrow means that Jerry and I are back to work and life starts it's daily grind again. The Christmas break seemed short and a tad stressful. Only 12 days until my next long weekend! In other news, my dad just had surgery to have his bladder removed and is recovering in the hospital. Keep your fingers crossed that they got all the cancer, please!

I can't say I'm going to miss 2008. It has been both wonderful and tragic year. Last night Jerry and I were talking about how we were both glad to have 2008 behind us. Then I mentioned that I had gotten my degree and found a job. It was nice to remember something nice from this past year instead of all the bad things. My hope for 2009 is that I can take whatever comes our way with dignity and grace and that I have the courage to see things through. I have the same hope for my friends and family. _\,,/