June 25, 2008

I have talked to all the family that is heading this way and they are on the road. I spoke with Mark and he said "I am on my way to South Dakota!" I wonder if he will constantly be asking "Are we in South Dakota?" I sort of wish I was with them but I am enjoying my time alone for now.
Mom is doing well, she ate a good breakfast today. We will be going to the Sr. Center for a yummy lunch. Last night I went to the bar and had a beer with some friends. Some I went to high school with and some I did not. Tonight I will help set up chairs for registration and other stuff.
I am a little concerned with the place we are staying. It seems they have had alot of problems with this guy running this place. I went for my daily walk and I knocked on his door but he did not answer. I am going to go by there later today and have a talk with him about cleaning the place otherwise he may not be getting any money from any of us.

June 24, 2008

Here it is Tuesday and it seems like this week is just dragging by. Maybe it is because I am anxious to see everyone on Thursday and Friday. I am not anxious to leave mom tho. I worry that she will continue to sit in the chair all day long and not exercise. I don't believe I have gotten her to do more than she would otherwise but I worry that they both will get lazier and lazier. So I am torn between fussing at her and getting her mad at me or just leaving her alone. She will start physical therapy on Friday so that is a plus. Her appetite is good and she is eating more every day. She says it sort of hurts to walk but she said it seems more like a sore muscle on the back of her thigh. Hopefully when more of the family comes they can get her moving better than me.

A nice weekend in the hills

I spent the weekend with my sister in Rapid City. I like going to her house because one I love seeing my sister and spending time with her and two her basement is nice and that is where I get to stay. It is like having your own apartment. I have my own bathroom, TV, computer and it is cooler down there during the summer. I love seeing Cammy and the boys and spending time with them. We went to Brandon's baseball game. He is very good. I can't wait for Stanley to watch him. Danny is one of my favorite young men. He is always so polite and I think he likes it when I come to town. I love giving him a hard time. Taylor has turned into such a handsome young man. I can't wait to see where he goes in his life.
When I got home the front door was locked. I thought Mom and Ralph were at the Medicine Rock eating so I drove out there but they weren't there. I drove by the church and then came back to their place. I walked around to the back door thinking they forgot to lock it but it was locked too. I walked around to the front and there was Ralph in his stocking feet asking me if I was lost. He said he forgot that I was coming back. Mom and I fussed at him. Mom is doing good. I am hoping she has her appetite back so I can cook some stuff for her. Tomorrow I need to dust and get everything ready for everyone. Just 4 more days and the gang will start to trickle in. I am so looking forward to seeing everyone especially Mark and Asher.

She's getting better..........

Mom got her sutures out of her incision today and the dr. said she was doing good. In 3 weeks he wants her to start weaning herself from her walker. Next week he wants her to start going to physical therapy a couple of times a week. He said he won't need to see her for 6-8 weeks. He seemed like a good dr. I liked his bed side manner. When mom asked the dr. if he wanted her to get on the table he said "No, just face the table, hold on and drop your pants." The look on mom's face was priceless. She said "For real?" He said "Yup!" It took her a minute to realize he was serious and she did it. It was funny.
Mom got out of the hospital yesterday afternoon. She still does not have an appetite. The hospital sent her home with some orange sherbert and she likes to sip on coke so we are keeping her stocked with that.
I had fun with a girlfriend in Aberdeen yesterday. It was fun to get away and visit and shop.

Life in the fast lane................

Mom is doing so much better but still wants to stay in the hospital. She will be getting her staples out from her hip replacement surgery tomorrow and still feels some nausea other than that she is doing good.
I am going to Aberdeen (this is the big city here in SD) with a girlfriend as she has a dr. appt. and it will be fun to visit with her during the ride. I don't know her very well and just met her last January. Possible I will get to do some retail therapy and that is always a plus in my book.
I am going to go to Rapid City this weekend and visit with my older sister. We plan on getting pedicures and doing girl stuff.

Roots

Main Street

Dakota Sunset Museum

I wasn't sure what to call this posting and didn't want to bore anyone by continuing the saga of how we are all feeling. Which by the way, I am doing well and hopefully mother is too. She is still in the hospital. Last night she sounded much better.
I went for a walk this morning and it is a glorious morning here in good old Gettysburg. The temperature is 60 something and it is clear and a light breeze. Much easier to walk in then the weather in Louisiana. UGH! I came home and opened all of the windows in the place just like we use to do when I was growing up.
As I walk around town (it doesn't take very long to cover most of the town) I think about how anxious I was to escape this sleepy little town and spread my wings to the big city. After living in almost a foreign country (everything about Louisiana is foreign to the average midwesterner and probably most of the other people in the US) I love coming home to this small town. I love the memories here and the people I use to know that are still here and the people that I see when there is a big reunion or celebration in town.
Gettysburg is getting ready for a celebration in a couple of weeks, this little town is turning 125. They are sprucing the place up just as I would if I had company coming to my home. They are painting the curbs, getting new awnings, putting up new signs, repairing the cracks in the asphalt. Every day I see them working and getting ready for their company.
I am proud of my little town where most of my roots are and where my parents now live.

Gettysburg High School

Courthouse

Day three

I am not shaking this virus very well. Now mom has it and I am still not feeling well. I feel horrible about bringing this up here and now she is sick. She is a real trooper tho and said it was no big deal. Poor Ralph, he waits on us going and fetching whatever we want. We were going to grill some steaks for Father's day but we don't feel well enough to eat that. I will try to write more tomorrow.

Day Two

I got all ya'll's emails and this is what is going on so far. It is 11:00 a.m. I am sick as a dog. I have been throwing up since early this morning. I guess I have what Wesley had last week. I am trying to stay in my room so as not to infect them. I was going to cook and clean the bathroom today but I guess that may have to wait. On the lighter side maybe i will lose a few pounds, tee hee.
Mom really has a hearing problem, it seems to get worse. Of course they never think of muting the tv. Sometimes they really holler at each other. But she is getting around pretty good, she did laundry yesterday and fussed at me cuz I fussed at her to sit down. She wants to feel useful so we just let her do what she wants to do.
They are not happy where the recliners are so we are going to have to rearrange furniture again. I need Marci here to tell me a good way to position everything.
The home health nurse came by, I heard her talking anyway. Not sure when she will be back.
Cammy, I definitely agree with your email. Us kids should sit down together and talk to them.
On my way up here I had thought about us doing that. Cammy, can you do the mary kay thing during a lunch?
I hope Brian takes you up on your offer to help. I will try to write later.

Day one

This morning when we got up it was 48 degrees. BRRRRRR! This Louisiana girl is cold up here. The wind is blowing but it is sunny. During my walk this morning I tried to stay in the sun just to keep warm.
Mom and Ralph are doing well. I made some scrambled eggs and toast for them and they were happy. We are getting lunch from the senior citizen's center so that is going to be taken care of.
Right now the home health nurse is here talking to mom and checking her out. Apparently she comes over a few times a week.
I have wiped down the kitchen cabinets, swept and mopped. We are going to move furniture and dust today. Mom wants us to vaccum the front room. We need to place the tv on another wall so all can sit in front of it. Doesn't that sound exciting?
I went by the Buechler Dental Clinic ( I have several classmates that work there) and visited with Sandy, Marsha, and Steve. We made plans to get together. Marsha gave me her nail tech connection so I can get a manicure.
That is about it for the day.

Going home................

Well I made to Gettysburg on Wednesday at about 3:30 and mom and Ralph had not arrived yet. So, I called and they had not even left Aberdeen, it is an hour and a half away. I was starving so I went to get a sandwich. I drove around a little and decided to get a nice cold beer at the Legion and see if anyone was hanging out. But it was too early. I had to get the key to the apt. from Logan's and so I went there and did that. By the time I got my stuff moved in they finally arrived home about 4:30 and they both look real good.
It is cold here, in the 60's and windy and cloudy. The sun finally came out and I guess tomorrow it may warm up. Mom and Ralph seem sort of tired, they are fussy with each other.
I saw 4 dead deer along the highway so ya'll be careful on the way up. They were large deer too, not babies. There is alot of construction near Sioux Falls and in Iowa, the ditches are full of water so if they get much more rain they may be covered. Through Ark. it is 2-lane, if you take hwy. 65 up you might want to avoid that way. Once you get to Missouri tho it is 4-lane.
I will keep ya'll posted on how they are doing.