Scraps of Life...

 Just some bits of this and that from the past week...

Photos the kids shared, things I did...

Places my brain went...

First off, I'm in up to my wazoo with my mom's estate.

So many things to do, questions to ask, STUFF to deal with.

I remember that for the past ten years, each time I visited my mother  she tried to give me things out of her house.  I usually refused, saying I had more than enough STUFF at my house already.

Now I see that it would have been easier to take the contents of her house piece by piece than to deal with the whole mess at once!

I'm learning...look out kids!

It's been difficult working on the legal stuff.  I've known my attorney for for than 55 years.

He was a fuss budget in junior high and has only gotten worse.  We're both old and cranky.

I think he should have retired years ago...just kidding, Stephen!

Of course, there was my Tuesday dinner with Locklan.  Wouldn't miss it for anything.

I try to find something to play while we're waiting for our dinners.

This week it was dominoes!

He loved it and took the tiles home to play with his mom.  

He claimed he usually won but occasionally Teagan won.

Yesterday afternoon, the kids stopped by for an afternoon visit.

Within minutes, they gathered furniture from every room to set up their theater.

They took turns as master of ceremony and performing.

Teagan danced, Locklan sang.  The big problem was that when Teagan was Master of Ceremony, she would introduce herself, introduce the performers and thank everyone for coming.

That included going out and hugging everyone in the audience which included 3 bears, 2 cabbage patch dolls and a few stuffed animals.

She's amazing...

We had fun but I was beat after all that excitement!

I was happy to see Andy helping put my house back in order!

Tony sent me this...

Brothers having lunch?

Last night, he shared this...

I think they like him!

Wow!  That was a week!

Next week I get my second covoid injection, Mr. K has had both of his...

And (grandma) life goes on!

~SIGH~

Nothing...

Yes, I've been gone a long time. Getting sick in October really knocked the shit out of me.

Long after I was no longer sick, I had no energy.

At the beginning of November, I realized my dogs can't tell time.

They did not understand that what they THOUGHT was 5:AM, which was pretty okay by me,

was now 4:AM which was why I was sitting on the love seat drinking coffee at 4:30 when my phone rang.

It was the emergency room doctor telling me that my mother had been brought in via ambulance with severe stomach pain (remember she had three emergency surgeries in four years for twisted intestines) and that they did a CT scan and found blockage. They felt that it was more that they could handle on a local level and wanted permission to transfer her to an acute care hospital.

Within two hours, I had spoken to two surgeons and the anestheologist. All three told me that without surgery, she would die. I gave permission.

Two hours after that, I got a call from a third surgeon who told me that her entire small intestine was dead and that her blood pressure bottomed out and her heart stopped. They did get her heart beating and told us they would TRY to keep it going until we got there to say good bye.

I called my kids, my brother and her pastor. There were nine of us in all.

About 3, they took her off the ventilator and we stood around her bed, telling "Toots" stories until she took her final breath.

Funny thing, my mom was 89, had multiple health issues, each more serious that the last. Every day for the past three years, I wondered if this would be the last day for her, yet it was such a shock when it finally happened. She was raking leaves the day before!

I'm still in shock.

On the other hand, Locklan and I had a conversation about death. He was impressed that Grandma Toots now lived in heaven and was all better but he wished he could see her just one more time.

I thought that was sweet until he explained that he just wanted to see her with all the strings on her.

Strings?

Yes. He figured that God had to tie people down so they didn't float away.

Out of the mouth of babes.

So that's where I've been. It's been a tough year but there were certainly good things happening.

I'll come back and share them. Soon.

More of the Same...

Okay, no witty, entertaining post about life on the river.

I sat down at my computer yesterday afternoon and within minutes my mom called.

Now, since Mom and I talk every single night  if she is calling during the day is not a good thing.

She started the conversation without me.

"I think I have to go to the hospital.  My little hernia (which was the size of a golf ball) is as big as a grapefruit and I can't stop vomiting."

Now, if you have been around here for a while, you know that we know the routine.

Mom has many hernias (Hernia?).  She has had surgery for as many as four at a time and has had four separate surgeries in two years..  She has been hospitalized at least ten times in four years. She left Tony's wedding reception in an ambulance and was in surgery within two hours.

 They always hope that by poking it back in, that the situation will resolve itself.  They will only operate again if it is life threating, due to her chronic blood cancer (which they control with oral chemo) and her age (almost 89).

I'm an hour from Mom, so I told her to call the ambulance and get to the hospital.  I would get there as fast as I could.

I got there and they were glad to see me.  They needed me to sign consent to treat forms and then told me to leave the building.  No visitors and even in the waiting room, only patients are permitted.

They did give me a few phone updates last night and at 9 this morning, she called to say she was being discharged.  No non-emergency patients!

We talked this afternoon.  The hernia-guy (I'm brain dead at the moment) wants her to see a surgeon.

The last one said that with all the stuff going on with her, the only way they would operate is if she showed up with her intestines hanging down to her knees.

I just don't know what to say...

So, to end this post on an up note...

A little cuteness...

Andy took Locklan to Lowes...Locklan wouldn't go unless he could wear his ruler!

Why I Hate Tuesdays...

Last time I talked to you, we had Tuesday faucet woes...

The plumber was late.

So were the cleaning crew.

The plumber was leaving as the cleaners were pulling in.

I was a happy camper to be sure.  

A good Tuesday.

The following Tuesday, mom called.

John, a dear friend for 63 years, a classmate and Mom's neighbor died.

Beginning to dislike Tuesdays.

The following Tuesday, I had just gotten into bed when Mom called.

She was in severe pain and vomiting profusely.

I'm an hour away! I told her to call 911 and I'd meet her at the hospital.

Diagnosis:  Intestinal blockage.  Possibly in need of surgery.

(in a few days it resolved itself)

Tuesdays suck!

The very next Tuesday, Ashley (my DIL), who has a history of back surgeries,

couldn't get out of her car, she was in that much pain!

She ended up in the hospital for a few days.

She's doing better now!

See why I hate Tuesdays?

I think last Tuesday was crazy, but I need to get some things done before Mr. K wakes up.

I promise I'll tell you tomorrow.

Since this entire post was whining, why don't I share a little cuteness?

Talk soon!

Einlauf? Seriously?

On Saturday, Ron and I took another road trip (translation:  eating in a restaurant that is more than 15 miles from home).  We ate at the Allegheny Grille Restaurant, right on the Allegheny River.  We had a wonderful dinner, so wonderful that I had two thoughts...  1.That we should not eat out on Sunday, 

2. That I didn't want to cook at home.

Then I had this great idea!

I picked up my phone and called my mother.  I asked her if she was in the mood for some great German food.  Of course she said yes, so on Sunday afternoon we headed down to get mom and dashed her off to Max's Allegheny Tavern for some good old fashioned German food.

Mr. K's first question, no matter where we are, is what is the soup today?

The server told us they always have French Onion (In a German restaurant?) and Einlauf.

Okay, what's an Einlauf?

Here's what the menu said...

Einlauf Soup • Cup 2.95 - Bowl 3.95 A light, rich chicken broth, generously sprinkled with homemade Einlauf noodles and

seasoned with a delicate blend of spices. Our Einlauf noodles are made by pouring a

seasoned mixture of flour and eggs into briskly boiling chicken broth.

It was magnificent!  It was delicious.

The chicken that they used to make the broth must have been a millionaire,

it was that rich!

But still, we kept asking what an einlauf was...

No one could tell us, so I did what any adult with a smart phone would do...

I went to google image and found this...

Over and over...it was either this or maybe a soccer team?  

Hmmmmmm?

I think my cup was a little more attractive, what do you think?

The Most Busiest Time of the Year!

No time to chat today...

The planning, cleaning, decorating and shopping is all under control...

but Mom has a routine doctor appointment.

Routine for her, that is.

That means  I'll drive an hour to pick  her up...

Half hour to get to the doctor's office...

Half hour there...

Lunch...

Half hour back to Mom's...

An hour home...

There goes my day!

Until I get back, I thought I'd share this photo that came up on my

Facebook feed yesterday.

Locklan in 2015!

~sigh~

They grow up so fast!

A bit of this...a bit of that....

First off, Mom is doing well.

 

When I reported in last time, they weren't sure what to do with her.

 

I walked in the door of her hospital room and my phone rang.

 

It was her surgeon.  He said he had just been in to talk to her and they decided to do surgery that day.

 

It went quickly and smoothly, two hours from start to finish.

 

They found adhesions blocking her small intestines and removed them.

 

Of course, with mom, nothing is that easy...

 

This time they kept her in ICU a few days because of low heart rate and low blood pressure.

 

It involved transfusions and other things, but she is home and doing well.

 

Whew!

 

Like I've said before, it's not easy raising parents!

 

So, since I'm frazzled and dazzled, how about a little of this and a little of that...

just whatever is sitting on my desk top this morning.

 

First of all Tony and Mindy went on an adventure of a lifetime with friends...

Eight adults and Annabell, who is only a year old!

A week in California which included...

Four Penguin Games

 

 

Where Miss Annabelle got the puck!

 

 

And made the Penguins' Instagram page!

 

Alcatraz Island

 

 

The Price is Right

 

 

Disney

 

 

 

 

And wow, so much more.

 

In January, 2017, Mindy and her family went tubing...

 

 

This year, since they had the old people along

(Yes, me and Mr K)

We went bowling instead!

 

 

Locklan loved using the ramp.

 

Getting the ball there was half the battle!

 

 

 

 

Uncle Tony showed him how to bowl...

 

Aunt Mindy was much more fun.  She let him swing on the ramp!

 

 

Grandma? She was just good for hugs...

 

 

Even the most accomplished athletes get tired.

 

By the end of the second game, he was content to watch a video and rest...

 

 

He was asleep halfway home!

 

My desk thermometer says it's 16 degrees,

it snowed last night!

 

Stay warm!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's all her fault!

Honestly...

I have been trying to be a good blogger,

Keeping things in order...

 

I really wanted my next blog post to be about the wedding ceremony...

 

And the reception!  Oh what a great celebration (with one hitch)...

I have photos of the honeymoon (yes, Ron and I went too!),

and even Christmas with the Red Sock Family...

 

But first, do you remember this exciting little episode with my mother?

 

That's when she had major surgery and was out of commission for a month...

 

What I didn't tell you, and I don't want to go into much detail here is that

she was escorted out of the wedding reception via EMS

and by 1:00 AM, was in surgery to repair a twisted intestine!

 

That recovery was short in comparison to the last one...

We made it through Christmas, New Year and even a few weeks into the new year...

 

On Sunday, Mr K and I were getting ready to go out when I got a call...

 

It was a nurse from the local hospital with an update on my mom...

 

Update?

MY mom?

Seems she was back in the hospital,

admitted on Saturday night!

 

When we got there on Sunday, she was really sick and in tremendous pain.

 

I spent yesterday with her and am getting ready to go down there again today...

 

They aren't sure what is going on...there is much poking and prodding going on...

 

Looks like there might be more surgery in the next day or so.

 

Keep mom in your prayers?

She's 86 and until a few days before her 86th birthday, had been doing well!

 

So...if you were waiting for the wedding photos, blame her...

 

And they will come soon, I promise!

 

 

Mom

Locklan and I try to visit my mom every week.

 

It's about an hour drive, we sing the whole way there!

 

On the way home,  I sing and he...

 

Usually snoozes.

 

A few weeks ago (when my mom was only 85)

 

Locklan and I went for our usual visit. 

 

Tuesday with Toots (our family nick-name for my mom).

 

 

I don't know who likes to play with Play-Doh more,

Mom or Locklan...

 

 

They had a blast!

 

 

After turning Locklan over to his parents,

Mr. K and I went out to eat.

 

I didn't even start my meal when I got a call from my mom's neighbor.

 

They had rushed my mother to the hospital in severe pain.

 

I went flying to the hospital, which is more than an hour away,

 

To find that they thought Mom had a bowel obstruction.

 

They put in a NG tube and admitted her to intensive care.

 

The next day, they said she needed surgery but she also has

 

a bone marrow issue and they were hesitant.

 

They wavered back and forth and finally, on Friday, they got the approval of her oncologist

 and scheduled surgery.

 

Turns out she had four hernias!

 

A little more than 4 hours later, they had repaired three. 

 

Long story short,

 

After 11 days in the hospital (even her 86th birthday), most of them in ICU...

 

They transferred her to a rehab center

 

(The same one she stayed in when she fell off the ladder and broke a bunch of bones

just not her hip...and that was 10 years ago, when she was only 75.)

 

for two more weeks.

 

She's home now, doing well,

 

She kept us hopping for a while.

 

Now, hopefully, we'll be able to take a quick breather before the wedding frenzy starts...

 

Don't ask me what I'm wearing for that...

 

~sigh~

 

Never a dull moment!

 

 

 

Aunt Helen strikes again!

I've said it before...my dad had EIGHT sisters and three brothers. 

 

All that is left of the family are my three aunts.

 

A few weeks ago, my cousins Maria and her husband Jim,  and her brother Anthony drove my Aunt Helen, to visit with us at my cousin Susan's house.

 

Aunt Helen and family live in Maryland.

 

My mom and I went to visit,

 

arriving in style...

 

 

It was such fun to see Susan.  She and I grew up together,

our back yards almost touched!

 

 

Here's Sue with her grandson, Owen, who was such a cutie...

 

 

Sue's husband, John, is such a saint to put up with us...

 

 

Yet he lets us come back time after time!

 

Sue and  John live on the Juniata River (you look it up) and have two homes there...

 

One where they spend summers and the other is Sue's art studio.

 

Sue gave everyone the tour of her studio...

 

 

Sue's granddaughter, Sophia, presented her great aunt with a specially chosen gift...

 

 

You can barely see them here, but they were earrings,

aren't they amazing?

 

After we ate, we all lined up in our chairs...

 

 

 

We were supposed to be watching the show put  on by Sophia and Emma...

but as usual, Mom and Aunt Helen acted up...

 

 

Finally the show began...

 

 

 

 

 

Of course, some of us had to get into the act...

 

 

Before you knew it, all the old people had to try it too...

 

 

 

That's my mom in the middle... she certainly was vertically challenged in this competition!

 

 

Afterwards, Sophia and Emma served snacks...

 

 

 

 

That's when we found out they work for tips :-}

 

Sigh...what a great day!

 

I adore my Aunt Helen!! 

 

 

I hope we have many more times together.

 

A big thanks goes out to Stacy, Sue's daughter, for the photos!

 

Love you guys!

 

 

 

Sisters!

About a week ago, my mom, who is 83,

brought her baby sister (Aunt Joan, on the left,  who is 78 years old)

to Butler to visit their older sister (Aunt Helen (center) who is 88).

 

 

The volume of the conversation, the topics (bad knees and hearing aids) changed,

but the love and caring...it was clear that they were sisters!

 

Two hundred, forty nine years of sisterhood!

 

God bless them!

 

 

 

You're a card?

A few weeks ago, we invited ourselves to my mom's house for a round of card playing...

 

Michael and Catherine, Tony and Noelle, me and the mister

 as well as Mom and her friend from high school

gathered around Mom's dining room table to play, but first...

 

My mother usually has a puzzle going on the card table in the family room. 

My parents did that when I was a kid. 

 I HATE puzzles and can barely resist throwing a few pieces in my pocket to take home...

 

I didn't realize that Catherine is a puzzilist too.

 

 

Tony and Noelle tried to help!

 

 

I think they did manage to place a few pieces...

 

 

But I came to play cards! 

 

My mom, on the right, and Frannie on the left taught us to play a game called 9-hole.

 

 

 

 

 Of course, these innocent looking ladies play for money...

 

 

 

Michael acted as our waiter...

 

 

How did we do?

 

I think it was a conspiracy!

 

I lost $1.10!

 

Noelle...well, let's just say she went home with more than she had when she came in the door....

 

 

 I'd still rather play cards than put those darn puzzles together...

 

Family time...yes!