The first week of October was busy and great!

This post is for the 28th...Friday:

It was mom's birthday today.  She would have been 91 and has been gone 7 years already.  Miss her every day. 

This was also the day we got Kitkat from a girl from Craigslist. We met her and her boyfriend at Target (he didn't want the cat). This cat is so awesome. We've had him 7 years. Such a blessing!

SAT THE 29th:

Dylan's birthday!!!  21 years old.  Seems so hard to believe he has grown up so fast. 

For his birthday we chatted for awhile on the phone. His family went over and went to lunch, showed Madi UW, and went to the Mariner game together.  Then Dylan went home with them to spend the night and watch the Seahawks win with his dad.

They had a great time, I hear. 

My sister, Lois, came over.  Don dropped her off and Libby and Kevin came and picked her up.  She stayed long enough for us to learn not to talk politics.  haha!  It was nice to see her again.  Here is a picture of us but we didn't get one this trip:

She went to spend the week with our other sister Libby.  Thursday I met them at Chimicum Cafe for lunch.  Libby's treat and we had a nice time.  I got Lanny a burger to go and took it home to him.

Josh and Jared had a game. They won 67-0 and Josh got 3 touchdowns!

Saturday night Lauren went to her Homecoming Dance with a group of people.  Nowadays they go in group. Some still date but many kids like to go with their friends.  She looked so beautiful. We ran over there to see her before she left. She said the Greek Restaurant in Kingston was terrible.  They forgot there was a reservation for 18. They were slow. And the disk jockey was not great either.  But Lauren had fun dancing etc....

Moving on to Sunday and the Seahawks won!  Which was good because we are in the middle of rebuilding. Sunday was a really mellow day. Lanny and I enjoy our life together.  We laugh so much and get each other.  We think alike and rarely argue about anything.  I love my days with them and hope they continue for a long long long time!

We got out of September and into October! The trees and weather are starting to show it too!  So pretty!

October 2nd Papa took Lauren to the orthodontist before school so she got to go in a bit late.  Later Lanny and I went to Applebee's to meet Lester and Cheryl.  I really don't know when the last time we met up with them!  It was so great visiting with them.  We had fish and chips and it was pretty good.  After the visit I went and got a pedicure.  That was past due too!  Felt so good.

Then we went and picked up Lauren after school. On our way home we say the most beautiful rainbow in Port Gamble! I took a few pics:

on the left is the famous haunted house!!!

Wednesday, October 3rd

I went to Silverdale to get my echocardiogram.  The lady who does it is so nice.  While I was doing that Lanny was getting the flu shot.  After I finished I got one too. 

In the afternoon I went and picked up Madi after school and took her down to Linda's salon.  When she was done there we went to Pho Kim Chi (Vietnamese Restaurant) in Poulsbo for Madi's favorite meal: Steak and Brisket Pho.  I had an appetizer of tempura shrimp. 

Dylan's 2nd book has been published!  I ended up ordering both of the books. I let someone borrow my first book he wrote and never got it back. 

http://www.lulu.com/…/til-k…/paperback/product-23819928.html

I am excited to read his next book and I will probably read the first one again. 

Yesterday I talked to Kevon for a while.  The company is moving their office's and shop to Bremerton from Poulsbo.  I hope it works our for them all and he takes care of his back.

Plus, like I said earlier, I went to lunch with Lois and Libby!  Then I went and picked up McDonalds for Lauren after school. She had Debate Club so I didn't get her until after 4.  Papa wasn't feeling well. He had heart burn all day.  

This morning Lanny went to see Dr. Johnson (cardiologist) again and he looks really great.  Doctor seems pleased.  Me, too!  And I got my message from my doctor regarding my echocardiogram the other day. She said:  "Your heart ultrasound shows that your overall heart function is normal. You have some scarring around your aortic valve but this is not causing significant impairment in your valve function at this time."

It has been raining all day. But we need it.  We haven't had a good rain for a long time.  

This morning, 14 years ago, we found out my dad went to be with the Lord.  It was heartbreaking for our family. Especially mom.  Over the past several years before his passing he had some health issues with his breathing. On Y2K night (December 31st, 2000) he stopped breathing and was taken to the hospital and put on a ventilator. In 2002 he they removed his left leg from the knee down due to loss of circulation in the toes.  A year later they had to take his other leg which was terrible for him. But he was always the trouper with a sense of humor. He only made it one more year.  It took a lot out of him. He had been in and out of the hospital and nursing home those years. The last time he went into the hospital we were sure he was coming home again. The night before he passed all us kids called him and said goodnight and told him we loved him and he said he loved us too.  Pastor Joel went to see him and gave him communion and spent time with him. All of us still thinking he was going to come home in the morning.  He didn't.  Mom got called from the hospital to come in.   She knew.  I met her and Libby there. They were in his room and even though there was a sign on his door saying not to enter but go to the nurse's desk first... my thoughts were "that's my dad! I can go in there."  Mom and Libby had their backs to me.  Dad was laying flat on his back which is when I knew he was gone.  Because of his emphysema he couldn't lie on his back. I gasped. Mom and Libby turned around and came and put their arms around me. Libby closed the curtain so I wouldn't be looking at him.  That was really rough. That was 14 years ago and I still miss him so much.  I love him so much.  I miss his laugh, his smile, the twinkle he would get in his eyes, Even his stupid jokes. I miss asking him for advise. On him coming over and fixing anything.  I miss going on drives and vacation with him and mom.  Dad loved going on rides. He didn't care where we were going... we would show up and open the door and we were off! Over the North Cascades, to the Grand Coulee Dam, to the Ocean, Lake Sylvia, to the Elk Horn, Mt. Walker, looking at Christmas Lights and Fall Leaves.  We went to Ricks and Ellensburg Fair, both sides of South Dakota, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Colorado, singing the whole way and even picking up a puppy for them in Oklahoma!!!  So much laughter and memories of two people who loved us, supported us and were always there for us and the whole family. I guess that is long enough.  Love and miss you dad.  I have a website for him on the left if you want to look!

Finally, this morning Scruffy was a little upset Papa didn't come straight home after taking Lauren to school.  I think animals can tell time.  So he climbed in my lap. lol!  I turned on Animal Cops for him. He likes watching it with me.  

Have a great week!!!!!   Leave a message if you want!  xoxoxoxo

School starts again and getting our health on!

Today is Friday the 7th of September.  Before you know it we will be having Christmas.  This year has gone so fast!!! Life has gone fast.  Some of the kids from my preschool started 6th grade at the middle schools!!!!!  Ella was just 3 the other day it seems!  

I sure miss that little girl!!!! I miss all of them. 

Last Monday was Labor Day.  We didn't do much but the girls and I laid around all day watching spookie haunted houses on tv.  Chilling out felt good.  Papa took Madi home and then Lauren to have dinner with her friend and then they went to the school for band practice.  You wouldn't think they would have practice on Labor Day but the teacher is different. 

Papa made some real good ribs for dinner. 

Tuesday was a busy day.  I had a doctor appointment.  We talked a lot but she didn't have my monitor results yet.  So we talked about stuff and they gave me an electrocardiogram while I was there.  She called the next day and told me there were no severe rhythm problems. I do have some extra heart beats here and there and an occasional episode of rapid heart rate. So I go in for an echocardiogram on October 3rd. I am getting checked out pretty good.

Lanny also is getting checked out pretty good, too.  He goes for an echocardiogram on the 13th (next week). He has Artial FlutterThen on the 19th I take him to the hospital and he is getting a electrical cardioversion. It is where they knock him out and then shocks his heart to get it from flutter to normal rhythm. The procedure doesn't take long but we'll be there for about 4 hours until he is awake and we can leave. I have to admit. I am nervous.  The hospital memories are where dad died, where mom died, and the 3 weeks of hell in there with Lanny and his heart issues.  Not good memories.  Dylan is going to try and be there with me. I hope someone will be. 

Anyway, while I was at the doctors Lanny was busy. He took Mac home to Lauren and then went to the store.  He bought some safeway chicken for dinner.  num!  And every night we watch Heartland.

Wednesday .... the first day of school for the schools in our area!!!  I guess I missed Josh and Jared's first day which was a week ago and didn't get a picture from Heather.   But I did get pictures of the girls first day of 10th grade!!!!  They are actually Sophomores now!  Time is going so fast!  This year they are all taking chemistry and world history.  Riley is in choir, Madi decided not to and is taking Digital Photography the first half of the year and then Creative Writing (the class she is excited for). Madi isn't taking Sports Med this year but Riley is.  Madi is taking Psychology.  Of course they all have Math and English too. Lauren is in band again this year. Plus she is taking Spanish (which I think she will love!)  I think it will be a good year for all!  Hopefully Riley will start feeling better.  She is quite sore where they cut into her this time.  It is normal what she is experiencing right now.  Praying for a healing soon!!!!

So, on Thursday (yesterday) Papa went to costco to get Costco Dogs and buns.  We are having lunch at Amanda and Lauren's on Sunday.  Seahawks game will be on and great food and visiting and fun!  Love it.  Not everyone can make it but that seems to be the way it goes.  Dylan will be having his tattoo worked on.

I am not a tattoo fan but this one looks pretty awesome! If he ever has to move away he will always have his arm to remember what a beautiful place he is from!!!! Love the Northwest!

Not much going on for a Friday.  Lauren has music after school so Papa is sitting at the counter making a beef stew for dinner.  Can't wait.  I love stew.

It is getting cooler out.  I can feel Fall coming on.  I loved Fall and then I hated Fall for a few years.  Now I am starting to like it a bit.  My mom hated Fall and Winter....basically September thru January. Why?  Well, she hated the snow. She grew up in South Dakota and they had a lot of snow (which is fine when you are a kid but not so great when you are older and have places to go.  Plus the snow here is a lot wetter and slicker than the snow back there).  Her mom died Dec. 17, 1936. Her dad died December 19, 1946.  Her baby, Leonard Jr. died at 15 days old on November 7, 1947.  Her sister, Clarice, died November 18, 1996. And her husband (my dad) died October 5, 2004.  Then she dies September 8, 2011.  All the closest people to her.  No wonder she would get depressed!  She hated death and the end of the year.  The end of anything.  Tomorrow will be 7 years since she died.  It seems so much longer.  I miss her very much.  You can only understand the loss when you have experienced it yourself.  Love my mama!

Dad and Mom

Mama and all her kids!

Me and mama