How am I doing?

Well, I am happy to be home, NOT home from our visit to NC because I miss them. What I mean is, to be home as a retiree! I went to the doctor yesterday for a follow up (see my post September 9th) and she and I had a nice talk and she mentioned I look good and to keep it that way by looking after myself.

After my appointment, Ted and I had a coffee at Tim Horton, where we met my previous boss Murray. I started working for him this coming November 20 years ago.Where has this time gone. I do have many fond memories about that job and what did I learn a lot there. Murray would NOT allow me to say: "I don't know how to do that!" So I took the work home and figured it out until I knew how! That was the best thing for me!
Since his wife Linda reads my blog, he knew about me being retired. I said to him: "Now this is what retired people do, sitting in coffee places, hahaha!"

I find myself singing in the kitchen,(like I used too). Small unimportant things like making apple sauce is now something I plan and today is THE DAY!
Both neighbours brought me apples from their trees. After my operation eating fresh apples, even though I love them, do not sit well with me.

Since Ron wanted to take Lynne out for her birthday yesterday, we went over there to look after the grandchildren. Funny thing though, Sunday Ron asked, Mom are you busy Monday. Not being used to me having all this time, thought for a second, and then said, of course I have time!!

Am I bored? Not at all, Ted is very happy to have me home, we cater to one and other. Mind you, the Parkinson can flare up and I do more of the catering. This sickness is definitely not a pleasant thing to be afflicted with , especially since it can be so unpredictable. Planning ahead of time is not something we are able to do. He also prefers me to do the driving. Wait until I have to fill up the car with gas! No, I am not good at that. (Because I am NOT interested).I did it once (when Ted was in the Hospital and I was probably a bit absent minded) and when I went in to pay the lady said: "Only 45 ct?" Boy did I feel like a dumb blond. I had been watching an other car's fuel gage.

The other day, Yvonne gave me a good talking to: "Mom", she said: "You have to know how to check your oil, tires and small maintenance's!" I told her, I am an accountant, that is what I do best, I'll find an attendant to check the tires for me! Besides, what are my kids for?

Well got to get to those apples now!

Birthday

.Ron is in charge of cutting the ice-cream cake. I told him what ever was left over they could take it home. After having said that.... we still got a reasonable piece, hahaha! Notice how Alyssa is looking on.

This is Lynne who is celebrating her 39th Birthday

Sammie 's big day!

Go to http://www.jenniferdecock.blogspot.com/

and for more pictures http://www.decocktt.blogspot.com/

Home again

Here I am early in the morning doing my usual thing. With my toast and coffee (vitamins).

Right now I am on my new laptop I got from Paul and Jennifer, with a build-in camera. It uses Vista, which I absolutely love (after hearing so many negative stories in the past).

Ted has a new laptop as well but a lot larger than mine (but he is a big boy, hahaha!). Isn't this incredible to be spoiled like this? Paul has a computer store in which he repairs computers and is very busy. But he was able to take a few days off, (his boss did not mind) to take this wonderful vacation with us at the coast. I am sure you saw the pictures in my previous posts.

We are all very spoiled because after staying in a place like that, this was my fourth time and Paul and Jennifers a few more I think, same suite, so it is like coming home. You really don't like to be in a lesser luxury place. Next time we come, said Paul, he wants to go into the mountains for a change.

Yep I really think I gained some weight, yuk, pants too tight. Back to some strenuous exercises, yes you bet ye!

Our trip back home with Air Canada, was an unforgettable one. First of all, they allowed Paul to push Ted's wheelchair all the way through security, which nowadays is a real pain, so that he could help us, and walked us all the way to the gate. From there on the AC staff looked after us. In Toronto you have to pick up the suitcases to go through customs. the guy even took our suitcases from the belt onto a cart. I mean, they treated us like royalty and all the while Ted was sitting in a wheel chair.

We had a wonderful vacation and lots of memories. It was very sad to leave them behind. Sammie was crying and the girls kept on hugging us. Eliana (two years) went to Ted again and again and then said: "I wov you Opa!" So sweet they are just crazy about their Opa. Jennifer is such a wonderful girl as well and we love each other dearly. She makes us feel so at home!
When I waved I called out:"See you on the web cam!!" How nice that is!

Some more pics

View from our balcony

Below, she is being silly

Some more pic's

Here we are in the "Omaha Steakhouse", where they have the best steak in America..I do not eat meat but here, well, I even eat the left overs. This was to celebrate Ted's Birthday. He even got a candle in his dessert.

This the living room with the balcony in the back facing the ocean
In our bedroom suite, Sammie sitting on the bedpost

The Kitchen
taken in the Steakhouse

The Hilton's Margate is 27 stories high we are on the 21st
Ted and my bathroom, (one of the three in the suite).
How fancy are the towels done up
The view from our balcony

The Ultrasound results

Here Jennifer calls Paul with the result!

The result? Well, your guess is as good as ours!

My first remark was, isn't it rather BIG for such a small baby?

At home I had bought a small white TY puppy with blue spots

and a blue sweater. Jennifer said: "Were you that sure Mom?"

Then I also pulled out a pink sweater! Yes I did come prepared, hahaha!

Here cutie Eliana is playing a game on the computer.

Isn't she just adorable?
Samantha shows her handy work of which she was very proud!

My other beautiful daughter-in-law. How well we get along. Now I wish I could be with her when our new grandson is born, which will be around Valentine's day.

Tomorrow we go to the Hotel in Myrtle Beach at the South Coast, we are all so looking forward to this time.

Today is Ted's 76th Birthday and we are celebrating it at the Beach where we will have more time. Paul has been so busy in the shop.

For his Birthday Ted got a new laptop and so did I. Both have a build in camera. How great is that?

Happy Birthday Sweetheart, the love of my life!

Good to know!

Our last 'bug of the month' features the yellowjacket. Yellowjacket wasps live in paper nests that they build using a mixture of plant material and saliva. These nests may be above or below ground. A fertilized queen that has overwintered builds a new nest each spring. It contains only few wasps at first but, as the colony grows, it may contain several thousand mature larvae and workers.

During the summer months, yellowjackets eat both animal and plant material. Early in the summer they capture other insects and scavenged materials to eat and to feed the developing larvae in the nest. Ever notice that they seem to love pizza and soft drinks? Later in the season, they prefer rotting fruit. Sometimes you can see lots of them buzzing around fallen and squashed crab apples on the ground. It's not hard to believe that wasps feeding on fermenting fruit fly around like they're drunk! Towards the end of summer, large numbers of yellowjackets will be out looking for food, especially on warm, sunny afternoons.

When the outside temperatures really begin drop in late-September, the queen will leave the nest and find a warm, protected place to overwinter, usually under a rotten log. All other members of the colony die over the winter, and only the queen is left to begin the process again the following April or May.

If you find a nest in or around your home, and its location is not making the wasps a particular nuisance, just leave it alone until winter comes. After the queen has left and the workers have died off, the nest can be safely and easily removed. Remember that wasps usually only sting when they are provoked. Having wasps around your home and garden can actually be an excellent way to naturally control pests. A single wasp can remove a hundred or more insects an hour from your home or garden!

Be careful! Yellowjacket wasps sting people in defense. A wasp can sting multiple times. Reaction to a wasp sting varies from mild to severe, depending upon an individual's sensitivity to the wasp venom. Application of a cold compress may help to relieve the burning sensation associated with a sting. Antihistamines can also help to reduce the severity of the symptoms (burning, pain, swelling, or itching). If the reaction to a sting is rapid and severe or if someone has been repeatedly stung, get medical attention immediately.

Cousins!

Yep, you can tell they are family!

Joann my niece, daughter of my eldest sister Coby

with Aila my granddaugter.

Hmmmmm!

This is weird, but interesting!

fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid!

Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can. i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

Update!

I have not been around the blogging world for a while, that is because I have not been feeling well. No has nothing to do with cancer, more of the emotional kind.

I am slowly getting better and I am so thankful for my dear husband who has been more than understanding.

The last time I went through an emotional down hill like this was in 1995-96 and I ended up in an Ontario Hospital with a heart attack. I guess the body can handle only so much stress. I had to quit my job, so I am official retired and Ted is loving it! Needless to say, we have been very cautious so that I would not end up in the Hospital.

My energy level is coming up I have been going for walks and my appetite is coming back. I actually have been in the mood for making dinners.


We are also getting ready for a trip (the 15th)to visit Paul and Jennifer and the girls in North Carolina. While we are there Jennifer has arranged an ultrasound so that I will be there to find out the sex of the baby. How exiting is that? The last Ultrasound I saw was in 1973, when I was carrying Yvonne. Those days they would only do one if the doctor feared there was something NOT right. Well as we all know, she is alive and well http://www.yvonneparks.blogspot.com/

Paul has arranged a wonderful vacation in Myrtle Beach in the same luxurious Hilton Hotel we were in during our last trip down South in April. The Hotel is right on the beach some 24 stories high. Our suite is 3000sq feet, with all around balconies. So you can imagine how nice it is. Ted and I are both looking forward to it that's for sure. But more important is to see them all.

Ted by the way is doing okay. He needs to sleep a lot and at the moment so do I. We borrowed a walker for him, which is very helpful when we venture out to the mall. Every day we do something to get us out of the house and....it forces me to put my make up on. This vain person will NOT go anywhere without it! But today I was actually very busy and therefore am really tired. But it is not an effort for me to get used to this retirement stage.

I hope this will explain why I have not been around for awhile. We would appreciate your prayers if we, by chance, come into your mind.