Stress and Happiness

I have been very consumed lately with either physically helping or mentally (worrying about) Ellie's sister (Marilyn) and her cancer.  Marilyn is very ill and nearing the end of her journey.  Her husband is a doctor and has been providing care for her, but at a visit yesterday he agreed that they needed skilled help.  My Mom (an RN) is now going out to assist in her care.  She has hospice support, but they only come for an hour every other day.  Marilyn is Ellen's only close relative, so when she passes I will become Ellie's guardian (also a source of worry).  If I had one thing I would like to improve is to decrease the amount of time I spend worrying about things in which I have no control.  I think I have said that before!

Ryan is home alone with Mike & I right now.  The girls are having a visit with Gram and Bump.  Sarah came home with a note today stating there is head lice in her class.  Yippee.  Her teacher called tonight and would like Sarah to return to 2nd grade (the teacher she had last year) to get the extra help she needs in reading.  When I spoke to Sarah about it today she understood and has no hangups about going to 2nd grade in the mornings.  She will start tomorrow.

Emma still hasn't heard from the doctor with her surgery date.  At 10pm last night she brought me a note inquiring if the doctor would call today and if not was I going to call him.  It is obviously on her mind, so when she came home today I told her that I called but she isn't on the schedule yet.  She said "well come on, I wanna get this over with".  It was quite cute but heartbraking at the same time.  Since she requies two surgeons they are trying to arrange the schedule and will call us when they have it figured out.  The bummer is they only have to give us 24 hours notice.  It is fairly difficult to make it to Detroit in less than 24 hours notice, especially when we may end up spending a night or two.  Obviously they don't have triplets, Ellie, and a dying "family" member to deal with.  (Let's not forget dogs, chickens, and work!)

We got the Christmas decorations up over the weekend.  We still have to put away all the totes that they stuff is in, so the house is a shambles.  The tree is up for the first time at this house (remember we moved 5 days before Christmas last year!?)  We only put up the small 3 footer last year with lights and no ornaments.  We had nothing our front and bare bones inside.  This house looks really neat with all the decorations outdoors, and very festive with the interior done.

I have a large cupcake order to finish for tomorrow.  Have two frostings made, but need to make 2 more flavors and tint several batches prior to decorating.  I will psot some pictures of my work when I get them done.

Mike has open enrollment for health insurance at work.  It gets mixed reviews.  The monthly out of pocket is less but the copays went up and the amount of coverage went down.  I am thankful we have it, but these changes are a bitter pill.  I am greatful we have vision and dental as well which remain unchanged. 

Off to cupcake land!  Thanks for reading.  :-)

Typical Weekend

Today was uneventful for the most part.  Mike slept in, went to my folks to help with the John Deere.  He did the leaves, moved the bunnies into the garage.   I cleaned the fridge and deep freeze (anticipating standing in line for that new one next week).  Went to Meijer, saved  over $50 in sale/coupons.  Stocked up on several nonperishable items and got a GREAT deal on chocolate chips.  $1.99 for Toll House with a 50 cent off coupon meant I picked up 24.  Yup, 24 of them.  I will use that many in a few months due to my baking.

Tomorrow I am going to vaccuum the van and truck, planning on driving the truck to Detroit on Monday to Emma's doc.  I hate that interior window smudge you get expecially when you have to drive into the sun.  Guaranteed I am driving into the sun on the way home....

Ellie's sister is very ill.  She starts experimental treatments the day before Thanksgiving.  We are planning on her for dinner Thursday, but if she is too ill to travel we will take her (and her husband) a meal to go.   She could use your prayers, she has been in a great deal of pain.  She had breast cancer which spread to her lungs, bones, and brain.  The bone cancer causes her pain, and she has been having "brain farts" more and more.  (She termed them brain farts, I am not being harsh).  

We have a boring life, I will be surprised if anyone takes the time to read this.  I am very greatful for my lovely, comfortable home and all the things we have that enrich life and make it easier.  I love my (grumpy) husband.  My  kids are awesome even when they annoy the crap out of me.  I have great folks, he has great folks.  They would do anything for us.  I get stressed over stuff that I have no control over- I am constantly working on that.   I am greatful for good health insurance that is fairly affordable.  Let's hope open enrollment doesn't bring too many surprises.

I have a bucket list, here are a few items:  go on a cruise, in a hot air balloon, and take many weeks to travel out west with the camper in tow. 

Thanks for reading.

November

Since FB has become a means for my extended family to track our on-goings, I thought I would create a blog seeing it is a more appropriate forum for this type of information.

Here are (some of) the pictures we had taken today. Mike has been working 12 hour days and was scheduled to work tomorrow, but they ran out of parts. I predict he will sleep until at least 2pm. We will all be thankful when he gets caught up on his rest, he is grumpy when he doesn't get enough sleep.

Emma is at G'ma Penny & Bumpa's house tonight spending the night. Sarah is pestering me to go see a movie, but with the New Moon release I am scared of the crowds at the theater. They want to see Planet 51 and Christmas Carol.

Emma is going to see the ENT in Detroit next week. Both of her ear drums have ruptured and she is sounding more hoarse than usual. She has had abdominal pain ongoing for the past 2 years and saw a surgeon on Wednesday to address it. He ruled out constipation with an x-ray that same day and sent her for a GI (upper and small bowel) on Thursday. We have not heard back from them as to those results. It seems when Emma has health trouble it is in several areas at once. I am hopeful there will be some quick and easy solutions for her. All she needs is to add surgery # 28 to her list.

Loki the puppy is turning 1 in December. He is very cute and "talks" to you in his baying voice. He will look directly in your eyes and whooo whooo whooo, like he thinks you understand what he is saying. I wish he would get potty training down, seems owning a steam cleaner has paid for itself time and time again.

I am contemplating fighting the crowds on Black Friday to get the refrigerator I have been drooling over for 1/2 off. It is a door buster deal and was told by the staff people I should plan to get in line before they open to get a # to increase my chances of getting a fridge. They open at 4am. How important is saving an additional 25% to me.....?

We had Noodles & Co for dinner tonight. Had a coupon for BOGO. Without the coupon it would have been $25! Yikes. The kids liked their mac & cheese, but don't think we will eat there too often due to the price.

Talking about noodles leads me to things I can't yet eat. Noodles or any kind including spaghetti, anything fried, more than 1/2 piece bread, chocolate mousse pie, too much sugar. I could live the rest of my life without some of it, but the bread thing makes your options VERY limited.

Well, Sarah is bugging me to take her to see a movie (kid and parent date night). I am reluctantly going to say yes. The theater is going to be packed due to the opening of New Moon. Welcome to teenie bopper central. whoo hooo....