Summer finally?!

After many days of rain and generally cloudy, depressing weather, we finally have some really nice days! It's so good to see the sun shining. :-)

I don't think I have much to update... lol. Sheldon wrote his last final exam on Monday, so school is done. Report cards come out tomorrow. Wow... only one year left for him....

He's off to Calgary in a week to spend some time with Chantelle. Then he's back to work for most of the summer. I leave for Arizona in 3 weeks! :-) And Chantelle leaves for Australia in about 2 1/2 months. She's still not sure when she's getting home to see everyone. The original plan was in August, but now one of the other staff has to have surgery and they need her to work then, so it might not be until the very beginning of September (she leaves for Australia on Sept. 17). She's got a very busy summer, and I think that Robbie and some friends are still trying to find a time to get out to Calgary, too.

Nothing really new on my grandma. She's in the nursing home, and physically she is doing okay (even put on a bit of weight), but mentally she isn't doing so well -- forgetful, confused, disoriented, etc. Not too bad in the morning, but worse as the day goes on. They've been able to reduce her pain meds, and she's been eating better, so that is good.

I dunno, not much else going on.... Work is busy, especially now that school is out (phone rings all the time with kids booking computer time!).

I've been trying to stay committed to either walking or biking for 30-45 minutes at least once a day. Sticking to it fairly well -- sometimes I manage twice a day. I really wish it would take a few pounds off.... I guess I lost a few, but a few more would be nice! Now that we actually have some sunshine, I'm trying to get a bit of sun, too, before I go to AZ. I used to lay out and tan when I was a teenager, and as a kid/teen/young adult I used to tan so easily and get so dark. Not anymore! I burn very quickly now, so I'm trying to get some sun exposure without frying.... lol.

Anyway, yeah.... that's about it for now.... lol.

New song by downhere

I'm not current on Christian music anymore (not like I used to be!) -- but I got an email from downhere recently about their new album, so I went to their site to check it out. I really, really like the song "A Better Way". It's as much the music (love the piano) as it is the lyrics, really. My favorite downhere songs have always been that way. (Nothing tops "Calmer of the Storm", though. ;) )

If you're interested in checking it out, go to Music and then the jukebox at www.downhere.com

Here's the lyrics:

A Better Way
Wide-Eyed and Mystified
by downhere

I'm not alone, I really believe
You never go, You never leave
Here and now, You always stay
“I love you” could not be said a better way

It's everything You've promised
There's no greater love than this
From prophets until today
A man laying down His life for His friends
Your sacrifice has spoken, You gave everything
And “I love you” could not be said
A better way

I am forgiven, I clearly see
It's why You came to do all you did for me
Trading earth with heaven, You took my place
“I love you” could not be said
A better way

Because You redeem, I know what's to come
Everything I could lose here, You've already won
So You have my surrender, with passion obey
“I love you” could not be said
A better way

I went shopping in "the city" yesterday, mostly for birthday presents (Robbie and my nephew), although I got a few things for me, too.... lol. The boys and I bought an early birthday/Christmas gift for Chantelle -- because she won't be here for either, and this way she can take it to Australia with her. We got her a digital camera and a 2 GB memory card. It's a nice little camera, I think she will love it. I love forward to the pics that she'll send. :)

She's booked her flight -- leaving Calgary on Sept. 17. She flies into L.A., then to Singapore, and she arrives in Sydney the morning of Sept. 20. Exciting! She's coming home sometime in August to see everyone before she leaves.

My mom called me on Sunday -- apparently Grammie fell and broke her wrist. :( She was hallucinating and thought my uncle had been hurt and was at the hospital. She got out of bed to go to him and she fell. Fortunately her bad hip did not give out on her, because that would really finish her off. But this is not good, either.

Oh for pete's sake..... it's raining again!!! It's been cold and rainy for days, it's really quite depressing.

I'm getting myself a new bike, finally. I have to put my old one to rest.... lol. A local store has some on sale this week. They didn't have the one I wanted in stock, but will order it and it should be here within a week.

Sheldon continues to feel really good. He's back at work (5 days in a row), and even with work and school he's feeling fine. :)

Much better

Sheldon is feeling much, much better. In fact, I am quite amazed at how well he's doing.

For three days last week, he slept pretty much 24/7... could barely stay awake for even 5 minutes, couldn't eat because of the swollen, sore throat. The glands in his neck were hugely swollen, and his spleen was enlarged. On John's recommendation, I got some olive leaf extract. He started taking it on Thursday, and by the evening the swelling in his glands had gone down noticeably, and he was starting to feel better -- much more alert, wanting to eat, etc. By Friday, you wouldn't know he was the same kid who could hardly move just 2 days before. He has continued to improve drastically, and the doctor was quite amazed yesterday.... lol.

The doctor wanted him to stay home from school for the rest of this week, too, but I let him go back today and will see how he does. He has been feeling good, not even fatigued. I don't want him to push it, though, so will keep a check on things.

In other news..... lol. My brother flew out from Vancouver the weekend of May 12-14, to see my grandma. I went down to MJ on the Saturday to see him, and to visit Grammie again. She wasn't doing as well as the last time I went. She is still in pretty good spirits, but health-wise she is slowly getting worse. The pain seems to be managed, but she still gets nauseous and I don't think she's eating much. She does seem to be more relaxed, though, being in the hospital. I'm sure it was frightening for her to be alone before. She's still waiting for a palliative care bed in the nursing home..... not sure if she's make it there or not......

Anyway, my brother and I had a good visit with Grammie, and I had a really good visit with him and my aunt & uncle. It was a good day. :-)

Mononucleosis

Sheldon hasn't been feeling well lately -- sore muscles, headache, bit of a sore throat and cough. We thought he had the same flu that I had, but over the weekend he started feeling really rough. He was terribly fatigued despite getting lots of sleep, headache got really bad, his throat got worse, and then the glands in his neck started swelling. Ugh.

Went to the doctor today, and he has mono. He is very unhappy. In addition to feeling rotten, he will have to stay home from school and work, and will miss Grad this weekend. Many of his friends are graduating, so he's really bummed about that.

Unfortunately there is nothing they can give him for mono -- it's a virus, and antibiotics won't do a thing. In fact, they could cause a severe rash. Basically he has to get alot of rest and drink lots of fluids, and wait it out. His throat is so swollen now that it's almost closed. Swallowing hurts. He's got a fever. Poor kid. :-(

I went to see Lana on Sunday evening. They are doing okay... as well as can be expected. The funeral will be on Saturday, back "home" for them (they aren't originally from here).

My brother will be flying out to see my grandma this weekend. He'll only be in MJ for a couple of days, so won't be coming here. I might go down on Saturday to see him, but it will depend if this stupid cough goes away. I was sick with the flu last week, and am still coughing alot. I don't want to to see Grammie if I'm not well, so we'll see how I'm feeling later in the week.

Grad is in on May 20th -- two of my nephews are graduating, one from each side of the family. Grade 11 parents have to help with many aspects of grad (organizing the banquet, setting up and taking down, etc.). Sheldon's class is very small, and I ended up on the Social Committee by myself!!! Yikes. I have to round up some help from somewhere for that day. Blech, I hate doing that.

Tired today, and the dull, dreary weather is not helping any (are we ever going to get nice weather?!?!). I'd love to curl up under my blanket and have a nice long nap. Too bad I still have 2 1/2 hours of work left.... lol.

I was surprised today when Kris G. walked into the library to use the public computers! Kris is a young man that I attended my first TEC weekend with, and we worked together on TEC 1 here in SK. Turns out that he's working in town for the summer (he's a university student), so that is pretty cool.

*Yawn*

Suppose I should get back to work...... ;)

Lana's dad died tonight.... It's been a long struggle, and he was definitely a fighter. He finally gave up the fight tonight. My heart hurts for them.... :'(

Grammie is back in the hospital. She was very sick to her stomach and in a great deal of pain again. She's not been keeping her meds straight at all, and because of the pain and nausea she wasn't eating, either. Once they got her into the hospital and got her meds straight again, she's feeling better and is eating again. She's still a bit confused -- and my aunt says she keeps asking where I am, she thinks I'm there somewhere in the building... lol.

The upside to this is that the doctor can see how sick she is and that she isn't managing at home alone, so they are keeping her in the hospital until a palliative care bed comes open at the nursing home across the street from where she lives. That is a relief.

My brother is coming from Vancouver next weekend. I hope he'll have the chance to have a good visit with her.

Feeling blechy today.... I have a sore throat and my voice is mostly gone. It hurts to talk. I'm really tired, and tonight I have a headache and kind of hurt all over. It's not real bad, I'm just being whiney.... :P I haven't been sick in over a year, so I shouldn't complain.

Mom let me know that Grammie was in the hospital again -- she's been in alot of pain. If she's taking her meds properly, she shouldn't be, so I don't know what's up, if she's gotten confused with them again or what. *sigh*

My kids are all heartbroken tonight.... the Calgary Flames lost game 7 in the playoff series tonight. I don't even watch hockey, but they are all big Flames fans. Mucho disappointment tonight.

Okay, this was a depressing post... lol.

Some of you will have read this elsewhere, but I'll post it here anyway...

Grammie is doing okay, but it varies from day to day. She was having a really good day when I was there last Monday. She seems to be getting mixed up on her meds -- either not taking some, or thinking she's taken them when she hasn't, etc. She has several meds, to be taken at different times, and she thinks she has it straight, but then gets confused. A home-care nurse was coming to see her to help get all that straightened around for her. When she has the meds straight, then she feels quite a bit better. Otherwise she's in pain, nauseous and can't eat. She's lost a ton of weight, is down to maybe 100 lbs.

She lives on her own, in a small suite in a senior's "complex" I guess you'd call it. A number of suites, with a common lounge area. The other residents keep an eye on her and are wonderful to her, but she knows that she is at a point now where she needs more care. After being violently sick to her stomach at 4:00 in the morning, alone...... she doesn't want to be alone anymore. So she's waiting to get into palliative care in a nursing home across the street from where she lives.

As I mentioned in a previous post, the doctor says that the cancer may have spread to her lungs.

One funny point -- or at least my family with our warped sense of humor thinks it's funny -- is that the doctor told her that she is eligible to qualify for medicinal marijuana (which is legal here) for the pain and nausea. So we've had numerous and ongoing laughs about Grammie smokin' up.... lol. (I have no idea if she'll actually apply for it, but it's made for some laughs, anyway. )

I'm glad that we had a good visit, I feel more at peace now. Thanks everyone for your prayers and hugs. They are very much appreciated. :)

Oh, and my brother is flying out in a couple of weeks to see Grammie. I may go down that weekend as well.

On another note, I've been trying to do more walking lately. At this time it's more for my physical health than my mental/emotional/spiritual... although it helps with all of those, too! :D In the past, I'd say it was more for those reasons. Anyway, I bought myself some new shoes the other day, and I'm going to try keeping a bit of a fitness log, just to (hopefully) keep me motivated. I really would like to lose a few pounds as well. Darn, but that middle-age thing has a way of sneaking up on a person.... :P

I'm working on some summer vacation plans... a couple of weeks in Arizona. I've never taken two full weeks off from work.... lol. I used to just take a week in the summer, and use the rest of my vacation time up here and there throughout the year.

The youth held 30-Hour Famine at our church this weekend. We only have a couple of youth at our church. My niece (she's 22) leads a youth group at the Baptist church (which kids from all denominations attend) -- and she has organized and lead the 30-Hour Famine for the past 4 years at our church, with kids from the youth group participating. There were 17 kids and 3 leaders taking part this year. They did the readings in church this morning and had a short presentation. It was really good. They got fed tacos when they were done fasting, later this afternoon. ;)

*~*~*~*~*
Currently playing: The River ~ Live
Tonight's walk: 40 minutes

Good day

I'll probably write more later, but for now I wanted to say that I had a really good day with both my grandma and my aunt. Grammie was having a better day -- I think they got her straightened out on her meds -- so that was good. It was just a good day all around. :-)

Grammie update

I posted this on the Ship, but for those who don't go there...

Grammie was in emergency for 6 hours yesterday -- she'd been very sick to her stomach during the night, hadn't eaten for a day and a half, was dehydrated, potassium levels were low... She's down to about 100 lbs.

The doctor thinks the cancer may have spread to her lungs. :'(

I'm going down to see her tomorrow.

Tagged...

I just read Carmel's xanga, and I see that I've been tagged... lol. I have to tell you 6 things about myself....

1. Other than a weekends/summer job that I had when I was in high school, my current job is the only (paid!) one I've had. I was a stay-at-home mom for many years, and started working as an assistant librarian in1997, for one year. I then moved to Branch Librarian, and have been in this position for almost 8 years now. I love my job -- most of the time! ... lol.

2. I have two middle names. My brother and sister, my three kids, and my sister's three kids all have two middle names. :-)

3. The past few years were in many ways ones of difficulty, but they were also ones of great learning, growth and new life. I have faced fears, had to look at my own faults and failings, been reminded of the need to forgive, stepped out in faith (despite the fears), learned a great deal about myself and others, found strength and courage as well as acceptance and love and friendship. Life is good. :-)

4. Unlike my daughter (who Josh calls my gyspy), I've never been very adventurous. I still live in the same small town I grew up in, and never went far from it -- definitely didn't venture anywhere alone... lol. In the past two years, though, I've travelled 3 times to the States to see friends, and those have been some of the most special times of my life. I miss my friends, and hope to one day see them again. For now, though, my excursions will be taking me only to Arizona. ;-)

5. I don't drive, have never driven in my life. Most people think that is so weird, and you have no idea how many people have told me that they could teach me, they could get me to drive.... lol. Well, it hasn't worked yet, but it is something I at least think about now... It is weird, it's really a phobia, but maybe it's one that I can overcome. We'll see...... ;-)

6. I am not a morning person. Even as a baby, I was up half the night -- my poor mom, because my older brother was a morning person, and would be up at the crack of dawn. I don't think she ever got any sleep. (Sorry, Mom!) I'm still a night owl, and love to sleep in whenever I can. Mornings can be made better, however, with a good cup of coffee. :D


Oh, almost forgot.... I need to tag some others. I tag Amy, John, Kathy, Alan, Slyvia and Steph. (Matt, in case you haven't seen, Carmel tagged you as well. ;-) )

As I mentioned in my comment for the previous post, Robbie and I didn't get down to see my grandma... we were both sick. Will try again.

Lana's dad fell today, and had to go by ambulance -- first to hospital here, then to Saskatoon. He hit his head, and they thought he might have had a stroke. He's not getting enough oxygen (he has terminal lung cancer), and from what Randi understood he is sort of in a coma. I don't really have details, but it is not looking good at all. Lana will stay up in Saskatoon with him.... Randi said that they were told he may not make it through the night. :-( For those so inclined, prayer would be welcome.

Holy Week

Sunday was Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week. We were doing a dramatic reading in church that morning, and I was thinking about the movie "The Passion of the Christ". Those scenes play in my head now when I hear or read the related scripture. I'm not sure if that is good or not. It is someone else's visualization rather than my own. And yet, it helps in some ways to make it more "real". I dunno...

I watched "The Passion" last year on Good Friday. Still gut-wrenchingly emotional. I hadn't seen it since the year before when it came out, and I went opening week in the theatre. That was interesting. I went by myself, but at the same time as a long-distance friend, and then we discussed it later that night. It was very good, an interesting discussion.

We have 3 services this week -- Maundy Thursday, including the foot-washing (we never have very many people out for that service, and it looks like there will be even less this year, possibly only a handful), the ecumenical Good Friday service (this year at the Pentecostal church), and the Saturday Easter Vigil. One of my favorites (that one and Christmas Eve). We have two churches in our parish, and our congregation has the Easter Vigil, the other congregation has the Easter morning service.

Robbie and I might drive down to see my grandma on Friday, since we have the day off. We've been trying to find a weekend when he's not working/not away. It hasn't been working out so well. I could go down by myself, but she really wants to see Robbie, she hasn't seen him for years, so I'd like us to go together. Sheldon and his dad went this past weekend.

My mom called me yesterday morning to let me know that my grandma has made the decision that she is not comfortable living on her own anymore. Between the cancer and the possibility of her bad hip giving out at any time, she feels she needs to be somewhere where she can be taken care of. She has her name on a waiting list for a palliative care bed in a nursing home.

She got pain and anti-nausea meds less than two weeks ago, and is already having to up the dosage on both of them.... She is able to eat now, at least, but is still losing weight. As much as I hate to lose her, I also don't want this to drag on for a long time if she is in pain..... :-(

Chantelle's plans for Australia are coming together. She should be able to book her flight soon. She's planning to come home for a visit in August, and then leave forAustralia in Sept. Man, I am going to miss her. I already miss her, being 7 hours away, but at least now we can talk on the phone any time (thank goodness for a great long distance plan!). Oh well... I know that she is going to have an amazing time, and I am very happy for her. :-)

I'm going to a meeting at the school tonight. There is a young woman who moved to town recently who will be speaking -- she's a recovering crystal meth addict. The local school board has put on a number of drug information presentations in the past few years, but I think that hearing it straight from someone who has been there and lived it is very powerful. Her mom and an addictions counsellor will be there for support. I hope that there is a good turnout.

Okay, back to work. I started this update on Sunday but got interrupted and didn't finish it.... lol. I decided I should get it posted today.

Smilies

Hmm... added some code to put the smilies in, but I'm not liking the little box around the images. That didn't happen when I previewed it. Hmm.... not sure if I'll keep them or not.

Does anyone else think or write (handwrite/print) with smilies and internet lingo? I can't handwrite a note or letter without adding happy faces and LOL's, etc. It's pretty bad.... and I think that way, too. :P

I feel like I should update, but there doesn't seem to be much to say....

Sheldon went snowboarding this past weekend -- school trip to Fernie, B.C. They had a great time, and he came back all in one piece.... lol. Always a good thing. ;-)

Chatted on the phone with my girl last night. Did I mention that she got a part time job? Can't remember. Anyway, she got a part time job... haha. She's working some evenings and weekends at Chapters (large bookstore chain). For someone who loves books, you'd think it would be perfect!!! She's not really one for working in retail -- as she's discovered -- and she was finding it pretty boring at first, but I think it's going okay. She's only been there a couple of weeks, and they had her cashing out four tills on her own yesterday. They seem to like her. She's saving up all the money from this job for her Australia trip.

It finally feels like spring! Let's just hope it lasts. It has been so nice the past few days. Today was just gorgeous, with the sun shining and the snow melting. I went for a walk this afternoon (dodging the puddles), and might go again tonight when I'm done posting this.

Not really anything new on my grandma. A couple of my aunts went with her to the doctor last week, to make sure some things are being taken care of. She got a pain patch to help control the pain she's been having, and other medicine to help with the nausea, so she's been able to eat better. The rest of the family stuff... I'm trying not to let it bother me (at least at the moment!).

If anyone is so inclined, prayers for one of my best friends and her family would be appreciated. She is caring for her elderly dad in her home, and he is dying of lung cancer. It's really, really hard on her and she is pretty overwhelmed, to say the least.

I hate cancer. :-(

Think I'll go for that walk......

Edit: I think I'm going to buy a new bike soon. I've been saying that for the past couple of years... lol. Now I really do need a new one. They should be on sale soon. :-)

Family

A serious illness in the family seems to bring to the forefront all those issues and dysfunction that people have managed to avoid/bury/ignore for years. My family has members who have cut each other off at various times in the past (and in the present), and there are alot of secrets and numerous sides to every story -- to the point where I have no idea what is truth. I sort of feel like I'm expected to take sides, and I can't do that. I listen when people talk, but I try to stay out of it. Not only do I not want to take sides, but I simply can't -- it's all so messed up, I don't know who or what to believe. People may have been able to ignore each other or the issues at one time, but now they are being thrown together whether they want to be or not, and it's rather ugly. Unfortunately, it's bound to get uglier. At a time when we should be drawing closer to each other, they are instead driving one another further apart. It's not what my grandma would want. In fact, no one is telling her of the difficulties, because she would be very upset that they are fighting, and she absolutely does not need that now.

I hope for reconciliation, but I tend to think that it won't happen. I know I should be hopeful instead of negative, but I've seen this go on for so many years that I don't have alot of hope of things changing. I think what will happen is they will get through this time ahead, and then once again go their own ways.

Some of the family are going with my grandma to her next doctor appointment. She won't ask questions to make sure that things are being managed well, so others will have to take charge. She's starting having some pain, and she has lost so much weight. :-(

*~*~*~*

Currently playing: Great Are You ~ downhere

Basketball

Sheldon's basketball team played in Regional Playoffs this weekend (out of town). They lost their game last night, but won today. Unfortunately, though, because they lost last night they are now out of the playoffs. Disappointing, but I think they were pretty excited and pleased to have made it to Regionals.

The girls' team hosted Regionals here in town this weekend, and won both their games, advancing to Hoopla -- which is the Provincial Playoffs, a pretty big deal!

Online Lenten Devotional

Journey to the Cross