So Much..

so much for job security in the medical field. My dialysis center is closing....August 1 is the last day. Our Center Director hasn't actually made the announcement, but another CD let me know yesterday when I dropped off an infusion pump and insulin. I've got some leads, nothing solid though. We'll see where I end up. Of course Ara is extremely stressed out over it. He wants me filling out applications today. He worries too much about money and gives it way to much power over his life and happiness. I try not to let it spill over on to me...but he's got a choke hold on the finances. I know we'll be fine, we're resourceful and have had much leaner times.

The magic jack didn't work out for us....we mailed it back for a full refund yesterday and the cable guy is supposed to be coming today to fix the house phone.

Ara just may hooked on corn hole. He was looking up directions on how to make the boards. Much safer than horseshoe... I probably don't have the grip strength to toss a horseshoe without taking out some innocent bystander. I still want my hammock, picnic table, Adirondack chairs and fire pit, but I'll settle for a corn hole game first.

The Old Guy is 38

Yesterday was Ara's birthday. I am tired and burned out so no homemade cake or presents this year. I swung past Trader Joe's on my way home and picked up a cheesecake and some finger foods. I am so spoiled by my own cooking....it was all so yummy looking on the boxes, but tasted like spicy cardboard. Let me backtrack. At two when I clocked out to leave work, I hopped in my van, put in in R.....and nothing. I wouldn't back up. I tried twice, but for fear of dropping the engine in the parking lot I stopped. Dialed Ara, and he came to the rescue. He gunned it and the van finally moved. I had the front bumper stuck on the parking block. giggle. He thought it was some ploy to get him to the car lot to get that truck I'm eyeballing and drooling over. He beat me home and had half the back yard mowed. Mowing the yard on his birthday. And he is so stubborn...with his allergies, he won't take any meds until the symptoms are out of control. And I keep telling him to shower immediately after yard work so he's not sitting around sniffling all night. Will he listen...nope. So he's miserable last night...we're both fighting off a cold, his eyes are swollen shut, his nose is Niagara falls, he takes cold and sinus meds and is out around 7:30. I thought the roof was going to come off. It was cute at first, then after an hour the snoring was just annoying. I did get him some chocolate covered exspresso beans at Trader Joe's--one of his favorites. We also had little meringues and ultimate vanilla wafers. The absolute best birthday ever for him. I would have felt neglected, but he loved the low key celebration.
Cole was being his usual self at the dinner table...all mouth and grins. Andi was slouching and Cole spoke up and said, "let's talk about Andrea's lady like manners, slouching at the dinner table" I asked when he became such an expert at lady like manners and Jake began giggling like a school girl and smirked out "Since he started using them" Cole jumped up so quick and was poking Jake in the ribs, Jake couldn't fight him off because of his fit of giggles. It was all so funny.
My new project has been to get all the photo before the digital years in albums. Scrapbooking will have to wait. So far I have 5 albums done. Wow....pat on the ole' back. It's averaging about one album per year. And I didn't think we had very many photos, there are tons. We're on year 19 of marriage, so that will be at least 10 more albums. Gadzooks! There was a spell in 1999-2001 where I had all the photos developed in 5x7....why? All the albums I find are for 4x6. I may have to break down and crop....yuck.

Prerunner

I have been a little obsessed with the beautiful shiny blue thing. I am so in love. Every time I drive past the car lot my heart skips a beat. We were made for each other. I want it.

Seriously if I could swing a payment I would trade the van in today! I LOVE this truck and dream of being behind the wheel. Someday, somehow it will be mine.

Last Letter

On Sat. I went to a funeral with a friend. I'm not big on funerals but she really needed a friend so I went. I think it helped being a little bit detached from the deceased. I only knew him a short while as a patient at the dialysis center. I don't have a lot of direct contact with the patients, maybe a quick hello or a smile from across the room. It was an absolutely beautiful funeral. The choir was full of energy and there was always music playing. The pastors sermon was very moving. I've never actually been in a black southern baptist church and it's just like you imagine. It would wind up and down and the people were jumping up with Amens and Preach It waving their arms. It was neat. One of the things that was really touching was at a point in the ceremony one of the grandsons read letters and cards that had been written to the family. There was a letter from the police station, other community members, friends, his great granddaughter, the church Sunday school, the church building committee, the elders, and the last letter was one he had written himself the last time he was hospitalized. It brought tears to my eyes because it was so heartfelt and sincere. I'm grateful that my friend needed me and that I had this experience. I came away with a new understanding on family and death and life. His funeral was a celebration of his life. I would encourage everyone to write their letter to their kids.

No Coddling Allowed!

I can finally twist the caps off my drinks. Nothing like going to 7/11 and buying a Pepsi and not being able to open it. Today is my first day with out my thumb stabilizer. Of course I pumped full of aleve in case there is any smidgen of pain.

Mothers Day was good. Jake scrambled some eggs and made toast while everyone (including me) slept on. So I didn't get to sleep in, but that's OK. Ara worked on the bathroom. Stripes are done...looks so classy. I didn't even think to take before pictures....after shots will be coming soon, he still has to put the faucet and light fixture in. In the evening Cole and I were messing around with the soccer ball in...and I was able to give him a pretty good run. But then he stepped it up a notch and we both went for the ball at the same time. I heard a bunch of cracking sounds, gasped and winced out a "holy mother of god, I think you broke my toe", hobbled inside and iced it down. Today the swelling has gone down some and I can bend it, but it is completely purple all the way around.

Lately the kids have been great! knock on wood. It's the hubby driving me nuts. He's so distracted all the time. I thought I would get two weeks off cooking and cleaning. The first night we had leftover soup, the next night around 7:30 I had to fix myself a hot pocket and then Friday night ordered pizza. Sat we picked up some chips and dip at the grocery for lunch and I made my own sandwich. For dinner he grilled 14 hot dogs for the two of us . On mothers day Cole grilled out hamburgers (which he walked away from to kick around a soccer ball) while I slaved over the sides. I wasn't even mad because Ara was working on my bathroom and it was fun to be doing something with Cole. Monday he tried to feed me leftover hot dogs. I wanted a real meal. He made pancakes and scrambled eggs. Started at 5:30, I think we ate close to 7:30. Andrea was a huge help or it may have never got done. Last night I made Taco Soup. Yesterday I hobbled around picking stuff up and putting it away, cleaning bathrooms, and doing laundry. My bruised toe is causing me to walk all lopsided and now my knee and hip are shouting out in pain. So yes! I am really disappointed that Ara finds it so difficult to fix meals and is having a hard time stepping up the the plate for me on this one. That man coddles no one.

It was going so good

and then CRASH. Ara is on his way home from work and I dread telling him. At the last minute, I decided to rush my netflix movie to the post office and on the way back I stopped in at Marvelous Nail for a quick pedi and mani. btw Goodbye Serenity Hello Marvelous. Marvelous has the massaging chairs and a mani/pedi combo was only 30 bones. I was super excited. When I got home I ran into Jake on his way out. All day I thought he had my phone after his doc appt. because we were talking about phone features and he was using my phone at the bk lounge. He didn't have it. Ugg. Another phone bites the dust. I feel just sick. Phones and jewelry, I just can't hang onto. He's gonna be so pissed. And the house phone is out....again, so I can't even call burger king to ask if someone turned in a phone.
All is well...I went to the neighbors and called Burger King and they had my phone. and I think we are switching to Magic Jack for phone service through the computer and ditching cox.

Another Doctor Appointment Day

but this time it wasn't me. Jake has the most severe type of acne known to mankind. Nodule acne. The dermatologist was so excited to see him and said 'Oh yeah, were gonna have a long term relationship here.' He's now on the dreaded accutane and looking forward to blood work every 30 days and a future of laser treatments....great. We were so excited that he didn't need braces, but I guess we get to fork over just as much to fix his skin. He also gets to have about 6, yes, 6 moles removed! I don't think he was expecting that. And the nurse practitioner is Andrea's current bf mom. HA! what a small world.

Yesterday I stopped past Lowe's and got a gallon of paint to paint the downstairs bathroom---the traditional Millhouse choice of antique white. But! I have 3/4 gallon of balsam beige that I lifted from a dear friends garage when she moved. And I am leaning heavy on the old man to do me some stripes in there. I also picked up a new light and faucet. I'm counting this bathroom redo as my Mothers Day gift.