Hello again. Light snow, most of the day. Chelsea woke me up MUCH later than yesterday. It was all of 3:30AM.

I did hear from her Doctor today. Her B. U. N. level is actually down some which means that her kidneys are working some better. We are going to decrease the furosimide for a week to see if this will reduce the amount of water she is drinking and to see if it will affect her coughing at all. She is coughing somewhat more, but no seizures. After a week, if there is no improvement or if the coughing increases we will do another full blood study on her.

I went grocery shopping this morning, but that was the only time I left the complex. Dick and I decided that I needed a day at home and since it is slippery and cold out there, today seemed like as good a day as any. It was nice. I laid down twice to rest. Could not sleep but at least I shut everything else down and gave my body a chance to unwind. Roxie was my little companion this afternoon. She snuggled right up to my side when I rested this afternoon. That was really comforting.

I also worked on some of our bookkeeping. I sure will be glad when Dick is back and takes back the books again. I don't like it and I make too many mistakes. I can correct them, BUT should not be making them.

I hooked up the new USP back up too. Now I just have to figure out what to do with the old one. It sure is a heavy son of a gun.

I also followed up on disputing a charge on my credit card. I had ordered something and it never came. I have emailed this place several times and have called several times. Today, I tried to call ONE MORE TIME and when I said my name , the lady hung up on me. I called back immediately and got the answering machine. So I told her I would dispute the item, that I am president of CWI and would spread the word, that I was disappointed because I really liked the ring involved and then hung up and called the credit card company.

If the dispute is actually filed, I will tell you the name of the company. I don't want anyone else to go through this. I have spent too much on phone calls and emails to get any pleasure out of the item anyway now. I just hate things like this. This was supposed to be a special present from Dick for Christmas as my Claddagh Ring dissappeared.

Tomorrow is another quiet day. Fr. Van Beeck is saying mass at the Care Center at 10. I have to be there earlier than that because if he gets there early, he starts early and there is no way of knowing. If Dick is not in therapy, he said he would go down with me.


Taken from and Email I received today.

Love

Mary

THE POWER OF PRAYER. I believe that God only gives three answers to

prayer:

1. 'Yes!'

2. 'Not yet.'

3. 'I have something better in mind.'

Doesn't he look GOOD!!!!!


Mary

Good news today. We had a 10AM appointment with Dr. Moreno at the Sheboygan Clinic AND he took the dressings off of the grafts AND he was almost ecstatic. Both the wounds are healing very well. The smaller of the two is almost completely covered and the other is filled in and reduced in size unbelieveably well. He said that we are 80% of the way there. There is still no weight bearing but we see him next week for another look see.

When we got back, I had dinner with Dick. A meatloaf dinner that was pretty good. Then Lori and Carrie, his therapists followed me home to look at the bathroom here at home. Now they know what we need to do to get him here. They think that the bathroom will be fine. We will have to get two grab bars put in near the toilet itself. They are having him work on his transfering - even without the slide board over to the bed. And they will figure out what to do about the toilet. Because he still cannot do any weight bearing, we are going to wait until after the next appointment with Dr. Moreno to bring over the cars that we want him to try.

Both therapists and Dr. Moreno have finally agreed with Dick that it is not necessary for him to have the prosthesis fited and working before he comes home. If he can get to the toilet, into the bathtub, into bed and into and out of the car, we are good to go.

So three weeks is becoming a reality. It's about time. We have been apart long enough. I am lonely.

But we are elated. If he is 80% healed, 20% doesn't seem so far away. Especially since the first 80% only took two weeks.

Thanks for all the prayers. We really do appreciate all the support from everybody. I am so grateful for good friends and such a wonderful supportive family.

Love

Mary

The ice is still hanging on to some of the side streets and parts of Tallgrass Lane, though our driveway is now dry and the main roads are pretty much clear too.

My Chelsea still makes a pretty good gauge as to where the ice is. She slip slides around pretty good.

There were just three persons, Peggy, Joe and me at the bible study this morning but numbers do not make it any less interesting and enjoyable. We heard in the tree readings that thought the Israelites are the promised people, God always intended that they be the voice to the rest of the nations. A lot of Trinity symbolism too. I am glad that I went.

Mother and I had a nice visit after that. I brought her some scalloped potatoes and ham, some bread and a piece of cake. She likes that, I think. Donna and I like to have her to bring things too. With only two people in each of our households, we are able to cook things like casseroles this way. I asked how she liked the stollen - it is her recipe - she said it tasted good but suggested that I roll the dough much thinner when I make it again. I will do that. That is probably why it was so hard to roll up.

I had dinner at noon with Dick at the Care Center. They served pork chops, potatoes, green beans and Lamont's birthday cake for dessert. Then at about 2, I came home to do a bit of research before going shopping and to look at a couple of more cars.

When I got home, I fed the critters, then back over to the Center with a sandwich so I could have supper with Dick too. I helped him with the things that I do for him. Mainly massaging the stump so he will be ready for the prosthesis when it comes and then, finally, the last thing, I went out to Rhine Plymouth for the meeting. It was well attended and the new officers and board are installed. I am not one of them. It was good to see everybody again. The new league will start on January 16 so I have to let Nancy know and will mention it in my CWI newsletter thingy.

Kitties are very cuddly lately. I love that. Chelsea is not a cuddly dog you know. It is so nice to have a warm little body in ones lap purring away.

Tomorrow we see Dr. Moreno and he will remove the dressing on the graft. This will be the test. If it is healing, we have it made (as long as we are careful.) Then the trick will be to ensure that wounds don't start up again.

I was thinking today of a time that Eileen and I went to Irishfest together. We used to go for the whole event. I couldn't do that now. Not enough endurance left in my poor body. But we were walking in back of the Miller Stage, heading for the bathrooms when I saw this man walking towards us. I called out. "Well, Hello, Dwayne Gaye." Then I realized that he had no idea who I was. He was a reporter on the Channel 12 morning news that I saw every morning, so he was part of my "friendship" group. I started to laugh and told him that he had no idea who I was but that I woke up to him every morning. He was delighted, I think. Not too long after that, Dwayne came down with cancer and after a battle of several years succumed to that cancer. I hope that recognition was something that really did please him. All people like to be acknowledged and he became acknowledged for both his reporting and his courage in the face of his illness.

Love

Mary

There was a sheet of ice all over the world as far as I could see this morning. Of course I could not see it until I got up the second time at 6AM. Poor little Chelsea zipped out of the door onto the driveway as fast as she could go and ended up sprawled on her belly as he legs slid out all directions. She did not learn anything as the day went on either.

Things got good enough that I was able to go to visit Dick this afternoon at 2ish. We had a nice visit watching the Baltimore/Miami game.

I spent the rest of the day hat home just puttering. Critters were happy with that. And I was too. It will be good to get to bed tonight but I have not had quite the pressures that I usually have.

I baked a banana chocolate cake today. I had to as I had overripe bananas that had to be used up or be thrown away. And I am too frugal to let things go to waste.

Be good and enjoy your week.

Love

Mary

Saturday, the third day of 2009. Chelsea woke me up a bit after 4AM. I took her out and went back to bed until 6AM. The usual. I guess Chelsea is going to be doing this from now on. She sleeps from 9PM to 3 or 4AM then really has to go out. This getting old stuff is hard on doggies too.

I did some wash, fixed breakfast and did the next step on my loaf of bread before going ove to the Center at 9AM to spend some time with Dick. Bob Fenner stopped by as he walked by after visiting his Dad and a couple of other patients. His wife Jackie is probably our favorite nurse. Bob is a friend of Jeff. His Dad was at Mom and Dad's wedding in 1939. Isn't it a wonderful world. Bob Sr. has trouble remembering things that happen how but his face always lights up when I talk to him and he realizes who my parents are.

I came home at about 10:30 to finish baking the bread and to prepare the dinner I planned to take over to Dick. I made homemake scalloped potatoes, ham and a nice salad. They very seldom get salads at the Center. The Center brought us drinks and dessert so we did allright.

After lunch, I drove to the Motorville VW dealer in Sheboygan to look at the Routan and to check out room and height from the ground of the seats in a sedan.

The trip was fun. I told you that Bart and Barb gave me a GPS for Christmas. Well --- today, I finally took the time to set it up. The first adventure was to have it instuct me to the Center at noon. It was such fun. After lunch, I plugged in the address of Motorville VW and it instructed me perfectly. What is really fun, is if you go differently than the unit tells you, verbally mind you, it will tell you that it is recalculating and start from there.

Anyway, I looked at the Routan which is basically the Town and Country and about the same price. Then Al showed me the Passat, the VW sedan. The seat is 21 inches fromt he ground (doable) and there is at least 21 inches of room to get into the car. Al is a big man and fit just fine. I mentioned that I will have to put the wheelchair in the car and take it out and the trunk of a sedan requires quite a bit of lifting from the trunk well. He suggested the Passat Wagon, which does not have such a deep area and the lip it very short. Might work.

Anyway, now we have to decide. What do we want. We need to figure the trade in on the Explorer, do we want new, do we want the van, or a sedan/or/station wagon. Al said that I can drive a wagon down for Dick to try and Dick from AJ Conversions will bring a van with the elevator seat for him to try too.

All is moot until Dr. Moreno says that the foot is healing. SO think of us on Tuesday. That is the big unveiling.

When I talked to Bret yesterday, he said that with any luck at all, he is planning on coming here for a visit in August. I surely hope so. It has been way too long again. If he comes, I will plan a nice get together and meal for everybody. Won't that be fun.

I went to church at 4PM Fr. Van Beeck gave a good sermon . He mentioned something that I had never noticed befor, probably should have. If you talk the word God and add one letter, the O, you spell good. If you take the word evil and add one letter, the D, you spell Devil.

Weird. Huh.

Mary

A quiet cold day. I spent most of it at home. I had lots of trouble getting to sleep last night for some reason. Chelsea got me up at 3:30AM again. I took her out and went back to bed with the door closed as I have been doing. It was 6:30AM before I woke up again. Then I took a nap at about 9 so0 I felt pretty good the rest of the day.

It was nice being home. I cleaned a bit, and cooked a bit and sewed a bit. Critters like it when I am here. They will be doubly glad when Dick is here.

I had to go out at about 2PM to take Chelsea for her blood test. On our way back home, we stopped in to see Dick and he shared pretzels with her. She was glad to see him and glad to get home again too.

I fixed scalloped potatoes for supper and will bring them and ham to Dick tomorrow night for our dinner.

Today, on the way home the radio was interviewing Santas. Actually the Santas are fighting which is rather silly if you ask me. These are guys that have natural white beards and are older and make Santa-ing a year round profession. One of them said that all year round children would recognize him as Santa so he always carried a bag of small toys for them. That was nice.

But that is not what I wanted to talk about. The year I had to come home shortly after Christmas the year my brother Matt died, Uncle Jim Deeley, my Dad's brother, offered to drive me and the boys to the airport. He, as all the Deeley men, had a full head of hair and had grown a full beard which was a wonderful white. When he came in, my Bret, just over 3 years old, ran up to him and said "Who are you?" Jim swept Bret up into his arms and in a booming voice said, "I'm Santa Claus." Bret laughed in delight. I should ask him if he remembers that. Jim was good to me when I needed him. I was good to him too.

I heard news that the son of some very good friends died in the past couple of days. This is from my jeeping days. Please say some prayers for the soul of Dana and extra for his brother and sisters. They have suffered much loss this past year and need comfort.

Dick and I have so many decisions and so many things to do in the next month. We can still use the prayers too.

Bret called this evening. He is out at the river for a short New Year Vacation and is doing a lot of jeeping with his friends. He sounds relaxed and happy. He said he is going to try to get back here for a visit in August. He would like to go to a festival or a Brat Days or some thing. He says they don't have anything like that in So. California. Probably because of all the Disneylands and Knotts Berry Farms. It is a loss though . Those festivals and picnics are SO much fun.

Til tomorrow

God love you


Mary

The first day of 2009 passed quite pleasantly. Critters and I spent a nice couple of hours from the time I woke up until 9AM when I went over to see Dick at the center.

We visited until 10:30AM. Then I had to leave so I could pick up some stuff for Mom, go home and walk Chelsea, pick up Chinese food and to to Mother's for lunch. It was still cold, never got over 20 degrees. Actually that is a big improvement over 4 so I guess we should be happy.


Mom and I enjoyed out lunch and our visit. Aunt Kathleen called while I was there. She and Uncle Bob are in Alabama and enjoying lovely weather.

I came home at about 2PM and took a nap. I am really tired again and Dick and I decided that I will stay home tomorrow, except for taking Chelsea for her blood test. A day at home not doing much will be a big help.

Words for the first day of 2009, or any year.

T.S. Eliot said, "For last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning."

This is an end and a beginning. I am hoping that our health problems are solving and that Dick will be home SO SO soon.

Love

Mary

Frigid air has returned to Wisconsin. I woke up to 10 degrees at 4AM. Took Chelsea out. Went back to bed until 6AM to find that the temperature had dropped to 4Degrees. Our high was 13.

I put the heater back on in the garage to keep it from getting too cold.

I stayed home until noon today. Our wonderful neighbor, Harold Wendorf, prepared some wood pieces for the spaces where the old hinges were on the door. I am so grateful for the kindness of people. Harold is 88 years old and has a shop in his basement where he likes to do woodwork. After he was done, I went over to see his and Helen's home. They have basically our floor plan flipped. They have only one bathroom upstairs though and it is, much bigger as it takes the space of both of ours. I kind of wish we had that, It would make Dick's moving around much easier.

But we will figure it out.

The Amputee Suppor Group met today out at Rocky Knoll. There were 10 of us there. We had a nice time. Played bingo. I won a gift cetificate for $10 from Kmart. That was nice. We meet the forth Wednesday of every month. I hope Dick can come next month. It will depend on when we get him home and what the schedule turns out to be. I will encourage him to go though.

Got home on time to get ready for church at 4PM. New Year's Day is a holyday of obligation. I did not want to go tomorrow. I will be picking up Chinese food and going to Mother's for a New Year's lunch. We are both looking forward to that. I plan on having supper with Dick. I may bring something.

After Mass, ( I sat with my friend Ceil and then Greg and Kathy Ziegler sat in back of me. I was double glad to see the Widder's, friends from Blessed Trinity at this Mass too.) I went home, fed the critters, gathered something for my dinner and a bottle of champagne and went over to Plymouth Center for a meal with my sweetheart. We followed it up with a glass of champagne and a piece of the fruitcake that Richard and Brenda had given us for Chrismas. BOY is that EVER good fruitcake.

Now I am home again. Critters are very happy and we will bring in as much of the new year as we possibly can. I will probably go to bed pretty close to my normal time but will try to catch at least ONE celebration. We are pretty quiet New Year people anyway, but I sure miss having Dick here.

I changed all the calenders today. Seemed like a good time to do that while I was waiting around here in the morning with Harold.

A blessing for the New Year. From Numbers 6:24 -26

The Lord bless you and keep you!
The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!
The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!

Love

Mary

It was a rather mild day. Some wind but not much until about 3PM. Then the snow started falling. I had a haircut at 2:30. It was the first haircut by Jessica since she had her baby. She had pictures of her sweet Madalyn posted at her place. The baby is beautiful, of course. She has a full head of black hair.

Anyway, when I left there and headed to the store to go grocery shopping, it was snowing pretty good. When I got out of the grocery store, it was even worse. I stopped and got gas on the way home too. I figured that it was better to do that today since I was down to a quarter of a tank and it looked like the weather is not going to be so good. I figured I wanted a full tank with a holiday coming.

Dick and I were picked up by Custom Care at 8:30 this morning to go to see Dr. Moreno. All he did was take off the outer wrapping on his right foot. He said he is pleased - so far. He saw no seepage and there was no sign that the graft had slipped at all. We go back next Tuesday and he will take the bandages off and then we will know for sure. (I hope.)

I took dinner to Dick this noon. We had the rest of the manacotti and green beans. They were still as good as they were the first time. I was going to go back and bring a sandwich for supper BUT we decided that the snow was just too much. Whey go out in this weather. It could be dangerous and I have to keep brushing off the car.

Talking to Jessica about her baby, I was remembering when the boys were little. She is being told not to pick Madalyn up all the time because she will get spoiled. I told her not to worry about that. One month old babies need all the ove they can get.

When Bart was less than a month old, the neighbor boy , Mike, came running over one day and said that his sister was hurt. I told him to stay with Bart for a bit and went over there. Robin had gotten her finger caught in a door when her brother slammed it shut. It took the flesh off to the bone. Pretty scary. Robin's Mom was understandably hysterical and unable to function. SO, her husband, Jack, and I gathered up Robin and the tip of her little finger on ice and rushed off to the emergency ward. I knew that the neighbor in between our homes would be home soon and told Mike to gather her into the story as soon as she arrived.

Anyway Jack and I got to the emergency ward where the doctors were able to reattach the end of her finger. I was a mess, I was nursing and smelled, but figured that we were not there for me anyway.

When we got home, Robin's Mom was calmed down and the other neighbor was there. Bart was being a fussy budget. They had given him a bottle to try to settle him down but he just kept fussing. When I got there, I picked him up and he just sighed and went right to sleep.

Needless to say, I got teased a lot about my spoiled baby. Bart was ALWAYS clingy as a baby though. Being a Mom was one of my favorite things in this life.

Love

Mary

I had to be at the Center at 8:45 AM. Tim from Custom Care picked us up at 9AM for his appointment at the Plymouth Clinic with Dr. Sharon. The appointment went very will. He is pleased with all of Dick's tests and his general condition. He understands that we need to get him home by the end of January.

Tomorrow, he has an appointment with Dr. Moreno in Sheboygan. That appointment is also at 9:15 AM so Tim will pick us up at 8:30AM so we get there on time. Pray hard that the grafts are taking. We are on pins and needles.

When I got home at 10:30, I called Plymouth Plumbing and Heating about the hot water heater. Jack told me that Gary would be there as soon as he finished installing a boiler somewhere. He got to our house shortly after 1PM. They are very efficient. He was all done installing AND hauling out the old one by 2:30PM so I was able to go over to Wolf's Jeep and Chrysler to look at some Town and Countries to see what is out there and start getting prices and timing in our heads. Dave will call me by Monday with the trade in value on the Explorer which is the next piece in the puzzle so that we can make some decisions. I also need to go to a VW dealer and look at their Routan which is also supposed to be suitable for installing the elevator passenger seat.

I stopped at the Center to tell Dick what I had found out, then came home for supper before going back to help Dick with the things that I do for him every day. The most important, I think, is massaging the stump. We need to get that toughened up and we need to be sure that the circulation stays good.

So a busy day and I am really really tired.

It seems impossible that there are only two days left in 2008. When I was little, 2000 seemed SO far away and 6o seemed SO old. Times have changed. 60 no longer seems so old to me.

Enjoy your Tuesday. I will up date you on what Dr. Moreno says tomorrow evening.

Love

Mary

Thought I would share our tree. It was truely beautiful. I love taking the picture with all the presents under it. We are truely blest.

Mary

It was raining lightly when we got up this morning. And it had snowed. The temperature was 28. The fog was gone but it was cloudy.

I stayed home snug and warm until 11:30 when I joined Dick at the Center to have lunch with him. I spent the morning cutting out squares for a quilt and cleaning the bathrooms and kitchen floor.

We had a nice lunch of tips on noodles, veggies and a delicious chocolate dessert. After lunch, I went to Walmart to add minutes to Dick's phone. This time I believe we have enough to get him to the end of January. That is when we are aiming on getting him home. Good Lord willing and the creek don't rise.

I got his minutes and found a pair of jeans to replace one of the two that I had to cut up for sewing. When one's bottom is showing through, it is time to replace the jeans - at least if you are my age.

Mom and I had a lovely visit and shared a cup of tea. Usually Dick and I have her over on New Year's Day for dinner. But I am not going to bother with Dick not home. So we decided that I will pick up Chinese food and take it over to her house and we will share that. Sounds like fun, doesn't it?

Dick and I will celebrate New Year's Eve together.

When I got home, I updated Dick's phone and then took him the phone and some Oragel. Chelsea went with me. She was excited but then when she gets there, immediately wants to come home again.

This has been a quiet evening. Roxie has been quite the cuddly kitty. Very insistent on sitting on my lap. She finally got tired of my wiggling and went somewhere else.

Until tomorrow.

Love

Mary

I woke up to 48 degree temperatures this morning. It was misting a bit too but never really rained. Snowdrifts have melted quite a bit and everything is just dripping. Now, with our luck, it will start raining and snowing and then freeze.

I took breakfast over to Dick this morning. We had the leftover Strata and fruit that I had prepared for Richard and Brenda. He liked it a lot and it was a good morning to do this as they were being served a hard boiled egg with bacon for the Center's breakfast.

I finally got a hold of Plymouth Plumbing and they sent a man over to check the water heater. I met him at 10 AM. The water heater is failing. This was installed in May of 2000 and he said the national average for water heaters is 8 years. We go an extra 6 months. They will come Monday morning. I can call them as soon as we are back from Dick's doctor appointment with Dr. Sharon.

I took a nap next. I was really tired. Not for lack of sleep, I don't think. I slept really well last night.

Dave from Wolf's Chrysler suggested that we reschedule the appointment I had with him to look at van's to next week as the fog was really heavy on the highway and he felt it was dangerous. Probably not the best time to be looking at cars out in that lot anyway. So I spent the afternoon cleaning, computering AND cutting out squares for two quilts that I need them for.

Bart and Barb called. I received their present yesterday. The overnight delivery did not work, probably because of the weather. Bart remembered how much Barb and I enjoyed his GPS while we were driving around in Dallas so they got me one. I can hardly wait to try it. I figure I will set it up today and/or tomorrow and then use it driving locally so I get used to it. What a fun toy.

I went to the 4PM Mass. Saw lots of friends after Mass who are praying for Dick and are concerned, but I still managed to get home, feed the critters and get to the Plymouth Center with my chili to have supper with Dick. I got there at 5:20. He was already in the dining room and served, but some of the others were already being served so it was OK. They were having chili too.

Now I am home for the night and perhaps maybe for tomorrow too, if the weather gets bad. Otherwise, I will have a meal with Dick and go spend an hour or so with Mom as I will not see her on Monday.

Roxie has positioned herself on the desk like the old days. I have the lamp there and she likes the warmth and being close to me. Makes me feel good.

Love

Mary

Just for fun:

Isn't this the truth!

Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater.
If you give her sperm, she'll give you a baby.
If you give her a house, she'll give you a home.
If you give her groceries, she'll give you a meal.
If you give her a smile, she'll give you her heart.
She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her.
So, if you give her any crap, be ready to receive a ton of shit.

It got too late to post last night. Hope no one missed me but on the other hand hope maybe someone did. It is nice to be noticed.

Yesterday was a superfragilistic day. I set off to see Dick for a good morning HI, at about 9AM. Then headed over to Sheboygan Falls to visit with Mother and take her Christmas present and her stollen to her. We had a nice visit. She is kind of weary and tired but looks good. Randy, Donna, Erin and Jessica arrived shortly before I had to leave so I got to visit with them too. Donna, Erin, Jessie and I all discovered that we are tea drinkers as we looked over all of the neat teas that Mom received for Christmas. Someday the five of us should have a tea party.

I left there and came home to check the critters. Jim and Michelle had been there and dropped off the dinner goodies. My counter and refrigerator were full of the bounty. They "rearrived" shortly after I go home. They had gone over to visit with Dick. Bret called as I was preparing Dick's lunch. We had a nice visit and he liked his present. He sounds good and will be out at the River over New Years. He was spending Christmas with Mary and her family at his home.

Dick and I visited until 2PM then I came home as I figured that Richard and Brenda and Bobbie and Bill would be arriving soon. I was right. Bart had called also. I called back and had a nice visit with Barb, Bart and Marlise, Barb's Mom.

We unwrapped presents at about 3PM (except for mine, it had been decided that Dick and I would unwrap ALL of ours while we had dessert at the Center when we all gathered with Dick.
It is such fun watching people open presents. Everybody seemed very pleased with their gifts. That made me feel good.

Bobbie and Bill took appetizers over to Dick at 4 then had a SUPER dinner. Michelle and Jim prepared a wonderful array of appetizers, then followed with Spinach/Mushroom Manacotti, green bean casserole and a delicious salad.


When we finished Richard and Brenda took Dick his dinner and we all cleaned up and loaded up the presents and dessert and joined them.

The next two hours were spent together. Dick and I unwrapped our presents and did we ever get a lot of thoughtful, fun and beautiful gifts. Everybody was so generous and caring. Especially nice, Bobbie and Bill donated to Fr. Mike's Sarnelli House in my name. I was thrilled.

After pie with whipped cream and mulled wine and samples of my homemade Grand Marnier we closed down for the night. Jim and Michelle headed home first as they had to get back to Oshkosh and Bootsie. Bobbie and Bill went next. After Dick was all settled, Richard and Brenda and I came back here. Richard did a lot of cleaning up and fixing on my computer which is now working much faster and seems to be working cleaner. I am SO grateful. I have so many things that I depend on that computer for.

Dick is now in the Modern Hep age. Richard and Brenda got him an IPOD. Richard loaded it with LOTS of old movies and radio shows for him.

Anyway I did not get to bed until after 10 and Richard was still working on the computer. We had a glass of wine AND dried the nice decaf tea that Brenda had bought for me. It is a nice Irish Breakfast tea.

This morning, I baked a nice egg strata and fixes a pear/orange bowl for our breakfast. There is enough left that I am taking breakfast to Dick tomorrow morning.

Richard and Brenda left shortly after 11AM. I took lunch over and ate with Dick in the dining room. Then I came home because I had to wait for the Culligan Man. I don't know if I mentioned it but there was a leak of Something in my basement. It looked like it was under the Softener unit but when he came it appears to be under the water heater. Since he got here after 4PM, I left a message at Plymouth Heating and Plumbing. They have an emergency number but apparantly don't check it often because it is after 8PM and I have not heard yet.

I had supper with Dick too. We discussed the car situation more. I am going to Wolf's Auto tomorrow to check out a couple of cars that can be converted for easy access.

Now it is after 8PM. I am home and glad to be here. Critters are glad I am hear too.

I received this the other day. I wished a Merry Christmas to everyone that I met. Did you? Happy holidays could actually be all right but not with the avoidance it implys.

Sad Christmas News From
Washington, D.C.

The Supreme Court has ruled that there cannot be a Nativity Scene in the US capital this Christmas season.

This isn't for any religious reason, they simply have not been able to find Three Wise Men in the Nation's capitol, nor could they find a virgin.

P.S. There was no problem, however, finding enough asses to fill the stable.

God love you all

Mary

Another busy day. I went grocery shopping this morning in the snow. I was beginning to think it was going to pass us by but no such luck. I went over to spend the morning with Dick after the groceries were put away.

They had the Center's Christmas party at 10AM so I went with him. Merry knew better than to give Dick the red and green beads to wear, so I got them. It was fun. Santa came with gifts for all the residents and dis he EVER bring nice gifts. Dick to two new crossword puzzle books and three nice new shirts. Wow, were we impressed.

Then I went home because it was snowing pretty good and getting slippery. I vacuumed a bit and watered the plants and tidyed up a bit and waited for the snow to stop. Miracle of miracles, it did and I was able to get to the 4PM Mass and then got back to the Center to have supper with Dick. They were serving soup and grilled cheese sandwich with fruit and a Christmas Cookie. One of the nurses said that their suppers aren't really worth the $5 they cost, but as I told them. Dick is worth it.

I brought our Christmas stockings and one present for us to unwrap tonight. I brought one from Bret that was kind of torn and we could see part of it anyway. It is a tea for two set, with a pot, two cups and two kinds of tea. Really nice. I can hardly wait for Mom to come over to share it with me.

I left for home at a little before 7PM. It is really slippery out there. I hope it is better tomorrow because I need to get to Sheboygan Falls to see Mother and take her the stollen and her present. I couldn't go Monday because of the weather and today was bad again. Tomorrow is the big day.

Christmas. Do you know the story of the Polar Express. The author says that the silver bell that Santa gave to the boy could only be heard by the heart of a child. They boy and his sister were the only ones who could hear it that first Christmas morning. Then the boy says that all of his friends could hear the bell but as the years went by they all lost the ability to hear it.

The Capucian priest we had say Mass for us tonight also talked about the ablility to be a child. He said that we all need to hang onto the freedom of a child. After all Jesus came to bring us that freedom. The freedom to be us and to belong to God.

Happy Christmas.

Love

Mary

See who is under the tree? Our Roxy has settled in just fine. I sure did miss them.

Love

Mary

Twas quite an exciting day.

I had my appointment for my reflexology treatment at 8:00AM at Joan Kramer's home. She lives right off of Hwy 32 just this side of Howards Grove. It was snowing, BUT Mary decided to attempt it anyway and once I got out onto Hwy 23 it seemed silly to turn back. I saw on car in the median. It was on it's side but both passengers were on their feet and talking on their cel phones so I guess it was not too serious (except for righting the car and fixing it.) Whe I got to Joan's Richard was shoveling. I stopped to thank him for doing that "just for me." He got it. So I didn't feel goofy. Joan wondered what I was thinking coming in that weather but as I told her once I got out on the highway it was just as easy to keep going as to turn back.

So I had a wonderafully relaxing session. She does such a nice job and told me that from what she can tell, I AM doing the right things to take care of me. That is important if I intend to be able to take care of Dick.

When I left there I came home and took care of critters, fixed a quick sandwich and went over to the Center so we would be ready to leave when Tim came to take us to the Clinic. We got to Dr. Morales office at a bit before one and were the first patient after the lunch hour. Our friend Brian came specially for us. He was actually working at the hospital today, but came to assist Dr. Morales as Dorothy is on vacation. We always like seeing Brian. He is one of the best RNs I know and is a wound specialist.

Anyway, Dr. Morales had the graft material and had plenty to cover both wounds. Now Dick has to be non weight bearing for two weeks. Dr. Morales will look at the wound next Tuesday. It will take four weeks for complete healing. Then we will have to get special shoes made to keep the pressure when he walks where it is supposed to be.

Pray. The next two weeks are very crucial. We are really putting all of our cards on this.

I came home shortly after f0ur and just stayed. There is supposed to be more snow and it is really slippery out there. Three critters are glad that I am here anyway.



IF A FAT GUY GRABS YOU AND PUTS YOU IN A BAG, DON'T WORRY I TOLD SANTA I WANTED A GOOD FRIEND FOR CHRISTMAS!

LOve

Mary

Another cold day. It was -2 when I got up. (That is not counting the time Chelsea woke me up at 2:30AM. I don't know what is happening to her these days. She is not at all consistent. This morning was the WORST. At least after I let her out and SHUT HER OUT OF THE BEDROOM, I get to sleep until 6AM every morning.) Actually it is -4 right now. Now it is supposed to be warmer tomorrow BUT there is going to be more snow. The lot is already full. Where will they put it. If Mark builds two units in that lot, I don't know WHERE they would go with it all.

I sent a bunch of email cards this morning, frosted the stollen and cut out some denim squares. I need them to make our denim bedspread bigger. Then at about noon, I went to the post office for stamps and then over to spend some time with Dick.

We had a talk with Carrie, the social worker. Dick's insurance status is changing and we needed to be made aware of that. I am also investigating getting a vehicle that will be suitable for Dick. He needs to be able to get into it so that we can transport him to doctor antherapy sessions and maybe EVEN out for some fun.

My friend, Joann Miley stopped by the Center hoping to see me with Dick. She is such a dear. She brought a basket with fruit and candy and a card for Dick. Dick called while she was there so I could talk to her. I DO have the best friends.

Got a message from Bobbie this morning. We WERE going to have a liver dinner tomorrow night, but she cracked a tooth and asked if we could put it off. (No kidding.) I hope she got to see her dentist. She can't chew on that side and it hurts to brush. That would be NO fun at a wonderful Christmas dinner and it will only get worse. Pray for a quick fix.

Tomorrow will be VERY busy. Dick gets the graft on the wound on his right foot. This is a very exciting thing. and should really promote speedy healing (we hope). So pray that all goes well.

I am very tired tonight and am just waiting until 9PM so that I can crawl into bed. I would go now except for Chelsea. If take her out at 9PM and she wakes me up as early as 2:30AM. Whatever would happen if I went to bed SOONER than that.

Bret's package arrived today. I opened it up and a lively white Bear wearing a green stocking cap and a green quilted vest popped right out of the tip. He is wearing a sign that says "You look like you need a hug. So I hugged him.

The unwrapped presents went under the tree. Only two more days til the festivities start.
Good night, Sleep tight. Don't let the bed bugs bite.

Love

Mary

Can you believe that the highest the temperature got today was minus 1? And the wind is still blowing. Even Chelsea is not eager to stay out for any more time than it takes to do her duty.

Dick and I decided that I should not leave the house today because of the cold. So I did not and I am grateful. I put a heater on in the garage to try to take the chill off and it got all the way up to 19 degrees.

The plows DID come through and the poor guy that does the sidewalk shoveling did too. I am glad that I did not see him, I would have been worried. But maybe I could have given him some hot chocolate or something.

I did a lot of stuff today around here. Everything is pretty much put away and I am actually almost done with my preliminary stuff for CWI. The main thing that I have to do is recruit another person to be on the board.

I called my friend Nancy today too. We had not talked for some time. I found out that probably the best Mass to go to on Christmas Eve will be the 6PM. It will be busy but not as busy as the 4PM whish is for the kids. I am reminded of an Irish priest who was the pastor at a parish that I belonged to in Costa Mesa. I think the parish was St. Joachim's. Anyway. Christmas came and the church was, as usual for the holiday, packed to the rafters. Every seat was filled and there were chairs along every wall and every aisle. The priest gave his sermon and with an Irish twinkle in his eye said that none of the parishioners would mind being crowded at all as long as everybody came back the next week.

Wouldn't that be something.

When we were really little, Mom and Dad would store presents over at the two sets of Grandma and Grandpa's Houses. Dad would go to Midnight Mass, which was actually at midnight then. Before he left for Mass, he and Mother would decorate the tree and he would pick up all the presents. When he got home at 1PM, they would sort all the presents and then he would have a T-Bone steak for breakfast.

How they ever got up with us at 6AM, I will never know and Mom had to fix a big Christmas dinner too.

A house full of love and it was go good thing. With all those people in the house it could have been a disaster if we did not love each other.

Mary