HIGH SPEED, BABY!!!!

Well, despite everything that we tried, we have never been able to get DSL at 927 Hathcock Drive. So, in desperation, we decided to try Verizon High-Speed Wireless. WOW- it is WONDERFUL. I knew that come Fall my online teaching load was going to increase tremendously, so I dreaded the thought of having to get to work early, stay late, or go to the church building to handle the correspondence. While we are not thrilled to have to pay additional money, we are pleased, so far, with the results.
Tomorrow we leave for Nashville. We are almost packed. Addi has been with us today, and she is counting the hours. We pray that we have a safe trip and that our kids have a good time.
MaMa is still doing better, and that is wonderful. She is getting good therapy. We talked to the therapist on Monday and she said that she had actually got her onto her feet. She also implied that it was going to be a long road to see if they could get her mobile. Their goal is to get her where she can get to the bathroom. That, of course, will help the nurses. They were very puzzled about her hands, as we have been. I had not noticed, but her fingernails are bruised and black- she also has one nail that is completely gone. We don't know if this happened while she was thrashing about or what. She has had such a hard time. Kim and Paul took the kids on Sunday, and that was a dose of good medicine for her.
David and I went to Decatur to the Penney's Outlet yesterday. We had a good day and picked up a few good bargains. We stopped at the Cullman Wal-Mart coming home and they had some great buys. We bought men's dress pants for $3.00 a pair. David bought a few pair to work toward getting in and we bought Daniel 3 pairs.
I am at the 44 pound mark. Did any of you see the new show about thinking yourself thin? David has been making fun of me because I have tried to "incorporate" some of the ideas into my WW program. One of his main points is to eat slow and chew your food. He said you need to put the fork down between each bite. Now, I have always been a really fast eater. Too fast. I have slowed up the past few days, and I can tell a difference. I have read that it takes the stomach about 20 minutes to tell the brain it is full. The second show will be on Sunday night. Who knows- maybe this guy is onto something.
I better run. Have a great evening and I will post after Lads.

Sunday Morning

It has been over a week since I blogged, so I will write a brief post this morning.
This is Spring Break week! It is also Lads to Leaders week! Two great events. The only thing is, when I get back on Sunday I will be tired to face a new week that will involve test materials, etc. But, I will not let that thought keep me from having a good week.
Addi and Levi are seemingly over the flu, but now Hannah has a temp. We hope her problem might just be a cold or virus.
MaMa is doing some better. She is more responsive and is taking therapy. They still have her in the unit with PaPa, which kind of surprised us since she has so much medical stuff going on and since she is bed bound. I hope they keep her there as we like the nurses.
We had a "Transplant" shower for Mary last night. A few of us managed to pull together a party very quickly (Thanks Becky for the use of your home)and we "showered" Mary with pajamas, gowns, and panties. We actually kept it a surprise. We love Mary and we pray that the transplant comes soon. We didn't plan a real big event, but it was nice. We felt bad because Mary is not going to get to go to Nashville, so we tried to cheer her up. I think it worked!
I am still working on the weight stuff. This last week involved a lot of meals at the building, and they were all wonderful. I still managed a small loss on Thursday, but have added some to the loss since then. I have moved into a new range of numbers, meaning I loose one of my daily points. This week will also be a challenge with Lads, traveling, good food, etc. I also will not weigh this week as we will be gone, so that works into the mental part of eating. I am going to try to be good- so if you see me with something I don't need- shame me.
I cleaned out my closet yesterday. It was much needed. I had a bunch of old, ratty clothes that needed to be taken out. My closet was so full that the good stuff was getting wrinkled. I just did the racks, not the floor stuff or the shelves. I filled 3 LARGE trash bags (33 gallon size) and really could have added some to it. It looks better and now I can see my stuff.
I hope this is a great week in your world!

A Kinder, Gentler Post

Well, I've decided my blog posts must have become depressing as my comments have soared to a big, fat zero. I will try to "lighten" up.
Speaking of "lightning" up- I hit the 40 pound mark this week. I am cautiously optimistic. Truly, the "diet" or whatever you want to call it has not been bad. I still have my moments of weakness, but so far I have been able to, as Dr. King said,"Overcome". I jokingly told someone that I knew that Bible scholars have tried for centuries to figure out what Paul's thorn in the flesh was- I am thinking cellulite. What else besides added weight causes one to be so burdened? You guys know I am kidding- but cellulite is a flesh thing.
My blood pressure tonight was 105/55. It has always run low, but I think it has dropped with the weight loss. I think when it gets too low that you die, so I am going to have to monitor that. Again, just kidding.
The snow was very pretty this morning. Bandit played and romped like a kid on a ski slope. He was so funny. Fortunately, according to our area weather men, there were not any travel problems(except for the 20 some odd accidents and the one fatality in downtown B'ham). Seriously, the weekend guy made the statement that there had not been any road problems, and this statement came immediately after the news story about all of the skidding and so forth on the interstate. They showed footage from their weather cameras of some of the accidents and I don't think those drivers heard the news that the roads were clear and there were no travel problems. Give me a break weather people.
Well, tomorrow starts our spring revival. I look forward to a busy week, but a good week we hope.
My sweet Addi has the flu. If I could have it for her, I would. She is such a sweetheart. They started her on Tamiflu and Kim thinks she might already be perkier. I hope the rest of the family is spared the dreaded flu virus.
I hope you all have a great week.

Saturday Evening Post (Isn't that a magazine or something???)

Well, it looks like I have become a Saturday poster. Things here are up and down, for certain. PaPa is back at the nursing home after being at UAB for almost a week. He had some pulmonary issues, but seems to have improved. He was really sick for a couple of days. His issues seem to be increasing, but so far he has managed to bounce back. When he was admitted last Saturday, he was having a really hard time breathing. They brought him in through the ER, which everyone knows what the ER at UAB is like on a Saturday (not to mention the flu, etc.- there were 2 separate car accidents that killed two 16 year old boys- not a fun place to be in the waiting room) so it was a number of hours before they got him to a room. Once he was in and settled they let me and David in (Billy and Mary had been there, but they had already left) to see PaPa. I went to his bedside and called his name, and for a minute, just a minute, he knew me. Even David said- He knows you! It was brief, but his eyes were so blue and sweet, and I knew that beneath the Alzheimer’s there was still our PaPa.
MaMa has had a terrible week. They moved her back to the Psychiatric unit (which is like being transferred from one hospital to another), but we had our thoughts as to whether she was really well enough to be transferred (as did her Psychiatrist, it seems). Anyway- they moved her on Tuesday, I think it was, and then in the middle of the night on Thursday night they moved her back (did not even call us). She was having trouble breathing, and she is swollen terribly. Anyway, they are looking at possible heart issues at this point. She is much calmer, but pitiful. The psychiatrist called David yesterday and pretty much told him that he felt it was a medical issue at this point, and that he would recommend that there be a consideration of putting a DNR on her chart. That alone let me know that he felt that her problems were serious. He more or less said that at this point the physical therapist did not seem hopeful about her future mobility, and with her medical problems they were hesitant to sedate her for any future treatments. We are in the dark as to what is really going on with her physical condition. Her hands are almost in a fetal position, at this point. She is much clearer mentally, and she is no longer yelling and screaming. David said yesterday that he tried to get her to move her feet and hands and she could hardly budge them. Please pray for her. The decline has certainly been swift, to say the least. I would never have dreamed that PaPa would be in better condition physically than MaMa. Old age is not always graceful.
On a happier note- I have now lost 37 pounds and praying to reach the 40 pound mark this next week. David is also doing very well. We went to Lloyds tonight, and we split a meal. Funny thing- when we left we were both full despite it being half a meal. It was still a generous portion. Today I stacked up some jeans and shirts that were too big. Now don't get excited- these same clothes have been packed away before. I am going to try my hardest to make these changes life-long. I think Weight Watchers will help with that. I needed some accountability- when you go and weigh each week, you keep that goal in mind. I have also developed a love for the new microwave vegetables (I am not a big veggie lover, but I like most all of these), and I have really keyed-in on whole grain cereals in the morning. Just pray for me that I will be able to press forth. The stress and strain of the past few months are the types of situations that I think trigger my eating (then again, so does happiness- so go figure).

When Do You Feel Blessed?

This morning I put clean sheets on our bed (now I am not a "dirty" person, but changing sheets is not a weekly occurance I am afraid to admit), and I thought about how blessed I was to have a good bed. Many people sleep on dirt floors, but I have a new mattress that is a "back supporter", that is about 10 inches thick in cushion and padding, and that cost as much as some people, in some countries, make in their lifetime! Now don't get me wrong, my mattress did not cost thousands of dollars, but I have read that in some countries people might be fortunate to make the equivalent of $300.00 American dollars per year- so it would take them about 4 years to buy my mattress. Aren't we blessed? Have you thought about the things that make you feel most blessed? Here are a few of mine- feel free to list some of yours-
1. The blessing of knowing Jesus as my Savior and the opportunity to worship freely and unharmed
2. The blessing of a wonderful husband
3. The blessing of my children, and their mates
4. The blessing of 4 beautiful, healthy, smart, grandchildren
5. The blessing of my extended family and the fact that we can all be together in one location and no one is fussing or fighting or talking ill about one another
6. The blessing of going to a store and filling my buggy with food and anything else that I truly need
7. The blessing of employment- yes, we all tend to complain about our jobs at times, but what a blessing it is to have a source of honest income
8. The blessing of having had good parents who provided me an education so that I could make a living
9. The blessing of sight and sound. I am so thankful to be able to see my beautiful grandchildren and to hear their noisy chatter (well, it is actually above chatter level at this point!)
10. The blessing of health and life. I awoke this morning to no aches or pains, and what a blessing that is.
11. The blessing of each of you who read my silly old blog.
Remember- Count your many blessings name them one by one, and it will surprised you what the Lord has done.

A Special Day

Today would be Mother’s 96th birthday. It’s hard to believe that come June she will have been gone from us for 10 years. I was blessed to have a wonderful mother. I wonder if people ever quit missing their mothers. True, time heals, but at times I still want to call her to tell her something special, and then I remember that she is gone. Mother had a lot of pride in her family, and I think in my heart how I would love to share the past 10 years with her. So much has happened- weddings, babies, graduations, jobs.
So, on this February 16th, I remember a special woman. Happy Birthday, Mother.
On another note...MaMa is still very bad. We had hoped that maybe things would start to improve, but they haven't. They could not give her a treatment Friday because she was so aggitated. We understand they are moving her to another section of the hospital, possibly a medical unit, but we are not certain. Billy was there today and they told him they were moving her. We are not certain what is going on, but being the weekend I guess it will be Monday before we know what is up. We think they are trying to see if there is something medical going on. They did all kinds of tests in Jasper, and could not find anything medical. I think they are barking up the wrong tree, but perhaps they might unearth something. For some reason they say when a person hallucinates, that something medical is usually going on. One of the nurses told David that she had not been working all that long, but MaMa was in the worse shape of anyone she had ever seen on the unit. Billy said she was yelling that the house was on fire while he was there. I simply can't express how bad this all is and how sad it all is at the same time. I hope that something works, and soon.

A Day for Love!

Today is Valentine’s Day. I have found great amusement in my middle schoolers and their delight at bringing their so-called boyfriend or girlfriend a balloon, candy, or stuffed animal. Oh that love were as simple as a balloon or a red teddy bear.
I awoke to beautiful card and a new Bible. I had warned David that I did not want (let me re-phrase that…I did not NEED any candy), so he obliged me. I bought him an Allison Krause CD and one of the secretaries put it in a basket with some gum and a small bear and, get this, hand sanitizer (David uses A LOT of hand sanitizer). It turned out cute.
I can’t imagine my world without David. He is just the best. He loves me and I know it. We have such a great time together, even after 31 years. I love spending time with him.
So, Happy Valentine’s Day my love, and thanks for being my perfect Valentine!
For my children on this day, let me say- Your mother loves you beyond words. Kim, Josh, Daniel, you are my hearts. Also, Paul, Katie, and Mandi…how did I get so lucky. And then for the baby Valentines- Addi, Levi, Hannah, and Lila…I thought I had loved as deeply as I could love, and then you came along. I found a new “chamber” in my heart called the “Granna Chamber” and it is as big as the world full of love for the four of you. I pray that you will always know love and kindness in this world.

On another note…please continue to pray for my mother-in-law. She is having such a hard time. She was so bad that on Monday they could not give her a treatment. She did get a treatment on Wednesday, and the doctor is now giving her fluids because she is not eating or drinking. They cut her hair off to keep her from pulling anymore out. She does not even look like herself to me, she is so aged and pitiful. The doctor said it could take a number of treatments before she sees improvement, and in reality, it could be that she does not improve. We certainly hope not. Thankfully she was sleeping some yesterday, although fitfully. The nurses are having to sit over her to keep her from coming out of the chair. I just don’t know how long a body can physically endure the type of situation that she is currently in. On another note, PaPa seems to be doing fairly well, and for that we are thankful. He doesn’t know any thing or any one, but he seems content. Every so often he will say something that makes you wonder if he is having a lucid moment. He still smiles on occasion, and that is worth so much. We are thankful for Cherry Hill and for the wonderful care they give. Having a place for PaPa that seems to be as good as it can be has made it easier.

Happy Birthday, Mandi and other thoughts

Today is Mandi’s birthday. Happy Birthday, Mandi! Mandi is such a special member of our family and we truly owe her a debt of gratitude for marrying Daniel! (Just kidding!!!!) Seriously, Mandi has made herself a member of this tribe and we truly love her. She is sweet, funny, caring, beautiful, and smart. I hope your birthday is a great one.
Jasmine celebrated her 18th birthday on Thursday. We enjoyed eating with her at Olive Garden. She is a beautiful, sweet, young woman. How time flies.
I lost 2.4 pounds this week. Not bad for an emotional week. Bobby’s passing has been hard on us. His funeral was truly appropriate and I think David just did an outstanding job delivering the funeral message. Daryl led the singing, and he did so well. It was almost like I saw him let the emotion come as he sang the last word. Bobby and Charlene had talked a few weeks ago about dying, etc. and Bobby had told her that he wanted Daryl to led the singing and David to speak. I know that was an honor to both of them as they both loved Bob deeply. He will be missed. Daniel made the statement that Bobby was the first member of the couples that we have been close to through time to pass. Bobby was just 60 and at this point in my life that seems so young to die. Please remember Charlene and the girls, as they truly adored and loved Bob and his passing will certainly leave a huge void in their day to day lives.
On other notes, MaMa was transferred to UAB yesterday afternoon. We are hopeful that at least we will be able to have some communication with a doctor now. I would not recommend the psychiatric part of Brookwood Hospital in my top 100 list. It has NOT been a good experience. How can a doctor continual tell you he is too busy to call, etc. The nurse said he did not usually talk to family until discharge. We find it hard to believe that he could possible have another patient in the condition that MaMa is in, which seems would warrant talking to the family. We were also not all that pleased with the nursing care. Please remember MaMa in your prayers. She is going days without sleeping, she is so tormented, yelling, thrashing, pulling her hair, and just pitiful. She has thrashed about until her arms are solid black (I guess other parts may be as well but her arms show), and we just don’t know how someone can physically continue to go without sleep without their heart giving out. It is a sad condition for someone so special.
David is continuing to deal with Medicaid, trying to get his powers in order to sell the house, etc. He has had a lot on him in dealing with the business end of the nursing home. It seems that it is something every day. I truly don’t know how unorganized people handle this process. My dining room table, bar, desk, all look like they are covered with Medicaid and nursing home business. Please pray for David- handling business of this nature is not on his top 5 list and the end is not yet in sight. I guess we would all be just as well off to be paupers.
Love to all!

The Weekend

This morning as I was getting ready for church, I begin to think about the events of the weekend. David and I went to Albertville on Friday night to spend some time with Charlene and the girls. They were, of course, surrounded by their family and were having all of their physical needs met. The table was full of food, ladies were in the kitchen cleaning any dish that became empty, and others were making certain that everyone had something to drink. Charlene has a lot of strength, but she is still so hurt. She told us, “Angels visited our home last night”. I begin to think about that this morning and I thought what a sweet way to look at death. I also thought about the old saying, “Here today, gone tomorrow” and I thought about how untrue that statement really is- it is really- “Here today, gone today”. Bobby and Charlene had eaten supper, watched television- just normal things even though he was not doing well. And then, about midnight, Bobby fell to the floor. Charlene got to him, and he was still responsive. She dialed 911- they got the call at 12:01 a.m. and arrived at 12:12 a.m. By the time they arrived, Bobby was no longer responding- they worked on him for almost an hour before given up on reviving him. Charlene and the girls told us that Bobby had preached on Sunday and had taught his Bible Class on Wednesday night, although he certainly was not able to do so. They said it had taken him 20 minutes to get into the building on Wednesday night, as he could only walk 10 steps without stopping. He was having to use oxygen to help with the breathing. After Bible Class they said he got sick, and it took about 45 minutes for him to get to the car. He even admitted that he should not have tried to go to church. What dedication and determination. Bobby was waiting to see a specialist, but because of their health insurance he was waiting on referrals, etc. He could not even see who he needed to see as that doctor was not on their list of “approved” physicians. They had finally got him an appointment with a pulmonary specialist but he could not see him until the end of February. There is something wrong with that picture. Charlene said she would really like to call their insurance company (Aetna) and give them a piece of her mind, as she felt that if Bobby could have seen the proper doctors they might have been able to start some type of medication or treatment. Of course it might not have made any difference, but if he had been seen at least they would have felt that everything that could be done was being done. They had also been held up by a doctor that had not forwarded their information to the other doctor. Charlene said she had tried to move mountains to get everyone coordinated so that Bobby could be seen by the proper doctor. I can imagine her frustration, as I have witnessed what David has been through in the past few weeks with his mother and trying to get her the help she needs. So, while we can’t second guess what has already happened, it is hard to see people have to go through so much because of “red tape”.
We went to see MaMa yesterday. I had not been since I had been sick, so I had not seen her. I have never seen anything more pitiful in my life. David seemed to think she might have been just a little better (quieter), but it that was better, oh me. She is just pitiful, pitiful. I have seen her bad, but never this bad. She was strapped in a chair, all slumped down, and had to be just the saddest looking thing I have ever seen. I pray she will pull out of this. I think she has been so bad that she has bothered some of the patients. One of the old ladies told me- “She want be quiet- she just keeps saying everything”- like she was telling on MaMa (this is the old lady that MaMa said scratched her, and we believe she probably did). I guess the old lady thought I could make MaMa be quiet. Mental illness has to be one of the worst things to watch. We have analyzed and tried for years to make sense of it, and the reality is that if it were something that she could help or fix, that she would. She can’t- and this time we are just praying that the treatments work and that she is able to regain some degree of “normalcy”. Please pray for her.
We will not be attending the lectureship this year. Since the funeral will not be until Tuesday, and with MaMa not doing well, we decided to cancel our reservations. Perhaps next year will be better.
I love you all-
Susan

Sad News

This morning our phone rang at about 4:00 a.m. I assumed it was either the hospital or the nursing home as we have become accustomed to those middle of the night calls. I could tell, once David answered the call, that it was someone else. As I stirred into consciousness I recognized the sweet, little, shaking voice on the other end of the phone as Janell Satterfield. She was calling to tell us that our dear wonderful friend, and her father, Bobby Joe Norris, had died at about midnight. Bobby had been having some heart problems and Janell had called earlier in the week to tell us that he was having problems. Our hearts are heavy. Bobby and Charlene and their family have been dear friends of David and myself since before we married. Bobby preached at the Hatt Church of Christ, and he also worked for some years as the full-time caretaker/director at Indian Creek Youth Camp. During those years we developed a friendship that has withstood the test of time, distance, and being busy. Although we did not see one another often, we talked on occasion and for certain we knew we were there for one another. For the past years Bobby has preached for the Alder Springs Church of Christ near Albertville. Bobby, Charlene, Christine, Janell, Jeannette, and Rachel have all been part of our lives. We have shared laughter and tears and our times together were always special. Bobby and Charlene were a true couple, and their love for each other was so evident. They enjoyed their time together, and much as David and myself, if they had the opportunity to go and do something, they wanted to be with one another. Bobby was a great lover of the truth, and he had dedicated his life to preaching, often at little “country” congregations that barely paid enough for a family of six to survive. I guess when I think about Bobby, I can’t help but to think about his little “sayings”, such as “Ignorance gone to seed”. Our loss is Heaven’s gain, but right now our hearts are heavy. We have lost a dear friend. David will help conduct the funeral on Monday. Arrangements are being made today. Please remember the family, and us, in your prayers.

Random Babling

Well, I have almost made my first day back at work. I thought earlier that I wouldn’t. As soon as I get home- I am going to bed. My staff has been very supportive- and have pretty much left me alone. I have accomplished several “desk tasks” so I have not been totally unproductive. I will tell you- this WP stuff has been rough. I have 0 energy at the moment. I am, as my Mother used to say- “Weak as water!” I hope tomorrow will bring me a better day.
On a happier note- I know I have been out a week, but today I have had several people comment on my weight loss. Okay- 28 pounds is not that much on me, but I can tell a difference and apparently so can about 5 or 6 of my co-workers. When people comment, it does help to motivate you to stay the course.
I am moving on. I guess I will try to give the BOE another hour or so of work.

Mental Illness- What a Nightmare!

Well, I think I am better. Not well- but better. I am still just so tired. It seems like every little thing wears me out. I am going to try to work tomorrow as I plan to be off for the FHU Lectureship the following week. I hate being sick. I am so tired of TV, and our Internet is so slow that it is only frustrating.
The weekend has been rough. We knew MaMa was on a “high”, but boy is she. David, Billy, and Mary are with her in the ER at Brookwood, trying to get her admitted. From what Mary called and told me, I can imagine the ER will be glad to see her go to a room. She is loud, and wild, among other things. How sad mental illness can be. This is a good, Godly woman, who would for the world not want to be like she is at this moment. She is quiet and unassuming- just the opposite of the mental illness that overtakes her at times. She has never wanted to draw attention to herself, and now she is doing just that. One of the blessings of her disease is that when she does improve, she does not remember the things that she had done. The nursing home called last night and then again this morning- they were at a loss as to what to do. They are limited in being able to restrain someone, but that is what she really needed. David has been in a nightmare trying to get her a bed somewhere where they do the treatments that she needs. Apparently there is no short supply of people needing beds on psychiatric units. Then, Mary said if they got her a bed it would probably be where someone would have to stay with her. We might be able to arrange that for a day or two, but sadly we all have to work. I have just been too sick to sit with anyone. Hopefully we can get her back with her doctor at UAB and get something done (the unit at UAB is closed because of a virus, the unit at Princeton is full, and now the unit at Brookwood is full.) My poor husband has a lot on him at the moment. He is dealing with the legalities of having both parents in the nursing home, trying to get the paperwork needed to sell the family home, and dealing with Medicaid on a daily basis. I know a little of what he is going through, but not to the extent. We should have handled some of this years ago, but no one thinks that things like this will happen. Pray for us and especially pray for MaMa.

The Walking Pneumonia or the Boogie Woogie Flu

Well, as you can tell by the time on this post, my walking pneumonia has me walking. I am still pretty sick. I got up and googled the disease, and while most sites say many patients will not be bed-ridden, I have been pretty much off my feet since Tuesday. I have no energy (common symptom), and the cough worsens at night (the cough syrup helped but was making me a zombie). The one symptom that I do not have is loss of appetite. Why do I never seem to have that problem?
I did not make it to WW last night, but I did my own weigh-in based on what I weighed when I came home last Thursday night, and I have lost 7 pounds this week. That puts my total at about 25. Let’s not get excited yet- although I am back in pants that I could not wear. David is doing well on his plan and I can already tell a great difference in his appearance. Kim said that Sally, Robin, and Brianna were at WW last night to join. It is helpful to have the troops all working on the “project”.
I am going to have to miss the survivor weekend, and I hate that. I have missed very few things during the years, but I know that I am in no shape to head to camp. I just pray that I get to go back to work on Monday as I have used 4 sick days this week, and I don’t want to use any more.
Keep me in your prayers. I know this is not something that serious, but I am really hoping to see the sun come out soon! I am not used to having anything that lasts more than a day or two, so I am an impatient patient. I just hope to get some energy back, as I am tired of dragging. Google said it might be a week from the start of antibiotics- I hope not, although I am on day 4.
I hope all my church family enjoys the weekend. Survive for me- I will return next year the Good Lord willing!!!

Tag

I was tagged by Kim :
The Rules: Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
Share 5 random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog.
-OR-
Share the 5 top places on your “want to see or want to see again” list.
-OR-
Share 5 things you never pictured being in your future when your were 25 years old.

I guess I will do random and/or weird, or maybe a combo:

1-
Random #1- I have never had a manicure or a pedicure (that might count as 2)
2-
Random # 2- I have never had a permanent
3-
Top 5 want to see- Greece- the Equator channel on HD has had the most wonderful documentary on areas of Greece that are not touristy- they are unreal!
4-
Top 5 never pictured- That I would have the family that I have today.
5-
Top 5 never pictured- That as a preacher’s family, we would be at the same congregation for (in July) 30 years! What a testimony to loving people and a husband who is extraordinary!

As a side note- I finally gave in and went to the doctor yesterday. As I have stated on the blog several times, I have had a bad cough since the week of Thanksgiving. I just have not been able to shake it. I would have better days, and then some days that were really bad. As most of you might remember, MaMa had walking pneumonia right before she went into the hospital at Thanksgiving- well, guess what I have- yep- Walking Pneumonia. It hit me Monday night in the Galleria big time. I had been okay most of the day, and I started coughing and honestly felt as if though I was going to hit the floor. I hope that I have not infected others, but as the doc said someone gave it to us. They do a blood test for WP and he said I had a good old case. I got a shot and medicine. I also got some cough syrup that would put an elephant to sleep, I believe. I am already better, and if I continue to improve, I plan to go back to work on Friday.
Also, I don’t know if I will get to go to WW tomorrow night, but I am going to try. I have lost about 23 pounds since I started my latest venture. I will be honest, if you have the fortitude to follow WW, you will not go hungry. You also get flex or as I say “cheat” points that come in handy for eating out, etc. So you can really have a splurge or two a week and if you follow the plan, you will still loose weight. Really, it is just sensible eating, but I am so not sensible about food! I have also discovered some neat little Swiss Rolls made by Mrs. Freshley (I believe that is the name- they are were the Little Debbie cakes are at Walmart but they are just $1.00 a box!) that have 200 calories for the 2 rolls and after you eat them you have your sweet tooth and chocolate tooth in check. Try them- they are really good. Let me know what you think if you do try them.

Prayers Needed

As an update to the post below- I got up and listened to the program this morning. Bubba and Speedy conducted the program. Bubba explained what happened-
Sherri was home with the boys (she had not gone to Tennessee with Rick). She put the boys in front of the TV to watch a movie, checked the doors, and went to take a shower. When she got out she realized that Bronner was missing and found an open door. She immediately went to the pool and apparently found him and got him out. She called the next door neighbor who is a doctor. The neighbor began to try CPR and worked on him until the emergency personnel arrived. They tried everything, but he apparently was already dead when Sherri got him out of the pool. They did not say if the pool was covered. This will be a hard thing for this family to deal with. The funeral is tomorrow and Rick is scheduled to speak. While I would never consider going, they have encouraged the listeners to attend.

I am feeling kind of sad today. When I got to church Josh asked me if I had heard that Rick Burgess’s youngest son had died. I was speechless. For those that do not know, Rick is part of the morning radio duo, Rick and Bubba. I have been a devoted listener for many years, even before they were so popular. Their local radio program is now syndicated nationwide, and they are heard in many states. Rick has 5 children, a daughter and 4 sons. The youngest, Cornbread, as Rick referred to him, was Bronner, age 2. Apparently Bronner drowned in the family swimming pool last night a little after 7. To my understanding, Rick and Sherri were in Gatlinburg (Rick was speaking at a religious conference for young people, I believe) and I was told that one of the grandmothers had the younger children at their own home. I feel so for this family, for Rick and Sherri, and for that grandmother. I can’t imagine the guilt that you would feel, even though this was a tragic accident. Young children can vanish in the flash of an eye, or the amount of time an adult could take a trip to the bathroom. While I don’t know these people, I very much feel that I do. What a tragedy. My heart aches for their loss. Remember them in your prayers- they will need them. Josh said he heard Rick talk to a caller this week that had lost a child and Rick stated that he knew that must be the hardest thing in the world to go through and he prayed he would never know that pain. There are no guarantees in this life. None of us come with a warranty, not even the young. Tragedies such as this should make us all want to give our children and grandchildren an extra hug.
Also, please remember Betty Garrison and David's mother, Betty, in your prayers. Betty Garrison has had a bad week and is still at Princeton. Betty Courington was not doing well today when we were there to visit. Her emotional state seems very unstable.

Snow and Weight Watchers

Well, while I did not wake up to a winter wonderland, it was fun to watch it snow for a short while this morning. Bandit, our beautiful, sweet, lovable, furry, border collie, was covered in snow, and perhaps the cutest thing I saw. I know Addi and Levi had fun and I have not received a Hannah report. Josh is in the woods hunting, so I hope this is his lucky day, as I need to re-stock the freezer!
I started Weight Watchers on Thursday. I think I will enjoy this group as they seem pretty low key. Funny thing, I went to WW over 20 years ago over in Fairfield, and the lady running the “weigh-in” was the same little old lady. I thought she was old then, but I guess that lets you know something about the way we look at age, because she was probably about the age I am now.
It seems kind of sad to pay a company to “motivate” you to eat right. You know, I have a great life. I have a wonderful God, a wonderful church, and a wonderful church family. I have a wonderful husband, the best kids, kid-in-laws (and their parents), and grandkids in the world. I love my sister, my brother, and their families. I love all of David’s family, and consider them my own. I have a great job, a wonderful principal that I work under (who loves to feed me, but is luckily on WW herself), co-workers that are like family, and I work with the greatest kids in the world. I have a second job that is amazing and has afforded me the opportunity to meet so many people and establish friendships through my position. And yet, despite all of this, the one thing I can’t seem to control is my weight. I had a happy childhood (for all the psyco-analysts out there), and suffered no abuse. I was accepted in school and seldom suffered much teasing. I do not eat a pound of bacon at a time- I do not raid the refrigerator at night (I seldom eat ANYTHING after the evening meal)- if I ate a half gallon of ice cream I would be sick, and yet this weight thing has been my lifelong battle. Now granted, I am not an exercise buff, and when I do eat I know I eat the wrong things and too much of it, but I am surrounded by skinny people who do the same thing. I have no health problems, my BP usually runs about 100/55 (yes, you read that right) and my cholesterol is 100 (yes, you read that right as well). So, why can’t I conquer this weight problem? I have lost a little over 20 pounds in the past month, and I feel really good. Why can’t the “good” feeling continue to rise over the “I want to eat” feeling?
Well, enough self-pity. I am off to walk on the treadmill. We dusted it off a few days ago and David has been walking (he is also back on the “program”). So, please pray for us as we once again try to take off the pounds and keep them off.

This and That

Well, we are a week into 2008 and it has been busy at the Courington’s house. We keep thinking we will have a let-up, but that has not been the case. I have tickets to the Pompeii exhibit (Thanks, Lisa!) and I can’t even find a date for us to go. I had thought we would go on MLK day, but they are not open on Monday.
David went hunting with Josh yesterday (according to David, the big one got away despite 2 fired shots), and I had to go get the food for today’s Bible Bowl. I also enjoyed the time out by checking out after Christmas bargains. Target has really had some great deals. We went to the Target on 280 Friday night and between Marty and Susan and us, we filled the back of the van. They had almost all of their Christmas toys on for 75% off the mark-down price. If I had been smart, I would have shopped for next year, but I only picked up a few odds and ends. They also had a dozen wash cloths marked down to 74 cents! I stocked up for me and the girls. I truly love bargains.
I haven’t blogged about my latest weight loss efforts, but I might as well. I decided prior to the holidays that I was not going to gain weight this Christmas, and I succeeded. I have actually lost about 18 pounds in the past few weeks. I had lost and was doing so well prior to the time that PaPa went to the nursing home and MaMa came to live with us. It seems like our world kind of took an upside down turn during those months, and it was very hard to concentrate on dieting. I gained back all but about 10 of the 50 I had lost. I planned to start WW last Thursday, but due to the weather I did not go (found out they met anyway). I am going to start this week. I need some accountability. I might get Paul to put me a weight loss ticker on my blog- you know, one of those that shows how many pounds you have lost- not how much you weigh!!!!!!!!!!! We have been enjoying watching some of the new weight loss programs like Biggest Looser, and the National Weight Loss Challenge. Thanks to our new DVR we can record and watch when we can. Also, thank to the new 47 inch High Def TV I can see how truly yuk fat looks on hd! Cellulite shows up very well when it is life-size!!!
I hope you all have a great week!

Happy New Year!

Well, I have been blessed to see the beginning of another new year. I pray that 2008 will be a great year. Every year is filled with ups and downs, we just pray that the “ups” outweigh the “downs”! We brought in the New Year at Kim and Paul’s house with the young adult class from church. They had plenty of food and fun and fellowship and we enjoyed being with them.
2007 was a busy year. We saw the arrival of Baby Lila (the best baby in the world) in October, so that was one of the definite highlights. Hannah celebrated her first birthday in August, and hit the floor running! Addi and Levi are growing and going. They are all smart and beautiful, and as David jokingly says, “Not an idiot in the bunch.” Being a grandparent has to be one of the greatest things in the world.
We pray that this year will see Mary get the “call” for her liver transplant. She is #6 on the list, and we learned from Lisa that #7 received his transplant during the holidays and is doing well. This is not a list that one wants to be on, but liver transplants have come a long way. People generally do very well. Mary’s particular disease has only had an effect on the liver, so her general health is good, which means she will have an advantage over someone that has other health problems. I anticipate that she will be the Queen of Liver Transplants!
We are looking forward to a busy winter and spring, and last night when we got in bed David began to run down a list of all the things on our docket, making me tired to think about it in one lump! We will handle it as it comes.
We are praying for each of you in this year of 2008. We cherish our family and friends and we feel of all men most blessed. Life is good.

Christmas Eve

Today is Christmas Eve, and as always on this day I think of family. “My” family has always had their celebration on Christmas Eve, so it has a place in my heart as a special day. It is a day that I think back to those that have gone on, especially my parents. Mother, although certainly not a social butterfly, was determined that we would celebrate the holiday as a family. The tradition has sense been moved to Patsy’s house. We have managed to keep the tradition together, despite a few years of moving temporarily to other locations. My own kids do not think they have had Christmas unless they have been at Patsy’s. One year Lisa and Norman hosted the festivities, and while a good time was had, my kids wanted to be at Patsy’s. Perhaps the most memorable Christmas Eve was one we had at my house because Joe was in the hospital. A sudden ice event happened, and Lisa, Norma, and Leslie found themselves sleeping on our couch due to the closed interstate system. Santa still managed to find these displaced souls and left a bit of “habushi” under the tree for them.
I pray we are all well tonight, as a stomach virus has hit Kim, Addi, and Levi. I know if they can’t get well, the year will not end on a happy note. I think they are better, according to the last blog report.
Well, until tonight…..Merry Christmas to all, and to all a great day!

Susan's Ramblings

Well, I am sitting at work thinking about all of the things I could be doing if I were not here. This is one of those “lost” teaching days. There are children here, more than usual I think, but everyone is showing movies and just praying for 2:50. I have taken down all of the Christmas decorations and have up the “Winter” stuff and the January calendar in the media center. It seems kind of funny to take down the Christmas tree before Christmas.
Yesterday was David’s birthday. Poor fellow, he has certainly been having some rough weeks. We went to Cracker Barrel and then to get Katie’s birthday present. Happy Birthday, Katie! We love you.
David was supposed to get up at 4 this morning to take his mother to UAB for a treatment. The clock did not go off. He woke up at 5:30 and went to running like he was in a race. He managed to get her there, albeit late. They did not seem to think he was late. He called and told me that MaMa was in pretty bad shape, almost non-responsive. They are talking about hospitalizing her. Please pray that she will pull out of this depression.
In other notes, for several days my Arky dog was not to be seen. Yesterday he was on the other side of the exit- something he NEVER does. He was still on that side this morning, so I don’t know what is up with him. If he is not careful, he is going to meet the great dog-maker in the sky.
I read an interesting article in the Birmingham News the other day. It was about “Baby Baubles”. It seems there is this new mentality among new mothers that their significant other should provide them with some type of diamond, or expensive jewelry for having their body go through 9 months of “agony” and for the distress of delivery. Many new mothers, according to this article, are presented this “gift” in the delivery room immediately following delivery. Have you ever? What a “it’s all about me” mentality. The only gift I wanted was a healthy baby, and thankfully I was blessed with 3. I did get roses after Kim was born, but when the boys came along we decided that the flower money could best be used to buy formula!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am so excited about the holidays. The kids are so much fun. I am excited about being with my own kids, as well. I can’t wait to see the grands riding their new gifts. I also look forward to Christmas eve and Christmas day more than I can tell.
Tomorrow is our 31st anniversary. It seems like just a few days ago- my how time passes.
Happy Holidays to my one or two faithful readers!