Thursday Thoughts

I thought of doing Thursday Thirteen, but can't think of 13 anythings. I finally got 13 comments on my last post! I'll just start with my thoughts and see what happens. First I think I'll update you on all the stuff that went haywire a couple of weeks ago.

1. The light/fan above the table - the fan wouldn't turn off - and it wasn't warm enough to need the fan. Dear electrician BIL came over, took the part that was faulty, came back with new switches, and now it works. Yay! Just in time for the heat to finally turn on outdoors.

2. The light under the cupboards that I have had for close to 30 years started flashing off and on. It is not a simple matter of changing the bulb. I REALLY miss it. Same BIL, who installed it 30 years ago, discovered the minor problem and fixed it in a few minutes. It was the night we had him over for dinner while my sis was gone on her celebratory retirement trip to see the grands in Idaho.

3. Both light bulbs in my little office burned out the same day - I know, nothing in the grand scheme of things, but just ridiculous. Easy Peasy - go to the store and get a package of bulbs.

4. My cell phone is acting very weird - I keep having to mess with the SIM card and the battery to make it work. Not so easy peasy. DIL, who owns the account, DC, and I spent about 1.5 hours at T-Mobile the other night after enjoying a nice dinner together at the Lone Star. We thought we'd buzz in and out of there - ha! Nothing is simple in technology. The manager of the store spent all of that time trying to figure it out. He changed the SIM card. Still didn't work right. He called Customer Care - they couldn't figure it out. Finally he got the second tier of Customer Care - they "rebooted" my phone from wherever they were - it worked for a day, then the same thing began to happen. He said I could get a new version of this phone by phoning Customer Care myself. He put a note in my account so they'd see what all had happened in the past. As I said before, nothing is easy in technological happenings. We had to call Sema for permission for me to order my own phone. Ridiculous. Thankfully she was on break and answering her cell phone. The new unit is in the mail - I can't get a better phone for another year when our account is up for renegotiation or some such nonsense. Hopefully this one will work or they WILL be hearing from me again. No doubt.

5. My tires on my car are shot . Care Bear went with Grandpa to get new tires (she likes the smell of new tires, believe it or not!). I have not asked how much they were. They are beautiful - well, they look healthy. I hate spending money on tires. But it is a necessity of life. Especially when you're hauling around such precious cargo!

6. The amount I was quoted for the surgery turned out to be only for the surgery center - it doesn't count the original doctor's visit, the surgeon's bill, the anesthesiologist - I hope that's all. I got a notice from the anesthesiologist - the bill they submitted to my pathetic insurance is $1092! I think that's because I asked to go to sleep. But I'm glad I did, since he did so much more digging and artery tying than he expected. Just think if they'd only numbed my arm and I had been aware of all of that. EWWWW! No thanks. This will go to deductible, no doubt.

7. I finally got to the dentist, after working with insurance for months - turns out there's some serious work ahead after years of clear check-ups. Changing dentists is traumatic without the new one finding much more stuff than the previous one. I went in for what I thought was going to be a deep cleaning - seems one quadrant of my mouth has a bit of gum disease developing. Not good. But, to my horror and surprise, I was in for one of three things, depending on how bad it looked when she got in there - a. simple filling; b. a crown; or c. a root canal. Each, of course, was progressively more expensive. We "dodged the bullet" as she put it, and I needed b, the crown. Still more than I can really afford, but much better than a root canal. Been there, done that. I thought I was doing a better job of taking care of my teeth than that.

8. Our grandfather clock has not worked for awhile. We finally got a clock expert who attends our church to come over and take the works for an overhaul - much more expensive than I dreamed. Still at the clock doc.

9. My dishwasher is full of clean dishes that I can't get out - the door latch broke as I tried to open it Sunday morning. Now I'm doing dishes by hand with this left arm I'm not supposed to get wet. I have a fix-it man (also from church) coming over tomorrow to see if he has to order parts and how long it might be before it is usable again. If you keep up with the nail-biting stuff I share here, you know that it took a second visit by the handy dandy handyman from our church, but it seems that the problem has been fixed. I should have him over for dinner!

A few more things going on around here --

The iris are about to end their reign of beauty in the back yard for this year. I will miss them.

Miss Care Bear is finally getting ready to lose her first tooth - I think she's the last one from her first grade class. This shot is supposed to show you how loose it is with her tongue behind it, but it didn't work out well - oh, well, enjoy anyway.

The old wrist is doing very well - I don't wear the brace any more. It is still a bit weak and at times I have a bit of a twinge. But I think the surgeon will be very happy when he sees it on June 26.

The big girls are going to VBS again this week - a church right down the street from their house. It is the same program that they had at the other church, so yesterday Care Bear got to wear her crazy hat again (posted again just in case you missed it the first time around!) I didn't get to see Feisty's. It is Crocodile Dock from Group Publishing - Group happens to be right here in Loveland. The company began in the basement of the owner, Tom Schultz, about 30 years ago. It now is a thriving entity, employing many people in our town. They do a wild and crazy Bible school every year. The girls don't mind doing it again - it's fun.




Well, I'd better hush for now and get busy on some stuff around here while the littles are napping (other than going out to the patio and read the great book I'm about to finish - more about that next time). Next time I plan to do a post called "Perseverance Personified." Stay tuned! You won't want to miss it.

Monday Musings

I'll bet you all thought I really had run away from home! Thanks so much for all the concern about my crazy last couple of weeks. I truly realize that all of this goofy stuff pales in comparison to what so many are going through. It was just the accumulation of stuff that made it seem blog worthy. Our favorite handyman came over and fixed the dishwasher - he's so good and leaves everything in such good condition.

Friday I had the 6 stitches removed from my wrist. The doctor was pleased with the low amount of swelling. He told me the story of the artery - suffice it to say I am very thankful I had asked to be put to sleep rather than just have my arm numbed, as originally planned.




I am wearing a brace for the times when I am carrying kids - which is quite often, of course.




It has been a really busy week. Kristen now has pleurisy (inflammation of the lining of the lungs) and has been in a great deal of pain - again. She is so discouraged, wondering if she'll ever feel good and healthy again. So we've had the girls since Friday. They've been great, but again I'm pretty tired. The big girls have had so much fun this week-end playing with their old neighborhood friends and making new friends with the kids that live in their former house. Seems strange.

Wednesday was Care Bear's field day at school - the day they get to do outdoor games all morning. It is always fun to watch her interact with her friends and other classmates. If I may rant for just a moment - when our kids were in elementary school, field day was a day of competition. There were ribbons to be won. They chose 3 events to compete in and practiced for those 3 events. Everyone knew that some would win and some would not. Somehow it has become important to keep anyone's feelings from being hurt - not allowing real competition to take place. They go from station to station, playing each game over and over again until the bell rings and then they move to a new game. There are no prizes any more. I just think it's sad that they've taken this opportunity to excel away from those who could or would, or those who really care to work hard and do their very best. In the real world, there is always going to be competition, winning, and not winning. I wish they still prepared for real life in that way.

But, as I said, it was fun to watch Care Bear. First - the relay race.

Then into the gym for a bit of jumping rope (4 kids at a time?!), and wall climbing.

A very strange game - let me say that this one definitely tested their listening skills and ability to follow directions. Care Bear's team had a little girl who was not good at either, and it caused some bit of frustration - I was watching CB trying to get her to do the right thing. I felt for her. The first person in line ran to a bucket, filled a sponge with water, ran to the end of their team's line, the sponge was relayed, sopping wet, from back to front. When it reached the first person in line, that person then squeezed the remaining water into a bowl at the front of their line. Then the new front person repeated the process. The winning team was decided when the bowl overflowed with water.

I didn't get to stay for the whole event, but had to leave and pick up Feisty from preschool. Speaking of which, Thursday was her last day, and I found it to be very sad. Preschool has been very good for Feisty. She's much more prepared for kindergarten than she would have been without this social and learning experience. Kristen, the littles, and I went for the ice cream party and little ceremony.

The babies enjoyed themselves very much. Fortunately, I noticed my keys in one of the bins of blocks before I panicked when it was time to leave!




They got in their circle around the teacher and shared their favorite songs with us. Here's the end of "Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed."

Then they were given their little "graduation" certificate - Oops - upside down!




Feisty and her two teachers.

Friday evening we decided to get the big girls some new sneakers. Easier said than done. We headed for Wal Mart. They had an amazing selection at this time, which was good and bad. We were there well over an hour - a grueling experience. Too many choices. Too many desires. Feisty is very, very tactilely (??) challenged - everything has to feel "just right." Oh, my, what a mess we left for the poor people who work there - we did try to get things put back, but I know we didn't get everything in the right place.







When they were hunting and trying on and hunting some more, we let the babes out of their carts, because they were not the only ones getting impatient and tired --



When we went to pay for what was finally chosen, we discovered that the littles had wiped up most of the dirt in that aisle - on their knees, feet, hands, and consequently on their faces. What a mess! It was good to get home, take baths, and get them to bed!

Miss Feisty loves to wear the things that she really likes - all.the.time. She got this little pair of denim shoes a year ago and has worn them literally every day since - no matter how many other pairs of shoes she has been given, she loves these denim shoes.

They are totally worn out and I have been so tempted to make them disappear. Anyone would think she is just so deprived to only have this pair of pathetic shoes.




This is the pair she finally found that fit her and she approved of (not sneakers!). I was talking to her about them and mentioned how cool it was to have Dora and Boots on the inside of her shoes, but that it is kinda sad to have to walk on them when she's wearing them. She said she preferred to think of it as her feet being the blanket for Dora and Boots.

DC caught these pictures of Kate and Emma truly enjoying their mashed potatoes and gravy. Double click if you want to see the really big mess on the faces - and arms and hands and, and, and!

These two little girls have become so close - they can't be too far from each other.

I just can't resist sharing the flowers as they develop - what a wonderful time of the year for beauty. Here are the latest arrivals of iris.












The columbine in the front has really increased. So beautiful.




Here is the official Colorado columbine.

Have a wonderful week!

Thursday Thoughts

True to the forecast, it didn't get much above 50 degrees today, and will be cooler tomorrow. What a crazy place!

It's rather difficult to type at my usual speed with this rig on my wrist. But I am very happy to say that I have not had any need for pain meds from the procedure. I will have stitches removed in another week. Let's hope that's the last of the nasty cyst. The surgeon said it was unusually large. Apparently there was an artery that had become entwined in the cyst, which required quite a bit more work, and ended up with it being severed and tied off. I of course was unable to hear this explanation to DC by the surgeon, so am anxious to talk to him about it when I go back for the follow-up.




I was a bit concerned about carrying the girlies and changing diapers, but I was able to manage it today. I have to say that Miss Katie Bug is becoming quite the goofball. Their personalities are just blossoming lately.

I could hear Emma saying "STUCK!"

They even do things exactly alike when they're sleeping.

Last Saturday we celebrated Feisty's 5th birthday at the zoo. It turned out to be a beautiful day and the littles were so good. As were the big girls. I found this picture taken a year ago when we went - the babes were only a bit over 3 months old.

What a difference a year makes!

The girls' other grandpa got to come with us - he pulled the big girls in a wagon, and he took lots of pictures.



He and Kristen took the train ride.

The fun part of going to the zoo in the early spring is that there are cute little babies besides ours!

Come on down, you can do it!




The beautifully colored tucan --

and the gorgeous peacock ---

and the purely pink flamingos --




and the very unattractive vulture!

We didn't make it to the lions, orangatans, tigers this year - we ran out of energy and time. But my favorite thing this year was taking note of the oddities that God created - what a great sense of humor and variety He has!

And this guy, who looks like he got in on the tail end of the zebra line and only got partly done.

I am so thankful that Kristen was able to go and enjoy herself. She is doing so much better. Thanks again for your prayers.

Remember when I told you about DC's quartet making a CD? Tomorrow they will spend most of the day finishing up the recording. It has been quite a long process, but we're really excited to have the completed product.

Have a wonderful week-end!