JENJEN IS HERE!

We made it home safe and sound, to two happy little kids and Kevin and Tandy.  The house was so clean and kid clutter free :(  They were all ready to leave this morning.  Fortunately we got home in time for me to read them their bedtime stories…Magic Schoolbus and Twisters…how great is that!?

After the kids went to bed, the four of us sat around the kitchen table and told stories.  Spod was full of travel stories, some of them not so pc I might add!  Then we got telling kid stories and got laughing and had such a good time.

Jennifer arrived mid morning and what a spectacular sight she is.  I will have to get some pics to post here.  She is close to six feet tall (especially with her heels on), very beautiful black hair (she is one of those true true blonds..so go figure) a head band tied like the old pin up girls.  Her polka dot dress was a fantastic throw back to the fifties and she has many many tattoos!  Bright red lipstick and the odd piercing completes the look.  And it suits her to a T!!  I like seeing people turn themselves out just the way they are inspired to.  Takes guts and courage…something she is certainly not short on!!!

It was so good to catch up on all her news.  She leads the kind of life that keeps me fascinated for hours!  She is a welder and in the past a bus driver.  She has three rambunctious and awesome boys 7 to 14.  We don't see nearly enough of those grand children but I hope to in the near future.

Spod is doing better now we are home. He is keeping up with his chores and he is downing yop/boost/V8 etc like there's no tomorrow.  He can be so funny.  He can still be annoying too.  I told him just because you have the C word doesn't mean you aren't going to get a smack on the back of the head when you need it!!

  The doc gave him some pretty powerful pain pills, special ones, and last night he took  the recommended two.  After about an hour he got up to go to bed and found he was dizzy and floaty and sleepy!  He was quite enjoying the whole experience!  And he slept right through the night…first time in forever.  He is looking forward to his nightly dose now…way to much!

I made Jen her fave dinner, ribs.  It was kind of weird shopping today.  I was getting food for the next few days and realized I was shopping for just me.  It was totally discombobulating.   I hope that Spod will be able to eat soon.  

Now its time to dole out Spod's pill.  His tummy is hurting.  He is so strong and sure puts up with more than I ever would.  TTYL

"I THOUGHT BILL WOULD BE BILL FOREVER"

That is how a dear friend said she felt about Spod and that is exactly how he projects himself.  He is such a steady, dependable, solid man and to see him in pain and shrivelling away before our eyes is awful.

By now most of you know that he was diagnosed yesterday with advanced colon cancer.  And as I have said before, if he wasn't such a stoic strong person, more of a complainer, we may have caught this sooner.  Although I have been telling our doctor for a year and a half that something was wrong with him.  

Today we will be meeting with our doctor to get referrals to the appropriate doctors over in Victoria.  Spod and I had a long discussion yesterday and we have decided that we are going to make sure all the health care givers are upfront and honest with us.  We want to know exactly where we stand with this.  If he has a good chance to set the cancer back some then great, if not then we need to know.

Right now though something has to be done.  He is in pain and can't eat.  So today I am hoping we will be able to get him some pain relief if nothing else.  First on the list is doing a biopsy.  They need to know what kind of cancer they are dealing with.  They will then plan whatever action will be necessary.  He is absolutely determined to be here for another ten years!!  

All of you people out there have been so supportive and amazing.  We appreciate the support and love, believe me.  I make sure Spod hears every word from everyone.  He told me he feels like he should have been nicer in the past! LOL!!  I totally agreed with him! Thank you.  TTYL

NOT A HAPPY CAMPER

Poor Spod.  He is so so sick.  We are in North Van right now in a hotel room.  We saw the doctor yesterday and he took me aside and has pretty much told me he believes it to be a tumour in his tummy.  I suggested diabetes damage or stomach ulcer, anything but that but he just kind of shook his head.  I don't know.  We are scheduling a private MRI for this morning, hopefully, and later today the doctor said he should have the report.  I am not sure where we go from there or how.  I guess we just have to wait.

For now though we are continuing on, making plans for the spring, the next trip, planning more renos for the house….business as usual.  He has been talking alot about going to Bermuda on a cruise that starts in New York, one of our fave cities.  But, unless he improves drastically we won't be going anywhere.

Yesterday April was with us.  She challenged me to the ice bucket thingy for ALS.  So we did it in the tub here in the hotel.  We made Spod video it with April's iphone.  He got such a kick out of that…a much needed moment of fun (although I myself was not having fun thank you very much).  I think that once we actually know whats wrong and what the plan of action is going to be I can throw some fun distractions in here and there for him…not involving ice cold water.

Mostly now he sleeps.  He quit eating a few days  ago.  I have managed to get him to eat the odd thing…like a sliced peach with cream, last nite a small cup of tomato soup from Safeway..his favourite, but really not much.  And then it doesn't stay down.  At least he can drink water and ginger ale.  Tandy made him mint tea and he kept that down too.

Okay, I promise this isn't going to turn into a long drawn out moment by moment description of illness.  I shall keep you posted about diagnosis and plan.  Hopefully later today we will have better news than what Myron thinks.  TTYL

A QUICK UPDATE AND THE WEEKLY CHALLENGE

Stop eating out and start cooking.  She goes into a lot of detail about portion distortion and, even though restaurants are becoming more health conscious, it is still more controlled to eat at home.  Buy a cookbook she says.  Okey doke I shall get right on that one…or I can google…biggest cookbook in the world..

April just now phoned and she landed an awesome job…starts Thursday!!!!!!!!!  She is an ophthalmologist doctor assistant in a three doctor clinic on Lonsdale in North Vancouver.  She is over the moon!  This job pays really well, fantastic hours, full benefits and she can advance to being a technician…they will train her.  The job leaves time for her to still paint.  She is so excited and happy!!

On a sadder note, my poor Spoddy is NOT well.  Thank goodness we are going to his doctor tomorrow.  We sadly have had to cancel our trip to Alberta.  It is time to ferociously get to the bottom of what is making him so sick.  I am going to go with him and start a definitive course of action and get some answers and get him better.  The poor guy has been feeling like crap for way too long now.  Yesterday he took one bite of chicken broth and gagged and couldn't eat it.  Something is so totally wrong.  He has now lost fifty pounds this year and is looking old and scrawny.  Poor Bill.

Gotta run…time to do laundry and pack.  TTYL

A LITTLE TOO CLOSE

The funniest thing happened the other night.  I was asleep in my purple room as per usual.  It was about three in the morning.  The kids were sleeping in the living room, where they were close enough to feel comfortable…Tandy and Kevin were still away.

I heard this harsh sharp banging/thumping.  It was so loud it woke me up.  It took me a minute to figure out it was Willy, the rabbit.  They thump their back leg really hard when they are scared.  I had put him just outside the front door, he is too noisy to leave in the living room corner with the kids sleeping in there.  Consequently he is right near my wide open window.  And my window goes from ceiling right down about a foot above the floor.  Its huge and I keep it wide open.

So I leaned back in my chair and looked out.  I didn't have my glasses on and something had activated the motion light at the front of the garage, so everything this side was in the dark and hard to see.  Slowly my eyes adjusted and focused a wee bit more and I found myself face to face with a deer!!!  looking right in my window, not two feet from my face!  Scared the crap out of me I have to say!!!  But it also cracked me up..I couldn't quit laughing.  Poor Willy!  That stupid deer was straddling his cage!

So I hobbled out,  shushed the deer away and picked up Willy and moved him into the garage.  Parker had gone camping with K & T, not that he would have been much help.  He totally ignores all wildlife except bees and squirrels.

Spod and I spent the day yesterday choosing countertops and appliances.  I can honestly say I am not particularly enjoying this foray into renos.  After our house burning and the one million decisions we had to make on a daily basis, the fun has kind of disappeared forever.  But we went downtown to a counter place, picked a quartz counter.  We then went to Trail appliances and chose three appliances there…I say so easily!.  (shovel list) 

Now, at five thirty in the morning, I am thinking about everything that has to be done before we leave for Alberta next Wednesday.  That gives us four days.  The kitchen has to be completely and totally emptied.  The garage has to be reorganized to fit all the Ikea stuff and the appliances.  And I need to pack for a week or two trip.  Not sure about the trip though. 

 Spod is NOT well.  His tummy hurts all the time, blood showing up in his lab tests (he has been called back on those tests…has to get into the doctor asap) has almost stopped eating, losing weight still and is very weak and wobbly.  He has been to the doctor about this, I don't know how many times and we just don't seem to be getting to the bottom of it.  He could have a bleeding ulcer.  He could have pancreas problems.  His diabetes could have caused damage in his stomach.  So many things and so many tests, yet we never seem to get to the bottom of it.  He has another appointment on Wed.  And if its really serious we won't be going anywhere.  I am not even sure if he is up for the week end trip.  I had to bring him back yesterday, he was so not feeling well.

And again today we need to go back to the countertop place to find out about sink installation.  Of course the sink we want at Ikea is no longer available.  You would think it would be an easy thing to pick but I want an undermount, front apron double bowl…not so easy!  I am also going to go buy some clear rubbermaids.  All that kitchen crap has to go into something! I think I am going to try to get everything done by Monday night.  That way I can spend Tuesday packing.  Kevin and crew also leave on Wed.  We have a reservation on the ten morning ferry.  They will be leaving for a ferry that leaves from 4 on…cheaper rates for them..they are towing a tent trailer.  So I shall post back here in a day or two.  TTYL

SHE REMINDS ME OF CHRISTOPHER ROBIN

ALL TRIMMED UP

DOCTORS AND FEET

I clearly remember my very first visit to a doctor, at least when I was old enough to remember.  Back in those days you didn't go to doctors for every little thing.  Our mothers used their needles and thread on us and told us to 'buck up and quit crying'.

But one morning when I was probably 7 years old, I hopped out of bed  to get ready for school, and went down like a dead man.  One of my feet hurt so bad I couldn't walk.  I didn't do a thing to it…it was just fine when I went to bed the night before.  When I tried to put any weight on it the foot would simply not hold me up and would hurt like stink.

So Mom did something unheard of.  She was pretty sympathetic and worried and took me to the doctor…who promptly sent me for an x-ray.  I will post about that some other time but believe me it was a most memorable life changing event in my life!!!  After looking at the x-ray he told us that I had flat feet and that was the cause.  

And it has happened periodically through my life, not often but when it does its really interruptive and annoying and hurts like stink.

It happened two days ago.  I went to bed, no problem, only to almost fall on my face when I got up around four in the morning to use the loo.  My left foot hurts like hell and I can hardly walk.  Stupid thing.  It happened to the other foot in Maui when Cookie was there.  It will last about four days then slowly go away.  I don't get it.  I don't think its flat feet though.

We have been having a blast with the kids though. They have spent an extraordinary amount of time out in their big boxes.  Their imagination knows no bounds.  We ordered pizza in last night and we let them watch a couple of kid shows on tv…a really big treat for kids raised without a tv in their house.  Today we are taking them to the Pirate indoor gym.  Its a really fun place and they can safely run their butts off.

Now I must up and off.  TTYL

BUNNY NAIL CLIPPING TIME

WHEN HE STARTED TO FLIP OUT AND BOUNCE AROUND, SHE JUST CALMLY PETTED WILLY'S HEAD AND TALKED TO HIM AND HE JUST COMPLETELY SETTLED DOWN AND RELAXED

NOT EXACTLY HOW I THOUGHT IT WOULD GO

So, the challenge today…and look! I am actually on time with it this week!  The chapter is titled "What's Up Doc?"  And it is a reminder to get yourself into the doctor for your yearly checkups and any follow ups recommended.  Also to get to the dentist…with a warning that it is all too easy to put these important things off. (shovel list)

The family has all been here for the last few days as I posted earlier.  Dinner last night was fun and delicious.  And with all the help it was so easy to produce.  After dinner we had planned to play games like we usually do.  And we did.  It was a lot of fun.  But Kevin went to bed and didn't play which was too bad cuz he is a lot of fun to play with.  Mind you Tandy made up for it.  She got right in there and charaded and heads upped with the best of them.  Aryn and Bradley headed off to bed pretty early and then April, Myles and Jess went into to town.  Tandy headed off to bed and Spod and I sat there kind of looking at each other, like, "what the hey??"  Made us laugh!

Today we worked in the garage for a while, throwing crap out…AGAIN!  Where oh where does all that s--t come from anyway?  We need to make room for Ikea boxes.  Aryn and Bradley, bless them, got a tape measure and went to town.  They are going to order everything too…I am so relieved!  I just hate doing stuff like that.  (shovel list) And…now we have to buy a bunch of rubber maids to put kitchen stuff in.  That kitchen has to be completely empty before we take off.

Now Kevin and Tandy took off for a few days camping alone.  The kids are outside playing in giant boxes on the front lawn.  Spod is sitting in his rocking chair out there keeping track of them.  He is so good with the kids.  He has them watching the bird feeder and is identifying birds as they land on the feeder.

So I am off.  Will report back soon.  TTYL

FUN FOOD AND KIDS

Well they all arrived safe and sound and noisily.  Pretty awesome to have the grandchildren around I must say.  Kevin et al settled into the basement smoothly.  So cool to have the house full.  

On Thursday Tandy and Kevin took the kids to a local indoor play area.  We got some blessed rain finally.  Nothing smells better than the first rain after a long long dry period!  And such a relief it was to have the house a wee bit cooler.  We never get a whole lot of rain here so it was a treat.

On Friday Kevin worked downstairs all day and Tandy took Parker right around Thetis Lake.  It takes about three hours and Parker comes back all worn out and so happy.  She has done that three times times now with him and he is in doggy heaven!

April, Myles and Jess arrived early evening.  So good to see them.  I truly miss having April downstairs.  We always have had such good talks. We still do on the phone though.  We all sat outside on the deck visiting and catching up.

Saturday was a cooking day.  AND whilst I was prepping and cooking, Tandy completely cleaned the kitchen and living room.  She got a bucket of water and cleaned areas I didn't even know existed.  You have no idea how grateful I am and how it so pointed out how useless I am in my own house.  I have never ever been a good cleaner.  And I'm not sure if its because I can't or just don't.
Myles, bless him got the vacuum and completely vacuumed the entire house.  So much help.

I decided to try a new recipe.  Now, I am not one to go into detail about recipes but this one was so amazingly delicious that every single person at the dinner table, all twelve, even the kids went nuts over it.  I found it on allrecipes.com…my fave recipe site.

It was crock pot cream corn.  The recipe called for four! 16 0z bags of frozen corn.  Four!  And it called for three 8 oz blocks of cream cheese, a cup of butter and some milk.  So I chopped up the butter and cheese, mixed it up and put it all in the crock pot and let her rip.  Oh yeah…it also called for a half a cup of sugar…so this is not a daily vegetable dish to say the least.  But holy cow! it was unbelievable.  And there was lots, but not as much left over as I thought there would be!  I also made a gorgeous bone in rib roast, salmon, mashed spuds, the recipe that tastes like baked potato, the only mashed spuds I ever make now.  And gravy and brussels sprouts.  I also put a bowl of wedge lettuce pieces and made (from a recipe) the most delicious poppy seed salad dressing.  For dessert I made a giant banana trifle.  I made lots of salmon so that I can make those salmon burgers with the potato chips tonight.

So now today Kevin and all have headed downtown to do all those awesome touristy things one does in Victoria with kids.  I have an extraordinarily clean house, so, very little to do.  April, Myles and Jess went to Austin's last night and didn't get home until about five in the morning!  Man I would be dead if I did that.  But it is now eleven in the morning and no sign of any of them!  Even Spod is still in bed.  Now I am going to go and make potato salad. 

One thing that is happening today that I am not entirely ready for is Aryn and Bradley coming and we need to sit down, finalize kitchen plans and start executing the purchasing.  I also need to go over the plans we have for the Nanaimo house we just took back.  So a busy day ahead!  TTYL

ON THE FERRY….KEVIN AND TANDY PLAYING GUITAR HERO IN THE ARCADE…WHO ARE THE KIDS HERE ANYWAY??

EATING A MUFFIN IN THE CORNER OF SUPERSTORE PARKING LOT…NOT IN THE CAR!

AFTER EATING AS MANY SAMPLES AS POSSIBLE IN COSTCO…THEY STARTED DRINKING AS MUCH POP AS POSSIBLE TOO

SHOPPING WITH GMA

ELISE WATCHING AND LEARNING

A LITTLE GPA TIME…THE PILLOW IS BLOCKING THE FAN BLOWING...

WE HAVE THE PERFECT BACKYARD TO PLAY BRIDGE

AUSTIN, EMILY'S BOYFRIEND (EMILY WASN'T HERE THIS WEEKEND) AND HIS VISITING PARENTS CAME FOR DINNER…SUCH WONDERFUL FUN PEOPLE

ELISE HELPING HERSELF TO A GIANT BEEF RIB BONE

HOME AGAIN..FULL CIRCLE

Such a lot to tell but first the weekly challenge.  It is to eat meat.  And plant protein.  Actually it was kind of interesting, her perspective on protein and why it is so vital.  But for sure one must eat protein, and the right kind.  Low fat, less red meat, lots of fish etc…

So, I had a wonderful trip up to Kamloops.  I drove up to Nanaimo, taking my time along the way and didn't have long to wait for the ferry.  I popped upstairs and bought a coffee and then sat downstairs in the car reading my book.  I drove straight to Whitespot and met April for lunch and a fantastic visit.  I then met my niece Dorothy over by the PNE and she rode up to Kamloops with me.  What an amazing girl she is.  We visited and laughed and stopped at a schnitzel house for dinner and arrived in Kamloops around nine or ten.  Emily and Austin arrived about an hour later. My brother and his lovely wife Antonia were there as well.  And this gathering is so much more happy than the last one at their house, for mom's funeral.

The baby shower the next day was awesome.  There were about 25 people there…lots of babies and friends and relatives.  We had a wonderful time and it was truly special to get to know baby Ainsley.  I have put some pics below.  She is exactly one month old.  And it was really nice to reconnect with people I don't see often.  I would love to live in Kamloops.  Maybe one day….

After the shower was over, Stan, Antonia, Kathy, Kerry, Emily and Austin, all sat down on their lovely lower deck and had a drink and such interesting conversation.  Actually we discussed prisons and prison sentences and the law!  Pretty heavy subject for a sunny afternoon but very interesting.  We then all piled into K & K new eight seater van and headed down to the park on the river.  There was so much going on.  There was a whole kids bouncy/water park/play area.  There was a huge beer garden.  There was 'music in the park' and that night it was a cover band for Fleetwood Mac…which of course was great for my siblings and myself..we could pretty much sing every song!

We met Austin's awesome parents, Stan and Kerry, bless them, went and stood in line and bought us all rib dinners, because, most important it was RIB FEST IN THE PARK night!!!!!  Man we had fun!!!  The ribs were amazing, the company was amazing, the music was amazing…we had to yell to be heard and our ears were bleeding from the noise…but honestly it was the most fun I have had in ages!!!!!

I left around one the next day and drove down to Cookie's.  Brian and Kevin made a delicious dinner and TJ and Matt came over with their beautiful sweet little Maxen…12 months.  What a happy bouncy sweet boy and he is so beautiful.  I finally got meet him.  I feel bad that it took a year!

I had such a wonderful visit with them!  Pam, a friend of ours from high school came over and yet again we had fantastic conversation.  We walked her home around 11 at night.  The next morning Cookie was babysitting her other grandchild Rylon.  And again, such an amazing little boy.  I have met him before but this time I got to just sit and watch him operate..my fave thing to do with little ones.  He is 18 months old and such a studious little fellow.  Darren came to pick him up just before I had to go so I got to see ALL of Cookie's kids and her grandchildren.  So very special.

I left around three and got into the line up for the five oclock ferry and texting with Kevin, who I knew was also on his way to our house, I found out they were on the same ferry!!!  So we had an awesome dinner on the ferry and it was so good to see my own little ones, first time since Xmas!! 

So now here we are, at home and they are staying downstairs til the end of August!!!  I am so happy!

This weekend is going to be crazy fun.  April, Myles and Jess are coming and staying til Monday!  Monte is bringing his tent and staying for the weekend.  Aryn and Bradley are coming on Sunday and spending the night.  And Saturday night Austin and his parents are coming for dinner.  So  I think I am getting as much company and reasons to cook here as I did in North Van which makes me a happy camper.

Now its time to sit down and pay the bills…we are going to have our electricity cut off here shortly if I don't!!  And the water bill…I really resent this one.  It seems there is always a water bill to pay.  And treo.  Jeez…I always forget to pay those tolls.  So I gotta sit down and gitter done.  TTYL

MY LOVELY SISTER IN THE MIDST OF SHOWER PREPARATIONS 

SWEET LITTLE THING

AN INTREPID EXPLORER

AUNTIE EMILY

ON THE LEFT..MY BEAUTIFUL SISTER IN LAW…ANTONIA  SHE DID THE FLOWERS AND THEY WERE SO BEAUTIFUL…SUCH A TALENT!

BEAUTIFUL WEE AINSLEY

WITH HER GORGEOUS MOTHER…JOCELYN

A ROW OF BABIES!  DO YOU THINK THAT LEFT HANDED PEOPLE HOLD THEIR BABIES IN THE OTHER ARM?

VISIT TIME

SUCH GOOD FRIENDS

PASS THE BABY!

OLLIE!  I THINK THIS IS WHERE SHE IS TELLING ME THAT SHE SAW THOSE VERY SAME BUTTER TARTS IN A PICTURE I PUT ON HERE LAST POST!

STORY TIME!!!  (I DO BELIEVE THESE ARE TWO MAUI BUDDIES!)

PASS THE BABY!!

AN AMAZING GIFT!!  HER SISTER EMILY DREW THIS FOR HER!!!

AHHHH….A MAN….HOLDING A BABY….GOTTA LOVE IT

RIB SATIATION

MY AWESOME GOOD LOOKIN' BROTHER

QUICK POST BEFORE TAKING OFF AGAIN

Firstly, this week's challenge:  take up a hobby and make it FUN!!  She went into some detail including studies that show that people that have meaningful and fun hobbies live longer….or something like that.

Secondly, Kevin and Tandy didn't arrive on Tues as expected.  Their tent trailer fridge sprung a gas leak and needs to be fixed.  But they are coming soon.  The basement is all clean and ready for them and Spod and I went to the store a bought a load of toys and arts and crafts for them.  So much fun!!!

We made another trip up to Nanaimo.  When we learned that Kev couldn't make it we quickly arranged to meet a locksmith later that day at the house.  When we arrived the ex owner and her mother were there with her brother, trying to get the jag going.  She was totally unfriendly.  Later we met the neighbour and got an earful about what bitches they were and they are so glad they are gone.  He may buy the house which would be great.

While we were waiting for the locksmith, I took another look at that 'pear' tree I said was in the back yard.  It did NOT look like a pear tree, even though the fruit looked like pears.  But this time when I looked the fruit was now yellow.  What??? Pears don't ripen until fall.  So I walked back there to take a closer look.  And….it was a loaded, totally loaded with ripe fruit, fig tree!!  I was so excited..they were so delicious.  I grabbed the only vessel I could fine, a kid's butterfly net, and filled it up, getting stung a number of times by wasps eating the fallen fruit.  But I persevered and got quite a few.  Pics below.  Today I boiled them down and they are so good and unbelievably sweet.

Spod was off to Vancouver today to see doctors yet again.  This time our Dr. there is sending him to an internal specialist here in Victoria.  Hopefully they will get to the bottom of what is wrong with him.  

While he was away I baked Funeral Cookies (otherwise known as No Bake Chocolate Drops).  They tasted awful.  So I made a load of butter tarts, that don't taste that great either.  I think my taster is off.  Tomorrow morning I am heading up to Nanaimo to catch the noon ferry to north Van.  I am meeting April for a late lunch, then I pick up niece Dorothy to head up to Kamloops.  Our newest little addition to our family, Ainsley, Jocelyn's baby is having a baby shower.  I can't wait to meet her.  And I am really looking forward to spending some time with Dorothy!

We come back early Sunday morning and after dropping her off at home I will be going to Cookie's for the night!!  And I will get to see TJ's little Maxen!  He is almost a year and I haven't met him yet.  Then home later Monday!  I shall be taking my lappy with me so will probably post along the way.  TTYL

ANOTHER LOOK AT THE 'PEAR' TREE

THE FIGS

OUR HIBISCUS HAD THREE FLOWERS IN FULL BLOOM TODAY

THE COOKED FIGS AND SOME OF THE BUTTER TARTS

THIS IS EXACTLY THE COLOUR OF THAT HIBISCUS…I DIDN'T TWEEK IT AT ALL

RELAXING AND COOLING OFF AFTER A LONG DAY

THE OLDEST (MY KEVIN) HOLDING THE NEWEST (AINSLEY RAE)  OF ALL THE GRAND AND GREAT GRAND CHILDREN