Halloween Memories

 

 

Jessie has been totally obsessed with Halloween for the past month, but when the fire whistle blew tonight, she just about lost it.  She was very upset about mummies coming.  Jon tried to reassure her that there were no mummies. 

 

I asked Jon tonight if he remembered Halloween nights at Grandma Jonas' house when he was young.  He said he did.  They were some great times.  When we had the kids, we took them to Grandma's house for a quick dinner then trick or treating down her street.  Jessie's picture above is from 1995 (5 years old) and Jon's from 1992 (4 years old).  Diane and Randie, my brother and his family would also come.  It was also Ed's birthday.  Today would have been his 54th birthday.

 

Halloween for Ed, Di and me was a really great night, too.  Mom made all of our costumes.  One of our neighbors, Mrs. White, would usually dress up like a witch and sit on her porch with a very large cauldron filled with worms (spaghetti).  We had to do something (can't remember what we had to do!) before she would give us any candy.   

 

 

Date Date With Doreen

Doreen and her family have been back now for one month.  Today we went out to "just get away" for a bit.  We went to the Christmas Tree Store, had lunch at Red Lobster then dessert at Menchie's.  It was a beautiful weather day, and it was fun being together. 

Rachel was with Jessie today and beside picking up dog poop, Jessie folded towels and emptied the dishwasher.  Then Rachel and Jess picked up Subway sandwiches, went to Rachel's house to eat lunch then walked her neighborhood looking at Halloween decorations.  They also made Halloween cookies Jessie painted a pumpkin.  I do believe they had a good day together, too.

Jon had a pretty good day at work, too. 

Welcome Brenda!

Today Jess and I spent quite a bit of time with Brenda, Jessie's new aide for Tuesday's.  Although she doesn't have any of her paperwork or classes done, we hope that she will be able to get them done and start in a couple of weeks.  We went to the MTRC and Jessie showed her the cabana rooms and the pool.  Brenda will be making sure Jessie has alot of physical activity on Tuesday's, especially swimming when she can.

When ever I go on vacation, I try to get my house in order.  Paper piles are cleaned up or taken care of.  House cleaned, etc.  I've been doing the same thing since I'll be out of commission for several weeks.  I have numerous piles that need to be taken care of before next Wednesday, or the piles need to be made neater.  One small pile was taken care of this afternoon.  Only about 10 to go.

Information Overload

I have to admit that today was a very trying day for me emotionally.  I was glad Jon was with me and kept encouraging me.  I had a 9:30 a.m. appointment at the hospital for pre testing (for my total knee replacement surgery on November 7), which only took about a half hour and went well.  I had a very caring nurse, Cookie, who even gave me a hug when I left. 

Next was the 2-hour long class for hip and knee replacements.  By the time the lecturer was done, I was, too.  I turned to Jon and said, "I don't think I signed up for this!"  I was on information overload and wanted to get out of that room as soon as I could!  The last time I had major surgery was 25 years ago.  Six weeks after Jon was born I had my gall bladder out.  I have the 12" scar to prove it.  Back then you went in and you knew what type of surgery you were having but they didn't share much.  Now, I think we're told TOO much. The only thing that was lacking today was the graphic pictures from the operating room.  Thank you, Jesus!

There was one nice thing about today's lecture and that was the fruit and the super huge oatmeal raisin cookies they had for break time.  I also thought there were large, wrapped individual chunks of cheese on the table, too, but they turned out to be the scrub we need to wash with the night before our surgery!!!!  Jon laughed quite a bit over my mistake. 

We grabbed a quick Wendy's lunch and made it to my next appointment at 1:30 p.m. for my right shoulder.  The same doctor that is doing my knee surgery also does shoulders (how convenient).  An ultra sound "suggests that there is a tear in the miniscus", so I'll have to have an MRI to make sure.  Because my knee comes first, he gave me a shot of cortisone to help the pain, and I'll schedule an MRI in about 6 months.  Yippee!

Jess had a good day.  I'm glad someone did.  Jane took her to an exercise class, the park, Ocean Breeze for lunch then back home to hang out and play games.  Jane looked tired when she left and Jess was just beginning to wind up just for me.  She screamed at me for the next hour or so.  I know she's upset about Debbie not being here and about me going to have surgery, and she can't tell me how she feels, but yelling at me is getting old.  Very old.   

Today Would Have Been Bill's 67th Birthday

Believe it or not, I forgot all about it until Jon and I were at church tonight for a special meeting and the date was announced.  Doreen told me she had been praying for me all day, and I'm glad she did.  Otherwise, I might have gotten melancholy.  Or not.  I don't know.  I do know that I would have reminded Bill that he was 6 years older than me.  Since we met that was a running "argument", as I was born on October 1 and he was born on the 27th. 

Jon went to first service, I went to second, then the 3 of us met Chris, Sean and Ashley at Kwong Tong for a Chinese lunch.  It's pretty much a "safe" place to take Jess since there usually aren't many people in there and she loves sweet and sour chicken with the rice and egg roll. 

Jon made me a map of area restaurants that I offered to do for a SM conference next Saturday.  Chris came and watched Jessie while Jon and I went back to church for a meeting on a proposed building addition.  I'm very thankful she came so that I could be part of the meeting.  "Thanks again, Chris!"

Family Date Day

My surgery date is quickly approaching and today was one of the last days the 3 of us could go away and have a date day.  Since I was in so much pain last night, I had asked Jess if we could stay home, but she was adament that she wanted to go see the "big boats", and especially since she had purchased snacks just for today. 

Thankfully, I woke feeling better - I went to bed at 10:00 (something I rarely do) and didn't get out of bed until 10:00 a.m.  Jess slept in til 8:00 and Jon 10:10.  We left for Tim Horton's around 11:00 for our traditional vacation breakfast: bagels and cream cheese and a few TimBits.  We decided to go to Port Huron the long way - 23 Mile to Algonac then up to Port Huron.  We went into the Algonac State Park and watched a few young men skeet shoot.  There were still quite a few campers in their park, too.  The water was very blue and VERY choppy.  We happened to be driving by when one of the car ferries for Canada left the dock and it looked like it was going to tip over - if I had been on that boat, I surely would have been screaming, that's for sure.  It was really rough waters.

It was a beautiful day and the colors were spectacular; until we were almost to Port Huron when it looked like it was going to storm.  We ate an early dinner at Cracker Barrell, which included their coca cola chocolate cake for dessert.  It was SOOO good, but very rich.  Maybe once a year we can splurge on it - Jess and I shared one so we didn't have too much.  We then shopped at Mary Maxim's.  Jess got herself a paint set and I bought a cute scarecrow doll for inside the house at 60% off.  We were going to do more shopping, but it began to rain so we decided to come home.  It POURED on the way back on I-94.  Both Jon and Jess slept on the way home and I took a nap when we got home.

A very nice day with my two very nice kids. 

Not A Good Physical Day

Usually I end up taking one pain pill a day, but tonight I'm about to make it a 2-pain pill day.  For some reason my entire body has been hurting.  I had my last PT today and cut some of exercises short because of the pain.  I'm counting on tomorrow being a better day.

I went to breakfast with Rachel and Jessie then we shopped at the dollar store.  When we got home Rachel, Jess and Memphis went on a long walk and I did paperwork and wash.  Rather exciting, wouldn't you say?