Tomatoes, Sketching and Health

Well, well, look what we got here...home grown tomatoes, MY home grown tomatoes.

The Hubby and I (my suggestion) put in two plants at the office where there is full sun, only grass and a sprinkler system, AND it is fenced with no access from potential thieves, except possibly a dadgum squirrel!  Those two plants have given us about 10 tomatoes, huge tomatoes.  So yummy.  Can't wait to plant more stuff next year!

I am still sick, yes STILL SICK.  I have had an off and on sore throat since the first of June and I cannot seem to get rid of it.  There is more, sniffles a bit, drainage, slight cough although that has gone away.  Every morning I never know how I am going to wake up, feeling okay or like I've been hit by a truck.  Yesterday I felt pretty good, this morning, like crap.  I had yet another video visit with my doctor and we tossed around the idea of strep throat and even mono!!! YIKES!  I really think it has been a combo but mostly a sinus infection.  I'm feeling a tad better since I took a shower and got cleaned up but with a slight headache and of course the ever present sore throat.  I am so over being sick and today there is a complication on my healing process.  They have to take Max in to get his G-tube converted back or added back the GJ-tube.  He has such a problem with reflux and vomiting, especially right after he gets his meds (not a good thing for a heart baby) that they've got to do something.  He's also losing weight because of the vomiting and they need him strong for surgery August 3.  Well, the last time they went in for a fix of that he was in nearly 3 weeks and Minerva was here with us for that 3 weeks, I was sick that whole time, the storm, sister passing, etc... Can't say I'm too keen on this happening again.  They have an appointment today and the rub is my still being sick.  First we don't want to pass any kind of germ to Min or to Max and second I NEED to get well.  So they've been trying to find some kind of help to care for Min.

UH, she just called and Max is throwing up blood, they have got to hit the road, RIGHT NOW!  I was getting ready to walk out the door to get some lab tests done.  I want to help but I'm caught in a catch 22 on this thing.  I feel helpless but I have GOT to get this illness thing figured out and get some rest to heal.  

DAMMIT!!!

I was able to get to the studio this week, twice but I see that is getting ready to end again.  I'm still sketching and water coloring at home.  The intent of the sketching is that I signed up for Thursday evening a sketch class but at this point, that may not happen...

Saying Goodbye

Happy 4th of July

(Max and his Granny, what a darling little boy)

The past weekend was one of the quietest 4th's we have had in many years.  Because of all the rig-a-ma-role that goes into taking Max or even two children anywhere they stayed home for the weekend festivities as did B&B2 and Snicklefritz.  I missed them but honestly I really enjoyed the quiet, or as quiet as it can be on the 4th at the lake.  I NEEDED the rest.  I'm still hacking and coughing up crap and this morning sneezing my head off.  I think it's allergies and took a Zyrtec to help, I hope.  I REALLY don't need another rebound illness to descend on me.  I'm sleeping nearly 8 hours every night now and before it was at best 6 hours.  I think my body, at 67 years young, is saying SLOW THE FUCK DOWN, or I'm going to fight you!

Sunday we headed back to town and went to my brother and sister-in-law's to celebrate the life of Dana.  It was quite wonderful with a meal and family on what was one of the most pleasant weather days for July.  I know some were thinking that we didn't do the memory walk just right but it was my sister and her family, hell, my family and we are just not like that kind of thing.  We don't do the touchy-feely kind of thing and frankly, it was Dana.  Memories, good memories, are kind of hard to bring up with it comes to Dana and have to be honest here, most of my childhood I hated my sister.  Didn't help I shared a room and a bed until I got married and left home at age 19.  We became friends after her marriage and then divorce.  She was a great aunt to my girls and they loved her dearly, but face it she was mostly a mess.  Dana was extremely opinionated and used the word FUCK like it was everyday language.  I had issues with how she raised her children, she was a horrible pet parent (she failed miserably at that), and basically how she saw life, but SHE WAS MY SISTER and I did love her.  We are each individuals and she certainly was.  We were extremely different people, and if you met both of us you would not be able to figure out that we were raised in the same house by the same parents.  But, she was my sister, and I DID LOVE HER.  Life moves on.  I spent most of the weekend dreading Sunday.  I was on the verge of tears most of the day but honestly Sunday worked for me and allowed me to get past that.  It was good to be with family.

And The Hits Just Keep Coming

I SWEAR TO GOD this family, and I mean ALL OF US, can't catch a break...ARGHHHHHH

Sunday afternoon Min and her Daddy took my car to OKC to hopefully bring Max and his Momma home, today.   So I am the one carless now.

It was just what the doctor ordered for all of us, Min to see her Momma and little brother and me getting some much needed rest as I'm still hacking and not feeling my best.  They got to see Cousins Jack & DeeDee, who they stayed with so much this past year during all this.  Min was so excited to see them, they are like another set of grandparents for her.  Then she and her Momma went for a mani/pedi, her first.  Suddenly Min's eye started swelling and not feeling great.  

Off to the ER as they were in the vicinity (LOL).

This little girl has pink eye.  Hmmm, her granddad has had an eye infection too.  They didn't classify his as pink eye but I bet it was from his cold.  I think it was basically a cold in the eye, now she has it.  What this might cause is a delay in letting them come home, riding in the same car together...ARGHHHHHH!  

On a good note, this little guy is MORE than ready to come home.  Max is just doing wonderfully well, his infection is gone and they've even scheduled him for the next surgery, the Glenn, August 3!  Then we get to start the childcare thing all over again.  I NEED this next month to be childcare free for me to rest and get healed.  I NEED them to be able to get another car so I have mine back.  We NEED to get this stupid limb off our house, Thursday is the target date, again.  I NEED to have everything start moving again, forward.  I NEED to get back to my studio and my oil paints.  I NEED this family to start getting some good news.  

(Oh, yesterday Bri's car has started having issues so it's in the shop and The Hubby is her driver today, taking her to work and bringing Snicklefritz here for me to watch.  Snicklefritz doesn't have camp this week so she is my sidekick with no car.  Tonight she is having a friend stay the night with us too! Should be fun, giggling 10 year olds!!!) 

Life is really full.

Look at that face and sitting up and all.  Can't wait to snuggle him.

Still Reeling

Memories

My eyes popped open about 5 this morning and I was immediately thinking about Dana.  Tomorrow will be day 7 since she left this earth and goodness I do miss her.  It's funny that as much as I was always angry with her, when we were children I loved he wholeheartedly and feel like a hole has been opened in my heart.  My brother texted me on Friday just to check in, he's feeling it too.  I told him it felt like we had amputated an arm.  It's a weird feeling to know you can't call her or text her anymore.  You won't hear her awful rants you hated anymore, now I miss.  Dana was who she was unapologetically.  She really was an open book, no holds bar kind of person.  I feel like crying at any second and when I see my brother on Sunday the dam may break open.  We are having a small family get together at their house Sunday afternoon to just be family and remember.  I look forward to seeing family, yet dread seeing family.  It's weird.  

We are still in a bit of a holding pattern with our family drama.  Still have a huge tree limb on our house, hopefully to be removed on Thursday.  They are still without cars, sort of, and are driving my car to OKC because it is reliable.  Luckily they have friends that have lent them two cars for town driving.  We didn't want them to drive them to OKC as we don't know the cars and transporting babies, just want them all safe.  Supposedly, Max is to be released tomorrow (Tuesday) but we've heard that before.  He is doing great, giggles, laughing out loud, trying to roll over and even attempting the crawling stance.  He needs to come home, NOW!  They need to get some semblance of normalcy back into their lives, so do we.  

We escaped to the cabin this weekend, a much needed escape.  We have both been so very sick that we were in great need of peace and quiet to heal.  Last night is the first night I did not cough all through the night.  We have been sick for 3 solid weeks, I think catching a couple of different bugs or what had been floating around in our house that was filled to the brim people.  

Today I have a brighter outlook as the house was empty and quiet.  Baby Max is hopefully coming home.  Lives are getting back to a sort of normal.  

Sister

 Dana Martinna Blissit Boyle July 18, 1959-June 20, 2023