Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home.

It didn't take Aunty Em or clicking red shoes to get Mom home, but it did take some effort. Dad said getting her INTO the car was a challenge. She had to back into the back seat, with her leg resting on the seat. Once they got home she did better. She was asleep when I called this afternoon, but awake tonight.

Dad told me about several different people who were supposed to come by. I know a nurse went by the house. I think he said a PT went there, too. As of 9 p.m. the machine that moves her knee had not arrived. He called and they said they were waiting til morning. Dad told them, "No, you are supposed to bring it TONIGHT." Hopefully they got there.

We didn't go over there because I started running a low grade fever again today. I really don't like having autoimmune disorders. Natalie also woke up with a nasty sounding cough. She did better once she had some medicine, but with the two of us not feeling up to par, I didn't want to infect Mom. Ruth also sent an e-mail that she started running fever & also felt sick to her stomach, so she didn't make it here for the Spurs game & won't come for the weekend. Hopefully we'll all get over this quickly!

I am VERY slowly starting to step back into my business. As a director for the Pampered Chef, I have minimum requirements to make each month, both for my own sales and my whole group's sales. That means I need to do some Pampered Chef shows! Also, it means I help hold a meeting once a month and keep in touch with my team. It's not a LOT to do, but during times like this, I don't even do the minimums. I've had friends both here and even out of state who have been SO good to me and held shows to keep me going during these past few months, so I could stay at least active as a director.

The reason all this talk of Pampered Chef is on my mind is because I was working on taxes today. For the 18 years that we've been married, we've only had ONE time we had to pay taxes. It was the year I took out my Teacher Retirement Fund (year 1991, but paid in 1992, the same year I ended up in the hospital with a kidney stone & no insurance, and lost both of Phil's grandmothers--late Dec. 91 & April 92; not good years for us!). As I was working on taxes, before I had listed any of my business expenses, we owed over $1200! As I entered the information I had in my hands (expenses listed in my Pampered Chef program and mileage), it dropped to $800. When I entered estimates of a few other expenses, it dropped to $200. I was not good about putting my receipts away immediately last year, so I have some digging to do. While I was not happy that we have to pay, I was SO glad to have expenses to deduct. I know that NOW there are some expenses public school teachers can deduct, but in my days in the classroom, that wasn't so. I also know that I would not get to deduct gas mileage if I had a "regular" job. I won't say "real" job because, as I once heard someone say, the IRS considers this a REAL JOB!

Now my full-time job is calling me. I have one child who thinks she is an owl, and her mother happens to think the same, so she is still awake. Not for long! Good night!

No Pain, No Gain???

Mom did much better today. She was awake & did her Physical Therapy. By the time we got there in the afternoon, though, she was tired & her pain "ball" (a ball full of anesthetic to numb the leg) had run out. She had taken some pain meds, but was hurting more than she has before.

If all goes well, she will go home tomorrow afternoon. Dad will let me know if he wants me to go with him to the house to help with anything tomorrow. Friday, Ruth (Phil's mom) may go stay overnight to help out. Now, how many of you have a mother-in-law who offers to help your mother? This is the norm for our families so we forget that not all families interact so much with their kids' inlaws (or, as Dad would say, outlaws).

We will go for the next 2 Wednesdays to stay overnight as Dad has appointments on Thursdays. By then Mom may be ASKING for Dad to go play golf! Ha, ha!

For those of you who have been praying for us, would you please pray for the Kiser family? My niece's grandmother-in-law is in her last hours, if she has not already gone to be with the Lord. This will be a difficult time for her husband of over 60 years, as well as the rest of the family. Chris, Becky's husband, has not lost anyone in the family like this, so please pray for him and his twin brother. Thank you.

More tomorrow!

Mom started Physical Therapy

We went to see Mom today & she was awake. Well, mainly awake. She had physical therapy earlier today. Dad and Greg (my brother) said she fell asleep between exercises! I think she must have a low tolerance to pain meds. She had a machine on her leg today that makes it bend at a certain angle. Today it got up to a 50 degree bend. The max is 120 degrees. It's on for 6 hours a day now. She'll go home with that. Not sure if she'll use it for 6 hours each time at home or not. She got to eat real food, too! It looked quite delicious, unlike what I expected to see.

With my dad, brother & I all together, the male nurse that was in there laughed at how "supportive" we were. He was discussing her going home & asked if she'd be going home in a non-emergency medical transport or if Dad would take her home. I said, "You can just slide her into the back of the pick-up." Greg said they could get a ramp & just roll her up into there. Dad started talking about the moving trucks from his years as a moving company manager. The nurse laughed & said, "What supportive family you have. They might as well bring in Hannibal Lecter." (If you are like me, and haven't seen Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal Lecter is a really bad dude in the movie; apparently his eating habits rhymed with his name.)

We went to Chick-Fil-A with Dad & Greg after the hospital. Mom, Greg, the girls & I ate there last year when Dad was in the hospital. I asked who was going into the hospital next year so we could eat at Chick-Fil-A again. Though, I really hope maybe next year we can ALL eat together!

Today was a long day for us with homeschool co-op then the later activities. Hoping for a good night's rest for all.

Surgery went well and it is HOT here!

Mom went into surgery about 11:30. She was in a room before 3. She's groggy, but coherent. She said several times, "I just want to sleep," and once said, "I'm sorry I keep falling asleep." I laughed & told her she is SUPPOSED to sleep! She has a morphine button. The nurse started her off with a small dose, then is able to self medicate when needed. The nurse said the anesthesia should wear off by tonight but the morphine could still make her sleepy. If all goes well, she could go home by Thursday.

Last year in January while Dad was in the hospital, we had an ice storm. 13 months later we are melting! The temp is at 88.7 and climbing as I type at 4 p.m. Thank the Lord for air conditioning!

Mom is at Northeast Baptist Hospital. The main number to there is (210) 297-2000 and she is in room 60 A. Dad has his cell phone, also, if you want to call him.

Thanks for praying. I'll update as the week goes on.

Lori

My 9 year old "Mom" and my MOM

Phil was gone this weekend. Natalie spent the night with a friend. Bethany almost did, but changed her mind at the last minute. When I took Natalie's overnight bag to her, I told her I was going to have a party of 1 at my house. She looked at me seriously & said, "Mommy, lock the door." Yes, my 9 year old is playing Mom already.

My REAL mom goes into the hospital at 6 a.m. She'll be at Northeast Baptist Hospital (where Dad was last year). I will update when she is out of surgery. Thanks for prayers!

The service was really nice today. It was very short, but very nice. Ft. Sam Houston is a very old Military Post. Here is a snippet from the official Ft. Sam website:

The U.S. Army has maintained a presence in the Alamo City since 1845. During that time, the installation has performed five distinct and important roles: that of a headquarters, logistical base, mobilization and training site, garrison and provider of medical support.

At first, the Army leased facilities in the City of San Antonio, including the Alamo. In fact, the Army repaired the Alamo structure and added a roof so it could be used as a headquarters.

In 1876, the Army began to move its facilities to the present site of Fort Sam Houston upon completion of the Quadrangle. The post has since increased in size from the original 92 acres donated to the Army by the city, to approximately 3,000 acres today.

(Note: This blurb is for you detail people; you know who you are, the type that stop to read every historical marker. Dad, you can skip this & just let Mom read it). As we waited for the service to begin, I showed the girls some of the grave markers. Unlike a civilian cemetery with a variety of grave markers, this cemetery (and I guess all US Military cemeteries) have very neat rows of white grave markers (tombstones). I don't know about other military cemeteries, but at Ft. Sam, when a soldier is buried, his wife (or now with more women, I guess her husband) can be buried in the same spot. They dig a very deep hole for the first grave, then put the 2nd casket on top when the time comes. As we looked at the dates, it was fascinating to see that some of the people in the area where we were had been born in the 1800's! The very first one I saw was a man who died on March 7, 1965. The reason the date stood out is that was 8 days before I was born. On another marker, the man's wife lived over 40 years after her husband died.

Back to our service. I can't remember which came first, the flag folding or the 21 gun salute (if you've never been to a military funeral, it's 7 guns shot 3 times each). Bethany pointed out that the men with the guns looked "really old." I think they were retired military. We had been told there could be no gun salute during wartime. Apparently, that was not true. The funeral home told us that, not Ft. Sam, so I guess they had the wrong info. Bethany was prepared & covered her ears. After the first round of fire, I covered my ears! Later she said, "I could FEEL it when they shot." Phil, on the other hand said, "That was COOL! That was some serious ammunition they used in those guns!" Then they played Taps. That made me teary. When they folded the flag, then presented it, the man spoke directly to Ruth, and even though he does this time and again daily, he was so sincere as he spoke the words. They have chosen the right man for this job. I don't know if he is a pastor/chaplain, but he did have on a ring with a cross on one hand and I think the pastor of Ruth's church who was there had the same ring on.

Ruth's pastor read the service from a well worn book he had. It was mainly a reading of God's Word pertaining to our new life in Heaven if we have trusted in Christ as our Savior. Death is not final, but the beginning of a perfect life.

After they closed the service, we looked over & saw a black wagon across the cemetery with black horses, then more black horses behind it. The girls & I walked to the man who conducted the military part & asked what the horses did & if that would carry the casket. He looked at the GIRLS and spoke to THEM as he explained it in a way THEY could understand. I thought that was very kind that he addressed them. He said they have 4 horses and 3 riders. He said on the 4th horse, they put a pair of boots on backwards. He said it is like the person "who the service is for" (he didn't use the word died, I noticed, which was interesting) is invisible. He explained that this person was a general, an important man in the army (I know all are important in the army, but for them that was the best explanation), and this was like he was leading his troops for the last time with the boots facing towards them. I asked if the horses were part of the army & he said, "Yes. And they probably live better than you & I do!" LOL!

A little special thing God did was to send birds to sing through the service. Ruth loves birds & Bill had hung at least 30 birdhouses in their backyard. As long as he was able, he would put birdfeed out & in the spring/summer feed the hummingbirds. How fitting that the birds would sing so sweetly. It wasn't the annoying "Caw-caw" but really pretty bird songs. The military man who conducted this service told us that he thought about mentioning the birds singing, but didn't know our family, so didn't want to say something inappropriate. He said he learns a lot about the person who has passed away by the way the family and friends are. He said some are very somber, and he thinks the person must have been a very serious person. Then others have grandkids running around and no one is fussing at them to be still, and he thinks this must have been a grandmother or grandfather who loved having children around.

After the service we enjoyed a nice lunch at Kim Tran, a Vietnamese restaurant. When Phil & I were dating, he introduced me to Vietnamese Cuisine. Though, he only introduced me to one dish and we just stick with it: Chicken Lemon Grass with rice and spring rolls. This is a real treat for me because the Vietnamese cooking doesn't use soy sauce (which is typically made of wheat) or egg roll wrappers (also made of wheat), but instead uses fish sauce and rice paper wrappers.

Ruth and Natalie went with me to Hobby Lobby. We found that the flag display boxes were on sale for 50% off! What perfect timing. I would like to have a small piece of brass embossed to put on the flag case. Phil took Ruth home. The girls & I will be delivering Girl Scout Cookies tomorrow and CLEANING. This poor house is just a disaster. I don't know that it can ever be completely organized with all of our stuff, but we will attempt to put a dent in the mess. I think getting the Christmas things into the garage might be a good start!

This is a very long post. Sorry for being so lengthy, but there was so much to tell about today.

What time of year is it?

Here's a riddle. The kids put on swimsuits and shorts. They go outside and squirt each other with the water hose til they are drenched. What time of year is it?

It's February of course! Doesn't everyone go outside to play in the water this time of year? Only if you live in South-Central Texas, Florida or Arizona, I'm sure. That's what my kids did today.

Last night after co-op, the girls had a Girl Scout Sleepover. Since our troop is through our homeschool co-op, we have girls from different areas in the city. This year, it turns out that 4 of the girls live near our co-op and 4 of them live on our side of town (our 2 included). I did the A.M. pick-up. We stopped to drop off the first girl, and ended up staying for a couple of hours while the girls played "Capture the Flag" in the backyard & my friend & I just sat & relaxed on the couch. Then we brought the other friend home with us to play. Schoolwork as in books did not happen today. But, creative juices have been flowing. The girls piled all the blankets in the house in their room then jumped onto them. Then they filled huge plastic storage boxes with soft squooshy stuff and used those as their "beds," followed finally by putting on make-up for fun. Surely some sort of learning took place in there. Tomorrow it is back to the books. Actually tonight, as we'll read before bed. Botany for Bethany!

The girls made some really cute projects at the sleepover. When I get pictures taken & uploaded I'll share them.

Hoping for a good night's sleep tonight!