January 1, 2005

I suppose it’s time to take a look back over 2004.

Snowflakes greeted January and kept her company on and off all month.
I also made a set of resolutions which largely fell by the wayside, as usual.

Guess what. I didn’t do any of these except #5, which was a smashing success. I expanded on it a bit and included gifts at times. It is so much fun to take just a few minutes to brighten someone’s day. I plan to continue this as it’s totally a win-win activity. Everyone ends up happy. Other than that, I am not making any resolutions for 2005. I am terrible about keeping them anyway.

Mom had her first ‘episode’ which was some sort of seizure or mini-stroke (still don’t really know).

Tana had her first hematoma in her ear.

Leah got orders for Travis AFB and she and Josh moved to California.

In February I took Mom to visit Hazel. Mom also turned 76.

I went to West Virginia to visit Karen and we took off for a weekend in Lancaster, PA.

In March Chris got his wisdom teeth cut out and had an amazingly easy recovery.

Mom had another ‘episode’ and also took her first fall.

Our hot water heater took a dive and we learned not to just pick a name from the phone book when you need help.

In April I met my friend from Phoenix, Chris, and her husband in Bedford and we had a delightful lunch at the Peaks of Otter.

My brother and his family came and spent a week’s emptying and cleaning Mom’s house. [Now it’s sitting there empty, while her money gets spent for the storage area. Am I missing something or does this make no sense?] He said it was going on the market one Friday in August, but I’m still waiting to see a sign go up. [I have learned that when my brother says he DID something, that really means that he plans to do it.]

Chris was persuaded to transfer to Customer Service at The Secret Place and began his training.

In May Mom and another ‘episode’. After each of these episodes she is like a zombie for about 24 hours, then she is right back to (her) normal. Very strange. She usually leans way to the side, too, for one day after.

I got a flat tire. Chris fixed it for me.

June brought along the unveiling of the new incentive plan at The Secret Place. It was bad news and although I probably haven’t lost any money in the end, the new plan is a source of anxiety to me (and everyone else). The plan will be ‘looked at and re-evaluated’ this month. I’m just hoping they don’t make it worse.

I went to the beach for just three days and then Cathy and I drove to Ohio (and Indiana for Cathy), where I got to visit Mom’s relatives. I had a great time.

Josh and Chris flipped a page on their birthday calendar.

This was the beginning of the long, tortuous ordeal with Fleet Credit Card Services from which I never got any apology.

In July, Chuck’s dad won the Vermont lottery!

Mom was not doing well, but I didn’t realize she was gravely ill. I thought it was the Alzheimer’s progressing.

Carole emailed me and said she was going on a ‘mental sabbatical’ and would not be receiving any emails or phone calls until further notice. I never heard from her again, although I have heard from other people that she is fine and well. We went out weekly and were friends for several years. I still have her birthday present sitting on top of my refrigerator, as she was canceling out on her birthday luncheon when this began. I don’t know why in the world she did this to me, but I’m not going to try to force someone to be my friend. Right? I wish her much happiness even though I was quite hurt at being ‘dumped’.

I got a new schedule at work and finally got Saturdays and Sundays off. Yay!

My friend, Marshall, from Virginia Beach had a massive stroke. He survived, but still has lots of therapy to work through. It’s a very hard time for him, but I thank God for sparing his life. He has a large family and is very loved.

Josh got offered a management position at Applebee’s.

Karen lost her mother at the beginning of August and that has been hard for her, but she is working through her grief and keeping busy with new job plans.

Mom ended up in the hospital with urosepsis and almost died. She had a UTI that went untreated so long that it finally got to her bloodstream. What I had thought was the natural progression of Alzheimer’s was an infection raging through her body. [I think this same thing is happening now. In October, I took her to the doctor and got meds for a UTI. I got her more at the beginning of December, and I just got her started on yet another one yesterday. It is clear that she still has the UTI and I believe it is the same one from October.]

Josh visits at the end of the month. Right before he leaves town Leah gets orders for Iraq.

September gives Leah a trip to Iraq, where she arrives unceremoniously. [She was forced to go at the last minute when the person assigned to go failed a needed test.] She should be home this month, though. Please hurry, Leah. We need you home safely.

I went to Karen’s for a long weekend and we did Longaberger bingo and crafts.

Mom fell again. This time at my house.

I aged another year.

In October, Josh wrote a song for Leah.

Bryan and Erica got married.

My problem with Fleet was finally resolved!

Although Facility was unable to get flu shots, I was able to get one for Mom. She also has another UTI.

Mom was started on Memantine along with her Aricept to see if it would help her symptoms.

The Red Sox won the World Series.

November brought another Republican victory as President Bush gets voted in for a second term.

I got sick with a horrible cold. Ended up being sick for about three weeks!

I went to Virginia Beach to see the lovely Elisabeth marry her beau. I stayed with my wonderful Pearson friends. Chuck became the senior pastor at Tidewater after Pastor Hawkins retired.

Tana gets another hematoma in her ear.

I reluctantly took Mom off Memantine after her condition seemed to worsen and no sign of improvement at all was seen.

Mom continues to suffer with her UTI throughout December. I am still pumping her with fluids and antibiotics.

I met Karen for the day in Staunton and we did our usual.

Tana ended up needing surgery on her ear and is still recovering.

Chris and I ended the year quietly. Josh and Leah were missed at Christmas, but I am thankful everyone is well.

Overall, 2004 was a great year. I know it probably sounds boring to the point of tears, but I have learned that sometimes the normal day to day things are the most precious. I still have Mom and my kids; and Leah will be home soon. I haven’t been fired from my job (in fact, I was just chosen for some sort of special recognition in which I won $25 and a shirt that says I’m wonderful. Oh, and my picture is on the wall. Heh.). I’ve been able to pay all my bills and I have a disgusting amount of material possessions. The Lord has not left my side for even one second all year long. How could things be better?

Revelation 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.