December 12, 2004

The snow stayed away and Karen and I got to meet for a few hours yesterday. We ran through our normal routine…. meet at Cracker Barrel, eat at the Depot Grille, stop by the fabric store and then head to the mall. Heh.

I did get my first bad meal at the Depot (don’t try the crab-salmon-bleu cheese quiche). Karen shared her chicken tenders, so all was well.

We did get rained on a little bit. A freezing rain pelted us and neither one of us brought a coat! Fortunately the clouds were inhaling while we drove home. I just hate driving on the interstate in the rain. Am I an old lady or what?

We got to talk and shop and all that girlfriend stuff, so it was all good. Karen tried to get me to stay longer by bribing me with ice cream, but the dark clouds looming over convinced me to resist. It was a short day and it will probably be at least a couple of months before we hook up again. *sniff*

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It is so COLD today. It feels like ZERO, even though I know it isn’t. It’s just that piercing cold that tears right through your skin and chills you right down to the bone. BRR! Great time to go to bed with a heating pad.

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Dr. Young and Handsome did call in an antibiotic for Mom but I can tell she still has the UTI. I guess this is just going to be a continuing battle that never ends. She has been somewhat zombie like for the past few days, but still smiles and hugs a little. She is definitely not connecting for more than a few moments at a time. I told the aide when I took Mom back today to be sure and push fluids. “We are,” came the quick reply. I hope so. I really want her to get better.

My brother emailed me late Thursday to inform me he was going to be visiting Mom on Saturday and wanted to make sure she would be at Facility. He didn’t even invite me to meet them there. Of course, I already had plans with Karen, but that didn’t keep me from feeling crushed at the rejection. I told him I would leave my niece a gift in Mom’s closet. When I picked Mom up today the gift was still there. I know he didn’t tell his daughter there was a gift there for her because she loves presents! I don’t guess it would do any good to mail it, either. I emailed my brother and asked him why they didn’t take it and I’m waiting for a reply.

The aide said my brother got there around 5 P.M., so I imagine he got together with my sister’s family elsewhere and then went over. I guess they can’t officially put me completely out of their lives as long as Mom is living since I am the one who notifies them of her status and any emergencies. At least Mom still loves me.

I read somewhere that parents are the ones that hold families together and after their deaths, many families just lose contact with each other. So I guess it won’t be a totally strange thing that my siblings forgot they had a little sister.

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I can’t believe it, but Tana has ANOTHER hematoma in her ear. She just got the bandage off on Thursday and I still had the e-collar on her to keep her from damaging her ears. Chris called me in Staunton yesterday and told me he had found another one. I guess we’re going to have to end up getting the surgery they told me about. This dog is costing us tons of denaro. I have never in my life spent so much money on a dog. Chris is helping me pay for her vet bills, though. Isn’t he the sweetest? I also feel sorry for the poor dog who will have to endure more visits to the vet. Oh, she actually pooped in the floor last time we went. Can we say embarrassing?

I think she speaks English, because she KNOWS when we’re going to the vet. Normally when I get her leash out, she jumps up all excited and happy. When we’re going to the vet, she lays on her bad and I have to hook the leash to her and drag her off of it. She gets in the car and shakes like she’s being held at gunpoint. She KNOWS. Anyway, she isn’t going to be thrilled about starting all over and getting her ear bandaged back up. I hope I remember to get her shots updated while we’re there. I have to give them a call in the morning. I hope I can get her right in.

As usual, my days off are over much too quickly, but I think I’ll have all the other Fridays in December off. Four day work weeks for the rest of the month. Yay. I could really get used to that!

Matthew 10:36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

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