From Mexico to St. Louis

Tucson March 29.2007

WE have just returned from a few days in Puerto Penasco, (Rocky Point) Mexico. Our friends Jack and Sue have a beautiful home there on the beach and we spent 3 wonderful, relaxing days there with them. What a treat! We always love going there...it's the getting there that bothers me. I don't particularily like to drive in Mexico. You need eye's all around your head and be very cautious. The drivers in Mexico don't exactly obey traffic laws and rules. And it seems that is just isn't the residents there, but everyone else from the U.S. drives like they do! I guess when in Rome....or Mexico in this case. At any rate, driving is a frightening proposition for me there and I don't like to drive down there. Jack does just fine, but then again, he is somewhat used to thier driving habits. I, on the other hand, felt like I was back in Saudi!

Jack and Sue Waddick in Puerto Penasco




"Rocky" Jack and Sue's Mexico cat...he is the neighborhood cat and he is well taken care of!



And since my oldest daughter is named "Melanie" I had to take this picture for her!


The weather was so-so while we were there...we had one absolutely beautiful warm day, one day that was cool and one day a dust storm blew in and made a mess of everything! We took Beau and Schuster with us and they really loved running on the beach and chasing the ball on the beach. Beau, of course, made friends with everyone on the beach....our little goodwill ambassador! Of course, to Beau, everyone is a potential ball thrower!

Once we got back to Tucson we hit the floor running. Al had a doctor appointment yesterday and the doctor doesn't feel that all the fluid is gone, so Al is still taking lasix twice a day along with the potassum. But Al is feeling much better and has more energy. Right now he is out on the deck planting a tomato plant in a pot....his passion...tomatoes! If we can just keep the javelina's from eating the plant we will have it made. The Javelina's have taken big, huge, bites out of some or our cactus...OUCH!

April 5, 2007
The last week has been busy with doctor appointments, helping a good friend celebrate his 60th birthday (he is older than I am!!! Tee Hee! -- and he knows who he is!) and generally just doing our normal "stuff"!

Today we are leaving for Phoenix to spend the night, because at 0'dark thirty tomorrow morning we are flying to St. Louis (via Dallas) to spend Easter with Mike, Bev, Sarah, Chris and Natasha. We are both really looking forward to this trip and hope this trip won't get interrupted like our trip to St. Louis did last year when AL's brother died. So, all of you, stay well and safe!

Our plans are to spend a few days with Mike and Bev, then we are off to Lake of the Ozarks for a few days in a time share. We usually meet up with the Skidmores at their house on the lake, however, this year due to medical problems, they won't be in Missouri until sometime in May. We will get in a visit with AL's cousin Fern and husband Les in Clinton and try and see our grandson David (if he will ever answer my phone calls...I think he may be trying to avoid seeing the Grandparents---however he should know me well enough to know I will track him down!) We are looking forward to this trip. The dogs have their dishes packed and ready to go to Holly and Bruce's while we are gone and the cats know they will be "home alone" again...Holly looks after them as well.

Weather here in Tucson has heated right up....92 yesterday and right now at 2:00 p.m. it is 91 -- my kind of weather. Al is starting to make noises about heading north, but he has a doctor appointment on May 8, so I know we will be here that long, but I bet we will be heading north on May 9!

So, until next time, we wish everyone a Happy Easter and hope you are living life the way you want!

Things are a lookin' better around here

Tucson March 22, 2007

Before I even start on this blog, I have to say, we are in the middle of one heck of a storm! We have thunder (Schuster is trying to get UNDER the bed...he's too big!), lightning and rain....lots of water falling from the sky. We had just about forgot what rain was like! And boy, do we need this rain. Everything here is sooooooo dry. (Maybe the snakes will go back into hiding??? Not likely!!) At any rate, we are enjoying the storm and the rain.



Al has finally gotten all the results from all of the tests but one. The echocardiogram showed the right chamber of his heart wasn't emptying completely, therefore the remaining blood would flow back into the liver, kidneys and cause the edema. After mega doses of lasix and potassum, he has lost most of the fluid. He had gained 20 lbs in 3 weeks, and lost 20 lbs in 3 days with the lasix. I tell you, you didn't want to be in his way when he was heading to the bathroom!!!! We saw the cardiologist this week and he is pretty happy with the progress. He said Al's heart is strong and he changed some of Al's meds, reducing the lanoxin he is taking and we hope that will solve the slow heart rate problem. WHEW!!!! Al is feeling much, much better, he even has some energy and isn't as tired and weak anymore. That sure was a scary few days!

We have been laying low for the last two weeks, just trying to get Al well. It seems like I haven't gotten too much done, but I have been busy. Just can't figure out what I have done that kept me so busy...oh, wait, I know...it was running after things for Al. And it seems like a gazillion doctor appointments! WOW! Now I will have the headache of sorting through all the medicare and insurance paperwork. ICK.

BEWARE you drivers in Tucson....Cortney has her driver's license! She is a very good driver however. She was so excited when she got her license.....and rightfully so. Do you remember when you got your driver's license? I think I remember when I did....it was so long ago!!!!


Well, that's about all the news from this end of the world...hope this finds you all happy and healthy. Until next time............

Company, Fun, and a sick Husband

Tucson

All of our company has left. We have had non-stop company since March 1 and we have enjoyed every bit of it...however, it has taken it's toll. The washer and dryer haven't stopped for two days....and I haven't even had time to clean the house...but I am getting ahead of myself.

After Billie and Dan left, we had a day to get ready for the next round of company. This time it was son Mike and wife Bev from St. Louis and good friends Rowland and Kathy Brasch from Seattle area. They all arrived within an hour of each other on the 6th. I had made a killer Emerile Lagasse sausage and chicken gumbo for dinner that night. We all got to just sit and visit and the weather, I might add, that Bev had ordered, (warm, hot, warm) was cooperating. The evenings are so nice to sit on the deck and enjoy our view. Anyway, that was the first night.

Next day, Mike starts working around our house on the yard, cutting back some cactus and weeds....some vacation, huh? Bev and I putz around, doing a little shopping...remember, I still have a broken ankle, but I am not letting it slow me down much. We all had lunch with Jude and Roger Hubbell today at their club in Saddlebrooke. Tonight for dinner we join Bruce, Holly and Cortney at Benihana's for dinner. For some reason, Benihana's wasn't as good as I was expecting.

Thursday - Rowland and Kathy take off to go to Tubac and Nogales Mexico for the day. Mike is still working in the yard...he says he loves it, but I have to wonder...these plants we have BITE! Bev and I do a little more shopping. Tonight for dinner we also have Jude and Roger Hubbell and Pat and Patti Voss for dinner. Mike and Al do a standing rib roast on the grill and it was sooooo good. Weather is still great.

Friday - Big day for us. First off, the guys cook breakfast for us. What a treat.

Rowland, Mike, Al


After we clean up the kitchen Kathy, Bev and I go to the new shopping mall, La Encantada, very up scale to do some looking. We had lunch at a restaurant called Firefox....must remember to bring Al here...it was great. After we cruised through places like Coach, Louis Vitton, etc. we decided this mall was out of our league. They do have a cute pet store "Muttropolis" there, for the very, very, very spoiled pet in your life. Tonight our friends from California roll in (they are staying in a hotel) Bill and Eva Davey and Donna and Gary Bearden. We were really happy to see them and get to visit a bit. They were here for dinner along with friends Dona and Bill Bender and Jack and Suzie Waddick. The Brasch's are staying with the Benders tonight and Jack and Suzie move into our other spare guest room. Are you still with me here? Mike and Bev basically did dinner tonight...French Dip Sandwiches, I madea pasta salad, potato chips and great toffee bars that Bev did. I must add here that Bev and Kathy have really been a big help for me...and Rowland keeps telling me to sit down and get off my sore ankle...right, as if I will listen!

Donna & Gary Bearden


Eva Davey and Gary Bearden


Jack & Sue Waddick


Bill Davey and Sue Waddick

The wonderful Kitchen Helpers....Kathy and Bev




Saturday...The California crowd goes off to do some exploring for the day. Mike, Bev and Al went to the Mesa Swap meet for the day. I am alone!!! I took Jose into the vet with a sore tail....yes, another vet trip. I should get a frequent visitor card for the vet! Jose has a cut on his tail that is infected....when will it end with the pets in this house???????
Tonight is the Santa Maria Barbecue here. Al grilled tri tips and I made a big pot of pinquito beans. Pinquito beans are native to the Santa Maria valley in California...they are a small pinto like bean. I did the traditional Santa Maria recipe for the beans and boy were they ever good. Bev made a killer chocolate cake and we all celebrated Jack's birthday (I won't give away his age). The California crowd was here....still need to visit more with them and I am feeling bad because we didn't have a lot of time to visit with them. Too much company. The weather has been absolutely fabulous all week...in the mid to high 80's -- just perfect for me. We have spent a lot of time on the deck enjoying the weather and our great view of the mountains.

Sunday...Mike and Bev leave. We both hated to see them leave. We really enjoyed their visit. All of a sudden, the house is quiet. Jack and Sue are at the craft fair, so we are all alone. I want to insert at this point, our dogs, have been played with by everyone...so now I am left with two dogs who EXPECT to be played with all of the time. Tonight we (Al and I, Jack and Suzie) met the Californians at Carrabba's for dinner. We had never been there, but we will go back...it was good. We didn't know that Carrabba's was part of the Outback chain, or I should say part of the same corporation that owns Outback, Cheeseburger in Paradise, Chili's, Macaroni Grill and many other restaurants. We say goodbye to the California crowd....hope to see them again soon.

Monday. Jack and Sue leave early this morning. I take Al to the doctor this morning for a follow up appointment for his blood pressure. However, last night Al said his legs were "weeping" or seeping water. Huh??? What's that all about? And he has had a dry, hacking cough for over a week and has had trouble breathing when laying down flat in bed. He blamed the breathing on his C-Pap, but he also has a very dry mouth. Sooooo...I mention all of the above to the doctor, who gets a frown on his face and starts going over Al with a fine tooth comb. Al has gained 17 pounds in the last 3 weeks as well. Yup, he is retaining fluid. Doctor puts him on mega doses of lasic's and potassium, sends him for a chest X-ray and orders a echo cardiogram asap. We got the chest xray done today and the echo cardiogram scheduled for tomorrow. AL is not feeling to well today, however, he said he felt fine while all the company was here and he was pretty active while everyone was around to keep him busy. I am scared spit less.

ALSO, tonight on the news, the word is out...SNAKES ARE AWAKE!!! The warm weather have woken up the snakes and they are hungry...many people have found them in their yards in the last few days. SWELL.....now I don't want to go outside!

Tuesday
Okay, back to the snakes. I dreamed about snakes all night. I would wake up and my heart would be pitter patting along at a rapid pace... I tell you ...I am scared spit less of snakes.

Al had the echo cardiogram today and I got to watch. Interesting to watch his heart beat....and kinda' scary. His heart rate is at 40, not very good. He is weak, tired and very dizzy, which we think might be from the lasic's and potassium, at least we hope it is. Hopefully we will hear some news on the results of this test soon. I will keep you all posted in my next blog...but we sure could use your prayers for him.

More later..........

What a week!!!!

Tucson
March 5

Whew! What a week I have had...and NEVER want to repeat what happened on Thursday...

Last week started off alright...kinda. On Saturday, Feb. 24 we took Ric, Janet and Cammie to the airport at o'dark thirty to catch their plane back to Seattle. After we got home I was doing some laundry when the step stool in the laundry room came crashing down and attacked my left ankle. OUCH...that hurt, however, I didn't think to much about it and kept on going. Yes, it was swollen, but it didn't hurt to much. I lived with the sore ankle until Wednesday, when I happened to look at my left foot and not only was it swollen, it was black and blue! So, off to the doctor I go. He doesn't think it is broken, but sent me for an xray. He will call with results. For now, he has me in an ankle brace. NOW my ankle hurts! The brace is driving me crazy.

Thursday I am busy around the house as Billie and Dan are flying in that afternoon. Dan has his own plane and will land in Marana, which is about 30 minutes from here. They call us from the half way point and tell us they will be in around 5:00 p.m. Now, I have to tell you at this point, before I go any farther with my story, that our utilites for the house (gas meter, water and electic) are located right off the driveway to the south of the house. At 4:15 we are backing out of the driveway and I KNOW those utilites are there, but what do I do? I BACK RIGHT OVER THEM!!! CRAP! In my new car. CRAP, CRAP! Now not only do I back over them but I broke off the gas meter and the water pipe. Lucky for us I missed the electric post! Now, we have gas leaking and water gushing! CRAP, CRAP, CRAP! I try to move the car forward, but it is hung up on the broken gas meter. At least I had enough since to tell Al to get out of the car NOW...of course, he was on the downward side of the hill and it sure wasn't easy for him to get out. I call 911 and the Fire Department arrives (10 minutes later!!) In the mean time we still have gas leaking. As the fireman said, "good thing you didn't hit the electic meter or you wouldn't be here to tell us what happened!" Thanks guys! Anyway, the gas and water companies get the gushing water and gas turned off, the fire department get's my car off the gas meter, and I am one big basket case. In the mean time, Billie and Dan have landed at the airport and I call them to tell them we have had a small accident and we will be there as soon as we can to pick them up. In the middle of all of this excitement, my doctor's office calls and tells me "oh, by the way, you have a hair line fracture in your ankle...wear your brace for a few more days and see how it goes." What timing! I am done for the day! I called Holly to come rescue me....and drive me over to pick up Billie and Dan. After a long, hair raising day, we finally got gas and water restored to the house about 10:00 p.m. I don't want another day like that!!!!




Friday dawned a beautiful day. Sun was shining and no wind. Dan asked me if I wanted to go flying....HECK YES! So we off we go...what a thrill. Dan has a Cessna 172, old, but in good condition. We flew over our house, Holly and Bruce's house, Saddlebrooke and the valley in front of our house. Man, I never knew how many houses are hidden in this valley and how much new construction is going on! What a great flight tho. Since I love to fly, in anything, I was really happy. Saturday night we celebrated Dan's birthday, which isn't until next month, but what the heck...I made him lasagne, his request.


our house from the air



Saturday was Billie's birthday. Since it was too windy to go flying, we just rode around the area, looked at some model homes in Saddlebrooke and Dove Mountain, and generally goofed off. Al bbq'd ribs for dinner (Billie's request) and I made Billie her chocolate cake; Bruce, Holly and Cortney joined us for dinner. The wind blew all day....and not just a breeze, it blew hard.

Dan gave Billie a Coach Purse for her birthday!


Sunday was calm, so Dan took Al flying and then me. I would love to learn how to fly...but then I would want a plane, ... so guess it is best I just rely on Dan and the airlines to satisfy my flying habit. We went to dinner at Lil Abner's steakhouse and yum, it was wonderful.

Today (Monday) we were up early to get Dan and Billie back to their plane and they are on their way home...the weekend was just way to short! However, we have a lot to look forward to this week. Tomorrow Mike and Bev get here, as well as friends Kathy and Rowland. So our house will be busy this week. On Friday our good friends from Long Beach arrive for the weekend. They will be staying in a hotel close by...so we will be busy. Both of us love having company and are really looking forward to this week.

The animals are better...finally. Juanito got his stitches out and Schuster got his cast off. However, because he had the cast his foot got a yeast infection...dogs sweat through their paws. So now he has a collar on his neck so he won't lick the infected paw...good grief...he is not happy at all, and I get these big, sad, brown eyes looking at me saying "why?" He has to wear this collar until Friday and he and I are both counting the days!

So until next time, I will try not to break or run over anything and will enjoy our company.