too much

Okay----its been while since I posted.   Sometimes I wonder why I post..I'm not sure anyone but me reads this.  However,  it seems to help me put things in writing.

Since I last posted, things have gone horribly  wrong.   October was fine; the first part of November was okay; then I see that Schuster, my big, black, adorable  poodle, who is 12, started to  show signs of going downhill.  He was in no pain so I could see no need to see the vet.   On Nov. 22 I got the phone call every mother dreads.  Al's youngest son, Ric, who is batting cancer, has taken a turn for the worse and is in the hospital again.  I throw a few things in a suitcase, call my good friend Barb who  drives across town to pick up the dogs; call Gary & Jeannette who agree to take care of cats and take me to the airport.  I fly to Seattle the next day.  Yes, Ric is really struggling to breathe; but the  doctors think they can help him.  So that  Jenn and I don't completely tire him out, we opt to not go to the hospital  on Sun and Mon.

Monday night I get a call from Barb.  Schuster has died.  My world starts to implode on me once again.  I know, I know,  he is just a dog  to some, but to me,  he and Beau  are my constant companions, being with me all the  time.  RIP my beautiful boy.

The next  morning I  go to the hospital to be with Janet while Ric under goes a procedure to have drains put in his lungs  to help the lungs drain fluid.  While they are rolling him to the operating room he goes into cardiac arrest.  The doctors revive him; but the news is not good.   He will not recover.   A different oncologist is called in for  second opinion, which it is confirmed Ric will not survive.  He is on a ventilator; basically that is what is keeping  him alive.  Brothers  are  called to come home; all friends and family gather.  All of us are in shock.  From Tuesday to Saturday we all live at the hospital.  Saturday, Nov 30, 11:50 a.m. Ric is gone.   A feeling of total disbelief has taken over all of us.  How can someone, so vital, full of life and had so much  to give, be dead?    I HATE CANCER!!!
I have often thought how horrible it would be to lose a child. --  now, unfortunately, I know.   I miss him so much.

 Ron,  Melanie's husband is having surgery on his brain to removed an  arteriouvenous malformation (a tangle os excessive veins & arteries in the brain, aka AVM) , so I head to Portland to be with them.  I decide there is no reason to go back to Tucson immediately.   My family is needing me here.  Thank God, Ron comes through his surgery with  flying colors.   In fact, he is doing so well,  he is released from the hospital 2 days early!  FINALLY,  good news.  I stayed with them for 10 wonderful days, spending time enjoying being with them.  I did, however, manage to fall down the outside steps at Melanie's and sprain my ankle.  Yes, I am still hobbling around.  Then back to Seattle last weekend to pester Jenn for 2 more weeks.

I did visit with Joyce, Al's sister & Michelle (niece) today.  They both look great and seem to be doing well.

I plan to fly back home on Dec. 30th.  I miss home.  I love to visit, travel, etc., but there is no place like home.  AND, I am freezing up here!   Need my heat.

I hope this finds everyone doing well, healthy & happy.  My wish for you all is a very. Merry Christmas and a very Happy 2014!

Ahhh -- Fall is in the air

FINALLY----the thermometer has dropped below triple digits...yes, Fall has hit Tucson.  It is only 89 here today.  A much welcomed cool down.  Or at least that is what the weather guesser said.  Yes, I will admit, it is a cool down, compared to the last 4 months of mostly 100+ temps.  And it feels like Fall....just the way the sun is positioned, etc.  And for the first time in four months, I don't have the A/C on!!!  It is actually nice to be able to have the doors open and fresh air in for a change.  The cats are lovin' it...one is sleeping by the front door and the other is at the patio door.  Jose, well, he is used to this by now and he's on the couch!

The last few weeks have been a bit stressful for my family.  Al's youngest son, Ric, has been diagnosed with stage IV kidney cancer, which has spread to his lungs and hip joint.  He had his right kidney removed on Aug. 28, with expectations of being healed and ready for chemo in late Sept.  Well, surgery went fine, but the healing has taken a bit longer, and he still has one incision that is not healed completely.  Until it does, he can't start chemo.  This set back he didn't need, but he is outwardly dealing with it.  I know him well enough to know he is worried and scared...hell, I am too!  I just pray that he will bounce back better than ever from all of this.

The RV Park that I live in is starting to get busy again with the winter visitors returning.  Yes, the snow bird flock is flying south with the rest of the birds.  I liked it this summer when it was so nice and peaceful; but I enjoy all the activity that the winter brings as well.  I am volunteering in the mail room 3 days a week now and I really enjoy it.  I also signed up for the quilting group and I am playing Canasta once a week as well.  Slowly, I am getting into things.  I also signed up for beginning line dance class, which starts at the end of the month, so me and my four left feet will see if we can do this!!  Some days I am too busy; over scheduling myself, but I manage to get it all done.  I have met a lot of new friends here and really beginning to appreciate the live I have here.

The kittens are growing fast.  Annabelle is going to be one big cat...Bella, on the other hand is going to be tiny.  Jose keeps them in line; every once in a while I see a cat flying across the room...Jose teaching them manners.  :-)

Not much else happening now.  I hope all is well at your end of the world.  The holidays are right around the corner and I can't believe that time has passed so quickly......before we know it 2014 will be here!  Until next time....