Not a lot of time this morning.  It is a Dr. Cole work day for me. 

Susan leaves here tomorrow evening with two of the boys to fly back home.  It will be hard to say goodbye.  A good visit, it has been. 

Little Casey Jo and Joseph have had a time running their big dumptrucks around the parimeter of the fenced back yard area.  They climbed the wood pile and they played for hours in the dirt. 

Susan teases Sharalee continuously about her treatment of Carinna saying she is taking notes and plans to take Carinna home with her.  Carinna just fell and has a bruise on her forehead. 

Curtis' Crew is working on the roof trusses of Greg & Jen's house.  It sure has a nice view and looks a lot bigger. 

Tom hears about layoffs in October says he figures there's a 50% chance he will be retired in October.    Kind of excited about what the future holds for us. 

Me:  I am teaching a women's counseling class for the college starting the end of this month.  It is a little scary, but I have done it before... it just seems I was so much younger and full of energy back then. 

Off to spend some time with the Lord before really starting my day.... will write more later.

Today Susan and two of her boys arrive.  Connie and Ethan are driving them down.  Tomorrow Joe arrives.  Jeff is bringing him and the other two older boys down.  It is gonna be a fun weekend. 

So, ok... yesterday I worked at Dr. Cole's office.  It was a very interesting day... it was supposed to be only 3 hours, but it was more like 7 because of the strange things that happened.  One of the strangest was that we had a flood on the third floor.  The men's room toilet, which is off the hallway, was overflowing in a very big way.... the hallway was flooded, our office back room was flooded and the water was running through the floor onto the 2nd floor and into the "colonoscopy recovery room"!  We were running around grabbing every paper towel we could find to try to create a dam and contain the flood water.  And we were moving the boxes that house older patient charts and overflowing drug samples. 

Then the door to the drug sample closet was locked and even the key would not unlock it.  The maitenance man couldn't get it open either... and the modem is in there and it needed to be re-set to send electronic billing.. a very important part of office duties... probably the most important thing we do!!!  

A patient called and wanted to get a prescription for an anti-inflammatory drug which the doctor had given her samples.  BUT it wasn't written in the chart  which one... so did some detective work and figured it was Mobic and called her pharmacy, placed the order, just to get a call back that her insurance requires p rior authorization before they can fill that drug.  Well, that can and usually does take a lot of time, which I did not have at the moment... so I called the patient, who has an appointment on Monday, and told her I would give her some samples to get her by until her next appointment if she could come pick them up.  This all happened just prior to the flood and then the unlockable drug closet door... so she shows up and I can't give them to her, but I remember I had some at home so arranged to take them to her.  (this is not our usual protocol -- beyond the usual service we render, definitely... but she was really hurting and I felt bad she had gotten off work early to come by for nothing.)  Anyway, I ran home just to realize I never had used the Mobic samples I had at home, so I had returned them to the drug closet which is now seemingly hopelessly locked.  I had to place the call to the patient to tell her I was really sorry, but I didn't have any Mobic afterall.  I left the message on her answering machine.  Then I went to the other office nurses condo to give her some things and was telling her this story, when much to my surprise she said... I have some Mobic samples you can have!!!  And she gave me just enough to get the patient by until Tuesday, the day after her appointment!!!  So long story... but success comes in the end.  I showed up at her door after all and she was very, very blessed! 

Ok... Holly made me think I should really write this down.  This morning while holding Joseph, who will be three in September, and putting a bottle away in the pantry on the floor, I sort of lost my balance a little... but I caught myself without too much trouble.  What totally cracked me up until I couldn't stop laughing was what Joseph said in response.  He said in a two year old + dialect, "you tryin to break my neck?"  WHERE IN THE WORLD DID HE COME UP WITH THAT ONE!!!!!!!???

Well, it is now the first of August.  This last month has cruised by pretty fast.  Some of the highlights include the visit of  Josiah, Jessie, Holly, and of course Ivan.  We visited an antique store, and some thrift shops.  Then there was the card game which created some fun fellowship with the Greg & Jen Fraters and Curtis & Sharalee Dunbars & Andrew.  They were a delight to have.... only sorry part was how short the visit had to be.  Andrew came to stay for a week and do some work for us.  That was very nice and it helped Grandpa out a lot.  He even did tractor work with Tom's tractor affectionately known as "Bathsheba".  He is saving to buy his first car.  Driving lessons to obtain the drivers license started the 25th of July.  He will be 16 in October.

Then on last Wednesday, the 27th at 6:51 AM we welcomed little Isaish Thomas Dunbar into the house and family.  He was to be called Napoleon Dynamite Dunbar, but when he reached about 5 hours old, he was given his actual and permanent name.  Now we have 15 residing in the house. 

Uncle Steve is mowing the lawn on a very regular basis and it has been a tremendous help to Tom. 

I am working for Dr. Cole again... on Wednesday and every other Friday... I think!!!!  Things change kind of fast around there.

Also, have a couple of fun Fraterfactory projects to work on.  One is a book of prayers, healing and comfort a very talented friend has written.  A new church directory with pictures... we have grown so much. 

Then the end of this month there is the Women counseling Women class I will be teaching for the College... This requires a whole lot of the Lord... but He, I am assured, is up to the task! 

The next thing on the calendar is a visit from Susan & family.  They are flying into Spokane tomorrow where they will spend some time with Thad & family which even includes a trip to Silverwood I am told.... then Connie will drive them down here on Thursday and Joe (Susan's husband) is supposed to join us here on Friday.  Jeff is also driving down on Friday to join the fun. 

On the building front (see I have lots to say).  Curtis and Sharalee have had their trusses delivered.  Their house should be finished being framed by the end of this week, then next week Greg & Jen's trusses arrive and their house will be framed. 

Thad & Jen are heading for the annual Huckleberry festival in Montana for a few days this month also. 

Well, so long for now......