...and it is already the next midweek!!!!! 

I spent some time in what sort of felt like JAIL!!!  Yes, it wasn't the local jailhouse but I was chained to a thing on wheels by tubes.  I was not free to roam about or even change clothes.  They did give me all the water I could drink, plus anything off the "clear liquid diet menu".  I even had red Jello!!!  Still don't know what it was for sure...

I started getting nauseated with severe acid reflux on Friday night, and began throwing up all night long.  I could not even keep water down.    At one point on Saturday, I was so weak... I blacked out hitting my head on the tile surrounding the tub and breaking it, plus cutting my arm on something.  I have no idea what happened to me.  Uncle Tom heard a body hit the floor (he said it sounded like "FLOP" and I don't think that is a compliment). He found me lying there with my eyes open but like I wasn't really there.  I came to, or too, or two???  (however you spell that kind of 2, I got there quickly.)  It could have been worse, but I am only left with a slight headache, bruises and a broken tile.  The weird thing is I didn't even know what happened.  I have never passed out before in my entire life. 

I really thought it was a 24 hour bug that would fly away as fast as it came.  NOT SO FAST!  Ok, let's speed this up:  The short version is:  I ended up being taken to Emergency on Sunday by Uncle Tom because I was still not able to keep anything down, nothing not even distilled water.  I was so dehydrated that it took three people, a baby needle, plus at least 7 sticks to get an IV into me.  (and get this, I was told repeatedly that the IV was "in a really bad spot".)  Then there was the lab guys separately trying to draw blood... ohhh!  One finally succeeded, he was good.  He used a glove filled with warm water like a balloon and it worked.  He was quite friendly asking all sorts of questions about the Olympics. 

Then, I was informed that my blood had gotten so thick from the dehydration, I was at risk for blood clots so I had to get heparin shots in my belly....  Very low potassium, and high calcium which they think came from the Tums I kept throwing up.  ????  They had already transferred me to another location which they called "purgatory" and then made me stay a second day so I didn't get home until yesterday.... WOW, it's so good to be out and FREE!!! 

My friend, the one with the big head and the moped.. (remember from a few weeks ago?) well I had to call her to tell her, "no latte on the porch for you on Tuesday morning".  So her and husband showed up and sat with me that evening... then she came back in the morning before work, totally out of her way, with a latte and roll for me and we had fellowship in "purgatory". 

So that is how I spent my weekend!   ...being babied in the local hospital, nurses running to meet my every need whenever I pushed a button... my dear husband telling me he didn't want to spend another night without me.  I told him to climb on in the hospital automatic bed with me.. but he thought that would be frowned upon!  (But when I think about it, the last night we spent together he was emptying my pink bowl for me and getting me wash cloths, drinks of water, Tums, picking me up off the floor, etc.  I think the real reason he wouldn't climb in bed at the hospital is that he was afraid they would throw us out and he would get to be my nurse some more!) 

PS  I didn't call everyone because, I didn't think it was any big deal!!!  Some of the accusations were that I was going to a lot of trouble to get attention, son #3... and then another friend was troubled that I didn't call her, at least for prayer.  She claims that to get me back when she goes to the hospital she isn't telling me either!!!  Friends!!!     You gotta lov'em!

PPS  To make things even more interesting.  All my local family which total 14, and live on the same block as us, were out of town, we were puppy sitting, the youth group had borrowed our van for the weekend, the Corvette had it's wheels off, while it calipers were being painted red*, and the Fleetwood doesn't have lights that work so no night driving!  Hmmmmmmm,  how un-boring!!!!! 

*Uncle Tom tells me painting the calipers red is like a lady having nice nail polish on her nails! 

In summary, I am sorry for not letting you know like I should have... it isn't any kind of statement on how important or unimportant you are to me.... gosh, I love you guys for even caring.  AND I think something died in me... something that needed to die!  I feel so free!  It's wonderful and I love HIM!!!  Ok, I am gonna go listen to some music while I do all the chores I can do from bed!

     Here are some pictures.  This bridal shower was for the daughter of a family who has been very dear to us over the years. I was so blessed they requested to have it here. Thank YOU!!

Below, in red dress, is the bride, Nicole. 

     Nicole met her fiancee when they were 5 years old in Big Bear, CA.  At that time, they had to be separated because they wouldn't leave each other alone.  They re-met this last year when Nicole felt led to go back to Big Bear and it looks like they won't be separated again!  Congratulations!!!

It has been awhile and there hasn't been a shortage of things to write about.   I have been swamped.... new jobs, and another new job.  Then there has been sickness... some bug spreading through family.  It seems to be mostly gone now. 

Connie my PO prayer friend who comes on Tuesday & Thursdays for coffee, fellowship, and prayer got herself a new moped.  She even has a matching helmet which she claims is too big.  It is an extra large.  I told her I thought she was getting a big head and she just laughed.   Then she goes to get this helmet and the guy fits her with an XL saying they run small.  Yeah right!!!   

     And Xanga hasn't been cooperating as I have lots of videos and pictures to share but I have gotten tired of trying to upload them.  I will try again.  I have a 3 y/o birthday party to share; and there is the wonderful 7 girls, all sisters at their home we got to visit.  They are amazing.  And videos of the absolutely delightful Westley.  And other stuff... I will need to poke around and find it all.

Had to take a quick trip down to AZ to see Uncle Doug.  It was a real fiasco just getting the plane tickets quickly, getting packed to leave etc.  Makes for little sleep.  I tried to book on Delta's site, but the IE kept locking up saying there was an error and it needed to close.  I changed computers it did it again.  I am very pressured to "HURRY" up and get it done.  I move to Priceline and the cost is high but there is a box that says I could negoiate for a price.  So I thought, why not?, and proceeded to negoiate a lower price which they countered  and it was better than the original considerably so I said ok... then because I didn't check one of the boxes it came back with a red warning at the time.  I happened to notice when looking for the specific flights I had selected... they were not listed.  Instead it said something to the effect we would be e-mailed a confirmation letting us know when our flight times would be but that they would be between 10:30AM and Midnight the day we requested and we would be there no later than the next day by 10:30AM.  I paniced and thought oh no that isn't going to work... so I ended up just going with Expedia like usual.  It was expensive but it got the job done.

Then we had a 3 hour delay on the way down.  We got there went directly to see Uncle Doug and we just sat with him, talked, rubbed his head, shoulders, prayed for him.  He never woke up to say anything to us... he passed on at about 6:45AM the next morning.  That was fast.  Norma died February 8th, 2008 and Uncle Doug died July 12th, 2008.  He was finished, ready to go.  He was quoted as having said something to the effect of, "Why don't you just let an old man, die?"  He will be missed, but he did tell me that he gave his life to the Lord through watching Charles Stanley on TV a few years back.   I am very grateful he told me this. 

This picture was taken about 2 months ago.

APRIL 2, 1923 - JULY 12, 2008

Caryn, Tom's sister, went also and we were able to secure a room for only $89 per night for all three of us... at a Holiday Inn Express.  It was nice, clean, and comfortable.  We all cried and laughed a lot.  It was so good having her there too! 

On the trip home, there was that heavy rain in Phoenix and the airport was closed down causing us to miss our connecting flight in Salt Lake City, so we had to stay the night there in Salt Lake City, still getting little sleep, and not getting home until Monday morning.  Flying isn't fun anymore like it used to be.  I kind of don't like it.  It takes way too long to get anywhere. 

So I am running a little fever and feeling exhausted.   More later... and there is some good news too!  End of this post for now.

And you know who you are.....

The Whole Family - Today

Without Whiley or rather Westley

The BELLY (Sharalee is ready, William is not)

Belly Contest #1 Sharalee Wins

Belly Contest #2  Steve Wins

Some pictures... from Curtis and Sharalee's deck.  Camera setting for fireworks produced some interesting pictures. 

Lizzy actually warmed up to G-Pa!!!

The Lemon Aide!

The BOMB!!! WOW was it loud!

A Lonely Cloud

Curtis with BIG Sparkler

Another Sparkler Shot

Ellie Sparkling with Sparkler

Curtis with the same BIG sparkler

Some Ground Works

A Sky Firework

Was visiting with a friend this morning, named Lisa.  She suggested I put this in my blog for today.  For Rest:  Crawl up on God's altar and die!   (Notice Altar, Alter??  Hmmmm)

Got some pictures and video of the new amphitheater where we are having worhips services on Sunday mornings.  The local news came to check us out and interview Pastor Steve.....  It can be HOT!!!  Trees are just babies.... we need to give them a couple years!!!!!  AWESOME!!  Bless you'all! PS  There is a youth concert this Wednesday @ 6:30PM.

This is a panoramic shot! 

The old sign on our 15 acre building lot we took down about 2 years ago cause it was so warn.  I think it is still at the shop!!! 

My Bible..... We're in John!

Dru & Joseph being creative when drinking their milkshakes last week at Sonic.  Ryan was at Tae Won Doh (sp).

Some WILD flowers at Curtis & Sharalee's House!

Claire

Opening Gifts

Trying on New Sweater

Couldn't resist this little kitty in babydoll stroller!

Here is Jenny holding Whiley (about 6 weeks old here)

Joseph

What a view!!!