We've made it to Jacksonville! We took an alternate route yesterday. The traffic is Memphis has been horrible and there is major construction just before the city, so we went north to Dyersburg and then down to Corinth MS and over into Alabama north of Birmingham. We had to leave an hour earlier than usual and we got to our hotel at the same time we normally would have, so I don't know if the extra hour of driving was worth it to miss some traffic. We forgot to bring Bill a jacket (after all it is late July and we were in south Alabama) so stopped at Walmart before we ate dinner. All we could find was a quilted flannel shirt, but it was only $5 and it was cold in the restaurant! I have also decided that the drivers in Alabama have got to be the worst drivers in the world! And, if any of you reading this are from Alabama, sorry, but it's true!

Today's drive was supposed to be a little easier but it started raining as soon as we crossed into Florida. Before we made it to Tallahassee we had to pull to the side of the road it was raining so hard. I could see a dark shape in front of me but couldn't tell how far. So, it was better to sit for 15 minutes than keep going. We stopped again at a rest stop just up the road, but that was mainly for a potty break. Now it's my fault it rained so hard. It had been raining, but not bad, and I needed to stop. So I said God, please make it quit raining so we can stop at a rest area. The rain slowed up and a sign for a rest area appeared, but this rest area is way off the highway, so I told Bill I didn't want to stop at that one. As soon as we passed by...that's when the rains really came down! So, I had to apologize to God for not taking what He offered the first time! We got wet at the rest area when we did stop, but it wasn't the deluge it had been.

We are planning on seeing our friends Faith and Abner tomorrow afternoon. We didn't get to see them the last trip.

This has been a sad week for us. A dear friend lost his wife this week. He's going to be totally lost without her. They didn't have any children and his nephew doesn't live close. He had taken care of her for a couple of years now, so don't know what he's going to do. Then last night another friend lost his battle with cancer. He was a young man and had fought hard for about 5 years.

McKenna got home from camp yesterday and after a shower and some food (Emily said she was starving) she fell asleep about 7:15 last night! She sent me a text this morning that she was still hungry!

We're going to head out to our favorite pizza place here for some supper and then hit the grocery store for some breakfast items. We're staying in an Extended Stay with kitchenette again so we don't have to eat every meal out. The breakfast they offer in the lobby leaves a lot to be desired, so we'll pick up something for here.

I will update this again after the biopsy and then again when we get the results. Hope everyone is enjoying the week-end.

Early post this week, and I know most of you still keeping up with us won't see it until the normal time. But, with getting ready to travel, and a little bit of news already this week, I just figured I would go ahead and get it done.

We are leaving Friday for Bill's biopsy on Monday. The reservations have been made, laundry is done so the suitcases can be packed. I'm going to do that today so that I don't mess up my manicure tomorrow!

Bill is now wanting to try to use his computer again. When we were doing the 1st phase of the remodel, Bill kept track of everything on the computer. He kept spreadsheets on everything done, including tracking Ron's hours and pay. I printed out a form for Ron to use to track his hours while we are gone and now, Bill wants to enter them into the computer. So, I found the spreadsheet and pulled it up and we got the info entered. Bill was very frustrated because he can't remember how to do any of that. We had to get him a new keyboard and he was able to get it connected and running by himself last night! That's a major breakthrough. We were looking at the spreadsheet and for some reason the formulas for the cells that figure amounts are not there. Now, when I took spreadsheets in college I barely passed the course, (and failed the final...guess I shouldn't have walked out in the middle of it). Somewhere, probably packed into a box somewhere we have an Office for Dummies book that would probably help. So, I'll probably look for it today. But, at least he's wanting to start sitting at the computer. We'll get him a new email address set up before long if he keeps it up.

I know it's been frustrating for him to look at things and know that he used to do or use it. He's seen some electrical drawings and other things that he had written for work and doesn't have a clue to what they mean. I don't know if that will ever come back completely if at all. He's now talking about seeing Dr. Salguerio the psychiatrist he had seen for depression. They had told him that it wouldn't be a problem working him back in. We're going to wait until we get back from Florida and see how he's doing then.

So, that's the news for now. I'll update this again Saturday after we get settled at our hotel in Florida. Enjoy your week!

Phase 2 has begun...no, it's not any new medical procedure, it's our re-modeling project. We've had to rethink some things and I don' know if I'm going to like it, but, there's no way around it. Since Bill can't be around paint fumes and drywall dust this phase is going to have be done more while we're not here, and I hope that Ron, our painter, will pay attention to his instructions and do what we, or should I say, I want. We're starting with the main bathroom and we've also scaled back the project. We were going to have a walk-in tub, or just a shower installed instead of a bathtub and we've changed our minds on that. Part of it is because of Bill's circumstances. The main part is me...I don't have the desire to re-do it all. So, paint, new flooring, new toilet and vanity and hardware and we're done. Ron has this week to get as much prep work done as possible and then the 5 days that we are gone. We bought everything yesterday and the big pieces will be delivered tomorrow morning. He got all the wallpaper off the walls yesterday, and already we're finding that it's going to be a long week. Things were just put anywhere when he got started, instead of asking if I had something to put things in. So, this morning Bill can't find his shave cream, I couldn't find the cup dispenser to take my medicine (I did find the medicine) and who knows what else we'll have to search for! OK, done venting!

Nothing spectacular happened this week. It's been rather dull. This week will be different, packing, making reservations, getting ready to leave Friday. I did get a haircut and it feels wonderful! Haven't gone this short in a long time! I'm going to get a little pampering this week and get a manicure and pedicure before we go. Aahh...the little things that make us happy!

All for this week...have a great Sunday!

Update for the 1st week in July

I tried to update this last night and Blogger ate it. It kept telling me I was leaving something blank. It's also told me the same thing this morning. I've put a title on this one as you can see. I hope I don't have to title all of them!

Our week was interesting. Tuesday I took Ryan, his girlfriend Amanda, and his kids Kayden and Kiyann, to Jonesboro. Some of you know that he has had a drinking problem and lost his drivers license for 2 years. Anyway, he has fulfilled all of the requirements of the suspension. He had to return his interlock device to the shop that installed it and then take that receipt to Driver Control. After doing all of that, he was able to reinstate his license so he's now legal again. It's a good thing we got it done, he hit a sobriety checkpoint on the 4th!

Our holiday was also eventful. Bill and Ron went to Ron's family cemetery to take care of some trees he had planted. Bill went along to babysit Buddy Dog in case there were other people there and he couldn't just run. They were the only ones there and Buddy hit the jackpot on his roaming...a tiny little puppy! She's probably about 4-5 weeks old. There were no other dogs in the area so they brought her home. After some milk and a flea bath, we started trying to find her a home. She's now at home with Ryan and they've named her Monkey. She's a Rotweiler mix of some kind, but she's so small that I'm not sure.

Friday was a normal day, laundry in the morning and waiting for Bill's meds to be delivered. Just as we were having lunch Emily called and said that McKenna's glasses had broken and wanted to know if we would meet her at Walmart. Her doctor was closed and we were hoping Walmart would put the lenses in a new frame. Just as we were getting ready to pull out, my brother and his wife pulled up! This was a total surprise. I knew they were on vacation this week and they had been to St. Louis and Eureka Springs Arkansas and decided that since they pretty much had to cross the state to get home, they would come by here. So, we all piled into my car and headed to Walmart. Luckily they had a frame that would fit her lense so the child can see again. Larry treated everyone to pizza and then came back to the house for a short visit before hitting the road again.

The weather has been much cooler this week and Bill's been walking around the block. It takes him about 30 minutes, unless he sees someone to talk to! That's a shorter time that he's supposed to walk, but at least he's doing it without me nagging him to walk!

I've made both of us calendars since it seems like we neither one can remember things anymore. His is basically birthdays and anniversaries. Mine has all of the appointments and med information. Maybe that will help us, not that I'm forgetting to give/order/fill meds.

All for now. I've got cinnamon rolls in the oven and they should be just about done. I noticed that this will be post #430 and we're closing in on 15,000 pageviews. It still amazes me that so many are still following our journey, including people I don't know. But, it has meant something to them to keep reading! Happy Sunday!

We've had an excellent week with granddaughter McKenna! Her big sister and summer babysitter Brianna was involved with the TRIO program through our local college every day, including 3 days in St. Louis. So, Kenna spent the week with us, although she only spent 1 night.

I actually didn't see a lot of her during the day. She and Pa took off every day but yesterday for rides in the car, or visiting Ron and Buddy Dog. But, it gave me some wonderful alone time, and Pa got to feel useful. Kenna did rat him out for speeding! She also called me and told me they would be home a little late because they were at the Shell station eating ice cream in a town about 20 minutes from us!

It stormed early yesterday morning and she ended up in bed with us! It was too wet to do anything "fun" and I didn't feel well (I've inherited my mother's digestive problems) but we did go to Walmart and get her a toy.

She was very helpful when it came to Bill's meds and taking his vital signs. She had his medicine ready as soon as he swallowed the last bite of food and made sure that we "played doctor" every day. We started referring to her as Nurse Ratchet! And Bill thought I was strict when it came to his meds!

Our weather was terribly hot mid-week. Thursday afternoon the temp in my car read 104. This was not the inside temp but the air temp. After the storms yesterday it has been some cooler and supposed to be cooler yet this evening into the first of the week.

It doesn't seem like June should be over yet. In a little less than 3 weeks we head back to Florida for another biopsy. We've toyed with the idea of stopping in GA to see Bill's 3 boys and their families on the way back, but we have to be back by the end of the week because we have 2 granddaughters having birthdays that week-end. So I think we're going to make a quick turn-around.

All for this week. We have no plans for the holiday. May head to the church parking lot to watch the fireworks if they still shoot them at the sportsplex. And then again, we may just watch them on TV from Boston. That's always good. Have a safe and happy 4th!

Another decent week! We got some things accomplished and even spent some time apart. But, there was also some sadness again. One of my favorite bookkeeping clients passed away Sunday night. He was recently diagnosed with lung cancer and went really fast.

Father's Day Bill heard from 6 of the 7 kids. We went to church and I played the piano while Nita played the organ. We're going to do this for a few weeks. It felt good to be back at the piano but who knows how long that will last. We didn't have evening service so after we went out to eat, we just lazed around the rest of the day.

Bill and Ron spent most of the week together, doing what I have no idea. But, Ron is such a good friend to Bill. Bill told me that he's like me when it comes to making sure that he doesn't fall. They did have to work on Bill's car one day. It hadn't been driven for a while and the battery was dead. They cleaned the cables and jumped it and then took it to the car wash. It's done fine since.

I went to Jonesboro and bought a small table for behind the couch. Since both ends recline, it had to be small enough to fit behind the center section. Found the perfect one at Hobby Lobby and they were having a fantastic sale. Regular price was $130...only paid $44! While I was gone Bill got a haircut and then called me when he was back at home to let me know he was there.

I got all the glassware washed up that Bill had brought in from the apartment. It's now back on the hutch in the dining room. Got all the drawers in the hutch cleaned out. Found some stuff in there from 1998! The trash guys got a workout this week! Bill worked in the apartment rearranging his stuff.

We've both had the "I don't want to" today. We didn't want to do anything productive at all, whether it was cleaning something out, or being crafty, or shopping...we just didn't want to do anything except sit. But I guess it's OK to have days like that.

Our neighbors across the street had a security light put up at their house this week. I think we could play a ballgame in the back it's so bright now. Maybe the thieves will think twice before hitting the backyards again.

We're going to have McKenna this week. Brianna is going on a trip with the college. They have some classes here for 3 days and then 2 days in St. Louis with all expenses paid. She's excited about going. Kenna was excited about coming here, but now she wants to go to some friends from church. That's not going to happen. We'll find something for her to do. Hopefully she won't tire Bill out too much.

I've been trying to work on a letter to his donor's family. That's a very hard letter to write. Thank you just doesn't do it. There are restrictions on this letter, too. We can't give any personal information except first names, and no address. We can send pictures. So, I'm working on this.

All for this week. Again, it was just a regular week.

We've had a much better week than last. We've both felt well, although allergies are still plaguing me. Bill and Ron hung out together most days working on "projects" which gave me some alone time. I could use more, but don't see that happening any time soon. Although, Bill is now showing some signs of  "independence" again in some aspects, but in others, not so much. He has moved more this week and is working more in the apartment on his mancave. He had moved a lot of stuff from the house out there (small things) when we were working on the house and he's brought them back in. That frees the shelf space for his stuff. Of course that means a little more work for me since the stuff all has to be washed before it can be put back. But, it has to be done sometime.

Yesterday was "Momma's" wake and the funeral was this morning. Some of the girls from the office met here and we all went together last night. We let the men off the hook for this one. We didn't go to the funeral though. And, after the wake a couple of the girls came back here and visited for awhile. Actually we weren't really visiting, we were gossiping! Got the scoop on a former employee and just dissected some other topics. It was nice to just sit and talk.

Took a ride through the country this morning. Had to run to Ryan's and I noticed the crops. The corn is shoulder high in some fields, waist high in others. The cotton is finally above ground and some farmers are starting to cut wheat. I dread when those fields are done because it's the practice here to burn the field off after the harvest so it can be replanted almost immediately with something else. The crop dusters have also been flying this morning and afternoon so between the two, breathing becomes more difficult. But, looking at the fields, I was reminded that amidst the sorrow of the deaths we've had, life goes on. Neighbors are mowing lawns, dusting and vacuuming takes place, meals are cooked. And for those little things, we are grateful.

As Bill is becoming more independent, I'm finding that it's still difficult to let go. But, I've got to let him do things for himself. I did discover that he won't remember to take his medicine if I don't remind him, and I don't think he would really eat if I didn't ask him what he wanted. It would be very nice if he did remember to do these things on his own. Then maybe I could sleep in until after 7 and not worry about if he took his medicine.

And so it goes...