In my life....this is the norm.

Yesterday while out running errands, I made it a point to stop at the lab and make sure that Tom’s lab orders have been faxed over to them. I talked to them a bit at the lab and told them we’d be in first thing tomorrow morning. So this morning before Tom’s morning meds, we load up him up into the van and off we go to the lab. Standing outside the lab in the snow was already a line up of people waiting to get in for blood work. The second the doors were unlocked I wanted to dash in line while Don and Mark got Tom out of the van so I could sign in before others in their cars sign in, so we wouldn't have to wait long. In a hurry I slipped and fell in the snow. Not a pretty picture. Once in the lab we had to wait our turn.

When we were finally called to the desk and as we are filling out our insurance papers the lab tech walks over to us and states that yesterday after I left she looked at Tom’s order and it’s a special test that can’t be done today. What??!!! We need to come back on Monday?!! A phone call would have been nice!! Now I’m a bit crabby this morning.

Yesterday the doctor said that with my husband’s heart not pumping right, his blood while in the heart may pool and clot. If a piece of a blood clot could leave the heart and becomes lodged in an artery in the brain, a stroke could result.

Can I Cry???

I just can't think.... or maybe I just don't want to..

Yesterday Tommy’s hematologist called and said that the test he had done back in December showed that his platelets are deformed. That’s not a good sign. So tomorrow it’s back to the lab for more blood work on his platelets. This test will take another 3 weeks before this test comes back.

Don went to the doctor's today for a normal health checkup. Within a short time the doctor ordered the nurse to bring in this machine to test Don’s heart. The doctor said Don has a fast and irregular heart rate. Soon after the test was finished the doctor, while in the room with us, pulls out his cell phone and call a cardiologist. Don has an appointment tomorrow at 1. Don was given a prescription to be immediately filled and take, go home, take regular aspirins every 8 hours and to do NOTHING until he sees the heart specialist tomorrow.

If I don't lose my mind through all of this, Tuesday is that big 50 :(

Autism

Anyone living in Michigan, I urge your support of new Bills that have been introduced in the House of Representatives that, if passed will will support Autism Spectrum Disorder research, place a check box on the state income tax forms for filers to donate to Autism Research and will require health insurers to cover Autism related health treatments. Passage would also eliminate discriminatory practices that insurance companies engage in when it comes to covering treatments of Autism.
My son does not have Autism but many of the kids in his school and on his school bus do. During his time at school the number of kids with Autism has increased from 62 students in 2001 to 196 today. The support system for these students and families outside of education has failed. It is time for Michigan to become a leader in the research, diagnosis and treatment of disabilities related to Autism Spectrum Disorder.
I urge you to contact your representatives and encourage them to support these important bills. Please write!
House Bill 5528, create the Autism research, House bill 5526 would amend the Income Tax Act, House Bill 5527 and House Bill 5529 would add new section to insurance laws and require health insurers and HMO's to provide coverage for treatments related to Autism.

Meet Anubis

You can see what's left of Geronimo, our backyard defender, in the foreground of this picture. Lately he seams to be laying down on the job! We had to replaced him. Anubis is here now to take over.









Not only does Anubis do all the same jobs just as well at Geronimo did, but he also keeps his eyes out for global warming.

Wii

Here is a still picture of Mariah in the commercial for Art Van Furniture. It is due to air on all Detroit TV stations about the first week of March. Mariah liked playing the wii while filming this commercial.
In talking about wii, Isabella was sick and yesterday she came over here instead of going to school. During lunch she started talking to Mark and in joking she called him a hobo. In which Mark replied that she is a hobo too because she is homeless. This started a vast discussion on what homeless meant and if houseless and homeless were two different things. “Because you don’t actually own a house, you are house-less; which means you’re a hobo too” Mark tried to explain to Isabella. Isabella was looking confused, Mark said without thinking about it first, “You see, you have a wii and I don’t; so I’m wii-less”. With that we all laughed and that ended that conversation.

Is Winter Over Yet???

What comes along with winter?? It’s a nasty thing called the cold and flu season.
I am sick!! It started with a sore throat; you know that tickly you get just letting you know that hell is around the corner. Now my chest feels like there rocks in there. I have a runny nose, a headache and an awful cough. I just want to sleep through the night. Please send your good healthy vibes this way. Thank you!!

Happy Second Birthday

Happy Birthday Georgia Ann ! The nine months wait for her to arrive felt more like 2 years. The past two years have felt more like 9 months. What a joy she is!!








Independent, strong-minded, inquiring, delightful, affectionate, and truly beautiful









I never could have imaged that being a grandma could be a wonderful as it is.









Wait until you hear this child sing! She knows many songs and loves to sing. That's one thing she does have in common with her Grandma. Happy Birthday to my beautiful Granddaughter Georgia!!

Blue Birds

I have been faithfully feeding eastern blue bird on our back deck over the winter. Everyday like clock work they would show up at the back deck at 4 for food. Now they are beginning to show up closer to 3:30, I'm hoping its a sign that spring is on it's way and the day light is getting longer.

Only In Toledo

Marine reservists out of Grand Rapids, Michigan, were prepared to begin an urban warfare training on Friday afternoon here in downtown Toledo. These marines have trained in Toledo before. It’s an urban setting in Toledo and they said it plays a vital role in their training. But less than an hour before their scheduled start of training, they got a call from Toledo’s Mayor, Carty Finkbeiner and were told to get out of town. The mayor thought that this training might cause panic and frighten people. So five bus loads, or about 180 marines were bussed back to Grand Rapids. A simple phone call would have saved a lot of time and money.
This mayor who acts like a spoiled brat child, once suggested that all the area deaf move closer to the airport for the noise wouldn’t bother them like it would the hearing.

Austin is now sitting up.








Scott on the ski slopes just outside his apartment.

Zip Code

This site is quite interesting. Check out your zipcode. Or any other one for that matter! You will not believe all the information you will find! You may also find this site to be quite useful.
http://zipskinny.com/

Talks to the Animals

She's no Dr. Doolittle with his abilities to talk to all the animals. I wouldn't call her a horse whiperer either. I won't say she's like Cesar Millan with his gift on dog behavior either. But Georgia always stops to say hello to the pigs, so interested in spending time with them and she loves being with them. Despite their bad rep, pigs are actually very clean and very intelligent animals. I see a future hog farmer here.

Something New

Yesterday, when I looked out into the backyard I discovered him.
His name is Geronimo.
He is here to defend our back yard.
His duties include stopping illegal immigrants from entering.
So far it’s working, we have no problems.

Monroe County

I think our slogan should be....

Welcome to Monroe County
Home of Michigan's Sissies.

2 inches of snow this morning and
all the schools & college canceled today.