Missing Her HeeHeeHee's!

In the last few days, I've been in a very sweet memory place. I have been remembering all the laughter and funniness I used to share with my Mom. Countless times, we would end laying across the bed to talk and all it would take would be a "certain look" and we would both be set off in huge gales of laughter. We would laugh at anything and everything... often leaving everyone else around us left to thinking we were a little bit off our rockers.

I have memories of being ill and having my Mom there with me to take care of me. During my first cancer surgery those many years ago, we laughed all the way to the hospital, as my Mom had brought recipes with her that she had typed and her typo's were hilarious. We had tears rolling down our faces at her typo for "Spanish Nookles" instead of noodles.

I found an old picture in a box in the guest room from an old camping trip with my Mom. Who ever took that picture, caught us in a huge fit of laughter... I don't remember what we were laughing at, but what ever it was, must have been very funny. When my Mom was relaxed and not worrying about anything, she could be very funny. And she was pretty good at laughing at herself... sometimes not always getting her own jokes until a few beats later after we had started laughing, and then it would make her giggle even harder.

I miss my Mom everyday... I miss hearing her laugh, I miss being able to pick up the phone and talk to her... and I really miss her when I don't feel well. Yes, I am a grown woman, but I still miss my Mom when I am struggling with medical issues. I wish that DH could have known her and I know that she would adore him.

Thanks for letting me share some sweet thoughts.
Be Blessed....
~Suzanne

A Daybook Entry

Simple Woman's Daybook...

FOR TODAY (July 22. 2012)...

Outside my window... it's been a partly sunny daym with temps at about 85  degrees.

I am thinking... that I need to get some of the housework under control, or that it's time to hire a housekeeper to help me keep up.

I am thankful for... a hard working husband that works seemingly endless hours to provide for us.

From the kitchen... there is a fresh baked pizza for dinner and some good leftovers for the coming week.

I am wearing... a long black and white paisley sun dress and silver jewelry.

I am creating... a cleaning list to keep me on track, and working on a jewelry organizer to hand on my wall.

I am going... to take Punky to get her nails clipped today... she needs a mani-pedi!

I am reading... a few easy summer reads, all beach themed novels.

I am hoping... to plan a little day trip for DH and I in the coming month.

I am hearing... the air conditioner, DH cleaning out my car, and Punky next to me on the couch.

Around the house... laundry awaits being folded and put away and dishwahser needs to be ran!

One of my favorite things... just finished season 2 of Downton Abbey... can't wait for next season!

 

A few plans for the rest of the week: Just to make it to work every day and hopefully be able to function with my right knee feeling like it doesn't want to do what it's suppose to! I need to make a return to Cracker Barrell... and I need to keep working on keeping up with the house work. I also need to find a new family doctor as mine has taken a new job and to find a new cardiologist that understands all of my heart conditions along with all the other health issues I have.

 

Thanks for reading... be blessed!

~Suzanne

Struggling to Smile!

This has been a trying week for me. My DH has been called to work early everyday this week and also tagged to stay late as well. The heat has been hard to take...  and to make matters even worse, I got sick yesterday. I couldn't drive myself home... so my manager had to bring me home. Oh my word! She wanted to take me to the hospital but I wouldn't let her because I didn't want to be stranded without a vehicle.

Today was a celebration at lunch and we were all at the back of the building... in the heat. I managed to stay out there for about 2 hours. That's about my limit with heat. I made sure to stay hydrated and watch what I was eating... more protein than anything, not too many carbs and no sugar. When I went in, I was pretty light headed from the heat. (I've been having dizzy spells the last several weeks.) And I had to go right back outside for pictures... it just about undid me. One of the service managers looked at me and asked if I wanted to go to the hospital. I said no... I didn't want to be stranded.

And to add to my stress level with work, my DH sent me a text that he'd been zapped with 10,000 volts of electricity today. Someone left a live line on top of the conveyor belt he was working on, and didn't say anything. He picked it up with both hands and it knocked him to the ground. Wow... that just freaks me out. I worried all afternoon about him because he was too busy to call me back.

Tonight, he just called me to let me know he's ok. He's been held over to work until 3am again. I worry about him... but at least it's only a 6 mile trip home from work. I told my co-workers today that if anything happens to him or to me, they'd better come to the house and take care of Punky cause she's not big enough to get the door open to let herself out.

On a happier note... DH tells me that he's not working this weekend and he's declined a Friday night holdover. And Project Runway starts tonight! (That's exciting for me!)

Thanks for reading~
Suzanne

Five for Friday (All Random!)

My Randomness just overflows tonight, so I will let it flow! Y'all won't mind, I am certain.

1. DH has worked overtime every night this week. And he will be working the entire weekend. I hope my house doesn't get swallowed up into a huge hole with out him around to give me a hand.

2. Work has been tough this week. I've lots of issues with things not being applied correctly or accounts that were COD and rolling over for 1 or 2 month, only to discover someone wasn't doing their job. (And to think they just got promoted! Isn't that the way it always goes?) My frustration with it all hit an all time high today.

3. I worked late last night, but went out to dinner with a wonderful co-worker and friend after as she worked late as well. We chatted and she shared a really cool idea that she's thinking about for her DH's birthday... she's thinking about buying him his dream Mustang!!!!

4. Tonight, to help with frustration... I did some cooking. I managed to small cannon-ball style meatloaves. I had one for dinner... it was really good. It's something DH can take for dinner tomorrow instead having his usual sandwiches. Change is good.

5. Another dear friend and co-worked shared a hilarious real-life story. Her DH had the day off yesterday and was out doing some errands. He was headed to a local dollar store on a very busy section of highway. As he approached the entrance of the parking lot, a woman was standing out there. He looked at her as he turned in and she looked back at him. (He wears transition lenses for eye wear.) He pulled into a parking space near the front of the store and the woman had ran over and jumped into his truck. He asked what she was doing and she answered, "I'm here to make some money!" He answered, "well, I'm here to buy toothpaste... so get out!" Poor innocent guy, doing errands and getting hi-jacked by a daytime hooker! He picked up the phone and called his wife to tell her as soon as he walked into the store. Hilarious!

That's my Five for Friday.... Thanks for reading!
~Suzanne

A Much Needed Day

It's Sunday... and my DH finally has a day off. He's been working since June 3rd with out any time off except for the 4th of July. They did ask him to work today as well, but he declined. We have spent the day getting errands done and spending time together.

I've stayed busy doing laundry and trying to keep the house cool and groceries stocked. I'm still working full time and am finally starting to feel like myself again. That being said, I am still very tired and still in pain. The doctor gave me prescription strength Aleve and it's helped greatly in helping me function with everything.

I did treat myself to some fun yesterday. I found dvd's of Masterpiece theatre's Downton Abbey. I watched the entire 1st season yesterday... and of course I loved it! Can't wait to watch the 2nd season later this week. I've got to get myself back on schedule for this week, I've been staying up late for when DH comes home from work, so I get a chance to see him. (Those 12 hour days he's been working have made it rather difficult!)

So glad that it's finally getting a little cooler this next week. This heat has been brutal with the heat and trying to keep the house cooler. We had a pretty significant storm yesterday that knocked power out for about 2 hours. It was tough to stay cool with no power and knowing I wouldn't be able to get to the generator by myself. Luckily for me, power was restored quickly.

Thanks for reading... be blessed.
~Suzanne

Excited for the 4th!

I am very excited for the 4th of July. We've had several offers to go to cook-outs. I don't think we will be attending any as DH will finally have a day off! That's what I am excited about... getting to see him for an entire day!!! I don't have the heart to drag him somewhere if he can have a day at home, and he needs the rest.

Our routine around here is that I rise at 6 am to ready myself for the day and leave for work around 7:20.  Some days DH will get up with me and walk Punky for me. That's about the only time we see each other. He will sleep until around noon if he's worked extra hours. He leaves for work at 2:10. If he works an 8 hour day, he will get home at 11:30. I'm usually sound asleep by then and sometimes I will stay up until he gets home... just to say hi before I zonk out for the night. With all of his overtime, we haven't seen each other for days, except when I came home from the hospital last week.

Work has been very aggravating as of late. There are so many changes within my department and I can say that I don't agree with the major changes that have happened. I have to adjust and try to be a team player until I decide what I need to do. My doctor has recommended that I cut back on my hours and when I brought that up... I was told no. I was told that even though my manager had offered me part time hours 6 weeks ago, she has withdrawn that offer and cannot accommodate me at this time. I can stay at 40 hours or go look for something else. (That's such a lovely, motivating thought.)

I did go to the pharmacy this past weekend... and purchased myself some new vitamins and to help me with my stamina and energy. I sure hope they start to work soon. I always am hesitant when starting something new to see how it will react with any of my medications. My doctor added an extra dose of Prilosec at night and I discovered that it interferes with my Ambien and I don't sleep. I shared that with the doctor and he said he had heard that the mix could do that. He also shared that I am sensitive to medicines and it figured that I would be the one that would discover that contradiction.

Today would have been my Mom's 90th birthday. It's hard to believe she's been gone from us for over 2 years now. I still miss talking to her on the phone even though in her last years, she lost that ability to communicate by phone. She just couldn't connect and understand how a telephone worked as her dementia progressed. Her last year was the one where she really shut down and became lost to us. I still miss her smile and laughter and sweet way of making me feel loved.

I am hoping for a little time outside in the morning before it gets too hot tomorrow. I am hoping to spend time in the evening watching the fireflies come out at dusk. I do want to be home for Punky to keep her calm with all the fireworks. She does handle it well, but I'd rather have lights on and music playing so she won't get surprised. She's such a good little dog.

Thanks for reading... be blessed! And Happy 4th of July! Thank you to all our Service Men and Women who keep watch for us so we may enjoy our freedom.

~Suzanne

End of the Intermission!

Wow... How LONG has it been??? So much has happened in the last several months, I don't know where to begin! Our lives are so different since I started this blog over 3 years ago.

We celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary this past month. We didn't do too much, just a nice dinner out and a small cake at home. DH has talked about what he wants to get me to commemorate our annivesary, but hasn't had time to go shopping. He works tons of overtime right now... it's just not that easy.

In the last year, DH lost his job. We managed just fine as he looked for work and went for the job he really wanted. He went to work for a major chocolate company as a mechanic and loves what he does. The money is very good and he started out at a higher rate than his former job paid. The upside is that he only drives 6 miles to work, and he does not have any long nights in front of the computer doing paperwork and research for parts and equipment, which was required but never paid for. The down side... ummm, there really isn't one!!!

I'm still working... passed up an opportunity to go for promotion. But I still get to do special projects and training for my entire division, which I love and so does everyone else. I get to write and design special trainings on corporate culture... it's fun and I love doing it.

Health issues continue to play a factor in what I am doing. I have a few things going on that act up and put me in the hospital from time to time. My COPD has had me down, along with an electrolight imbalance that had everyone running, thinking it was my heart. I spent 4 days in the hospital this past week trying to get back to a normal rate. While I had no magnesium and virtually no potassium, my heart cath did show an increase in the thickening of my aortic heart valve (which is now at 40%) and my aortic anuyerism is now at 4.4. It's always fun around here... and not being able to get up the stairs without being out of breath and in pain is tough.  My blood sugar has been running high as well. I think my issues started when DH started working long hours and I wasn't eating very well or not at all.

We've taken it easy around here on the gardening and flowers. It's just too hard for me, and too much work for DH right now. I miss the mass of color, but I have to be realistic. It's the same with getting another dog, we both miss Nolli and want another dog, but it's not fair to anyone if I can't do my part.

That's all I have for now... I promise that it won't be so long in between posts. I am going back to work tomorrow, even though I don't feel up to it yet. DH will be working all weekend as well. Take care and be blessed!

~Suzanne