Hi Dee,
We returned Sunday from our short trip to Colorado to see our daughter and her family. I took a break from the internet as well. I find I can get a lot more done that way.
It is great to read about all the positive things in your life. It must feel great to be back on track with your lifestyle. I love that feeling.
Victoria is growing up fast. That is great that she is a good traveler. It sounds like she is going to miss Europe when she gets back.
Your life has really changed now that your father is so close to you. Imagine having him drive up to you at Target. What a change that is for him. It has to make him feel more secure in his life.
How exciting to go to DLP and all those other wonderful places. You are very lucky to have family in Amsterdam to stay with. My father -in-law was Dutch and so there are a lot of them on his side of the family.
Hi Sue!!!! I was hoping you'd find me again... I was going to PM you in a few days if you didn't.
It feels so good!!! It truly does - you know what a struggle this last year has been for me... It's so wonderful to be having progress again! Even though I am still up a bit in lbs, my size is getting close to my smallest - so that makes me happy!
It has completely changed! It's so wonderful having him here, though he seems to be getting more and more upset about the size of his apartment, and I am at a loss of what to do to help him understand that this is just how it is... He NEEDS a nursing staff, so I just can't plunk him into any ol' apartment - ya know? But he doesn't understand that at all, and is quite angry about it.
I am not sure what my next step should be - short of taking him for a tour of his other options... I hope he comes around soon, because I don't want him to be unhappy and angry.
We are very lucky - and excited to be taking this trip... Mostly excited to spend time with BMTL too! It will be wonderful - if not a bit scary.
It's great to see you Sue - I look forward to hearing what is new in your life!
Hi D~!
Excited to read about your next trip to Europe and DLP. I will be taking notes when you go to DLP as I hope to make it there in a few years! Can't wait to find out more about your surprise trip too! Nice to see that your dad is closer to you now. I know it will take some time for him to adjust, but I am sure he will adjust and love being so close to you.
We are getting ready for our upcoming trip in a short few weeks. Of course, we still have to book airfare, but we have to figure out where we are flying out of first. DH and I are so excited for this trip - so many firsts for us; Food & Wine,
MNSSHP, HDDR, dinner at CRT (on my birthday!). And the really nice part is that it will be paid for by the time we go, just some meals that we will pay OOP. Doing the happy dance!
I may not have time to comment much, but I will be following along. I am excited to have another PTR to read!
Hello there old friend!!! How are you???
We are very excited! Lots of great things happening in our lives for sure! I hope I can do justice to DLP - as excited as I am to go see everything over there - it's still not WDW, and that's where my heart is... Hopefully it will tide me over until my next WDW trip.
I hope Dad adjusts... As the days go on, I have less and less hope... He just hates his apartment so much, and last night he was angry with Allison for it... I don't mind if he is angry with me - but he has no right to be angry at Allison... She was just crushed. So - I just don't know where to go from here or how to handle it?
Sooo excited for your trip!!! I love doing all of those events in WDW!!! You will have a blast!!! To me, there is no better time of year to go - October/November is about as perfect as a person can get!
Thanks for stopping by and following along! I am so happy to see you here again!
I am so late to the party! I was glad to see you all going to DLP! I am sure V will be a great help in planning.
It's also good to hear visiting dad is so convenient! I know how much stress that takes off of you!
Can you have Josh come grill for me? That looks yummy!
Lynn- you are NEVER late to one of my parties! You know that!
I sure hope V can help... I do know that I have no desire to ride the Indiana Jones roller coaster - LOL... I am too old to go upside-down these days.
It is so convenient to visit dad - I love that part. I just wish he would be able to enjoy his new apartment, even though it's small, I don't know what I can do for him to make it any better... I am about to throw my hands up and do (I am not sure what)... LOL
Sure can!!! Better yet - you can come on up and he can grill for you here!
I am here D! Late, but here! So excited to hear about DLP, and of course, a "surprise" trip. This is going to be so much fun. I have many different trips in Europe on my bucket list, but not until retirement. I will live through you!!
Glad to see those pics of your Dad. The place looks beautiful. Give him some time; I think he will be enjoying all the visit from family and a little more freedom. You are doing an awesome job Dorine.
Your baby girl is doing amazing!! Loved the vase. She is really happy there in Europe, wow, she may be returning sooner than later!!!
Following along!! Hugs always!!!
You are never late Carol! I know you have been busy!
I am interested to hear about your bucket list... Where do you all want to go???
I am trying so hard to give him time, but it's getting more and more frustrating as the days go on... Last night he started yelling at Allison - Allison... The grandchild who goes to visit him almost daily and takes him everywhere with her, she is absolutely not intimidated at all to take him places with his oxygen or his walker... Allison, who has NOTHING to do with any of this - other than loving her grandfather... It breaks my heart that he is THAT unhappy with it... It is small, but it's not unlivable and it's so very nicely done. I am just at my witts end and I have no idea how to deal with it further - other than throwing my hands up and telling him to find somewhere better. I know that sounds terrible, but I just don't know what else to do? He just doesn't understand at all that he cannot live without a nursing staff on hand, so I just cannot plunk him into any old apartment... He has to have care. I'd love some advice here Carol (or anyone)... I am definitely staying away today, because I'd probably make it worse - I am so emotional right now that he took it out on Allison, and of course, she was heartbroken, but handled it like a champ.
They love and hate having the puppies. They were so funny last night dressing the little one in an American girls doll dress.
That is great that he is so close.
If you can, you should go to the first dr appointment at each new dr with your dad. This way your dad can give them permission to keep you informed and you make sure each dr has your dad's whole history. If you haven't already done this, be sure to make a full list of his medicines for each dr.
Hahaha... I remember when MM was a puppy and my girls dressed him in their doll clothes and gave him a bottle... I have a picture around here somewhere. He was very unimpressed. LOL
I love having him so close - it sure is nice. I just hope he settles in soon.
I am definitely trying, and that is my goal. I was there for yesterday's, and that was good - this assisted living apartment has their own set of Doctors that come right to the apartments, so the residents don't have to go out... This is an optional thing - but it was so slick... And they sure seem to be on top of their game. Still a few kinks to be worked out, but we are getting there.
We were able to get dad's insulin straightened out - which was a big stress for him over the last week, so that is a plus.
Sorry I'm late to the party...again! I'm here now and ready to follow along with your next adventure!
Ha!!! You are never late to one of my parties!
Welcome!!! So happy to see you here!
Oh, goodness- I love V's pottery. I really like that classic look. She is so talented! I am glad your Dad's new place is an active sort of place. It would be great if he can make some friends and begin to enjoy some activities with them. It sounds like A is really digging in and making headway on her school debt. I know you are very proud of her- that is hard work she is doing, too.
I've been continuing to recover from my surgery. I really need to begin working out as our Hawaii trip is 18 weeks away. I had a naval hernia repaired at the same time as my surgery, so I am a little hesitant to overdo it starting out. My DH has been gone to Rhode Island- a 2 week trip this time and it has done nothing but rain. The girls and I have been getting a bit of cabin fever. Also, something I haven't shared: Quinn was recently diagnosed with a developmental delay in her communication and speech. We have been working with a speech pathologist to help give her more tools with forming words and communicating her needs. It is so frustrating for both of us at times. I am very grateful, though, that the military has given us resources to reach out to and made it very easy to get the help that she needs.
I can't wait to hear about All your Europe plans. I notice that on the Aulani board, people include their entire trips in the TR, not just their time at Aulani, so I think you are justified in including as much as you want to share about Europe in yours! Have a great day, D!
Yes - I loved V's vase too - it turned out pretty fantastic! I sure hope it's something that she treasures for a long time!
I am getting less and less hopeful about dad ever settling in or enjoying living here - it seems as the days go on, it's less and less likely... We'll have a few great days - then a super grumpy day... then a couple more great ones... I sure hope the grumpy days get fewer and fewer between.
As I am just about ready to cry... If you read above - he took it out on Allison last night, and that frustrates me more than anything... And of course, Allison was a champ about it - then took him to the library and out for ice cream... She is SO EXCITED to have him here to spend time with him and to hear that he was yelling at her for something that she had no control over, just breaks my heart. I am trying so hard to give him time... Sigh. I just don't know what to do.
Definitely go easy, my friend!!! You don't want to take any steps backwards - I know it must be so hard just to let yourself heal, but know that you will come out stronger for it.
Yikes on the cabin fever/rain/DH gone... I remember when Josh was in Iraq - we still lived in our old house, which only had a window air conditioner in our bedroom - we went through a terrible 2.5 week heat wave in August, and literally the girls (who were 4 & 5 at the time) and I lived in our bedroom for the duration... We've leave long enough to make meals - and even my steadfast rule of "all meals must be eaten at the table" was OUT - as we were eating in bed. It was the longest almost 3 weeks ever... but we made the most of it. I taught them how to make friendship bracelets, and we sat there in my bed, with the bracelets taped to a box, and we braided bracelets for weeks - while we watched Disney movies and napped... All of us look back on that time as an adventure - and surprisingly the girls remember it well. Get creative, my friend... Camp indoors... Build some blanket forts... Roast marshmallows in the microwave... I dunno - try to make something fun of it.
Praying your DH will be home soon and the rain goes away.
I am so happy you are able to easily get the help you need for Quinn... I am sure it is frustrating - but also a relief that she has a diagnosis and can get help. We were just talking about this yesterday - as my Dad has a learning disability - back in "the day" people who didn't learn like the rest were labeled as "mentally retarded" and pretty much sent home because they were beyond learning - which is so unfortunate, as Dad still struggles greatly today (a BIG part of the reason I am having a hard time getting him to understand his living situation) and I honestly think that had he been born 50 years later, his life could have been a very different life for him, as now-a-days, things like that are illegal. I commend you greatly for seeking out and finding the help that Quinn needs and hopefully she is caught up in no time and things will be much easier for her later.
That is good to know... It will be a much more fun and interesting report if I can include the whole trip.
And much more exciting for me too... Though 17 days - yikes - that is going to take me FOREVER to write. LOL
******************************************************************************************************
Yesterday was such an upside-down day for me...
I did my heavy lifting right away... I've been working very hard lately to get deeper on my squats - so it makes my lifting pretty intense!
Then I got ready and headed to Dad's for his Dr appointment... I was excited to "show my Disney side" yesterday... I contemplated wearing my Dot Vans - but I thought that a little much.
(Ignore my living room mess... )
Dad's Dr visit went well - we were able to get a lot of clarification, and hopefully some of the things that have been worrying dad are settled. He was in a fantastic mood while I was there, and I was super optimistic about his future there when I left.
I also had to run errands in town, so I stopped at several places... I was finally home at 1pm! Phew! Then I realized I forgot to put the roast in the crock pot - so, I opted for the oven instead.
By the time I had lunch and got upstairs to work, it was 1:30! It's so weird to get up there so late - I was worried that I wouldn't be able to settle in, as you all know - I am SO routine driven. But I just sat down and did what needed to be done - I made great progress and it all worked out.
I did my monthly weigh in yesterday - I didn't lose very much over the last month, but I did lose size... So far, since the end of May, I have lost 2/3 of what I gained last year! I am super happy with that, and finally starting to feel more like myself. If I could just give up my night time bowl of berries & nuts... Ahhhh, but a girl still has to live and enjoy life a little, right? LOL
Hmmm... What else?
I started reading the next book in the latest series I am reading... I completely finished The Outlander series early this summer (HIGHLY recommend)... I read the 2 books in the Ken Follett Pilars of the Earth series over mid-summer... Now I am on the 4th book in the Poldark series by Winston Graham... Good decent books, but nothing so far compares to The Outlander series.
Today... I will work out here shortly... Level 2 of the 30 Day Shred is on my menu.
Then I will work upstairs all day.
I have no plans to go to town at all... I need a breather from Dad today, as I am still pretty frustrated about him being angry with Allison last night (wrote about it above in some of my replies)...
Lunch will be zoodles with leftover bacon wrapped chicken...
Not sure what's for dinner at all? I'll find something good.
I hope you all have a fantastic day!!! Sending prayers and pixie dust out to all of you!
D~
