I thought Jane was saying her husband has the macular degeneration, as well.
Just had a phone call from Greg.  Had been having a happy dance day thinking of Melissa & Adam taking Bella off to boarding school, but now feeling as though I've been hit with a 50 ton cannon ball right in my stomach.  Greg has serious heart problems, which I cannot describe, but they've already done something or other and he is scheduled for bypass surgery.  It is nearly unbearable when my children's generation is showing such signs of old age.  Hoping they did not tell Bella today, but will put it off for a while and let her stay in her over the rainbow state of bliss!  Greg is Bella's grandpa.  She calls him Pops.

Sharon.  I am surprised that Ms. Francis was able to get her licence renewed at 90 years old. Here you take a driving test out on the road every year after 86. Only good for a year.  Illinois out of money now and so maybe they will change that and stop taking peoples Licenses away. That is my only scare in life. Not to be able to drive a car.  I should have known about your husbands. One is better off not having a car to trade in. Looks like they are giving you a good deal but they arn't because you can get a bigger discount on the new car if you don't trade. I sold each of mine (7) first Being a University town and lots of people in from other countries. A used car goes fast in the paper. I have missed 2 this week that sold within a hour of it being in the adds.

I am so sorry to hear about Greg,  MaryPage...
I wish him all the best and hopefully his surgery will
help to make him feel and be better.   

It is so hard when our Adult Children and Grand Children
start showing signs of old age....
Sandy

I have been absent from this group for some time now, but I have good reasons.    My daughter Joy has been enduring much changes and complications with her health.  I will just copy her husband's post on facebook from a while ago.  I have no words to express this mother's heart at this time. 

John Stephan

August 27,2016

It is time to update family and friends on Joy's medical situation. Joy had imposed an information blackout to almost everyone due to privacy issues. Approximately 2 months ago she had an episode of severe pain which necessitated a ER trip. Her pain had dramatically increased. A CT scan showed her tumors and cancer were once again being aggressive and growing. The cancer center stopped her chemo treatments due to it's ineffectiveness and she was moved into hospice care at the house. Her infusions of saline continued until two weeks ago but her abdomen drains were continued. Last week it was decided the fluid infusions should also stop. After her hospital stay, a pain regimen of dilaudid was initiated with a pump inserted to deliver pain meds directly under the skin. Morphine was added to the pain control about a week ago and her situation had appeared to stabilize.

This morning at 6:45 am she got out of her hospital bed and she lost her balance, fell and hit her head on a dining room chair. She was knocked unconscious. From the back bedroom I heard the thump of her head hitting the chair and the ensuing tumble to the floor. She was flat of her stomach and out when I got to her. Nothing broken and no other sign of injury other than a knot on her right temple and some swelling. I called the fire department who responded to help lift her into her bed and hospice nurses were called. An analysis was done to ascertain her condition which came up negative for severe trauma. She will likely be out for the remainder of the day and a followup welfare check scheduled for tonight at which time a longer care regimen will be determined. She is not in pain at this time. We need to find out if she can remain in the house or if she needs to be placed in some type of care facility. All unknown at this time.

In spite of a dire prognosis from the pain and the advancing cancer condition her attitude has been spectacular. She smiles when awake but is taking almost no food or liquids. It is our desire she remains in good spirits while still with us. She has talked about her pending passing away and is highly anticipating that event with a joyful expectation. Yesterday while sitting next to her she started laughing. I asked her what was going on and she said there was an angel standing behind me trying to give me a “high-five”. I anticipate additional positive signs and manifestations to continue to occur as she approaches that time soon when she is received into the arms of her God and King. This is not a time of grief but an event awaiting all of us. Her faith is strong and has fought the good fight and has constantly been faithful to her God and Savior, Jesus our Christ.
She is not taking telephone calls and hasn't for a couple of weeks. Visitors are discouraged except those who are helping out in the house with her care. We are setting up a watcher group who are helping me by allowing me to shop and run errands (and an occasional time away to play music and to get out for walks and a break) We still need your prayers for her comfort. I will now begin to make further postings now that I have broken the silence on her condition. Thank you for your understanding

Jaywalker - my heart aches for you and your daughter and all your loved ones.

Jaywalker (Jane) My heart is with you and prayer for Joy and you fill my heart.

Prayers for you Jaywalker and Joy....Darlene

Darling Jane, your son in law sounds like the most wonderful, caring person in this world.  It must fill your sorrowing heart with a special lightness to know your daughter has had him in her life to take care of her.  Such understanding!
As for you, yourself; well, I would be standing in the middle of my living room screaming Why Me, God?  Why Me?  Don't wear yourself out, Jane;  I'll do it FOR you!
Have been thinking of you and wondering, while almost hiding cowardly from the expected news.  Thank you for thinking of us in the midst of your dreadful turmoil and suffering.  Sending you waves and waves of consoling, caring sentiments and wishes for serenity in your heart.

This evening's post from John:
It's now 5:30 PM and Joy has come to. She is unable to sit up or stand and is pretty incoherent but awake. Face is still swollen but still beautiful! Had a slice of fresh nectarine as a reward. Ah, the little pleasures that life gives us.

We are having hot and humid days, so I have been staying in the ac. Nothing new here.  We had a good Anniversary Day. 

Prayers for Joy and John. My heart goes out to them.

Another blazingly beautiful August day here on the bay.  White sails in the sunshine.
Melissa reports Bella is settled in at school and happy as all get out.  Her little family were wrenched at leaving her behind, but no one can stop the passing of Time.
Bella's roommate is from China.  I expect the school put her with Bella to make her enjoy the maximum possible comfort, as China was one of the ports of call when Bella went around the world.  How lovely to arrive at a strange school in a strange land and find your most constant companion is someone of your own age who has visited your country!

Jane, I am so sorry to hear about Joy, but know that you feel blessed to have such a loving sil caring for her and to know that she is approaching her final moments with the anticipation of being with her Savior. My prayers go out for all of you for a peaceful, pain-free passing and strength for you and her husband.

Ginny, so glad you had a good anniversary.  Hot & humid here as well.

MP, so glad Bella is happily settled in her new school and with her Chinese roommate.  Did I mention that John's favorite bridge partner is a Chinese man who has recently moved here to be near his son.

We are back from church and SS.  My last week of teaching SS. It went well or at least everyone was complimentary. I'll be glad not to have to do it next week though.

John is learning how to do the laundry with our new (since we moved here) front loading w & d. It is almost easier to do it myself, but there may come a day when he will need to do it.

Nothing else going on here.  Sharon

Sharon.  Make sure you tell him. colours don't go in with whites.  Men seem to think O.K to throw a pair of Jeans in with the towels and Sheets.
Now Sharon. I though you had lived in that house for a lot of years. Did you just move in?

Holding Jane and Joy and John in our prayers here.

Very humid here today again.  Yesterday afternoon we walked down to the Fire Station for their Open House and it was a slow walk back.  The heat and humidity were worse than we'd thought. 

All the usual household stuff today...laundry and cleaning out the fridge and going to the grocery store to restock, etc. 

Not much else new here. Ray's off to get a new insurance certificate for his new car.

jane

I have been having a skin problem this summer. Not just the little brown spots that come with to much sun when young they say. I have always had them checked. But now it was like a rash front of arms and legs.  Had to wait 6 weeks to see my Dermatologist. Whole dept busy. but got there today.
Went all over and took off a few little brown spots. One on my nose. Tells me they now have a new way of taking care of the blemishes (This is what he called my problem). Do something, then wrap in stuff like Siran Wrap for awhile. Suppose to make arms look like when young. (Most probably cheque book like when young also.) Told him to have them checkit to see if Medicare Ins. Will cover some of it or will it come under Cosmetic. Not something that I am going to do if expensive.  He checked all other places like back and places I cant see and says all O.K.  Just come back in again 6 months. All these Specialist seem to have gone to 6 months now , not a year like it use to be. That is why they are so busy.

Jeanne, we've lived here 9 years with the new front loader w & d, but he has never done the laundry here. He did know how with the old top loaders although he seldom did the wash. As to mixing colors, I have a 3 division hamper for darks, good perma press and undies. So it's pretty difficult to mix things up.

I've been over at Ms Frances' all afternoon. She had a friend up from HH and they wanted to play bridge, so I and another gal in my bridge club made up the table.  She had also had the lady who cleans for her and does errands pick up a chicken pot pie and salad from Fresh Market, so we had lunch first.  However, sitting on the folding chairs really had me hurting. I don't remember them hurting that much in the past, but sure did bother me today. I came home and took a pain pill.

I've also packed John's bag for his trip to Atlanta tomorrow.  Nothing else going on here.

Jane W, You all are still in my prayers.  Sharon

JaneW...you and Joy are in all our prayers.

Mary...WOW on the duplicate and your partner.  You two need to play together more!


Another humid morning here...suppose to get a break tomorrow.

Nothing exciting here...same old household chores.

jane

Hi Gals, I took Bunny into the vet this morning for a urine test (results later) and to get her weighed.  She was up to 17.1, which was up one ounce after we cut her food back by about a third 2 weeks ago!! Go figure.  Then I picked up an Rx from the drive-up. Couldn't leave Bunny in the car to go in.  Then dropped some books at the library. I need to call them and renew the last one. I'm half-way through it but it's due tomorrow & may  or may not get it finished by then.

John left for Atlanta today (tournament). Be home Sat.

Our neighbors on one side are in Buffalo. They were supposed to be home today, but I got an email that they'd decided to stay till Sunday and would I pick up the mail.  The neighbors on the other side are also gone, but they didn't say where or when they would be back.  Probably up to TN.  So I am by my lonesome for a while.

Nothing else going on here.  Hi to all.  Sharon

I forgot to add a request for prayers for my daughter, Lori. She is in the midst of renovating her loft and to save money was doing most of the demolition herself. Unfortunately, the very last piece of wallboard she was removing slipped and fell on her head.  After 5 or 6 days of headaches she went to the doctor and found that she had a concussion and has to be on bedrest for at least 2 days with no phone, no TV, no computer. Total rest for her brain.  This is very difficult for her because her brain and body are both very active.  I hope 2 days is enough. All prayers and good thoughts appreciated.  Sharon

Chip took me to Pit Boys for lunch, where he had the North Carolina pulled pork barbecue sandwich and I had the Maryland version of the same.  I REALLY don't like the N.C. vinegar based sauce, while he likes that AND my Maryland.  We share a side order of coleslaw in order to put some right on the inside of our sandwiches,  because we like it that way.  I guess we brought Chip up thinking that was the only way to eat it.  Neither one of us likes the potato chips at Pit Boys, so we have decided to begin to ask that they hold those.  The slaw is better than no slaw, but just by a bit.  We love the coleslaw at Graul's (grocery).  So what we really oughta do is drive over to Graul's (past the State House and Governor's Mansion) for slaw and then swing by Pit Boys for a couple of take out sandwiches and fix them up GOOD at home!  A lot of driving, though.  I guess perfection is hard to come by.

We then went by Giant for a good grocery shopping.  I remembered to buy some of those elongated, dark purple Moon Drop grapes that my hairdresser/shrink/world traveler/news bulletin Meg made me taste at her house last week when I got my hair cut.  Grown right here in the U.S.A., if you happen to like grapes, you will LOVE these!  I swear!

Home again.  Still hot out, but temps are coming down.  News last night that my oldest granddaughter got married again.  She & Rick did what Bob & I did: went to the Court House and did the deed and THEN announced it.  I put a greeting card with check enclosed in the mailbox on our way out this afternoon.  Tracy got her engagement ring in December, so we were not bowled over or anything.  Dying to hear how Bella is enjoying boarding school, but not a peep.  Now that REALLY doesn't surprise me!  Oh, and daughter Debi picked up her new car last night on the way home from work.  Her 20 year old black Lexus became a brand new white Lexus.  Boring!  But if you give me one, I'll take it!  Two members of the family lined up for big time surgery: granddaughter Jenny on September 8th and son in law Greg on October 12th.  I prefer news about weddings and new cars.
Oh, Sharon!  I posted and THEN saw your news about Lori.  Of course prayers.  Prayers all over the place.  Keep us posted, and then, after she gets all well, smack her up the side of the head for waiting so long to go to the doctor!

Sharon, lots of hugs and good thoughts for Lori.  I know how hard that would be to totally withdraw for two days.  I hope all goes well.

MaryPage, I hope the medical issues with your family go well, too.  Your BBQ lunch makes my mouth water.  I'm with Chip - I like the vinegar based BBQ, too. 

I was not looking forward to today - the first anniversary of John's death.  But I remembered my friend Beth's comment on the first anniversary of her husband's death.  "I don't miss him any more today than I did yesterday or will tomorrow."  And that's indeed true.  I've had lots of lovely phone calls and e-mails today, and that's very comforting.

Oh, Mary.  Sad day.  I have to tell you though, that I miss Bob Just As Much today as I ever have, and it has now been 10½ years!  You just flat out don't stop loving and missing people, and that is especially true regarding your soulmate.

Remember my telling you that granddaughter Angela said last week, after Emma's prekindergarten sending her a bunch of terrific photographs titled FIRST WEEK, that the place was worth every penny of the expensive tuition?  Well, now she has a set titled SECOND WEEK, and she wrote me the following:
We received the ones found in this link, and a couple of videos to watch with Emma:
One of the class learning Spanish with their special Spanish teacher.
One of a youtube video to watch of the reading of the book "How Full Is Your Bucket? For Kids"
The video of the reading of "How Full is Your Bucket" has greatly improved Emma's attitude around the house.
Last night she asked her Dad and me to go to her room with her because she needed to show us something.
   She had cleaned her room and her toy closet all by herself!
   Not only that, but it was organized!
   I didn't have to tell her to do it!
   She just did!
   And I cried!
   I told her how proud I was of her, and put some drops in her bucket... because she had put some drops in mine!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5R6-2m_qHk

{{{{{Mary}}}} on this sad day. 

{{{{Sharon}}}} and hope Lori's brain rest lets her brain heal.

MaryPage...terrific good news and Hugs {{{MaryPage}}}on upcoming surgeries for family.  Ray's been so much better since his open heart surgery some 9 yrs ago, I think it is.

Nothing exciting here...lunch and bridge, then home to pack car with boxes to take to consignment auction tomorrow. Ray's been cleaning out the basement and we have two carloads, I think.  It'll be good to have the "stuff" gone

I can't believe Sept starts tomorrow.

Jane

Thanks, MP, Mary, & Jane for the good thoughts for Lori. She said she felt a little better last evening, but it will take time.

MP, I loved the story of your little Angela and the buckets.  I'm going to send the url to my grandson for his 4 yr old.  I hope the surgeries go well.  I don't like the vinegary sauce. I prefer the red sauce on my BBQ.

((((((Mary))))))) Big hugs for you for a very difficult day. Even though you miss him and grieve for him everyday, it must be topmost in your mind today.  You've done a lot in the year to move on with your life but I know you never left him behind.

Jane, wow, Ray did go on a big cleaning spree!  That must feel wonderful.  Enjoy your bridge.

Not much going on here. John got to Atlanta safely and earned a point or two yesterday.  Sharon

Sorry, girls, ----hit the wrong key.
I was just saying that Louisiana is STILL flooded, homes
completely gutted, mounds of house guttings out at the
street to be brought to the landfill (and this is all your lifetime acquisitions(?)-----beyond belief.
Joy in Baton Rouge, LA

good Morning, I have taken freckles for her early morning walk, then bathed her. she is laying here next to me on a blanket and wqrapp[ed in a large towel. I am not going to subject her to blow drying just let her air dry then brush her good.

Joy such terrible devastation in Baton Rouge and other places in La. Now another hurricane is come and hopefully not to La.

Mary Page I loved the story of the buckets.

MaryZ I hope today is better. Itnever goes away though.

It is supposed to rain a bit today, It's been cloudy in the morings all week.

Thanks, Buddies, for all the  hugs.  You're always there, and it makes for "nice warm fuzzies". 

Today has been better, of course - swimming  and coffee.  Saw the rheumatologist, and got my bone density scan.  I'm at the point where he's going to start me on Foxamax - we'll see how THAT goes.  I don't usually have problems with medications, but time will tell.  I asked him about knee replacements - maybe having both done.  He said that's usually done with "younger folks", but to check with the surgeon (that appointment is next week).

Nothing else this afternoon except for a nap.  I put out a second hummingbird feeder, hanging off the deck.  It's been fun watching them (about 6 of them) swirling around the two feeders. And for a while, there was a lovely little yellow butterfly sitting on the feeder, enjoying a snack.

Happy Hump Day, Buddies!

Joy, my heart goes out to everyone in BR. It looks absolutely horrible on TV. I pray the hurricanes don't drop any more water on you all.

Mary, be careful of the Fosamax. There are better drugs out there.  Jane and I are on Evista.  I'm glad today was better.  I'm surprised he said you were too old for knee replacements. There are so many people around here who have gotten them in their 80's.

I went to the grocery and the library a day early. Didn't need much at the grocery but needed to renew a book and get some more for the long weekend.  My internet went out and I had to deal with Time-Warner and rebooting my modem and router and laptop 2 or 3 times before I got it to connect.     Sharon

Sorry about the computer problems, Sharon.  The doc didn't say I was too old for joint replacement, just that they usually did both knees at the same time in younger folks.  Only one at a time for the older ones.  Again, I'll see what the orthopedist tells me next week. 

Joy, I'm sorry, I forgot to acknowledge your checking in.  I cannot even begin to imagine how awful the clean-up is for Baton Rouge.  Did your kids lose everything in their homes? Or have any flood insurance?  Just having to deal with the red tape is awful.  Hugs to them all!

Joy...my heart breaks for you and your girls and all the people there in that flooding.  Ray and I loved Baton Rouge...thought it a most beautiful city...and Ray absolutely loved the museum there downtown. 

It's a beautiful day here today, and we have both cars loaded...mine just has a humidifier we want to get rid of...and we'll take it all to the consignment sale.  Whatever we get is more than we have now and the stuff is GONE!   

Bridge yesterday was ok....another mediocre day cards-wise.  We had 11 women and Chloe called her husband who came up to make the 12th. 

We may go on to CR for a stop at Sam's Club.


Take care and have a good Thursday!