2010 ending

Thought I'd take a minute for a quick note. The New Year seems to be a time to reflect. I'm not going to do any resolutions this time, just remember. I was trying to think of what we did last year between X-mas and New Year's and I don't know. There a short vivid memories...but I don't know. So I'm going to read the blog tonight.

Please have a safe and Happy New Year's. xoxoxo

peace, love, groove

Christmas cheer

Pictures: ET nurses Annual X-mas dinner at Tosi's; the boys cleaning up at the Maki's x-mas eve gathering; Ben and Phil working on clean up; Mark with meat leftovers; Phil cleaning up the table; Katie and Lee....say no more.

Great X-mas weekend. It started early with the Monday night annual ET nursing X-mas party at Tosi's. Beth, Denise, Catherine, me, Sue, Beckie and Donna (the first ET nurse in southwestern Michigan ) get together at least once a year. Check out this link if you've never heard of ET nursing or WOCN. X-mas eve was at the Maki house and this year the men were on clean up (a first and well appreciated). Great food and company.... and home to the dogs by 9 pm. Then it was movie weekend for me: Black Swan, Tron, Inception, Easy A, and The Fighter. So far, Inception is my fav. Hoping to get in True Grit and The King's Speech by the end of this weekend. Should be in a good position for preparation for The Oscar's.

It's been good at work. I had a "Santa-like" patient last week. Went in on Friday just to take care of him and see a new colostomy patient. It is so rewarding to help people....listen when they need to talk....give them empathy and caring. I love nursing. Today I was walking down the hallway and heard a patient yelling that he needed water. Didn't know him at all, but he appeared to have vision problems. I gave him a couple drinks and tried to put the glass so he could reach it. I said "is it okay now?" he said...."no....the water tastes funny". Oh well, I can't fix that...just yell if you can't get water again or hit the call light. He was happy I stopped in. I find it hard to leave people alone...if you have family in the hospital, please stay with them, it really means a lot. Staff can not be there all the time.

After work tonight I stopped by the grocery store. Saw my good friend Mimi's older sister....she still likes pink. The music playing was a good 'ole rock and roll song I've heard Dave sing a hundred times. I could see him singing while I listened. I just loved his voice....so beautiful. What a great memory. When I got home I filled the bird bath and put out some dry bread for the birds....expect the part Nikki just had to eat. She didn't know she was stealing. Well, it's time for dinner and then I'm going to make ham salad. Hope everyone had a great X-mas.

peace, love, groove.

Merry Christmas to all!

This year's Christmas card picture. PLG to everyone! love, Lee

Dave's Birthday

This picture was taken 12/2007. Mother and son sharing a birthday wish. Dave's birthday was sometimes overlooked over the the years, being so close to Christmas. His childhood cake top was a Santa. But Dave didn't seem to mind....or had gotten use to it.

After getting my hair cut this evening, I picked up a pizza at Santaniello's in Dave's honor. He loved pizza. Love you so much Dave, you still feel so close to my heart. Thanks honey.

peace, love, groove

Nature surrounds us

Pictures: 2 of the 3 deer in and by my yard this morning.

It started last night around 11:30 and lasted until 12:30. Ruthie was barking on and off and going up to the windows very upset. I tried yelling at her....I got up once and found nothing. Then the last time I got up there were two black cats sitting outside the living room window by the tree. Just sitting there, undisturbed by the dog barking. Didn't even care when I knocked on the window. Finally, one at a time, they went away. I've never seen them around before. Then this morning I was overwhelmed by the number of birds in the yard. All kinds too! It sort of felt like they were talking to me at times. I filled the back bird feeders and the heated bird bath. About 10:30 I went to let Audrey in and there was a deer on the other side of the fence staring at me. I walked closer talking the whole time....telling her not to run. She just looked at me. Then I noticed another deer was in the fenced in very back part of our yard. I slowly walked to get my camera. When I got back there were three deer all on the other side of the fence. I couldn't get a picture of all of them together. I think one was a young buck...not sure. They seemed to be very interested in me. They are so beautiful. Can't remember the last time I saw so many animals in the yard in the winter.

peace, love, groove.

What a weekend

Pictures: The YaYas; a Christmas tree pinata; Julie breaks it open; playing a word game; Lindsey borrows Sue's glasses.

The YaYa Christmas party (not cookie party by the way) was a great success. GREAT FUN! Julie prepared a Mexican fest this year to go with the recipe we got in Traverse City for the best Margarita's in the world. And they were great...plus no hangover. We got wonderful gifts and had a lot of laughs (some at the boy's expense). It's a yearly tradition that I hope goes on forever.

Saturday I went over to Tim and Joni's to play Carcassonne. It's really fun.

Checking in on our animal friends

Pictures: Sign at Humane Society cage in honor of helping friends x2; Nancy and Nikki eating/drinking together this morning.

This morning Nancy-boy and Nikki were caught together in the kitchen. I had to get a picture. Work was good, we had our x-mas party today which was very fun. Then I went to the Humane Society to give them a couple more checks I had received, some cookies and a x-mas card. They showed me the sign on the cage I sponsored in honor of all our friends who helped us, especially the last month or so. They made a special sign and wanted me to show pictures to our friends. They have some young puppies they showed me. Not ready to adopt. The mother is so thin. She is beautiful, a short haired hunting breed. I hope she gets a good home. I took Ruthie with me this time. Then we went by the vet's office and gave them cookies and a card too! Ruthie was a good girl. Tomorrow night is our x-mas YaYa party.... it will be fun. I'm tired, but hanging in there. More tomorrow. Thanks for following.

peace, love, groove.

Visited

Today I went by Dave's niche at Riverview and the plaque is up. "peace, love, groove".

Busy day, went in at 7:30 am for our quarterly Pressure Ulcer Prevalence were we look at all of the patients in the hospital and their skin. Busy is good. Tomorrow night is book club x-mas. We read Sara's Key this month. And I just have a couple more gifts for x-mas. This year Dave's family decided to give donations instead of gifts. Feels good to help someone else. Time for dinner.

peace, love, groove

More snow and storms

Sure was nice to drive less than a mile to work today. Many things closed this evening. Even the dogs don't want to be outside. They seem to be getting use to being alone a little more. My mom's still sick and staying home. Hope to have her back soon just to let them outside once during the day. She's one of the few that can handle Nikki. I may look at a dog sitter to come over... we'll see. They really appear to be adjusting, maybe it's just me.

More X-mas parties this week- book club, work and YaYa's. Next week ET nurses. 'Tis the season.

peace, love, groove

Finishing the story...or what I left out.

Two things from the cookie party last week. First, we always have a pickle ornament hunt while I count up the votes. Well this year no one could find it on the x-mas tree...thought I didn't put it on. Last evening Tim and Joni came over and we looked again and she found it. Here's a picture that shows it really is there!

Second, the sweetest story. When Noah came over before the party he asked me where David was. I said he's not here Noah. Then Noah said..."oh I know, he's with Jesus". Yes, Noah.....or with Frank Zappa (I thought).

Forgot

A friend sent me a link a few days ago. It was meaningful to me. Check it out

A Update

Okay, I forgot a few things about the cookie party, well maybe didn't write too much yet. This year we had 3 things happen.

First, around 4 pm my neighbor called and Kev had fallen in the garage. She would bring her cookies over, but had called 911. I ran over with wet hair and he was going in shock, couldn't move his left leg and she had got him to a chair. I put the other leg up as high as I could and waited with them. The snow was starting to fall, so Al was there dropping off her cookies and planning to get home in South Bend before dark...she came to the neighbor's too. The ambulance was there in about 5 minutes. Kris has a 2 year old grandson she's helping to raise and didn't think she could go to the emergency room with Kev...I said just bring him over, he'll join the party. Well, Noah had a great time.

Number 2- Ellen walked into the party in pain and said "I came to drop off my cookies and I have to go to the emergency room". Julie and Liz got her there and left her car and came back to the party.

Number 3- Loni went to park her car and ran into Jeri's car. Jeri hadn't been to a cookie party for a few years...welcome back Jeri!

In the end- Noah stayed until around 10 pm, Kev went to surgery due to a broken hip, Ellen came back around 7 pm all better and Loni gave Jeri her car insurance info. The important thing is all know the (or think there's) importance of the cookie party and got their cookies there in time. Glad every one's okay!

Will keep the posts going. Thanks for all your support. The truth is...I need it more than ever now.

peace, love, groove

Snowing......

Pictures: Liz and Julie getting snacks; prizes under the tree; Julie, Lisa and Sue- ready to taste; snow girl Audrey.

Just about recovered from the weekend, boy was I tired. Today I found myself comforting and trying to keep someone from feeling bad when they said "I bet your husband is happy too" during a conversation about me returning to Lakeland. I knew she didn't know he had been ill. I tried so hard to tell her and talk about everything in a calm manner and found myself crying and couldn't stop... for just a few minutes. So, she felt bad. Darn. I know it's okay to cry, I just didn't want her to feel bad. Wow. 1 down 800 million to go.

love you Dave.

peace, love, groove

Here's the cookie party 2010

Pictures: tasting; Julie, Lee and Liz; the glass tree; a plate ready to taste; the x-mas tree; the winner for best display; getting cookies.

Exhausted

I can't believe it's already December 7th. Friday, Saturday and Sunday I worked hard on finishing the house for the cookie party...and making cookies. Joni, Catherine and Sue all came by and helped over the last weekend or so. Don't think I could have done it without them. Sunday was very fun. I'll post pictures tomorrow. There is still so much to scan and put on the blog from October. It's just been so busy for me. It should start to slow down soon.

Lakeland is working out well, but we walk so much. I'm not use to that any more, I'll adapt. Still seeing lots of old friends who ask about Dave or just give me a hug. One nurse asked about Dave and didn't know he had died since he didn't come to the hospital, she said "he must have died at home"....yes. At that moment I felt so proud of what we had all done. Allowing Dave to be with his dogs and friends and family. We did good.

peace, love, groove

Didn't realize

Still so happy to be home with my job. Today I drove less than a mile in 3 minutes or so, others had an hour drive in the ice. We're moving to a new office. Lot's of fun. Can't wait to make it our personal space. The one thing is...... seeing old friends and talking about Dave. I didn't realize that could be so hard. Today it was. I found myself starting to cry. I think part of it is I held so much at bay trying to do what I had to and now that pressure is gone. I do miss Dave so much.

Thanks for all the continued support you all give to me. Annual Christmas Cookie party is this Sunday. Busy is good.

peace, love, groove