RETIREMENT IS HERE AT LAST!

(FYI: I couldn't get this to work for a month for some reason and this was saved but not printed so I will see if it works now!)


David finally pushed the button and there was no turning back on his retirement date. They offered a great buy-out in order to eliminate the oldies but goodies at work. Since they merged with another company, they will be intermixing their work force. Anyway, David's last day of work was April 29 or May 1 for Social Security purposes. All is set up now.


COMPETITION FOR BIGGEST MUSCLES!
I love this picture of the boys. They are the best of pals even in competition! This was the weekend they stayed with us while Jen was in the city tending to her bridesmaid duties and a bachelorette party night. The boys are always very good.

We watched Jeff & Marianne's kiddos the next weekend. It was fun to see how Kameron was without mom & dad.  He did fine.  We enjoyed  having our grandkids here. They did fine and we had a good time.  The girls helped poppa pick up sticks and Kam had fun playing with the toys.  He and I played ball quite a bit.

Easter has come and gone.  We had a fun Easter Hunt for all of the kiddos. Got a good pictures of them. Will try to catch up more if this works.

GNOMEO & JULIET the movie!

FEBRUARY 26, 2011
Our Retirement Group gave each of us tickets for the gnome movie, popcorn, a drink, and skittles. They also had a juggling gnome and a magician in the theater prior to the movie to entertain the kids (and the adults). All of our kids & grandkids were able to come and enjoy it with us (except for Jen who was helping give a bridal shower for her sister-in-law. Sorry we couldn't attend Elizabeth). Afterwards we all went out for lunch together. It was a very enjoyable day. Thanks for coming kids! The weather and roads were kind of icy this morning but it got better before we got out of the movie. Now I need to send a Thank You note to our agent, Kevin Conard.

David has been working weekends during this outage so 7 days a week. He had a few days of overtime which helps heal our pocket book. He has one month left to work and he will be retired. He is still having trouble with his reflux.

I have had back pain all this week again. I didn't go to the Dr. because I know he will put me in therapy again and I can't drive over there every day. It would just not get completely better. It isn't hurting so bad that I need a shot either so I have just been doctoring it with linament and hydrocodone. It is better but not completely over yet.

Boy, the weather is such that the trains sound like they are right outside the door tonight. They have a lot going through town at night and blowing their horn. I guess people living in town get used to it.


EVEN KAMERON ENJOYED THE DAY!

OH NO, NO, NO!

For some reason my stomach reacted to something and once again I am keeping a steady pace back and forth to the bathroom. Christy got it too.

Well, hope you are all enjoying the snow without having to drive in it. David said it was slick out there.

Guess I'll watch a movie tomorrow. Postponed my Dr. apptmt. to test my blood sugar count until next Tuesday.

FEELIN' GOOD!

Had the Flu for the last couple of days of last year and the first couple of days of the new year. Now that it is gone, I'm feeling good!

Well, David & I took mom to her podietrist in the city again yesterday. I watched while the Dr. shot her right big toe with novacaine. Mom about sqeezed my hand until it hurt! Then we waited for it to get numb. I even watched while the Dr. cut her toenail and lifted it off. Yeow! At least I didn't get sick.

Tried to call Mom this morning and again this afternoon and she didn't answer or call back. I called Vintage Park after awhile and this morning she was getting her foot soaked and bandaged and this afternoon she was busy playing bingo! They said she seems to be doing fine. The only bad thing about having the toenail off, it now means we have to take her back up to the Dr. once a week for 4-6 weeks so the Dr. can make sure it doesn't get infected. She has a surgery shoe to wear for now. I need to find her a pair of loose toeless sandals.

We are going to David's class reunion breakfast at Mimi's tomorrow morning. Christy is going with us. She has some places to go (example: looking at mattresses) and we are going to go up to Jeff & Marianne's for a visit also. Looking forward to getting out!

Been messing up on my diabetis testing. Ran out of test strips and when I called, they said I couldn't get anymore until after the 8th. So I've been without any since a week ago. I go in Tuesday for a blood test to check my numbers. I went from a 6.9 to 6.5 the last time so hope I don't need to do this anymore. It was easy to forget a day here and there because I didn't take it at the same time each day.

David is working 10 hr days now. Wish he was retired!

SO LONG 2010 - HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011

The year has gone by way too fast again. It is just about 2 hrs from the new year. Hope I can stay awake to see it in. David is already sleeping!

2010 in retrospect: We started the year out with David recovering from his esophagus operation. Then we took an amazing 2 week trip with Christy to the west and back. The family 4th of July at Ruth & Bob's was a fun and enjoyable time. The next thing we know summer is over and fall was a blur. We lost David's dad in November. Then Thanksgiving and Christmas were held in Cameron, MO. Those were fun times with family again. These last few days of the year were a misery for me and others who got this 48 hr flue. Feeling better is a great relief for ringing in the New Year!

Hope you all had a safe and fun New Year's Eve!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

I wish I could be in Oprah's audience when she gives away her "favorite things". ~sigh~

Going to Cameron this year for Thanksgiving will be a new adventure for all of us. (Except Jen & Bob will be at Bob's folks b/c they usually swap Holidays with them & us each year.) I am hoping they get to come to the Long's Thanksgiving on Saturday b/c I would like to get a family photo taken again.

I am very thankful that Amanda & Derek are hosting this year. A big thank you to them.

I am so very thankful that Mom is still with us. She is so pretty and her health is pretty good. She laughs a lot when she has forgotten things. She loves to go on outings with us...even if it is just to a Dr. Appt. or out to get ice cream. Ruth and Bob's 4th of July was a fun time so Thanksgiving will be fun also. See you there!

I am thankful for all 5 of our kids and our 5 grandkids. I love them all so much. My kids & their spouses are great parents and my little munchkins are very cute and funny. I know...what can I say...I'm predjudiced.

I am thankful for my in-laws and how great they all are. I can truly say I love them. It was painful to lose Dad Long earlier this month. I can also say that I love and get along with Jen & Jeff's in-laws and wish them a Happy Thanksgiving also.

Please say a prayer for our good friends Joanne & Bob Owen for continued strength and ability to cope with their illnesses and for our niece Michelle and her family.

OUR VACATION WAS WONDERFUL!

We had a really nice vacation. We saw so many different places. We went through 15 states in 16 days. Christy has a short video on Facebook that doesn't have everything on it but a good part of it. I will be getting our pictures on after I edit and eliminate. It was a fun vacation all in all. Thanks Christy for taking us and driving most of it.

We went to my sister Ruth's last weekend for the 4th of July food and fun. Thanks Ruthie! We took mom with us and spent the night at the Best Western Motel in Jeff. City, MO. We went back to Ruthie's and we played our family game of "Why" & "Because", ate lunch and then headed for home.

I went to my first diabetis class. My A1C is 6.9 so it isn't bad but on the verge so my Dr. sent me to the class. I am getting a meter to test my blood twice a day. The meter is free but the strips and lancets are going to cost me $60 for a 90 day supply. I need to lose at least 30 lbs by following their guidelines.

Will write more later.