Snow Snow

Neighbours fir tree




Back deck



Path the back door makes in the snow




From the front deck 

Weekend

Friday night we didn't really do very much of anything, ordered a pizza for supper and watched tv.

Saturday morning we got up and started shopping when the stores openned. I got a really good chunk of my Christmas shopping done. We went out for lunch and then bought groceries and we were still home before 1:00. Crystal wasn't going to the hockey game because her and Al were going out and I was trying to decide if I wanted to use her ticket. I wouldn't mind seeing the hockey game, but it was SO COLD out and I just hate coming out of the arena when it is that cold. I was still trying to make up my mind as to what I wanted to do, and Crystal out of the blue got sick. We are pretty sure it was from the antibiotic that she is on, she has such a time taking them. She phoned Al to say that she wasn't going to be going anywhere and why and I decided that I would just stay home with her. After Gary left her and I watched 3 back episodes of 7th Heaven that we had taped but hadn't gotten to. She has been feeling okay since so pretty sure that it wasn't a bug of some sort.

Sunday we did a few things up around here and finished watching the second season of Corner Gas. Ryan got us hooked on this show, and it is so funny! We watched a couple of episodes of the third season as well, and then it was time for Gary and Crystal to go to the hockey game. I spent the evening working on a sweater that I am making and watching some shows.

We got snow over the weekend, but not a whole lot. It has continued snowing today but just lightly. It is COLD here and they are saying there is more snow and colder temps on their way to us. Isn't winter fun!

Another weekend has arrived

Today the kids have no school, so it will be a somewhat busy day. I have one family (2 kids) that will not be here and another family (2 kids) that are going home after lunch. That should leave me with 3 kids this afternoon which won't be too bad.

Last weekend when I was sick I spent a fair bit of time just sleeping in my chair. The bad part of that is I would wake up and find that my neck was all kinked etc. I went for my massage last night and it feels good to have all those kinks worked out.

Now that I am feeling better I have been knitting as much as I can. My Christmas list is starting to dwindle down now and I am not feeling quite so paniced about it.

As far as I know we have no real plans for tonight, probably just get something in for supper and then relax. Crystal is going to a credit union beer and pizza party at Boston Pizza and then going to Al's to watch movies. Since he is working evenings this week he won't get off till 10 so that should work out well. Tomorrow morning Gary and I are getting up in good time and heading out to Christmas shop. I want to get out and get it done and get home before the stores go really crazy! Saturday night and Sunday night there are hockey games, not sure what Crystal's plans are so don't know if I will go to either of them or not.

I'm Back

I think that I might be back among the human race! Wow, I hate being sick. I now realize that this has been working away on me for some time now and it finally just said, okay this is it. I have been feeling somewhat run down for the last bit, but figured it was a trying to do to much, not enough sleep kind of thing. On Wednesday night I felt like I was coming down with a cold yet again, so I took Nyquil and went to bed. Thursday morning I didn't feel as bad, but not great and as the day went I just felt worse and worse. At 2:00 I phoned Gary at work and asked him if he might be able to come home even a little bit early. He got home right around 4 and I went straight to bed and slept. Gary took me to the doctor and he said I had sinus, throat and bronchilla infection so he gave me a perscription and sent me home to rest. Rest I did, I simply could not stay awake Thursday night or Friday. Saturday was a bit better and Sunday a bit better again. Today I am feeling much better, not 100% yet though. I am going to continue to just take it easy and get as much rest as I can until I am completly over this.

Will it be like this all winter?

I sure hope not. I seem to have gone from one cold right into another one. My little guys have all had some sort of a stomach/intestinal bug along with a cold. Thankfully I haven't picked up the bug but it sure feels like I am getting the cold. I took Nyquil before I went to bed last night, but those type of drugs don't make me sleep they make me toss and turn so I didn't get a very good sleep. And then there is no school today or tomorrow...help!!!! *S*

Monday I wrote my letter to my dad's doctor and am waiting to see if I hear anything from him or not. At least now I can rest easier because I know the issues that were concerning me have been addressed to him and he can do what he feels best about them.

Yesterday my out west kids were in my mind alot. Our weather channel kept talking about the terrible weather they were having there. I did hear from Ryan early afternoon here and then chatted with Tammy a bit when she got home from work. It was nice to hear that she got somewhat good news from her appointment, but now she has to play the waiting game again. Sometimes those darn waits can just be so long.

I talked to my Dad last night and he was fine with if we went to the mainland on Boxing Day, so as long as the weather cooperates that is the plan. It will be nice to get to meet Tammy's grandparents. Crystal is looking forward to getting to go on a ferry ride too!

Things will be getting under way here really quick so should post this and get ready for the rest of the kids to arrive. I am hoping we don't get the wet snow they are calling for, because I would like it if they could spend some time outside today.*S*

Another weekend come and gone

Another weekend has come and gone! I had a long weekend, actually an extra long weekend and I was so needed and so enjoyed. On Friday I only had one preschooler here and by noon I had called his parents and they came and picked him up. Since he was the only one here I could let him just cuddle on my knee, something I couldn't do if other's were here. I knew that he wasn't feeling up to par when he wanted to just cuddle because this little guy never sits still for 2 seconds! He was sick all weekend and is still out today. I feel for the poor wee guy. Another one was sick on Thursday but Mom didn't seem to think it was anything. I could tell he wasn't feeling up to par all day long and I guess he was sick all weekend. He is here today but I have my doubts that he really should be. And so back to the extra long weekend... I ended up with Friday afternoon to myself with only 2 schoolagers coming after school. Then I was closed on Monday which I so enjoyed! I went out shopping, got my groceries, did a bit of Christmas shopping and just wandered around a wee bit. I feel that I will pay for it this week though, since there is no school on Thurs or Fri!

On Saturday we headed to Virden to Uncle Joe and Auntie Lucy's for a delicious supper. Dad, Nora, Doug, Wendy & boys, and Auntie Ev were there so had a good visit. We were the first one's there so I got a chance to talk to Uncle Joe a bit about Dad. I told him I had been thinking about phoning his doctor, but had decided that I would start with a letter. Because of the privacy act I do know that he is limited in what he can talk to me about, but offered up a couple of observations that I had. I included all my contact info in the letter so he can contact me if he feels that I can offer any insight.

Gary seems to be settling into his new job nicely. It is still pretty hectic for him as they haven't hired anyone to replace him, so he is working the counter as well as doing the other job.

Today I made a list of things that I need to complete before Christmas. Yikes! LOL!

Rain or Snow - please make up your mind

Things in Brandon are quite a mess right now because of all our weather. First we had snow, then we got rain, and then we got freezing rain. Yesterday morning everything was so slippery! For right now the rain has stopped, but we are still in a freezing rain warning. I hope the weather clears up by the weekend because we are suppose to go to Virden on Saturday.

So, Gary has told his boss that he is taking the job. They are still going to disucss wage etc, but he is going to take the job regardless. It is somewhat of a step up. He will no longer be on the front counter (except at times when it gets very busy). He has quite a bit to learn, but is having fun with it I think.

Seems that changes might be on the horizon

There have been a few changes taking place where Gary works. They have been interviewing for a replacement outside salesperson. One of the guys who works in the store put his resume in for this position but after his interview he felt that he wouldn't get the job. On Friday he was hinting that he had gotten the job and someone was going to start training for his job on Monday, but that is all he said. Anyways, this morning the announcement was made that Al had accepted the position of outside sales. Gary was asked if he would move up into Al's job. He has asked about the salary and is waiting to hear that before he 100% accepts the position. The job will mean that he won't spend that much time on the counter, just helping out when it is super busy. It is an increase in responsibility for him and I think he is looking forward to the challenge.

Nothing is definite yet, but I think there may also be some changes coming in regards to the job front for myself as well.......... actually I am pretty sure changes will happen, just not sure exactly when yet.

An update

My dad phoned me this morning to say he was home from the hospital. He said he asked the doctor what sort of limitations he had and the doctor told him none, just carry on as usual. If your heart starts to race then sit down and rest till it stops. So obviously the doctor doesn't think that this is any sort of emergency when it does this. Also dad did go for his angiogram this summer and everything came back just fine. So now I am left with some wondering thoughts that I am going to see if my doctor has time to discuss them with me this weekend.

-is some of this a depression related issue. I know it is not easy to lose members of your family who are younger than yourself and to see another younger member of your family sufferring from heart disease. Also I am sure it is frightening to have been diagnosed with the same cancer that your younger sister was initially diagnosed with. And to have some of the same issues with your heart that your younger brother initially was dealing with.

-if some of this can be linked to a depression issue then could it be possible that he sits at home in the evenings and gets thinking about the above issues and gets himself worked up to a panic/anxiety attack which can make it feel like your heart is racing.

- the problems that he has off and on with diahrrea(sp)and excess gas. Is it possible with the surgeries to his bowel that his bowel is still recovering from the shock. I do know that the bowel does NOT like to be handled at all, much less go through 2 major surgeries. Or is their a diet issue. This is what the doctor told him last time he was there. He has had stool samples sent away and they all came back fine. I know it is very hard to get motivated to cook healthy meals for yourself when you live on your own. I know lots of time for lunch he might just open a can of soup for lunch and then might go out to the Chicken Chef for supper because he didn't feel like cooking. Maybe this is his body saying that he needs to eat healthier and take better care of himself.

Very Colorful Afghan

 Here are a couple of pictures of the very colorful afghan I was asked if I would make. I had my doubts about it but really I think the colors worked out pretty good together.
  

November already

I can't believe that it is Nov 2 all ready, before we know it this year will be over. I think the years just speed by way too fast.

Last night Dad phoned me from the hospital and he sounds fine and said he was feeling fine too. He is on IV and they did some tests yesterday and he has to wait for those results. They took blood but their machine there is down so it had to be sent to Brandon so hopefully he will get the results today. This time they were able to hook him up to the monitors while his heart was fibrulating so don't know if they will learn anything from that or not.

I think I am finally getting over this cold. Still have a coughing fit every morning, but other than that seem to be feeling better each day. I am hoping that when I go to the doctor this weekend that I can get my flu shot.

This weekend we are hoping to get our carpet upstairs cleaned. It should of been done a bit ago but just didn't get done. We have painting to do upstairs as well but think that will wait till the new year. Always something to do that is for sure.

Yesterday I did some Christmas shopping online. I think I like this online shopping, no having to go out in the cold, wait in line. This is the first time I have really done this so will see how it turns out.

My Christmas knitting is getting there, still some to do though. I am almost done the very colorful afghan that I was asked to make but a special little boy. I am really surprised how good it is looking!

Privacy Act

Sometimes this privacy act is just so aggravating! I do understand the need for it in some cases but it really does get carried away at times I think.

I just got a call from the Virden Hospital. They phoned to tell me that my dad was there and that he asked them to phone me and tell me. So I asked the nurse if she could please tell me what the trouble was. Her reply was that she is not allowed to discuss his medical file with me! He asked her to phone me, his daughter, to tell me he was there. All she would say was, well you are aware of his medical history. Well yes I am but there is more than one, but she couldn't tell why he was there! I hate this. I was able to get ahold of my brother on his cell phone, and he is at work, but is going to run in to town and see what he can find out.

I guess I am going to have to get him to check and see if he can't somehow get something put on his file that he gives them permission to discuss his medical history with me.

Stock Taking

The end of October always brings with it Stock Taking. Gary didn't put in near the overtime that he usually does getting ready for this. I went in the week before and then stocktake weekend. It really isn't that hard of a job and the extra money is always nice. I usually just sock it away to spend when we have our get together, so stock taking usually equally more yarn *S*

Mid Term Exams

Crystal has just finished up with her mid term exams. She did really well on them. She spent hours studying so I am glad that it all paid off for her.

Now if only her mom could get her act together and get on with the course that she is taking*S* One of these days I am just going to have to sit down and dig into it!

Winter is here

The end of October saw winter arrive here! We were in a winter storm watch and ended up getting about 3 inches of snow from that storm. It really made for a not very nice Halloween for the kids. We ended up with only 25 kids.

It is snowing away again today, not sure how much we will get from this front. We really haven't had much terribly cold weather yet so that is good.