Sunny Saturday in Michigan
Good morning OFF friends
Ladies I am officially crazy! Certifibly insane.!! A desperate social worker called needing a big favor. and I was a dummy!!
I now have toddler triplets. In the motorhome and on the move every couple of days because of a security issue with the kids. 3 13 moth old boys in the motor home! told you I was Insane! She was real nice and gave me a list of suitable campgrounds. Yeah right!! all rustic! No electrilc no water miles from the playgrounds. Un huh you bet we jumped at that!! ha ha ha. the rustic campgrounds are much cheaper in case non campers dont know. No way are we doing rustic! we are in a lovely church run camp right now for the weekend and are staying where there are hookups! Social worker wasnt happy but didnt want to keep the little terrors herself for 2 weeks. W shall survive! ANd ding dong hubby came home from work this am wanting to sleep a bit then to to an old tractor and antique show! with 3 toddler terrors! and no strollers!! I have rounded up a couple strollers now I need to round up a dozen baby sitters and a few brains for JO!
I hope everyony has a great day and a bright sunny weekend , Prayers going up from our house to all fridnds here .
Yikes. Perhaps a teensy bit insane but 100% ANGEL! Not many people would take on that responsibility.
Not much wonderful happening here. Tom sees the Cardiologist on Monday. His breathing sucks with the smallest exertion. I was concerned and spoke to his doctor. Tom told the doctor he didn't get out of breath while exercising. No kidding> The man DOES NOT exercise! His doctor asked for me to make an appointment with the Cardio doc, ASAP. Done.
I have completed 6 rounds of chemo. Yesterday I went for a CAT scan so we can check the progress and figure out the next step. My kidney functions are way too low so they had to call my doctor to discuss a different contrast dye. Yes ... I freaked out a little (lots).
When signing the consent form, I noticed they were checking abdomen & pelvis. Excuse me? I have LUNG cancer too. They corrected the mistake.
Because I am allergic to contrast dye and they used a different one, I had to stay a looooong time for observation. By the time I got home I was whipped. Even so I wanted to put a roast in the oven then nap.
Reached in the cupboard, pulled out a container and it was dripping with CAT PEE. One of the SOB's had peed all through my cupboard. So I spent the next hour tossing and scrubbing. 
If one miserable cat had come near me I'd have tossed IT out too.
Since I started chemo they have had horrid potty issues. The kitchen floor is frequently their litter box. Plus they make sure I am in there too. Do they expect me to applaud?
So ladies. Aren't you glad I have kept my big mouth shut? 
Too many complaints.
But my hair is beginning to grow again. No longer white but a funky dark color. We shall see what sprouts out of my head.
Love & kisses to all.
Annette
Annette 
Eileen,
I'm sure Jackson has never met such nasty cats. But you are probably correct about them having an acute sense of smell. Annie never sits on my lap any more. Nicki doesn't cuddle on my pillow at night. Jimmy drools and rubs against me as if I need to be buried. Becky won't let me hold her and Tony - well Tony still loves me.
Thanks 
Annette When I first hurt my right knee (long ago, before it was replaced), I had it scoped, and Kittle sniffed at it, then laid on top of my leg and started purring, as if he could heal it that way. I had to constantly move him off my leg (because he was a 15-pound cat and it really hurt having him lie on my leg). Hey, guy, I know you're trying to help ... but just lie next to it and purr, not on top, please!
Maybe Tony doesn't have as good of a sense of smell.
Morning OFF family...GOSH!!!!!!!!! ANd here I think I have problems!!!!!!!!! OMG!!!!!!!!! Prayers for ALL of you!!!!! HUGS!!!!!
Well yesterday when I was putting on my bra I heard this LOUD popping noise from my shoulder...OUCH!!!!!!! Hurt all dam day!!! Went to therapy TRIED to do my workout...she told me to STOP!!!! Put an ice pack on it and then sent me home after 15 minutes of ice on it. Told me if it wasn't better by Monday we were calling the dr!!!!!!!! YIKES!!!!! Well so far today it doesn't feel like it did yesterday...but then the day just started...:-(
Rick's mom and aunt Peggy are here...yippeeee. Going to the BRAT festival in a few minutes. Wonder if that will cost ME money for ALL of us while we are there?????????
OK best get going and enjoy our company....hahaha
Thoughts and Prayers for ALL that need them!!!!
HUGSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Good morning Jo, Annette, Judy and all my wonderful OFF sistas!
My word, the three of you humble me! I am not going to utter a word of complaint this morning.
Jo, having just survived toddlerhood with ONE toddler, I am in awe of your bravery and courage (and unbelievable generosity of spirit) in taking on THREE at once. And in a motor home no less. Kudos to you, dear friend.
Annette, you should post here more often. You need to tell us about your trials and chemo survival skills! Not only is it good for you to vent, you are educating the rest of us. No doubt we will all face some serious health issues at some point in our lives. I know I value your insights, humor, and experience as you navigate this difficult path. Praying for you and Tom to get better soon.
And Judy, my gosh, hon! Talk about getting hit blindsided by something. Your poor shoulder! I wonder what on earth caused that to happen to you? The loud pop would have freaked me out for sure. I hope it feels better today. (And I hope you survive your visitors, too! LOL!)
As for me, I am eagerly awaiting Carrie's visit this afternoon. I am so excited to see her! We text and FB and talk on the phone, but it's not the same as having her here with me to love and spoil a little. I know you mamas know what I'm talking about!
Waiting on my weekly phone call from Butch this morning. I'm also excited about him coming home on Wednesday. Even though he is not in Egypt, he IS in the Middle East and I am always nervous about crew change for him. Please say a little prayer for safe travels for him next week. That part of the world is just filled with crazies these days.
We are hoping that the tropical depression in the Yucatan comes ashore in South Texas as we need the rain so very badly. You cannot imagine the effects of the drought here. I am keeping my little postage stamp of a backyard green, but feel terribly guilty every time I water. Still, I'm not going to let that new grass die if I can help it.
I've been crocheting up a storm this past week. Finished Benny's little "rainbow" blanket for nap time at preschool. Working on finishing a baby blanket for my nephew's 3rd child due in September. Bought yarn (a couple of months ago) to make matching Christmas "booties" for all of us girls (me, Mom, daughters) to wear this Christmas, and need to get started on those. Thinking about making "texting gloves" (fingerless gloves) for Carrie and her friends in grad school for little Christmas gifts. They look quick and simple. Oh, and just found out my very good friend is going to be a grandma in the spring. I'll have baby things to work on all winter!
And after Benny starts pre-school, I need to finally get my kitchen curtains made! And I have that Texas Flag wall hanging quilt to make for my entry hall.
Lots and lots of projects to look forward to, which makes me happy. 
Will check back later to see what else is happening on OFF. Love you all!
Vickie
Jo-
You're not crazy you are incredibly kind to take in three toddlers who need help. I'm sure they are also acting out because they are scared. And in an RV that's hard especially with buttons and things that are difficult to child proof.
Ann-
Sorry you fur babies are having potty issues. Again probably sense yours and Tom illnesses and are acting out. As I type this I have a hip warmer who has to be with me while I use the computer. Nothing is worse that cat pee but hopefully it will pass soon. Hope you get some positive news from your latest CT scans.
Judy -
Sounds like your frozen shoulder might have popped loose or the ice cracked (tee hee just couldn't resist). Hopefully the popping sound was the shoulder letting go and getting back to normal.
Vickie-
I will think positive thoughts for Butch's travel. I thought of him as I have been watching the news in Egypt. I will also hope that the tropical storm goes gently through Texas to give it much needed rain.
Just returned from the annual Quilt Show in Houlton. Some nice quilts and some inspiration. Went with my neighbor down the road. She made a quilt by cutting up her grandmother's aprons. I told her she should enter it in the Quilt Show next year. They had some nice antique quilts at the show. I ended up buying some patterns but no fabric. Have enough fabric to keep me busy for years but haven't done any quilting this summer. I have 5 baby quilts that I need to do but haven't gotten my butt out of the chair this summer to do any piecing. I am hand quilting a duvet cover I am making using an antique quilt top from the 1930's that I bought and added sashing to make it queen size. I have one more side to hand quilt and then hand sew the binding on to finish. I think I will make it this summer if I do a bit each night. Determined not to carry the quilt back to Texas for another winter.
Frustrated this week with my road maintenance responsibility. People can be really nasty about money and being New England, especially vocal with their opinions. I've been collecting the contributions from neighbors and arranging grading/graveling for 3 summers. This summer has been hard and I'm seriously considering giving it up. Just tired of the petty complaints that come up. Compounding that is the fact that we've had a very wet summer and the road is badly potholed. Oh well. I'm chasing deadbeats this week in order to have enough money to have the road done next week when we're supposed to have a week of no rain.
Went to WLS support group meeting last Wednesday called staying on track. They have it once a month. Seriously considering going into some one on one therapy with the pyschologist to deal with the emotional eating issues. Have to see if my insurance company will pay.
Well that's about it for here in Maine today. Think I'll take a nap or make a batch of soup. I'm leaning towards the nap. Positive vibes going out to all of you who need support.
Cindi
I am so sorry about my absence in here....I do come in and read almost every day, but seems like I am always in a rush to get out of here. Had to comment today because you all are so open about what is going on in your lives.
Jo...I can't imagine, well, I CAN imagine what it must be like with three little toddlers under your feet. I have babysat my three little grandsons for a couple weeks by myself (now 5, 7 and 9), and they make me crazy in a BIG HOUSE! On the other hand, I don't know the story, but can imagine what their lives must be like in the worst of situations. I just got home from working at the hospital where I screen newborns' hearing. It is always an insight for me to see the different new parents and their reactions to their new babies. I can tell who is excited and delighted to have their new little one, AND the ones who sleep and are happy to have me take their baby out of their room!! I worry about those babies. I always ask if this is their first, and so often I get "No, my 3rd, 4th, 5th and even 6th!!" In this crazy world of high prices and challenges of all sorts, who in their right mind has six children! Just my own humble opinion. But I look daily at those sweet innocent faces and wonder who will be loved and nurtured and who will be neglected and seen as a problem in the lives of the parent/parents/grandparents, etc. It can be very sad.
Annette, you are a trouper! I can feel down and depressed and I read your posts and your humor and feel guilty for my mood. I wish for both of you a recovery that puts you back into feeling great and ready to deal with the demon cats!!
I so totally understand the kitty frustration! My big kitty, Nicki, has decided the litter box is his enemy and under the bed is a good place to put his doo-doo!! He's old, cranky, and loveable (damn him!) and I put up with this by getting down on the floor with a flashlight and getting his little prizes out from under the bed. At 335 lbs. I could not have done that! I guess that is my silver lining....right? Sigh
Judy....you just keep on keeping on!! I had a bad shoulder problem for awhile but the cortisone shots did wonders and now I have no pain. I'm sure you've looked into this, but I sure feel for you, because when I was having my shoulder pain, I could not lift my arm above my shoulder! Someone had to help me dress and wash my hair. Not fun. I've had about 3 cortisone shots over several years and can tell you that I can now use my shoulder as it should be used. Very grateful.
This time of year on Maui it IS CRAZY! Lots of visitors getting their last days of summer in where it is warm and easy for outdoors activities. I feel so badly for those who are in the drought zones, AND the rainy places.....but I don't take anything for granted. It could be us any time being in the eye of a tropical storm.
Right now every window is open, all the fans are on, and outside the surf is giving the surfer dudes and dudettes a fun ride. I have much to do but am procrastinating as usual.
Please know that I am always in the wings cheering for you all in your daily challenges, and I will try to be more involved.
Aloha nui loa,
Maui Karen
