Happy 4th of July Everyone!!!!
Hi Judy....I am sorry that you had to find out about your sister's recent surgery the way you did. Excuse me...what the HELL is wrong with these people??? You are her sister not just a neighbor!!! Good Grief!! You should have at least gotten a call. I may have to round up my posse and go kick some ass!!!
Prayers everyday for Bonnie....I am truly worried about her. I hope the dialysis will work. God Bless her and you too. 
Your parade isn't until tomorrow?? They are usually on the 4th. I guess every town does things differently. I am sure everyone will need sunglasses as Rick drives that truck through town...shiny! I am sure Bandit will be a great attraction in the parade!! No fishnet stockings, low necked blouse or a mini, mini skirt for you in the parade!!!! I know how you are...LOL!!!!! 
I have always missed your posts...carry on please...I know Vickie could use the distraction....so could I!! Vickie said not long ago for us to carry on like normal....she needs some other things to think about! Maybe just somewhere in the middle kind of posts??
So Michael is stepping up in class by living with Sugarplum!! It sounds lovely...GAG! I wish him luck...how long do you think it will be before he crawls back asking for his job and a apartment again? LOL!!! 
A new vacuum...how fun...you will be amazed at how much better the carpet will look. I had a new one and it blew me away...such power!!
Sorry for the jalapeno...that would have reacted the same way with me!! 
I love chicken salad...grapes...cashews etc...YUM!!
Have a fun 4th of July!! Wish I was there!!!
Loads of love and bunches of hugs to you...connie d
Hello Kathy....Happy 4th of July!! I wish i could join you in the pool. That sounds so inviting!! 
Enjoy the parade and fireworks. I won't be going out today. High of 87 which I like, but that darn humidity is going to be to high later.
It has been quiet here lately...that is pretty normal in the summer. People are just out and about more. I am concerned about Mary and Christie and a few others. I hope everything is alright.
As for me.... I am running out of steam and I need to walk yet!! They are having a BBQ here today. That will be nice!
Nothing else to chat about for me. Another quiet day watching movies and resting. That is okay because I don't feel up to anything anyway! 
Prayers, love and hugs to our precious Vickie..and Butch and family. I am so so worried about Vickie and her not getting enough sleep. She is going to crash one of these days. I wish I was there to help.
Prayers for our sweet OFF Family and their families. Other special prayers are requested so I will be sure to include them.
Have a Happy 4th of July everyone!! Please keep safe!
Lots of love and many hugs to you...connie d
Hi Ladies,
Happy 4th of July.
Im at my brother's house for the weekend. Thursday night we went and watched a band played. I had my first adult beverage since surgery. It went down fine. Friday I sat out in the sun and read a book then we went out to dinner. Today I made a cake for our picnic tonight and watching the fireworks. My SIL was cleaning out her closets so Im going home with alot of clothes. I dont have much planned for the week.
Judy sorry that you had to find out about your sister that way. I will continue to pray for you and your sister.
Connie Im praying for you that your depression lifts. I understand how that depression can get you down.
Vickie I continue to pray for your family.
Everyone have a safe and fun day.
Hugs,
Yvonne
Hello Yvonne....Happy 4th of July!!!
I hope you are having a great time with your brother this weekend. It sounds like you have been busy. You got out to watch a band! You even hit the jackpot on clothes!!!
Don't worry about me....my depression will lift eventually. I just have to keep busy like my therapist says. There are good parts in my day and some not so good parts. I put one foot in front of the other!! I will be alright....just having a hard right now. My therapist also wants me answering everyone's posts like I always did. She wants me to keep doing as much in a day as I am able too. I am kind of out of it sometimes. At least I try right??
I think I will go out for another walk for now...wish I was there to enjoy the fireworks with you...and the CAKE too...LOL!!
Love and hugs to you....connie d
Hello my sweet family!
We are still here. We came into hospice house on June 5th and it is July 4th. How on earth this has happened to us I just do not understand, but here we are.
My sweet darling has now been without food for over 2 weeks and no water for 4 days. Yet his heart just continues to beat strongly. He's totally unresponsive now. Hasn't spoken in 2 whole days. Yesterday he did open his eyes a few times, but even though he looked right at me, I never saw a glimmer of recognition in them. Today he hasn't opened his eyes even once.
In some ways I feel like he is already gone. In other ways I'm just clinging to the sight of him. And, weird as this sounds, to the smell of him. I hug him and kiss him and inhale his scent as deeply as possible, trying so hard to commit that to memory. It is all I have left of him now.
Well, I don't mean to bring everyone down. I'm so happy to read about all of you every day. YES! I need to read normal stuff. ABSOLUTELY! That's part of why I come here every day. It helps me to get out of my own head for a few minutes. And I love all of y'all so much. I would be very sad if you didn't post about your days.
Also, may I just say how truly humbled I am by the outpouring of love and support from all of you, both here on OFF and on FB. I may not have the time or the strength to reply to each post or note of encouragement, but believe me I am READING them and they lift me up. Thank You.
It's time for my nap. I am not sleeping well at all. Connie nailed that one. Geez. I feel like I could just collapse. But I'm not going to do that. I am not. I can collapse after the funeral. But not now.
Chris and Mike are taking my little fellas to see the fireworks tonight. Oh, they are so excited. I hope they all have a great time.
Happy 4th of July to you all. I love you!
Vickie
Hello my darling Vickie....Happy 4th of July....sorry it isn't the best one you ever had. I am happy that Christie and Mike are taking the boys to the fireworks. They will love it!! I hope they have earplugs for the boys.
I was thinking...oh geez there she goes thinking again... seriously though..... you are doing exactly what I did with my mom and dad. I always sat by him/her and hugged him/her and breathed in his/her scent. More people do that then you know. Yes sweetie you are physically losing Butch. However...every time you look at Carrie and Christie and Benny and Budder you will see glimpses of him. His person and his mannerisms, his laughter and his smiles. It is not the same, but at least a part of him is still there. My therapist told me that after I lost my mom. I was totally a mess for months. I was even hospitalized. Now I can see it in my daughters but most of all in my grandchildren. They are there with us just different. This is not comforting now because it is his touch you will miss the most of all. Down the road you will see, feel, and hear Butch....listen and watch the children.
It seems as if Butch is finally in the last stage. This is the really hard part. Butch is at peace now. Jesus is there. Keep speaking to Butch..the hearing is the last to go. Keep reassuring him that you and the girls and his grandchildren will love him forever and always. Even if you said it before...say it again.
My heart is hurting for you Vickie. I keep you right here in my heart. I love you and am so proud of the wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and daughter you are. Your strength is unbelievable. I like I said before...you and Butch have such a strong and real love...you are so blessed....and I am blessed to have you in my life.
God Bless Butch, you and your family!!
I hope you napped...sometimes just a few minutes helps.
I continue to keep prayers going for you and Butch and all your wonderful family. So many people in Minnesota are praying for Butch and you too. 
So much love and many hugs to you....connie d
Connie,
What a lovely thing to say...yes, Vic will always have pieces of Butch with her...in her girls and in her grands...and someday, in her great grands....I was just telling my nieces the other day how much they look like my mother and one of the girls said, Auntie, your granddaughter looks just like your mother...or the pictures we've seen of her and it is so true...my mother looks back at me in the mirror and sometimes my daughter will smile and I will melt because she has my mom's smile....we do live on, don't we?
Vickie your no sleep issues and being so tired is so normal in your situation. Once this is over and you have said good byes every one will go home then you will crash. Your body and mind will demand needed rest once the need for all the stress and adrenaline is gone. Prayers from my family to yours
