One test done - one more to go.  Ralph had an appointment with his regular doctor yesterday, and it's official  It isn't his heart.  But....they don't know what it is.  He still has fluid in his lungs, so....he goes in for a CAT scan this afternoon.  I hope they get the results back to us faster this time!  He started this whole thing on June 29, and it is July 31 and no answer yet!

We heard back from Ralph's doctor yesterday - I came home to a message on the phone.  "The doctor got your test results and everything looks fine. We'll see you at your next regular appointment."  Really?  This for the man that is still sleeping in his chair in the living room (we did actually moved him to the computer room last night so Alli and I don't wake him up at 5:00 every morning.) because he can't breathe?  Ralph now needs to go see the doctor to see what is wrong if it isn't his heart.  Bleh!!!

AJ was playing video games last night with his buds - meaning I hadn't seen him except when he came to get food.  Then, out of the blue, he showed up with "You have to come outside Mom."  Really?  What's happening?  It turns out that the guys were playing their game, and one of them said "Has anyone looked outside lately?  The sunset is beautiful!"  So they all left their game and went outside to look at the sunset.  They are such good boys!  (Even if they aren't really 'boys' anymore!)

Mom's gonna be so jealous!  I went picking blackberries last night!  Of course, we went at 8:30 p.m., and it was still 95 degrees out there, but.....it was so worth it!  It was full dark by the time we left, so these pictures were taken with my cell phone at 9:30, and it was still hot!!

I didn't measure how much I got, but quite a bit for picking in the dark.  We were actually using our cell phones as flashlights before we finished.  (Emma has a great flashlight app on her phone!)

The moon was just coming up when we got there - I don't know if you can see it in this photo or not, but it was so pretty!

Emma found a fairly large praying mantis while we were there too - not to mention tons of spiders.  No mosquitoes, thank goodness.  I think the heat killed them all off.

I also finished up my quilt squares for my class yesterday.  I'm very happy with these - still not perfect, but so much better than the last quilt.  I may not ever finish that one!

You know it's going to be hot when the air conditioner is running at 8:00 a.m.  The highest I saw it yesterday was 109 - and that was when I was coming back from shopping.  Now I remember why I try to go shopping in the early hours!  (That, and it is a lot less crowded!)  I meant to go early yesterday, but instead, I cleaned house before the scouts came by for a pack check.  (I didn't clean for the scouts - they don't care, but their parents might!!)

I think there were 9 scouts here yesterday for pack check - they are all off to scout camp today.  I only had one taker for the pool - one of the reasons we had the pack check at my house was so they could swim if they wanted to.  The one scout made up for the rest of them though.  I work with his mom, and she had multiple things to do at the same time yesterday, so I told her to drop him off and I would take him back home.  He swam for at least an hour.  Allison was so cute - she was watching TV while the scouts were coming and going, but when she heard someone in the pool, she lit up with a great big smile and could hardly wait for me to get her swimmies on.  She swam with Andrew most of the time - she actually gave up before he did!

I just gathered the garden - I'll be glad when it stays hot but not scorching.  Too much heat, and everything takes the time off.  My squash and zucchini didn't set any veggies during the last hot spell, and the beans didn't play either.  Now, I have half grown veggies that will probably not mature because it is so blazing hot.  Even the tomatoes took a beating with the heat.

Wow - did I take a sabbatical from posting or what???  I have no idea why, but I haven't posted in almost two weeks - I think I need to work on my time management!  Maybe one reason is that I didn't have much to say?  I think it is more that I didn't take the time (Lord knows that I never have nothing to say!).  Allison's summer school ended 7/3, and since then, I don't HAVE to get up early - I just need to get up in time to get us both at the right place by 8:00.  (Which is in reality there by 7:00 to 7:30, depending on the day - I've been going in early to work.)  It isn't even like I'm sleeping in - I'm just not as motivated to have something done by a certain time - you would think that would mean I had more time for posting, not less, right?

Mom came down for a visit last week - I took Monday and Tuesday off and we spent most of Monday shopping.  I got a couple of dresses (50% off at the Dress Barn for one, 70% off for the other - score!) and a few other odds and ends I was looking for.  My usual weekend shopping is Walmart and the grocery store, and believe it or not, there are more places to shop than that!!  On Tuesday, after Mom left, AJ and I cleaned up the front yard a bit.  He mowed and we pulled out some overgrowth in the flower garden.  It looks ever so much better!  (Now, to remember to water the flowers!)

I also went in Monday with Ralph for his heart test - a sonar test on his heart.  Unfortunately, we still haven't heard anything back on it.  The test was Monday afternoon, and the results were going "to his doctor".  Late Tuesday afternoon, Ralph called his regular doctor, Dr. Short, to see if he had the results, or if they were going to the doctor that ordered the test (Short was on vacation when Ralph went in, so he had seen someone else in the practice).  Dr. Short doesn't work Wednesdays, so no answer, and when we hadn't heard anything by Friday, I called.  I got a quick call back - Dr. Short hadn't seen the results, so his office called and they were being faxed over.  He would schedule an appointment when he had had a chance to review the results.  So....probably on Monday, I'll be calling to see when they want to schedule him.  What a pain!!  Ralph is feeling better, but still not feeling good, so I know it would be a huge relief for him (and me!) to have an answer.

Violets, cross book marks

Once again, I'm sitting out on the patio, enjoying the cool, drinking my coffee.  I could get used to this!  Of course, tomorrow starts back to the work week rush, so maybe not again until next weekend.....Then again, I just found a reason NOT to sit out here in the mornings.  The pool sweep's hose just disconnected, and it started spraying water all over the patio.  And I mean all over - it did look like the monster we call it!  

I tried to get a picture of my African Violets in the sun yesterday.  I didn't do them justice (mainly because by the time I finished cleaning Alli up and got the camera, I missed 'the moment') but they were beautifully lit from the back by the sun yesterday.

I also realized yesterday afternoon that my book club is meeting this week.  And I have no bookmarks.  Yet.  I have no ideas for bookmarks, either.  Yet.  I think I'm in trouble.  AJ had just gotten up (so it was almost 2:00 in the afternoon at this time, lazy slug!) as I was talking to myself, and he asked what the book was this time, and what was it about.  The book was Peace Like a River (which he hated the name of - it is ungrammatical, according to him - I can't judge that, not with my writing skills!)  I stated talking a bit about the book - based on the recollections of a boy who's father could do miracles based on his prayer and faith, and the family's problems - the oldest son killed two boys that broke into their house, then broke out of jail and went into hiding, the middle child had serious lung problems, etc.  AJ suggested maybe a cross?  Woohoo!  Thank you!

Yesterday afternoon, while watching the Giant's game (one of the oddest I've ever seen) I made 6 cross bookmarks.  Six is the minimum number I need, but I plan on making more, so I have extras and people have a choice of colors.

I also went to my quilting club yesterday.  I haven't touched my quilt in the last month.  I did cut out the fabric for the last set, but.....it is still sitting in there, waiting for me. Now I have fabric for the next quilt too.  I actually like the new quilt much better than the unfinished one, so I will probably start the new one before I finish it.  If I had done a better job, I would probably like the unfinished one better.  I keep thinking I need to rip it out and re-sew it, but then I think that I don't like it that much anyway, so why bother.  I need a good reason to put more work into it!

Reasons you should think twice before messing with special needs parents:

REASONS YOU SHOULD THINK TWICE BEFORE MESSING WITH SPECIAL NEEDS PARENTS:

1. Some of us have given up on social skills and don't care what we say or do.

2. We're not afraid to have a serious "meltdown" of our own.

3. We are tired and all the patience we have is for our kids.

4. We have a far shorter fuse for nonsense as a result of our responsibilities but a far thicker skin.

5. We can get you in a hold/lockdown position in less than 3.5 secs.

6. We can shoot you a look that would make a linebacker tremble in his boots.

7. Chances are it's been awhile since we've had a full night of sleep and that will give us a reason to plead insanity.

8. Our tolerance and patience is for our kids who didn't choose to have special needs, not for someone who chooses to behave inappropriately and is able to control their actions.

9. We're probably already on edge and it would be stupid to push us over.

10. We are sleep deprived and already defensive, and we spend all of our patience on our children, doctors, therapists, social workers and teachers, why would we waste an ounce of it on a total stranger?

11. We've had to fight from the moment of our child's birth so by the time you piss us off we're seasoned battlers and could win a war.

12. We devote our lives to our children and don't need more stress and people who don't understand our life.

13. Wherever there is a cub, there is a mama bear or Papa bear...We're always watching. 

~Author Unknown

Cool morning

Finally it is cool enough to sit on the patio with a cup of coffee in the morning and enjoy it!  (and, I have the time this morning - I'm usually missing that, too.)  According to weather.com, it is 67 out here, and it is beautiful!  I had a hummingbird come take a bath in the fountain - I think they are enjoying the cooler weather too.   Alli slept in a little bit this morning, and we are enjoying a nice lazy (so far) Saturday.

I went with Ralph to his doctor's appointment yesterday, and.....still no true diagnosis.  Ralph's regular doctor is on vacation, so we saw one of the other doctors in the practice, and he thinks it may be cardiomyopathy - a weakened heart, rather than congestive heart failure.  He will need to see a cardiologist for the determination, and....Dr. Mendelssohn's (Ralph's cardiologist) office was closed on Friday.  He should be seeing him in the next week or so for more tests.  In the mean time, the treatment is the same for either - treating the symptoms - diuretics to get rid of the fluid in the lungs.  He said he is feeling some better, but not much yet.  He still isn't moving around much before he gets winded.  Neither of the options are good - no cure for either, so....we are hoping that it is something else - something with a quick and simple 'fix'.

Allison is done with school for the summer - and regular school starts August 20th, I believe.  This is the only time of year I can truly relax in the mornings.  The only schedule to meet is mine.  I don't have to make sure Alli is up by a certain time, breakfast is started by a certain time, that she is dressed, teeth brushed, shoes on, backpack ready by a certain time.  Now, I can just literally get her out of bed and take her to daycare if I want to.  (I wouldn't, but I could!)  About the time I get used to the flexibility, school will start again.

Post 4th

You know it's bad when you set a new high AND a new 'low' in the same week.  We hit the 'official' 116 this week, and then we hit our highest 'low' of 79 as well.  I think we could all handle the heat better if is actually cooled down at night, but 79 is not cool!!  I went out yesterday and gathered the garden - at it was already close to 90 by the time it was light enough to see all the cherry tomatoes that were hiding!

We had a fabulous time at Larry and pat's yesterday.  Talon is 2 1/2 now (their great-grandson) and so much fun to watch.  He and Alli got along well - she shared her toys and everything.  She even managed to dance around him while she was spinning and didn't step on him.  I was reminded of the videos I've seen of elephants walking and the birds fluttering around their feet.  Alli was spinning with her slow methodical steps and Talon was zipping around, in and out and around her.  She was very good to stop when he zipped to close or zagged when he should have zigged.

Power outage

Finally, I think the house is back in order.  I had a nail appointment yesterday, and I got a text from Ralph about 6:10.  The power was out at the house.  It was 109 degrees outside when I left the bank.  It isn't going to be pretty at the house with no AC or even the swamp cooler going.  Ralph is having a hard enough time breathing right now (his lungs are half-full of liquid - hard to get any oxygen in there!) with nice cool air to breath.  Not to mention that Alli gets restless when the power is out.  Poor thing just doesn't understand why we don't turn the TV back on - it's right there - just turn it on!  I texted back that I would get the generator set up when I got home, and that my laptop had Pokemon movies on it.  After a few texts back and forth about where and how to set up the movies, Alli was happy, even if Ralph wasn't.  Ralph had the generator out for me by the time I got home, and had cords run, etc.  I just needed to start the darn thing.  Somehow.  How did that thing work again?  After a few examples of how to prime it and where the choke was (and which way to have it set), we had it going.  Yay!!!

We brought in a fan from the garage and soon had light in the kitchen and air moving.  It wasn't particularly cool air, but it was moving.  At least the temp had dropped a bit.  It was 'only' 100 when I left the salon for home.  I called PG&E, and the recording said they "were aware of our outage and expected the power back on by 8:45".  At 8:47, I called back, and the recording then said they expected the power back on by 2:00 a.m.  I gave up, shut down the generator and went to bed.  The power came back on at 11:30 - yippee!  Ralph had shut down a lot of things so they wouldn't be damaged when the power came back, so...I got up and turned off lights, turned on the AC, and then went back to bed.

Since it had been so hot, Alli evidently kicked off all her covers during the night, so when the AC came back on, she got chilled.  At least I think that is why she was up bright and early - a little before 5:00.  She went right back to bed and slept for another hour, once she got some covers on, but....I was up.  I started putting things away - candles, flashlights, fans, etc.  I still need to get the generator put away though.  But between last night and being gone last weekend, my house was a disaster!  I had started laundry earlier in the week, but since it was 115 when I got off work most nights, I really didn't want to run the dryer etc., so I was still working on the laundry.  The floors were a hairy mess.  I don't want to think about the refrigerators.  They are still waiting to be cleaned.  Maybe this evening?

Still, I'm glad the house is back together!

Power outage

Finally, I think the house is back in order.  I had a nail appointment yesterday, and I got a text from Ralph about 6:10.  The power was out at the house.  It was 109 degrees outside when I left the bank.  It isn't going to be pretty at the house with no AC or even the swamp cooler going.  Ralph is having a hard enough time breathing right now (his lungs are half-full of liquid - hard to get any oxygen in there!) with nice cool air to breath.  Not to mention that Alli gets restless when the power is out.  Poor thing just doesn't understand why we don't turn the TV back on - it's right there - just turn it on!  I texted back that I would get the generator set up when I got home, and that my laptop had Pokemon movies on it.  After a few texts back and forth about where and how to set up the movies, Alli was happy, even if Ralph wasn't.  Ralph had the generator out for me by the time I got home, and had cords run, etc.  I just needed to start the darn thing.  Somehow.  How did that thing work again?  After a few examples of how to prime it and where the choke was (and which way to have it set), we had it going.  Yay!!!

We brought in a fan from the garage and soon had light in the kitchen and air moving.  It wasn't particularly cool air, but it was moving.  At least the temp had dropped a bit.  It was 'only' 100 when I left the salon for home.  I called PG&E, and the recording said they "were aware of our outage and expected the power back on by 8:45".  At 8:47, I called back, and the recording then said they expected the power back on by 2:00 a.m.  I gave up, shut down the generator and went to bed.  The power came back on at 11:30 - yippee!  Ralph had shut down a lot of things so they wouldn't be damaged when the power came back, so...I got up and turned off lights, turned on the AC, and then went back to bed.

Since it had been so hot, Alli evidently kicked off all her covers during the night, so when the AC came back on, she got chilled.  At least I think that is why she was up bright and early - a little before 5:00.  She went right back to bed and slept for another hour, once she got some covers on, but....I was up.  I started putting things away - candles, flashlights, fans, etc.  I still need to get the generator put away though.  But between last night and being gone last weekend, my house was a disaster!  I had started laundry earlier in the week, but since it was 115 when I got off work most nights, I really didn't want to run the dryer etc., so I was still working on the laundry.  The floors were a hairy mess.  I don't want to think about the refrigerators.  They are still waiting to be cleaned.  Maybe this evening?

Still, I'm glad the house is back together!

7/3

I told him he was sick!   Ralph has been feeling 'under the weather' for a while.  He went to the doctor about a month ago and got a round of antibiotics because he was coughing and wheezing.  After driving up to Susanville on Saturday and standing in the hot sun for a couple of hours BBQ'ing hamburgers, he was wiped out.  Sunday he went to the walk-in clinic, and was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure.  Okay, I told him he was sick, but I didn't think he was THAT sick!  He is on meds now and goes to his 'real' doctor on Friday.  The doctor wanted to wait until then to give the meds time to work before he sees him.  Not to mention it is 115 here!  Ralph is spending his days propped up in a chair with his feet elevated.  I am ever so glad we have a new HVAC unit, and the solar panels in.  We can run the AC in the house and may not have to take a third mortgage out for the electric bill this year.

Visit

Some pictures from Mom's

Her new bags - the one on the right is her "Mondo" bag - a gift from a  friend.

The newest additions to the family - Maddie (short for Madam) on the left and Tommy (short for Tomboy) on the right.

Maddie watching me carefully....

Playing in the kitchen

Maddie posed on the buffet

Tommy playing with AJ and a toy - and Maddie is preparing to attack from behind the vacuum.

They look pretty big - until you compare them to AJ's feet - they are still so tiny!!! (The kittens, not AJ)

And Sadie - guarding her bowl from those kittens - that is the only thing that I have seen make her eat her food - one of the kittens walking up to it.