The woes of getting older

The weekend of December 8 & 9, I had a dull headache that just wouldn't go away. On Monday at work, I asked the school nurse to check my blood pressure. It was 180/110. She told me to go to the doctor. I was able to see the Doctor that afternoon. He said I was hypertensive so prescribed a high blood pressure medicine for me.

I was surprised at this because I have never had trouble with my blood pressure before. My Mom had high blood pressure and suffered a couple major strokes and a few mini ones.....thankfully she only experienced less stamina after them. So anyway....it still didn't sit well with me. One of the side affects of some meds is coughing. Well that was frightening in itself. I'm a cougher anyway.

Now I get to monitor my blood pressure morning and night. It's almost as bad as weighing myself. I don't like the numbers and it is another measuring tool in life which I HATE!

Next comes the treaded Winter cold that so many people got. Mine became full blown while we were in St. George for Christmas. I coughed all night and each day my blood pressure continued to rise. Finally one night my BP was 190/110. So off to the emergency room. He doubled my dose and sent me home with narcotic cough suppresant and pain pills for my headache. I slept like a baby the rest of the trip.

I'm still coughing. Went to the doctor that started me on the meds and he referred me to a cardiologist because I had irregularities in my heart. Come to find out I have a very slow heartbeat (like my Dad). That was the irregularity. The new doctor prescribed a different med that doesn't make you cough. My numbers are still not great, but today and yesterday I am finally experiencing a slight improvement on the power and intensity of my coughing attacks. I HATE TO COUGH. This doctor did say I have a Happy Heart because a slow resting heart beat is good. That was nice.

So I'm ackowledging that my weight probably doesn't help my blood pressure, but I'm 99.9% sure that the stresses of home repair, house selling and moving are the biggest contributors to life's stresses. I don't feel stressed because I have taken a back sit and wait until I see it attitude.....but maybe it has been stressful. I have within the last few weeks come to the realization and commitment to stop complaining about how long things are taking and not coming to pass as quickly as I wish. I can hear myself complaining to my Doctor and someone else fairly new in my life and I thought - What an idiot I am. Shut the heck up. You have a wonderful life and an amazingly wonderful husband. Needlesstosay, since that moment I have been feeling tons better.

So everyone quit complaining and be grateful for the wonders of each day. Your health (eyes, ears, nose, touch) children, spouse, friends, employment.... the list is endless. Let's be grateful and be good to your heart in health and attitude.

Happy Hats

I'm pretty sure I bought Little Buddy the first two hats.....not sure about the whale cap..

Too cute for words.

We skyped with Shannon last night and Little Buddy is like an energizer bunny.

He had one of Shannon's sewing patterns in his hands and non stop playing, slapping, flapping...

Absolutely no expression in his face....just like his Mommy!

He may be a Brian mini me, but he is his Mommy's boy.

Christmas 2012 in pictures

Fred and I were able to spend a week in our new house in St. George during the holidays. All of our children and grandchildren came for a visit. This is our beanie grandson Christmas picture.

 There is always a lego station and Grandpa Fred is always good to sit with the boys to play.

 All the grown children took a turn preparing and cleaning up for a meal. We ate well during our time together. My new kitchen is big enough for everyone to step in and work together.

 We had some balloons that were a hit. Even great grandma Daly got in on a few good volleys with the boys.

This picture was taken at our neighborhood park. The boys played on the toys and Grandpa Fred had two remote control cars for them to play with......in the street.

 Our Little Buddy with his Aunt Corinne.

 Only one kind of a meltdown by the grandsons.....and this really wasn't a real one, but I still wanted a picture.

 Here is Richard's lego masterpiece.

 Little Buddy taking his afternoon nap.

 I made the boys a robe and a bag out of the extra fabric. They decided the bags made great hats.

 Shannon & Brian.....

 Having a kid table for meals is always a nice touch.

 Here are all the men and boys in my life.

Uncle Scott was a life saver...he brought all kinds of electronics....he even brought a projector so we watched Christmas movies on the wall for the kids and watched lots of episodes of  Modern Family for the adults.

Scott fulfillling his uncle duties....Little Buddy is not a bendy baby...he likes to be in the outstretched position.

 Shannon & Little Buddy bundled up for a walk to the park.

 Brian loves jets....and so will Little Buddy....early flying lessons.

 Our balloon wall thanks for Great Aunt Sharlotte for the idea.

Great Grandma & Grandpa Daly with the boys.

 Some park climbing...

......and bongo drums...



 Best gift ever...we celebrated Spencer's birthday also. He got this Batman cape & mask. It was a hit!

and so the end of our 2012 Christmas highlights in pictures. I want to do it again!



Two down, one to go

We were going to shop for the big grandsons in St. George when we get there next week. Still unsure what we were going to get them. Corinne suggested robes because the boys have been coveting the one that she wears every night around the house. Well I thought to myself I have all today, Sunday (yes I enjoy sewing on the Sabath) and if I need Monday morning I still have time. So I made the first one for Spencer who will be four on Jan. 1st. He is very much into Batman right now. Next is Spiderman for Garrett and Superman for Richard.

I noticed that even though I was hungry, the challenge of the sewing project won over my need to eat. Hmmm maybe I need to start sewing everyday!

I finished Richard's.....so I'll make Garrett's spiderman tomorrow.

Freshly painted white interior doors

The fine painting and door handle installation by Fred and door molding installed by my Dad.

 How many doors did Fred work on and finish you ask? Let's count them, one, two, three....... 15....

Thank you Fred for getting this project done. It was a project that we had no idea would be so time consuming and actually a lot of work. If we were to do it again.....we would buy doors already primed and painted! But in the new house I do not anticipate this ever being a project for Fred again.

Holiday Pops

Fred bought discount tickets for the Seattle Symphony from Costco a while back. I found the Holiday Pops performance and the music on the program sounded inviting. I don't enjoy listening even the best musicians if they don't perform pieces that are familar.

Sleigh Ride , What Child Is This?, Winter Wonderland, It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Christmas Song / Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, The Little Drummer Boy, Joy to the World, The Night Before Christmas,  Carol of the Bells, We Need a Little Christmas, White Christmas, Let It Snow, O Holy Night, and then a sing along Deck the Halls , O Christmas Tree , Jingle Bells & We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

 No photography allowed during the performance, of course, so I took a few pictures just to give you an idea of our view. I had to wear my glasses down on my nose so I could see out of the top. We sat at the highest level. The sound was amazing.

 The Northwest Boys Choir apprentices sang. I would say these boys were aged 7 to 12 or so. Heavenly voices. There was also Christiane Noll & Doug LaBrecque were guest soloist. His voice was heavenly and he was a wonderful entertainer....she not so much.

 I would recommend you to attend if you had the opportunity. I hope Fred and I will do more things like this. Seemed a perfect empty nest kind of evening for us.

My Mom

I'm missing my Mom. I'm surprised how much deeper that feeling grows the more time passes without her. I just didn't grasp the depth of her presence and her influence in all that I do. Her death has brought about this realization for me.

I wish she were here. I think one of God's gifts to Mothers is the ability to make our children feel safe and loved no matter what.