General Chat

No Mary.... there are no fingers and mistaken buttons involved...
if I am hitting a button, it will be with my elbow, wrist... or my mind.... it does do a lot of wandering these days.

My arms are really sore today.
This happens a lot.
I think I need a rest from my 'pooter', but I love it so much and even a day off like yesterday leaves me depressed.

Just in case there is anyone who has not heard... ha ha ha ..... my son is coming home today!
Flying into Birmingham by 10.20 so should get home by 12 to 1.00am....

SO we will see him tomorrow, after he has had a long..... **sleep in his own little room again... **
that is how to show your age isn't it?
I even remember asking my daddy, what that line in the song meant...

Did not miss him one little bit.... you can all vouch for that can't you?
Deanna XXX

Deanna, could this be what's happening, as it's happened to me several times . . after typing, I seem to hit the 'reply' button, instead of the 'submit' button. You are not alone in being button-challenged.LOL.
And by the way, I don't think I have a 'rough life', but it sure is busy LOL.
How many people have the opportunity to truly bond with their grandchildren? I am fortunate in being able to see their progress, share their successes and wipe their tears. My mother came and assisted me during the week, when I was left on my own in 1981, my children have such fond memories of her. I am also grateful I seem to have the strength to keep going, to help Colleen in achieving her personal & work goals. She lost so much time in school when she was having 30-plus seizures a day at age 5/6, and school was always a challenge after that. Another long hiatus when her seizures went out of control again at age 12.
Little did we realise then that she had a brain-damage-onset learning disability, which held her back. Since that was finally diagnosed 3 years ago she hasn't looked back, now having the accomodations to allow her to complete exams etc. Now her marks for the past year have averaged 92%. She deserves the chance to do well, to become a very productive member of society, rather than giving in and accepting a bad situation. She's setting an amazing example for her children. miniMary has become a very good student, not the highest marks but sheer determination and acceptance of responsibility.
Kids have pizza day at school today, so everyone was happy and ready on time. We had no excitement in the parking lot, yes the child-lock button is activated today.
Everyone is so excited (yes even me), about the 2 labradoodles who are being trained for Sarah and Gareth. Anyone who is on Facebook can check out the group 'Paws with a cause', who will assist us with fundraising. they are currently helping a family in Niagara Falls, we'll be next.
Another breakthrough last evening, Sarah brought me a picture card (we use them to stimulate language, but we usually have to initiate it) which had a picture of a dog on it, and she said"want dog". YES!!!!! Half an hour later she brought her coat and picture of the van and said "want to go van". So Colleen took her shopping for her rice milk. I am delighted. May not sound like much to others, but at 10 years old, as tall as me, she is finally initiating conversation & requests. Some days i can feel myself becoming emotional, as I look at her, she obviously understands everything said to her, follows directions most of the time, but I could cry for wishing she would talk TO me. breaks my heart. Gareth however has plenty to say, 2 years ago he only had sounds, screams, now he has a lot of language. Not grammatically correct, which was a hard thing for me to accept, but I've come to realise that the ability to communicate far exceeds perfection of language. His latest achievement is toiletting standing up like boys are supposed to do. Unfortunately he also thinks if he's standing up on his bed, that's a good spot to practise !!

We had a 'family meeting' (of sorts) last evening to brain-storm with ideas for fundraising for the costs of the dogs - Em thinks she will have a booth for 9 year old girls, put her brother in it and let them pay to kiss him !!!! She's agreed to a lemonade stand instead! She started dragging out toys to sell, wants so badly to help.
miniMary also has lots of ideas, like an 'all you can eat barbecue', without thinking about the fact that we don't own a BBQ and that someone has to buy all the food for grilling first. She's offered to do face-painting for children.
Megan's boss has offered to do a gluten-free bake table.
I'm hoping to have 'candy apples' for sale, hopefully donated or reasonably priced for good mark-up. One of the local fruit farms has received a grant to start a separate business making candy & chocolate apples. The apples are on a stick, dipped first in traditional red sugar syrup, then, when hardened, the whole thing is dipped in chocolate, they are SO good, and the business is taking off after an appearance on a TV show, where philanthropists were offering to assist fledgling businesses. The candy apples were a hit and he's getting the grant money.
Sorry to ramble on, once I start there's no stopping me LOL.
Have to water my veggie plants in their little greenhouse. Was hoping to get them outside soon, but unfortunately we've had another cold snap, with snow, temp should be up by the weekend apparently, and my daffodils may bloom for Easter sunday.
Thank you for letting me unload, this thread has helped me SO much in the past year, I can express my self here when I have nobody to talk to otherwise. Thank you. You who are all part of this group are a Godsend, when one is down, others help pick them up, when the rescuers hit bottom, someone else is in their corner.
Mary

Hello everyone.
Well yesterday was ... not a good day.
My server was down and I was bereft... I phoned and phoned, and after 9.00 at night was told that the area NN8 (or was it 9?hahaha) was STILL down!
Any way... Colin... I cannot blame the computer for my deleting habit, it is most definitely me... what I am touching is a mystery but I keep doing it.. argg

Bu I have to agree, I am doing well and I am so happy about it. I could so easily have been so badly disabled by it, couldn't I?
BUT I could not have got this far without my *lovely* spell check.... it works harder than I do.

But Gail... it is not old age... I think it is just stupidity... ;-0)
Ann... they just disappear... I do not have the chance to see it go, let alone save it before it goes.
I know I am doing something wrong. I will find out which GREMLIN is deleting my unfinished work
Mary love, you do have a rough life.
I am sure that all the love you have is great compensation for it, but there must be times when you are just SO TIRED.Bless you.

And Liz... I am enjoying my book, well into it now i think you would like it. I am still *suffering* with my old rickety book stand... but I have to use it as my hands are sometimes really too sore to hold a book... and Tony often forgets when he is buying me books and buys nice hard backs which are too heavy.
Bless him he has his own problems too.

Carole I think I have sorted out my Imodium now! But shush... don't say it out loud in case the Imodium Gremlins are about too and decide to show me who is boss.

Well folks... dinner is ready now, late today.
Allan slept until almost 10.00 this morning. If you knew him you would realise how very unusual that is. He is very tired bless him, and is not sleeping too well these nights.
I think he has been worried about Tony, but unlike me he keeps his worries to himself.
I am so pleased that I can talk about my problems... it does help, don't you agree?
Well friends I am off for a while, dinner, dishes, coffee, and watch a film with my husband.
I love retirement... You should all try it....;-0)

And yes... Carole Y is in the throes of organising her new home.

love to all Deanna XXX

Just thought Caz moved house Monday, so she is prob up to her eyes in jobs to do. Hope she is taking care not to get carried away and do too much xx

Hi all thanks for pm's about Tuesday. I had taken one imodium but it wasn't enough to stop the need to keep going back to the loo. But boy did it leave me with a bad head ache. Just getting over it now. I went to the loo once I had picked up my pasengers and the young lad told me I should have gone before I left home ( yeh right, shut your gob and ****off) No I didn't say anything to him. Barbra never said a word. Most people at work know about the problem I have some are of the oppiniom I should not have taken the job knowing I was like this. Others are more understanding. When I took the job it was supose to be a two day week job. I could take imodium until I settled down and wouldn't need it any more. I never seemed to settle into not needing it. But they wanted me to work three days most weeks and four some weeks. CBT was ok it's so embaresing talking to a strange man about my toilet habbits.
This morning I am seeing the psychothrepist (thats not right but I can't see why!) This is one I will worry about nearer to the time to leave home in about half an hour. I think I will need tisues for this one. Will take some asprin now. talk later and let you know how it goes. But have to go to work so it will be later I come back.

Sorry it's been all me. I am thinking of you all, and the messages you have left about what is going on in your life xxx

Hi. I have been reading since we got back from holiday but not really had time to post. Deanna, you will get well, you are getting on excellently, you can't expect to run before you can walk, you are at the fast walk stage now.Not sure why you are losing your postings but a couple of times I have hit the General Topics at the top instead of the reply button so maybe that is it. Try copying what you have written before hitting any buttons at all.

Gail, sorry you are feeling unwell, flu is horrid, hope you feel better soon.
YCaz spoke to Dutch (Joyce) a couple of days ago to thank her for organising her surprise. She is getting settled into her flat and does not as yet have the internet connected.

Mary, that just proves that you need your medication then doesn't it, you had better try hard not to forget it. The service dogs sound lovely, big dogs will take a lot of feeding though. Hope they get along together. what a relief for once that you were late this morning and that there was no traffic, another few grey hairs!

Not done a lot since we got back, I have done lots of washing and OH has done lots of ironing. He played gold today and i went into town, but i forgot the schools are on holiday and town was a bit chaotic so not all that enjoyable really.

Ann
glos

Morning all:
I seem to have a knack of messing up my Citalopram!! Night before last I forgot my dose, was totally stressed after work and feel asleep from exhaustion. Upset with so many deaths the evening at work. Yesterday noon, I couldn't figure out what was wrong with me, shaking like a leaf, feeling faint, heart racing, legs restless,more than usual. Was wishing I had a blood glucose monitor as I thought perhaps my blood sugar was low as I hadn't eaten. Suddenly hit me I wonder if it was because I'd missed a dose. So I ate, drank some juice and took my pill, within an hour I was myself again. Have to remember not to miss, it was quite a prolonged procedure to wean down from 80mg to 40 mg last August, but obviously I need to maintain it there.
It looks like we've been approved for 2 service dogs for Sarah and Gareth. They will be labradoodles and are already in foster homes for autism training. One of the charities here will assist with fundraising so that's a great help. These are a mix of labrador retriever and standard poodle, the mix chosen because of intelligence, sensitivity for seizures, plus strength. They will be coming from the USA, from a place in North Carolina which specialises in dogs for various disabilities.
Could have used a service dog this morning!! Stopped my van at the school, got out and went round the other side to open the sliding door. Suddenly, Gareth opened the door on the drivers side and leapt out into the passing lane. and started running into the parking lot away from the school. Good thing we were a bit late, as there were no cars driving past us. had a service dog been with him, he would have been stopped. We won't think about what would have happened had we been on time and the parking lot been full of moving vehicles.
Just want to say hello and send hugs where needed, I'm still coping with my 50lb of carrots, today the shredded ones are becoming gluten-free carrot and pineapple muffins - I hope. Rapidly running out of time before school pickup. LOL
mary

Hi, I have the flu so feeling a bit sick, and miserable.

Colin, I too live in a small village with one pubs, still fairly isolated. Daughter is 75 kl from nearest town, not a village, but a small property, they do have the phone, thought it is intermittent, and phone will not work for internet. They have a mobile phone for backup, but as reception is poor, mainly use it to text. It is a really beautiful place, as it the place I live, even when we have droughts, I would not change it. I guess we are both used to being slightly isolated.

I agree with Colin, Deanna, you are doing so very well. I can also understand the frustration, which is normal, but think about it, our brains never do catch up to our bodies. I know how old my body is, really I do, but my brain is so much younger, and that is what is frustrating, it never does what my brain wants it to. Unfortunately, also part of ageing.

Also, the buttons are a problem on the boards, I often hit the wrong one, and have only managed to get the message back once.

David, my hat is off to you and Colin, how brave you both are, and sensible. I know how difficult it must have been for you both to join us. We welcome you with open arms, welcome to our family.

Mary, I hope you are recovering from such a bad night. I know when my parents passed away, the nurses were hit as badly as we were.

Carole, hope today went a lot better for you.

Anyone heard from Y/caz?

Hi to everyone I have missed. I am going back to bed.

love and hugs

Gail

Hi, just a quickie to catch up. David, so glad you saw the dr again.
Gail, your daughter must be in a remote place like my sister. Local town is a two pub town. 40 km to Glen Innes. She usually prefers to come to Sydney. About 7-8 hours. Brisbane is closer, but she can stay with friends in Sydney or rels in Newcastle.
Deanna, I think you're marvellous, with what you've been through. Seem to be coping well. Not sure why you're deleting stuff. Maybe the "buttons" on the board (reply, submit etc) are badly labelled.
Up front Vods, perhaps do what I don't do often- keep in touch with the others through this board. Perhaps it is less stressful than having to deal with people who know all about you.
Maxi Mary, I do feel for you. One sister worked in a hospital, but in maternity so deaths were reasonably rare. As someone who has lost close relatives, is any death ever really expected?
I don't have children, rather to my regret. I do like kids and am envious of the joy they are bringing to some of you, especially grandkids that you can give back to their parents!
Just didn't meet the right lady until it was too late for her. There are also medical reasons why we couldn't have children, apart from our age.
Claddagh, know what you mean about stir fry. I am rather lazy; We can get frozen mixed stir fry vegs in the supermarket, not the cheapest way to get them but time saving. We will even have grilled lamb chops or a small steak and do a vegie stir fry to go with it. But if you don't like meat, you could probably stir in mushrooms, tofu, lima or other beans, even out of a can, near the end just to warm them up. We have a recipe for Mongolian Lamb which we stir-fry, adding among other things a can of tomatoes. Sounds odd, but tastes delicious.
Colin

Book sounds good Deanna, hope you enjoy finishing it, and don't get cross with yourself - you are doing so well, and of course you will have backward feeling steps but onwards and upwards!

Better go, fairy feet is stomping about upstairs getting up for work, this is my cue to go to bed!
night all
Lizxxx

WELL..........
I have just managed to delete a half page of chit chat.... again!!
I could cry.

I had just written messages for Gail, about our daughters and baby clothes and DIL and labeled clothes ....
Eileen about having 'late babies'......
Goodness knows what else... and was just telling Liz about my latest book................. and it all disappeared! S***

however....
Liz.
FOOTSTEPS IN THE SAND
by Sarah Challis
Tony left it in a pile of gifts for me for mothers day.
It is about two cousins who are left a a request in their great aunts will. YES... REQUEST... to take her ashes on a journey to Africa.
There is a reason but I don't know yet what it is.
NOW... tea is ready and I am angry with myself so I am off.
I am having an *I will never get well again* day....
Oh well.
Have to leave you all and will be back tomorrow, if I feel able to take another disastrous day!
goodnight my friends
love to all I have missed Deanna XXXX

Hi Carole, hope things weren't as bad as you feared, have you ever thought of typing a little slip out about your problem and handing it to the people you work with, so you wouldn't have to talk about it but they would understand your tension and fears and make allowances?

Just a thought,

Lizx

That episode sounds very unpleasant. I sincerely hope things have calmed down for you

I feel so panicked this morning, i took one imodium last night to help today, but it hasn't done a thing.If I take two I get such bad headache later in the week cos of dehydration. I have quite a way to travel today, last thing I want is to be stopping in the bushes with this young lad in the car. Very tense about this morning. I want to cry and stay home. Wish I could choose who I travel to work with, it would be so much easier but the job does not run around me. These are the times I feel so alone with my problem. No one else knows just how bad I feel. I tell oh but he goes off to his work, and I'm alone. Well must move a bit nearer towards leaving the house and safety of my loo. CBT tomorrow
waste of time I think .

Hi all, feeling a little better but still very tired, I did make an effort to go out with o.h. on Sunday afternoon, which put him in a good mood, but when we got to the place this continental market was supposed to be on, Sat and Sunday, we were told it was so poorly attended on Saturday that the stall holders had not bothered to set up Sunday - typically it hadn't been advertised very well. We had a wander as it was a nice afternoon, and the area was by the Riverside, with new apartments going up and a lot in an old flour mill now, and then had a coffee in one of the bars there, so not a wasted visit, and got me out in the sun and fresh air.
Was very tired Monday tho
Been trying to sort out a holiday - found an availability in the cottage bookings at the place on the Norfolk coast that o.h. likes, end of Aug/early Sept, altho he doesn't usually like going away when the kids are still off school, I thought it worth trying as it's quite a quiet village etc - lo and behold, when he checked at work someone else has changed from their booking in June, which stopped me arranging something a while back, and has now booked that fortnight - oh well, back to the drawing board!
I am just fed up with going to this village when the nights are pulling in as we have done in the past, it means I can't go off out on my own as o.h. is usally asleep in the early evenings and isn't keen on going out to eat, whereas if the days are longer I can sometimes get him to eat out and walk back before it is dark, or I have to drive back in the dark.

Mary, I am glad Em enjoyed herself and her team did so well, and that Sarah got busy at the checkout, she does make strides sometimes doesn't she? I am sorry you had so much to cope with at work and hope it eases off soon, altho I guess with the bad weather things will still be difficult for you in one way or another. You take care now - at least you might get a little rest on your time off? Hope Spring comes back to you soon.

Gail, lovely that you enjoyed your weekend so much and did some good things. It's great not to have to cook sometimes isn't it? I do like the expression you used for the baby things, pre loved sounds so much nicer than second hand.

Eileen, congratulations on another little one in the family, your granddaughter sounds a lovely Mum and I am sure the little fellow will bring much joy. It's good to hear you are cooking yourself healthy meals, I like stirfries too and they are quick and easy, altho I do like meat with mine sometimes. Glad you are enjoying nice weather, as we have had some bright days too, it does help doesn't it?

Deanna, you sound the way I am over my lad, you just can't help worrying about them even tho you try not to show you are fussing lol A shame he doesn't seem likely to make you a Grandma but who knows, sometimes these things happen out of the blue when you least expect them to. Don't give up hope yet !
By the way, are you doing much reading now only I have some more titles for you if so.

Colin, thanks for reminding us that it is good to keep in touch, I haven't had the energy to add much lately but we should make the effort when we are low especially as that's the time we need the contact most I think. It's good you have a compassionate doctor, mine is pretty good and never looks at her watch when you see her, whereas some of the male doctors in the practice are almost brusque in their effort to keep the appointment to the minimum time.

David well done for seeing the doc again and being early, hope the blood tests show all is ok and you manage to discuss your worries and depression, hope your brother is doing ok, too.

To Lily, and Carole, and anyone else I haven't mentioned, I do think about all of you but the old brain is feeling the strain lately so my apologies if I owe pms, emails or just replies on here.

Take care everyone,
love
Lizxxxx

Morning, just checking in, been really busy past 4 days with work, a rash of deaths (4) in one evening,always emotionally stressful, especially when unexpected.
My g'daughter Em was away at a dance competition all weekend, her team of 6 won 2 firsts, a second and third. She's very pleased, apparently the ballet dance was 'perfect', totally coordinated, the best they'd ever done..
sarah went grocery shopping with her Mum yesterday and surprised Mummy and the cashier by taking each item to run it over the scanner . . . she's much more aware than given credit for.
A friend at work told me yesterday that her grandson has finally been diagnosed with Aspergers, he is 12 years old and has not been in school for 1 1/2 years due to behaviours, only receiving 3 hours a week of tutoring. he is so far behind and so apprehensive about school attendance now. The BIG issue has been that he doesn't like to be touched ( a very common trait in autism) and when a teacher would put their hand on his shoulder he went out of control. Touch has to be on his terms. I feel very badly, I've wondered about this child's behaviours since he was 2 y/o but it's taken 10 years for the experts to make a definitive diagnosis. What a waste of time, and the child's life.
My friend, his g/mo, has been beside herself with anxiety for ages, one can only stand by, waiting for the experts and the red tape.
We've had so much rain the past 2 days, with vicious biting winds, and some snow, more of the white stuff forecast for tonight, please somebody send us spring. It was beautiful one day last week, had my hopes up, then cold set in again.
Must ready myself for work, thank goodness I am on days off - as of tomorrow - feeling tired and headachy.
TTFN,
Mary

Thank you Gail for your good wishes. I am rather jealous, wish that I had someone to knit and crochet for my chlidren/g.children/g.gchildren. I know all such wonderful 'efforts' would be lovingly received.I am hopeless at knitting etc. Wish it was different. My (only) sister knitted and sewed a lot for my first born.She used to be very good at such things.One aunt was another good knitter-moi? NEVER!

Deanna, I know EXACTLY what you mean. I would never, ever want to think of having another child, don't care what the bible says. Was it Sarah who had a baby when she was older than us? The mind boggles!!! Mind you, there are a few women who have had a child, albeit is through 'tampering with nature', around out age, no, a few years younger.
My eldest g,child Indra is such a great kid. I have an awful lot of respect and admiration for her. Her son is the 4th g.grandchild. Her sister (second eldest g.child) had two girls, now Indra has two boys.

Am cooking yet another stir-fry meal.It is such a quick & easy meal that I take the trouble to do it each day, mostly with different fresh veg. don't eat much meat. Apart from the expense, I don't really like it, or the smell !!!!

Will try to get around to reading all the other posts soon, as soon as my mind stops 'boggling'- mild joke !

Take care everone and try to relax and enjoy the mild weather we, so maybe all of you too? are having.

Eileen. xx

Well my appointment was kept and I was not only punctual but early.

My urine sample is normal
My blood pressure and pulse and weight are OK
They took 2 blood samples.
Results in 7-10 days

Congratulations Eileen, wonderful news, I hope mum and baby are feeling better very soon.

Deanna, daughter in law would not accept clothes I had lovingly knitted and crochet, only brand name clothes for her children and not that junk.

Youngest daughter is grateful for anything we get for baby, I usually phone her when we are going away to see if there is anything she needs. We then post them down to her and her OH. She lives 75 klms from nearest shopping and does not have the internet as no reception as yet. So I also get to look things up on the internet for her. They were also grateful for any pre loved clothes etc, and have a pre loved pram as well. I did buy a new cot and mattress for grandson for Christmas, and one pair of sheets. My OH usually has to also by grandson an outfit when we are out shopping. Like you mine were also well dressed and looked after, so cannot see why we cannot do it now. MIL also buys thing as does other nana, some of it pre loved and always gratefully accepted. So everyone is kept up to date on sizes.

Deanna, it does not matter how old they are, they are always your babies. Glad he will be home soon, and what a wonderful trip he has had, apart from the bugs.

Gail

David that was a good point Colin made.
I have a very good doctor, but it took me a very long time to find her.... in the practice I had been in for may years.
So keep trying.

Colin... how come I didn't think of that?
Is my brain getting 'mushy'?;-0)

Oh Gail.... the joys of shopping for a little baby.
I loved it when my children were little.
My grandchildren had all their clothes bought by their mummy's.... if I wanted to buy them clothes I just gave mummy the money.... I apparently could not be trusted to buy the right thing, which was amazing as I kept my own children so beautifully!! ;-0(

Eileen congratulations on your lovely new baby.... tell Indra I said she is a clever girl.
I don't think my Tony will ever have any children , but I KNOW that he would love to.... so would I.
No Eileen... not me... I would love him to have one for me!!... well, not him, but his woman.... I had better stop here Eileen, I could go on all day.. ha ha ha

Mary, how are you?
Thanks for the 'funnies.
Cher me up they do.

My son will be home at the weekend... Can't wait. I am marking it off on the calendar.
Anyone would think he was a little boy the way I go on, but can I help it... Ilove him to bits and I miss him.
See you all later.
Have a wonderful day everyone.
Deanna XXX