A Restful Week

I spent most of the past week at rest. For some reason, my esophagus decided to have a spasm that was the most sudden intense pain I've ever had. I was at the hospital at the Cancer Center's breast cancer party ladies group when it happened. Fortunately, there was a nurse on duty there, and she could see my distress, and I think my pulse and blood pressure told the rest of the story. So I was wheeled off to the ER, where my old buddy from Chemo days, Dr. Pyatt, was on duty. I told him I was sure it was not my heart, that I have a good heart, but I didn't know what in the hell it was, as it was unlike anything I ever felt before. After a few minutes when it started to let up a bit, I told him I was feeling better, and he said, "O, you are not going anywhere." So I spent the night in the hospital. All the heart signs were fine, and the ER doc and the admitting doc both agreed on the diagnosis of esophageal spasm. Both recommended somebody take a look down there. So on the following Wednesday, my esophagus got the full work-up. The results are in. YEH. No cancer. No weird disease. But I have a good amount of inflammation in there; they call it esophagitis caused by acid reflux. I am on double acid reflux meds for 3 weeks. If that doesn't calm it down, they will go to plan B, whatever that is. Sooo...me and my puppy have been taking it easy.

I did manage to get out for Megan Mackenzie's wedding last Saturday night. She looks like her mom. She's the youngest, and she married a young man who lived down the street from us on Curtis Creek. He is starting med school in the fall, and she is an elementary teacher. Best wishes to them. Jack is giving a welcome in the photo above.

Mario and Chico are getting along very well. Chico gets the "zoomies" whenever Mario is around. The favorite playthings are plastic picnic cups, plastic bags, and cellophane wrappers. Chico also likes Blake. And Hannah is a wonderful calming influence on him. Mostly, he and I take naps on the couch together. He is a fun little guy.

We are going to see Chris, Maria, and Makenna this week, July 29-August 4. Then we are home for a long while. Except to watch Blake play with the Quincy High soccer team this fall. There will be some traveling for that. He is with a nice group of kids, and their parents are enjoyable folks too. Mario was in Moline this weekend with them, and he told me they were all captivated with his magic/card tricks. Another audience.

I am sure I will have some new photos of Makenna when we get back from Arizona. Chow!

Nolan Stories

Well I have a couple of good ones for ya.
Last Friday, Carrie took the daycare kids to the library for a magic show. She wasn't sure how much attention Nolan was paying to the "magic," as he is usually distracted by the kid making a lot of noise or whatever. Well, Saturday morning, he got to wear some of his new big boy underwear, and he discovered the flap on the front. So he decided to do a little magic show for his mommy. "Look Mommy....now you see it, now you don't....now you see it, now you don't."

It has been no small secret that in Quincy for the past two weeks or so, a six-foot long boa constrictor has been on the loose. It got away from the snakeman's house, and everybody seemed to know to be on the lookout for it. It was finally found last evening by some girls who called 9-1-1. As Carrie and Nolan were watching the late news about the capture of the boa, Nolan said to Carrie, "That snake bit me." Then he showed her an area on his leg where he has a bad spot of exzema. "He got me right there," he said, pointing to the irritated patch of skin.

Jan and Lawson's 50th Anniversary Party, Carrie's birthday, 4th of July, Las Vegas (Terry Fator's show at the Mirage)

Jan and Lawson

daughters Kendall and Laura

Anna Kammerer, Hannah, Cora, and Nolan at the party

Lots of pictures of activities over the past couple of weeks....

Our friends Jan and Lawson Faler celebrated 50 years at a recent Sunday afternoon gathering. We love them like family. Jan has overcome many challenges with her heart since she was in her 20's. What an inspiration she has been for my family and me. And her granddaughter Anna, pictured with Cora, Hannah, and Nolan, is the miracle child who was born with all kinds of problems and has had many heart surgeries...God has sure taken care of that child!

We celebrated Carrie's 34th birthday a couple of days late before we took in the fireworks on the riverfront. And I wanted to include some photos of Terry Fator's show in Las Vegas....definitely worth the ticket price. If you saw him on America's Got Talent last year....well the show didn't reveal even 1/4 of his talent! As always we had lots of laughs with Eddie and Connie, and they were both winners on nickel and quarter slots while we were there. It is always good to have somebody winning in the group.

Chico learns about soccer.

I don't know what to say!

Soccer in Iowa last weekend

Blake is a midfielder on the Blue Devils team.

He's got a pretty convincing game face.

Nolan proud of his Mario Bros t-shirt.

We had a good weekend and the soccer was good too. I only wish I had taken a photo of Tony in his chair that was on its last leg. :o)

Chico is here

Cora and Hannah helped welcome Chico tonight. He settled in right away and seemed to enjoy himself. Hannah told him he would have to learn how to say "Cheese." Then she told me she thought he didn't miss his mom and dad because he seems happy here.

Mario took a run to Walmart for the puppy necessities. We are fully invested now. No turning back. :o)

Heidi and Luke's Family with Amber and Dylan in frontCaleb, Sarah, and Scott

Surprise! From Daddy Chuck in Florida.

A park in Vegas...the mountain sheep don't seem to be afraid of the people.

The new bridge construction at the dam. Amazing.

Lake Mead. See the old water line? They need some rain!!!

This little girl just entertains me. Look for Amber in the drama club at school in a few years. She will be a star!

Just a few words to catch up....

First of all, Tony has been rehired with emergency funds from Adams County. Yeh!

We had a great trip to Vegas. I spent a lot of time in the big bathtub just soaking and reading or watching TV. Sure got filled up on MJ. I tried to watch the shows that featured the music.

Speaking of music...saw some great shows. That's mostly what I did, very little gambling, only a few nickles and quarters here and there. Donny and Marie were even better the 2nd time around, and my seat was front and center right next to the stage. I also saw a show called Fab Four, a Beatles music group. They were right on the money, especially the one who had John's part. The last night we were there, Eddie and Connie joined Mario and I for Terry Fator. It is the new must-see show. Good music, entertainment, and a few surprises that America's Got Talent didn't reveal.

We just returned from a soccer weekend with Blake, Carrie, Tony, and Nolan. We got the family suite for the first time, and it worked out well I think. Cora and Hannah stayed in Quincy with Grandma Mary. Sounds like all kinds of new crafts kept them busy.

Tomorrow (Monday) we welcome Chico to the family. We will take Cora and Hannah with us to Jacksonville to get him. :o)