Wisconsin in Autumn!

I have to tell you-this is my favorite time of year! Autumn! The weather is gorgeous with crisp mornings and sunny, warm days. I have been trying to figure out my Halloween decorations because I like to change it up every year. Last year, I didn't even decorate because we were so discomboberated with Larry starting dialysis and feeling so awful. I didn't even carve any pumpkins last year! How sad is that?
So, this year, I want to decorate. I put up orange and purple lights in the kitchen and some other decorations so that looks fun. I have a scarecrow started for outside and 1 skeleton up. I will put up cobwebs and spiders and bats and make a couple of sheet ghosts over the weekend and maybe get a spooky spotlight. It is a big house and can look pretty spooky if you work at it. Martha Stewart has those silhouettes that you put in your windows and light from behind so it looks like shadows of cats or ravens or witches. I just think Elvis would be freaked out and bark every night-but, if I have time, I may give it a go.
I took Larry to Froedert last week to see his electrophysiologist and they are going to do a new echo cardiogram to check his heart function and maybe add a third line to a lower chamber on his pace maker/defibrillator. The Doctor thinks that it will help Larry with all sorts of issues-the first being his low blood pressure. It should help keep the fluid from gathering in his lung, give him a little more umph and generally just make him feel better. I am all for it- anything that helps him feel better with minimal risk is a good thing. I also really like the Doctors that he has had down at Froedert. Almost all of the time, they do a really good job and try to answer your questions, and believe me- I usually have a bunch of them. I get the feeling when I am at these appointments with Larry, that most people don't ask questions. They just accept what the Doctor says and blindly go fill 14 prescriptions without knowing what they are taking for what. I always ask what things are for. Why are we doing this instead of this. Will it react with anything. What are the side effects. Do they have any concerns about the medicine and Larry's condition- any particular red flags to watch for. It has saved me from filling prescriptions that he can't take because they react with other things he was on. And a couple of times they have prescribed stuff that I know he has had not so great reactions to. I always tell people- the Doctor works for you. If he does not want to take the time to talk to you and let you know what is going on with your condition, CHANGE DOCTORS! There are lots of really good Doctors out there, so keep looking till you find a good fit.
I changed Doctors for Larry after he had his foot amputated because we needed a doctor close to home. We were going to West Bend for everything-all his doctors, his therapy, everything. It was just getting to be too much- plus that Doctor could not come to the hospital that Larry would be in when we call an ambulance. So, I got a recommendation from a friend for a Dr. here in Germantown. Larry likes her and I think she is fine-very young, but she does a pretty good job and is thorough and easy to get in to see, so, that is where we go for his G.P. He also has the kidney Dr. who we see at Dialysis, the heart Dr. at Froedert, his Pulminologist and surgeon at the clinic in Menomonee Falls and his Podiatrist here in Germantown. We also get his coumidin levels checked in Menomonee Falls. We do a lot of running around. But, at least we can- he can still get in and out of the van and away we go! When Mom was alive, she couldn't walk, so we had to get a wheel chair lift installed in the big Ram van and we hauled he around like that. She never liked it and always insisted that she could get into the passenger seat if we gave her a chance (She could barely get in when she was healthy, before the stroke-there was no way she could climb up into that van after) I think she felt a little sea sick riding along in her wheel chair without the seat around her. But- I was so glad we had the van and the lift and we could take her out and do stuff. We took her rummaging all the time and could take her to all her appointments. We went for ice cream and other drive thru food (Her favorite!) It was so hard after she had the stroke because she could not tolerate things that she used to thrive with! Going to a restaurant was impossible- she would get all disoriented and agitated-couldn't stand the noise and movement around her. We tried a couple of times, but it just wasn't worth the stress that she went through. When we had family over, we tried to make sure that people came at her in manageable groups and noise was in the kitchen. When she started to get tired, we had her take a nap to get out of the stress of dealing with everyone.
Poor Mama- She never thought that a stroke could change how you react to people or situations. Boy, did we find out differently!
I have to go check my chicken! BRUCKKKK!!! Have a nice night!

Biza's Visit

Biza was here last week visiting. I have to tell, you...it is great to have someone else around to take even a little bit of the responsibility. You really never know how much responsibility you have, until you have a chance to relinquish some of it.
The weather last week was kind of cool, so we got stuff done in the house- the major project was cleaning in the basement. YIKES! Phrog is not a real organized guy and neither is Larry. I love to know where stuff is so when I want something, I know just where to look. So, we went down and cleaned and sorted and arranged and- guess what? This weekend when I needed a tool, I didn't have to search- I just went down and grabbed it. Then it goes back where it belongs when I am done. Life is good:- )
We also went volleyballing -2 different times and fast pitch soft ball. AND we went to Cedarburg shopping. That was fun- we didn't buy much but just wandered with Katie and our friend Claire.
The picture at the beginning of the post is one of Biza's water colors. She really does a nice job and I love them. I will link her blog to this blog so you can check it out when she gets it up and running.
We had the rummage sale Thurs. and Fri. this week. Got rid of some stuff, but it wasn't real busy because the village keeps taking down rummage signs. What is up with that? I think they should keep their cotton picking hands off and go do their jobs. Fix a few streets. Do a little work-which is what they are paid for. If they are pulling signs then ALL signs should come down. All those little real estate signs- open house signs- political signs- advertising signs. Every one of them should come down. Buggers!
The walnut tree is being really nasty this year and almost knocked Katie unconscious while she was running the rummage. A huge clump of nuts came whipping down on her head. That may be a bit of an exaggeration, but, really- they are not fun when you get pelted on the head with them. And then you have the squirrels to contend with, because they will also throw nuts at you! It is dangerous out there at this time of year!
I took Lar for a drive this afternoon. The colors are changing and it is very colorful to drive through. I love fall. And if we would just get rid of the mosquitoes, it would be wonderful! I could go get a little work done in my garden. I have to dig up bulbs that can't over winter and then I want to move a whole section around. Maybe this week.

Mickey, Jenny and the Packers

Well, Mickey's V'ball team lost their tournament. They gave it a good try, but, did not advance. It was such a beautiful day for the drive to and from West Allis, that we didn't care. We still had a good time. And the parents on Mick's team have figured out how to embarrass their daughters....after each point they start a slow loud clap and build in speed and volume. Even the girls on the other teams were looking with sympathy at Mickey's team- Probably thinking-"You poor girls! What are your parents thinking? Don't they know that they are embarrassing you?" But, as any adult will tell you, a little humility is good for these kids. It keeps them on their toes!
My brother David regularly embarrasses his kids. Katlyn, several times has stretched the truth about homework or other dopey little things and when she gets caught and has to face the consequences, she will try the old sneak out a different door with her friends and what can Dad do about it? Well, Dad, can come into the hallway and start calling her name (A MAJOR no-no in High School if you want your friends to not be totally appalled and not talk to you)So, the deal is, she tells the truth and faces the consequences when she screws up or Dad escorts her into and out of school. I tell you, Dave has his hands full with this one! And after the general ease with which Molly has gotten into her 20s, it is a very different story with Kate. I am sure they will all get through it. And, Dave has the old Payback to look forward to. The -"I hope your kids act just the way you act so you will see where I have been coming from". Mom said that to Dave and POOF! Katlyn! And Mom said it to Katie and POOF! Sam, who I love dearly, but, boy oh boy! A definite payback for both Katie and Dave!
So, today Larry and I went to the Paul Auction House for the auction that Jenny and her family had to disperse Poppa Joe and Peggy's belongings. Joe and Peggy are both in Cedar Lake Home. Jenny and her Uncle Tom and his wife Annie, have been taking care of Joe and Peggy for years and when their Alzheimer's got too bad for them to be safely at home, they had to get them somewhere safe and now they have to dispose of all of their belongings for them to stay where they are.The state apparently gets the $$ and if they pass away before it is all used, the family gets the remainder back. But anyhow, it has been a long haul and not easy to get all of this stuff done. Jenny has 2 young children, 4 dogs and a husband and house AND is going to school to become a yoga instructor. Plus getting all the paper work taken care of, plus, they bought Peggy and Joe's house to restore and keep it in the family. Now she has to get all the workers lined up and scheduled and not all coming at the same time. The house is in pretty rough shape and has had nothing done to it for way too long. But when you live on a fixed income-as they did- you do not have extra for fixing the roof or the well or any of the other multitudes of things that needed to be done. So, now it is getting done and it is a great house for Jenny and John to raise their 2 kids.
The auction was hard for her. She hated to watch all of Peggy's things get sold and she tried to buy a couple of things back and the auctioneer wouldn't let her. He thought it was a conflict of interest and had told the family they couldn't bid to drive the price up- but all Jen wanted was a few of the things that were Peggy's. Obviously, a miscommunication, and after he wouldn't let her bid, Jenny went up and talked to him, so then he said-oh- well, I just don't want a reputation for selling all the good stuff back to the family. I just don't understand what the auctioneer was thinking. The subject should have been thoroughly discussed with the family. The guy should have asked if there were items that they were planning to0 bid on and told them what the scoop was, instead of winding up with an interruption and Jenny being upset because she didn't get the China- Limoges, by the way-which went for dirt cheap!
Well, it is over and done and a big chunk of the stuff is gone! That is good. However, they still have a ton left at the house to get rid of, so they are probably having an estate sale in a few weeks. We will see what happens.
And last, but certainly not least....The Packer's won!!! YAY!!! It certainly wasn't a beautiful, resounding victory, but-A win none the less! GO BRETT!

Skeeters-Skeeters everywhere!

There are Skeeters everywhere! It feels like they cover you from head to toe when you walk out the door! I sprayed myself with about a whole container of mosquito spray last night and went to water my potted plants...... I didn't make it. I only lasted about 5 minutes before I had to retreat, beating myself about the head and shoulders-slapping my legs! We get mosquitos in the summer, but THIS-this is the worst I have ever seen it. You can hear them buzzing outside the windows-trying to figure out how to get in.
When we pull up in the driveway, I can see that I have a whole bunch of tomatoes that I have to pick, but you can't get near the tomato plants. I'll have to figure out a way to do it though or I will have a whole bunch of rotten tomatoes!
We are off to see Mickey play volleyball inside tonight. That is good because it gets Larry out of the house for awhile. She is on the Freshman team and they are all just learning how to play as a team. Mickey is a very good athlete and plays softball, soccer, basketball and volleyball. She will also be starting Fast pitch softball soon. John and Deb spend a lot of time in gyms and driving to and from gyms, I'll tell you that! But, It is worth it because Mickey will definitely be able to get a scholarship to college.
I also am going to go to Indian Summer Festival down in Milwaukee at the Lake front tomorrow. It is my favorite festival to go to and we try to make it every year. Katie and I used to take the boys every summer when it first started too. It is just a really nice place to go to on a beautiful fall day.

It's A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Well, what a beautiful day! It is sunny and warm, a slight breeze and not a lot of humidity! And it's Labor Day-It ALWAYS rains on Labor Day! But not this year. Sun and nice.
Larry had dialysis this morning and I think we are going to go for a drive this afternoon and take advantage of the nice day! As autumn approaches, you just never know how many more really nice days you'll have. I think I'll get some more mums and replace of of my sadder potted plants with some happy little mums.
What is really nice is, Lar has been feeling so much better for the last week or so. Overall better-He's not feeling great every minute, but the amount of time he is feeling more upbeat and steady and alert has risen quite a bit this week. I don't think that he has even moaned much. Of course maybe I am not noticing his moaning because I have been whining myself!
I kicked the cement stair with the big toe on my right foot (not on purpose) and Baby! Oh Baby! It really, really hurts! I don't think that I broke it, but it is swelled up and black and blue and was pretty hard to put any weight on the front of my foot. It is much better today, but still hurts pretty much. I will be way more careful coming up from the basement in the future!