Day 455 - Packing Still!

Today was the last ditch effort to pack up the odds & ends. I seem to have a lot of them. I thought I was doing well. Apparently not. I ended up pitching the last of the stuff into a few boxes – now unsorted & unlabeled – and threw them into the small room. I packed my suitcase for Florida & headed into the city. I wanted to stay at Mom2’s tonight, as I didn’t want to be rushed or late tomorrow. I also didn’t want to chance something going wrong with the car or roads & I end up missing my flight.

With the girls in tow, the excitedly whined & cried as I drove the last few blocks to Mom2’s. It was quite cute. I always worry if they will be happy somewhere else. It seems as though they are liking their temporary home. I’m happy about that!

Alright… That’s it! I’m packed up & moved out! Well, mostly. The rest will have to finished when I get back from Florida. Wish me luck! Here comes 3 weeks of no sugar, dairy, meat or anything cooked! I’ll feel like a brand new person by February 12^th! I must say, I’m very much looking forward to the change. Bring on the health!

xxxxMaria, Valentina, Oceana & Adios (for one last night!)

The Girls are sad I'm leaving. I am too.

Kiss kiss!

Passed out.

Out cold

Really out of it!

Still out of it.

Day 405 - False Alarm!

Well. Thank goodness for that! Dad called this morning & said that I didn't have to move my stuff until Spring. Yesterday April went over & tried to get into the shed to get some of her things & the snow was so deep in the lady's yard that April nearly got stuck & chewed up the yard a bit. The lady got upset & said we could leave it until Spring. Apparently Dad knew yesterday afternoon, but didn't think to call me. MEN! Oh well. So all that fussing for nothing. At least nothing until Spring.

Other than that, it was a pretty low-key day. Mom & I went to town in the evening. We were supposed to go to visit Mike & Nancy at the Tom Baker, as he's just finished a successful stem cell transplant, then to see Collet & family at Ikea & then to Mom2's for boxes. Well, thanks to my own personal time zone, it happened in the exact reverse order!

We went to Mom2's first, visited with Greg until Mom2 got home from work, then to see Collet & the boys  & Peggy & Chris & later Dave at Ikea. Wow! Has Zeke ever grown! After that, we crossed the city to see Mike & Nancy. I used to board with them in Medicine Hat when I went to College. They are some of the nicest people I've ever met. I miss those days!

Mike has to have all of his inoculations over again, he can't be around plants or mow the lawn for a year! Crazy! We currently have the same hairstyle. :o)

I think I over did it tonight. I fell asleep in the car & by the time we arrived home at 2130, I was completely exhausted. I went straight to bed. It was a great day, but I was totally bushed by the end of it!

Here's to more energy tomorrow!

xxxxMaria, Valentina, Oceana & Adios

What a good lookin' Mama! Zeke is sleeping, but he's grown so much!

Day 404 - Seriously?

Today was recoup day after chemo. Can you believe there are only 2 rounds left? The end is in sight! I didn't do much today, but I did call my Dad for his 60th birthday. I had initially wanted to plan a surprise party for him in Saskatchewan, but decided I probably should take on too big of assignment at this stage of the game & I'm glad I didn't, as my chemo rounds got swapped around & I would have been less than ready to throw a shin-dig!

Dad shocked me when I called, as he told me I had until the end of the month to move my stuff out of the storage shed he had. The lady who owned it wanted to rent it out to someone else. I was a *little* upset when Dad said he couldn't help me move stuff, as he was busy. He pawned the job off on Mom, without asking, and I felt pretty stuck. I have 2 rounds of chemo left, one arm that can't lift more than 5 lbs & no trailer to move stuff. Great.

I spent the rest of the day calling storage companies in Medicine Hat & U-Haul rentals to see what I could organize for 2 days time, as that would be my only time to get things done. Roxy & Kevin came to the rescue & offered to help me move stuff. They were going to be in Brooks for the weekend & would be able to drive a few extra hours to help me out. Wow! That's a friend! Thanks girl!

I called Dad back that evening to see if he could at least haul the stuff to Medicine Hat & save me the expense of a U-Haul, but he must have gone out for his birthday, as he didn't answer.

All in a day's work? Here's hoping tomorrow runs a little smoother!

xxxx Maria, Valentina, Oceana & Adios

Here's the original photo behind all the 'single ladies'... What a lucky guy! ;o)

Day 364 - Hello Sylvia!

Another failed attempt to get away early. I decided to pick up a few things for the kids along the way. 3 hours later, we're finally leaving Edmonton for Boyle. Sylvia lives in the boonies, but it's beautiful & quiet & she loves it. I'm happy for her! The girl's dreams have all come true! She is due in April & had a Doctor's appointment this afternoon, so thankfully we were late & it all worked out fine!

I had picked up some cupcake tins in the shape of ghosts for Halloween & thought that we (Drayton) could make cupcakes tonight. We had a blast! Sylvia told me he loved to help out, so I let him. When there was chocolate cupcake batter flying everywhere (yes, everywhere - even on my sock, the icing sugar bag, the table, the floor & even some in the tin!) she told me, 'Oh, you let him do that? I don't usually let him!' Now she tells me! We had fun, despite the mess. Isn't that half the fun anyhow? I picked up a little zombie that 'poops' candy as he walks. That was a big hit. Drayton enjoyed playing with him for the evening. That is, until we put Jelly Belly beans in the zombie & they got stuck. Luckily the Doctor was on had to give the zombie a colonoscopy & save the day!

Jaco & Drayton got along great. Drayton had a blast playing with Jaco. In fact, the first thing he showed us upon our arrival was the soccer ball he & Jaco had played with on the C-train in August. Unfortunately Chocolate, the Labrador Retriever, had gotten ahold of the ball & gnawed a patch off the side of the ball. Speaking of Chocolate, he was quite the welcomer! Both he & Jake, the other Lab, ran out to the car, barking away. I got out & Chocolate jumped up to greet me. When I told him to get down, he hopped right onto the driver's seat! I shut the door behind him, only to hear Jaco holler through the closed door, 'Babe! What are you doing?!'

After Drayton was sound asleep & full of sugar, we moved the living room & kitchen to the spareroom. Gary & Sylvia were having some work done on the roof & the carpenters were coming at 0900 tomorrow to tear half the ceiling down. We had to have the place cleared out before then. Even the light fixtures! I'm an expert mover with my recent practice, so it was no big deal. (just not the light fixtures!)

What a great night! We had a wonderful visit with Mom-to-be & when our eyelids couldn't stay open anymore, we hit the hay. Thanks for a brilliant night!

xxxxMaria & Jaco

 Pretty excited! Well, at least Drayton is!

 Nearly finished!

 Looking good!

 Finishing touches...

Now, for half a tube of icing... 

 And voilá!

Sorry, just tilt your head on this one! Colonoscopy Zombie in the middle. Funny - he had the same expression all throughout the procedure. Maybe they're not that bad after all?

Day 202 - Doin' The Shuffle

Phew. What a day. I’m wiped! I’m not sure what exactly is causing this lack of energy, but boy, am I tired by the end of the day! Come 2100, I am ready for bed! I generally don’t find it until 2300, but not for lack of trying!

Today was a day of shuffling. As Mom has arranged her room into my room while I tackle this chemo thing, there was still a little rearranging to do. (& still is!)

I decided to put the desk in my room & give Mom more room in the living room. This meant moving the large clothes cupboard. And it meant moving the bead trolley twice. It also included taking apart the desk. It’s an antique & was no small task! Luckily Mom’s friend, Mitch stopped by & was able to give us a hand! I tried to put the TV on top of the desk, but it’s too large. I’ll be on the lookout for a nice flat screen TV… If you know of anyone, send ‘em my way! I’ll even rent it for 6 months! (I have plans to watch a lot of CSI & House this summer!)

Anyhow, we moved the mirror, sorted out closets, shuffled washstands & cupboards, threw out this & that, put this away for goodwill, that for recycling…

We also attempted to change the battery in Contemplate, but I think the Dude at Canadian Tire sold us the wrong one. The amperage & so forth is the same, but the part number is different & the posts are too far in the centre of the battery for the cables to reach. Looks like we’ll be driving NeverLate for another day!

The new girl & Valentina are getting along famously. Oceana is really coming out of her shell! It’s great to see! Valentina is still quite vocal & very possessive of her toys, but we’ll get there! Oceana will now go up & down the stairs on her own, fetches the ball & didn’t even mess in the house today!

Mom made a wonderful dinner – shrimp, red peppers, pineapple, garlic, ginger, coconut milk & quinoa and a couple of corn on the cobs. Yum! I’m so grateful she cooks, as I would be a waif otherwise!

I rearranged my jewelry drawer & polished my silver jewelry. I am very excited to wear my necklaces again & have them sit properly on my neck! Bring it on!

It was absolutely stunning outside, so I ventured out for a little reading in the sunshine. Valentina laid with me while I learned a little more of Cesar’s methods. I’ve got 10 pages left in the book! Yay!

I also spent some time last night & this morning looking for wigs online. It appears they are quite expensive! I’m very frustrated I missed the shop in Barbados, so I tracked them down online & called their head office. They are going to email me some photos & I will place an order & have it shipped to me. Just to give you an idea, the human hair wig I bought in Antigua was $30. Online the cheapest I could find was $70. Most of them are $200-1700!!! Crazy!!!

Anyhow, not too exciting of a day. Tomorrow will be a long one… Wish me luck & here’s hoping I have some good news to report! Love & hugs,

Maria & Valentina

xoxoxoxoxoxo

2 weiners on a treadmill

That's the long & the short of it, Folks.

Me & my wieners

Valentina

She forgot her dentures

Oceana

Dreaming of squeaky toys & treats

Oceana May