Christmas, New Years & Lost in the Chaos

A very gorgeous sunset last night. Thought I would share that for fun!

Merry Christmas

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas. We certainly did.
Santa got me a Garmin so I won't get lost in Scotland. Wise Santa.

A baby with a 'tude. She looks like she is ready to spin some records.

Christmas is so much fun with a three year old. Santa is the coolest.
In fact he visited us Christmas Eve.

Not so sure we like Santa.

What a difference a present makes!

Even Izzy got to sit on Santa's lap.

I love this picture because you almost don't notice the little hand. On Christmas Eve we have our good friends, LaNice and Alan and their kids, over for Huevos Rancheros. Its a wonderful tradition that we have been doing for years. The little guy wanted to help Bud cook. He was sick however and had to have his Grandpa hold him.

He is such a little helper.
He really does like to work with you when you've got stuff to do.
I wonder if he will feel that way when he is a teenager.

Snort getting a chuckle out of Jake's present to her.
A chocolate cookbook with all the recipes he wants her to make for him.
He also gave her 20 pounds for her trip to England in September.

Grandma thinks this is one of the real miracles of Christmas.
Such a sweet baby!

Wow he must of been a good boy! I know, hard to believe!!

We also called this a used Christmas. Jake got Bud's paint ball gun,
since they don't allow guns of any kind in Scotland.
Snort got all my canning supplies.
She was quite happy about that. Poor girl!

Bud and his buddy.

This is the weather we have been dealing with over Christmas. The wind was howling like mad and the snow blowing. I actually got stuck in our driveway with my SUV! Bud had to pull me back and let me get a running start at the snow drift. Today's weather was really nice though.

Other News

Do you ever feel lost within your own life? That is how I am feeling right now. A little overwhelmed at all that is going on!

We are now in the process of getting ready for our New Year Eve's Party. So friends and family in the area, drop by. It is so hard to remember to tell everyone, so don't be offended if you weren't told personally and just come on over anyway. We are having an open house so we can see all our friends before we make the big move. I hope people show up. That would be terrible if no one came! (Am I paranoid?)

Part of getting the house cleaned up for the party involves actually getting ready for the movers too. I hate that part. It is such a pain! The kids came over and were going through their old rooms. You know, getting all their memorabilia out - stuffed toys, work from school, art, etc. That is kinda of fun to see. Snort and Bud went through my kitchen cupboards while I was out running errands. They found some (a lot) of expired cans of food, etc. that were pushed in the back of the cupboard. Boy did I get a hard time for that!

I don't know what we would do without Snort. She has been such a help. I give her a hard time because she is a list maker. She is constantly making lists for Bud and I to make sure we get things done. Glad someone in our family is on the ball. Its certainly not me! When she is trying to get into my head about getting stuff done and I don't feel like it, I tell her to go make a list. That keeps her happy and busy.

Dear son-in-law also is helpful. He is our go to guy. Just waits to find out what we need to get done and he does it. I love him!

Jake has also been a help. He is the muscle that Snort and I don't have. He helps Bud with the heavy stuff. Jake is still doing well and still being that fun, crazy kid we love. I have been enjoying the extra time I have spent with him driving him around. We have got to talk a lot and that has been fun.

Well wish me luck that I will have a clean house by tomorrow and some sanity to go with it!!! I don't know why when you clean it seems like you make a bigger mess in order to put some order in your house. If anyone figures that one out, let me know.

The Final Word on Jake

Jake the cattleman!

- I hope anyway. Jake had his final doctor's appointment yesterday. We were finding out the results of his final EEG. It wasn't what we wanted to hear but it wasn't all bad either. The EEG showed more abnormalities in his frontal lobs than the first one. On the first EEG it was only in one sphere (I am sure I am not getting the wording quite right - sorry) of the frontal lobes. The second EEG, where he was more stressed and more sleep deprived, showed some minor abnormalities in both frontal lobes. When the P.A. was telling us this she said that he would need to go on seizure medicine. Jake and I both brought up the fact that Dr. Vincent told us on the first visit that she thought it was probably the result of being kicked in the head, some damage, and that most seizures occur in the middle and back (lower?) lobes. The P.A. said she hadn't heard that and went to talk to Dr. Vincent. After conferring they decided that he didn't need medication. Just proves we all need to be active in our own medical diagnosis'.

Anyway, seizures in the front lobes are typically very minor seizures. The P.A. said that they can appear as a feeling of an "aura", vision squiggles, a funny feeling, stupor, blocking someone out while they are talking, deja vu, etc. I said that I think I must have seizures everyday - stupor, blocking someone out while they are talking, etc. Makes you wonder. The problem with frontal seizures is if the electrical current crosses over to the middle lobes. That can cause the full blown seizure, which is what happened in Jake's case.

Jake and I both feel that this was a wake up call for him to take care of himself. With this minor abnormality, and it is minor, if he doesn't take care of himself his body may react this way again. At the time of his seizure he was not eating well, lacked good continuous sleep, working full time and going to school full time, managing the complexes at his duplex (there are four complexes), doing cows, being in charge of FHE for his ward, and most importantly chasing women. He has cut his work hours in half, is eating better, sleeping better, and taking vitamins and minerals the doctor recommended he take. He said he is feeling better - he doesn't hardly need to nap now. I feel bad this happened to him but it is good to know. I am glad it happened while I was in the U.S. and not in Scotland.

He still can't drive until February 1st. The doctor said the first three months are critical in determining if he is going to have problems with seizures. If he can make it through the first three months without a seizure, he reduces the chances of having one down the line. If he can make it through the following three months (six months total) seizure free, then it is likely he will never have one again! I am betting on that scenario! I know he is anxious to be driving his new car again and while I love spending the time with him as his chauffeur, it is cutting into my time to get things done before the big move. Oh well, it will all get done whether I am ready or not. I love my boy!!

Baby Blessing

Blessing Day
November 29, 2008

What a happy day. Little Izzy Lizzy got a name and a blessing.
A big moment in her little life. Doesn't my little guy look like an angel?
Looks can be deceiving!

Four Generations

The whole clan.

She loves her Uncle Jake. He is a natural with her.

My two kids and the babe. So cute!

Unemployed

The whole gang for my last day picture!

How does it feel to be unemployed after 17 years at a wonderful job . . . good actually. The Wednesday before Thanksgiving was my last day. I thought it would be very hard but when I actually set the date it was alright. I loved my job. It was great and I could not have asked for a better bunch of coworkers. I love my coworker friends! We are all a big family. Our office had very little turn around because everybody was so content working together. Once in a while we would get a bad apple or two but they didn't stay. My boss was the greatest guy - so easy to work for. The other attorneys and office staff were fun to be around. I am going to miss everyone. I would not have quit if it weren't for my moving an ocean away.

Celia - the other full-time legal secretary. She came to our office as a 17 year old intern in high school and she never left. She is studying for the LSAT so she can go to law school. Go Girl!

Denise, Betty, Me, Sommer, Celia, Camille and Mitzie.
The women who actually ruled the office! Betty was the office manager when I was hired. She retired a few years ago but we still go to lunch every two weeks. She is a great friend - we both love movies, horses and a good laugh.


Rick and David
Rick was my first boss. He and I got along really well, like two siblings who had to give each other a hard time. We had so much fun razzing each other. He is now a judge.
David just retired this past April. He would go to lunch with Betty and I. We called him one of the girls, which we thought was a compliment but he didn't see it that way! He and his wife still come to lunch with us. He and I have a similar sense of humor. We would laugh at Far Side cartoons until we snorted and cried.

Jeanine and Paulette from the records department.
They made my job a lot easier when it came to working with the P.D.
Paulette's girls are coming over for visit to Scotland.

My best friend LaNice. Bud is bringing her with me when I move over to Scotland. What a smart man he is. He knows it will be hard and that having LaNice there to help me get things set up at the house and then a bunch of goofing off will be a nice way to ease into Scottish life. LaNice and I leave in February! Bud will move in January but then he has to go to Malaysia for a meeting on the 20th. He didn't think it would be a good idea to leave me in a place where I didn't know how to get around or knew anyone. I appreciate that Bud!!

I am officially retired. I just hope Bud can keep up with all the spending I plan on doing now that I have time! JUST KIDDING BUD!!!!

Happy Birthday Jake

Today is Jake's 23rd birthday.

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you,
Happy Birthday Dear Jacob!
Happy Birthday to you!
(Ahh!)

Someone wanted his hair just like Uncle Jakey.
Too bad he acts like him too!

Yum, looks good!

Who are these people? (Chris and Sarah)

Joe and Bree (I don't know if I spelled her name correctly.) Joe is Jake's roommate who called the ambulance when Jake had his seizure. I am grateful to Joe because he did everything right and he was at the right place at the right time! My hero!!!

A bunch of strange people . . . I am not sure I know these people (probably homeless!)

Every party needs a pooper and that is why we invited them!

The best feeling in the world - a snugly baby!

P.S. I know I am way behind on my blog. I will have to catch up later on!