A grand day with Mom

I had a special day with my mother yesterday. At the last minute, I decided to see if there were any openings for tea at the Grand Floridian at Disney. I've always wanted to go there, almost included it in my itinerary last weekend but decided to forgo it and share it with someone. They did have some openings, so Mom and I headed on over. I know, an 1 1/2 hour ride for tea - but I really wanted to do this for Mom and me. It was very, very nice. Over priced for what you get - but of course, it's Disney but you're paying for the experience as much as what you eat. I've included a couple of pictures.

Mom and me with our rose.


Our tea service.

We were each given a rose which did survive the ride home and is happily soaking up water in my vase. We had the "Buckingham Palace" tea which was served in 3 courses; little tea sandwiches, a scone with cream and jam and a jam tart and then strawberries and cream. There was a wide selection of tea and I chose one called "Eros" which the server described as an orange creamscicle and she was right. It was delicious! We had a lovely time.

Looking at photos of Mom makes me face just how frail she has gotten. Her coloring doesn't look right although her doctor says that she has nothing seriously wrong. I made a decision that my next Disney trip in August will be the one we've always wanted to take together - to stay at the Polynesian. I just don't think I should put off things much longer.

Anyway, not to put a damper on things, we did have a lovely time. I finally did my tea and got to share with with Mom. However, too expensive and I won't be doing it again!

Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend! I go back to work on Monday. Until later.

Prayers for a friend

I just got an email from Karen about an online friend, Nancze Walker. She is probably familiar to most of you. Anyway, she is in the hospital. I don't know any details right now. I know she's got multiple health problems and I'm very concerned for her. Just wanted to let you all know. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.
Thanks.

Busy doing a bunch of nothing!

I put up my spring cleaning little image in the hopes it would spur me on but I'm not sure. I have so many projects I wanted to do this week and so far, none have been accomplished.

Truth be told, I've been a bit down since coming back from my weekend trip. I know it's usual to be a little let down, especially when you've looked forward to something for so long. But, it feels a bit worse than that. I was even taking down the Cymbalta samples my doctor gave me that I never took and reading up on it once again. I've always felt that when I got this way, I didn't want to mask the symptoms but get to the root of what was bothering me. On top of that, I just don't like the side effects that some of this medication gives. I truly feel that my health is the biggest stressor in my life. When I am eating right and exercising, my mood is so much better. But the fibromyalgia makes me hurt and tired and so I turn to food and being a couch potato. Anyway, though yesterday was a rough day, today I feel better. It may all be hormonal too! We women are a complicated bunch.

Mom and I are going off for the day tomorrow. I'm not sure what we're going to do yet. She gets tired easily so it may not be a whole day thing. I'd love to take her to a Disney park but right now, the weather is hot and we'd really need a wheelchair. She just can't walk a lot anymore. I think I'll plan a day like that in the late fall when the temps are cooler.

I've been thinking about planning future vacations. I really feel that I would do better with a very long weekend every 2 months or so rather than a whole week or 10 days less often. I waited too long for this vacation, I think and was so stressed that I had a difficult time relaxing enough to enjoy it. Right now, I'm looking at perhaps the end of August doing something.

We are desperately needing rain here! With all the rain forecasted for last weekend, my mother said that we got none here at home. Disney and that area did, but not here. Now, I hear that we could get some rain later in the week. I certainly am praying for some! Most people are agreeing that the weather patterns are changing dramatically. Areas are getting tornadoes that never got them before. And here in Florida, we are well into our rainy season by now. Strange.

Hope you all are doing well. I'm going to do some visiting and then hope to tackle a project or two. Take care. Until next time.

Back to "normal"

I'm back and here are some photos as I promised!


A towel animal waiting for me.


Sunrise from my balcony.


Cinderella Castle - Magic Kingdom.


Epcot Flower and Garden Festival - this was near the Canada pavillion.

I've had withdrawl pangs since returning on Sunday! I was torn between wanting to get home and see my furbabies and staying one more night. And to tell you the truth, if I'd had the money and opportunity, I would have. I ended up going to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot and I felt so comfortable and relaxed. I don't know what I was so fearful of. I do have to admit, it's not as much fun alone - no one to talk to or share the experience with. But, I had a lovely time.

My room was awesome! Disney outdid themselves with my request for a "water or pool" view. It was on the 4th floor and I had a view of the the pool, the lake and the geyser. We had a bad rain and thunderstorm the first day at 4 pm but I was in my room by then and it was awesome to watch. I'm sure the people in the parks weren't too happy! The next day we had showers in the afternoon at Epcot. I bought a Disney rain poncho ($7.00!) and of course, it stopped right after that. But I have it for the next time. It was hot during the day but I made an early start of it each day and was back in my room by late afternoon. There was a coffee maker in the room and I'd have a cup sitting on my balcony in the morning. They also have the most comfortable beds I've ever slept in! I took the "Wonders of the Lodge" tour at the hotel one morning. It's free and I was the only one who showed up. It was just me and Stan, the Ranger. We had a delightful one hour and I learned so much about that magnificent hotel! When you see Disney's Wilderness Lodge, you've essentially seen the "Old Faithful Inn" at Yosemite, except the Wilderness Lodge is larger.
I had a wonderful time.

If you go to Epcot, you just have to do "Soarin" in the Land Pavillion. It originated at California Adventures in Anaheim, I understand and it is awesome. A long wait, but well worth it!

This past weekend did my so much good although I was a bit blue for a day or so afterward. I've decided that with my stress-filled job, I need to do something like this every 3 months or so. Maybe not two nights and two parks but at least one night just to get away to someplace lovely and fun. I'm already thinking of doing something in late August.

I'm glad to report that with all the eating, I only gained one pound. I'm sure all the walking had a lot to do with it.

Hope you all had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. I'm off from work the rest of the week and have some projects planned for around the house. Hope I actually get to them! Until later.

Leaving tomorrow.

If I ever needed a vacation, it's now! I have had the worst week at work of my life. I'll not go into detail, but I've never been so stressed and exhausted! Last night in the midst of another resident dying, computer work that needed to be done and the computer not cooperating and a jammed printer, I wanted to cry. I need some time away.

It's cloudy today and there is a chance of rain. The weather reports still has 40-50% chance of rain both days I'm gone but at this point, I don't care. It's not the first time it's rained when I've been to Disney and it probably won't be the last.

This will be quick entry because I have a lot of stuff to do before I go to work today. I'll check in when I get back, with some photos, I hope.

Until then....

A sad, wild night

I had a time at work yesterday evening that I never want to have again! First of all, the patient I've been telling you about finally passed away in the early evening. This is the time when I want to sit down with the family and grieve with them. I was doing some of my own grieving because this patient had just touched my heart. Instead, the hospice doctor showed up to see 3 patients. They almost never come on my shift. And then the carpet cleaning company showed up. Everyone forgot to tell me they were coming. So instead of being able to sit down with the family, I was taking orders and making rounds with the doctor and stepping over hoses in the hall. It was noisy, chaotic and so unlike a peaceful environment and I felt so totally frustrated and upset! When my midnight relief came, we counted narcotics, I gave her report and then I started on my paperwork. I didn't leave work until 1:30 this morning and couldn't get to sleep until 4 am. So how was your night?

I thought I would be more emotional when my patient passed away but I think God kept me busy so that it would be less emotional. Even in the chaos, I was able to hug the family members and we talked a few moments. After they left and while my wonderful CNAs were watching the floor, I sat in his room doing his paperwork. That may sound morbid but it was peaceful and quiet in there and I was able to emotionally detach.

I see that the weather forecast for Disney this weekend is rain. It's going to be in the low 90's and the rain will either cool things down or make it more muggy. Either way, I'll have fun even if I have to buy one of those overpriced Disney rain ponchos. After a night like last night, I need to get away and decompress!

Well, I guess I'll get going. I have more things on my "to do" list to accomplish and I need to do some visiting. Take care, everyone!

Plus size models and Dunkin' Donuts

Yesterday I made a list of things I wanted to get done before I left for Disney. I had a very productive day and got quite a few things done before I left for work but my list is still long. One of the things on my list is to do some cooking and have dinners prepared for me to take to work the rest of the week. That is what I'm doing this morning. I'm cooking a roast and then probably some chicken and those will get me through Thursday evening.

I mentioned in a previous post about one particular patient who I had taken care of since I started working for Hospice. He was death imminent on Thursday night (or rather Friday morning) when I left work and I thought about him off and on all weekend. I had said my goodbyes to him on Thursday. It was very sad. Imagine my shock when I got to work yesterday and he was still with us. Barely. We have been able to keep him comfortable but these kind of deaths are so hard on the family. I was in tears most of the night. Sometimes I want another job.

We didn't get our rain yesterday but today the chance has increased to 40%. I noticed that Orlando's weather for this weekend is 30% chance of rain for Friday and mostly sunny for Saturday. Highs will be in the upper 80's. It will be a hot day at the parks!

I've received several comments about my rant regarding "plus size" models who are size 10. I really don't think I have a very keen fashion sense especially when I see some of the clothing that the "super models" are wearing down the runway. Even if I could wear them, I probably wouldn't. I suspect that those fashions, designed by the big names like Versace and Vera Wang are meant for those with a bigger clothing budget than I have! But still, by telling the average woman that a size 10 is a "plus size", well, it makes me want to eat a Krispy Creme just in defiance. But then, it doesn't take very much to talk me into a Krispy Creme!

Continuing along that vein, we had a new Dunkin' Donuts open up near my home. We've not had one of these lovely places in this area before. The closest was in a city about 45 miles away. Now suddenly, they're sprouting up all over the place. We have a new one recently open in Inverness, 13 miles away and another one open up inside a gas station 2 miles away. The one in Inverness has teamed up with Baskin Robbins. Talk about a double whammy! I do love donuts but what I really love are their cold coffee drinks. I don't even need to have the whipped creme on top, I just love the taste of them! I'm going to have to find a low sugar, low fat substitute. I say all this even though, so far, I've not succumbed. But, I'm only human!

Hope you all are having a great day at the beginning of the work week. Until later...

Back to work

Just wanted to get a quick post here before I get going with my day. I intended to do a lot of cleaning etc on my 2 days off but of course, it didn't happen. I spent a lot of the day with my daughter-in-law scrapbooking and that was fun. I'm about 4 pages away from getting my heritage album done. Saturday was to be my cleaning day but I had a sore throat and felt puny, so I did very little except go to the grocery store and do things on the computer. So, you've guessed what I'll be doing each day before work.

Things are all arranged for my Disney trip this weekend. Mike and Stephanie are coming over to the house for the 3 days I'm gone. I'll be gone Friday, Saturday and part of Sunday. Doesn't sound too long for a Disney vacation but, frankly we're talking Disney here and that's about all I can afford.

My grand-daughter, Candace who lives in OK is a very talented young lady. She sings and acts and has been in her local community productions for 3 years now. Last year they did Beauty and the Beast and this year it is High School Musical. I've included a picture of the poster that Jill sent me.

It is difficult to see faces here but Candace is the third one from the left with the white shirt and pink pants. I sure wish I could be there to see her!

Not much else going on at the moment. They've been promising 30% change of rain this weekend but so far, none. We sure need it! Well, I'm off to make some quick visits and then to tackle the house. Have a great weekend.

On my soap box again.

I'm on a rant right now. Yesterday evening, I was watching one of those "celebrity-half hour-news programs" and they interviewed Whitney, the winner of America's Next Top Model.


She was talking to the interviewer about how wonderful it is that she, a plus-sized lady is able to win a competition that has thus far been for the very slim. Do you know what her size is?

Well, I'll tell ya'.

She is a size 10!!!

Since when is a size 10 a plus size?

It makes me once again look at Hollywood's obsession with thinness. Is it any wonder that young girls are becoming anorexic, trying to fit the fashion mold? And bringing it to a personal level...what about my goal size of a 12? Now, according to the fashion industry, I will have to go at least 2 sizes lower to no longer be considered "plus size". I am so glad that my motivation for losing weight is for health reasons and to become fit. Otherwise, I would be feeling very discouraged right now! The department stores I shop in still have the size 12s separate from their plus size section. Maybe I should advise the store manager of the above so that they can rectify their error.

Or maybe not.

This rant was brought to you by a plus sized lady who lives in the real world!

Rain, please!

I got some new "mood girls" from Sadie and thought I'd show them off. This one is portraying what I'd like to be doing right now. We really need the rain! I see a 30% chance of rain on Friday. I hope that is true.

I don't have much to talk about today. My sore throat is better and it obviously is related to sinus problems and all this pollen. Rain would help that situation nicely. One of our death-imminent patients rallied around yesterday and was back to her old self last evening. Often, patients rally just before they pass so I don't know if that is the case or not. It certainly sets up a roller coaster of emotions for the family when that happens.

I watched American Idol last night sporadically in between my work. I am certainly pulling for David Cook. Both Davids are amazing but David Cook's style is just so versatile.

I received a book from my daughter recently for Mother's Day. It's called You've Already Got It by Andrew Womack. I'm almost finished with my current book and then I'll begin this one - hopefully by this weekend. When she recommends a book, it's usually very good and she highly recommends this one. I also have some heavy-duty house cleaning to do this weekend as well for my son and DIL when they house sit next weekend. I'm tired just thinking about it. Between bronchitis and a pulled back muscle, the house has been sadly neglected!

Well, I warned you there wasn't much going on right now. I hope you didn't fall asleep during this post! Have a great day. Until later...

A sneezy, coughing, what-the-heck morning

My daughter sent this to me by email this morning. This is kinda' me. I'm coughing and my nose is stuffy and I have a headache - all signs of pollen blowing around and my sinuses and nose reacting. I also have a sore throat which tells me there is sinus drainage involved. Aren't you all just head-over-heels excited about continuing this post? Yuck!

We have two patients actively dying at work at the moment. One or both of them may have already passed. Of course, I know that this is part of my job but it never gets any easier. One of the patients I've known for almost a year. He was a patient at the care center where I worked and then came over to the house when I transferred there. He has touched my heart and I will miss him. I don't know at times, which is harder - seeing the patient pass or the family dynamics during that time. Some seem very prepared - others not. How they react during the process is not always indicative of how it will be when it actually happens. I've seen family members holding each other, crying and I've seen others bickering and fighting over the death bed (and sometimes while the patient is still alive). The whole scene can be calm and serene and peaceful or heart-rending and gut wrenching. Part of my job and those I work with is to try to prepare the family for the end. It is often more challenging than caring for the patient themselves. Hospice nursing is a profession that is rewarding and I wish I had discovered it sooner in my career but I honestly don't know if I can continue it for the 3 1/2 years I have left before retirement.

On a lighter note, the design for my writing blog is almost finished. I'm anticipating that it could be installed this evening or tomorrow at the latest if Judi is able. I don't know when I'm going to premiere it to you - probably not until this weekend. I may actually have it password protected for those who are really interested because my writing is rather personal and I'm a bit shy with it. We'll see.

Weather here turned chilly last night - high 40's which was a surprise. It felt really good though. The wind has died down although we still have all sorts of fire weather alerts. I heard there is a wild fire burning somewhere in Florida but I don't know where.

I'm guess I'm officially an American Idol fan. I personally think it will be down to the two Davids - and I'm clueless as to which one. I'm sort of partial to David Cook because, as I mentioned in another post, he reminds me of my son, Mike. But we'll see.

Hope you all are doing well and enjoying the spring. My thoughts are with those who have been having the severe weather in the mid states. And, of course to those in Burma and China at the earthquake zones.

The family grows!

It was a fairly quiet Mother's Day for me yesterday. I called my mom in the morning to wish her a happy day (we had gone out to lunch the day before) and then drove to my son and DIL's for breakfast. Later I drove home and took a nap. I think the sleep I lost this last weekend working on finishing this blog took it's toll because I almost fell asleep driving home from my son's house - thus the nap. Later on I got a call from my daughter in OK and then at work, a call from my son in Vermont.

The Vermont son informed me that I am going to be a grandmother again! This will be their 7th and my 10th. How exciting! It will mean a trip up to Vermont next year!

This reminds me the Duggar Family.

Perhaps you have seen them on the Discovery Health Channel? They are a family with 17 children with another one on the way. This photo looks like it's missing baby #17. I've counted three times and I still only count 16. Michelle, the mom is due on January 1st and my DIL is due on the 4th or thereabouts. I am just amazed to see a family like the Duggars! Of course, the older children help take care of their younger siblings and that takes some weight off Michelle. But I think too of what her body must be going through. 18 pregancies is a big strain on a woman's body! I thought my 3rd was going to do me in! And of course, I think of the grocery bills and the dishes and the laundry. I'm exhausted just thinking about it! But getting back to my grandchild - I'm hoping for a girl this time. With 2 girls and 4 boys, I think another little girl would be nice.

I am presently working on a blog for my writing. I'll probably use it for writing exercises and the like. I'm not sure just how it will be used. I asked Judi to design another one since she's running a special through May 31st. I'll let everyone know when it's up and running. I really am wanting to get serious about doing something with my writing. I don't know if I even have any serious talent but there are things in my heart that I want down on paper.

Yesterday was very windy, so much so, that I didn't put out my trash can for garbage day until this morning. Even with the weight of the garbage, I was concerned it might blow over. Today, the wind has died down and there is a nice coolness to the air instead of the muggy conditions we've had the last couple of days. I'm sure it won't last, but I'll enjoy it while it's here. Those nasty, hot days of summer are coming when I hibernate in the air conditioning for the summer!

Hope all is going well with you. Thank to all of you who have been visiting here and leaving nice comments.

Reflections of my mother

This photo was taken in November of 2007 at the Grand Floridian Resort at Disney World. We were there to see the Christmas decorations and they were grand! As I look at this photo I am reminded of the fact that we all get older. I grew up thinking that Mom was almost immortal but I see her getting older and more frail and I wonder just how much longer I will have her with me. You can find out more about her (and her mother) on my ancestors page. Because of my work schedule, we won't be spending Mother's Day together but we're planning a nice lunch out today and in two weeks when I'm on vacation, I'm going to take her out for the day to some place fun.

I've always said that to me, being a mother was my greatest accomplishment, my highest calling. There have been stretches of time during my children's growing up years that I had to work outside the home but I always tried to be home for the kids as much as possible. To my way of thinking, I can be a published author, a dedicated nurse or any number of things but if I've neglected the ones that God gave me charge over, then whatever accomplishments I've made are mediocre at best. The best legacy I can leave are children who love and serve the Lord and teach theirs to do the same.

I wish for all you mothers out there, the very best and special day with your family tomorrow. Let them pamper you and wait on you hand and foot. You deserve it!



Graphic courtesy of MillanNet

A quick hello

I wanted to thank those of you who have visited my new home so far and left me lovely comments. I feel like it's a house warming - like I should have had some warm cookies waiting for you all!

I've been working on it off and on all day so this will be a quick post. I want to do a Mother's Day post tomorrow since Sunday I have to work and the morning will be spent with my son, Mike and his wife, Stephanie. They're taking me out to breakfast! I'm doing something with Mom tomorrow - not sure yet. It depends on how my back is feeling.

Anyway, time to put this puppy to bed, as they say. I think I'm going to put myself to bed as well!

Blessings

Drum Roll Please!!

Well, here it is! My new blog. Isn't it gorgeous? And you have Judi to thank for that. I'm so excited to be here.

This will be a short post - since I've been working on this since about 12:30am and it's not almost 4 am. After all, you couldn't expect me to come home from work and find that my blog was installed and not work on it!

So, more to come later. But I just had to get my first post in.
Good night.