Mystery Solved & Other Updates

Well, we didn't have a visit from the lawn mower fairy after all. When Don went to get the paper today, there was an invoice in our mail box from a lawn service for $50 for mowing and weeding. It was addressed to our neighbor at 616 EAST and we are 616 WEST. Don has left the man a message. We will see what happens. I don't think we should pay for his error but it was also one less thing for us to worry about before our trip... so maybe a compromised payment...



Well, Dad and Marilyn were here for almost a week and it was great having them here. It was wonderful to see dad, even though he has that turbin bandage, he looks so much better than I was prepared for. His spirits were pretty good. Marilyn is a little wobbly... she is having a tough time. She is upbeat with Dad but when he leaves the room, she falters and chokes up. I wish I could be more help to her.



Dad's next surgery is May 13th and then his radiation starts 56 days after that. Then he will start chemo. Sometime between the radiation and the chemo, he will have another PET scan just to be sure that nothing else is showing up.

Gran's memory has taken a serious turn downward the past two weeks. She kept asking Dad, "son, what happened to your head?" At first, they would explain all over again and finally Dad just started saying, "I got hurt, mom". She doesn't remember that I live in Knoxville, she thinks I live "up north". She wants to go see that lady that handles her money and pays her bills so she can get some money to take everyone out for dinner... THAT LADY is me! :( She is finally saying that she thinks she wants to go live in a nursing home because through the week, between work, Katie's school, after school activities, drs. appointments and my night classes... we don't see her much and she says on those days, she is so lonely. She will call me crying because she is so lonely. Jennifer, the gal we pay through the week - is so very kind and she will spend a good deal of time with her in the evenings. Her neighbors check on her - even though she doesn't know their names anymore.

I have conversations with her daily now that are like Groundhog Day... over and over again, around in a circle... she can't remember things from two minutes ago. We took her to Dr. Jackson when Dad was here and Dr. Jackson increased her Namenda (the medicine to slow Alzheimer's progression)... but I haven't seen a benefit - if anything - it's gotten worse.

Don did his first Catholic wedding yesterday. It went great! Great couple and Eli, the guy that is helping Don is just doing great! Everything is GREAT! :)

So, Katie and I went shopping for Gran and then took her out to dinner. Katie was very flustered at how bad Gran's memory is but they still had a great evening together. Yesterday was Katie's 9th birthday!! I can't believe she is 9!! Last year in the single digits!!

It's horrible timing for us to be going to Disney but it's paid for, it's been planned since December and we are going. I have several people lined up - including Uncle Jack - to visit her and check in on her.

Then, when I get back, we will start looking into nursing homes again.

Tomorrow will be a very hectic day. We are essentially packed and that is a good think because Katie goes to school, I go to work, Don will be working, then Katie has a doctor appointment at 3pm, then I have my first portrait class tomorrow night... We leave Tuesday morning at 9am.

I'll be blogging while we are gone... especially since it helps me remember things for journaling in my scrapbooks.

LA :)

Lawn Mower Fairy?

See Don's blog...



Crazy busy getting things in line to be gone for a week (almost)! I'll post pictures while we are hanging out with Mickey & Friends next week!

LA :)

Apparently, I'm a tough gal

LOL! Fun quiz if you are a fan of LOST!! I love Elizabeth Mitchell and I love her character Juliet. I don't mind one bit that this silly little quiz said I was most like her! :) Oh, except for one thing... Don took it and it said that he was most like Charlie... Charlie is now dead and Charlie and Juliet would have never ended up together on or off screen... oh well! Silly quiz!

Happy Saturday!

LA :)

Which Lost Character Are You?

More on Lost. Created by BuddyTV

Almost Three Down...

and three to go. I finished my Location Photography class tonight. I was actually a little sad... I've enjoyed it and I've learned a LOT about composition and learning to look for subjects other than the obvious. I have to complete the Fundamentals class (halfway done) and then take three more electives and I'll have my photography certificate! :) YAY! I'm not just doing this for that certificate though... I'm really enjoying learning!

I SOOOOOO want to take my Rebel to Disney. I'd never take my 40D but even my Rebel would be so cumbersome. If I was a spectator, like I was 142 pounds ago... I'd take my Rebel and get lost in the photography but I am soooo looking forward to riding rides with Katie and giggling and enjoying every moment. No matter how much you love photography - sometimes you have to enjoy the moment.

Last week at the farm, I missed some great, no FANTASTIC shots of Sunny kicking and bucking. She was going nuts with Spring Fever... and I just stood there with my mouth open and my camera aimed at the ground. I could have gotten some great shots - but I would have missed the feeling I got watching her. Same thing with Disney - if I take one of my "real" cameras - I'll get wrapped up in that and miss the "real moments" with Katie and Don.

Anyway, here are some of my shots from Cades Cove this past Saturday. My Fundamentals class is suppose to go to Cades Cove this Saturday... man! Tremont two weeks ago and then Cades Cove back to back Saturdays. Dad and Marilyn will be here this weekend so we will have to see...



This was actually my biggest "wow" picture of the whole class. I don't know that it was my favorite but everyone seemed to like it. :)



I got a lot of pictures of deer... I got really close to some. But, I was so excited, because I've never been close to Bambi before, that I didn't realize that my shutter speed was set too low and they were WAY overexposed. Cute shots that were not fixable. :(



Consensus was this should have been cropped tighter.

More later! :)

Tremont Location Shoot

Here are some of my pictures from the Tremont Photo Shoot on April 12, 2008. Yesterday, we went to Cades Cove. I think I go back to Cades Cove next Saturday as well. Dad and Marilyn will be here so we may make a family day out of it. I got really close to some deer yesterday. I'll post those pictures mid-week.

I didn't go to my class Wednesday night because I was getting a Gizmo. I emailed these pics to the instructor but don't have feedback yet.






Did you see the ant on the bottom yellow flower? :) Click on the photo to enlarge it...

It Just Wasn't Meant To Be

Gizmo went back to the breeders this morning before I headed to Cades Cove. He is the sweetest little guy and Katie and I are sad - Don is too a little - but he left his mom too young. He was only 6 weeks old and he wasn't completely weaned apparently and he wasn't using the litter box.

The breeder told us that she'd hold him for us for a week if we want to try it again once he's matured a little. We will see... but I doubt it.

Katie knows how much he was missing his mom and I'm really proud of the fact that she was concerned for him instead of just sad for herself.

We have three dogs. I guess we need to keep it at that. I just miss an affectionate white fluff ball... nothing will ever replace Maggie but Gizmo was giving an awful lot of love.

LA :(

Who'd Ever Think A Gizmo Would Be Calming?

I had a panic attack this morning! I woke up thinking "what have we (I) done?" As cute as Gizmo is, I came close to taking him back to the breeder today. Don actually, the one who didn't want a cat, talked me into giving it a few more days. I think we got him too early... he wasn't completely weaned from his mom and the breeder assured us that he was eating kitten chow... but I've had to hand feed him practically. He has cried constantly - unless one of us is on the floor with him.



But then, calmer times prevailed. We've really been having some rough afternoons with Katie recently. She is trying sooooo hard in school but it's really starting to take a toll on her. She has so much determination and doesn't want special treatment or accomodations - but in reality - it takes her longer to do almost everything. So she comes home exhausted and frustrated.

Spending time outside with the dogs always helps... but of course, that isn't always an option. Today was a perfect day to be outside, but Katie spent the entire afternoon with Gizmo. She was calm - so was Gizmo. She was focused, responsible for his care and she was following directions wonderfully. Not to mention, she had so much fun playing with the cute little guy!



Additionally, not sure if it has anything to do with Gizmo, but Katie just in the past day or so has developed a sense of humor. Katie is so serious and analytical - sarcasim and most humor has always escaped her. But, it's like someone flipped a switch in her and she's been getting my silly jokes, she's been making jokes... it's been great!

So, we will give it some time. Gizmo was super cuddly and affectionate today... just seems like he's got some seperation anxiety. Just what we needed... a kitty who needs meds... :)

Don got his new Canon XL2 yesterday. So today, we went to the UT Trial Gardens and Market Square so he could just shoot and get some practice... and I worked on some assignments. It was a great day... except for the brilliantly bright sun. High noon... I had a lot of pictures that were overexposed. *sigh*

Although, I did get some neat shots of some bees enjoying the fragrant flowers. :)



So, tomorrow it's to Cades Cove. In the rain. Don and Katie are going to go with me. Other students brought friends, husband or boyfriend and a daughter last Saturday to Tremont... so we are going to make a day of it in the mountains...

If Katie can stand to be away from Gizmo that long.

Oh, and by the way, slowly but surely, the dogs and Gizmo seem to be getting use to each other. Maybe it wasn't the wrong thing to do after all.

We will see.