Monday, April 27, 2009

What a GREAT weekend!!!

I think our weekend was just about perfect. We spent the day Friday just taking our time to get to Macon. We stopped in St. Louis and did a little shopping, stopped at Hermann for lunch (great little deli uptown, I LOVE those kind of places). We made it to Macon about 4:30, went and ate Chinese (nothing to write home about there) and then went to see Grandma for a while.

We came back to the hotel and found the hot tub. It felt really nice but we all felt really slimy after we got out so we didn't go back Saturday night.

Saturday, we picked up Grandma and headed to Kansas City. First stop was Hallmark and the Hallmark Visitors Center. It was really, really neat. I would have loved to spent the day at the mall there and sometime will probably go back and do that but we had other plans for this day.

We went and ate at Gates BBQ, one of the "famous" KC BBQ joints, it was good, really good, yes, I took pictures. I don't have time to post them this morning.

After that we went to the Steamboat Arabia museum. This is SO cool!! If you liked the movie "National Treasure", you will like this museum. Seems these two guys and their dad were in the refrigeration business in Independence MO. One of them had a customer one day that told them there was a boat buried too far from there but nobody could ever find it. This put the idea in the one son's head and he told his dad and brother. Of course, the first thought was finding the loot and selling it- the boat was supposedly like a modern day Walmart truck, carrying merchandise to merchants along the river. It also had passengers, but the stuff was what they were thinking about. Anyway, they did three years of homework and finally figured out the boat was under some farmer's field in Kansas. They knocked on the guy's door and he told them he had heard from his ancestors that the boat was there and if these guys wanted to spend their time and money, they could go right ahead as long as they put his field back the way it was when it was done. Twenty years ago last winter, they actually found their loot. Once they realized the condition of it, they realized they couldn't sell it, that it belonged in a museum. They are still cleaning and restoring items found, they say they are about 80% done. So much of the stuff, because it had been under water and dirt for so many years has to be specially preserved or once it is in the air for a few days, it is destroyed. Anyway, if you get a chance to get out that way, this is something to see. Bob Hawley, who is the dad in this story was at the museum and visited with us. What a story--

We came home that evening and just relaxed, we ate pizza at Grandma's and then went back to the room.

Yesterday we had planned on going to church with Grandma and then heading home. She decided it would be better to run to Chillicothe and see the murals painted all over town and then she wanted us to go to the Catfish House for lunch. What a fun morning! These murals are unreal. I will post a couple later. The Catfish House is yet another hole in the wall that had outstanding food. Buffet style and all the catfish and walleye you could eat.

Yesterday morning, Robert got up, put on a pair of jeans and low and behold, he once again had highwaters. I informed him we would now have to get back to St. Louis in time to buy jeans. He keeps getting taller and skinnier. When I bought his clothes for school to start, he wore 35x30's and they were too long but the shortest I could find. Last night, I got him two pair of 29x32's they are not too long. I informed him he was now officially too skinny because he could have worn 28's but they don't have them at any of the stores that he wants clothes from.

We ended our trip with steak from Outback, then started home. It was good to be home, our girls were glad to see us (Thanks Mom for keeping an eye on them while we were gone!) and as always, it was good to sleep in our own beds.

This week should be pretty normal until the weekend, going to an auction on Saturday, Robert's spring concert on Sunday and as soon as that is over I head to Springfield for a few days....Back to the grind.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Tribute to a Friend

This is long past due, but this week has been absolutely crazy at work. Thing is, he would have been happy about me getting my job done than putting it off to write this.

Our Board President passed away last Saturday, Duane Carrell.

Talk about someone being dedicated to what they believed in...Duane believed in our agency and more importantly, he believed in us.

One time, I spoke at the Jasper County interagency meeting. The lady from the Press-Mentor wrote a huge story on our Agency and it was on the front page of the paper. Duane came in bringing 5 copies. He was so proud of it. He stopped by my office and said if my speech was half as good as the story I had done a very good job. I told him she asked for my notes after the speech and had basically typed them verbatum.

Last summer, I presented our computer classes to the board. I love talking about what I do so although it wasn't hard, it was still nerveracking. Duane called Marsha the next morning and told her what a terrific job he thought I had done. The next time he was up, he came and told me.

That's an encourager, Duane definately was. To say he will be missed is an understatement. We have a wonderful Board of Directors and I am sure we will carry on with no problem but there will always be a void there that just couldn't be filled by anyone but him.

In the past 5 years, I have gotten a chance to know him as a friend too, we have had some good sit downs. I answer the phone at work once in a while and so I had talked to him a couple of weeks ago. The last time I saw him though, he was sick with a cold. He was needing some stuff from the office so I dropped it off at his house. He didn't want me getting too close because he didn't want me to get sick, we still stood in the door and visited. He would always want to know how things were going--even when he was sick; in fact he had a meeting with Marsha and one of the board members last Thursday in his hospital room.

When Marsha told us the diagnoses Friday morning, they had thought at the time that he had a few weeks, I had ever intention of stopping by Monday night and seeing him. I never got the chance but in return, I know he couldn't have suffered long and for that I am thankful.

Ever since his wife died, you could tell there was a part of him that longed to be with her. The fact that he is there is a reason to be thankful.

He will be sorely missed.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

A few pictures from the musical...

Well, it's over for another year, it was just as good today as ever but you could feel the sense of finality to all of it. For one thing, Josh Welling has been like Robert's big brother for ever and it was his final high school musical--notice I said high school; Josh is planning on studying theater arts. Everybody believes he is going to be a star--in my book, he already is.


Every year, on the day of dress rehearsal, a lady comes in and takes TONS of pictures, it's great, they are up closer than we can get in the seats and you don't have to worry about heads in the way. I had decided just to wait on these. Then, Nila, who didn't get to come this year, asked this morning about pictures. So, I didn't take tons, but I did take a few. Of course, they are mainly of the kid, but what can I say?




This is Robert with Kerstine, his dance partner. (Sis, she played Rizzo last year)

Muzzy's "boys"


Dancing with Kerstine


This is where he actual played his part "Kenneth, the butler". He was nervous about the martini glasses and today was the closest there came to being a problem, someone bumped him as he was getting to his spot for the scene. You heard the glasses jingle against each other. I was afraid it would throw off his composure, but he did great!

This was during "Speed Test", I would have liked to have had a formal picture of Robert and Kerstine in their matching outfits, but this was as close as it was going to get.
Everybody else is still as school, tearing down sets, I had every intention of going until it dawned on me today that I am not supposed to be doing that kind of stuff yet, so Andrew and Robert are there and here I sit, I did at least take tickets today so I feel I did a little something to earn my keep.
Great, great job kids! You are awesome! Every last one of you! And now we get to start looking forward to next year, let the speculation on next year's musical begin!!!

Friday, April 17, 2009

WOW!!!

The muscial is awesome! There is some amazing talent in this little rural county. Four of my friends from work came to see it last night, they were totally amazed too.

Sharon (Head Start director, my friend who won the car) has a daughter that is an actress (she's done a few small tv parts but her main focus is stage). Sharon has spent most of her life going to plays and she is always just over the top about our kids.

I think they truly get the "no small parts only small actors" thing and I don't think there was one "small actor" in the bunch. It took every one of them to make the show what it is and everyone of them was giving it their all.

And since having a blog has got to be some percentage "bragging on your kids" I will have to tell you I think Robert did awesome too. His hardest part was when he was being the butler and taking a tray of drinks around. I guess earlier this week, they sprung martini glasses on him. Then people take drinks off his tray so it redistributes the weight. I understood completely why it made him nervous.

As Andrew and I were leaving last night, one of the costume designers told me "Good Job with that kid". I thought that was pretty special, he is a great kid. She proceeded to tell me how well he pitched in and helped anywhere he was needed. He really enjoys that too. She also told me how excited he would get about his costumes-- I told someone yesterday I think Robert is like a live Ken doll to the costumers (He has 5 different outfits).

Last night, he made it home at 11, and had homework, so we were up until 12 while he finished that. T0day he has to be there at 7 am to get ready to do the performance for the jr. high. As soon as that is done, he gets to come home and rest, then back tonight at 5:30. I think we are all glad tomorrow is Saturday which translates into some rest!

Thursday, April 16, 2009

It's "Thoroughly" time for the musical!!

Tonight is the night we have all been waiting for since--well, since the last proformance of Grease last March.

I know Robert is nervous, but very excited too. I am nervous for him, for all of them. Everytime I see a bunch of teenagers work hard to accomplish something, it almost makes me want to cry (I bawl through the Rose Bowl Parade every year!) I remember how long some nights got, and how you go home and wonder if it's worth it to be that exhausted. The answer was always, as it is with Robert, a resounding YES!

I am so incredably proud of my kid and his friends. I felt like I had a lot of friends in high school but I (and I know I have said this before) don't believe we were as tight as these kids are.

I believe tonight's show is sold out, the other performances are tomorrow and Saturday, 7:30 and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. I believe tickets are still available if you call the high school.

And to the cast and crew: Break a Leg!

The Amazing Race-AWANA style






Last night was our last regular night of Awana, I always try to do something special for my club on that night because on Fun Fair night for the younger ones, this class usually helps out. So we had the Amazing Race-Awana Style. We divided into two teams, with two cars, the drivers--Andrew and me. They had 10 envelopes that had to be opened one at a time. Each one held a question about a spot in Newton.
Some of the questions?
1. How many pop machines are at IGA? What are they?
2. What is on the west side of the sign at the Vet Clinic?
3. How many motel rooms are there at Riverpark Motel?
4. Who sponsors the Children Playing sign in the park?

The last envelope was to be opened at 7:25, regardless of if the others were done or not. The question in it? How many different Mister Misty flavors are there at the DQ? And of course, this led to having ice cream.

I think everyone had a blast. Team Jeep won (Garrett, Jordan and Adam) they got all ten answers. Team Chrysler had 8. Team Jeep got some lucky draws of envelopes and didn't have to backtrack a lot!

Friday, April 10, 2009

I'm home, I'm home, I'm home

And honestly feel like being here! I was just getting on my cellphone last night at 5 to call Becky and see if she could move things along when the nurse came in with my discharge papers. I got to the house about 6 last night.

They said it would take three days for the epidural to start working but the cortisone shot would work immediately. I honestly think both are working. I am sore, but not hurting, I am still really afraid to stand up, sit down or twist around much because I had gotten so used to the pain being there that I am afraid it will come right back, so far so good.

I got on the scales this morning and have lost weight, that was a good thing, the first day I was at the hospital, they wouldn't even let me have a drink of water until about 6, then I could have water and they brought me a bowl of broth and a bowl of jello. The second day, I got broth and jello for breakfast and lunch and they let me have a real meal about 3 that afternoon. Guess it did some good. Not sure I could go on a constant broth and jello diet though.

I've been going to weight watchers for several months and was doing pretty good-just over 22 lbs when I got sick, then not being able to exercise and the boys doing the cooking, I had actually gained weight. Monday night ought to be a not bad experience. I'm not ready to tackle the treadmill yet but I will try to walk this weekend and I feel like cooking. Even after 17 years, the guys will totally ignore good health guidelines if I don't fix their food--yesterday AT THE HOSPITAL- Andrew had a chimichanga and macaroni and cheese- can we say "carb overload??? let alone the FAT content?? I guess it's not him that has the problem, but maybe it's just because I've taken such good care of him :-)

Well, my whole goal was to be home and better in time to direct the cantata tonight at church Jeff Carr called me yesterday and he said "I'll see ya' when I see ya'" I said, "I will see you tomorrow night!" He just laughed but said he didn't doubt it.

I am now really looking forward to all the events happening this weekend. The cantata and Good Friday service tonight, tomorrow evening, Nila and Richard will get here, Sunday morning we have Sunrise, then the young married couples are putting on a breakfast, then church. Then we come to my house, have Easter dinner and get to see Sis and Richard for a while before they have to head back to Lincoln (it's also Sis' birthday!). Sunday evening, I am going to rest a while and Monday I am going back to work with bells on!!

Thanks once more for all the prayers, I stood in my living room on Tuesday morning, not having any clue what was wrong, but at that time thinking it was something internal. I stood there and cried and prayed that God would let me keep living the life he had given me. I just want to thank HIM for that answered prayer.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Hurry Up and Wait

It is a quarter til 5, I am sitting on my hospital bed, dressed, packed and ready to go. An hour and a half ago, the doctor said he would fax the papers back immediately for me to go home. Immediately hasn't gotten here yet.

I got two shots, the epidural and a cortisone shot in my sacreiliac (sp?). Apparently, the second thing was causing 90% of my worst pain. I feel pretty darn good right at the moment, just want to get out of here.

I am probably not going to touch the computer when I get home, Mom is at my house, fixing us dinner, I am going to eat, take a shower and sit down without pain. I am super excited.

Thanks so much for all the prayers! I have to admit there were some pretty scary times for me. Glad it's almost over!

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Another kid

This is Kenny, my nurses aid for the evening. He is so much like my Awana kids, I might as well have adopted him. I was putting my last post on and he suggested I blog about him, just in case there was any nice 19 year old girls reading my blog. He is a real sweetheart so I thought I would go ahead and say a little shoutout. He has bent over backward for me this evening, and as I said, he did in such a manner you would think he was just another one of my kids!
Hey all, Don't feel quite energetic enough to type long but that I would stick this in..first off, thanks Sis for posting updates on me, I appreciate it. If something in this post doesn't make sense, you will have to go back and read Sis' blog.


It is Dr. Imburgia, who I had never met until I was here and eventhough I wasn't impressed, I have to say, both times I saw him, I was laying perfectly still, which meant I wasn't enduring any pain, so he didn't really know first hand what was up.


I did have the MRI this evening and am looking forward to seeing the pain specialist tomorrow, I am positive my answers will lie with him. I think he will be able to tell me what I can do to get better, and how to exercise to keep my back as strong as possible. Dr Imburgia called me this evening and asked if I was okay with staying another night--you must remember, he wanted me to go Monday night and I refused, so he may have had it in his head I wasn't happy about being in the hospital. I told him I felt very good about the direction we were going now, he said he was too.


I think I have "self-diagnosed" what has really happened in the last two weeks, and it all makes perfect sense. On March 24th, I believe I threw my back out, which caused great pain, I came home from work and basically spent the next 24 hours in a chair, not drinking or going to the bathroom like I should have because I hurt too much. So, by Wednesday when I went to the doctor, my kidney, already aggrevated because of a forming stone, was infected. We had proof positive that I had kidney infection and a stone, which everyone says is worse than labor so, we stopped there put me on antibiotics and ibprofen. I was also told I could take some Aleve. Little did Becky know I had a bottle of prescription strength Aleve. The first week, I took the ibuprofen, then last week I started laying on the naproxin pretty hard, plus still popping an ibuprofen every so often. I knew Aleve could tear your bowels up, I didn't realize until the last couple of days, ibuprofen can too (which I take on a regular basis, so I think I am responsable for the blood in my bowels--as Becky says, I probably still have a polyp and will have a colonoscopy in a few weeks, but because my blood tests all came back good (even my A1C!) I am understanding why they aren't concerned, as Sis said, the bleeding has stopped and everything looks good as far as that goes.
I really think things are on the right track and Becky will not let the colonoscopy go, as well as a few other little things we are going to take care of since we know we have met our insurance max for the year.
Thanks everybody for your posts and for your prayers. My time frame was to be ready to roll again by 6:30 Friday evening, I feel like that is going to happen so I am very satisfied with how things are going right at this moment.

Monday, April 6, 2009

The Fun Just Keeps On Coming

Well, last week, I had high hopes of being at 100% by today. I finished my antibiotics on Saturday and was sure that "sore" feeling I had would go away. However, today, it hadn't went away, in fact, it wasn't as bad as two weeks ago but it was a long way from feeling normal.

When I got to work this morning, my lovely peeps talked me into just calling Becky to see if I could get some more antibiotics. Of course, Becky thought she better run another test to see if my kidney infection was gone. While I was there, she examined me, lets just say I jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire.

I hate to gross everybody out but I went from having blood in my urine to having blood in my stools. Not a good thing apparently, it seems to be the newest reason for my pain.

I now have a colonoscopy scheduled for Wednesday morning. I had to sign a waiver tonight saying I refused to go to the hospital but I promised Becky if my blood count was too far down when she gets the tests back tomorrow, I would go ahead and go because I would need blood.

I'm still trying to figure out why I let my peeps talk me into going back to the doctor. That along with being scared, and remembering all the times I have went through test after test to find out there is nothing wrong. Then I hear Becky "Mindy, there is blood...that means there IS something wrong."

Okay, now I've told all my "online" peeps- I'm asking for your prayers, mostly for my sanity. I am going to get up and go to work in the morning, so you might also pray along with me that when Becky calls me that I don't have to go to the hospital, and that hopefully, this is just a polyp running amok. If it is, more than likely, it can be taken care of during the colonoscopy.

Funny things that have been in our conversations today:
Becky: I want to schedule a colonoscopy for Friday (this was before she saw my stool samples and wanted me to go to the hospital tonight).
Me: Our church's cantata is Friday night, I can't do Friday
Becky: Can't they do without you?
Me: I'm the director--
Becky: I will schedule it for Monday

Becky (after seeing the sample): I can get you scheduled for Wednesday morning
Me: Does that mean I have to cancel the class I am teaching tomorrow night?
Becky: It does unless you want to teach it from the bathroom.

I went to work this afternoon, my boss started to jump onto me, I said I would rather be there doing some good than sitting at home feeling sorry for myself. She decided my statement overruled her scolding. (Anytime you get a chance to overrule your boss is just a little bit fun).

Now I am trying to decide what would be really scrumptious to eat tonight to make it through my "jello and broth" diet tomorrow.......

Thanks for listening! And thanks in advance for the prayers!

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Back to the Grind

I have had people asking...I am a million, or maybe a trillion times better than I was last week at this time. I am still sore right in my right kidney but it isn't pain, just sore like when your neck is just a little stiff and you don't feel it until you turn your head too far? That kind of sore. Anyway, made it through that ordeal.

Life is back to just the normal crazy around here. Last night was my second class, I have a good group of students who actually know more than my normal classes. We went over internet and email basics last night. It was pretty well a breeze. Next week we start on Microsoft Office, then the fun will begin.

Robert is down for the count with the musical. BTW, I have tickets if anyone is interested, I am out of Thursday tickets at the moment but it is early so I am sure I could get more. They are $7.00 a piece, the times and dates are April 16th, 17th &18th @7:30 and April 19th @2:00. I got to see the very, very, end of the show last night, I was impressed.

I was also impressed by Roma, I had forgotten how much I loved her style of teaching, of course, she is just one more of those people who feeds my child's already over-inflated ego, but she still does a wonderful job of making everyone of those kids feel like they can do anything they set their minds too. It's easy to tell they love her too, otherwise, they wouldn't be spending 3 school nights a week and Saturday every week to make this happen. Just one more reason music and sports are important to a child's education, there are just so many things, like learning to work as a team and that sometimes, what you want takes a lot of sweat, that you just don't read in a book.

Andrew worked last night, until 1, I was exhausted (I've been told it's the antibiotics), so I didn't even get back up when he got home, consequently, I haven't seen him awake since Monday. I hate times like that, it's nothing compaired to when I am out of town though.

My friend Tom Matson had neck and back surgery yesterday, keep him in your prayers please, Nick said last night he was doing as well as could be expected for just having surgery.

One of the clerk's positions that was advertised on our website was actually someone to help me out, we had over 65 applicants, I have three picked out that I really like, one that I really, really like. The interviews are going to be the 14th and 15th, I am looking REALLY forward to that. I also start my modem and router class on the 15th.

I think I should have used Tracie and Sarah's bullets. This seems to be a hodgepodge of information.

My father-in-law left Arizona on Sunday, he is in Texas for a few weeks then heading toward the East, we are planning on seeing him here by June, he enjoyed the Jasper County fair last year, we are hoping he is here for that this year. I hadn't mentioned it because it was still really new, but he had planned on getting married and now he isn't. I feel really bad for him but am glad that if things weren't going to work out, it was found out before they got married. I am hoping (and yes, I know you will read this Bob) that he plans on staying around here for quite a while this summer. Robert and Andrew would have a ball with him here, they always do.

Okay, that's it, oh no, that's not it, count down to a "mini-vacation", 24 days. We are leaving on the 24th and going to Andrew's grandmother's in Brookfield Mo. She is 81, but very spry for her age. We are hoping to drive to Kansas City on Saturday and go to the Hallmark Visitor's Center and Crown Center, I know, I can come up with some obscure things to do, but it something I have wanted to see for a long time.

Our church choir is doing a Cantata for Good Friday, it is at 7:00 at Hidalgo Independent Christian Church, of course, you are all invited. There is a DVD that accompanies the choir, it is pretty cool. That's another reason I will be ready for vacation, we will have the cantata finished, then the next week get the musical finished, then we get some time away--YEAH!!!

Okay, now I have GOT to get ready for work so I guess I will quit rambling

Oh, Happy April Fool's Day!! (And happy anniversary to Norm and Kathy Houmes--funny the things you remember, huh??)