HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It is so very hard for me to believe that today is the last day of the year 2009 - I don't know if it's because I'm getting older (probably not ?!?) or that we are so busy, but time just flies by. Dan and I were talking today about what we were doing a year ago today. Actually, we were here in the Village with NO idea that we would be full time RVer's in less than six months time. We were not even thinking about this lifestyle a year ago. We had just had a great Christmas with our kids - Crystal, Melissa, and Justin along with my mom and the kid's dad had spent Christmas day at our home here. Then a couple of days later Dana, Mark and the girls came up for the day. We spent a couple of days getting all the Christmas decorations down and then settled in to watch some football and spend a quiet New Year's Eve together. Boy, how things can change in a year, but some things are still the same. We are all settled in and ready to spend a nice quiet evening together - just Dan, the girls and I - watching some football.

Dan is feeling better everyday - we actually walked around the block this evening. He did a little work outside (got the sewer hooked up) and I helped him get the outdoor carpet down and the chairs out along with the grill. His appetite is getting better also, but he is still watching what he eats - not only the fat content, but the amount as well (no second helpings). If this little episode will help him realize that he might need to lose some weight maybe there is be a silver lining to this thing. Only time will tell on that one.

I spent the day straighten up things - I rearranged some things in the kitchen and in the pantry. I hope it will make things I use frequently easier to get to. I also FINALLY made the file will all the paperwork on the new unit - those of you who have bought a RV will understand about all the paperwork you get (the manuals and warranty information). I had been talking about making a file with all the manuals and paperwork in folders so it would be easier to find IF we ever needed anything - well, I sat on the floor today and got it all put together - YEAH! I also changed around a couple of the overhead compartments - some areas just needed some tweaking - hopefully it will make things easier for us.

Tomorrow, between football games I would like to empty out the basement and get it rearranged and put back together. I'm not sure if we will be able to do this one or not - and not just because of the football games - it might be raining here (Boo!) and it is suppose to turn really cold (I'm talking about the 30's as a high). I find that hard to believe - it has happened here before, but not very often. I do know that IF it does rain and it is really cold - all we have to do is wait a couple of days and things will be in the 50 - 60's again.

If I can't work outside - I'll try and get all the bills and financial stuff caught up and get the "little black book" caught up. I really need to do better with keeping track of the finances then I have done in the last few months (actually since we left Idaho). Maybe that will be the new years resolution - stay on top of the finances better.

I also want to get the Wii set up on the TV here - I really do want to start back using it and I do have the new game to use with it. I'm not sure who I can get to help with hooking it up, but I'm sure I can find someone.

I also forgot to let you know of the other presents we received - we got a book named "Off the Beaten Path" that talks about places all over the US that are not visited very often - we have actually been to some of them. We also got a photo album, we both got clothes from my mom along with a beautiful crystal moose sculpture that just fits on one of the shelves. Everyone catered to Dan's dream of our Alaska trip with books and magazines on the state - and I also got a couple of gift certificates to Barnes and Nobles so I can purchase books for my NOOK. (Did I tell you how much I love my NOOK???)

Well, I think I've bored you all that I need to for one day - Dan and I, along with our girls (the two legged as well as the four legged ones) wish all of you a very HAPPY NEW YEAR! May all your dreams come true - as we say - SEE IT DREAM IT DO IT !!!!!

Talk to you tomorrow!

On the Mend!

Took Dan to the Doctor yesterday and while the hospital in Sebring was awful they, at least, they made the correct diagnose - our doctor here said that Dan did indeed have pancretiatis (not sure of the spelling). He wants him to take his antibiotic (actually two different ones) for the next ten days and then he will recheck his blood work and see where we are. We have to stay on a low fat diet for the next ten days (that is a little difficult for Dan, but he is really doing very well so far). He lost ten pounds while he was in the hospital, but he is getting stronger every day and his appetite is coming back slowly.

Today was trying to get everything caught up around here. I got all the laundry caught up - YEAH! - now I can keep it going with the washer/dryer unit in the 5th wheel. Dan and I also went through all our clothes and we got rid of a lot of stuff - things that we have not used in the entire time we have been traveling - another donation to the village. I also found some Christmas things that were missed in Sebring. That's okay - we'll take them down when we take the things that we left in Neil's garage - probably toward the end of January. We also have to take the pups to the vet in Lakeland and get their health certificate for our trip through Canada. We plan on doing that in later January also (maybe combining the two trips into one).

Tomorrow I plan on rearranging the kitchen - there is just some things that don't function well where they are now. I just need to move a few things around so that they are easier to get to and are more functional - like the electric fry pan and the crock pot are not where I can reach them. So, I will rearrange some things (maybe even get rid of some things in the kitchen that I haven't used) and make the kitchen more "useable". I also opened my Christmas presents yesterday - I got a wireless mouse and a program for my computer to scrapbook with from Dan. Melissa and Justin gave us a DVD player that upgrades regular DVD's to HD for our bedroom - something we were talking about getting - they also gave me a pair of pj's and Dan some cigars (he'll enjoy them when he is better). Crystal and Kim gave me a Nook (the Barnes and Nobles version of the Kindle) which I absolutely love - it is so cool! It will be the perfect solution for my book issue (giving away books that I have purchased because I don't have room to store them). Now I don't have to worry about having to purchase "real" books - I now can get Ebooks. One of the things that Dan got was a Food Saver. We think that we will really use it in the future.

I also want to go into Valdosta and get some extra shelves for the freezer. I want to make that a little more efficient also. Dan also wants to have some covers installed over the Fantastic Vents - which will be a good thing - right now, if it rains, it comes inside - not good. There is also a shelf that has a crack in it that has to be replaced. Those are things that will need to be done while we are here. Probably what we will do is go to the dealer and order the stuff - then go up and stay in the campground there while the stuff is installed. Sounds like a plan to me.

We went to a friend's house for dinner tonight. It was nice to see some of our friends again. I actually ate sweet potatoes and it they were great! I think this diet thing might actually be good for both of us.

Sorry I did not post last night - I was really tired (in fact, I'm really tired tonight also) so I didn't get on the computer at all yesterday (and my crops on Farmville actually survived!). Anyway, I'm getting ready for bed now.

I hope that you have had a good day and I will talk to you tomorrow!

"Home" Again

I checked Dan out of the hospital in Sebring this morning after packing the inside of the unit. Yesterday I would not have been able to get everything done without the help of those in the campground and my kids. I will forever be grateful to Mike and Richard for going above and beyond by dumping our tanks with the blue boy. Crystal, Kim and Melissa worked so hard to get all the other stuff packed up - including all the Christmas decorations. Kim worked on getting the "garage" taken down and packed up - as well as getting other things outside packed up. With everything they did all I had to do today was pack the inside - you know all the stuff that you have out when you are set up in one place for awhile. I had that all done by the time Dana, Mark and the girls got to Sebring this morning.

While I went to the hospital and checked Dan out they got the unit hooked to the truck and was all ready to go when I got back. We finally got back to Dowling Park around 6:30 this evening. Mark got the electricity hooked up and the water - we put the stabilizer jacks down and that's it. We didn't even bother to unhook from the truck - we can do that tomorrow. I know that we have friends here that can help if Dan isn't up to it.

I have made a doctor's appointment for Dan at 1:30 tomorrow. I was able to get a copy of Dan's labs before we left Sebring, but that's all they would give me. The hospital said for our doctor here to request the records and they would fax them or, if I wanted them, I would have to pay $1.00 a page and it would take a couple of hours. I decided to get him out of there and leave. I'll get the doctors here to request them.

I have fed Dan (a bland diet - baked chicken, yellow rice, and green beans). Then he took a shower (which he said made him feel better) and has gone to bed. He said that he was completely wiped out. I told him that I was NOT going to set the alarm clock tonight and that we both were going to sleep until we woke up. No hurry. When we get up - then I'll worry about what I'm going to feed him and then sometime tomorrow I will have to go to the store. That's okay, I know that it will all work out. Oh, and sometime in there I have to check us in to the campground (which I didn't do since the office was already closed by the time we got here). It will be fine - first things first.

Well, that's all I have to report today - except to say that Dan did open his Christmas presents today after we got here. I still haven't opened mine (will do that later - plus I already know everything I got - a pair of shoes and a Wii Fit game). I'm going to sign off for tonight and I will let you know what the doctor says tomorrow.

Talk to you then!

Hospital

I'm taking Dan out of the hospital here tomorrow morning and taking him back up to Dowling Park to our doctors. The people here don't know what they are doing (if anything!) and Dan is not happy with his treatment. After I told him we would take him out he relaxed.

I came home and with help from Melissa, Crystal, Kim and people from here in the park the 5th wheel is ready to hook up tomorrow when Mark and Dana get here. Of course, there will be last minute things - unplug the power, unhook the water, put the slides in after packing up the few things inside. BUT I am getting him out of that hospital!

I can't even tell you how poorly he has been treated - let us just say that they didn't even change his bed in five days - not until I raised Cain this morning did they change it. The people are very nice, but the communication stinks!

Sorry I haven't posted in the last few days - I have gotten home late and have just been wiped. By the time I spend a little time with the pups (who don't understand what is going on) and try and fix me something to eat I just want to go to bed. Hope you all understand.

I'll let you know what the doctors in Dowling Park say. Until then-----


Talk to you tomorrow (I hope!)

No Surgery!!!!

While Dan is still in the hospital the good news is the doctor has said that he does not think he will require surgery! That is something to be very thankful for. I appreciate all the concern and prayers from all our friends out there - it is very heartwarming to know that all of you are there lending support to us both.

Dan's oldest daughter came down today to see him for a little while - until Dan kicked her out. He said that she needed to be at home with her kids - He did not want them to be at the hospital. He is so afraid that he is going to be a Grinch and steal Christmas from the grandkids. He just wants everyone to be able to celebrate Christmas with their family and not be worrying about him. He doesn't even want me to be at the hospital tomorrow, but wants me to go to Melissa's down in Lake Placid since the family is going to be there for Christmas. That just "ain't gonna happen" - my place is beside him. That doesn't matter is he is at home or in the hospital I'm going to be with him. I will take him his stocking in the morning so he will have something and hopefully help him feel better.

Melissa did come up this morning and take the pups down to her house for the day so I wouldn't have to worry about them and their not being able to go out. Justin brought them home about 5 o'clock this afternoon. I left the hospital around 6:45 and came home. The pups were SO glad to see me. I knew that I had to go back to Melissa's to see her sister and have a little dinner. The pups were just having a fit when I got ready to leave again - so, I ended up taking them with me. They were really good even with all the other dogs (there were four other dogs down at Melissa's). When we sat down to eat I put them in Melissa's bedroom and they got up on the couch in her room and slept. I didn't stay long (about an hour total) before I came home. Now I'm going to go in and crash.

Dan and I wish all of you a very blessed and Merry Christmas. May the spirit of the season fill your home all year long. Please keep Dan in your thoughts and prayers - hopefully I will get him home in the next day or so. Take care and hopefully --------

I'll talk to you tomorrow!

Hospital

Dan has taken us on a new adventure - one that I wish he hadn't. Remember me talking about his stomach hurting yesterday - well, it got so bad this afternoon he finally decided that he needed to go to the Emergency Room. He was admitted around 6 this afternoon - We know that he has pancretitis (don't know about the spelling) and he might have a bowel blockage. If he does they are talking surgery. They have already done an x-ray and a CT scan they are suppose to do an Ultrasound tonight. They had given him a very strong pain medication in his IV before I left and he was out. They told me that he would be out most of the night - they would be giving him pain medication every four hours and that should keep him comfortable.

I called Dana and Melissa. Dana contacted Cara and Melissa contacted Crystal. Dana and Mark are coming down in the morning to see him and Melissa is coming up in the morning to get the pups for the day. She will bring them home tomorrow afternoon, before Crystal and her dad get to her house (I don't think our pups need to be at her house with three other dogs - I think that would just be too much for them!). Anyway, at this point I think everything is covered. I'll just have to wait and see what the doctor has to say tomorrow.

This is not exactly how I pictured this Christmas would be - but you deal with things as they are dealt. As Dan says - we don't go on trips, we go on adventures. This is definitely an adventure! I'll keep you updated.

Five Working Days Left

All the construction in the park is causing the deer in the park to move around. I have seen more deer in the last two days than I have seen the whole time we have been here. Yesterday I took this series of pictures - there were a total of four does and a yearling. They really were not in a hurry to cross the road until a car came by and sorta ran them off the road.

As you can see here - they were just looking at me while I was shooting the pictures and not afraid at all.

Then today we saw another group going the other way - but the group today was running at full speed and I did not get any pictures of them. Many of the visitors to the park have commented on the amount of deer out and about. The loop road, which has all the walking trails coming off it, is completely closed until Thursday. The construction workers are FINALLY paving the new bike path. The paver has said that he should be done before Christmas - which will be a blessing. I'm not saying that all the construction in the park will be over - they are still working on the retention ponds in the family campground and the new restroom and pavilion in the playground area. I don't think there is a snowball's chance in you know where that they will be finished by Christmas. Today the construction crew working in the family playground area hit another water main and we had to shut off the water for about 2 hours while they fixed that. It has been one thing after another with this crew - but, as I told the rangers - that's what you get for hiring the lowest bidder. (At least that's my opinion!)

Melissa brought Dan's package to me today when she had to come into Sebring. So, I will be able to get it wrapped and get it under our tree. We still plan on opening our presents to each other here Christmas morning and having breakfast here by ourselves before heading down to Melissa's and fixing dinner - We will definitely have a late meal (probably around 7 or 8 PM) but that's okay. As long as everyone has food to eat - even lite stuff like sandwiches while we are cooking and opening gifts things should be fine. It should be a busy day!

Yesterday was one of those days- between going in to town (dumb idea!) to trying to do things around here it just seemed to be a bad day! I went to bed around 7:30 without eating dinner. I didn't even know when Dan came to bed. Speaking of Dan - I came home today to Dan sitting in his chair in pain. He says that his stomach hurts - it seems like he has a lot of gas (burping a lot) - he has taken Alka Seltzer and Rolaids but it doesn't seem to help. He says he doesn't feel bad other than his stomach hurting. He says that his stomach isn't hard or anything - he just has a lot of gas. I have asked him repeatedly today if he needed to go to the hospital and he says no. He is now lying in the bed trying to get comfortable. (Dana, any ideas??? I'm a little worried.)

Tomorrow is our last day at work this week - then four days next week and we will be done with this assignment. This time has just flown by - don't know if it is because of the holidays or what but it sure doesn't seem as though we have been here two months. In one way, it will be nice to get up to Dowling Park and just chill out for a couple of months (maybe we can actually get back on budget - the holidays have played havoc on the budget!) It will also be nice to see our friends up there and spend some time with them.

Well, I don't have much else to report tonight. I hope you are having a good week and all your shopping is done. If not, get out there and shop people - time is running out!!!!! Crystal - drive carefully to your Dad's tomorrow - traffic will probably be heavy - and we will see you Thursday afternoon!

Talk to you tomorrow!