Surgery for Jessie Lee

All week I have been fighting headaches.  I tend to get migraines when a strong weather front comes through.  Well, this week we have had one front come through - then reverse and come back through again.  So, it's been headache, no headache, headache, no headache.  And today - another good ole front is on the way - so, again today, headache.

For the most part I can function - but it sure isn't pleasant.  I just wish I didn't have to worry about them.

  

I've spent the day cleaning house and doing laundry.  Have I told you how much I HATE tile floors - I sweep the floors every day and you should have seen the amount of dirt I swept up today!  I just can not keep these floors clean - it is so frustrating!  I really think that living on the golf course does not help with the situation.  Between sweeping everyday and dusting every other day - well, I'm just over it.  I will be so glad to get back in a house that has carpet!

Speaking of carpet - we have three more weeks until closing!  Yahoo!  To say that we are really getting excited would be a major understatement.  We have had a few issues that last couple of weeks, but we think that we have them straightened out and everything is back on track.  What does this have to do with carpet, you might ask?  Well, the new house has carpet throughout except the family room, kitchen, and bathrooms.  Yahoo!  We are making all kinds of tentative plans on what we want to do with the house - furniture, paint, construction (yes, a little of that - but all of it outside - and will have to be done in stages).  It is exciting and I'm looking forward to working on it all!

Now, about the surgery for Jessie Lee.

As most of you know, Jessie had some growths that were getting larger and larger.  At our vet appointment last week it was determined that they needed to be removed.

Now, I'm going to show you a picture of the growth on her foot - and I will warn you now - it is gross.  So, if you don't want to see gross, just scroll on down past this next picture.

You really can't tell how large this thing was, but it probably stuck up a good 1/2 inch.  Poor baby, it was really bothering her.  Friday morning Dan took her up to the Vet's office in Sebring around 10 so they could do her pre-surgery blood work and start her pain medication.  Surgery was scheduled at 12 noon. We called and checked on her at 4:00 and they said the surgery went well and she was ready to go home.

Melissa was here to pick the baby up when we called so we were able to leave right away and head to Sebring to get her.  Poor baby was shaking like a leaf when they brought her out to us (did I tell you that she has only been left without us or Samantha once in her life - and that was when she was "fixed")?

The vet said to keep her "quiet" for the next 3 to 5 days.  Well, let me tell you something, this little baby girl is already going strong.  Jumping off things - even though we are trying not to let her - and running and playing with Samantha and Dan.  She is still on pain meds (once a day) and an antibiotic, but it doesn't seem to slow her down any.

So what does her foot look like?

Well, you won't have to scroll past this picture

Looks pretty good doesn't it?

She also had two growths taken off her chest - but I don't have pictures of those - the incisions are a little swollen right now, but they are looking good too.

Also, by the way, we also had her teeth cleaned and boy is her breath better!

Well, that has been our week - hope you had a productive week and I'll talk to you later.

Hugs -

Carol

Quiet

I know I haven't posted anything in a couple of weeks.

It has just been really quiet around here.

Our days are filled with keeping little miss -

 I must say, she is keeping us hopping!

She is crawling everywhere now, so we keep our bedroom door shut and the door to the guest bathroom.  We have also put up a baby gate so she can't get to the dog food (or water dish).  We put the gate up high enough that the pups can go under it, but low enough that she can't.  Guess that is an advantage of having small dogs - huh?

Lorelai and Samantha

I wish I knew how to download a video from my Facebook page - I have a couple of cute ones of little miss - crawling around the house and her newest accomplishment

pulling up!

Yep, she is pulling up on everything now.  She is up in her crib (thank goodness we had already lowered her mattress) and pulls up on your pants legs - just about everything.

She is not napping much anymore - I'm lucky if I can get her down for one a day.  She just doesn't want to miss anything - so she fights going to sleep.   IF you can get her asleep and try to put her in her crib - she wakes right up.  I actually held her for an hour one day just so she would sleep, but by the end of the week I was able to get her in her crib for a hour and a half nap.

YAHOO!!!!

It is so much fun to see all the developmental milestones she is going through.  I don't remember all these things with my girls - maybe because I worked or maybe I was just so "busy" with stuff that I didn't pay attention.  Anyway, we enjoy watching her.

Last weekend her parents took her to the beach for the first time - don't you love the swagger in that look?

Here she is with her daddy looking out at the ocean for the first time.

Having fun with her daddy.

And playing in the sand.

(Mom's knee is in the way - LOL)

If I could download video's I'd show you her playing in the sand, but alas, you'll just have to take my word for it.  

I can see a sandbox in our future.

Okay, I'll change subjects now since I'm sure you are tired of seeing pictures of our little miss.

Monday, after Little Miss went home, I fixed dinner and we ate in.

That was the last time until Friday.

Tuesday the pups had an appointment at the vets, so Melissa picked the baby up early and we headed into Sebring to a new vet.  We decided that since we are going to be here for the foreseeable future we needed a local vet.

We also knew that Jessie needed to see a vet.  She has a few growths that needed to be looked at - two on her chest and one on her paw.  Now, she has had these growths for about a year and a half, but they are getting much larger.  The one on her paw was looking really bad - it is huge and is bothering her quite a bit, with her licking it all the time and it is quite raw looking.  Anyway, the vet determined that they (all three) need to be removed - so next Friday she will go in for surgery.  They will remove all three growths and clean her teeth while she is sedated.  I worry about her, but I also know that it is something that needs to be done.

Dan will take her in Friday morning - they will do the surgery at lunch time and we will pick her up between 4 and 5.  I am hopeful that all will go well.

Since we got back home sorta late we went to the local Mexican restaurant.  We have been going every Thursday night and meeting some friends there - but because Thursday was Valentine's Day (and we had plans for a dinner at home) we decided to go on Tuesday by ourselves.

Wednesday Melissa picked the baby up early (3'ish) so we decided to go into Sebring and try Cody's BOGO Fajitas. If you don't get there really early you can't get in - however, I told Dan when we left at 4:45 that we had officially turned into "old" people. ( BTW, they were okay, but I'd stick with the steak bites).

 We had planned on a nice quiet evening at home for Valentine's Day.  

We had bought a couple of steaks and planned on grilling them and having  baked potatoes and a nice salad.

Well, mother nature threw us a curve ball.

It rained almost all day  (the first time in months, so we really needed the rain - no real complaint) -  so, no grilling out for us.

Instead we met our friends at that local Mexican restaurant for dinner.

We had a great time.

A seven piece Mariachi band was there and went around to all the tables.

I couldn't get a good picture of all the band because I only had my phone camera - but the picture above shows a few members at our table.

There were two guys on the violins, a couple on the trumpets, and three guys on the guitars (different types).  They all sang at different times. 

We were all very surprised at how good they were.  (They got an excellent tip at our table - Dick gave them a $20 and Dan a $10.)

It was a fun night and we had a nice Valentine's Day dinner with good friends.

Now, if anyone is keeping track - Dan ate at a Mexican restaurant three times this week - but before you get all excited - he didn't eat Mexican food all three times.  The two times that we were at the local place he had a hamburger and fries - I ate Mexican all three nights though! Yummy!

Friday, we were finally able to fix the steak and have our quiet dinner at home.

I cooked last night too, just in case your curious.

With football season over we have really cut down on the TV watching - GMA in the morning - two episodes of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse for Little Miss -  then the TV is turned off until the evening news.  It was back off by 7 (since NCIS wasn't on this week). A couple of days I did turn the TV to the all music channels - 60's revolution.  It was nice to hear some of "my" music for a change.

Since we haven't been watching TV I have read three books in a week.  I don't have anything on my Kindle that I haven't already read - so looks like I might be surfing Amazon today.

I haven't even been on the computer much this week - checked emails and checked in on Facebook a couple of times a day - and that's it.  Haven't read any of the blogs I follow - maybe that is something I can do today too (while doing laundry).  Oh, the choices, the choices!

Well, this has become a very long post.  

I will try and do better about posting in the future.

Hope you guys have a great week ahead - and wonderful weather.  (It is currently 42 here - the coldest it has been in months - the weathermen are calling for a freeze north of us, but I don't think it will make it down here.  Might be in the mid to high 30's tonight - but back in the 70's by Tuesday).

Take care and will talk to you soon.

Hugs -

Carol

Keurig or not to Keurig?

Okay, how many of you have gotten on the Keurig band wagon?

Dan and I have been doing the "should we/shouldn't we" dance for about six months.

We think about how convenient it would be to go in and fix a cup of coffee whenever -

but, then we talk about how expensive the K-cups are.

Then we also talk about how we still like to have a whole pot of coffee in the morning.

So, we talk ourselves into one, and then talk ourselves out of one.

Dan had decided that he was going to buy me one for Christmas - I talked him out of it.

Now, fate decided to rear it's ugly head.

Our coffee pot that we have had for about four years decided to go out on us.  So, we had to make a decision.

Well, we were out looking a couple of weeks ago - and had pretty much decided on the middle Keurig model - not the cheap one, but not the most expensive one either.  When, what to our wondering eye should appear, but this -----

The absolute best of BOTH worlds - 

and cost less than the cheaper less expensive model Keurig.

You can still make a full pot of coffee - OR - you can do individual cups.  PLUS, you don't use K-cups. 

Nor do you have to buy  the strainer thing that you have to use 

with the Keurig.

You can use your own coffee and adjust the strength of your coffee.

Plus - it is programmable.

So, 

guess what came home with us.

Yep, 

 here she sits in our kitchen.

Love it!

So, IF you haven't jumped on the Keurig band wagon - you might want to consider this Hamilton Beach model.

We have really enjoyed it so far

(it was really nice last week when I was so sick -

 Dan was able to fix me hot drinks 

without having to fix

a whole pot of coffee).

Oh, just a little disclaimer - I am not being compensated by Hamilton Beach (yeah, I wish) in any way and the opinion stated here is strictly my own.

Hope you guys have a fabulous rest of your week!

Hugs -

Carol

How can someone so little create this?

Good Monday morning ya'll!

It's good to be back at the computer - I am starting to feel much better.  Still have the "fog horn" cough and the masculine voice, but it is getting better everyday.  Pretty soon Dan will stop asking me "What did you say?"  Well, at least not every time I say something.

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend - but to tell you the truth I'm getting a little depressed.  Why?  Well, yesterday was the Pro Bowl, which means - there is only ONE more football game this season.  That is such a bummer for me!  I don't know what I'll do on Saturday's and Sunday's - much less Monday night and Thursday night.

Seriously, our whole TV schedule is skewed around football.  This is (or was) our TV watching schedule:

Monday - Monday Night Football

Tuesday - NCIS (only show we watch every week)

Wednesday - anything that I've TiVo'ed (Castle usually)

Thursday - Thursday Night Football

Friday - nothing (this is usually when we watch a rented movie)

Saturday - College ball

Sunday - Pro ball starting with pre-game stuff until the late game

Pretty lame, huh?  

Really - this is our TV viewing schedule.

So, as you can see, we have a problem Houston.

There is nothing to watch anymore - 

we are not Basketball fans, racing fans, or hockey fans.

Now, I will watch golf (yep, golf) IF Tiger is playing.

Now, before anyone jumps on my case - I don't agree with what Tiger did in his personal life - but that was in the past and he has paid dearly for his major screw up.  I still like to see him play golf - and when he is on - NO ONE can come close to him.

Anyway, I have ordered some books for my Kindle so it looks like  Dan and I will spend a lot more time with the TV off and the Kindle's on.

Not, necessarily a bad thing.

Boy, am I completely off topic.

So, let's get back to the program.

I'm sure that many of you (if there are people out there that do actually read this) have this problem  - but we aren't use to this anymore.  I'm a little OCD - okay, a lot OCD - so, this is something that I'm getting used to again. 

What am I talking about?

Take a look

!

You see, when my oldest daughter was a baby, her dad and I rented a nice little house in Thomasville, GA.  In the family room was a wall of wonderful bookcases - with cabinets on the bottom.  Wonderful storage!  In the middle was an open area for the TV and underneath was a big cabinet with no shelves.  So, I put a big round laundry basket, and at the end of the day all the toys went in the basket - close the door and all was clean again.

This is really pretty tame - 

but you know what -

I don't care.

Let her make a mess - it takes about two minutes to pick it up and put it in her toy basket.  She is only going to be a baby for such a short period of time.  Such a small price to pay for being able to take care of her every day.

She certainly pays for any mess she makes with her smiles, and her hugs, and her little kisses.  

So, where was she when I took this picture this morning?

Nap time!

Sweet baby!

Hugs -

Carol

Cold and Secrets

Well, I have caught the cold that has been passed along between family members - We have all been trying to keep the baby from catching it, and so far, we have been successful.  Let us hope that it continues to be true.

Dan has gone over to the storage unit to get a different area rug for the living room.  The one we have on the floor now is a "grass-cloth" type rug and not very soft under foot.  It goes with the leather recliners and the upholstered chairs we are using, but it is not very soft for Miss Lorelai's little knees.  We have to have an area rug because the entire house, except the bedrooms, is tile.  Have I told you how much I can NOT stand tile.  It is so hard on my back and the tile in this house never looks clean - it's that off white with dark brown grout.  I have been talking to Dan about getting the other area rug for some time, but he has been putting it off.  I think he was putting it off because it just doesn't match the furniture. 

 However, Lorelai has been working so hard on crawling for the past couple of weeks.  You know the "worm" - where they get up on all fours and then just sorts 'flop' forward and move that way.  Well, she worked and worked and Friday night she finally succeeded in crawling!  I wanted to post the video that her mom posted on Facebook - but, alas, I don't know how to copy it.  So, if you would like to see the video you are more than welcomed to go to my Facebook page and see it - or I will try and get a video on Monday that I can share with you.

Yesterday we did do some running around, but by the time we got home I was wiped out!  I came in, put on my flannel jammies, and went to bed!  I think I was asleep by 7 last night.  While my nose is still stuffed up and my voice is a little "strained" I am feeling better.  Some good cold medicine will work wonders!

Now, you know about the cold part of the title of the blog - but how about the secret part.

Well, I have been keeping a secret for about two months.  If you know me at all you know that this has been extremely hard for me to do, but I didn't want to jinx the secret.

However, on Friday it became official - so now I can tell you guys about it!

We are soooooooo excited.

Okay, enough of keeping you in the dark.

Are you ready???

Okay, okay!

WE BOUGHT A HOUSE!!!!!

Here she is!

YaHOOOOOOO!

We will be back on one of the canal's that lead to Lake June (two canals down from our old house).  

However, this house does not need stuff done to it (but, if you know us, we will do some things - like paint).  But no major remodeling projects!

It is a little smaller than our old house - but that's okay.  We have decided that downsizing is a good thing.  We will be having a HUGE garage sale because we bought the house FURNISHED!  We will need to sell some of the furniture that we bought for the old house, as it just won't fit in this one - and we will need to buy some new furniture (like some couches for the living room) which we didn't need in the old house.  However, that will part of the fun - making this house our home!

Dan also gets a boat with this deal and to say that he is super excited would be a major understatement.

We have already been out in it once and, now that we have signed the papers, Dan says he will be out fishing in it every day.

Well, we be moving the middle of March and we can't wait!

I am so proud of me that I didn't say anything for TWO WHOLE MONTHS!  (We are buying this house from an individual.  This is their winter home and they wanted to wait until March when they will go back to Indiana - since we couldn't do anything until the end of February, when our lease here is up, we said that wasn't a problem.  We talked to the Real Estate Agent that handles the rental for our house and there is not a problem with our staying one extra month.  I guess I was afraid that they would change their minds - so I didn't want to say anything until we had signed all the papers.  Now, we just wait for the appraisal from the bank and then closing.)  Anyway, we are hoping that the next two months go by quickly - eight weeks - we can do this!

Anyway, just wanted to let you in on our not so "little", little secret!

Welcome to our new house,

 and I hope you come back soon to visit!

Hugs -

Carol

Lorelai's First Christmas

I know that it is the middle of January,

but I promised I would 

share some pictures

of Lorelai's

first Christmas.

Hope you enjoy!

Christmas morning Melissa gave us a call when 

Little Miss woke up.

Dan and I headed over to their house

with some breakfast goodies.

This is the sweet 

sight that 

greeted us when we walked in the door.

Love the Santa on her sleeper.

Dad was dressed up as Santa

and

he handed all the 

gifts out.

Does anyone else

see the

resemblance

between these two?

Then the fun began!

Hey, Mom, I

can do it

myself!

Oh, look!

There's a bottle!

Thanks Aunt Crystal

for the help!

Oh boy!  

I love my 

Minnie Mouse ears!

(she really does love Mickey and Minnie)

The little surprise

from

Nana and Granpie Dan.

(I have to say, this is the cutest rocking horse!)

After Christmas dinner

we all got together

for some

"formal"

Christmas pictures.

 Melissa, Justin, and

Lorelai.

Hi Aunt Crystal!

Aunt Crystal, Aunt Kim, and

Lorelai!

Melissa with her dad

"Grumpa"

(name is his choice)

Three generations!

Crystal, Melissa, Lorelai, and me.

Donnie (the girls dad), Melissa, Lorelai, me, and Crystal.

Grampie Dan, Lorelai, and me.

Lorelai with one of her favorite

gifts -

a TV remote control!

(Is this a hint of things to come?)

I'll leave you today 

with my favorite 

picture

of Lorelai

from 

Christmas day.

I think it says it all.

Have a great week!

Hugs -

Carol

BTW - hope you check back - 

there might be

an 

announcement

made this week.

;-)

AWOL

I know that I have not been posting much.

Why?

Well, to be quite frank - my life is boring.

Not a whole lot going on here.

Monday through Friday we keep Little Miss.

Now, while she is doing so many AMAZING things

and I enjoy all the things she does,

I don't think you guys would be interested.

I mean, come on, you have your own kids/grand kids 

you don't need to see mine, right?

Saturday and Sunday -

well, that is a different story.

Sometimes we (meaning Dan and I) go somewhere.

For example, last Saturday we went down to 

Ft. Myers shopping -

 Home Goods and

 Bass Pro Shop

(hey, I had Dan with me - give me a break).

Sunday was spent 

doing laundry, 

cleaning, 

and watching football.

You know that I am a little bummed that the football season is almost

over -

 my favorite thing to watch.

What did you think of the BCS bowl game?

Roll Tide!!!

Anyway - that is how our week rolls.

Pretty lame, huh?

And since we are being truthful around here

I guess I'll just lay it all out there - 

I just don't feel like working on anything - 

I could care less about decorating this place.

It looks okay -

 and I just don't want to do anything else.

This place isn't ours 

and 

we have done all we can or,

I should say,

 want to do.

So, here we sit.

But there are changes coming.

Things I can't talk about yet.

But, 

there are changes on the horizon.

In the meantime,

I know that I promised you some pictures of 

Little Miss and her first Christmas.

I'll get that done 

in the next few days.

Hope you guys are having a great week.

Hope to

Talk to you soon!

Hugs -

Carol