Bon Jour! Yes, I'm still working hard at learning French.  I plan to go back to Montreal next year and, this time, I'm going to speak the language! 

I'm still hanging in here.  August has been both good and challenging.  Emphasis on the good....and the challenging.   My Dad has really been struggling with pain.  He keeps falling and hurting himself and we have made numerous trips to doctors.  I'm worn out.  He is having CT scans of his neck and back on Thursday.  Mom has been so worried about Dad.  Me....I'm worn out.  That being said, I have the most kind and appreciative parents.  They are both so sweet to me and can't stop thanking me for my help.  

August 2020

Today is August 10th.  We are only ten days into the month and, so far, we've had a hurricane, tornado and an earthquake in North Carolina.  Yes, you read that right...an earthquake.  It was the  strongest earthquake in North Carolina in over one hundred years.  The earthquake specialist said that the most interesting thing about this quake is that there is no fault in North Carolina and they have no idea why we had an earthquake.  He said that they are very excited to study this particular quake for that reason.   

It happened at 8:07 Sunday morning while I was watching Dr. Charles Stanley from First Baptist Atlanta.  Everything started to feel strange and the house was making a weird noise.  I thought that something was in our attic moving boards around.  The dogs were in the room with me and they both popped their heads up and started looking around.  I got up and looked outside the window but couldn't figure out what had just happened.  I didn't know that it was an earthquake.  Scott was in bed and said that he thought the dogs were in the room with him and were bumping the bed.  That was the extent of our experience.  

Kevin's family went to Gatlinburg last week and celebrated both Laura's birthday (4th) and Kevin's birthday (5th).  We had cake and cupcakes for Laura on Friday.  

As you can see, Laura enjoyed her cake.  Well, she enjoyed her icing!  

Update on Blossom:  She is having a really hard time but she is not giving up!  She drags that back   side everywhere and doesn't let it stop her.  We are spoiling her with all the love she can handle.  

Rana's Mom and several of her family members have Covid-19.  As of yesterday, her mom was having a hard time but doing better.  It seems to hit her in waves.  She has a high fever, can't breathe or speak and then she seems to get a little better.  Then....it starts over.  We are praying that she does not need to go to the hospital.  The situation in Syria is very dire and the hospital is a dangerous place to be right now.  

My parents are doing ok.  Mom is still working on mobility with Home Health.  Dad got a call from his cardiologist on Friday that his pacemaker was signaling that his heart had been out of rhythm all week.  He had been feeling very bad and having a lot of pain in his back and shoulders all week.  According to my Dad, the doctor got another phone call and said he would call him back.  He never did.  Thank goodness I have the Kardi app on my phone because I was able to give Dad an EKG and his heart was back in rhythm.  He had been feeling much better that afternoon.  Long story short, there was a mix up with his medicine.  I don't know if it was the pharmacy's fault or my fault.  I knew that his heart rhythm meds looked different but, they had a sticker on top of the bottle saying that they would look different.  He had not been taking the correct pill for 2 weeks!  I'm in charge of all of my parents medication.  I felt horrible.  My Dad could have had a stroke or died due to a mistake that I may have made.  I feel the weight of taking care of my parents every single day.  I do the laundry, prepare the night meals, do all of the shopping, handle the banking & bills, do light house cleaning, visit every day and make sure they are set up for bed.   I LOVE taking care of my parents.  I HATE being responsible for my parents.  I don't know if that makes sense.  I wish that there was someone in charge who just told me what to do.  I don't like making medical decisions for someone else.  

I want a vacation.  I need a vacation.  I can't leave Blossom right now.  

Balto wants to show you his hamster teeth.  

Daniel inspired me to get a pinwheel for my yard.  

He also decided to build a "pond" for the cat.  He dug a hole, laid down Saran Wrap, put some rocks and filled it with water.  As of the next day, the water had drained.  

That is what is going on here.  How are you?  

Julie, July

A Spanish speaking man once asked me what my name was.  When I said, "Julie", he replied, "Oh, just like the month?"  I said, "Yes, just like the month".  I feel sure someone named Julie spells their name with a "y".  

Blossom loved steak night!  She even let Balto have a few bites.  Well, she didn't get a vote.  If she did get a vote, it would be a very clear "no".  

Hot! Hot! Hot!

That's our weather forecast... "Hot! Hot! Hot!"  

Mom's doctor appointment went well.  He said that when she sits a certain way, her lowest rib touches her pelvis and causes the sharp pain.  According to her doctor, it is super painful but not dangerous and not uncommon in many women.  Who knew?  

She is wearing her temperature on her shirt.  Welcome to 2020.  

Blossom enjoyed riding to therapy on Wednesday.  She didn't get as good of a report this week.  Her back legs just don't want to cooperate.

We had workers at our house all week; you know what that means....  The Paw Patrol was on duty.

You can see Balto in this picture because he has my sock in his mouth....

B & B had their regularly scheduled grooming appointment on Saturday.  Blossom took a turn for the worse this week that we had to cancel hers.  It was for the best as she decided to sit in the dirt all afternoon.  So happy....

Here she is 20 minutes later in a different dirt pile...

Loving the dirt...

Scott had a patio built on the side of our house so he could have a place for his grill.  Yes, for his grill.

For safety reasons, we had an apron built at the end of our driveway.  Living on a busy road,  it is easy to spinout your tires when cars are flying around the corner.  

We were unable to use our driveway for several days so we parked at my parents house.  Here's a picture of me pulling my groceries on a cart through the woods yesterday.  

I just brought my car home and it feels so good.

Balto got shaved yesterday...

Today, Daniel picked the baby carrots he planted in a container.  He was so proud.

Here's a peek into a normal week with Blossom & Scott:

So much love.

Tomorrow is Blossom's "Gotcha Day".  Eight years ago tomorrow, we rescued our sweet Saint Bernard - Boxer from an animal shelter in Southern Pines, North Carolina.  Her time with us is almost up and it hurts like crazy.  We are so thankful that 8 years ago, we found each other.  She is living her best life.  

Hers is the first face I see every morning when I wake up...

We are going to celebrate Blossom by having a "birthday" party for her.  Blossom is even going to get her very on steak!  It is going to be so much fun for the doggies.  Pictures will follow.

Have a great day!!!

Summertime and the Living Ain't Easy

I've been going through a lot of hard lately.

Blossom's progressing disease.
Balto had another bad week which, thankfully, turned out to be colitis.
Dad sick again; diagnosed with another kidney infection.
Mom....mom had a tough week with her mobility.  And...a shooting pain that we are going to have the doctor check out today.
My brother's company warned of another round of layoffs.
9 out of the last 12 days have involved taking someone to therapy, a doctor appointment or a hair appointment.

There is good news:
Blossom is still with us and is very happy.
Balto's colitis...and his hotspot...have cleared up.  He's a happy boy again.
Dad's kidney infection is responding to antibiotics and he feels better.
Mom's home health occupational therapy starts today.
Kevin survived another round of layoffs.
I am getting lots of tomatoes out of my garden!

Yesterday, I went to see my dentist for my 6 month cleaning.  I was almost sent home as they said my temperature was 99.3.  99.3 is not a fever for me.  I know this because of my past years of being a hypochondriac and taking my temperature so often!  I am sure that some of it had to do with sitting in my hot car for 10 minutes before I went inside.  We were told not to come into the building until the exact moment of our appointment.  The receptionist took my temperature twice, told me that 99.4 was the cutoff and for me to stay away from her.  The good news is that I received a great report and there were NO cavities!  

Blossom loves her trips to therapy.

Independence Day 2020 Style

While at my parents' house tonight, I noticed Mom was watching Christmas in July on the Hallmark Channel.  I guess we are halfway to Christmas now.  

The Paw Patrol is always on duty at my house.