Under a level 4 is great - amazing what we consider great again.  Hope all
goes well for John - I know it is a disappointment but.....  How wonderful
to hear about the "steps" of development for Noah.  Don't worry - 2 will
come soon enough.

You take care - glad to hear an update and to hear that in general all is
well (well except for the pneumonia etc.  Again amazing what we consider
well now.

Take care,
kelly

Duckie, really nice to hear from you.  Know you were tired after your week
of looking after two handicapped folks, and putting walkers in and out of
car.  Glad your mother his recovering from her fall.  Has Spencer been sick
to lose the weight or is it just age catching up with him?

So sorry about the flu, and bronchitis, and pneumonia.  Just having one of
those would have been bad enough; you really didn't need all three.  Glad
you did get to take most of the class you wanted.  But it was on a bad day
for you being on "Noah's day".  Know you enjoyed having him around though;
isn't a grandbaby the most precious thing to have!

Doing rehab really isn't much fun, but it really does pay off, as you know.
Stick with it, and keep dancing.  Does the dancing bother your knee very
much?

What has to be done to John's shoulder?  Surely hope whatever it is will be
just exactly what is needed to take away all the pain and stiffness, and any
other problem he is having with it.  Tell him to think about how nice it
will be after it is all over to be able to get back out on the water without
problems.

Sounds as if you are enjoying the house and the grounds.  Don't work too
hard in the yard though, and wear yourself out, or hurt your knee.  And do
keep in touch occasionally to let us know you're still alive!

Gwen

Donna G says you guys need an update.

Just had Remicade today so very tired but I was so before I got there as
I just got back from Nashville from a week and putting my 89 year old
mother's borrowed walker plus my brother's walker into the car and out.
Mother is recovering from her fall and her blacken face is nearly back
to normal. Spencer has lost 20 pounds this year and I have found 10 of
them. Got that 10 when I caught the flu in Jan. [had the shot for that]
which led to bronchitis which then led to pneumonia [had the shot for
that as well]. Guessing the pneumonia shot kept me out of the hospital
but just barely. Was eating nothing but beef broth and chicken broth for
about 10 days as my throat was screaming in pain from all the coughing
and that was when I gained the 10. Now there is something really really
wrong and evil about kicking a sick person when they are down. lol

A class I had been waiting to take since we moved to California was
finally offered again this year and I had signed up for that but had to
miss the first one due to being so sick. I did make it to the second one
and all the rest. I had forgotten how much fun that was. Planning on
taking a few more next year.
Of course the day the class was offered was the same day I keep Noah. I
get up at 6am and drive half way to the city to meet Jen and the baby.
She then drives to us around 5pm to pick him. Until just recently it had
been sooooo much fun but his weight is now around 18 pounds and I am
having trouble holding him. At 11 months he still doesn't get the ''put
your arms around my neck and hold on''.  I had to tell her I couldn't do
it next year. At two he will be able to hold on and I can do it again. I
am going to really miss my weekly hugs and snuggles.
Anyway, she would pick him up at 5 and I would pick up my supplies and
get in the car and head up to Canada College for class. The class was
suppose to be over at 9:30 but often ran until 10:30. It was one long
day but oh so much fun.
New knee is giving me trouble again since the pneumonia due to not
getting out of bed for nearly two weeks. I had to start the rehab all
over again which is more than annoying but I am getting there.
Dancing again and that is great. Actually was suppose to perform this
May but John called me in Nashville and said his shoulder surgery is
scheduled on that very day. He has seen me through so much I said
nothing. It is my turn. Now I am going to have to learn to cook
something enough to get us fed for a few weeks. But I am glad that he is
finally getting his shoulder done as he hasn't been able to paddle in
several months and is grumpy. lol
We moved into our house last June? I think after we had the whole thing
rewired, all the walls repainted as the electricians had fun with them,
 all the floors sanded and some new hardwood laid where there was none
before, and a bit of plumbing done like a raised toilet in the master
bath. I love the laundry which is right off the kitchen and the fact
that this is a ranch style house and I have only two steps from the
outside to get inside. We replaced the lawn this spring and I had the
gardener not lay sod in several curves hugging the front lawn. I have
been slowly putting in plants and sometime next year, it should look
great. My favorite so far is weeping japanese cherry tree. Tomato plants
are in the ground in the back and I planted a cucumber this time too.
Had Noah in the backyard yesterday in the lawn. He kept patting the
grass. I was getting him to practice going from a sitting position
rolling forward onto his knees and then back to a sitting one all on
this soft new grass. perfect place to fall over and not get hurt.
And he finally figured out how to sip through a straw yesterday, the
first step in moving totally away from the bottle. That was really
exciting.
So life is settling in here and except for a few niggling aches in my
left ankle and the stupid right thumb, I am practically pain free. Okay
not really pain free but under a level 4 which for me is quiet.
Hope all is well with the rest of the crowd.
Duckie

Duckie, it is good to hear from you...but so sorry to hear you were so so
sick...
Noah is probably the best medicine for you...I have a 6 year old Noah...He
is Autistic, but so are 2 of his brothers and my other gson...
Hope that you continue to heal...Prayers that John's surgery goes welll
Hugs Cindy

Don't be a stranger, Kiddo! Good to hear from you.

DeeTee

wow.. I am so sorry you have been sick. seems like brochitis and lung stuff
sure has been taken a toll on ASA ers.  I Am glad that you are doing
better..

Thanks for checking in. You have been missed.

Glad your mom and brother are recovering. Sorry to hear how ill you have
been. I hope you are doing much better now.

Sorry to hear your knee is giving you trouble and that you have to do more
rehab on it. Glad you are dancing again though. I know how much you enjoy
that.

Hope Johns shoulder surgery goes well and that he heals quickly.

Have fun with your planting.  Sounds good to me.

Glad to hear you are practically pain free. That is great to hear.

Take care and check in from time to time when you can.

Hi Duckie!!

We were in Cambridge for lectures & reunion last week and ate in the North
End Wed. night.  first time either of us had been up there since the central
artery came down.  What a difference!  The park space is lovely and you have
a dramatic view of the Zakim bridge.  And it was the first time we didn't get
turned around finding our way as all that blasted eternal construction was
out of the way.

Your time with little Noah sounds wonderful.  You must be so glad you moved
out there!  And a ranch house.... how nice!  We returned about 1 am Saturday
morn and the moment we opened the door we knew we had water in the basement -
the mold smell was that strong.  dead sump pump, 3rd major basement flood in
2 years, not to mention the spring thaws/heavy rains problems.  I crave a
ranch house!

You know you are doing the right thing in helping with John's surgery, but
you don't have to take it too far re: the cooking!  Learn a couple of simple
things and memorize the routes to good delis and the numbers of places that
deliver.  heehee, you must take advantage of those urban joys.

stick around - we miss you!  and we can help you get through those months
when Noah is too heavy but can't yet hold on.