So nice

I had a wonderful birthday. I spent the day with my hubby. He had to go get a new smile from Morehead. He had broken his dentures til there was no fixing them. He has a gorgeous smile and now it is even brighter... like blinding. I got some presents for my birthday. I got a thermometer from my sister and Danny got 2 birds in buckets and a knife. I've carried a knife forever but since I lost my other one when we lived in Lex , I haven't had one to carry. We also went out to eat at the Mexican restaurant in town. It was all good. I took pics of my stuff except the knife. I saw no reason to take a pic of it. Looky...

She said I was old.

Isn't that butterfly beautiful ?? It has graced my yard for 2 days. I just love watching the bees and butterflies in my yard. My ED says that is because I am old. I turned 36 today ,but I don't feel old. Some days , I do. But not today. I feel pretty and special and loved. I woke up to birthday wishes from my beloved hubby and my YD. DH said I could do anything I want to do today because it is my special day. Ummm OK. I want to go bungee jumping and I want to buy an all new wardrobe and... No really I would rather just have a nice quiet day with those that I love. I really wish I could have all my dear friends and family together But that isn't going to happen any time soon because of situations beyond our control. So I will be happy and thank God for all that I have because I am truly blessed. And I will keep a look out for more birds,bees, and butterflies - beautiful things like that.

Big ideals

 I thought I would get so much done this week ... like every other week lately. I had all these plans to Spring clean my house and finally get every box unpacked. I knew I couldn't do anything on Monday because we were taking Katie to Paintsville and that is a 2 hours drive , one way. What I didn't take into account was the effects driving/riding in a car has on the pinched nerve in my back. My legs hurt like I have ran a marathon. My back and hip hurts with shooting pains... even my fingers hurt. I can't sit, stand or lay with any comfort. So housework is out of the question for the most part. I can do some laundry and wash a few dishes. I might be able to sweep the wood chips from around the stove. But the major crap exodus I had planned has been put on hold til the pain recedes. I need to move furniture and piles of junk. I need to get the bathroom ready for remodeling. I need to heal so I can get all this work done. I also want to go to the tanning bed. I want to go for a walk every evening. And I want to do some yard work. I have a hard time calling what I do outside work . I love to mow, dig, plant flowers, even burning a brush pile gets my mojo to going. But for now I'm not doing a lot of anything except looking for relief.

Katie

My eighteen -year -old daughter is autistic and bi-polar with psychotic episodes. I have never expected her to move out and do the adult thing on her own. She has a  lot of problems and she needs help every day. I thought I was the only one that could possibly help her with the trials she faces every day. ( I have to admit that my hubby proved to me long ago that he is perfectly willing to help Katie with almost anything- the girl stuff is my ballgame though LOL) I expected to grow old with Katie living with me and Danny. And I had resigned myself to having a woman-child that forgot to take her meds because she was busy playing Pokemon or neopets or play station... But that was before we were told about the Carl Perkins center in Paintsville. It is a vocational rehabilitation center for young adults that are mentally and physically disabled. The center is a wonderful place with its own hospital attached to the complex. The people are understanding , intelligent and kind. It is also a last chance facility for children with problems that get into trouble with the law. And it is understood that everyone there has their own battles, everyone is equal. I suppose the only real difference in how they are enrolled is that the physically disabled kids live in assisted living, the mentally disabled are placed in the dorm where they can also be helped but have a sense of freedom , and the state wards (last-chance kids) are stay in their own wing. The state wards aren't allowed to go home on the weekends either but this place pus the emphasis on rehabilitation for these kids and their parents are welcome to visit and the counselors take them on special trips on the weekend , even if it is just a trip to Wal-mart to spend their allowance. Everyone has duties to perform. Some carry out the trash, or vacuum the halls, and some work in the food service. It is a wonderful program the teaches personal responsibility and life skills along with addressing the specific needs of the individual. They do OT,PT and all the personal therapy the student needs. They even have medical doctors and psychologists that live in house for most of the year .

 I cannot express how excited I am that Katie has the opportunity to learn life skills , take college readiness courses and have others encourage her to live her own life. First they take the time to show Katie that she can do the things she needs to do to live on her own. They are even going to teach her to drive. Then she will choose a college readiness program that will eventually- only when she is ready- help her choose a college and a degree. And they will do 99% of her basic college courses there in-campus.
 I wonder how long it will be before Katie is calling me to tell me that I won't be coming to pick her up on Friday because the counselors are doing something that weekend that she wants to participate  in. Until then, though, I will be there every Friday afternoon ready to take her home til Sunday evening. It is a 2 hour drive and we will be doing it three times a week in most cases. But the Fam has agreed to help with those trips. I just thank God for this opportunity for Katie to expand her personal horizons.

 This is Katie and she is officially a resident-student of the Carl Perkins vocational  rehabilitation center...

Menopause

I woke up at 2:30 this morning and I was covered , soaked in sweat. Hot flashes and night sweats are nothing new to me. I have been peri-menopausal for 3 years now. On a happy note, my doctor says the earlier your body starts going through the menopause motions , the Longer it takes for nature to run its course. In essence, I could be peri-menopausal for a long,long time. I don't relish that thought. On most days, I go about on my happy life journey with nary a thought about time marching along across and throughout my body. But there are times when I'd rather kiss a snake than have one more hot flash. And ovary death HURTS. My sad excuse for  a period adds up to 3 days of excruciating pain during most months - I have been prescribed Loritabs because I can't function when it hurts like that. The hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings are often just the icing on this nasty little cake. I've been told to take special vitamins, use pain rubs and patches, and I spend a majority of my period with a heating pad or in a hot tub... I have discovered to I can't take Any vitamins any more; I get violently ill (yes,Angel , I should try the Reliv. But every time I think I can order some , something happens) . I even bought a special tea while I lived in Lexington that was supposed to regulate the hormones. Now I'm just determined to live through this without alienating -or killing- my DH. He is a good sport about most of it though. But he really doesn't take kindly to my snapping at him just because he chose the wrong moment to pick on me. I'll just be so glad when this is over

Willow

My cat has lost her freaking mind. She was spayed about a month ago, and she must have lost  brain cells during the operation. She wants to be loved on all the time But she is anti-social and crabby. She chases the dogs. And she tries to sleep in the bed with DH and me. I think it is a plot to make Danny swell up like a balloon. She stole my watch the other night ... I'm not sure what she thought she was going to do with it. But I found it in the hallway with scratches on it from being batted around. She must have had fun . Now I sleep with  my watch to keep the little thief  from getting it. Also she has started drinking from the bathroom sink. I think she has spring fever But at least she can't act upon the impulse of nature. My cat has truly lost her mind... if anyone finds it , send it back to her . She really needs it.

Dogwood winter??!!??

Aren't my magnolias pretty? I like them alot.
Why does it have to get so cold for the Dogwoods to bloom?? I like them as much as the next person, but I don't like it getting cold just for them to bloom. But the warm weather was nice and I keep telling myself that it will be awesome when it returns. I just got my new porch swing up yesterday. I might bundle up and swing on it for a few minutes today...everyday. So I'm gonna remind myself  how nice it was when it was warm until it gets warm again.Maybe, DH and I will have the house unpacked and cleaned by the time it gets warm and I can do some yard work .