Great day - bad news

THE GREAT PART - Mom and Rudy came in about 10am this morning (only 1 hr late!) to pick up their RV. They purchased a 1994, 34 ft RV in Tualatin last week. Jamie went with Rudy to pick it up and get the 'RV run-down' from the dealership. I took Momma to Costco. (Can you believe she hadn't been to the one in Hillsboro before?!!? I guess that's because Hillsboro is so far away from Garibaldi - as they say.) We picked up some goods for the new RV and then hit The Dollar Tree. Then we went back and had lunch at home...it's always nice to spend time with my mom.

Mom doesn't like the blue interior, but I know she'll have it all fixed up the next time we see it.

Momma's spot

Papa's spot

Packer's spot

THE BAD PART - I had my follow up doctor's appointment today for my foot. After a little communication problem between myself and the nurses, I asked to just see my doctor before I received any other referrals or suggestions. She believes I now have tendinitis in my foot. (of course!) After taking off the splint and then the boot, I've apparently not given my foot enough time to 'slowly' get back to normal...therefore injuring something else. (of course!) She suggested 6 more weeks in the f*&@#! boot (WHAT?!? I seriously wanted to cry) and then some physical therapy. She also wants me to wear the boot to bed (move over Jamie) as I seem to be hurting it more at night when I'm stretching it in my sleep. I am also getting a bone density scan in Sept. to check for osteoporosis, had a blood test done (checking for diabetes due to some numbness) as well as another xray just to be sure there wasn't another stress fracture. (of course!) I think my visits to the doctor's office are making me even worse!

Tip for a better life: Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.

"Why I smiled today" - having Mom & Rudy show us around their new RV. I think they're going to have a great time traveling...and they deserve to!

Tuesday

The sun can't make up it's mind this week either. I did get the house and carpets cleaned downstairs yesterday, so that made me feel a bit better. The upstairs is still waiting for me. I see the doctor on Thursday about my foot...hopefully all is good!

Tip for a better life: Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

"Why I smiled today" - my mom called to chat for a bit; while Jamie made us breakfast.

Sunday Farmers Market

I talked Jamie in to going to the Orenco Farmers Market today in Hillsboro. We picked up some great fruits & veggies and a VERY yummy cheesecake. I also picked up this bunch of beautiful flowers. I love going to the markets.

When we go home, Jamie made a shake for each of us using some of the new fruits. Then we layed around for a bit (I snuck in a little nap) before we headed to the grocery store. He doesn't usually go with me (mostly because he just costs more money!) but he tagged along to be sure I got the goodies he wanted.

"Why I smiled today" - I got to see Makena for a minute when she picked up some books. She has been at her dad's since Wednesday and won't be home again until Friday. I don't like it when she's gone for so many days at a time...I try to call every couple of days. : )

Yeah for yard work

I finally got Jamie to pick up a load of river rock and help me lay it out front by the driveway. I dug up the bark that was there back in May. Then I hurt my foot...that's the end of that story. : ) We've been spending almost every weekend up at the lake and not really getting anything done around the house. (My nagging hasn't even been working lately!)

Then we headed over to a neighborhood bbq - a family (a block over) plans this bbq every summer. We always have a good time and get to eat lots of great food. I was planning to paint my rain barrels, but we didn't get home in time. Another day...

"Why I smiled today" - I was so happy to see the front yard all done!

A few pictures from Dylona

I wanted to share a couple of pictures that Dylona took while at the lake last weekend. We were supposed to go up today, but time got away from us. I want to do a few things around the house - which Jamie doesn't - so he's wanting to get up to the property and rest for a few days. Maybe we'll go up tomorrow?? He thinks I'll put him to work if we stay home...he may be right! : )

"Why I smiled today" - I went out and did some yard work today. So far, so good with my foot!

Unwanted visitor

What were you doing at 10pm last night?? Jamie & I were watching the end of a movie when Moxie decided that she needed to go outside. She was a little too excited - which usually means there is a cat in the yard. (She does 'chase the kitty' a lot - she does know which cat is ours but she can't tell the difference when it's a squirrel.) Next thing we know, she running up on the deck and a bit freaked out...the kitty must have claws. Jamie lets her in and then it hits us...literally...the smell. Yep, THAT smell...the SKUNK smell!! Of course, we just assume the smell has come in from outside and shut the door - then we realize that Moxie got a little too close to the 'kitty' and it got her!

Jamie takes her out front to give her a quick bath, while I look up online how to get the smell out. In case you ever need to know, this seemed to work the best...we only made half the amount as it was all the peroxide that we had.

Skunk Smell Remover
1 quart 3% Hydrogen Peroxide
1/4 cup Baking Soda
2 tbsp Dish Detergent

Mix the ingredients in a large bowl, because it will boil up. Wash the dog with this while it is still foaming, because it is the oxygen which reacts with the skunk stink to neutralize the odor. If it sits around, it will loose it's efficacy because the oxygen boils off. Don't try to store it in an airtight container, because it will blow up. The brew also works for clothes, humans and unlucky cats.

Apparently, bathing in tomato juice does not work like I always thought. We did try it anyways, but the mix above actually stopped the smell. Because the peroxide dried out her skin, she will get another bath today with her oatmeal shampoo. Hopefully she will be more careful about 'chasing the kitty' next time!

You may not want to come over for a visit the next couple of days - we still can't seem to get the smell completely out of the house. Luckily she didn't rub on anything and we got her outside quickly, but WOW!! I'm spraying a lot of Nature's Miracle (natural odor remover) around!

GRRR...as you may know, I tend to be a bit of a perfectionist (some of you have a different name for it). There is some glitch in the blog system that is driving me crazy! The last few entries have rearranged my paragraphs or not let me space how I'd like (my paragraphs should have a space between them!)...and I can't fix it no matter how many times I try!! Oh well...I know you'll forgive me...

Even in the rain!

Well...even in the rain, you can drive the cars at Malibu Raceway. The kids drove 6 laps - 3 of which it rained pretty hard - and then came in to dry off and play games. They had fun slipping and sliding all over the track. We had pizza and soda before Makena's birthday brownie (she doesn't like cake frosting so we had a very chocolaty brownie) and presents. She was very excited to get gift cards and money (she loves to shop), a new (sparkly) shirt, a book & very cute panda book marks. Her friends know how much she likes pandas! Then we were off to play more games.

Makena drove the black 'bat mobile'

Makena & Angelica

Makena & Hailee

5 of Makena's closest friends were able to come

I still can't believe that she is going to be 12 years old!! Actually, she has 12 more days before she turns 12! : )

"Why I smiled today" - I had replaced the bandage on Makena's toe last night and wrote a heart and U on the tape. When I went in her room this morning to lay with her for a bit, she was all covered up except for her foot...and the bandage with 'heart U' on it.

No more rain!

After having so many beautiful days in a row, I'm still not ready for a little rain. Even tho it's warm out (maybe I could pretend like I'm in Hawaii) I just don't want it!! Can you see me crossing my arms & pouting??

Makena's bday party is tonight at Malibu Raceway - which is outside - so another reason we don't want anymore rain. We planned the party later at night in the hopes that it wasn't going to be too hot...it will be perfect if it just stays clear and in the low 70's. I couldn't talk her into having her party after her actual birthday, so we are having it two weeks early. We are planning to have a BBQ at home on the 30th to celebrate with family/friends as well. I'm off to pick up the cake and goodies for tonight...

"Why I smiled today" - Makena had her friend Hailee stay the night last night and Moxie was laying just outside her bedroom door this morning. I told her not to go in a wake up sister...I went in to put something in my bedroom and came back out to see that Moxie was already gone. Then I heard Hailee say "Hi Moxie" - she was sleeping on the trundle bed so Moxie figured she would just climb right up there and wake up Hailee! I guess she did what I told her and didn't wake up her sister. : )

Monday...Monday

I woke up this morning to more thunder and some rain. A bit strange when it's been so hot the last few days. I had gotten up earlier with Makena as her mosquito bites were really bothering her and she couldn't sleep. She also said that her hurt toe was itching - I couldn't help with that tho. She slept in and then has already taken another nap this afternoon. She has a friend coming to stay the night and then her birthday party is at Malibu Raceway tomorrow with her friends. She didn't want to wait to have it after her birthday, so we are having it early. She is a little worried about being able to drive with her foot bandaged up. Hopefully she'll be feeling better by then!

I downloaded all of my pictures from the lake this weekend - there were over 460 of them! I just don't want miss a thing! : ) I took a bunch on Dylona's camera too, as did she, that I will post after she sends them. (hint-hint)

Makena and I were supposed to go school supply shopping today but she's not in the mood to even walk to the kitchen. She's been putting it off thinking that if she doesn't see the supplies, she won't be returning to school soon. : ) Guess I'll be going by myself later in the week...

Walden Island - Day 28

There was a beautiful thunder and lightening show very early in the morning. I knew my sister would be freaking out down in the tent as she is afraid of lightening, but she didn't come up to the house. She said it was because she was afraid to get hit while running up the hill to find the door locked. : )

T & Chad left early in the afternoon. The rest of us headed out in the boat. It was a bit cooler, but the water still felt wonderful! Jamie and Jason did a little fishing, but the only time they got a bite was when Jamie's bobber got stuck on a log. He swam over to find it and couldn't - by the time Jason got there, they saw a fish was trying to take off with the worm. Too bad it wasn't still attached to the pole! : )

Jackie giving Makena loves for holding her

As Makena was making her way back in to the boat, she caught her foot on the propeller or some part of the boat. The cut was pretty deep, and she freaked out a bit when seeing all of the blood. (Honestly, I was freaking out a bit as it seemed pretty deep but I was trying to stay calm for her.) After getting the bleeding to finally stop, I cleaned it out and wrapped it - we then all headed back to the island. Luckily, our neighbor is a nurse so Dylona & Jamie walked her over to get it looked at. She cleaned it out really well and fixed it up - telling Makena to keep the bandage on for the next few days and it should be fine. Good thing Makena had gotten her tetanus shot recently, otherwise we would have had to make a run to the ER. We're now both hobbling along on the same foot...

Dylona got this picture for me

Jamie and Kylah did a bit more fishing down at the dock. Kylah caught the only fish of the day - look at that beauty! She helped let it go so that it could grow to be a bigger fish. (It apparently wasn't going to, but no need to tell her that!)

We got everything packed up and headed out about 6pm. A few stops along the way, and we were home very ready for a shower! I helped Makena put a bag around her foot so that she could take a bath - it was a little difficult, but she managed.

Corn-on-the-Cob

Kylah loves corn-on-the-cob, so I told her that I would bring some for her. It's always fun to eat!

After dinner, Kylah and Makena played tag and then had a 'noodle-fight'. It was then getting dark and time for them to head back over to the campground.

We did get the screen up today, so Jamie and Chad played SkipBo for a while and Makena watched. I read for a bit before falling asleep - my sister also went to bed early as she was a bit sunburned and tired.

Walden Island - Day 27 - More 'fun in the sun'

Saturday was a full day of fun! Jamie and Chad made us breakfast that morning. Then they went out on the wave runners while my sister and I talked and relaxed. Jamie brought Kylah back to the island with him so she could play with Makena while Dylona & Jason got things ready for the day. Then my sister went out on the wave runner with Chad. It was her first time, and although I don't think she was too impressed, she did get to swim and cool off in the lake. Jamie and Chad then played some horse-shoes before getting ready to go out in the boat.

I decided that I wasn't going to go out in the boat today as my foot seemed to be bothering me a little and I didn't want to push it. (I did good right???) Dylona stayed back with me to try to get Kallie to take a nap. They were gone about 3 hours - I think Kallie slept for about 30 minutes of that. : ) Makena took my camera with her so that I could have some pictures.

Jason was the first one out on the tube...

Then Chad went out...and apparently did a great flip.

Jamie was out next, three different times. He was trying to do some tricks and apparently almost lost his shorts.

Then Kylah went out on the tube with her dad. She seems fearless for a 4yr old! When she got back, she told me that I missed out on all the fun!

Jason taking a little break

Dylona & Jason went out on the wave runners for a while, so the girls stayed to play with us. I walked down with Makena and Kylah to watch them swim - we just couldn't keep them out of the water!

Kylah wanted Makena to do a handstand