Not all that much.  Himself's mother is still in the hospital and will be at a rehab facility for a week or two.  Her doctor won't let her go home because he knows she will be noncompliant and try to do too much.  That would land her right back in the hospital.

 

This afternoon, though, we plan to take Isabella to visit Mom.  That will help her to heal faster because she adores this child!

 

Here's hoping Mom heals quickly and cooperates so that she can get home.

 

Today's Falderal will be about home:

 

Are you a DIY (do it yourself) kind of a person?  I watch a lot of Home & Garden station shows and I get great ideas but, alas, most of the home improvements are still in my head.

 

What is your decorating style?  I haven't ever been able to decorate the way I would like to because of having to depend on used furniture - except for my sofa.  My style would probably be termed eclectic.  My dining room set would be simple with a round table.  Living room would be comfortable but classy.  Bedroom, warm and relaxing.  heavy sigh

 

How do you feel about painting a room?  It seems that most people hate to paint.  Once I get going, I am fine with it.  However, the prep work is a drag - moving furniture, spackling, taping.  Uck.

 

If you could have any room remodeled, what would it be.  My kitchen, of course!  I think I might get my joy of cooking back if it were to be done.  Huh.  Who am I kidding.  I like to cook but am not drawn to it like I used to be.  A new kitchen would be a joy.

 

It's springtime!  Are your windows open?  In the past, usually, no because we have such bad allergies.  So far this year, though, if I don't open them too early in the day and close them before dark we are doing well.  Did you know that trees pollenate at night?  Once I learned that, it made sense to have a schedule for open windows.

 

Hope you are having some fun in your life.  If not, make some!  blessings, gail

 

 

My friend A's wedding was beautiful.  She had gone through such sorrow losing her first husband.  Finding true love again is something she deserves and she glowed before, during and after the ceremony - as did her new husband.  A's thirteen year old son stood alongside them through the whole ceremony.  Nice touch, eh?

 

A and her new hubby took their families out to dinner instead of having a big reception.  That is why a few friends decided to get together to celebrate after the wedding.  I was blessed to have them here and we had such a great time.  I love to have people in my home.  Well, I like to have who I like to have here, that is.  Otherwise, hosting is draining.  Does that make sense?

 

Himself's mom's surgery went well.  She will be in the hospital longer than we anticipated and their children are taking turns staying overnight with their dad.

 

Did you ever hear of the riddle of the sphinx? 

 

A man, who crawls on all fours as a baby, walks on two legs as an adult, and walks with a cane in old age.

 

I've been fighting with myself over being angry with my m-i-l about not taking care of herself well enough.  The riddle might very well need to end with a allusion to regressing even further to being a child again. 

 

Some aging parents didn't choose to learn a healthier way of living when they were younger and are reaping the consequences now.  My parents are very conscious of what they eat and of getting enough exercise, keeping medical appointments, etc.  This all started, though, when they were younger than I am now.  Considerably younger.

 

This is not to say that family health history can't trump taking good care of yourself.  Still, isn't taking care of yourself when you are still an active, younger adult being considerate of your children? 

 

As I write this, I am stabbed with the realization that I am no different than my in-laws!  When Himself and I got married, I gave up running which was the only exercise I had ever kept up with to that point.  Why?  I dunno.  Guess it was because I didn't have the time to myself that I once had.  I used to keep up with the treadmill until a couple of years ago.  Why I stopped that is a completely different story I won't get into here.

 

Also, I only recently went on cholesterol medication after battling a losing fight with exceedingly high numbers. 

 

Dessert?  Oh, yes.  However, I always remove the skin from chicken, stay away from the dark meat and remove excess fat from all meat.   Arrgh!  Like that makes up for it.

 

Yes.  I am a hypocrite.  I am 30-40 pounds overweight and only recently gave up most sweets.  Haven't dropped a pound because I make up for it in "healthy food" over-consumption. 

 

It has finally hit me why I have been so grouchy about this - I am looking into my future unless I change my lifestyle somewhat drastically.  You know, I didn't even realize it until I started typing this entry!  Self talk.  It can be a good thing.

 

Keep me accountable, if you would.  Poke me about moving and eating properly.  You would be doing me a favor - even if I do get postal on you!

 

Thanks for letting me get that out.  Have a great week.  You all rock!  g

 

 

What have I done?  A friend is getting married tomorrow and is not having a reception so I offered to host a little celebration with a few friends after the ceremony.  Have I looked at my house lately?!?  It's not completely out of control but it needs a good cleaning up.  Ugh.

 

However, I know my friends love me for me and not my housekeeping skills - Thank you, God!  They rock.  Fun will be had by all.

 

This week flew by.  How can it be Friday already?  Next week will be tough as my mother-in-love is having surgery today and will need help for herself and my father-in-law who, God willing, will be 94 next month.  She waits too long to get medical help because she has to take care of him and then we have to take care of both of them when she gets sick enough to be hospitalized.  It's a vicious circle but it is our turn to take care of them just as they have taken care of us.  I am so thankful that my parents are in good health and doing every thing in their power to stay that way.

 

Do you deal well with change?  Nope.  Not at all.  It takes a while for me to adjust.

 

Do you wait until you are at death's door" before seeing a doctor?  Since I am rarely sick I evaluate the situation and decide whether or not to go.  I don't wait too long, though.

 

Are you afraid of going to the dentist?  Not any more.  Flossing makes cleanings much easier.

 

Slob, neatnik or in-between?  In-between.  It's that darned paper clutter....but my cooking and eating surfaces are immaculate.

 

What was the last thing you ate?  I tested the salad to see if it needed more spice for the dressing.

 

Time for dinner.  Be well, gail

 

P.S.  Sorry for being so boring today.

 P.P.S.  I neglected to mention that the bride and groom are having dinner at a restaurant with their family after the wedding.  I am just hosting coffee and cake at my house for those of us who feel "cheated" out of a party!

 

 

April is National Autism Awareness Month.  The only thing that will take away the stigma is education.  For a start, you can click here.

 

Isabella is diagnosed as PDD-NOS or Pervasive Developmental Disorder - not otherwise specified.  Basically, she has some of the symptoms of autism but is not in any exisiting category.  As far as we can tell, hers is a mild case.  Only time will tell.  We love her so much and that doesn't change.  Our love only grows.

 

I have learned so much these past couple of years.  Isn't it a shame that we tend to research only what is close to us?  Then again, we can't study every condition - that would be impossible.  I can only hope that people would be sensitive when a child (or anyone for that matter) is different.  No staring or judgement.  No one can know theeir reality.

 

Bless you all.  I am on a one person crusade to increase activity here on spaces.  love, gail

 

 

 

I know that a blog is supposed to be for the blogger; however, it's just not the same without outside participation.  There are a few of you faithful buddies who are my joy.  Even so, it seems that face*book is taking over.

 

FB is good.  However, it is just not the same.  It lacks a personal touch.  Also, I can't get onto fb.  It seems to be corrupted.  Maybe it is just my ever so "retro" (old) pc but neither my son or I can get it to load.

 

If any of my blogging buddies who have defected to fb are reading I miss you!  I still go around and visit on a regular basis but the only way I can keep up with you is on fb and I can't be there.  Please come home.

 

love, g

 

 

Today we remember when the perfect sacrifice was given.  The only sacrifice good enough to save us from our sin that we might have eternal life. 

 

Thank you, dear God, through our savior, Jesus, for taking on the sins of the world that we might live. 

 

love, your child, 

gail marie

 

 

I "borrowed" this from Jane's site.  Let me know your abc's.  gail

 

My ABC's
by gail

A - Age: Fifty.  For the third year in a row.

B - Bed size:  Queen.  King is ever so much better but our bedroom is smaller here than it was at my apartment.

C - Chore(s) you hate:  Yes.

D - Dog’s name:  Finally, a house with no pets!  I still miss my cat and it has been about six years.  However, I do not miss the fur.

E - Essential start-your-day item:  Other than being left alone with no conversation for about a half hour when I first wake up, a soothing cup of tea.

F - Favorite color:  That's a tough one.  I'd have to say shades of lilac and lavender.

 
G - Gold or Silver:   Silver.  I think it goes better with my lilac and lavendar.

H - Height:  5'2 1/2” – I was 5' 1 3/4" until I was in my mid 20's.  That happens with the women in my family.

I - Instruments you play:  None - yet.

J - Job title:  What is that old saying?  "Chief cook and bottle washer."

K - Kid(s): Three. "Two that I gave birth to and one that I adopted from my mother-in-law. I have tried to send him back numerous times but...(she) is standing firm on her no-return policy."  (That was Jane's answer and I couldn't improve on it.)

L - Living arrangements:  "I have arranged to let them all live. For now."  (Another Jane classic.)

M- Mom’s name:  Marie Camille

N - Nicknames:  Himself calls me Fudd sometimes.

O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth:  A few but only one "minor" surgery.

P - Pet Peeve:  I am trying to get over sooo many.  A major one would be insufferable people who talk on their cell phones whilst driving.

Q - Quote from a movie:  "Illusions are dangerous people; they have no flaws."  Sabrina (the new one)

R- Right- or left-handed:  Righty-O.

S - Siblings:  Two younger brothers and one older sister.

T - Time you wake up:  As late as possible.  Usually by nine, though.

U- Underwear:  None of your bee's wax!

V - Vegetable you dislike:  Peas and asparagus.  Ewwww.......

W - Ways you run late:  I don't usually but when I do it may be because I plan to get somewhere at exactly the right time and don't figure in any "wiggle" room for "circumstances beyond my control" like unexpected traffic.

 

X - X-rays you’ve had:  To many to even start.

Y - Yummy food you make:  Everything I make is yummy.  Well, almost everything.

Z - Zoo favorite:  Anyone who has read this blog for any length of time would know it is zebras!

 

Now you know my abc's now it's time to sing with me.  What's yours?

 

 

Yes.  I have been fasting.........Chocolate!  No chocolate in over three weeks.  Why you ask?  I am addicted.  I couldn't go through the grocery store without visiting the candy aisle.  Every where I went I sought the pleasure of its company. 

 

It started out as trying to stay away from all refined sugar.  That lasted two weeks.  Then we had company and there was dessert.  Still, the cravings weren't as strong.  They still aren't.  I realized though that if I had chocolate all would be lost.

 

Being a person of extremes, it had to all or nothing at all.  Do I miss it?  Surprisingly, not so much most of the time.  Will I ever eat it again?  Probably.  I just have to hope that it is not like cigarettes - just one and it controls your life again.

 

My Isabella is visiting today.  Such joy!  Although it is raining and grey outside, it is sunshiny in here.  We are hearing more sentences and appropriate responses and questions.  We are so looking forward to being able to have a full conversation with our little love.  In due time.

 

Is there any food you absolutely love?  Up to now, chocolate.  I also really enjoy carbs like rice and pasta.

Do you consider yourself nutrition conscious?  Yes.  I don't always serve the most nutritious meals but I try very hard to.

 

What is your favorite food to prepare?  Not as much into cooking as I used to be but I like trying new flavor combinations with spices and herbs and whatever.  Adding cocoa powder or unsweetened chocolate to chili or beef stew makes it heartier (pot roast, too).  A bit of fennel seed to a quick tomato sauce along with a bit of red pepper flakes changes it from every day to gourmet (I'm a poet and I didn't know it!).  I also find myself using cumin a lot.

 

What is your favorite food to order when dining out?  That would  have to be fish as we usually can't afford to buy it.  Yum!

 

If you could dine with any living person in the world who is still living and whom you don't already know, who would it be?  That's a hard one.  You'd think that, as the author of this quiz, I would be easier on myself!  I really like Bonnie Hunt and think she would be fun to spend time with.  Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker are cool authors whose imaginations I would like to explore.  There are also a couple of politicians but I don't want to get into a discussion.

 

Please don't forget that April is National Autism Awareness Month.  Why not take a look at the site and see what you can do to increase your knowledge on this condition which affects 1 in 150 children in the United States.

 

Bless you and have a happy, safe weekend, gail

 

Dear MSN,

 

Thank you, thank you , thank you for all the wonderful, up-to-the-minute changes you brought to Live Spaces.  How did I ever cope before?

 

It used to be that I was able to see which of my friends had updated by clicking one button on my home page.  Now that I have to find my way to my home page and then meander around to see what's up I am spending much less time on line!  Imagine the savings on electricity when I don't turn on my pc first thing in the morning.  I can wait until mid-afternoon and save, save, save!

 

Also, many of my blogging buddies have switched to other services.  This makes it especially fun finding their sites.  Sort of like a virtual "Where's Waldo!"  What a wonderful journey through the internet.  It colors my world fun!

 

Once again, thank you for always considering your bloggers before making changes.  I feel so loved!

 

Sincerely, gail   (April Fool's........)