Hey!

I just returned from moving Stacey to Oronogo, Missouri. I still don't think I realize how far away she is from home. It'll come to me over the next few weeks, as I realize that I am not going to ride on the weekends and she is not here for Thanksgiving. Its okay though, as I need to focus on some other things that I have either rushed or neglected. I'm really going to miss having Stacey & Biff within reach. I wish I had kissed Biff's nose before I left and patted his neck. I'll go back in a few weeks & see how he is doing and see how Stacey has made the house she is living in her own. She is very nervous tonight about getting started, I know, but once she & Liz get to know each other & get into a rhythm I know they will be a great combo.
This is the point at which, I think, Marv & I are really becoming empty nester's. Ev has moved into an apartment. Stacey is out of my immediate reach. Eric & Chandra are out in Eugene. Evan is still close, which is nice. Hmm.
Gonzo has joined us and is really fun to have here. He really is a well behaved buddy for us. He needs more exercise than we have been offering him so far, but I just don't know if there is a more snuggly dog anywhere!

Times & Changes

Wow, it's been a while hasn't it? So much has happened and yet it all seems the same sometimes. I guess I left you in a bit of a lurch there, when Dad was just trying to get through the trials of his arrhythmia and the treatment thereof. Dad is much better now, but more aware of the effect of age on his body. I still choose to ignore that. He's just "Dad". He never changes in my eyes and in my heart.
The same goes for Mom, who slipped on the stairs last week and broke her wrist. She has it in a cast now. I'm hoping she can heal it up alright. I am fully aware that bones don't heal as well when we get older as they could have when we are young. She's had her share of broken bones in her life. I wonder if it gets to be "old hat" after a while!
I have to keep a closer eye on those two and it's hard to do when I'm working & going to school. Some would slow down, maybe give up the education, to get on top of these situations. Be critical if you must. But I know Mom & Dad are behind me on this college thing. So it's for them as much as me, that I want to finally get this education. I'm workin' on it. I'm in too deep to get out now.
As for the education - I'm taking a math class this semester (YUCK) and CPT Coding. Coding is what needs to happen in the health care industry for a third-party payer (aka insurance/Medicare) to pay. I was not admitted to my program of choice - Physical Therapist Assistant - and I am sorely disappointed. What makes that even worse is that my Coding class is directly across the hall from the PT Assistant Lab. I wanted nothing but that program for my educational goal and I'm not there. I'll give it one more try next year. I'll spend as much time as I can volunteering to get more clinical experience before I apply again. I have been accepted to take the Intro to PT course in the spring semester. In the mean time I will continue to work toward an Associate degree, so that I can continue toward a Bachelor degree if I need to.
Evan is out on his own now. This is especially wierd for me. Since he kept and worked such unusual hours while he was living here (and I'm quite sure that he probably still does), and he stops over frequently, nothing seems that different. Well, except I don't hear him playing his guitar. It was just after Marv & I returned from Oregon that Ev gave us the news that he was moving into an apartment with another weather geek! I think he's enjoying it and I'm happy for that as long as he continues his education. He's been wonderful about working his way through school on his own. That has to come first, and if his lease ends and he wants back in here that's fine. But seriously - who really wants to move back home once they have been on their own?
Our trip to Oregon was so wonderful! I loved being with Eric & Chandra in their own surroundings and with their friends. It was such a relaxing trip. Much needed. On previous trips we hiked and tried to take in all that we could in such a short time. This time we just chilled, hung out, played games, ate fresh fruits & veggies from their garden, enjoyed their culinary delights, their company and their community. I could live in that community quite happily. But not yet. I have some responsibilities and work to take care of.
And as Evan has moved into his own apartment, Stacey may be moving farther away than ever before. I went down to Missouri with her to interview for a new job with one of the elite Arabian horse trainers in the country. If all goes well, it looks like she will be moving in November. It's an amazing opportunity and I'm very excited for her.
We lost Baron on Easter. You likely know that. But I haven't posted anything about it. He lived to be 17. He was amazing and an incredible joy for all of us. After that, Marv said "no dogs". Guess what...
Now we have Gonzo! Phil & Christie just have too many tiny children to be able to handle him right now, and so he has come to live with us! He is so handsome and affectionate! He is a high energy dog - Aussies always are! - and I don't know if we can do him justice in the energy department, but we are loving having him here. He is adjusting nicely to his new situation & surroundings, and helps himself to bread & chips if he is hungry! Okay, that only happened once. He thinks he is a lap dog and if I get ambitious, I'll post some pictures of this phenomenon.
So this is how it is right now, right here. I'm sure I should be telling more. But this is what's on my mind at the moment.
And now it's time for sleep.

Dad

Ablation procedure has been completed. Mom had to take him back to the hospital on Sunday night - His heart was racing again. I went to see him Monday morning before the procedure, and he was so miserable. I know the waiting is so difficult and the times that I have had to wait for medical & surgical procedures it has helped me to have Marv with me. Dad really didn't want us to stay with him. He didn't feel good enough to talk. I sat next to him for a bit, & he put his head down on my shoulder & I held tight to him. I haven't seen him since the ablation was done. He had to spend 6 hours lying flat & that went up to 9pm. I knew he would only want to rest as comfortably as possible after that. Mom brought him home this morning & she says he has been a good patient - resting most of the day. After work tomorrow, I think I'll go see how he's feeling. I hope he can get a good night of sleep tonight in his own bed.

A day with my buddies

Spent today with Zachary & Alec. Geez they are the most cuddly little guys! I really can't get enough of them. Am I different as an aunt than I was as a mother? As a mother, I was a negotiator, a supervisor, maybe not as much of a cuddler as I am now. But with nephews & nieces you don't have to supervise & negotiate with quite the intensity, so there's more time for the cuddling. One thing that is the same is that I am an observer. I loved just watching my kids - in all their activities & situations - and I still do. I love seeing my kids do what they do and be who they are. The same is true of my nieces & nephews. I love to just observe who they are. I am in complete awe. Really. Perhaps that makes me seem distant. I don't feel that way. I feel more a part of the people I love when I don't get in the way of them being themselves by trying to make something happen between us. Does this make any sense? I only wish that Sarah & Meghan were around more often, or that I had enough time to see them more. Perhaps their new cousin and future teammate on the GFFL will bring them closer more often.
Okay, now, about me -
Yup - another A - keeping my GPA at 4.0. My anatomy & physiology class this semester was FANTASTIC! I had an awesome instructor and I only wish I could take more classes with her. Unfortunately, she may be taking a job at another school and so even if I had the time to take another one with her, it's not likely that I could. I have my application in for the PT Assistant program and just need to make sure on Monday that my physical therapist, Jeff, has submitted his documentation of my hours in therapy which fulfills my observation requirement. I still don't know how I will pull this whole thing off between my job & my budget, but I am determined & hopeful that it will all come together. Prayers are appreciated at this point. This summer I have to take one more math class to complete all the pre-req's for the program.