December update

It's been a while since I've updated so I thought I should finally do it. Life has been crazy this month. I was talking about my uncles death in my last update. My cousins came together to try and honor him with a service and full military honors, 21 gun salute and Taps. I still have my grandpa's flag from his salute 12 years ago. My cousins and I are left with a huge legal mess now. My grandparents left their house to my mom and uncle which sounds easy but the house is still in grandma & grandpas name. My brother has decided that he wants to live in the house until we sell it. Well legeally he can't do that and we don't want him there. He doesn't have a job or any way to pay the bills. It looks like the state will end up getting the house because my brother won't agree. We just want to sell it ASAP, split any money left and move on. I'm hoping he will change his mind because my grandparents worked had for that house.

Uncle Duane, Grandma & Gena (my mom) in 2006

This month was a month for strokes too. My great Auntie Joe had a stroke earllier in the month. She is recovering well at her daughters home. My momther-in-law, Donna aka mom had a stroke on the 21st. It affected her left side and her speech. She was able to make a fist with her left hand by the 24th and go home! She still has a lot of hard work in front of her but she's a fighter.

Here is mom & Ralph 10 days before her stroke.

Auntie Joe & I in June of 09

We also took the kids to the beach on the 19th to catch some waves. The waves weren't quite there but we had fun anyways. Matt took his surf board and gave it his best shot!

We also made a gingerbread village.

Matt got a new scooter.

Savannah lost her first two teeth.

I don't have the Christmas pictures ready yet but I will soon.

another call

I got another one of those "phone calls" early this morning, you know the kind with bad news. My Uncle Duane was found dead in the same house my Mom died in a year ago. They think he may have been there for a day or so. So my Mom and her only brother died almost exactly a year apart. I'm beyond upset, I'm heartbroken. I know how my cousins feel and I just want to be with them. They are all in Indiana. Please pray for our family.

Pain in the neck

Today was a really weird day from the start. I've been preparing myself all year for the first anniversary of my mom's untimly death. I am left missing her but I know where she is, so I'm not worried about her. I'm sad that she isn't here to see her grand-children. I'm sad that my kids no longer have her. She would love seeing Savannah with two teeth missing on the bottom. She would be amazed at how much they have all grown.  The only choice for me is to have faith that I will see her again. Move on and enjoy my life. I will always miss her.
I have been having some on going issues with my neck. I finally had an MRI and saw my Neurosurgeon this morning. I wanted him to say that he could fix it and I could move on. He said he couldn't fix it but thought it could get better with meds, P.T., steriods, and hard work. He said my problems are from arthritis and muscle spasms. I also have some buldging discs. I'm just over all the pain. I start new meds tomorrow and call about therapy. I'm working on a good attitude!! I'm just beat lately.