[Gail Norusis]

in reply to: Chit Chat-March 2022 #139168

Hi Adele,
I am sorry to hear about Tillie but I know these things occur. When people get to a certain age sometimes every thing is so difficult for them.
But please don’t feel guilty about enjoying your food at home.
I think sometimes that when people are older their taste buds don’t quite work right and many things don’t taste right.
None of this is your fault. You love your mother and have taken care of her for as long as you were able. Remember you are also considered elderly. At least on the medical charts or whatever. I know I am always taken aback when I realize that i am “elderly.”
You know the girls are getting older and have a lot of other things going on in their lives too so that may be another reason that they do not come to dinner as often.
Maybe you could try to ask them to set aside one Sunday every six weeks or something to all come to dinner. Maybe it would be easier to fit into their schedules. Remember you have been sick too and maybe a dinner every Sunday would be too much for you too.
I know it’s hard to adjust to change but that’s what life is about. Things do not stay the same even though we may wish them to. I try to approach each stage as an adventure or a challenge. It doesn’t always work but I learned some wise words from Jeanne Bice and I always remember them-if you can’t change something-try to change the way you look at it. it kind of reminds me of the serenity prayer used in AA.
Our weather is nicer this week-I will try to blow some of it your way.
Hugs,
Gail

[Gail Norusis]

in reply to: Chit Chat-March 2022 #139155

Hello Everyone,
Was out of commission for most of last week as I came down with a cold. I took a covid test so it was not that. Those free covid tests that we ordered from the government came in handy as I did not even have to leave home to get the test done like the last time. I sure don’t understand how I even got a cold as I had been nowhere but the dentist. Jenny’s and the quick mart (with no one else there but me and cashier) the previous week. And Jenny said they were all fine at her house. Anyway, we stayed home from Jenny’s on Friday as Greg thought he was getting a sniffle too and we didn’t want to get any of them sick. So for most of last week I spent in bed sleeping and trying to breath through a very stuffy nose. It was all in my head this time-no cough which I was grateful for and no fever which I was really grateful for. Those fevers really get me.
We are supposed to have nice weather this week. Maybe the really cold days are behind us. I see that Easter is the 17th of April this year. That’s nice as maybe the weather will be springlike by then.
I love that we turned the clocks forward so there will be more daylight. It just makes me happier.
Chicago had their first big Saint Patricks day celebration in two years this weekend. It was really chilly for the parade like maybe 20 degrees. I know Jenny ran a Saint Patrick’s 5K in Rockford yesterday and she was chilled through.
My SIL is home from the hospital. She may have to have surgery for those adhesions if she keeps on having problems with throwing up-so she is kind of on pins and needles seeing what will happen next. If she does have to have surgery she kind of would like to be back in Chicago for it-so we’ll see what happens. She said she lost 10 pounds and she is very thin-she can’t stand to lose more.
My nephew is getting remarried in Brasil later this month. He’s new girlfriend is from Brasil. Everyone’s invited but I know we are not going. It seems like he just got divorced at the end of 2020 and it was not even his idea so after being broken hearted this seems kind of quick to me but what do I know.
Adele, how is Tillie doing? I think about you guys all the time even when I don’t write for awhile.
Jenny and Brent have not seen each other since he moved out several years back. Unfortunately they were never very close. Two very different people. Brent said his bio Dad who lives in Ohio is going to be in the area visiting relatives at the same time Brent is here so I don’t know if they are going to meet in person or not. We’ll see. I must say I am curious but it is not up to me. We are trying to plan a day where all of us Brent, Jenny me and Greg and families go to one of the waterpark/hotel places. Piper is excited to see her Uncle BooBoo as we call him as she has no memory of him.
Well that’s about all from here. It will be interesting if we go to Jenny’s house how her dog Luke will react as he does not like men other than Ricky and Greg.
Gail

[Gail Norusis]

in reply to: Chit Chat-March 2022 #139026

Hello Everyone,
I agree with Colleen-please do not feel bad about not being able to help with your Mom.
If our parents live long enough we all have to come to that point at some time. It’s kind of a double edged sword. My parents never lived long enough for that to be an issue-but when they do live longer(and that’s what we all want) then at some point we become physically unable to take care of them if they become bed ridden. That’s what happened with Greg’s Mom. things were fine when she could get along on her own but once mobility became a problem we were physically unable to adequately care for her so the decision is literally taken out of your hands as you just cannot provide the care that she needs. We all do the best that we can do with whatever abilities that we have.
That’s nice that Santino gets to go everywhere. he will have lots of experiences. I love to see kids experience knew things.
My SIL is back in the hospital. I can’t say that I am surprised as it seemed like they sent her home without anything being accomplished. So she must have started throwing up again. I’m waiting to hear more.
it’s snowing here this morning. Big fluffy flakes. it goes from being 60 a few days ago to snow. That’s spring for you. I think next weekend we spring forward on the clocks. yeah! Love me more daylight.
I was glad to hear that Critt is doing better too.
Colleen, Ethan will be so surprised when he gets his glasses. I remember the first time all of a sudden I could see individual leaves when I looked at a tree instead of just a big green blob. It’s transforming.
I wonder how the situation in Ukraine will all turn out. Why does the world always have to have some crazy dictator who wants world domination. Haven’t we learned any lessons from the past?
Gail

[Gail Norusis]

in reply to: Chit Chat-March 2022 #138953

Hi Colleen,
I remember when I was about in sixth grade I couldn’t see the board in school anymore if I sat in the back so that’s when they discovered I needed glasses. I can’t believe I’ve worn them most of my life. Of course I wore contacs too but have found in the last couple of years with staying home so much I have hardly been wearing them.
I guess being thinner is easier on your back and legs so that’s good for you. But hard on the clothing budget.
I know when my friend had to have her stomach removed it was a good thing she was heavier because she lost about a hundred pounds. What if something like that happened to someone who only weighed a hundred ponds to begin with. She had fun buying a new wardrobe.
You really got warm. We are supposed to be 60 on Saturday. I am just enjoying the extra hours of sunlight.
Gail

[Gail Norusis]

in reply to: Chit Chat-March 2022 #138951

Hi Adele,
Your meatloaf with mozzarella sounds good.
The prayer that DD posted was on last months thread.
sometimes I think the world has gone mad.
I’m glad Tillie has tried walking some. It sounds like she really wants to come back home which is a good thing.
My SIL is back home. I am so confused as they really didn’t do anything for her as far as I know. They said adhesions were causing the blockage but they just don’t go away by themselves so what happens. Somehow I am missing some key piece of information.
Brent is coming at the end of the month so I need to get busy and make the spare bedrooms usable. Right now I have all my crap spread all around in there so I will have a busy couple of weeks working my way through the mess.
I’m sure they will want to go into the city too and I am not looking forward to that. I just don’t like crowded places anymore-but there is nothing much to do around here so they have to go other places to do things.
I can’t believe little Santino is snow boarding. Nothing like starting them early.
Is Amanda recovered from her trip? Did she take lots of pictures to show you?
Gail

[Gail Norusis]

in reply to: Chit Chat February 2022 #138901

Sorry that I am late. I am starting a new discussion for March. See you there.

[Gail Norusis]

in reply to: Chit Chat February 2022 #138676

Hi Everyone,
DD, I’m glad to hear from you. I see you have a lot of Thomas Kincaid pictures. They are so pretty. I bought some when he was on the Q years ago.
I love Snowball, she is a character. Pets are such good company. I missing having one around. We really should get another dog some day.
Colleen, we have been having some weird up and down weather too. Now it’s snow tonight and then later next week it will warm up and it will melt. I really can’t complain though as when it does get really cold it doesn’t last too long.
Ethan must really like staying with you so that’s nice. And of course he’s at an age where he would rather go to school and see his friends too. We all understand that. That’s interesting that Melissa had to go all the way out to California to train. That is hard on a Mom with kids. So where is Kaylee staying? You are good grandparents and I’m sure the kids really appreciate you.
Adele, So is Tillie in a rehab facility? I’m not sure how all that works. I hope she tries with the physical therapy-I know it’s hard for her too.
I was going to suggest the same thing as Colleen did about having something to take for anxiety. There have been a couple times when I needed something to help me over a hump. I just had xanax to take as needed. I didn’t take it often but it was nice to have when the stress seemed over whelming. It just kind of took the sharp edge off things. Plus you get so sick with your stomach when you are stressed maybe it could help with something like that too.
I hope Gary is feeling better.
We have not been doing much of anything. Just hanging around home and watching TV and reading and playing games.
It’s nice that it is light until almost six now-I am grateful for that.
Gail

[Gail Norusis]

in reply to: Chit Chat February 2022 #138434

Hi Colleen,
So I take it Ron doesn’t care for rap music. lol It’s not my first choice either but I did want to see the half time show just so I would know what people would be talking about. Greg was going to skip over it as we were recording the game but i told him I wanted to see it.
I don’t know if Isla is home yet or not. I will find out the details from Jenny on Friday. You would think a nine year old would know better than to be putting something in her mouth.
I remember when Lachlan put a piece of popcorn up his nose but he was a lot younger. And I just found out that Greg put a jujube up his nose when he was little. Do they even still make jujubees? I haven’t seen any in years.
So Ethan will be with you for 7 weeks. That’s a long time. I think you said they have year round school so this must be his break. What grade is he in now?
I don’t know about the price of regular kid’s clothes but I remember a few years back I was filling a list for an ONP kid and one of the items was a winter coat and I was surprised at the cost of a kids winter coat and I wasn’t in a fancy store or anything either. I think I was in Kohls.
We are kind of getting the same weather as you except the rain is supposed to change to snow.
Have fun with Ethan. if he is a typical teenager he will spend a lot of time in his room and you will barely know he is there except when he emerges to eat and then your pantry will be empty. Those kids can eat!
Gail

[Gail Norusis]

in reply to: Chit Chat February 2022 #138429

Hi Adele,
I am so sorry that Tillie is going through all this. Thank goodness that Bobby can go to see her. I know during covid usually only one designated visitor is allowed in. Just imagine all the elderly people in nursing homes who weren’t allowed to have anyone in during the beginning of covid. How sad, lonely and scared they must have been. That was a good idea to have the PT as the elderly can lose ground quickly if they have been in bed for too long.
I am saying prayers that all will be well.
I also hope that Gary heals up without any problems.
Good idea to have a Valentine’s breakfast. I don’t think we could do that here as we would have to go pick it up as nowhere that has breakfasts delivers. We used to go out a lot for breakfast but now I can’t remember the last time we had breakfast out.
Greg’s brother and his wife are visiting his sister in Florida next week. Hopefully next year we can visit them there as they have been asking us to come for a while. We just found out that our insurance will no longer pay for an expensive medicine that I take so we are switching to the generic and hoping that I will do okay with that one. I like the way they drop coverage and don’t even tell you until you go to refill. Because Greg is still working we don’t use medicare-not that that would make a difference.
I hope things will calm down at your house and you can have some peaceful living for a while. Once again that goodness for Bobby.
Gail

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