April 26, 2010 Akron, OHIO

It's a rainy Monday. Not much time as I am going to take Becky to work. I just need to do some serious updating. I am following a blog for Sjogren's Syndrome. At one time I had started one, but I find it very difficult with follow through + the fact I don't know so much about it. I know what it is doing to me, but each person is different depending on your pain level tolerance. I have a higher level, but that doesn't mean much . Hmmm,,,why did I just type that? It just came out of my mind and flowed through my finger tips.

I just love the M & M guys. This one has one sweet tear drop.

August 2, 2009 Monday

What a difference a day makes. I didn't sleep well last night. Kept waiting for Denise to come home until dawn and Jaime came home with a date with Mike with a migrain. The meds made her sick . After a couple hours sleep I ws up with 6 noisy children. Opened the stock market and set some prices . Got ready to go to the hospital for Carolyn move to the nursing home. Talked to Vicki and received another phone call. I got a 10:00 interview in the morning with Mary at the Dollar Tree. I didn't get the job at the bank, but I am open for it should it come around again.

Sadly,, Jaime lost her job at the Red Cross. She is still working through the union to try and save it, but she was really down and sad. Denise has all 6 children. Was hoping she was coming back to the house tonight but it doesn't look like it. She must be down at her house. Whatever makes her happy.

Must get rest tonight so going to bed.

August 1, 2009 Saturday

8 months, and I haven't been here. So much has happened. Christmas came and went. January came and we lost our beloved Aunt Ruby, birthdays slipped by without a word what happened and my memory is recalling much. Carolyn and I found a house in Firestone Park that I really liked. The winter storms were so bad we didn't get to see it until March. We were able to purchase it for cash on a foreclosure. that took a lot of stress off me and I was able to sign my trailer over to Dianna. She will pay me for it when she is able to. In this economy who knows when that will be. We finally moved in May 15. I didn't get to move in the way I wanted to but hopefully I will have time to do it my way later. Denise moved in right behind me so I have everyone here except Chrissy, Mitch and Shayna.

I haven't been able to find a job. The one I was really interested in, well,,,God has other plans for me. Right now it is to help Carolyn through surgery for her left hip replacement. Mom has been doing well and I have been bringing her home every Sunday.

Here's Rose Ryan Jackson

Born: July 28, 2009

Neall and Becca, Aunt Ruth's grandson, had a baby girl on July 28. Rose Ryan Jackson, 6# 13 oz.

Nice size little gal and beautiful. I love those lips. Like rose petals. I just wonder how brother Solomon is taking to her. Aunt Tara was so sweet to post pictures on Facebook.

More later.

Kasey's thank you drawing

Remember this? This was our Tree except it had pink balls

Happy Birthday to Kasey!! October 6, 2008

Nothing like taking 2 months to get things posted! Kasey had her 7th birthday and was the cake evry yummy! These were taking at Mike's Grammy's and she baked the cake. Salute! We love you oodles Kasey. Today is Monday the 8th of December and I had to go pick KC up from school. She twisted her ankle pretty bad in gym class. So we are all now tucked up in bed with an ice pack and an Angelina movie on. Hope it's not the one about the ballet! Mommy has texted several times and will be home to take KC to the ER for x-rays if we can't figure out what's wrong. I'm betting by an afternoon spent in bed she will be eager to get up and not want any doctors! Other kids at school have her wanting the attention of returning to school with crutches. Can you imagine!! haha, Poor KC is the drama queen. Hopefully a little rest and all will be well.

MAXINE'S CORNER

Well It doesn't seem like I can keep up with blogging or anything else in my life! Why do the days pass so fast?

(This cat will be me if I don't get a move on!)

We brought Mom home for Thanksgiving, but she is totally detached living in just the moment. I hate having her at Longmeadows. I have been so depressed and crying and she is too! I have come to terms that I am not able to care for her, but I feel like I'm a weakling and that I should have more faith and trust in God. Mom said being at Longmeadows feel slike she is just there waiting to die. I never wanted her to feel that way! I know I would feel that way, sometimes I feel that way now.

Wow, the nursing home just called and was confirming appointments that I have on the 11th and 18th. Mary Kay said she just saw Mother and that she had a smile on her face and was talking to people she passed by on her way to physcial thearpy. That made me feel better. I wish folks there would slow down and act like they want to talk to you. Maybe it is just my nerves and crying at the drop of a hat.

I have been sick since Mom went to the hospital. It's been one thing or another.

Plus the weather is bitter cold, 8 degrees and snow! After falling on the ice and knocking myself out last February I am scared to death of the ice. I had hoped that we could have all moved to Arkansas this past summer's end, but it didn't work out. It must not be in God's timing yet.

Right now I feel so lost and disconnected.

Spencer called me Saturday filled with the Holy Spirit and urging me to be back in church. As much as I love him and thankful for his prayers and support for some reason it made me want to do just the opposite of what he was urging. That had to be Satan. I know I need to be there, but I'm not even sure which church to attend. I have the Catholic church which has not been very supportive in the past, but which my sister attends, and then I like the Baptist church and I have the Mormon church. I guess I don't have to join any as long as I attend with fellow believers. Spencer is right in that God says we are not to forsake gathering with other believers. I atched Dr. Charles Stanley on Saturday night,. Carolyn went to church Sunday at St. Matthews and brought me back the bulliten. It's the second week of Advent and teaching about "practicing peace" and how to wait. This must be my time of waiting.

The article mentioned , "If you hope to act in ways that promote peace, you need to spend time cultivating the inner peace, out of which you will act. an ancient practice is to pray the psalms. According to St. Basil the Great, the wors of the psalms calm our inner turmoil, transform our sinful tendencies, bring us inner peace, and promote reconciliation."

So here I am today.

Steve and I have been watching the stock market. It paid off well for him today. He has invested in SLV. God has truly blessed him and his son. He has been my guardian angel since Dale died. Actually before I ever met Dale he was my guardian angel, but we had lost touch.

I need to get busy and make some cookies for the nursing home. I know Mother would enjoy them. I also have to get prepared for my interview on Thursday for medicaid for Mother and possibly for myself.

Autumn in Ohio, 2008

Beautiful fall foliage and colors.

September Party for Mitchell and Shayna, 2008

Happy Birthday Mitchell!

Happy Birthday Shayna!

It was a birthday party like none other. It was a beautiful fall day but the winds were strong as we caught the remnant's of Hurricane Ike that struck Galveston and Huston. Much wind damage was done here in the state of Ohio and many were without electric for days. We were all very fortunate to come and go to the party with just a few tree twigs fell off and bonked us now and then and also the canvas shelter Chrissy had erected over the picnic table tried to pull up stakes and blow away. Donny was there grilling and we ladies all set up our side dishes. Jane, Dennis's wife did face painting on the children that wanted them. Brad brought his girlfriend to meet us and Jaime brought Mike. Omi had to work, bless her heart. I sure would have liked to have seen her. Cherie was up from Mexico to see her new granddaughter, Noblelee who is pictured with Kasey. She is so tiny. A lot of fun was had. I didn't bring my camera so all the snapshots here were taken by Vicki on her cell phone. They are not bad.

Mitchell is about 5'9". He's gonna be tall like his dad and Grandpa Clyde. Shayna is a sweetie with her freckles and reminds me of a graceful willow. You can see she is an Irsih lass for sure!

September, 2008

Cherie

Chrissy and Cherie

September, 2008

More Birthday pictures

September 15 and 17 Mitchell and Shayna

Kelly Blossom

These are more recent updates of Kelley. How can you not love that face?!

Next,,,

Kasey's

Clown

Next on the List

I need to back the year up and put pictures in

Love This picture of Solly. you just want to squeeze him tight. 11 months

Solomon : August,2008

It's time to think and renew.

Oct.31, My heart feels broken. What a day to remember. It should read Friday the 13th. I have had some serious wrongs done unto me and it's time for me to turn over a new chapter in my life. Sometimes the things you fear most become a living reality. Why you come to these places of brokenness only God knows and understands. Each time I come to a place where I feel this way I pray the Holy Spirit will enlighten me to my purpose and understanding of Heavenly Father's will for me. I feel I am out of tune and therefore need to be brought to the place where i can only look up. Jonah and the whale story comes to mind. I would like to be able to find some certainity. Right now I feel it is one on one with God. Time for the rest of the world to stay out. My door has never been closed to my family. I have tried to do my best for them, but it must not be wanted for the phone doesn't ring and there is no one at the door. So be it! I accept it and move on.
Right now my life is to take care of Mom. After this task is complete I will need to find a job in the world again. One day, one thing at a time.

September 5, 2008

It's the first day of fall like weather. We have rain and wind from Hurricane Gustav. Yesterday it was 90 . Not today! I am not sure what the temperature is this moment but putting mail in the mail box a light rain had already begun to "fall" and the wind has leaves strewn about on lawns and dancing down the street. I checked. It's 71 degrees. It may stall over us as Hurricane Hannah is headed for the east coast of North and South Carolina. Mom is up so the day has started. Thankfully I got to read and fill out the forms Social Security wanted for Mom. when she is up I am nervous and can't read or think straight. Wonder why that is? Until Later.

Thursday

Let's see what's been happening!

Darryal got the job at at Somo as a lab tech making more than he was at Malco as a compounder.
He starts Monday, September 8th.
Denise will graduate the following Monday on the 15th, Mitchell's 14th birthday. She has an internship at Rockynol for 4 days, takes final exams and the Job Fair is on Monday as well and Denise should have job placement at that time. She will sign up for state tested CNA and it will be in one of the 3 C's, Cleveland, Canton or Columbus.

From there 4 years of nursing school.

Birthday party for Mitchell and Shayna is Sunday, September 14th. Shayna will be 9. It sure will be good to see Chrissy and the kids again. I don't believe we have seen them since Mother's Day.

Carolyn got answers about changing jobs and will be staying with JCPenneys. After you work somewhere for so long, co-workers become family. After losing Lee she probably doesn't need that much change yet. David is at GoJo's and Dianna is going for pathologist I believe it was. Vicki is still at TJ Maxx.

Kasey got hurt on the playground today. Seems some kids were swinging her around and she hit her head on the ground. Patty Phillips called looking for Jaime but she had left for work and she really hated leaving that kind of message on her cell phone. Turns out she is doing vision screening of the children and said KC had trouble reading the top line. I spoke of our concerns she may be dyslexic. She will look for it but says until the 2nd grade it is common to copy backwards, but said it was good for her to know.

Mema has decided she wants to go to the nursing home. Lot of work for me. My mind is boggled that's why I'm writing a lot of this stuff down. I am not feeling well from the weird things happening to me. I assume it's the auto-immune disorders and I am exhausted a lot. To start tracking medicaid and nursing homes will take me a while especially to go visit without Mother. The social worker says I should go without her going with me. Schedule one visit and pop in on another day.

My knee is stiff but feeling better and I seem to be walking better. The doctor gave me a kenelog shot for my arm. Seems it worked for a bit but the rash is back and itching. Thought I was through with menopause. Don't know if it is the shot or not since it is a steroid but it's very uncomfortable and Tylenol isn't helping much. After the pitted edema I won't touch the Ibuprofen and the doc said slow down on the aspirin. Without any type of health insurance I'm not going to get much help from the medical community.

Everyone's in school now.

Mitchell 8th grade
Shaun,
Shayna and
Alexis all 3rd grade
Livey and Zandy 2nd grade
Kasey 1st grade
Aliyah and Gracie Kindergarten

Take me out to the ball game! GO INDIANS!!!

Air Show Finale