MaryAnn. I am so happy that, you got to see the twins and hold them.

LARRY, our big news to day, is there is a Russian spy ship off the coast of Long Island. Since I was in the hospital last month they doubled the strength of my 4 heart pills, plus BP and blood thinner. I did not do well on coumadin, so I am now on plavix. The doctor is trying stronger medicine as I refused to go to the city for any procedures He said my heart is getting weaker. At 93 I am just happy to stay in my own home and rattle around.

Linedancer, it seems that doctors just don't really realize that as you age you realize that you aren't going to be here forever and you get so tired of seeing doctors for every organ in your body.  I often wonder how the doctors of old managed to take care of those before us without all these test and specialist.

My urologist wants me to see an oncologist and I ask him what is he going to tell me, that you cant.  He said well I don't want to put words into his mouth.  I am not quite your age, I am 84, but I get so tired of going to doctors and for test and ct scans, xrays.  I told one of the younger PC doctors the other day, careful what you do to old folks cause when you get our age you are going to find something and most times you cant fix it. 

Enough of my moaning, just wanted to say I can relate.

I read a report in a magazine I receive, "Psychology Today," and it stated that the elderly have the most prescriptions on record of any age group. It went on to say that it is believed that 78% are unneeded, unnecessary and perhaps harmful. There's a reason it's called a practice for doctors! In the same article, it spoke of vitamin abuse, saying probably most were unnecessary.

I am glad I only have 2 prescriptions that I take.  Do take some vitamins tho and supplements.

MarsGal - How nice that George sent you a flowers for Valentine's Day.  Yellow roses are my favorites!
The GERD/reflux medications are tolerated well by most people, but not by me.  Even the OTC meds like Zantac and Pepcid, I couldn't take.  I didn't know you were supposed to slowly wean yourself off of the prescriptions variety.  I just stopped, after giving them a fair trial, but I probably hadn't been taking them long enough that suddenly quitting would cause a problem.   Now, I try not to eat too much at dinner, and I stay away from certain food that are known to be triggers. That and simple meds like Tums will have to do.

Larry - yes,the evacuation order has been lifted for the Oroville area, and everyone has returned to their homes.  In this morning's paper, there was an interesting article about 100 or so people who chose to stay behind in their homes in town, rather than evacuate.  The part that was fascinating, was that those who stayed behind were mostly in their 80's and some in their 90's.  They didn't stay because they were too old to leave - but because they had faith in the dam, and knew it would not fail!  What made them so sure, was that they had all worked on the construction of the dam, starting with excavation in the 1950's, and then on to the actual building of the different sections of the dam itself, which was finished in the mid 60's  They built it, and then worked there until retirement, and they trusted the dam's integrity. One 89 year old man said "It's our heritage. Every generation has worked on it. There's a sense of pride. I would never leave."

There was similar talk when folks were urged to evacuate Mt. St. Helens as well.

Joan, I just saw your news and Congrats on being a great, great, Grandma!  Out of six grandkids,(ages, 22 thru 44); only one has announced marriage plans in March. She is 5'5" and the second youngest at 27, and he is 6'5"

MaryAnn, I'm so glad you got to see and hold the babies! Like father, like daughter!     

Marilyne, I was on GERD medicine for years so my body adapted to it and had to slowly learn to adapt back. I got nasty heartburn when I just stopped.

Looks like we've had a round of grands and great-grands recently. Congratulations to all.

Hi everyone.  We have a beautiful day ahead getting up into the mid-60's.  Yesterday started out with some heavy rain but by the time Pat got to the PT at the hospital it had pretty well stopped for the day.  I had a great afternoon.  As planned we went to the Chop House for a delicious meal and as I went to pay the bill my son took it and paid the bill as my birthday present.  My granddaughter had baked a chocolate  Birthday Cake for me.  To top it off Pat gave me a big box of Russell Stover Chocolates for Valentine's Day.  I need to stop at the Credit Union to take care of some business this morning before I pick up my friend to go to coffee and after I take him back to his residence I plan on going back to the church for the Wisdom group.  That will be it for the day.

Mary Ann, I hope Jan and Terry will contact the Alzheimer's Association, if they have not already done so.  They were such a help to us with my Mother.  Glad you got to hold the twins. 

Congratulations Joan on being a Great Great gramma.

deAngel, I heard and read about that Russian spy ship off the coast of Long Island.  I took Plavix for several years and my long term cardiologist told me I would probably stay on it for the rest of my life but another cardiologist took me off of it, one of the few medicines that has been taken away once prescribed.  Do you know what your ejection factor is?  The last I was told mine was between 20 and 25 percent.

Hal, my primary doctor wanted to send me to a urologist for the prostate cancer but I asked him to continue to monitor me as it appears to be a very slow growing cancer rather than getting another doctor right now.  I also can relate the your comments. 

Patrica, I don't take any vitamins but do have the nutritional drink each morning which contains vitamins and minerals. 

Marilyne, hope the GERD is under control for you.  Interesting story about the Oroville dam and the people who wouldn't evacuate.  I read that more heavy rain is expected in that area.

Larry, Jan is an RN and both parents had tests taken somewhere (?).  The results are in numbers and with her dad went down in a week from 26 to 23.  Yesterday she said her mother's count was the same, but in a different way.  To me, it sounds as if Jan has been in touch with some Alz's authority or organization. 

I was surprised this morning to see the temperature at 25 and it has gone down to 22 degrees.  Radar shows lake effect snow so I doubt we'll get much.

I'm not awake yet, so I'll pass on any comments.

Mary Ann

Good morning, sunny but windy again.

Hal, years ago I went to one doctor, she took care of the whole family, Even after I retired I was still going to Dr. Mary, as we called her. Later I started with what theynow call your primary doc. I have had him for 20 years. Lately I go to him every 3 months, I do not dare say my nose itches  he would want to send me to a specialist. I am willing to stay with the cardiologist and pulmonary doctors, but no more. As I wrote before I have made 93, just let me go gently, the lord knows when I am ready. I have had a good and bad life. WE lost both sons to sudden deaths in their 40's but the good was I had my husband for 62 years.   Sorry I wrote such a long essay but I feel better now

Gloria de - You didn't write a long essay, you wrote a very good and interesting message.  I like your attitude!  

Thanks all for the 'congrats'.  Tis my first Great, Great.  Kind of feel old now.

WJoan.  That is something.  A Great,Great grandchild.  How did that happen? I had my first grandchild young. 39. Then got 5 grands. The one grandson gave me the first GC when he was 24  I think I was shocked when a Great Grandmother now he is just 15.  Have 6 of those but rest are much younger. Doubt I make it to Great,Great Grandmother.  Although I don't know. He already has a steady girl friend at 15. Never know these days.

But Congrats.  I bet you would get the award here in S and F.  We will see if we hear.  Can't count Step Children.

I just looked in at Grand haven.  Must be colder up there as again the snow covering the beach.
Going to be a nice weekend here they say.  from 58 to 64 deg next 4 days.  People will be wearing shorts.  Although I have seen some men wearing them all winter. A few people on the Deluth Bridge site.

Jeanne, I just looked at Grand Haven and the water temp is 32 degrees and the air temp is 30 degrees.  The sun is shining, so I think they'll lose a little ice and I think our forecast is for warmer weather during the next week. 

Mary Ann

I think MaryPage would hold the record for the most grands and great grands from a small beginning!

I would count steps and adopted children in any event because family is inclusive and love can extend further than blood. My neighbor was never to have children of her own but was blessed with seven steps, nine grands and three so far, geat grands! And yes, they are all hers.

Mary did have quite a few but I think most came from Step Children Either 2nd or last husband. I could never keep them in order.
Wish She would come back in and let us know how all are doing. Quite a few new babies I thing last 2 years.2 of my grandsons married a second time and they now have 2 step children each.
With all the divorces now I see many families Look like they have lot of grands and great grands.  I have never met them as they are Texas.  But I no longer send gifts out and got to be about 22 people. Last thing I did was crochet about 20 pairs of slippers and put in a box and had them do a grab bag.  Really made a hit. Fact one was on the Facebook the other day saying she could use a pair of new slippers now. Had to be about 6 years ago.  I just do cards to my own line. Even then it gives me lots of cards to mail.

I picked up some cans of GUAVA nectar at Aldi yesterday.  Never heard of it before.
Say on Internet that it has highest VT c than any thing. It is so Good.  Very expensive on line but only 49 cents a can at Aldi.  Going to stock up  I never drink Soda other than once in awhile a 7 up or Ginger ale.

Linedancer, you never have to apologize about your answers.  What you said was exactly how lots of people feel.  It must be terrible to lose a child much less two.

Hi everyone.  It is another clear and beautiful 54 degree morning and headed to the low 70's.  Yesterday was a very nice day and I felt really good, which make it even better.  Today's schedule is light.  I have things ready to fix Pat's breakfast when she gets up.  As soon as I finish with the message boards this morning I am going to fix labels for the tops of all of the many jars of spices.  Pat found this really great set of baskets that to on the inside of the pantry door with six large baskets.  They will hold the spices but the names need to be on the top of the jar to read them.  Then I need to make a quick trip to Aldi's and, if I still have the energy I will stop at Belk's department store to look at sports coats.  That is my exciting plan for today.

Mary Ann, I know that in Alzheimer's there are several stages and a person can go from one to another just overnight.  It is a dreadful disease. 

deAngel, I try hard not to think about it but still do occasionally how terrible it would be to also lose our son after losing our daughter.  I hope Pat and I can make it to 62 years of marriage like you and your husband did. 

Joan, that great great will help you stay young so you can enjoy him.  I have now two teenage great grandchildren but I hope they don't become young parents for quite a few years. 

JeanneP, we were also young when we had our first and only granddaughter. I have never tried GUAVA nectar.  I may have to pick up a can of it and give it a try.

Patricia, I am glad you mentioned MaryPage as it has been quite a few days since I last saw a posting from her. I do hope she is OK.

Good morning Hal

Good morning from the Interior! I finally was able to wake up early and with very little sinus pain. I hope this is finally clearing up. Farrah is being amazingly resilient even though this is the fourth day with no treats as I am parsing them out.

Larry, I have been in touch with her through email and she has gotten involved in something that precludes her having time for computers. She may come back at another time, who knows.

Still looks really cold at Grand Haven.  Warm weather must not have reached Michigan yet.  We will even get to 70 on Monday they say.  O.K if the winds die down.
Hope we don't get one big storm to end the winter.  We have had some really bad one in Feb. and March here.  I we don't get then it has been one of the warmest Winters.  Now they say that makes for a Wet summer.  Poor farmers.  Depend on corn and beans here. 

Good Afternoon from the sunny and cold, rocky coast of Maine.       

It is really lovely out,  with the sun shining.    I walked down street to CVS this morning and I was very comfortable.   Of course,  I dressed for the occasion,  and that does make a big difference.       

The air is lovely, making it easy to breathe!     

Warmer weather predicted for the next few days. 
Hooray!   

Have a good day,  Everyone.
Sandy

Still morning here - just past 10 o'clock.  I'm going to try to get out and do a large amount of grocery shopping today, that will last us through the weekend.  I've never been good at planning ahead and buying enough to last more than one day.   However, it's supposed to rain all weekend, so I'd like to be comfortable, with plenty of food.  I hate to drive in the rain!  However, I'm fortunate that we live within a few blocks of Safeway, Walgreen's and dozens of other stores, but today I'll go to Whole Foods, which is on the other side of town. Trader Joe's is also there, so I may stop and see if they have anything interesting.

Patricia - I'm glad you're feeling better today. Sinus infections always follow a cold, for me.  AJ came down with a cold yesterday, and is in bad shape today, so I suspect  this will be a fresh round of misery for both of us. 

Nuts, the golf has been suspended, probably because of rain, so they're showing yesterday's round again.  I didn't suspect anything until I read the notice, but I did notice the players were wearing the same colors as yesterday and that is unusual.  I have not been watching TV since 1 pm as Jan (Terry's wife) came to help me do more sorting.  Occasionally we will come across something about which I have no memory.  Pretty soon my family room will look like a family room.

Our temperature is 51 degrees now, the warmest we've been in ages.  The sun has been trying to shine, but it is a faint sunshine. 

Before she got here, Jan stopped at Tim Norton's for soup and half bagels.  She bought cheese broccoli soup for me.  The half bagels were a rye and wheat swirl (as best I could make out) and a wheat half bagel.  As we were talking, I realized I did not feel well.  I put down the rye/wheat half bagel and stopped eating the soup.  After several minutes, things calmed down and I could eat the soup but the half bagel had salt crystals on it and I know that was the cause of my distress.  I was able to finish the soup with no trouble and Jan said she would not buy that half bagel again.  I think I've never had such a reaction to a food - at least not that quick. 

Mary Ann

Hi everyone.  We have an overcast morning but still suppose to get up into the 70's again this afternoon.  I expect to have a nice quiet day today.  I don't really plan on going anywhere and may work more on my taxes.  Yesterday I finished up a project to put labels on the jay lids of all of Pat's spices (and she has a lot of them).  She now has them in the new shelves she got for the pantry door and will be much easier to find what she is looking for.  I also made a quick trip to Aldi's for a few items.

On Thursday I did find out that the lady who fell over backwards and hit her head on the pavement outside the church has been taken out of ICU  and admitted to a regular room as of Thursday.  She did have some brain bleed and at the time of the accident didn't even know her name.

Patricia, it sounds like you are now on the way to a full recovery and hopefully can start enjoying your days again (and get more treats for Farrah so she can have some everyday as she is used to).  Thanks for letting us know that MaryPage is OK as that is always the biggest concern when someone who has been a regular participate here seems to vanish.  I do hope she will be able to return as I miss her wonderful and descriptive postings. 

JeanneP, farmers always live on the edge during the crop season.  I sure hope they have a good season and that it isn't too wet. 

Sandy, nice to see you were able to get out and go to CVS a couple of days ago.  I hope you get that warmer weather.

Marilyne, hope you got stocked up on groceries as it sounds like California is really getting hit hard by all of that rain. 

Mary Ann, if I don't forget I will check out the golf tournament this afternoon although I just checked to see where they are playing and see play has been suspended and suppose it is from all the rain out that way.  I see that Jordan Spieth won the Bing Crosby at Pebble Beach last week and that he is only a few strokes back as of this morning.  Glad Jan was there to further help you but that bagel sounds like bad news. 

Good Morning Everyone. 
It is a nice Sunny morning here and the temps are starting to go up...  Which is always a good sign in February,
which is a month that can be brutally cold... 

Not today, though...    And the near future is looking
very nice.   

I wish everyone a good day.   I am not sure just what I will be doing today,   but is it a great day to do it!! 

Enjoy
Sandy

Larry, I think it was the salt on that bagel that did me in.  It wasn’t table salt and could have been either sea salt or kosher salt.  Jan said she wouldn’t get one of those again.  The cheese-broccoli soup went down with no trouble. 

This morning Tom and I went out for breakfast and I lived dangerously â€" my outer garment was my sweater, no coat.  It is lovely out, sun shining and the temperature is in the low 50s.  I know â€" winter is not over, but it is mid-February. 

I see California is in for more rain and more flooding.  My great-nephew, Geoff, lives in South Pasadena in a neighborhood, not in the mountains, so I think they are safe from floods and mudslides.  He and his wife are the ones in CA who expect a boy in early March.  The twins in the hospital are coming along as well as possible and we expect them to be in the hospital for another month, at least.  I counted five toes on one foot of Eleanor and I haven’t heard of any deformities on either of them.  They are so tiny!

Mary Ann

Mary Ann - That was brave of you, to go out for breakfast, with just a sweater, and not a jacket!  Temps in the low 50's here, (which they are this morning), means that I would be bundled up if I left the house.  Maybe not a hat, but definitely a warm jacket, with sweater underneath, and gloves. 

It's still raining here, so the temperatures remain in the 50's overnight, and during the day they can go as high as low 60's.  this is because all of these storms are still coming from the direction of Hawaii.  It's a whole different story when a storm comes from the Gulf of Alaska! Then temps drop to 30's at night and 40's during the day.  I know that doesn't sound very cold to those of you in the East or in Alaska, but it is for us!

Good to hear that the babies are doing well.  Can the parents visit the nursery any time they want to, or are they restricted to certain hours?
 

Marilyn, 50+ degrees here with the sun shining is warm.  I also walked across the road to the mailbox and back to get the mail.  It is such a welcome change from what we've had.

As far as I know, the parents of the babies can go in any time, but they live in Holland MI, about 40 miles from here so I am sure they limit their time.  When someone sees the babies, a parent must be with them.  I had heard that only two people were allowed at one time, assuming the parent would be one of the two, but when I was there, a friend of Alicia's came in with her husband pushing her in a wheelchair; I also was in a wheelchair so, counting Alicia, there were four of us, plus a nurse in attendance.  Tom had pushed me in, but went to the waiting room to do some work.  When it got near time to meet Terry and Jan for lunch in the Fireside Grill, he came after me.

Alicia is a sports trainer for the Hamilton MI schools and I think she is on leave now, but I don't know for how long.  Jamie has a job but I have no idea what!  He had a relatively good job and quit that before they became pregnant.  He has been attending seminary at Hope College in Holland, but only one or two classes a semester.  He does web sites on the side.  My opinion is that for the near future he's got to get a good job because those twins are going to cost money for a good long time.

Tom just got home from the store so we have something to eat for a few days!

Mary Ann