Casey is HOME!

Good Morning ALL...

Morning has broken!

And there's a flock of wild turkeys back by the woods...

Those black blobs are turkeys; I counted 8...

(They come every year... I think just to destroy my garden)!

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Casey IS home... for now. We are unsure still if she will be going back to Froedtert, or to Rochester, (Mayo Clinic).... She has much pain, but has awoken only once during the night. Am happy for that, as she needs her rest.

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"Casey~Face! ...(You've got the cutest little Casey~Face)!"

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Derek was at the hospital when she was released, and drove her home, stopping to pick up a prescription on the way. She slept a long while yesterday afternoon. Roberta, so happy to not have to go back to the darned hospital herself, (like Jenny Mella, Roberta has been up there every single day too), also came out with my little Gabriel. And such a beautiful day it was!

Nice enough to fire up the little bitty tractor, and hook up the little bitty trailer, and take them all for a little bitty ride...

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...Yes, even Miss Punk had to jump in the itty bitty trailer....

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Thinking we could get around the entire field, we headed back to the woods.... Oops, it was pretty washed~out by the old mulberry tree, so to turn around and head back home...

Thinking I would then go around the field the north way, I headed up there... Now this was an AWESOME idea! (...until we got stuck in the mud)! ...Thanks for the "PUSH" Berta!

Back up to the house then, and stole a ride down my neighbors driveway... all the way back.

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Take a peek at how tall these trees are. Makes ya dizzy just to see it!

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Mom and dad had planted all these trees years ago. By hand.

And when we got back home, it was time to put the plow down and try to reorganize a bit of gravel that had been displaced by the snowplowing this year... LOTS of noise moving that gravel, and even though Casey was sleeping on that side of the house she never heard a thing! And it seemed to have had the very same effect on Master Gabriel... He fell sound asleep in that little bitty trailer.

Time for dinner then...

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A bit of rice and veggies... and I fried up a few chicken strips in olive oil and butter;

with TONS of garlic... MMmmmmm....

(All that garlic? hmm? 'Twas OK, I didn't have a date last night)! hehehe

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Threw on a few brussels sprouts, and took out some black caps that were froze from last summer....

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Master Gabriel even ate his brussels sprouts! He is so good about eating; he has never refused whatever I decide to throw on his plate!

He even eats jalapenos; (although I didn't give those to him)!

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After dinner, Master Gabriel tried to make the Great Escape!

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That didn't work for him though... (That door is hard for even an adult to make their escape through)!

We laughed and played a while....

Berta with a nasty migraine of her own but managed to get a blog written while she was here!

CLICK HERE for Berta's blog if you haven't already visited.

Casey ate very well, NOT without pain, but in the end "hunger" wins. (At least for Roberta, Casey and myself it always has)! None of us are too picky either. Just NO eggplant!

I walked outside with Miss Punk afterward... We could see the storms coming, as the sun was setting...

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One of Gods Finer Sunsets~ ...in too long a time...

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And once more all is well and wonderful in our little bitty corner of Wisconsin! ...Well, mostly...

I hope all is as well in YOUR little corner of the world!

XOXO
Anne

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Cat Stevens

Morning Has Broken

Morning has broken like the first morning,
blackbird has spoken like the first bird.
Praise for them singing, praise for the morning,
praise for them springing, fresh from the world.


Sweet the rain's new fall sunlit from heaven,
like the first dew fall on the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden,
sprung in completeness where his feet pass.


Mine is the sunlight ! Mine is the morning
born on the one light Eden saw play !
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God's recreation of the new day.

"OW! My Pancreas!"

 

Good Morning Everyone...

I shall try to write a complete blog today... the last one interrupted by "THAT Phone Call" from CaseyAnne...

She has been hospitalized ever since...

Once more, it is her pancreas... "Chronic" pancreatitis now; but still idiopathic in its origins. They had claimed that after her cholesystectomy, (gallbladder surgery/removal), that the problems with her pancreas would cease and desist. (The only problem comes in when her pancreas doesn't see it that way)!

Once again, she has been put through the wringer for all of her testing... And everything always comes back "normal".

I am finding it almost sad that most people always pray for a 'negative' test result. And that here we have been praying for JUST ONE POSITIVE.

...Just one little test to come back as a definitive diagnosis for her; and to then be able to treat the REAL problem, (and not only her damnable pain)...

Just to give you a certain perspective on what Casey goes through when this happens... One nurse came in, (and having had patients that had both), they had related that the pain of pancreatitis is worse than that of a heart attack...

Casey has had lots of "company" too. (And that is always a good thing)! Crystal, Miss Eleanor, my friend Lynn and her daughter, my godchild Christi, her dad, another Christy from UWGB.

Once again, Jenny Mella has been the most excellent friend, having been there for everything for Casey. (And once again, I must write a few words to thank Jenny)!!!

Thank you Jenny from the bottom of my heart!

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Miss Jenny even had a bit of fun with one of the sensors left behind after they had put the heart monitor on Casey....

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Sensor Jenny!!!

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Roughly 95% of Caseys nurses have been HUGE b*tches...

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Case in point...

Casey has already been through 9 surgeries... She pays attention when the doctors talk... AND she is HIGHLY intelligent. (So I don't think anyone should be coming in to argue with her about what kinds of 'tape' she is freakin' allergic to)! The fact that it took almost 45 minutes to respond to Caseys "call button" ~ Then to finally go out in the hall to see a whole bunch of nurses standing there having some kind of hilarious pow~wow in the hallway... (Hmmm???)?

Ok... so I had to light a bit of a fire under Caseys nurse... Kinda sorta anyway. (Haven't seen THAT gal around since).

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(I think she was afraid that Master Gabriel would beat her up with his flyswatter)...

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Yesterday, Caseys IV 'alarm' was going off (beeping), for half an hour. She had pushed her call button... 25 minutes later, a nurse finally came in. All the while Casey was infiltrating that IV as her vein had collapsed, even bleeding right through the tagaderm tape. (Had we had the gauze and stuff in the room, we could have handled removing that ourselves). When the nurse finally got there, she said, "OH!" , removed it, and then told us that someone else had to come and redo it. ???

Jenny has taken to keeping a list of the "kind, compassionate" ~vs~ the "time clock" nurses. And yes, these are only 2, (of too many), bad experiences up there for her...

Here is a picture of Miss Popeyes' arm...

(There are MORE pictures on Caseys blog)... CLICK HERE for her blog...

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Yes, it looks MUCH worse than what the photo shows you here...

...(And it took some doing, but Dereks Grandmothers ring DID come off that finger)...

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Casey with her dad...

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CaseyAnne will now have to either go back down to Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee; or to The Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.

Since one cannot live without a pancreas, we were told last year already that the potential exists for a transplant should her pancreas keep destroying and digesting itself...

Knowing that, would everyone PLEASE go to the following link and print up your Uniform Donor Card.

Fill it out, sign it (in front of 2 witnesses- they must sign it also); and MAKE SURE your family and loved ones know your wishes. I made copies of my Living Will and gave a copy to each of my children.

...PLEASE CARRY YOUR DONOR CARD WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES...

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(Where~ever you are going to) when your own life has ended, I can assure you that you will NOT need your body, your skin, or any other organs that you now have.

...The lives you can possibly save just might one of your own loved ones... Perhaps that of a kind and wonderful friend, or maybe even a stranger who has never seen a sunrise... It might even be Casey at some point!

Here is the US Uniform Donor Card link. CLICK HERE .

Now if you live in any of these countries, please follow this link at the bottom of the list.

• Australia
• Canada
• Croatia
• Columbia
• Cypress
• Denmark
• Dutch
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Hong Kong
• India
• Israel
• Italy
• Japan
• Kuwait
• Latvija
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Mexico
• Norway
• Phillipines
• Saudi Arabia
• Switzerland
• Singapore
• Spain

CLICK HERE for your countrys link...

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I hope all is well with everybody... I have missed you, one and all!

I hope you are ALL having a great weekend!

It is beautiful here, at almost 70 degrees yesterday, & a repeat performance for today!

XOXO
Anna~Anna

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"Pancreas Squeeze" Stolen From HERE

Entry for March 23, 2007

Good Morning...
First and foremost, Caseys tests came back OK. One of her enzyme tests came back a tad elevated; indicative of a pancreatic problem?

She has just called... Has not slept and is in awful pain... Dereks mom is going to drive her in, and I will be meeting her at the hospital in a few minutes.

Once again, please keep her in your prayers.

Until later...

XOXO
Anne

CaseyFace... March 22, 2007

Good Morning...

Methinks I should be keeping this short and sweet for today.

Casey goes to the hospital for an ultrasound this morning... Please wish her well. For now she sleeps though, and that is a good thing... They said NPO after midnight, and she came down so very thirsty about 3:30. A teeny tiny drink of water and back up to bed. I will wait til the last minute to wake her up then. And after all is done we shall then have an update for you.

Have a WONDERFUL Thursday.

XOXO
Anne

CLICK HERE for Caseys page...

Today, Casey and Richard Michael

"The time has come" the walrus said...

But first of all, the update on My Little Miss Casey. She stayed in town for the evening, having called the last time about 9 or so, and in intense pain once again. (This from a glass of water).

She is at Dereks house; much closer to the hospitals there.

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CaseyAnne with Her Saxophone...

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I know that many of you have closely followed all of Caseys progress last year, (and beyond). ...From the hospitals in Green Bay to Milwaukee Childrens Hospital, to Froedtert Hospital, back to Green Bay etc etc etc.

I have lost accurate count, but I believe her surgeries number eight or nine in the past 2 or 3 years... She seems to have gotten the very same pain yesterday that she had a year ago. She was hospitalized last Spring for a long time at Easter; with acute pancreatitis.

Still idiopathic, with respect to "why"; but last year she was told already that she has the pancreas of a sixty year old man who has been drinking heavily for 40 of those years. (WTF)?

And so, time will tell how she fares for the next few days. She has another appointment this morning. I will keep you informed as I am able to. Please keep her in your hearts, your thoughts and your prayers.

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As for the picture above? hehehe

Hmmmm....

(I am thinking that this blog will not only pass time, but will be very informative to most of you)...

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****Several of you have emailed me asking who "Grandpa Rick" is to Master Gabriel?

...And just so you know, it really would have been alright to ask within the comments section as I have no secrets from my family; (but I do thank you for your discretion too).

To say I have a confession would be whole~heartedly wrong, for it would imply that I also do some staged act of contrition. To then have to apologize would somehow negate a very large part of my heart and soul, and my family. Quite simply put, I will not EVER do that.

In simpler terms, Richard is Robertas father.

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Richard, Roberta, and Myself; at her 8th grade graduation ceremony...

I had to cut Zoe out of the picture here, but we were all laughing at her antics that night, (or so my mother had written on the back of the photo)...

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Richard and I Doing Dishes Here...

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Naptime; CaseyAnne, (with "TC"); Richard on the floor...

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Richard; At Zoes Birthday Party!

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Richard; with Jennifer... (I am unsure of the date here)...

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Well, you get the picture... Do you see the "measure of the man" as it reflects within his eyes?

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Gabriel and Lawrence too, will be wise and good men; they already have the eyes for it!

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Richard is a good man.

A very kind and gentle man; thrown into the midst of the godless Vietnam War at the tender age of 17.

...He came home very changed man; almost severe in his convictions, yet deep inside still the 17 year old kid wanting not yet to have all those cruel memories of war.

I know that there are too many Vietnam Veterans who personify my Richard; mentally, physically and emotionally.

I have known them.

I have loved but one; (and somewhere inside I still do).

I further believe that the most tender giants took the hardest hits there.

As a result Rick is an alcoholic. As a result of that, we cannot be together, as I could not bear to have to watch him die. He worked very hard to overcome, and to be able to be with us, And he was clean and sober until...

And so, that should answer most of your questions for "today"... I have already spoken to Casey, and she still has terrible pain... and it is a good thing that we have that appointment this morning.

I think I need to regroup a bit now...

Have a kind and gentle Wednesday...

XOXO
Anne

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Before anyone presume to judge myself or Richard.I was separated, (and more than estranged), from my very cruel husband when Roberta Marie was conceived...

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Poison
Something To Believe In
------------------------

Well I see him on the TV
Preachin' 'bout the promised land
He tells me to believe in Jesus
And steals the money from my hand
Some say he was a good man
But Lord I think he sinned

Twenty-two years of mental tears
Cries a suicidal Vietnam vet
Who fought a losing war on a foreign shore
To find his country did not want him back
Their bullets took his best friend in Saigon
Our lawyers took his wife, his kids no regrets
In a time I don't remember
In a war he can't forget

He cries forgive me for what I've done there
Forgive me for the things I did
And give me something to believe in
If there's a Lord above
And give me something to believe in
Oh, Lord arise

My best friend died a lonely man
In some Palm Springs hotel room
I got the call last Christmas Eve
And they told me the news

I tried all night not to break down and cry
As the tears rolled down my face
I felt so cold and empty
Like a lost soul out of place

And the mirror, mirror on the wall
Sees my smile, it fades again
And give me something to believe in
If there's a Lord above

And give me something to believe in
Oh, Lord arise
Sometimes I wish to God I didn't know now
Things I didn't know then
Road you got to take me home

I drive by the homeless sleeping on a cold dark street
Like bodies in an open grave
Underneath an old broken down neon sign, used to read JESUS SAVES

A mile away lived the rich folk
And I see how they're living it up
While the poor they eat from hand to mouth
The rich drink from the golden cup

And it just makes me wonder why so many lose while so few win
And give me something to believe in

If there's a Lord above
And give me something to believe in
Oh, Lord arise
And give me something to believe in
If there's a Lord above
And give me something to believe in
Oh, Lord arise
And give me something to believe in
If there's a Lord above
And give me something to believe in
Oh, Lord arise

You take the high road and I'll take the low road
And give me something to believe in
If there's a Lord above
And give me something to believe in
Oh, Lord arise
You take the high road and I'll take the low road
And give me something to believe in
If there's a Lord above
And give me something to believe in
Oh, Lord arise
You take the high road and I'll take the low road
And give me something to believe in
If there's a Lord above
And give me something to believe in
Oh, Lord arise
Sometimes I wish to God I didn't know now
Things I didn't know then
And give me something to believe in

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Oh~NO!

Good Morning... ?????

Who stole my Monday?

XOXO
Anne

PS

HELP!!!!

I am on a wild goose chase...

...and cannot find my X*#! camera! And yes, I took a zillion pics yesterday after Berta had brought me in for a migraine shot...

W~A~H~H~H~H~H~H~H~H~H~H!

http://kopykat.seesaa.net/article/11429293.html

Chubby Cheeks ~n~ Cheeseburgers!

Good Monday Morning to ALL;

A long morning already here, but all will be well shortly too. We had such a wondermous Sunday though...

To have Master Gabriel almost ready for his own tractor...

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he 'drives' this one very well!

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He has so enjoyed being able to play outside- for a few hours anyway.

Temps were in the 30's and so sunny... More than warm enough for Derek to bring out the Harley too... Casey and Derek having to stop at Fleet Farm after church to get a new battery for the bike...

Gabriel, proudly taking after his grandfather, LOVED the Harley Sportster too...

And looks SO very much like Richard too! (I'd better dig up a few pictures, eh)?

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SO ponderous!

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I am thinking that when this little guy grows up he will be doing the NY Times Crossword puzzles in INK too; (just like Grandpa Rick does)!

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He cried VERY loudly when it was time to get off the bike! (yeah, me too). hehehe

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And then time for a little walk with his mama and The Punkster too!

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In the cornfield with Mama... (A very long walk for those short little legs)!

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and a little break for both of these "babies"!

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Casey and Roberta made dinner... (can't beat that)... Grilled burgers, mozz and cheddar cheeses, and some shrimp veggies things too. And I do not know how these 2 girls can eat and eat and remain so darned skinny... But they do!!!

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This is Caseys first helping...

(And after a good nights sleep at Mama's house, she IS feeling much better)...

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Casey, Derek, and Punkie... and some great conversation!

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Roberta had remembered that when they were younger, there were many 'family meetings' in the living room, or the kitchen...

...And so, we had one of those little "gabfests" last night too. Kinda nice, that... It is so good for our souls to do that. ...And hearing Derek "belly~laugh" was great too! (Thank You, Derek)!

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CaseyAnne, always so confused, tries to put Master Gabriels shoes on... hehehe

"Hey Cinderella, that one's NOT gonna fit!!!"

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Must fly for now, but just wanted to let a few of you know that yes, even in Wisconsin, we are moving closer to Spring... (forget that it really did SNOW last night)!

Hope everyone had a 'wunnaful' weekend!

Have a great Monday!!!!

XOXO
Anne

Friends Like Jenny!

Good Sunday Morning to all;

I woke early, and almost panicked because I had fallen asleep on the couch and there was NO Punk by me. (When I do this, she will either lie at my side, at the end of the couch, or even on the floor)...

I called out for her...

No response. ??????????

I ran upstairs then... and asleep in my bed was Punkie AND CaseyAnne. Punk will not leave her side either; even though I have been up for hours already.

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(Methinks Punkie is playing favorites)! ...And yes, Casey IS in there!

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Casey had come out yesterday afternoon after getting her prescriptions, and also having a headache to boot. Poor kid. Her friend Jenny Mella also was here, and I'd drifted off late last night then to the sounds of their laughter and voices. (Nice that)...

Reminiscent of their high school days... "Trouble Times Two" hehehe

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Jenny M and Casey on KC's 17th Bday........ Casey and Jenny

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SING TO ME BABY!!! hehehe

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KC and Jenny (Casey just home from the hospital; 2005)... And together for 'twin~day' at school!

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Jenny has proven her friendship time and time again... And as Casey was sick, has shown up every single time (at the hospital and here), to just "be there" for her. It is friends like Jenny that make our worlds go around. A constant and undeniable force in our own little worlds.

Jenny has been to the hospital to sit with Casey to worry with/about her... (and yes, even to make fun of her)! {Sadly, one of Caseys longtime, 'good' friends even walked away when Casey had part of her lung removed last year. She had come to visit Casey in the hospital. Casey admittedly was pretty drugged up, and could barely even talk, let alone "focus". The doctors had her on 'dilaudid' because nothing else really worked for her pain... KC had attempted to make a joke which had upset this person, and this person has since told her that it cannot be fixed. I hope that this person never has to know that same shallow friendship in her life. But hey, "karma" might interfere with that; knowing what goes around ALWAYS comes around}...

But this is not about that... It is a blog about good friends! The ones that know us, inside and out ~and love us in spite of it all... (or even MORE), ~because of it all!

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Labor Day 2005 KC, Zack, Ami and Jenny!

They are all so crazy~close still!

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I "stole" the following from one of your own blogs a while back; and it is so beautiful!

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"FAMILY" too.

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Just because as Grandma Rita would have said, "without that, you got NOTHING."

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And now it is time to start my own day. (I had begun this blog HOURS ago, and got side~tracked with everything else)! Heck, I even got sidetracked WITHIN my own blog!!!

Casey has just left for mass, and I still have much wash to catch up on. Only 27 degrees right now, but is so bright and 'sunshiny' outside!!! I will hang a few things on the line too! Hmmmmm.... Am I the only person in the world that still uses a clothesline???

Must get busy...

Here's hoping that you all have recovered from your green beer, and Guinesses!

Have a lovely "Sun"day!

XOXO
Anne

OFF I go!

****... as I go dancing out to the clothesline now!!!!

hehehe

It MUST be a HOLIDAY?

Good Morning and Happy Saint Patricks day to EVERYONE...

I am almost compelled to write a closed blog this morning... and so,

This blog is for Casey ...

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Move away from the wishing well... It's NOT working!!!!

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"Listen to me, Little Girl..."

"AND LISTEN TO ME WELL..."

You will NOT, (repeat NOT), arrange another repeat of last years stellar performances! (Please remember that 2006 was the year that you independently screwed up each and every holiday for yourself by being in/at some god~forsaken hospital).

That said, I have taken it upon myself to contact each/every hospital, (within a 300 mile radius), to tell them they are NOT to admit you for any holiday, within any year, for any reason whatsoever.

You have been effectively banned from any/all hospitals... hehehe... (hope it helps)!

My apologies, Baby Girl, that I didn't think of doing this soon enough... (and you ended up there yesterday)...

They have their orders...

And YOU get well(er) soon! (Guess you have your orders too now)! hehehe

I love you Baby Girl...

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I told her she should never climb trees in the winter without gloves!

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(But really, that has nothing to do with the price of bananas in China)... hehehe

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Derek brought KC to the hospital for what she had thought was more of her pancreatitis attacks... Her enzymes tests all came back "normal" though. They have given her IV antibiotics and pain meds, and sent her home.

She should be well(er) within a few days... please wish her well!

And do have a safe and Happy St Patricks Day!

XOXO
Anne

PS

For YEARS I have looked for a LIVE 4~Leaf Clover Plant... Can anyone tell me where I can get one?