Tired of Being Sick

I am tired of being ill!!! Went to the doctor last week (Wednesday) because I thought I had streph throat. Well, it wasn't that, thank goodness, but they found a viral infection. I got a work release for today. Sooooo, after 5 days at home it was good to get out if only to go to work. Can't say I feel the greatest but it's better than it was. Not sure my spelling is correct either but hope you get my meaning. I still have a very sore throat and chest pains. I'm tired all the time, and a bit of a crank. Just ask the girls at work!!! I went ahead and apologized to 3 people this morning before I even said anything. Thought I'd get it out of the way before I did any damage!!

Unfortunately I didn't get to my aunt's 85th birthday celebration. I'm sorry Lorraine that I didn't get there. Didn't feel very good and even though (according to the doctor) I'm not contagious I felt like it. Guess this is just something I have to work out and hopefully it won't last for a real long time. I would really have liked to see Aunt Lorraine's and new place. Maybe I can get there one of these other weekends.

Work is extremely hectic right now. Our fiscal year ends tomorrow. We've lost 4 staff people in the last week and I have a board packet to get out yet this week. My State reports aren't due for another 30-days but I have to start on them. With the ARRA (stimulus) funds that we received it makes the statistics a lot of fun. My regular stats have to be separate from the ARRA stats. We have yet to receive the program to track ARRA. Wonder where that went? We're in the process of putting new computer systems in for 10 of us. They ran into a glitch last week and haven't worked it out yet. Fuel program begins Thursday and it will be a madhouse for the next few months with that program along with the everyday things that happen at a CAP agency. I feel like I'm chasing myself . . . interviews begin Thursday (I think) for a couple of the positions open. I don't mind interviewing but it always takes more time than an individual thinks it should. Lots of paperwork. But then, where would we be without it????

I can't say I'm real fond of this 'fall' weather. Isn't it a little early for all this wind and cold?? Frost warnings out for low lying areas tonight. It was 39 this morning in Dubuque. Guess I'll have to drag out some fall/winter things to wear. I wore a sweatshirt today. I've still got some problems with chills so I was fairly comfortable all day today. It's an agency shirt so I can get by with that!

Have to pick up a couple of prescriptions tomorrow night. Last day of the year to do that so that I can use my flex spending account. I also want to do a little shopping for my great nephew for his birthday present. Big party this weekend. At the present he's sick. Poor little guy. Hope he's better or there may not be a party.

Finished the creek party scrapbook. I sure had a good time working on that one. Jim & Mandy also gave me a DVD with scads of pictures of Charlotte. I'm in the process of going through them and making a decision on which ones to use. Have to either get a big memory stick or some additional memory for the computer. I'm slowly running out of room. I know that photos take a lot of space and right now I've got lots and lots of them on my drive. Maybe Jim can help me with that the next time he comes home. His mother would really appreciate that!!

Got the garbage out tonight. Need to do a few dishes yet and have supper. I best get at it. Hope all have a good week.

One down, one to go!

I've been home now for about an hour. Just got back from Ankeny. Didn't get to see my kids but did go to a workshop regarding HR matters. This morning was a little boring but the afternoon speaker was excellent. I left home around 6:00 a.m. and got over to Brenda's about 6:20 or thereabouts. She drove. We made excellent time and found the library okay. Actually, we found it accidentally. I called Barb last night and she gave me some vague directions. Good thing I was listening. I told Brenda to get off at the wrong exit -- realized it and was still able to find myself to Prairie Trail Drive (or whatever it's called). Ankeny has a beautiful library. And a very nice meeting room.

Thursday I make another trip to Des Moines proper. I have a meeting regarding the ARRA (stimulus) funds. How to track it. It's only a 3 hour meeting, but it is very important so down I go again. Hopefully I will not have to drive then either. This getting up at 5:00 in the morning is going to poop me out!! I'm too old for this stuff.

Happy Anniversary to my son and his wife (Jim & Mandy). They're celebrating 2 years today. I did remember to call each of them while in the big city. The date got here sooner than I thought.

The last couple of weeks have been very busy at work. The end of the year is coming up for me. I'm not looking forward to that. I'm hoping when I get to the office tomorrow my new computer system is complete. Got a feeling it may take them longer than they thought. I may end up back here at home to finish up my employee newsletter. Guess we'll wait and see.

Had a nice weekend. Went out for breakfast with a friend on Saturday. Good way to start the weekend. I wasn't terribly busy but got a lot accomplished. I've just about finished a 6x6 book on the Sass Creek Party. My pictures turned out real well and I had such a good time putting them together. It's a nice change working with smaller pages. Took a little getting used to but once I got going . . . .

Have some busy weekends coming up. My Aunt Lorraine will be celebrating her 85th birthday this coming Sunday. I"m planning on attending that. The following weekend is Jackson's (my great-nephew) birthday. He'll be 2 already! I haven't seen him for a couple of months and am looking forward to that. He's talking more in sentences and just being the darling little boy that he is. Hope it's a nice day for the event.

Fall is definitely here. I can't believe all the trees that are turning already and all the leaves that are already on the ground. Hope that doesn't mean a nasty winter. I can handle cold, but would prefer not to have lots of snow or ice. I'll even take snow over ice! Guess we'll all just have to wait and see.

Laundry is waiting. Take care.

Charlotte's Baptism

Jesse, Mandy, Charlotte, Jim & Barbie

Charlotte and her baptismal dress. Isn't she a doll?

Charlotte and her very proud Grandma Joy!

The happy family.

Charlotte's baptism.

Jim & Mandy had Charlotte baptized this weekend. The church is the Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines. It's an absolutely beautiful building and campus. Charlotte was a little doll. She was so good. It was a wonderful day and lot of both sides of the family were able to make it. Barb was one of her sponsors and very happy to take on that duty.

I drove down to Barb's on Saturday morning. There was some fog, but nothing that was too bad. It was a nice drive. Barb was at the ISU/Iowa game, so I let myself in, switched on the TV and watched the Cyclones get bombed! They really looked bad. My sympathies to Barbie.

Barb got home around 3:30 or so. She took a little nap. She really got sunburned. I was hoping to spend part of the evening with Jim, Mandy & Charlotte but they had made other plans so Barb and I went to The Waterfront for supper. It's a seafood place in Ankeny. Barb even ate fish! I saw it. I'm a witness!! It was very good. We came home and watched some football and NASCAR. Went to bed early as both of us were tired.

Sunday was a beautiful day. We went to church with the whole family. The baptismal service was after the regular church service in their Chapel. A very nice service. Eight babies were baptized. Charlotte, of course, was the cutest!

After much debating, it was decided to all eat together at the Cheesecake Factory in Jordan Creek. It was a very long lunch. I think we sat there for over 2 hours. The company was good and the food wasn't bad either. After the majority of us went back to their house and had cake and punch and watched the gift opening. Charlotte got a lot of nice gifts and hopefully many memories with all the pictures that were taken.

I have a terrible time putting pictures in my blog lately so they come first and then the narrative. Mandy has some great shots on her blog too. These are ones I either took or Barb sent them to me. Hope you all enjoy them.

I got a DVD from Jim with more pictures of Charlotte for her book I'm working on. I've got some of them on my computer. I'll probably be working on that this weekend. Jim & Mandy were coming but their plans changed so . . . mine did too. Maybe some other time.

I'm scrapping a book of our Creek Party. Got some shots from my sister and niece and one of their friends posted some on Facebook so I borrowed them too. It's really been fun putting this book together. We had such a great time. That too was a beautiful weekend.

Well, I lived through the day! Tuesday morning I stopped at my doctor's office and had blood drawn (aka blood letting) for my semi-annual check-up. Hurray!! It only took one stab at my left elbow to get the amount of blood needed. It usually takes much longer and I end up with both arms bruising. I'm impressed with Diane. She's really getting this down pat! I also drink a lot of water before I go -- helps!

Today I went back to find out the results of all the tests. I'm happy to say that my blood pressure is good (132/80) my numbers are where he wants them (I can't remember exactly what they were, but the good is good and the bad is good also). I just know that he was happy about it. The results weren't back yet on my A1C but they called me late this afternoon and told me it's 6.9. That's a good number for diabetes. I also lost a couple of pounds. Think I lost more than that but I know I pigged out this weekend. Do you ever weigh what you want?

The weather has been so beautiful lately. I could live with this all year around. Trees are starting to turn and some are even loosing their leaves. I think it's a little early for that but I don't have control over that either so can't do a thing about it. Want to get out and take some pictures of the hills one of these next weekends.

I have a board meeting tomorrow night and some finishing touches on some projects I've been working on at work to finish in the a.m. I've been working up brochures for each of our programs. It's been fun. I enjoy doing work like that. Next week I'm scheduled for a workshop in Ankeny. I think Brenda said we were leaving around 6 - 6:30 a.m. Hope to get to at least talk to Barb and Jim or maybe get to see them before we have to head back home. Work is starting to get busier -- fuel season is upon us. New computers are supposed to be coming for a lot of us. I'm getting a new laptop and really excited about that. The one I'm using now quits whenever it wants to!!

I best call it a night. MASH is on so I think I'll get my book and read and watch TV before going to bed.

Nite.