They came, they stayed, they left, then they visited on Halloween

Eli 9, Hugh 6, Crosby 3 as of October, 2018.

On February 23rd, 2018 the Roeder family moved into our home or I should say into half of our house, after they sold their house in West Allis.  They stayed until they found and moved into their new home in Mukwonago, out by August 4, 2018.  What a "ride" this was for me (and I know also for Bob).  I want to blog about it because it was so special and I want to remember it forever.  I also want to make a disclaimer:  Never during this time did we mean to judge or fall to the ease of giving advice, please know that we love this entire family 100% to the max, just the way they are. We felt so honored to be able to help.  Thank you for this gift of your time with us.

Every single time Crosby's uttered the words "Grandpa go?" or "Where's Grampa?" it brought smiles to our faces.  All of a sudden Crosby may have found a best buddy to play with outside at our house.  My answer to Crosby's question was usually "he's sleeping."  He loves balls of all sorts and sports.  Most evenings I could see at least 2 or 3 balls on the carpet while I watched TV.  I miss those balls.

Eli would stand by my chair often and chat away about the games he has on his iPad, explaining the characters in great detail, until often I'd say "show me on my iPad".  OK, granted, it may have been his way of getting more screen time, but not always.  Many times he'd say, "Grandma, later when I have my iPad time, do you want to sit with me?"  He is into Harry Potter, Jurassic Park and dinosaurs these days, and of course catching critters (frogs and toads mostly) outside.  

Hugh makes joyful noises, humming, singing, talking as he plays.  He often says "Do you know what? and then explains something that he is very excited to share.  Shortly after moving in and when the weather was nicer, Hugh learned to ride his two wheeler while here.  That was wow!

We would share suppers a couple of times a week and fill our table with 7 of us.  Bob and I loved every minute of this highly entertaining and talkative time, with some eating faster than others of course.  Often the discussion centered around "what was the best part of your day?"  We all got to reply to that question.

A season of Survivor was on TV during their time here and it was special to get to watch it with Raina and Andy on Thursday nights..  It was really fun, energetic, loud and emotional to watch it together.  Otherwise they watched TV in the den and we stayed in the living room.

There were sounds and sights of bouncing balls, boys coming out tattling at night, diaper changes in the hallway, great nappers (Raina and Crosby), serious dino-opoly games, balloons, ants, Captain joining us many evenings, early to bed, early to rise to get to school in West Allis and day care at Brenda's, Raina's "office" in the basement, laundry and more laundry. libraries were explored all over Walworth County, Highway 67 closed, painting of the laundry room.  So much I'd love to remember.  They saw Bob making treks nightly to the refrigerator and cupboards to find something yummy to eat.  Many times Andy would make and share home made popcorn, and he doesn't even like popcorn.

Raina and I never did to get to go on those walks together we'd hoped for.  They were working parents of very busy children, and they made this their home for awhile.  When they left, they gifted us with their broken TV, which has since been repaired (Ed W. & Henry??) and we truly enjoy in our den.  Also they gave us a new pizza cutter to replace our wobbly one, and a new watering can, but I can't remember why.  I know the boys helped water veggies and flowers in our garden.  If they broke something, it was immediately (often within the hour) replaced, like glass in a picture frame.  We all shared the basic groceries to a point, and Bob and I never felt infringed upon in any way.

We hope we gave them enough space to be a family here.  We love their new home, and feel like they got everything they wished for in a really nice town.  They live a bit closer to us now also, a secret joy of mine.

Thank you Andy and Raina for so much and also for making my knee surgery recovery more joyful.

 The garden plot.

 Good Morning when I walked into the kitchen!

 Taste Test

Hugh loved it, right?!

 Crosby looked worried and Eli is encouraging.  What were we tasting anyway?

 Good Morning Grandma!

 Another good morning, no one home but this guy!

 Found two of these 'ol dolls and Crosby was interested in their whereabouts daily.

 

 They found frogs (or were they toads) in our window wells, with Grandpa.

And I continued to read:
32. Be Careful What You Wish For by Jeffrey Archer (loving this series)
33. The Good Widow by Liz Benton &Lisa Steinke (I loved this book, the kind I can't put down)
34. All These Beautiful Strangers by Elizabeth Klehfoth (Pat P suggested) I enjoyed it a lot
35. The Unseen World by Liz Moore (book club pick by Betty G.) Took awhile to get into but then didn't want to put it down.
36. The Secrets of Midwives by Sally Hepworth
37. Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate (recommended by Lee).  Good book, referencing Tennessee Children's Society in Memphis.
38. A Gentleman in Mosco by Amor Towles (listened to 17 hours and 52 minutes!)  A good read if a person has time, references many important people and times in history, and also quirky a bit too.
39. Stranded by Jeff Probst (Book 1 of 3, Middle School age books)
40. Snow on the Tulips by Liz Tolsma
41. Stranded 2, Trial by Fire, (Book 2 of 3, by Jeff Probst) - Fun read
42. Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis (more for young moms, but I took away some great ideas regarding dreams and goals.)

Still...

Still, at my age, in the search of the perfect Sloppy Joe recipe.

Still wishing for a trip to visit Gerald & Marydonna near Los Angeles and then a drive to the redwoods.

Still wanting to drive out East, eat lobster and other seafood, visit Ben & Linda in their house, and check out hiking "near" Mount Washington, New Hampshire, maybe even riding up in the Mount  Washington Cog Railway.

Still love going up to Twin Pine Resort with our family and being on vacay the minute we arrive.

First we have Ellery - He was a trooper.

Crosby and Sydney watching Hugh fish from shore.  Tons of time is spent along the shore.

Sydney, Crosby and Hugh excited for a fast boat ride, driven by Andy.  Eli and Ed helping to push them out.

Henry and Crosby.

Raina and Crosby who is almost 3.

I think this is Liz. She and Greg brought a paddle board to share this year.

 Andy getting a new fishing pole set up for one of his boys.

Sarah and Ed.

Still trying to say "no thanks" once in awhile so we can stay home and enjoy summer in our area.

Still worrying and wondering when our family will have Christmas this year since dates got a little confused when chatting took place up at the cottage.  So sorry and sad about this.  Just so that we can all be together at some time that works for everyone.

Still dreaming, and planning and filling our calendar with adventures and loving all of the spur of the moment excursions as well.  This past week for the first time, I ate my dessert before my meal when out for lunch;  had a ribeye sandwich made and delivered to me by Governor Scott Walker at the State Fair; played penny poker; cried twice; and realized that I'm very dependent on my cell phone which needs a new battery so badly that it will not turn on, for me, or for anyone at the US Cellular Store.  An appointment has been made at the Apple Store where I'm hoping for some relief.

28. The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian (enjoyed a lot)
29. Fierce Kingdom by Gin Phillips (couldn't put it down at the cottage but hated that they didn't clear up more things at the end.
30. The Girl with Seven Names, A true North Korean Defector's Story by Hyeonseo Lee, David John (a Bette choice for book club and enlightening to the max). I loved it and learned lots about North Korea and South Korea's differences.
31. In the Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming (from Sue)

Enthusiasm comes my way in funny ways...

This is kind of a strange post because I'm having trouble changing the fonts, etc. of some of my cut and paste "saves", so I decided to let it be as it came to me.  Thoughts that I sometimes to need to read, absorb, and re-read a million times.

"When you're in a dark place, you sometimes tend to think you've been buried.
Perhaps you've been planted.
Bloom."


Meanwhile, May 22nd, I was discharged from Chelsea at Aurora Rehab and no more physical therapy appointments!  Yes!  And it's about exactly 3 months after my surgery.  Tomorrow I see the surgeon (Dr. Nicholas Webber) and he will no doubt also discharge me.  First though I will get an x-ray of my other/left knee just to make sure it's not going to need future work.

Yes, discharged from Dr. Webber.  Left knee does show arthritis and nearing bone on bone, but nowhere near surgery needs.  He gave me a cortisone shot in the left knee to see if it would help, and it has (as of July 1st today) and he prescribed some lotion for my right side sciatica, which he is calling bursitis after pressing a finger in one certain spot on my right hip.  But I disagree and believe it's sciatica. 

Anyway, I've made my first goal of mastering the Steel Bridge Songfest weekend in June and second goal of riding my bike.  Next big goal is walking in New York in October so I will continue to walk around here to help that goal.

Summers are busy crazy times in our lives as we move from one fun activity/adventure to the next.  Also love breathing time at home to re-energize.  Need to see Ellery soon.


"Sometimes feeling tired isn't about how much or how little sleep you are getting. Sometimes it's about being stretched too thin, not feeling respected, feeling lost, or unhappy. Nurturing your soul with things that make you feel good about who you are and taking steps to get to where you want to be in life can make the difference between slugging and skipping through life."

 

And then here are my books:
21. The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn, had to finish it!!!
22. The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah, one of her best!
23. The Sins of the Father by Jeffrey Archer (I hate to say it, but I do love this 2nd in a series)
24. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen.  Greg challenged a couple of grandchildren to read and respond so I decided to read it as well since I'm way behind on YP books.  Unbelievable story...
25. State of Wonder by Ann Patchett.  I chose this book for our "Milwaukee" book club and it was not a favorite of mine.  I believe I do not need to read any more of her books.  Bel Canto was ok.
26. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.  It's a play and I have tickets to see the show in New York in October.  Very excited!
27. Best Kept Secret by Jeffrey Archer.  3rd in the "Clifton Chronicles" series and I love these books.  

Right Knee, Long Haul, Patience

16. Our Town, A Play, by Thornton Thornton Wilder.  Seeing the play 4/19/18.

17. Mailboat, Book One, by Danielle Lincoln Hanna.  Short mystery, set in Lake Geneva, leaves you hanging and waiting for Book Two.

18. Night by Elie Wiesel, a record of his memories of the Auschwitz concentration camp and others.
19. The Child by Fiona Barton.  I loved it, and finished it in 6 days.  Would maybe like to read her other book The Widow.
20. Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli (Young Adult book)

Planned knee surgery 2/27/2018, titanium and stainless steel, Dr. Webber at Aurora St. Luke’s in Milwaukee.  Nerve block which lasted about 24 hours.  Stayed one night and then was urged to go home by hospital physical therapist.  I didn't want to go home because the nurses were managing my meds so well and when I got home I had to take hours figuring out what not to take, and what to take at certain times of the day.

1

2/28/2018 & our 47th Anniversary

3/9/18

3/14/18

3/31/18
Dying to gob with lotion soon.

Bob has been an excellent driver to all of my physical therapy appointments.  He put the ice machine and CPM machine up and down for me every time I asked.  He has cooked, grocery shopped, picked up meds, and vacuumed often.  Raina and Andy have been awesome helpers also.  Since Roeder's are currently living with us, Raina cooked and anticipated my needs and Andy encouraged me to increase my exercises and offered tips and suggestions.  

It's now been 6 weeks.  Although I've come a long way, it's been slow going and my patience has been challenged.  The therapists continue to claim that I'm doing great, especially strength-wise, but straightening and bending that right leg is piddling along.  

I've gone from a walker to a cane and now I'm using nothing in the house, but using a cane outside.  Later today (4/10/18) I will try to drive again for the first time.  Just a short jaunt in and out of the garage maybe, or up to the post office.  Little steps...

Now 7 weeks have passed and again the therapists say I'm doing awesome.  Need to practice stairs and try walking more to increase distance, but it hurts to walk far and I am very uncomfortable sitting for lengths of time.  I am discouraged about the stiffness and unable to straighten and bend, but I do increase my measurement goals weekly.  I see the surgeon next week, with my questions, but hearing that "the stiffness and complete recovery could take up to 6 months to a year" is very disheartening.  I thought if I did every single thing the therapists had me do, and went to every session scheduled, that I'd be 100% sooner than later.  Will I ever be at 100%?  My goal is to feel at least somewhat normal by Steel Bridge in Sturgeon Bay on the weekend of  June 15, 16, 17.  PS: Last night I slept from 9 pm until 7 am without a pain med or Tylenol.

8 weeks - or two months!  So, I had two physical therapy sessions this week (April 24, 25 & 26th) and a visit with the surgeon, Dr. Nicholas Webber.  He wants to see me again in a month to check if my RANGE OF MOTION has improved.  Can't bend the right leg as far as I should and can't straighten the leg enough.  Also will have swelling, numbness and stiffness for up to a year in that knee area.  Right knee may always be larger now than the left knee due to the size of "parts" that were replaced.

I can drive now, can gob lotion on the incision, can take Naproxen again (for arthritis, which may make my entire body feel better - was off it for 2 months) and I continue to work on stairs etc.  Going up is OK, but not going down.  B u r n ~ ~

It's been a haul and I hope I don't ever have to have the left knee replaced.

February and Marching on...

Just home from an all-inclusive vacation in Punta Cana, Bavaro, at Ocean Blue & Sand Resort.  There were 13 of us and it was 90% great, except for the end at the airport where the stress got to me.  All turned out ok, so that's the main thing, and I think the wonderful days will mask that day in our memories.

Meeting for cocktails before dinner.

My favorites of the trip:  sitting at one restaurant for lunch right on the beach and watching the gorgeous different blue hues and waves; easy over eggs in the morning; mimosa's; their champagne; friends everywhere; walking the beach; bargaining with the Glatzels at shops along the beach; and especially the bike ride/tour into town with a group; oh and delicious duck and lamb at the buffet.

Next adventure is the Roeder family moves into our house for awhile.  They sold their home and will be looking for a new one in a different location.  Excitement is in the air especially when all the germs of this winter blow away in the wind.

Then I get my right knee replacement surgery, and I'm hoping for the best, and especially to be a good patient afterward, promising to do my PT as scheduled and not whine about pain too much.

12. The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan (read in Punta Cana and on the plane, a nice gentle book with several dog eared corners where I want to remember another book title or something).
14. The Good Daughters by Joyce Maynard (Book Babes selection).
15.  Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan (Italian fiction viewpoint during Hitler and Mussolini regimes.)  Sad story, but good book.

Happy Easter and April Fools Day on Sunday.

4/21/18 -- oops, this post has been in draft since the end of March, sorry I never published it.

2018

The year begins with Bob sick with the flu even though he had the flu shot, and then he had a tooth pulled.  So he’s been laying low and lucky me, I stayed well.

I’m watching as many nominated movies as possible and heading to appointments regarding my knee replacement surgery in February.

Getting updates on Ellery and each day in pictures he looks more and more like a little boy.  Slow down Ellery, stay a baby for awhile.

So Bob and I went to see Dr. Shivago on a big screen at the Lake Geneva Theater.  We saw it years ago on a date, more than 50 years ago to be exact.  I didn’t remember a thing about the story except beautiful winter scenery, Omar Sharif and the fashionable fur hats. Good movie and music.

Opened a bag of Christmas cards we’d received in 1999.  Sadly, several were from people who had passed away since then.  Geesh, really makes me ponder life in general.

January and February are great months to read!

1. The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright (nice, Book Babes Book Club selection)
2. Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough (surprise ending)
3. The Dash Diet Weight Loss Solution by Marla Heller, MS, RD (took me a year to finish)
4. The Wonder by Emma Donoghue (really drags out....)
6. The Story of Arthur Truluv by my favorite author: Elizabeth Berg (I loved it!)
7. Turtles All the Way Down by John Green (For a YA book, it was heavy.)
8. A Stranger In the House by Shari Lapena
9. Land of Love and Drowning by Tiphanie Yanique
10. Little Deaths by Emma Flint (A "can't put it down" type 💚)

My favorite photo of Ellery (with Fox) so far.  Made an 8x10 and hung it in our hallway to love every single day.

I have 3 calendars hanging in our kitchen and I love them all!

Super Bowl Saturday fun up in the Twin Cities with Glatzels - crazy that we saw Jimmy Fallon and Chris Pratt on Saturday while wandering Nicolet Mall.  Got into crowds where we couldn't move and still kept finding each other.   Started it all off with a visit at Greg & Liz's and Paul & Betty met Ellery and Fox.  Then we stayed overnight at Sarah & Ed's and watched the game with their family.  It was a great game, back and forth scoring and all of us seemed happy with the Eagles win.  We had an amazing table filled with food to enjoy also.  Neither Finn nor Fox seemed to fall in love with Paul.  😊

Recipes that I've received from family and friends are precious gifts.  Some I've especially love lately are:
Barb LeMahieu's cornbread.
Kathy Larabee's Roast Turkey Breasts.
Elizabeth Berg's Beef Cabbage & Tomato soup.
Virginia & Grandma Schneider's Cole Slaw.
Betty Glatzel's Chicken Salad (have had this a long time, but make it so often).
Mary & Gary Schneider's St. Louis Ribs.
Connie Dorfler's Loaded Pretzel Cookies.
Jo Bateman's Prime Rib (which to be honest, I have not made yet, but Greg loves, so I want to try it one of these days.
Sharon Gernady's Pasta Fagioli

Stopped at Harpoons for a gift card yesterday, it was almost empty, but there were two couples sitting at a middle table, drinking nice cocktails and playing cards on a cold day.  Looked perfect.

Bob has been snow shoeing a bit, and I'm walking around the blocks.  February 27 is the day I get a new right knee if all goes as planned.   Lots of snow this year, very pretty and I love it as long as the roads are clear for driving.

Some memories:  swinging so high on tall swings, climbing trees and eating lunch up there, the Busy Beaver Club, secret mailboxes out in the backyard lot line where neighbor friends and I would put notes to each other and then find them on a rainy day, feeling like a nerd while attending Santa Maria del Popolo Catholic School, watching all of my aunts and uncles interact with each other, staying home with Mom on Sundays and playing games or doing nothing, riding through the cemetery with Dad and Mom and Pat, going out to dinner when young and filling up on the water before the meal arrived, drinking milk like it was going out of style, always letting our father have the first pick of the meat on the platter, pogo sticking in the basement for hours and hours, playing with 8" dolls out on the sidewalk, going to Cedar Lake and Lake Michigan with the Ulrichs (Mom would have to walk up to Meadow Gold and get the car parked there, and I wonder how Dad got home from work those days?), and the dreaded 4-H Club.

OK, tons to happen the rest of this month which I should be able to write about in mid-March.  Happy Valentine's Day to all!

Holidays and Life Goes On

Holidays are about people - family and friends.  It doesn't matter where, when, or how we celebrate, it's always memories in the making.   Thanksgiving and Christmas at our house is over so we can relax and smile...  A BIG thing this year for me is that I was able to see all 3 of our kids' trees in person.  Observing some of their special ornaments on their beautiful trees was amazing.  Life goes on...

Also, sadly, we lost our amazing friend, Dion, between the two holidays.  He fought pancreatic cancer for 22 months and I never heard him complain.  "It is what it is" he said more than once, and his faith surrounded him.  What an inspiration he was to his family and friends!  We will miss him to the max, thinking of him always with smiles.  Life goes on...

Ellery Neil Schneider-Bateman was born on December 10th while we were at Dion's wake.  Liz had Ellery in the water with what seemed to be the perfect birthing story.  They brought him home the same night and settled in with a new love in their life.  We were able to get up to meet him when he was just over a week old - sleeping in Bob's arms. 

35. The Dry by Jane Harper - finally finished, big ending, but did still left me hanging a bit, as in "what next?"
36. The Baker's Secret by Stephen P. Kiernan
37. The Mountain Story by Lori Lansens, very good, recommended by Pat P.
38. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley - I did not like it, but finished it anyway
39. The Good Girl by Mary Kubica - I loved it but want to re-read the ending
40. Lillian Boxfish Takes A Walk by Kathleen Rooney
41. Before the Fall by Noah Hawley (Bob and I listened to one together and at the end we just looked at each other, like, "long book to get to this ending").
42. The Stars Are Fire by Anita Shreve

Posting this late as I wanted to include more photos, but it's a work in progress, so I shall publish and say that 42 was not enough books in 2017.

These are my Grandma Ann Dorfler's dishes, every day or for special occasions, I don't remember, but I ate off of them many times.  Trying to sell them on Craig's List but haven't written a good pitch (ad) so will have to redo it in 2018.  No one else in the family wants them.  There is no wording on the bottom of the dishes.  Should I call them "vintage"?