Always Have The Best Of Intentions (to blog)

Shortly after the last post was written, my dad died.  He spent 4 days in hospice then peacefully passed away.

His "Celebration of Life" is this Friday.

The kids have had 2 weeks and 1 day off school. They go back on Tuesday. On Wednesday after they come home, we'll leave to start our road trip to Tucson. We have a hotel to stay at in Bakersfield for Wednesday night then will finish the trip to Tucson on Thursday. Originally Steve wanted to drive the entire 14-16 hour trip in one day. So grateful he's changed his mind.

My Grandma has been put on a special patch vs. a pill she was taking for her memory issues. She's "different" while on it. A little better w/her memory in some aspects but her personality is a little "off" in other areas. The jury's still out. I take her to her eye doctor on Tuesday and Neurologist on Wednesday. She is really enjoying the in home companions who spend 3 1/2 hours every evening with her - so grateful for her change of heart with them!!! They are wonderful - they talk to her, cook, clean, help with laundry, make sure she takes her meds, etc.

We took a much needed mini-vacation and spend New Year's Eve weekend Saturday/Sunday in San Francisco with our best friends - a husband/wife and their 11 year old twins. We spent the day on Saturday at the Exploratorium, went to the hotel, ate at a yummy restaurant across the street for dinner, tried to stay up, had mini bottles of sparkling cider and confetti poppers for midnight. Shelby was the only one of the 8 of us who was sleeping at midnight.  On Sunday, the dads went to a football game while the rest of us explored - there were amazing trails to hike, the weather was perfect, there were even paved trails Shelby could navigate with her powerchair. Eventually, we ate lunch and drove home, ate pizza then the dads came back, our friends loaded into their car and drove off.

So relieved we have a day off tomorrow - Steve and the kids are all off work/school so a day to recharge, make a few calls, visit Nanny, get a haircut, hopefully an appt for the van to get checked out before our road trip, and get the kids ready for school...all 2 days of it before we leave again. Darlene (my "bonus mom") didn't want to hold the funeral around Christmas or New Year's, hence the timing for the memorial.

It's definitely becoming a busy 2012!!!