Updates, Another Trip to California, a Difficult Visit and Decision for Dad's Care Conference...

I arrived in California last Wednesday (May 15th) and spent two days with my oldest daughter in Beaumont. My oldest grand son (the 10 year old) did a report on Mickey Mantle.  As part of his report, he was to dress as the person he wrote about and stand like a statue in front of his display.  He had a button which we all had to push and then my grand son would begin to recite his report.  He had 17 people push his button.  We all enjoyed all the individual and interesting reports his class mates selected as well.

I helped my daughter prepare and make decorations for my younger daughter Jodee's Bridal shower on May 19th, held and talked with my newest grandson, Baby G as well as his brothers... (My oldest daughter is very protective of her boys, so again, she is my disclaimer as she will not allow me to put any pictures or mention the names of the 10 year old, the 8 year old or the newest, Baby G.)

Friday I drove to Mom's home and spent the night.  We had visits from two of my brothers, which ended up being a really fun time filled with laughter as we looked through the family pictures Mom and I were sorting through.

Saturday morning, Mom and I drove to Claremont to meet my sister Holly for a delayed Birthday and Mother's Day celebration. We enjoyed a relaxing breakfast at Walter's restaurant in the Village, then did some thrift store and other shopping before a nice lunch at Chili's in Glendora where we also saw the movie The  Big Wedding, which was a HUGE disappointment and I would NOT RECOMMEND it.

Since twisting my ankle last November, I can no longer wear flip flops.  I found some really comfortable shoes by Sketcher's called GO WALKS, which are a slip on tennis shoe.  VERY COMFORTABLE.  I bought them at Kohl's and told both Mom and Holly about them.  Mom hates to shop, so she usually waits in the car while my sister and I shopped.  We decided to buy Mom a pair and split the cost.  We had Mom try them on in the parking lot...and she LOVED THEM!  Happy Mother's Day Mom!!!

Sunday, my sister, my nephew's wife (Mother of my sister's FIRST GRAND SON), several of my daughter's friends, Mom and I attended my youngest daughter's Bridal shower.  She looked beautiful and we all had a great time. The highlight was my oldest daughter asking my youngest daughter questions asked to my daughter's fiancé.  For every wrong answer, Jodee had to shove a piece of Double-Bubble gum into her mouth, chew it and continue to answer questions.  Thankfully, for her, she answered 10 right out of 15...and technically, four of the five were right, but the girlfriend holding the bubble gum was very motivated to keep sticking it into her mouth...  My oldest daughter did a magnificent job of decorating as well as baking all the yummy goodies. It was a fun shower.

The rest of my visit I stayed with Mom, finishing our "photo project" sorting through all the family photos.  We had so many, we decided to make a big envelope for each kid in the family.  Now Mom has all the family photos all organized and in labeled photo boxes.  I did some cleaning and more de-cluttering so Mom can get the carpets cleaned, buy a new living room set and hire a cleaning lady.

Last Monday I called and made reservations for our favorite hotel in Laguna to stay in January for three nights.  Mom, my daughter Jodee, my sister Holly and I are going.  My older daughter Holly may join us for a day.  We used to go every year, but have not gone for the past three or four years.

This past Tuesday, May 21, 2013, was my Dad's Care Conference.  Mom usually attends alone with me attending via the telephone.  It turned out to be my turn for a depressing visit...  I was very emotional and Mom was forced to be the strong one...

Mom and I found Dad parked in his wheel chair against the wall, slumped over with both his eyes closed.  His hair was combed nicely, his hands were "lubed up" (due to his dry skin) and he wore a nice, soft, baby blue jogging suit with a beige t-shirt.  He looked frail, thin and gaunt.

 I went over to him and gently put my hand on his shoulder and greeted him with my pet name for him, "Papa-Doots".... no response...

I shook his shoulder softly and called to him again.  Very softly, so low I could barely hear what he was saying, he shook his head in disagreement...

Shaken, I went back over to where Mom had been standing, talking with one of the care givers.  Doctor-Doctor walked up wheeling another patient and gave us both hugs.  She stopped and looked around the corner and said something to another nurse who went over and bent over talking to Dad....

I watched and did not see him responding to her either.  Mom and I decided we would wheel him outside thinking it was too noisy for him to hear...

After wheeling him outside, he opened one eye and responded warmly to Mom...calling her "Lynnie, his wife..."  He told her how beautiful she looked and how happy she looked.  Mom told Dad I was there...

I sat in front of Dad on his "good ear" side, and greeted him again...his clasped hands never left his lap, he smiled and greeted me, calling me Donna...but did not reach out for a hug as he usually does.  I did not feel he knew who I was...I brought my camera and took pictures...

We asked if the sun felt good on his back and he said it did.  Mom asked if he would like his sunglasses and left to go check his room for He had not had a morning shave and his eyebrows and mustache needed trimming...

I asked how he felt...."Fine...I feel just fine..."

I asked if his teeth hurt..."No, I grit my teeth hard to keep them strong....I am afraid of losing them." 

I watched as he gritted his teeth and made a mental note to ask the Social Worker at the nursing home to schedule Dad for a teeth cleaning...

I asked if his foot hurt..."No, it feels fine..."

I asked if his right eye hurt...."Yes, it hurts all the time..... I close my eyes and pretend I am blind so it makes me feel more comfortable..."

I was on the verge of tears anyway, so this pushed me over the edge and I began softly crying because I did not want him to hear...and thankfully, he kept his eyes closed so he could not see me...

All I could manage was, I love you Dad...

"I love you too Donna..."

I sat and memorized his face, as I often do on my visits...never taking for granted the fact it could be the last time I see him...The skin cancer on his upper lip looks like an open sore.  It makes it difficult for the care givers to shave around it, so they are allowing him to have a mustache.  Dad has always been meticulous in his grooming...so his tongue was constantly patrolling the edge of his mustache which was a bit un-even and needed a little trimming....

I asked Dad about his breakfast and he responded by telling me he did not eat that much...(although his male nurse told us he ate everything...)

Mom reappeared and announced she could not find his sunglasses.... (Mom and I have been de-cluttering and cleaning her home and found a couple of pairs...so Mom will bring them next visit...)

Mom saw how upset I was, so she chatted with Dad about family news in a cheerful and animated voice.... Dad enjoyed it...smiling....but still talking very softly...Dad kept yawning, opening his mouth to the biggest, longest yawns....We asked if he was tired and he told us he wasn't...

In between lulls in the conversation, Dad would announce random fears.... "I'm afraid the moon will fall on me... When I fly high in the sky, I am afraid to touch the moon...."

Mom skillfully changed the subject and told Dad she would soon be 86 in June...

"That's old...", Dad announced.  Both Mom and I chuckled.

I told Dad I would be 66 in June....no comment by Dad...although I thought I detected a rise in his bushy eyebrows...

Mom asked Dad how old he would be...."Around 95" he stated... Mom reminded Dad he would be 93 in November.

"I'll take it." Dad smiled...

Mom asked how many children they shared....

"Five kids?"  Mom corrected him again and told him they had six....and went on to inform him they had 12 grand kids and 5 great grand kids.

"Babies make me happy..." Dad sighed.  Mom smiled, telling him how good he always was with all the children and grand children...

"I like horses soft noses..." Dad announced, changing the subject... I agreed with him on how soft horses noses were and how much we used to enjoy feeding the horses, and how their soft lips would tickle the palm of our hands as their lips would feel and search for the apples and carrots we would feed them.  (I had a roan gelding quarter horse when I was a teenager and Dad and I would go up to the stables where we boarded "Rusty" and feed him.)

"I like riding horses....but I am afraid to fall off..."

I told Dad if he pretended or dreamed of riding horses, he would never fall off....

Dad exploded into a laugh-cough and told me, "That's right!"

"I like swimming in the Don River..."  (We think this is a river Dad used to swim in in Connecticut...)

Mom complimented Dad on his swimming and how good of a swimmer he was...

"You used to like to swim too..." (meaning Mom)  Mom quickly reminded him she did not swim (and still does not to this day)....

"Grandpa Watt loved to swim too...he LOVED the cold water.  He used to take ice baths to prepare him to swim in the North Sea..."  (in Ireland).

Mom and I agreed....Dad tells the story of his grand father a lot....

"I'm afraid of cold water....I don't like it..."

I told Dad not to worry...we'd make sure the water was nice for swimming...

"I don't worry anymore...."  (Dad's mouth opened in a huge yawn, wide enough to see the back of his throat...)

Both of us told Dad we were glad to hear it...

"I always liked a lot of room....now I have it."

Mom and I looked at one another with questioned expressions...then shrugged and continued to listen to Dad...who continued to yawn like a garage door opening....

Mom pointed to her watch, indicating it was time for Dad's Care Conference...Mom leaned into Dad and told him we had an appointment so we would not have time to stay for lunch with him.  Dad told her it was OK....

At Dad's Care Conference, we were happy to have the newest Hospice nurse sitting in with the rest of us.  She has been excellent in keeping me informed of Dad's vitals, sending pictures of Dad's foot, following up on recent blood tests taken on Dad and updates on Dad's weight.

The nursing staff and wound care personnel for the nursing home have done an incredible job in keeping Dad's skin cancer growth on his toe, from infection over the past four years...but it is beginning to get a slight odor.  The doctor ordered a blood test and Dad's WBC has been steadily rising from 19.3 to 23.8.  Dad's doctor has had Dad on antibiotics and antibiotic cream for ten days at a time, then repeats the blood test.  Dad is due for another blood test May 26th or 27th when the ten days of antibiotics is complete.

Dad weighs 125.  His weight continues to go down, despite his appetite.

We reviewed Dad's Advance Directives... Our family has been discussing Dad's foot and have decided rather than amputating Dad's foot (if the infection should lead to it) we have decided allowing the infection to take him, keeping him medicated so he would not feel any pain, would be the most humane.  All the staff agreed it was much better than putting him through surgery.

Dad is being given Tylenol 500mg every 12 hours.  I asked the staff to monitor him closely and to consider giving him it more often with the possibility of giving him something stronger if indicated as Dad may not be able to articulate he is in pain... The Hospice nurse said she would follow up with Dad's doctor.

Dad has very poor circulation in his legs which adds to the difficulty is treating the skin cancer on his baby toe.  In the past, Dad's doctor has said if we did amputate, it would have to be taken above his knee due to the poor circulation.  Dad's doctor has been doing weekly Cryotherapy treatments to prevent the growth from getting too big.

Mom shared how much Barbara Karnes, a popular speaker, Author and Hospice Nurse, had helped her make difficult decisions for both herself and Dad.  Mom has contacted the Neptune Society and arranged for both her and Dad's final arrangements.  Mom also shared how meeting and talking with Barbara Karnes had given her such peace, eliminating her fear of death and dying.

Mom, my husband and I had recently attended a lecture from Barbara Karnes in Pasadena, CA while in California for my niece's wedding the beginning of May.  We all really enjoyed it as well as meeting Barbara.  Several of the staff were unfamiliar with her, but the Hospice nurse opened her binder showing us two of Ms. Karnes' books.  (If interested, you can read her blog on link on top left column of my blog or read here.)

Several of the nurses and staff attending the Conference shared their personal stories in caring for their loved ones who had died.  It was very moving and emotional listening and sharing.  Two of the nurses had tears in their eyes when Mom and I shared the family decision...they genuinely care so much for Dad.  We feel they are an extension of our family. We have been so blessed to have found this particular nursing home... the level of care has been extraordinary.  The atmosphere is very homey and we have always commented on how the staff is always friendly and smiling...

After the Care Conference, Mom and grabbed some lunch "to go" and went to her Alzheimer's Support Group.  She has a wonderful group of women and men to rally around her along with  a compassionate and well informed Facilitator, who has become a dear friend.

I have been traveling back and forth between Nevada and California either alone or with my husband for various family events as well as visiting Dad since December, so my blogging as been few and far between.  This month I was in California twice.  Some days I don't know whether I am coming or going...

I have been commissioned to do an acrylic painting measuring 24" x 24".  It is to be delivered by the end of June, so next month, despite family high school, grammar school graduations and birthdays I am planning on staying home to complete the painting.

Updates...A Little Of This and A Little Of That...

Its drizzling today... October always dials down the temperature.  By Halloween it will be very chilly here and will spin us into our winter season.

I am tidying up my desk, AGAIN...getting the last minute details resolved before my sister arrives tomorrow morning. I AM SO EXCITED! My husband and his buddy leave in the afternoon for California.  He has his annual Mexico trip with his good friends and a couple of his sons.  My sister and I will have the house to ourselves and a whole seven days to do whatever we feel like doing, whenever we feel like doing it.  Stay tuned, I will be posting some of our activities...

I have been talking with my daughter Jodee every day and little Jacob continues to be a "good" baby.  He is eating and sleeping every two to three hours. His navel raisin fell off the other day.  Her incision is healing and feeling better and better.  She has been able to get some good sleep and naps, as her boyfriend Jeff cooks her delicious meals and helps so much with the baby.  I am so happy everything is going so well...I miss them so much.

I learned I do not have arthritis of the eye, it is actually called Episcleritis, which is inflammation in the outer part of the white of the eye.  My doctor compared it to arthritis of the eye, in that it involves inflammation.  She suggested artificial tear eye drops, green leafy vegetables, fish oil and to let her know if I have any further problems.

My kink in my neck is a lot better...still a little stiff, but way better...at least I can turn my head now...pretty tricky driving home from California and not being able to look over my shoulder...

Since Izzy returned from boarding, she no longer hides under my bed when it is time to get in her crate.  She just goes right in without a fuss.

Last night my husband and I went to see WALL STREET.  We planned on going on his birthday, but we were both too tired. I may have to see it again, because I am "investment challenged" with all that Wall Street Talk, but the acting by Carrie Mulligan and Shia La Beouf really stood out.  Frank Langella always delivers and it was nice to see Susan Sarandon again.  Haven't seen her in any movies in awhile.  Michael Douglas as always was a toned down Gordon Greko.  The scenes with his daughter (Mulligan) were very touching.

I feel so bad for Michael Douglas, having stage four throat cancer.  He looks so gaunt in recent pictures and is under going chemo.  I have always been a fan of the Douglas men.  I was a huge Kirk Douglas fan, especially in SPARTACUS, THE VIKINGS, TWENTY THOUSAND LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA and LUST FOR LIFE. 

His Father fought with a vengeance after his stroke, so lets hope Michael can beat throat cancer...

Poor Dad Was Clipped A Little Too Close...And A Movie Review...

The Podiatrist came today and did Dad's nails.  The nursing home called me to let me know the Podiatrist had trimmed one nail too short and cut his toe!  The wound care nurse was concerned due to his circulation issues.  She left word with his Physician to look at the toe and assured me they would monitor his recovery.  She said Dad was upset and very uncomfortable. 

Dad will probably not want the Podiatrist to cut his toenails in the future.  Now I see why Dad was not more anxious to get them done.  A few other red flags have occurred that gave me pause with this guy, I think I will call the Administrator on Monday and see if there is another Podiatrist they can use...


My daughter and I enjoyed our "date" today.  We each sent pictures via our cell phones of one another being excited.  She told me she would keep my picture as her wallpaper of her phone...

Her movie started an hour earlier than mine, but we spoke afterward.  She had to eat, because she was so hungry.  When I was eating, she was home and ready to take a nap.

We both had weird reactions to the movie.  Elizabeth Gilbert wrote Eat Pray Love in more plentiful times.  I think my reaction was in part, due to our current economic times when so many are struggling financially.  It seemed abundantly self indulgent and extravagant.  I wasn't moved. Maybe it was Julia Roberts. I remember seeing an interview with the author on Oprah, and I liked Liz Gilbert...I don't know, it lost my interest, kind of like the book.  I stopped reading a good way into India.

She wanted balance, but it seemed her balance meant finding a man she could feel balanced with. I think when we each find someone with the right chemistry, physical, emotional and spiritual compatibilities, we feel like we have found nirvana.  Although there were some meaningful and good deeds done, I had a difficult time staying awake.  It fell flat for me, and I would say wait for the rental...

Bad Backs, Diving and The Creature From The Black Lagoon...

Fasted fourteen hours to test my cholesterol levels this morning.  I know my numbers will be high.  It is always way up there in the summer months, mainly because I cannot stay away from ice cream and frozen yogurt.  When it is hot outside, it is my excuse not to anything, let alone exercise.

After my appointment, I took myself out to Coco's for breakfast.  They have a special breakfast for $3.99.  Two eggs, two pieces of bacon or sausage, country potatoes and my choice of pancakes or toast.  I chose toast.  Sat there and read the book I am reading (SHADOW DIVERS by Robert Kurson).  I had tried to read it this morning while I was distracting myself from food...and Izzy got behind me on the couch, put her paws on my shoulder and kept giving me wet willies in my ear...

This book is so exciting!  I can't wait for the movie.  It is suppose to come out in 2012.  I will be buying a ticket the first day!  It was so nice to sit and relax and read to my hearts content...

I ran some errands and then came home because my back was really hurting...

I have been cleaning out our master closet the past few days...threw my back out again.  I am serious pain.  I feel like someone threw acid on my left clavicle and then stabbed me with a huge 12 inch butcher knife!  Got my ICY HOT PAK on, listening to CREED and just took a Motrin...hopefully, it will help me finish this post...

Never heard from the nurse at the nursing home yesterday, so I called.  No new orders and basically she gave me the same report Mom did.  I asked to be transferred to the social worker and then asked for Dad to be put on the list for the Podiatrist.  My last visit his feet looked like the monster from  the movie, CREATURE OF THE BLACK LAGOON... 

She assured me he was on the list.  She told me Mom had left her a voice mail too.  I complained we had visited twice (once me and once my sister) when the podiatrist had been there.  We both told the CNA we would wait while he had his nails trimmed and we were each reassured it could be done afterward.  Both times the guy left!  So hopefully, we can get him trimmed soon.

The social worker also told me Dad's new glasses arrived.  It only took two months.  They make them in the prisons.  I wanted to know his eye prescriptions to make sure he can a new prescription instead of just a replacement.  In the process of looking up his last eye exam, she told me each time Dad returns back from a hospital visit, they close out his other chart and start a new one.  WHaaaaaaaaaaat???  She explained they were short on storage space.  Is it me?  That makes zero sense to me!!

That would certainly explain the problem they have not calling me consistently about Dad!!!!  I told her I had concerns his past history would not be readily available.  She reassured me all his allergies and pertinent information is transferred over to the new chart.  Have any of you ever heard of that before?  Is this common on Medicare-Medi-Cal patients??

Today was my youngest daughter's last day of work as she begins her maternity leave.  I spoke with her tonight and she was very emotional leaving work today.  She is due to have my third grand son in two weeks.

I'm pooped...I'm hitting the sack early for a change...night, night...

The Navy, The Marines, A Movie, And An Appointment For A CT SCAN...

I called the nursing home this morning to see if Dad's primary care physician had been to see him this past week, as he told me he would.  The charge nurse told me the doctor had not been to see Dad, but she usually sees him on Fridays, so maybe he would come today.

I sent the doctor a brief email, as a follow up, and asked him to please contact me after he saw Dad.  I reminded him again, if possible, how much I would appreciate Dad's scan to be scheduled on Monday, August 2nd, when I am in California.

I called Mom to fill her in, as well as writing an email to the family.  Mom told me she was going to visit Dad today, but was concerned about his foot wounds.  We discussed her talking to his skin/wound care nurse.  The last time Mom visited, the skin care nurse advised us taking Dad back to his vascular surgeon as she is very concerned about the poor circulation in both his legs.

The few times I took Dad to see his vascular surgeon, he emphasized repeatedly to have Dad wear his compression stockings.  He told me to make sure Dad put them on before stepping foot out of bed in the morning, and removing them when he was going to bed for the night. I know if we took Dad, the first question out of the vascular surgeon's mouth would be to ask if Dad is wearing his stockings.  If we tell him we are not making Dad where them, I doubt he will have much sympathy.

Mom went to visit Dad and found him sitting with the "hand holding" gentlemen at a table in the lunch room.  Dad had his eyes closed. When Mom sat down and greeted them, Dad smiled, but kept his eyes closed.  He told her he has to keep his eyes closed because he doesn't want to look at the young girls with such longing...

Several of the staff, including Doctor-Doctor came to visit and chat with Mom.  Mom pulled her aside and slipped $40 into her smock pocket, to make up for us canceling Dad's last CT Scan, where she had planned to ride with Dad in the transport van.  Doctor-Doctor tried to refuse it, but Mom insisted.  She told Mom she would buy things for Dad with it.  Mom told her it was for HER!

The CNA brought Dad a glass of Ensure, which he downed quickly.  Shortly after his lunch of fish sticks, tartar sauce, spinach, baked french fries, whole wheat bread, butter, milk, coffee and ice cream was served.  Possibly he was full from the Ensure because he did not want his lunch.  He told Mom he had too much to do and was going to work in the garden in back...

Mom told him the nurses would not let him work so hard if he did not eat properly and have the energy.  He still refused and wanted nothing else to eat.  When I spoke with the charge nurse this morning, she told me Dad had to be persuaded to eat more of his breakfast.

Dad's friend at the table was a gunner on a Navy ship in the South Pacific. Mom said he and Dad were having some conversation.  Dad told Mom his friend was a fellow Marine.  The gentleman spoke up and corrected Dad, reminding him he was in the Navy, and he helped haul the Marines to wherever they wanted to go.

Dad shut his eyes again.  Mom asked if he was tired and wanted to return to his room.  Dad let her know the staff would take care of him.  Mom told him she was going to leave and he asked her why, still keeping his eyes closed. Mom explained my brother had painted her craft room and she was busy sorting and putting everything back in the room.  Dad simply told her good bye and seemed aloof.

I got a call around 4pm from the nursing home, informing me Dad's physician had been in to see him and written orders for the CT SCAN.  She asked what time would be convenient for the scan, 7:30 am or 12:30 pm.  I figured Dad would have a chance to eat some breakfast if he had the later appointment, so that is what we settled upon.

I let her know we would request Doctor-Doctor to go with Dad in the transport van and asked her to let the scheduling lady know.  She told me she would.

I called Doctor-Doctor and she told me she would be glad to.  She would check with her supervisor the next day and check her schedule.  She told me she would call me back, once she found out if she was scheduled off or not.

I had a relaxing  and productive day today.  My neighbor and I went to Panera Bread for lunch and she suggested the Fuji Pear Chicken Salad.  It was delicious! Afterward, we planned on seeing KARATE KID, but when we got to the theatre, we were told it was no longer showing.  So we got back in the car and went to another theatre and saw TOY STORY 3.  It was a-d-o-r-a-b-l-e!  I even cried.

Remember Those Good Ol' Days?

Yesterday, my daughter in law, her hubby, my hubby and I all went to see Adam Sandler's GROWN UPS.
What a fun, feel good movie this was.  The story is about some childhood friends whose lives were touched by their basketball coach. 

The coach dies and they all gather again to pay their respects. They all return to the coach's weekend retreat at a lake to scatter his ashes.  I don't want to give it away, but it was a reminder to all and showing how much fun there is without technology.

It reminded me of my childhood and the fun our family had, just sitting around together.  We could entertain one another just with our antics and interactions with one another.  Some of my hardest laughter came from hanging out with my family, usually around the dinner table or afterwards trying to watch the television.

During the day, we were rarely inside.  We got out of the house as soon as possible to avoid doing chores. We spent the day playing outside or at our friend's homes.  We roamed near and far to our home, often without our parent's knowledge.  Certainly many the places we went could have had drastically different results in a different time and place, but we were blessed...

Our imagination was our best toy.  There was never a limit to what we could do or where we could go.
We just had to be home by the time the street lights were on.  We didn't dare be late for dinner, or we would starve.  I have four brothers, so trust me, if my sister or I were late, there were no apologies for eating our dinner.

Our humor was always the entertainment.  Everything generated from it.  Nothing was sacred.  It it got a laugh, it was fair game.  We learned to not take anything too seriously and to laugh at ourselves. Oh, the precious memories we shared...

How about you?  Do you remember those good ol' days?

A nice day for moi...

Today, my daughters in California, went to register the younger one, at Target, for her upcoming baby shower.  Afterward, they went to see SEX AND THE CITY (part II).  After the show, they went to TGIF for lunch.  I  had called to let them know, I would see the movie here in Nevada. They are huge fans of the TV series and saw the first movie. We all looked forward to discussing it afterward, as if we had all three gone together...

I dressed up, put jewelry on and everything...and away I went.  I sat next to a couple of gals around my age, but they were not into sharing the experience with a stranger...they even talked during the movie!!  Very bad form...

I really liked the first SATC, and this one had some funny parts, maybe it is just me...but it kind of bugged me they filmed it in Abu Dhabi.  Did some Sheik put up the money for the film?  Maybe it was an excuse to spend the  reported million dollars on the clothes...Part of the mystique of the four woman is New York...and the majority of the movie was far, far, from New York...

Ran some errands after the movie and then took myself out to lunch.  I had left Izzy alone at the house for five and a half hours.  When I opened the door, there she was, wagging that curly tail and so happy to see me.

She got her new "summer do" on Tuesday, here are some pics of her...

Izzy and I had a nice walk, my husband came home early

and tonight is

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE....

Life is good...