A Year of Change

First off, thanks for all your calls and comments about Lacey, it’s still hard but hopefully will get better each day.

The day started off pretty normal with lots of work and the boys in school. I touched base with Lori more than usual as she had a doctor appointment at 2:45 as she has had a really bad monthly cycle. By the time she made it to the doctor, thankfully, her blood count was so low that they were really scared and rushed her to the hospital for emergency surgery! She called me and told me and I couldn’t believe it! I could tell she was a little freaked out as she said the doctor (who was the one who delivered both boys) was really worried. They had her in the operating room within 30 minutes and 15 minutes later after some sort of D&C (I think that’s what they called it) she was in recovery.

She had lost so much blood her blood was almost peach colored when they pricked her finger. Luckily I forced her to call the doctor Monday for an appointment and bought her iron supplements 3 or 4 days ago. The doctor said that if she had waited even through the night, she would have been coming to the hospital in an ambulance and it could have been touch and go! Unfreakinbelievable! All this, and the day after Lacey.  Anyhow almost immediately her color came back and she looked much better. The doctor said it’ll be two weeks before her blood count gets built back up to normal. Thankfully she didn’t have to have a transfusion but they had called the blood bank and had it ready just in case. She’ll just be tired for a while and needs to eat lots of protein and take it easy. I’ll need to go buy some steaks for her today. The doctor asked her if she was feeling bad when she arrived and she said “no, just a little tired”. They were shocked to say the least. Also no driving for a few days (thankfully she didn’t pass out at the wheel yesterday) so she’ll be laying low at home. I screwed up a little not making her go to the doctor last week when I thought she should but she kept telling me she was fine. Last time I’ll listen to her! She asked me if I wanted to trade her in on a new model and I said, “no way, first off I couldn’t afford a new model and besides, I’ve got this one (meaning her) all fixed up”.

So, what a close call, thank God for watching over her and us. Thanks to Uncle T and Aunt Ali for taking the boys. They were fine until right before we picked them up on the way home from the hospital. Ty is still really upset about Lacey as is Jag, but he handles it much better. They too knew something was going on with Mom but didn’t know what, which didn’t help.

Oh well, at least now, hopefully, we can have a few normal days and relax. I just had to laugh as we’re swimming in medical bills (I was actually getting calls from doctors offices asking about payments while I was at the hospital, ha ha) and now there just piling on. Oh well, it’s only money.

Take care and God Bless.

Yesterday we lost our beloved puppy of almost 15 years, Lacey. When we woke up she wouldn’t eat and her breathing was very heavy. She ended up falling asleep in Mom’s arms with me by her side a little before noon. Needless to say then, and even now as I write this, the tears were flowing. She was such a good dog and was such a big part of all of our lives. I won’t go into the kids emotions as I have a hard enough time dealing with my own while writing this post. I remember when Lori and I picked her out right after we met 14 some years ago. We selected her out of a group of 6 or 8 puppies. She was so cute and funny stumbling over her brothers and sisters trying to get to us. I could go on and on about the great memories we had with her but just can’t do it right now. I think those of you that knew Lacey know what I’m talking about. We pray she is resting in peace and like Ty said, playing ball with Grandpa in heaven. We’ll all miss her very very much.

That’s all I have for today as I can’t write anymore right now, take care and God Bless.

It must be zero outside with the wind chill even lower. Lori was up first with Lacey and I then followed and boy is it cold downstairs.

Today the boys will need to bundle up as it’ll be 15 degrees or so at lunchtime. The kids had lots of homework yesterday as I think they’re ramping them up a bit at school. Lori might go to the office today but I’m not sure.

Lori needs the computer and I’m pre-occupied with work so that’s it for today. We hope everyone is doing well, take care and God Bless.

Yesterday we all were busy as I said the day before. I bagged 18 pheasants and my buddy Matt is going to cook them all up by wrapping them in bacon with some jalapeno’s and something else, all I know is they sure are good! Mom and Ty made a volcano and came home covered in paper mache and Jag and I went to see the movie Lone Survivor about the Navy Seals in Afghanistan. It had special meaning as the Mom of one of the 4 guys in the movie (that didn’t make it back) gets her hair done where Lori and I go. A few weeks ago she was having a fundraiser while I was getting my haircut and was asking for $20 donations for a book she wrote and her foundation. I said I’d donate the $20 but didn’t need the book but they insisted I take the book. I started reading it on the plane to New York a week and a half ago and it gave me some special insight to the movie. The book wasn’t about her sons missions while being a Seal but rather about his life and how he got there from the time he was born up until he died. These kids, and I say kids as most of them are in their 20’s or 30’s at most, really are the closest things we have today as true hero’s. Their training seems to take away all fear and when shot or in harms way, tends to make them more determined to win. Anyhow the movie I’m sure embellished things a bit (as my buddy who was in the military who  knew a guy or two that died on one of the missions told me how it really happened) was chocked full of non stop action and a little heavy but Jag handled it fine. I kept checking with him during the show to see if anything was bothering him. We talked after the movie about war in general and why countries and people have wars and he’s a lot more mature than you’d think he is.

We made it home before Mom and Ty and hung out waiting for them. Lacey was fine while we were gone as I made her go out 3 times before we left but she must have walked over to the bathroom in the middle of the night and did her business there as I stepped right in it this morning. She’s drinking tons of water and I’m afraid some of her organs are failing. Looks like I’ll need to take her in to the vet again.

There’s a little snow outside this morning but I just used a broom to sweep off the walk. It’ll be cool and warm on and off all week. I’m really trying to stay away from politics but it’s really hard! It’s really dry in our house as our humidifier broke 3 months ago and we haven’t had the cash to buy a new one. I need to get that done soon.

Tomorrow Lori is going to Mama Mia with her friend Aime. That should be fun for her.  Not sure if Lori is going into the office today or not. I have a long conference call and then will get on cleaning the basement.

That’s about it, my back is a little sore from walking for 3 hours carrying a shotgun and wearing a vest full of 4 pound roosters but all good. Hope everyone is doing well, Super Bowl this weekend, Go Bronco’s!

Yesterday around 10:30, Peggy, Lori, the boys and I headed for the Stock Show. Lori called my Mom but she had a call scheduled with Robi or something. We arrived about a half hour after the rodeo had started but rodeo tickets were $1 more than general admission so we chose those. We were in the very top row but the view was good. After watching for an hour or so we decided to head out to the stock yards as Jag was sneezing from all the dust. In fact I took him to the medical tent for some Zyrtec which is an antihistamine. We then walked around and the boys had bbq turkey legs (their favorite) and we looked at the animals. By the time we arrived home it was 3pm or so.

We decided to just stay home for dinner and invited the Harris’s over to join us. We had a good time and wrapped things up around 9 or so.

Lacey woke Lori up sometime during the night, I know as she knocked something (I think a toy) off the stairs and I heard it come crashing down. When I woke up at 5:15, she had peed on the last bed we have (she ruined another one yesterday during the day) and then had an accident from the other end, right after she came in from us letting her out, while Lori was cleaning things up. I’m afraid she’s losing control of her bladder.

Today I’m heading out to hunt some chukar and pheasants while Lori is going to Destination Imagination to build a life size paper mache volcano! I should be home by 1 at the latest. Peggy is headed back home to Aspen sometime this morning.

That’s about it, not sure where we’ll put Lacey while we’re both gone as we’re out of dog beds. Hope you all are well, take care and God Bless.

Did you know there’s not much on tv at 4:30 am on Saturday morning? I thought there would be more choices, but no, not much going on. Lori came down at 4:15 to move Lacey to her bed but 5 minutes later she was barking again so down I went. I tried to go back to sleep but just couldn’t, oh well, it gives me more time to write the blog and surf the net before heading to the gym.

Today we’re headed to the Stock Show. I think we’ll skip the car show event tonight but Peggy will be staying with us another night before driving home to Aspen tomorrow morning. Hope her event was fun last night.

Ty went to Vinny’s house last night after school for a quick 2 hour playdate while Lori, Jag and I watched Captain Phillips, the movie with Tom Hanks in it. After that we had a quick dinner and I think were all in bed by 8:30 or 9. My sales meeting went well as usual and Lori was at the office until about 2, that’s about it, not much else going on. The stock market has been tanking but I’ll stay away from economics and politics as once I start, you know I can’t stop!

Take care and God Bless.

Boy the week sure went fast! I’m trying to decide what to do with the boys this weekend. Ty and Lori have D.I. on Sunday from 1 to 4 and I’m pheasant hunting early Sunday morning. So tomorrow, Saturday, is the day for play. I might take the boys snowboarding in the morning as we’re supposed to go to an event that’s a combination car show/party with our friend Peggy (who owns the house in Belize) tomorrow night.

Peggy came down from Aspen last night and arrived around 6:30. She spent the night with us and will check into the Westin tonight as she’s going to some gala with some guy who took her to the Peach Bowl on New Years Eve. Poor Peggy broke her arm falling in the Denver airport parking lot on New Years Day when she flew home from the football game in Atlanta. Then she drove all the way to Aspen with a broken arm! She knew it was broken but figured she’d just get home and go to her local hospital. Anyhow she broke her left arm right below her shoulder so they can’t put it in a cast but had to just put it in a sling.

Lacey woke me up at 4:45 (had Lori up at 2am!) and I noticed Peggy’s light was on. She’s just laying in bed as her arm hurt which I guess woke her up, poor girl.

Today I have a sales meeting at the distributor at 10:30. I’ll be done at 10:40 and then head home. Lori has to go to the office but then I think is going to go to Peggy’s hotel and help her with her hair as she can’t even brush it with her broken arm.

Jag and Ty had a great day at school and then played after doing their homework. I noticed what look like new swords from the days of King Arthur, made out of paper, taped to each of their bedroom doors. They must have been up to something.

The house is the cleanest it’s been in a long long time, like since before Christmas. I cleaned everything up and then Elvia, our cleaning lady who hasn’t been here forever so we could save money, showed up at noon to deep clean what I just cleaned. I traded her one of the old bicycles in our garage for cleaning for the day. I had it listed on Craigslist for $75 but had no action so trading it to Elvia for $115 worth of house cleaning seemed like a pretty good deal. We also gave her a bunch of old clothes of the boys and some old toys for her kids that Lori cleaned out of Ty’s closet. Its good to donate things to someone you know when possible instead of some organization that then re-sells your stuff.

It’s now 5:15, anybody else get up early? I think I’ll get to cleaning the basement or maybe  head to the gym or maybe just relax, not sure, but time to go as I’m out of stuff to write about. Lori is headache free, knock on wood! She’ll finish up her first full week of working at the office everyday. I told her at least she only has to work 4 hours a day. She made some comment about being stupid and I said she can’t be stupid because she married me! That made her laugh.

Take care and God Bless.

I awoke to a blanket of shiny new untouched snow laying across all I could see. Lacey had Lori up at 1 and 3 and then me at 5:15. I’m not sure if her bladder is giving out or of she’s just getting spoiled from getting to go out whenever she makes a sound. In any case, we jump out of bed whenever we hear her so she doesn’t pee all over the place.

I’m supposed to go to Loveland for a 9:45am appointment but will check the roads first. Lori will go to the office after her 7am conference call. She has a new office manager which is pretty much a nightmare. She seems to get along with her ok but the rest of the office hates her. We’ll see what happens.

It’s 10 degrees on tv meaning about half that or 5 out here closer to the mountains. The roads looked snow packed and it’s still snowing. The news just said there’s been a few mountain lion attacks here near us so those of you local, keep your pets inside at night!

Peggy our friend from Aspen is coming down today, if she can make it, to go to some event at the Westin tomorrow night. She’ll stay with us tonight and probably Saturday night as I think we’re all going to some Rolls Royce car show/party with her. Hopefully she’ll be able to get here from Aspen.

Mr Ty is supposed to have his friend from school come home with him today to play. I’m sure that’s still on as nothing can derail a playdate around here.

I have about a dozen bags of crap to haul out to the curb for the trash man this morning. Our goal of de-cluttering is still in full force, there’s just so much stuff, it’ll take a few months doing a little each day.

Time to run as Lori needs the computer, yes she’s up, hope all’s well, take care and God Bless.

Not sure if you remember, but Lori now is working at the office Monday through Friday from 10 until 2. Yesterday she left the office around 2:30 and had a pretty good day. I picked up the boys at 2:45 and we made it home around 3. Today Jag wanted up at 6 so I stuck my head in his room and roused him but he’s still sleeping.

We’re still on a mission to clean things up and de-clutter around here. Today I’m taking all the video games out of the boys rooms and hoping to get to the basement.

It’s snowing on the east coast but looking at the news, it doesn’t look like much of anything. Sure its cold and they have a few inches but come on, by Colorado standards, it’s nothing.

Lori woke up with Lacey at 1 and then 4. We’ve decided to alternate each night so one of gets some sort of sleep. It doesn’t do a whole lot of good though as even though one of us comes downstairs, the other still is woken up. At least Lacey has a consistent routine, she barks to go out, then barks to eat, then barks to go out again. The whole process takes about 10 or 15 minutes to complete.

I need to run to Boulder today and then get back on the computer. After that, if there’s time, I’ll be cleaning and cleaning until Mom gets home.

That’s about it, time to run and get everyone up, take care and God Bless.

That’s right, the boys are back to school today. It seems they are off every week for something or another. Today it’ll be in the 60’s but then in the 20’s on Thursday.