 |
| Easy Rider |
...Sweet new ride.
Hello everyone! Today was Mother's Day, and we had a very nice one. Mom enjoyed a treasure hunt, finding all the gifts we'd hidden around the house. She had to decipher a riddle for each hint, and she breezed through it. I guess we'll have to make it more challenging next year.
Meanwhile, check out mom's shiny red trike! It's rather stable and sturdy, so now exercising is much more fun. Aerobic exercise has been difficult for her due to balance and coordination problems, and her cardiologist insisted on 30 minutes 3x a week. With our pool, she can ride to get her heart rate up, then cool down with some moderate swimming afterward.
As she becomes more confident riding around the neighborhood, mom is also making friends along the way. I'm sure that comes as no surprise to anyone reading this.
 |
| Breakfast Al Fresco |
Spring lasted about three weeks, and has already given way to 100+ degree days. It may be spring where you live, but out here, it's summertime. Mom really doesn't care for sunscreen, so every morning I slather it on and put a floppy hat on her head before she waters the garden. I've learned that like me, she doesn't mind the sun's intensity. She's oblivious to the warning signs of sunburn and heat exhaustion, so I have to bring her inside during the afternoon heat. Getting up early makes sense in the desert. We put a table and a hammock beneath the citrus trees so she can spend mornings reading and birdwatching under a canopy of shade.
 |
| Making more friends |
We usually have 2-3 doctor visits each week, although her health is fairly robust. After her hospital stay for atrial fibrillation last November, her cardiology team keeps a close eye on her and her GP does too. Mom underwent a nuclear stress test last week, and the results were encouraging. There are no clots lingering in the chambers of her heart, and she shows only slightly reduced heart function.
 |
| Nuclear Stress Test warning |
One item of particular interest has been a spike in mom's TSH levels. I happen to know a thing or two about hypothyroidism (every single woman I know in my age group has thyroid issues... alarming.) so I questioned her doctors when they chalked it up to Amiodarone, a drug used to treat her Afib six months ago). She is responding to synthetic thyroid hormone treatment, however, which is more than I can say for myself. It appears that mom's thyroid will return to normal function within a few weeks.
We have lowered our carbohydrate intake and have removed most of the gluten and processed sugars from the kitchen in favor of healthy fats and protein. Mom doesn't think I know about her candy stash in her room, so I pretend I don't.
 |
| Class Pet |
Our EPIC study wound up a two months ago, but we still see the 'gang' and attend monthly booster sessions so the researchers can monitor our progress and receive feedback. During our class discussions, Leroy came up so frequently that I brought him to our last class. Now when the researchers call, they say, 'Aren't you the hedgehog people?'.
I suppose there are worse ways to be remembered...
 |
| Early Stage Partners and their caregivers in class |
Catching up on 2018 so far...
Other than doing our bit for society, we've worked together on some things. One of mom's Christmas gifts was a 2000 piece puzzle which somehow became a 1,997 piece puzzle. Regardless, it entertained everyone throughout the month of January. Mom did the hard work, though.
 |
| Victory! |
January
January is always a fun month, as Chad's father and his girlfriend, Jane make a yearly trek to the desert for some golf, exploration and family time with Chad and Liv. This year's visit was even better than last year. We enjoyed some local theater, unique restaurants and a catfish cooking competition... grilled or fried? Fried wins every time.
 |
| Burgers at the Monastery |
 |
| Catfish Cookoff -Everyone's a winner! |
Thanks Lee and Jane, for making mom and I feel like part of the family. We hope to visit you over the summer in Wisconsin!
February
Mom's home sold the moment we listed it in February. Our longtime friend
Pam Breakey and her daughter Lisa went the extra mile to make the transaction as smooth as anyone could expect. She introduced us to Diana with
Treasures Estate Sales who truly understood what a difficult endeavor it is to part with a lifetime worth of memories mom had collected through the years.
Extra special thanks to my dear friend
Cynthia Campbell Corum, who made many trips during the months the house was vacant. My mom and her sisters are nearly as grateful as I am, amiga. : )
 |
| So long, 11700. |
A lovely young family has moved in, and they have really made the place look great. It's nice to think of their kids running up and down those stairs like we once used to...
March
After our first full season, we are humbled. The garden yielded a harvest that might have satisfied 'Farm to Table Barbie' and her companion, Ken, but that's it. Tiny vegetables were pretty much all we got, and only the carrots and peppers were delicious. We learned a lot as first year desert farmers, and will adjust our crop schedule accordingly.
 |
| 'Turn it ON!' |
 |
| Pitiful |
 |
| Arugula seeds |
 |
| Birthday tulips from sister Jane |
 |
| @%*!# |
Mom's birthday was a good one this year, albeit unusual. I decided to pursue my interest in plant medicine and
spent a week in the Amazon jungle near Iquitos, Peru. During that time, mom was a short-term resident in the assisted living facility we've chosen for long-term care in the future. The staff was very accommodating, even allowing her to keep Leroy in her room. This made her quite popular among the residents, as curious visitors stopped by for a peek at her weird roommate. The stay gave her perspective on things, and she was quite happy to come home afterward. The staff was genuinely sorry to see her go, referring to her as 'most delightful Miss Sue' as we packed up her belongings and headed home.
Since her birthday occurred during that week, she got a special cake baked by the kitchen staff, balloons and a hummingbird feeder outside her window and the whole place sang happy birthday to her. Chad and Olivia took mom back to my house for dinner, where beautiful flowers from both mom's sisters welcomed her. She felt very special and loved, which is just how anyone turning 77 should feel, yes? Yes.
 |
| Eat. |
In other news - at the time of this posting, Olivia has only a few days left of her first year at public school. She did great, coming from a Montessori environment, and is looking forward to being an 8th grader next year. For her 13th birthday in March, look what she got!
That's right... a floppy new member of the family. She has ruined pencils, clothing, carpeting and countless shoes. She more than makes up for it in cuteness - and enthusiastic joy.
 |
| Cece, Liv's new puppy |
 |
| What do I do with this? |
Mom's face on the photo to the right reminds me of the time I excitedly told my Grandmother Leck that I'd gotten a new puppy.
She looked at me, expressionless, and simply said, "Uh oh. Better get rid of it."
During March and April, we spent some time catching up with mom's cousin, Bill Elam. He just got a beautiful replica of the same weapon he used when he was in the military, and showed it to us with great pride.
 |
| Don't mess with Bill. |
I love to hear stories of Bill and mom's childhood experiences. I've learned a lot about relatives I never knew I had, and have a new appreciation for growing up in the 1950s-era south. We're lucky to have him living so close.
April and May
 |
| Birthday unwrapping |
Mom's wasn't the only birthday we recently celebrated. In fact, Olivia, Mom, me and Chad all have birthdays in late March-mid April. I gave Chad a surprise birthday party which became a reunion for some of our dearest friends and bandmates.
 |
| Where are they now: Stereo Blitz |
 |
| ..Same with Chris and Cody |
 |
| Olivia and Payson flashing signs.. |
Chad's party and other photos...
 |
| Mom and Bill calling up cousin Don |
We usually have 2-3 doctor visits each week, although her health is fairly robust. After her hospital stay for atrial fibrillation last November, her cardiology team keeps a close eye on her and her GP does too. Mom underwent a nuclear stress test last week, and the results were encouraging. There are no clots lingering in the chambers of her heart, and she shows only slightly reduced heart function.
So that's all for now. Mom says hello to everyone, and hopes to do some traveling in June, now that doctors have given her their blessing. Love to you all and please feel free to send mom a text message, email or comment on this page. She'd love to hear from you!
