Tillie and Maia are on their way or at least, should be.  They will be here in about an hour.  That's how long it takes to get her from their house.  

I just paid the car payment.  Woo, it's paid for the month of February, yes, I know, it's March.  We are a bit behind on it.  I hope to catch up before too long.  It's hard to do when you have things that are tight, as some of you know very well.  I have to mail in my health insurance payment tonight along with some other store stuff.  I can't believe I am still dealing with store stuff almost 2 years later.  Hard to believe, but I am.  Speaking of which, I need to pay the sales and use tax payment of the month.  I am on hold.  I don't mind too much because I can write while I wait!  

It is so nice out right now.  The sun is shining and the weather has improved greatly!  Even Mom was a bit warmer in the car, we had the windows part way down.

Not much going on today, we did our usual, Tim Horton's this early afternoon, and then I have 2 students this evening.  I should have both of them today, haven't heard any different.  Next week they are all on vacation so I am not sure who I will have.  I know of 2 who will be gone and hopefully having fun.  It used to be that I cancelled most lessons because most of the kids were gone during Easter vacation.  Now, many kids are home, so I don't cancel, plus, I only have a few to begin with.  Since I am not as busy as I used to be, I need to teach when I can and I love it.

Just paid the payment.  Wow, my bank account is going to hate me!  2 bills in one day!  I am doing much better in keeping up with bills now that the house payment has been lowered.  Thank God for that!  Between us, we are doing alright, tight, but alright.

Mom is having her second birthday party on Saturday.  I can't wait!  It is the friend's party.  We will have about 30 people in our house, and we don't have enough chairs!  Oh well, kids can sit on the floor and others can stand.  I have to remember to buy ice cream and plates and spoons.  We have forks, but we don't need them with ice cream.  I am to pick up the cake at 11 am on Saturday morning.  We will have to do it on time because Aggie will be having her lesson at 12 noon and I don't want to be late.  You know how I feel about being late.

Well, this has been a random post, going here, going there!  I hope your day is going well, mine is so far and we are expecting company!!  yeah!  Cousins!  Also!  My older brother will be coming for a visit soon, he said in a month or two, not sure when, but soon.  I can't wait, I miss the older brother!  I just adore both my brothers!  Simply adore them!

Here is the weekly link to the online magazine at NFA.  hope you enjoy the magazine.  It's the only one just for us out there that I know of.  If you find another, please let me know!!!

http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/fma/fibromyalgiaaware_2009winter_v2/ 

Back to work day.  I don't mind, I love teaching.  I had one lesson and I will have three more this afternoon.  Mom is a bit more tired today than usual, probably the excitement of yesterday catching up on her.  I am too, a bit more tired because of yesterday.  Well worth the extra tiredness though.  We had a good time.

Tillie isn't coming today, something is wrong with her car so she is coming tomorrow.  Whatever day works for her works for me.  Our schedule isn't that busy.  Wednesday we will be over her house anyway. 

Not much going on right now, Mom is dozing as usual and I am waiting for a student.  He should be here any minute now. 

It is sunny out and I am looking forward to the warmer temperatures later in the week!  Can't wait for warm weather so we don't need so many layers on Mom.  Spring has sprung!  I love spring and fall best.

I hope you are having a good day.

Today was Mom's official birthday!  She is now 76 years old.  We had a party at Tillie's house.  Most of the cousins came and my uncle and his family.  We sure filled her small house to the rims with family.  It was great.  I think Mom enjoyed it although it may have been a bit tiring for her.  She should sleep well tonight!  The cake I brought looked like it might have been too big, but I think the smaller size would have been too small, so what to do?  Andrew took some home, Zachary took some home, and Danielle took the rest for her family.  There wasn't much after the boys got some.  It was a good cake.  We will have the same style of one on Saturday for the cake and ice cream party with the friends here at our house.  It should be a fun.  I am glad my cousins and uncle got to see Mom.  Andrew wanted to surprise us but Tillie let us know he was coming that's why he didn't tell me or email me.  Oh well, I enjoyed spending the afternoon with him too.  He sat next to Mom pretty much the entire time, he misses her a lot.  We are probably going to go visit him next month for his birthday, depending on his work schedule.  He is also going to school so his schedule is very full and busy, unlike ours that is sporadically busy and then not busy and then busy again.

Tillie and Maia are coming over again tomorrow for more housecleaning of the Paxton residence.  I am so thankful for them to help me because I can't do a lot of on my own, as most of you know and understand.  With Fibro, there are limits to how long you can stand, walk, and lift, etc.  So to have some help is a major Godsend!  We are getting somewhere with the house now, I feel much better about it and don't feel so down on it.  The back room and kitchen look great and the fridge is clean with good food in it.  We don't have much in it because most of our food is frozen.  You know the three meals I cook: frozen, takeout, and microwave!  I do use the crock pot a lot though, I love using that.  It makes the house smells so wonderful.

It will be the usual type teaching week for me this week, next week will have less students because of the holiday, Easter.  Both Grace and Frank will be absent.  I hope they have fun since I won't get to see them.  At least this week is a nice and full week and we will have company the entire week.

It rained all day so my head is a bit sorer than usual.  My arm is sorer too because of a wardrobe event.  It is so annoying to have an arm that doesn't work right, getting dressed at times is just difficult with one arm even with Mom helping me.  I tried to do most of it on my own, you know, practicing for when I don't have Mom here to help.  Yeah, that didn't work very well at all.  I don't know what I will do when she isn't here, fortunately I don't have to worry about that for a while yet.  Maybe my arm will improve before then.  I can only hope.

I hope your day was as great as mine!

Tomorrow is the Mom's birthday, although we are celebrating it today too.  I bought her flowers and will be taking her to dinner soon.  She doesn't really remember that it is her birthday tomorrow.  I am picking up the cake at 11 and then leaving from there to Windsor.  We will be back in the evening after the party.  I called my uncle last night, good thing because he never got the invitation I sent him.  He and his family are coming!  I am glad.  Mom likes to see her little brother (although he towers over her, he is about a foot taller than her).  He has a little boy who is 2 1/2 and adorable.  His name is Jayson.  I have all the food we need, I think.  I also bought our Easter basket stuff yesterday too.  I got some for Tillie too.  She will be here so I got her some stuff.  Not much, just a bit.  I no longer go crazy at Easter for Mom.  She enjoys it for a few minutes and then forgets about it, finds it again, and then forgets again.  She is dozing in her chair as usual.  We are going out to eat in about a 1/2 hour.  I haven't decided exactly where we are going to go, either Red Lobster or Olive Garden, my choice since she won't really care either way.  I think we will watch Old Dogs when we get back home.  I love that movie, we bought it the day it came out and we haven't seen it yet.  We've been busy on the days we usually watch movies.

Lily had her lesson this afternoon.  She picked what she wants to sing for the spring concert.  It is in three weeks.  She's going to sing "I'm Gonna Wash that Boy Right Out of my Hair" and "Can You Feel the Love Tonight".  She is now 12, hard to believe, but it's true and sings pretty well for her age.  This week everyone is going to have to choose what they are playing/singing for the concert so I can get the program started.

Tillie and Maia are coming over again this week.  They are going to finish the dining room and do the living room.  That room just really needs the music put away, although I can't really stand long enough to do it.  The DVD's need to be put back in the shelves and the books in the shelves downstairs.  I have 2 tables up that we will need for the cake and ice cream party for Mom.  I can't forget to buy ice cream for the party next week.  Lily is coming to that so is the Muglia family and the Heyart family.  I can't wait to see Kathy again, even though I just saw her last weekend.  She's my best friend and I miss her a lot when I don't see her.  She lives about 2 1/2 hours away from me.  Next month Mom and I are going to take a day trip to see her.  

Since Tillie will be at our house for the week, I am going to take Mom for her bath and leave Tillie at the house.  She has a key, so I am not worried.  We will only be gone for a few hours. That way, Tillie can keep working (her words not mine!) and not be interrupted by us.  A good thing too, because sometimes it's easier to not see what they are donating.  As long as my Pooh Bear collection is still here, I love my collection and she has been trying to get me to donate them.  I am not.  Nope, no how, no way. I love them too much.  Besides, many of them were bought by Mom right after I got really really sick and my life changed.  Many of you know what that was like, the day you realized you aren't going to get any better.  I thought life was over and that was that but she wouldn't let me think or live like that.  I was practically bed ridden and she and my older brother got me up and walking and moving again.  It's thanks to them I can do what I can do.

Pain is normal for the day, the sun is out and it is a bit warmer than yesterday.  Tomorrow it is supposed to rain, as long as it rains after the party and when we are home!  We should have a decent day since we are celebrating Mom!  I mean, really, how many does she have left?  I don't mean physically, I mean mentally.  I told my cousins they need to see her now, not later because later she may not have a clue who they are.  There are days she asks where Heather is and she is looking right at me.  Not many, but some.  I'd say about once a month she does this, maybe twice.  It is heartbreaking.

I hope your day is great and it is sunny and warm wherever you are!!!!!!

We finally had sewing again today.  We won't be having it next week because of Good Friday.  Easter is a week away.  We are having Cornish hens.  I haven't made them in several years, so I hope they turn out.  They should though, I always do a decent job, no one has complained yet!

I am so tired right now, I could take a nap.  I think we are heading for bed awfully early tonight.  Mom is falling asleep in her chair too.  She was awake for some of the afternoon.  We had to get up early this morning because of sewing.  I have been extra tired this week, I am not sure why.  Hard to say, could be any reason.

My arm is very sore today, don't really know why either.  I also now have a bad headache so I just may go and lay down when I am done here.  I am glad I didn't have this while I was sewing, that would have been terrible.  My arm was sore but not like it is now.

Tomorrow I have to go and get the veggie tray, cookies, napkins, pop, and cups for the party on Sunday.  I will pick up the cake on Sunday.  2 days til B-Day!  Wish Richard was coming.  I understand why he isn't, but I can still wish, can't I?  I wonder if he has found a job yet.  It is so hard looking for a job.  I am not in the job market right now as what would I do with Mom?  I would spend so much money on her day care that it would eat into the money I make, so until she goes into care, I am out of the job market.  Of course, we all know I hope to have enough students at the time Mom goes into care that I won't need another job.  I love teaching!  I will just need enough to make up Mom's money that will be going to her care (as it should), so we shall see.  I am trying not to worry about it right now.  I keep reminding myself that somehow it will work out.  I won't be homeless.

It is sunny out but really cold.  Next week is supposed to be warmer!!!  yeah!  Warm weather!  I hope your day was good.

We were at my friend, Heather's, this afternoon.  Her mom is staying with her, she just got out of the hospital after a couple of major falls in the bathroom.  Her face is very bruised still and it has been 2 weeks.  I am glad she is doing better.  Her kids are thrilled that Grandma Pat is staying with them.  She is a favorite of them.  I didn't bring any knitting because I can't find mine.  I will have to get new needles and new yarn.  I will do this over the weekend.

Mom is eating the same.  I gave her a talking too this morning and pointed out the problems she is creating for herself by not drinking enough.  She has almost finished 14 oz so far and is on her way to 16 oz, the most she has had in a month.  She had 2 beef soft tacos without lettuce and an ensure for dinner, not bad for her.  I had the shrimp tacos, oh my are those good, and expensive.

Saturday I have to pick up the stuff we need for the party except the cake.  That gets picked up on Sunday at 11 am.  Then off to the party!  I can't wait!  I believe I have said that everyday this week.

We have a sub meeting tonight.  I won't be offering our house anytime again in the near future as no one showed up at our house.  Next month is the big meeting, we should be deciding where tonight.  I am inviting the neighbors who go monthly to the meeting to the cake and ice cream party for mom the day before Easter.  My friend, Heather, and her family will be there too.  Kathy's kids will love Heather's kids.

Speaking of Heather's kids, her little boy is a normal little boy, he actually misbehaves.  I saw it today, I would never have believed it if I hadn't witnessed it myself.  They are always so well behaved when we are there.  He must have been more hungry than he would admit because Heather says that's when he misbehaves the most.  She was very calm although I could tell she was a bit upset over it.  I just love her kids.  I see Calli every week for her lesson.  Acer will start in the fall.  He already plays the melody of Calli's music.  It is quite cute.  Although she lets him know he isn't playing all the notes at the same time.

Mom finished a water!!!!!!!!  She just finished a water!  I am so proud and happy about it!  Without a face at me too.

It has been a good day.  Hope yours is too!

We are back from Windsor.  Mom had her shower and her hair washed.  She is spiffed up and smells nice.  I like the shampoo that Tillie has and the soap too.  The nurse was there to look at Mom too, he doesn't need to come back he said unless a problem comes up again.  Rosemary was there too checking the special cushion for mom and the bathtub transfer chair.  I have to rent one for her because we only get this one for a month.  It runs anywhere from 30 to 50 dollars a month.  That is a lot of money for a chair, but she needs it for her bath.  She is much safer with it than without.  She is afraid to get in the bathtub so we have to have a chair.  I have places to call and checking into whether we should buy one or rent one.  I don't know.  I will see how expensive it is.  I have a list of places to call.

The cakes are ordered.  Mickey and Minnie Mouse cakes, to be exact.  I ordered the second one just decorated without the toy because we will have the toy from the first cake.  I have to get a veggie tray on Saturday as well as the cookies.

I got a big packet from Rosemary to read.  It has all sorts of info about Alzheimer's and the problems and how to deal with them.  It is old, she said, but still relevant.  I plan to look through it tonight right after I put Mom to bed.

I have to pay some bills tomorrow.  My bank account will hate me, but it is a necessary evil, bills must be paid.

Pain has been a bit high today, partly because we were in Windsor and it seems on those days I have a bit more pain.  I am a bit stressed over Mom having a bath and her hair done because I don't know how she is going to behave.  So far, she does everything Teri asks and even talks with her.  Teri is very good with her.  I should be able to start to relax about this now.  I have seen it twice and both times have gone well.  Tillie said last week went well too, so I am glad about that.

I hope your day has been alright.

It is cold today.  I want my warm weather back, like, now, please.  I know, stop pushing it, it will arrive and then we will all complain about how hot it is.  I did enjoy last summer because it was so hot.  I could scooter everyday with Mom and it was fun.

Katie had her lesson, she got 2 new songs.  She is so cute.  She is almost 17.  Hard to believe that she will be 17 soon.  They grow so fast.  She is planning to get an associates in music.  Isn't that cool.  She wants to teach like me!  How neat is that.  She will be the third student of mine who is a music teacher.

Both Bob and Charlie will be having their lessons later today. I didn't get a chance to order Mom's cake so we are doing that tomorrow morning before we go to Windsor.  I am really liking the schedule, just need a few more students and things would be even better!!!  We will now be going to Windsor every Wednesday to visit!  Mom does well on day trips.  We will be taking a day trip to see Andrew next month or in May, possibly around his birthday.  He will be 41.  He he he.  He doesn't like to think about being 40, I know the feeling.  In 2 weeks I will be 42.  I have to get Mom's state ID for her since it expired and renew my license plate tabs.  We will be doing that Thursday morning.  Mom's money comes in on Wednesday and then a week and a half later, mine comes in.  Mine arrives on Easter Sunday.  My birthday will be that Thursday after Easter.  

Pain isn't to bad right now.  My head is normal and the arm is a bit sore.  I moved it wrong this morning like a silly person and it still hurts from that.  Dumb arm.  Mom is okay today.  She got up before me and was sitting in her room quietly.  She is speaking quietly today which drives me mad since I am partially deaf and cannot hear her.  She did this to me in Tim Horton's.  I was getting a little mad, finally she spoke up.  I hate it when she does this.  She has this paranoia of someone overhearing what she is talking about.  It isn't like we are telling secrets or anything!  I get so tired of it.  I usually ignore people when they do that.  I can't hear them and if they want a response from me, speak up.  I don't mean yell, that isn't necessary, but at least don't whisper.

So far the day is alright, nothing spectacular except during the lesson.  I have to write in Mom's journal now.  I keep track of everything she drinks and eats, not that it is much.  I also write how she slept (what little I know about it) and if she is having a good or bad day.

I hope your day is going well.

Here is the weekly reminder to check out the online magazine:

 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/fma/fibromyalgiaaware_2009winter_v2/ 

It's raining out now and cold.  Not happy about this new development in the weather.  I liked the near 60 degree weather we had all last week.  I moved the two garbage buckets to the front of the house.  Oh my gosh, they weigh a ton.  I will move them to the road after my lessons.  I have to clean up where the animals had fun with the food garbage.  I asked that food garbage be put in the container that closes.  Guess it didn't fit.  Now I have a big mess to clean.  Not happy about that.  happy that the rooms are done, not happy to pick up garbage.

Mom is in her chair dozing again.  I woke at 6 to use the bathroom and she was up.  I don't know how long she was up.  The gate wasn't up either so I quickly fixed that.  I put her back to bed and we both slept until noon.  I think she had been awake for hours because she slept so long in the morning and every time she sits down she falls asleep.

Grace had her lesson already, she is doing really well.  She has got some more complicated music and she is getting it.  She won't have a lesson the day after Easter.  Holy week for her will be very busy so she won't have time to practice, and plus she will be on vacation.  Perhaps they will go away for it.  That would be nice.  

I don't know what we are doing for Easter.  I will make us something nice.  It will probably be just the 2 of us.  I don't mind.  Easter is a quiet holiday for our family.  Andrew and Richard usually had to work since they were in the restaurant business when we were young.  We will probably watch a movie, maybe go to one if there is a good one playing.  We'll see.

Calli, Frank, and Debbie are all having lessons tonight.  Then I will cook dinner for Mom and me.  I have to give her an ensure before the lessons begin so she can have her snack.

Other than lessons, there really isn't anything going on.  I have to order her birthday cakes, but that is about it.  I have planned the snacks we will have at the party, and need to order the veggie tray.  I am not getting a fruit tray too, just some chips and dip and cookies.  It will be mostly low key.  It is an open house type of party as Tillie's house is very small.  I don't know how it will fit so many people at one time.  I can't wait for the party though, I am looking forward to actually talking to my cousins.  I haven't even met one of them yet and she is 18 months old now.  Sad.  :( :( :(  I will see her at the party though.

I ache because of the rain.  I hope you are doing better and maybe no rain in your forecast.

It is so quiet now.  Mom is sleeping in her chair at the table.  I meant to bring her special cushion from Tillie's, but I forgot.  We will get it on Wednesday.  It is made of air and is softer on her bottom which has gotten quite thin.  Since she has lost so much weight, we have to be careful of her and her bones.  She is quite fragile in some ways.

We went to Tim Horton's and ran into our neighbor friend, Rosemary.  She is really nice.  She and her husband, Irv, will be at the cake and ice cream party the day before Easter.  I have to order Mom's birthday cake for her party this weekend this week.  I think I will get a tray of veggies, some chips and dip, and cookies and that will do it for the snacks.  We are having the party after lunch and before dinner.  My cousin, Audrey, will be bringing cookies so how cool is that?  Pretty cool I'd say.  I am getting mom flowers for her birthday, she loves flowers.  Just a nice spring bouquet.  I found the vase, it was in the cupboard in the kitchen, not with the sell stuff.  I am going to vacuum out the cupboards in the back when I am done here.  

My nephew, William, turned 9 on Friday.  I haven't been able to talk to him yet.  With the time difference, it is hard to get a hold of them.  They are very busy little children.  I miss him a lot, and his sister, Abigail.  They swim all year.  In summer of 2008, we got to see one of their swim meets and it was great.  Both did really well.  I haven't seen them since then because of finances and other difficulties, but I hope to see them this summer.

I think after I do the vacuuming, I am going to put in a DVD for us.  I got New Moon yesterday.  I really enjoyed the books, it was the first set of books I read that I really enjoyed after I lost the store.  I liked the movie a bit better than the first one, I think mainly because the scenes weren't so choppy.  The director of the first movie likes choppy scenes and New Moon has longer scenes and less choppiness in it.  I can't wait for Eclipse.  That comes out this spring in June.  Of course, Mom and I will be there with Kathy, we will travel to Kalamazoo if necessary.  I have seen both twilight movies with her and must see the rest with her too.  I decided that, don't know if she knows this, but I decided.  I mean, we both love twilight books and movies, so why break a good pattern?  We have been friends since we were 3.  Isn't that cool?  I have known her longer than anyone else except my mom and brothers.  She will be back in town in 2 weeks, unless something comes up and with a family of 6, one never knows.  We just go with the flow over in the Paxton house.

It is a bit cooler out today than last week, but still nice and sunny!  Mom seems to enjoy the sun too.  Soon we will be able to take out the scooter and go for walks again!  I can't wait for that.  I love scootering.  Mom enjoyed the walks last summer a lot because some days she would ask for one.  She did ask the other day when we would go walking again.  It is still a bit too chilly to take her right now, but give us a month, and we will be on the town.  

I hope you are having a good day, so far so good at our house!  Time to go and vacuum!