In the end...

In the end, we decide if we're remembered for what happened to us or for what we did with it.
-Randy K. Milholland

Here's to a new year!

tell me

Wednesday Want

I want...

This dress. Ahh! Want it!!!

How perfect would this be for New Years Eve?

Then again, maybe not... Last year's adorable Website Want turned out disastrously disappointing!

What was on the site and what came in the mail were two completely different things - one sexy & cute, the other was trashy & uncomfortable. It wasn't glittery, it wasn't even sequiny ... it was made up of big plastic pieces which maybe shined a little at certain angles. Ugh.

I didn't even wear it like I was planning to for New Year's Eve because it was so awful. I ended up wearing a shirt I had forever ... We went to a house party last year with mostly strangers to me (boyfriend's friends), so it's not like they had seen the shirt before anyway.

Hope you all are enjoying the holiday!

house sitting

I am currently house sitting for my friend, Karen, while she is away at Best Friends for the holiday. I really don't house sit much anymore - I have Matt, our pets, 2 jobs, the farm (my parents'), etc ... but I really like Karen's crew! Right now, the crew is a little smaller than usual - just Lyle, the ancient Basset, Montana, the big German Shepherd boy and Mack, the sweetest, most lovable pit you can imagine. The last time I house sat for Karen, she said of Mack something along the lines of: It's a shame so many people think bad things about pit bulls. Mack is such a love! And a fighter? Usually if anyone gets upset with one another here, Mack's the first to run out of the room and away" :)

Website Want Wednesday

I want this dress!!

Too cute! FYI it's apparently by Nina Ricci.

Caturday post

Roo was the original Christmas tree cat ... the first cat we had that tried to conquer the Christmas tree.

Miss you, Roo baby. RIP

Tea Tuesday

Mmm, Happy Holidays!!

Tea Tuesday is reminder to you too, my friends and wanderers that found your way here. Remember that all the good you do won't get done if you're not around or if you aren't properly taking care of yourself. So, please, take a minute to relax with me at some point today.

caregiving.com's Holiday Blog Party pt 3

I had an announcement to make today, but that's been put on hold for now. Oh well. Hopefully soon I can make that caregiving announcement and bring a little more help in. Continuing on with caregiving.com's Holiday Blog Party all the same...

Going through the motions of a loved one being sick enough to need a caregiver is not easy on anyone, let alone the caregiver. The stress can so easily be overlooked, can overshadow good things going on or morph into some big, ugly, green giant. These aren't easy on anyone involved in general.

I had so much more I wanted to say, but I just can't tonight. I'm not even home caregiving and yet I'm completely burnt out. Ugh. I'm sorry everyone. Maybe I'll add more later.

Happy blogging.

caregiving.com's Holiday Blog Party pt 2

Continuing on with caregiving.com's Holiday Blog Party and posting, I'll add some information on my dad that is pretty new to me still...

He gained 5 lbs thanks to my sister's new habit of feeding him almost every hour. Unlike other FTD patients who gain weight, my dad has been losing it - drastically! This happened a couple years ago too, it was actually one of the reasons we really pressed to get a diagnosis. He's down to 175 lb now (he was 170) and bloodwork, body scans, a scope, etc. have not given us any answers. Feeding him every hour (and pretty good size meals too - like Shell will make him a loaded sandwich and soup) is the only thing helping, but it's expensive! I can only imagine the food bill ... who'd think you could LITERALLY be eaten out of house and home?!

Also, the study that my dad has been a part of for the last 3 1/2 years is no longer going to see him anymore. Through this program, my dad had pretty frequent visits to a neuro/FTD specialist at the University of Penn every 3 - 6 months. They did testing during Also, once a month a med student was out asking my dad questions for the study. I remember some of the testing they did with him while I was there was something like a photo with some birds in a tree and on the ground and they'd ask my dad how many birds were in the tree to see if he answered that correctly or just answered how many birds he could see in general. They'd also ask him say the word to identify things in a photo. They were also always available for questions, suggestions on increasing/decreasing meds or helping us identify FTD symptoms.

I guess my dad has now progressed to the point that he is no longer assisting in the study. He doesn't really answer questions much anymore and when he does, you're not even sure if it's the right answer to the question you asked. At his appointment the other day, my mom said when my dad was asked what day it was, he answered something like April 1998 (not sure on the exact month, but yea - 1998!). The doctor also said that it is very obvious and very quick that my dad becomes anxious over answering questions now. What a shame...

I'm not sure what this means for my dad's future care. I was under the impression that the med students coming out once a month, the meds, the appointments at the U of P, the MRIs and such were all extended to us and my dad for free because of this study. If that's the case, I'm not sure what my dad's current insurance covers and that's concerning...

caregiving.com's Holiday Blog Party pt 1

As I've explained in a previous post, I am not home caring for my dad all the time anymore. I live mostly with my boyfriend ... though I will not admit that since I only really have 2 drawers and I hate the place, the people, the (lack of) property, etc. He does too though so I can't really say anything to him about it.

All the same, I did not want to miss out on caregiving.com's Holiday Blog Party! I had such a wonderful time participating last year and became involved with so many wonderful people, like Denise and GJ.

I did stop home today - mostly to take care of the cats. I did see my dad, but he was pretty much focused on either food (Michelle was in the kitchen) or sitting in his room. Sometimes when no one is there, I'll make my dad stand around in the room with me while I take care of the cats and I'll talk to him. That didn't happen today though.

Brief post, but the day is almost done, so goodnight, goodnight! :)

YummMonday: Mushroom Stew w/ Rosemary Mashed Potatoes

I had to add this delicious sounding recipe:
Autumn Mushroom Stew with Rosemary Mashed Potatoes

Doesn't it just sound delicious?! I haven't had the chance to make it yet to give you a review, but I can confidently say that very soon I'll be buying the ingredients to test out this yummy sounding dish

...

Silence in all sections. There's been few posts here and just about no blog posts on Connie's Corner (the farm blog).
I haven't been there much, the farm that is.

I saw this quote today though and hope that some day soon the ladies of my family all feel like this "I must be a real farmer now since I found myself capable of such a practical decision to make myself an independent woman. This is my farm, and I am home…..and I am happy."