A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Banter Hall Coffee House 2504..Here is one more...

Ok gang--here is a new CH all ready to go !!!

Yes, I didn't want to close the old one. There was just too much going on. But I am glad it is done now.

yes, I thought of that too but hey, I thought it was time.

Good night all.

Sweet dreams all. I am heading out soon.

Sweet dreams all. My thought are with Colby again tonight.

Good morning.

I have started my day praying for Colby and Junie's grandbabies.

I need to head out in a bit and shovel a roof on the shed...it has been a tiring Winter. I can't wait to see a patch of bare ground.

I'll also be picking up GG this afternoon, there is no school tomorrow since today is report card day.

Grem, here if you get a medical paper you can claim the cost of special gluten free products as medical expenses at tax time. It might be something for you to check into...it doesn't put any money in your hand at the time but might help you out at the end of the tax year.

Have a good one everybody.

Good morning. Yes, my first thoughts of the day are with Colby and others in need of prayers. Cindy has had a difficult time lately too.
I am up early. But I feel rested and ready to face the day. It is supposed to warm up today and I'm glad because my old bones can use it.

Good Morning.

I too begin & end my day with prayers. Also an extra set on Sunday. I hope that we hear good news on Colby soon.

No rain here so far. My BIL & SIL called last night. They are coming to the area next week and will be staying here.

so more for carol to get done in a timely manner.

I think I will start my day with a few errands.

Good afternoon, I just got back with GG and just in time...it has started to freezing rain.

I hope you enjoy your visit with the family Junie...I never have to worry about such matters. It's one of the few perks of having a tiny house.

Can anyone help me with a few tips with trying to convince a 5 year old to go to school...she is refusing once again.

Well, me being from a "different era" think this way.....
You tell her, she does not get a vote--that school is not optional. END of discussion....

.........But you could say: "it is a non-optional social convention"... (I watch too much Big Bang Theory)

$1 per A on a report card? Or if she's old enough to know the value of money it may have to be more, lol.

Though at that age it might have to be a dollar for each smilie lol.

Do dig around and see what is bothering her first of all. It could be something you can help her with, i.e. a bully, a bad teacher, boredom. If you rule out those type of things then go with Carol's "not optional". Because it isn't.

Nothing new to report on Colby.

Sunny, Aubry cried everyday for 2 years because she didn't want to go to school. It makes you feel like a dog for making them go but what can you do. We tried everything.

I like Tina's approach to going to school, Sunny.

Sheri, I guess, no news is good news.

Still praying for Colby, Sheri.

Good night all. Sweet dreams.

Good morning.

We've done the 'no option' but she lags until she misses the bus and then her mom has to hire a taxi to take her or call me. Then that became the new bad habit. She likes school...it's the 'going' that she is fighting. She told them at school that she'd go if she lived with me...problem is that I live in a different school district and I can't travel her a half hour to and from her school every day. It sure is draining.

Today we are under a heavy rainfall warning...I hope it stays above the freezing point, we do not need more snow

Sending prayers for Colby and family

Good morning. It's going to be a lovely day.
I understand the problem with your GG now, Sunny. The only fix I see will punish everyone. That she cannot spend weekends with you if she doesn't attend school during the week. You would miss her. Mama would miss the break from her. But I think it wouldn't last long then. I had to do similar with my foster daughter, way back when... Like I said, it punishes everyone but it is one method that works.
My thoughts are with Colby and family too.

Good Morning.

I too understand now, Sunny. I hope you all figure this out. If nothing else, I guess time will take care of it.

Still praying for Colby, sweet little guy.

It is very windy here. So This is the new April 1st.... Happy April to you all.

Good afternoon.

I am thinking of getting someone to call the house and pretend it is the principle from the school...maybe he can scare her into making it to the bus on time

I am watching the rain fall, and I love it....just waiting for my ham to finish cooking. It has been a long time since we had a baked picnic ham.

Mmmm, ham. Have fun with that, Sunny.
I took care of my business today and then I napped. It is so nice to be warm.

Thank you all. Colby is still on the vent and is sedated somewhat but today he nodded his head to a question and wiggled his toes when asked to do so. They are going to try and wean him off his stuff over a 2 day period starting tomorrow. :)

Sunny, does someone walk her to the bus?

That's good news about Colby. I am thrilled.

Yes, that is very good news about Colby, Sheri. Thanks for telling us.

I am soon off to bed, so I will say goodnight now.

Good morning. I'm up and waiting on the sun this morning.
I don't know what I will do with this day. I think it will include going out for some gas and driving through a carwash. I can't stand the car being very dirty. And it's getting there.
And maybe I'll trim some hair and nails. Give the dog a bath. It's wide open. And warm.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Saturday.

Good morning.

Wonderful news about Colby. Yes, my daughter or my nephew's girlfriend walks GG to the bus...it is just a quick walk down the lane.

My plan is to clean my car also today...the inside for sure. Two kids in the back seat all the time makes for a mess.

I have to make up the month's budget as well. Other than that is the usual housework and a quick run to the local grocer for eggs, milk and fruit.

Have a good day and thanks for whomever shared the sun.

Good Morning. We are having a cooler but windy day.

I think I will begin to clean house for the company that is coming.

Had my DH's cousin stop by today for a visit, so we did other things today.

I am headed to bed soon. Sweet Dreams to everyone...

Sweet dreams all. I didn't get all my list done today either. It'll all keep until tomorrow or longer if need be.

Good morning...I guess we all didn't accomplish our errands yesterday. My car is not cleaned yet, the weather won't cooperate.

It is a lazy Sunday today.

Good morning. It's 55* out and supposed to reach 85* today. We'll see. It will be a good day to get ready for school tomorrow.
And that it my plan. A day of cleaning sheets and pampering my son (and myself).
I hope everyone has a good day.

Have fun with that pampering, Tina.

It is a warmer and not so windy of a day..I am soon to change into work clothes head outside to work on cleaing up my flower bed to prep it for planting next month.

Happy Birthday to my oldest DD, Valarie.

The 14 year old girl in the room beside Colby who was in due to the flu died today. A bit unnerving for us.

WOW. (& not in a good way)

I don't know what to say....I would have to figure she either did NOT have the flu or had a compromised immune system.....

That is SO sad to say the least.

Oh, that is sad, Sheri. And I can imagine the effect on your family. I am very sorry.
But how is Colby? Is he showing more signs of recovery?

Good night. It's back to school tomorrow after a long spring break.
Sweet dreams all.

Good night, Tina.

Good night everyone. Sweet Dreams

Good morning. Starting my day early today. But that's ok because I have a lot to do today.
The next 3 days are supposed the be lovely and the rainy Thurs through Sun. I'll enjoy the warmth while it is here.
I hope everyone has a good one.

Good morning.

I am so sorry for the loss of the young girl Sheri, continued prayers for Colby.

The weather is cold and windy....and more snow for this week. Guess the good thing is that I don't have to weed like Junie.

I have been trying to eat healthier but keep landing back to some bad habits...so today I will use the dreaded word 'diet'. It will keep me from sugar, sweets and soda. I never thought I'd be a person to see their weight get out of hand...it is scary.

Good Morning..Many errands to run today..
No sugar sweets or soda...well.. let me see.

I could do w/o sweets and if it had to be, without Soda..BUT..I need my sugar for my coffee. I was using Splenda, but between my blood sugar & the new findings, I switched to Stevia.. I hate it VERY much--so I am back to regular sugar...but then only have like 2 cups a day so that is not so bad I guess. I think what I need to do is exercise more..

The two spoonfuls of sugar are not going to do much harm, Carol. The real sugar comes from things processed with sugar. There is all sorts of sugar added to most things you eat from jars or cans and most packages. There is a bunch of sugar in all kinds of things it doesn't belong in. A can of chicken noodle soup has added sugar. A can of diced tomatoes has 14 grams in it which is 3 1/2 teaspoons. Nearly everything has added sugar and it's killing us off. It's terrible.
And that is not counting the other things jammed in there that are not so good for us. I am cooking more and more from scratch so I can stay on top of it some. There is enough natural sugar in foods.

I try to cook more from scratch too, but not enough apparently.

Well I ran my errands today. All went well, but I was NOT able to get the pot water drainer that goes in the bottom of a pot that does not have drain holes. I think I have figured out how to make my own now though.

There is supper to make then I need to finish cleaning the spare bedroom.

My Dr recommended Stevia over Splenda; I don't really like the taste, or the aftertaste that just kind of sticks around... I get that Splenda has some adverse health effects, which sucks because it doesn't leave a nasty aftertaste.

Refined sugar in the US primarily comes from Sugar Beets; it's refined, bleached, and then sold as regular sugar at the store. I have to wonder if sugar in the raw (such as that from sugar cane) is any better health wise...

I get pure cane sugar. Raw honey is good too. It does not raise your blood sugar like white sugar.

Did you see that in writing someplace about Honey NOT raising blood sugar ??
If so I would love to copy & print it to show my GP. He oversees my heart condition so I do not have to go see the cardiologist so often. Anyway HE said that I should stay away from sugar---"even honey" Golly, if I could use Honey, that would solve all of my problems.


I buy pure cane sugar also....and there is honey in the house

Colby had a set back today but I think he's stable now. Still on the vent. This has got to stop.

My time stamp is fixed. Yippee!!

Oh, Sheri. My prayers for Colby and the family are ongoing.
Sweet dreams everyone. I'm very tired.

Continued prayers for Colby & your whole family.

Good morning.

Continued prayers for Colby.

I have a doctor's appointment today so that will take up most of my afternoon with the driving.

Junie, honey doesn't raise your blood sugar as quickly as regular sugar does. A lot of people use it because it takes less honey to sweeten than white sugar. The problem is that you have to make sure you are buying 'Pure Honey' with no additives....but it still needs to be used in moderation.

I agree with Tina, processed foods are killing us between the sugar and chemicals.

spring has UNsprung here. It's 32° this morning and is supposed to be chilly until next week. Not sure if it's a good thing, thinking it might mess up the bug, or if it's bad and is going to hurt all our beautiful buds.

Good morning. That's cold, Sheri. I hope it is a short cold snap and you go back to warm soon.
I am up and ready for the day. A little early but not a bad night. I was only up twice with the dog. So it is going to be a good day.
I hope everybody has a great one.

Still praying for Colby..my candles are lit too.....

Our weather is beautiful at the moment.. sun melted all the snow .. my crocus are blooming and the tulips are blooming , a little bedraggled from the blizzard but they are trying to be pretty .

Have school today and rest of week with Nicoli... he is doing so well, and growing fast now... he seems to be over the worst of the CVS now... he just turned 11 so we are hoping puberty will make it go away.. does in some kids... he really wants to be able to go back to school and be a reg kid... Derek is doing well with his school now too.. finally got thru to the one teacher that he has to be taught differently and to let his para in the room...
quoting fed laws and mentioning a lawyer seemed to help somehow..

Well off to get ready to be the teach... got to get my breakfast and see what else I can get done to prep dinner.. baked fried chicken...

Have a good day all.
Nana

Good for you, Nana. Getting the boys all settled into their schooling. I am happy that it seems to be working out. I hope it continues.

Good evening.

Nana so glad to hear such good news on the boys. I hope the trend continues.

I am down to the wire now, and need to get moving faster to finish my preparation for my soon to arrive company.

Sweet dreams all. I have a headache I need to shake.

Tina: I hope your headache leaves you and you get a good night's sleep.

Good night everyone, sweet dreams.

Good morning. I am much better today. I knew it was a headache from the sun and would go away. I am good to go today.
It will be the usual today. School and stuff. I hope everyone has a good one.

Good Morning.

Glad the headache is gone, Tina.

Today it is down to the wire & I need to get back to getting ,y guest bedroom ready for my in-laws.

I too wish everyone a good day...It is raining here...

Good morning. We're to get rain Friday through the weekend. I want to have a variety of good things to eat in the house. Working on that.

Guest bed linen in the washer...bathrooms about done...all floors swept....
Now if I just did not have to go to the grocery and then the post office (who has a 2 hr lunch) and the nursing home to take his mom her fixed dentures, I just might be in a good place now.

Did I mention I feel clammy & my throat is sore ? I am hoping it is allergies, 'cause I have no time to be sick.

Colby was extubated this morning. Hope he can maintain on his own.

It's really cold here. Hope it kills all the bugs :)

That is good news about Colby. I also hope he can maintain on his own. My prayers continue.
I hope you are not getting sick, Carol. I think when your in-laws visit, they should stay in a hotel. It is too much after all you do for his mother already.

Unfortunately he has an infection from where his arterial line was. Now we know the reason he kept having a temperature.

On another note people are strange. The very first morning the doctor told us that people would come out of the woodwork contacting us to get information - some out of concern, some just noisy, some with morbid curiosity, and that has been the truth. Shelley has had a bunch of strangers try to friend her on FB. Why would you want to friend a stranger? And the other day 2 men that Tracy knew from school and they live in the same town but probably haven't seen each other to speak in 30 years showed up at the hospital. I think their intentions were nice because they didn't ask to see Colby, just met with Tracy in the waiting room and said they were praying for them. But I have a friend from 8th grade, saw her last time when Shelley was 2 or 3, who has been bombarding me for information. We are FB friends but never even chat but she has messaged and messaged and messaged and messaged. I messaged her back once and said thank you for your prayers but evidently that's not enough. Every time I post a picture she comments "what is happening with Colby" or "what's new with Colby". I've just been deleting her comments. If there's an update to be made on FB that's Shelley's job. I have been keeping my friends updated but not on FB. Another friend, who I haven't seen in a while, but I do consider her a friend, has been sort of adamant about wanting information "he's improved some" doesn't suit her. She told me, when she saw Shelley's post saying that she wouldn't be making any new FB posts, that I need to start an update page myself on some site called Caring Bridge or Caring Update or something like that but I ignored her and haven't updated her since. I have learned a few things through this situation.

1. Don't send flowers or balloons to a person in intensive care because you can't keep them there.

2. Don't show up unannounced with your children, because 1. It's no place for children 2. The patient may not want your children to see them in this state.

3. If the patient is a child, don't think just because your child is a classmate that he needs to come to the ICU and "report back to school friends." Shelley's had parents with students from the school, who aren't hanging out friends with Colby, show up who want to come see him. She has not let them come back.

4. Don't call or text and ask for pictures to update your FB page. Most people don't want their hospital pictures plastered all over FB.

5. Unless you're a close friend, and I mean very close, a call or text a week is sufficient to show you care. Calling or texting 3 or 4 times a day asking for information is annoying, time consuming, and makes the family not want to talk to you at all.

Do:

1. If you want to send something immediately, send the family cards to Starbucks or a shop or restaurant nearby the hospital. (Lots of people have done this and it's been great for Shelley and Tracy. One of them can run out, if no one else is there to do it for them, grab coffee or a salad for one or both of them and it's a change from hospital food and they can eat alone)They left in the middle of the night and if they had not had family and friends close by they would have needed to buy toothpaste, hair spray, deodorant and stuff like that. This hospital gives the mom and dad 1 meal ticket a day so if the family doesn't have a lot of extra cash they are going to need immediate help with food and the like and not being able to keep food in the room they need to be able to buy it in the cafeteria or go out and get it.

2. Send a card to the home address if they have other children at home. Aubry has had a good time going to the mailbox, counting the cards, then taking them to the hospital for Colby. Shelley has taped them all over the room.

3. If a family member has a FB page, instead of calling or texting, post each day that you're praying or thinking of the family and remind them that you are there if one of the children needs to be picked up, the grass needs to be mowed, whatever. Don't just post "call me if I can help" be specific as to what you can or are willing to do.

4. Call or text 1 time a week with the same info in #3 if you REALLY can help out.



I think the majority of people want to help but I also think there are some people who are just strange.

Good advice. There have been times I have wished I lived closer to people so I could lend a hand. But mostly I stick to praying and wishing and....

Sweet dreams all. I am going to take this tired body to bed.

Yep mostly just praying & thinking of you all for me too.

Sheri: for the family and people who you really want to know, there is a way to add a "secret or closed group" to facebook then the person who makes it is the only one that can invite ANYONE into the group. Then only the people in the group can see the posts that are made.
MY family has used this type of facebook groups many, many times. it saves the person going thru something a LOT of stress & time. AND remember, only people invited to the group can see what is posted...there is no "friends of friends" seeing posts thing going on with this.

12:20 am

Going to sleep now..nite-nite!

Good morning. I am up early but that is ok. I have a lot to do with this day.
I hope everyone has a good one.

Good morning.

I ended up taking the grands home with me the other night after my appointment...I brought them back last night(after taking them to a doc appt yesterday as well). I was so busy that I never got a chance to pop in.

Sheri, nosy people are the reason why I deleted Facebook. People have no common sense it seems when it comes to family situations. My daughter found out her newborn baby's father had died in a car accident from a Facebook post...then strangers had the audacity to try friend her and message her for details. She deleted a lot of people in those few days.

On another note....it is snowing a bit out there again today.

juniegirl that's a great idea. Why didn't I think of that?

Sunny that's horrible! I told Johnny something about Colby that he told his cousin who promptly posted it on her FB page. I saw it and called her and asked her to delete it. She apologized but I still can't imagine why she'd post someone else's personal information on her page. As it happens it was incorrect information because Johnny only half way listens to me but he never dreamed she'd post it.

I am thinking of unfriending that crazy person I knew in the 9th grade. I'm trying to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. We've been FB friends for a few years and once in a while she'll like one of my posts or I'll like one of hers but we don't actually post to each other. Now she has started liking every post on my page. I've told her more than once he's improving but she wants particulars and her messages are beginning to get on my nerves.

Anyway, he has improved a LOT. He sat up in a wheelchair today. He's not talking yet but he will nod and mouthed that he was hungry. He can't eat until they do a swallowing test. I haven't heard anything about the latest blood culture.

Another child on the unit died.

Oh, how sad that another child died. I hate that idea.
But I am glad that he's so responsive now. That's wonderful news.

Sweet dreams all. I am heading to bed soon.

Good morning.

I am so relieved to hear that Colby is sitting up...small steps but wonderful ones Prayers are continuing.





We had a death in the family yesterday (my uncle's mother~he is an uncle by marriage), she was 95 and had Alzheimer's....she is at peace now. We take comfort in that.

It is raining today, a welcome sight....it is melting some of the snow. I will be running errands today and picking up GG for the weekend.

I am sorry for your loss, Sunny. I am glad she is at peace now.
Good morning. I was up in the night a lot with my dog. I will be napping today. That is the only plan I have so far but I'm sure I'll collect more as the day goes along.
I hope everyone has a good day.

Sunny, so sorry for your loss. Prayers for the family

Sheri, that is good news about Colby. so hope that the trend continues.

About your FB story. It is my opinion that some people think it is all about them & what they know. Then if they do not share it, no one will know they know something others do not. It is a sad state of affairs.

About the private FB groups. Do not credit me. My daughters & their cousins were the ones who knew about such groups. but really they are so very useful.

Sorry you were up a lot with your dog. I well remember those days. I hope you do get your nap.

Today I am taking my mom to a Drs. appt. That is al I have on my agenda.

Taking your mom to a doctor's appointment is a lot, Carol. I hope she is well.
I decided to clean out the fridge. I tell my daughter not to open a new one (insert anything here) without finishing the old one (or throwing it out). I tossed out hundreds (exaggeration) of things with one sip or serving in multiples. Surprise, there is a lot more room in the fridge for real food. There were four of her Ensures, for instance. As well as quart bottles of kefir and such. There were a couple of potatoes that got shoved out of sight that were my bad. But most of the clutter was hers.
I feel free!

My mother is fine--well, fine for a 83+ yr old person.
She is just going for a recheck sort of thing. She is still hurting from her fall & break in November and she does not want to hurt, & wants the Dr. to make it stop, ASAP. She is being checked after being taken off of one of her meds.
It will be a quick trip.

So glad you got your fridge cleaned out. It does feel good.
Perhaps for Christmas you could buy your DD a mini fridge for her room. She could clean out her own then...

Oh, I've got a mini fridge. It is not going anywhere near her room. Things go in there never to be seen again. It's a disaster. Someday she will clean it up again. But it will never house a place to house food. She is unreliable at best. But she is so sweet and pleasant, it is hard to stay mad at her.