May Shenanigans

Lord have mercy as my old granny would say look who has his real license!  He is now the proud driver of a 13 year old mini van-we did the same with his older brother, safe ride LOL  But I have to say he is so helpful to pick up things for us at the store and it's great not to have to chauffer him around between his job, friends, and other things!  I'm totally spoiled! 

More exploring Florida...

This time me and my friend went to Ulele Restaurant and Armature Works in Tampa.  Armature Works is this big Industrial building that has been turned into a food/wine place with several restaurants and bars.  My older boys took me there one afternoon over Christmas break and to be honest I didn't really care for it (they thought it was the bomb)  To be fair I was probably already sick with Covid and didn't realize it so I was so tired and didn't enjoy the long walk from where we parked .  Plus I had on boots so my feet were killing me. It was loud and had so many small restaurants that required standing in line for your over priced meal. (don't worry there were no outbreaks of covid from me being there!)  So my friend and I thought we'd try it together.  I still didn't like it nor did she.  Maybe we are just not hip enough LOL  It still was loud, over priced and too annoying to have to stand in line like you would at a mall food court for very expensive not that great food   You can watch their video  Armature Works you might be cooler than we are and enjoy it!

 So we went next door to   Ulele Restaurant on the banks of Ulele Springs.  It was much more our style.  We sat outside  and enjoyed our lunch in the beautiful surroundings.  The lunch was great and the prices more appropriate. 

Right beside the restaurant is Ulele  Springs Water Works, there's another park just sough of there all along the Riverwalk.  

We  took a stroll on Tampa's River walk.  There are swings that you can sit in and watch the river traffic and solve all the world's problems.  But you can walk for several miles in each direction if you'd like to!  We didn't that day

This year I am purposely trying new things and going new places.  I don't know about you but I can get stuck in a rut and if I do go out I go to the same places I've gone to for 30 years or more.  Luckily both my husband and one of my closest friends like to do explore new places.  It's funny my husband would rather explore new nature/outdoor things and my friend likes outdoor stuff but also is up for little shops and restaurants.  I like to do both so I can go with the flow and be happy with both LOL

Living in Florida it's amazing the things that are in our own backyard!

We had a little scare with our Ginger.  She's the big girl on the top left.  I noticed one day that she was not acting like herself.  See how her tail was drooping?  That's a hug sign a chicken is not well.  

(Dumplings is on the top right looking away.  Shorty is on the bottom left and Frenchy is on the right she is my little girl)

It seemed like I could feel something on her backside plus she had a bald spot.  Previously I'd thought she had lice or mites but couldn't find any one her or the other girls but I treated for it anyhow.  I tried giving her a bath in Epsom salts just in case she was egg bound.  Even though she did not feel good she did not appreciate my care LOL  Nor did I appreciate having to clean the bathroom after she got away from my and flapped all over the place  

So my husband took her to the vet for me.  Again I can only think what my family would have thought about me taking a 7 year old non laying hen to a vet!!!  And I admit while I love animals, the dark places I've seen in this world reminds me that humans are so much more important.  There's a balance somewhere and I probably was a bit off balance with Ginger.  But let me tell you about Ginger, last year I went through a deep valley - our whole family did-  Ginger greeted me every day, every time I walked outside and made me feel a little better.  I felt I at least owed it to her to have her put to sleep humanely.  BUT!  After a day at the vet some tests, two shots she is totally back to normal!  I am having to deworm ALL four chickens (there's alot of squawking pecking and fussing going on....and the hens are doing it too hahah!)  What a JOB!  Have you ever had to give medicine to a chicken?  Yeah me neither!  I've given medicine to dogs cats and terrible children but giving liquid meds to chickens is a whole 'nother ballgame!  

But Ginger is happy and healthy!  They all love watermelon so they've been getting a half one a day.  

Hope you are having a good summer thus far!  Our temps are in the 90's but that's ok I know how to live with heat.  I don't know how to live in cold weather....what do you wear?  It's so complicated for me!  For example when we were in NY in January in a "blizzard" it was awful outside but hot inside.  So if you wore a sweater under your coat, it was too hot when you came inside.... In Florida just wear shorts and flip flops so much easier!!!  

Spring 2021

Easter 21

smallest group picture we've had in many years!

For years I've felt like our house had a "disjointed' look about it and this was the year I've decided to redo some things.  One of those things was Sam's room.  He sleeps in a hospital bed because of sleep apnea.  But everything needed an update.  I like how it turned out!

Jon and I are continuing to explore new places in Florida.  A few Fridays ago we went to the Anclote River / Tarpon Springs area

Key Vista Nature Park

this is a real Florida beach

There is a tower there

the pier is a little south of the first park Anclote Gulf Park

Then the docks of Tarpon Springs

Our FAVORITE restaurant and bakery

We finished the day at Anclote River Park that has a small beach on it right where the river meets the gulf.   Everything was free except parking at Tarpon Springs and the Greek food!  Actually if you eat at Hellas restaurant they have free parking in the back!

Molly modeling for us

Me and a few of my babies lol

My sweet girls

More backyard pictures

Bruno one of my real rescues.  He came up or was dropped off and looked awful.  I was actually afraid of him because he was so large and feral.  But since I'm the cat whisper somehow I was able to connect with him and he is now the sweetest boy.  I don't' really want to rescue animals, they just come across my unwilling path and I have to take care of them  Sometimes I'm able to find homes for them like a recent cat and her newborn kittens but it's rare when that happens.  

THIS is why I have no garden I'm growing chickens!

This year we went to the annual banquet for Emerald M Therapeutic Riding Stables   It is always a lot of fun and our Sarah was featured again!

A picture with Laurie and Lisa the therapists - we clean up good LOL believe me most of our time spent together is times without make up or dressy clothes 

Sarah's favorite thing HORSE

This video was shown at the Banquet

Sarah's video Please watch this video about Sarah and Emerald M Therapeutic Riding Center  If you ever want to donate to them-it would be a blessing they do so much for so many people!  We are so blessed to be a part of this!!!

Look who is home!  We are so glad to have Shad home after his freshman year in Arizona!

Mother's Day 2021 I have 5 reasons to be happy on this day and I'm so thankful for us all being together

My sweet Sarah

He's a Keeper

So glad to have our boy home!

the One who started it all my bearded baby

my stinker Sam

Sweet Selah She was not enjoying the sun

 

Prayer Request

 Over the past year I've found out an incredible amount of things regarding my family lineage it's a story for another time  and it will be INTERESTING!  But right now can I ask you to please pray for a family member who is very ill and in the hospital on a vent.  Over the years I've learned God hears our prayers and I'm desperate for God to hear this request to spare my relative's life and bring complete healing!  Thank you for your prayers!!!

Yvonne

Thank you for your prayers unfortunately my relative did not survived this illness.  I'm devastated about the whole situation.   One day I'll share my story when it's appropriate.   My heart is very sad about this loss.  

Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island

 Continuing on as your Florida travel guide.....

Our family has gone to Honeymoon Island many times and love it.  The admission is only $4 a person or a carload for $8 there are bathrooms and a restaurant you can even rent umbrellas. It's very nice.  There are trails for walking and miles of beaches.  Read about HONEYMOON ISLAND  Caladesi Island is off its coast and only accessible by boat.  There's a ferry that runs from Honeymoon Island to Caladesi Island and it's only $16 a person.  Read about Caladesi Island  We've been there a few times but a few weeks ago Jon and I were able to work things out so we could go together and we had a wonderful day.  The 20 minute ride over is fantastic we saw dolphins and really enjoyed it both going out and coming back.  There's a restaurant and small store on the island but we brought our own sandwiches fresh from Publix! So after we got there we found a picnic table and ate because we were starving.  

We are Floridians so the water was wayyyyyy too cold for us.  We could barely stand to put our feet in the water but it will warm up soon.  We just wanted to walk and I wanted to take pictures.  It was absolutely a gorgeous day!  It's so rare that we get to go somewhere together with no kids so we felt foot loose and fancy free (at least for 4 or 5 hours lol)  You probably can't relate but just leaving our house with our little people is hard and time consuming.  Taking them to the beach is something we do but it is so much hard work.  So to just go and not have anything to carry but my phone was very nice!  It was relaxing for us and we are going to try and do something once a month this summer.  That's our goal at least!

I never get tired of the beach.

No crowds here we walked for miles

Still no kids:)

So this is a great place to spend a day or two if you come to Florida and see the REAL Florida!  There are no hotels on either island or camping but there's a few hotels in Dunedin which is just a few minutes drive.  You'll thank me for this recommendation!  

A Sam Update

 Thanks for all the comments, the blog layout has changed and for some reason I just got the notification from weeks ago.  I think that is fixed thankfully!

So a Sam update.... March 9th Sam had a MRI under anesthesia   We were allowed to walk him in and Jon helped him go to sleep.  Evidently as soon as we walked out there was an emergency!  Sam has always (more than 50 times) been put under by being masked and then had an IV put in.   They usually do this with younger kids but since Sam is like a toddler they've kept doing it.  Well..... this time he had a reaction, his throat closed up and he quit breathing!!  The doctor had to bag him and they had a very hard time intubating him because of several reasons.   We had NO IDEA this drama was going on....  

At the SAME time or very close to it our oldest son Steve called to check on us.  As we were speaking, I heard him say "oh my God!"  Well he was driving to lunch and was beside a semi hauling roofing materials.  The lumber for the roof (the peak was already put together) was strapped down and a strap broke and flew across his windshield.  Then the prepared roof began falling off the truck right behind him!  By the grace of God it missed his car.  He was shook up.  

After we called him back to tell him what happened with Sam (we didn't know at the time he called us) he told me to check on Shad and tell him to stay in bed for the rest of the day!!! 

Sam had no issue and was released that day after the anestheslogist warned us to never ever let him be put to sleep outside of a hospital and never by mask again.  She was so shook up.  She went back and reviewed his surgery that took place last year there at St Joe's and she was relieved to find she did exactly the same protocol  as her colleague did.  We went home grateful yet again for God sparing our Sam and our Steve!  

Just the Sunday before Jon preached a sermon about how God hears and answers prayer especially prayers we pray for our family.  He shared some things our family has gone through and how God moved mountains.  While I know every prayer is not answered in the way we want it to be-I know I can trust my Lord!  Boy we lived it out that week!  In situations minutes apart at the most we could have lost two of our children.... I'm so very grateful we did not!  So if our family ever comes to your mind say a prayer for us!  

So after ALL of the tests, the trip to NY and that MRI.....Sam's brain is fine, the blood flow is fine.  There were two small things the MRI suggested.  One was a a mild mucosal thickening of the paranasal sinus with mastoid air cells likely.  That could cause some dizziness.  The other was Partial empty sella which is related to the pituitary gland and could cause something like vertigo.....  And even though Sam is better there are days when he is still "off"  He seems to have issues every single January-April....different issues non related but it's something every year.  He also seems to battle anxiety/depression during that time.  

Recently we also discovered that in chromosome 19 he has all parts of it but it's in "disarray"  It's out of order.  Let's say it should read "ABCDEF"  His reads "HXVBZP"  It might be a new marker for Peter's Anomaly!  Sam has what is called "clinical Peter's"  That means his eyes and everything else has all the characteristics  that Peter's Anomaly has but he doesn't have the chromosomal markers.  He is in a study with the University of Wisconsin and this might be a brand new marker for Peter's.  there are a few others who have this and 4 of them also have depression/anxiety occasionally.  And the funny thing is they all have it in the January-April window if I remember correctly!  Of course if we lived up north that could explain it but we live in sunny Florida so they found it interesting.   He also has a deletion in chromosome 4.  

In February Sam turned 17 years old...what a journey it's been for us!  He's had so many things happen to him but he's still here!

His new toys "communicate" with each other...it's a little freaky LOL But as long as they light up and play music he is happy.  

Sam is finished with puberty and according to bone scans & blood work will not grow any taller.  He has to be shaved weekly and we keep his mustache it's so cute to me.  He loves getting shaved, haircuts, pedicures and manicures (yes he goes with me Sarah would never allow a stranger to touch her!)  He LOVES massages and we also go together for them!  He's about 4'10 it's a little hard to measure him because he stands with his knees bent (something we are dealing with)  He weighs about 100 pounds.  He's perfectly proportioned even though he is not on the growth chart for a 17 year old.   

Sam is a blessing, if he had never been born, I'm pretty sure we would have never adopted children with special needs.  His life has changed so many other's lives.  God spoke to me one day on the way to work when I was not in a good place and told me I'd have a son named Sam and he would change my life.  I had NO EARTHLY idea how true that was going to be!  He changed the whole course of my life and that is not exaggeration!  I love him so much and at the same time I worry so much about him.  Sam has given me plenty to worry about over the years.  But as I reflect back I am so glad I have had the honor of being his mom!