- I had surgery on my knee. There was a bit of physical therapy and I pushed myself through all exercises striving to go further than every requirement. If they asked for 5 reps I would do 7. I was able to get through PT in about 70 days. I still have difficulty getting to my knees but I feel more stable on my knee than I have since 2014.
- Claire had a seizure. This was similar to the one she had a few months back and we went to a child neurologist. He ordered an EEG and during that procedure they were able to induce another seizure. With this new info she is on some meds to treat them. The objective is for her to be seizure free and according to the results of the EEG unfortunately these have occurred while she has slept so we don't know how many she has had. These new meds have helped but the side-effects are anger issues. We have added a vitamin supplement and that has changed her back to normal overnight. So - in a few days she will go to get an MRI so we will know more about what is causing the seizures. It is likely she will deal with this for some time so I am glad the medication is helping her.
- Emma is preparing for college. That is tough for me to process.
- I am a grandfather now. My eldest stepdaughter gave birth to a baby boy. This new role is an adjustment. What should I be called? I get to pick my "name". Grandpa, Paw Paw, Poppy, etc. I suppose I will answer to whatever I am called. All I know is I love this little boy. He is so precious.
- Madilyn is about to be 16. I feel like she and all the kids grew up overnight and I missed so much.
- I really hate the pandemic of COVID-19 coupled with the media's hype surrounding it. I feel it is being treated like "cooties" making the entire public panic and giving them the impression that catching this virus is a death sentence for everyone.
- I have had some changes at work. Through some restructuring I am now working for the parent company. This has brought challenges of their own and I am working through them. I feel this pandemic has accelerated many changes in companies as they strive to improve their ability to weather this storm.
- I realize that I am not a farmer or a gardener. I have planted both food and shrubbery and both seem to be dying. I am learning but it is disheartening to plant something with every hope of it flourishing only to see it wither and die. I have learned that the soil is foundation of life and it is vital that the soil is good for anything to grow, unless of course it is a weed. It can grow is the most worthless soil around with very little water and complete neglect.
- I have attempted to move a boulder with Alex. I secured it with a rope and drug it with a pickup truck to the area where I needed to lift it about 5 feet to put it on top of the existing boulders. Regardless of my past abilities and even with Alex's help moving this rock proved very difficult. It still remains at the bottom of the pile of rocks where I am determining how to get some machinery to assist.
- My sister, brother-in-law, her two kids, and my mom drove up to visit from Texas. It was so nice to catch up with them. It was the first time my sister has been up here and I really enjoyed our visit. I wish we lived closer.
- I'm battling wasps outside. They are everywhere. I don't know where the nest is but they are everywhere.
So - that is what is off the top of my head. I will pick it up later and add to this but for now that is the update.
