3rd Week in April 2016

On Tuesday, we went to an appointment with my surgeon, Dr. Jon Browne - pre-surgery visit.  It was a very good appointment.  On Wednesday, I went to Bible Study, then Susan Mosley took me out to lunch pre-surgery and gave me a very lovely card and a gift certificate for a massage at the spa post-surgery.

On Friday, I went to several garage sales.

On Saturday, we went to Overland Park for Garrison's soccer match.  Afterward, we all went to lunch at Blue Moose and had a great time.  Grandpa was in charge of naps for himself, Peyton and Garrison - Chad had to go to work for a few hours - Amanda and I went to Kohl's and Costsco.  Later, we helped Peyton learn to run into a rope we were turning for jump rope, and Garrison blew bubbles and had fun helping Mommy sweep the sidewalk and driveway.

On Sunday, I played the gathering music at church and during the service with Sam - we decorated graves for Memorial Day a little early because of my surgery - and we went to Supper Club and had a great time and delicious food, baby back ribs, etc.

My total knee replacement surgery will be Wednesday, 4/27/16 at the Kansas City Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Hospital in Leawood, KS.  We are going to KC on Tuesday for an x-ray and then will pick up the kids from school, take them to dinner, take Peyton to dance, and will spend the night at Amanda's before my surgery the next day.

Second Week in April 2016

On Tuesday, Ron and I went to Overland Park mid-day.  Ron stayed at Amanda's house to wait for the internet people to come fix their connection (mouse had chewed through line outside), and I went to meet with the anesthesiologist people at the KC Orthopedic and Sports Medicine place pre-surgery.  Peyton had an early dismissal, so after my appointment I went to school to pick her up.  We then picked up Grandpa who was finished with the internet people and the 3 of us went to Dickey's BBQ for a late lunch.  There was no one else there eating (2:30 ish), so Peyton was in her element going up to get us more napkins, pickles, BBQ sauce, taking trash, getting herself an ice cream cone, etc.  It was fun.  After a tasty lunch, we went to get Garrison at his school after his nap.  We had an early dinner, and then I took Peyton to her dance class about 20 minutes away.  We found it easily with Amanda's instructions.  Amanda had a late meeting at Sprint - Chad had a meeting of T-Ball Coaches for Garrison's team this summer.  After we arrived home from dance - by the way, I was able to get a parking place right in front of the studio and the big glass window and was privileged to get to watch her dance the full hour - it was wonderful - she is good - Ananda and Chad had both made it home, so after visiting for a couple of minutes, we headed for home.  It was a great day.

On Wednesday, I went to Bible Study, went out to lunch at El Camino with Ron and some of his customers, and we had our picture taken at church for the pictorial directory.

I had P.EO. Thursday night.  On Friday, Kelly and I went to a few garage sales, and I helped her mark things for her upcoming garage sale.   That evening, I drove Ron around to put out signs for the Education Foundation 5K on Saturday which he was involved in.

On Saturday, Ron left around 6 a.m. to work at the 5K.  I headed to Overland Park for Garrison's first Spring soccer match.  He played really well and had a good time.  Peyton had a good time with her friends, running around and doing cartwheels.  Amanda and Chad took Peyton to a birthday party and then went to pre-see The Jungle Book to see if it was appropriate for the kids.  Garrison and I had a date to Chick-Fil-A (his choice).  He literally talked the whole way there, while there, and the whole way home!  He's a talker.  We had fun.  We don't often get to have time one-on-one.  He played a little bit in the play area, but a little girl called him a monster and it made him mad, so he didn't want to play anymore.  Too funny.  Then we went to McDonald's for an ice cream cone.  He was worried about getting Grandpa's van dirty.  I told him I would handle Grandpa.  He took a good nap.  Peyton's friend's mother brought her home around 3:30 p.m., then Amanda and Chad arrived home around 4 p.m.

I brought home Peyton's pink Cadillac to sell - sad - she has outgrown it.  Sold it online on Sunday within 20 minutes.  Also sold the double stroller for Amanda - the kids are growing up!

Ron and I went to see Uncle Jim at the Windsor Nursing Home Sunday morning and had a good visit with him.  We grilled steak for lunch with baked potatoes - yummo.  Rested Sunday afternoon.  Amanda/family went to the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts to hear the symphony play Disney/Pixar times.  All in all, a good week.

10 days until surgery.

We are blessed.

First Week in April 2016

It's been a glorious, busy week!  Lots of time with our little people.
On Wednesday, I went to Overland Park in time to pick Garrison up at school.  Peyton wanted her Momma to pick her up, so Garrison and I had a little time at home by ourselves which was nice.  We played outside  -  he talked, I listened, ha ha.  The boy likes to talk.  We then met Amanda and Peyton at Freddy's for a quick dinner before the girls went to church for Peyton's religion class, Family Formation.  Garrison and I went back to the house.  He took a long bath and had a blast playing in the tub - again, talking away.  I spent the night since Chad was in Vegas with a friend for a few days, and Amanda wasn't sure if she would need transportation help for the kids on Thursday.

Thursday morning I took Garrison to school.  Peyton wanted to go early to go to Y-Care before school, so Amanda took her.  No Grammy assistance was needed for Thursday, so I came on home.

On Friday, again since Chad was out of town, Amanda and the kids drove down to Clinton to spend the night.  We all went to the Rotary Shrimp Fest (we took Happy Meals for the kids).  Ron was working, so the kids had a blast helping Grandpa in the carry-out section.  They even stayed when Amanda and I went home so they could help Grandpa longer!

We had a leisurely Saturday morning before Amanda went back to Overland Park.  The kids wanted pizza for lunch, so we ordered from Pizza Hut - it was yummy.  We had a great Saturday afternoon.  Peyton had an idea to make "watermelon" jello which consisted of strawberry jello - set - with chocolate chips inserted as the seeds.  We also made blue jello to represent blueberries.  They had fun doing it.  We went outside to look for frogs across the street at the pond, and they had fun jumping off the retaining wall and exploring.  We spent some time using the marshmallow shooters Grandpa had made and playing in the back yard, watering plants, etc.

Peyton had requested meatballs and rice for dinner, so we added hot bread and cooked carrots to round out our meal, with the watermelon jello for dessert.  They had sundaes for their snack after a bath for Garrison and a shower for Peyton.

Sunday morning we went to church then had fun playing downstairs and on the stationery bike in the front room before having lunch of - again requested - octopus hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, carrots, cottage cheese and jello.  We made strawberry kabobs with pound cake and white chocolate drizzle for lunch - Peyton had fun making those.  Garrison just wanted to watch.

After lunch we took the kids home, enjoyed hearing about Chad's trip and visited with both Amanda and Chad for a bit before heading home with a stop at Sam's Club.

A great week with family - treasured memories were made.

PS - we received word this week that Lucille Whitchurch, my Uncle Bob's wife - age 91, passed away after a long stay in a nursing home.