Monday July 21st

The Boys are back in town! with laundry and all. Mark and David had a wonderful time in Colorado.They climbed to summit of Mount Tweeto at roughly 13,700 feet. They and others on the trip stated that this was one of the most physically demanding activity they have done in their entire life. David said that football practice was easy compared to the "trek". I feel they left as boys and came back as men.


While they were gone, I got in a cleaning and painting mood. It is easier when most of the nest is empty. I cleaned the carpets in the rooms and then painted Brian's room. Here is the finish project of Brian's room:


I also painted the laundry room/dog's room. Here is a picture of this work:


Sooo...while the boys were away becoming men, well, I painted and cleaned. I will say that Brian was home and a wonderful helper. He worked on yard work and moved things around for me. He helped me find a very comfortable bed for the room, so he has something really comfortable to sleep on when he comes home to visit me. Yes, the move is still on. He is planning on moving out on Aug. 2nd. Sunday, Niel & I went out to lunch with him and Chelse. Sitting there talking, I have noticed the man he has become. He is a really good guy and he is a man. I guess, I still can not believe he will be 21 in Sept. He was my first baby and he has turned into a wonderful man.

Niel has still be busy with a major project at work. Even with his busy schedule he seems to get things accomplished around the house. He has now finished all the hurricane shutters for our house. No, we do not have a hurricane coming toward us but we need to be prepared. Here is Niel's handy work:



As you can see. We all have been busy this past week. It always feels good when you accomplish things. Mark and David accomplished a hard mountain experience, Brian accomplished the phases of moving forward in adult hood, and Niel & I accomplished homeimprovement projects. Family is a wonderful thing and I so adore my family. I feel blessed every day to be apart of Brian's, Mark's, David's, and Niel's life. What is a women to ask for, be surrounded by four wonderful men.

Summer Scramble July 10th

Summer Scramble is a great way to describe the last two weeks here in Cocoa, Florida, or at least in my world of Cocoa, Florida.

As I type, Mark and David are packing for their trip to backpack in Colorado. Here is the web site if you are interested in what they are going to be doing: http://www.wildernesstrek.org/

My living room looks a mess right now because of the packing but soon it will be back to normal, as normal can get. In the process for this backpacking trip both boys needed physicals. David had his at the same time he had his football physical through school so that was easy. Mark, now being 19 needed to have his first adult physical with a new family doctor, he is no longer going to the pediatrician. Well, last week he went in for a full physical, blood work, and EKG. Well, while we were there they did two EKG's on him and came back and stated they wanted him to see a cardilogist. My heart of course did a few extra beats at that moment and all Mark was saying, so will you sign my physical form to go on this trip. Needless to say the doctor would not sign until he saw the cardilogist. So today, the day before the trip we went to see the cardilogist. Mark has what is known as an Incomplete Right Bundle Branch Block of the heart. Soooo what does that mean? Here is what it means: Incomplete BBB
Sometimes either the right or the left bundle branch conducts the electrical impulse more slowly than normal, but is not completely blocked. When this occurs, on the side of the slow conduction, the electrical impulse arrives in the ventricle slightly later than normal. As a result, the QRS complex is slightly wider than normal, but not as wide as it would be with a complete BBB. This slight widening of the QRS is often called incomplete BBB. (Another name for it is an “intraventricular conduction defect," or an IVCD.)
Incomplete bundle branch block sometimes indicates underlying heart disease. But, especially when it occurs on the right side (i.e., incomplete RBBB,) it often has no significance at all. So in general, incomplete bundle branch block should trigger a non-invasive search for underlying heart disease. If none is found, no further tests or treatment are needed.

The doctor feels he will be okay for the trip but Mark will be getting an ultrasound of the heart on August 6th. We also found out that Mark's blood is low in b12, so he had a b12 shot today and will have two more before they put him on b12 vitamins. That might be the reason he is always tired. But Mark got his form signed and he is packing as I type for the trip. Did I mention they leave tomorrow morning at 4:15 am from the church parking lot....yes, 4:15 am.

David passed his physical but on Sunday strained his back. I had him to see the chiropractor on Monday and after x-rays and an exam, David needs to work on strengthen his muscles but doing stretching exercises and seeing the doctor two times a week. This week he was on light duty, so no heavy lifting at "iron claw" practice at school. "Iron Claw" practice is sports conditioning over the summer months.

Brian is un-employed again. We knew it was only season since it was a firework store. The week of the 4th he did have about 60 hours of work but now he is bored. Since he is moving out at the end of the month, this coming week we will be cleaning out his room and repainting it for a nice guest room. I want something soothing and black & red is just not soothing colors for me.

Now on the 4th we did have a good time. We went to a youth 4th of July party...the kids played volleyball (so did some of the adults) and we had great food and wonderful fellowship. Niel and I stayed home that night to watch neighborhood fireworks but the boys went down to the villiage to watch the fireworks over the river. It was a nice time....I think the only ones that do not like the 4th are the dogs and even the cat seems to hide under the bed.

Sooo...as you can see I have been scrambling here and there with different doctors and trying to get supplies for the backpackers and I am working on supplies for the "I'm moving out on my own kid".

Did I mention that my air conditioner broke yesterday and the house was at least 90 inside. It is working on low power right now and the part has been ordered. The good part, it is covered under warrantee. That is good.

Niel has been busy with work, it is the end of the project he has been working on and two people of his team took vacation so he has been holding down the fort on this project. Which meant a lot of extra hours but he did manage to work on hurricane shutters and get an outside light up. I personally do not know how he seems to get so much done but I do not know what I would do without him. He is my rock.

As for me....well, I did read a book on my summer list, I have enjoyed the pool, and I have been scrambling around....next week will be better cleaning and painting.

Hope all is well with everyone. Hope everyone's 4th was nice. I do know that this week has taught me that God is in control and that I am not...but that is okay because I think I needed someone else in control of my worries.