Memories of fishing

I have great memories of pleasurable times fishing I had as a kid. When I was just a little one, my Dad would rent rowboats and take me and my family fishing, I loved fishing with Dad. As I got older, about 9, Dad rented a cottage for a week on Lake St. Clair, and the cabin came with a rowboat for us to use. I remember rowing out by myself, feeling so strong and and in control of it. I would anchor out and try to fish for a while and looking down into the water to see any fish swimming by. I loved the feeling of being all by myself and in charge of where I go and how far.

Dad took us many places on vacation. Many times it was just a cottage on the lake, and one time we rented a little trailer and we went around Lake Superior through Canada and back through the upper penninsula of Michigan. The lakes and parks were magnificent! We have my Mother's relatives in Canada, and many times we visited them. One Aunt had a cottage on an island in the French River, nestled between huge rocks. It was great to swim and camp there and we had great fun. I cried when we had to leave, I didn't want it to end. That was the life for me!

My Aunt had a lot with a garage only by a small inland lake, and I could see lots of fish swimming around just below the small dock she had. I got a piece of fishing line with a hook and baited it with a piece of balogny from our picnic. I laid on the dock and lowered the line to the fish. I could see when the fish bit and caught by hand a mess of perch, bullheads, (that I would throw back), and many small bluegill. I had a bucket full of fish that Dad cooked later.

I almost drowned in that lake, because I was not a good swimmer, and I walked in water up to my neck. The man from next door pulled up with his motor boat pretty fast toward the shore and the wake knocked me off my feet. I was under water for what seemed like forever with my hands over my face trying to keep the water out. The man in the boat pulled me up by my hair choking, and sputtering water that had gotten in my lungs. My Dad walked in and got me, and carried me to the shore. It's such a bad feeling having water in your lungs, it burns like crazy. After that I learned quickly the swim well. I wanted so bad to be able to swim out to the deep part to a raft they had made for diving off of, and it wasn't very long when I was able to do just that.

Later, Dad bought a small speedboat, and one summer we took the boat to a cabin on Lake St. Clair. One day, early in the morning, Dad let me take the boat on the lake all by myself. It was a beautiful, warm morning and the water was still as glass. We had all taken boating classes from the coast guard, and I knew the rules of boating. I left the dock slowly and made my way out to deeper water. When I got out far enough, I pushed the gas as far as it would go, and glided with ease across the water, the wind blowing through my hair and loving every minute of it! It was the greatest feeling! I buzzed all around the bay feeling like the queen of the world for a while.

Later that same week, a big storm hit the lake in the night. It broke the lines the boat was tied up with and luckily washed the boat onto the shore and filled the boat with water. We were able to bail all the water out and get it floating again, with no damage to the hull. That was exciting and scary at the same time. Good thing it didn't wash the boat out to sea!

Through the years, I got to be a good fisher. I usually always got the most, or the bigest fishes. We had great luck catching anything in those days, but lately you can fish all day and were lucky to catch a one. My biggest was a 10 lb. carp, the best fish was a 6 1/2 lb. Walley, that was 26 inches long, it had a huge belly and hung between my hands. It was the best eating fish I ever ate! I knew the Lake pretty well, and could find all the landmarks. My husband even depends on me to find our way when we go out.

One winter my Dad took me out ice fishing, and rented a ice shanty. The place drove us far out onto the ice in a stripped down truck to where our shanty was. They had little gas heaters inside that make it cozy, and when you were inside in the dark, you could see to the bottom. It was like watching the fish swim around on TV. The outside light lit up the water and you were able to watch them when they took the bait. What fun!

My husband and I have had many small and larger boats over the years, and we really loved fishing and boating and so did our girls. We had many good times with them, and they were avid fishers too.

We have a boat now, a 24 foot cabin cruiser, but the fun has kind of been taken out of it with my illnesses, and have not been able to enjoy it much. My legs are still too weak to pull myself out of it, and he has to help boost me up to get back on the high dock.

The cost of the dockage and winter storage fees and some repairs we've had to make have really cut into our pockets. That's too bad. My husband really wants to enjoy it more at least one summer more, and maybe then we might give it up.

Does anyone else have good memories like this? Please tell me about yours.

Help! I need some games for picnic.

We have a family reunion picnic for my husband's family every year (we have over a 100 people) the weekend after the Fourth of July, and we are in charge of notifying the families and getting little toys and things for the kids to win as prizes for the games. This year we decided to also get some adult prizes and want to find some good picnic games for them to play. Last year we only played one adult game, which was a water balloon toss.

Any body got some good suggestions for both adult and kids of many ages that we could play this year? It sure is difficult to think of new and inventive games. HELP ME IF YOU CAN!

More News on (alleged) Pipe Bomber YEAH RIGHT!

Well, today on the news:
We saw the alleged pipe bomber from my husband's shop has gone to Federal court and the charges against him have been dropped! He claims that he was only trying to make fireworks to sell, and NOT making a bomb. --------- There are a lot of questions not answered here---------- Like, there was a report earlier that the pipe found in the shop was filled with nails and pieces of metal, I DONT THIS THAT THIS CONSTITUES A FIREWORK!

AND-- Don't people who handle or produce fireworks and explosives have to be licensed to handle these products? NOW ------ Does the man get his job back with the company because he was found innocent? I worry for the people who have to work with him...including my hubby. HOW CAN THIS BE???????

I will let you know if I hear more.. this is scary to me.

Stitches come out today!

Well, today I see the doctor and get the hundreds of tiny stitches out of my face! I am a little scared it might hurt some, but anxious to get it over with. I am SO tired of the watery fluid draining from the opening behind my ear that the doc created. I can't stand the elastic bandage around my face any longer! I do take it off and get some air, but the fluid drips like a leaky faucet down my ear and onto my collar, so I have to put the gauze back on and that stupid elastic again. I am so sick of being sick all the time! I want to have a great summer this year, I have a small above ground pool and Hubby wants to get out a few times on our boat.

It's been almost three years of sickness for me, and I think that's enough for anyone to take.

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By the way, I haven't heard any more about the guy who brought the pipe bomb into my husband's shop. Last I heard, he was to go back to Federal court on the 7th, but nothing was on the news about it. Maybe he postponed the hearing. Will let you know when I hear something.

I've been challenged to fill this out, will you do the same?

3 names you go by- Gammamom, Mom, Paula

3 screen names you have- gammamom, butterflysweety, nothing else

3 physical things you like about yourself-eyes, lips , personality

3phisical things you dislike about yourself- body, feet, health

3 parts of your heritage- french canadian, polish, and I understand some Irish

3 things your wearing right now-shirt, shorts, undies

3 favorite bands/musical artists- Righteous Bros. , Elvis, Bob Segar

3 favorite songs- Many of the oldies from the 70s

3 things you want in a relationship- Appreciation, fairness, tenderness

3 physical things about the preferred sex appeals to you- Body, muscles, tenderness

3favorite hobbies- Art, crafts. traveling

3 things that you want to do badly right now- get my health better, live to see my grandkids grow up, purpose to life.

3 things that scare you- thought of death, violence , more hopitals

3 of your everyday essentials- food, clothing, my kids

3 careers that you considered or are considering- have retired Don't know

3places you would like to vacation- Hawaii, Tahiti, Italy

3 names you like- tiffany, Elizabeth,

3 things you want to do before you die-take a cruise, see the grandkids grow up, See my kids doing well and happy

3 celeb crushes- Elvis, cant think of others

3 people that you would like to take this quiz- everyone

More news

Well, then, this morning my daughter, Caroline saw the wet, rumpled wrappings I had tried to repair on my head and went straight to the store to get some new gauze to wrap my sores. Awww! Sweet girl! That felt much better, and I could see that the drainage was still coming out when I washed it with peroxide.

Later that evening the doc unwrapped it and said that I will have to continue seening him every day until it starts to heal properly. He squeezed it, but not as hard as the other doc did. ( I think that the swelling is starting to go down considerably.) He made sure the hole was still open, putting some antiseptic on it. He then placed some more pads on the area, and wrapped me with a elastic bandage with velcro attachments used for people that have had face lifts, This puts pressure on the wound, from under my chin to the top of my head, then straps around the forehead to secure it. (Let me tell you, it is very uncomfortable AND HOT!) The he told me to come back the next day again.

I asked him if he heard from pathology about my tumor, yet, and he told me he hadn't , that they are really slow lately. I had a biopsy last summer and it turned out negative, but who knows what has happened since then. I pray it will be alright. :o)

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As a side note: My husband had an appointment with a dentist on Tuesday and I went with him. While I was talking to his receptionist to fill out the papers, the dentist walk in the office and took a couple big stares at me with the wrappings on my head. I bet he was thinking that I REALLY had a bad tooth ache to be wrapped up like that. Just like the Our Gang movies of old! HA HA HA! ;-)

Surgery is over, but not healed YET

Hi everyone!

I made it through the surgery, I was really knocked out the first day, but the second day I woke to find my face wrapped up in gauze like a mummy! Later in the morning they removed the pressure bandage and I got to see how big the cut was, and how swollen my face was! They had cut me from the top of my right ear,down the front, and then under and behind the ear about 3 inches, then down the back edge of the throat about half was down the neck. I understand to get at the tumor, they have to spread your skin way back to scrape the tumor off the nerves and the salivary gland it was connected to. I'm so glad I didnt see what was happening to me! :-(


I had a drain tube attached to a plastic bulb to catch the blood and fluids draining from it. I got to go home the second morning with instructions to push on the swollen area to push the blood and fluid into the tube, but it was so sore that I could not seem to push hard enough to get anything to move. I felt like a huge toothach on the whole side of my face. The swelling looked like I was going to grow another face on the side.I had to go back to their office on Friday to have the drain tube removed, and that didnt hurt much. They sniped one stitch and pulled in out. The doc who did this was not the surgeon who did the operation, but one of his associates. He told me to clean it three times a day with peroxide and put some antibiotic cream on the stitches. He had me come back after the holiday on Tuesday to check it again. I still had much swelling and nothing was said about it then.


On Tuesday I saw another associate who said that I had too much fluid building up in the site and she had to numb the area and open up a few stitches and press out more fluid to drain out. I tell you--- I cried -- she pushed so hard and she kept pushing on the sore no matter how much I begged her to stop. She then wrapped gauze completely around my face and around the back to get it around the neck area. She put gauze squares to catch any further fluid coming out and told me to come back for more of the same, from my original surgeon tomorrow. I got home and a few hours later the gauze pad was soaked and the wrappings were falling around my neck from the lack of little more tape to keep it in place. Right now I removed the soaked pad and replaced it with some gauze she had placed near my cheek and retaped it with some tape I have at home for now.

I am not looking forward to more of this happening this evening when I see the surgeon tonight at my appointment at 6 pm! I sure hope no friend of mine ever has to have a perotid tumor removed.

Here's the latest news on the alleged Pipe bomber:

Local Worker Charged With Making Explosives
Police: Explosives Found At Suspect's Workstation
POSTED: 5:24 pm EDT May 19, 2005
UPDATED: 7:29 pm EDT May 19, 2005
DETROIT -- An Oakland Township man was charged Thursday with making explosives, Local 4 reported.
Thomas Hollifield, 49, was arraigned in federal court in downtown Detroit after he allegedly caused a scare by bringing a pipe bomb to work on Tuesday.
VIDEO: Defense Attorney Reacts To Explosives ChargesVIDEO: Wife Reacts To Husband Facing Explosives ChargesVIDEO: Worker Describes EvacuationVIDEO: See Sky 4 Video Of SceneIMAGE GALLERY: Employees Forced To Evacuate Businesses
He was taken into custody after a bomb squad unit found a pipe bomb at his workstation at Detronic Industries on Beattie Street near 15 Mile and Mound roads in Sterling Heights, Local 4 reported.
Police said Hollifield (pictured, left) showed a pipe bomb to a co-worker, who notified authorities. The building was evacuated while the bomb squad inspected the business.
A search of Hollifield's pickup truck turned up more explosives, the station reported.
"They then went outside and found approximately seven, 6-inch explosive devices in his vehicle," said Lt. Mike Reese, of the Sterling Heights Police Department.
Hollifield was released on a $10,000 unsecured bond on Thursday.
"He will be wearing a device around his ankle that discloses his whereabouts," said U.S. Attorney Steve Murphy.
Hollifield was fired from his job at Detronics after his arrest, Local 4 reported.
He's scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing in federal court on June 7.

The guy LOOKS scary!

More info on the Pipe Bomber (alleged)

Man Could Face Up To 15 Years In Prison
POSTED: 1:36 pm EDT May 18, 2005
UPDATED: 2:32 pm EDT May 18, 2005
STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. -- An employee at a Sterling Heights company is expected to be charged on Thursday after police said he brought explosives to work.
The 49-year-old Oakland Township man was taken into custody after a bomb squad unit found a pipe bomb at his workstation at Detronic Industries on Beattie Street near 15 Mile and Mound roads, Local 4 reported.

Police said the man showed a pipe bomb to a co-worker, who notified authorities. Authorities evacuated the building while the bomb squad inspected the building.
A search of the man's pickup truck turned up more explosives, the station reported.
"They then went outside and found approximately seven, 6-inch explosive devices in his vehicle," said Lt. Mike Reese, of the Sterling Heights Police Department.
The suspect's wife, Margaret , told Local 4 that the explosives were probably firecrackers and that her husband would not do harm to anyone.
"He was probably just trying to make a few bucks because we're having a hard time right now," she said.
Police obtained a search warrant and spent two hours going through the couple's mobile home in Oakland Township. Authorities found three more explosive devices inside the home, the station reported.
The man is expected to be arraigned on Thursday, but it was not known if he would appear in court in Sterling Heights or if he would appear in federal court in downtown Detroit.
The charges he faces are punishable by up to 15 years in prison, the station reported.

My Husband and Co-workers work HERE!

My husband and his freinds work at Detronics, and had to be evacuated from the building for several hours (Thank GOD!) while the police searched for the pipe bomb. They all knew the man involved, and can't believe he did this:

Bomb Squad Called To Sterling Heights Industrial Area
Employee Taken Into Custody
POSTED: 10:44 am EDT May 17, 2005
UPDATED: 1:35 pm EDT May 17, 2005
STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. -- A Michigan State Police bomb squad was called to a Sterling Heights industrial area Tuesday morning after a pipe bomb scare forced an evacuation.

An employee brought a suspicious pipe to Detronic Industries, located on Beattie Street near 15 Mile and Mound roads, Local 4 reported. He showed the device to a co-worker, who notified authorities, the station reported.
Police have the man in custody and he could face criminal charges, according to the station's reports.
Sterling Heights police located a duffel bag, which they believe may contain a pipe bomb, Local 4 reported.
The bomb squad will inspect the duffel bag and the man's pickup truck, where police believe more devices could be located, the station reported.
Several businesses in the industrial area were evacuated as a precaution, and some were placed on lockdown, Local 4 reported.

"They told us to evacuate the building," said Detronic Industries employee Wilfie Panicker.
Panicker said the man in custody is employed as a painter for the business, which Local 4 reported was a sheet-metal manufacturer. The employee's name was not released.

Then, today they reported this:

MSNBC.com
Police: Employee Loads Pickup Truck With Explosives
ClickonDetroit.com
STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. - An employee faces charges after he apparently brought explosives to his workplace on Tuesday, Local 4 reported. The 49-year-old Oakland Township man was taken into custody after police found a pipe bomb at Detronic Industries, located on Beattie Street near 15 Mile and Mound roads, Local 4 reported.
Police said a search of the man's pickup truck turned up more explosives.
"They then went outside and found approximately seven, 6-inch explosive devices in his vehicle," said Lt. Mike Reese, of the Sterling Heights Police Department.
Police said the man showed a pipe bomb to a co-worker, who notified authorities, the station reported.
"It was a metal pipe. It was about 8 inches long ? had a wick and that's about all I know," said Ryan Carne, co-owner of Detronics, a sheet metal manufacturing company.
Several businesses in the industrial area were evacuated as a precaution, and some were placed on lockdown, Local 4 reported.
"They told us to evacuate the building," said Detronic Industries employee Wilfie Panicker.
A bomb squad unit was called to the scene and located the pipe bomb inside of the building.
"Inside a pipe bomb, there was quite a few finishing nails, screws, different types of pieces of metal that was wrapped up in duct tape," said Reese. "What was inside of it could have caused severe injury or ? death."
Authorities later obtained a warrant to search the man's mobile home and removed three additional explosive devices, the station reported.
Panicker said the man in custody is employed as a painter for the business.
Police said he has no criminal history.
The man, whose name has not been released, is expected to be arraigned on Wednesday at 41-A District Court.

Thank God he happend to tell someone about what he had, or else everyone in the building could have died in the explosion! More info as it becomes available.

Momma/ Jeanine

This is a tribute for Mother's Day of my Mother, Jeanine Potulski, who passed away January 1972. She was a beautiful woman, as a bride, (as shown in this picture) and all through her short life, of 45 years. She loved life, and was kind to everyone that knew her. Being a orphan at the age of 7 she endured and evenually married my father in 1948.

She was excited when my first daughter was born, and being an knitter and artist, she make a cloth baby book out of soft felt, it showed animals, and colorful pictures. She knitted a beautiful sweater for her granddaughter's first day of school, in bright blue with little white angora kittens playing with a ball of yarn, which my daughter and her sister both wore for the first day of school. She made this sweater before my daughter was 1 year old.

My Mother worked as a waitress on and off through the years, and everyone she worked with adored her. I tried as a young adult to help her one day as a waitress, for lunch at a bowling alley bar and resteraunt . I was totally lost in getting the orders and change right. She ran circles around me!

I admired her talents and at a young age and I tried to draw and paint as well as she did. When I was young we had a parakeet, my mother saved many of the feathers the bird would shed during the year. She actually made a picture of the bird with those feathers, gluing each, until it actually looked just like the bird. She colored in the eyes and beak. It was beautiful.

Mom was always there, making my breakfast in the morning before sending me to school, and at lunch time making me wonderful lunches, while I watched the Soupy Sales show. She was always there for me. Did you watch him in the the mid 50's in Detroit?

Mom taught me to knit and crochet and we would make pretty table scarfs out of crochet yarn. She even taught me to embroider printed dresser scarfs and pillow cases. We made dozens of them for our home.

Mom even tried to learn to ride my bike. She never had one as a kid, and she never did learn to balance properly. She did ride a bicycle built for two with Dad on one of our vacations to Mackinaw Island one year.

Mom died in January 1972, from a year long fight with ovarian cancer. This was just days after I had my second daughter. I did show her a poloroid pic of my baby at the hospital. I miss her so much, and I wish my daughters and my wonderful grandchildren were able to know this wonderful woman. I know she's watching from above in heaven, but it would be great to have seen her joy at knowing them.

Momma IS at home

Well, I am at home, and in some ways, I feel kind of useless. It such a change to be home all the time, after working for over 35 years at a full time job. I have had a hard time adjusting to staying home, trying to find something to do with myself every day besides sleeping and eating. I think I need to get back to my hobbies, like painting pictures to keep me busy during the day.

I had a full time, important, managerial job at a contruction material dealership, and was proud of my accomplishments. I rarely missed a day, and I felt important and was paid well for my work. Now I can't look foreward to that anymore.

When I was younger, I used to paint oil paintings of scenery, boats at sea, or even animal portraits, and sell them at my work, or in yard sales, which brought in some extra money too. I loved it, but, my old paints have dried up, and I would have to replace them, as I haven't done it in quite a while. I have done some portraits of people, but I am not perfect, I can only get a close likeness, but it is pretty difficult capturing an exact likeness. Many people have purchased and own hundreds of my paintings and many relatives have too.

Do other people have this problem finding something to do in their retirement?

I'm NOT looking foreward to my husband retiring in a few years. To have him around 24/ 7 will be very frustrating for me. Not that I don't love him, but he can never make up his mind and does nothing rather than make a decision, and then he gets bored fast because he won't do anything different. He is so hesitant to go out and do anything I suggest. Most of the time he stays home and sleeps, and I go out with my daughter. I'm not looking forward to it AT ALL!

Any suggestions friends?

Well, I have been home, getting a little stronger every day with the great help of both my daughters. I have been able to get out of the house with my husband and the girls since the weather has been nicer. I still can't walk too far, so when we go shopping, I take the wheel chair to ride in, or in some stores, they drop me off at the door, and I ride the electric chairs the store provides. With the weight I lost during my illness, I have had to buy a couple new outfits in a much smaller size that what I used to wear. I haven't been this small since my youngest daughter was born! I wouldn't recommend anybody getting that sick to loose weight, but in a way, it has helped me to control my blood sugar and cholesterol. I just hope I don't gain too much weight back, since I can eat again, but really, my appetite, and my taste buds have changed a lot, and I can't stand a lot of foods that I used to love. I specially can't stand anything that is too greasy!
I'm scheduled for another surgery for the end of May to get rid of a tumer in my right perotid gland, or what they call a saliva gland. It started getting bigger around last May when I had my stroke, the doc took a biopsy of it last summer. I had to put this off until I had my left carotid artery surgery done to clear up a 90% blockage. I had that last October, but then I got sick again in November through January, so now I have to get it done. Since I lost the weight it looks like it got bigger, and probably has. It looks like I have the mumps on the right side. I am starting to have some pain in there, so I better get it out before it does get worse. Hopefully, this time it should be simple, just a couple days in the hospital. My only worry is if he has problems seperating the tumor from my face nerves, I could face some temporary, or total paralysis of my right face and eye. I hope not. Wish me luck. I'll keep you updated later. At least I will have matching scars on both sides of my neck. Maybe I will asked him to do a little facelift of the extra skin on my neck, to give me a more youthful look! LOL!

My condolences to our pal Mallard, who lost his mother this weekend, I wish the family peace in their time of bereavement .


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Our family all went out to eat for Easter, my husband treated us. It was at the local Ponderosa steak house. We all at quite well, and had a good time.

Does anyone have any ideas for older kids as Easter presents, I had a hard time making baskets this year. The kids are too big to give so much candy to, and had no ideas what to give them.

sarah's portrait 

Buddy's portrait 

Word from the doc

I went to the doctor for the first time from my illness, and he has reduced some of my medications. Thank god! I learned that I lost some 58 lbs. since the day that I saw him last, which was the Saturday after Thanksgiving, the day I was admitted to the hospital. I dont mind losing the weight, but dont advise anybody to get that sick to do it! lol!
Im sure, now that my family is doing all they can to supply good food to me that I can eat, that I'm sure I will gain back a few of those pounds quickly! I'm able to eat their food compared to that hospital food that was horrible! I lived on fruit and juices while there.
I am getting stronger, and even have been able to take a few car rides out of the house in my husband's new/used Dodge truck. It takes a step ladder to get up in it, but with help, and his strong arms, I made it! Lucky I am a lot lighter so it made it easier so him to help lift me! ha ha
This weekend I did sketches of all the grandchildren from coloring book sketches in my photo library which I colored with colored pensils, I'm so pleased with them. I'm sure they will too.

Thank You Everyone!

I want to thank all the people who wished me well, and gave me support since my illness. People who only knew me from my writings here, and people who are closest to me. Let me tell you that I am slowly gaining strength , and hope by spring I will be almost normal again. Let's hope that we have an early spring and get rid of all this snow!

My love to my girls for all their help and encouragement! I don't know what I would do without them both.

Hope everyone liked the new children's story I wrote for the grandkids. I know they loved it!

So good to be home!

The End

Back from the (almost) Dead!

If you've noticed at all, I have been gone for a while, and that's because I just came home from the hospital after 56 DAYS of illness!

It started on Thanksgiving day when I got up to clean and prep the turkey for the oven. I got it done, and was still very sleepy so I layed back down for a while waiting for my oldest daughter to come from the Detroit Parade to help me with the rest of the fixings.

When my daughter and her family came, I felt very week and so tired so she stepped in to help finish the food set up and carve the turkey and mash the potatoes we had cut up the day before. I just felt so weak and tired. I could not eat anything when it was ready as everything I tried to eat came up on me. I thought I had gotten the flu or something.

My girls fed their families as well as my Aunt and Uncle and my cousin while I slept on the couch.

The next day I thought I felt a little better, but still could not hold down any food and felt feverish.

On Saturday, I called my daughter up and she took me to my doctors' office. She convinced him that she thought I should go to the hospital to be checked out. They did admit me for tests and before I knew It, the next day I was in I.C.U for 5 days. Turns out I was suffering from multiple infections. First was a urinary tract infection, followed my lung infection that led to pneumonia, and third a very bad fungus of unknown origin in my blood with hepatitis C which I still don't know how I got that! I spent many weeks on several high dose IV antibiotics and then when my Insurance demanded it, I had to be taken to a nursing home to complete my treatment. I spent both Christmas and New Years in the hospital and missed seeing the grandkids open their gifts.

Thanks to my oldest daughter for everything to make Christmas go on as planned. Not only did she write and sent all my Christmas cards, she wrapped all the presents I had for all four grandkids, and THEN, she also prepared and served the family all time favorite dinner of Stuffed Cabbage for everybody and cleaned up everything too! This was her first time making it herself, and she did an excellent job! I cant thank her enough for that!

Right now Im home and she comes daily to make breakfast and lunch for me and be with me till my husband comes home and till I get stong. I can only walk short distances with a walker, and have difficulty getting up from the couch. I have fallen a couple a couple times the first day home and lucky for me I have a strong daughter, as she had to pick me back up off the floor on onto my feet again.

I'll fill you out again as time progresses.