I know the website is kind of glitchy when trying to see posts. I haven’t figured out why. One of my friends had to login and add a comment to be able to see the newest posts. My sister said she has had to refresh the Letters page each time. There are a few things I need to figure out yet. Perhaps a landing page versus the latest post or something. Stay tuned for upcoming changes.

All that being said, you did not miss any posts over the weekend. Late Saturday evening my iPad was dead and I didn’t charge it. Yesterday evening I was kind of grouchy and didn’t feel like writing.

We all woke up Saturday morning earlier than we perhaps thought we would based on how late we had stayed out. By nine we had made our way to my parent’s house. Mama had driven to the donut shop and grabbed donuts per C’s request and she made us yummy eggs with peppers and onions, bacon, and blueberry crumb cake. After breakfast we all went out and explored the forts the nieces and nephews have all been building. Did you have a special fort or two when you were young? I remember numerous forts my sisters and I had. One of my favorites was in the oleander bushes out the front of our house. We played and climbed in those bushes in spite of every inch of them being poisonous. Great times.

Willie and my brother-in-law drove out to see their hunting property while us girls hung out. When the guys got back my sister and her family headed out. The three of us spent the rest of the day with Mama. We drove to town for dinner at an old tire shop turned restaurant/ale house. After dinner we went for a nice walk along the water and then stopped for ice cream. It was such a pleasant day. When we dropped Mama off at home and said good bye Willie mentioned how nice it was to be saying goodbye knowing we weren’t going all the way back to Alaska and will get to see her sooner than we used to. It definitely makes leaving feel different.

Sunday morning we got up, went to a local coffee shop for breakfast, and then hit the road for the three hour drive home. Upon arriving home, there were chores to be done and more unpacking.

Today was a work day, of course. C had practice and went to youth group. Willie and I took an evening walk with our neighbor.

Sorry, I can’t write well when my thoughts keep getting interrupted. More to come in another post.

One of the reasons we moved down here was to be closer to family. Today we drove to Wisconsin to celebrate the high school graduation of a friend’s son. We have been friends with them since before Willie and I even got married. We met in Alaska many summers ago and because my sister married one of the father’s best friends, we have kept in touch over the years. It was so nice seeing them and spending the evening with my sister and her family. Tomorrow we will get to spend the entire day visiting with my mama.

Of course we could have stayed home to work on the house, but why. Sometimes stepping away from the busyness and spending time with special people is what is called for. Dare I say, always more important. The work or project can always be done another day, but the time spent sharing life with others (who wouldn’t be part of the work or project), is something to cherish and take advantage of when the opportunity arises.

We are so glad we drove over in the pouring rain to celebrate. Of course we were prepared and looked like Alaskan’s with our XtraTuffs and rain gear. We stayed dry and embraced the rain. They have been in desperate need of it and of course made the party that much more memorable. Here’s to memories made with friends, good food and company, and beautiful sunsets (there was one tonight).

Mid-morning I took C to the Mayo Express Clinic. Turns out she simply has a cold and her stuffed up nose has caused fluid to accumulate in her ears. If she comes down with a fever over 102 we need to return, but other than that, the doctor recommended a Flonase, ibuprofen, and saline solution regimen to help reduce the nasal congestion and swelling. I’m glad she doesn’t have an ear infection, but I felt silly when it was just a cold. They clearly have lots of people come in with colds because the sign on the door talked about cold symptoms and the paper he handed us was ready for someone with a cold. Yep – felt like a silly goose. I usually refrain from going to the doctor if I can help it, but, like I said, I was worried she had an ear infection. I guess I should have looked up her symptoms a little more and realized that lack of fever was a good thing and not to worry. Oh well. Pleased with the service overall, so nice to know of the Express option when necessary.

Willie and I finished building Cs bed after work. It took us a little over two hours. Her room is coming together!

A few more items unpacked from the garage, all containing clothes. There is still a pile on the extra bed, but quite a few shirts got hung up.

C is noticeably feeling better and spent the evening upstairs.

That is all for now.

Willie’s MRI feels so long ago already, though it was just this morning. We decided he would drive himself in as there was no need for me to be sitting around the waiting room for an hour and a half while he was inside.

The results came in fairly quickly. While we haven’t heard back from his doctor, he did read the patient-friendly note and from what we gathered he still has frozen shoulder, but it didn’t look like his tendons are being attacked, which would mean it is not GVHD related. Will definitely have to wait until the doctor gives us his interpretation, but we think it was “good” news overall. Physical therapy and some regular stretching and even perhaps some strength training are in order, for both of us. We need to keep this bodies strong and healthy so we can keep up with C.

After work I went and picked up two armchairs for a friend of mine. Of course in the process met a very nice couple who enjoyed chatting. When they see our AK plates – because I haven’t switched them yet – a conversation always ensues if one hadn’t already been going. This particular couple was quite chatty from the beginning. Is it because older people are just super friendly or are they lonely? I dunno’, but it was kind of fun. They sent me away with a large decorative wall clock, a couple pieces of “artwork” and two glass leaf-shaped dishes. I’m not so sure they are my style, but I figure I can take them and help get them off their hands. They are moving to Tennessee and trying to downsize. Her friend was over helping – being a body double and encouraging her to let things go. I could totally relate!

After picking up the chairs I met up with Willie for some furniture shopping. We did bring our red couches here, but our family room requires a couch or two. The first store we went to has very clingy salespeople. The lady helping us was the same exact lady who helped us buy our couch when we were furnishing our apartment. We found one potential couch, but most of them were huge and deep and made for very tall people. And the fabrics were horrid. Super synthetic feeling and just icky. After dinner we stopped at another furniture store – which I had never been to – and boy, did they have options! It was near’ish closing so we took a lap around the store and decided we most definitely need to go back and bring C with us. She didn’t come as she is still not feeling the best. One of her ears started bothering her today and I am wondering if she has an ear infection. I made an appointment for her tomorrow and we will go in and see what is going on, hopefully.

Here’s to another great day. Definitely beginning to feel like home.

Perhaps I will eventually come up with more fun letter names instead of just the date. Quirky names have been my speciality in the past.

Willie is going to build a Murphy bed for our guest bedroom, but in the meantime I bought a simple bed frame so the mattress wouldn’t be sitting on the floor for a year. He and I put it together this evening and it already makes the room feel less like our dry cabin and instead a real house. Our mattress in our first cabin sat directly on the floor in our loft.

C stayed holed up in her room most of the day again. Her throat is less sore, but her nose is now running. It really is quite unlike her to be sick this long. I guess it just goes to show how much she has worn herself out lately.

After our walk this evening Willie and I sat outside and he daydreamed about the yard projects. With the milder weather here we want to take advantage of spending more time outside, but that requires making our tiny yard inviting and functional. More to come as we work through that design and process.

Willie goes in for an MRI tomorrow to take a look at his shoulders, specifically his tendons. They have really bothered him for quite some time – well, remember it started with just one and they said it was frozen shoulder. This spring his other shoulder started to be affected. We think it is related to medicine, which he has now been off this particular one for several weeks now, but his doctor wanted to rule out GVHD. We shall know more after tomorrow’s imaging.

I know I say this, but I really should write my posts earlier in the day. My thoughts and words flow better before it gets too late.

Back in here on Wednesday – though it says Published, the post doesn’t seem to have actually posted – so I am adding a line to prompt a save to see if it updates.

There is a lot of work to do to get this ready and I have a tad bit to learn. CaringBridge was very beginner friendly, this is slightly more technical, but I can do it.

C is still under the weather and stayed holed up in her room for the vast majority of the day. She and I went to the chiropractor in the afternoon and hopefully that will help her system recover. Willie also went to a chiropractor for the first time. He went to a different one and I think will try to find someone else. It wasn’t that he didn’t like them, but they don’t take insurance. Hard to pay out of pocket when you have insurance that would cover most of it. Regardless it was good for him to go.

This afternoon furniture for Cs bedroom arrived. We started to put things together, but with her feeling out of sorts we didn’t get much done because it will be much easier to build her bed in her room. I’m not sure navigating the hallway would go so well with her bed.

Tomorrow I will watch more videos on how to get this up and running with photos and additional details. I do enjoy how you all can interact on CaringBridge and want to continue that here.