She's been doing what?!?

Okay, it's a little over a month since the rhizotomy and I am feeling tremendously better. Most days I am nearly pain-free (praise the Lord), and it amazes me how good I feel.

But what really startles me is all that I have been able to do so far:

1. First, I picked up Molly, Bryan, and little Molly Kate (almost 2) at the airport and I was able to hold Molly Kate in my arms without pain. I'm glad I could do this because there's another on the way!

2. I can walk the grocery store now instead of riding the motorized cart.

3. The Library is again one of my favorite places to just WALK around and browse.

4. Laundry - I can stand and fold and hang everything on my own with no breaks.

5. I am again enjoying my beautiful kitchen and devising interesting new recipes with which to treat my husband who had been doing alot of the cooking.

6. Ladies Social Golf - I putted on 3 holes.

But the biggie for me this week is ....are you ready for this....

I CLEANED THE OVEN! Granted it is a self-clean device but you do have steps to prepare it for the cycle and then you have to wipe out the residue.

I did it all by myself!

Well, that's all so far, we're keeping our fingers crossed that progress continues and saying prayers that anyone in pain sees relief soon.

Miss Stella has arrived!

My newest granddaughter, Stella Reese, arrived on Saturday September 10, 2011 at 12:16 PM weighing in at 8 lbs. 14 ozs. at measuring 21½" long. Mother and baby are doIng fine.

Maybe my luck is changing.

Yesterday a friend I had lent money to several years ago sent me a check - just out of the blue - I never thought I'd see that money again.

Yesterday, my husband Tim and I went to visit friends in Sheperdstown and while the boys played in a charity golf tournament, the girls went to the baby store where I got the cutest things for all my grandchildren. Then after returning to my friends house, another of our friends arrived with her Daughter-in-law and her new grandson - all of 7 weeks old. When he got fussy I was able to just rock him and sing to him and calm him down. It was a very peaceful time. Wish I could do it for my grandchildren. Then we went to dinner, meeting the boys who won 2nd place in the golf tournament, and I won the 50/50 drawing of $640. I thought the charity should have most of the money so I gave them back $370 and I kept $270.

I can spend it all on books! My Nook is going to get a big chunk of that!

Has it been that long?

Mama mentioned that I hadn't put anything new on my blog and when I looked, I said, OMG, has it been that long?

So let's catch up....

My three "grandchildren" are healthy and growing quickly - Jackson is now 2, Molly Kathryn is 7 months old and Isabella is 4 months old. There is a new grand-baby in the making - Stella Reese Stoehr is expected September 9th or there abouts. So I have been working away on baby things for all my beautiful grand-babies!

February, first, I got my new car for the next 3 years - Town & Country van with a bunch of bells and whistles (2 DVD players, Bluetooth, Navigation system, etc). Tim and I drove it when we went to Hilton Head to visit with Mother and Tina and Mary-Ruth and Peter were there one day with us also. Tina had brought her Wii so I got to try it out and now I have one of my own which I use at least 3 times a week.

March we flew down to Florida for a long weekend to celebrate Mike 's (Tim's Brother) 60th birthday but the afternoon we arrived, he went into the hospital with a possible heart attack so we had to party without him. Luckily no heart attack, but some blockage so he had to have a stint inserted. Doing fine now.

Kathy (Tim's sister) and her hubbie David came up the end of March for the DC tour at the perfect time for the cherry blossoms. It was great to visit.

The end of March and early April were taken up with activities for the Ladies 9 Holers - I'm now the Treasurer as well as the secretary. I played duplicate bridge 3 times with my friend Rosemary and been playing Mah Jongg just about every week.

May has started out busy as well. I'm on the Social committee at the Country Club - and we are starting a Ladies social group called the LILIES - Ladies Involved with Like Interests, Efforts, and Specialties - I worked really hard for that acronym! So I have been working very hard on getting that started (I was named the Committee chair) - getting a list of topics for the gatherings (I don't want to call them meetings) and then finding speakers or experts to talk about the topics. Our first gathering is June 22nd!

Lastly, on the catchup scene, I went to the doctor about my back again, and I have been sent to the Pain Management specialist. Next week I will be starting some special injections into my back to try to relieve the near constant pain in my back. Keep your fingers crossed for me and a few prayers might help.

Needless to say, I have been reading all along, and currently have read 42 books for 2011. If you are interested in what I read, check out my book blog at Cheli's Shelves.

I'll try to do better from now on keeping up with what's happening.

Bella's Here!

Little Miss Isabella Noelle was born today to Christopher and Melanie arriving at 7:16am , weighing in at 6lbs. 9 ozs. and measuring 19½ ins. in length (when does it get to be height?) She has auburn hair. Both Mel and Bella are doing fine.

Nana and APapa are on their way to Louisiana for the big event.

Pictures as soon as they come!

She's here! She's here!

My first "granddaughter", Molly Kathryn, made her premier appearance at 4:48PM on October 25th (I was only 4 hours off in the baby pool) weighing in at 6 lbs. 10 ozs. Mom was only in labor about 5 hours and everyone is doing just fine. Nonna is thrilled!

Mom Molly and baby Molly Kate went home today and Grandma Kathy will be lending a hand for a few days. I'll be popping in to see them for the first time on Saturday. Can't wait!

Nonna

Vacation and Nonnahood

Tim and I arrived in Myrtle Beach yesterday evening and found, much to my dismay, that we were assigned to the 15th floor with an Ocean view. The view is spectacular but the height scares the crap out of me. Of course, Tim thinks it's hilarious.

Tim and Mary-ellen headed out to the golf course this morning (meeting brother John there) and I sat down to finish the review of one book and the last 4 chapters and review of another. I also worked on Baby Molly's birth announcement. When what happens???!?!?!? I get a text message that Little Miss Molly is at the hospital. My baby pool pick last week was:

Monday October 25th 8:36PM 7 lbs. 7 ozs. We'll see how close I get.

When Tim got back and had lunch, we donned our swimsuits and headed to the pool so I could do my water aerobics. 15 minutes later we are ordered out because of an approaching thunderstorm. We got back just before the deluge started. It was so bad we couldn't even see the horizon. Now we can just sit and wait for news.

Shower of gifts

Tim and I hit the road yesterday traveling to Spartanburg, SC for the baby shower honoring my newest "grandchild" Molly Kate - who is due on October 30th. We arrived around dinner time and got to spend some family time with the parents-to-be (Molly and Bryan), Tim's sisters (Mary-ellen and Kathy), Molly's brother Bradley and his wife Leslie, and later a few minutes with Niece Theresa, Great-niece Caitlyn and Tim's other sister Sheila.

Today dawned beautiful, the boys headed off to the golf course and the girls, family and friends of Molly, gathered for a great baby shower fully of the cutest items for a little girl you've ever seen.

A great time was had by all and little miss Molly Kate will be beautiful outfitted when she comes into this world in a few weeks.