I had planned on heading home today, but my son-n-law is not feeling up to par yet so my stay has be extended. His surgery went good and now he is wearing a hugh neck brace and still feeling a lot of discomfort. A lot of it could just be a man thing. You know, big macho man is not supposed to complain. He isn't complaining but you can see the pain in his face. He looks so uncomfortable.
With my daughter working and the kids needing to be driven to all the after school activities it is impossible to get them there. Mike won't be able to drive for six weeks with the brace. I don't know what they are going to do but I know I am not staying for six weeks. I have to get back up north to close up the house for the winter. Might give the neignbors a call today and ask them to take the patio furniture into the garage. I know they will do it, but I hate to have to ask. Normally I'd stay there until the end of this month so I should still have time to get back there.
Stephen, 15 year old grandson, was hanging onto me yesterday begging me to stay. When I ask him why he wanted me to stay, instead of saying he loved me and would miss me, he only said I could cook, so he'd have something good to eat. OH to be wanted. Guess cooking is better than why he wanted his mother to call me when his sister was sick. After asking his mom if he should call me, she ask him what I could do that she couldn't. He said I could clean up after she threw up. Grandma's can do anything. At least mine think I still can.
For the next few days I will be the chief cook, bottle washer and chauffer.
Good thing is I will be able to get on line all I want.

Well let's see if I can keep from being kicked off this site long enough to respond to a post.
I'm sorry to hear that Mike is still in a lot of pain but I guess that is to be expected. I'm sure they are all glad that you are there to help.
As far a Stephen goes, at that age, food is love. Of course the vomit story is still my favorite.
I hope you make it back up north before the snow comes. It looks like winter is coming early in many parts of the country.

I'm sorry to hear that Stephen is still in a lot of pain. those muscles have to so so much to keep the head up... messing with them is sometimes more painful. Hopefully, the pain will lessen as he goes through physical therapy.

I think your grandkids still believe Granny's can do miracles. Funny he wanted you to be there to clean up the vomit...

Keep in touch with us. I'm always wondering what you're doing these days.

Hay Joyce,
Sorry to hear Mike's in so much pain. I thought he was being very stoic when dicussing the surgery with us. There's no such thing as simple surgery, that's for sure.
Sounds like you are a great help to them all. They're lucky to have you.
Let me know when you get the CD
Take care
Eileen

Eileen,
Just reread this post and realized I hadn't let you know that I got the CD. Then I realized that I haven't looked at it yet. Not only do I not have good internet up north, I don't have a CD player either and the one on my computer doesn't work. Now I have to go find where I put it when I unpacked and play it.

Mike is still in the neck brace until the 12th of Nov. but
he is doing some driving when he can find a two lane road that isn't too busy in Chicago. That's not an easy thing to do.

I'm back home and yesterday's weather seemed like summer compared to up north. Today is raining so I feel right at home. Weather up north has been rain, wind, cold and snow flurries. Temp was in the teens a few nights and close to that several nights.

Lori, you have to come back up so you can see what Tom did with my deck and flower beds. Don't come down Brush though. I sent you an email, let me know if you get it and also let me know where you are.


Jackie, I haven't seen you lately. How's your mother doing?

Hay Joyce - glad you got the CD. Check out Sky's post she put all the photos online at Flickr.
Its been raining almost everyday here - knocking all the leaves off the trees. Last Sunday was glorious and I got to paint at Morton Arboretum - beautiful colors!
take care
Eileen