Today went as usual. We got up, had breakfast, and returned to the apartment to read the paper. Then we went to the Gentle Yoga class. After that I rested in the armchair and went to sleep, at least that what Chris says! I can't say nay. I can't remember doing anything at that time. We had lunch and then I went to get my hair done. When I got back, I asked Chris if he wanted to go with me downstairs, where there was to be music, and a "happy hour", but he wasn't interested. I went, and I was offered along with the other people a paper dish of popcorn and a drink of my choice, which was not alcoholic. I sat with one of our neighbors and enjoyed the piano music of the guest player. Also, there was a short ceremony where the hair dresser was presented with a bouquet of flowers and a framed pair of golden scissors to honor her for her 22 years of service to the members of this community. That was a nice thing to do - she puts up with a lot of women who are in wheelchairs and such. Then she went around the room, showing everyone her gifts. Later I took the popcorn up to the apartment, and Chris was pleased to get it. I wish he was a little more interested in the activities provided for us here. It would help him pass the time, now that he can't read much anymore, and work he does at the computer can be wearing on him, he does so much of it.

We were more energetic this morning, and we got up when the alarm went off, and then we went to breakfast. We got the washing ready and took it down to the laundry, put it in the washers, and then we went to the exercise class while they washed. We went back later and put the things in the dryer, and I stayed there while they dried, and I read the paper the staff had put under our door. While the man who usually gives us one was on on vacation the week before, we didn't get any papers, so it's nice to have him back to work, and the paper waiting for us every morning. When the clothes were done, Chris came to help me bring them back to the apartment. By then it was lunch time, but a message from Kaiser said Chris had to get a pro-time blood test, so we didn't go to lunch, we just ordered a sandwich and potato chips and drinks, and took them down to Tamarack Beach and had our lunch there, watching the high waves and white caps. From there we went to the Kaiser clinic where Chris got his blood drawn. We will have to wait a few days for the results. We came back to the apartment instead of walking on the beach, because of the cold wind blowing. When we got here we talked to Kaye, and to Caden, although I couldn't make out his words. At two years old, he talks fast, and I missed what he tried to tell us. But it was a nice treat to hear his voice, as he played with his grandmother. Carla called, and she said Logan and Meret are trying to sell the house they bought in Utah when then couldn't find any place to rent in Provo, where they were going to school.

After our busy day yesterday, we decided to take it easy today. We didn't get up when the alarm went off, just shut it off. An hour and a half later later we got up and had our showers. We were too late for the regular breakfast, so we just ate what was in the little kitchenette, a piece of corn bread, half a sandwich, a hot drink each, and a couple of bananas. By the time I was ready to leave the apartment, it was time for the Gentle Yoga class. So, we went. But Chris didn't stay, because he started to cough and couldn't seem to stop. He left and went for a walk outside, I found out later. By then it was time for the religious sing-along in the lobby, so I went down and sang with them. Chris didn't. Back at the apartment I read a while, and then we went to lunch. After that we went back to the apartment, and Chris got his blogs all together on this new computer, and I read again, and I did nap a little, but I didn't realize it; he had to tell me. We went to dinner about 5 p.m., and we talked to another couple there for a while. Back at the apartment at 6 we watched the news on TV until 8 p.m., and then I arranged for a ride to Jack Jones funeral in Fallbrook on Saturday, and then we ordered flowers for the occasion, from us and from the Plylers, with whom we are going. Since then I have studied the instructions on my cell phone, which I have never really learned to use well. Now it is time to get ready for bed, so I'll close here.

This morning we were slow to get going. But we did manage to get to breakfast before they stopped serving (However, you can get something later, but I don't think it's the regular menu). I started again to try to get our medical records entered in my books, but I didn't get very far. The papers are still scattered all over the white folding table in the extra room. I'll try again to get it done. I want to keep a record, so that if I don't remember, at least there will be some way to tell what medications we have been taking, and when we have been to see a doctor. After lunch we drove to the Lens-for-less store up off College Ave. to get our new glasses adjusted. John, the original clerk was there, and he soon had our glasses adjusted, and Chris had ordered a new pair of reading-only glasses. From there we drove down College to the ocean, and on to the Kaiser Pharmacy. This time they had Chris' medications ready. We drove back along the ocean and stopped at Tamarack beach again. This time we just sat in the car and watched the waves for a while. Then we came on back to the apartment. I had a nap until dinner time, and then we went for that. Kaye called, while we were at dinner, so we couldn't hear her, so we called her back later. She had been to check out the new house with the builder, and then she had the opportunity to play with Caden, which she really enjoyed. I'm glad they moved back to the tri-cities, so she gets to see him more often.

This morning while I was down in the lobby reading the paper (We don't take it anymore), Karen sent an e-mail from some city in Greece saying she was recovering from the jet-lag she had, and will be able to enjoy the rest of the trip. I'm glad she and Terry were able to take this trip; his disease may make other long trips like this out of the question. I don't know how fast it progresses, but it does, in spite of all they do about it. We talked briefly to Kaye, and she was going to go over to their new house with the builder, to check it out and see if everything is as she wants it. It sounds as though they are getting close to moving, doesn't it. She had talked to Stellan, and he has a job in the tri-cities area now, so he will be able to take care of his son and the mother. I can't remember her name just now. My brain is deteriorating faster than I thought it would. That is not a good feeling, but I guess it comes with my age. I'll just have to live with it. This afternoon we went to the Kaiser Clinic and Pharmacy to pick up medications for Chris, but for some reason they weren't ready when they were supposed to be. So, we came back without them. But since we were down by the beach, we stopped at Tamarack. We found out that the new $2 an hour fee doesn't apply to seniors in the senior parking places, so I guess we will go there more often. We both like to walk along the seawall. There was a cool wind, so we didn't go far.

Since this is Sunday we got ready for Church. Chris drove us, and we got there just as the Bishop was making the opening announcements. We sat on the back row, and we didn't hear much of what was going on. It was a Fast and Testimony meeting, so we missed the quiet-speaking people who gave testimonies. After the meeting I stopped to talk to Darlene Keller. She was stretched out on chairs, and her feet on a cushion on another chair. She didn't sit up, and when she saw me she thought I someone else. Then when I told her who I was, she said I looked like this other woman, who plays the piano in Relief Society meeting. She is quite out of it, and looks like she won't be around much longer. That's sad. She was always so positive and in control all the time. Another old friend has passed away, Jack Jones. He went to Utah State when we did, and we met him down here when we moved to Fallbrook. He has held many positions in the wards and stakes around here, and I think he was was the one who married Brittany and her husband in the San Diego Temple. I remember going up the elevator with him that day in the temple, and he gave me a big hug. Then there was some comment on Smith and Jones, after the ceremony. It was a shot day for Kaye, so we didn't talk very long to her. We will call early tomorrow. Carla called, to tell us she and Rex were home, after going to Logan and Meret's graduations.

We were up and almost ready to go to breakfast, when Karen called, It was a brief call, just to tell us they were in Athens. It's great that they were still able to go, even though that volcano is still erupting in Iceland. It did take them 15 hours for the trip from New York. We went to breakfast happy that they had arrived OK. Now we can relax and not worry for a while. We talked to Kaye briefly after our lunch. We didn't talk long because she hadn't had her lunch, and it was after 1 p.m. I had the new book she had sent me, so after talking to her, I started reading it, and I read until it was time to go to dinner. But we did go for a short walk around the buildings before going to the dining room. There we sat at a table with a Chinese couple we have made friends with, and we had our dinner, and then we talked quite a while, until it was time to close the dining room at 7p.m. I thought about reading some more in Kaye's book, but there are TV shows that we watch on Saturday nights, so we will do that instead of reading or doing more on our blogs tonight. These are British shows, that we have watched over the years, and sometimes they are repeats, but we enjoy them anyway.

We have gone through our usual day. We did try to go for a walk, but the wind was so cold that we just walked around the buildings here. The meals were about as usual, so we were mostly waiting to hear from our daughters. Karen did call when they reached New York yesterday, and then today she sent an e-mail to say they were at the airport in New York, and were just ready to board their plane for Europe. They will be 15 hours on the way, so I guess we can't hope to hear from them until they reach Athens. We talked to Carla briefly. She and Rex are in Utah for Logan's graduation and Meret's extended degree. She said all went well, except that Meret got sick just after she received her degree. We just talked to Carla again, and Meret is feeling better. We talked to Kaye, and she spent the day shopping. She said the painters in their new house got paint all over the hardwood floors, and the workmen had to refinish them today. That is a real mess. They must not have been good painters. My legs have been bothering me again. I guess I'll have to get more medication from the doctor to put on them to ease the pain. Chris has to pick up some medications, so I can call the doctor and get mine, too, when we go down there.

Today we spent most of the time thinking about Karen and Terry and their trip to Greece and Albania. Of course that was besides taking time for our three meals here, and then going for a short walk around the buildings of Las Villas de Carlsbad, our home here in Carlsbad. It rained last night, but today was mostly clear, and the wind was gentle all day. We did go to one of the lectures here, this time in the living room by the fireplace (with a lively fire burning). It was on the History of Earth Day, which is today. It wasn't much, and three of the people in the audience went to sleep! Of course most of the people here are older than we are, which is 90 now. It's hard to keep their interest long, so these little programs are only 30 minutes long. Karen didn't call, so Chris called her, and they had reached New York, and would stay overnight, and leave from there about 1:30 tomorrow afternoon. I guess it's all right to fly, if the planes go south and then over the Atlantic, and land in the southern part of Europe. She didn't say where, I hope it is far south of the volcano, that is still erupting today. We talked to Bianca through a device called "Chat" on the computer. She is disappointed in not getting her rotations where she wants to practice the medicine she has been learning. But she will be able to get somewhere, I'm sure, or they can't provide the education she has been promised in this medical school. I called Al by accident today, and he seems to be OK. I meant to call Charles and Mabel, but I didn't get to it early enough. a

After our breakfast Karen called, and she said she would be over to tell us goodbye , since she is quite sure now that their trip will go as scheduled, in spite of the volcano still exploding. We were of course happy to see her, and then sad to see her leave here. Life is sometimes not certain, and we hate to think of things that might go wrong in the situation they will be going into. But we can always pray, and put it in the Lord's hands. That is some consolation. Today I decided it would be a good day to do the laundry, since I had been putting it off. But it wasn't really bad, we had only two loads, and I had to wait for the washers. I had a new book Karen had loaned me, so I read 34 pages, and then the washers were mine to use. After I had put everything in the dryers I went back to the apartment, and Chris and I went to lunch. After that I went back to the laundry and stayed with it, until it was done. I had it all loaded on the little square cart Karen had got for us, and I was walking to the elevator when Chris came down there. We went back to the apartment and put away the clothes. I pressed one blouse, and Chris did his pants. I just remembered I never did get the socks out of their net bags, to see if they were dry. I'll go do that as soon as I'm done with this. I can hang them in the bathrooms if they aren't dry yet. I keep thinking of ways we can move things around the apartment, and into just two of the rooms, and give up one. That would save a lot of money, but Chris says we can get by this way. So, I won't do anything about it--yet!

We expected this to be a quiet day, and it was. After breakfast I went down to the lobby where I read the paper, and then I came back up to the apartment. Chris had been reading the news on the computer. He can't see well enough to read a newspaper anymore, but thank goodness for the computer, to keep us both up to at least a partial knowledge of what's going on in the world. Karen called, and she invited us to go with her down to the beach for lunch. We got a sandwich and drinks from the dining room here, and she picked us up at noon. The sun was out and the ocean was blue, with lots of white breakers. We enjoyed our lunch and then came back here. Karen still doesn't know if the atmosphere will be clear enough for their trip to Greece and Albania, starting on Thursday, only two days away. The volcano in Iceland is still erupting. I can understand why the company is hesitant to start the trip. The fumes from the volcano can easily ruin the engines on airplanes, if they are so unfortunate to fly into them. After lunch we rested a while and watched some TV. I did nap a little, but we did talk to Kaye for a while. She is still waiting for their new house to be finished. It's almost done. There is a dog next door, that chases children, and that worries her. I hope they can get a fence around the house before they move in, so there is no chance that Caden will be chased when they come to visit there. He is such a dear child to all of us.

I expected this would be a quiet day, and it was. We had breakfast as usual, and then Chris suggested we go to the lobby and read the newspaper. Our house cleaner was due at our apartment. And sure enough, she was there when we got back. I left again, but Chris stayed there while she cleaned. Somehow I didn't want to watch her; but when I came back after a while, he was out on the balcony with the plants. I guess he wanted to get out of the way, too. The cleaning lady for this area is a tiny Mexican woman, and you don't feel comfortable seeing her work hard. She ought to be home playing with her grandchild. Speaking of grandchildren, we just talked to Brittany. She is working hard at school and her occasional job at Disneyland. We haven't heard from the other grandchildren, but all seems to be well with them. Also, Kaye sent us two new pictures of our great grandchild, Caden, and he looks well, a small boy, but he is growing, and he is not rejecting his new heart. He is two years old now. This afternoon Al came to see us. he is looking better than the last time we saw him; he is not quite as overweight as he used to be. I'm sure it's more healthy for him. I can't talk, though, because I am still 122 lbs., when I was three or four pounds lighter before we moved here. I never seem to miss a meal, even though I don't seem to have any hunger pangs. It's just easier to go than not. But I still get to the exercise classes they have here. I'll try walking more, that should help.

Since it was Sunday, I got up at the usual time, had my shower, and then Chris and I went to breakfast. Neither of us was hungry, so we just had toast and a hot drink. We came back to the apartment, and Chris settled down to rest in his recliner, and I got myself ready for church. Karen came over and picked me up, and we drove to the Oceanside 4th ward, our usual place to worship. Since we still have our house on Johnson Drive, we are eligible to go there. Who knows, maybe we will move back there. But I doubt it. When Karen and Terry move in a year to Orroyo Grande, we will go up there, too. I guess I have already written about a senior community up there, much like this one, but with only 50 or so apartments. The rooms are about a foot smaller than ours here, but I think we can manage that OK. The only problem will be getting rid of all the things we stored in two sheds at the Johnson Drive house. Also, we do have an extra computer here, including the big computer desk, and perhaps the two little bedside cabinets. After a short lunch here, Chris and I settled down on the recliners, and watched TV, until Karen came at 4 p.m. to pick us up to come to their house for dinner. It was a nice dinner, and we brought some dessert back with us. She and Terry are still planning to go to Greece next week. I hope that darn volcano stops erupting, it is spoiling the air for airplanes to fly over the ocean and also Europe.

We didn't hurry to get going today, because there was really nothing we had to do. We had our breakfast and came back to the apartment and read the newspaper, one that was left at Verla Reese' old apartment. When we were finished with the paper, I went downstairs to the desk and told the woman there that they should change Verla's paper to her new address. She now lives in the building C on the first floor, which is part of the care center now. I took the paper with me and went to visit Verla. She was sort of dozing in her chair, beside her bed. When I spoke to her, she roused, and when she looked at me she knew me. I guess she won't be coming back to her apartment in building B. She just doesn't seem to have any strength anymore. I know family visits her now and then, because I have seen them sometimes when I have been there. I guess they figure she is in the best place for her. I hope our family thinks that when we reach that stage, and don't try to care for us themselves. It would be such a burden. I got back to the apartment in time to go to lunch with Chris. he is feeling much better, after the session with antibiotics. After lunch we came back here, and he napped a while. I cleaned up the spots on the white carpet in the apartment, but I missed some. I'll have to do it again soon and get the rest of them. Karen came over and visited a while. She and Terry want to go on their trip to Greece in 5 days, and she is hoping the volcano that is erupting in Iceland will settle down, so planes can fly to Europe again. The airlines are losing a lot of money over it.

We went to breakfast , but a little later than usual, because there was nothing more we needed to do today, besides eat and watch TV. The exercise class today was the hard one we don't do anymore, because Chris injured his shoulder doing these exercises last time we went. I did go downstairs and get a newspaper to read, and Chris napped while I read it. Then we talked about maybe giving up one of the these rooms, to save $1000 each month, that we are now taking out of our savings. But Chris didn't think we would be happy in only two rooms. He suggested we move back into our house instead, and I'm not really ready to do that. After lunch I went to the beauty parlor on the 2nd floor and had my hair washed and set. It looks just a little different from the other women here, so I guess it's a good idea to keep going. I came back here and had a little nap before going to dinner. You can't really find a more wasted day, I guess. There's one thing we did, though. That was to refill our weekly box of pills to take. And now we know which ones we have to replenish.

This morning we went to breakfast, came back to the apartment, and I got ready to go with Karen to Laguna Hills to meet my brother, Charles, Mabel, his wife, and Linda their daughter. Karen got here at 10:30 and we drove up the highway to Laguna Hills. We were early for lunch, so we stopped at a store and bought a few supplies. When we got to the restaurant , the others were there at the door. We were seated toward the back of the place, but it was really full of people - a lot more than last time we met there. But we were able to hear most of the conversation at our table, thank goodness. Charles looked thinner than last time we were together. Mable and Linda looked about the same. And I guess Karen and I were about the same as last time. Chris didn't come with us this time, because he hasn't fully recovered from the pneumonia, and he didn't feel like going, and he didn't want to expose the others to it. Karen already had it, and I haven't got it, thank goodness. I certainly hope I don't, it would be really upsetting to me. For some reason I haven't fully recovered my strength from when I had it just about the time we moved here. Maybe I never will get stronger, age is against it, I guess. We got back here early in the afternoon, so I had a little rest before dinner. We are now watching some TV before going to bed.

This morning Karen drive me to the DMV, to take my tests for a new driver's license. We got there about 9:30, and there was line around three sides of the building. I got in line, and Karen had brought folding chairs for us, and we sat there about 15 minutes, and then someone came and took us inside the building to a handicapped section. There I didn't have to wait long before I had my eyes tested, got my test paper, which I filled out, and passed, with only two mistakes. Then I had my thumb printed, and my picture taken, and by then it was a little after 10:30, and I didn't have to take a road test, thank goodness. So, now I am set with a temporary license, and the new one should come in the mail soon. Karen bought me a soda, drove to our bank, and I got some money out, and then she drove me back to Las Villas. Chris was waiting, and he and I went to lunch. Afterward we had a rest, then went to dinner, and now there's time to watch some TV. I'm relieved to have a license again, but I don't intend to do any more driving than necessary. It's just in case we might need a ride when Karen and the driver for Las Villas can't take us. And Karen has provided discount money for taxis for seniors, courtesy of the City of Oceanside., since we still own a house there. Chris doesn't see well anymore, to drive very far.

This day started as usual, except that I went to breakfast alone while Chris rested in the apartment. I brought his back to him, and he ate it all. I hurried a little to get ready for my dental appointment. Karen came and picked me up about 9:40, and drive me to the dentist. He put a crown on my tooth that he had prepared about 3 weeks ago, and it fit perfectly. It took only about 15 minutes, and then I was ready to leave. But I had to call Karen and tell her, because she didn't expect me to be ready for an hour. I called her cell phone and left a message. Soon she called back, and said she was in the drugstore just in the same shopping area, so she came very soon for me. We drove back to Las Villas de Carlsbad, and she stayed just a while to visit, then left. We had our lunch, and then came back to the apartment. I rested a while, then wrote some checks that were due. Then I went to the dining room and brought back two dinners. Chris and I ate them, and then watched TV for a while. There was a very interesting program on the many galaxies in our universe. It gives you a lot to think about, especially on how small our world really is.

Monday, April 12, 2010

This morning I went to breakfast and ordered half a cheese omelet, and also ordered one to take back to Chris. But he came to the dining room before I had finished my breakfast, so we ate there together. That was nicer than going back to the apartment , with his having to wait for his breakfast. After that, we went down to the lobby and read the newspaper before coming back upstairs. Later we were having lunch in the apartment, and Karen came over, and brought some supplies that we needed. She told us about having lunch with her real estate agent, about selling their house here. She thinks she and Terry can get back all the money they have put in the house. I hope she is right. Real estate is so low right now, I don't see how they can do that. But good luck to them! This afternoon I took the laundry down to the laundry machines and dryers on the second floor, and I got them all washed and dried, but it took all of the afternoon. While they washed and dried I read the DMV manual, so I will be ready to take my driving test on Wednesday. I do hope I pass. Chris said if I didn't, he didn't think we should keep our car. But I can take the test three times, and I should pass it at least once! His vision isn't good, so I don't think he will pass the eye test when he goes for his test before his next birthday, Nov. 1.

Chris isn't well yet, but I think he is better than he was. He didn't get dressed, but when I brought him some oatmeal cereal, he sat at the table and ate all of it, and drank the orange juice, too. I didn't eat anything but a cookie, because I thought it was a fast day, so I could take my medications without a stomach ache. But it wasn't a fast day, so I was still ok. Karen came to pick me up, and we went to the first session at the church in Oceanside. We came back afterward, and I got some lunch for Chris and me, and Karen went home to Terry, who is also sick. When I got here Chris was dressed, and we just stayed in the apartment and watched TV until dinner time. By then Chris was feeling better, so we both went to the dining room for dinner. I had the fish dinner, and Chris had just another sandwich, and then he had ice cream and I had a piece if chocolate pie. It was good. Back at the apartment we sat in our recliners and watched Sherlock Holmes on TV, and another British show. We talked briefly to Kaye, and she explained that she had sent pictures of Caden's birthday to our computer, and we just looked at them. He is still a little small for a 2-year old, but he is developing well, and acts like a 2-year old. Modern medicine is so wonderful, giving him the new heart, so he can grow up.

Caden's Second Birthday

Caden's Party was held at other Grandma's house, and he had a friend Parker who is a month older than he is, and Parker's siblings and another 10 year old boy. Next is movie with him saying SpongeBob Square Pants ( a cartoon character they've watched since before he was born, I think.)

This has been a rest day. I went to breakfast while Chris stayed in the apartment. After I ate my breakfast I brought cereal back to him. He didn't eat it right away, but since it was the cold kind, that didn't matter. He got up, and then dressed, and finally did eat it. But he didn't get up out of the recliner for the rest of the morning. I sat down, too, and I admit I must have napped a bit myself. At noon I got up and went to get us some lunch. I had a sandwich and milk in the dining room, and then I took a grilled patty melt back to Chris. He ate it, and helped me clean up our little kitchenette afterward. We watched a movie we got from Netflix, called "An Affair to Remember". I had seen it before, but I didn't remember the details, so I enjoyed it again. We talked briefly to all three daughters. Kaye and Kyle were going to Caden's 2nd birthday party, and were thrilled about it. Carla and Rex were busy cleaning up the utility room at the big house at the golf course, so they could find things in it. Karen was tired after her trip to Orroyo Grande, but she offered to take me with her to Church in the morning. If I am still well, I will go with her. But you never know about these chest infections; I may get it from Chris, who may have gotten it from Karen. Anyway, we will see what tomorrow brings. Oh yes, I forgot to say that Terry is sick, too. Chris and I both had our supper here in the apartment. We had left-over vegetables and salads, and one of the latter had a lot of turkey in it, and there was toast, and half of Chris' patty melt left. There were milk and vitamin drinks in our refrigerator, so we had a good supper, with cookies afterward. The usual Brit shows were on TV, so we saw those, too.

Today happened just about as I thought it would. After Breakfast which I brought back to Chris at the apartment, we got ready and went by taxi to his appointment in San Marcos. He was examined, x-rayed, and decided that he had a cough and was given two antibiotics to clear it up. We went back to the apartment, again by taxi, and this is the last time we will go that way. It cost about $90. After this experience, I would like to forget about this Clinic, and just go to those nearer here. When we got back here I ordered lunch, but I wasn't able to eat it, except the crab cake, that I took with me to eat on the way to my hair appointment that was at 1:30 p.m. The hair appointment took about 1 and a half hours. When I got back to the apartment, Brittany and her boyfriend were there. We visited a while, and then they went to dinner with us. Back at the apartment Brittany did her income tax on our computer, while Chris and I talked to her friend. He is Bianca's home teacher, and he is from New York, mainly. He was very polite, and bowed when he shook my hand when I came in, and again when they left here about 8:30. They were going to stop a few minutes at Karen's, and then drive back to Fullerton. I didn't ask her to call when they got there, but she may anyway. Sometimes Bianca calls, and sometimes not, when she has been here. We talked a little while to Kaye and to Karen, but not long. It's Caden's birthday tomorrow, and Kaye said the present she and Kyle got for him from them and from us had arrived, so I guess our responsibility is taken care of. I'm so glad this little one has lived two years, and I hope and pray that he has many more, without rejecting the new heart.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Chris is still coughing, but we did get an appointment for him at the San Marcos Kaiser Clinic tomorrow morning. I hope they can give him something to help him get over it, whatever it is - maybe something antibiotic like they gave Karen about ten days ago when she got pneumonia. Thank goodness she has recovered now. She will be home tomorrow from her last trip up north. I went to all three meals again today, although I did bring mine back here to eat with Chris tonight. I hate to go out without him. Tomorrow we will have Brittany and a friend here, for dinner I think. At least I invited them here. They will also visit Uncle Al, and Brittany will go to the golf course to get her W2 form. She didn't say anything about going to see Travis Westermyers' family, but the kids usually do whenever they are down here. We just talked to Karen, and she said everything is in order at the house they bought in Orroyo Grande, and she would come home tomorrow. She went up by train, and I'm glad she didn't drive. It's a long way to go alone. Terry is at home, and evidently he has a cold, too. I'm glad it isn't Swine flu, but we all got shots last fall to prevent that infection. I'm getting plenty of rest, so I won't be likely to get anything; and I'm avoiding close contact with anyone but family.

Chris spent a bad night; he coughed and coughed, and couldn't sleep. Today he has stayed in the apartment, mostly sitting in a recliner and resting, and sleeping, thank goodness. I guess it was just to get the rest he couldn't get last night. I have gone to all three meals and have brought food to him. He hasn't eaten much, but enough to keep up his strength, I think. I finished reading Patty Briggs new book, and when I talked to Kaye, she said it will be at the head of the list of the best selling novels this next week. I read it sporadically, and I missed some of the connections between the beginning and the end, so I have to read it again, to put it all together. Karen called a while ago, and she is in Oroyo Grande again, to supervise the fixing up of the house she and Terry have bought up there. She is also going to buy a $5o pass to the beaches at Pismo for the year when they move up there, so they can go to the all the beaches whenever they want to. She has located a senior housing place for us, so we will follow her and Terry when they do go up. I know the climate is cooler than here, but it's still California, and has lots of sun, too. Today was beautiful here, with sunshine and little wind. I would have gone out, but I wanted to stay with Chris. It's so hard to see him not well. I canceled our luncheon with the Plylor's for tomorow. Peggy is my visiting teacher, and they both have been our friends for the last several years. We will get together when Chris is better.

I wrote today's blog, but somehow it disappeared. So here goes again. Last night we skyped with Carla and Rex, and it was nice to be able to see and talk to them, although we are so far away. We hope to go up to see them, and also to see Kaye and Kyle in their new house, sometime this summer. Karen told us today that she is feeling better, and will drive us to San Diego for Chris to see his eye doctor. We left here at 9:30, and drove on a clear sunny day, with the wild flowers blooming along the way, because of our recent rains. The traffic was fast, about 60 to 65 miles per hour, so we got there an hour early. We stopped for sodas, and took them with us to Vandever Clinic, since we were still about 30 minutes early. But they called Chris early, and I went in with him, because he said if I didn't, and the doctor gave him a shot in his eye, he would swear at him. But he didn't need the shot, so all went well. On the way home we stopped for lunch, and we still got back here about 2 p.m. Karen went home for a nap, and we napped here almost until time for dinner. We did go to dinner, and then came back to the apartment to watch the news on TV, and then a program on the universe, from Nova. The original blog was a little longer than this one, but I can't remember what I wrote, so I'll just close here. And if the original blog turns up, I will save it instead of this one.

This morning I woke up with a terrific stomach ache. It lasted for about three hours. Later I talked to Kaye about it, and she thinks it was gall bladder problem, and that I should tell my doctor. I haven't done that yet, but I will tomorrow, after we get back from San Diego, where Chris has another appointment for an injection in his eye. I want to go with him to be added support, although Karen is better able to do that, I guess. I will go, though, if my stomach behaves between now and 9;30 when Karen will arrive to take him down. We did have a quiet breakfast in our apartment, although we delayed our cleaning lady. She came back later, about 12:30, and we went to lunch to be out of her way. After a quiet day, I am feeling quite well now. We have watched a lot of TV, but that's OK once in a while. We talked to Kaye, and she had a visit with Stellan today, but not the rest of his family. She did play with Caden the other day, though. It is truly wonderful that Caden is still getting along with the new heart. He is still very thin, but he is developing normally otherwise. Brittany called and she will be down on Saturday; she has to get a w2 form from the golf course where she worked here. I hope she stays over, we haven't had a visit from her for quite a while. It's not like we still were in the house where she always had a room when she came down, but we do have the green sofa in the computer room.

This Easter morning, so we didn't get up very early. We did watch the Church General Conference on the computer. We couldn't get in on the TV. But this worked out very well, as we sat comfortably on the green sofa. Karen and Terry came over for a special luncheon here, and we enjoyed their visit. We will see Karen later in the week, when she drives her dad and me to San Diego where he has an appointment with his eye doctor. After they left, we came back to the apartment and saw the last session of General Conference. I'm glad to be able to watch the Conference. It's important that we keep up on what the General Authorities are talking about. We talked briefly to Kaye tonight. She had been playing with Caden, while Stellan evidently cooked most of the dinner the family all ate. It was a short visit, because she had to get in touch with the plumber about something on the new house, and then get to bed herself. It's her bedtime, and almost ours. We watched a Sherlock Holmes movie tonight, and I had a hard time hearing it. My hearing aid isn't working right. I'll have to get it fixed, I guess, next time we go to San Marcos for Chris' physical therapy on his shoulder, unless we can find a hearing aid place nearer to this apartment. I'll check with Uncle Al, and see where he goes for his glasses. He is on a Kaiser plan,too.

When I wrote yesterday's blog, I forgot the main thing I did, and that was the washing. I didn't want it to pile up to be two weeks' worth instead of one. I read in Pattie's book while the clothes washed. Now I can hardly wait to get it read, to find out what really happens to Samuel. Maybe tomorrow I'll finish it. Today is the first day of General Conference of the Church, and we found we can watch it on the computer. We saw two hours of it this morning, and two more this afternoon. Tomorrow will be the same schedule, and we can watch it before and after the Easter Luncheon that is being served 11 to 2. We have invited Karen and Terry to come, for the lunch, and she sounded today much better, so she will probably come. Terry has never come to a meal here, but there are plenty of diabetics here, so I'm sure he will be able to find food he can eat. We went for a walk this afternoon, and in spite of the sunshine there was cold wind blowing. So we just went around the block, hoping the houses would shield us from the wind. But we were glad to get back to the apartment. I just sneezed writing about it, so you can tell I got cold. I'll be glad when the warmer weather comes, and we can go for longer walks. Chris just learned about a new treatment for M.S., and I hope it turns out to help people. They are trying it on 100 people at first, to see if it really helps. It seems to be something to do with gene therapy. That would be wonderful if it really works!

Since we weren't going to San Diego after all, we just went through our usual routine today. That was breakfast, exercise class, then back to the apartment to do a little work on the computer and also I read in Pattie's new book. I'm just at an interesting point, so I'm sure I'll have to read more before I go to bed. Kaye just called, and she and Kyle have finished their income tax, and they are expecting Stellan and family over tomorrow to get some more things out of their storage at their house. She didn't say where they are living, but I assume it is with Caden's other grandmother. Anyway Kaye will have an other chance to play with Caden, and that's important to her. We talked to Karen again, and she is feeling a little better, and she thinks she will be well enough to come here for Easter lunch. I hope she's right, and she doesn't get worse from going out when the doctor told her to stay in bed for a while. She said Terry would be coming, too, and that's the first time he has come for any meal here. He did come over to visit, but not to eat anything. He is diabetic, and I'm sure there are lots of people here with that, too, so the food should be appropriate for them. This is my night to refill my medication boxes for the week, so I'll close now and get busy at it.

When we got back from breakfast we got a call from Karen. She has a bad cold, and Terry was going to take her to the doctor. When we got back after our trip for a little shopping and to pick up a prescription, there was a call from Karen. She has pneumonia, and a dark place on her lungs, the doctor said. She is to stay in bed at home, and recover that way., with lots of new medications. We had planned to go to San Diego tomorrow to get Chris to a doctor there, but we canceled it, because Karen wouldn't be able to drive us after all. Chris said he was not disappointed, he didn't need to know if there was anything wrong with him; he is feeling well now. And why go looking for trouble. We spent the rest of the day quietly; the shopping had been tiring, because we aren't used to it anymore. I read in the new book Kaye had sent, and Chris spent his time at the computer. Oh yes, I forgot to say we did go to the exercise class this morning, but it was the harder one, and we just didn't do the things that were too hard for us. While we were on the 2nd floor, I stopped in at the beauty shop and canceled my hair appointment for tomorrow, because I thought we would be in San Diego. I didn't go back and make another appointment. I'll try my hair without it for this week; there's no church, except for General Conference on the computer, and then a special Easter luncheon in the dining room. Karen was going to come over for that, but not now that she is sick. We hope that she will recover soon, and be able to do her usual busy things.. We enjoyed the new picture of Caden that Kaye sent, and also the talk with Kaye.