Moving!

Well it's official! We're moving! To a cute little cottage in an older, nicer area of town. We are so excited. It's located in a little area of town called Westchester. I even love the name. I've already started taking pictures, picked out paint and figuring out where to put everything. So yeah I'm a little excited. A place to make ours again. Stay tuned.

Just a little update. The surgery went really well and though it was a longer recovery than I expected I'm doing great now. I've lost 81 pounds so far. I can already feel the relief in my knees. They're thanking me a lot. Another year or two I can have knee replacement surgery. I'm thankful for all the supportive friends and family through this process.

Now for some other great news. We will be moving again. We've been in our little duplex for two years now. It's been good to us but I've missed having a yard and a house. So we've found another little cottage to love in a lovely older neighborhood. Though we don't move until January I've already started packing and planning. It's not much bigger than the duplex which is fine. It's just hubby and me. I don't want to be packing while the kids are visiting over the holidays. 

Hope everyone is doing good and looking forward to the holidays. 

Hugs, Amanda

Just a quick catch up

Just a quick post for friends who check here to see how things are going.

Surgery went really well, recovery has been slow and hard. Lots of things to get used to. Healing wise I've done great. Almost all my incision is healed and very nicely I might add. Getting used to eating, eating, eating has not been easy. I can only eat a small amount at a time, so within an hour I'm hungry again. I've never been much of a snacker or grazer so learning this new kind of eating is hard. Also lots of water consumption. Which I didn't do a lot of before surgery either but neither did I drink a lot of anything. Usually just with meals. So much to re-learn.

Tina came home from the Navy on leave right before my surgery and stayed until just after surgery before returning to her new post in Jacksonville, FL. She's doing great and we're really proud of her. She's my go-getter that's for sure.

Seth came home also during that same week and was so good to have both of them home to love on and spoil. He's working and living in Sacramento, 5 hours north of here. He loves his job at Costco and has done really well there. We're proud of him also. Seems so funny how grown up they are now when for so long it seems like all you've done is take care of them. Circle of life I suppose. 

I'll hope to post pictures soon. 

Waiting

It's been a summer of waiting. Waiting to hear about whether or not I've been approved for surgery. Now waiting for the surgery. I just feel like you do knowing that the storm is coming, that build up of anticipation. I've got mixed feelings about the surgery, excited and scared.

I've been busy taking care of Neil's father, Pop. He has Alzheimer's Dementia. It has its good and bad days. I try to be patient and realize that he really can't help it. Really enjoyed a day long seminar lately, Caring for the Caregiver. Attended with my brother-in-law and his wife. I felt it was very informative and uplifting. I strongly urge that if you are caring for someone or know someone that is dealing with this. Go to the Alzheimer's website, here. They are so helpful. 

All the Kramer Fellows. L to R Neil, Brian, Seth, Erik, Eli and Dick (Pop), May, 2012

I've also been hanging out with the dogs. We've "adopted" the neighbor's dachshund, Pearl. Her and Trigger get along very well. I did plant a few flowers in containers and I've been attending to those. Haven't made it to the farmer's market this summer, unfortunately. Hope to before surgery so I can enjoy local, fresh fruit and veggies. I've also managed to do a little quilting, sewing and smoothie making. 

Quilt that Kelly and I did for Tina's Navy  Instructor

Pillowcases for our bed

Pearl

Pearl and Trigger hanging out

Homemade smoothies

Well that about sums up our summer. Hope your's is going well also. Take care. Amanda

Flowers in Containers

So as you can tell it's been a long while since I was last on blogger. Quite a few changes. I almost wasn't sure that I could keep with what had happened. But I'm here. Haven't blogged because I guess I feel I don't have anything much to share. Things don't change much in a rental.

I'll share my flowers. I've been container gardening because 1. there are no garden beds here and 2. I can't get down on all fours and weed like I used to. Miss those flower beds of mine. But I'm making do with containers. The portulaca is doing well in this window box. We have a little patio and I've added a few containers out here and some in the front. Hope the weather is treating you kind wherever you are and you're having a great summer.