It ended up beimg an awesome weekend!

I started a 4 day weekend in terrible hip pain, it hurt so bad that I would have had a hip replacement right then and there. But in my true style, I did not let it get me down, well not totally down anyway. Thursday I went with my sister in law to pick up my nieces at Oneonta State College. So not too much activity, mostly a ride in the truck. Now of course I had to find a way to get in and out of the truck without doing more damage. I am to short or it is to high, I brought along my folding step stool with a long ribbon tied on. I got in using the stool, pulled it up with the ribbon, getting out was no problem, just slide out. We stoped at a quilt/consignment shop perfect for Dianne and I, she loves quilting and I love consignment shops. I purchased a few gifts and she got some fabric. When we were done there, the girls were ready to go, so we were off to the college. There dorm room is affectionately called a box, 4 girls or boys, they each get three boxes. 1 to sleep in and then two to a bedroom. Looks like claustrophobia to me. It is very obvious they love there new found freedom and have made friends for life quickly. Once we gathered them up we were off to the horse farm to greet the horses they would like to lease next semester. Both girls are animal lovers, the farm was nice and you could see that was where they are meant to be. So I hope they can come up with the money to get there horses. It was cold at the farm and a little difficult to walk out to the field to meet the horses, but I really do not like to give in so I went out to meet Goose and  Annie. Goose got mad that he wasn't getting all the attention and kicked, Annie. I decided then that maybe I should get the hell out of there. OMG, what if the horse got me, all I can say is OUCH or wholly f... Anyway soon after that we were on our way home, I did leave a few details of the day out like stopping in Schoharie to get eggs from Dianne's mom and lunch at The Eggplant?????, I can't remember the name, but the food was good! I was home just before Laura got home from swimming, which always makes her happy, She really does not like when I am not there on her arrival. I had fixed dinner in the am, which Tom popped into the oven we had a quick dinner and a little couch time before it was bed time. I was still struggling with me hip pain, no improvement, so I tried ice.

   Friday I woke up with no change in my level of pain, might have been a little worse. So what was supposed to be a day of Christmas shopping became a day of rest & ice. I called the doctor begging for a hip injection. I had already done this one month ago when it flared up after the big Thanksgiving feast. The doctors assistant never called me back. I waited four hours for a phone call, which I never got. I tried again, finally while I was begging the receptionist to have her call me, the assistant rings thru and says she called me last month and left a message for me to call image care and schedule the injection myself.  So to make a long story short I called to schedule, but I have to wait another week. By then the pain will be gone at least until the next time I over do it, ugh frustrating. Our medical system, just does not work. I would love to really be a person, not just another patient. A patient truly is not treated like a person, when they figure that out the medical system will be in much better shape. So for now more rest and ice.

   Saturday I was a little better, but woke up tired and grumpy. I had no choice but to work thru the pain and go out Christmas shopping. My first stop was Eddie Bauer, Dianne said that is where she shops because they sell tall womens clothing. So I search the store but find no talls, I ask the clerk and she says to me that they are marked with a T after the size, like largeT. So I search the store high and low and find no talls, I ask another clerk who tells me, they only sell womens talls, on line. Why couldn't they tell me that first, they have mens tall in the store no womens tall, ugh! So that was that and I decided to go with the impersonal gift cards. Off to Price Chopper, I got a few things and a pile of gifts cards. Dianne said Matt would like a Five Guys gift card, so I stopped and got that for him, they were giving away free fries with gift cards. Yeah lunch! Next stop Job Lot for Laura and stuff for antipasto for Christmas Eve, a stop at Aldis and Hannaford, a quick haircut and then home to wrap gifts.  While I was on my way home Tom called because our friends Christie and Nate had stopped to drop off the fruit I had bought from the school. So I got home in time for a nice visit, Cheyanne and the dog Carmel, were playing running in our house and having a grand old time. We had a nice visit. Tammy and Scott showed up to take Laura out for there usual Saturday dinner. A few minutes later everyone left and I did the wrapping while Tom ran groceries to Aunt Jo's house. We had enough time to do the chores, eat a quick dinner, make chocolate cream pies for dinner at Karena and Jims and finish the wrapping before Laura was back. I had to change her insulin pod get her ready for bed and watch while she opened her gifts from Mommie and Scott. They do not visit her on holidays and I like it that way we are busy visiting with my family on Christmas Eve and Toms family on Christmas Day. By the time everybody left I was exhausted and hobbling again, more ice and rest! Bed early, but the presents are wrapped and I am ready for Christmas,yeah! Hope they like there gifts!

    Sunday I was up early and feeling better, I walked to the bathroom without hobbling. Showered and got breakfast for Laura and I. I got the newspaper, and unfortunately for Laura there were no coupons. She really was upset, and it took awhile for her to get over it. We finished breakfast and got ready for church,dinner at Karen and Jims and carolling with the church. So we bundled up for the day, before going to Ephratah, we stopped at Aunt Jo's to give her pill to her. Since we have started doing that she has become less confused, so it is worth the trip. During church today was the childrens Christmas show, they did a great job singing songs and using sign language, it was awesome. Most of Karen and Jims family was present, including her daughter Julie who got engaged this week. Karen emailed me very upset friday AM, because there daughter Karena took it hard. Karena is also handicapped, physically and mentally,but none of us are really sure to what degree, Her sisters engagement was hard for her because it was another moment she realized she would always be left behind. Unable to leave her parents home and mature in the normal adult way. Karen was heart broken for Karena and very happy for Julie, what a terrible way to be torn. I am always at home when I am with there extended family. After church we had dinner with everyone except Karena who had a seizure and was resting in her bed. Before we left to carol she was up to join the group, I was very happy to see that. I left her with a piece of chocolate cream pie and we were off to carol. During dinner Laura had broke down into tears because she was scared to go into the wagon caroling. But at the same time she wanted to go. Like we always do we went despite her fear, she broke into tears again as we were getting into the wagon. Once the wagon took off it did not take Laura long before she was laughing and having a good time, We were out for at least an hour and she was till refusing to give in despite the cold. Tom was frozen, but he was not dressed as warm as Laura and I, men never listen. So here we are in Ephratah, being pulled around in an open wagon, about 20 people, mostly little kids. The wagon is being pulled by a farmer who just so happens to be drinking beer while he does this. Imagine this is a church group, not the average group. I can say that wagon was full of love for each other and God. We were singing songs about Christmas and having a grand old time, as the sun began to set, it got mighty cold. Brought back memories of my days on a motorcycle, no way to get warm but a lot of fun. I think the last time I went caroling I was still in school, so maybe I was 15 at the most! It was a great way to celebrate Christmas and will remain a great memory forever! Thanks Karen for including us!