Februrary 26, 2008

Things are crazy busy here. The girls are in season and we've been taking them back and forth between home and the vet. Their boyfriends, Ellwood and Chopper are really handsome, and we're hoping for loads of bootiful, wrinkled puppies.

Last week was amazing. The MDA patient representative called us and asked if we'd be interested in a used handicap van. I told her that we were indeed looking for a van and she told me that this couple were wanting to give the van away!!!! We met them on Wed. and drove it home. It was so surreal.

The family also turned in an electric chair, which they are letting me use until mine comes in. How awesome is that! I have already dinged the walls a wee-bit .

I've stopped taking the lithium. It's given me severe headaches, slurred speech and confusion. It's just not something I can take.

Chow!

President's Day (Feb. 18) 2008

It's been a busy few weeks, but today seemed sort of quiet and then I realized it was a holiday. Silly me. Being retired causes the days to kinda run together.

Things have been fairly tame here in Yoderville the last few weeks. I was really tired two weeks ago, possibly because the doctor had increased my med or more likely because I was just tired. I fell approx. 3 times. My legs just weren't able to support me. Almost two weeks ago, I asked my doctor to write a RX for Lithium. My request was based on the results of an Italian study, which showed a very high % of ALS patients given Lithium having the progression of ALS stop. So far, I haven't seen or felt any different. Either it's working or there's been no change....giggle.

Deke is still my little menace. He's every where, every second. He's a Houdini baby. He loves to sing and dance. There's a lever at the back of my wheelchair, near the handle and for some reason he loves to stand next to the wheelchair and sing, LOUD. He becomes transfixed when he sees American Idol.

Chase is still my fashionista. He spends more time on his hair than me (with my handicap, that says A LONG time). He has a new girlfriend, but if you ask him, they're just friends. He spends most of his free time with Deke. He did have a hard week at school last week and was beyond grateful that the week is finally over.

My mom spent the last two weeks with us. We enjoyed the time we had together. Mom was able to take an assignment for the weekend in Nashville, so her weeks were split up. We went to see Fool's Gold, which was funny. We did our Valentine's shopping and even managed to get out to the Amish bakery and furniture store in Whiteville. We did something almost every day of the second week (week one I was too tired to do much).

The girls (Savannah & Jilda) have both come in season and we plan to breed them both, I wuv bullie puppies!

Chase's 12th birthday, January 27th, 2008

It's hard to believe that my first baby is 12! This is the first birthday that I bought Chase a present. Every birthday before this, his party was his present. I have to admit, not planning something for a bajillion kids was lovely!

Now don't think we didn't celebrate his birthday! We redid his room by getting a new chocolate bedspread, metal/black desk and bookcase, a computer chair and a chocolate suede chair cover for the wing chair that was in the sun room. He thinks it's all awesome.

He's mentioned several options on what he plans to buy with his birthday money that folks have sent (after he puts 20% in savings): leopard rug, prints for the walls, new CD's and new video games. He's deciding now.

We also went to Chase's favorite restaurant, Stix, which is a hibatchi place. Chase and Deke enjoyed the show put on by the Chef. We ended the evening with confetti cake.

You never know what can happen

A few weeks ago we were at Chase's school for his honor roll (that's our boy!) recogniton. After the kids were given their awards, a lady came up and asked if I'm Ami Yoder. I told her I was and she introduced herself as Crystal Yoder. I was like, "you're the other Yoder's!". We are forever being asked if we're related to so and so Yoder. Crystal asked if it could be that we were related and I said, "Not unless you're from Belleville, PA." She died laughing and explained that her husband WAS from Belleville and that her mother was a Yoder (not related) from Lewistown, PA. I'm thinking "No WAY" and then just start laughing. Lucky for me she saw the humor in the situation. We chatted so easily that we decided to exchange numbers.

Later that evening Crystal called and had been thinking about if there really was a relation between us and had chatted with her family. Again, the coincidences were unreal. Darrin has been extremely interested in the family genealogy since we plan to go to Switzerland in March, and has been looking up the Yoder history. Since we had so much to talk about we decided to get everyone together for dinner. Crystal volunteered her home and told me not to worry about anything. That's another good thing with having accepted that I have ALS....I have no guilt in accepting those offers. (See friends, I HAVE made progress!)

This past Sat. we went to the Yoder's for dinner. Not only did we have a great time getting to know Doug (husband) and their 3 sons A.J., Grey and Zane, we also found out that Doug and Darrin are actually 7th cousins. We were all thrilled because now we have family in town!!!

We ended the night by playing Dutch Blitz. I did explain before the game started that Darrin doesn't break rules or give handicaps (even if you DO have physical restrictions). Crystal came close to smokin' Darrin. She plans to get the game and practice for the next round.