Try not to fall over with shock.. Frankie blogged..

I copied 2 pics from his blog.

He is the studly fighter in the red with web type shield.

me

Today at work, I have cried several times. Yesterday, one of our long term clients died. I worked with him abt 10 years ago for 4 hours (directly and then on and off throughout the other 4 hrs of the work day) a day for a span of 3 months. He was not one of my "main" clients, but I did know him fairly well. I got a chance to sit and talk with him while his current staff drove the van up to the door so I feel I said goodbye. He had no been in good health for about 3 yrs now. I must confess I hadn't seen him in months so I was shocked by his decline when I saw him last week. We all knew the end was near but its still sad. Such a neat guy with a wonderful family. I have spent part of the day calling former staff to inform them of his passing and other parts of the day hugging/offering words of comfort to staff who currently work with him -many had for over 10 years. I am scared for the time when one of my main clients pass on. I still see most of them on a semi-regular basis and love and miss them. One of the girls (thank God her health is really good!-although I freaked out when she was in a car accident last year) I currently provide vocational training for.
Then I have been praying about continuing to work in Cubbies. Jewel has a lot of homework and has struggled to keep up with verses for her Sparkies club. I have been helping in this program for 9 years. I love it-every minute of it. Typically, (due to the drive and me having to wait for the child to staff ratio to be acceptable and parents often don't put up their little ones until later) Jewel and I don't get home until 9 p.m. So, after night time snack, talking to dad, tuck ins,etc she is not even getting into her bed until 9:30 or 9:45. This past year, I've really noted her needing more sleep. Her teacher even commented there was a week she excelled in her class particpation-it was a week we skipped activities, Cannon had a good week so Jewel got more sleep. I told the directors this would be my last year helping. The pastor's wife, Amy H., sent me the nicest email about the things I had taught her while she worked with me regarding talking things through with kids, etc. wow it humbled me and made me feel bad at the same time b/c I don't know that I always handled things as well as the times I worked with her. So... you all know how I am these days. it made me cry. Then I prayed that I had made a positive impact on all the Cubbies I worked with over the years esp those "high energy high need" boys like the one I have at home :). I will really miss it. I hope to become involved with our ladies's ministry at church; the director has been after me for abt 2 yrs, but I haven't been able to participate.
Then.. I received a phone call from the coordinator from Cannon's mentoring program that she would like feature Cannon and his mentor in next year's brochure. Cannon has had this mentor for over 4 years-Benson is a perfect match for Cannon. Benson is leaving for med school I feel he will be an excellent physician. Cannon told the coordinator, "Benson sees all the good inside me not my rough exterior like most people see". She told me Cannon almost made her cry. After the week we've had with Cannon this made me cry too.
Okie I've over blogged my break.

Smiles to all!
Jennifer

WOW. I was gone from work 2 days last week so today has been just crazy. Mondays are typically one of the busiest days here at our office (probably everybody's place of work), but being gone those 2 days magnified my work load. I'm especially glad for the 2 slower work days the week before last when I got "ahead" on projects because that is the only thing keeping me sane right now.
I had the flu or something like it-upper respiratory issues with stomach issues at the same time, fever, aches, extreme fatigue, etc. I got sick Wednesday evening and didn't feel well at all until Friday afternoon when my fever broke. I woke up Saturday and felt like a new person; I tired out quicker than usual, but convinced myself to keep moving. The boys were gone to an event so it was just Jewel and I at home; a perfect opportunity to get caught up on cleaning-my Saturday cleaning and regular week cleaning. I felt so happy to be caught up after being sick.
Sunday I got up and taught children's church-which was actually quite a bit of fun. Jewel ditched me for Saturday night-she spent the night at her friends. So I actually had some time to myself; I must confess I loved it. I will back track. Friday night, I still wasn't feeling 100% so the only "fun" thing Jewel and I did was make chocolate chip, oatmeal, peanut butter bars-turned out pretty well considering we were out of butter so we had to use low-fat margarine. Jewel watched a movie she borrowed from the library- Kangaroo Jack (oh my is all I have to say). Then The Lucy Show re-runs (got that dvd on clearance for 2.50 I did). At first she was confused b/c it wasn't I Love Lucy like she is use to, but then decided she liked the Lucy Show better.
Sunday-our boys got back, they both had a wonderful time. Frank bought Cannon a used bow since Cannon has been longing to learn archery for some time now. I wish Frank would blog again so he could tell you all of their adventures. Cannon had great difficulty transitioning back so we had a very L-O-N-G night as a family. I'm so glad I'm not a single mom b/c I'm not sure I could make it on my own. Frank you are not allowed to die or leave; okay?
Jewel has a music concert tonight. Frank is being a super good dad by taking 2 hours of personal time from work so he can attend her concert. Poor Frank has a cold-I hope that's all it is and not the viral thing I had. I haven't been that sick in over a year.
I'm working on a surprise gift for my sister's 40th birthday.
We are boring, I know. but that's what's been going on.
I hope you are all doing well.
When does Spring start? I thought it should already, but it sure doesn't look or feel like it.

Smiles,
Jennifer

There are times I wish we owned a digital camera; this is one of them. I got a new hair cut-nothing exciting, but a medium length bob; everyone loves it except Frank. He wants my hair super long. It had many split ends and I felt it was making my face look long besides the difficulty with styling. I just couldn't take it any more. It had been abt. 5 months since I'd had it trimmed.

Last weekend, was another time for a digital camera. The girls were so cute at VEISHA I wish I could post pics now. Someday..

Tonight, Jewel and I are going to a pajama party. My friend is hosting it at her business; we are going to eat fun snacks and watch "girl" movies. As usual, I'm super excited for this since I usually don't get to participate in fun things like this. The only downfall is I have to be up and ready to leave for a conference re: my autoimmune disorder by 7 a.m. I wake up abt 6:46 a.m on the days Frank works to get Jewel and Cannon ready, but I am not ready then. My friend has a similiar disorder so we are going together-her is much worse than mine. She promised we would stop for coffee, but I've gotta be careful with coffee due to my ulcer. I'm so excited for this pajama party. I will race home to pick Jewel up, switch to comfy clothes, pick up a snack and off we go. (I still haven't decided what to bring for a snack).

Last night, both kids had school events so Frank went with Cannon and I went with Jewel. I also squeezed in a trip to the Bookmobile b/c Jewel was out of audiobooks and picked up a few books for Cannon. I'm so glad a grabbed a few books for Cannon b/c that was t he 1st thing he asked me this morning, "Did ya gets some books for me?" One of the books is a history book about underwear- Jewel and I giggled so hard over that one.

Oopss my ears are ringing its 2:15 pm and I've yet to eat.

Smiles to one and all!

Jennifer

I'm going back to panicking. Cannon was sick.. I tried to wait it out before taking him to the Dr. or really worrying.. treating it as a bad cold. then the asthma really kicked in. Still doubting my instinct I finally called my mom on Tuesday a.m. She said, "Whoa he should not be taking his rescue inhaler that much without relief besides it speeds up the users heart". Hum.. good thought mom. I scheduled an appt. The Dr. was pretty upset b/c I did not have Cannon use his other inhaler with the rescue inhaler (which honestly I had totally forgotten abt b/c his asthma is only intermittent so we didn't even have a current refill of the 1st inhaler in the house). Also, Cannon's breathing was pretty rattly. He was on the verge of bronchitis and his asthma was bad-so he is now on an antibiotic, another inhaler, and an oral steroid for his asthma. The dr even clapped his hand down on the table and emphasized to me, "It doesn't matter if you think its just a cold, or he ran too fast-whenever he coughs give him both of his inhalers-don't wait". So I guess that means I'm back to being vigilant abt his asthma-so easy to let it slide b/c of his other health probl and b/c one of his other specialist told me his inhalers could cause mood swings so we've avoided them; not any more.

From now on I'm going back to "panicking" I'm seem to get into less trouble with the drs that way. Cannon has missed 3 days of school; he will try to go tomorrow. He is not quite back up to himself yet ,but hopefully soon. Does anyone remember the February that Addy was in the hospital and Cannon stepped on the belt prong and then drug it through his foot? That January my New Year's resolution was to worry abt medical things less and "let things go"? Well, I made Cannon wait 30 min before taking him to the E.R-applying pressure and watching him, but I thought it was a puncture wound, not a puncture drag wound. He needed several stitches and almost nicked a tendon.

anyway.. I sat with Cannon and watched part of Water Horse. Tonight, we plan to finish viewing it neither of us thought we would like it but so far its pretty cute-a diff version of E.T. but Cannon knows nothing of E.T. so for him its good.

Jewel woke up at 2:30 with a sore ear and tons of sneezing. I'm hoping its her hayfever and not what Cannon has b/c I didn't take any full days off when Cannon was sick, but enough my boss would not be happy if I had to stay home again. Benadryl seemed to do the trick. I'm also very tired and have a major headache so we are skipping AWANA tonight.

I also got Planet Earth which I thought Frank said he wanted to watch, but he didn't act like it last night; he was probably just tired.

Frank has a big event this weekend so the kids and I will soldier on without him. I have a conference to go to for my autoimmune disorder Sat a.m. and into the early afternoon so my mother-in-law is wonderful to watch my kids. Saturday night and Sunday I have nothing big planned but hope to think of something fun for the kids and I. Psst don't tell Frank, but we really miss him when he's gone. esp b/c he works everyother weekend his weekends off are really special.

I learned a few more computer tricks today. always joyous to learn those. a few on Word and a few on Excel.

that's all I know.

Smiles
Jennifer

While doing research on Frank's side of the family Grandma Rose told me to contact "this lady"whose family had come over to Amercia from Russia on the same boat. Well, "this lady" happened to be G.R.'s 3rd cousin on one side and a 4th cousin on the other side. This lady was really big into the German-Russian American society. So, I ended up joining the local society. G.R. was very pleased by this. All of my listings have Frank's name in parenthesis b/c I couldn't join on my own; it had to be through a proven ancestor. I promised her I would continue my membership to represent her family. I decided it would be better to have a family membership in the hopes my children will become interested and it only seemed right to have members who are carrying on the actual blood lines in the society. Today I received my monthly update (I'm never able to make it to meetings due to family time constraints ,but someday I hope to) the next meeting is about a group of German-Russians who were severaly persecuted by government and others from a region in the Ukraine. The society asks for members to bring letters from their ancestors re: this issue. Well, Grandma Rose told me stories about this and I know she has letter somewhere. Those letters might be in my stash or the stash my in-laws have. For some reason it just struck me- how much G'ma Rose would have loved to attend this and how I can still recall those family stories. As I continue to get organized from our move and sort through things I will keep a special eye open for those letters ( I think they were actually copies that her niece has the originals). anyway.. I hope my children will some day be interested; this group of German-Russians seem to be a very tight knit group. Many of the local chapters members are friends with other members who ancestors came over to Amercia together. what a cool thought.

neat and sad at the same time.

Jennifer