Still In Washington State

Welcome to February. Family seems to be holding their own as far as getting through all the aches and pains.

Brooke was supposed to go back to work on Monday the 10^th but the school called her and said they need a note from her doctor in releasing her for full activity at work. So she was delayed a day. Once that was straightened out she went in the next day since it was a half day and then came home to rest before going to a game that night at Arlington High School. Her cheer team was going to be there. She is the cheer coach so she had to be there. She went into work the next day which was a full day and then took Friday off. That was a smart plan since Monday was a holiday so she got a 4 day weekend. She is healing well but gets tired easily.

Ernie is still hurting as to be expected and still has a long way to go. He went for his post op and all is good. He still can't drive yet for a while. He is supposed to wear his brace all the time but he doesn't so that doesn't help.

Basketball is in high season now. Conor, on Valentines day played 2 games. He was great and had more stamina than the rest of the kids. At the second game the kids were fizzling out, one in particular needed a little pep talk from the coach!  At the end of the second game Ernie took the kids to the lounge room and a mom brought cupcakes for the boys and Ernie handed out medals to each of the boys. Then we took pictures of the team. The basketball season is over for Conor. Next it is Flag Football. He is really looking forward to that in March.

 Proud Dad.

 

Brody had 2 basketball games on Saturday, the 15^th. They won both games and Brody played well. He is a good athlete!!
 

Ernie had indoor soccer games, he didn't play but he wanted to be there to watch. Then he met us at Brody's second game. That night was a high school girls basketball game at the high school so Ernie and Brooke went to that and Brody was at his dad's and Conor stayed with us at home. We had movie night. He chose 'How The Grinch Stole Christmas'. Brody is at his dad's all weekend and we will see him again at his games and then on Tuesday after school. 
 

I have been battling against cold/allergy symptoms. I was feeling pretty good so I didn't take my meds for allergy. Well the next day I started to cough and I coughed all day even with taking medication. Then it gets worse. On Tuesday I woke with a really bad sinus headache and felt horrible enough to call the care center where my doctor is in Poulsbo. They said it sounded like I had some sinus issues and maybe put a hot washcloth on my face to start to loosen up the sinus cavity. I had been taking Claritin and they said I was doing the right thing. Since I was in Marysville, the closest Kaiser Permenente clinic is in Everett and that is a ways away. Dave had woke up felling crummy too so we just didn't want to travel the distance. So I decided to take some sinus medication. That opened up the flood gates and my nose ran and ran. Well it felt like a full blown head cold and I was miserable. I took Conor to day care this morning and early afternoon Ernie got a call from the day care lady saying Conor's stomach hurt. So I went and picked him up. I took him home to be with Grandpa. I left again to go to the store to pick up cold medicine for Dave and I and get some gas medicine for Conor. It sounded like he had bad gas pains. Once I got home he was still hurting pretty bad so I gave him some medicine. Even after a couple hours he was still hurting. He hadn't gone to the bathroom yet today.  Mom and dad tried to make Conor feel better and he had some sprite and a little bit of graham cracker. He drank that and ate the cracker but still hurt. He kept saying “ow, ow”. Poor little guy. Mom and Dad had to leave so it was just Conor and us. I ended up giving him some more medicine and then I held him while sitting on the couch and he fell asleep in my arms. That always warms my heart. I still felt terrible but had to wait until mom and dad got back home. I let Conor sleep on the couch while I got something to eat and as soon as mom and dad get home I went upstairs to be away from everyone. I tried to watch some TV but just didn't feel like it so I went to bed. I was sitting playing a Mahjong game on my tablet, when Brody came in and told me how he and Conor were goofing off on the stairs and how he farted and they were both laughing like crazy. Even though I felt like crap, it still warmed my heart to hear those boys laughing. Then he came in again later before his bedtime and mumbled something. I was laying down by now and he asked if I wanted him to turn the light out, and I told him no but thanks. He is such a sweet kid!! He had a championship game on Monday but his team didn't win. But they won all the other games. Basketball season isn't over yet for him but it is starting to wind down. Then it is soccer.

Brooke and Ernie's schedule is going to get really crazy next month. Ernie is flying back east to meet up with E.J. and they both are going to drive to the west coast here to Washington, then E.J. will report for duty at his new duty station a Travis Air Force Base. So we will be able to see him when we travel up this summer. After Ernie gets home, he then starts to coaching high school soccer and do physical therapy for his shoulder. The soccer coaching is a paid position. He can't work yet until he talks to his doctor the first part of March. We are planning on heading back to Mexico the first part of March. It is time to go. The weather is sunny here, right now, but cold. We need to get back to warm weather.

Ernie, Brooke, and the boys along with us went to see the Everett hockey team play Canada. It was fun and exciting. I have never been to a hockey game so it was a treat. 
 

Brody had a basketball game this morning and then an indoor soccer game at 5:30pm.

Ernie is doing pretty well. Still sore and every once in a while he will move his arm and you can tell it hurts a lot. Brooke is healing well and taking it slow. She isn't back to full time work yet. It is good that she is easing back into it.

Today, the 24^th is our grandson, Brody's 12^th birthday!! He is growing up so fast! I don't know what Brooke was thinking, but she had 8 boys from the basketball team over after the game for a sleep over and birthday celebration on Saturday the 22^nd. Ernie and Brooke said they would never do that again. The kids didn't get to sleep until about 3:00am!! I had ear plugs so I didn't hear a thing!! Ha!!

 This kid got lots of money!!!

On Sunday, all the boys along with Conor went swimming during open pool time. Then parents either picked up their boys at the pool or came and got them at the house. There was a family birthday celebration for Brody that afternoon, late. He received some awesome gifts.

This is our last week here. We plan to head back to Bremerton, Ron and Noreen's house for a couple days and then head south.

Ernie finished the bridge he was building to go over a drainage gully from their backyard.  Dave was able to help him finish it before we left and then we put it in the back of our truck and took it around the corner to where we could off load it and carry it to Ernie's backyard gate.  It turned out really nice.  

We had an evening alone with Conor so we did movie night. We are watching 'How The Grinch Stole Christmas'.

We left Ernie and Brooke's on Friday the 28^th and unfortunately missed saying goodbye to Brody and Brooke. We got up ten minutes after they left for school and work. So I text them so at least they knew we weren't going to ignore them. We also called that night to talk to Brody and say hi to everyone else.

We arrived at Ron and Noreen's early afternoon and then they went to dinner with some friends and we ended up going out as well. Dave was still coughing up a lung and tired. I was in bed already and Dave was just coming to bed when Ron and Noreen got home at 11:00pm.

Next morning Noreen made a nice brunch for all of us and then we headed to Tacoma to have lunch with Jonathan and Jonathan Jr. and Cameron. It was really good to see them. The boys have grown quite a bit!! It was good to touch basis with them before we left. 

We didn't get to see Michael and David, but we will this summer. Can't wait to get back to warm weather and sunshine!!!

We had a nice home cooked meal at Ron and Noreen's and then we visited for a while then went to bed.

Since we have been back to Bremerton, both Dave and I have gotten our hair cut and went to see the Park ranger at Illahee which is just about a couple blocks from where Ron and Noreen live. We are going to be camp hosts there for the month of June. We are excited. The park hasn't been open for camping for 2 years as they have had major septic problems. That is supposed to be fixed by June so we will be there when they open up for first come first serve basis at first. So that means we will be coming back here at the end of May. 

I got my hair cut so short that it sticks up, but that is what I wanted.  I had been thinking about doing that for a long time just to see how I liked it.  I like it short but not convinced of keeping it this short.  The gal that cuts hair in Bahia doesn't do a good job as far as I am concerned because when she cut it and it grew back in my hair was knarly!  So I decided to get it cut so short that it would last until I could get it cut again in the states.  Not one of my best looks but it is simple to take care of!