Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

Hello, Bloggy Friends and Family!


I have missed you all with my whole heart!  We are finally moved!  It was pretty stressful and overwhelming, but it's done!  (Single parents...I take my hats off to you...I had to do this move without Chilly's help and WOW! it was a challenge!)


A huge heartfelt thanks to all of you who emailed your very loving thoughts and prayers to us during this time!  It really kept me going!


As some of you know, we moved into "town" (Tucson) to be closer to Chilly's medical care.  I am now a "city" girl.  I love being a few minutes from 3 different Target stores!  I love being 10 minutes from Pottery Barn, Sephora and Anthropologie!  But most of all, I love being 5 minutes from Chilly's kidney doctor!  


Our "new" house really isn't so new...it's actually 87 years old! (Which is a rare gem in Tucson!) It was one of the original ranches in this area. And yes, it's haunted.  Catherine has seen 3 "little kids" in the playroom.  A close friend of mine came over the other day and thought Cat was having a playdate because she "saw" a 3 kids in the playroom too!  Chilly and I have seen a few spectral images ourselves.  Connor saw a woman in a long suede coat and hat outside at dusk last night who simply vanished right before his eyes!  Maybe we need to call Ghost Hunters!

We also had some uninvited guests running across the rooftop.  While unpacking a few days after move-in, I kept hearing heavy pitter patter across the roof.  I thought maybe it was a large raven or some kind of big bird.  Uh, no...it was a couple of BOBCATS!!!!   

Yeah...two stinkin' bobcats decided to play games on my roof!  They were busted early one morning when we saw them jumping over the courtyard fence and then leaping up to the orange trees onto the roof!


I'm sure you can completely understand why I would wear this on my head when returning from a shopping trip from Ikea...(the big one went on my head...I'm all about multi-functional usage of household goods...)  The garage is separate from the house so I had to protect my assets from a bobcat assault, you know? 

Now that the dog is out and on patrol, the bobcats have gone buh-bye...whew!

To answer those of you who've inquired about Chilly....

Chilly's prognosis is pretty poor.  His phosphorus and potassium levels are really high and are stressing his kidneys and heart.  Without dialysis, Chilly's life expectancy is at best 6-9 months.  With dialysis, maybe a couple of years.  

Chilly has opted to pass on the dialysis.  He doesn't want to do it. He's sick and tired of being sick and tired.  

One of the difficult parts of this journey with Chilly is that back before his triple bypass, he chose to cancel his life insurance.  (I know...I can hear you all gasping in shock...)  He just didn't think he needed it.  (Excuse me while I roll my eyes...)  As you may imagine, that has been a source of frustration in my household.  After his bypass (when he realized that he actually did need it), he found out that it was almost impossible to get it.  We did find a company that would do it if he went for a year without any other heart attacks or major health events.  It would be VERY EXPENSIVE (read...sacrificing a limb, your first born,etc...), but at least it was possible.  Then came along Mr. Cerebellar Stroke and all hopes for a  policy were dashed.  No one will come near Chilly with a ten foot life insurance policy pole. 

I decided to share this so that if you ever feel the need to cancel a life insurance policy, that you might think twice.  Chilly believed that he would live long enough to put money aside for his retirement...that he would be around to take care of his family, etc.  He truly didn't believe he would be dealing with multiple terminal illnesses and not live to see his children into adulthood.  His monthly medical expenses are extremely high.  I pray every day that I will be able to make it once he's no longer here.  I'm scared...I'll just come right out and say it.  But I have faith that God will guide me and that somehow it will all work out.

So on that bright and cheery note, I will bid you farewell....(yes, I'm still filled with sarcasm...)

I am back to blogging now and will be scooting around visiting you all...that's not a threat...it's a promise!

I love you all and thanks again for hanging with me through all of this craziness!

XoXo...