Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.

Son's wife is definitely feeling better and is raring and eager to head back to work today! Hubby and I call to check on them frequently. She seems to be feeling great. (One spot of bad news, though. Son was laid off work a couple of days ago. They said he was their best employee, but being the last one hired.... You know how that goes. So it's back to pounding the pavement again.)

As far as the second situation, all I can really say is that things have calmed down a bit and both parties are apart and safe, and are (or will be very soon) getting the help they both desperately need.

Thank you again!

We received a call a couple of days ago saying son's wife was in the hospital. They couldn't figure out what was wrong with her, but she was in a lot of pain. ...early labor (at only 26 weeks)? Kidney infection? Virus? They didn't know. But after a round of antibiotics and about 36 hours of intravenous fluids, we took her home yesterday. She's still sore, but okay.

We visited her and took her some Sudoku and other game books to keep her occupied. Then we drove her home once she was released.

And then, well, I won't go into this one too much. We have friends who are having marital trouble right now. We (hubby and I), have spent literally hours talking to them. It's a very, very scary situation. But it's added a lot of stress and worry to the mix. We are doing everything we can to help, but sometimes all you can do is listen.

Critter Post

I know I don't normally post pics of the reptile critters on this blog, but they are just too cute today...

Zibby has had a rough week this week. He's seems to have been in a partial, short hibernation (about a week). He seems to also be a little clingy when we do pick him up. He just wants to lay on your shoulder and sleep as you can see here...

Here he is (no kidding) propped up on his beloved house shoe watching television. He loves it!

Here he is with his "pookie." He has a fluffy pet that he likes to sleep with at night!! No joke!! Most 'kids' have teddy bears, he has a ferrett!! Go figure!

And guess who woke up this week after a long winter's nap?!!

Yup, it's SPUD! He's been asleep since last October! He's looking pretty chipper!! I'd feel pretty good if I could sleep for four or five months and wake up totally refreshed, too!! ;)

Here he is on his brand new house. He got it just this year since he outgrew his old one last year. He had to almost pick it up to get in and out of the house!

Here's a picture of his house from one end to the other. The light at the top of the page is a window. He LOVES to sit on top of his house and look out the window! (He also has a basking lamp right around where the top of the sticks are sitting.)

Good to see you, Spud. Glad you are back!

Couldn't let a "critters" episode go without a recent pic of our outdoor friend...

Hubby took this one just a couple of days ago...

It's Miette!

Isn't she cute?!?!

Attitude

The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.
M. Scott Peck

If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.
Marcus Aurelius

The greatest discovery of any generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitude.
William James

Lesssons learned...

I am much more capable than I ever gave myself credit for being.

I am strong.

Odd lessons to learn at this age, but a welcome one, nonetheless.

Well, another weekend has come and gone. The first day of the workweek is here again...

I've rested and taken it easy for the most part. That seems to be helping my back. I have to say that I still get a bit sore and stiff if I'm not careful, but for the most part, as long as I still don't lift anything heavy, stretch often, and exercise as often as I can, things are finally getting better! I'm back on track for finally getting well!

I've been reading about all the nasty weather up north. Hubby said we should consider moving somewhere where it's just "warm" year round. Considering the weather up north, I think I'll not complain about Texas weather too much!! ;) (Well, at least not until the summer until we are frying our brains in the heat!)

OOOOOOoooooooooo........

Look what Melly made for me!!!

Thank you, Melly!!

Some thoughts...

I found these on a friend's blog. (Thanks, friend, for not objecting to my taking these quotes from your blog...)

I love Maya Angelou...

Maya Angelou was interviewed by Oprah on her 70+ birthday. (I saw this show!) Oprah asked her what she thought of growing older. And, there on television, she said it was "exciting." Regarding body changes, she said there were many, occurring every day ...like her breasts. They seem to be in a race to see which will reach her waist, first. The audience laughed so hard they cried.

She is such a simple and honest woman, with so much wisdom in her words! Maya Angelou said this:

"I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow."

"I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights."

"I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life."

"I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as "making a life."

"I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance."

"I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back."

"I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision."

"I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one."

"I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back."

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

"I've learned that I still have a lot to learn."

Pandora's Weather

I know I've mentioned this one before, but I really like this "radio" site called Pandora. I know that some may be better, but I happen to like the fact that you can type in different artists, songs, genres, etc, and it will give you an entire radio station based on that information. It will also play similar songs "that you might like." I just leave it on at work. (And NO commercials! You can give anything they play a "thumb's down" and it won't play it again.) You can create as many "stations" as you'd like. (For example, I have stations titled "70's", "80's", Christmas, Instrumental, and even group names such as Def Leppard, James Blunt, Enya, etc. It plays that group and others similar in style to them.) I think it's pretty cool, so go check it out!

On another note, I feel really bad about all the inclement weather up north. (To be totally honest, my sister (next to me in age) lives between Memphis and Nashville. I called mom and sister is okay.) I have a friend who was snowed in and couldn't make it to work Thursday. ...very, very cold and snowy. ...record breaking even. We just broke a record here, too. It was 82 degrees here just a couple of days ago. (Hubby says the news weatherman said it actually got up to 84.) We're back down to a manageable, between 60 and 70 degrees this week. NOW I know why I appreciate Texas in the winter... ;D

OH... And have a great weekend!

I saw this on a friend's blog. I thought it was so cool that I am posting it to mine, too!

I haven't seen ALL the Super Bowl commercials yet, but so far, this is my favorite!!



Can anyone figure out why?

;D

They tell me his name will be Gabriel.

His middle name might be

son's and hubby's first name.

(It's the same name.)

She is now nearly 23 weeks.

Weekend

The best news is that I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel as far as my back goes. I'm still stretching and wearing heat wraps, but it's becoming easier and easier to move as each day passes. Whew, thank goodness!!! Thanks to all of you for your well wishes.

But don't worry, I'll still be taking it easy over the weekend!! ...lots of rest!!

Not a lot to talk about since my life has been so boring as of late. I've just been trying to get through the workday and then rest at night to help my back.

I invited son and his wife to lunch this weekend (yes, that's another huge step for me, I think), but as it turns out, she has to work 9 1/2 hours on Saturday, and he has to work on Sunday. So I don't know. I'll just keep trying, I suppose. We took the traditional "New Year's Day dinner" to them on January 1st. (It's a strange mix of Irish and Southern foods. We always have corned beef and cabbage, greens, and black-eyed peas for a prosperous and healthy new year.) They both loved it and went on and on about it. Haven't done much with them since. Son doesn't even go to poker with hubby as much since he started his new job. But we try to stay in touch on the phone almost every day.

My family, as am I, are getting excited about my trip next month to see them all. My mom said that my sister has promised she'll come from Tennessee to see me, as well! (I'm starting to see another family reunion shaping up!) But that's okay. It's nice to get to see everyone all at once...

What a busy month is February?!! Don't forget that tomorrow is Groundhog Day!! I'm hoping for an early spring, but not if it means that summer will be early, too!! ;D (Summer can be brutal here...) For those of you interested, the Super Bowl is Sunday, February 3rd! (Neither of my teams are going, but I do love the commercials!!) Then February 5 is Fat Tuesday and Mardi Gras! February 6 is Ash Wednesday (and the first day of Lent). February 7 is the first day of the Chinese New Year. This year is the year of the rat! And who can forget Valentine's Day on February 14th?!! AND it's a leap year this month, so we even get an extra day to celebrate!! Sounds like we have LOTS of good reasons to celebrate this month....

;D

Well, I hope you all have a fun, relaxing, peaceful weekend!