Okay - now for a REAL update
First news first.
(this is the beginning of the real view from the middle ages)Yes, I'm going to be a Grandma. Rand keeps trying to point out that he is going to be a Gramps, as well. But this is nowhere as exciting as - I'm going to be a Grandma! But it is true you do get what you wish for. It has been no secret that I was ready to be a grandma.
Sandra is the child of mine expecting. She is due in January. I suspected it long before she did. I finally posed the right question to her and she figured it out as well. What was the poignant mother-daughter exchange which forever changed her life? "Your attitude sucks. It it the week before, during, or after?" My instinct was correct. It got her to thinking it should be one of those and it wasn't. What set of my highly in-tuned instincts? She was moody, nauseous, and my biggest clue - her boobs more than doubled in size in two weeks. In The Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy this is known as a visit from the titty fairy.
WARNING!
Taking antibiotics will make "other" pills you take - worthless!
Whathisface is the father to be. They have no plans of marriage. Not the maternal grandparents-to-be first choice by any means. And now - my greatest wish is - to be a mother-in-law! It is impossible not to be happy about a baby.
Ryan took the news very happily. And then hopped on a bus for the east coast. It's not as bad as it sounds - he is performing Bestman duties at a wedding in Boston.
I did the basic math and realized this "little miracle" occurred about the same time as Rand and I's first camping trip this season. Trying to put Ryan on the spot - I "angrily" declared, "The first weekend I leave the house and you impregnated my daughter!" To which he replied, "No, you were here!
" Got to admire his mouth and his guts.
Willie actually 'got one' on his sister. He finally asked her outright if she was pregnant. You could see the wheels spin as she briefly considered messing with his head. She just simply confirmed that she indeed was. "So," asked Will, "Who's the father?". I about fell over with laughter. Not too often Will gets the upper hand.
Rand took the news in quiet shock for the first day. He relaxed when he got to work and shared the news with his friend, Horton. Horton laughed at him long and loud. (Horton has adult children and two grandchildren living at his house!) That laughter seemed to relax Rand. Having just gone through the cancer scare with Sandra - there is worse news we could be receiving right now.

spinning wheel....
Our household has already been turned upside down. Willie graciously gave up his larger bedroom for the family-to-be. Okay, he did it for the sake of his niece or nephew. There is space in the favorite basement bedroom for a baby bed (Great Grandpa-to-be is going to make the cradle)and sleep-deprived parents.
The small freshly-painted pink (courtesy of the Kara year) bedroom upstairs is now Willie's bedroom. The pink actually doesn't look too bad once you get up all the giant sports posters and etc. Willie has lots of etc.
Does anyone else notice that men can put up lots posters of other men - and it is okay? It's the same thing with those dolls they call "action figures".
Sandra's dressing room will remain to the shower-end side of the basement. The other end, which was Ryan's bedroom, is now Willie's sitting and game room. He has the futon, two chairs and turned one of the shelving units into an entertainment center. Alternate TV, DVD movies, and all video games for people who go to bed after 9pm, will all take place there.
Sandra hopes to get in at least one more semester of nursing school before the baby comes.

TA-DA!
Ryan is the new golden boy at Target. After just a couple of weeks they were so impressed by him they have made him a team lead (manager). Normally you get get promoted until you have been there at least 90 days; and most wait years for their chance. Ryan just did the equivalent of two promotions in just over two weeks. He will be in charge of our little restaurant, Food Avenue.

more work news
Willie will be switching to a more full-time backroom position for the summer.
And the rumor mill has it that our store will be moving to Merle Hay Mall next year. This could be a very intersting and busy year.

speaking of Willie...
Willie has passed driver's education and his last day of school was today.
Next up: his senior year!

OW!
By the time most of you read this, Grandma Vi's surgery will be over. They pushed her back a week. Then later into that day, but it really looks like it is going to happen this week.

vacation - should be a song title
Rand and I leave for our vacation following Mom's surgery. Still headed to the KOA near Adel. We want to stay close enough to home to be near Mom if needed. Hopefully she will feel so fabulous, they will join us camping into the week. We will also be near Sandra (she isn't feeling too perky), and be able to keep an eye on that party animal Willie. (Just Kidding!) (I hope!)

Okay my update is complete. You will hear nothing from from me for awhile. If you really need to find me - I will be napping by the pool.

I'm going to be a Grandma!

one month later.....
an update
Okay - Grandma Vi went in the hospital.
I got very busy and very tired.
Computer time can sometimes be in short supply at our house.
We have been camping every weekend.
My boss has been gone.
My tummy hurts.
Enough excuses?

on the injured list
Grandma Vi has a bone fragment in her back (L4 to be exact) causing nerve damage - which is affecting her left leg. She will have surgery this coming Friday to correct this. She has several bulging disks - so this might be a sign of things to come. She spent a week in the hospital, has undergone several interesting and painful tests and procedures. Surgery is the final answer. She is learning to take it easy and must use a walker now. Hopefully surgery will eliminate the need for a walker.
Also, my boss Ray is injured. He stubbed his toe - and limped around for a week. (I was thinking it was a "man thing") The limping aggravated an old football knee injury. He is ordered completely off his feet now.

gone Home
Uncle Jim is home now with our heavenly Father.
This past weekend Bob Hall went home. Bob and his wife, Margaret, were part of the group that Sandra went with to Vietnam.
Both died of emphysema as a result of smoking. Are you listening?

a camping we shall go - part 1
We started out this year at Cherry Glen #78 at Saylorville Lake. The folks were supposed to join us, but Mom's hospitalation cancelled their trip.
We had the nice surprise of our neighbors - Tim, Angela, & Gabby - being out there as well. Only one campsite separated us. We thought that was pretty interesting since only one house separates us here on Dosh as well! It was cold and poured down rain all day Saturday. I know - you are all very surprised to hear that.
Mom and Dad did visit for an afternoon. Luckily I had just started a fire and Mom was able to enjoy a few torched marshmallows.
We took the dogs for the first time and they loved it! Girlfriend can't get enough of hiking. I decided Kizzie needed her summer cut already - she collected cockleburs something awful.
No mushrooms - but plenty of ticks!

a camping we shall go - part 2
The following weekend we were in the same campground at #74. We had more cool weather. Not so much rain. We were blessed with lots of screaming, crying kids all around and parents who topped them in the noise levels with yelling. The park ranger came close to taking action with them.
Still no mushrooms, still lots of ticks. Kizzie's new haircut helped.

a camping we shall go - part 3
Back to Cherry Glen, this time #68. We just keep working our way 'round the circle. This was almost directly across from the shower house. All of our sights were quite lovely with lots of trail to follow, and a nice view of the lake. We were once again surrounded by kids, these better behaved. We did have an interesting family across the road. Major hayseeds - I was almost concerned they might have been related.
They had a birthday party with even more interesting company. I don't know if our favorite was they guy who puked in the road as soon as he got there; or the gal who went into the men's' showers to check on her kids. Unfortunately, her kids weren't the only ones showering. - didn't seem to hurry her up none.
The weather was a bit better, warm and even sunny except for the part with the storm that produced damaging winds, hail and tornados. We survived just fine - like always.
This trip Sandra, Kara and Rich joined us for a nice supper before the storm. Randy torched corn on the cob.

a camping we shall go - part 4
Now we are up to this past weekend. At the Des Moines West KOA (near Adel). As previously scheduled and mentioned in my last update - we had rind's birthday/Rob's graduation celebration. Mom wanted to get in a camping trip before her surgery. Sandy and Ryan, Kara and Rich, and Erik and Renee all joined us in tents. Rob stayed with us. Ryan, Randy, and I took over the cooking. Sat. night we made two freezers of home-made ice cream. The KOA is very nice and made even more pleasant with the new owners. The one drawback is no ground fires. We learned to adapt. Though for future trips we think we will invest in a portable fireplace. We had full sewer and water hook-up, definitely a luxury worth the expense!

camping futures
Mom is struck hard with camping fever and this past weekend showed her it is comfortably do-able. She figures sick leave while recovering for surgery will be a nice time to camp. But our Smithville/Memorial Day tradition will be too far for her to travel following surgery. So Randy and I decided to alter our next vacation plans and join the folks at the KOA we just returned from. I'll be able to help with the cooking and the Kampground does offer a fishing pond for guests and the pool will be open by then.
We will have to visit Timberline a time or two this summer. But full hook up isn't as available there - water is, just no sewer.
Rock Creek State Park is another on our wish list to visit this year.

closer to home
The garden is in. This year we planted assorted tomatoes (finally got my Brandywines!), peppers, beans, cukes, and radishes. My backyard is lush and green - the grass seeding was a great success. My pond is also lush and green. Algae is a big problem already. My yellow roses are even finally thriving.