I spoke cousin Alice a few days ago and she told me that Pepa and Shelley had found a perfect apartment that is just right for the both of them. He is only paying $500.00 per month and all bills are payed.
I called Pepa on his new phone in his new apartment last night, and they are all moved in. There are a few things that they still need to get, but so far so good. He only signed a 4 month lease, because he doesn't know how well he is or if Shelley will be able to handle the move. He is keeping his options open for Assisted Living. Very Smart!
His sister, who is older than he is, Mary Alice, has been over at the apartment all day today visiting with them. I know that he just loves the fact that he can talk to family face to face now instead of over the phone or in letters. He has waited 37 years to be able to do that again.
Shelley is doing well at dialysis in Biloxi and Pepa has already taken care of all the paperwork to change the address, the Social Security paperwork, and set Shell up with a new MHMR doctor. WOW! Maybe now we can get Shelley on the right meds and feeling alot better! Things are just moving right along...
I am so happy for the both of them. Shelley seems to be a little home sick, but i am sure that will take a few weeks. She told me that she misses me and wishes i was still there. Awww i miss them too. :(
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Last Stop Biloxi Mississippi
We woke up early today and packed up all the bags. Uncle Billy got to the hotel around 8am to load everything up and start our journey to Biloxi. We ate breakfast first and made a stop at a Independent Living Home that Uncle Billy wanted Pepa too look at.
When we arrive at Christopher Homes in New Orleans the front desk seemed to be somewhat helpful, but of course not as helpful as i would like them to be. They never are.The girl walked out and we explained to her that we would like to get some information and if nothing else put Pepa and Shells names on the list for the next available apartment home there. She sort of rolled her eyes and left the room to get some paper work for us to fill out. (Note: we are NOT trying to force them into a home we are merely wanting to keep their options open because waiting list in those types of places can be very long. Sometimes 1-2 years long.) She came back with 3 packets of paper that had to be at least 20 pages thick each. She said that we would need to fill out all 3 separately for Pepa and all three separately for Shelley. Are you kidding me?? I think they use this as a overwhelming factor for old people. Afterall they are FULL! No one has the patience or the time to fill all that crap out. Thank God i was there and i know a little bit about equal opportunity housing and such from being in the apartment business. We asked her if we could fill them out there and again she seemed put out by the entire situation. She explained to us that she would need all sorts of documents and that we should probably take it home, because it could take several hours. I insisted that we would fill them out there because i knew that Pepa was probably just humoring Uncle Bill and I for all that we had done. She took us to another room and we sat down and tried to sort our way through all the papers. When i sat down i realized that they were all the same damn packet. For Real?? This girl was nuts! I tried to befriend her by telling her that i worked in the same type of business and agreeing with her that sometimes people can be very hard to work with. I assured her that we were not that kind of people. She talked with me for a minute and i found out that she had been in the apartment business a year ago in Katy Texas. She went into her office and left us alone for a few minutes. Uncle Bill was filling out one set of papers and i was filling out the other. Most of the information that they needed we had with us Thank God. After all, they were moving so it wasn't at the house for sure. Shelley had to use the restroom and you know how that goes...i had to quickly walk her down the hall and through the dining area to get the other side of the building. When i returned it looked as if the girl had a change of heart. She was helping Uncle Billy fill everything out. I picked back up on the paperwork that i was working on and in about 30 minutes flat we were done and out of there. It is amazing what finding common ground with someone can do for you! I think Pepa felt good to get that out of the way as well. Its just an option. but we do want him to have that option if an apartment does in fact come available. I mean really all he has to say is no if he isn't interested in the apartment at the time that they call.
We all got back into our cars. Uncle Billy was leading the way in his car and i was following. This took so much stress of me not having to worry about if i was on the right highway or going the wrong direction. The drive went really smoothly. I think that Pepa and Shelley were ready to settle into the hotel for a week or two in Biloxi after being on the road and in several hotels all week with me. :)
We arrived at the Best Western where they are staying and got them all settled in. I think Shell was a little upset when she realized that i would be leaving to go home in a few hours. I got her all relaxed and let her take a little nap before lunch while i called the social worker in Arlington to find out the address of her dialysis tomorrow.
While i was on the call much to my surprise they still had not gotten an approval from her doctor for the time or the procedure tomorrow.This was all supposed to be settled 2 weeks ago. I was so sick of dealing with stupid people so i called Crystal, my sis, to do the "dirty" work. She is good at setting people straight and getting the job done. So she called the social worker and about an hour later we had an appointment time and conformation. Thank you Crystal!
When they woke up from their nap we decided to go to lunch one last time before i left at 4 to catch my plane in New Orleans. It was bittersweet knowing that i had completed the task that i was called to do, but still having to leave them. I felt Peace but also Sadness as well. Cousin Alice came to the hotel after we got back and took over from there. I think that i might have overwhelmed her with all the information that i was giving her. She probably thought i was NUTS, but i know that she will appreciate it in the end. I hugged Shell and Pepa one more time and off we were on the road again for 2 hour back to New Orleans.
Uncle Bill and i had a really good talk on the way back to the airport. It is nice to get to know some of the family that you never had a chance to know before because we all live so far away from one another. I love him! He is definitely an Angel sent from God. Without him i don't know how all of this would have worked out.
I got to the airport around 6pm. Plenty early enough to "lolly gag" around for awhile and just settle into all of my thoughts. I had been wanting a Smoothie King all week but never got to stop. There was one in the airport! Can u believe that?? Ahhh at last...me, smoothie king, and on my way back to Dallas i went. The flight went well and seemed to go by really fast. Probably because i was reading US Magazine getting caught up an all the gossip in Hollywood which always makes me feel better! ;) Crystal and Britton were waiting on me when my plane landed. i was never so happy to see them in all my life! The journey was complete! Thank You Jesus that i made it through. Now all I have to do is drive 4 hours back home to new Braunfels tomorrow... XOXO
When we arrive at Christopher Homes in New Orleans the front desk seemed to be somewhat helpful, but of course not as helpful as i would like them to be. They never are.The girl walked out and we explained to her that we would like to get some information and if nothing else put Pepa and Shells names on the list for the next available apartment home there. She sort of rolled her eyes and left the room to get some paper work for us to fill out. (Note: we are NOT trying to force them into a home we are merely wanting to keep their options open because waiting list in those types of places can be very long. Sometimes 1-2 years long.) She came back with 3 packets of paper that had to be at least 20 pages thick each. She said that we would need to fill out all 3 separately for Pepa and all three separately for Shelley. Are you kidding me?? I think they use this as a overwhelming factor for old people. Afterall they are FULL! No one has the patience or the time to fill all that crap out. Thank God i was there and i know a little bit about equal opportunity housing and such from being in the apartment business. We asked her if we could fill them out there and again she seemed put out by the entire situation. She explained to us that she would need all sorts of documents and that we should probably take it home, because it could take several hours. I insisted that we would fill them out there because i knew that Pepa was probably just humoring Uncle Bill and I for all that we had done. She took us to another room and we sat down and tried to sort our way through all the papers. When i sat down i realized that they were all the same damn packet. For Real?? This girl was nuts! I tried to befriend her by telling her that i worked in the same type of business and agreeing with her that sometimes people can be very hard to work with. I assured her that we were not that kind of people. She talked with me for a minute and i found out that she had been in the apartment business a year ago in Katy Texas. She went into her office and left us alone for a few minutes. Uncle Bill was filling out one set of papers and i was filling out the other. Most of the information that they needed we had with us Thank God. After all, they were moving so it wasn't at the house for sure. Shelley had to use the restroom and you know how that goes...i had to quickly walk her down the hall and through the dining area to get the other side of the building. When i returned it looked as if the girl had a change of heart. She was helping Uncle Billy fill everything out. I picked back up on the paperwork that i was working on and in about 30 minutes flat we were done and out of there. It is amazing what finding common ground with someone can do for you! I think Pepa felt good to get that out of the way as well. Its just an option. but we do want him to have that option if an apartment does in fact come available. I mean really all he has to say is no if he isn't interested in the apartment at the time that they call.
We all got back into our cars. Uncle Billy was leading the way in his car and i was following. This took so much stress of me not having to worry about if i was on the right highway or going the wrong direction. The drive went really smoothly. I think that Pepa and Shelley were ready to settle into the hotel for a week or two in Biloxi after being on the road and in several hotels all week with me. :)
We arrived at the Best Western where they are staying and got them all settled in. I think Shell was a little upset when she realized that i would be leaving to go home in a few hours. I got her all relaxed and let her take a little nap before lunch while i called the social worker in Arlington to find out the address of her dialysis tomorrow.
While i was on the call much to my surprise they still had not gotten an approval from her doctor for the time or the procedure tomorrow.This was all supposed to be settled 2 weeks ago. I was so sick of dealing with stupid people so i called Crystal, my sis, to do the "dirty" work. She is good at setting people straight and getting the job done. So she called the social worker and about an hour later we had an appointment time and conformation. Thank you Crystal!
When they woke up from their nap we decided to go to lunch one last time before i left at 4 to catch my plane in New Orleans. It was bittersweet knowing that i had completed the task that i was called to do, but still having to leave them. I felt Peace but also Sadness as well. Cousin Alice came to the hotel after we got back and took over from there. I think that i might have overwhelmed her with all the information that i was giving her. She probably thought i was NUTS, but i know that she will appreciate it in the end. I hugged Shell and Pepa one more time and off we were on the road again for 2 hour back to New Orleans.
Uncle Bill and i had a really good talk on the way back to the airport. It is nice to get to know some of the family that you never had a chance to know before because we all live so far away from one another. I love him! He is definitely an Angel sent from God. Without him i don't know how all of this would have worked out.
I got to the airport around 6pm. Plenty early enough to "lolly gag" around for awhile and just settle into all of my thoughts. I had been wanting a Smoothie King all week but never got to stop. There was one in the airport! Can u believe that?? Ahhh at last...me, smoothie king, and on my way back to Dallas i went. The flight went well and seemed to go by really fast. Probably because i was reading US Magazine getting caught up an all the gossip in Hollywood which always makes me feel better! ;) Crystal and Britton were waiting on me when my plane landed. i was never so happy to see them in all my life! The journey was complete! Thank You Jesus that i made it through. Now all I have to do is drive 4 hours back home to new Braunfels tomorrow... XOXO
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Relaxation and Preperation... Day 5
Pepa let me sleep in today...There is a God!
On the flip side of that coin he was no where to be found when i woke up. I threw my hair in a pony tail, slipped on my flip flops and went out the door. Shelley was still sleeping. After roaming the hotel and freaking out I went outside where i had parked the car last night hoping that he hadn't left to go somewhere alone. Sure enough he was gone. OMG! I thought i was gonna lose my mind. What else could i do but wait, pray and hope that he would get back safely.
Around 11am he strolled in like nothing. He had gotten a paper last night and circled a few rent houses in Lake view that he wanted to go look at and decided to try to find them. After he got into the car he decided to just drive around town and check some things out. He was going to wait for Uncle Billie to venture as far as Lake View. Thank God! I was not going to freak out on him. Afterall, he is a grown man and that is his car. So i kept it to myself, but asked him to please wake me up if he was gonna do that again 'cause he scared the Hell outta me. To put it lightly.
Uncle Billie had church today, and would not be available to take us around so we would have to wait until 1pm for him to get to the hotel. I by this point have been lost so many times Louisiana that i didn't care to venture out. I would if Pepa asked, but i wasn't going to volunteer to get us lost. Again.
We left the hotel around 2pm to go look at the houses, and while we were out we stopped by the house where my grandma grew up. Much to our surprise it had been torn down, and recently too. All that was left was the slab. I could see the sadness well up in Pepas eyes. We visit this house every time that we come to New Orleans, and he tells us everytime about how he courted Mema. For his own memorabilia he took a piece of the slab with him. He said that was to remember the good times. :(
While we were driving around Britton called me and asked me if i was still in New Orleans? He is with Sissy and doesn't really care where i am but he wanted to ask one little question. "Mommy please will you get me a New Orleans Saints Jersey?? i have been wanting one since the Super bowl. Please????". Of course, i said yes even though i had no idea where in the heck i was gonna find a store open on a Sunday at 3pm to get one. Uncle Bill knew of a place and took me there. I had only 20 minutes until they closed. boy was i lucky! I picked Kyzer up one too! I know they will wear them. :) They are good kids! They deserve it!
I needed to do some much needed laundry being as they had nothing else clean to wear in their "Sea bags." That is what Pepa calls the one suitcase, cram it all in, bare essentials bag. My "Sea bag" was two bags and a purse crammed with all kinds of clothes. Don't think for one minute that i got by without hearing about that one! We went back to Uncle Bills house where i washed all of the laundry and folded it up for them to start all over again. By this time it was already around 6pm and Pepa still wanted to go visit the house that he had first bought with Mema. The house that my Mom and Shelley had grown up in until they moved to Texas. We drove by there. Thankfully it was still standing...I couldn't bare to see it demolished as well.
Back to the Hotel we went again to get some rest. Shelley was not feeling well and her tummy was upset so we rested for about an hour before we went to eat dinner. I swear eating 3 times a day can get exhausting. LOL. We ate and returned to the Raddison where we are staying. Shell went straight to bed. I think this is all starting to get really old for her. Off to Biloxi MS we go tomorrow. After i drop them off at the hotel in Biloxi and get them settled in... Alice Inez, who lives in Biloxi, is going to take it over from there. I am going home. I will be sad to leave them behind but I am so thankful for the time that i have gotten to spend with my family. I am so Blessed!
On the flip side of that coin he was no where to be found when i woke up. I threw my hair in a pony tail, slipped on my flip flops and went out the door. Shelley was still sleeping. After roaming the hotel and freaking out I went outside where i had parked the car last night hoping that he hadn't left to go somewhere alone. Sure enough he was gone. OMG! I thought i was gonna lose my mind. What else could i do but wait, pray and hope that he would get back safely.
Around 11am he strolled in like nothing. He had gotten a paper last night and circled a few rent houses in Lake view that he wanted to go look at and decided to try to find them. After he got into the car he decided to just drive around town and check some things out. He was going to wait for Uncle Billie to venture as far as Lake View. Thank God! I was not going to freak out on him. Afterall, he is a grown man and that is his car. So i kept it to myself, but asked him to please wake me up if he was gonna do that again 'cause he scared the Hell outta me. To put it lightly.
Uncle Billie had church today, and would not be available to take us around so we would have to wait until 1pm for him to get to the hotel. I by this point have been lost so many times Louisiana that i didn't care to venture out. I would if Pepa asked, but i wasn't going to volunteer to get us lost. Again.
We left the hotel around 2pm to go look at the houses, and while we were out we stopped by the house where my grandma grew up. Much to our surprise it had been torn down, and recently too. All that was left was the slab. I could see the sadness well up in Pepas eyes. We visit this house every time that we come to New Orleans, and he tells us everytime about how he courted Mema. For his own memorabilia he took a piece of the slab with him. He said that was to remember the good times. :(
While we were driving around Britton called me and asked me if i was still in New Orleans? He is with Sissy and doesn't really care where i am but he wanted to ask one little question. "Mommy please will you get me a New Orleans Saints Jersey?? i have been wanting one since the Super bowl. Please????". Of course, i said yes even though i had no idea where in the heck i was gonna find a store open on a Sunday at 3pm to get one. Uncle Bill knew of a place and took me there. I had only 20 minutes until they closed. boy was i lucky! I picked Kyzer up one too! I know they will wear them. :) They are good kids! They deserve it!
I needed to do some much needed laundry being as they had nothing else clean to wear in their "Sea bags." That is what Pepa calls the one suitcase, cram it all in, bare essentials bag. My "Sea bag" was two bags and a purse crammed with all kinds of clothes. Don't think for one minute that i got by without hearing about that one! We went back to Uncle Bills house where i washed all of the laundry and folded it up for them to start all over again. By this time it was already around 6pm and Pepa still wanted to go visit the house that he had first bought with Mema. The house that my Mom and Shelley had grown up in until they moved to Texas. We drove by there. Thankfully it was still standing...I couldn't bare to see it demolished as well.
Back to the Hotel we went again to get some rest. Shelley was not feeling well and her tummy was upset so we rested for about an hour before we went to eat dinner. I swear eating 3 times a day can get exhausting. LOL. We ate and returned to the Raddison where we are staying. Shell went straight to bed. I think this is all starting to get really old for her. Off to Biloxi MS we go tomorrow. After i drop them off at the hotel in Biloxi and get them settled in... Alice Inez, who lives in Biloxi, is going to take it over from there. I am going home. I will be sad to leave them behind but I am so thankful for the time that i have gotten to spend with my family. I am so Blessed!
Pepas 86th Birthday and a Surprise None of us Expected
Today is our first real day in New Orleans. Today is Pepas 86th Birthday! Happy Birthday Pepa! Like he said when we drove into New Orleans "back at home at last!" He has been gone from New Orleans for so long, but he still remembers every nook and cranie. Go Figure??
Shelley had dialysis at 10:30 this morning. Everything went as scheduled we dropped her off on time, and the Dr explained that it would be about a 4 hour procedure, as we already expected. When we returned to pick her up the security officer who worked inside was waiting for us to pull up outside. The Dr wanted to talk to me immediately. My heart immediately dropped into my stomach. I went to the back to talk to him. He explained that Shelley did not do well at all. In fact, the dialysis was not able to be performed at all. When they hooked her up to the machine they had told her it would be a minute and that minute turned into an hour. She did not like that too much. She got very upset and ripped the needle right out of her arm causing an open wound. From that point on they tried to stick her again in a different area but she would not sit still and it just wasn't going to happen. Poor Shelley she doesn't know what is going on. For 37 years of her life she has lived in Arlington with my grandma and grandpa in a very familiar safe environment. Now with Mema gone and it just being her and Pepa on a new journey to live in a new state with new places to go and no familiar faces at dialysis. This is just not what she is used to. The Dr explained that with out being able to perform the dialysis that we would need to keep a close eye on her for the next couple of days until we arrive in Biloxi Mississippi. That is where she will have her next dialysis. This scares me because the Dr also explained that he did not hear a heart beat in her access, which is located in her arm, and that could mean a blood clot. I asked him to please explain to Pepa all that he had told me and we would let him decide. If any of you know Pepa you already know that he wouldn't let anyone decide anything that has to do with Shell but himself anyway. I love him, but again he is a stubborn Blessey! He decided that we would just wait until Biloxi and keep a close eye on the situation due to the fact that Shell had already been through so much. I should have stayed with her during dialysis, but they wouldn't let me. Next time i will explain the situation and not leave the clinic. Note taken and Lesson Learned!
After we left the dialysis clinic we decided to go on with the party. After all, it was Pepas birthday and he didn't want to dwell on the negative. I had bought him his favorite cake, carrot cake with cream cheese icing, to celebrate at Uncle Billies house with Aunt Jane and the gang. It was very nice. We sang happy birthday and had a great time. Putting what had just happened behind us and moving forward.
After the party Uncle Billie took us back to the hotel where we decided to rest from our once again busy day and get dinner later. We woke up around 8pm and drove across the street to McDonald's to eat. Man I am gonna gain some weight with all of this fast food i have been eating. I need to slow down.
Back to the Hotel we went. I got Shell ready for bed and gave her, her medicines. Off to dream land we all went. Who knows what tomorrow will bring? You just never know...
Trying to fall asleep myself I had a very hard time putting all of this behind me, what had happened with Shell and all. Being that i feel like I am responsible for the both of them on this trip i just could not find peace about the situation. God please guide me and direct me with what the next step should be. I feel so sad. :(
Shelley had dialysis at 10:30 this morning. Everything went as scheduled we dropped her off on time, and the Dr explained that it would be about a 4 hour procedure, as we already expected. When we returned to pick her up the security officer who worked inside was waiting for us to pull up outside. The Dr wanted to talk to me immediately. My heart immediately dropped into my stomach. I went to the back to talk to him. He explained that Shelley did not do well at all. In fact, the dialysis was not able to be performed at all. When they hooked her up to the machine they had told her it would be a minute and that minute turned into an hour. She did not like that too much. She got very upset and ripped the needle right out of her arm causing an open wound. From that point on they tried to stick her again in a different area but she would not sit still and it just wasn't going to happen. Poor Shelley she doesn't know what is going on. For 37 years of her life she has lived in Arlington with my grandma and grandpa in a very familiar safe environment. Now with Mema gone and it just being her and Pepa on a new journey to live in a new state with new places to go and no familiar faces at dialysis. This is just not what she is used to. The Dr explained that with out being able to perform the dialysis that we would need to keep a close eye on her for the next couple of days until we arrive in Biloxi Mississippi. That is where she will have her next dialysis. This scares me because the Dr also explained that he did not hear a heart beat in her access, which is located in her arm, and that could mean a blood clot. I asked him to please explain to Pepa all that he had told me and we would let him decide. If any of you know Pepa you already know that he wouldn't let anyone decide anything that has to do with Shell but himself anyway. I love him, but again he is a stubborn Blessey! He decided that we would just wait until Biloxi and keep a close eye on the situation due to the fact that Shell had already been through so much. I should have stayed with her during dialysis, but they wouldn't let me. Next time i will explain the situation and not leave the clinic. Note taken and Lesson Learned!
After we left the dialysis clinic we decided to go on with the party. After all, it was Pepas birthday and he didn't want to dwell on the negative. I had bought him his favorite cake, carrot cake with cream cheese icing, to celebrate at Uncle Billies house with Aunt Jane and the gang. It was very nice. We sang happy birthday and had a great time. Putting what had just happened behind us and moving forward.
After the party Uncle Billie took us back to the hotel where we decided to rest from our once again busy day and get dinner later. We woke up around 8pm and drove across the street to McDonald's to eat. Man I am gonna gain some weight with all of this fast food i have been eating. I need to slow down.
Back to the Hotel we went. I got Shell ready for bed and gave her, her medicines. Off to dream land we all went. Who knows what tomorrow will bring? You just never know...
Trying to fall asleep myself I had a very hard time putting all of this behind me, what had happened with Shell and all. Being that i feel like I am responsible for the both of them on this trip i just could not find peace about the situation. God please guide me and direct me with what the next step should be. I feel so sad. :(
Saturday, July 24, 2010
The longest day EVER!
We woke up again bright and early! This is getting to be a pattern for me... We were starting to make our way back thru Layfette and oninto Baton Rouge the capital of Louisianna. Pepa was so excited. Shelley was not so much. She was feeling pretty badly and wasnt in the best of spirits. She keeps saying that she is home stick and misses Mema crying staring out the window of the car. I feel so bad for her. On the drive over to Baton Rouge she was very uneasy. I tried to keep her mind occupied by talking to her but it was doing no good. We got to the capital and walked around for a bit and left. Pepa really wanted to see it and take some pictures but he is still not feeling good at all. I felt so sorry for him. :(
We made our next stop at the Navy battle ship called the KIDD2. He made us walk thru the museum and thru the ship. Even though he felt like crap he was like a kid in a candy store. He really has some good memories of the Navy.
We left there shortly and on to his old doorm area at LSU. He Wanted me to see where he went to school and drive around all of the old coffee shops he used to hang out at. Things have changed so much i dont think that he was ready to see that they had been torn down and rebuilt. He had been gone for so long and for some reason he expects things to be exactly the same. I told him that nothing ever stays the same, but he can still treasure the memories that he has of the old days. He didnt like that answer much.
Exausted and tired out we still had to make our way to New Orleans by dark two and a half hours away. We arrived at the hotel around 7pm tired and ready to lay down after a long day. Little did we know there was a tropical storm about to enter New Orleans and all of the electricity was out. We had to just sit and wait. Shelley was screaming at the voices that she hears in her head it was time for her medicine and Pepa was so tired he fell asleep in the chair. I went to the bar and ordered a martini to calm my nerves. After waiting for about an hour I woke him up and he went to the front desk to ask about our room reservations and if we could get into the room yet? The front desk clerk ws very rude to Pepa and told him we would just have to wait. Pepa got Pissed off and told him he could go "screw himself" we were leaving. Those were his exact words.
Back into the car we went searching at 8pm at night for a hotel room in the summer time in New Orleans. I thought i might cry. Uncle Billy called and begged us to come back to the hotel where we were originally booked that everything was fine. Stubborn Ass Pepa Refused. Uncle Billy finially talked Pepa into another hotel across the highway where we checked in and are now staying. We didnt have dinner but no one really cared we were pooped! Hopefully tomorrow will be better. Please Jesus make tomorrow better!
We made our next stop at the Navy battle ship called the KIDD2. He made us walk thru the museum and thru the ship. Even though he felt like crap he was like a kid in a candy store. He really has some good memories of the Navy.
We left there shortly and on to his old doorm area at LSU. He Wanted me to see where he went to school and drive around all of the old coffee shops he used to hang out at. Things have changed so much i dont think that he was ready to see that they had been torn down and rebuilt. He had been gone for so long and for some reason he expects things to be exactly the same. I told him that nothing ever stays the same, but he can still treasure the memories that he has of the old days. He didnt like that answer much.
Exausted and tired out we still had to make our way to New Orleans by dark two and a half hours away. We arrived at the hotel around 7pm tired and ready to lay down after a long day. Little did we know there was a tropical storm about to enter New Orleans and all of the electricity was out. We had to just sit and wait. Shelley was screaming at the voices that she hears in her head it was time for her medicine and Pepa was so tired he fell asleep in the chair. I went to the bar and ordered a martini to calm my nerves. After waiting for about an hour I woke him up and he went to the front desk to ask about our room reservations and if we could get into the room yet? The front desk clerk ws very rude to Pepa and told him we would just have to wait. Pepa got Pissed off and told him he could go "screw himself" we were leaving. Those were his exact words.
Back into the car we went searching at 8pm at night for a hotel room in the summer time in New Orleans. I thought i might cry. Uncle Billy called and begged us to come back to the hotel where we were originally booked that everything was fine. Stubborn Ass Pepa Refused. Uncle Billy finially talked Pepa into another hotel across the highway where we checked in and are now staying. We didnt have dinner but no one really cared we were pooped! Hopefully tomorrow will be better. Please Jesus make tomorrow better!
Day two on the Road Again
Well we woke up this morning a little later than usual at 8am (lol) and ate breakfast at the hotel. Shelley was in good spirits even though we were having to drive in to Layette to get to her doctors office for dialysis . There were so many streets and highways that i have never seen and my sense of direction is not very good at all. But we did manage to get her safely there and on time.
Once we got her checked innd back with the nurses Pepa and i decided to go get a bite to eat at KFC. We sat and visited and ate but we only killed about 45 minutes. We needed to kill about 4 hours. I suggested that we go to Walmart because i needed to get a few things. Since Pepa is still very wobbly and cant walk straight from the fall yesterday at the gas station he decided to sit on the bench at the front and wait on me. Apparently i took too long because when i came back i found him asleep on the bench. It was kinda funny but sad too at the same time.
After we picked Shell up from dialysis we decided to visit his good friend Freida who lives in Opolusus LA. We found her house fairly easily thank GOD. I needed that break for once. She was such a pretty older lady and i dint know until we got there that it is very obvious that Pepa had and still has a huge crush on her. It was so cute. He walked into her house took off his hat and stood there like a school boy with a huge grin on his face and his hands behind his back. I got pics and i will post them later since i am at the hotel and cant upload anything. Pepa of course brought his disposable camera and as we were leaving he asked if he could have a picture of just Frieda standing on her front porch. That he had imagined what she looked like standing in front of her house just like that for the past 50 years. I guess he was in love with her at one point?? I felt a strange vibe between them. I didn't know if he was gonna ask her to marry him right there or what. It was extremely awkward to say the least. So i guess me trying to be the funny person or feeling a bit uncomfortable i blurted out"Well Pepa That's Kinda Creepy". I didn't mean to say that out loud i only meant to think it but i believe that i was having a Crystal moment at that time. We stayed at Frieda's for about an hour and decided to leave.All he talked about on the way back was how beautiful she was as he stared out the window. That is so cute, but strange for me because he was married to my grandma for so long. We went to the restaurant that Frieda has suggested it was called the Jungle. It was actually very nice white table cloths and all. We had steak and seafood and then back to the hotel we went. Tomorrow is gong to be a very busy day. We are driving from Ville Platte where we are now staying to Baton Rouge to see the Capital and LSU where Pepa went to college. I am so exhausted this 85 year old almost 86 year old man is exhausting me. XOXO
Once we got her checked innd back with the nurses Pepa and i decided to go get a bite to eat at KFC. We sat and visited and ate but we only killed about 45 minutes. We needed to kill about 4 hours. I suggested that we go to Walmart because i needed to get a few things. Since Pepa is still very wobbly and cant walk straight from the fall yesterday at the gas station he decided to sit on the bench at the front and wait on me. Apparently i took too long because when i came back i found him asleep on the bench. It was kinda funny but sad too at the same time.
After we picked Shell up from dialysis we decided to visit his good friend Freida who lives in Opolusus LA. We found her house fairly easily thank GOD. I needed that break for once. She was such a pretty older lady and i dint know until we got there that it is very obvious that Pepa had and still has a huge crush on her. It was so cute. He walked into her house took off his hat and stood there like a school boy with a huge grin on his face and his hands behind his back. I got pics and i will post them later since i am at the hotel and cant upload anything. Pepa of course brought his disposable camera and as we were leaving he asked if he could have a picture of just Frieda standing on her front porch. That he had imagined what she looked like standing in front of her house just like that for the past 50 years. I guess he was in love with her at one point?? I felt a strange vibe between them. I didn't know if he was gonna ask her to marry him right there or what. It was extremely awkward to say the least. So i guess me trying to be the funny person or feeling a bit uncomfortable i blurted out"Well Pepa That's Kinda Creepy". I didn't mean to say that out loud i only meant to think it but i believe that i was having a Crystal moment at that time. We stayed at Frieda's for about an hour and decided to leave.All he talked about on the way back was how beautiful she was as he stared out the window. That is so cute, but strange for me because he was married to my grandma for so long. We went to the restaurant that Frieda has suggested it was called the Jungle. It was actually very nice white table cloths and all. We had steak and seafood and then back to the hotel we went. Tomorrow is gong to be a very busy day. We are driving from Ville Platte where we are now staying to Baton Rouge to see the Capital and LSU where Pepa went to college. I am so exhausted this 85 year old almost 86 year old man is exhausting me. XOXO
Friday, July 23, 2010
The Adventures in Blessyland
Today we woke up with the chickens at 6am. YIKES! Shell didn't sleep well last night to say the least.:( I think the craziness from the selling of the house and the signing of the final papers was really getting to her nerves. The screaming and continuous wandering around the room turning lights on and off was awful. Finally, around 4am i got her to stay in her bed and fall asleep. We ate our "continental breakfast" at Best Western in Arlington and started on our journey. The drive was not too bad at all. We drove straight for about 4 hours in to Louisiana and got into Nacatochis where Pepas friend lives. Old people crack me up how they do things. They use real maps and phone books. Holy crap! Those things actually work! LOL! Pepa's friend Alan Wilkes lives in Nacatochis but Pepa did not know where. After all, he hadn't see the man in 30 some odd years but they are still best of friends through mail. So we stopped at a Texaco in Nacatochis and looked him up the good old fashioned way. Pepa did give me a scare when he stepped out of the car at the gas station and fell over face first into the concrete. I know that he blacked out cause he didn't really remember any of it. He was a little banged up and bleeding but he insisted that he was fine and it was only from the medicine that he has been taking and all the "gas fumes"! Whatever, he is just stubborn. I hope that its really nothing serious. Please God I pray that it is nothing serious! So on with the story... I found Alan's number in a phone book at the Gas Station and called him and he was not surprised to hear from me. Apparently, Pepa had written him that we were coming. He gave me directions and off we went. Little did i know i was going to get lost and tuned around two or three times in the town of CORN! We did arrive at Alan's and he was so nice to us all. His wife made us all sandwiches and asked me if i would like to take a nap. I gladly accepted since i had almost no sleep and was fighting to keep my eyes open at this time. About an hour later after my nap i woke up to Pepa and Alan, his best high school friend, laughing and carrying on about the old days. I took their picture and visited for awhile and then off we went. Pepa was ecstatic. I love him so much! Strangely enough Once again we got lost in a Nacatochis Corn Field again on the way out. Alan had suggested a better way for us to get to the highway, when i myself was thinking i don't even remember how the hell i got us here, but ok. About an hour later we did get back on track. You would think that my patients would be wearing thin by now but every time i felt stressed i laughed. Not a fake laugh like a huge laugh. It felt good too! That must be GOD! Shell took a nap while we were lost and woke up about 30 minutes from our destination three hours away in Ville Platte, LA. Tonight we are going to eat at a restaurant named "The Pig Stand" where apparently Pepa used to "hang out". Weird hearing him say that. I am going to bed early. Night Night :)
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
I will Always Choose Family First
Many of you know the situation with my grandpa and Shelley that i have been dealing with for the past month. If you don't go back and read my first blog. Well the sale was final and funded on the 16th of July. Papers were signed on the 20th and my grandpa had already made up his mind that he was driving himself and Shelley to New Orleans over the course of 3 days. Considering he had to make arrangements in Lafayette for dialysis I stepped in to help. He is 86 and has been having alot of prostate problems lately. I know that he is VERY independent and stubborn but he is my Pepa...my only Pepa and she is my Aunt Shelley my moms only sister, i cant get either one of them back if something were to happen to them on the road. It just gave me the hibbidigibidis! I have already suffered so much loss between my mom passing away, and then last year my grandma passed away in September. They do not have alot of immediate family that could just jump up and say hey i will do that! Ummm NO! All of the family lives in New Orleans and they are in the same boat as Pepa and Shell. Old blind people cant lead old blind people. Can they??My boss kept asking me over and over again why do you have to be there? Cant someone else do that for once? After she already knew that no there was no one else that was going to be able to take care of this for me.Which in return made me think she was sort of a "heartless empty shell of a person", but i tried to understand that it is just her job. I don't know what the terms "Just a Job" mean. I love my residents and i love my job. All i can even start to process in my mind is that maybe God has got something MUCH MUCH better in mind. Surely he wouldn't punish us for putting family above work. I guess in my mind this was a true family emergency given the fact that i explained to her how quickly this happened, and how there was no other choice, and this is what i was going to have to do for my family. Tracie called the regional to ask for vacation time for me even after i already explained that I didn't even care if i got paid it was something i had to do. No Biggie! Well apparently HUGE BIGGIE! The regional told Tracie that not only was this situation NOT IN ANY FORM A FAMILY EMERGENCY but that if I made the choice to not show up to work and go anyway to drive my grandpa they would consider that Job abandonment. WHAT THE HELL?? We are talking like the day before i was leaving. She knew that i was going to have to leave at the end of the month to take care of this and she said it was fine. Now all of the sudden the day before i need to take care of some serious family business getting my sick elderly family into an assisted living apartment so that they can feel safe.
I no longer have a job! Although it was made very clear I had until Thursday to decide and if I decided to not show up to work then they would assume that i had abandoned my job. Tracie came to my house tried to talk me into... i don't know what, because there was nothing i could do...So i did all that i knew to do and i chose the only answer i felt like i could live with for the rest of my life. I thought of all of the horrible things that could happened to them if they took the trip alone. Not only the things that might happen to them but the things that might happen to other innocent people on the road... I chose my family! And I always Will!
This all happened Monday afternoon. I was planning on leaving Wednesday. For some weird unknown reason i kept feeling like God was saying its OK i will provide for you. I had this weird peaceful feeling that under normal circumstances I would not feel. Freddy had picked me up from work that day and later around 8:45pm i went up to the office to get my car and bring it home. Low and Behold both of the Maintenance guys were changing the locks on the front doors to the office! OK so back up. I am still working the next day are they not going to even call me to let me know that they are doing this. Hell no they didn't. So i went to work on Tuesday packed up all of my things because i just felt like if i was gonna be done i should just get my stuff that day. They were all acting so skid dish and weird like jumping in front of me to get to the door before i did. Little did they know...I already knew. Do you know what it is like to watch people whom you think are your closest friends keep something from you all day long? I Not just one person you care about but two of them. It is a Sickening feeling. Believe me. So I said nothing even though i felt like calling them all backstabbers and liars and walking out. Later that afternoon I went to log into my online account to complete some work and to my surprise all of my passwords were changed! It was all that i could do to get out of there without blowing up. In fact, I let them all know that i knew about the locks and that i knew they were trying to hide it from me. Honestly the truth does hurt but lies destroy friendships forever. I walked away feeling like i had just been don't royally screwed, and feeling extremely angry. I am in Louisiana with my Grandpa and my Aunt right now...sitting in the lobby typing this blog because i can only imagine if i had made the wrong choice letting them talk me into sending Pepa and Shelley go alone in order to keep my job. Then what/? They do something similar to this next week because they don't feel like paying me my bonus' from last month or for the Seller Bonus that all of the staff is going to receive when they do sell? on August 15 2010? I cant even consider them my friends right now, because an acquaintance i would be mad at but my CLOSE friend?? NO .Who knows what else are they hiding?
I no longer have a job! Although it was made very clear I had until Thursday to decide and if I decided to not show up to work then they would assume that i had abandoned my job. Tracie came to my house tried to talk me into... i don't know what, because there was nothing i could do...So i did all that i knew to do and i chose the only answer i felt like i could live with for the rest of my life. I thought of all of the horrible things that could happened to them if they took the trip alone. Not only the things that might happen to them but the things that might happen to other innocent people on the road... I chose my family! And I always Will!
This all happened Monday afternoon. I was planning on leaving Wednesday. For some weird unknown reason i kept feeling like God was saying its OK i will provide for you. I had this weird peaceful feeling that under normal circumstances I would not feel. Freddy had picked me up from work that day and later around 8:45pm i went up to the office to get my car and bring it home. Low and Behold both of the Maintenance guys were changing the locks on the front doors to the office! OK so back up. I am still working the next day are they not going to even call me to let me know that they are doing this. Hell no they didn't. So i went to work on Tuesday packed up all of my things because i just felt like if i was gonna be done i should just get my stuff that day. They were all acting so skid dish and weird like jumping in front of me to get to the door before i did. Little did they know...I already knew. Do you know what it is like to watch people whom you think are your closest friends keep something from you all day long? I Not just one person you care about but two of them. It is a Sickening feeling. Believe me. So I said nothing even though i felt like calling them all backstabbers and liars and walking out. Later that afternoon I went to log into my online account to complete some work and to my surprise all of my passwords were changed! It was all that i could do to get out of there without blowing up. In fact, I let them all know that i knew about the locks and that i knew they were trying to hide it from me. Honestly the truth does hurt but lies destroy friendships forever. I walked away feeling like i had just been don't royally screwed, and feeling extremely angry. I am in Louisiana with my Grandpa and my Aunt right now...sitting in the lobby typing this blog because i can only imagine if i had made the wrong choice letting them talk me into sending Pepa and Shelley go alone in order to keep my job. Then what/? They do something similar to this next week because they don't feel like paying me my bonus' from last month or for the Seller Bonus that all of the staff is going to receive when they do sell? on August 15 2010? I cant even consider them my friends right now, because an acquaintance i would be mad at but my CLOSE friend?? NO .Who knows what else are they hiding?
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
The Stress STOPS here.
Literally the past 2 weeks have been so stressful. There is so much going on that i don't think that even MY mind can process it all. I have been cleaning my house like a madwoman every night that i get home from work. I know hard to believe. Especially to my best friends who know that my idea of doing laundry is leaving the laundry on the floor and going to buy new clothes. Including new panties and bras when they are dirty. I absolutely abhor laundry that much, but yet i have done 7 loads in 2 days, steam cleaned all the carpets, my kitchen is spotless, cleaned the kids rooms, all of the bathrooms and mopped the floor?? Most people get stressed out and depressed and sleep. Apparently I clean! Weird?? My husband keeps looking at me like i have lost my mind. Even the dogs think i am NUTS! Where is all of this coming from? Between us trying to get custody of the kids, dealing with Pepa and Shelly, all of the things going on at work, me not feeling good all the time, and trying to keep up with life in general...I think i might SNAP! I try not to be grump or irritable but it all comes out sooner or later and rears its ugly head. Unfortunately its the ones i love that get caught in the tracks. :(
I want to enjoy my life. That's my philosophy from now on. Money matters to an extent and plays a big part in life, but as long as we can pay our bills and live comfortably I am happy, and I'll take happiness and healthiness over Wealthiness any day. I am not sure where all of this is leading to, but i hope that it is to somewhere good. God i pray that you have something miraculous around the corner just waiting to surprise me. I am stronger than strong and i will make it through this just like i have all the other mountains I've climbed. I know that i will! It's my Destiny... I always do.
Tomorrow is my day off to spend with my Britt Brat and i want to make it a good one. It's Mommy Britt day and we are gonna forget about all of our troubles and let the fun begin. That's exactly what i need. Britton is my constant joy and my light in the darkness. So tomorrow I am taking my little "light" out on a full day date and we are going to forget about all of our troubles and let the good times roll! I don't know yet what that may be...but i am hopping that this will be my "cure"!
God loves us and he doesn't want us to feel this way. I am giving it all to God right now. I trust that He will make everything all better! Thank you Jesus that i am a child of God, and for giving me hope and a promise that we are never alone! XOXO
I want to enjoy my life. That's my philosophy from now on. Money matters to an extent and plays a big part in life, but as long as we can pay our bills and live comfortably I am happy, and I'll take happiness and healthiness over Wealthiness any day. I am not sure where all of this is leading to, but i hope that it is to somewhere good. God i pray that you have something miraculous around the corner just waiting to surprise me. I am stronger than strong and i will make it through this just like i have all the other mountains I've climbed. I know that i will! It's my Destiny... I always do.
Tomorrow is my day off to spend with my Britt Brat and i want to make it a good one. It's Mommy Britt day and we are gonna forget about all of our troubles and let the fun begin. That's exactly what i need. Britton is my constant joy and my light in the darkness. So tomorrow I am taking my little "light" out on a full day date and we are going to forget about all of our troubles and let the good times roll! I don't know yet what that may be...but i am hopping that this will be my "cure"!
God loves us and he doesn't want us to feel this way. I am giving it all to God right now. I trust that He will make everything all better! Thank you Jesus that i am a child of God, and for giving me hope and a promise that we are never alone! XOXO
Monday, July 5, 2010
It's all a Blur
So this weekend was all a blur to say the least. There is still so much to do to get Pepa and Shelley ready for the move and not enough time. I feel like everytime i visit Arlington i will miss not being able to go visit them. They will no longer be just around the corner or only 4 hours away. Now it will be a 10 hour drive or a really expensive plane ride away. Yet again another hole in my heart. :( I know that this is whats right and i should not be so selfish, but i cant stand the thought of them being gone. No more late nights at the neighbors drinking wine and carrying on with Pepa out and about the neighborhood looking for me. LOL! He made me cherrios for breakfast this morning that almost made me cry! No more war stories that put me to sleep, or listening to old band music in the background. I love Shelley with all my heart. So many people dont "get" her and most are even scared, but she means no harm and only wants to be talked to and loved. Last night she slept in bed with me and we talked about all sorts of things. Like what she was gonna do when she got to New Orleans and the things that she might see. She of all of us is the most scared of all. Even though she doesnt say it. **tear** Above all my family comes first and can never be replaced! I love you Shell and Pepa and i will do my best to get you where you need to go and want to be. XOXO
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Kidless In New Braunfels
Well the past week and a half has been more than intresting to say the least. With both Britton and Kyzer gone the house seems so quiet. The first few days were fun and the next few seemed weird, but now i dont know what i feel. I guess that i find myself wondering what it will be like when they are both grown up and in college. I wish that I was closer to Kenzie but she makes it so hard. :( I wish that she would let me in. I have been so patient waiting for her to come around and who knows maybe that day just hasnt come yet.
Some of you have heard me say that it SUCKS being the only girl in the house. Most of the time all i hear in the background is Call of Duty or UFC games...I miss that sound! Dont get me wrong I love my husband very much...He is my Best Friend in the world, but it just seems so strange to be all alone for so long. Maybe its been too long or maybe not?? Alot of parents send their kids to camp and away with grandma and grandpa for a couple of weeks during summer break. We have done so much this past couple of weeks together. The movies, mall, dinner and clubs. It's so Cool! But at the same time i feel like somethings missing. Will I still feel this way when they are older?
Some of you have heard me say that it SUCKS being the only girl in the house. Most of the time all i hear in the background is Call of Duty or UFC games...I miss that sound! Dont get me wrong I love my husband very much...He is my Best Friend in the world, but it just seems so strange to be all alone for so long. Maybe its been too long or maybe not?? Alot of parents send their kids to camp and away with grandma and grandpa for a couple of weeks during summer break. We have done so much this past couple of weeks together. The movies, mall, dinner and clubs. It's so Cool! But at the same time i feel like somethings missing. Will I still feel this way when they are older?
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Goodbye 6204 Amicable Drive...
So last night while at the movies with the family I got a text from my sister. It said "Did you know that Pepa is selling the house and moving to Mississippi?"
Ok a little background on this one may be needed. So lets go back a few years. "Pepa" is my grandpa on my moms side. And as most of you know mom passed away June 10 2006. He is still living in Southwest Arlington where he has lived since 1976 with my Aunt Shelley who has many mental conditions and a lot of health problems. My "Mema" passed away last September and I know that he hasn't been dealing with all the death of my mom combined with the passing of my grandma very well at all.
This house was where i grew up as well. After my parents divorced when i was 11 we moved into that house and lived there until i was 15. This is a very sad move.
The last few times i have visited with him i can feel such a heaviness that he has in his heart and in his mind. He has so much on his plate to deal with. Shelley alone is a handful. I cant help out as much as i would like to living here in New Braunfels. I just feel sick about it!
I guess i should just let him do what he feels is right and what is going to put his mind at ease.
He put the house up for sale last Wednesday and it has already sold 2 days later. OMG! Are you kidding me. They have to be out by July 26th.
He has decided that he and Shelly will drive to Mississippi in the car with the very "Bare Minimum". Which to him means the clothes on his back. He is 82 for goodness sake and he doesn't drive more than 40mph ever! There is no way that he can make it to Mississippi in that car on the highway driving like that. What is he thinking?? I wish he would let us help him and get some plane tickets for the two of them. Then Crystal and i can drive the car to Mississippi for them. Lord help me to deal with this in the way that is right. I just feel so sad!:(
Ok a little background on this one may be needed. So lets go back a few years. "Pepa" is my grandpa on my moms side. And as most of you know mom passed away June 10 2006. He is still living in Southwest Arlington where he has lived since 1976 with my Aunt Shelley who has many mental conditions and a lot of health problems. My "Mema" passed away last September and I know that he hasn't been dealing with all the death of my mom combined with the passing of my grandma very well at all.
This house was where i grew up as well. After my parents divorced when i was 11 we moved into that house and lived there until i was 15. This is a very sad move.
The last few times i have visited with him i can feel such a heaviness that he has in his heart and in his mind. He has so much on his plate to deal with. Shelley alone is a handful. I cant help out as much as i would like to living here in New Braunfels. I just feel sick about it!
I guess i should just let him do what he feels is right and what is going to put his mind at ease.
He put the house up for sale last Wednesday and it has already sold 2 days later. OMG! Are you kidding me. They have to be out by July 26th.
He has decided that he and Shelly will drive to Mississippi in the car with the very "Bare Minimum". Which to him means the clothes on his back. He is 82 for goodness sake and he doesn't drive more than 40mph ever! There is no way that he can make it to Mississippi in that car on the highway driving like that. What is he thinking?? I wish he would let us help him and get some plane tickets for the two of them. Then Crystal and i can drive the car to Mississippi for them. Lord help me to deal with this in the way that is right. I just feel so sad!:(
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