Leaving Iowa

Heading home in a few hours- yes "home!"
Ended up at Red Lobster (yum!) for dinner. Mom took us and Steven out since it would have been Dad's birthday.
Little man was too tired to eat. Bud and I hung out at the hotel- playing upwords (or trying to) online together and then out of the blue- he said he wanted to go to the movies. So we saw TROPIC THUNDER! I thought it was hilarious! There were some parts I got a bit squeamish about and it is very obvious it is a BEN STILLER movie. But Bud absolutely hated it. He wanted a refund on his ticket- but I reminded him I bought his ticket! WHATEVER BUD!!!
Did not see Tania or the kids- just not enough time I guess. I will probably come up for my birthday and maybe then...
Steve is loving his job! He was all grins at dinner. It sure is nice to see him smile under that bushy beard and long hair.
Well- we trashed this hotel room and need to get to Mom's and get on the road after lunch...
Till next time....

In Iowa Again

Well- I am back in the great ol' state of Iowa. Now... my hubby doesn't agree with that statement by any means- but that is HIS problem!

Today would have been my dad's 71st birthday. So that is part of the reason- it is still hard on Mom. The other reason is I was preaching at Central Congregation of the Community of Christ here in Des Moines this morning.

Darren and Nathan hung out in the nursery- which was ok. I guess. I kinda missed the little guy disrupting my sermon and services.

I could say more- but I won't.

We went to Wendy's drive thru for lunch- and took it back to the hotel. We ate and then we got ready for the pool- Nathan had a blast!!! I even got Bud to join us. He didn't want to go at first- but he came along in the end.

Came back to the hotel room and tried to get "little man" to rest bit but we all know how a 4 yr old is when they are excited! He did lay quietly for about 20 minutes. It is snack time in our room. We just went down to the vending machines and Nathan got a Rice Krispie Bar which cost $1.00!!! I got a Kit Kat Krispy- 75cents. Got Bud-Man some chips for 75 cents which seem to be expired and an extra bag of regular LaysChips for another 75cents. I also ended up getting a diet coke for $1.00 in the can! Nathan is saying "This is the best lunch ever!" He is so giddy and silly right now!
We were to go to Runnells to visit Tania but they ended up at Adventureland and I bet it was packed since it is the last weekend of summer. She isn't back yet--- we may not see them again. I haven't seen them since May I think or maybe June.
Kinda warm out here today. So we have the A/C up really high in the room. When we eventually leave this room to take Nathan back to Mom's it will hit us for sure.
Sorry- no more pictures- I forgot the plug for my camera- and my camera card does not fit the best in this laptop. I have to shake it out of my reader.
We are leaving for KS in the morning. Gotta get back to the grind of work and pre-school and life again. Don't have any time planned to come back until January for Monster Jam at Uncle Steve's place of work.
Oh- Bud is having issues with blurry vision and we think it is related to his recent med Abilify. He still gets frustrated and most of the time- it is with me. I don't know how to help him and how to live with him and share a bed with him at night- because he sleeps till 4am or so- and by the time I get home from work- he is starving and tired. I don't know how to get in sync with him like we were before.
Still working days at KSD until further notice. I really enjoy the job but they are really piling up the work at the same time. The audiologist is real nice- but the chick I am replacing right now- did not keep up on her work for her- and I am flooded with old filing and new filing at the same time.
Well Tania just called and they are still an hour away from getting home. Better call Mom and see what her plans are...
Happy Labor Day!!!!

Life continues...

Hey everyone!
I got to go scrapbooking on Friday! I stayed out till 3am! Almost all of my ladies showed up too! It was great!
Saturday we went to Lake Olathe and Nathan played... but that was after we went to "EnDonald's" for lunch -so Bud and I can get the scrapbookers website going.... anyway--- had a great family day.
Sunday I chose not to go to church. Nathan was still sleeping at 9:30am- and I just didn't have the gumption to go. It was still a busy day. I got the grocery shopping done ad then cooked pizza burgers and then took decorations to the Infirmary and Nathan came along and we got home and he went straight to bed. IN OUR BED!!! So we got him in his own bed.
Bud used to like it when I would snuggle up next to him- but now he is complaining about it. So I am getting on my side and staying there. Kinda hard to get used to.
BUT---AT LEAST HE IS TELLING ME- not just expecting me to read his mind- or already know how he feels. That is something he is working on. He seems to be doing GREAT on this new med. WAHOO!!!!
Going to Iowa for Labor Day- gotta preach there. OOPS!! I need to get started on my sermon. I am thinking about taking a leave of absence until January on being in charge or preaching anywhere- since I am studying for my KS Interpreter exam (NOV 20th) and then working at Sorenson and working days at KSD. But I gotta do it- got too many bills.
Well- better put my boy to bed - and work on my sermon. Till next time!!!

Hope?

Well, I haven't written again for awhile which is because I am burning the candle at both ends- AGAIN!
Nathan and I went to the Iowa State Fair last weekend.

Bud chose to go to his parents place. So I sent him some pictures on the phone and we chatted. When we returned home on Sunday- something was wrong. We have spent the week back at doctors. Today- Darren went back into the hospital. Darren is a good man deep down- He just isn't himself these days and he wants help and wants to be better. I am still sad- I love him so much and it hurts to see him in this state and know that he is so unsure of the future- all we know is that both of us want him better.

Here is Nathan enjoying a corn dog. He got to ride a school bus over to the fairgrounds. Gram came along with us.

She did great- hanging with us all day- and all the walking. We rented a stroller- but the wheels didn't work so great. We had to "pop wheelies" in order to turn corners. We got done- we were sore from the shoulders all the way down to our ankles!

Nathan had his last week of bowling. They handed out awards and had a "rock n bowl" time- he had more fun dancing than he did bowling. His highest game all season was 84. He only bowled a 44 this week.

Here he is relaxin'. He has 6 free bowling games to use up from this last week- so we are going to go bowling on Saturday since Daddy is gone.

Sunday I have to work Enrollment Day at KSD so he is going to go over to a friend's house and spend the day. I have put Sorenson VRS on hold for now- I can't work both jobs with Bud gone and even though we desperately need the money- I just have to wait. This was supposed to be my last week in training. But- again- it will have to wait.

As far as KSD goes- I am working as the Related Services Secretary until October. I get to keep my benefits until then. If the secretary returns- I have to go back to overnight at the infirmary or find a new job. If she does not return I have the option of applying for her position and getting interviewed and then possibly get the job. So- it gives us more time to get Bud all healed up.

Well, I think I have chatted enough. Thanks for reading. Please pray for Darren and his doctors.

More Life Lessons...

What is Sherry up to now?

Well- Bud went back to work today!! WOO Hoo!! Nathan is at school and having a water play day which is good because the heat index today will be near 100. I go to Sorenson at 11 today and work till 4.

I have been totally trying to find a daytime job. I interviewed for one at KSD earlier this week, but did not get it. My boss Annie called me and said that our department's secretary has been out of work and we need a secretary right away. So I went to KSD yesterday to see what was going on.

I was told the secretary could show up for work anytime. I was cleared to fill in for her but- if school starts and she isn't back I have to resign from the CNA position and continue to work for her until she returns and then I am "out!" or I can work for her till school starts and go back to nights. So pretty much- I have 2 weeks to decide what to do if she isn't back yet. They are going to let me continue to take Nathan to his bowling - since he has two weeks left.

Bud is doing so much better! I love him so much and am proud of him to fight this- I want him to feel good. I want him to succeed!

I am still planning on going to the Iowa State Fair next weekend. Hard to believe that summer is almost over. I have that trip and one more for Labor Day planned to Iowa. Labor Day weekend I am preaching up there.

Here is my little rocker! He was playing at his girlfriends house and was singing his ABC's. Gram bought him this little bowling kit from Target and he expects everyone to play with him. He definitely has bowling on the brain.

--Better end it here- will post more later.

-----thanks for reading.

SPEC of Life

Ok, as most of you know I have been dealing with a lot these past few weeks. So, I haven't written in awhile, and I apologize for those of you who actually read my ramblings.

Currently, I am in Lamoni, Iowa and am on staff for a national camp. I am teaching "Creativity Camp" and "American Sign Language."

I want to take the time to say this THESE CAMPERS ARE SO COOL!!! They totally are caring and loving towards each other and normally at SPEC there is a lot of competition, but I don't see it and especially feel it this week.

Normally there is one or two in each of my classes that I feel I have to "hover" over and watch like a hawk- NOPE--- nada this year. The kids come ready and are very respectful and genuinely ask appropriate questions and are so sincere in wanting the knowledge I want to share with them.

I came this week pretty broken. It is amazing what teens can do to an old person like me. Ha ha ha!!!

I truly feel refreshed and ready to face whatever comes our way next week when I return to KS and Bud. (It may also be because of my wonderful massage I got on my back and arms and shoulder last night!)

Nathan came for a visit yesterday and it was very hard to put him in my mom's car and send him back to Des Moines. I miss him AND BUD so much. But it is good for us to spend some time away. We get new stories to share with one another and to tell you the truth- the homecoming is the best. My favorite part of our separate trips is when Nathan goes to our front door and knocks and rings the doorbell and Bud answers it. The look on Bud's and Nathan's face at that very moment is PRICELESS.

Well, today it is pouring down rain!! It is my last day of classes. I am leaving early tomorrow. SPEC doesn't really end till Saturday. But with our current situation and my mom- - - I need to spend some time with her before I go back. So- yep-- tomorrow I head north and I am going to go see my friend Tania and her kids, and Nathan will play with her son for awhile.

Wanna see some pictures?

This is me on the left leading the wonderful signers here at SPEC. We signed the song "Waiting for the World to Change" by John Mayer. They learned it in ONE DAY!!! Those kids are to be commended!!!

This is Ted and Ingrid. They were doing a drama on the track for our all camp worship. They also performed a play about couples in the Bible last night. It was really cool. It really made you think.

Who is this? This is Steve Veazey the President of the Community of Christ. The church has launched a new community website... check it out at http://www.peacesupportnetwork.org/

Well, I will post more later- my class is about to start.

Thanks for reading.

Dedicated to Bud...

This is my hubby- Bud. We have been married for 5yrs. I knew when we met that he had some issues related to an injury when he was 10yrs old. He has a left frontal lobe brain injury. He has tremors on his right arm. He also has a seizure disorder. Most people who meet him have no idea of the trauma he has endured. He works for the government and is a tax paying person who loves being a Dad and is pretty content and happy most of the time.

We are finding out that his previous med also treated an underlying mood disorder. He recently changed meds because he felt his tremors were getting worse on the current med. His new med only treats the seizures. He has had horrible anger outbursts. We didn't know when one would happen or what would set him off at any given time and honestly--- it is affecting our marriage and home life. I had gone to Iowa for a breather at one point. That is why I sought out a counselor. I love Bud! I love him for so many reasons and it has been tearing my heart apart to see him this way. I also have to think of Nathan. I work two jobs now, and wasn't sure what I would find when I got home.

Anyway--- fast forward... We talk and talk with the neurologist. He called us back yesterday and said we needed to take Bud into the ER for a psych evaluation. I freaked!!! They asked him a lot of questions and he doesn't remember his anger outbursts at home. So-they admitted him yesterday.

I have to keep reminding myself that he is in a safe place. He is getting looked after and the doctors there will be able to help him.

We hope that he will be out of the hospital by Saturday. Saturday is Nathan's birthday party.

My heart still hurts. I wish I could hold his hand through this. I wish I could kiss him on the cheek and let him know that things will get better. I want to wrap my arms around his chest and hold on tight till we both fall asleep.

Brain injuries are quite different from person to person. It is also hard to treat sometimes. When Bud gets out of the hospital he hopefully will be better able to handle things and I can have my wonderful husband back!

Please keep us in your prayers.