Update

Things are still busy for us but they have settled a bit. Lorraine has been moved to the Waverly Health Center which is a much closer drive. She is doing well - still on breathing treatments to help with the strider but is doing great with physical therapy. She is getting around with a walker and I would expect that to be the case for some time. She is enjoying the care at the Heath Center. It is much more personal then that at Allen Hospital. With her breathing a bit more under control I have been able to cut back on my time at the hospital. Grandma Sam went home yesterday -- bless her heart I think she needed a break -- which I could totally understand. We are not an easy group to live with! We are appreciative of her willingness to step in when we needed her - THANKS again Grandma Sam! Art is doing okay with Lorraine being in the hospital. It is not his first choice but I do think he recognized the need for extended care. He and I have had alot of "first" experiences together since Lorraine's accident. I took him to McDonald's for the very first time in his life. If he has it his way it will also be his last! He spent three nights at our house and put up with my crazy family and my cooking! He even had bagels one morning for breakfast and didn't put up a fuss! He rarely eats anything other then Lorraine's homemade bread! He didn't argue with me when I went to take his temperature and kept forcing him to eat even when I knew he was nervous and didn't much feel like it. We watched the biggest looser together to help pass the time. We both left in tears from the ICU. Having to be strong for him that night was probably one of the roughest times I have had to face in some time. I have always know that they share a deep love but that night she was so sedated and unaware of anything until Art walked into the room. She was restrained but tried to reach up for him and when he spoke her eyes opened. When we left that night I dreaded every call that came because I thought for sure she was not going to pull through.

In the mist of all this JV has come down with strep-throat. He is on antibiotics as too are the rest of us to help prevent it from hitting us all! JohnMichael has to have breathing treatments every four hours but he is running around like a wild monkey despite being sick! The weather has been absolutely frigged! We have over a foot of fresh snow and are expected to get even more! The temperature is well below zero and with the wind chill is even colder! Last night it was -44 degrees! I talked to Nicole yesterday and she said they too had a "cold wave" of 53 degrees! I think I would be out tanning in weather like that!

Because of the cold school was cancelled yet again today. They have been home this week more than at school! Yesterday it was due to snow, today due to the extreme cold and we had a few late starts earlier in the week for weather related issues. Thankfully, Chad starts his weekend tonight and I will not have to continually yell at the kids to be quite - that is rather taxing! On a side note my house looks like a hurricane hit it but the good news is that the laundry is just about caught up and the dishes are done! Tomorrow morning I plan to get back into the gym to continue training for the mini-tri! I miss my early morning workouts -- or maybe it is just the quite time that is all my own!

Despite that last few weeks and all of the trials and setbacks I am thankful that they have occurred. I have a greater appreciation for life and the love of my family and friends. And especially for my dear friend Patti D. -- who brought me much needed laughter and advice just at the right time. I promise not to run away without a coat or in the middle of a blizzard again!