June 8, 2009

• Wonderful Weekend!!!

  What a full weekend.  It was so nice . . . a weekend full of visitors. 

  JoAnn's son (Santos), his wife (Christy), and youngest daughter (Abby) arrived Friday afternoon.  They stopped by to see Christy's mother, Marie (my interim caretaker), and we visited briefly.  They were exhausted from driving here (without a break) from east Florida.  I'm glad it was them and not me!!!  Jesse wasn't here, he was working.

  Saturday, Jesse had a few lawns to do before he had to pick up JoAnn from the airport.  His big job scheduled for Saturday (remove a tree and trim some tall hedges) was moved to Sunday.  JoAnn's plane arrived on time and she was fine - with her granddaughter, Abreeana, in tow.  Jesse and her arrived here, at the house, said hello to Marie, and JoAnn made her way to "her room" to unload Abreeana's luggage. 

  Sushi was SO EXTREMELY GLAD to see her Auntie JoJo again!  Sushi *AND* the girls gave her big hugs. 
                         

  JoAnn had about 5 minutes to recover.  There was a knock on the door.  JoAnn's son, Santos, and family arrived.  They had come to pick up his 3 daughters (from a previous marriage) and they were all headed back to Florida for the summer.  What a drive!!!! I know!!!!!

  JoAnn rarely sees her granddaughters from Santos (since they live in Florida and here) and she enjoyed time with them, especially the youngest Abby.
                  

  There were lots of hugs and stories exchanged.  Santos and Jesse started telling stories and . . . well . . . you had to be there.  Jesse is pretty much a guaranteed good time - such a funny person, but *SANTOS* could be a stand up comedian! 

  They started talking about Santos' sister, Jennifer, when she was a teenager, and it was all too funny.  Santos did his impression of Jennifer (as a teenager) with headphones on (listening to her music) and it was so accurate, with funny dialogue punctuated in between his hands covering his ears (like he was wearing headphones, listening to music, and singing to the music).  All of us were crying from laughing so hard.  Honestly, it was like free tickets to a show.  I wish I had thought to grab my camera earlier.

  Unfortunately, the time to say good bye arrived and there were lots of hugs and more pictures taken.

   
  (all of the cousins)

    
  Santos and Christy

  I got a few more close up  pictures . . .

                          
                                       Cousins, Abby and Luci - don't they look like sisters???!!!!

  . . . and then the big good bye as their Suburban drove off, headed back to Florida.

    

                       

  Sunday, Jesse and JoAnn's aunt and uncle from Texas, and my mother-in-law, dropped by.  These are some of my favorite people (Aunt Mary and Uncle Bill) and we had a nice visit.  They, too, are usually funny to listen (especially Aunt Mary and the way she tells stories) and we looked at a lot of family pictures they had brought with them. 

  Aunt Mary has had breast cancer, her twin (Martha) has had it, and Martha's daughter has had it.  Aunt Mary was incredibly sweet (no joking with me) and was a huge supporter and understanding ear for me. 

  My biggest surprise happened when they were all in the formal living room and Uncle Bill came back to the den to sit with me. 

  He told me a story about someone's wife who chose a less aggressive treatment for her cancer and (when it was too late) later the aggressive therapy.  He said he had known 8 people diagnosed with cancer and they were all alive except the friend's wife.  He said, "You will be okay.  Don't give up hope, you've chosen the right way to treat your cancer.  We are praying for you and Aunt Mary prays for you every day."  It was very touching for him to make a point of being so serious and reaching out to me to encourage me. 

  Of course, I totally forgot about my camera and didn't take pictures.

  Saturday night and Sunday I slept like I had been given anesthesia.  I can't believe I was so tired each night and Jesse thought it was because of the two days worth of company.  I enjoyed myself a lot and - if company makes me sleep soundly - bring on the company!

  Worst part of the weekend was Annamarie ended up with a horrible sore throat and cough.  Stephanie came to take her back to her apartment on Sunday morning and I have called to make an appointment with the doctor (down the street from Stephanie) for this afternoon.   JanaLyn had been sick and, despite antibiotics, I don't think she was completely over being contagious. 

  Stephanie fixed us all breakfast before leaving with Annamarie on Sunday.

                                        

  Rissy and Luci also have mild colds (no coughing or sore throat) and if Annamarie doesn't test positive for strep, I'll have Stephanie bring her back here.  JoAnn sprayed (like crazy) Annamarie and Luci's room AND bed with Lysol (it almost gagged us!!!) and we joked about it being the quarantine room.  All it lacked was "contamination tape" across the closed door and frame!
  
                                  
                                              Luci, Janalyn (in their dancing costumes) and Rissy.

  The two girls left here have been careful not to be near me, they've washed their hands constantly, and are not touching Chirper - since he sleeps near my face.

  I have no plans for today.  Like I said, it was an active weekend and I enjoyed the company. 

  Friday night, someone from the church brought food and stayed to visit Jesse and I until 9pm.  It was a nice visit, as was time spent with all the other people we saw this weekend.

  Abreeana is two and has changed so much from last summer.  She walks, she talks, and is a general, all around, doll baby.  Just absolutely adorable.

  Hope everyone had as good of a weekend as me. 

  I feel very grateful for Jesse's family.

  Be Blessed  ~

  • 12:03 pm
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