Second attempt to get the photos onto the Blog.

These are photos of Sabrina and Dave's Family. Lauren and Brett; Alex and Lauren; Lauren, Dave, and Beautiful Baby TRISTAN; and Brett. [We never quite know what order the photos will be when the post is published.]

Rose has been planting flowers all week. Mother would be so proud of her. Mom's flowers must have been periennials. I can't remember her ever buying flowers, but I do remember her having lots of flowers.

I haven't talked to Margaret lately but I think she's recovered from her bronchitis. Sabrina called to catch me up on the Smith family. She sent pictures of her boys, Brett and Alex who are both taller than she is. I'll post them when I get Rose to help me.

I have physical and occupational therapy this afternoon. Rose is going to drop me off and Goldnan will pick me up. Rose and I have been walking in the evenings and I've done a mile a night for the last three nights.

Shirley's birthday is Friday. She and Rose are going to celebrate Friday and Saturday. Shirley loves other people's birthdays and tries to make little of her own.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SHIRLEY AND SABRINA, TOO.

We're going to have a crowd at the lake this weekend - my favorite time. We get to keep Jalen and Brayden next week and Rose is coming down Tuesday. Joe is coming for dinner one night. Is there room on your credit card, Pete?

Plans are continuing for the reunion. Spread the word, make your reservations, and RSVP.

Scott and the boys came over for the weekend. The boys are in to wrestling and went to a wrestlemania event Sunday night with Scott and Goldman. Some of the wrestlers were the same ones Uncle Norman took Chris, Scott, and some of their friends to see on Chris's 10th birthday. It was an event that all the boys remember. This event happened 28 years ago.

Sandi, Joe, and I have been working on details for our summer family reunion. We're trying to get the word out to everyone. We've been sending emails and letters and making phone calls. We need lots of word of mouth because we don't want to miss anyone. Here are some of the details we have worked out.


Sandi FeLLin, Joe Felin, and I have been putting our heads together to work out plans for our summer family reunion. We have come up with the dates of June 30 through July 8. Sandi and I will be at the lakehouse on these dates. We are hoping everyone can attend any and/or all of these dates. We will have a big dinner - a big hurrah - on Saturday, July 7. We are hoping everyone can be there especially that day, but any and/or all of the days would be great.

The lakehouse isn't big enough to accomodate everyone so Sandi and I checked out some nearby places that are reasonable and well kept. The nearest and best deal and closest to the lakehouse was called Southwood Shores. My neighbors work there and vouched for the place. It also has an indoor and an outdoor pool. A studio which sleeps 4 - has a bed, sofa sleeper, kitchen, balcony, and gas grill. Rates for it are $105.00 for one night or $88.00 per night if you rent it for a week. 1 bedroom rate is $130.00/night and $105.00 per night if you book for a week. 2 bedroom is $170.00 for one night and $$145.00 per night for a weekly rate. The 2 bedroom sleeps six. My neighbors who clean there said the owners aren't strict about the number of people who stay in one unit. Phone number for Southwood Shores is 573- 365-4644, or (800-331-0965) and the link to Southwood shores is: http://www.southwoodshorescondos.com/main.htm

The nearest motel is called Baymont. Rates are $129.00 per night or $109.00 per night for weekly rental. It has refrigerator, coffee pot, pool, game, and probably other amenities. Phone number there is 573-365-2700. There's also a Holiday Inn Express, a Comfort Inn, Osage Village Inn among other places, but Baymont is nearest to the lakehouse.

We found a Campground and RV park that isn't too far away from the lakehouse. It is called Riverview RV Park and Campground. It was clean and well kept. Phone there is 573-365-1122. RV rates with full hookup is $23.00 per night, and we didn't get camping rates.

We have a huge deck at the house {thanks to the guys this spring}, a wave runner, boat, swimming pool, swim dock, tv, probably a PS2, and lots of things too numerous to mention. I'm all excited about the occasion. Some grownup will have to pull the kids on the knee board as long as it's daylight.

The places we looked at and checked with warned us that places fill up quickly after Memorial Day. Sandi and the west coast relatives are booking a unit at Southwood and are planning to share the room. I suggest you book right away to be assured of a reservation.

We need a head count (kids and adults), too, so we can make a potential menu plan. If you can RSVP by June 10, then we can have a semi put together menu plan.

We'll be posting maps on the "Family Gazette" Blog soon. That address is www.sueboaz.blogspot.com

Please spread the word around. We really want every one to come.

I just wanted to make a correction. Today is Joe's birthday, not yesterday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOE. I did know the birthday was the 18th but I thought yesterday was the 18th. Jalen tells me sometimes "Granny, I think you have that 'elderly disease'." Sometimes I think he's right.

Sandi called to let us know she got back to Portland uneventfully.

I had another hospital visit since my last posting. It was just my monthly IVIG overnight stay on Monday night. I had spent Sunday - Mother's Day - at Chrs and Shelly's and was treated royally. Of course I heard from Scott, too.

Rose came back from Chicago Tuesday afternoon, picked me up at the hospital, and we proceeded to the airport to pick up Sandi FeLLin. The only bad thing about thing her visit was that it was much too short. She and I went down to the lake house Wednesday morning. She had never been there before. We sat in the sun, visited with the neighbors, chatted, enjoyed each other and the view. We made lots of plans for our family get together coming up this summer - more details will be posted and sent in the coming weeks. Sandi is one organized woman.

Wednesday evening we had the pleasure of seeing Joe Felin. He came up from Springfield and we had dinner at my favorite restaurant. The waiter overheard us talking about Joe's birthday being the following day. Soon our waiter and busboy brought a cake with a candle lit and wished him a happy birthday. Sandi promised Joe breakfast in bed on his actual birthday Thursday but we couldn't talk him in to spending the night.

Sandi and I got up Thursday and went around the lake area checking RV parks, camping sites, and cabin rentals. We found some great potentials and will get the information out soon because they all said everything fills up fast after Memorial Day. I'll have room for several at the lakehouse but hopefully we will have a large crowd. A large crowd is what Sandi and I are planning on. We got home late yesterday afternoon and we told Rose we were assigning her the duty of making pies. She said she had better get started right away since she has never made one and has no idea how long it will take her.

Rose, Sandi, and I went out to dinner last night. Shirley had a class and couldn't join us. Rose and I took Sandi to the airport this morning. Again, her visit was much too short.

Bernie and Maudie, you did a wonderful job raising her. She doesn't drink, swear, or eat sweets. Where did I go wrong?

Bernie and Maudie's grandson in Portland, Or. and Margaret and Norm's grandson in Troy, MO. and Pete and Janet's grandaughter in Idaho Falls, ID. are all graduating this spring. Congratulations to the graduates.

I'm home from the hospital at last. Four days there is like a month anywhere else, the opposite of Vegas. I had an MRI and a PET scan yesterday, and then they let me go. Rose picked me up. We were going to go out to dinner, but I was too tired after laying in bed for 96 hours. I had several tests while I was there, including wires on my head all the time to send brain signals somewhere, so I couldn't get far from my bed. The hospital staff had a camera on me at all times, and Rose and I weren't sure about audio so we really tried to watch our mouths. We slipped once in a while.

My neurologists didn't come to any conclusions for the next step in my treatment. The primary one will do some more tests, but the next one will be in her office and I'll be an outpatient.

Rose is off to Chicago this morning. Shirley is already there. Goldman is taking Rose to the airport and then me to Chris's. We're going to celebrate Mother's Day there tomorrow. Shelly always does things so nicely.

Rose and Shirley will be back early in the week and Sandi (LL) will arrive Tuesday at 4. We are planning, among other things, a little dinner-do.

I'm here at the hospital and it is a very busy place. It's a teaching hospital and seems to be very up-to-date on research in many fields.

I'm wired all over my head with electrodes and hooked to electricity and colored wires. There's a camera on me at all times. Rose and I have really been watching our mouths cause we don't know if the camera has sound or not. My head is all wrapped in gauze and tape to hold the electrodes in place. I'm not allowed to shower or wash my hair until this test is over, hopefully very soon.

The neurologists have taken me off all of my seizure medicine to try to induce seizures. The electrodes will point out what part of the brain is causing the seizures. When they determine what part is causing the seizures they will look at options for control or elimination of them. Medication is one option but I haven't done too well on that.

I've had lots of attention since I got here yesterday. Rose is, of course, hovering. Margaret and Joe have called both days. Scott, Chris, and Goldman check on me often. My friend, Mary Myers, who has spent literally years in hospitals and knows how boring and lonely it can be, calls frequently to cheer me up.

On a happier note, Sandi FeLLin will be here next Tuesday for a few days. The "old aunts" are really looking forward to her visit.

Scott took Brayden to Churchill Downs today because he had some bets to collect. There were races going on when they got there and Brayden had no concept of races, horses, and betting. His association with horses was when Aunt Shelly took him to ride her horse. Scott said they got there, Brayden looked around, and asked "Dad, can I just ride with you on your horse?"

Shirley left for Chicago this morning. Her sister Loretta, niece Yvonne, and great niece Savannah are going up from Louisiana tomorrow or Friday for a visit. Savannah is walking, talking, dancing, and entertaining. I'm sure she will have a busy weekend.

Just a quick update to let our Dear Readers know what is going on. Sue is going into Barnes-Jewish Hospital Tuesday morning for three to five days for testing. She has had some small "spells" over the past several months that are not controlled by her medications. Her physicians want to figure out just what is causing these small seizures and try to end them. We are not sure just what the testing will entail, but she will need lots of love and support if for no other reason that the sheer boredom of being hospitalized while feeling well. She will have her cell phone (314 452 3685), and is planning on taking her computer. With any luck she will be able to update the blog and keep in touch with folk via IM and e-mail.

Scott and sons were in town just overnight. We had a wonderful time with them. Doug and Suz had a party last night to which Sue, Jalen, and Brayden went. Jalen ended up spending the night which caused some grousing on the part of Brayden who didn't have a good time at the party (he told me) because "My Bubba didn't come home with us!"

Hi folks! I just got home from work and called to check in with the parents. They were home from camping and were trying to enjoy their Seattle Mariners baseball game but couldn't get them on the satellite or Direct TV or whatever they have. I discontinued most of my cable stations in order to get some work done once in a while, but I still figured out I could watch the M's on channel 34 - in black and white and snow and without any sound - just noise. (Some bad habits are hard to let go of. I'm not paying for it though, if that matters.) So, if I mute the TV I can kinda watch them play and read the play-by-play to Dad and Mom but its slow and so I'm reading it to them basically after each play happens. If I'm not watching the snow screen or I don't read fast enough, they go to a commercial and we never know what happened.

Well, we soon tired of this nonsense, but the game was great! From what I could tell, we were ahead of New York 14 to 8! I got on the phone with the techs at Direct TV to find out which station out of the 700 or so Mom and Dad have was FOX Sports. After about a half an hour and several phone calls back to the folks the guy at Direct TV finally did the right thing and miraculously on channel 651 they were watching the M's play! It was a blessed event. The game was almost over, but they were ahead of the Yankees 15 to 8 or something. Mom says, "Hey, we might even get to watch them win for a change!" We all whistled and cheered - for ourselves as much as for the team! Fun times with Maudie and Bernie!

They were tired of talking to me by then and well, the game was on, after all. I left them watching the game, Dad in his chair and Mom quilting away on a quilt Shirley had started. It was a fun evening.

I talked to Tyson in Florida today. He's starting to get too hot and wants to head home to work and cool off. Sounds like he has had enough of the weather for now. I hope the Uncles are having fun on their Florida fishing trip. (How far is the Gulf of Mexico from Turnbo Uncle Joe?)

I'm looking forward to barging in on the Aunts in a few days. (It's the real installment of Aunt Camp for us!) I hope we get lots of things planned for the family event. I don't know what I can do, but will be happy to roll up my sleeves and spend time with the ladies.

I haven't gotten my garden in yet, but I planted a fuji apple tree and harvested some rhubarb for the neighbor to make some pies. Eric, the yardboy is going to help me rototill (hopefully) next week - I'm trying to outdo Uncle Norman. Have you got yours in yet, Norm? How am I doing?

Nothing else exciting here - Just want to say hi. We'll be in touch!

Go M's!

Sandi

My back deck and garden!

I have spent a good part of this afternoon updating this blog - and then somehow deleted it. I'll start all over again.

I spent most of the week at the lake. Maddog and Goldman took me down last Saturday. They had to come back to St. Louis Sunday and then my wonderful neighbors, Dave and Judy, checked in on me frequently. Leslie and Sam {that King boy] arrived Monday morning. Sam had his minnow bucket full and headed for the dock.

Leslie and I spent most of our week visiting {while Sam fished}. Leslie's son, Jeffrey, is on his second tour of duty in Iraq and his second tour recently got extended another three months. Needless to say, Leslie worries constantly about his safety. Keep him in your prayers.

Leslie retired week before last after 30 years at the medical prison in Springfield. Sam has a few years to go yet. He and I were both delivered by Dr. Macdonald from Marshfield. I was delivered by old Dr. Macdonald while Sam was delivered by Tommy, the son. There was, as you can see, a whole generation of difference in time.

Chris came to the Lake on Thursday to get me, and we came home Friday morning. We stopped by his and Shelly's house so he could show me all the work they've been doing on it all winter. I was very impressed.

Scott is coming here tomorrow for a Kentucky Derby party. [Yes, he is coming FROM Louisville to St. Louis for the Derby.] He has been to the betting windows several times this week. Last year I bet on the female jockeys and none won so I didn't bet this year. I asked if he was going to see the Queen and he replied, "I thought YOU were the queen, Mom."

Joe and Pete and some of their buddies joined Donald last week for their annual Florida deep sea fishing trip. Joe said they caught 188 pounds of various fish. He said they hired an 'entreprenur' to clean, dress, and freeze the fish. Was there any tilopia? Sam caught three messes at the lake. I don't think it added up to 188 pounds, but you know how fishermen exaggerate. It could have been.

Margaret is still going to the physical therapist for her back, but says the cure may be worse than the disease. She does say she is some better.

Sandi with 2 LL's will be here for a few days later in May and I'm hoping we can get things finalized for the summer get together. We are all three looking forward to her visit. She seems like a great organizer. We need her.