Deer Hunting...I think?...

Steve has been hunting the last month along with Tyler and Troy. Their efforts have gone unrewarded this year! Nuttin Honey!

Sooo.....on Saturday Steve shot this Coyote instead..not such good eating! But a lot of bragging rights!

I didn't realize this, but coyotes are a pretty scarce sight. Steve said he has only seen 2 other ones in all the years he has hunted. If you are lucky enough to see one, they are gone before you can blink!

I think, I can safely say, they don't like humans.

Steve said the teeth on this animal was furious looking....and I'm sure they bite hard!

Neil skinned the coyote and put the coat on a hide stretcher. He thinks it's coming to my house and think it would look lovely on their wall. Steve said it took him 2 hours to skin it!

Steve put the skull in a tree so the birds could peck at it..because Trent has claimed the skull. How do you disinfect something like that? Gross, do I have to have something like that on their dresser?

The life I lead...form a line...don't race to copy me!

Black Friday Experiences....

Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of my day to share with you, just my good old fashioned memory......

First, I got up at 4am to head to Meijers in Cedar Springs...it was a great ...virtually a ghost town at that time of the morning! Got my goods and headed out.....was in and out in about 1/2 hour....amazing! I really think they should make a reality show about my amazing shopping skills!

Next stop, Best Buys on Alpine....SCORE....got what I was after there too (and then some!) I'm thoroughly impressed with their abilities to move people through the check out! They had their appliances set up in a maze and had arrows on the floor to mark the line (kind of like a mouse maze). They even had a security guard at the beginning of the line..so no fights would ensue. Then they had a worker (a this particular moment it was a girl....which impressed me..men don't always understand the importance of getting through the line quickly!) directing you to the lane that opened up next. They did an awesome job and I made sure to tell them!

Next, Target...TOTAL bust....left there with nothing....lines were to incredible long. There is a limit to frugalness and insanity!

Next, ABC Warehouse....waited outside for 1 1/2 hours in the cold...with no gloves...did I mention outside? No Go! BUMS! Did get a new phone system for a good deal but that wasn't my objective! Any good shopper knows you always have to be on the alert for another good deal! Almost witnessed a fight between a police officer and a kid. He was trying to 'sneak' in when the doors opened after we all stood in line for, some up to 3+ hours! Police officer said it ain't gonna happen...good for him..I'm thinking we (the shoppers) would have all assisted him in taking him down! Don't mess with people that get up at the crack of dawn to get a good deal!!!

Let see....where to next....Menards. They had a few things that I wanted...lines were okay. A real Score when someone held up the item I wanted and yelled..."does anyone wants this..it's the last one!" Well of course...duh, it's the last one. Over here... over here...SCORE! Hold on, what is it? LOL! Snatched out of the hands of all the other shoppers....BAM...take that!

Then off to Rivertown Mall. There I meet Renee, Lynette, Danielle & Darica. Lets just say they didn't have enough parking spots to accommodate all of us! You would never know the economy was suffering if you were there that day! I had to resort to stalking shoppers that appeared to be leaving. I loved the mouthed words...."just heading to put this in my trunk!"...I wanted to say..."well, I'm sorry you must give up your spot!" In the mall I only shopped in Younkers and Sears. Oh and then the war that began up by the food court....it was not pretty! The mall had a promotion...spend $100 get a $10 gift card to the mall. You had to bring your receipts to a table near the food court before noon..and receive your gift card. Well, the mall 'supposedly' ran out of gift cards to give out...the fine print read 'while supplies last'. Okay, again...don't mess with shopper that have been up since 3 or 4 in the morning...just hand over the gift card and no one will get hurt! Long story short to my shame I left the mall with out a gift card...I think I let the whole Rexford clan down! To my glee, I got an e-mail yesterday from the mall that there is a gift card waiting for me in the mall office....I've been redeemed!

One of my favorite parts...we went out to lunch at Cracker Barrell. I still am confused why they closed the one on Alpine..I know I did my part to keep it open! Mmmmm...Grilled Chicken Tenderloins, Mashed Potatoes, Carrots and Grilled Sourdough bread with blackberry jam...a slice of heaven, here on earth!!

I hit a few more stores..MC Sporting Goods, Target, Family Christian, Radio Shack..and even stopped in Goodwill. I think I made it home by 2ish. After a restful nap I went to join my family for dinner at G&G's.

Our Week....

We have had a fun week and week-end! Here is what we were up to!

Picture Day....

First, we went to Olan Mills to get our Family Picture taken. Our last picture was a couple of years old and we had an opportunity, while everyone was in town, to get it done again.

Here is Madison and Trent waiting for our turn.








More waiting......






Trying to arrange us all! It was no small task for her to get us all in the picture. She did a great job and we were pleased with the way they turned out. I will post when I get them back. We purchased 49 sheets all together....for a total of $160..that's like $3.25 a sheet! Wow..that's a steal..we could not have gotten reprints made at Walmart for that!


Then there was Thanksgiving Day.....

There was 20 people in attendance. Super Kudos to Bonnie, she is a great entertainer and cook! We had a lovely meal. In attendance was all Steve's brothers and families plus Uncle Ron & Aunt Marty (Neils brother) and Dad & Linda. It is so nice of Bonnie to include Dad & Linda, as I can't be two places at once!





Here is the 'kids table' with the 'big kids' at it!

Tyler, Drew, David and Florin





Then There was Cousin Time...






It's hard to see what this is..... The kids made a fort out of sheets but they put a fan at one end to keep it filled up! A few clothes pins to hold it together! They built this in the loft at G-pa's & G-ma's house. Troy spent the night at G&G, 4 nights...Trent 3 nights...Tyler 2 nights.







Trent peeking out....








Troy peeking out.....

Inside the sheet fort.....

Nic, Troy Trent and Florin

More stories to come..so check back soon....How did Black Friday Go for me? What did Steve shoot?

I've been feeling pretty good lately...thanks for praying for me!

For all of you that are following my health saga.....

I went and had my Hemoglobin tested this morning and the results are in...drum roll please...quiet everyone....10.2!

Wow..that's pretty amazing. I guess my body need a jump start! It's still not in the 'normal' range but pretty darn close! Normal is 12-14. I'm thoroughly impressed with myself! I was thinking I would be somewhere in the 8 range.

I have something extra special to be thankful this Thanksgiving! You forget how thankful you are for your health, till it's stolen from you for a short time!!!!

better

Feeling much better after the Transfusion. Monday I go to have my Hemoglobin checked to see where I'm at! Slept like a rock....was so tired, I don't even think I was breathing! We were there for 7+ hours....long process!

I'm still probably not in the 'normal' range but much higher than 5.8! They said each unit you get raises it one level....so technically I should be at 7.8. It will be interesting to see where I'm at on Monday!

Maybe the Wendy's Steve brought me while I was tethered to an IV pole helped! Thanks honey for enduring with me....it was quite boring!

Craziness...

Today I got a call back from my family doctor, well actually the nurse, I needed to come in for a CBC blood test. They wanted to see where my Hemoglobin levels were.

So after being up last night till 5am....yes, 5 am......I was up all night long!! I now had to drag my weary body in to the Dr's office to have a lab draw. So, at 3pm I finally got out of my pj's and robe and drove myself to Sparta. They quickly did my draw and I was off the Family Fare for a few groceries.

At about 7:30pm I received a phone call from my Doctor. Ummmmm...how are you feeling..she asked? I've been better I relayed to her. Well, we got your blood work back.....your Hemoglobin is 5.8!!!! Which is extremely low!! Like really really low! Normal is 12-14 they like it to be 10 to do surgery. As you might remember, mine was 8.5 pre-surgery. So it has taken a nose dive. All that Iron I've been pop'n for no avail!

Apparently, when it gets that low your body just can't keep up. This is all new to me..so I don't really understand it all.

Soooooo the real reason for the post, to let you know.....I'm going to have a blood transfusion tomorrow. I've heard that this is a lengthy procedure...like to the tune of 6+ hours. Geeee, It's sounds like a fun time. The whole thought of someone else's blood in my veins seems kind of weird to me! I know I have to have it....but it's just kinda freaky!

So pray that all goes well.....and smoothly. I hope to be feeling like a new woman by tomorrow night!

Having Trouble...

Every night it's the same story...can't sleep! Grrrrr. I love my sleep! I hate being awake while everyone else is sleeping.

Someone suggested I take Melatonin....which has helped. I think there is an 'optimum' time to fall asleep and if I miss that....it's seems....I'm awake.

My other issue is leg cramps...I'm not sure if I have Restless Leg Syndrome or I'm deficient in some vitamin...or what. But It is all driving me NUTS! I have started taking Calcium...and at first that seem to be working...but know I'm back to leg cramps! Another Grrrr!

Last night I didn't fall asleep till 1:30am...and then I slept in till 11am....talk about screwed up!

Am I getting old or what? I'm so hoping after my surgery I can get everything back to normal..I don't want this to be my new normal!