• Dad got the results from the Dopplar Study they did on his legs--he has some circulation problems below the knees, but there shouldn't be any major issues from it. The doctor did talk to him about smoking and how the nicotine in his cigars (Dad seemed to think only cigarettes have nicotine) cuts down the oxygen that his body receives and makes the situation for his legs even worse. He also told Dad that surgeons make a lot of money on people like him (who smoke).
• Gus, Pat, JoAnn, Mom and I went to the Biergarten at the German-American Club last Saturday night and everybody had a good time. I think the highlight of the evening was watching Jo and Mom do the chicken dance!
• Mom finally got her bridge put in and is so happy to be able to chew better--well, if she could eat anything. Her acid reflux and coughing is still bothering her quite a bit. Her endoscopy is scheduled for June 9.
• I'm going to be house/dog-sitting for Mitch and Kim the third week of June. Their whole family is headed to Florida.
  

• Dad is having a Doppler Study done on his legs tomorrow to see how his circulation is doing. This is so they can better assess the sores on his toes, which Mom says are much better.
  
• Paul has a inguinal hernia and is going to have an operation on May 28. His address is 122 W 9th St, Apt 1, Cinti, OH, 45202 if you want to send him a card. I think Fritz had one of these, so it's something that all of us (esp. males in the family) could have a tendency to have.
• Bettie Schaefer (Tom & Dot's oldest child) called to let me know that Mike is in the hospital. He was taking their Golden Retriever out for a walk and the dog somehow got behind him and made him lose his balance. Mike broke the femur (thigh bone) in his right leg and his ankle on both sides on his left leg, so he'll be in a wheel chair for 2-3 months. Bettie's not in the best of health and I know she's very worried about what's going to happen. Mike's about 73 years old. Their address is 6501 Echo Trail, Louisville, KY 40299-5103 if you want to send a card. He'll be at University Hospital for the next few days till he goes to Rehab.
• Mom and I went over to Fred's on Saturday for dinner and a movie. Mom made meatloaf and we watched "Stardust." We're thinking we'll do spaghetti and meatballs next time. Let me know if you're interested and/or have a suggestion--Mom prefers comedies :-)
• Gus had his 40th DeSales High School Class Reunion this past weekend!
• Natalie is graduating from high school next week--same day as Paul's surgery.
• For all of you who missed the Clue Train (although I think I'm riding it alone this time), Caitlin is no longer in the nursing program. I think she switched her major to Undecidedness :-)
• Amy said on FB that Kaela did excellently in the horse show. We want pics, ya'll!
• Mitch survived a trip to Las Vegas with Shawn, Josh, and Sam.
  
  

• The toes on Dad's right foot are red and slightly swollen. There's a small sore on the 2nd toe (next to the big one) and there was puss coming out of his big toe (sorry for the details!). He's got an appointment with the Wound Care Center on Monday and I'm putting Manuka Honey (like Medihoney) on the first two toes. Mom thinks his diabetes is back. I'll keep you all posted.
  

• Mom and I went to "Muffins with Mom" at Samuel, Hannah and Sarah's day care this morning since April couldn't be there. Samuel was all smiles! We got a booklet with all the kids' favorite recipes in it. S's was for brownies. He said that April took out the mix and mixed it up, then put it in the oven at 60 degrees for 99 minutes and then they ate them ;-) He told me that he and Grandma (what he calles Mom) grew carrots together. That was after Mary's funeral when he came up to her and asked if they couldn't go grow some food.
  

• I went to the GI doctor with Mom today for a consultation about getting an endoscopy. He said that since the lungs and esophagus are so closely related, things that irritate one will affect the other. 1/3 of the people who took medicine for acid reflux had fewer asthma problems, for example. She has an endoscopy scheduled for June 9, and I'll be accompanying her then, too. He said for her to do three things: 1) tell Dad that he cannot smoke around her as it is a major irritant, 2) take her allergy medicine twice a day, 3) take a Prilosec or Protonix once a day. He also explained to her that if she takes medicine and starts to feel better that it's a good thing and doesn't mean she should stop taking the medicine but to keep on with it! :-) He explained to her that most medicine doesn't cure anything but instead simply helps to improve your quality of life.
• Kevin, Jo, Devin, Daniel, Paul and I were over at Mom and Dad's for breakfast Derby Day. Kev adjusted the dryer exhaust hose and replaced the drain hoses that Simone had put on the gutter drains with longer hoses to help get the water further away from the house, which Mom says has helped to keep the water from coming in the basement. Oh, Kevin and Paul cleaned out the gutters a bit, too. I guess that means Mom will make sure the sheet is on the bed next time you spend the night, Kevin!
  
• Daniel mentioned having a day when we all meet at Mom and Dad's to work on the house. Someone said that was done once, but I must have been in Germany cause I don't remember. Would anyone be interested in doing this? Any suggestions for a day?
• Gus has planted about 20 tomatoes with plans for at least 20 more. He took Mom and me to Thieneman's, which is like a conservatory or botanical garden with all of its different plants. I got 8 different heriloom tomatoes, which I'm going to plant in Mom's garden.
• Jim is coming to Louisville with the boys this weekend. There will be a get-together at April and Lee's on Saturday, May 9 at 5:30. Gus and Pat will take care of the meat. Please let April know if you're coming and what you're bringing. Her number is 241-1411 and you'll probably have to leave a message :-)
  
• Devin and Jo walked the Flying Pig Mini-Marathon on Sunday and were very pleased with their time. It was a hilly 4+ hour walk in the rain!
• Mom and I had our yearly Mint Julep, which Mom swore didn't affect her--till she found she couldn't hardly walk a straight line across the yard to return the soccer ball to the kids next door! Her TV didn't go out once during the race--yeah!
• My lawyer had filed suit again Anna for the house. I'll keep you posted about any developments.
• Mitch's company was sold to a French company, so he's rather anxious about what's going to happen with his job.
  
• I think April is working on an MA in Spanish--but I may be wrong!
  
• Chris is working as the custodian at a local church. I didn't realize until Mary's funeral that some people didn't know this. Here's an excerpt from an email from Caitlin in December: "I know it doesn't sound that great, but he loves it, which is what is important, you know? His last job, which was working at a place called Plasma Care , which is like a Hoxworth kind of place was very stressful, and the hours were tough, and he just wasn't happy, plus the job was all the way downtown, so he was spending a lot of time and money on the bus. This job is in walking distance of his apartment, and our house. He is really happy, so I am happy for him."

May Birthdays and News Update

Birthdays

• Caitlin--Sat, May 2--19
• April--Mon, May 4--31
• Pat--Fri, May 8--56
• Shawn--Fri, May 29--30

News

• Jenny has now joined Facebook! She says she's taking 4 classes--chemistry, anatomy, physiology, and economics. She's also working 30+ hours at the Walgreens pharmacy with Janelle.
• Nikki has nodes on her vocal cords is supposed to not talk for a while--ha, ha!
• Mom has been going with me (Bridget) to Gus and Pat's shop to help out occasionally. Dad is very jealous, of course. He admitted to the nurse the other day that he had quit taking his medicine because all Mom's kids were coming around and he complained that she's spending so much time with me! Argh! So she's now feeding his pills to him with a spoon--and so far he's taking them.
• Samuel made his first sale at G&P's shop--a bit of rope for $2!
  

April Birthdays and Anniversaries

I already had these entered, so I might as well send them out, eh?

Birthdays

• Mitch--Mon, Apr. 20--52
• Tiffany--Thurs, Apr. 23--25
• Tyler--Fri, Apr. 24--4
• Fritz--Tues, Apr. 28--55

Anniversaries

• Ed & Jan--Wed, Apr. 29, 1996