Busy with family

I have not had much time online lately. This time of year is always busy for us with the beginning of the market season, also with the school year winding down. This year though is busier that the typical school year. Why you may ask.....??? My youngest son is a senior this year in high school and those of us that have had children at this age know these last few weeks of school are busy. We spent the past several weeks preparing for the Senior Prom, ordering a tuxedo and all of the other fun things. I have to say that when we were having him fitted for the prom a strong sense of joy mixed with a bit of tears overwhelmed me as a mother. This was my very first time experiencing this with one of my 4 children. I never had a chance to experience this with my 2 older children. So, this is all new to me and I am feeling what must be the empty nest type of feelings. It is amazing how fast all of these years have flown by. It seems like only yesterday when my youngest son was entering into the world. And also seems like he only was beginning school. But here we are today.... only 2 weeks from his graduation day. I am one very proud Mother to have raised such a fine young man. Last week we picked up my son's tuxedo, did the final fittting and the tears welled up inside of me again as I saw before me a grown up young man.... my youngest son. He looked great in the tuxedo. Last Saturday was the prom. My son's girlfriend and her parents arrived at our home for pictures. They both looked beautiful together. Everything looked great, including the flowers we ordered. They left for the prom and wished them both to have a great time. Now the really hectic time is beginning.... preparing for the graduation, party afterwards, etc. I have my work cut out for me and things are shaping up nicely and on schedule. My son will graduation on June 5th. The entire week leading up to graduation is filled with pre-graduation festivities, practices and religious services. Then on to the actual graduation on June 5th. My son will graduate with High Honors and I am truely one proud Mother. The other things that have kept me away from the computer have been with keeping busy with the weekly preparing for the busy farmers market season. The 2nd Saturday was a very, very busy day at the market. We had a very successful day. The weather was beautiful and that always is a huge help in producing higher sales and bringing the customers out to visit the market. Last Saturday.... the rains moved in..... for the entire day. No market for me that day. Did things with my family instead. And of course preparing for the Prom that evening. Last week I was not certain if I would be home or not due to some news from my parents. My Dad was scheduled to have surgery last Thursday. Had to go through the pre-surgical testing that is always done prior to major surgery. While my Dad was doing the stress test on the tread mill his blood pressure shot up dangerously high, when doing the scanning afterwards it was found that he had something going on with his heart. More tests were ordered for early morning the next day. During these tests the following day it was found that my Dad had had a minor heart attack, a blocked artery was found and also another artery had formed as a natural bypass. A heart catherization was what was done to find this. The doctors told my Dad that he is OK, no need to do anything for the blockage since an artery had already formed a bypass around this blockage. That was the good news. The bad news.... Dad has to take it easy.... he does not like to hear this and does not accept the fact that he may have to cut back on a few things. Of course he wants to talk with me about all of this since I have had cardiac failure in 1991, have had heart problems since my mid 20's, also since my hospitalization in February for blood clots and heart problems he wanted to let me know about these problems he is having to be able to pass this along as family history to be able to help myself and have doctors be aware. This way I can be tested for similiar things. All of this is good.... but in other ways.... scarey. My Dad also is now on thinners and heart meds (as I am also). The doctors also found that he not only has this, but has high blood pressure, and high chlorestoral. Those are two things I don't have.... I have extremely low blood pressure at times and the chlorestoral is normal for myself at this time. But these are things to be aware of for family medical history to make sure the doctors know about it. Needless to say... as a result of what was found wrong with my Dad.... the surgery on the torn rotor cuff in his shoulder has been put on hold for awhile. Probably won't attempt to have this done now until this fall. Yesterday afternoon I talked with my parents again.... I call every few days to talk with them (they live 2 hours away). Dad is doing OK. The doctors have OK'd him to return to playing golf. Just don't push himself. I asked my Dad to please listen to the doctors and not do too much. When he feels tired, out of breath or any pain to stop what he doing and get medical attention immediately. Dad is not one to give in to get the medical attention he needs. I would think this recent news will change things. I am praying it will. I truely feel so blessed that my Dad is going to be OK. And that this was found so that the doctors could put him on the neccessary medications to prevent further problems. That news last week really threw us since it was such a shock. If you all knew my Dad you would never guess he would find out something like this. He is so physically active with golfing several times a week, gardening, walking every evening with my Mom, and goes to the gym several times a week for workout. I have been trying to get a few more purses knitted/felted for the market and also have made a few for gifts recently. My sister, daughters and Mom have seen these and all wanted one. These purses have been so much fun to create. I am working on a few more patterns also. After a busy week and leading into the weekend I also was preparing what was needed for my husband's travel to Brazil on business. He left on Sunday and will be home by the end of next weekend. This week I am busy creating a few new things for the market on Saturday and praying for no rain. Next weekend I plan to go to the Fiber Gathering in Wooster. I have made my list of what I want to look for and planning to stock up on fiber for spinning. I am doing pretty well with the learning to spin. I managed to spin 1 1/2 more bobbins full of wool yarn. Plan to finish up the 2nd bobbin soon and then begin plying it. My youngest daughter is keeping me busy also. She had her spring concert with the school choir this week. And also has been going to workshops that are for trying out for the high school dance team for next school year. Today will be the actual try outs. I know there is alot more I could write about today. But have to get to work on what I need to have ready for the market for Saturday. Also have to ship a large package of soap, lotions and other bath/body products to someone that swapped left over wools from projects in exchange for the products I create/sell. I enjoyed this exchange and hope to do more with her and others.

Sharon