Stuff

Our new address is:
Tarja Keddrell/David Mallory
6 Winter St. #1
Augusta, ME 04330

Same phone numbers

Mom's surgery date is November 30. Doctor was a bit more optimistic than in the past about the outcome. and her biopsy was benign.

More to come, but trying to finish the move and get the old place clean, while setting up house.

More from Florida

I guess I've been remiss too in not posting anything for a while so here are a few photos to share.



This is Peggy and Eric at Peggy's birthday dinner at Red Lobster in Ocala.



This is an octagon shaped quilt I made recently. I've added more quilting around the flowers since this photo was taken. I think it's about 60" x 60".



This is a wall hanging David asked for and which I've just finished. He hasn't even seen it yet so I hope he likes it. Next is a Panda bear wall hanging he wants. I've drawn out the pattern and I'm looking forward to getting started on it.

Wheelchair Bowling

Shortly before I left WA, I was looking on the internet for wheelchair bowling. I found this ramp device that connects to your wheelchair. It is so much better than those old kinds where you just pushed the ball down the stationary ramp. Because it is attached to you, you are in controll of what the ball does by how you drive your wheelchair.

As it happens, the inventors of the device live just south of Ocala. This past Saturday, we went down to watch the Quad Squad bowl. They get together every 2nd and 4th Saturday. It was great fun to meet everyone and see how the device worked. Here is a picture of Bill (co-inventor) from their website. Go to IKAN Bowler if you'd like to read more about it or there is a great newsclip video on the front page of the website you can watch.



I think it is great that the device has been approved by the bowling association so that a wheelchair user can now bowl on leagues with able bodied people. Sure wish I had this when you guys were bowling on leagues back in VA...would have been fun to join you!! I'm sure I'll go back and watch them bowl some more.

Anyway, just thought I'd share since there hasn't been much posted on here lately.

mom's pre surgery test

She had her test on the 21st. Two years ago on her last surgery she had dissolvable stitches put in her stomach, well, this test revealed that at least 8 stitches were still in her stomach probably causing much of her pain over the past several months. Apparently everytime she moved the stitches were pulling on the stomach lining. So, they removed them during the endoscopy. They also found a suspicious site outside of the ulcer that they are going to biopsy. Don't believe it's cancerous, but just want to be sure. she still meets with the surgeon on the 28th, but will not set a date until they get the biopsy results.

I will continue to keep you updated.

Mom says Thank You

A little late, but Mom says a BIG THANK YOU for the roses. She said they are absolutely beautiful. I haven't seen them, but she said they will still be there when I go over wednesday for his test. SO thanks to all that contributed. She appreciates it and so do I.


[David's Note] Well, we're REALLY late this time. October 15th was Aunt Linda's birthday. Happy Birthday Aunt Linda!!!

Here's a pic of the flowers that Peggy, Fred and I sent for Aunt Linda's birthday.

My new friend

Hi all! I have a new friend that I wanted to introduce to the MacKenzie clan . . . and this friend just happens to be a boy (well, really a man). His name is Barry Johnson and he works at the same company that I do. We have been dating since mid-August, and so far things are going very well (and they said it wouldn't last). Anyway, here are a couple of pics. So that is what I have been up to lately. Hopefully you can all meet him at some point!! Fred has said he will need to give his approval . . .

Mom update

Mom has her sleep test on the 21st. Stops her meds on the 16th. Then her pre op appointment with her surgeon is October 28th. At that time they will determine how to proceed. If they schedule surgery, she will not schedule it the first week of November, since Dave and I have plans with friends and she doesn't want to ruin that. So, I suspect that the 2nd week of November may be surgery time. Not really excited about the outcome of this, but hoping for the best.

Turns out gram did not have a heart attack. It was a high stress attack. So they have given her meds and bed rest.

That's it.
T.

Happy Birthday Peggy!

Happy Birthday, Dear Sister. Hope you have a lovely day!!

Vacation Plans

Well since I get 2 weeks paid during the school district's Christmas break, I thought I would take a trip. The lucky winner this time is David and Chunnan. I fly into Seattle Saturday morning 12/26/09 and leave for home 01/03/10.

Sorry John, I won't be here for your birthday.

Also I get a week off at Spring break, and am almost positive I will be visiting the Florida peeps. The 2009 timeshare week needs to be used so I am looking into staying at a resort in Kissimmee. So not only can I go visit all of y'all down there, I can go to the Amusement Parks as well. They are open in March aren't they?

Alice, having just got a new job, won't have vacation time for either of these trips. :-(

Updates

Here are some updates for everyone:

New Address: 1807 NE 16th Pl, Ocala, FL 34470
Phone Numbers: Still the same as WA for now

I have checked on the cost of installing a pool lift. The cost for a manual pump lift is around $2,600. The cost for a battery operated lift is around $3,500. Those prices include installation. So anyone wishing to contribute to the "Get Peggy Into the Pool Fund," please feel free to forward your donations. ;-)

I have a new assistant starting on Monday. Her name is Sarah Usher. She is a licensed massage therapist. I'm really excited about that...she's already researching massage and MD. She'll be working Mon-Thu from 12-5pm.

Alot going on

Let me get all medical news out of the way.

Dad's MRI reading had good news. Everything looked really well. In fact, October will be his last chemo treatment...I guess a plus since they told him he was on it the rest of his life.
Still no driving, but all doctors are supposed to collaborate this month and let him know if he can drive once he is off chemo....I really hope they say yes, it will make his bucket list that much easier to complete.

Mom had a meeting with her surgeon. I guess it's gonna be a 3 step process in order to possibly go ahead with surgery.
1. They have to take her off of all her ulcer medications, as well as a few of her other meds, for a period of 5 days. During which she will have daily contact with medical staff to monitor her status.
2. After the 5 days, they will then do a sleep test on her. Put her to sleep, put a tube down her throat, apply radiation, and then use a camera to view how much damage is in her stomach because they believe there is bleeding again.
3. Once they receive these results they can plan the next step, surgery or not.
She really wants the surgery to happen and if it does, the outcome is totally up the air, but the surgeon isn't optimistic, but only time will tell.

Gram is in the hospital. Gram brought her to the hospital Monday morning. They are trying to determine if it's severe stress or a heart attack. They should know more Tuesday afternoon.

She has been under a great deal of stress, especially when it comes to the health of her kids. All of them are sick and some terminally, so she finds it hard to deal with the fact that she is healthier than most of her kids.
Dad-cancer, Uncle Larry-cancer/diabetic, Uncle Phil-liver failure(waiting for transplant), Aunt Sue-just had hysterectomy(cancer results Tuesday).
Not to mention the 2 that already passed. Nancy(cancer) and Uncle Steve (Lou Gherricks Disease)
Well I suppose that's it medically.
Here is what is going on with Dave and I.
We have been slowly moving in to our new place, however we need to pick up our pace since official move out date is fastly approaching. And it has come to attention that we have too much crap. Even after having a yarsale and giving away other stuff, we still find ourselves with too much stuff.
Bailey had his first visit yesterday to the place and overall he did very well. He had a few outburst with barking, but that is because our upstairs neighbors apparently like to stomp up the stairs and slam doors. Not to mention yell curse words to each other. Yesterdays outburst was totally uncalled for. Any guy that uses the C word, should have his mouth washed out with soap.
So far, no luck with the job search, but I suppose there is always unemployment til something happens. I have multiple applications out and we are starting to put ones in for Dave. I have applied for Hospital Audit(day shift), TDBanknorth Teller, Colby College Financial Aid Services, PETCO assistant manager, and then a few other pidly jobs.

The only other exciting thing that has happened, is I went to a Kelly Clarkson concert on Sunday. It totally rocked and I am so excited that I got to go. I bought the tickets before I knew we were going to be paying rent on two places, otherwise it wouldn't have happened. Vicki and her boyfriend went with me. It was just a very surreal evening. The way she interacted with the audience, it felt as if I was just watching a friend up on stage having a good time. Just awesome.

I guess that is enough rambling. Talk soon!

Happy Anniversary

Here's wishing you both a great day!!

Happy Birthday!!

Hope you have a great birthday Darcy!!

From Sliding To Swinging

I have never been thrilled with the sliding patio doors on our home so we contracted with Northwest Windows & Doors to replace them with French Doors. We were expecting the doors to be installed sometime in November because they told us their installation schedule was so backed up, but yesterday I got a letter in the mail (how quaint...in the mail :-) saying we were slotted for installation on October 1st! Not a lot of notice but hey, better sooner than later.

So, here's the pics...Before...During...and After.





We need to touch up some painting on the outside and inside, but I think they look great. The best news, though, is that they were running a special where they paid the sales tax, we'll get a couple of hundred dollars back from Puget Sound Energy for new insulated doors, and we'll get about five hundred dollars back from the IRS too. So, we saved about $1,000 on the $2,400 purchase.