Catching Up

-As happy as I was that Slumdog Millionaire won, I was even happier to see the way the young kids were being taken care of by older cast members.  You cannot believe what a huge culture shock this trip would be for those kids, on so many levels, and I was extremely concerned when I heard they were being brought over for the Oscars.  But watching how carefully they were mentored really reassured me.

-I am starting all over with my foot.  So far there have been a total of 4 procedures in 3 surgeries and I am still in pain and unable to walk without a limp.  It is extremely frustrating, first, because of the pain; second, because of all of the time and money that have already gone into fixing it; and third, because it impacts so many other things--like making my hip hurt, or trying to get healthy and lose some weight.  At this point I am willing to do whatever it takes to fix it.  But after the first disasterous surgery, and then believing that the second doctor was going to fix things (and didn't), I am very cynical and somewhat fearful.  I see the latest new doctor on Thursday. 

-JLO is having yet another ultrasound as she is 34 weeks and measures 36 weeks.  Everyone has told her that she's huge, but her weight is actually going down.  They are also going to do some blood work as her blood pressure is just reaching an iffy level.  I'm waiting to hear from her.

-I was unable to find anyone who was willing to deal with the small shipment of things we want to get up to the kids.  Because it has to go from the US to Canada, the prices I was given were ridiculous.  So I'm boxing up some things for JLO that she might be able to use when the baby first arrives, and the rest can wait.  Eventually we will be living much closer and can deal with getting the stuff to the girls ourselves.  But it's very disappointing as I know there are some things they would enjoy having sooner rather than later, and some of it is stuff I wouldn't feel comfortable shipping by FedEx or UPS or such (and some stuff--like a chair--just can't go that way).  Why are the things that seem to be no brainers the ones that turn out to be hassles?

-I think we have had our last visit to the 30s for this winter.  We have planted the tomatoes and peppers and look forward to great bounty come May!  Last year, not knowing anything about gardening in this climate, I put everything in too late and it all fried when summer came.  I've never done 2 plantings before, but here it's possible to do tomatoes in spring and then again in fall.  Interesting...  The husband cleared the corner of the yard, and I'm thinking about what pretty things to put in back there.  We've also finished our pruning and cutting back, so I will have to see if the roses come in any better this year.  This climate is not really a good one for roses unless they can stand heat and humidity, and I don't think that was a consideration when these were purchased.  I've made a list of roses better suited to this climate and will see about replacing them as needed.

-It's also feels like spring because I got rhubarb at the grocery store and made the wonderful strawberry/rhubarb cobbler that we haven't had in 6-7 years (there's no rhubarb in India that I found).  HEAVEN.

-Invited 2 couples for dinner on Saturday--so that I would be forced to clean the house!  Hey--whatever works.