Updates

OK, it's been a busy week, so for those of you who don't follow me on Facebook I thought I'd do an update.

Linda has moved to cardiac stepdown which she enjoys much more than ICU.  Most of her tubes are removed and she is making short walks in the hallway, sitting up in a chair, and showing good signs of improvement.  She looks really good for someone who was so sick.

Young Michaela Riggan is even more adorable if that is even possible.  I stopped by the house tonight on my way home and using my special great aunt powers managed to rouse her from a nap and get her eyes open before she began to cry for mommy.  That was so much fun.

The big news is no snow for Christmas!  I am so glad.  Today was unusually warm for December and after a brief visit with Linda I took advantage of the sunshine to go hiking.  It was so good to be in the woods walking.  Saw several eastern bluebirds and some deer.  Also saw 2 ticks!  Well, if I want to be somewhere warm I have to put up with that I guess. 

So, Linda probably won't be home before the 26th or so.  We've agreed to postpone Christmas.  Not that it matters to me.  I will be happy to have her home and see Mike relax a bit.  And after the New Year's traffic has cooled off and she's home and comfortable I am headed south because I know these warmer temps won't last up here.

Is There a Grandpa In The House?

Yep, there sure is.  After a short visit with Linda this morning, I went to visit the new parents with big brother Mike.  Yesterday we sort of glimpsed the newest member of the family but never got to really see her.  Today was different as you can see.

I'm the Great (aunt) Vickie

One of the best things about a home on wheels is being able to move to where I'm needed.  Don't know how needed I am or how much help I'll be, but I just had a great neice today and can't wait to hold her.  But she is tiny:  Michaela Judy Riggan (MJ) born to Michael (Danny) and Marie Riggan at 12:13 today.  Congrats new mom and dad!!

Searching For The Sun

Somehow I managed to bundle up warm enough to get the car hooked up to the rv and pointed south.  Left Kentucky just after lunch and made it about 100 miles south before stopping for a couple of nights.  Not much warmer but it is Christmas and I do need to visit with my Tennessee family before heading further south.  Tonight's low is 27 (F not C) so I do hope they appreciate how hard it was for me to stop.  Love makes you do strange things.  Looking forward to seeing the grands and then heading on to Georgia and meeting my big brother's first grandchild!  Until then you know my mantra:  DON'T LET IT SNOW LET IT SNOW LET IT SNOW!!!

Baby It's Cold Outside

Those are not words I want to say unless I'm singing them in a song.  And even then I want the image to be a faint memory.  Yesterday and last night it rained and stormed all day and night.  Yesterday the high was 65.  Today's high was at 6 this morning and it was only 59.  For me, it's not a good day when the temps fall as the day goes on.  Tonight's temps will drop down into the high 20s.  Tooooo cold for this old body.  It will be hard to say good bye to my Kentucky home and family.  I have spent the last 2 weeks basking in the glow of love and family on the farm with Madeline and her brood.  We have dug into the family roots some more and done some Christmas shopping.  I have played with the boys and watched Christmas shows with Abby.  It's been a wonderful, cozy family time, but now it's cold and the kids (and I think Madeline too) are all wishing for a white Christmas morning.  I want them to have it too.  But I don't want to be in it with them.  So I am hooking up the little orange car and pointing my wheels south.  The temps are in the low 70s in south Georgia.  Now that kind of Christmas weather appeals to me.