Humboldt Happenings

Went to see a film trailer of a feature length film created by the daughter of a family friend of ours. Keep your ears and eyes open for this gal. She is going to be a real star!

Local Filmmakers Night - Ever So Romantic Films by Maria Matteoli

Random thoughts & Photos

Having Grandkids is a lot of fun. For one thing, we get to go to a whole lot more birthday parties with all kinds of yummy cakes and goodies.

There's always plenty of hugs and kisses to go around from pretty little girls!
Along with the vast generational span created by great grand parents.


Here's my dad with one of his great grandchildren. This is my daughter's daughter.
# 7 grandbaby.

And this is # 6. Miss Mae




Here's # 8 the newest GB.

Then of course, there's the silly ones..







what fun!

Nursing School

At this point in my education I am spending time in SIM with mannequins along with several hours each week in the hospital caring for Med/Surg or OB patients. I am learning so much info that my mind feels like one of the latex gloves I wear being filled with air! You know, the ones that medical people blow up and draw like a chicken or a face or something on them. I feel very neurologically stretched, but I enjoy the newfound knowledge.

One of my favorite study spots.

Long O verdue Update

It has been waaaay too long since I've posted here. I have wanted to write, but felt a bit intimidated by the public aspect of writing my thoughts and journeys on the www. It seems more like a billboard sometimes. And, besides, what's so exciting in my life?

Well, let me tell you. Though my life may seem average and simple, it is my unique journey designed by my Father in Heaven above, and played out on a day to day basis by me! So if you are inclined to spend a few moments every once in awhile to take a peek into my existence, I will do my best to try to entertain you and not bore you!

As the weeks, months and years pass by at lightening speed, I simply try to ride the wave and stay out in front of the tsunami of life.

That being said, the recent journey began with an election. Yes, last few times I posted here, my sweet DH was running for public office. And he won! He is now a public official, wears a suit to work and both of us are members of a hoity,toity private club. We also get invited to alot of public functions like dinners, auctions, memorials, dedications, that kind of thing. We really have a lot of fun doing all of this, as we get to meet some wonderful people and eat some wonderfully delicious food (most of the time!). Of course, with public office comes lots of responsibility... and dedication, and time, and commitment. Lucky for me, my husband has all of that and I just go along for the ride.

Add to that my mid life surge. I am in Nursing School studying to be an RN. In about 18 months, I will have my license and will be using that to soar into retirement with grace and a little $ in my pocket. Actually, I am hoping to gain some experience somewhere then traveling out into the world to do medical missions. That's our hope. To put some purpose in our travels. I could start a new web site. "Traveling with Purpose". Sounds adventurous! .....well, lets just leave it there.

Still raising kids, still making soap, still taking long, meditative walks on the beach.

As life boils by like a school of krill on the surface of the ocean, I just try to stay afloat and enjoy the journey!

Kayaking

On our recent trip to visit family in SoCal, we got together a few times to go kayaking and paddle boarding at the local lagoon. With the temperatures in the high 60's, the ocean breezes at rest, and the week off from work and school responsibilities, the days allowed for plenty of family fun.


I actually did get much further from shore, though it looks like I stayed in ankle deep water!! The tide was exceptionally high this day giving us a rare opportunity to explore areas of the marshes that are usually inaccessible most of the time. Narrow fingers of water extended through acres of tall sea grasses that abounded with various kinds of shore birds. A very peaceful, delightful time of solitude on the water.

Calle thinks she should go along too!

This is as close to the water #6 wanted to get!



Gus enjoyed the time away from the office. His sidekick, my sister's dog, thought she would go along for a swim.

The Bug, as we like to call her, was our motivator for getting out there on the lagoon. She encouraged us to rent paddle boards the previous day. We had a great time trying that!!

Wes enjoying his journey

My sis who looks incredibly similar to me!! People still get us mixed up!

Beautiful November weather

A New Chapter

Here is a guest blog from my niece about my mom's condition. It's very special to see how each and everyone of us has a unique contribution as we walk through this illness with her.

Here's Mom visiting her older sister for her sister's 90th birthday. The visit was a surprise for my Aunt which made the day that much more fun and happy!! We took time to take lots of photos.


Here Mom poses with her sis and her younger brother.

Me, Mom, Aunt, my Sis and Bro.

Last night she did great. Got up 3 times. I checked on her a few times.

She woke up around 6am then I woke up pretty much minutes after I asked her a couple questions She said " I can't hear you I can't find my hearing aid!" LOL

I said they are on your floor I saw them there last night. " She said I know I have one I can not find the other one"

I went and found it for her and she said " Yvonne hates touching them because they look like guinea pigs."

I thought that was kinda funny.

They do look like some sort of small animal just being birthed.

Then Yvonne came in around 7 and Whipped up a few protein smoothies for us and whooshed out.

I was actually in my morning daze quite impressed with the speed at which she not only made Grandma smoothies but then rinsed the blender out, wiped down the blender and headed out the door.

For a micro second I had this epiphany " oh that is how you keep your house clean"

Grandma had some nausea. Apparently after she lays down when she gets up her tummy is un easy. Or maybe its just a morning thing.

I got her some pepto. she ate some Ritz. ( felt a little guilty at this point: as we ate pretty much all of her crackers not knowing she needed them in the morning)

I told her I would go get more Ritz. Yvonne said OH and get the bendy straws!

Then a about 20 minutes later Aunt Muffy came in.

Said her good mornings to Grandma. Checked in

She got Grandma all of her Morning Meds.

By the time I returned from the store around 9:30 Aunt Muffy had all Grandmas appointments lined up.and had her bile catheter bag emptied.

I started putting a cupboard full of crackers away AND DAMNIT I forgot the bendy straws!

But so far where we are at is to my understanding is.

Grandma was unofficially informed that she had Pancreatic Cancer.

The instructions from the Hospital were to call Monday to set up an appointment. Muffy did.

Wed she has appointments to officially find out the news, to remove the stint, and to hopefully find out the results of her biopsy. The Cancer Center called and I put Muffy on the phone. She set up the appointment with them for the 8th.( I know that sounds like its really far away but it really was the soonest she had and Grandma is first on the list for any cancellations.)

On the 8th She sees an oncologist. This will be to lay out how to tackle the problem and how much time Grandma does have.

Aunt Muffy handled those calls perfectly. Aunt Ceil , Uncle Joe, and Aunt Yvonne were able to set Aunt Muffy up with enough info to confidently pull off those calls. I say this because I did not feel informed enough to pull them off my self. Also Aunt Muffy read the Hospital instructions which were just a little different than what everyone remembered.

So now that all that was tackled we just mothered Grandma all day.

The first part of the day was super quite.

She ate lunch around 12. She had a 3/4 of a grilled cheese sandwich.

Then around 2:30 when she fell asleep it was like one visitor after another.

Aunt Muffy was having to turn away lots of folks.

It was ironic that as soon as she fell asleep everyone started coming. I turned off her ringer let her sleep we asked everyone to let her rest. Everyone did and graciously too.

Around 4 she awoke to tons of company and Skype with Uncle Thom.

Everyone was in full force. Visiting, loving her and noticeably staying strong.

I found joy in that.

I also notice that poor Grandma is getting worn out.

Here is my advice to all of you. Coming from an outsider looking in.

We are a family of workers, doers. We get stuff done. We like to get stuff done. We show love by what we can accomplish.

I mean not exclusively but partly.

I have watched you all and you all have different approaches. And really you all compliment each other quite nicely to be honest.

You all have your rolls in this and its quite amazing to watch.

I am just hear to support and do what it is you need from me.

But sometimes the visits they are too much.

I think we all should be good about being over there just a couple at a time. At least during her recovery.If she wants to talk let her if she is quietly watching tv let her do that too.

She is taking pain meds and can not concentrate.

She nods off about every 3 hours fighting taking a nap or resting.

I think its hard for her to be present for a long period of time . So maybe just sitting with her and not talking too much would help with that too I guess.That way she does not have to focus on staying awake too much.

She really does fight the nap and falling asleep.

I think we get our stubbornness from her.

If any of you all want super special time. I would suggest humbly you sleep over at her house to help her.

There is this moment at 6 ish that she wakes up and its just you and her.

Its quite.

I just sat with her. I let her talk.

I let her share her stories and frustrations.

It was nice.

I was able to fulfill taking care of her, sitting with her, and watching her get excited over the tennis match.

As if this was just another visit and we were just catching up. I did not fuss over her too much just quietly got up asked hey While I am up you want_______?

She would say sure please get me my ________.

She shared how special everyone has been.

How everyone has been so great. She actually loves having everyone around. But she also expressed getting tired. Especially during the evening.

She has lower abdominal cramping that makes her feel guilty for needing pain pills. Luckily I had read the article I will link at the end of this and was able to share a sentiment I found.

It help her accept that its okay to need them.

She is most happy about everyone finally being together .

I admire how you have all handled family dynamics in her company.

really with each other too.

That disagreements have not proven to equal disrespect. That the love you all have for each other and for grandmas desires shines through more than anything.

Its heartwarming.

The best times to visit are:

Between 8:30 am and 12:30

1-3:30 she is pretty sleepy

4-7:30ish

because around 8 she gets pretty tired and by nine she is nodding off.

I love you all and this is just my perspective on things.

I figured while I am staying with her I will email reports.

You know, since I have to do something this can be my contribution.

Ask away at anything you want to know and I will fill you in if I have the information.

Love always,

Jennifer

p.s I do not have everyone's email so please forward to whom you like

And I am also sorry this is a bit rambly. Its hard to get all the important stuff to everyone.

I just really appreciated the texts coming up north.

So let me know if you want to also be taken out of this thread.

Stay tuned. Tuesdays report will be much shorter. Its a free day. ;) No calls to make no Doctors appointments. It should be restful for her.

Article I found helpful.

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/08/02/100802fa_fact_gawande?currentPage=3

Mike Downey in control of Humboldt County sheriff's race; early indications point to victory

Matt Drange/The Times-Standard

Posted: 06/09/2010 06:44:39 AM PDT

Click photo to enlarge

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If early indications are correct, Mike Downey will be the next sheriff of Humboldt County.

Preliminary results have Downey with just under 67 percent of the vote, well ahead of opponent Mike Hislop, who checked in with 33 percent. The numbers were the latest available shortly before midnight, and came largely from absentee ballots with 40 of 132 precincts reporting.

Downey was celebrating the apparent victory with his campaign team at the Elks Lodge in Eureka.

”I'll say what I've said all along, and that's that we are gonna win this thing,” Downey said. “I believe that was always going to be the case.”

Downey, 54, has worked in the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office for 24 years, and has served as undersheriff since 2006. He lives in Fortuna with his wife and six children.

”I have a great committee that worked very hard spreading the word, and tonight the public is speaking,” Downey said. “I have the experience, and that's the difference.”

Downey's campaign manager Dave Walker said he couldn't ask for more at the time of preliminary results.

”We felt that we had this thing in control all along,” Walker said. “The last week we've pretty much just been on cruise control.”

At the Best Western Humboldt Bay Inn on the other side of Eureka, Hislop was optimistic at his campaign party, and said that it was still too early to tell. Hislop, 45, was with the Eureka

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Police Department for 25 years and has spent the last three years as the chief investigator for the District Attorney's Office.

”I'm feeling good,” Hislop said. “We just have to wait and see -- we still have 100 precincts that need to come in.”

The budget of the Sheriff's Office became a key campaign issue when Hislop contended that it ran over by $1.4 million last year.

”These are tough economic times,” said Hislop, who added that fiscal responsibility is huge. “Right now we need to just weather the storm.”

Downey said that it was simply a misunderstanding of how the budget process works, and that the office actually came in just $279,000 over.

”We beat that horse dead,” Downey said. “The truth of the matter is that the deficit was the result of a decrease in revenues that we could not anticipate.”

Downey said that if he wins, he plans to expand services to Humboldt County residents by maintaining six resident deputies that will each patrol a different area of the county. Other points to work on include hiring more deputies and getting a core staff together, he said.

Incumbent Gary Philp decided not to run for re-election this year, and endorsed Downey for the position. Philp's term ends on Dec. 31, when the new sheriff will take over.

”The day that he (Gary Philp) walks out the door I want to have a natural, smooth transition,” Downey said.

Downey was confident as his campaign party drew to a close, and said that once other precincts such as Fortuna and McKinleyville came in, he felt his lead would either stay the same or increase.

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At a Glance: Preliminary results with 30 percent of precincts reporting

Mike Downey: 67 percent

Mike Hislop: 33 percent