Off with the old knee, On with the New House

Merry Christmas

shirleyfread — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 03:51:35 +0000

Mom is progressing very well since her knee surgery. I take her tomorrow for tests and a check up regarding her bladder cancer. The house is in its last stages of being ready. It won’t be long until we will be moving in!

Mom is walking a little more everyday

shirleyfread — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 01:22:23 +0000

I got back from visiting with my Fread cousins for Thanksgiving. Mom is walking down the hall a little further everyday. Dr Wilson said she should be able to come home on Monday.

Its Sunday and we don’t know where we are going or when we are going

shirleyfread — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 15:17:12 +0000

Mom tore lose some scar tissue from her surgery back in 96 when she had her left breast removed. This has slowed her physical therapy and we are suppose to leave the hospital today, but we don’t know where we are going because we can’t go home, Mom is not able to move herself around yet, and I’m not strong enough to, she can be moved to DeWitt Hospital according to Dr Wilson, but when the hospital up here talked to DeWitt Hospital, according to HIPPA they couldn’t use Mom’s name and DeWitt didn’t know this hospital was talking about Mom so it is one big red tape nightmare. Thanks to the that handles all of that, because we won’t have to worry with it they will!!!!

Mom is coming along fine, she just doesn’t have a left leg that she can use and her left arm is pretty useless now also. At least they know now when I’ve been saying “I can’t do that because of my surgery” since it has happened to Mom maybe they will realize I was telling the truth. I think my doctors and my mother were the only ones who belived me. I really can’t vacuum the floor for more than 5 minutes without severe pain in my chest! Repetitive motion, heavy lifting (for me more that 20 pounds unless it is something that I can hold really close to me.

It is a wonderful Sunday for Landmark. A special stain glass piece will be placed above the bapistisy in memory of Uncle Shelby by one of the Edwards close friends from Alymra. Mom and I both wish we could be there. It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since Uncle Shelby left us for his home in the sky. So many loses for the Edwards family in 2005 and 2006. Heaven is a better place because of it, but it leaves those behind with an empty place in our hearts. I know many years of enjoyment will be had by the beauty of the momorial.

This is Shirley, not Charlene and I want to say

shirleyfread — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 11:06:12 +0000

thanks to everyone that has visited this site and responded with all of your kind and loving words of encouragement and your prayers. Charlene and I came over last night, she took me out to the 1620 restaurant and had a nice quite dinner of grilled Salmon with souffle for dessert.

We stayed at the Governors Inn behind Parker Cadillac. We had a good night of rest and are up and ready to go to the hospital.

I know I don’t have to say this but keep me in your prayers. It will be a while before I am back to the ole self, but Charlene is a good nurse and is taking good care of me.

Love to all,

Shirley

The night before (was Two days)before update two day tickle shirley meme

shirleyfread — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 12:16:44 +0000

It’s Wednesday night and we are at the hotel with wake up calls for 4. We had a very nice dinner at 1620. We had crab claws, grilled salmon, rack of lamb and a souffle. I’ll update tomorrow every time there is something to update.

I will be updating constantly on Thursday, so you can check here to find out what is happening. I will have my laptop with me and the hospital has wireless internet so as we get updates at the hospital, I will enter them here on Mom’s blog.

Some have asked me “what does Shirley need or want for the new house? She has started a new collection of lighthouses” But please do not take this as a “buy something for Mom”, I just know some of you will regardless.

With only 2 days before surgery everyone is trying not to act nervous. We all know the prayers people have been praying for Shirley have been heard by God and I ask you to continue to add her to your prayers. We found out yesterday that the flooring will be done when get back, the handicap ramp will be finished, yet all of that will be in the new house, but it will let us get Mom in to see the work that has been done in Dad’s electric wheelchair.

Donald Pike has started on the glass display cases, the kitchen island, the oven wall and is almost finished with the window casings and baseboards. We go over everyday to watch the progess and so much is going to be happening while we are gone, it will be a boost to Shirley when she gets home to work hard with her rehab. I plan to start packing the collectibles while all Mom sits, she can type where they came from, who gave them to her or whose they were and will take a picture of them before boxing them. I just not sure where we are going to put the boxes!

I thought that I would have a two day meme since there will be at least two hours from the time that Mom and I have to be at Arkansas Surgical Hospital and her surgery. If you have ever had surgery, you know how nervous that time is. I found some funny and silly things and if you would like to send them back to me I’ll keep mom’s time busy between medical stuff with funny things to keep her mind from being worried. We have always tried to laugh instead of cry, smile instead of frown so here are the questions, fill in the blanks, or if you have a funny memory of Mom or Dad that you would like to send it, please do. We will get up between 4:30 & 5 and she will be the second knee replacement on Thursday so there will be lots of slack time so let’s keep her laughing and cheerful.

Reply to the email with your answers or put them in the comment section. Don’t think you have to answer them all and if you have a funny story or comment for Shirley, just add it at the bottom of the email. If you leave a comment here, it has to be okayed before it shows up (requirement of wordpress). I know there are more funny stories about Charles Ed but those will count because most do involve Shirley in some way.

Feel free to answer the questions with why you gave the answer you did and remember you don’t have to answer them all!

1. What song reminds you most of Shirley

2. Ten words to describe Shirley (it doesn’t have to be 10 exactly)

3. Television show or characters that remind you of Shirley

4. Three things you first think of when you think of Shirley

5. If Shirley was a bird, what kind of bird would she be

6. If Shirley was a flower, what kind of flower would she be

7. If Shirley was an animal, what kind of animal would she be

8. If Shirley was a meal, what foods would be included

9. If Shirley was a desert, what kind would she be

10. What is the funniest thing you remember about Shirley

11. What is the strangest thing you remember about Shirley

12. What is your favorite remembrance about Shirley

13. What is your favorite food cooked by Shirley

14. What bible verse or saying reminds you most about Shirley

15. What is something that you have never said to Shirley but never had (now is your chance to tell her)

16. My favorite thing about Shirley is _____

17. I remember meeting Shirley from the time when she was about ___years old

18. I remember Shirley mostly (doing what)

19. I think if Shirley could live anywhere in the world(except Arkansas) she would want to live in

20. My favorite memory of Shirley is

Thanks everyone, and we will be in the hospital most likely until Sunday, so don’t think you have to send this in today, we will be there for at least 3 days.

Honoring all who serviced in armed services

shirleyfread — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 00:52:02 +0000

I can remember selling poppies with Grandma and Aunt Mary and placing flags at graves with Grandpa and Uncle Bill. They served in what they referred to “Forty and Eight”. It’s my remembrance that it meant forty men and eight mules. Grandpa would not talk about WWI at all, even if I begged him for school reports. “Wars are horrible things that are sometime necessary, but are best forgotten” would be his reply. I often wonder what this tall, strong, gently, loving and religious man went through during the war. As far as I know, he never spoke to anyone in the family about the things that he went. I do know that he was in Paris France at some point in time because I found some things he returned home with while helping Grandma clean out the attic. Grandpa and Grandma raised wonderful children and installed so much in their children and grandchildren. Uncle Athelone and Uncle Wayne both served in wars I believe, it is sad that I did not find out their experiences while they were alive. I don’t even know if Uncle Shelby was in the armed forces. Wrapping up the getting ready to go to Little Rock on Monday and Tuesday. Got to get Dad’s wallpaper border up in his room while I still have Mom to help me. There’s a lot that has to be rearranged since we are going to be gone for several days. Happy Veteran’s day!

This doesn’t really apply to vetern’s but it does apply to those who protect us…thank you Charles Anderson for sending it in.

Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth’s rite of passage?
His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone.

He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the
blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry
out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he is a< /SPAN> MAN.

He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must
come
into manhood on his own.

The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild
beasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even some hum an might do him harm. The
wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically,
never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a
man!

Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed h is
blindfold. It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump
next to him. He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from
harm.

We, too, are never alone. Even when we don’t know it, our Heavenly Father
is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us. When trouble comes, all
we have to do is reach out to Him

IF that is what you like, it is just beautiful!!!!!

shirleyfread — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 22:35:19 +0000

Dad came over to the new house to check up on my painting of the West Wall where the glass case is being built. For once I heard my Dad coming behind me, (thank you falling angel) because I was standing on the third rung of the ladders facing the wall with a piece of a sponge that Ken discovered for Mom when we went on our 1 year from meeting vacation. We stumbled into a fishing village that harvested sponges that they had started growing–as like a crop, not from nature. FOREVER THE ENVIRONMENTALIST, Ken loved nature. and keeping it as green as possible.

When he got close to where the triangular island. HE. STOPPED. HE took another step and I asked, “How d0 you like the painting I am doing on the wall?” Charles. ED. FREAD. Stopped, twisted his lips and sucking air and with a pregnant pause exclaimed in his commanding voice, “IF THAT IT WHAT YOU LIKE, IT IS JUST BEAUTIFUL!!!” My dad had just given me the greatest complement ever!!! He has never expressed any complement ever as beautiful, loving, tender, showing me s0 much love and he was proud of me. Nope, not once before. It continues….got to go to Aunt Liz’s Birthday party, will finish when I return.

Shirley’s Sassy Saturday’s Silly Sixes Memes

shirleyfread — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 03:35:45 +0000

Shirley is painting on a wooden lighthouse for her new house. She is using lighthouses to decorate her bathroom and the computer room. Every day it seems that her knee hurts more and now her right knee is showing pain from her favoring that leg. Dad and I keep telling her that she should be using a walking stick like we do. She did use it the other day when we were in Little Rock and she said it helped. I’m painting my longest wall where a glass case will be that will be filled with hummingbirds, fairies, angels, gnomes and crystals. I’m sponging on the 13 colors that will be in my comfortable. When I saw the comfortable I said I have to have that….it has all of my favorite colors in different shades and hues. The paint store lady looked at me funny when I told her I wanted 2 gallons of each of the 13 colors. The glass cases (there will be 3 in the house are a necessity due to my angel Bengal cat Misty. I just found out that Misty will be getting a baby brother or baby sister (same father, different mother) in about 10 weeks, which will be not to far past my 50th birthday. I hope I’m not to old to have another baby past 50. Misty really needs another kitten for her social development. Misty will be the Queen Bengal because she will be about a year and a half older.

November 10,2007 Shirley’s Sassy Saturday’s Sixes Memes

There will be winners for each of the questions. You can repond on the comment section or by replying to my email. If you would like to be on the email list to obtain Mom’s updates and the memes, just email me and let me know. My email is charlenefread@yahoo.com.

Here is Shirley’s Sassy Saturday Silly Sixes Meme:

1. If you were to count to three on your fingers, would you hold up your thumb, index and middle finger, or your index, middle and ring finger?

Shirley-index, middle and ring finger

Charlene-Index, middle and ring finger

Charles Ed-I use my toes to count

Amy-Index, middle and ring finger

Lester-Index, middle and ring finger

2. You go out to eat and you order a plate of twelve chicken wings. Do you actually count them before eating?

Shirley-No

Charlene-yes

Charles Ed- I’d hide 4 in my pocket and tell them to bring me 4 more

Amy-no I just eat them

Lester-yes, I don’t want to be cheated

3. If you’re all alone on a dark and stormy night when a particularly scary movie comes on, will you watch it or change the channel? Shirley-change channelsCharlene-watch it

Charles Ed- I only watch Great American Country Amy-depends on if I want to watch the movieHal-watch the movie

Lester-In the first few minutes, I’ll know if it’s any good, and I’ll make my choice, stay or go on.

4. How many years has it been since you last went trick-or-treating?

Shirley-since Robbie was 6 (35 years ago)

Charlene-when I took Lee Joseph(cousin Amy Fread’s son) 15 years

Charles Ed-I try to trick as much as possible

Amy-this year, I handed out candy but would scare the sh** out of them before they got to the door

Lester-Since my son was seven or eight years old, and he’s 45 now

5. What was the last food you picked up from a restaurant and ate at home?

Shirley-last week when I had to go for my pre op appts

Charlene-last week when Landmark Baptist Church had a fish fry

Charles Ed-the only food I bring home to feed my family is when I get a deer and I haven’t killed one yet this year

Amy-I picked up pizza but ate it in the car before I made it home

Lester-hamburgers from Sonic

6. What is the most unlucky thing that has happened to you all week?

Shirley-I tore my shirt putting Walmart bags in the back of Charlene’s truck

Charlene-when I left the scene of an accident after hitting a grocery cart at Kroger and Officer Turner showed up at the house a few minutes later and it was a car that I knocked the mirror off of instead of a shopping cart.

Charles Ed-having to listen to Charlene with all of this crap

*************Disclaimer- some of the answers to Charles Ed he wouldn’t answer so I answered the way I believed he would—Charlene

Amy-when I had to put my car in the shop

Lester-some times it’s when I wake up

The countdown has begun

shirleyfread — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 02:50:45 +0000

We’ve started a list of things that we are going to need for several days at the hospital and actually have some things packed. We’re trying to get all of the furniture for the new house redone and might even make it if the weather says without rain.

Charles keeps asking “when are both of you leaving?” I think he thinks he’s really going to enjoy both of us gone where he can get his “peace and quiet”. I wonder how long before he is ready for us to be back!

Friday Fill in

shirleyfread — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 12:58:56 +0000

You can always play along with us in the comment section! Just add your answeres there. Mom will love it! Charles Ed even played along!

Friday Fill-Ins

Friday, November 9, 2007

Friday Fill-In #45

1. Plans and schedules _______ .

Shirley: get rescheduled so I can get a new knee quicker!

Charlene: are proof that God has a sense of humor.

Charles Anderson-.Friday morning, my wife and I are driving to Dallas to help a good friend of mine and also one of our classmates (Tom & Janet Bracewell Hollanger) celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. He was my best man when at Mine and Pat’s wedding and I was his best man.

2. I’m happy when things _______ .

Shirley: are peaceful and quiet.

Charlene: are without conflict.

Charles Anderson: Go Smoothly
3. The last thing I drank was _______ .

Shirley: milk

Charlene: coke

Charles Anderson: coffee

Charles Ed : coffee
4. One of the most valuable things in my life is _______ .

Shirley: family
Charlene: my mother and father

Charles ED: putting up with Charlene

Charles Anderson: Jesus Christ
5. I like _______ on my pizza.

Shirley: pepperoni
Charlene: candian bacon
Charles Ed: nothing

Charles Anderson: Hamburger

6. Dear November, _______ .

Shirley: where have you gone?
Charlene: Thank you for giving mom a new knee
Charles Ed: you are crazy

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to _____, tomorrow my plans include _____ and Sunday, I want to _____!

Shirley: And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to _quiet supper____, tomorrow my plans include _finishing the furniture____ and Sunday, I want to __go to church, Sunday School, and hopes everyone likes the preacher that will be preaching___!