11-18-02

Jack wants to leave and not eat the complimentary breakfast. I have to have blood work at Dr. Chow�fs for my biliirubin. Jack gets a prescription filled. We head to LeRoy and do some banking. It is good to visit with all of them. We go back to visit Jack�fs mom. She is so upset since they are changing her wing to an Alzheimer�fs unit. She cannot sit at the front door anymore. She will also be eating in a different area. She said it is just like prison. We tell her goodbye when she goes for supper. We head for Mom and Dad�fs. We stop for a sandwich at Arby�fs at Dwight. We sit and visit with them and go to bed.

11-19-02

Joanie and Al come over for lunch. We play dice (Zonk) and 65. We have a lot of fun. Dad, Mom, Jack and I go to the restaurant for supper.

11-20-02

Jack takes off for the day to go to the car dealer and see his mom. Mom and I play Zonk for $1 per hand. She wins 4 and I win 1. Joan and Al pick Mom and me up and we drop Al off and I drive their bug to Naperville. We eat at Famous Daves for lunch with Jason. Then Joan, Mom and I shop at Kohl�fs. Mom buys some of the things I pick out for her. We had so much for lunch that we don�ft want supper. Dad eats and Jack shows up. Jack and I go to Tim Littlefair�fs to see his Mickey collection in his garage. Karen brings Kailey by to visit us. She used to look just like Shayne, but now she looks like Kari. So ends another day at my former home.

11-21-02

Jack and I leave around 10am. We get a cookie and coffee. Then we decide to have nachos and beer at Hogs and Kisses in Lake Geneve, WI for old times sake. It is quite enjoyable. We get to Michael�fs and Ava has just woke up from her nap. She has changed so much in the month since we saw her. We all go to KFC for supper and the guys go to get their fireplace for downstairs. I get to go to bed with Ava in her big bed. What a kid.

11-22-02 thru 11-27-02

Jack helps Michael build his basement. I clean house and take care of Ava. I am in 7th Heaven! Ava is so much fun. I take her for a couple walks, go to the health club with Vanessa and Ava. Vanessa and I listen to all Christmas music. We decorate for Christmas, make caramels and do lots of fun things together. I go out for lunch with her dad and his girlfriend, Mary, and Vanessa, Erica and Ava at the Great Dane. As a reward for all our hard work, Michael is going to treat us to supper at our favorite Mexican restaurant, but Jack pays. Vanessa had to work.

11-28-02 Thanksgiving Day

I get up and help Vanessa get the turkey in the oven (the never frozen turkey is frozen on one side.) Vanessa and I prepare the dinner. Joanie, Al, Eric, Mom, Dad and Joe are the first to arrive. I am so happy that Mom has made it. She hasn�ft been doing too well; she can hardly walk. Next comes Steve, Debra and Mother. And last but not least is Marc, Denise and Jason. Everyone helps to set the tables, including Mother. We sit down to dinner at 1pm as planned. Joanie made some turkey favors out of cookies and candy. Ava gets one and thoroughly enjoys it. She is one chocolate mess. Everything is extra good since I didn�ft have to prepare all of it. Erica, Joanie and I do the dishes that won�ft fit in the dishwasher. Most of the guys head back to Michael�fs home theatre room to play games. Several of us play Zonk (Vanessa calls it Garbage.) Everyone stays for supper. Then they leave around 7-8pm. Jack, Mother and I stay at the Amerihost Hotel. She only gets up a couple times that I have to help her. She doesn�ft seem much worse than when we did this 6 months ago.

11-29-02

We go back to Michael�fs for breakfast. They have Vanessa�fs homemade caramel rolls and have made flavored coffee for me. What a treat! Vanessa has to work from 10-2. After she leaves, the rest of us go cut down �gour�h Christmas tree. Ava and I ride a horse-drawn wagon there. She loves it. I put the lights on the tree with Ava�fs help. They will put the ornaments on later. We head for LeRoy about 3:30pm. When we get to the Manor, some lady is in Mother�fs bed. This is most upsetting to her. We get her settled down and leave. We decide to start toward Disney World. We drive for a couple hours and spend the night at a Comfort Inn in Mt. Vernon, IL.