Hey Jeremy & Cathy, I'll givum credit, the Pack gave the Devils all they could handle the other night, despite the "Cameron Crazys". I agree with the announbcers, it's a shame there's not a rematch in Raleigh.
Hey Barry, appears thee 'Grinch" took advantage of the Heels in "Whoville". Oh well, like State, Carolina continues to play well with a bunch of freshmen who don't paly like freshemn.
Christie, there is only one BLUE in your state and it ain't Caolina Blue. You know, it's that navy know as "Devil Blue" Heck, even the Devil womens' team continues to rool along as well. Now they're rated No. 2, but hey, what ya gonna do with the Tennessee women as long as they win too. Believe it or not, even the Hokie women have a better record than they're counterpart men's team. In case it matters to any one, Yes, I support Tech's decision with Marcus Vick. As Chris appropriately put it, "You can take the boy out of the Hood, but you can't take the Hood out of the boy.".
Well, that's my stopry, for the time being. and I'm stickin to it.

Granddaddy Blanchard

In 12 minutes, it will be Saturday, and I'm up...Yes, I went to bed, but couldn't sleep. Finally, after catching my breath, now that Jason is home from the hospital and Hannah, Amber and Clay have returned home, I can think. Although now that is not a easy thing. My heart is hurting. I lay in bed thinking about Rick's dad and mom. Plans are to admit Mr. Blanchard (89 years old) into Britthaven Nursing Home on Monday. Over the last 33 years, I have loved and greatly respected him. His quiet disposition, his sense of humor, his strong, but quiet presence made it so easy to love him. Even now, it's great to be around him, though after we've gone, he ask Nanny, his wife (80 years old), who were those people who just left. His reaction to us when we are there never lets us know that he doesn't know who we are. Is it after we're gone, he doesn't remember who we are, or did he never realize it was us? If he never realized who we were, what a greater witness of his character...that he would treat us like family...even though he doesn't know us. Carrying on a conversation with him is difficult now. It's like trying to fit the few words that he can say clearly together to make a thought. For some time now, as long as he's home, his days go better. When he goes somewhere during the day, he get disoriented and it takes a day or two to get himself back together. What will this move to the nursing home do to him?

Then I think of Nanny, and most of you know that even though I love many things about her, and realize that she's been a great mother-in-law and grandmother, there are things that I don't like about her. I hurt for her also. For the last several years, she has gradually become the complete caretaker of the home, the yard, the finances, and finally Mr. Blanchard. This job has consumed her and robbed her of part of her health and her retirement during her mature years. Now what will she do...When he's gone? I think that her feeling of guilt about putting him in the nursing home will prevent her from getting out and start living again. Caring for him in the daytime wasn't too difficult, but when he started staying up a big part of the night, pacing from window to window looking out, made it difficult for her to get her rest. Diane and Rick knew something had to be done for her well being and encouraged her to look for other options.

I also hurt for Rick. He has been challenged this last several years. He revealed to me just before Christmas how hard it's been. When he bought the shop, he imagined that his dad would come around and sit by the wood heater (that's not there anymore) and spend time with him during some of his retirement days. He imagined taking rides and talking about cars with his dad, but that didn't happen often. Not long (my memory fails when) after Rick bought the shop, his dad had colon cancer. During his recovery, his driver's license lapped and he could never pass the sign test to get them back. He hadn't ever driven much out of the area and he just could not pass that test. That took some of his retirement joy. He had to rely on Nanny for all transportation. I truly believe that Nanny has taken good care of him, but her complaining about it and some of her comments has "shut" Ricky out. When I say "shut" him out, that's his response. He'd rather not go see them that to have to listen to Nanny complain and call Mr. B. Names. He won't tell her how he feels and I know that she sometimes thinks his actions say, "I don't care". Well they do, they say, "I don't care to be around you, Mama, if you're going to complain and talk bad about Daddy". Nanny had some "coping" problems in her younger years. Rick feels like his daddy was patient with her then and feels that she should be more patient with him now.

Please keep them all in your prayers for there will be difficult days ahead.

Back to Jason, the doctors think that he has a fungus in his lungs. The antibiotics that his GP prescribed were just fuel for the fungus and made it worse. He is being treated with 5 different medicines, one being a steroid. He'll need to stay out of work another week per his doctor. As best as I know, the biopsy results are not in yet.

Bertha said that the reason that she's not keeping us informed by blogging is that the children and Hannah have been sleeping at her house and the computer is in the room where the children sleep. Hope all goes well.

Yes, I have a crew of four coming tomorrow morning to start tearing out my kitchen. I'm really excited. Hope it won't take them longer than they anticipate. I've been promised that they'll be finished in time for me to put the kitchen back together in time for the Super Bowl on Feb 5. Of course I could do it without a kitchen, but I also don't have any other room either. The dining room is totally full and there are boxes in the hall and even a couple in the living room. You would not think so much could go in the kitchen, but it's also the laundry room, the pantry and the linen closet outside the bathroom. I'm exhausted. I've worked on it for two or three full days and at least a couple of hours each night. I hope I never have to do it again. The last one lasted 26 years so I'd be 89 the next time. I'll let my kids take care of it the next time.
All are in my prayers. Margaret

Jason

Talked to Bertha today and she said the procedure which they did on Jason showed no tumors but he does have a sticky substance in his lungs. He also had thrush in his mouth which could come from the antibiotics he has taken and some of that might have gotten in his lungs but was not definite on that. Hopefully she will get a chance to blog tonight with more details. Ed did not see the doctor today as he was in emergency surgery (the doctor, not Ed). Made another appointment for the 30th.

What I know

I talked to Hannah last night and here is what I know. Jason was still coughing up blood in his phlegm and I think still having some blood when he blew his nose. Hannah said his doctor is doing the procedure where they put him to sleep and run a telescope down his throat to have look this morning. They will also be doing a biopsy of his lung tissue. When she told me this I asked if they had seen anything in his CT scan to make them want to do this. She said not that she knew of. Jason's doctor came in to see him yesterday morning and Hannah was working so she didn't get the full details. She had to be over at the hospital at 7:00 this morning. She said she would call me when they knew anything. I'll try to keep everyone posted as best I can.

Good luck Jeremy & Cathy with your move and extra luck to you, Cathy on finding a job. Just b/c you both went to State doesn't mean you can't like CAROLINA BLUE!!!!!!

Hope everything goes well with your visit today Uncle Ed.

Lots of Love!!!! Christie

Yesterday, Jeremy and I signed the offer to buy a home in Sanford, NC. Sanford is approximately 20-25 minutes southwest of Raleigh. The sellers have accepted, so it looks like we have found a place to live. Now, I just have to find a job to pay for it. We love the house, except the color. It is a few shades away from CAROLINA BLUE! Nothing a little paint won't take care of. There is plenty of room for our dogs to roam and much further from the highway than we are now. We are very excited.

Dad goes to the doctor today for his hernia.

Someone let us know how Jason is doing.

Does anyone have an update on Jason? I called Bertha today and again tonight, but did not get her. Margaret

It seems that our family's prayers needs seem to keep us busy. We still keep Jeremy's father and all of his family in our prayers. Good luck with the job and move Cathy and Jeremy. Next was Ricky with his kidney stones. Then Ed with his hernia. Now we include Jason. Of course, I, and hope all of you also keep Chris in your prayers. Even without physical problems, I guess we need to pray for each other. I know I can always use extra prayers. Gene and I seem to be pretty well right now. I did have a virus on Friday and Saturday, but that nothing compared to other's problems. Love to you all, Margaret