Weds.

Rowyn got to go home today - yay!!  Blaise loves her!!  I can't upload his picture, but he's just beaming!  In her car seat she looks so little!

We had a pretty day!  We went to St Pete to the Camera Cure to get my new camera fixed.  It wasn't auto-focusing any more.  The guy looked at it and within 45 seconds, he showed us a button that had gotten moved to manual focus.  Silly us.  We didn't see that button, but now the camera focuses automatically - yay!!  We ate at Gators (inside, but right by a window).  Saw 6 dolphins come in from the Gulf.  Gators had a really good singer there today.

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B&B

Oaklyn made it thru her surgery and is doing well.  We haven't heard anything since this morning, but no news is good news as far as we're concerned.  She's a fighter. 

As for bowling, there were only 10 of us, but I bowled well!  I had a 124, 188, and a 124!  I had 4 strikes in a row, an open frame, and then 2 more strikes.  Fun!  I had high game and series for women!

Bingo...wasn't as much fun!  I didn't win again.  I need some good luck!

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Emotional Roller Coaster

We were so happy because Oaklyn was stable for 72 hours, but now we're nervous because she took a turn for the worse.  She is emergency surgery  The docs assured the kids that this is minor surgery and will be a temporary fix until she can have the surgery that was scheduled for tomorrow. 

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Good Day!

The sermon was really good today - all about excellence!  AND church was packed!  We had a great lunch with Sudi, Howard, Becky, and Jim!  Always fun to get together with dear friends!

This afternoon and evening, we had over 3" of rain.

The best news ever, though, was that Oaklyn is still stable.  Pray that she stays that way for another 36 hours or so.  She needs to have her surgery!  Also, Rowyn has been taking her bottles regularly and hasn't had any apnea, so she will probably go home on Weds!!

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Saturday

Our house looks so pretty!  Dave and I both worked and cleaned the house from top to bottom. Now that we're not a construction zone, we could do it!  I made chili with ground turkey today for our soup and sandwich night...that was a first.  It was delicious!!  I even had a second helping.

Heard from the kids.  Oaklyn had a bad day, but the doctors say she's stable and she's set for surgery Tuesday morning.  Please pray for her.  She's so fragile.  Prayers of praise for Rowyn.  Her apnea has been gone for 2-3 days and she ate 3 meals out of the bottle today!  She even got upgraded to another section of the NICU, preparing her to go home. 

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Friday

Little O had kind of a rough day today, but little R had a good day.  She took two bottles today without any feeding tube.  O got to sleep on her tummy today.  I'm sure she liked a different position.

We had a good day here, mostly.  I went with Bob & Ann to take Ann to the doctor.  Unfortunately she didn't get released to walk for another month.  I know she's really tired of being confined.  After the doctor, we went to the Legion.  Dave got the car serviced so he didn't get to come.  Then this afternoon, Dave and Bob got our bathroom done!!  Yay - it won't look like a construction zone anymore.  We've got to make soup tomorrow morning and then we'll clean house finally!!

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Good Thursday

Good news this morning from Iowa City.  O's body temp went down.  Cassie and Kyle got to hold her and even though she's sedated, she opened her eyes!  She needs more calories so she can get bigger!  R is pulling her feeding tube out!  She got to be held without any tubes today!  Now if O can get a bit bigger, she'll have her first surgery next week and with this surgery, ideally a bunch of her problems will be solved.  Pray for that outcome!

Here, I had a chiropractor treatment and I feel so much better!  Dave went to lawn care!  He had a wisdom tooth pulled yesterday, so he's eating soft foods for a few days.  Then this evening, I went to WW.  In two weeks, I'm down 8 lbs!  I only lost 1.8# this week, but that's okay.  I just need to persevere!

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Weds.

Not good news out of Iowa City tonight.  Oaklyn's temperature went higher today, so now they're giving her antibiotics, etc., to try to get it to come down.  So, please double your prayers.  She needs our prayers.  God's in charge and has her in His arms. 

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B&B

Bowling for me was pretty good.  I was top woman bowler - I had a 149, a 137, and a 142 for a 428 series.  That was pretty good for me since I got my new ball.  We went to the Dugout for lunch.  This evening's bowling wasn't that good.  I "won" $3.50, but I spent $10, so in reality I lost $6.50!

We got an update on the girls.  Oaklyn was breathing on her own, but she was getting too tired and working her heart too much.  So now she's sedated with a breathing tube again.  Her surgery has been moved back another week until she gets bigger.  She's being fed with a tube, so hopefully she can gain some weight so she'll be bigger for her surgery.  As for Rowyn, she's grown to just under 5# 3 oz, but she's still having apnea spells so she won't get to come home until she is apnea free for 7 days and eats solely from a bottle.  Right now she's getting a bottle each time, but about every other feeding she needs to rest and gets supplemented from her feeding tube.  She needs to be off of that feeding tube too before she can come home.  Kyle & Cassie get to hold her and snuggle with her a lot.  Please continue to pray from both of the girls!

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Bad Day

I woke up this morning with a bad case of vertigo.  Sick at my stomach and rooms spinning.  It pretty much has gone away.  I took a mecclazine and slept this afternoon.  I felt well enough to go to cards tonight, but I missed my Red Hat luncheon at "Chicken Salad Chick".  Darn!

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Sunday

Had a great church service as usual.  This afternoon we took Sudi & Howard with us to Whiskey Joe's where we met Nancy & Rod, Becky & Jim, and Karen and David.  We had a fun couple of hours visiting and reminiscing!  Fun times!

It was a gorgeous day here so that made it even better!!

The baby girls are doing about the same.  Rowyn needs to be able to eat more formula before she can go home, and Oaklyn  is holding her own. 

Here they are at 5 days and the second picture is of Oaklyn's meds, fluids, nutrients, etc.  Bless her heart!

 Oaklyn's on the left, Rowyn on the right.

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Saturday

Since this is the 3rd Saturday, we had our monthly breakfast at the clubhouse.  I loved the eggs this morning...and I even ate a pancake (without syrup)!  There was a full house - lots of people!

I took a nap for a little bit, while Dave and Bob finished up with Bob's place until they put the piece of wall in.  But now that Gary and Barb are heading back, they went over there and cleaned for them.  They also raked the leaves in their yard.

Kyle & Cassie got to hold both babies today - yay!  Rowyn still isn't eating well and Oaklyn is improving! 

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Friday

I've been so confused today and I've been dizzy!  I thought this was Monday all day. 

Little Oaklyn seems to be holding her own yet today and Rowyn is doing well with a few typical preemie issues.  Kyle & Cassie are going back to Iowa City to see the girls tomorrow. 

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Thursday

Today saw a bit of improvement for Oaklyn.  Thank you, Lord.  She is still in the PICU, but after they changed some of her meds, she's doing a little better.  She will now have her surgery late next week if she continues to do well.  Cassie was released today, but the babies will stay for a while.  Hopefully Rowyn will be released in a few days if her feeding stays okay. 

As for us, Dave and Bob worked all day in their 2nd bathroom.  I went to WW where I'd lost 6.2 pounds in 6 days.  Hope I do well next week!

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Weds.

No word about Oaklyn until around noon today.  She made it through the night without surgery - yay!  AND, some of her bad levels were down today - yay!!  Way to go, Oaklyn!  Keep those prayers coming!!  Meanwhile, both Kyle and Cassie got to snuggle with Rowyn...yay, again!

It's really cold here tonight - maybe will frost - yuck!  Warmer weather is on the horizon, though!!

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B&B

I want to ask everyone to pray for little Oaklyn.  She's got some heart issues and may need to have emergency surgery right away.  She is so fragile,  They're hoping to keep her stable until she grows a little.  Rowyn, however, is doing very well.  Please keep the Bennings in your prayers.

Nothing else is important tonight.  Thank you!

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Monday

This is a special day!  Kyle and Cassie's twins were born today! 

Meet Rowyn Kay and Oaklyn Eileen - our great, great nieces!  This picture doesn't show it, but they both weighed 4 lbs 14 oz and were delivered by an emergency C-section!  Welcome to the world, girls!  Can't wait to see Blaise when he sees them!  We love you already!!

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Sunday

Even I was cold today!  It was in the high 30s when I got up.  As we went to church, it warmed all the way to 43!!  Church was great - Pastor Jack addressed our President's only wanting white immigrants!  I'm glad he did that! 

This afternoon we had a birthday party at the clubhouse for Doreen who is 88 today.  There were 62 of us that I counted!  Great attendance!  I was so cold that I wore jeans this afternoon!  Some of the people about fainted that I was cold!

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Saturday

It's cold here again...grrr!  I even had to wear a jacket today.  Dave worked with Ron & Bob today and they got one of their bathrooms done.  I went to a meeting with Marilyn and Denise. I took my walk and came home to make chili for supper.  Mmmn good!

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Friday

I took Ann to the doctor this morning.  Bob couldn't because he had both electricians and roofers coming.  We went to Sam's Club after we got done with the doctor.  Actually we went back to The Ranch and picked up Dave before we went to Sam's. 

Dave and Bob, along with Ron, got one of Bob's bathrooms gutted.  Now they can live in chaos like we are!  Can't wait for the countertop to get here on 1/20!!

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Thursday

We got Ann out today.  We went with them to buy a vanity for them.  They ended up buying two!  Then we went to Bob Evans.  Ann loved getting out, but she got really tired by the time we got home.  Me, too.  I took a nap!

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Weds.

We had our monthly HOA meeting after coffee this morning.  It was our annual meeting, so we had about 40 people in attendance to vote for three directors.  Next year I'm the Vice President...hmmm?!

Then Dave and I went shopping for a vanity top.  The one I got the other day was too wide for a vanity.  It was a top for a kitchen cabinet I guess.  So for now Dave has put his old countertop on until the new one comes.  I ordered one from Lowes tonight.

We also went to Bealls and ate at a new restaurant called Chicken Salad Chick.  Boy was it good!! 

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One B Only

I didn't go bowling (none of us did - Ann obviously can't, Bob had roofers there, Dave worked on setting the vanity, so I stayed home too.)  I worked on Board stuff and even got a head start on the February newsletter.  As for bingo, I may as well have stayed home from that too!  I was close, but no cigar!

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Monday

Dave picked up our vanity this morning.  Unfortunately, he didn't get it put in yet.  Just ran out of time.

I had a board meeting this morning and tonight I fixed tenderloins and a hashbrown potato dish to share with Bob & Ann.  I rode my bike this morning and I walked this afternoon.  Bob's roofers came to work on his roof today and will continue tomorrow. 

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Beautiful Day

We finally had a wonderful day!  Church this morning and then to Bradenton for lunch with Dave's sister and her hubby!  We ate at the Beach House - outside - and it was gorgeous! 

Tonight we Skyped with Aidan (and Bryan and Erin, of course!) 

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Saturday

I got out of the house today!!  I even went for a walk!!  I walked 2nd street and around the corner down 1st street and then back to home.  I know that's not a bunch, but it was big for me.  I also went to Bob & Ann's for a while - we watched the ISU ballgame.  Unfortunately we lost in overtime.  Then we ate chili with them for supper. 

Dave got the bathroom painted and the plate covers up.  Now we just wait for the cabinets to get delivered.  Yay!

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Friday

I'm confused about what day it is.  I did play cards tonight and we did have popcorn, so that means that it's Friday! 

Other than cards, I didn't do much!  It's still cold out so I just stay in trying to keep warm!  Dave has the guest bath ready to paint so he's doing that tomorrow.  I don't know what I'll do...probably nothing!

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Thursday

I made soup beans and ham and cornbread for tonight.  Since Bob & Ann came back tonight, it was something warm for them.  I feel really bad for Ann.  She's going to have a long 6 weeks not being able to put any weight on her left leg.  The plane ride wasn't very good for her either! 

Soup was a success! 

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Weds.

After coffee today, Dave worked on his bathroom.  The vanity is now torn out and cleaned up.  Ken came over this afternoon to do the wiring that needed raised by at least 6" to accommodate the height of the new vanity. 

Bob & Ann get back tomorrow.  It's still very cold here but nothing like what they've been experiencing in Iowa.  I had to wear a coat today - yuck!!

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Brrrrr

Baby, it's cold outside!  It's only 45 and feels like 40...and it's not supposed to be warm again for about a week.  I don't know how long I'm going to be able to wear shorts!  So far I'm okay.  As long as I have a long sleeved jacket on, I'm good.  I must say, though, on the way to bingo, walking north, I was pretty cold!

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Happy New Year

2018 came in with a cold spell!  It was below zero in Iowa and in the low 40s here.  I even had to put on a jacket!!

We had brunch at the clubhouse today, put on by the Red Hatters.  There were several different stratas (egg casseroles) as well as waffles, mimosas, etc.  Very good and about 45 people attended.  Then it was football time!  Darn that Oklahoma - they let us down today!

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