Back to the parts store today.

Our Monday was turned on end yesterday, very early. I had waken Krl about six-thirty, to allow her time to cough and spit and sputter, before she had to begin drinking her barium dye. The medical imaging place called and needed to reschedule her appointment. Now it was 12:30pm. Please arrive thirty minutes early.

I blame the attorneys for the six pages of paperwork we had to fill out. I have a real problem with the questions most pages repeat. Of course they had to have picture Id with our insurance card, then the next two pages have blanks for this same information. Hippa forms. Releases for injections and Iv's.

Finally they called Krl back. Already her stomach was revolting against the thick dye. I could hear her stomach rolling over and over. When they took her back, they began an iodine Iv, and gave her an injection. Stomach, liver, pancreas, kidneys, ovaries, the lower abdomen in general. Dr. Mackie had ordered a multitude of tests.

I appreciate him trying to do as much as he can at a time. No sense in subjecting Krl to this over and over. When we get the results back (which they said could take twenty-four to forty-eight hours), we will move to the next stages of diagnosis. Of course we are hoping for Monday's tests to reveal nothing. Which in this case is good. The next step will be an esophageal scope (I forget exactly what they called it) followed by a colonoscopy.

Please continue to lift up Krl and Dr. Mackie for good results!

After we left the imaging place, I told Krl that she probably needed to eat something to hopeful dilute or flush the thick dye from her system. IHOP was the restaurant of choice.

My day was spent on the cell phone yesterday. By noon, it was showing one bar. By three it was on the charger again. I can't remember what it was like before I had this appliance attached to my ear, but I would sure like to try it again.

I began the day with my usual call from Rian, in transit to School. Then I began looking for loads for trucks, then driver calls. I returned calls to the insurance company about Ollie's wrecked car. They needed to ask me some questions and get my address since I am the lien holder. That one phone call expanded to five. They say the car is only worth 3000 something and repairs will cost over 8000. So I had to figure the payoff as of yesterday.

I then began checking on truck parts. Number one was the transmission I had left at the shop on Friday. Three gear sets, plus two single gears, plus a shifting fork, plus synchronizers. Almost 2500 in parts. With labor, we wee over 4000. The service manager told me he would recommend exchanging the transmission. It would cost about 400 more but the warranty is much better than their shop warranty. Now we were on the computer, making a circle of shops that rebuild transmissions. I am not sure which one Fred used, but if I remember correctly, they would take his core, give him a transmission and he would pay a flat fee, then they would rebuild his core and send him a bill for the difference between his transmission and the flat fee. Before the day was out I had begun to get replies.

Finally I talked with Ollie, telling her when she could expect her check for the amount over the payoff on her car.

Then I talked with Rian. He was on his way to his first weigh in at Weight Watchers. He told me they had begun a "biggest loser" at school. Some of his teachers and staff decided to weigh in and pay a ten dollar entry fee. March 15 they will weigh in and the biggest loser will take the pot! They actually have two deals you could buy into. The most pounds lost, or the biggest percentage of body weight lost.

In short order I received a text message from Rian. 5.4 pounds. He was the big loser for the week at that particular meeting. His group is made up of sixteen people, meeting at Covenant Hospital at six on Monday evenings. For the group, they lost thirty-two pounds. Rian said everyone wanted to know what was working for him. He was reluctant to tell them, but he finally did. Pickles. "I ate a gallon of Kosher Dill pickles", he said.

"A gallon?", they asked.

"Yes", he replied, "I have always loved pickles, they are crunchy and tart and tangy, so they make you feel as though you are getting a treat."

"How many points is a pickle?", one of the group asked.

"Zero", Rian proudly announced.

Now Rian is using all the lines he had used on him to entice him to join Weight Watchers, on me to join. I have been by, but the meeting was already over. I need to go, and of course it would do nothing but benefit me!

I continue to put together my proposal. I find myself having a hard time staying on task. I may be having some doubt about whether I want to do it. It has been a GOD send, but it has meant a great deal of time away from home the last fifteen years. I have made a lot of friends I would never have made. I am probably just feeling a little under appreciated because it has been a long time since I have had to go through this process. It may be the new Manager, or it could be the board just wanting to exert their authority over him on major decisions like this.

I only had one driver working at the shop yesterday. One was taking care of personal business. Hopefully the one working got his truck loaded up and ready to go. We were ready to haul flatbed freight with all the necessary equipment, but when we began hauling seed, we removed all of it to lighten up the empty weight. So we find ourselves back tracking again.

I plan on taking advantage of some of our vendors being in the Eastern time zone. I will be on the phone bright and early!

It is a little crisp in our house this morning. For whatever reason, the pilot went out in our central heating unit. I kept listening to the fan blow and blow and blow, so I finally investigated. I bet that is the first time the pilot has gone out in six or seven years. It lit readily so I will hope it was just a rogue wind gust that blew it out!

I have decide that the two little houndgirls have a lot to do with how well Krl and I rest at night. The entire night is a process of realigning and positioning. I have no idea what is the preferred spot. But sometimes it looks like a shift as one will move to the other side while the other takes over the position just vacated. What really bothers me is how hard they can press against us. Before you know it, they have ooched and pushed until they have Krl and I contorted and balancing on a small portion of the remaining bed space.

I know Maple Syrple is addicted to our electric blanket. We can get out of bed and if she goes missing, you can bet she is basking under or on the blanket! She just hasn't figured out why it times out and turns off. If she learns to work the control we may be in trouble.

I sure was thankful for the warm blanket this morning! Brrr!

I visited with Pat yesterday and she told me the almanac does not look good as far as precipitation goes, from March until August. We'll hope that mother nature will decide to put these mere mortals where they belong!

I'd better get. Have a day!

FATHER, I continue to lift up Krl and Dr. Mackie for YOUR gifts of healing and care. I ask that you will help him as he diagnoses and treats Krl's ailments. I thank YOU for Rian having a good week in his self improvement program. Help him to remain on task and to be excited with his results. I thank YOU for all my friends and family and ask that YOU bless them and keep them. I continue to ask for YOUR blessing on my work proposal presentation. Help me to make good choices. Forgive me when I fall short. YOUR love lifted me!