Terri did a wonderful job bringing us all up to date on her family's "goings on". I really enjoyed the e-mail because I am so far away and not there for all the events. Thanks Terri.
New Jersey is starting to get the summer feel, temps are becoming warmer and driving down the shore seems like the thing to do these days. But weeds in the flower garden, grass that is growing all too fast, the pool that needs to be opened and cleaned before Memorial Day week end...ahhhhh, the glorious days of summer!!!!
Dad and mom (88 and 84 respectively) are doing well. Dad is certainly the caregiver to mom. He goes out each noontime and picks up lunch for himself and mom...coffee too. She eats soft foods, usually soup is best. Mom has a problem with choking on food and sometimes liquids. I make home made minestrone, chicken noodle soup etc...and she enjoys when I make my home deliveries! Dad is a constant positive force for mom. She has several pictures of her and her brothers and sisters close by to her chair in the living room. She walks with a walker most of the time but brother Larry has installed hand rails for her along the wall and also rails inside the bathtub shower for times when she does not use the walker.
On his Sunday visits Larry Joe has begun taking mom for walks (weather permitting) up to the corner of Fulton Street and back. She really enjoys that. Not sure if it's the exercise or walking arm-in-arm with Larry that is more special! I take mom for20her hair appointment every couple weeks and she enjoys the ride to and from the shop...enjoys looking at the blooming trees and flowers. After her "make-over" we go to lunch and enjoy our time together while trying soft foods from the menu. Mom now weighs less than me and I am always telling her that she's not allowed to be more sexy than me!!! Rich is at home all the time and probably does more than anyone because he is there when chores need to be done. A house cleaner is there every other week and dad and mom have grown to love her.
Mother's Day is fast approaching and already my kitchen has a beautiful bouquet from Kevin, Cara, Nicholas and Andrew. Nicholas will be 9 this coming June. Andrew will be 5 in June and starts kindergarten in the fall. Kevin while employed at Aamco has his own sign business. Cara works at their business while still waitressing at the Olive Garden.
I also have a monogramed pair of pajamas from Anthony, Janine and Luke. Anthony was stationed in Florida while in the Coast Guard and loved it so much he made his home there. (Terri tell Mark to look into St. Petersburg, Florida)They have just bought their first home in Florida. Little Luke turned 1 year old on April Fools Day! We get to spend lots of time with them when we are in our Florida home during the winter months. Anthony is a financial advisor and Janine teaches.
Andrea and John celebrated 1 year wedding anniversary this March. They are l ooking at building a home next year. We are all having a blast looking at the beautiful floor plans there are! John is a graphic designer and Annie with a Sociology and Psychology degree and teacher certification is applying to DYFUS. She continues to bartend at the Olive Garden too.
Michael is only 20 minutes away (actually Michael, Andrea and Cara are all neighbors)...so it's easy to pay visits! Michael is dating a girl named Jill for more than a year now. We like her very much. Michael is a car salesman in Flemington.
Lauren, the baby of them all has just finished her first year at Loyola in Maryland. She had a banner year, great grades, made the dance team and met a guy we have yet to meet!!! He is supposed to come to visit here and we'll have ALL the family here to qualify him!! (We're tough) Lauren will be starting to wait tables with her sisters at the Olive Garden this summer.
Larry and I busy with our business as well as getting our golf game up to par. He is doing a much better job than I but then someone has to cook!!! When we are in Florida I golf a lot more because of less distractions...like kids, chores, etc... ha ha
Anyway, Mother's Day will be here this year. Larry says he'll do all the cooking, but I don't mind at all. Having everyone here is the best! I already made an eggplant parm ahead so I can enjoy some Chianti on Sunday!
Stay well and remember we think of you all often.
L ove you all,
Felicia
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