Let's Fall in love

For those of you who know me, I change the dining room decor to reflect the seasons...just like my hero Martha! Since Rick spilled coffee on the table cloth this morning, I thought it would be an opportune time to change into the Fall theme. LeeLoo grabbed the black Halloween cat off the table along with the OSU football toy and had a jolly old time! She is feeling much better after her dental disaster.

-Update on Kate - She is no longer in pain and doesn't need to take the Vicidin. Her eyesight has not returned, but there is still time. She may be returning to Chicago in a few weeks.

-Things are getting into a routine here. I am teaching at university on Monday and I just took on a home bound student who I will teach on Thursday's after school. Rick is getting wrapped up in football (for Donna... not the classy British game we call soccer, but the much more violent American game) and he is gone several evenings a week to referee. Lots of quiet in the Sayman household!

Hope you are all well...

Happy Birthday, Nana!

Most of you who read my blog did not know my Nana, but today is her birthday. She would have been 93 years old! She died March 8, 2003. She was born August 18, 1916. She taught me how to cook, how to knit, and how to cuss like a drunken sailor. I named my first born daughter after her and I miss her every day that I draw breath. I love you, Nana.

**In the black and white, she is on the left. The pic of her with the baby is me!

And the blind shall see

It has been a busy week as I started back to school right after my return from North Carolina. Even though the students didn't start school until Wednesday, it was the longest three day school week on record! We all need to adjust to the two month summer break.
Good news concerning Katie - She got her new glasses yesterday and the color of her iris is beginning to return! When this started it was Zombie white, then morphed to old sick dog blue, and is now healing to her beautiful, natural, emerald green. The doctor said she is doing very well. Thank you all for your prayers and good energy.
I start teaching a night class at university starting Monday and Rick is preparing to go TDY at a base in Dallas, Texas for a week. He is quite excited for the opportunity to play golf every night of the week!
Hope you are all well...

Happy Birthday, Elizabeth!!!!

To my eldest, beautiful daughter, Happy Birthday. I hope you had a great day with your baby sis there. I am glad I got to make you some special fondue for your birthday dinner. I love you!

Happy Birthday, Teri!

It is a popular day for birthdays! First, Teri, Happy Birthday. Rick did try to call earlier and I know he will try again. Hope you have a fantastic day.

No Pictures, please!

I just returned back home from North Carolina this afternoon. I am so glad that I went there to see my two girls. We took Katie to the doctors yesterday and he said that she has turned the corner and is doing better. She is able to get out and do more things, but she has to wear sunglasses and a big floppy hat. Beth and I felt as though we were shuttling around a famous movie star who wanted to stay in cognito! The best news the doc gave Kate is that she can sleep for a full 8 hours at night. For the past 3 weeks she has had to put eye drops in every 2 hours. Last week, they said she could put in a ointment at midnight and sleep for 4 hours. Now she can get a full night's rest. i am sure that will improve her healing very much. Thank you all for the prayers for her healing. They were so appreciated. We are now praying that her cornea won't be too badly damaged and she can regain her sight in her left eye. At least I know that she is getting world class care from the Duke Eye Center and from her favorite sister and brother-in-law.

Just me and the chickens

I went to the barn with Beth this evening. It had been raining since morning and a damp, humid day turned into a cool, refreshing evening. While Beth rode her horse Magic, I sat under the pavilion and read "The Time Traveller's Wife". Katie and Mike were home sleeping. Kate is doing a little bit better. She is still in a lot of pain but the resident we saw on Friday gave her an ointment to put in at midnight so she could sleep for a full 4 hours! This is a step in the right direction. During the day she still has to put in the drops every 2 hours. She has an appointment with the her doctor on Tuesday. If all goes well, I will leave for Oklahoma on Wednesday morning.

love,

mommy

Update on the update

After visiting Artist Point in Arkansas, I decided to create my own little haven for hummingbirds. Rick placed this feeder right outside the living room window and we had visitors almost immediately.

Update on Katie: She is now under the care of Dr. Carlson at the Duke Eye Clinic at Duke University. He prescribed her some awesome pain pills so she can sleep and eat. Mike has been making her good, home cooked dinners and she is able to rest. thank you Beth, you have really helped out your sister tremendously. I decided that I want to see my girls in this week that I have before returning to work at the high school. Today was my last class teaching at the university and I have to report on Wednesday morning at the high school, so i am leaving tomorrow morning for a 20 hour road trip...BY MYSELF! I guess my dear British friend, Donna, was correct, I do have a Gypsy soul.

love to all,

mommy

Katie Update

Just a quick update on Katie's eye. The doctors at U. Chicago have determined that the infection has not spread to her retina. That is very good news! The bad part is that the psuedonoma that she has is a penicillin resistant bacteria that will take a month to clear up. She is still blind in that eye and the cornea has scarring. She is flying out Sunday so her big sis and favorite brother -in-law can take her to the Duke Eye Center to see Dr. Alan Carlson. Even her doctors in Chicago were thrilled that she was going there. Please continue to keep her in your prayers.

Kat's Eye

I think I have told most of you, but for those who did not hear, Katie has a severe cornea infection. It is a bacteria and she has been going to a doctor at the U. Chicago medical center. As of now, she is blind in that eye and has suffered scarring on the cornea. She will see a specialist tomorrow. In the mean time, her wonderful sis and bro-in-law have offered to have her come to Durham for medical care. Beth is going to contact a specialist at Duke University tomorrow. Gosh Kate, you have some of the best medical care in the world available to you! Katie is in a lot of pain, so please send her good energy and healing thoughts. Perhaps light a candle and keep her in your prayers.

love,

mommy