Yesterday was a somewhat busy day for us.

In the morning we got everything together to bring to Aunt Louise (ham and beans, homemade ice cream, cookies, etc) when our phone rang. Well, I told wife, we are out the door, it can wait until we get back home. But she answered it anyways (told you, she never listens to me). It was one of her nieces calling to say her mother (wife’s niece) was in the ICU at Methodist Hospital. She had a stroke last Wednesday. 49 years old!

So off to Des Moines we went to first visit Aunt Louise. And poof! On the way there, wife gets a text message from another niece. Her dad, our brother-in-law, was just admitted to the ICU at the Veterans Hospital in Iowa City! He has a big knot on the back of his neck and last word we got was they know it is full of fluid, but where is the fluid coming from and what to do. This morning, we are waiting further word on his condition. Oh, this is the brother-in-law who has had a ton of problems I wrote about earlier.

We got to Calvin Manor (Aunt Louise lives there, an assisted care place that is really nice, including the people who work there) and visited with her for a bit. Wife of course did up her hair to get her looking good. She was tickled to get the ham and beans, and could not wait to enjoy the eggnog ice cream. After a nice visit with her, off we went to Methodist to visit our niece.

Well, the straight shot street that takes us direct to Methodist had a section closed off for repairs, and with other local streets being repaired, we had to take a loop around to get to the hospital. Got there while they were bathing her, so had to wait a bit. Her sister and brother-in-law were there, and her grandfather, plus her daughter. So we had a time visiting with them. These are all wife’s relatives on her first husband’s side. But what the heck, I like them all and they seem to like me, so long time ago told them they were also my family…so we are all one big family.

Then we got to have a quickie visit with her (she was pretty tired and they did not want us to spend too much time). Her left side is pretty much paralyzed at the moment, though she did get her left foot to move a bit. She is going into therapy today (wife got message from her daughter, they did move her to the Yonkers section and she starts therapy now) to get her up and about and regain use of her left side completely. She is a fighter so she will come out okay.

Now, Sports Illustrated in their latest issue, not only profiled the Iowa Hawkeyes but put a great picture on the cover. So after leaving Methodist, it was to hit every store, grocery store, magazine store, etc. we came across to find that magazine and purchase. My wife said so! Well, first place was QT to get gas and to get something to drink. They don’t carry magazines, but across the street was a Dahl’s grocery store. So cutting across the traffic, got there and wife went in. Success! They had a shopping cart full of Sports Illustrated right there at the front of the store. So wife was very happy to get her copy. Have you got your copy?

Got home, as we did not stop for lunch. And so it was about 2pm before I ate a sandwich and had other goodies to eat.

Then wife says, lets go to the casino! So about 4pm, off we go to the casino. Terrible’s down in Osceola. Stayed there until 8pm. Lost, but had fun. Since it was my birthday, I got a free margarita and a free powerball ticket for tonight’s drawing. Told wife, if they draw my numbers, $80 million is ours. Will see.

We were planning to go to Missouri this morning. But I, even though I went to bed very early last night, could not wake up to leave early enough for us to get back in time for the Hawkeye game. So will do that trip tomorrow.

In about 36 minutes or so, the Hawkeyes will be on television and we will be watching them. Hope they beat NorthWestern, who have beaten the Hawkeyes the last 2 times in Kinnick Stadium.

Okay, that is it for now…come back often for other updates from me, and anything else I may post here.

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