DEXTER WILLIAM JOHNSON
He was born on Sunday. Robyn is doing great. She was in hard labor for a few hours but, she had the epidural early on and she only ,"pushed" about eight times and there he was.
I was amazed how she seemed so relaxed when she was just about to give birth.
Steve was elated. He said it was the most wonderful day of his life. I was so happy I could be with them.
I am home now but, I'll go back to LA in about two weeks when Steve goes back to work.

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The engine light on my car went on when I was in LA. I had it serviced today and
luckily there is nothing big wrong . The guy said it will not cause me any problems. Had it serviced too. Now I am good for another 3000 miles.

Just talked to Wes . He said Miranda is now crawling and pulling herself up. Claire is beginning to get into everything. She is so cute. Finn is great.
I am so blessed to have these wonderful grandchildren.

Carolyn and I are leaving for Los Angeles in an hour or two. Dana will bring the kids tomorrow but, we want to be with Robyn and Steve. she is pretty sure she will have the baby tonight. If not
we will visit. I am so excited for them. I expect to come home on Monday but, I may stay longer. Whatever they want I'll do.
Later.

Had a wonderful day with Finn. Carolyn called me this morning and asked me to watch him today because he had a sore throat. He came over and played Feeding Frenzy and by lunch time he felt fine so we went out to lunch with my friend Barbara. She has no grandchildren and just loves Finn and Claire. After lunch Finn read me a whole book! It was an, "I can read book" but I had no idea he could read so well. He only missed two words in the whole book. He is such a doll.
Robyn is ready to have the baby at anytime. She was to the MD yesterday and was told she was 2 fingers dilated and the baby's head is in place. So it could be anytime now.
We, Carolyn, Dana, the kids and I are planning to go to LA for this weekend . I'll stay at Steve and Robyn's and they will stay at Dana's brother's house.
I'll keep you informed about Dexter. (the baby)

REPORTING AN ERROR!
Yesterday I said I weighed 186.4. I rechecked it today and I really weigh 168.4. But remember I was down to 150 just three months ago!
So Art, now we are really in a race . so far you have lost about 11lbs and I have gained 24.

Today I felt really good. Took care of Claire in the morning. She was suppose to sleep the whole time I was there but, guess what, She did not sleep AT ALL. She is so cute though. I took her for a long walk which was good for both of us.
Don't tell anyone but, I went back on my diet today. I had a low cal taco for lunch and will have salad for dinner. I am counting points again too. I weigh 186.4 that means I have gained 24 lbs since I have been sick. Something is wrong here, I should be down 24 lbs.

Here are my tentative travel plans . I will go to Chicago for Miranda's first birthday than I will come to NJ sometime around the 4or5th of Aug. My house is rented until the day after Labor Day so I hope to stay at family and friends for the first month. Rosemary and Muckie have already offered and of course I have already accepted their offers.
All of my kids and their families will be coming in Sept. Also Katy's parents and Robyn's mom may come too. I am really looking forward to going, "home" for awhile.

I forgot to post yesterday. It was Sunday the Day of Rest. I did not even get dressed. I just stayed in and played computer games, or I should say I played Feeding Frenzy. I am hooked on that crazy game. Also I have a new hobby---- doing cryptograms---I found books of just cryptograms so I can do them all day. Yeah.
Today the carpet cleaners are coming, I hope. Later I'll post my plans for my trip East.

Had a very slow day. Carpet cleaners were suppose to come today but, when they were 45 mins. late I called and asked them to come on Monday. They said they would but?????
Wes spent about two hours fixing my computer. He does it with " Go To My PC". He can run my computer from his house in Chicago. He is my hero! I can now print again. Yeah.
Talked to Muckie today for about an hour. She just had some basal cell ca removed from her ear.
Went to church this evening so I can stay in bed and read the paper tomorrow.
Pat, did you know that Patty Ferrari? She went to HSHS. Anyway she died. Her sister Jerri, was my brother Frank's girlfriend in 8th grade.

EEEK! I am so weak! I went out to lunch AGAIN! This time with Barbara.
I picked Finn up from school and than came home and I expect to do nothing for the rest of the day. Oh, I will play Feeding Frenzy .
Hay Art, have fun at the wedding. Kiss the bride for me.

Had a nice lunch with the nurse who still works for Meditech. She paid so I am only one down on my promise not to eat out until Friday.
On Weds. from 2PM until %PM I watch Claire and Finn. Took them for a walk and than they both took a nap and so did I. Finn is amazing , he actually asks to take naps. He is the only 6 year old I know who likes to sleep.
Claire continues to improve. Today when Dana came in I said, "where is Daddy", she looked right at him and began it wave like crazy.
Just talked to Robyn who is feeling good, baby's head is in place. Just time now.

Busy Day.
first I took Norma, my ,"dizzy" friend to the doctors, than she wanted to go to the bank. She was talking to a bank officer for over 45mins. After that she had to go to a Feed store to get some special cat food for her three cats! She took me to lunch which was good.
This afternoon I picked up my friend and her husband after their colonscopys . They were fine.
Thank I went to, "My gym". with Carolyn. It is a gym place for kids in different age groups. Finn's being 6-7 yr olds. It was very loud in there.
Now I am home and again I am tired.

This morning I took care of Claire while Carolyn went to her doctor. (check up). Then we went to lunch. Claire is getting so cute, she loves to eat. she had hamburger, roll, fruit etc. All this and she has no teeth! Than we went to pick up Finn, Next they went to a park and I watched Claire . She was suppose to be napping but, no such luck.
I came home and now I am tired. Again.
Tomorrow I am taking a friend to her doctor. She is dizzy and can not drive. In the afternoon I will pick up my friend, Sally and her husband after they both have Colonoscopys. The doctor said it was fine if they have it done at the same time as long as they have more than one bathroom ,for before the tests.
Today the cleaning lady came so my place looks pretty nice.
Nothing else is going on.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Last night I babysat for Finn and Claire (who else?). They were good and as cute as ever. Claire woke up twice, the first time I just gave her a little water and she went back to sleep but, the second time that did not work ,so I got her up and we watched TV until they came home about midnight.
Today I will go to D &C's. We were going to go to LA to see Robyn, Steve and Dana's family but, the plans changed and we will go there in two weeks. ( I just go with the flow).

Well today I went out for breakfast and lunch.
Breakfast with my ex neighbor Sarah. She was a teacher for 30 years. Now retired and lives with her gentleman friend . She went with him in high school and both got married and unmarried than, they met again at a reunion and have been together for several years. Her daughter who lives in Texas has two kids just the same ages as Finn and Claire.
Went to the Brown Pelican Restaurant for lunch. It's a really nice place right on the beach. We had a window table, too windy to sit outside". During lunch a large school of dolphins went by and a guy who was para-gliding landed right in front of our window. Neat.
I took Judy Smith. She is the Discharge Planner on the floor in which I was a patient. I worked with her at Hospice.
I now vow to not go out to eat for a week. I will depend on you my lady friends and family to keep me honest.

Today was a better day. Went to lunch with my friend Barbara. We went to a All-you-can -eat Mexican . It is great if you like Mexican.
Aside from that I am taking it easy.
Boring huh?

Today, I took Claire and Finn to a kid's 6th birthday party at Alice Keck Park. A beautiful Japanese -like park. It was fun but, I spent a lot of time looking after five little boys. They were running all over the place and the parents that were there were pretty relaxed . It is one thing to let your own kids run all over and quite another when it is your Grandchild. The upshot is : it is 6PM and I am exhausted!
I will be in bed early tonight.

I went to the Surgeon today and got all good news.
The Pathology Report shows they removed 11 nodes and they were all benign. The right hemicolectomy also removed the base of the node that was cancer showed ,"Adenoma without malignant transformation". An Adenoma is a pre-cancerous condition.
He said I can eat anything, drive, lift Claire (20lbs) and I don't have to see him again for two years.
Had blood work done and my hbg. is up to 12. It was 9.5 when I left the hospital.
I am a new person.
It is really hot here 88. I spent the afternoon with my friend, Barbara. She lives in an over 55 wit a pool.
Another day for me to be grateful.

PS. Our nephew Patrick Byrne brother Frank's son, will be on Anderson Cooper's show on CNN next Monday at 10pm (East Coast time). The segment is about a GI who was very disfigured and how Patrick is helping him.

GOOD NEWS!
My Internet connection is fixed!!!! I was on the phone with them for an hour this morning but, now it does not take three minutes to pull up a page.
so now I hope I will keep up my Blog.

I am feeling well. Today it is 80 degrees and Carolyn, Claire and I went to the beach. Claire is beginning to crawl and is all over the place. She said her first word today too. "Mama' and looked right at Carolyn.
It is 2PM and I just got home and I admit to being very tired. I am going to take a nap. Tomorrow, I have an appointment with the surgeon. I hope I will be able to eat everything and be back to normal.

I can't believe I have not Blogged since Monday. What a slacker I am.
My doctor apt. on Tues. went really well. Pathology showed another pos. node. but it was contained. I will need another colonoscopy in two years.
Also discussed the blood problem. He, the doctor, said it might be useful for other members of my family to find out if any body else has excessive bruising, bleeding etc. So I spent some time yesterday calling relatives and I have found 10 members who have some problem. All minor but, so were mine until now. I have asked some of them to send me any blood work they may have at home.
Than I looked up Van Willerbrand's and found out it is the most common blood disorder, and not well known even by the medical community. There are some new treatments, mainly to be done before surgery etc.
ENOUGHT!
Today I am waiting for my brother Frank. He is coming for a few days. I have a few chores lined up for him. Mainly things like taking out the trash. I can not lift that much , yet.