First day of Kindergarten

Picture of Kate, Miles (the kindergartener), and Lisa

Debbie's Summer Vacation

I know many of you still have a few weeks of summer left. Our summer vacation ended when Nathan and Ryan started back to school on August 7th. We had an eventful summer, some good and some not so good.

The landscaping started the second week of June and was completed the last week of July. What a big difference in the appearance of our yard compared when we saw it last summer. We have spent many evenings on the front deck listening to water in the pond. Now that we have a vegetable garden we may even still have a chance this fall to put a few vegetable in before it gets too cold.

We did have some unfortunate events. Sid broke his right ankle July 8th in three places while watering some of the new plants in the yard. He had surgery the next day that required the placement of eight pins and a metal plate. He was in a surgical cast for a week and then had a fiberglass cast for three more weeks. He is now in a walking boot and is slowly starting to get around on both feet with the aid of a walker. Steps are a huge challenge especially since we have five decks on our house. This house was not built for anyone with a disability. Thankfully, it is not forever. What happens after the walking boot we're not sure. I know that therapy was mentioned but we haven't been told when that will be. Probably because he is not at that point yet.

Sid was laid off from SSA Global August 1st when the company was aquired by Infor in Atlanta. Sid wrote courseware for their software line and Infor had their own education department. A real blow for us. Sid has never been without work. Makes you really appreciate all the benefits you receive now that we have lost them. He's going to do consulting on his own and take on learning to do websites. Being self-employed takes a whole new mindset which is somewhat scary. Hope it all works out well.

Last Photo of Mom (Florentine Schettler)

Here is the last photo taken of Mom just three days before she died. She just got home from the nursing home and was wearing my cap to stay warm. We told her she looked pretty cute in it and that made her smile for this photo.

by Leo

Tony's (Norm & Diane's) Accident Update

I finally had a chance to breathe this morning and get some emails out so I thought I would post a blog.

For those that don't know Tony had a serious injury at work involving a turkey auger - no details needed for that probably. His right foot was severly damaged.

After a week of fighting serious infection that was spreading we decided with the doctors to have a BTK (below the knee) right leg amputation. This surgery was done on 8-8.

He is planning on coming home Monday and is doing extremely well - walking about 30 steps already then getting a little winded - that is what happens when in bed for 10 days.

Thanks for all the emails and thanks to Fran for the hospital visit.

He is tough, strong-willed and is already asking when he can return to work.

We will keep you updated.

Christy