I’d love to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving today! We are out and about with both our families and enjoying the moments with all of them and I hope you are doing the same whereever you are this year.
Last weekend, we had both our families over to our new house and it was so much fun! Luckily the weather cooperated and there was no rain. Many of Mark’s immediate family were able to come, but some were not, so we will have to catch up with them later on. All of his 4 girls have been over to the house and 3 of them made it to the Open House.
I managed to catch Shingles, so it’s been a very crazy week for me. Just 2 days before our open house, I started getting some symptoms and did research online and self-diagnosed Shingles. I was able to get in my Primary Care doctor’s office and confirmed that it was Shingles the day before our party. We were scrambling around trying to see how contagious this stuff is and apparently, it’s not contagious at all for Shingles, but can be for Chicken Pox. One of his daughters was a little nervous to bring her 2 boys over so they skipped it, but most everyone else came over. The new baby stayed home too, she didn’t want to take a chance with Baby Rose either and I can understand that. The doctor told me that it was safe for me to be around people, just to not hold any newborns. He said as long as I was covered up, it wasn’t a problem. I was wearing 3 layers at our party.
I’m feeling OK (not 100%, but low energy), but this stuff takes time to get over and the doctor gave me an anti-virus medication to take for 7 days. I know it has to run its course, so I’ll have to deal with it. I was in some pain the first couple of days, but it’s not too bad now. It’s been about a week since it all started. All of this right before the Holidays! Hopefully it will be gone in a few weeks. It sure is ugly! It has gotten worse looking every single day, but now after a week it’s looking better and not so fiery red. Have any of you had shingles? I know they recommend the Shingles vaccine after age 60 and of course, I didn’t get one. I just hate getting vaccines and am a little anti-vaccine since I’ve been so healthy all my life. My sister said she’s getting the shot now!
OK, on to party! Enough about my ailments. Now I feel old!
Mark and I have been working so hard to get the house ready for the Holidays and to show it off to our families. Since we had a party on the calendar, it made us get things done so we would be ready. Mark worked hard on the yard, getting all the leaves up and making it look so good.
I worked on the inside, setting the table with some of my serving pieces and getting the food picked up. I didn’t attempt to make all the food myself, we were expecting at least 25 to 30 people, so I had it catered from Chicken Salad Chick. Smartest decision ever and the food is really good! We wanted to keep it simple and so it was sandwiches and sides with desserts.
Assorted sandwiches with a lot of chicken salad, of course, along with potato chips, their Grape salad, Broccoli salad, and fresh fruit I picked up from the grocery store.
Their mini-croissant chicken salad sandwiches are delicious, by the way.
I picked up desserts from a local bakery we all love, Gabriels, and picked it up at the location here in Acworth at the Old Mill, if any of you know the place. Love their desserts! It was a fun and festive time and I think everyone enjoyed it.
Mom and dad were there looking spiffy as usual. They really loved the house and Dad particularly loved the woods behind our house with all the trees.
Lauren, Philip, and the girls came in for Thanksgiving holiday and came straight to the party after driving in. It’s always good to see them and those little girlies, we just adore them. Parker is getting so big and looks much older than her not quite 4 years old (in February). She’s a smart girl and talks up a storm.
Two of Mark’s nieces, Chelsea and Devin, were there, with 2 of their little girls. They both have 3 children each and these two are just adorable. Luckily the weather held out and we were able to put tables on the deck.
Mark’s mom and dad were there as well and I just think the world of these two. They raised a really good son and I’m grateful to be in this family, which is large and fun loving. From their 3 children, they have 11 grandchildren and I don’t know how many great grandchildren. A true blessing! I had met all of Mark’s extended family and he had met all of mine too, but the families hadn’t met each other until now.
It was really nice to see our moms hug and meet for the first time. We just hadn’t taken the time to get them together before now. Last year his parents went through a lot of health issues and half of this year, dad has been dealing with them as well, so it’s nice to have them all mostly healthy now. I love that we both still have our parents, what a blessing they are in our lives!
Alex and Kelly, one of Mark’s 4 daughters. She’s expecting baby boy #1 and he will arrive in January. Very excited to welcome another baby to the family soon!
Mom and Baby Iris, who is now 18 months old, looking so adorable.
Lauren wanted me to mention that she made Iris’s dress, isn’t it cute? Dad and my cousin, Brenda, in the background. She and her daughter, Denise, were there too.
Philip, Parker, my sister, Renee, and Iris.
Mark and two of his daughters, Traci, and McKenzie. Traci just had the baby that I shared earlier, baby Rose and McKenzie is the baby of the family, on the right. He has 4 beautiful daughters and I’m enjoying getting to know them better. The oldest, Lyndsey, decided not to bring her boys around my Shingles, so you can meet her another time.
It was a very nice day with our families and we enjoyed opening up our home and showing it off for the first time since getting the main level mostly finished. I’ll be back next week to share the main level before Christmas decor goes up, so you can see it all as it is now. It’s not all completely done, but done enough for now. I’ll have spaces to fill and things to add in, but those will all come along the way.
Enjoy your Thanksgiving and thank you as always, for supporting and reading my blog!
Your mom and dad look great. So nice to see him looking so well. Praise the Lord for answered prayers
I’ve had Shingles twice now, and I’m only 51. I feel your pain. Hope you have a speedy recovery.
OOooh, Karen, twice is not good! Thank you, my recovery does seem to be speedy and I’m feeling much better after a week of meds from the doctor.
I got the shingles about seven years ago (early 60’s). My doctor had just suggested the vaccine, but since we had a new baby grandson at the time who had not yet been vaccinated for chicken pox it was not appropriate for me. This was before all the shingles commercials, so when I started itching I thought I got some kind of bite. After a while I got the blisters and then thought I had shingles — by that time the medication the doctor gave did not help much. It took quite a while to run its course and to this day I have nerve pain periodically in the spot where it started. I have heard of people who have had it many times. After about three years my doctor suggested I still get the vaccine. Good luck with your recovery and best wishes with your lovely new home! FYI, the vaccine only reduces the possibility you will get shingles but does not eliminate the possibility.
Rhoda, Colloidal Silver is excellent on shingles. It is supposed to help with the pain and healing. Happy Thanksgiving to you and Mark. Angie
Rhoda, what a wonderful time you all had at your Open House! So sorry to hear that you came down with Shingles. We pray that you will be feeling better real soon. They are such a painful thing.
The picture of you and your dear Mark is so nice! You two just look so happy — and we are just so happy for you both! Your home is just beautiful! You have both worked so hard at putting your personal touches on it! Enjoy!
Nice to see the pictures of both your family. It is so nice to see your Mom and Dad looking so good! We continue to keep them in our prayers! Mark’s Mom and Dad look like such a lovely couple, too! You and Mark are blessed to have your parents with you — and especially when they can see how happy you and Mark are!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day with your families! May God bless you all and give you wonderful memories!
Thank you, Mary-Ann, we enjoyed our family open house a lot. I’m already feeling better!
Even with the Shingles, you and Mark did great. Everything looks so nice. You look happy, and so did everyone else. Your dad looked so good; that was nice to see! Hope he ate every bite on that plate! Happy Thanksgiving….here’s to many more happy memories in the making for you and Mark and your families.
HI, Nanci, thank you, Dad’s appetite is huge and he’s eating a lot, so we are glad about that. He’s gained back much of the weight he lost this summer.
Your mom and dad look fabulous!
Happy Holidays to you and your entire family!
Hope you are feeling better.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOwch Rhoda,
I had shingles in my left ear, was bed-ridden for almost a month. The P A I N was terrrrible. I describe it as someone sloooooly cutting the nerves and throwing them into a fire. I could feel the knife/saw and feel the flames. Did I tell you it was terrrrible??? Balance and hearing problems ever since. Thirty years later I was having intense hearing tests and the results were the nerves in that ear are completely dead…Dah!!! For tooooo many years afterwards I would still have shots of pain – doctor told me I would have that the rest of my life.
I feeel for anyone who gets the shingles. Don’t wish them on anyone.
HI, Jean, oh that’s terrible. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone either. I’m glad that my case seems to be the mild version and not a horrible case.
Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for sharing. My daughter has shingles also and got to the doctor right away for medications. Essential oils of lavender and others has sure helped too. Loving your new house.
Rhoda,you are working too hard. The stress of your dad being sick and fixing up a new house is stressing you out. Please take care of yourself,.the house can wait. I’m so happy for you and your wonderful blended family. Both set of parents are looking healthy and happy. What a wonderful story to post on Thanksgiving.
HI, Sue, I’m definitely taking it easy this holiday season. Decorating for Christmas and then I’m going to enjoy it all and relax. It has been an eventful and at times stressful summer, so yes, it caught up with me. The shingles are definitely getting better after almost a week on the medication the doc gave me, so I think my case wasn’t that bad from what I’ve read. It’s definitely clearing up already.
Glad that you were able to have such a great time at your party. Everything looked lovely. I had shingles several years ago and I found the best thing for relieving the pain was ice. If your lesions at in an area that an ice bag would be appropriate, it could help.
Rhoda,
First of all, you’re NOT old! 😉 Praying that you feel better soon. Shingles are a pain (no pun intended). I had them when I was 31 (I’m now 57) and my daughter, who was 2 at the time, got the chicken pox as a result! Love your blog and always enjoy reading about your family. So good to see the picture with your Dad smiling! Blessings to you all, Lisa
Looks like a lovely time was had by all! Hope you’re feeling better, I literally feel your pain as I also just completed meds for shingles. I never would have guessed that was the cause of strange muscle pain and hypersensitive skin I experienced before any visible signs. It was self-diagnosed and then confirmed only days after I had a rollover car crash due to black ice. So less than a week shy of my 50th birthday, I’m recovering from shingles, 6 fractured ribs and a partially collapsed lung but I did get my first ever ambulance ride, lol. Here’s hoping the remainder of 2017 will be incident free. Happy Thanksgiving to you & yours.
HI Rebecca, oh I feel for you, that’s terrible! Glad you are OK and on the mend. I know, the sensitive skin and muscle pain started for me several days before I had a clue what was coming! I self diagnosed too and just knew I was correct and I was. I’m already getting better!
Hey, enjoyed the pics of your open house, especially enjoyed the family pics. Happy to see your dad looking well. Glad you are getting over the shingles. My brother was recently diagnosed with shingles behind his left ear.
I was so glad to see your Dad lookng so well xx And as for you, feel better soon!
take care of yourself. you can develop permanent nerve damage fro Shingles. I have had it and been disabled for 10 years since. Get the vaccine as soon as you can. its a really big deal, not an ailment but a game changer.
Your Dad looks great! So glad he’s doing better. Your Mom is a doll. Love all the photos. Looks like it was a great time. My husband got shingles 5 years ago and once I saw the nastiness of that I got the vaccine. Hang in there!
What a happy group your families make! I am very relieved to see your Dad looking so good, and your Mom….she never changes. What’s her secret??? As for you, looking stunning even in the throes of shingles and new house conquering. The key to dealing w/shingles is to get on top of it early -which you did. The meds will get you over it quickly. Once having it, you’ll not have it again (so I was told by my doc some years ago; so far 100% true). So don’t worry about taking an unnecessary vax. Wishing the very best for every single member of your big, beautiful family.
Hi, Jane, thank you! I’m hoping I never get it again, although people are saying it can come back again. You would think the body would say no more, enough.
Oh Rhoda! Sorry about the shingles… ugh!
So happy to meet the big family! So happy to see you soooo happy!
It feels good doesn’t it?!?!
So good to see your Mom and Dad doing so wel!
Happy Holidays!
Nancy
Happy belated Thanksgiving! Thank you for sharing all of these pictures. Your parents look great. So happy for you both that family is important to both of you, and them. Your house looks lovely. I’m so sorry that you got shingles. My grandpa & brother get them, and they are miserable. I got the shingle vaccination when I turned 60. They did say there is a certain percentage of vaccinated people that still get shingles, but, I’m praying I’m not one of them.