Dave, you're saying they didn't keep you over night in the hospital for observation? IDK, I would like to be given the option of whether to go to the ER or not. When Charlie fell they did not call me, they called his work who then gave me minimum information, then I had to figure out what hospital he was in, it was in another state. By the time I looked up the town, then called 15 numbers, it was late. I was able to speak to Charlie in the ER then the doctor who said he seemed fine, they'd give him morphine, then probably release him the next day. Charlie told me to stay home, deal with getting his tractor trailer home the next morning, then to come up. Took me 2 or 3 hours of phone calls starting at 7 am but I did it. I would have loved to go the night before but it would have been almost a 2 hour ride in the dark; I don't drive more then 45 minutes away tops because of my back. Did Deb swat you with a rose cane when she saw you? LOL You would have deserved it you know lol I can't believe you're back working. It had been so long since I had lost a rose..... I was beginning to think I couldn't lose one :) Sometimes I need a wakeup call to keep me from getting too full of myself, Same for us. With our sandy "soil" at the old house, the roses would own root, they'd be horrible for year 2 then year 3 they started getting nice, year 4 awesome. It was them own rooting that we were able to take as many roses as we did when we moved. The only way we lost some was due to them sitting in pots since fall 2006, not sure of the dead count yet, but it means I finally get to buy more roses lol I have to rebuy red Eden, that was planted in dads garden, my "mother" didn't let me come back to take my roses/plants before she sold the house. We were going to buy it, then she got another offer without telling us. It is easy to be 'brave' and uncomplaining when I can feel steady improvement. Pain woke me this morning and I began to feel sorry for myself. Realized that I would have given anything 2 weeks ago to feel as little pain as I had today. It would have been wonderful even a week ago :) I don't think you ever get used to the pain. Chances are you are going to have some problems from this. You're right though, you remember how you were when 1st injured then are thankful that the pain is going away, but it's still pain and when it wakes you up is the pits. I fought pain meds for years but gave in. They changed them back in March but once again, I'm used to them and they are only taking the edge off for an hour; as the day goes they don't even touch that. Best advice I can give you is to speak up about the pain, then if needed get a script for something mild for days like you had. Suffering through the pain isn't going to help you any and if you are like the rest of us, you'll get grouchy. You also have to watch because you probably injured muscle which is a large part of my problem. I have really bad muscle spasms, which are nothing like when you feel your muscle jumping around, it's a deep, deep pain that will wake you up. What I usually suggest is to google the body part, say lower leg muscles or nerve posters, you will then click on images and find this. Pick a decent one, then print it out and trace your pain with marker or pen/pencil then also write what the pain feels like. If the pain shoots from the left side of your knee to the right, mark that. Bring it with you the next time you see the doctor, they will be very impressed & it will give them a better idea of what you are going through. I've gone so far as to write down the various pain I have during the day. If you are good with a photo program, you can open the poster image in that, then draw the pain lines using the pencil tool. You can get creative with various colors for different types of pain. Duke is happy. He can keep up with me walking now. He lets me use the ramp I built for him to get in the house too. Glad to hear he's still around. Tell Deb hello! feel better and stop going to work. You should be home with your feet up still.

I agree in that you should only play a supportive role through this and make it a no drama zone. Just be honest if asked a question (don't sugar coat) and provide them with whatever information they ask. The only thing that would make me cautious, and you didn't mention it is, if you broke up for reasons that involved violence or drugs and/or alcohol addiction for obvious reasons. In regards to the relationship they have with their step father, when you say it's the last nail in the coffin, it suggests there has been other issues. IMHO, kids are very loyal to the people who have always been there to love them, if they do go away it's most likely due to things he's done on his own and not the fact that they've connected with extended family. You know what they say, "you made your bed". My first husband and I divorced when my daughter was still a toddler. He was an violent alcoholic and a wife beater. I always felt that eventually one day that would extend out to my daughter so I made it impossible for him to see her. I would answer any questions my daughter had when she was growing up but did not fully disclose details with her until she was in her 20's and it was appropriate for her to know. By that age it was no longer my call and if she chose to seek him out, she deserved to know the facts of why I made the decision I did. Luckily as it turned out she said she was never interested in knowing him but just curious about what exactly happened.

Sine posting this, I've actually had some interest! No offers yet but at least I'm getting showings (it makes me feel a ton better that at least things are happening).....I think you're right about the fall/winter being slow times...unfortunately, patience is something I lack so this is extremely stressful for me....my agent says to stay with the current price...average days on the market for my area is around 160 days so I guess my listing isn't too old...my plan is to try to wait until March before I have a small price reduction...thank you MrsHanson for the encouraging words...I really hope you're right and the spring brings in the right buyer for my house

Its 1 :25 am and I'm with the night owls. I was laid off at 66 and was dispirited. Looked for jobs, not much luck. So I accepted that unemployment was actually early retirement. Less than a year later a friend called about an opening in her agency in my field. It is a great fit: about 10-15 hours a week. I only go into the office (which is 20 minutes away) 1 x 2weeks, nearly everything can be communicated and documented by secure email and text. I miss the chatting life of more collegial time in an office, but I treasure setting my own schedule. As long as my patients get seen on time and my documentation and time sheets are on time no one 'bothers' me. I'm still contributing to society and (modestly) to family income. I have lots of time and flexibility for those ever increasing doctors' and physical therapy appointments. Gotta keep the mojo working if I want to work. My house is still a mess because neither dh nor I are neatniks and actually don't care a lot about "everything in its place". I mean, it would be nice, but it takes so much valuable time! Rouge, your days and nights will take on a shape of their own. You can nudge things however you want. Eventually a routine might emerge. My thoughts are: make new friends, keep up with old ones and participate in some sort of group activity: exercise class, bridge, book group, civic organizations. For me, they are a welcome change from being at home. I came across the seeds you sent months ago. Still in their little envelope, waiting for spring, like me.Marie