HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Blessings, Tammy

MONSTER MASHING

This weekend Berby held her annual Halloween partay and I must say - we had a BLAST. This years theme was spooks and ghouls. We, of course, had last minute changes to our costumes and boy am I happy with the results.

Our characters were - Greg/rocker vampire, Mason/pierced vampire, Mama/witch, Tammy/bad Betty (Boop), Mimi/witch (orange hair), Linda/funky witch (purple hair), Papa (creepy spook), Austin/vampire copper, Unkie Jeff/vampire, ReRe/corpse bride and Berby/zombie.

The Witches of G-Town - tee hee.

Berby always goes all out for her Halloween parties - dry ice, loads of food {yum yummy treats, punch (which Mason looks forward to every year), decorations, pumpkins, loads and loads of pumpkin carving tools, lights and laughs, laughs and more laughs}.

Unkie Jeff was especially funny... Check out his video below.

Many Blessings & have a Happy Halloween!

Tammy

LIVE IT"S Saturday Night Live - DORY STYLE

Last week Mama and I were coming home from the Library or one of the many doctors office visits she had and we were discussing the upcoming Presidential election when Mama looks at me, very seriously I might add and says, "Do you believe that Obama (pronounced like Alabama) is a MUSLIN?". I thought I would wreck the Buick. I said, "I'm not sure - - maybe cotton instead of silk", "I was laughing while I said this and then I said, "Mama, it's Muslim not Muslin - Muslin is a specific type of fabric". Then she mouths the word Muslim and said, "is that right".?. I said, "yes, that's right". I had forgotten about this until I saw Saturday Night Live this weekend where they had a skit on the Crazy McCain campaign lady (that weirdly enough acts and somewhat looks like my Aunt Frances LOL). It was like the SNL writers had been in the car with us and had borrowed the material from our hysterical conversation {between Dory and Me}. I laughed till I cried, then I called Mama into the room and had her to watch the skit online, she laughed right along with me - - of course, I'm rolling with laughter and can't get my breath...I kept on replaying the same frame where crazy lady poses the same question as Dory - priceless.

Click on the link and see for yourself!

Blessings,
Tammy

Dory Gets A New "Do"

Today we went to Leslie's shop and Mama got herself a new "DO". It looks sooo good.



Here are the before and after shots.














She is feeling a "little" better each day and she's able to do a "little" more each day but the reality of her illness is just now starting to be realized. As with most patients that have been given a dianosis of an incurable disease, she has started to go through the process of acceptance.

Thanks to all of you that have prayed for my Mom this last month. I would love it if you would continue to keep her in your prayers because I know that she can feel every one of them.

Many blessings to you,
Tammy

Galump Pimpin...

Torture is not limited to just the feline family members in our house. HA! Rascal is like...just get the pic over with all ready.

Blessings, Tammy

Ol'Crabby Cat Playing Opossum

Just had to share this picture... Anyone who has been to our home has most likely been harrassed by our cat Stormy. She can be the most loving kitty but only when it's on her terms.

Blessings,
Tammy

Nothing Like a Good Book.

Just like his Mama when it comes to reading a good book - you just can't put it down.

HAIR Today - - GONE Tomorrow

This was NC State Baseball Tournament hair over the Summer. Black & Gold were the colors for his team. Go Dallas All-Stars!

Then last week he wanted all of his hair cut off...well not all...but I love his longish hair. Leslie did a great job and he's just as cute as ever.

He definitely takes after his parents in this respect - hair was always considered a fond medium for creative juices to come to life. Whether it was a checker board buzz cut (Greg..not me) or the funkiest punk cut I could have with still having a cute factor - fire engine red and blonde hair was nothing for me back in the day - teeheehee.

He gets it honest!

Blessings,

Tammy

The Annual Farkle Family Masquerade Party - October 25th

Well, Halloween is just around the corner and you know what that means - yep, COSTUMES. We are still deciding just what we will be for 2008. Berby's theme for 2008 is ghost, ghoul or creature of the night - past, present or future. We're thinking since Dory is with us that we'll maybe incorporate the entire family...but we'll see.


2005
Devin, Mason & Logan
oh, excuse me...
Peter Criss, Gene Simmons & Ace Fraley









2006
My Duke Blue Devil






















2006
Dirty Laundry (that's me)
Me, Berby, ReRe & Unkie Jeff
















2007
Super Clean (theme was super heroes)









If I can get the wig I'm after - - oops, I almost spilled the beans. I'll post after the 25th with pics.


MUAHAHHAHHHA
Tammy

Dory Updates

Ok - whew! Here are some updates from the past week...

Mama's A1C is 6.6 (diabetic scale, this test gives you a picture of your average blood glucose control for the past 2 to 3 months ) which is slightly elevated for her but still within normal range considering she is on Prednisone(which spikes blood sugar) and Metformin (diabetic "pre-insulin" measures). I was very glad to hear this because I have been working hard to offer healthy snacks, meals and treats so she doesn't have a higher blood sugar reading than normal. Her blood sugar spikes normally come between 5pm and 6:30pm - her highest reading thus far has been 266 (again from the Prednisone), so I quarter the Metformin tablet and that normally bring it down to normal range within 2 hours.

When Mama came home from the hospital I drove to the pharmacy to have her prescriptions filled...while waiting for the prescriptions to be filled, of course, I shopped. I found the most helpful and wonderful tools, that at the time...did not know were going to help us as much as they have. My first purchase was a "ReliOn Blood Pressure Monitor Designed for Women" and each time we check her blood pressure (especially before we go to the doctors office) we are within 1 point of the doctors reading - not too shabby. It also has been showing about every other reading an abnormal heartbeat so I pointed this out to the doctor and he decided to administer a EKG. It did indeed show she had an irregularity and so Dr. Murphy had her to wear a Holter heart monitor for 24 hours. They took the heart monitor off this morning, printed and read the results and it showed that she is having a skipped heart beat every couple of beats - - just like the blood pressure monitor was showing - - worth its weight in gold.

My second purchase was an "Apex: With Four Alarm Settings Alarm Clock Pill Organizer". We have set the alarm to let us know when she is due for her breathing treatments and it has worked like a charm.

Oh yea, the doctor did decrease her dosage of Prednisone *CLAPS & WHISTLES*.

Next week she goes to have another Spirometry (measuring the volume of air inspired and expired by the lungs), DLCO (Diffusing Capacity of the Lung for Carbon Monoxide) and Lung Volume test performed at the hospital. Her scheduled appointment for starting the tests is 8am and no inhalers can be taken 4 hours prior to appointment so she will be without her 6am breathing treatment - please say a prayer for her...specifically that her chest does not tighten up.

Overall, she is doing better. Today after going to the doctor we went to Target to get in a little walking therapy *teeheehee* and she did wonderful. She enjoyed the trip and I was happy that she was able to get in such a great amount of walking therapy.

Don't forget to say a prayer for Dory.

Blessings, Tammy

And The Winner IS.........

One of my most favorite TV Shows is Project Runway - die hard fan here!

Who do you think deserves to win Project Runway.

1. Kenley
2. Leanne
3. Korto

I'm going to say at this point Leanne - I've really been impressed with her vision and execution of her work. Kenley rakes on my last nerve - the girl has talent but the constant whining and complaining is ssssssso annoying. Korto's wedding dress challange was a bit boring and to me she seems too one note - something about her work is boring (to me).

We'll see Wednesday night.

Blessings, Tammy

Welcome To The Jungle Baby

Here is Papa Farkle as Axl Rose / Guns & Roses, Chuck as Jon Bon Jovi, Michael as Bono at a Murder Mystery Masquarade party.

Blessings, Tammy

Create Fake Magazine Covers with your own picture at MagMyPic.com

The Farkles take over NYC

I'm a little late on posting this slide show...but my slide making skills are still being honed. We had such a great time in NYC. Oh yea you know that we did the whole tourist bit; we went to a NY Yankee game (last year in the Babe's house), chauffered site seeing, ate yummy Cannoli's in Little Italy, secret shopping (you know, through long hallways, triple locked doors and then you behold the plethora of faux Gucci's, Prada, Jimmy Choo's, Coach, you name it - they had it, ate NYC Cheesecake, Taxi rides (weeeeeeeee), ate Italian food to die for and the Metro (we conquered this one). The only 2 things we didn't get around to were a Broadway show and being front and center for the Today Show - not too bad.

Blessings,Tammy

you can listen to the music or mute the music - whichever...

Yearbook Yo'self

I have been having WAYYYYYY too much fun with www.yearbookyourself.com. I was morphing my picture into decades of different looks when my Mama (bless'er) sat down beside of me and I showed and explained to her what I was doing...she looked at me then the screen and said, "well, you know, your features haven't changed at all". I looked at her sitting there with her oxygen on and said, "now Mama, you know it's not real pictures of me - I wasn't born until 1969 (we were looking at a morphed picture of 1962) - we had the biggest rib crackin' laugh. It was sooooo funny. Since she has had hypoxia for so long without any supplemental oxygen she has lost short term memory - I'm not sure if you read the post of COPD below but "Dory" came out tonight. She's laughing at herself so it's okay if you do too - teeheehee.



Now go take a potty break and come back to view my morphed pictures.






OMGoodness - morph yours and send me a link. These are hysterical!

Have a great day,
Tammy

Cutie Patooties Dont'cha Think?

Blessings,

Tammy

Katsup Stormy!

Look what my darling Mason did.......Is there any wonder why Stormy is such a crab cake. :)

Yep folks...that's Stormy in my vegetable bin! ACK!

HA! Crazy kid.

Blessings,

Tammy

R U Down with C.O.P.D. - No Not ME

After talking with Leslie "Ruby Begonia's Daughter" we thought I should have a go with a little light hearted talk about what we are going through with my Mom and her Dad; both being diagnosed with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - Chronic Bronchitis / Asthmatic Bronchitis).

Not being disrespectful just poking fun at them. Who would have suspected 30 years ago that we would be trailing along together in watching our parents (and we are only children) suffer through the most mundane of tasks (showering, checking the mail, washing a load of clothes). Leslie made the comment that we were going to have to make a play date with our parents - we'll just sit them in the corner, hook them up to their Oxygen tanks and have a little visit. HaHa! Of course we told our parents this and they had a hearty "breathless" laugh.

Side Note: I thought the text color in this posting was a nice COPD phlegmy color - oh your welcome, don't mention it.

Update: Mama was hospitalized for 5 days after I went over to her apartment and SHE COULD BARELY BREATHE. I called 911 and thankfully the Paramedics showed up only minutes later - a huge thanks to them. She was admitted with having COPD w/ Hypoxia (abnormally low Oxygen levels in the blood stream). She is living with us now because there is NO WAY that she could take proper care of herself anymore (with an Oxygen depletion you tend to not think rationally). Ever since Finding Nemo came out I have called her "Dory" and now I know why she has lost a huge part of her short term memory (of course we always laugh about this too). We are in process of getting her room comfortable for her ~ we were using our spare bedroom as a much coveted "junk room" so it's paint, carpet cleaning, moving furniture in...yada, yada, yada. I want to make it comfortable and PRETTY.

P.S. If you smoke QUIT! It's not a pretty site to watch someone you love struggle to get their breath, turn ashy grey and now need oxygen 24/7.

Blessings,Tammy