Hi Mom, I see Debbie and Becky have been talking to you today also. They both called me today. As did Sandy. She sounded good, I didn't talk to her long...we both kept getting other calls. Shelley emailed me, she is moving into another house and sounds pretty happy about it. It is closer to the kids school. Today was a hard day, but I made it. Actually I was doing pretty good until I read what Debbie and Becky wrote...that made me cry of course. This is the first time there was no Happy Birtday wish from you. Being so close we spent all but one of my birthdays together. The one we missed (well 2 counting today) was when I was with Becky in Florida. Other than that...every birthday you were there! Beanie made me a cake...strawberry, she didn't know my favorite was chocolate...and I didn't correct her. Believe it or not, I think I would have broke down and cried had it been chocolate, that is the kind YOU would have made for me. So like you always said 'things happen for a reason'... to save me some tears I got a strawberry birthday cake instead. She also got me a 20.00 gift card to Wal-mart and is taking me out to dinner at the China buffet tomorrow night. Jarrod is coming home to spend the night and going with us! Dale will stay home and watch the kids. I'll bring dinner home to him. I thought about Red Lobster and quickly changed my mind on that one. YOU loved that restaurant too and I know you would have been part of our outing, so I picked the China buffet...you didn't like Chinese food so going there hopefully won't be as hard as Red Lobster would have been. Although I can hear you now "Drop the kids off or else I can come over there to watch them". You were always always available to take care of my kids...especially Little Taylor. Dale sent me flowers for my birthday. What a surprise that was!...a very nice one! Little Dakota gave me a 25.00 gift card to Old Navy and Michelle brought me a candle and some crocheted dishclothes (tell G-ma...she always LOVED to crochet) Mom, I've been talking to a good friend of mine I met online several years ago. She does childcare like I do and she has a niece who is handicapped severely...worse than Tay. Well her niece passed away almost 3 years ago. I've been talking to her a lot lately. Less than a month ago a tumor was found in her Mother's lung. She is like we were...just beside herself. Every update she gives me is so much like you. She is now in ICU with very poor breathing...so bad they had to put in a ventilator yesterday. She is very swollen, her sugar is sky high and her heart is racing. She sleeps most of the time and responds only with a nod. When asked if she is in pain she nod 'no'...like you did. It's sad Mom and it's hard! To hear of someone else going thru this is hard for many reasons....I can see it all over again! I miss you Mom...oh how I miss you so very much! I went over to your house yesterday with Jarrod. I can't go over unless someone goes with me or is already there. Anyhow, Jarrod needed some newspapers for school so we picked up yours and we also set all your clocks for daylight savings time. Man Mom...Debbie was right, your lawn is a MESS!!! Your house is spotless though...cold, but completely spotless, just like you keep it! I better say goodnight and head to bed. I think I kind of over did it with writing you this time, oh well, I had a lot to say! LOVE YOU!!! ((((HUGS)))) ****KISSES****