oh so cozy!

 The icicle lights are finally in the windows!  I bought them online last week for 40% off,  the good soft Christmas lights, they're warm and not the icy white.   Well.  They are made to go end to end, I guess, they certainly aren't made to reach down to plug into the outlets near the floor!  The plug is right near the top, with no dangly cord!  harrumph.  I had to decide what was easier, returning them all or buying extension cords.  Walmart had extension cords for $2.97, so that's what I did.  

Anyway.  If you could see the coziness in here!  It helps stave off the drive to get decorated for Christmas, too.  :)

I had a doctor's appointment this afternoon, at the cardiologist.  The nurse used the regular cuff on my arm, and my pressure was 150/88.   I about fainted.  That's super high for me.  She did the EKG, then retook blood pressure with larger cuff, and voila, 130/82.  Now, I don't like that number either.  But, in context, it was great.  The EKG was fine, she discussed the last echocardiogram I had (last year before knee surgery), I have a slight issue with the valves, but she said I've probably had it all my life.  The rest of it looked fine, I don't need another for four years, unless I have issues.  I go to my primary next week,  I'll have labwork done, dr. says if my cholesterol is high, then we would have to talk again.  (risk factors:  my mother had a heart attack when she was younger than I am, also a few of my dad's brothers had widowmakers in their forties and fifties).  (Some factors you can control, some you can't)

Anyway.  I will take better care of myself.  

I stopped at Aldi for some red skinned potatoes for the turkey dinner, and more stuffing, and some arugula...I like having that before dinner.  

Cam and I decided to stop for an afternoon coffee, I got a hot Americano with cream.  Oh, how I would love to indulge in peppermint mocha or sugar cookie, or something molasses-y...but I try to keep away from the sugar.  I am a sugar holic, and a carbaholic.  I love, admire, and revere all cookies, desserts, ice creams, all of it.  Especially things like pumpkin pie and coconut cream pie.  Fudge ripple ice cream, hot fudge.  I know this.  It has gotten better, and I work hard at not binging on it.  I don't have diabetes (that I know of!), and I'd like to keep it that way.  :)

We had Kia here yesterday (and no, she didn't have any of that candy!) while her daddy went to his college class and her mama worked at the hospital. 

Benjamin Paul, our oldest son.  He had a birthday yesterday!  He was 19 years old when Camille was born, and she just turned 19.  So yeah, 38!  (When he was nineteen, besides his two older sisters,(Emily and Abigail) he had FOURTEEN younger siblings, counting baby Robert....

1.  Mariel

2.  Joseph

3.  Aaron

4.  Molly Rose

5.  Samuel

6.  Margaret

7.  Kathryn

8.  Evelyn

9.  Suzanne

10. Sonja

11. Robert

12. Jonathan

13. Charlotte Claire

14. Camille

It makes me want to go back in time and give him a big hug.  Tell him not to worry, he would turn out to be a good responsible, God-fearing husband and father.  (maybe I'd like to tell my past self that too, ha!)

He had his birthday on Veteran's Day, always had that day off for his birthday.  The fact that he is a vet, and was a medic in Afghanistan, he deserves a day off!

And, your daily Nicole Elizabeth...isn't she sweet?

Paul and I are going down to Delaware next week....he gets home from London tomorrow...:)

You all have a really nice night...