As of 5 pm Wednesday night my mom is safely tucked into the Rehab Center in a room with a view of the courtyard and basketball court. She wants to come home badly she seems to think she will be home on Monday. The OT yesterday told me it could be two weeks before I get her home.

She is just tired of being cooped up and I don't blame her. She told me she wishes she did not have the surgery because had she known it was going to be like this she would have preferred to be stopped up and let come what may. I told her she did not have to have it, she was given that option but she chose to have it, which is why I came down so quickly because of the surgery, but she tells me she was told she had no choice but to have it by the Doctor and the POA. Well I talked to both Primary and Surgeon and was told she was given the option of leaving it alone and what the consequences would be, they both said the POA said mom chose to have it. but that's the past now, its on to the future.

Mom is so funny with her OT, he is a young Cuban guy really handsome she has been flirting with him the last two mornings in OT, I think its cute to see an 86 yr old flirting, heck I think he is quite cute and I was flirting too LOL. I was teasing her about finding a older rich man while she is in rehab and she says no I don't need a man, I am fine. But she openly flirts with her OT. She was flirting with the Nurse at the Hospital, his name was Steve, he was nice greying with a nice beard and she would turn beet red around him. She flirted with the driver who brought her to the Rehab center too, Mom is a big ole flirt !

I have been busy trying to switch my car stuff over to Florida with no success because I cannot prove I live here, isn't that a hoot? I have to have utilities or a lease or something here in my name before I can get a license or even get tags for my car in Florida. So I am going to install internet at the house which will beat the Broadband wireless that wont stay on that I have now, sure wish I could get FIOS but they aren't in this neighborhood yet.

My District Mgr from work is making sure I can take my certification testing and classes down here without any problems, which is one less thing I have to look up and hunt down. So I should be set for next Tax Season and I can still serve a lot of my VA clients even down here that I have had as clients for more than a decade so all is well there.

DH will remain a partner in the Dog-walking business in Va and there is talk of opening a "branch" of it down here once he gets settled in. He just took on 3 new clients through the service he works for and 2 for the business, we have almost 50 clients now in the business and they are looking for a walker/sitter to work PT to handle the load.

DS Stefan won a contest at school and got a $20 Walmart card that he bought Grandma a Teddy Bear and get well card with and mailed it to her. He will be attending a math camp for Gifted and Talented students this summer that the guidance counselor got him a scholarship for, unless the house sells quickly then he of course wont.

So slowly but surely day by day it is coming together.


I was wondering if some of the Florida natives can help me with or give me ideas of where to go etc on the following

Who has the best rates for car insurance? I have Geico and it was more than double what I pay now, which is fine but I want to make sure I get the best rate and I know some states have smaller companies I have never heard of.

Which newspapers in Polk County give me the best coupons?
Where do you get the season passes for Disney?

Who are the better local banks or credit unions? As I discovered there are no Network Atm's affiliated with my Credit Union within 50 miles to get money without paying fees it would be easier to move it all here and save me $3 every time I need cash If I had something close and local.

Any realtor/realty company recommendations from anyone for short-term rentals? Most Apartments I looked at are too small and too hard to get mom in and out of and depending which place we go with buying (modular or new build) we will need housing for 3-7 months after our house in Virginia sells.

Vet recommendations? Need one who is experience with elderly and special needs cats and exotic animals.

I am just running so much back and forth that I am hoping a native can guide me a bit, I am spending a lot of time at the rehab center and there is no phone in her room and the cell service is iffy in that area.

Hope everyone has a great weekend hope to check in again soon if I can keep a connection for more than 5 minutes.

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~ Christine ~
Grammie to Trinity Lorayne Jean Keens Born June 9, 2011 Loving my awesome guitar picking 100% Country Boy boyfriend Kenny !
RIP Daddy~ 01/24/1930-06/01/2007 I miss you !
Dont Think you Can .. know you can ~ Jeff Hardy

I know you said Polk county, but can you be a little more specific?

As far as car insurance I suggest that you call around to all the carriers....

Florida resident's can get specials on Disney tickets. AAA has deals. (Disney is still pricey though especially if you're trying to watch your finances. Parking, food etc add up even with a season ticket)

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oupiglet...addicted to free stuff!

Glad to hear that things have turned around for you! Having had a lot of surgery myself, I can sympathize with your mom. I bet after she gets out of rehab, she'll be glad she had the surgery. The first two weeks after surgery are always the worst for me.

I have no Florida tips, I'm afraid.

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If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.

ITS very useful post tnx to share it..i love that...

The states I've lived in do require residency for the vehicles/tags, you can't just register because you decide to, so I don't find that a hoot, as you say.

Your posts teeter back and forth and upon reading it, I think you should really consider much more carefully many issues prior to actually making this move. I don't think anything is going to improve for you just by moving, which in itself, is expensive. Maintaining two households is again, expensive, if your dh is staying like you said. Getting Disney passes would not be high on my list of priorities with a move, it wouldn't even be on it.

Your health seems to be fine when you are doing things you want to do, and then you lament when you are "trying" to take care of your mom. You trash the rehab system and then come back with how wonderful it is. Long term care of a parent can be very stressful and not every child is cut out for it, no matter how much they try to convince themselves.

Honestly, I don't think you have a fair grasp of the entire situation you've put yourself in. I simply mention these points in hopes you will take a broader view. If you don't, I am sure you will post even more back and forth and how nothing is your fault. If you don't carefully consider all of the issues, you will be right back here posting. Please step back and take an objective view of the entire scope of what you are immersing yourself in.

It is good your mother is responding and doing better.

dl

ITS very useful post tnx to share it..i love that...

Excellent post, deddlast. Good advice for the OP; keeping it real on so many levels.

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

Omg Christine what wonderful news to hear, I veiwed each time you updated on facebook and left messages for you thanks for keeping us posted on facebook as well as here. I know there were many times there was some real tough times, I am so happy to hear the wonderful healthy news about your mom. A sincere prayer that much contiuned health continues peace for now.. Catherine

No, dl is right it's not really a hoot, it's pretty normal. I've moved to a few different states and yes, I've been required to prove residency to get my tags changed to that state.

Many other excellent points stated.

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Winter Haven, closer to Eagle lake based on it taking me less than 2 minutes to get into Eagle Lake.

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~ Christine ~
Grammie to Trinity Lorayne Jean Keens Born June 9, 2011 Loving my awesome guitar picking 100% Country Boy boyfriend Kenny !
RIP Daddy~ 01/24/1930-06/01/2007 I miss you !
Dont Think you Can .. know you can ~ Jeff Hardy

I appreciate your post.

The reason I found it a hoot is that I went to New Hampshire and was there 3 days and got a drivers license, tags and all without even having to prove I lived there and that surprised me that I could not do it here. Especially since I get mail here and have been for 26 yrs for some trusts I have.

I have taken a look at the situation we have been planning to move here since last August when mom fell.

I can say this much its my fault for not being more forceful with my mother in regards to the Power of Attorney and this woman who was helping herself to my mother's money. everyone tried to tell her she was stealing from her, but mom insisted she was her friend and would not do such a thing. Its a long book on the former POA and what has been found, its going to take me time to fix some of her screw-ups, I have no problems doing that.

Its my fault for not taking my medicines when I should have to prevent the flare up of my lupus and fibro, but I am back on track, still hurting but not as badly. I missed a lot of doses when Mom was in the hospital because I was running around so much from the house, to the hospital taking the son to get job applications and back to the hospital etc. Now I have my alarm set on my cell to remind me when to take them so I dont miss a dose at all.

I cant say my not having my scooter here is my fault 100%, its whoever backed into my car and made the carrier un-usable's fault 95% and mine 5% for not taking time to replace it or get it fixed, but I did have surgery right after it happened and a week later I was on my way here so I take small fault in that. It sure would be a help to me having it to use thats for sure.

As for Disney, Grammie (not my mom) wants to buy Season Passes for us and tickets for herself and my foster sister and her kids for their trip in August here to Disney so it is important, we were going to be here in August for Disney and now that I am living here if I can take advantage of some special offers to save her money I will.

I need to go yell at the lazy 22 yr old to get up again, wait until he sees where I am taking him later this week, the airport and back to VA to Daddy I am done with his shenanigans here and I am pretty sure Daddy will tire of them too soon enough and send him packing again. Had hoped a change of environment and away from the bad influences would have gotten him more focused, but he is up to his old habits and tricks and I wont put up with them period.

So thank you for your candor etc. it is appreciated especially when its not attacking me and twisting my words like others have done.

Also mom has a bladder infection from the catheter she wasnt much into visitors yesterday, but she perked up when she saw the Photo of DS Stefan and the cell phone we got her to keep in touch with us. She was fascinated with it, the rehab center has no phones but they allow cell phones so got her a pre-paid one to use while she is in there.

Off I go Have a Good rest of your weekend

__________________
~ Christine ~
Grammie to Trinity Lorayne Jean Keens Born June 9, 2011 Loving my awesome guitar picking 100% Country Boy boyfriend Kenny !
RIP Daddy~ 01/24/1930-06/01/2007 I miss you !
Dont Think you Can .. know you can ~ Jeff Hardy

For car insurance maybe try Liberty Mutual. We switched to them about 8 years ago. Every year I call around trying to get find better rates and at least for us- they remain the cheapest.

I am on the west coast so I'm not sure about papers over there.

Glad to hear your Mom's surgery went well.

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Mom to Katie 1/95 and Sara 5/97

I had liberty mutual and switched to Geico and better coverage for less, had them for 12 years or so before I dropped them, but each state is different for car insurance requirements and rates. I am not 100% I understand the PIP you have to carry here or why Uninsured Motorists is an option and not automatic.

I think we figured out the Lakeland Ledger is the best newspaper, found a deal at Staples on it they gave me great rate pre-paid my subscription fees and got a $25 Staples card to boot that paid for all the organizational needs for Mom's papers.

Saw mom this morning, helped her out of bed and into some clothes and was surprised at how good her scar looks almost 2 weeks out, but I cant tell if the sutures are removable or disolve on their own, she sees the surgeon in the morning for follow-up have to pick her up at 9 am, she thinks after she sees him she is going to get to go home. Am going back after dinner to see her again.

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~ Christine ~
Grammie to Trinity Lorayne Jean Keens Born June 9, 2011 Loving my awesome guitar picking 100% Country Boy boyfriend Kenny !
RIP Daddy~ 01/24/1930-06/01/2007 I miss you !
Dont Think you Can .. know you can ~ Jeff Hardy

We have LIberty Mutual, we switched from GEICO & saved about $400/year. Also, most ins co's down here renew every 6 months, LM is for a 1 year policy.

I believe that only FL & GA residents can get annual/seasonal passes, at least that's what the commercials say. Busch Gardens has a much better deal with their parks - it's pay for a day & come back all year (can't remember what the promotion is called), once again though, you must be a FL resident.

When we rented our house, before buying, we looked in the local papers. It didn't take us too long to find a 3/2 in a neighborhood we liked.

I wish you the best on your move & for your & your mother's continued improvements.