March 31, 2006
Dinner at Mom's Tonight
Day-Law, the woman fixed enough for an army! She had 2 kinds of bacon for Mikyla.. Meatloaf for dad, Baked barbq'd chicken for Nick, and chicken and dumplings for the rest of us.. green beans and corn bread, mashed 'taters!
WOW WHAT A MEAL!!
Thanks Mom, that was delicious!!!!!
Queens of the World!
Mikyla wanted to go to Mom's yesterday - lay on the hill in the backyard on a blanket, and look up at the sky and watch the clouds. The only problem was, it was a totally beautiful day, with a clear blue sky and not a cloud in sight!
They did get to go play on the dirt pile for a few minutes, and they were queens of the world!
March 30, 2006
Shark Boy and Lava Girl
Sarah brought this movie to the girls about 3 weeks or so ago, and it's been here in the drawer by the bed since. They didn't even open it, wouldn't.. because they said it "Looks Boring."
We've gone through most of the movies they love this week.. and we bought "Chicken Little the other day - cute movie, but somehow the animation looks so.. 70's.. still they enjoyed it.
Since there's no school tomorrow, Mikyla wanted to watch another movie, so she was digging through the movie drawer and found this one. Shark Boy and Lava girl.. she finally opened it and to her delight found 4 pairs of 3D glasses, which she passed out to Joel and Mallory (who are still awake too) and now they're laying on the bed, watching this movie, enthralled.
They keep yelling out.. "IT'S COMING RIGHT AT MEEEEEEEEEEE!" They're gonna wake up Maegan I just know it! *laughs*
I hope this 3d thing doesn't hurt Mallory. So far she seems okay.
Last week Sarah brought in the 3rd Harry Potter movie, and so far I STILL haven't gotten to sit through it with them to see it all. They run me for water, chips, pop, potty breaks, the telephone.. I've tried now to watch that one 4 times and no go. I'll have to catch a childless day here to watch it!
The Moon
...must be doing something out there, because I think I've talked to almost every lunatic I know last night and today. It must be something to do with the eclipse.
Not calling any names... MOM.. thank you for kindly taking care of that problem here last night. I never saw anyone leave so quickly before, bowing and 'ma'aming'... that was quite an event. I don't think he expected to see you coming at him like that! I did appreciate it, because my ol' ticker really ain't what it used to be. *just looks at you*
I'm a merciful person. Really. When his car wouldn't start, I just know what he and his friend were thinking.. "Oh shit. OH SHIT.. and her mom's standing there with her hands on her hips, why did you talk me into coming up here, OH SHIT!" I forgot my heart problem and actually felt a little sorry for the poor guys.. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry or grab my heart or just stare like I was the loon.
But then I saw Mikyla. The child's eyes were twinkling and every time you stomped your foot at him, she mimicked you, stomping hers too then you would point for him to "go away".. she did too.. Point, stomp, point, stomp.. lordy I don't think you saw her doing that.. and I just had to laugh. The child looks to you as a role model. And you are teaching her the way I truly want her to go. Fear no man. Take no crap from no man, and for heaven's sakes, steer clear of the psychopaths and sociopaths.
What would I do without you, Mom? I don't even want to know. I think it was fascinating for Mikyla to see a man go away when a woman stomped her feet and said "scat!".
Then the surprise in my snail mail this morning. That was frosting on the cake. Yum do I like frosting! Sarah and Bonnie liked that particular frosting too. It freed them to say what they've been wanting to say for 14 years. I think they deserve that much.
The past 24 hours haven't been boring that's for sure!
March 29, 2006
Mal Walking her Dog...
*laughs*
Not what you expected again, was it, Jana!
Sharing Her Fruit
Mom I forgot to post this one.. here's the picture of Mallory putting the fruit you got her into paper bags - to share with us, the way churches share with folks at Christmas time! *laughs* What about her thinking of doing that?
Ready for Round-up
Mallory's all registered for Kindergarten come August. She looked pretty for round-up too!
She said when she got there, the teacher asked her to count, and then to 'cut to the cheese' - meaning she had to guide some scissors down a line and stop at the picture of a wedge of cheese. She did great!
Way to go, Mallory!
March 27, 2006
My Mother
is a doll. Honestly.
I think she could tell today on the phone that I needed a break, so she swallowed her fear of Mallory's seizures, and she came and got her, and Mikyla and took them both shopping. The kids had a ball, Mom had a ball, but poor dad is gonna have to work 2 weeks overtime to make up the money the girl's wheedled out of them while they were shopping.
They came back with 20 pairs, Twenty, I didn't make a typo.. of pajamas!
They both had new shoes, Mikyla got some Dora the Explorer toys.
Mallory got a baby doll and stroller.
Mallory got a bag of apples...and an out-of-season very expensive Watermelon too.
They brought Joel back a really nice remote controlled Ski-do!
They even brought me back a really cute gold sequined purse!
Oh I just LOVE it when they take the girls shopping!
Thanks Mom, and Dad, that was above and beyond the call of duty! I sure do appreciate it and I know the girls and Joel do too. You're too much! I love you both!
Just Speculation...
Why I see the bad in men I don't know for sure. A woman has committed murder, having shot her husband then fleeing with her children, to be apprehended days later her daughters with her, safe and sound. My small mind realizes something went wrong with her, and then my black heart nudges me saying things like sure there did, she probably walked in and caught him doing something untoward to one of her babies.
What an unfair judgement on someone I don't even know. I should be shocked into indignation. She shot and killed her husband?! She disrespected a man of God so much as to take his life, then run with his children?! How dare she! I should be muttering with disdain: They should fry her! They should make an example of her.
I know what I should be thinking, yet my heart and mind go in just the opposite direction. He had to do something. He had to hurt her so badly, somehow... What could he have done to cause her to want to remove him so completely from her daughter's lives?
I know, I know, no prosecuting attorney would ever want me to be on the jury. I don't blame them either. I should be ashamed of myself. I'm awful. :(
March 26, 2006
Damn.
Buck Owens passed away today. I loved his music..
Damn.
Goodnight, Mr. Owens.
March 23, 2006
Mallory Last Night.
Night before last, we were in the kitchen when Mallory started knocking on her right temple. She said her 'head was sleeping'.
Mallory knows what it's like to have her leg or arm go to sleep on her, the tingling and numbness, so I'm sure that's what she was trying to explain to me. That her head was tingling/numb the same way.
She didn't want any Tylenol, said it wasn't hurting, it sounded like it was more aggrevating and annoying than anything else.
Last night, we were lying in here watching "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou", when she started knocking on her temple again. Again, she said her head was sleeping. I asked her how long her head was sleeping like that.. meaning, for how many days.. she took it as how long right then and answered "5 minutes or so".. I don't know if she understands what 5 minutes is.. but when I got her to understand what i meant she said the night before was the first time she felt it do that before.
She was more quiet than usual for her, just laying there without talking, not even whispering to herself like she usually does when Mikyla's sleeping. She asked me if she could sit on my 'laps'... I held her for a while and she started talking.
She told me that her head was sleeping again and knocking on it wasn't waking it up. Then she said that when she closed her eyes to try to sleep, she saw colors. Red, Yellow, Purple and White. She twisted her head to look at me and asked, "do you see colors like that too, mammy?" I told her no, and tried to reassure her that she was just tired and needed some sleep.
She said that her brain was confused. She used that word. "Confused". And she said that she's tired of her brain being confused, and she's tired of seeing colors and she's tired of her head falling to sleep, she wants a new brain. She insisted it didn't hurt like a headache, that it was just sleeping. It's annoying her.
After a while she asked me if I could see the angel over by the bed room door. She was looking up towards the ceiling. I told her no I didn't see it, but I didn't ask her what it looked like. I have to admit it that her saying that creeped me out. Instead of asking her about it, I asked her if she wanted a snack, and we got up and went into the kitchen and I made her a corn dog.
When we went back to bed, she went to sleep at about midnight, finally. And she slept good the rest of the night. No snoring, no thrashing, just good sound sleep. She's still sleeping.
About that angel she said she saw. I have butterflies hanging from the ceiling, but nothing is hanging over by the door where she was looking. She mentioned an angel once before, back just after she had that first seizure that I saw her have.. she said it was over here in the corner of the room by my computer desk. I brushed that off because I have an angel wind chime hanging there, so I just was certain that's what she meant.
She said the angel there was scaring her. I remember saying, Mal honey that's my wind chime, do you want me to take it down? She insisted no, that it wasn't the chime, that the angel was there by the chime, and it was making her scared.
I turned her away from the chime that night, I was still sure that's what she'd seen. Last night though, I don't know what it was she was seeing, there's nothing there where she was looking.
Shoots Shelly a Defiant Look!
Calling to harrass me about the snow we had on the first day of spring like that! Shame on you! *laughs* And here it is, Spring is 3 days old and it's STILL cold out there. This is unbelievable!
That's alright, hyena.. laugh! I .. still have some blooms left.. on my orange tree here in the house...and on ever what this other plant is, too!
Which is odd.. because I could never keep a plant alive in here before, much less alive and get it to bloom... Sights and wonders, Shelly, Sights and wonders!
*wicked grin*
March 21, 2006
March 19, 2006
Squincy Face!
No.. her nose isn't molding.. that's bingo stamp ink. She and I were just checking out the colors and just all of a sudden my arm shot out and put a dab spang on the end of her nose. She protested, then said she was going to put some on me.. to which I replied, No, honey no this is too messy, we can't do that, Mammy wasn't thinking, I'm sorry..
We went on to check more of the tubes, and suddenly her arm shot out and she marked on my arm.. I looked at her, surprised..and she looked at me with these huge surprised at herself eyes.. Oh Mammy, I don't know what happened, I didn't mean it, I just wasn't thinking... *laughs*
Nails..
She loves these.. but she has the devil of a time keeping them on.. they want to keep popping off no matter how much glue I use on them!
Fruit Coolers
I'm not sure what they're called.. but have you seen the commercial where the boy's head is frozen in a chunk of ice from eating those chewy fruit things? *laughs* the girls got a box today, and the Fruit Coolers, really work! Just look how they froze Mallory up after she put one in her mouth!
Maegan With My Beads
Poor Maegan.. she's not resting well, I think she's teething now, just after those shots and she's just as cranky as can be. Still, she enjoyed playing with my jewelry this afternoon.
I thought maybe if I put the cd player in her room, and played some soft classical music, maybe she'd start sleeping better and stop being so fussy. I can't tell if it's going to work yet. Her room sounds like Hannable Lector's house. *laughs* She's sleeping right now, but she usually sleeps pretty good at night. It's nap times she's not wanting any part of anymore.
I started to give Maegan some peaches tonight but Mikyla got to her before I could get a bib. I don't think Maegan liked the peaches very much, she just kept spitting them out, shivering, but she sure had fun having Mikyla try to feed her.. and of course, she loved the bath she had to have after that mess!
March 18, 2006
Avian Flu
Can we use common sense to survive the pandemic flu virus that's being predicted?
Symptoms
The symptoms of this flu vary, I was reading earlier, that the symptoms of Avian Flu are similar to SARS. Some people report sore muscles, fever, respiratory distress, vomiting, cough, sore throat, pneumonia and other life threatening complications. For more on this click this link:
On this page, it says that as of March 16, 2006, out of 177 cases of Avian Flu, 98 of the patients died.
Please don't be lazy. I was brushing this off, my sister's been worrying about this flu for a year now, and it's getting more and more coverage, we're being given more and more warnings to be prepared.
I hope everyone keeps what happened to the people in Louisiana when Katrina hit fresh in their minds. When a gigantic disaster (or virus which has been touted as the worse virus ever) hits, there isn't going to be anyone to 'take care of you'. You have to do that for yourself. The best way I can think of to do this, is to be prepared. Learn what this is, what's going to happen, not only to you, in your home, but to others in your community. No, there's no handbook you can read. I think this is one of those 'think about and reason it out' sort of things you have to do
Spring is coming, and birds migrate. You can bet your ass this flu will hit the U.S. It's just a matter of time.
I went to msnbc.com and started clicking and reading on Avian Flu links, and then on the links on those pages, everything I could find and ended up here, again, please don't go peek then close the link, read this.. then get prepared. It never hurt anyone to get ready for something like this, then not need it, but oh how badly it would hurt to not be ready and then need just the simplest of things.
Bird Flu Section Index on msnbc.com
Here's the link to the Center for Disease Control's pages on Avian Flu:
CDC - AVIAN FLU
Please, remember, over half the people who have caught this virus have died. That's a lot.
If it's just you and your husband in the house, and this strain of flu hits you, 1 of you are likely to die with this.
If it's you and your husband and your children, 2 of you are likely to die with this. According to what I'm reading, this is hardest on the children.
Go read these links, get prepared, and if you can't get in some food and water and basic comfort medicines, please at least read some of these links so you will know what you are likely going to be dealing with.
March 17, 2006
My Flowers
Brenda & Shelly came to visit today and brought me these flowers! Aren't they beautiful!?
Mom came over too, and brought me the prettiest green apple windchimes for St. Pats day - but my pic was too dark... I'll get another one tomorrow.
I made roast and carrots and taters and rolls and brown gravy, for lunch, and yum, it was good! I think they enjoyed it. :) Thanks for coming over everyone, I had a GREAT time!!
Thank you for the windchimes, Mom - and thank you for the flowers, Brenda and Shelly!
My 3 Bears
My name is Goldilocks. I live in small house, next to the forest. One day I woke up to find, to my amazement.. 3, count them, three bears had taken over my bedroom! Mikyla bear..Mallory bear, and Maegan bear. Once upon a time, I lived a bleak existance, my room was mine alone. Now...
They rule my world.. they've stolen my bed... AND my spare floor space!
March 16, 2006
Maegan, Helping...
She's the best clothes folder this side of the Kentucky River!
She had to have shots today, so she hasn't really been in the greatest of moods. I hate shot day.. her little legs hurt her so much, but thank goodness it only lasts a couple of days.
The lady at the doc's said that Maegan doesn't weigh enough for her age...but.. she's not as long as other kids her age either.. so.. for her length, her weight is perfect.. she's just 2 inches short of normal. *laughs* I vote to buy a rack and stretch her out so she's just as long as the rest of the kids, and thus be 'normal'!
this dang place..
I think she's perfect.
Blossoms
Aren't they beautiful! Aren't you glad it's time for them to start showing up everywhere!!
*big fat sigh of relief!*
Check Out This House!
If any of you would like to see that bottom pic on that page in it's large size click here:
Large Photo
The photos were donated by my friend, Dede Reddish. Thanks again, Dede!
Fashion Show!
Mikyla needed some short sleeved shirts for school, since warmer weather has been visiting us, so Mom went and got her some. (and some jeans and socks too!) Mikyla loved them (they're beautiful!!) and she had to model them for us!
This shot was on the camera so I just put it here too.. she looks like she's got a hangover! *laughs*
She loved that gold shirt best and wore it to school today. Thanks Mom, that was so nice of you - she really needed those! I don't know what we'd do without you. We love you!! And thank you too, for the clothes you brought for Mallory and Maegan. I'll get some pics of them wearing theirs too!
March 14, 2006
Shelly!
I'm in dire need of Bingo Balls. *laughs* Know where I can get any?
Jana!
My monkey grass is alive! It's alive! *groans and goes to get the mower*
Have a good day today, hope you didn't get too much rain yesterday!
DeDe!
Thank you SO much for everything! I'll get your page up today - the pics are wonderful!
Mallory is fine this morning and sends you great big hugs!
Love ya!!
911
I've taught Mikyla 2 phone numbers. Mine, and to call 911 if there's ever an emergency.
When she's away, she calls me quite often.. and she's just been itching to try out 911...but so far, (thankfully) no emergencies to require her to do so.
The other day, I told her to stop doing something.. I don't remember what it was now.. but she got angry and said she was going to call 911 and tell them that I was being hateful. I told her to go ahead and I'd tell them that she was misbehaving. She didn't call.. but.. for some strange reason, she did dial it a couple of nights ago.
We were sitting at the dinner table and Mikyla eased up and took the phone and headed to the den. She has a little friend in Kindergarten named Tawny she likes to call and I thought that's what she was doing. However, I can hear when she hits buttons and I just heard three tones. 9-1-1. It had to be 911.
I got up and peeked in and asked her who she was calling.. her eyes got big and she hung up and said "no one!" I hit redial and sure enough, it was 911.
I said, "Oh Mikyla, you're fibbing to your mammy that's not nice.. the phone just said you dialed 911.."
She stared a minute and asked if the police would come out here.. I said, I don't know.. maybe they will, I'm not sure.
She fell apart..."Oh Mammy! Call them back! Tell them I was trying to call my friend and just messed up! Please! I don't want the police to come!"
I said, "Mikyla.. you can't lie to the police.. you get in trouble for that.. "
Oh the lamenting.. "I'm sorry!" "I dialed 119!" "Tell them, Mammy!"
The police didn't come, they didn't call back.. I think she hung up before it could connect.. but at least she got to try it out. *laughs* I don't think she liked it very much.. the police scare her no matter how much I try to teach her that they're there to help her.
Poor Mikyla!
New Favorite Phrase...
...for when I'm feeling indignant, beligerant and afronted...
"I dont give a farmer's fuck..."
ie... I don't give a farmer's fuck! If it's raining or not, I'm going fishing Saturday.
*laughs*
Compliments of Mom. Thank you Mom, I like that one! *laughs*
Mallory Breaking More Rules...
Joel's not supposed to stand on the slide either.. why do kids have to do the exact thing you ask them not to do?
Corn Dog
Lexi likes corn on the cob.. She and Maegan got into a row over a piece..
Maegan won!
Maegan's Day, Yesterday...
It was so nice outside yesterday..sunny most of the morning, and part of the afternoon as well. I moved the glider around on the porch so Maegan couldn't get close to the stairs, and just let her play out there without a play pen, or the swing. Unconfined, she had a ball. She crawled on all 4's frontwards, for the first time yesterday there on the porch. Once she figured out how, there was no stopping her. She went all over the place! Inside, I didn't put her in a play pen either.. and she just had the time of her life playing with the other kids, mimicking them, actually doing or trying to do what they were doing.
I can't believe how much she's doing for 7 months old.
She's smart enough to look around too, to see if anyone's watching her who might be on the way to 'stop' her from her explorations... The tag on the desk chair caught her eyes and she had to go check it out. She kept turning that little head to look to see if any of us were 'onto' her! LOL
Her favorite thing in this whole world, is Bath Time!
March 12, 2006
March 11, 2006
The Writing on the Wall...
...and the porch, and the stairs, and the sidewalk, and the house... but I'm not sweatin' it - it washes right off with water, and they know they better not do it anyplace but here!
Big Fingers...
I thought the clouds looked pretty neat today.. these were clouds too, not airplane vapors...
The Reverand, Mallory
We were cleaning out their playhouse, and I'd put Mamaw's Nativity set in there so it didn't get squished in the tool shed.. and Mallory spotted it. She just had to get it and pray with it.
She needed to take a break to make herself beautiful, too.
March 10, 2006
March 09, 2006
Stinky Feet...
...and the people who walk on them.
Before I begin, let me just say.. that only your best friend would tell you something like this.. so don't be offended.. my gentle acquaintance.. just...
GO WASH YOUR FEET!!!
Really. Several times a day, if necessary, for you're making me sick. You take off your shoes at the door and I get so sick at my stomach I double up and groan. I do.. you just haven't noticed.
Then you sit to watch television, and inadvertanly, you wriggle your toes. For the love of God, DON'T WRIGGLE YOUR TOES! Every little move sends that smell into the air like one of those room air fresheners set to go off every few minutes, only what you're putting out into the air isn't very refreshing... it's.. GOD AWFUL!
You know the little flowers they show in commercials for air fresheners? Turn those flowers into some foul salty sea bacterial crusted snails or something furry but yet molded.. floating in horrible assaulting wafts right straight for me..
Don't hand me that you just showered stuff, because I don't care if you DID just shower.. if you didn't bend over and scrub those dogs right hard, all you did was wet the bacteria and make it worse.. and I sit here imagining that your feet are cheese coated.. teaming with something moving down there that I can't see.. and it's getting in my carpet..
I imagine you walking everywhere, slipping and sliding inside your shoes, they've got to be all slimy.. anything that smells like that has to be the child of something so very slimy...
I don't care if it's a gland thing. I don't care if it's 'just your shoes'. I don't care if it takes amputation, if you don't do something about them, I'm going to call 911 next time you're here.
Me: HELP! Something rotten's in my Den!
Operator: Ma'am, this line's just for emergencies...
Me: This is an emergency! My air is polluted, and I swear to God I think I'm gonna die if I have to sit here with my eyes tearing up like this just one more minute!
Ever hear of Doctor Scholls? Wash your feet. Powder your feet. Wash your shoes.. Wear white socks. STOP WRIGGLING YOUR TOES!
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, WASH YOUR FEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!!!!!!!!
A Chock Full Day
It was a beautiful day today.. 70's.. but windy as all get out. Perfect weather..in my (humble) opinion. Tonight we've got tornado watches.. wind could get up to 60-65 mph.. we have severe thunderstorm warnings until tomorrow at 2 in the afternoon.. GOOOOOO, GOD!! I love weather like this so long as no one is hurt.
We stayed outside all day.. I think we may have been inside just long enough to eat and that was it. I figured they'd be sleeping already from that fresh air but so far they're still right up and at it, fighting over who gets to pick tomorrow night's movie. I have to say one thing for them.. they sure know how to look to the future...
Bonnie isn't feeling too well tonight. She's not going to work again, so Joel won't be here tonight. We went by to take her some of Mom's stir fry, but she wasn't home. I hope she calls in a while to let me know how she is. She didn't look too good at Mom's earlier this evening when she came to pick up Joel.
Mik, Mal and Mae are with me again for the night.. they didn't want to go home again, so wahlah, here they are.. Maegan is sleeping but mercy, Mallory is still going strong and Mikyla is quiet, which means she'd go to sleep if Mal would get a little more quiet.
In fact, in her usual bossy tone, Mikyla told me:
"Hand me the remote, Mammy."
Me: "No, Maegan's sleeping and you'll turn it so loud you'll wake her up.."
Mikyla: Reach me the remote, it's too quiet, I can't hear it!"
Me: "No, it's loud enough!"
Mikyla (with this aggrevated but resigned tone): "Oh nevermind, I'm too tired to fool with you tonight."
That kid makes me laugh.
Yesterday she was picking on her Dippy.. she doesn't know he doesn't have any hair.. he always wears his hair piece, and a hat on top of it. She's never seen him without them. So yesterday, she just abruptly ran up to him.. he wasn't prepared to dodge.. and she just pretty as you please reached out and yanked that cap up and then got the surprise of her little life. She turned as if stunned, slowly releasing her hold on the hat, moving like her joints had rusted.. and her eyes.. her mouth.. she had eatin' plate sized eyes.. her eyebrows were lost in her bangs and her mouth was clinched in this "oh-shit-will-you-look-at-that- mammy-i'm-dead-meat-now-aren't-I-but-why-the-hell-didn't-someone-tell-me- about-this-before-now-oh-my-GOD-how-I-wish-I'd-never-touched-that-hat!" expression. I can tell you truthfully folks.. I've not laughed like that in decades, and don't expect to do so again for another 40 years. That was priceless - where's the video camera when you really need it?
I did get a *coughs* few pictures of them playing.. just candid shots from yesterday and today..
Mom invited us up for dinner tonight.. stir fry for us and chicken and fries for the kids (bacon for mikyla).. it was delicious, thank you Mom!!!!!!! Oh.. yes.. *coughs* I just ate another little bowl.. I'm glad you talked me into bringing it home with me.. that hit the spot, again!
That expression on Mikyla.. that's sort of what she looked like yesterday when she pulled off Dippy's cap.. just.. multiply that expression by about 10...
To me, Dad has always looked like Robert DeNiro.. well.. a cross between DeNiro and Nick Nolte - and when he plays with Maegan like this, I get tickled and think about Meet the Fockers. I'm watching youuuu!
Mallory's puppy, Princess Ann-Elise died Monday.. she wouldn't eat and we don't know what was wrong with her, but the shelter must have expected something like that, because when we called, they said to come pick out another one. This one, Mallory named "Lexi".. she's pretty, but ohh is she rowdy.. she already barks, she's only 8 weeks old, and my goodness she can out howl the neighbor's dogs! I don't know if she's going to be a very good seizure alert dog.. she didn't pick out Mallory, Mal picked her out.. and she doesn't seem interested in sitting still long enough to try to learn Mallory's scents. We'll see.. wish us luck.. I sure hate that the other puppy died.. because I really think that one would have been a good dog for Mallory. Oh well.. maybe Lexi will surprise me.
Mal doing the exact thing she isn't supposed to be doing.. (Again.)
She had to dress up yesterday to go back to the shelter to pick out another puppy.
Mom bought all three of them new pajamas.. they love pajamas every bit as much as Hugh Hefner does..so I let them wear them to her house tonight for dinner.. they loved that.. Thanks again, Mom!
When mom stopped by this afternoon to bring the pajamas, she left Mallory and Joel a bottle of juice as well.. after mom had gone, Mallory reached up for her juice, took a big swig.. patted my arm and said, "Boy that was so sweet of Granny, wasn't it?" She skipped off, a happy lil camper..
Cerius and Lexi seem to get along just fine...
We were all outside at Mom's earlier tonight, but it was so windy, I was scared for Maegan to get out there.. she watched us from the storm door, and looked like she wanted to join us desperately.. I felt sorry for her, but no need for earaches, and I just knew that was what would happen!
March 08, 2006
Dana Reeve Passed Away
Dana Reeve passed away March 6, 2006, from Lung Cancer. I really admired her. Good Night, Mrs. Reeve.
Last Night...
...Sarah took Maegan home, but she let Mikyla and Mallory spend the night again. Mik was napping on the couch and Mal just didn't want to go home. She pretty much stays where Mikyla stays.
Since Mik was sleeping, Mallory got to help me fix dinner all by herself. She got to help put the onions in the ground beef for ghoulash, oh she was in 7th heaven washing the vegetables for the salad, melting the butter and mixing in the garlic, for the garlic bread, and then mixing the pudding, setting the table, she loves doing those things, but that's usually Mikyla's turf and Mallory usually ends up just setting the table, or just getting out the vegetables.
While we were eating, I commented that I like butterscotch pudding, but I never make it because I'm the only one who will eat it.. Mal pipes up all seriously.. "Oh no you're not, Mammy, I'll eat it!!" *laughs* So I guess I have a butterscotch puddin' eatin' companion now. I'll have to make her some.
Mikyla woke up in a good mood for school this morning.. she wanted to wear flip flops, but I told her kiddo, it's so cold out there you'll freeze your toes off.. naturally she had to go onto the porch herself to see.. then she laughed, got her butt back in here and said oh no mammy it's waaaay too cold for flip flops. She's readier (like that word?) for spring than I am. I'm glad most of winter is over.
Joel had a bad cough yesterday.. he and Bonnie are sick with something again. Bonnie called in sick last night and didn't go to work, so we didn't have Joel for the night.
I better get off this computer, I have a lot of straightening up in here to do today.. and I have another ton of laundry that's just screaming at me from the bathroom. Ick!
About Mallory...
The results from Mallory's scans will be back next week.. but for now things are the same.. Depakote twice a day... which should be in her system by Saturday, so says the neurologist.
For now, no contact sports for Mallory, no strenuous play, no running, no baths, showers only - no horse back riding, (she didn't do that much anyway) no more tree climbing, and she really shouldn't even be swinging out there on the swingset.
I can pretty much accept all of the 'no's' in her life now, I hate them, but okay for now - except the baths. Mallory loves her baths.. particularly bubble baths.
Showers, to her, suck. So I was sitting on the little stool beside the tub last night, watching her play and splash around in the bubbles, defiantly letting her have this one pleasure, knowing if i had to I could grab her out of there in a heartbeat... but all the while with my heart in my throat.
She, however, isn't accepting squat. She looks at me like I'm nuts when I slow her down, make her rest, tell her no honey you can't do this or that.. and dang if she doesn't plow right ahead and try to do things she shouldn't be doing right now, anyway. Egads, it's like trying to rope a tornado!
March 05, 2006
Mallory
Is in Lexington tonight, she has an early appointment with her neurologist in the morning, for more xrays..
She called tonight and sounded like she was doing just fine. She was missing her puppy and wanting to be here, but otherwise fine.
Yesterday was her first full day off of the Dilantin and she made if through it just fine.. and so far, so good for today as well. Thank God!
Maegan...
...sat up for the first time today.. all by her self!
This is her 2nd time.. the first time was in her crib but I didn't have my camera ready.. look at that satisfied expression on that face! lol
March 04, 2006
In The Deep Dark Forest...
Mikyla and I rarely get to go out and do anything, just the two of us.. but today, with Mallory and Maegan home with their mom, Mik and I got to go out picture taking. She decided she wanted to stop at the store for some candy, then go into the Deep Dark Forest to see if we could get a shot of the troll who is reputed to live beneath a fallen log we'd seen long ago.
We didn't find the troll.. we think he was busy guarding the other side of the forest from the Spring King, you all know how badly trolls hate spring. But I think the troll was somehow fooled, because while we were there, we found a ton of Easter Lillies, blooming just as pretty as you please! Nick picked a
couple of them, before Jack Frost could visit and kill them all. (Jack's pretty thick with the troll and enjoys destroying signs of spring when he can...)
We had a good time, and when we made it safely back to the carriage, we congratulated each other that we didn't disturb or draw the attention of one single angry giant. The deep dark forest looks a lot different in early spring than it does in late fall.. it's not nearly so dark!
We stopped by Mom's to let her see that Mallory was ok, and then we went to Dianne's to check on Mallory and to take her the gummy sharks we bought her at the candy store..
Mallory shared some of her gummy sharks with her Nana's horses. I think this one's name is "Dobber" but I'm not sure... the other horse is "Baby". I wish I had enough land to be able to keep horses!
This is Nick with Princess Ann-Elise.
Queen Mallory later this afternoon. She decided she needed a servant and that servant was Nick. Poor Nick - she ran him to death for over an hour!
Maegan got to try out the trampoline! She liked it, too!
We ended up bringing both Mallory and Maegan back with us for the rest of the day.. (and the night - they're all here, spending the night and sleeping well.) (all but Mikyla, she tricked me - she's so quiet I thought she was sleeping but when I tried to change the TV from the movie "Bethoven" she caught me and made me turn it back.. she is enjoying that.)
Today was Mallory's first day without Dilantin, and so far so good. Pray for us that she continues to sleep peacefully all through the night. She's going back to her neurologist Monday morning.
Well.. enough for tonight, I'm tired, and I'm going to head out and get some sleep. G'nite world, be safe!
P.S. Dede, thanks for all of your help, I think you're awesome!
P.P.S. G'nite, Cookie Monster!
4th Seizure Tonight..
I'm trying to write down exactly what we did today, the exact times, as closely as I can, to document it, so that maybe we can spot a pattern here, something, some...thing to help us get a clue as to what's causing these so we can make them stop.
March 3, 2006, 10 p.m. sharp. This one lasted about 2 minutes, 5 seconds, roughly. We timed it. God I've never felt so helpless in my life. This was the first one to happen to her while she was sleeping. It hit her about 20 to 30 minutes after she fell to sleep.
She's been with me since yesterday morning.. and I know, I know that she didn't fall, she didn't get stressed, she didn't eat anything she shouldn't have, she rested, she wasn't overly tired. She had a good night's sleep last night, and she had an extra good day today.
She ate well... which made me feel better, because her appetite's not been what it used to be lately. She was picky, she giggled, and played. She was happy, just her normal self for most of the day.
We were on our way to take her to the Animal Shelter at about 4 this afternoon to get her a puppy, and she said that she didn't feel good. When I asked her what was hurting her, she said nothing, nothing mammy, I just don't feel good. I told her to rest her head on the back of the seat and try to doze on the way.. that I'd wake her up when we got there.. she did for all of 3 minutes, then the next thing I knew she and Mikyla were laughing and singing and just basically being themselves.
She went into the shelter.. and she found a cage with 4 or 5 light colored tiny puppies, and pointed to the little skinniest one in the cage, and said she wanted that one. We looked at all of the dogs but she went back to those, and said she wanted the one she'd first picked out. Then she reminded me that she wasn't supposed to pick out the puppy, it was supposed to pick her out.. so we asked the lady if she'd set that cage full of pups loose and let us see which one went to Mallory and made over her.. the lady was so nice, she did.. and that little runt that Mallory had wanted was the one that went to her and climbed spang up in her lap and up her chest to give her a sloppy puppy dog kiss.
I gave Mallory the money, and she paid the fees and brought the pup home, it's a girl, and Mallory named her Princess Ann-Elise. She's a tiny little Beagle mix. Mallory was so tickled. Moreso that it's her puppy, and Mikyla can only hold it or play with it with Mallory's permission. (which she readily gave Miykla.)
She's so very little. Mallory's so petite, so thin.. God I feel so helpless and I hate this. I hate this so much for her.
She wanted to go show Mom her puppy so we went, and it was supper time over there. We ate with them, hot dogs and french fries, but Mallory was still full from the chicken she'd eaten at my house earlier. She did though want a bowl of ice cream at Mom's.
She played, she chatted with them, she was herself.. she wasn't feeling sick, she wasn't lethargic, she wasn't withdrawn.. Mom even commented that Mallory was looking good. To me, she looked gaunt around the eyes, but I'm so paranoid, I don't know if it was just me looking for something to worry about.
Sarah called while we were there, to check on them, and for the life of me I can't remember which one talked to her, whether it was Mikyla or Mallory.. one did, but the other one was busy and just said, no i don't want to talk to her right now..
When we left, it was dark, and Mallory said she was scared. She doesn't like being in the car after dark, she doesn't like the dark at all. I handed her her puppy and said there, now you don't have to be afraid anymore..and she wasn't.. she snuggled the dog and was fine.
Thinking back, I do remember her saying that her legs were hurting when we were driving home from Mom's with the puppy. I remember telling her I would rub them for her when we got home.. but by the time we got home, she either ignored that they were hurting, or they'd stopped, because she wasn't thinking about that anymore.. all she wanted to do was to give her puppy a bath.
I gave Maegan her bath at about 8:30, Mallory stayed in there with me, splashing the water on Maegan's arms, 'helping' me bathe her.. she was fine then, but I didn't bathe her or Mikyla tonight. They were more excited about bathing the dog, and it was getting late.
Around 9, I put Mal's pajamas on her and gave her her Depakote, and she took it all just fine, and I watched closely to be sure she didn't spit it into her glass of water, but she didn't. She took every bit of it, and didn't even wince. Then we were ready for her to bathe her puppy.
I ran the water for her, and got the towel and shampoo ready - a little rinse cup out..and she did it all by herself. She was so proud that she did it alone too. She got her favorite good dream cherry blanket and wrapped up the puppy so she wasn't cold, and then she put her in her basket on the foot of the bed. Then she asked me if she had to go to bed too, and I said yes, that it was bedtime. She climbed up there beside the basket and was laying there with Mikyla, watching television, and I know it wasn't 20 minutes later.. 30 tops, she and Mikyla both were sound asleep. I was right in here with them.
She'd slept for roughly 20 minutes, no more than 30 when she cried out, more like a gasp, then she was seizing. I just don't understand. I don't understand this at all. I know it's just something I'm going to have to accept and learn not to be so terrified of, but it scares the living hell out of me.
I know the times are almost precise, I have 5 clocks in here in my room. I knew we needed to time the seizure because they gave her something in a syringe that we're supposed to use on her if it lasts over 5 minutes.. and to me the seizures all seem to be a year long.
I just don't understand why this is happening to her. I just have always had to have reasons for everything, everything that happens, I have to analyse it and mull it over and work out the whys and how comes.
You know, after she stopped the actual jerking and seizing, she just fell limp on the bed. This, I'm told, is normal. Normal. Ugh. She did.. go limp.. and went to sleep. Breathing peacefully, just sleeping, a sleep I couldn't get her to wake up from.. I later learned from Sarah and Roy I'm not supposed to stimulate or try to rouse her.. to just let her rest. I know that now, eh? I picked her up then and tried to get her to open her eyes.
I just needed her to open her eyes and recognise me, recognise something. To be herself. I begged her to look at her puppy, that she was right there with her.. and the puppy was. It was just crying and crying, that poor puppy knew something was wrong. She didn't warn us before hand, she was curled up in her cherry blanket in the basket, but Stan thought to get her and put her up on my arms close to Mallory's face so the pup could learn that scent. And the puppy just sat there crying. It knew something was wrong. I think the pup is going to work out just fine for this. As it grows, it will learn.
I carried her onto the porch, the last seizure, Roy took her there, he said the cool air helped bring her around.. so I thought that's what I was supposed to do. We wrapped a blanket around her and I just sat there on the swing, until Stan said to come inside, that she was just sleeping now, and just come inside where it wasn't cold..
I sat on the couch just talking to her, trying to get her to open her eyes, and Stan went then to call Sarah, and he couldn't get mom, her line was busy, so I had him sit on the couch and hold Mallory while I came back in here to tell mom on icq.. mom called me then and she just listened on the phone while we tried to get Mallory to wake up and recognise us.
She didn't wake up, not totally, but she did start crying, oh Lord she started crying the most heart wrenching hopeless cry I think I've ever heard in my life.
Just this sorrowful weeping. I can't stand it, I wish I could trade places with her. Then she began vomiting, and just kept throwing up for the longest time, then she got quiet again, and was just sleeping, breathing softly.
At one point, she did nod when I asked her if she knew who I was.
All the while, her little puppy was just there, with her, crying right along with her.
This seizure, in comparason with the last one, was about half as bad. She didn't turn blue in the face, her lips didn't turn blue, and her legs didn't turn white. Her eyes fluttered, mostly they stayed closed, but they looked bloodshot and milky when I could see them. The rest of it was almost identical, it just didn't seem to be as hard as the last one. It didn't seem to last as long either, but then, we didn't time the last one.
Sarah and Roy came and so did Dianne and her husband, and we all sat there just each one of us wishing it was ourselves I know we were. Just all of us wondering why on earth this baby was going through this. And all of us feeling so empty and helpless that we can't make them go away.
And you know, something else occurred to me just now. When Mallory was putting on her nightgown, she told me she was burning up, she wanted something cool. I got her a tee shirt, but she said it wasn't hers.. she didn't want that, and she picked out a long sleeved nightgown.
A 4th Fever spike? I don't know.
I do know that there is one thing she did that she's done just before having the other seizures. And I know I'm most likely reaching, but I know that she's eaten something cold each time. The first one, she had been eating snow at Dianne's.. snow and popcycles. I specifically remember the snow because I can remember thinking maybe it was polluted with something. The second one, she'd had a milkshake. I remember Roy telling me that she'd just had a milkshake not long before she had that seizure. The third one, she had here that night and I know she had an ice cream, she wanted one from McDonald's with her happy meal.. and this evening, she had ice cream twice. On the way home from buying the puppy we took them to Dairy Queen and bought them a small cone, then at Mom's tonight, she asked mom for ice cream and mom gave her a bowl.
Brain freeze? I'll have to google that, see if anyone else has seizures triggered by ice cream. I know, I know, I'm reaching, aren't I?
Anyway, everyone's gone home now. Sarah took Maegan and Mallory with her, but let Mikyla sleep. She slept through this seizure like she did the last one..and I thank God she did too, they terrify her. She'll know tomorrow when she wakes up and Mallory's not here, but for now, she's sleeping like a baby.
Sarah called me a little while ago to let me know that Mallory woke up, went to the bathroom and talked to her some.. she told Sarah that she wanted to spend the night at Dianne's, so that's where they are.
I can't think of anything else to add. If I do, I'll open this up and edit it.
I sure wish I didn't have to make an entry like this. I sure pray I never have to again.
Today was her last dose of dilantin. Tomorrow, she'll get two doses of Depakote. Her doc warned them that while they were weaning her off of the Dilantin this week, she would be apt to have another seizure. I had hoped that he was wrong.. I had hoped that since she made it through the whole week without doing so, she wasn't going to.
I sure hope the Depakote works for her. I hope she rests good tonight and her little muscles aren't sore on her tomorrow. I wish she was still here so I could sit up and watch her tonight. I hate this. Oh God I hate this so much. :****(
Dad On A Leash
Maegan likes Dad. She gets to tug him around, and she loves to rub on his head...
March 02, 2006
Powdered Up
While making sure Mikyla rinsed her hair well after washing it tonight, Mallory caught my head turned and took the opportunity to powder herself up after her bath.
It was a beautiful day, and we spent most of it playing in the yard...we really enjoyed that!
This evening, after playing musical chairs, they became engrossed in the cartoon, "Sponge Bob"...
It was a pretty good day, we stayed busy, the kids made sure of that. Mallory has taken a mean streak, but Sarah said the doctor told her the dilantin would do that. I'm glad she won't be on that stuff much longer.
Mikyla came in from school, went straight for her pajamas and changed clothes, I think she was determined that she wasn't going home tonight. It worked out well for her because Sarah thought she was going to have to work nights tonight, so left the girls here for just in case.
Joel had a good time in the yard, but Mallory has taken to picking on him with a vengence. He's going to have to start sticking up for himself with her. Instead, he just cries and comes running to tell on her. One day he'll put a stop to the tormenting, I'm sure of it. Until then, I'll have to keep my eye on Mallory.
Maegan is just along for the ride. She doesn't care if we're inside or outside (tho she really enjoyed being out there today) just so long as she's with us and not in her crib. She absolutely HATES naptime and fights sleep with all she's got.
They're all sleeping now, and I'm just killing time waiting for Bonnie to bring Joel for the night. She said today that she's wanting to change shifts again. This one is too hard for her with Joel. She said she feels that she's not with him enough. He's here during the day while she sleeps, and he sleeps here at night while she's working. The only time they're really together is a few hours in the evenings and on her days off. I agree, that's not enough. I hope she gets on day shift soon. :) Otherwise, she'll just sleep/work her summer away.
Lisa and Nick were going to come over, and then Mom called and said they were going to come over, but then neither one did. Lisa said she did but I must have been giving the kids their baths and didn't hear her knocking. Mom just flat changed her mind on me after having promising to bring me apple pie. That's the way she is too. *laughs*
(Just teasing, Mom, just teasing...)
Well I think I'll head out and get some sleep. G'nite world!
Great Falls...
Poetry in motion...
Not!! But here's proof that she's got sticktuitiveness! And Mallory..she's another one who's been blessed with the gift of oaf, which I'm certain was passed down from my side of the family. Enjoy!
That's Amazing!
Mikyla and Mallory love ice cream. Vanilla for both.. but...Mikyla has to have Hershey's syrup poured on top of hers. Mallory can't like the way it looks, so wouldn't really try it. Until today. Mikyla talked her into dropping a drop onto her vanilla ice cream and just give it a little taste. Mallory's eyes lit up and she said in this totally shocked and surprised voice... Oh! That is AMAZING!
Needless to say she gave her ice cream a liberal dousing of the Hershey's syrup after that, and she double enjoyed her ice cream today. :)
It was warm enough for them to get outside this afternoon to play.. Mallory is a case...she has a truck and naturally needs a driver's license, and anastation (registration) and proof of insurance cards. She ran us ragged to find those most important papers for her before she could 'drive' around in the yard.
