December 31, 2006
Dad This Morning
8:20 A.M. Sunday morning - next to the last day of Christmas vacation. The kids are still sleeping, I'm still sleeping, everyone is still sleeping, even Fudge was softly snoring beside my bed. It was raining, dark, just a perfect Sunday morning for sleeping in. For doing my favorite thing.. being lazy.
I heard the phone ringing, lifted my head to hear who was on the machine, and I got scared when I heard my Dad's nervous voice, "Juel? Is Lisa over there?"
I threw off the covers and ran to the phone but missed his call.. he doesn't like to talk to answering machines, or to wait for me to get to the phone.
The thing was.. Lisa was here last night, she'd brought a movie, "The Cave" for us to watch, and it was after 11:30 before she left to go home. I got scared. I had heard car tires spinning just after Lisa left, and I'd commented to Stan, check out there to be sure Lisa didn't go over the bank, he did and said no, she's gone. I ran this morning to look, to be sure she wasn't out there over the bank, she should have been home this morning, but no, she wasn't out there.. so I called Dad back.
He laughed and said he'd found her, that she was sleeping when he'd first called, but now she was there at their house safe and sound. He went on to tell me how he'd slept, what lottery numbers came out, what Mom and Lisa were doing.. how Nick was doing.. then he started to talk about old customers he runs into now at the store where he buys his lottery tickets - he even struggled with the alphabet, reciting it, until it jogged his memory as to this customer or that one's last name.
Dad isn't a big on the phone talker. At least I never knew him to be. I sat there answering him, talking right back, telling him about my night, the security light going on a lot out back, how the kids slept, about talking to Sarah through that storm they had in Mississippi yesterday.. just jabbering away.. and he was just jabbering right back.
I thought, wow, what's wrong with him that he's so talkative this morning. I wasn't about to discourage him, I couldn't remember a time he's talked over 10 minutes, and it was coming up on an hour that he'd been on that phone. I just kept talking right the hell back.. *laughs* ..keeping that line of communication going.
Dad: Are you coming over tonight? I think your Mom's making hamburgers.
Me: Yeah we're coming, I'm making cabbage rolls.
Dad: Cool! Are you thirsty?
Me: Thirsty?
Dad: Yeah, don't you need something to drink in the morning?
Me: (Thinking he was being considerate in case I was tired of talking to him.)
Naw, I'm good. Do you need something to drink?
Dad: I do in the mornings, yeah, but I have coffee here, aren't you drinking anything? How do you not drink anything in the morning? Do you need to go make some coffee or chocolate milk?
Me: Naw, no I'm fine Dad.
Dad: More talk about the weather... Mom, Stan, my Dog.
He wanted to know how big Fudge was now, he'd hard him bark and said he sounded big. Yeah he's big dad, all grown up now. I even instigated Fudge to bark so Dad could hear it again.
Finally.. *laughs* Poor Dad just blurts out...
"Are you punishing me?"
Me: (Blinking, startled and truly puzzled!) Punishing you?
Dad: Yeah, are you making me talk to you this much because I called there so early?
I couldn't help it, I started laughing, Dad, you are the one who was doing all the talking, I was just making conversation back, No, I'm not punishing you, do you want to hang up now?
Dad: Yeah I wanna go, I have to go to the bathroom.
Me: Okay, well I'll talk to you later.
We hung up.
I sat there staring at the phone and shook my head, he musta had a guilty conscience for waking me up to find Lisa. *laughs* So he talked..and talked and talked. I called back and talked to Mom a little later. She was still laughing about him being on the phone with me so long this morning. She said he was yammering and yammering, doing all the talking, she could hear him, yet he was shrugging his shoulders, shaking his head at her like I was the one doing all the talking and wouldn't let him off the phone.
Poor Dad. I bet it's a long time before he calls me again.
*laughs* That'll learn him not to call me early on a rainy Sunday morning!
*scratches head, still puzzled*
December 30, 2006
The Kids...
had a good time today.. they've played all day long. They've changed clothes 50 times. They've bathed so much with their new lufa sponges and bath gels that they're wrinkled like prunes. Dont'cha just love Christmas vacation?
Bonnie and Kelly came over this evening and fixed Deer steaks. Yum (ugh!) They made me try one and I just couldn't get over how much (UGH!) they tasted like beef. (I couldn't get the image of big brown gentle deer eyes out of my mind) They were so good! (ugh!) Thanks you two for letting me try it! (Did I say "UGH"?!)
Bonnie fixed Joel's hair.. and he looked so comical, he is one of those books you can definately judge by its cover!
She fixed Mallory and Mikyla's hair too. Didn't they look great?
All that hair spritz though called for yet another bath.. Mik insisted it was so stiff that it was hurting her scalp. *laughs* That'll teach her to let Bonnie play around with her hair like that. :)
She's growing up so quickly on me, I just can't believe the baby is all gone. :(
But.. we still have little Maegan puttering around the house all day. And might I add, she's an excellent putterer!
The girls' Nana got them a Kid's Bop tv camera and karaoke machine for Christmas, it's too neat.. they really like that!
Christmas vacation is over in 4 days. This has been one of the best ones I've ever had. They've all been of an age to realize what it was, and to enjoy it all.
They've played hard, ate well, and said their prayers before they'd let us eat.
I wish I could keep them little and safe forever. Okay, I'll settle for safe forever.
Sarah and Roy made it back to Mississippi, they didn't get there until 10 this morning. They took their time and stopped to rest. I'm glad they made it back alright.
Well, it's late and I'm tired. Gonna get some sleep. G'nite world!
December 27, 2006
Sarah's House...Christmas Night
They hadn't been home in over a month.. closer to two months, and one of their neighbors told Roy's Mom that he'd run off one particular guy from up there 3 times... the last time being at gunpoint. Apparantly this guy was trying to get in the front door, and then last, the garage. He must have wanted in there badly to have been chased away on three different occasions.
After Christmas dinner, we were sitting around the table talking about it, and I told Sarah we should ride up there and see if anything was missing. She, Bonnie, Roy and I loaded up and went. Of course it was very dark by then.
We stopped at Dianne's to ask her to call Sarah's neighbors to let them know it was us up there so he didn't come out with his faithful shotgun, as we were in Bonnie's car and he wouldn't recognize it.. and when Roy went in to ask her to phone him, we ladies waited in the car. Roy's window was down just a little where he'd been sitting and all of a sudden the most awful piercing scream came from the mountain behind Dianne's house. It was probably a panther or a bobcat.. it sounded like a woman being tortured and maimed. I leaned up, asked what the hell that was.. and it screamed again, this time from the mountain across the road from Dianne's house. Two panthers calling out to each other most likely, but it set the mood for the rest of the excursion. Can we say 'fear'?
Before I could turn my head towards the direction of the 2nd scream, the horses came charging out of Dianne's barn, neighing, running like wildfire through the field, something spooked them. They musta thought the panthers were coming for them. Bon turned the car and aimed the lights at the barn and the other horses came flying out, they looked so wild eyed! We got out then, Dianne and Roy came outside to see what on earth was going on, and we walked over to look in the field by the fence.. the horses came over to us and stood, they let Dianne pet them, they were calming down. We saw they were okay, so we went on up to Sarah's house.
Have you ever felt a feeling of total terror, desolation, and hopelessness? I stood outside in the driveway and watched Roy push his door open.. they said it had previously been locked and deadbolted, but now it wasn't even pulled tightly shut. I stood there in the dark, the porch light wasn't on, and I was suddenly too afraid to move. I wasn't afraid of something like a 'ghost', moreso, I felt like some very real danger, a very real threat to our safety was very close to us, and I just couldn't get my feet to follow the kids into their house. I had to chide myself to finally go inside behind them.. Those are your kids for heaven's sakes, they could get shot in there, or worse, get your ass in gear! Finally my feet took to moving, with Bonnie right behind me.
We got inside and I was just overwhelmed with uneasy hopelessness and I was so scared. I couldn't tell what the hell was wrong, only that something was.. I'm thinking now that someone had been in there and hadn't been gone long. I don't know why.. Sarah said that things were moved around, the heat was on and turned up and she said she'd had it off.. the onions in the cabinet in the kitchen which had the door open, didn't look almost 2 months old to me, just it didn't seem to be empty... though it appeared to be.
There were no unexplained noises, nothing to outright prove something or someone was in there, nothing was missing. We looked around, then we headed for the basement, to see if her Tanning bed was still there. The basement door wasn't locked either, and it was opened a few inches. Anything or anyone could have gone in there.
Roy went first, and put a light bulb in the socket, it came on, and Sarah started in. I was right behind her, but chide myself as I may, my feet refused, just refused to cross that thresh hold into their basement. Bonnie wouldn't even get out of the car at the basement door, she begged me not to either, but I did anyway. Sarah suddenly grabbed Roy and said NO.. come out, NOW.. he started to turn off the light and she pulled him back by his arm, said, NO, leave it, let's go.. and she pulled him out of the basement, he shut the door and she was still dragging him to the car.
She said, Mom, I dont' know what on earth it was, but suddenly I knew if I didn't get out of there, if I didn't get him out of there something horrible was going to happen. I knew we had to leave and leave now, there wasn't time to let him turn off the light.
I knew what she meant because I felt it too. So did Bonnie. We weren't safe, something was wrong and we knew it.
We got the hell out of dodge.
Now isn't that strange, that I was afraid wasn't too odd, but for Sarah and Roy to be so scared that they wouldn't go into their own basement? I'd love to know what was in that house Christmas night. I'm glad they didn't go on into that basement. Ugh. I hope they decide to sell that place. From the day they moved into it not one good thing has happened to them, aside from Maegan being born.
In Mississippi...
Sarah and Roy have been working down there building porches for FEMA onto the trailors of people who have lost their homes in the hurricane last year, and they took some photos for me to see. One in particular touched me, because this looks like it is a monument, or tombstone, placed in memory of someone's beloved home. I wanted to share it here..
Someone *coughsMikylacoughs*
Kept getting under my Christmas Tree and would just tear a corner of the wrapping paper off of the gifts.. someone nosy just had to see what was in the boxes. When I confronted Mikyla and Mallory.. Who is doing this?! Mik denied it of course.. but Mallory's vehiment denial made me laugh:
Oh Mammy, it wasn't me! I'm a SWEETY-PIE, I'd NEVER do anything like that!!!
Christmas Dinner
My house was a wreck, Sarah and Roy's things are in the living room...the paper and boxes were in the den.. I couldn't find the kitchen table Christmas morning, but thank GOD Bonnie and Kelly came over and helped me clean up, and they helped me cook dinner too. Thank you two! If it hadn't been for you I don't know what I'd have done!
Oh, and here's a pic of Bonnie's baby, "Precious".
Well...
Gerald Ford died last night. I didn't have him on my dead pool, but I had Betty. Pshh.. I don't have a point one as yet on that thing. James Brown died on Christmas day. *big fat sigh* I didn't have him on there either.
I Don't Think...
...they should have been in there in the first place..
Killers Ashes to Be Ousted from Arlington
I Bet...
...they put all they have on catching this one...
Rapist Who Preys on Men Sparks Fear, Interest
December 26, 2006
Christmas Eve at My House...
Kelly and Bonnie bought Scooby Snacks for Fudge. Mom got him a doggy gift stocking too, but the kids had it open and gave him the toys before I could get a photo.
4 Wheeler from Mommy and Daddy
Mikyla and Mallory got some AWESOME gifts this year! This one was too neat! Look at it, it looks like it's growling at you!
Christmas Eve at Mom's
Papaw watched them roughhouse and carry on, and he laughed, said, Lordy they do have fun don't they... It was one of the best Christmasses I have had in a long long time.
Mighty Joe Old
You could sure tell that Papaw had fun on Christmas Eve.. he took to picking at everyone, laughing and carrying on, even singing to Lisa.. but slow poke me didn't get my camera in time to get him singing on video..
Now he has a penchant for pie.. and he conned me into giving him a slice.. and then he conned Lisa into giving him a slice.. and he conned Mom into giving him a slice.. 3 slices of pie for a diabetic isn't good, so needless to say that the following day he didn't want anything sweet.. but ohhh did he enjoy it at the time.. he...sang to the pie while he ate it. *laughs*
Maegan's a hotshot, she likes to push 'helpless' grandfathers around...
And she's always on his back...
Here's an example of how rotten Bonnie can be sometimes.. she was hiding behind him and he kept trying to roll himself to where the action is, but couldn't..and he couldn't figure why.. she finally laughed and let him go.. poor Papaw.. bullies abound on Christmas eve! Between Maegan and Bonnie, it's just torment, torment, torment!
Santa always visits over at Mom's on Christmas Eve..and this year was no different.. Papaw was as excited as the kids to see him coming!
He must have been good, because Santa gave him a gift.. he got a new coat! (Thanks, Don!)
We all gave him gifts and he had a good time opening them..
Papaw painted door signs for me and Lisa and Shannon.. we loved 'em!
Maegan can't resist.. she had to play with his ear..anything for a response from him, that child loves him dearly...
He'll do anything to get Mom to fussing at him - he found a cigarette in the ashtray someone had put out..and he picked it up and pretended he was smoking. It wasn't lit, but he acted all sneaky with it - and laughed like crazy when Mom told him we were corrupting him to get that nasty thing out of his hand! (Ohhh if she'd only known about all that pie!)
He loves to catch one of our packs of cigarettes laying on the table.. then he turns them upside down in the pack so that when we light them, we light the filters.. the dirty rat!
He's fiesty again, happy and chipper, picking at us and cackling out loud a lot. It's good to see him this way, and it was so nice to have Christmas with him again after all these years. Thanks, Papaw, I loved my door sign!
December 23, 2006
Didja Ever Just...
...feel so bad that all you can do is go lay down and close your eyes and you couldn't find it in you to be able to worry about anything, your only objective to lay there very very still and if you were lucky God would come calling and that would be that? Ugh, That's how I've felt for most of this month. This week I've been blessed with Flu and Bronchitis, on top of the other crap that was wrong with me, and I have to tell ya, even my eyelashes were hurting. My whole body was pissed at me, and mightily so.
Today though, I've felt pretty good.. I was actually able to do things I needed and wanted to do, without forcing myself. I actually felt good enough to take Mikyla and Mallory out to do their Christmas shopping, and then we went to stay with Papaw for a while, and then we came home, had some pizza and then we wrapped up the gifts they bought for everyone. Well.. they wrapped their own things and I just handed out the tape.. they did a good job too! I was so tickled watching them shop, first they loaded EVERYTHING they saw into the cart and had to unload it and start again, but they ended up getting just the right thing for everyone.
And I feel so good, even now.. that I find myself feeling a bit guilty. There I was being all sickly and whiney and I know others out there are sooo much worse off than I was right here at the holidays. I should be ashamed! I'm a big baby and I was pretty sick. *coughs* Well.. I was!
Okay okay, that's over and done, I'm all better now and Christmas is only 2 days away! Yay! I'm ready. I'm really really ready, and I'm amazed that I am.. even my ham is in the fridge ready to be baked..and my turkey is just waiting to be turked! It's going to be a good Christmas.
Here's a pic of Mal's Christmas forest:
My friend Jana sent a mail telling me about a 30 pound ham that arrived at her little grandson's house today.. she said he looked at it and said, "That's the biggest chicken I've ever seen, just look at its leg!!" *laughs* I had to share that one, it's priceless!
Mallory took a notion to call Sarah tonight at about 9:30.. so I dialed for her.. Sarah has one of those Nextel phones..I don't know if it's gonna cost me or her, or both of us, but that was the longest we've talked with them this whole month.. they didn't hang up until about 5 to 11. Sarah just jabbered, animated, happy, she sounded SO good! She talked to all 3 girls several times.. then back with me, I could hear Roy talking in the background.. they sound so excited to be coming home for Christmas. I was so glad to hear them sounding so happy and so upbeat that I just didn't want to hang up.
They're bringing me a cooler full of fist sized Shrimp fresh from New Orleans! MMM how cool is that! And the only folks here who like shrimp are me, my Dad and Stan. Now I'm gonna have to look up online how to de-vein those babies. FIST sized! Wow! I can't wait!
Sarah said they bought the girls a pink 4-wheeler for Christmas.. boy will they love that. That was on their wish list to Santa. Along with 2000 other things.
I talked to Bonnie for a while this evening, she said Joel is fine, she took him to the doc today to be sure because I guess he had cold symptoms and she was worried he may have caught this flu from us, but he's just fine. I'm glad she's kept him away this week.. I'm glad he didn't get this. She and Kelly are ready for Christmas too. :)
I took a mood and thought I might just not cook for Christmas this year.. Mom and Dad can't come, because Papaw can't really be out that much.. he could, but he won't yet. Alllllllmost, but not yet. Sarah and Roy have Roy's family dinner to go to, and Bonnie and Kelly have Kelly's family dinner to go to, so I just sorta felt it would be a waste to fix all that stuff and they'll be too full to really eat.. but when I mentioned it to Sarah that I might skip it this year, she got deathly quiet.. I thought the call got dropped, but then she said 'Mom, a gal really needs her Mom's cooking on Christmas day, I think that's a really horrible idea'.. so.. I'm gonna go ahead and cook.. but my dinner is gonna be about 6.. because that way I know they'll be hungry again.. their other dinners are at about noon and one-ish. That way, too, I won't have to rush, it'll be nice. :)
Sarah and Roy are somewhere in Alabama right now.. they didn't leave New Orleans until about 5 or so and from there they went back to Gulfport Mississippi to sleep a while before heading home. I don't think they'll be here until about 9 or 10 in the morning, at which time, Sarah informed me, she hopes that I have a big breakfast of sausage, biscuits and gravy on the table.
It'll be there. I might just break down and make a hash brown or three. Yum!
I still need to go out tomorrow and get a few things...I was fretting about Maegan, she still has a bit of a runny nose, she wasn't as grumpy today as she was yesterday but I don't want to take her out just yet.. then it occurred to me, Sarah will be home, so I can go out and she can keep the baby in! Coolbeans!
I want Dippy to go with me because he still has some of his own shopping to do too. I might just get to have dinner at Big Boys tomorrow if I play my cards right!
This is turning out very well, to have started out being such an icky month!
Mom said that yesterday, she fixed Papaw a good breakfast, he's partial to pancakes and sausage.. and a couple of eggs.. you'd shudder to see how he likes those things fried.. just.. ugh.. get the butter melted.. crack the eggs into it.. count to 5.. they're barely white.. turn them over.. count to 5 again.. they're ... practically RAW!!! UGH!! Yuck! Gross! UGH, that could turn a weaker person off from eating those things if they had to watch.. Ugh, just ugh! *laughs* Anyway.. she said she went to go get dressed.. he was at the kitchen table and when she came back into the kitchen, he'd wheeled himself over to the sink and was standing there washing the breakfast dishes. She said she didn't want to discourage him from doing things like that if he feels up to it, but she was scared to let him stand there long, so she just nonchalantly told him that they don't do dishes there, they just rinse them and put them in the dishwasher.. so she let him rinse them while she loaded it. Suave Mom, real suave. I'm tickled to death to hear about him doing things like that. Like going onto the porch, walking to the door to look outside. Ray, my Mamaw's brother came to see him today, I got a couple of pictures.
Dorothy, Mamaw's brother Earl's wife isn't doing so well right now. She just got out of the hospital with some lung problems, surgery... so remember her in your prayers. Mom and Lisa went up to see her yesterday, I need to go, and will, but not until this cough is gone, she sure doesn't need exposed to any kind of germs right now.
Does anyone out there remember "Minnie Pearl"?
Yesterday, Maegan was so sick all she could do was just cry, whine, get her nose wiped, whine and whimper and cry some more, have her nose wiped some more.. she was pitiful she felt so bad.. and she loves baths, so I gave her 4 yesterday, just to make her happy, and I'm not sure, but I believe this was her first bubble bath. I don't let the girls have those much, but once in a while I think they just need the bubbles, and if ever there was a time for poor little Maegan to have some fun, yesterday was the day. She loved it.. but of course her sisters had to come in and take over. She loved it though while it lasted. :)
Meli, I wanted to take a minute to say I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, I'll have a slice of pie here for you, and you be sure to have one for me there! Love ya!
Okay, I have definately babbled enough, I want to tell you all that I love you, you mean the world to me, you really do. Each one of you have a special place wedged into my heart, and you'll be with me for Christmas at the table for dinner, under the tree opening presents, and by the fireplace having hot chocolate while we wait for Santa on Christmas Eve...even if you're not here in person. Be safe, be warm, be happy, and above all, please be healthy. Merry Christmas! God Bless you all!
December 21, 2006
Yes, Sarah, I am Bilingual. Duh
Sarah heard me tell Mikyla that the toy she was looking for was 'over yunner' - and she gasped over the phone and said, "Mom, I can't believe I just heard you say 'yunner"
Of course I said yunner. I live in the South. Everyone here knows where 'yunner' is. When I first came here from Michigan at age thirteen, I couldn't speak a lick of Mountain English. Now, I'm quite fluent, as you can see...using phrases like.. 'a lick of', instead of 'a bit of'.
Depending on how far South you are...pronounciation changes a little.. yunner can be said as yonder, yander, yanner. Slight deviations are expected and acknowledged, no matter how it's said, they're all the same place. Over There.
I learned early here, that when someone offers a 'poke'...they're not trying to pick a fight, they're offering you a paper bag (sack) so you can carry (fetch) something home more easily. It's just another language.. you either learn it and communicate, or you don't.
Mountain English: Ahwonna go uppin-a bottom'n'git-me-a pop but iono if ah wanna redpop or a rootbeer.
Translation: I want to go to the store (up in the bottom is a location sort of like yunner, but more specific, as there is a particular store there) and get a soda but I don't know If I want a Red Pop, or a Root Beer.
Now, I know some of you know what I'm talking about when I use either language, being bilingual as well, but some of you sit there scratching your head wondering what the hell I'm talking about.. those of you who don't have a clue, just let me know and I'll do a quick translation for ya. I'm sorry, it never occurred to me until now that some of you haven't had a course in Mountain English!
Papaw
I'm not sure what's in these packages, but I know they're for me, Lisa and
Shannon, and I know he's been painstakingly painting the gifts in these packages for days at Mom's kitchen table, hiding them when one of us go in, so the 'surprise' isn't ruined.
Look at that concentration while he wraps them for us. Papaw, love your heart, I know we're gonna treasure whatever that is!
*laughs* I just can't believe you won't even let us PEEK!!
December 19, 2006
The Last Photos...
...I took of Midge.
She was down here from Sept 9 thru the 12th. My camera was dying, I wish I'd gotten to take more, but I'm glad I got these 4. I still can't believe she's gone.
I called Don tonight to see what were Midge's favorite flowers. He said carnations. I never knew that. I'm going to send some before the funeral tomorrow afternoon. He said that before she went into the hospital for the last time, they were talking about her funeral.. she was preparing him, telling him how she wanted things.. and he said he told her that if she did die, he would need a sign from her that she's okay, they agreed that she would flash the lights in the house for him, to let him know..today, he said those lights just took to flashing and then a peace fell over him. He said he's okay now, she gave him his sign, she's in a better place, she's not struggling to breathe, and she's doing better than any of us here are. Love his heart, I'm glad he got his sign. And I think he's right. She's in a better place now.
December 18, 2006
Just Playing...
Today was the first time I've really felt like getting down on the floor and playing with the kids in a while. We had big fun, but Maegan had the most fun of all. She ambushed me and stole my glasses, and just overall, whipped up on me...tackled me, tickled me, and she tried to tear my naval open. The little she-devil. And just cackled the whole time. She's a character! They all are!
She loved her little Elmo house shoes. The poor thing hasn't felt good today, Mikyla and Mallory are about over their flu, but Maegan just came down with the symptoms this afternoon. She was acting better tonight though, and she's gone to sleep now. Maybe tomorrow she'll be right as rain.. that Tamiflu is a miracle drug, it really has helped!
Gingerbread Cookies
This year, the girls did them all by themselves...I just had to guide them a little. They did a good job too!
They won the Maegan seal of approval!
Papaw Today
Dad was having a pretty hard time over Midge today, so when Mom called to tell me she'd died, and how Dad was doing, I went over there to check on him. I feel so bad for him, he really isn't taking this well at all.
I went outside to smoke, and Papaw wheeled to the door, so I talked him into coming outside to enjoy the beautiful weather for a while. He looks good, doesn't he?
Midge...aka Mary Ellen...
Midge's horoscope for december 17, 2006:
Quickie:
Being your usual objective self will be hard today. Maybe it's time to take a side?
Overview:
Life's been topsy-turvy, so it's understandable that you've wanted to stay on your own territory. Go ahead and unplug anything that could disturb your rest. When you're ready, you'll step out into the world.
Daily Extended Forecast for December 17, 2006
Being your usual objective self will not be easy today, because a lot of issues will be swirling around some of the people and places you care deeply about. Perhaps it's time that you stopped trying to be impartial and took a risk by taking a side. By putting all your emotions behind something and even admitting that you have an agenda, you can make a bigger impact and be a part of preserving something you really care about.
They turned off the life support today at about 11:20 this morning. There was no response at all, not even the 30 minutes they'd predicted.. so officially she crossed over about that time. Sleep sweet, Aunt Midge, I'm going to miss you. :(
December 17, 2006
December 16, 2006
Today..
I didn't send the girls to school. Mallory coughed in her sleep about all night long, and come morning she said her legs were aching and her head hurt. Mikyla wasn't coughing but she seemed tired, so I let her stay home too. By noon, I could hear that Mallory's cough had gotten deeper and her breathing was shallow, fast and shallow.. and I thought we'd better get her to her doctor, I just didn't like the sound of that breathing. She was fine last night, a slight cough but nothing major..
Her doctor took a lung xray and the lining of her left lung is irritated and he said we have to watch her closely because this could go into pneumonia. After doing a nose swab he found that she has the flu. Since we've all been exposed to it, he's prescribed Tamiflu for all of us, so here we go. Keep her in your prayers, the little doll has such a hard time when she gets sick.
Also, we got the absolute worst news possible concerning my Aunt Midge. The last I wrote about her here, was when she was put into ICU... what my Uncle didn't tell us was that she was in a coma, and has been since they put her back there. He called us tonight to tell us that it's pretty much over. Tomorrow he has to decide whether or not to take her off of the ventilators and let her go. He just flat told me today that there's really no hope. Those words made my stomach sink. No hope. Midge, you have to pull out of this.. you just have to.
Please remember her in your prayers.
And the little Barbie stove is at it again. I turned the switch off myself, and I put it out on the porch. It's still talking and beeping. I hate that thing.
Last Night...
...Mom made the most delicious roast and invited us for supper.. we went and it surrrre was good! Wanna see?
Forces you to see:
Ohhh and it was as good as it looks too. Thanks, Mom!
I got a few shot of the rest if the gang as well:
Mom and Maegan were having a particularly good time...
My Mikyla is so graceful..I just had to share these small video clips..
So Graceful
December 12, 2006
Theme of the day... Boobs!
What do you give a boy on his 13th Birthday?
*laughs*
Boob cakes!
Just teasing.. they only looked like boobs.. they were actually 4 little individual birthday cakes Mom had baked for the little ones at the party. Neat eh?
...and speaking of Boobs...
Mallory sprouted some for the occasion!
You can use a balloon for a ton of things. Mallory, you're a nut!
I'd Like A Little Salt With My Crow...Please...
Mamaw, this is to you. I hope you can hear it from my heart, as I'm typing it.
This post is hard to write. For years, I've held the awfullest grudge towards Papaw ever was.. I'd call him from time to time.. go see him when I had to.. and think to myself, that's it, I had done my due, you would understand.
He was a 'mean' man. A mean person. I was determined not to subject my grandkids to him in any way...and when I did have them around him, I watched like a hawk to be sure he wasn't going to say cruel things to them, or do any of his 'scaring' or throwing things at them with that scowl on his face.
I'd say.. the Papaw I knew 'died' when you died.. after that he wasn't ever the same, he just was bitter and hateful and not the grandfather I'd grown up adoring. In truth I rarely thought about him. I admit I just lived my life from day to day and in time, I only rarely caught myself missing him. Even that though, didn't last long.
These months he's been at Mom's, I've been there because I knew Mom needed the help, and God knows I'd do anything for Mom... I just went, did what I needed to do, and that was it. I was helping Mom. Specifically.
I wish so much I could change things, the way things went. I would. I can't, but I can try to make them better now, and let go of the grudge. He'd changed so drastically towards me and my family back then, it made me angry, and yes, it made me bitter. I just didn't understand. But as time passes, the more I see of him, the more I talk with him, I'm beginning to see things more clearly.
I watched him with the kids tonight. Like I always do. They adore that man. Where he's at, that's where I'll find Maegan. She'll give him a thousand high 5's if we stay there that long.. she shares his Goldfish crackers.. jabbers at him as if he's listening and understanding every word. They all seem to be honestly fond of him, not the slightest bit afraid of him.. and it seems to be a reciprocated thing.
I guess you know I've not gone to vote since he and I parted company. I just never wanted to anymore. It was something he and I had done together since I'd turned 18, and after you passed on, I didn't want to go without him. I'd tell folks I went, and who I voted for.. but I just never went again. I'll have to ask him if anyone else took him after I left. I'm guessing he's not voted again either. Odd how that keeps going through my mind. I did miss him.
Anyway...I just wanted to apologise. I should have tried harder to dig and find out what the problem was, instead of becoming angry and resentful. I'm glad it's over. I'm going to stop sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to say 'aha, I knew he was just acting.. aha.. I knew this side of him would creep out eventually' I'm just going to stop all that nonsense, and enjoy what time we have left.
I let you down. Forgive me. It won't happen again.
I went to tell him g'nite before we left tonight.. I kissed his forehead, he grabbed my hand and held it to his face, and he said, Juel, I hope you know, I love you better than anything on this earth, I always have. It was heartfelt, and he meant it, called me by name, clear, rationally.. he went on to instruct me to take care of the kids and be sure they were okay, but I was NOT to be lifting them. I had to take care of myself. Vintage Papaw. *laughs* Now he's got me crying again, but it's a different kind of crying. What a sweetheart. He's back and I like it. He said when I'm well.. he should be well again too, and then we're going to get in the car and just take off.. leave the kids with Mom and he and I are gonna get out and get into stuff like we used to. I'm pretty sure there's gonna be pancakes and bacon eaten that day...and a soft serve ice cream cone and it'll probably involve some ducks and dry bread..something along those lines. And I know you'll be there with us. I can't wait!
She wooled him to death and he just kept smiling!
Oops!
I started to go, but remembered to check my email, and I want to show you the pics I got from Mom. Just look at the birds that were in her yard today!
She said she and Papaw were just watching them from the window and there were so many they were scary.. I can sure understand that, WOW!
She told me too, that Papaw had gotten up this morning, got out of bed, and had been up and at the table in the kitchen and he walked to the sink, to the living room to look outside, and he stayed up for most of the day! He called me today to talk a while and he sounded so upbeat! He's doing VERY WELL, and I wanted to share that with everyone. Papaw, Mom, WAY TO GOOOOOOOO!!!
P.S. ...
...isn't that plastic faced Burger King man/thing in the Burger King commercials on television the creepiest thing?!
Okay, for real now.. G'nite, world!
Tonight...
...was really nice.. Kelly and Bonnie and Joel came for supper, and then afterwards, Lisa came to pick me up for the concert.. Bon and Kelly stayed to help Stan with the kids because there was NO way I was taking them with me, too much to have to watch, I wouldn't have been able to enjoy it, so when it was over, and we got back home, I got the fire all roaring hot and blazing, made a plate of chocolate fudge, and we settled down in the den to watch a movie Kelly'd brought for me, "The Green Mile" - I love that movie.. I've seen it about 8 times now, but I still love to watch it, a really good movie.
They've not been gone home too long now, and the kids are all sawing logs, the house is warm and everything feels pretty good.
I haven't had a 'panic attack' since I got home from the hospital. Isn't that odd that I didn't know panic from pain? I still can't get over that one.
The doctor's office called today.. the lady said she didn't know what the results were from the lab work I took last Thursday, but that the doctor wants me back in this Thursday for more lab work. I guess they're making double sure everything's working alright...and I think it is, I feel better now than I have in a long long time. I don't feel like I've just eaten a pot of lead soup anymore, and I don't have to force myself to do things like I had been doing. It's a big difference. I wish I'd not been stupid and had gone to the doctor for that long before I was forced to. What a silly woman I was. People, if you don't feel well.. get to the doctor! Don't wait!
I heard today that my aunt Midge has been moved into ICU - she has a bad case of Pneumonia. Midge, we're praying for you, you're in our thoughts, you have to get well and get out of there, you have a birthday coming up the 22nd!
Also, I wanted to say:
Welcome Home, Jana!
And...
Happy Birthday, Pete!!!
Well, I've gabbed enough, I'm gonna head out and get some sleep. 6:30 comes so danged early! Love you all! Be safe!
Aren't We just the Social Butterflies?
Stan's Birthday a couple of weeks ago, Thanksgiving, The Wedding, and Guess who invited me to his Christmas concert at school this evening? Nick did! *laughs* I think he was just POSITIVE I'd say something like.. honey I'm tired.. I've been so busy I'm just exhausted.. my stomach aches.." I think he thought I'd say anything but what I DID say.. which was to squeal into the phone... "OH Nick!! I'd LOVE to go!!!"
*laughs*
He gets so embarrassed, he hates it when Lisa goes to the school, much less me.. but I couldn't help it, I've been nagging him about a concert since he first started taking his Saxiphone lessons...and he knew if I found out there was a concert and he didn't tell me that it would hurt my feelings, sooo he was stuck with me this evening..and I had a WONDERFUL time!
When Mikyla found out I was going, I agreed, yes, she could go..and I further agreed, yes, she could wear the gown she wore to the wedding, she was after all going to see an orchastra, why not wear a ball gown? She looked lovely.
I got a few videos, if you can spare the time, please give them a watch, they're GREAT!
Clip 1 - Nick's Christmas Concert (2.22 MB)
Clip 2 - Nick's Christmas Concert (9.89 MB)
Clip 3 - Nick's Christmas Concert (8.50 MB
Clip 4 - Nick's Christmas Concert (8.05 MB)
Clip 5 - Nick's Christmas Concert (18.2 MB)
Clip 6 - Nick's Christmas Concert (3.06 MB)
Clip 7 - Nick's Christmas Concert (6.37 MB)
I glanced over to see how Mikyla was enjoying the concert and couldn't help it, I had to take a video of her as well. Enjoy!
How Mikyla Enjoyed the Concert (12.8 MB)
Later...at home, Nick gave us a private concert, Fudge enjoyed it most of all, so here are a few clips...
Fudge - Clip 1 (2.73 MB)
Mom, I really hate that you had to miss it, I know how much you'd have enjoyed it... I should of come to stay with Papaw and let you go, but I was selfish! I'm sorry! :(
Nick, you did a GREAT Job...thanks for inviting me, I can't tell you how much I enjoyed that!!!!! Goooooooo NICK!! Tomorrow (officially right now as a matter of fact) is Nick's 13th Birthday!
Happy 13th Birthday, NICK!!!
Tomorrow we'll be at Mom's having Nick's Birthday party, and then the next big get together will be Christmas Eve! I just love the Holidays!!
December 11, 2006
Joel's a Player!
This little guy had a way good time! He cut a rug, danced with every one of the girls, and after each dance, he'd bow and wait for applause...he wasn't a bit shy, and you can see from the expression on his face, he was lovin' every minute of it! The lil player!
The Kid's Dance
I missed some awfully sweet shots...Mallory was dancing with Dippy..standing on his feet.. that was adorable but I missed it.. Kelly danced with all of the little ladies as well. That was neat!
The Toast
Again, the blasted camera fritzed, but I got a couple of shots...
Cutting The Cake
*laughs*
They were so mature, tender, neither smashed it into the other's faces, they said that just wasn't nice! Wasn't that sweet?
After The Ceremony
This is Geraldine, one of the residents who live in the home where Bonnie works. She and Bonnie have taken a shine to each other, and Geraldine has been waiting for this wedding for over 4 months...having gone shopping several times to get an outfit, shoes, etc, she was determined to be there. Bonnie had to sign her out, and make sure Geraldine had a ride back afterwards, and it tickled me to see how much she enjoyed the wedding. Love her heart!
The Unity Candle
This part was so neat! They had Kelly's Mother light one small taper, and then they had me light the other, then after the preacher pronounced them husband and wife, they used the candles that we'd lit to light their big one. That was reallly pretty...
The Ceremony
This was so pretty, I just can't tell you how neat it was to be there at my daughter's wedding. I can't explain why it was important for me to see it, at least one of the girls get married, but it was. I'll treasure the memory all of my life... congratulations you two, be happy!
kelly's cousin Matt was best man, and Bonnie's best friend Jennifer was the Matron of Honor... she also did Bonnie's wedding cake, and too, while I didn't get a picture (camera's trying to die on me again) she played the guitar and sang a song for Kelly and Bonnie, "When You Say Nothing at All" - and oh did she ever do a beautiful job!
Bon practiced with Joel, how to walk down the aisle carrying the ring pillow.. lol.. but when it came down to the real thing, he raced down that aisle like his tail was on fire! I was lucky to get a shot of him, he was that fast!
Mallory took her flower petal throwing seriously, I had reminded her to go slowly just before the wedding, and slowly she went, so busy concentrating on her steps, she kept forgetting to throw down the petals.. *laughs* I think she managed to throw 4 down before she got to the front.. she did a WONDERFUL job!! Way to go Mallory!
Bon's the only one Dips got to walk down the aisle. He sure did like that part...he said later, he felt like a million dollars at that moment. :)
Joel at this wedding was an awesome site, in the way an oncoming tornado is awesome..he couldn't be still, didn't understand what was going on and he kept talking and squirming and moving all over the place until finally Matt just picked him up and held him there!
My camera was getting sluggish, I got a shot of him lifting the veil, I missed a shot of the kiss, but got a shot of the hug. I hate this camera!
Now it's official! They're Married!
Before the Wedding
They were so excited.. even Maegan was prancing around, she knew it was a special day!
Just before we left for the wedding, Mallory started playing with Fudge. She plays rough with him and he usually doesn't mind, but he didn't like it when she wrapped him up in an afghan and tried to hug him tight.. he scratched her just beneath her eye and it scared me to death, I thought he bit her, if he had, I would have to have gotten rid of him, I won't have a biting dog in the house with these kids, but he didn't, he just was trying to push her off of him and ended up scratching her. Egads, just before the wedding, there she is with 3 welts under her eye and one of them with broken skin. I put ice on it and it didn't look too bad. It could have been a lot worse, I have to get her to play more easily with him. Or at least not get her face so close. They look pretty don't they?
December 09, 2006
December 07, 2006
Some Good News :)
We had to take Mallory back to her doctor regarding her seizures and Depakote level this morning, and the results of her lab work last week were in, she's doing GREAT! He said he doesn't have to see her now for a whole year!! How cool is that!! Yay Mallory!! If in this year, she doesn't have a seizure, when she goes back next year, he's going to start weaning her off of the Depakote! She's gained 5 pounds and grew 2 inches taller! Talk about happy, but that made my YEAR!!
Today Papaw had to go back to his doc as well, and that report is good too! The doctor was flabbergasted when he saw Papaw. He couldn't get over the difference in his legs...said he'd been treating Papaw for a looong time and had never seen his legs looking that good. He told him that if he sticks to the diet that Mom has him on, and stays away from the sugar like he's been doing, that the next time he visits his office, he would be walking on his own, without needing a walker or a wheelchair. Way to go Papaw and Mom! GREAT JOB!!!
As for me, I had to go have more lab work done this morning. I should know the results tomorrow, so cross your fingers that my report is a good one too. :)
It's snowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwing.... cold... winter is here, right now and its only 3 more days until Bonnie's wedding!
Dummm Da Dum Dummmmm!
Thanks for the pics Mom!
And Dad took these last 2 of Florida for me...
December 05, 2006
Christmas...
...will be here in 20 days and I'm just not ready. I'm nowhere near ready. I always heard that Santa won't stop at a messy house, so now I'm fretting. This place is a wreck.
Mikyla didn't go to school today, she had an upset stomach. Mallory went though, and now they're both in bed, they're tired. I got them up too early this morning for breakfast. They'll be sleeping soon. I'm glad. They have been rambunctious tonight. Mik has to be feeling better to be so rowdy...she's going to school tomorrow for sure!
Dad's back from Florida.. he got back last night, and just while ago he brought me a bag of oranges, ohhh they are so good...I'm glad he's back, it doesn't feel right when he's gone.
Okay enough of this, I've babbled enough... g'nite world!
Dede!!!!
The gifts you sent were too NEAT, and the girls thought Christmas had already gotten here! Thank you! That was so nice of you!!!
I thought I was being sneaky...
...I thought I put those 6 little orange sliced candy in the bowl, and got them in to Papaw last night without Mom's knowing. Boy was I wrong.. *laughs* She let me know today that she not only saw me but she went and told Papaw she knew he ate it. But.. he didn't eat it all, we SHARED it! I swear it!
We took him a chicken wing dinner from KFC too, and he really seemed to enjoy that. I was going to go back tonight and sneak him a few circus peanuts, but I just don't really feel that good, so we didn't go. I'll have to do that tomorrow. I have to sneak them past Mom but God above that woman has eyes in the back of her head. How did she see that last night? There's NO way she could have seen that. None. Nada.
*shakes head*
2 Sparrows...
...tried to get into Mom's house this evening... I think it was about 4:30... because I was on the phone with her when the 2nd one flew into the window pane. I heard Dad tell her that one had just flew into the back of the house too, I'm not sure if it hit the brick wall, or the back door.
Dad's brother Fred passed away at about 20 past 5 this evening. Isn't that the strangest thing? I know I must have met him at some point, but I don't remember if so. He's the third in the trio that Bonnie was watching for, her landlord, Kelly's stepdad and now Fred. I'll have to call and tell her. She was terrified since I'd gotten so sick, I would be that third one. I tried to tell her I was gonna be around to be a pain in her butt when she's an old lady herself.
Mom said that Midge called her and said that she'd been napping and Fred woke her up standing right beside the couch a few hours before he passed away. I guess he didn't say anything to her, I'll have to call and ask her about it. Anyway, the sparrows really do do that, don't they. How strange...
December 04, 2006
What a week...
Wednesday morning I went to Mom's to help her with Papaw... a few minutes after I got there, I took that heaviness in my chest I'm having a heart attack feeling and in minutes I couldn't even stand up straight. She got all upset, called for Stan to come get me, no way could I drive, and when he did I had him take me to the doc's office. There, though, they said they couldn't see me until 3:30. The receptionist suggested I try going to the E.R. So.. I did. I sat there for hours, waiting, and the more I waited the more ambulances came and went and by 20 after 3 I just headed back to the doc's office for the appointment they gave me.
They took me in, hooked me to this EKG machine, and found that I had no p wave.. a missing p wave must not be a good thing because they decided to admit me immediately to the hospital for more tests. The doc said with my chest pain and the missing p wave she'd just not feel right about not admitting me. I was getting scared, so I agreed, no, it wouldn't be right at all. By then I'd been hurting for about 6 hours. I think a real heart attack woulda got me by then. Still.. I was hurting pretty badly..
It turned out to be a really rotten Gall Bladder attack, surgery, they took it out on Friday and let me come home yesterday. I still have some problems with my liver, they want to check it again on Thursday, but all in all I do feel better.
Thank you, Lisa, for staying with me night and day.. you're awesome.. thanks Stan, Mom, Dianne, and Bonnie for helping with the girls, and thank you all for the beautiful flowers.. you sure did make me feel loved and needed.. I don't know what on Earth I'd do without you.. Papaw, the blue roses were my favorites.. I'll keep them forever. Thank you everyone!