May 30, 2007
Papaw Today
Maegan's his pick of the litter.. she has to go in his room every day and "give him 5"! Then she scores some of his candy. She knows where they keep the good stuff at Mom's!
Sarah I'm glad you're coming in this weekend, he was asking for you yesterday. :)
Papaw Yesterday
His window was open and he was bantering back and forth with Mallory, who was out there pickin' at him. He sure does love the kids. :)
May 28, 2007
At Mom's Yesterday
We went to see Lonnie, and we had supper over there - the best hamburgers and hot dogs on Earth! Thanks for dinner Mom!
Maegan was fascinated by Lonnie this time, she kept tugging at him, chattering at him, and finally got him to understand that she wanted him to swing her!
Dad..
1st Day of Summer Vacation
I told the girls they could wear anything they wanted, they were officially on summer break.. Mallory's outfit cracked me up, but by jimminy it was what she wanted so she wore it!
Look!
I heard a strange sound in the sky over the house today.. grabbed my camera and look what it was!
That was the first time I've ever seen one around here!
May 26, 2007
Rambling...
I wanted to post a little about Papaw, how he's doing, what he's doing now, I post pics of him almost daily.. but I haven't talked about what's going on with him. He's in congestive heart failure, and of course, that blood clot. He absolutely refuses to go back to a hospital, the very mention of it sends him into a very visible panic attack. It terrifies him, so Mom promised him no more hospitals. No more of anything he doesn't want done. If one day he wants something to eat, fine, if he doesn't feel like eating, that's fine too.. we all try to encourage him to eat and drink, but we don't try to force him. He's tired, and he's ready to go.
He still knows me, he knows Lisa and Mom and Dad.. though sometimes he calls Dad "that old man with the pool". He knows Don, calls Don "Jr." and "My Buddy". He loves it when Don sits in there talking to him or just holding his hand. He still consistantly recognizes Shannon and Tommy Gerald too.
He's getting more and more confused as days go by, he talks some nonsense, well.. nonsense to us, but maybe it makes perfect sense to him, who can say.
Today he told Dad that the woman who ran that place does a really good job.
Anthony and Lynn came to see him this week. He's had a steady stream of visitors for weeks now. He told me this evening that he had a lot of company lately. Then he told me he needed to build a special shelf for his television. He wanted one that had a long shelf at the side that angled down so he could slide it down in front of the window if he felt like it, then slide it back up on the dresser when he felt like it. Too, he said, he could put his toiletries from the window sill onto it, it'd be mighty handy. I told him we could get up and build one, but he said no, it was too much work.
He's so easy going. He smiles gentle smiles now, and he talks like a child.. soft and sweet. He told me he just loves everybody. There's no one out there he doesn't love, he said he didn't care what color they are or who they are, or what they've done - he loves everybody on this whole wide world. He shook his right fist for emphasis while he said it.
Don left going home for a few days yesterday, and Lonnie's on his way in tonight. They've sure been good to come help through this. I was supposed to go spend the night with Mom tonight but Lisa stayed instead. I believe Carol said that they'll be back on Monday or Tuesday, unless something happened that they had to come back sooner.
He has mentioned several times that someone is standing in the corner of the room. He said he can't make out who it is, but they're standing there watching him. That's sort of eerie, but I've taken tons of photos, no anomolies whatsoever in any of them. Still.. he insists someone's there. I believe him.
He's scared of the dark - he wants the lamp on. Last week, he just kept telling us how afraid he was.. when I stayed overnight he had me hold his hand all night, if I stepped out to smoke, he knew it, told me he was scared to death, but he didn't know what he was scared of. That's hard to hear, I hate thinking that he's afraid. He's not been as bad this week, he seems more content. I've only heard him mention being scared once.. that was tonight. Mom said Lisa turned off the light and he asked Mom to put it back on for him.
He's back to sleeping in his lift chair. He doesn't like that hospital bed a bit. The last time he was in it, he went into fits, "Lorene, get me out of here, you take me home!" He thought he was back in a hospital. He didn't calm down either until they got him back into his chair. That satisfied him. As of an hour or so ago, he was sleeping soundly. Maybe he'll rest good tonight. I sure hope so.
Mail for the Girls
They each got a postcard, and a letter with 20 bucks in it from their Mommy.. boy were they thrilled. Mallory wanted to go spend hers right away, but we didn't have time to take her to the store today.. we will tomorrow. That was neat, Sarah! Dippy said he wants a letter like that too!
Honey Island Swamp
This was interesting. A couple of days ago, Sarah called me from work. She said that while out looking for one of the FEMA trailors to deactivate, her GPS stopped working. Her cell phone lost service. She said that her paper map was in the back seat of the truck, at the passenger side so she had to pull off the interstate to get it.. the exit was to Honey Island Reserve.
She told me that she got out, turned her back to the fence, never thinking about what might be behind that fence, got her map, looked around and then got back in the truck. The exit led right back onto the interstate, and there was no going inside the fence.
When she got back to the office, she asked her boss what was in that reserve, and he told her that there were alligators in there probably as big as a car. He said that in the 70's.. some platoon leader took his men into the swamp, and 19 of them were killed by 'gators. She called me to ask me to look it up online and see if that was true. I couldn't find anything about the soldiers, but I did find a bunch of websites on The Monster of Honey Island Swamp
Check it out.. it's pretty cool!
Mikyla's New Bike!
Granny saw that Mikyla had outgrown her bicycle when Mik was trying to ride it today. An hour later, Mikyla had a beautiful brand new shiny bike. Wow, Granny, that was sweet, thank you so much! Now we have to teach her how to ride it without the training wheels. I tried last fall, but I let go before she was ready for me to so now she doesn't trust me to teach her. I hope Lisa and Nick can do it this week!
Boing!
Poor Mallory. Every time she sits on one of those little chairs she falls down. She didn't get hurt though. Look at rotten butt Mikyla cracking up at her. Something tells me Mikyla's the next one to fall down!
Mallory's Kindergarten Graduation
I don't post pics of children without their parent's or grandparent's permission. This little boy though made me laugh. The graduation was boring, in that it was drawn out, sooo long for the little ones to sit still, and it was so hot in there.. it was the last day of school.. and this little fella just gave up and went to sleep right there in his chair. I shaded his face so that no one can tell who he is, but you can still tell that he's sleeping. Isn't that adorable?
May 22, 2007
Maegan Picking Wildflowers
She likes to bring them to me and then wants me to put them in my hair. :)
May 21, 2007
A Snippet
He was a great warrior. She was proud to walk behind him. Smiling softly she studied his back, his long black hair. Her happiness too abruptly turned to confusion when she heard the noise, then to utter devastation seeing him fall to the earth. She knew he was dead, but put that truth from her mind. Someone as strong and alive as he could not possibly be there before her one moment and then lying so still the next.
Even as they began pushing her toward the big circle of dirt, away from him, her eyes searched for him among the living. There was so much noise. Men with rough hands began shoving her, her people into the circle. They shouted to each other in their strange tongue.
She walked. It seemed to be what they wanted. Coralled by their bodies into the circle, she walked for hours, the warm soft dirt beneath her feet, the hot sun over her head. Over and over again she saw him fall. Still she walked the never ending circle certain she must be dreaming. It wasn't possible that this was really happening.
The nightmare went on until she was exhausted. Her feet were bruised and blistered, but her terror kept her walking. Who were these people? Why were they doing this? Her mind raced, as her feet pushed on and on. She understood but one thing. The men were keeping them in the circle so they couldn't fight back. They were making sure that she and her people were too tired and frightened to act.
Finding the courage to look up, she saw her brother. He moved toward her with pity in his eyes. She understood then. This was real. This was no dream. Her grief rose from deep inside and she could no longer stand. She fell to the ground weeping. Her hands clawed the dirt, sifting it. The scent of blood and sweat filled her nostrils while hatred began to fill her heart.
May 19, 2007
Simple Pleasures...
Sprinkles! She liked that! And..she likes ice cream too...
She'll drink grapefruit juice, but ohhh the faces she makes while she drinks that stuff!
She used to push Papaw around in his wheelchair when he was able to get up...we weren't expecting her to just go get it and roll her own self around in it.. but she sure did.. right up behind mom. That was funny.. she's a little hotshot!
When we got back from school last night Lisa came in for a minute.. but when she started to leave, Maegan wasn't about to let her go without going along. So Lisa took her to the store, let Maegan pick out some candy and popcycles, then brought her back home. Maegan wouldn't share her candy either! She likes Lisa lots!
And..she loves to sing.. she sings a lot with Dippy. They do a good job singing together too.. listen!
Maegan & Dippy Singing (4.40MB)
Papaw Yesterday
I spent the night over there last night.. Mik went with me. He didn't do so well - said he was hurting in his legs, just didn't feel well. I don't think he slept an hour all night. Don will be back tomorrow. I'm glad because he's really good with Papaw and Papaw loves it when he's with him. I'm going back tonight..it's the weekend, so Mik can go with me again. I hope he sleeps better tonight than he did last night.
Playing with Maegan
Maegan adored Carol - she followed her all over that hillside any time we went over there.
Bonnie
Yes...she's starting to show.. it's gonna be a girl!
I don't know that it's gonna be a girl, no one knows yet, but I'm guessing!
The Girl's Career Day Program
Sarah - I've tried to call you several times since the program to let you know how it went, and the girls have called you constantly, but the phone goes straight into voice mail. I wish you'd call and let us know you're okay. I figured you'd call to find out how it went but you haven't so we're starting to worry. Nag.. nag.. nag.. !
Anyway, here are some pics, and a couple of videos.. they're pretty big but it shouldn't take more than a few minutes for you to see them.. you're gonna enjoy them. :)
Lisa went with us, we all really enjoyed it. Nana called them before the show to let them know she wasn't gonna be able to go, it was Brooksie's birthday and she was going up there for a while. She was properly chastised by Mikyla today for not going. *laughs* Nick was supposed to go too, but he fell askeep and Lisa couldn't wake him. Anyway, here are the video clips, let me know how you liked them.
May 18, 2007
It's Been A Long Week
It's quiet, the kids are sleeping, the train whistle is blowing across town. It's cold again. I went to Bonnie's a while ago, just to visit a bit and on the way home the temp on the sign at the bank said 50 degrees. It feels lonely..the wind is blowing from time to time, rustling the leaves. May is a beautiful month...spring trying to get here, but it's not my favorite month. It's a desolate month to me. A sad and lonely time. It will pass.. it always does.
We had a few thunderstorms earlier this evening, but they're gone now. It sure did cool it down around here. I'm not positive, but I think there's some goldenrod blooming out in my back yard. I thought those came out in the fall. Maybe they don't know it's just spring. The weather has been strange enough to confuse the plants, that's for sure. My Wisteria that bloomed and got frost bitten still hasn't come back. I hope it's not dead. Wouldn't that just suck?
The kids just have one more week left of school, then they'll be on summer vacation. If it doesn't warm up it's not gonna be much of a summer. The pool got to 72 degrees for a couple of hot days last week, but with this cold spell, it's cooled down too much for them to get in it. Boy Maegan sure likes it. We're gonna have to watch her like a hawk over there.
Don, on this page I've posted the pics you wanted to see - that one of you and Chase is sweet, and he's sure having a good time in that car with Mikyla. He's beautiful!
I broke over and dyed my hair this evening. It's red. It suuuure is red. All the gray that Mom and Lisa were grumbling about is gone..now it's... RED!
*laughs* I look funny to me, but I guess it'll do. Mikyla begged me to do hers red too, so I put some water in the dye bottle and "did" hers as well. She was upset though because while mine turned out red, hers didn't. I was scared to put some real dye on her because her skin is so very sensitive. Sarah suggested trying some of that temporary hair color on her, so maybe I will tomorrow. I'll be scared to death though, she'll most likely break out like a pizza. We'll see.. if I get brave enough.
Mallory is doing very well.. and Maegan is - as you can see..growing like a weed..and talking.. Lordy that child can talk your head off. She's got this Mermaid in Distress yelp that she does in the mornings when she wakes up. This high pitched potentially glass shattering yodel, not quite a shriek, just a piercing...yodel.. up and down with the pitch, in a sort of song tone, something you'd think a mermaid would do .. when she wants out of the crib. I could try for a zillion years and never be able to describe it here. Maybe I will catch it with the mic and leave it here for you to hear. The closest thing I've heard to it in life is a police siren, cross that with a dying sperm whale.. Ugh!
Well.. it's almost 2 - I need to get off here and get some sleep. Stay safe, everyone. G'nite World!
An Orb
I haven't gotten one in a long time.. but I did get a really nice one this week.
Click on the picture below to see the full sized shot.
Nick's Concert...
...was the other night. I got some video clips, but I'll post them later.. I have to say they did really well. I got to go to his first concert and it was nice, but this one was really good.. they all played so well! Way to go Nick!!
Site Meter
It's a really neat tool - get it for your web page, it has a code you just copy and paste onto your webpage, I use mine at the bottom of my page code, then it will show you the hits you get...and where they're from... ip (internet provider) numbers...so you can see who's on your page, and when. The i.p. numbers are like our social security numbers..only instead, it's identification for each of our computers. It's free, just go to www.sitemeter.com. You'll be amazed at what you learn from it.
May 16, 2007
I'm Running Behind
in posting my pictures - I've been spending a lot of time at Mom's with the family, we're all just taking it day by day with Papaw. I've got some beautiful shots of him with his boys, with his great great grandkids, with Mom..with Me, Lisa and Shannon & Bonnie - one day I'm sure these shots will be precious to them, to all of us. Sarah, I have a bunch of the girls in Mom's pool, and playing in her yard, I'll post them as soon as I go through and edit them.
Tommy Gerald, thanks for coming to see him faithfully and for praying with him through the hard times. You're a wonderful person, and we all think the world of you. I know that Papaw sure does as well. Thanks for everything. :)
Shannon, you rock girl, hang in there!
Don is fascinated with the photos on my site, he looks at them with Kim, and has made me promise to post lots of him here, so I'm going to do my best. :) Here are a few for you now, but I do have a bunch more to post as I go through them. All of these on this post were taken on Mother's Day..
Maegan likes to go give Papaw 'high 5's' and he likes to give them right back. This time, she scored some of his candy!
Sarah, here are a few of the girls in the pool..
Okay.. That's all for now, the girls want to go play for a while, I'll try to post more later. Love you all!
May 13, 2007
May 12, 2007
Happy Mother's Day!
I hope all of you Mother's out there have a wonderful day! Sarah sent me some flowers today...Hydrangas, sooo pretty!! Thank you Sarah, I love them!
Today..
Papaw seems to be doing a lot better.. he still won't eat anything, hasn't had anything to eat in over a week now.. he just can't eat. I got him to try a tiny bite of pan cake this morning, but he just couldn't take it. He's drinking a lot of liquids though, coffee, pop and water, so that's better than he was doing..
He really loved having Don come in, everyone was standing in there looking at him and he opened his eyes.. asked them what on earth they were staring at him like that for. He made me stay in there with him for a long time this evening.. he wanted to watch "Good Times" on television, wanted the sound turned up so he could hear it, and I really think he was watching it and not just staring at the screen.
Someone said Lonnie's going back home tomorrow, I don't know for sure though, and I forgot to ask him. Here are some of the pictures I got today..
Saying Goodbye..
I think everyone knows Papaw doesn't have much time left. Family members have been coming in the past couple of days to see him, and calling to speak to him.. sometimes he's able to talk on the phone, but most times he just can't do it. Wilma and Ray came to see him night before last.. Gerald comes often... Lonnie came in today, that tickled us to death, and at first for a long time Papaw thought he was Don, but he did realize who Lonnie was, and he was glad to see him. Don is on his way and will be here in the morning, if I heard right. I'm glad he's coming. Somehow I think Papaw's been waiting for him.
Here are some pictures. I've been taking a lot of pictures, but I'm just gonna post a few for now. It's late and I'm tired. We all are. This has been a hard thing to do.. watch him be so sick. He was doing so well.
Prank Phone Caller..
I recognized your voice when you called Mom's tonight. Let me just say I think you're more than a tad squirrelly to call like that right now..you really should consider getting into therapy. Only someone who cares would be so blatently honest with you. Get some help, because YES, there's something seriously wrong with you.
May 08, 2007
Papaw Yesterday
He's not doing too well.. he's so very tired. I got a couple of shots of him yesterday.
Then I got this one today... he was sleeping, he never did wake up while I was there this time...
May 06, 2007
Sometimes...
...you don't even have to have your eyes on a child to know what's going on.. so long as you're listening...
Mallory came in from school the other day and said, "Mammy! Timmy isn't allowed to use scissors at school anymore!
Today I was listening to them play and I heard Mallory again, No! Mikyla! I'm not a piņata!!"
Sheesh!
Papaw
He's home from the hospital now.. I was there last night but he was sleeping so I didn't get any photos - but I did get a couple of him in the hospital. I took him a Reese Cup and he sure did scuff that up fast.. lol.. he sure loves those sweets.
He loves to hollar.. just hollar like he's in the world's worst pain.. and it makes Mom crazy.. scares her to death.. she'll ask him what's wrong and he'll look at her like he doesn't know what she's talking about.. then when she walks away he laughs.. or grins, like I caught him doing here...
He'll say, "Boy I got her goin'.. " He loves to do that!
Video of Papaw At Hospital Scaring Mom (1.46MB's)
He got his new Power Chair.. a Jazzy, the day he went into the hospital. It's really neat.. and candy apple red. He tried it out yesterday, but Mom said he's a little scared of it.
I sure wouldn't mind having a car that color!
He's done a lot of sleeping since he's been home..and his appetite isn't that good. I think he's just tired.. just wore out. He just turned 84, and I don't know, maybe hitting that number just took the oomph out of him - he just seems too tired now to open his eyes. He got out of bed twice today, he's had his showers and sits in his wheelchair, but before long he's sleeping again, and he's getting harder to rouse once he's gone to sleep. He was always a light sleeper so that's pretty new to us.
I'm gonna go in the morning and stay with them a while. I'll see if I can't get some pics of him using his Power Chair then.
May 03, 2007
Papaw's Tests...
...the tests show that there is a clot, but it's not in the lung. They're going to keep him overnight and then most likely let him come home tomorrow afternoon. The doc said he's probably going to put him on oxygen and blood thinners. I'll post more as I hear...
Bonnie's House
Way to Go, you two!! I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Papaw...
is in the hospital, his oxygen level was too low this morning, so they admitted him to the hospital, did some tests and it looks like they've found a clot in his lung. They're going to do more tests to be sure. I'll post what's going on as I find out.
May 02, 2007
Papaw's BD Dinner
Don, Carol, he got your card today and it tickled him to death, he said to leave a thank you to you both from him here, so here it is. That was neat for him to get right on his birthday in the mail. :)
We got him summer clothes, bath things, lottery tickets, cash, cookies and just a little candy. Mom fixed Pork Tenderloin for dinner out on the grill (yum!) and he had chocolate cake too!
Nick's Snake
Ugh! He was worried someone would kill it so he put it over the fence towards the river. That thing was angry, it didn't run, it kept striking at him. Just UGH!
