Shaken brains change thinking and speaking

Winding down from the day and trying to catch up on some things as I wait for sleep to capture me.  Sure beats lounging in the dark and writing blog posts in my mind while I wait to wake in the morning.

I drank a Pepsi today.  I couldn't take a nap.  So now, I have caffeine coursing through my system.  Fortunately, tomorrow I have my hubby to cover for me if I need a nap so I can go back to my non-Pepsi state. 

One of my first goals when returning from Colorado was to kick the Pepsi.  This past week I did it, but then I had a couple since then.  But the caffeine headaches are gone.  At least I think they were caffeine headaches.  I did really well in Colorado.  Really reduced the pop intake because I didn't want to struggle with dehydration in Colorado. 

Since my return from Colorado, I have had a lot more trouble with my speech.  I saw the doctor before I left and was referred to a neuro doc. I just never have been back to my old self since the car accident.  Headaches, dizziness, numbness.  My doctor started calling neuro docs and we were referred to a Neuropsychiatrist to assess me and my symptoms.  I have more dramatic pauses to my speech and stuttering.  I have to work for words and the more I think the more pronounced (pun intended) the speech issues get.   Yes I meant to say the more I think.  Thinking is hard exercise these days for this brain.  It gets all fuzzy feeling and sometimes I think I feel it sweating a bit.   

When all is calm and quiet, it is as if the accident never happened.  Then I get busy around the house and talking to someone and it all changes.  The more animated or tired I am, well I try to find a sense of humor.  The word "who" gets me and, well, I pause and just "whoooo"t like an owl when I am with the kids.  Laughing is better than crying.  One of my clever witted children asked why I sounded like Porky the Pig.  To which he got a look and no response.  Of all things to compare the mother to, not the best choice. 

My brain gets tired.  I am told, that is, because it is trying to heal.  There is some talk about permanent brain damage in the speech area.  Surrounding parts of the brain may kick in to pick up the slack. 

The whole thing is just a confusing mess of whats??? The timing of the concussion with stress, cold/flu viruses, sinus stuff has really muddied the waters. I have such a high tolerance for sinus and ear pain it has been hard to know if dizziness is related to sickness or concussion. So I just kept resting. But I was pressed to seek a doctor appointment when faced with the question of whether to fly or not this past trip to Colorado. There will be more testing coming up.  Primarily for a baseline to monitor my brain's healing and for the future.  It should, also, (I am hoping it will) give us some indicators as to what is going on with me and my brain. With my mom's early onset of Alzheimer's it will be good record to have for my own medical history. 

For now, I wait...wait for appointments and rest.  I need to have moderate stress and activity in my life to allow my brain to heal. The first 3 months are critical... well the first 2 months are done and gone. There was nothing we could have or probably would have done differently had we known...we were doing the best we could at the time. To second guess ourselves won't change anything. So now I rest in knowing our life has significantly changed in the last 2 months. My responsibility load has been lightened and God's timing has been in it all. He knows far more what each day and year will bring. While the process has not been an easy one, He knows.   

Picking up where I left off....

I don't know where to begin.  One of the reasons why I have been silent.  I don't know even how to categorize all the feelings, thoughts and ramblings that occur in my mind.  I went to Colorado with my Mom and Henry.  My sister had done the initial nursing home hunt with her husband.  They narrowed down the options.  God went before us in all of this, making the process easier.  Easier because He narrowed the options down for us.  Easier because He made choice clear.  Easier because there wasn't a lot required of us.  The work in of itself was easy.  For that I am so very grateful and humbled that He made the work easy. 

Because the otherside of it was not and is not easy. 

Alzheimer's is not easy.  At any age it is not easy.  But at 64 years of age in a woman with the heart of a 20 year old (according to the doctors), it seems unreal and not fair.  I know, I know life is not fair.  In my household we have been dealing with dementia/Alzheimer's for awhile now.  There is humor to be found in the midst.  Joy that can be hung onto.  Dancing with Grandpa in a congo line while he does therapy.  Encouraging Great Granny to cooperate with the presence of great-grandchildren and brownies.  Watching movies and listening to stories....some so out there you know they are a tale as wild as can be imagined.  In the midst of it all, there is tenderness, love and compassion.  While we have traveled this road for several years, it has not been as shocking to our emotions and beings when we consider their age.  This path with my Mom is another altogether. 

I find myself needing to tell people she is ONLY 64.  She doesn't even quite fit in with the nursing home crowd.  She is too young.  Matter of fact, she sauntered off her "floor" in the first week, she followed someone out.  She had just had her hair done and was looking good and out she went and the alarms went off.  Oh my, I chuckled when I heard.  What else could I do?  Yes, she is a Great-Grandma, but she is young!  She walks me into the ground.  64!  That is 25 years from now for me.  My youngest kiddo would be 32. 

Her decline has been so rapid.  In some ways I think, wow! What a blessing....so as to not languish in this disease process.  While on the other hand, it is happening so quickly, I can't quite catch my breath.  I want to say stop! slow down!  Just a little bit more time.  Yet I know what is coming, I have watched this process for a while now.  I have talked with Hospice nurses, doctors, home health aides, etc. etc.  It is hard.  Beyond hard.

This past month I said Good-bye.  I have been grieving and struggling since summer.  But with moving Mom to Colorado to the nursing home, I knew in my heart it was good-bye.  I have locked in my heart each tender moment I could have with her.  Even curling up next to her laying my head on her shoulder while we watched a movie together. Doing my best to pack suprises for her and noting her joy upon discovering them.  Trying to include her in purchases for her new home and capturing her in hugs in Wal-Mart when she tried to "run away".  (btw Wal-mart is not the best place to take someone with Alzheimers.....can you say OVERWHELMING!).

I am ever so grateful for the past 5 years (I think) they have lived here in Kansas.   I moved to Kansas some 20+ years ago and am blessed to have had these past 5 years with my mom closer to me physically and relationally.  It breaks my heart to know this was good-bye.  I know there will be visits, but she will more than likely no longer know me.  The longer between visits, the less familiar a person is and her memories of me were already slipping.  I am already experiencing her absence...as I struggle with my health and major decisions, she was often the one I would turn to for prayers and support.  As her grandchildren struggled or were injured or sick, I would call for prayers.  When I found myself standing before a Goliath, she quietly stood/sat beside me and held my hand and I knew she was praying.  I  find myself hurting and struggling and I can't call my Mom anymore for her to join me in prayers.  We no longer are able to share verses being memorized and studied.   The tears come.  In the midst of the grief, I am grateful for this legacy.  I am grateful for the example she has set, the lessons she lived and taught, and for the example she is demonstrating as she clings to the habit of reading her Bible daily and listening to praise music... I just wish we had had more time.

An update...

It is late...
My mind is a whirling.
Fun Girl, "don't want to be a pest...but you haven't updated your blog in a while."
Me, "I don't know what to write.  Life is tough right now.  I cry a lot"
I just viewed my last post posted.
It was the afternoon before the car accident.
Life was great that day.  Blogging and computer stuff done.  Kiddo at a Christmas party, looking to what all needed to be done for the holidays.  On our way to work Bingo to pay for Hockey Player's hockey and life came to a halting stop at the red light. 

We were stopped.  The kid admitted to being distracted.  He stopped only after crashing into us.  Things could have been so much worse.  That they weren't I am grateful.  I was stunned, dazed and, well, just going with the flow.  I didn't feel right but stayed quiet.  We went on to Bingo.  My leg went numb, got heavy and eventually I sat down and helped with paper work.  The next morning, I was dizzy and weak... Eventually I was in the ER.  A concussion. 

A week later in the ER again.  Post-concussive syndrome. 

It is not good to sit in the car sideways.  I was sitting at an angle so I could face Hubby while he drove and we talked.  Instead of a front to back concussion, I was hit from the side.  Bummer.  Brain doesn't like that too much.  I slept a lot for the 2 weeks after the accident.  There is a lot I don't remember from about Thanksgiving till now.  Pictures help.  Talking helps.  Sometimes looking at the calendar.  But for the most part, the memories are mostly gone.  But I know my kiddos have been gems.  They have loved on me and taken care of me. 

A week after the accident, the call came.  Granny was gone.  There was to be no services or viewing.  She was gone.  I slept a lot.  The kids and I still have yet to fully process she is gone.  It is just a big silence in our life.  None of us really know how to talk about it. 

In the meantime, my mom is declining in leaps.  Agitated and confused.  She doesn't always recognize us, or she does and doesn't know why we are familiar. The year ends and a new one begins.  We find ourselves saying good-bye and grieving.  Mom will be moving soon.  She wanders now and doesn't know us a good amount of the time.  They will move to Colorado, there are more siblings/kids there to help out and support.  More than just me.  Colorado is home to my parents.  Where they want to be.  I know with this move, we are saying good-bye.  Visits will be farther and fewer.  Her memories of us will slip faster with our absence.

And I sleep a lot.  I have aggravated my concussion a couple of times.  I can't be silly and shake my head at the kids.  It hurts.  Accupuncture helps a lot with the pain.  But it is not long lasting.  More follow up with the doctors to happen.  Hoping for the doctor okay to travel to Colorado with my mom.  There is a concern about the change in altitude and pressure on my brain.  I have an extra motivation in going...I want to see my preggy niece.  My first grand-neice on my side of the family.  I love being an auntie and look forward to changing my title to GREAT Aunt!  She is due soon.  I can't remember the due date.  If it wouldn't be too soon, it would be cool if she popped out to see me while in Colorado.  Wouldn't that be lovely....snuggles with a super sweet wee new born.  Ahhh!
I keep telling Hubby I need a baby girl of my own.  The kids think my concussion is even worse than the doctors have said.

School planning needs to be done.  Hoping between naps and appointments this week, I will accomplish this one GREAT BIG task. 

Learning experiences in the HARD

I have been quiet for a few weeks.   Been walking through a season and learning and leaning on my Heavenly Father.  Sometimes life is just HARD.  There is no way around it.  Sometimes not only it is HARD, but there comes a tiredness that is HARD to overcome. 

I am grateful to be blessed with a husband who allows me some time to wrestle and cry and work it through.  This year I have faced some overwhelming HARD changes in my life.  What makes it all HARD is I struggle with depression and while some seasons are easier to roll with the punches, others are not so easy. 

Earlier in the year, it became known that my momma has dementia.  She is way too young.  Her memory/mind seems to be declining more rapidly than we would like.  Growing up in a not so idyllic childhood there has been estrangement and stress in all the relationships in my family.  When my mom moved to Kansas, our relationship for the first time improved and we became a bit more like friends.  Guaranteed the first move in Kansas she was a couple of hours away, but then there was another move and she was closer.  Only 30 minutes driving.  Not really sure exactly when things started showing up and realized something was wrong, but it was shortly after the last move.  Just bizarre things.  Things I let annoy me.  Eventually it was things I allowed to hurt me.  Now I look back and I see, I see oh so much clearer.  The energy I wasted being annoyed, the energy I wasted on frustration.  I kept voicing I was concerned.  Never could put a finger on it.  The changes they happen so gradually.  Excuses are made, slip ups laughed off until no longer you can remember life being different.  Then a photo album comes out and as I flip through the pages I remember a different time.  Something is wrong....

This past month though, with a kiddo in the hospital and a call that my Granny was declining and not doing well at all and I should visit as soon as I can.  Estrangement happening again with my Dad and my Mom not being the Mom I remembered, I crumbled.  Sometimes you just want your Mommy and her hugs.  You can't always have what you want.  I had to find what was enough.  So I have been quiet here, but not so quiet with my Heavenly Father.  Remembering to praise Him for who He is and in all the ways He loves me and shows me He is there, even when deep in my heart I just want to have a pity party.  Allowing Him to collect my tears.  Putting one foot in front of the other, although sometimes it is pretty sluggish.  Trying to push through the dark clouds and trust God is with me even in the storms and it is HARD.  Cause that is what it is about TRUST when times are HARD.  During the easy times building a foundation that can whether the storms of life no matter what they bring.  Something my Mom taught me just by living day after day with the Lord for almost as long as I can remember back to.....

Ready for the Big Bumps!

 Remember this post last month?

 

 

Well now, he is free and clear!

Not much of a smile for the camera.

But he is excited and ready for the Big Bumps.

 

 

And what exactly are Big Bumps?  I don't really want to know.

This past weekend, Daddy O and I worked Bingo. 

Hockey fundraisers to help pay for, well, Hockey.

Couple of dads were talking.

Dad One asked if Hockey Player was back. 

Dad Two said yes, and I responded "sorta."

There was a choked back laughter.

See, DaddyO was otherwise busy elsewhere in the room.

I KNEW something was up.

I explained Daddy O told me there was no contact allowed, so Hockey Player got on the ice for a game on Thursday.

 Some how it came out....not sure how.

Hockey Player took a hit in the corner.

Went down, then knocked the other guy down.

DaddyO returned and I tolded him, he was busted....

His response, Just a little bump!

Hockey Player even jumped up and let DaddyO know all was good.

 

Good Heavens Can't Trust the Two of the Them to Follow Doctor's Orders.

 

Cornered Hockey Player the next day and asked about his hit.

His response, "HUH?? What hit?"

Just a little bump.

Told him he was busted.

Couldn't remember knocking anyone else down.

 

I get told to quit making it a big deal.

 

Doctor laughed and shooked his head.

Said he would see us the next day.

Not funny doc.

Just to prove it, I told him we would be at church and not hockey.

Well then maybe Friday.

 

better NOT!

 

 

 

Bestest Ever Compliment I Ever Received

The scene:  Reading to Dad's Bud an excerpt from Alice in Wonderland.
The conflict:  Dad's Bud is fed up done with school and really doesn't want to listen.
He is trying, but finding it ever so difficult and is fidgeting up a storm trying to stay and obey.
We get to the conversation with the Caterpillar and I am doing the voices.
Dad's Bud smiles and interrupts.
"You sound just like Grandmama when she reads her stories!"
HUGE smile and a giggly thank you from this Momma.
A long lasting wish fulfilled.  My children would enjoy hearing me tell stories as much as we enjoy listening to Grandmama's and Papa's stories. 

He is armed and dangerous

This past weekend, I stayed home sick.  It was hockey weekend in OKC. We are still waiting on news if there will be any more tournaments this year. We are short on numbers for a team. Parents are thinking and discussing. So, it was with disappointment, I chose to stay home. It might be the only tournament of the year and I am missing it.

 

Coughing and blowing and sneezing in a car...in a hotel room...not fun, not fun for anybody. 

Definitely is not a recipe for good rest for every one there.

 

So I stayed home.

The girls stayed too.

 

Daddy O did his best to keep me updated.

 

First game, I received multiple texts.

Boys were doing great and winning.

First game was a win!

 

Rest and food and fun

 

Game 2

Daddy O texts with scores.  Then Daddy O calls. He is concerned about Hockey Player. Coach is not putting him on the ice. My first thought is his foot. Daddy O doesn't know. I ask if I should call coach on the bench and he tells me No.

**sigh**

All I want to do is be there, cross the ice, and check on my boy. Coach recently assured me, he remembers the rules.  I pray and wonder.

 

Another phone call Daddy O was able to attract Hockey Player's attention.

Did thumbs up and thumbs down....HP's response ~ thumbs down.

 

Sigh...so far away.

Game is over, we lost and my thoughts are on HP

Daddy O calls and reports in,

Hockey Player says, "My arm feels broken. Like all the other broken bones."

 

Any other time, I would laugh.

 

But he is in another state and I want him home.

Daddy O tells me he has limited mobility.  Hurts to move his hand or hold anything. I suggest (in my mommy way) to skip the ER. All they will do is XRay and confirm.  No bone sticking out so emergency surgery is not required. They will tell us to follow up with our doc.

 

Cha-ching $150 for the hospital.

 

Come home.  Immediate care on Sunday with out doc. We have had so many mis-diagnosises, I prefer for him to discover my kid's fractures...

 

Call one of the other hockey moms and ask, "Is Dad giving me the sanitized version?"

Yes and No.  He missed the hit, cause little brothers were distracting him.

 

I get the story.

 

HP went to the boards, his hand was on the boards

another player came in broadside to his arm

all legal

but sticks, hits and power

I know in my heart it is broken.

What IT is, is the question.

Wrist

Both arm bones

 

They come home.

Difficulty sleeping...

My boy is stoic and quiet...more so than usual.

He doesn't antagonize his sisters.

I can see the pain in his eyes.

 

At the doctors, he is all quiet and laid back.  Not really giving doc details.  So I step in, that is what Moms do, right?  Doc examines and pulls and not a single word or OW or stop. That is what I get at home.

 

I step in again and tell doc, he is too quiet for his own good.

 

Doc, very politely tells me, "I see him flinching, I know."

 

hmmmph, I guess I need to be still  Really hard to do...my 3.5 pound bag of sugar is hurt.  Did I mention I wrapped my arms around him the night before and cried. Cried and cried until he asked if he could "..go to bed now?"  I see the man he is becoming, but I also see him as 6.5 weeks earlier and 3.5 pounds in a isolette in the NICU.  The tiny bundle my body evicted way too soon.

The tiny boy I sat and covered in prayer and wore my heart on my sleeve for. The tiny baby I fought to bring home with me. I want good for him. I want for him to play hockey if that is what he wants.I want for him to be healthy and whole.

So we go to XRAY.

After XRay we are sent to the procedure room

We are put in an exam room.

I get a little excited, must not be broken.

But doc comes in.

Broken.

Not as bad as it could be considering.

One bone.

Not the wrist.

Not into the growth plate.

Much to be thankful for.

Brace for now, come back during the week to cast it.

Woohoo!  That means he gets to take a couple more normal showers.

Yeah, I love him... I just don't always like to smell him.

He is a teenage boy.

 

 He tries to do his school work this morning.  It is tough, he is right handed and it is his right arm in the cast.  We are getting a lesson in sibling relationships and when it interfere.  Dad's Bud joins us and starts to pester.  I warn Dad's Bud to back off.  But he doesn't know what that means and continues.  He starts messing with HP's arm.  Really?  I warn him.  Then I give HP permission to demonstrate the power of his arm.  Yes, I did.  What else do big brothers do, when little brothers won't back down because they are vying for territory and herd roles of leadership.  Big brothers pop them with their cast and demonstrate they are armed and dangerous and it is best to back down. 

Well Hockey Player didn't whack him.  I grabbed HP's arm and banged it into Dad's Bud's chest a few times until he said ow.  Point made.  Leave your brother alone. He has my permission to settle it.  He won't unless he has to, cause that is the kind of young man he is...

 

Brotherly Force as the last resort.

 

 

 

Their eyes were causing trouble!

My two youngest boys remind me tremendously of my childhood.

My older three are the kind of children that could allow a parent to become prideful.

They simply just never participated in the,

"He's touching me!!! 

She's looking at me!!!

They breathed on me!!!"

At least not until the younger two boys came along.

GOD knew the risk of me becoming prideful as a parent.

He knew it.

I have a tendency to get comfortable in my abilities.

He knows that.

So He allows circumstance to keep me on my knees. 

To keep me focused on HIM.

To NEED Him.

Because He loves me.

Because He knows without Him, my life is nothing.

One day, the sun is shining.

There is promise in the day.

A promise to accomplish much.

A promise of time together as a family.

A promise that I will need my Heavenly Father to survive,

as I step out of the bathroom, dressed and ready for the day

when I hear my two youngest striving against the other's existence.

**SIGH**

Lord, help me to get through today.

As I sit at the table, trying to encourage children to start school.

It begins, "He is looking at me!"

"Nuh huh ~ He is looking at me!"

**Sigh**

God reminds me of the poster board in my room, I recently pulled out.

The older children come running.  Hanging over my shoulders.

What are you doing?

Shhh!

Still sitting at the table, the two youngers are still looking at each other and annoying one another.

Supposedly, trying to do school but can't 'cause "HE" is looking at him.

** SIGH **

And I plop these poster board dividers down and tell them to do school.

They laughed.

I didn't, my sense of humor had left me.

I think I forgot to ask God, to sustain my humor for the day.

I wish I could say it solved all my problems. 

One of my "sweet" little gifts discovered the poster board shielded him from my view and he snuck away to play instead of doing school.

**SIGH**

But at least they weren't looking at each other.

 

Life Requires a Sense of Humor....

Fortunately for Fun Girl, she wasn't home.

My allergies are bad.  Ragweed is my nemesis this time of year.

Mostly my eyes are affected.

I step outside and they swell and water.

They itch.

They get tired. 

I spend a lot of time like this.

Cold Compresses to reduce the Swelling.

Often, I doze off for a while as well.

 

 

 

So when I needed to show the Dad what needed to be done in the yard/garden,

I had to take serious steps.

I refused to shower first....

cause the shower would remove all the gunk from my being that makes me sneeze and wheeze.

But what about my eyes?

My sunglasses weren't going to be enough.

So in my jammies, I ventured out.

Then I heard giggles and my IPhone.

Iphone in the hands of Hockey Player.

He is no longer my sweet quiet child.

He is onery, squirrely and obnoxious.

I turned my back and laughed.

Dad reminded me it was his birthday.

So I turned around and smiled.
How cool is that!! 
I told him that would be his birthday present.

 

 

And since you can't tell in the above photo, we had to take one of the feet.

mismatched flip flops.

 

 

Fun Girl's response:  "I Can't Believe you Went Outside!"

WHat will the Neighbors THinK.

UmmMMM We have OnLY LivEd hErE for 17 YeArS.

I think they have seen it all from us.

 

Then I told her, I would blog it.

Her response,
"If you want to embarrass yourself that way!"

I love my FUN GIRL and HOCKEY PLAYER

 

One sweet ride!

This is Hockey Player's dream car.

Maybe in a different color.

But the car nonetheless.

 

 

McLaren

 

 

So imagine my joy when at the zoo, I turned around and saw this baby!

 

 

Oh yeah!! I can see my Hockey Player zooming down the hill in this baby!

He quickly pointed out the spelling was off.

But hey, it is not in yellow+! 

Check out those wheels.

 

Spinning and Twirling Happiness

I am happy! Ever so happy.  Little Preschool Girl happy in a twirly sparkly dress kind of happy way.
I went swimming tonight.
I swam 600 meters.
To some that is not much.
To me after 20 years of not swimming.  That is so exciting.  Not only is it exciting, but I have been only at it for a couple of weeks.  It has been 10 days since I posted this post.
The best part was I did my 500 in record time (for this season of my life).  My first 300 was completed in 10 minutes. 
Considering all of my attempts have involved ear plug malfunctions and lungs protesting and horrible coughing fits, this was enough to rejoice. I just didn't need to pause between laps and lengths.  There were only 2 times I needed to stop long enough to catch my breath!  It was but for a few seconds. 
I kept pace with Little Princess.  A few times, I pushed myself just to make sure I beat her to the wall.  The point was that I was pushing myself.
I finished my 500 and said, hey why not another 100?!?!  Still had time to spare. Out of the pool with a great big smile on my face.  So proud of myself and excited.  I had to restrain myself from not running over to Fun Girl in her practice to high five her.  I was just so excited. 

The Man rescues Fun Girl!

On our way to church one Wednesday night this conversation occurred:
Hockey Player, Little Princess and Fun Girl do not take off once we get to church.  Help carry in the cupcakes.
Hockey Player: OK
Little Princess: OK
Silence.... "Um waiting for one more word of affirmation....."
Look at DaddyO.  He looks at me and raises his eyebrows. 
Me: Fun Girl???
FG:  What?
Me: Are you going to respond? 
FG:  Were you talking to me?
DaddyO: Yes
Me: You will help with cupcakes.
FG:  Um yeah... kind of distant and far away.
DaddyO: She is staring off in space day dreaming about the cute guys at church.
FG:  Nooooo!
DaddyO:  (dripping with sarcasm)  OH, like there is no cute boys at church!?!
FG:  Embarrassed and saying "But....
The Man interrupts:  There are too cute guys at church.  I am one of them!!!
Giggle and laughter all around.
Yep, TM, you are right.  There are lots of cute guys in the first grade.  You are soo very right!
Saved by her little brother.

Best Mommy Ever

Having a 16 year old means you don't hear those words very often. Definitely don't hear those words before 6 in the morning. So on a dark Saturday morning when Fun Girl had to be at the pool to lifeguard at 6 am and she says, "Mommy when you get out later, if you bring me a coffee, you will be the best mommy ever."  How could I not accept the offer? I did mess up things, when I asked for pictures. I did not think about it embarrassing her. For that I am very sorry. I just wanted to document this rare occasion of being the best mommy ever!

 

Little Princess' birthday

So Little Princess had a birthday.  When asked what she wanted to do?

 

Just want to have fun with my family!

 

Big O Daddy O set to make sure she had a fun day hanging out with her family.

He promptly scheduled pedis for her, the sis, the local aunts, cousin Amia, and mom

To top it off I let her get a manicure too. 

 

 

 

 

 

Little Princess's

 

 

sitting so patiently deserves a bag of breakfast M-M's 

 

 

Little Princess' fingers

before getting in the pool.

 

 

Aunt Tracy's

 

 Mom's

 

 Aunt Sharon's

 

Missing pictures of Fun Girl's fingers and toes.

But they were Beautimous as well!

 

How to get your 6 year old to take medicine

The Man started running a fever. 

Thrashing and coughing and sooo uncomfortable.

He didn't sleep well.

(Let's just assume I wrote MOM didn't sleep well.)

His throat hurts.

His head hurts.

His body hurts.

He is HOT!

My first thought is strep.

School is back in session and that is what happens.

Doesn't seem to matter we HOME School.

We still get what the public school kids get.

Haven't figured that one out.

The docs haven't either.

So we take the first appointment, cause I am tired.

AND he is dramatic and we need relief.

He has some contagion I have never heard of before.

Antibiotics are prescribed.

We get the said antibiotics.

He digs his toes into his blankets and sets his lips.

I have had that kind of medicine.

I don't like it.

BUT IT WILL MAKE YOU BETTER. 

(I don't add, if you are better, I am happy---

cause you aren't so whining and grumpy. )

PLLLLLLEAAAAASE take the medicine.

NO!

I will let you wash it down with some of this...

Nope.

We call Daddy out of desperation. 

He will stop here

and get you whatever you want.

"I don't care what you get"

He must be sick.

Still not getting anywhere.

Siblings are suggesting candy, slushes, pop, treats.

Everyone wants him better.

NO ONE wants his contagion.

NOPE.

Then I offer to buy everyone lunch from

It works.  He will try.

But he has held out so long, that he gets to chug some...

and he gets not one treat but two from

A slush and apple pie.

I take Fun Girl to work and stop for lunch at

And I sit on the couch and read these little lines on the bottom.

AND I YELLLL

STOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

PEANUTS!

DON'T

EAT

YOUR

LUNCH

THE 3 NOT SICK KIDS COME RUNNING!

Good Golly Molly!

I had no idea restaurants still fried in peanut oil.

Fortunately, THE MAN had gone to use the restroom.

He had yet to touch his food.

And I kept thanking the Lord.

The only thing worse than being sick:

 sick and getting anaphylaxsis

And the shot from one of these

His response,

That's okay mom, I like

Translation: I was going back out and getting him a Happy Meal which was also

HAPPY TUMMY.

HAPPY TUMMY is the label we put on food that is food allergy safe.

It is food that will not make The Man sick.

Therefore he has a Happy Tummy.

Something we started back when he was one and we first discovered food allergies in our home.

AND THAT is how you get a 6 year old to take his medicine.

Who knows what it will take tomorrow!

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Counting to 331....Smiles from the first week of school

Part of counting in the Joy Dare, is just enjoying what most would pass over.

326.
Hockey Player went back to my car, to get my forgotten Pepsi. 

MY HERO!

327.  The Man
Still doesn't have his shoes on after a 20 minute drive

A loving sister carried him from the parking lot to the wall and helped with
the process, so we could keep moving. 

328. 
Meanwhile, we enjoyed the end of summer blooms.
These pretties have survived a very hot and dry summer.

329.

AND we enjoyed the discovery of a butterfly.

Sitting every so still and unafraid.

330. 

Errands and appointments still break up our day. 
I came home to find the kiddos who stayed behind to work on homework,

had an improptu self - imposed Spelling lesson along with their snacks.

and 331. 

Such creativity.  So proud of their ability to spell names.

Still here...Still Ticking...Just Going, going, going....

It has been a long time since I have posted anything. Roughly 65 days... So here goes...
1.  Hockey Player had allergy testing done... we know why he was sick all winter.  Not allergic to ice, but allergic to his Great-Granny's apartment.  BUMMER !
2.  Botanica family day
3.  Cross-the-midline phycial therapy sessions for all the kids!
4.  Gymnastics for the MAN
5.  2 swim meets for Fun Girl.  Improving her times with each race.  Showing how mentally tough she is in competition.
6.  Rock wall climbing
7.  Cub Scouts Blue and Gold
8.  Awana awards ceremony
9.  Hockey Player earns multiple honors from the Hockey Association
10.  Hockey Player earns his Timothy Award
11.  A trip to Fort Larned to meet up with cousins and earn Jr. Ranger Badges
12.  Cousins!! 
13.  Playing Body Body with Cousins.
14.  Life Guard classes and Orientations
15.  Fun Girl starts her first job.
16.  Swim suit and gear shopping...Life Guard and Swim Team
17.  Laughing at Big O daddy O as he sees his Little Girl as a bit more grown up.
18.  Passport stamping Daniel for Endangered Species Day at the ZOo
19.  End of School Year Support Group Picnic with Friends
20.  Visits with Grandpa Clark
21.  Visits with Great Granny Grace (AKA...3G)
22.  High School Graduation for a cousin
23.  Piano recital
24.  Fun Girl turns 16
25.  Fun Girl + friends + Little Princess + mom go to Great Wolf Lodge and KC for water park and shopping fun!
26.  Panera date with Hubby
27.  Homeschool Conference
28.  Hospice care for 3G
29.  Baseball starts up. 
30.  Dad's Bud plays Ball
31.  The Man plays Ball
32.  Big O Daddy O gets "volunteeered" to coach The Man's ball team
33.  Big O Daddy O changes shifts somewhere during this time frame.  2nds to 3rds.
34.  New sleeping schedules and sleeping arrangements.
35.  Hockey Player gets braces
36. Good Bye to friend Sarah as she starts a new adventure with her family.
37. Servant Team Retreat
38.  The boys go camping.
39.  My mom gets an ambulance ride...scares all of us pretty good.
40.  Business Trip + Family fun to Colorado canceled
41. All Girls Servant Team Retreat
42.  VBS
43.  Power Team for Little Princess
44.  BINGO to earn money for hockey
45.  Hockey Clinincs
46.  Wednesday night AFW for 2 teenagers now !
47.  Hockey Player goes to Estes Park for Youth Group Camp
48.  Little Princess takes Lego Robotix Camp!
49.  Garage Sale Shopping
50.  Ebay
51.  Summer school
52.  Swimming at 3 Y Water Parks
53.  Summer Reading Program with Library
54.  Great Granny Breaks her hip.
55.  Surgery and is now in Rehab. 
56.  Moved Great Granny out of her apartment...took 21 days!  She likes to shop.  A QVC Queen.
57.  Learned my friend's husband delivered much of her QVC the day she and her twins helped me pack
58.  Gift card purchases at Dillons for 4X the fuel points...equals gas. at $1.29 for almost an entire months worth of gas.
59.  Dentist cleanings plus back again for fillings for one kiddo.
60.  weddings
61.  Getting the vents cleaned in our home !  That was interesting.
62. High school JUNIORS and seniors Bible Study.  (I have a junior now!)
63.  Fun Girl goes to New Orleans.
64.  My Uncle Gene dies
65.  I spend an awesome couple of days visiting my Great Uncle Paul.

So that is just a glimpse. 
This has been good for the soul. 
There has been a lot of hard the last 2 + months.  But as I look back, there has been a lot of good. 
Maybe pictures will come.
I am still doing the Joy Dare.  Still counting.....

The difference between REAL Women and Teens

Hmph,  Fun Girl laughed at me tonight.
She came home from Servant Team.  A small group, Bible study, planning group for her youth group and she laughed at me. 
Hmmmph.  Have to think about whether she should be allowed to go back. 
All of her siblings were super sweet when they came in the room.  Lots of hugs and I love yous. 
My oldest, she laughed at me. 
Why?  you ask..
Cause I was crying.  Tears rolling down my cheeks, crying.  Curled up on the couch under a blanket, hushing everyone crying.
Hallmark movie was on....
Even Hubby was sweet and gave me a hug and kiss and was quiet.

I informed Fun Girl.... "REAL WOMEN cry at Hallmark commercials AND movies."
(Obviously, Fun Girl is not a REAL WOMAN yet,  she is just a TEEN!)
I have been needing a good cry. 
With the week coming up, I sure hope there will be another good Hallmark movie to watch.
 Such good stress relievers.
 

Mustaches and Men

This is what happens while momma is away.  I was running errands on Grandpa Wednesday.  Fun Girl showed me the pictures she had taken.  Her words were, "It was a dry erase pen, be glad it wasn't a permanent marker!"