Happier post

Good news on my MIL. The surgery went well. She isn’t back up and running or anything but her pain level is way down and she is much more herself. Of course the dementia is still there and always will be, but she is her sweet self again. I stayed again last night at the hospital and the only problem was that several times she pulled back her covers and was trying to move. When I went to her she explained that she didn’t think I was comfortable on the couch and she wanted to change places with me. When the nurses would wake her up to take blood or do a breathing treatment she would thank them when they finished.

She will be heading to rehab in a day or two. That’s very hard with dementia patient – therapy hurts and she won’t really be able to understand why they are doing it. I still fear she will never be able to go back to her home, but hopefully she will be able to walk a little. Time will tell.

I had a good day yesterday. I thought I was going to have to miss both my retirement parties. The county wide one and the one at my school. It’s always done the week after school’s out – next week, and I’m going to be traveling. I was slightly disappointed, but my excitement about the trip made it all right. Last week they called to ask if I could come in Wednesday afternoon for a school wide celebration. My principal secretly got with Mollie who dug out some old pictures to send her and there was a little video presentation.  I was really happy that they took the effort. I got some gift cards from the different grade levels and these dolls – sadly accurate. That’s in folks – the retirement is official!

Ella's the best!

I really want to thank Ella for writing such a wonderful review on Becoming Family. She really does write the best review and I really appreciate her doing that. I hope if you haven’t thought of reading Becoming Family that you’ll at least check out Ella's review.

It’s been a rough few days for the family. Nick’s mom had to wait from Thursday evening until Monday afternoon for the surgery to repair her broken him. She made it through surgery, but I’m not sure what happens now. So far we haven’t left her alone. Her dementia is worsening and I think that’s normal for what she is going through. Prayers are still needed. Thanks to all who have been praying.

A rough time

Once again a post about family. I’ve worried about Nick’s parents for a long time. His dad will be 96 next week and his mom is 93. Come September they will have been married seventy years. My MIL broke her hip about fifteen years ago and we let her take two whole Sundays off from cooking for us all. But she fell again this past Thursday evening and broke her hip on the other side – or it broke and she fell, who knows. Anyway, a lot has changed in the past fifteen years.

She’s frail now, weighs about seventy pounds and has dementia. Thankfully all five of their kids live in town and all are more than willing to help. Surgery is tentatively scheduled for Monday. I’ve always love my mother and father-in-law. Nick’s little mother is as sweet and kind as they come. This is a hard thing. It’s hard to know exactly what to pray for.  But we use prayers. I’m praying for her to be free from pain and God’s will be done.

'bout what you expected

I have to say I’ve chuckled a little over your comments to my last post. It wasn’t meant to be a cliff hanger. All my readers probably had a good idea of what happened. I was very obedient and did exactly as Nick asked and what you might have expected happened. Nice spanking, nice loving. Empty nests are wonderful things.

I haven’t been here much and I really miss it. I feel many are tired of hearing stories of my kids. And while you see there are still spanking around occasionally, they are not frequent enough to fill a blog. It can become a vicious cycle. I get a little down when I don’t blog, because I miss the connection with my friends and all my readers. Then as I get down, I feel less like writing, and on and on.

I’ve also taken up an old hobby that I’ve neglected for years – eleven years to be exact. It took all my free time from the late 90’s until 2006, when I began blogging. Mollie has pestered me to get back to it, so… here’s some samples.

I know coloring has become big lately but I like to draw my own. So, I take my little six-inch ruler and my pens from Wally World and I make different designs and color them. They make great book marks and I used to give them to my students. Now Mollie can give them to hers.

I’m also between books and that makes me feel disconnected too. I’m not sure what book I want to start on. I guess whichever one gels first. I’m still polishing the latest Cassie book, but I’m ready to start on another.

I’ll be here whenever I think of something to say.

Nice surprise

I got an interesting text from Nick yesterday. He’d come home from work, and then headed out to Wal-Mart for a few odds and ends. He’d been gone a while when I got the following text:

You busy?

Odd, if he was at Wally-World, why did he care if I was busy. Had something happened to the car? Did he need me to pick him up? Was he starving and wanted me to start dinner? It was only 4:30. Well, no matter I text back:

Not really, what do you need?

The answer came back quickly:

Good. I’m heading home. Be ready.

Bottoms up, pants down.

Well, well, well… my afternoon was definitely looking up.

Wishing

Sigh...

It's pretty around here

I’m here. It’s been a busy week getting Mollie moved and somewhat settled. Nick has done the most, putting up shelves, putting in a waterline to the frig, adding a little foam insulation here and there. I spent yesterday folding and hanging up clothes – heck, I rarely do that at my house. But you know we’ll do things for our kids we won’t do for ourselves.

I am doing one thing for myself, thought I can’t say I’m loving it yet. Last week the weather was so perfect, mid-70’s with extremely low humidity, that even I craved being outside. I’m usually more of a stay inside and look through the window kinda girl. I decided to do some walking. We have some great places to walk in our town and I do a lot of writing when I walk so I really enjoyed those beautiful afternoons.

I live in the south so low humidity is nearly as rare as snow and it didn’t last. It’s hot and becoming more humid now and would you believe I’ve been getting up and walking in the early morning? Me! I don’t know if you’re stunned, but I am. I walked 3.03 miles yesterday morning – my usual idea of a walk is from my car to the door. I don’t know if I’ll keep it up. I’m not good at that kind of commitment, but I’m enjoying it for the moment.

Here are a few pictures I’ve taken on my strolls - as you look at these imagine the sweet scent of honeysuckle all around you. I think it's this lovely scent that is what is really drawing me to get out and walk. 

And then I come home to the flowers the boys sent me for Mother's Day!

I blame Terps

A one word meme - do you know what that does to a former teacher and current writer? I like to talk, write, explain, expand. I guess this was a good exercise for me. Shame on Terps for making me exercise. But here goes.

1      Where is your phone? Here

  2. Your hair? Gray
  3. Your Dad?  Gone
  4. Your other half?  Quiet
  5. Your favorite food? Chicken
  6. Your dream last night?  None
  7. Your favorite drink? Sundrop 
  8. Fear? Several
  9. Favorite shoes?  Comfortable
10. Favorite way to relax? Reading
11. Your mood? Fine
12. I love? Family
13. Where were you last night? Home
14. Something that you aren't?  Thin
15. Muffins? Sure 
16. Wish list item? Health
17. Where you grew up? Here 
18. Last thing you did? Wrote 
19. What are you wearing right now? Shorts
20. Something you hate?  Promoting
21. Your pets? Cats
22. Friends? Best
23. Life? Great
24. Regrets? Few
25. Missing someone? Yes 

Finally - I can use more words! I guess we're spending this weekend moving Mollie to the new house. I can't do much of the heavy moving so I guess I get to clean the apartment - what fun. But if it help her get her deposit back I guess I can do it. At least I can use all the words I want.