Ryan and I have worked outside a lot since I have not been taking care of Mom.  We have gotten so much accomplished, but still a lot I want to do.  It is hard being away so much, so I am going to have to be a better steward of my time.  My family knows I am a very disorganized person.  I think I am a lot better than I used to be, but I still need to work harder.  That is my goal, anyways. 

My plan was to have my whole house clean and the outside finished by the time I had to go back and take care of Mom.  Maybe I try to accomplish too much.  I don’t know.  For once I would like for Nikki to come to my house without a pile of clean clothes to fold on the couch. LOL  It wasn’t to happen this weekend, but hopefully someday.  

Nikki asked if I could borrow Papaw’s truck to pick up a dresser for her to redo into a TV stand.  She had gotten an idea from pinterest.  We had to get it Saturday because the girl she was buying if from was a college student and leaving to go home as soon as we picked up the dresser. Saturday morning I met her and the babies at the girl’s appartment and we loaded it onto the truck.  Then we came back to my house and I watched the babies while Nikki sanded the dresser.

While Nikki was working on the dresser, I took Haley and Mason to Martha’s house.  We had the best time.  Haley was outside a lot petting Miss Priss and swinging on their porch swing.  Mason loved sitting and playing in the grass too.  We stayed for about an hour.  We came back to my house for awhile before we left to take them home.  Mark had gone to the movies with his brother and Ryan to see the new Star Trek.  He got back just in time to see them before we left.  He was so thrilled to see them because it had been awhile.

Mason kept giving him kisses and Haley wrapped her arms around his neck and loved and loved him.  Haley is crazy about him and of course, she has him wrapped around her little finger.  Tonight I talked to Haley on the phone and I put it on speaker.  Mark heard her and said, “I love you Haley.”  She said, “I love you most, Papaw.”  

I took the babies with me in the truck because Nikki had to stop by her parent’s and the store on the way home.  We knew they would go to sleep because they were so tired.  Sure enough, they did.

I couldn’t take pics of Mason because he was facing backwards.  They both took a good nap, but Mason woke before we got home.  He talked a while and then started to fret.  I thought oh no!  He is going to be hungry and I don’t have a bottle for him.  Well, he woke Haley and then he started to cry.

She had the right idea of putting her fingers in her ears. Hahahaha  It worked out great that we soon came to a rest stop.  I got them out and fixed Mason a bottle.  Something about the bottle wasn’t right and he cried.  He rarely cries except when he is with me in the car and I don’t have a bottle for him. “sigh”  I finally found some crackers Nikki had for him and he was perfectly satisfied.  We finally got back on the road and after I had gone about a mile Haley said, “I better not pee pee in Papaw’s truck.”   I said, “do you need to pee pee?”  She nodded.  Sooooo, I found a good place to pull in the grass off the interstate.  I went to get her out and she would not get out to pee in the grass.  It was not a bathroom.  The only thing I knew to do was hurry and try to make it home.  Which we did, thankfully.  We had to wait for Andrew to come open the gate to the appartment.  Haley could not wait any longer, so I found a spot and shielded her with my body so she could pee.    She said, “nobody can see me.”  I said, “no, they can’t!” (hopefully)  I was never so glad in my life to get those babies home, except for maybe the last time I brought them home and Mason cried cause I didn’t have a bottle for him.  

Nikki got home in just a little bit and she and Andrew carried the dresser up the two flights of steps.  I was so glad cause I was really dreading it.  As soon as we ate Nikki started working.  I gave Mason a bottle and he went to bed.  While I cleaned up a few dishes, Haley tried to help her mom and relaxed in the dresser draawers.

        

Then later, I tried to rock Haley to sleep.  I guess cause she had had a nap on the way home, she couldn’t get to sleep.  She would yawn and twist and turn.  I didn’t want to leave because Nikki was busy and I knew Haley would have to go to bed by herself.  Being the gramma that I am, I felt sorry for her.  We rocked for a long time and she never went to sleep.  Nikki took a break and said she would lay down with her for awhile and I was able to tear myself away. lol  

I didn’t get home til around 11:30PM.  I was so tired!!!  I slept wonderful.  Ryan and I took the truck back to Papaw before church this morning.  Tonight they cancelled church because so many were going to be out.  I have rested and relaxed.  Nikki sent pictures of her working on the dresser.

She did such an awesome job!!!  It looks fantastic.  Andrew likes it too.  This afternoon Nikki sent Andrew to get a paintbrush at Walmart and he bought a new TV and surround sound.

He said since the TV stand was going to be bigger than the TV, he had to buy a TV to fit it.  ”snort”  

After they got it all put together, it looks so good!!!

Last night Haley wanted to help so badly.  Finally today Nikki was able to let her paint.  She was so, so happy!!

She is painting a masterpiece. 

Ok, I am off to bed.  I have to go back and take care of Mom tomorrow.  I really dread it.  Please keep me in your prayers.

 

 

When I talked to Nikki yesterday to check on Haley she was worse.  She had not slept much and whined/cried all night.  She had not been able to keep any fluids down.  Then she started having diarrhea so bad Nikki had to put diapers back on her.  I was worried.  Nikki texted later that she had gotten Haley an appointment to see the doctor that afternoon.  I couldn’t help her because I was taking Ryan to the doctor.  Her mom went with her. I am so thankful she was in town when Haley got sick so we could help her.

Ryan seemed ok Monday morning, but he wanted me to make an appointment for him to see the doctor.  He felt like he had an ear infection and although he wasn’t coughing much, I was worried he had microplasma (walking pneumonia).  One year it seemed like every time he got sick it was microplasma.  He said he had to go to school Tuesday no matter what because he had two final exams.  

Ryan is now over six feet tall and weighs 147 lbs.  I was surprised and happy he weighed that much because he is so skinny.  While we were waiting for the doctor to come in, I teased him trying to take his picture.  I said, “now Ryan, you know my blog is about my life, so I have to take your picture at the doctor’s office.”  We got so tickled me trying to take his picture and him turning away.  He hates for me to take his picture.

          

One time I actually got a picture of his face. Ha!

The doctor came in and she said his ears were fine and he was not wheezing.  She said they would test his blood for microplasma.  After the lab tech. took his blood, she put a Garfield bandaid on his finger.  I teased him about it and tried to take a picture but he closed his fingers. 

He tested negative for microplasma, Praise the Lord.  He just had a sinus infection so she gave him an antibiotic.  It was funny because he was taking a picture of his prescription to send his friend and I snuck and took a pic of his Garfield bandaid.

Nikki had tried to call me about six times while I was at the doctor.  I noticed it when I got in the car to leave.  I immediately called her and she told me they were putting Haley in the hospital because she was severly dehydrated.  I was so scared.  I dropped off Ryan‘s prescription and took him home.  We had to wait until it was ready.  I felt drained I was so worried about Haley.  When it was time to pick up his prescription, I also picked up something for Mark and Ryan to eat.  I dropped Ryan back home and hurried to the hospital.  

First I stopped at the store and got all kinds of little things for Haley.  I bought her a coloring book, crayons, stuffed dog, pjs, shoes.  Nikki had asked me to bring something that Haley was familiar with, so I brought her a blanket I always use when she is at my house.  It used to be Ryan’s, but I gave it to her.  I also got Nikki some snacks.  I had to go by Nikki’s mom and dad’s for Nikki some clothes because Haley had gotten sick on her.  Nikki’s mom was keeping Mason.  He loves her!!!  I was so thankful she had him.  She said he had gotten fussy, so she had put him down for a nap.  I got to see him and he was smiling in his sleep.  He is such a darling!!

When I got to Haley’s room Nikki was changing her diaper and Haley was fretting.  After Nikki finished, I held her for a long time, rubbing her back.  Ahhhh I love that baby so much and it felt unbearable to see her like that.  

Nikki wanted to give her a bath because she had thrown up and had diarrhea so much.  She asked Haley if she wanted one, and,surprisingly, Haley said yes.  I was worried it would be too much for her.  The nurse came and unhooked her iv and wrapped it in plastic.  They were worried because Haley hadn’t peed and she had had lots of fluids in her iv.  When we put her in the water she said, “some little girls have to pee in the water.”  Nikki had told her earlier that some little girls could go in a diaper when they were sick, so that is why Haley said that.  You should have heard Nikki and me.  We were saying “yes, pee, go ahead.” lol  So Haley peed a little in the water. Yay!!  Then she wanted out immediately.  Haha  She was not going to stay in the water when she peed in it.  She told me she wanted to pee in the potty, so I sat her on the potty.  She peed a lot and we were so happy!  

After her bath, we wrapped her in towels and the blanket I brought her.

She seemed to feel a little better after her bath.  The nurse brought her some Tylenol in a dropper.  I wondered why they didn’t put it in her IV. After she had taken it she acted like she was going to get sick, but she didn’t. Thank God!  When the Tylenol started working, Haley started talking and acting a little like herself.  She told Nikki she wanted a snack, so Nikki went and got her a popsicle.  Haley ate several bites of it and it made her feel better.  She sat up and colored.

Nikki said Haley had hardly talked before I got there.  She had just fretted and whined because she felt so bad.  It was wonderful to see her up and talking.  Nikki’s friend Elana was there and Haley asked us if we wanted a bite of her popsicle.  We declined.   Haley calls her, “Wah Wah” .  I guess that is her way of saying Lana.  Anyway, Elana had on a pretty white dress and Haley said, “you look beautiful, Wah Wah.”  It was so sweet.

I told Haley I was going to have to go home to take care of Ryan.  She said, “no, you have to stay at the hos pi tal.”  After awhile, she was ok for me to go home.  I told her I would come back tomorrow (which I ended up not being able to make it ).  I got home after 10:30 and I was drained.  I felt like I could fall apart from all the worry.  Poor Nikki!!  This is the third time she has had to have Haley at the hospital.  I hope and pray it is the last!

I didn’t hear from Nikki till after 10AM.  She said Haley had just woke and had slept all night.  I was so very thankful.  I could hear Haley talking in the background and she sounded good.  She wanted to eat, so Nikki got her a popsicle.  Nikki said, “do you want red or purple?”  Haley said, “pink.”  hahaha

Haley ate cereal and graham crackers and kept it down.  

This morning after I took Ryan to school, I was going to come back and weedeat the yard and later mow.  It was a mess since Ryan had not been able to mow.  I was afraid with him being sick, it would trigger his asthma.  I had to rest for awhile.  I was so exhausted.  I picked him up from school at 11:40AM and we went by the store.  This school year is officially over. YAY!!!!  I am so thankful God had answered prayer and he has had a good school year.  

We came home, ate lunch, and I started mowing.  I worked off and on til after 4PM.  I was so tired.  I had to rest before I could make it up the steps to come in.  I laid over on the couch and I couldn’t move.  I really felt like I overworked myself, but after resting awhile, I felt better.  It felt good to be working outside, though.  There is so much that needs to be done.  I am just so busy.  I may have a few days off from keeping Mom.  Martha called me this afternoon and said Dad was concerned about me being around them since I had been exposed to Haley’s sickness.  I think I am fine, but I understand.  It feels good not to have to worry about going down there for a few days.  I hope to get some stuff done around here.

Tonight Haley got to go home.  She ate supper at the hospital and didn’t get sick.  She hasn’t had any more diarrhea.  Praise God she is so much better.  Nikki talked to me on the phone and Haley was eating a turkey sandwich after she had gotten to Nikki’s mom and dad’s.  Haley was going to talk to me on the phone, but after she found out I wasn’t her dad, she wouldn’t talk.  Nikki is so worn out, as you can imagine.  I pray they will all sleep wonderful tonight and feel great tomorrow.  Thank you all so much for your prayers.  I know God answered prayers.  I could feel it in my heart.  You all are wonderful!!!

 

 

 

 

 

I love how Linda calls her grandchildren the “grands”.  That is exactly what they are — GRAND!!  My little grand Haley has been very sick last night and today.  Nikki came up yesterday evening to spend time with her mom for her mom’s birthday.  Nikki said after Haley ate supper she got very whiney.  Then she wanted to go to bed and went right to sleep.  She woke a little later with a tempature of 103.4.  She only had medicine for Mason and it would barely bring Haley’s temp down.  Nikki called the dr. on call at 3AM.  He asked Nikki questions about Haley and then advised her not to take her to the ER.  

Today Haley still ran a high temp. and started throwing up.  Finally, this afternoon Nikki took her to Children’s Hospital.  They tested her for strep, UTI, and flu.  They couldn’t find anything wrong with her, so they think it is a virus.  Nikki sent me this pic on my phone and it breaks my heart.

Nikki cried telling me they put a catheter in her and how tramatic it was.  It made me cry to think of her going thru it.  Please help me pray she is over this quickly.

 I had just seen her last Wednesday and had a wondeful day with them.  We went out to eat to celebrate my birthday.  Andrew was in Chicago for a district manager’s school and so it was just Nikki, the babies, and me.  I took loads of pictures. (of course)   I could only take pictures of Haley in the car because Mason was facing backwards and I was in the front seat.  

Her pink penquin (“Pinky”) had to be strapped in the carseat with her at first.  

          

After she got bored with her book, she looked at Mason.

 

          

She says, “don’t take my picture.”  Haley is not crazy about me taking her picture, but I can’t help myself!

Haley ate wonderful at the resturant (I wish you could hear her say resturant).  Mason ate a piece of bread.

           

For dessert Haley had cotton candy…

         

and chocolate covered marshmellow and strawberry.

          

Mason had little bites of my chocolate.

           

Chocolate mustaches.

          

 

I told Nikki for my birthday I was going to let Haley shop for something she liked and pick it out herself.  Yeah, that is super fun for me.  Nikki said we would shop at the dollar bins at Target.  Haley loves Target.  Of course we got some stuff for Mason too.  

Mason fell asleep in the car holding his hat.  When we stopped to get out, he woke.

Nikki started taking pics of him on her phone because my memory was full.  Every time he sees her taking pics of him, he smiles.

Isn’t he just the cutest thing with those big blue eyes?

It was so much fun watching Haley shop.     

          

Mason couldn’t stay awake and fell back to sleep.  He is a great baby.

I had such a blast with them.  I got to rock Haley to sleep and rock Mason before he went to bed.  It was a wonderful day!

The next night, Thursday, I went to eat with my family after Jared’s graduation to celebrate my birthday too.  I am hoping to blog about it tomorrow.  Ryan has ran a low grade fever since Friday.  He texted me at school and asked if I could pick him up cause he thought he was running a temp.  I told him I couldn’t because I was going to feed Mom her lunch.  He asked me to pray for him and he made it the rest of the day.  I picked him up after school and his temp. was 99.9.  He felt really bad.  

He ran a tempature Saturday and today.  This evening he says he is a lot better and is acting normal again.  He only has to go to school till 11:40AM tomorrow, so if he is running a temp. then, I plan to take him to the doctor.  He has to go tomorrow because he has tests and he only has two days left of school.  He would not be able to make them up.  

Ok, I am off to wash dishes and then to bed.  I pray you all have a blessed night and day tomorrow.

 

 

 

In the past week, I have spent a lot of time at Granny and Papaw’s.  I took care of Granny last Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.  Then had her again Sunday, Tuesday, and cleaned their house Wednesday.  I am supposed to go back tomorrow.  I usually like to work several days together so I can have several days off in a row.  Here lately it hasn’t worked out that way.  When I have one or two days on and then I have a day off, it takes a day to rest.  Then, if I have to go back the next day, I get nothing accomplished at home.  Ahhh well, tis life.  I have been asking myself here lately is this really how I am supposed to be spending this time in my life.  I have no clear answers, but there doesn’t seem to be any other way.  I don’t regret taking care of Mom.  She deserves the best!  She has sacrificed a lot in her life for her family.  It is just hard to be away from my family so much, and I find myself questioning that.  

When I was there Wednesday cleaning the house, Martha was taking care of Mom.  I noticed so many things we do alike.  I snapped a couple of pictures on my phone of Martha walking Mom around the table for exercise.

We have to hold her left hand behind her back.  otherwise, she will start holding on to the chairs, or start picking up stuff off the table.  It is impossible to walk her when she gets so distracted.  Martha and I will open the back door and let her stand there awhile.  She really enjoys it.

If you look in the picture beyond the table, you can see them standing at the open back door.  We use the box fan as a noisemaker to help Mom when she naps.  Last week I used it to stay cool.  Dad is so stubborn.  He will not turn the air conditioning unit (heat pump) on even though it is roasting in there.  This was their thermometer on one of the days I had to help her with her bath and cleaned the bathroom.

81.4 Degrees.  Part of the time Mom’s face was shiny from sweat.  The reason it makes me so mad is because he can easily afford to keep it comfortable for us to care for Mom.  When I cooked or washed dishes in hot water, I started turning on the fan.  I could make it fine with the fan on.  I thought, he can either have the fan running constantly or turn on the heat pump that comes on every once in a while.  So much I could rant about, but I won’t.  Anyway, Mary came to take him to the store Wednesday while I was cleaning.  She and Martha told him he needed to turn it on and he did.  He will keep it warmer than comfortable, but it will be bearable.  Martha just adjusts the control to what she is comfortable with.  I wish I had the guts to do that.  I think someday he may be sorry he didn’t try to make it easier for us girls, and sorry he didn’t appreciate how good he had it.

When we are walking Mom around the table, sometimes we stop for a break to look out the window.  This is what we saw out the back kitchen window.

Mom loves to watch the traffic on the two roads we see out this window.

If you look thru the trees, you can see the roads.  Now that the leaves are on the trees, we can’t see much.  I have to find other things to talk about.  I have been talking about how green everything is and how good it looks.  I talk to her alot during the day about everything.  Some of it she may not understand, but I talk about what we are doing, going to do, and just random stuff I can think of. lol Some days I am so tired I don’t talk as much.

On March 31, Mom turned 83.  I am thankful and amazed she is still with us.  Mary’s kids made her the neatest card.

            

Granny used to always tell her grandchildren they were more precious than gold.  You can tell it has stuck with them.

            

 

In other news, today I let Ryan lay out of school.  He promised me the moon if I would let him stay home.  He said he would clean the whole house, etc….  Ok, I am not that naive, but he did help me a lot!!  He helped me get groceries, helped me carry them upstairs, put oil in the car, mowed the yard, and trimmed the edges.  

He worked really hard.  There are only four weeks of school left and I can’t wait till summer break.  He can’t wait either.

Last week Andrew was on vacation and they took Haley and Mason to the Aquarium.  They had the best time.  Nikki called me to let Haley tell me about it.  She got so excited telling me that Nikki would have to tell her to quieten down.  She didn’t want her to wake Mason.  So, Haley would start whispering to me over the phone.  It was so cute.  

She told me she touched one turtle.  She said she saw a white turtle.  Nikki said she wasn’t afraid and touched everything in they had in the tanks for people to touch/hold.  Haley told me she saw butterflies and one of them landed on her head, Daddy’s head, and Mommy’s head.  She held out her hand for it to land on her finger.

 

Nikki said she did that when they saw a parrot.  She doesn’t know how Haley knew to do that.  Doesn’t she look happy?

          

Even Mason had a good time looking at everything.  Nikki said they couldn’t get him to nap because he was looking around instead of closing his eyes.  (I have a pic of him that didn’t come thru.  I will have to post it tomorrow.)

Here are some of the latest pictures Nikki has sent me via text.  I love getting pictures of them!!!

                                                                                    

                                   

One day she gave Haley some pipe cleaner to play with.  Haley said she made a bunny family. 

               

Ok, I have got to close and get to bed.  Another early day with Mom tomorrow.  Hope you all are blessed!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have been so busy here lately that I have not even felt like posting.  I am looking forward to some relaxing days, but it looks like it won’t be until next week.  Yesterday morning after I took Ryan to school I picked up Haley and Mason at Nikki’s mom’s.  Andrew and Nikki were spending a few nights in Pigeon Forge so I was taking the babies home and staying the night with them.  I had so much fun.  I tell ya.  I never dreamed being a gramma would be so enjoyable.  Haley can now carry on a conversation with me.  And she says the cutest, funniest things.  

When I went in at Nikki’s mom’s, Haley screamed and ran around she was so excited to see me.  Haley and I have a bond because I took care of her when she was a baby and Nikki worked.  Mason, on the other hand, has a close bond with Sue, Nikki’s mom.  Even though I may be a little jealous, I am thrilled that he is close to her.  She was holding him and he had a handful of her shirt–those big blue eyes staring solemnly at me.  I am sure he would have been happy to stay there, because after we were on the road a bit, he started fussing.  Now, Mason is not a baby to cry or fuss unless he is hungry.  He had to be hungry because his fussing turned into crying.  I have rarely heard him cry since his birth.  I stopped at a exit and put a passy in his mouth.  I probably had not gone a mile after that and he took it out and started crying again.  We stopped at a rest area and I got him out.  Oh, I should say, I couldn’t give him a bottle because Nikki’s mom only had one bottle and she wanted to keep it.  I wasn’t just trying to make him wait to have a bottle.  As soon as we got back on the road, he was crying again.  He finally cried himself to sleep.  I had to stop at Walgreens when I got there to get more diapers and formula.  He slept thru the whole thing.  When I got to their apt. and got him out, he woke.  He looked around and realized where he was.  He started smiling because he was so happy to be home.  After I lugged everything up two flights of steps, I quickly got him a bottle.  He was a little darling the rest of the time.  Nikki says when he gets hungry for a bottle, he wants it right now!!!  

Haley was such a big help to me.  When I was getting the diapers, I started to get the wrong ones.  She showed me which diapers I was supposed to get.  I said, “are you sure?”  She was sure!  Then, when I was trying to open the gate at the apartment, I was using the wrong key thing.  She said, “that’s not it!”  And she got the right one and showed me.  When we got to their door, I realized the thing I was trying to use to open the gate was supposed to open the door.  It was not a key.  It had a metal circle on it and you had to place it over another circle, and then you could unlock the door.  I said, “Haley, you are going to have to show me how to unlock the door.” She showed me exactly how to do it.  It really amazes me that she pays enough attention to know about these things!

Even though I was there a day and a half, I still didn’t get to do everything I would have liked.  Between naps, bottles, baths, meals, and cleaning up, it takes a lot of time. I made some homemade playdough the night before I left.  Haley loved playing with it.  I bet she played over an hour and still didn’t want to quit for supper.  She told me she made a duck.

Can you believe it??  It looks just like a duck doesn’t it?  I knew you all would think so too.  I made “quack, quack” sounds for it and we made round eggs for it to eat.  Then, she decided to mash all the eggs with her little fork.  It looked really cool.

I let Mason squish it in his hands too.  He seemed to love it.  I would have to get it all off his hands, roll it back into a ball, and then he would squish it again.  

After supper we fixed cookies (from a tube) and iced them.  Well, actually I iced them and Haley put strawberries on them.  She helped mix the icing though.  She had to sample everything.  

Look at Mason’s face. He looks like he is asking, “where is my bite???”  So, I told her to give him a bite.  She loves to share food with Mason.

I love that picture.  See Mason kicking his foot?  He was so excited to be eating something so tasty!  She wanted to give him a bite of cookie and strawberry, but I had to tell her he was too little.

Finally, we topped them with strawberries.  They are so, so delicious.

Nikki has fixed these cookies for years and they are wonderful.  

Mason kept me company while I cleaned the kitchen.

If we give him a bag that the wipes come in, he is a happy guy.  He loves the crackle sound the plastic makes.

After I gave him his night bottle, I rocked him a little and put him in his bed.  He goes to sleep on his own.  He loves his bed.  I went to check on him this morning at 7:30, and he was laying there playing.  I didn’t even know he was awake.  He is such a good baby.

Haley was missing her mom and dad last night, so I had trouble getting her to sleep.  She said, “I want my Mom and Dad.”  Haley loves them all being together at home all the time.  If you ask her if she would rather be at my house, Nana’s house (Nikki’s mom), or at home, she will say at home.  I absolutely love their apartment.  It has so many windows and there is so much light.  I love the open floor plan and that the light comes in so well.  Even Haley’s room has two windows.  Anyway, Haley kept wanting to talk and play last night.  I loved talking to her.  I let her sleep with me and we talked and laughed.  So much fun making memories.  

Martha called last night and Haley wanted to talk to her.  She told Haley it was Nathan’s birthday and asked if she would sing to him.  Haley agreed and Martha took him the phone and put it on intercom.  Instead of singing “Happy Birthday”, she sang “Rock A By Baby.”  They loved it!

When Haley is playing with her toys, often she will say, “I love you Gramma.”  It is the sweetest thing.  She does it to Nikki too.  She would tease me often and say, “I love you Soosin.”  I would purse my mouth and tickle her and say, “My name is Gramma or GiGi.”  She would say it over and over.  When I was working in the kitchen and Mason was sitting in his seat on the counter, I couldn’t leave him to tickle her.  So, she would come to the kitchen so I could tickle her. Hahaha  

This morning as I was getting breakfast, she came to the kitchen naked.  I said, “Haley!!”  She said,  ”I so dirty.  I need a bath.”  I had just given her a bath the night before.  She loves taking her clothes off and now she says she needs a bath so she can have an excuse.  

She ate wonderful for breakfast.  She ate a bowl of oatmeal and then I asked if she wanted an egg with cheese melted on it.  She did.  Before she finished eating the egg and cheese, she wanted to started pulling off the cheese.  She loves cheese.  I said, “you can’t take the cheese off.  It is a blanket for the egg.”  She said, “Is it going to sleep (the egg)?  I said, “yes.  It is going to sleep in your tummy.”  She took another bite and put her hand on her tummy and said, “a home.”  I said, “yes, your tummy is a home for the egg.”  So, she didn’t try to take the cheese off anymore, and she ate it.  When she was almost done, I thought she didn’t want anymore.  I said, “do you want Gramma to eat the rest?”  She is always trying to give me a bite when she gets full.  She said, “not yet Gramma.” and she ate all of it. 

Today Andrew and Nikki got home and they were exhausted.  They layed down for a nap, and Mason layed down for a nap, and I was rocking Haley to get her to nap.  Forever, it seems, I have a certain order that I sing the same songs to her every time I get her to sleep.  She sings with me.  One of the songs is “Good Night ________, and you insert everybody’s name.”  Well, she kept raising her head to tell me who’s name to sing and how to sing it that I thought she will never go to sleep like this.  So, I went to the next song.  One of the songs I sing to her is the Barney song.  When I started singing…”Barney is a dinosaur… she raised her head and said, “no, not that song.”  (sigh) I said, “I am going to sing what I want to sing.”  She looked at me seriously and said, “you don’t want to sing Barney.” HAHAHAHA

My heart ached when I left them.  I was so anxious to get back to Ryan too.  I am happy to be back home, but I miss them.  I have to take care of Mom the next three days and I really dread it.  It means being away till around 9PM every night.  Very hard. 

I am going to close with a video I took of Haley singing to Ryan one night when she spent the night with us.  Ryan was so tired and could hardly keep his eyes open.  He was watching kid songs with her on the tablet.  She was singing to him.  Her singing gives you a clue that we live in the south.   So precious!!!

 

 

I have been so busy here lately, and by the time I get home, I don’t feel like blogging.  Tonight I am making myself blog because it is so important for me to journal.  This week we lost our dear friend Eilena.  Remember me blogging about her passing out at church.  Well, she had been back to church and was even there week before last.  She must have gotten sick because she wasn’t there last Sunday. She told her son ever since she had passed out at church, she hadn’t been the same.  Her son was on a business trip but he told her when he got back, he would take her to the doctor.  She said she didn’t want to go anywhere anymore.  Not even to the doctor.  (I think she was discouraged)  Her son told her as long as she had breath in her body, he would try to get her help.  Isn’t that such a loving thing to say?!!  

Come to find out, she ended up in the hospital Tuesday.  Wednesday morning at 5:30, she passed away.  We are completely heartbroken!!  It was such a shock!  Her son said he really didn’t know what happened, but her heartbeat got really low and then she passed away.  Even her nurse was shocked.  She was such a strong woman, I expected her to live to be 100.  God had a better plan.  She is happy with her husband Gene in heaven and we are dealing with an awful, heartbreaking loss.  

Tonight Kevin, Martha, and I had to sing at her funeral.  Jared had to play.  She always loved to hear Jared play and us sing.  It was the hardest funeral we have ever had to sing.  As soon as Martha and I saw her, we broke down.  I kept thinking this can’t be right.  She looked as if she could speak to us.  She really looked wonderful.  So, so hard!!!  

Eilena was always such a strong woman.  She was at church faithfully–even when I would have stayed  home.  She was so talkative and lovable.  Her memory was better than mine.  Tonight one of the preachers was talking about how strong she was.  She told him she would mop her floors walking with her walker and pushing the mop along.  Her washer and dryer were downstairs.  She would put the dirty clothes in a pillow case and throw them down the steps and then go down and wash.  Different ones had offered to help her wash her clothes but she refused.  She talked about holding on to the porch railing and weeding her flowers.  She was so independent.  Ahhhh….I loved her so much!!!  I keep trying to tell myself that she is happy.  Having her here would make me happy, but *she* is much happier in paradise.  

Tomorrow the women of our church are cooking to serve the family after the burial.  I am going thru the motions, but it is really hard to accept that she isn’t here.  She will be greatly missed.

 

 

This past week I took care of Mom Wednesday and Thursday.  On Thursdays we always wash her hair.  Believe me, it is not an easy task.  To get someone who has dementia to understand to lean their head under running water is no easy task.  By the time I am finished, my back is aching.  Mary had the great idea that we should start washing her hair at the kitchen sink and using the sprayer.  Their sprayer hardly works so it barely sprays water.  It worked like a charm.  It was the easiest I have ever washed her hair.  I am always struck by how beautiful her hair is when I dry it.

You can see she still has a lot of color and she will be 83 next weekend.  I am so thankful that thus far we girls has been able to take good care of her hair and not cut it.  We always keep it in a braid so it is out of her way.

Friday morning I planned to go spend the day with the grandbabies.  I slept a little longer because I got so freaked out about almost falling asleep at the wheel last time.  I also took a 12 hour decongestant to make me feel awake.  I made sure the car was cool and not cozy.  By the time I got there, my hands were cold because it was so cool in the car.  It helped that I talked to Martha on the phone the whole way.  It seemed like I was there in no time.

Nikki had made a beautiful wreath for their door.

I had so much fun putting together an Easter basket  Friday night for Haley and Mason.  

          

Haley loved her basket.  She loved Mason’s stuff too. 

Do you know, the whole time I was there I didn’t get a picture of Mason!  I am so mad at myself.  I was holding him a lot and it is hard to take a pic when I am holding him.  When I wasn’t holding him, he was asleep or I was spending time with Haley.  He is such a darling though.  Now that Haley is older and can’t be still enough to hold and snuggle, I get to hold and snuggle little Mason!!  He would just lean his head over on me and let me kiss his sweet face as much as I wanted.  How precious he is!!  

It seems like every time I see them they are growing and doing new cute things.  I found out that if a sneaky little girl hides behind Lucky the horse, I should be veeeerrrry suspicious.

And if I ask what she is doing and she peeks over the top and says “nophing”(nothing),  I should be very, very suspicious.

And if I see evidence of red candy on her mouth it might mean she has snuck a piece of candy from the candy bucket.

She is potty training now and doing great.  She is so independent she didn’t want me to help her.  Nikki uses a little potty seat that fits over the regular seat so Haley can sit on it herself.  After she goes to the potty, she (sometimes) gets a lollipop.  She is loving the candy and that’s why she decided to sneak a little.

We had so much fun hunting Easter eggs.

       

She would find all the eggs, then she would say, “you have to do it again.”

       

       

Nikki had the idea for us to hide them in different rooms which was great.  It was funny tho, I hid a green one in the kitchen we couldn’t find.  Then when I was putting away dishes, I found it in the oven drawer.  One time Nikki and Haley hid the eggs in the bedroom.  I was supposed to find them.  Haley came and got me when they were finished and took me right to them. hahaha!  So cute!!  

One time after she found all the eggs.  I had her stand still (a sec) so I could take a close up of her face.

If you look closely, you can see the small scar over her right eyebrow.  It looks so good, and I am so thankful.  Nikki is still putting stuff on it so it will disappear.

While I washed dishes, I put Haley in a chair beside me and let her play in the water.  I used to do this for Andrew when he was little.

I had to take off her shirt because it got wet.  She can’t stand to wear anything that gets wet.  Nikki said I could let her paint too.

After I washed the dishes, I sat in the floor while she was painting and spun the top that I got Mason for his basket.  It lights up as it spins and he loved it.  His little fat legs would get stiff and he would grunt like it was sooo cool.  When it was time for Mason to go to bed, I got to give him his night bottle.  He snuggled in my arms and fell asleep.  Ahhhhhh so wonderful!!!

I watched Nikki give Haley a bath before bed too.  Nikki does so much better than I do.  Haley never fussed at all when Nikki poured the water over her head to rinse her hair.  Haley pitched at fit when I did it at my house?  Maybe she doesn’t trust me not to get it in her eyes.  For Haley’s Easter basket, I got a water gun.  When she was bathing, Nikki let her squirt us.  She thought it was so funny.  She was a surprisingly good shot. lol  She got me right in the face, and I was trying to shield myself.

After her bath, Nikki brushed her teeth, and then let her brush her teeth.

I had a wonderful day!!  I left around 9:30PM and pulled in my driveway right at 11PM.  On the way home I kept it cool in the car.  I don’t usually have a problem at night tho.  Finally after a while I couldn’t stand being so cold, so I turned on the heat.  I did fine being warm.  The only thing I didn’t like was since it was the start of the weekend, there was a lot of traffic–no fun.  I am so thankful I made it safely home and had a fantastic day.

This is a sweet picture of Mason and Haley that Nikki sent me the other day.  I can’t stand a post without a pic of little (big) Masey.

Oh I have to tell you something so funny Haley did.  Thursday was Nikki’s birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY NIKKI!!!!!!!)  Andrew sent Nikki beautiful pastel colored roses and Haley thought they were for her. Hahaha!  There was a little stuffed bear with them and Haley thought it was hers too.  Nikki said, “Daddy sent them for Mommy’s birthday,” and Haley said, ” for my birthday??”  Hahahahaha it was so funny!  Nikki thought, whatever, she can share my birthay, so she said, “yes!”  That’s a mommy’s love for ya.  Haley got on the phone with me and said, “Daddy gave me a bear!”  Her voice was soooo excited.  She wanted to smell the roses too.  Aren’t little ones just the best?!!

Ok, I am off to finish the kitchen and get to bed.  I have had a lazy day and even napped.  I have to take care of Mom the next two days.  Hope you all have a great Sunday!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I met Nikki at the doctor’s office to have Haley’s stitches removed.  I had prayed she would not be afraid and it would not hurt.  She did wonderful!  Praise God!!  I am so thankful.  She was so happy even before she went back to the room.  There was a little one year old boy in the waiting room.  Haley was so sweet to him.  She was just a little darling!  When they called her to the room, she held her mom’s hand and waved bye to me.  I stayed in the waiting room with Mason.  I got lots and lots of hugs and kisses.  He is such a snuggly guy. I love him so much.  He also jumped and jumped and jumped on my lap because he is so used to jumping in his jumping johnny at home.  I got a lot of exercise just holding him. 

Haley came back smiling.  And, the place where she had stitches looked so good!  I wish I had gotten a picture before Nikki put the bandaid on, but I didn’t.  Anyway, it is very tiny and a little pink.  I am so thankful!  

When we left the dr., it was raining cats and dogs!  Nikki had left her umbrella in the car.  The water was puddled in places because it was raining so hard.  We were standing on the porch talking about how bad it was when this lady with a huge umbrella got out of her car and brought us her umbrella.  It was the sweetest thing!!  Nikki was able to get the kids in the car without them getting wet.  The lady told us to just leave the umbrella in the corner of the porch, so we did.  We knocked on the window of the waiting room and told her thank you again.  It was an awesome act of kindness.

If you look to the right of the picture, you can see how the streets were flooded.

I went with Nikki to the store and sat in the car with the kids.  She ran in to get Mason a new bottle.  Haley sat on my lap and pretended to drive the car. 

I got a few hugs and kisses, but not as many as I got from Mason.  Mason will let me love him with all the snuggles and kisses I want.  Haley is too busy. lol  She gives me a hug and kiss, and then she is ready to be on with whatever she is doing.  :)

Of course we went to the ice cream shop.  Not only does Haley love it, Nikki and I love it too.  Nikki let Haley ride on her back while she filled Haley’s tub with the treats she wanted.

I sat with Mason who was happy and content with his bottle.

He just looked everywhere–at the ceiling, etc.  He checked out the place.  Maybe this place is getting familiar to him. haha

Today Nikki put only toppings in Haley’s tub because that is what she likes.  Then Haley shared chocolate ice cream with me.  Of course I ate most of it. “sigh”  Haley loves to eat the different toppings they have from cereal to chocolate malt balls to candy hearts.  

Haley and I fed chocolate ice cream to Mason too.  He loved it!  It was the cutest thing how he stuck out his tongue when he saw that spoon of chocolate ice cream.  I love that ice cream shop and today I noticed they were playing christian music.  It made me like it more.

Mason started getting sleepy.  He covers his eyes with his blanket to go to sleep.

How precious these babies are to me.  Nikki and I talked about how cute his little fat feet are.

I loved spending time with them today.  Thank God everything turned out wonderful!  

I couldn’t pick up Ryan from school today because I was helping with the babies.  I was going to make him ride the bus, but since it was raining so hard, Jared took Ryan home.  First he went by and got a coffee for him, Martha and Ryan.  He is such a sweetheart!  I told Martha to tell him never to get Ryan a coffee unless I am there. 

Tonight I am so tired.  I don’t know why??  I fell asleep for a while after supper and I still feel tired.  I even took a nap this morning.  Maybe I need some vitamins.  I am so happy I am off tomorrow.  I am hoping to get a lot of cleaning done on my house.  Hope you guys have a great day as well.

 

I love when I don’t have to stay with Mom on Saturdays.  I cherish that time with my family!!  This Saturday was warm and beautiful.  I wanted to be outside as much as possible.  I told Ryan as long as I was outside, he had to be outside.  I didn’t want him in front of the TV playing video games all day.

I worked all day painting on the back deck.  I am making a wall like I saw on pinterest.  I have all these ideas in my mind, but this is a start.

Our deck is going to have to have some boards replaced.  It isn’t rotten, but the boards are worn since we haven’t painted in a while.  Taking care of Mom has taken a lot of time, but I don’t regret any of it!

Mark swept out the garage.

Ryan worked on the vehicles, and tried to get the tree down that had fallen during the snow.  

Part of it he couldn’t get down and will have to wait till we can borrow Papaw’s chain saw.

 

It felt so good to be in the warm sunshine, and I was so thankful to be with my family.  That evening I was tired but happy.  Martha called and said she and Jared were going for a coffee and wanted Ryan and me to go.  I said, no.  We had been working and would have to get ready.  Of course she talked me into it.  She can talk me into anything.  She told me Jared would be so disappointed if we didn’t go so I had to.  I could never disappoint Jared.   We had a wonderful time!!  All we did was ride in the car to get a coffee and back.  We talked and laughed and it was so relaxing!!  I’m glad she talked me into going.

When I got back, I worked on the next day’s Sunday School craft for my class.  I cut out a cross template, traced it on construction paper, cut it out and then cut out the center.  Then I glued wax paper to it.  (Today in Sunday School I brushed the wax paper with modge podge and we glued pastel colored tissue paper to it.  I glued a top cross on that I had made just like the bottom.  It made a stained glass looking cross to put in the window.  I meant to take a picture, but I didn’t.  It was so cool.  Of course I found it on pinterest. )

After I finished as much as I could on the cross, I did a project I have been meaning to do for my house.  I am so bad about buying stuff for a craft project and putting it away.  Then I can’t find where I put it.  I had found everything I needed but the paint.  When I was getting the modge podge out of the craft tote for Sunday School, I found the paint.  I couldn’t wait to do the craft.  I painted a mirror frame Nana had given me a long time ago.  Then I put burlap over the mirror part and glued a monogram on top.  I love anything with a monogram.  

 

I had to sit it on a piece of paper because it was still wet.  I couldn’t wait to see how it looked.  I have a picture of Mason to add to it too, but I don’t have the frame yet.

I cleaned up all the mess for everything and washed the dishes.  I also washed and dried a load of towels.  I didn’t get in bed till going on 1AM.  I was so tired, but it was a good kind of tired.  I slept wonderful.  

I got up this morning feeling good and even got to church on time (which is unusual for me).  I forgot it was St. Patrick’s Day though.  Not that it mattered.  When I saw other people wearing green, I remembered.  I jokingly told my sister my underwear was green. hahaha  Did you all ever do that in school?  If someone tried to pinch us we would tell them our underwear was green cause of course, they couldn’t see our underwear.  

Here is a picture of the sweetest little guy in his St. Patrick’s Day outfit.

I would love to give him a million kisses on those chubby little cheeks and neck.  He is such a darling!!!  Hopefully, I will get to see him and Haley tomorrow.  They are supposed to come up to have Haley’s stitches removed.  Please pray it doesn’t hurt her when they take them out.

Thank God for all my blessings and hope you all have a blessed week!

 

This past weekend I achieved that and I wasn’t even trying.  In fact, I was trying to be the opposite.  Nikki and the babies came up to spend the weekend and I kept the babies on Saturday while she went for a haircut.  The babies were so precious, and we really enjoyed them (as always).

These are all phone pics, so they are not good quality.  But still, isn’t that just the sweetest little face?   Ahhhh, he tolerates lots of hugs and kisses.  Haley was a sweetheart too.  She loved teasing with Papaw.  I was telling Mark how she called me Soosin and we were laughing about it.  I told her Papaw’s name was Mark so she called him that to tease him.  She would get so tickled when he would pretend to be upset. I loved hearing her laugh.  

I boiled eggs for her to color and Mason and I watched while she colored eggs.  She was so excited and happy.  It thrilled me to watch her.  Look at her mouth….

That was the first dip, and she loved it.  She had a blast!! (I did too)  

Notice the pj is unbuttoned.  It was buttoned when she came.  :)  

She was using the spoons at first, then I let her just use her hands.

She actually did a great job!

They both took a little nap.

               

 

Nikki came back later and picked up Mason.  Haley stayed night with us.  I don’t know how well you can see the next picture, but she and Ryan watched children books being read on youtube.

She slept wonderful.  I didn’t sleep much though.  I woke up in the middle of the night and barely slept after that.  It was wonderful for her to be beside me though.  I love her (and Mason) so much!

Sunday morning we went to Sunday School.  She got to be in my class with Bryson.  He just turned two and is a little darling.  He loves Haley.  After church, they were running around and playing at the altar in the sanctuary.  They started kinda chasing each other going down the side of the benches.  Haley was running back down the aisle and accidently ran into the corner of the last seat.  I was watching her and didn’t know she was going to hit the seat.  It happened so fast.  She cried and I quickly picked her up.  She had cut her head and I immediately knew she needed stitches.   It didn’t bleed much, but it was a deep hole.

If you look closely, you can see a deep triangle right above her eyebrow.  She only cried a little at the first.  I immediately put her in the car and went for Nikki.  I called Nikki  to let her know what happened.  Martha said I was so calm.  I think it helped me that it wasn’t bleeding.  I knew we had to get her to the hospital for stitches.  Nikki freaked out when she saw it, as you can imagine.  I think I was going on adrenaline until today when it all hit me.  We all got in the car and I drove to the hospital.  Haley was calm and didn’t cry at all.  Nikki was telling her we were going to the dr. and he would fix her boo boo.  Haley said she didn’t want the dr. to see it.  Nikki told her we would get her ice cream.  I tell ya, we were ready to promise her the moon!

She was so sweet letting me take her picture in the waiting room.

See how calm she was.  She is a sweetheart!  I knew she would be getting hungry because it was lunch time.  She had had a snack of cheese puffs at church to tide her over.  Anyway, I said, “I will get you a happy meal.”  She said, “no.”  Nikki said, “are you wanting macaroni?” (she loves macaroni)  She said, “no.”  Nikki said, “what do you want?”  She said, “I ceem” (ice cream) Hahahaha  She remembered what we had said in the car.

It was a horrible experience for her.  She fought them so badly they had to give her some happy juice.  Then they swaddled her in a sheet and wrapped a blanket over her and tucked it in the sides of the bed.  It was awful.  They were afraid they may poke her eye if they couldn’t keep her still.  She ended up getting one stitch inside and three stitches outside.

It makes me tear up to see this picture.  Bless her little heart!

We then went straight to the ice cream shop!

She really didn’t eat much.  Afterwards we stopped at Walgreens so Nikki could pick up some tylenol.  While Nikki was in the store, Haley fussed because she thought she was wet from her diaper leaking.  She does not like a wet diaper.  (She is using the potty now)  Anyway, I got her in the front seat with me to change her diaper.  I said, “when Mama comes back and you have to get in your seat you can’t fuss.  No fussing!”  She looked at me serious and said, “I fuss at the doctor.”  I said, “you diiiiid??”  She said, “yeah, I say wah wah.”  Haha 

When we got back to Nikki’s mom and dad’s, they met us outside to see Haley.  Nikki’s mom was holding Mason.  Haley was so excited to see Mason.  She was wiggling to get down so she could see him.  It was so very precious!!  Nikki said those babies love each other so much!!!

Today when I talked to Nikki she said Haley was fine.  She did not seemed to be bothered by the experience.  I am sure Nikki and I will never forget it.  Nikki had to be in the room and watch them hold her down.  I was in the waiting room.  I actually went back with them, but when the doctor came in, Haley started crying and saying she wanted Gramma.  There was no way I could stay and make things worse.  Thank God it wasn’t worse.  Although it is very discouraging  it happened at all, I am very, very thankful it wasn’t worse.  Nikki said it is just a tiny slit that will maybe disappear as she gets older or be very small.  I hope so.  

Tonight I am very down and discouraged about other things as well.  I am asking you all to pray.  I am not going to post what it is, but God knows all about it.