It is snowing here tonight and for the third weekend in a row, I broke out my "bread and milk" socks.  For those who don't know, we rarely ever see snow in Charlotte.  It is a well known phenomena that when winter weather is forecasted, southerners clear the grocery stores shelves of bread and milk.  I guess we think that if we get snowed in, we can have milk sandwiches.  I'm so over this cold weather and I'm ready for spring to arrive!  

It has been quite a January.  Dad spent 11 days in the hospital for a UTI and then a heart procedure.  He is doing MUCH better; however, he is still pretty weak.  Thankfully he was given a room in a brand new 7 story hospital tower.  It had been open for less than a month.  The room was huge and even had a pull out bed.  If you have to stay at the hospital, you might as well stay in comfort.  

After waiting for 7 weeks, (hospital visit and then his stylist had Covid) Dad was so excited to finally get a haircut.  

I bought some new flowers for Mom's grave.  These didn't look as good as the last ones but they are strong enough to get through this wintery weather.  I have ordered a custom bouquet for the spring and can't wait to see them.  Life comes at you fast.  I had no idea this time last year that I'd be so excited over buying flowers for my mom's grave.  

My sweet Aunt Bobbie passed away this month.  Aunt Bobbie was married to my Dad's brother, Coy, for 69 years.  I didn't get to see her very much but we spent a lot of time corresponding via email over the years. She was always so encouraging and also a wealth of knowledge too!  I will love and miss her always. 

Dad told me that when Uncle Coy first saw Aunt Bobbie, he took one look at her and said he was going to marry that girl before he had even met her.  The rest is history.....

Love always.  

Merry Merry!

Only 6 more sleeps until Santa Claus comes!  I'm sure he is checking over his list at this very moment.  

So much has happened in the past month and yet, so little.  Deanna, Christy, Miranda and I met yesterday to plan the Parkwood High School class of '91 30th year reunion.  Technically, it is now 31 years but you know...Covid.  Afterwards, we ate at Emmet's Social Club which is in the historic old mill in Waxhaw.  It was a great day.  

Christy took this photo of me and when I see it, I see my Mom.  Is it just me? 

Yes, I'm wearing my "Go Jesus, It's your birthday" shirt.  I'm sure that is only funny to people over a certain age.  

I am loving wearing Mom's socks...

And...I even broke out one of her most favorite coats.  She wore this one all of the time the past few years. 

Scott received a 15 year service award from Charlotte Radiology.  They asked him to send in a photo of himself holding the award.  He wanted the dogs in the photo.  Blossom obliged.  Balto had places to be. 

Deanna, Christy and I went to Waxhaw for a fun afternoon of food and shopping.  Miranda was supposed to join us; however, she was under the weather. 

For your photo viewing pleasure, I recreated my infamous (only to me) crawl across the Waxhaw Bridge during a 1978/79 class field trip to the fire station.  I was the only one in Mrs. Crawford's kindergarten class who was too scared to walk across.  I stayed in the back and crawled the entire way across.  My teacher assistant, Mrs. Hemby, and another student (Reagan Blythe) stayed with me.  

Mom's grave marker is in.  It is close to what I wanted except that the dogwood is just too large.  I wish it were smaller to look more proporationate to the cross.  I hope Mom would approve.  

There were so many things I wanted to say on the marker.  This like how she was the best mom & grandmother ever, her favorite Bible verse, that she and Dad were married 62 years.... I didn't.  The marker wasn't big enough to do her justice.  

Some photos of Laura just because.....

Daniel is still spending a lot of time with Dad.  He likes to sleepover on the weekends and now that he is out for Christmas break, he will be staying over a lot, I'm sure.  One morning I went over to wake Dad up and and I found this in his room.  This is so my Dad...

I hope that everyone is having a happy holiday season.  Work has been busy and Dad has been, well, Dad.  We have had a trip to the ER, the doctor and even a sigmoidoscopy.  He is a full time job on top of my full time job but I wouldn't change a thing.  Well, I wouldn't hate it if he married a Nurse.  LOL.  

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy day after Thanksgiving Day.  I hope everyone had a day of good food and lots of thankfulness.  The heart of my family is no longer with us physically but due to the way she raised us we were able to move forward and have a great day.  I thought I had forgotten my phone so I didn't get any pictures to show you.  

Last week, Deanna and I visited UNC Charlotte to do a little Christmas shopping for the kids.  

I was so surprised at how large the campus had grown!  We had a great time exploring the grounds and seeing how beautiful it had become.  Sometimes it seems like I might be the only one I know who didn't graduate from UNCC.  

While working with Laura, I found out she had a surprising new school I didn't know about.  

What a glorious surprise!  Rana met with Laura's teachers for her IEP meeting this week and she has met all of her goals this semester.  How exciting; we are so proud! 

Wednesday, I received an email from Gaulden Monuments that the cemetery marker for Mom (and Dad) is in and will be placed on Tuesday.  I feel excited and nervous.  I'm just not sure that the design is exactly what I wanted.  On the rendering, it wasn't how I had pictured it in my head.  I hope that I love it.  I hope that it looks ok.  There will be pictures next week.  

4 weeks until Christmas, here we go!  

A Mid-November Night's Dream

November.  Where the daylight hours are shorter and so is my hair.  

This is the shortest my hair has been since High School and I am loving it.  

Since I last posted, Kevin's entire family tested positive for Covid19.  Seeing as how I took these pictures only hours before the kids tested positive, Dad and I had to quarantine as well.  

Despite being fully vaccinated, Kevin and Rana had a few rough days.  Daniel and Laura's symptoms were a little easier. Rana was able to return to work on Friday despite a lingering cough.  Kevin and Daniel are allowed to return to work and school on Monday (tomorrow) while Laura returned on Wednesday.  Thankfully, Dad and I did not catch the virus.  Thanks be to God that our vaccines did their job! (Me: Pfizer; Dad: Moderna) I was surprised as I was very close to Laura for hours while she was coughing on the day before her test.  

Lately I feel stuck in rhythms and routines that just aren't working for me.  There are things that are non-negotiable like being my dad's caregiver and caring for a dog that is partially paralyzed.  I need to figure out new habits and routines where I can balance caregiving, my paying job and the things that I need/want to do for myself.  I find it overwhelming at times and I'm asking God for help.  

Coming soon:  Thanksgiving Day!  

October Sky

Happy mid-week to all!  

I should let everyone know that all went well with my diagnostic mammogram.  I was told that I had "tissue overlap" in my previous mammogram and they needed to stretch it out to see it better.  

Fall temperatures are finally here in the Carolinas.  Blossom and Balto aren't missing the 90 degree weather.  

Laura's class has been learning about Doctors and Nurses.  Here's Dr. Laura....

Daniel has been working on his go-cart. 

Halloween is around the corner and Daniel is ready.

I have mixed feelings about this time of year.  I LOVE the colorful leaves along with the crisp air and the clear blue skies; however,  I dread the disappearing hours of daylight.  My therapist suggested that I try using light therapy to keep my anxiety at bay.  I am supposed to use the light for around 20 minutes, 3 mornings per week.  It's hard to imagine that this is going to "do" anything but I will keep you posted.  

My Christmas gift list is very short and I am trying to complete it before Thanksgiving.  Concern for issues with delivery and the supply chain are fueling my urgency!  Have you started your list?

My hair looks like poop lately.  I can't believe I'm going to say this but I've decided to get it cut!  I'll be sure to post before and after pictures this weekend.  Here it is now....

Do you have any plans for Halloween?  I plan to dress up like a couch potato and sit on my couch with the remote control. 

Last but not least, go Braves!  I'm enjoying watching the World Series with Dad.  

Monday, Monday

Happy Monday to everyone!  Fall has finally arrived here in the Carolinas and so far, it hasn't disappointed.  Fall, I love.  Winter not so much.  

Scott planted a couple of Hydrangeas for me on Saturday.  He had the best kind of help.  

Balto made a break for it and ran to Nana's house.  He loves Nana so much and misses her.  Daniel was inside and showed him the miniature air conditioner that he made out of a cardboard box.  In the photo below, Daniel is showing him where the cold air comes out.  

Balto is wishing that he had made a food dispenser.  He's hoping that treats are going to fall out.  

Dad is doing well.  He is enjoying watching the Atlanta Braves play in the National League Championship.  He's still very optimistic that his doctor is going to let him drive again.  Thankfully, the doctor has put off that decision until at least January.  

GriefShare has bee going really well.  We have 4 more sessions left out of 13 sessions.  You can repeat the course as many times as you like.  I feel like I have learned a lot of useful information and grown closer to many people that I didn't know very well/or at all.  I would highly recommend GriefShare to even those who think they don't need it.  I have learned so many things that I can use to help others.  

I received a call back from my recent mammogram.  I have a diagnostic exam scheduled for Thursday of this week.   I almost made it a whole week without an appointment for Dad or myself.  Wishful thinking!  

 

And when you bend to pick it up, another one falls.