HE GOT IT

Simple post. HE GOT IT! He's a happy hubby, quite giddy actually. We're not goin' anywhere! There are going to be MANY others that are not getting such fabulous news. Makes me sad actually. For now, I am elated that he knocked it outta the park and claimed a new position, new title, and new attitude. Congratulations to my oh-so fabulous husband!

Three Skinny C0ws

Two posts in one day... ehhh, oh well.

After picking Juliana up from school, we went to have ice cream on the bay. I brought three Skinny C0ws to eat, and we all ate them like cows too. Kevin was quite a messy cow, Juliana was hyper cow, and I was, well uhhh, fat cow. Come on, you can laugh!

After eating, Kevin went to throw rocks into the bay as usual, and Juliana began her gymnastics antics on the grass. We're home and totally windblown. YAYYY!

An Angel

5 years ago this sweet face suddenly left this world. She practiced Kindergarten graduation with us, went home for the day with a huge smile, and never entered the classroom again.

I will never forget her backpack, teaching materials, and even toothbrush were left in our classroom. I could not bring myself to touch it or have her family pick it up. It was just as she left it the day before at school. Even the students were sentimental to those things. After a few days, I could not handle those things staying in place, so with much sadness, I took them to the school office for her family to pick up.

I remember being asked to make her remembrance cards for the services. I was up all night looking up lyrics to songs, and words to poems to get the right words to put on it, and the right picture too. I visited her best friends mother at her home (whom I had never met) and she gave me good advice. Unfortunately, her best friend passed away from other circumstances 9 months before, so her mother gave me advice on what to say on the cards and what not to. It was quite an experience. I still carry the card in my purse. Gosh, I miss her smile.

Peace Monica.

It's a small world

I got an e-mail full of photos today of a new baby born into this world. Let me back up a little bit....

While living in Michigan a couple years ago, I was roaming through "@nce Upon a Child" used clothing store. I had just dropped off some items for extra cash. As I was browsing, Kevin and a little girl Claire were playing with toys. Claire's mom and I started chatting about kids, clothes, etc. She told me she was looking for clothes for her daughter, money was tight, but couldn't really find anything. I told her not to buy anything, and to give me her e-mail address and phone number. I ended up bringing bags and bags of Juliana's old clothes to her house for Claire to wear.

Since that day that I brought Claire the clothes (and had a great play day), Amy and I have been e-mailing back and forth. Amy moved out of Michigan too, so she could be closer to her family. We only met once at the clothing store and once for the play day before she moved.

Today I get an e-mail full of photos of Amy's new baby boy, Evan. Claire is now a big sister, and looks elated!

I guess you never know when or how you will meet your next friend in this small world of ours.

Hello scale, how are ya?!

I got my rear end to the gym this morning. First time in April. After putting my belongings into the locker, I kept my shoes on, and walked over to the scale. I was ready to be totally depressed and angry. I actually was relieved that I am still down 14 lbs from my starting weight. I was down 17 lbs in November or December, so I suppose 3 lbs isn't that big of a deal. It will be nice to finally get back into the routine, lose this darn weight, and feel really good again.

It's gonna happen. Give me time. It'll happen.

Bursting with Color

A few pictures of our neighbors. Aren't they gorgeous!

It's Heating up

The last 2 days have been 80-90 degrees. That is HOT for this neck of the woods. Inland is mid-90's... no thank you! This is what we've been up to for the last couple days. Bike rides on the bay, throwing balls back and forth on the front lawn, and sweating too.

Heading Home

Mom is going home today! Insurance is giving her the boot outta there. I hope this is a good thing. I will be with her tonight and tomorrow to get her settled. I already had to talk her out of going to get her nails done, and tell her that having Shadow is not a good idea either. Yeah, I think she is kicking this sickness out of the park... what do you think?

I love love love love Mom's fight! The nurses and caregivers that come to care for her are going to get a laugh and probably a lifelong friend after caring for Mom. Not many people can say that. Yayyyy MOM!

Aim, Shot, Poop

My last post, "High in the Sky" is turning out to be a little ironic. Tonight, I was sitting watching the beginning of American Idol results and realized that there was something nasty in my hair. It didn't take long to realize that I was resembling a car windshield. Yup, a flippin' bird got me while I was walkin' the dog! EWWWWWW! I jumped into the shower and washed my hair twice with shampoo, and two conditioners. I still feel like scum and wish the hazmat team would come rescue me from my misery.

What totally cracks me up about the situation is that yesterday after Jason walked out of his meeting at work, he was pooped on twice. Once on his shoulder and once on his back. He had to walk around with it aaaaaalllllll day and I laughed at him. I am sure he is going to love laughing at me when he finally arrives home tonight.

I have to say, these situations paint the story of April 2009 with incredible accuracy. Once again, we were sh** on! (Raaaaa, excuse my language. Oh well, it's my blog.) I normally do not have much of a potty mouth, I really don't.

High in the Sky

Go Away April!

Jason would like me to clarify that today is not a layoff, it is a notice of "reorganization" for his department.  In the end, as I stated below, he IS getting notice of his job being eliminated, so if he does not get rehired into one of the select few new positions, that will be a scary time for us.  So, call it what you want, but in my head, the result is the same.   I wouldn't want to tell the dozens of people who will be having their last day in a few weeks that today was simply a reorganization and nothing else.  It is all the same in my book.   Perhaps our chapter in the book will be different than someone else and it will be a happy ending.  I sure hope so. 

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April 2009 is a month that I wish would vanish into thin air.  Oh wait, NO.  There have been some wonderful things that have happened this month so far.  Unfortunately a whole lot of crappy things too.  

Tomorrow morning, Jason will receive his "Welcome-To-Unemployment" notice.  Well not really.  He will receive his layoff notice at 10:30am.  The executives thought they would be really nice and give 2 weeks until his last day on the job.  They are also posting a select amount of positions to apply for, so HOPEFULLY Jason will get one of those positions.  Otherwise, our nearly 2 year California vacation will come to an end, and we will be... I don't know how to complete that sentence.  We have no idea what will happen next.

When (beep) hits the fan, apparently it hits hard and stinks really bad!  I'm quite tired of being knocked down lately.  A pick-me-up would be fabulous!  Excuse my language, I am burned out.

Our Easter

This past week has been really busy. I have a lot to catch up on in the next few days with pictures galore. I thought I would share Easter photos from today. We went to see Mom today with an Easter basket in hand. She is looking much better these days. Thank goodness! Toward the end of our visit, Kevin began showing off his singing talents using Grand's cane as a microphone. It was a sight to see. I wish I had a video camera. A still photo is the best I can do.

Here is a glimpse into our Easter Sunday.

Good things

I can not stand the last entry to welcome me on my sunshine page any more. I am tired of the bad stuff right now. I'll stay with the good as long as it is in my life.

Mom is doing teeny bit better each day. Not much more I can ask for.

I was not with her yesterday. I am not sure when I will go back. Maybe today, maybe tomorrow. Definitely sunday. We have a special Easter surprise for her.

It's Baaaaaaack...

April 9th has arrived again. If there could be an article written about April 9, 2002, it would be titled, "Worst Day of My Life". That morning, 7 years ago, my dad called to let me know that Grandma passed away. I remember staring at Juliana and sobbing. I also remember calling Sears for some strange reason to set up an appointment to have Juliana's picture taken. It was a distraction for me to get her dressed up and to get us out of the house. She was 4 months old at the time.

Then I remember as I was brushing my teeth to go to bed, my dad called again. He informed me that Uncle Don had a heart attack and it did not look good. I waited for about 2 hours when I called my dad back to check what was going on. I believe his response was, "He's gone."

In one day, my dad lost his mother and brother, in completely unrelated circumstances. Just a terrible, horrible, rotten, no good, very bad day.

This year, I still remember that day as the worst day ever. Although my perspective has been skewed a bit. I may not have my sweet Grandma or huggable Uncle Don around anymore, I do have my mom, my dad, Granny, brother, sister, aunts, uncles, cousins, and so many friends. I am trying to make April 9th much more of a positive day, maybe this year is the time to do that. It only took me 7 years to come to that conclusion.

Happy Heaven Day. I am sure if Juliana realized what today was, she would make up some goofy song to sing. That's my girl!

Wordless Wednesday- "Grand" Moments

On the roller coaster

She was doing so well yesterday. Not so well today. A step backward. I'm tired of talking about it. Sometimes I am tired of even thinking about it. I wish so badly that Mom would walk out, head to Peets for coffee, and home to get ready for her next dinner party. It is not exactly happening like that. One day it will, one day. Back onto the roller coaster...

Thank you Martine for the gorgeous flowers. They are brightening up our dining room table at the moment, although I think I am going to move them to the mantle next to your bamboo plant that we are tending until you move back here. Yes, you are moving back here, it isn't an option. LOVE YOU!

CONGRATULATIONS to Tory and Chris! Little Anna is a big sister now! Baby Sophia Isabelle was born today!!!!!!!!! I wish I could squish her little cheeks and give her lots of love.

Another Day

Days in the hospital have been difficult. There really are no other words to explain it. Mom is not any worse, although is not really any better either. Occasionally there is a glimmer of light, then it gets burned out in a short time.

Jason and I are going to the hospital together today. Jason's parents are visiting from New England, so they are taking the kids for the day.

I apologize for not saying much more. Mom is not crazy about information on this blog, and i am am not sure I like posting details anyhow. The details are for specific people via e-mail.

Dear God

Please dear God, make Mom better. Please, I beg you.

Two reasons for me being on my knees. Aren't they precious?! (Just random pictures taken over the last week or so.)

Zoning Out

I was not able to see mom yesterday, today, what ever day it is right now. I am not sleeping because my mind keeps going to places that it should never go. I keep thinking of the pain that she is in at the moment. How dare I sleep in my cozy bed all night long when she can barely muster the energy to get out of the horrid hospital bed?

I was on my way to see her yesterday when at a stop sign I started to zone. Someone honked at me, so I drove past the stop sign, then immediately turned down the next street to go back home. I realized I was too tired to make the drive. I am going to go today, no matter what. I can not bear to hear the pain over the phone, and not be there to help.

I keep wondering if I am over analyzing her voice on the telephone or her movements when I see her. I think I have a good sense of my mom, and her body language tells it all. Her words on the phone tell it all too, without saying much at all. My conversations with her are only about 30 seconds to 2 minutes.

We will see what today brings. Each moment of each day can bring something new. I am hoping today is a great day for mom, and each day after this too.

Taking over

Mom's surgery was this afternoon. I last saw her about 45 minutes after her surgery. She is/was doped up on morphine, so that was my cue to go home to get some rest. I need it. It is nearly midnight, and I am still up. Hubby is not coming home at all tonight. Work is taking over. In my mind, life is taking over. It isn't the best feeling in the world at the moment. This too shall pass, I hope.