Pooh-ville

Ughh- today not only was Little Joe sick along with me, but poor Jacob came down with it too! The whole day we lay around coughing and hacking- and in Little Joe's case puking too-and I began to feel sorry for myself. I mean, why should I have to be sick with kids too? Haven't I already done that? Why doesn't someone take care of Nana? My chest and throat hurts and coughing is pure torture! Wait a minute, back the train up. It is a blessing to be able to care for my sick grandchildren. The don't have to go to strangers when they feel bad, and if they puke on Nana, so what. And as far as someone taking care of Nana, Becky and Joe were very attentive all weekend, and Martin has been hovering since he got home. All Little Joe wants to do is lay on me-I better enjoy that while I can! Feeling sorry for yourself is very dangerous to your well being. I stopped my whining when I realized that the adversary was trying very hard to get me down. I went and got Jacob and Little Joe and snuggled in with them. Martin smiled at me in appreciation when he saw that I could handle things. The day improved. Martin asked me if I wanted a cold drink when he went out to the bank. I said yes, and got my mental chops ready for some real refreshment, as it is hard to swallow right now. I expected him back in about a half hour, but two hours later, he was still not home. The kids were feeling bad, and I had to pull my patience together, it really is not their fault that they express themselves in an annoying manner. I began to worry. What if something happened to him? I called the cell phone, but no answer. I had to feed the baby, and Jacob wanted some donuts. It is also bread day, and I had made 6 loaves, but some of them didn't rise the way I liked. My anxiety began to mount. Crying, coughing baby, hungry coughing 7 year old, barking dogs, and the phone ringing did not help at all! Finally, Martin called and told me he had gone to get his hair cut and "walk around in Home Depot". Didn't he realize what I was dealing with? A miracle occurred when I sweetly told him that I hoped he had enjoyed himself- and DON'T FORGET MY DRINK! Before he got home, Little Joe had puked on me again and Jacob continued to remind me that he was hungry. I was on the verge of tears, when, with a dashing, freshly cut hair and trimmed beard, Martin walked in the back door with LUNCH! Not only that, he had a 42 oz crushed ice cold drink, and a chicken leg for Little Joe and donuts for Jacob. Mind you, Little Joe does not get the meat off the bone, but just the bone itself so that he can teeth on it. (This is an old country way of helping babies teeth). Little Joe loves to gnaw on a chicken leg bone and he settled down happily in his high chair to chomp away. I kept my crabbiness to myself, and thanked him for being so "thoughtful". The afternoon was spent with Little Joe once again sleeping on me, and Jacob watching TV. Around 3 pm, Martin came in and sort of mentioned that he wished he could spend his afternoons holding a sleeping baby and watching cartoons. I gladly relenquished the baby and went to get Kayleigh off the bus. It was a lovely day out, so I took a bottle of bubbles out with me and sat on the yard swing, blowing bubbles with Kayleigh and discussing the mating habits of geckos, because a lizard was on the flagpole, blowing a red bubble on his neck to attract a female. Ahhh, the pleasures of spring! I finally took Kayleigh and went in, only to hear Martin calling for help. I rushed into the bedroom, and saw the problem. Little Joe had puked on HIM! Then, I heard the sweetest words- Martin said, "I don't know how you do this!" I told him that it was easy with a thoughtful husband who had "taken the time to get a haircut and walk through Home Depot". Well, as on every day before, the mom's came home to get their kids and I was able to settle down at last. As I collapsed on the recliner, I felt a funny sensation underneath me. I struggled up only to find that when Little Joe had puked on Martin, Martin just tossed the pukey washcloth into my recliner! Oh well, it is evening now and I am writing. Tomorrow will bring a better day, or should I say, more blessings of the same!

Ooops, I have been kind of lazy, but somehow, I got a cold. Saturday was miserable, and Sunday even worse. Today, I feel better, but how would I know, as the whole day was a mess. First, let me tell you that the Gentle Giant is HOME! Even though I felt awful yesterday, I had to go to the Airport to get him with Robby. I did miss church, and on Easter Sunday too, but believe me, I didn't feel like going. I didn't get much rest though, as the family was coming for Easter dinner to welcome Martin home, and I had to get stuff done. When we pulled up to the arrival ramp, and I saw Martin, I felt like a silly teenager, and began to wave and wave at him. He ran over to the truck and kissed me right in front of everyone! I didn't want to let go of him to let him get in the back seat, but I had to. He did bring me a pizza! We are going to have it for dinner tomorrow night. All of the children came with their parents for dinner to welcome PaPa home, and we had a really nice dinner. The Easter bunny had been generous to them, and everyone had a basket waiting at my house on the dining room table. After dinner, the older kids went to hide the eggs, and the little ones figited while they had to wait. It was still really light, and the kids went all over the yard, finding eggs in the oddest places, including on top of a large cactus. (That made me mad, I was so afraid that someone was going to get skewered). After all the eggs were found, the confetti eggs were smashed on top of unsuspecting heads. Eli thoughtfully broke a confetti egg in his hand and sprinkled the confetti on top of little Joe's head. We took lots of pictures, and I am so thankful for moments like these.
Now, back to today. Little Joe also has a cold. He also had two giant teeth coming in on top and is CRABBY! We took him to the doctor because he was pulling at his ear, and was told that it is teething and a small cold that is bothering him. He was pretty good until PaPa had to leave to take Aunt Cheryl to the doctor, and then the bottom fell out! Little Joe wanted PaPa and no one or nothing else! He cried for 2 hours until he just fell asleep. I am amazed at my level of patience! I just held him the whole time, making sure he wasn't wet,dirty or hungry. It was awful, because I feel awful too. Just about the time he got good and asleep, I had only 45 minutes until the bus came. Have you ever felt that desperate feeling of time slipping away as you are trying to get some sleep? It is like a boulder hanging over your head with a thin string holding it up. I gave up and just lay in bed watching the clock. Of course as soon as the kids came in, Little Joe woke up, but Eli and Jacob are good to help with him, and today they were a Godsend. Tonight, we got news that a sputeum test of Martin's came back positive with something, but we don't know what for sure just yet. We just threw up our hands, and went for Mexican food for dinner. I asked him if we should splurge like that, and he said why not, we needed some cheering up. So, we had an intimate little dinner, talking about the future and other things. It was so nice to be with him, I love him so much. Now, it is bedtime. That boulder is still hanging there, but I am going to ignore it. In 9 hours, Crabby will be back. Hopefully he will be in a better mood, but if not, I can handle it. Life is too precious to resent- I will enjoy each moment that I have left on this earth.

Easter Baskets

I have finished the Easter Baskets. I had to make 11 of them. It wasn't enough that I thought I had bought enough stuff, but today I went to the dollar store and bought a stuffed animal for everyone. The baskets are so nice, and since, as usual, I went overboard, I have a bunch of candy left over that will serve me well for my Sunday school class. It will be hard not to be impatient for church to end, as we will pick up PaPa right after. The girls are making a nice Easter dinner, and we are waiting for PaPa, so it will be served later. For me, instead of the Easter Bunny, I am getting the "Easter Hunny!" Tomorrow is the annual Easter egg hunt for the city of Seabrook, and it will be Little Joe's first Easter egg hunt! The city provides the plastic treat filled eggs, hot dogs, chips, cookies, drinks and pictures with the Easter Bunny. It is all free, and we have been going for as long as we have lived here. It is something to look forward to, and this year, it is even better, because Aunt Cheryl's family lives here now, and they won't have to drive the 50 miles that they have always driven to participate! I am still on cloud nine over the tremendous blessing of their being able to buy a house down here. It really humbles me to think that Heavenly Father is so good.
Oh, by the way, the Gentle Giant is bringing me a pizza! He has already bought it, and is freezing it so that it will make the trip. A real Chicago pizza, can you believe it? I hope it makes the trip, I really want to try it.
All is well, the family is dyeing Easter eggs at David's house, but I am really tired, and so I didn't go. As long as they get done, that is all that matters. So, more tomorrow!

Thursday

It is Thursday, and only 3 more days till the Gentle Giant comes home! Boy, this has been on long week! It is said that absence makes the heart grow fonder, and I guess that is true, buy reuniting makes the dogs happier, Little Joe happy, and will do wonders for my nerves and feet! I realize now that Little Joe is so easier to watch because PaPa does so much for him. I can't seem to keep up with everything and Little Joe, but he comes first, so everything else has had to wait! Things will calm down when PaPa gets home, and we all realize how much he means to us after having had to be without him for all this time.
I am really excited because tomorrow, I am going to make whole wheat pasta for the first time. I received my fabulous pasta machine yesterday, and can't wait to use it. I am soooo glad that I invested in this machine, the quality is impressive and it weighs a ton, meaning that it won't go scooting all over the counter when I am using it. I know that I don't make a lot of money when I make and sell bread, but the orders are coming in pretty steady, and now, hopefully, orders for pasta will come too.
The kids are out for Easter break starting tomorrow, and I am so glad to be able to get some rest. My friend said today that she didn't understand why I keep the grandchildren, but I told her that the peace of mind knowing that my dear babies have someone to come to each day that really loves them means so much. I always wondered what I wanted to be when I grew up, and now I know- a Nana! Even so, on days when they don't come, it is nice not to have to adhere to a schedule. (I hate having to be on a schedule!) So, I leave you now, with only 3 more days until I am complete again. PaPa said he had a surprise for me, I wonder what it is? Oh yes, did I tell you he has learned to text? He is really enjoying sending pictures of anything that he feels I would like to see. Welcome to the texting age PaPa!

More Pizza

I just wanted to show a picture of a box of cereal at a local grocery store close to where Aaron is staying, and if you look closely, you will see that it is over 7.00 a box. The Gentle Giant could not resist sending this to me, he has learned to text and send photos from his phone, and is having a great time doing it! I just talked to him, and he and Aaron are back at the pizza place for dinner. It must be some really good pizza!

Well, really not much to report. I talked to the Gentle Giant, and he spent the day watching old re-runs of the classics such as Hazel, Leave It To Beaver, The Munsters, and some old westerns. He is having a very relaxing time, and he said that later in the day, he was going to buy some souvenier T-shirts for the family. He loves to buy T-shirts everywhere he goes. Walgreens always has the best prices for T-shirts for whichever town you are in. They had a big old sloppy slice of Chicago pizza for dinner! Lucky bums!

Gosh, I have done some more organizing. I went through my workcenter and threw out everything that I hadn't used in over a year. I gave a bunch of canned goods to Aunt Cheryl's family, found (and tossed) a bunch of mismatched place mats, lots of old papers with recipes, coupons, and on and on. I am happy to say, that now I have a place for all my cast iron pans, (shapes for cornbread) my FoodSaver, my large canning pot, a whole deep drawer for mason jars and rings, and another drawer to keep my instruction books for some of my small appliances. I also moved the tablecloths and matched sets of placemats to another available spot in a distant closet, and just feel so tickled that I got it all done.

That was yesterday. Today was bread day, and that got done, along with dealing with clingy Little Joe, and the usual stuff. I have to admit something. I love seasonings and spices. In an earlier blog, I mentioned that I had organized my spices to a large drawer of their own. Well, today, I received some more spices from my favorite spice company. The prices are fantastic, and soooo much less expensive than the store. I started to put them in the huge spice drawer, and then, I thought I would alphabetize them. So, here they are, a testament to the fact that I am truly bored!

I guess I should consider the fact that I don't eat meat, and some of these are for seasoning meat, but I am already brainstorming as to how they would work on shrimp, fish, and textured vegetable protien. Okay, yep, I am bored. Well, Dancing with the Stars is on, so I will go and watch my favorite show. After that, a shower, and crochet. Oh, save me, I am really bored!

More Chicago!

The boys are settled in and living like bachelors. They bought groceries and have stocked the little studio apt that Aaron will be staying while he is in Chicago. Martin is shocked at the gas prices, and also told me that groceries were much higher than in Houston. He said a can of tuna was 1.49. I told him, "you aint in Texas, are you?"He is planning to stay in during the day, and perhaps seeing the sights with Aaron after Aaron gets back from the hospital.

I tried to show a pic of the gas prices, but if it is not clear, some of them are almost 5.00 a gallon! It is more difficult than I thought it would be to have Martin gone. I got kind of morose today, but I took care of that with a couple of Little Debbie Easter cakes! Not much else to report,except that Aunt Cheryl and her family are all moved in. She spent the night with me last night, but tonight, I am all by myself, except for the dogs, the cat and probably a lizard that might have sneaked in! Tomorrow is a new day, we'll see what I have to report then.