The Things They Say and Do...

My kids have said and done some funny and/or sweet things lately, and I need to write them down so I can remember them.....

Ally:

• Mornings are rough... every morning it seems as if we oversleep and then, generally run around like crazies to get out the door on time.  The other morning, Ally was giving me more shit than normal... and I was fairly frustrated. She can sense this... so she says to me "Mommy, do you wish you had a better behaved kid?" To which I replied, honestly, "Yes I do Ally".... she then thinks for a moment and says "Then wish upon a wishing star and maybe your wish will come true." This was NOT said in a nice manner....... no, no.... it was delivered in a bratty, nasty tone.  Nice.  I then told her I was going to exchange her at the "kid store" to which she responded that there is no kid store.  Damn. Can't get anything past her. ;-)
• Sunday morning, the kids slept in until 9:30!!!  Holy crap.... when we all got up and about and had our breakfast, we realized we needed to bust a move to get showered and out the door to do the things we wanted to do and get somewhere to watch the MSU game!  Ally showers with me on the weekends and Luke started to have a fit that he wanted a bath, so to save time, Scott decided to take a bath with him.  Ally told Scott "Mommy and I have music in our bathroom!!!"  Scott's response....... "Well, Luke I have penises....."  She asked him, "What's your point?"  Score one for Ally.  It's true girlfriend... what IS THEIR POINT????  ;-)
• Ally has two best friends at school, Jacey and Ashlee... I had Ashlee over after school one day this week, thinking it would be great... Ally would be occupied, I could get some things done. WRONG!  Ally and Ashlee were happy for about an hour..... then, they decided they were bored, there was nothing to do and it was too hot to play outside. (yes, it was a whopping 60 degrees out).
• Ally is wearing her hair straight almost daily now... there's not much curl left for it to look really great curly, but boy is it a lot of work to make it look good and straight!  I do not have the easy hair child.... her hair takes as long as mine does.  See the above morning's suck story. 
• Ally must be going though some sort of growth spurt right now, because she is always hungry and I can't feed her enough to keep her full.  A preview for life with a teenage boy I assume.
• Ally's faves are: American Girl Dolls, Hannah Montana (still to my dismay), ZuZu pets, her DS, READING chapter books - especially Junie B Jones, her stuffed Duncan, anything artsy and skinny jeans.
• Ally is still in ballet and has a recital on May 16... she cannot wait!!!!!!!
• When tested in the Advanced Reader program at school, she reads at a 3.5 grade level.  She rocks like that.....  (I do get to brag now and then!!!)
• Math is not her strong suit....... hmmm, wonder where THAT comes from?
• Shoes are her nemesis...... yesterday at Von Maur she about lost it in the shoe department she was so happy to be surrounded by shoes... and she wanted so many.  This mirrored my feelings exactly.  ;-)

Luke:

• I was changing Luke's diaper a few weeks ago.... he said to me "Mommy I have a sucker on my penis!!"  Trying not to laugh hysterically, I said to him, "You have a sucker on your penis?"  His response, "NOOOOOO Mommy!!!!  Not a sucker! It's my PENIS!"  Good god it was hilarious!!! 
• The other day in the bath, Luke was dismayed when he looked down and there were bubbles everywhere... he said "Uh oh... where'd my penis go?" Then, he waved the bubbles away and giggled.... "Oh THERE it is!" The kid is obsessed with his penis! Scott tells me this is normal male behavior.  :-))))))  Sometimes when I put his diaper on he says "Bye bye penis!"  See you again soon I guess....... what a crazy kid!
• Luke was having a meltdown on the changing table the other day, and I tried anything and everything to distract him.  I was putting these solid blue jammies on him, the color of Cookie Monster, so I started singing "C is for Cookie"  I sang it once, and he calmed right down and stared at me.  He said "sing it again Mommy," so of course, I did... after three times, he was completely calm and looked up at me and said in the sweetest, quiet voice, "That's a good song." 
• Luke has started saying "I love you....."  He always says it back after you say it... and it's more "Love you..." than anything... the other day he just leaned into me out of the blue and said "Love you Mommy!"  It was the highlight of my month!
• Not only is he saying he loves people... but yesterday I took him into the Gap to try on a specific shirt I wanted to get him.  He was excited to try it on and very cooperative.... when I got it on him he got so excited, rubbed it lovingly and exclaimed "I LOVE it!!!!!!"  I have another shopping monster in training!  ;-)
• This past weekend, we went out Saturday night with a bunch of couples from work... we had a babysitter and she put the kids to bed... we got home very late. In the morning, it was 9:30 and Luke still wasn't up!!!! It was wild!  I was concerned, so I made Scott look in and he said he was awake but not making a sound.  I couldn't take it anymore, so I went in and Luke popped up and said "Mommy! You're here!!!!"  He must have thought I was still gone so it wasn't worth getting out of bed if Mommy wasn't home. 
• Luke is skinnier this spring than he was last year!!! Taller, yes. Bigger overall, probably... but skinny!!!!  I had given all his summer clothes from last year to a friend and had to actually get the shorts back!!!!!  He is in 12-18 months on the bottom and 2T tops just for the length of his torso alone.... his shoulders are not that broad and he could really use a 18-24 month top, but he's just longer!!!  Long torso though....... not so much in the legs! 
• Luke's favorite things are his green blankie (gigi), his stuffed Maisy mouse, watching Maisy, his Baby Boy, the zillion blankets in his bed, blocks, a barn my mom got him for Christmas and going outside. The slide is a huge hit with the boy!

Weekend After...

Well, this past weekend was the first weekend AFTER a week of part-time status!!!  The week went really well, over all.  It totally helps that the weather was so gorgeous... the timing of all this seems to be just great!!!

We had a week of mostly outdoor activities.... both Monday and Tuesday, the kids played outside at home.  Wednesday, we went to the park before going out for dinner and drinks to celebrate my father-in-law's birthday and St. Patrick's Day.  Thursday is ballet for Ally, so we played outside for a bit at home before heading to ballet..... and Friday was my day "off" and it was GORGEOUS out.  Just.  Freakin'.  Gorgeous!

We started our Friday... my first Friday of not going to work.... by getting both mine and Luke's blood drawn. NOT SO FUN!  They were unable to get the vein the first try with Luke, so they had to poke both arms.  His left arm is all bruised and he still says it hurts.  My poor baby. :-(

After the trauma at the lab... we went to Target!!!!  Who does not love Target.... 2 hours and $200 later... we had a myriad of things we just "had to have!"  Random clothes for the kids... a toy boat... and other essentials... I just love Target, where you can get a great top for your daughter and a gallon of soy milk!

We headed home to have lunch and had some visitors!!!  So exciting... Kristen and Rhen came over for lunch and to spend the afternoon with us.  This is going to be a MUST for my stay home days.  I am in need of some constant social mom interaction here!   Kristen was gracious enough to come and hang out with us for a while. We had chicken tacos, played outside and even went for a walk.... I borrowed my in-law's double stroller (that they use for Luke and Grace) and we took the boys for a walk around the neighborhood and to pick up Ally from school! Don't they look cute??

Luke is still unsure about Rhen... and strangers in general.  He tends to be on the shy side and it takes some time for him to get used to new people. I hope Kristen and Rhen and I hang out some more so Luke can get to know them! God knows Rhen and he have to be friends forever just like their moms!!!  They need to get with the "next generation" program!  ;-)

When Ally got home, we had a snack and then, headed back out to the park. It was too nice a day to stay indoors! We walked over to the school playground and the kids played and played... until it was time to head home for dinner...

Luke is really, really loving the park... he is brave enough to go up the stairs and down the slides on his own!  Even the HUGE slide, with Ally's assistance of course...

Check out the static effect on his hair!!!  LOL!

I am loving this spring weather so we can get out and do these things!!!  It makes for a much nicer day/evening/night!!!!!  Kids need to get outside every day... the fresh air is just sooooo good for them.... to say nothing of how much better they sleep!  :-)

So... we kept on going like the Energizer Bunny on Friday... after the day and the park... Ally and I went to a play back at the school. We went to see the high school performance of Alice Meets Dorothy... or something like that.  ;-)  It was cute and Ally loved it... she wore one of her new outfits from Target!!!

So cute... if I do say so myself!!!!!  Cute top, little sweater, skinny jeans and ballet flats with bows!  The matching headband was really the icing on the cake.  How much do I love having a little girl to dress..... and who loves to get dressed up too!  :-)

After the play and after getting the kids down.... I then ventured out to meet a girlfriend that I haven't seen in FAR TOO LONG for some drinks and catching up.... it was the perfect ending to one of the most perfect days!!!!

I could totally stay home every day... if every day were like that... but we all know that AIN'T NEVER GONNA HAPPEN....  ;-) Every day is not so perfect... and that's what makes the perfect ones so much more sweet!!!!!!

Baba Mary...

Mary Dzikowicz lived on this earth for 100 long years!!!!!!  But, I have learned that when it comes to life, even 100 years isn't long enough.  Anytime someone leaves us.... no matter how long they have lived... it is hard.  Saying goodbye is never, ever easy... especially for those closest to the one who has to go.

My Great-Grandma, affectionately known as "Baba Mary" to all of her family... passed away in the wee hours of the morning, Sunday, March 6th.  My Grandma and Great Uncle, her two children were right at her side when she left us.  They told her she should go... and go she did...

My Grandma tells me that my Great Uncle told her, in Polish, "go to heaven..." and she listened.  As all good Mothers do.  :-)  She left hearts empty... but she certainly kept them full for a long, long time.

It is with great sadness that I missed her passing. Her funeral. That time together with all my family.  I was, however, fortunate enough to have seen her a few times the week before her passing... and I was able to say my goodbyes.  I knew her time had come... and I am so happy I saw her alert and awake on the Monday before she passed.

My Grandma will feel empty and alone for some time.  Her Mother lived with her for 40 years.  My Grandfather passed away some years ago... and my Grandma had her Mom still... right there... in her home.  Now... my Grandma is living alone.... for really the first time, ever...

I hope she finds her way through this time and knows that she is NOT and never could be alone. All her crazy Polish peeps are just around the corner.  :-)  We're all here Grandma... just waiting for you to whip up some golumbki and call us all over....  ;-)

Goodbye Baba Mary!!!!!!!  100 years and I'm sure still dancing a polka up there, somewhere!!!!

STO LAT!

Belated Scottsdale Post...

Well, I am finally getting around to posting about our trip to Scottsdale!!!  Our actual "vacation" kicked off with a night out in Ann Arbor. We went to the Ark to see Howie Day in concert and he was AMAZING!  What a great venue for a concert.  We discovered a new artist, Serena Ryder, who we absolutely fell in love with! She was amazing live... as soon as we got the Mac on a WIFI signal down in Scottsdale, we downloaded her album!!!

It was a great kick-start to our vacation!  We stayed the night at the airport, so we could easily get up in the morning and catch our flight out to Phoenix.  We had a connecting flight in Chicago, and everything went as smooth as can be for our trip out west.

My Mom and Dave live in Las Vegas, which is about a four hour drive from Scottsdale... so they came to meet us that first Saturday we were there.  They actually picked us up from the airport, which was AWESOME, and took us to our hotel.

We stayed at the Best Western Sundial resort right on Camelback Road in Scottsdale.  Talk about the BEST DEAL EVER!!!!!!  It was a GREAT price.  $103/night! The hotel was BRAND NEW.  Really nice, modern and as clean as a whistle.  Add to that, they had a great FREE breakfast every morning... it was just an amazing deal all around.

When we first started looking to go to Scottsdale, we were going to stay in a fairly nice resort... upwards of $400/night... then, we decided we wanted to go out a lot more... so we thought we would want to stay downtown/old town Scottsdale.  So, we started looking at places around $280 or so... but in the end.... I happened upon this place on Tripadvisor.com and just could not have been happier with our "budget" choice!!!  It was in a great location and a great overall experience.  We had lots of "extra" money to actually spend on doing things... like shopping, eating and drinking!  (the important things!)

So, our first evening... we ventured out on the town and posed for our first picture in front of a cactus. Quite the Arizona thing to do right.  It's a damn good thing Dave (my step-dad) took this picture cuz it's like the only one we have of the two of us.  HA!  It's one of like five we have at all!  We totally sucked at taking pictures down there.  Just the two of us... we don't think about it!  If we had the kids, it would have been a totally different story!

That night, we went out to a great Mexican restaurant in North Scottsdale.  It was nice to take a drive and go out up there, because the rest of the week we didn't have a car to venture out that far!  We all had some fabulous Patron margaritas and enjoyed great Mexican cuisine!  After dinner, we made our way to the entertainment district where we went to a place called Howl At The Moon, a dueling piano bar.  It was an absolute blast!!!!!!  Very entertaining.... great performers and lots of bachelorette parties to laugh at!!!

That concluded our first day (Saturday).  On Sunday, we slept in (heaven for parents of young children) and went out to brunch at Grand Luxe Cafe.  It was fabulous... and our food came out at all sorts of wacky times, so half of it was free!  Bonus! The manager was right on the ball, noticing that Scott didn't have his side of bacon... and my Mom was missing her entire meal.... so they took half our meals off.  A small gesture that went a long way with our happiness and appreciation of the place!

We took a little tour of Phoenix with my Mom and Dave, since again, we had access to a car.... and then, my parents took off for Sedona and we went back to the room and took a nap!  HA! Another amazing luxury for the parents who NEVER get naps!!!!  It was luxurious!!!!!

That evening, it seemed as if we were fighting some jet lag or something... we went to The Yard House and had a fairly light and low key dinner and I think we even retired fairly early.... oh yeah, we watched The Oscars in bed!!!  HAHA!  It was really nice....

Monday, it was cold and rainy. We were pretty bummed since it was like sunny and 60 in Michigan!  :(  We spent a lot of time shopping that day... and I got some amazing deals of some great stuff... that night, we went out for sushi and I wore all new clothes.  :-)

Tuesday, not as rainy.... but still cold....  as the week wore on, it got warmer and sunnier and we did a lot of walking, talking, coffee drinking, looking around, shopping and eating. We ate Mexican, Japanese, Thai, Steaks, Southwestern, French.... oh the French place!  Petite Maison!  A favorite of mine!  We had lunch and wine outdoors on an amazing little patio on the first warm day.  It was heaven.

We spent a lot of time in the Art District... it was our favorite!  We went to the Thai restaurant in the area twice... it was FABULOUS... and the last night we went to the Old Town Tortilla Factory which was AMAZING!  Can you tell I like to eat on vacation?  :-)  It's truly one of life's great luxuries. A good meal, a great drink or a fine wine... you cannot beat it!!!

The trip was just so wonderful for us.  Eight nights overall.  Just the two of us. Away from the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives.  The weather might not have been what we hoped, but it didn't bother us in the least.  We weren't at work. We weren't slaves to our children's wishes.  We were just the two of us... doing whatever we wanted and going where the wind blew us!  We talked a lot... laughed a lot... drank a lot... and slept a lot.  It was as good as it gets!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so lucky to have a partner that I not only like being a parent and family with... but that I like actually BEING with... I love Scott's company and I love when we get time to just be us!!!!

I will not justify the day we flew home with any more talk....  ;-)  I do believe you've already read about that..... let's end this post on a good note.   :-)

A Little Bit of This... A Little Bit of That...

I don't have anything specific to share, just a lot of little things I guess!  It's Thursday so it's my final working day of the week!  I am working a four-day work-week, five hours a day to achieve my 20 hour part-time status!  It's working out fairly well... but like I've said before, it's early and a solid routine isn't exactly established yet.

Who am I kidding... a solid routine will NEVER be established.  I don't do "routine" well.  ;-)

So......... Monday was great!  I wrote about it.  Felt good Monday night. The kids were amazing and welcomed me to part-time with open and well-behaved arms.  Then came Tuesday.  I'm not sure what went wrong.  It was a gorgeous day... so after we arrived home from school and Nana's... I let the kids go right outside to play.  I, myself, scooped poop for over an hour.... OMG - nasty job!!!  But, it had to be done or it would just be brought into my house on the soles of the kids' shoes... so shovel I did.  Ally rode her bike... Luke tried to ride his.  They played on their structure. They ran around. They were happy, happy kids.

I went in to make dinner and they stayed outside happily playing.... Scott got home, we had dinner.... and then, the trouble started.  Ally wanted to go for a walk.... but it was too late for such a thing as she hadn't done her homework right after school. So, she started to pitch a fit. While I attempted to do her "math" homework with her... she had a freakin' meltdown. The girl does NOT take direction or criticism from her parents well.  We CANNOT tell her she is wrong without her FREAKING out. 

I don't know where I went wrong in the evening.  Should I have made her do her homework right away?  Maybe she got tired as the evening wore on and it was too late for her to focus?  She, along with all the other kids around, also appears to be fighting a bug of some sort. Both my kids just have these dark circles under their eyes... fighting off a cold?  Allergies?  I don't know.  Maybe just tired and off from the time change.

Either way... she ran to her room, in full meltdown mode.... and from there, we just put her to bed.  We have established that if she cannot do her homework with us in a way in which we don't all have to fight, then we aren't going to help her do it. She can go to school and explain to her teacher why it wasn't done.  I am not going to take that on myself and feel bad because she didn't do it.  This, of course, sends her into a fit all on its own, because while she doesn't mind fighting with or disappointing us... the thought of disappointing her teacher is just about as bad as it gets. So, it's the only way we can figure to teach her this lesson right now.  I'm not going to fight with her. I'm not going to force her to do her work and do it the "right way."  I'm going to let her learn her lesson her way...

Still, a shitty night all around......... Luke always acts out when she is in "fit mode" cuz he is just uncomfortable himself. So, he decided to have a meltdown that he wanted to see "his Gracie!"  Oh lord......  ;-)

Yesterday was my father-in-law's birthday, and of course, St. Patrick's Day.... so we all went out to celebrate that!  The kids were, well, KIDS!  They can't be excpected to be perfect at a bar/restaurant so Mom and Dad can drink and eat in peace. The evening was fun.... I always enjoy going out... even with the added stress of the kids hanging on me.

Ally also had her annual physical and had to get a booster shot.  Goot times.  I made Scott take her in.  :-)  I waited in the waiting room with Luke... but he had to do the deed of "holding her down" cuz last time when I did it, I was like 8 months pregnant and it was awful.  I just couldn't do it again!  Luke and I waited for her and the whole time, Luke was a little nervous that he was going to have to go in.  He kept asking if Ally was getting a shot and I swear to god, he had a glint in his eye as if to say "haha" when I told him she did, indeed, have to get a shot.  What a little stinker!!! 

We were sitting there yesterday, waiting.  Luke, happily eating a sucker and I was on my iPhone (as I so often am of course!) and the little man just leaned into me out of the blue and said "love you Mommy!"  Oh my lord......  if he had then asked for a pony I would have likely gone out and purchased one!  It was just a sweet moment that I shall put away and take out the next time I want to strangle him for being two.  ;-)

I took the kids to the park after the doctor... I have some pictures I will have to upload and post, but I haven't had the time yet.  Will try to do that soon!  Luke absolutely loved the park and the slide.... and Ally was pretty "mother bear" with him, protecting him from all the riff-raff that can be at Cascades.  It was pretty cute..... and I was proud of her for standing up for him on more than one occassion!

Sweet and sour, that one.....  I love her to pieces, but she can drive me crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ballet night tonight..... hoping this is a little easier on my part-time schedule, but we shall see!

Part-Time Lover...

Okay, it's only been ONE day so I can't say that I LOVE it yet... hell, I went into today with so much trepidation that I couldn't even be sure I was going to LIKE it!!! That deserves some explanation, since at the surface, it makes no sense...

How could I be UNHAPPY about going part-time?  It was my choice... it gives me so much more flexibility in my life... I get to be with my kids a lot more (good and bad there people, good AND bad!)... and all the other wonderful things that I could list on and on....

But, let's remember this:  I have worked FULL-time for 12 years!!!!  TWELVE YEARS!  And that's a good chunk of my life!  It is what I KNOW. What I am used to. It has been my norm, whether it be good, bad or ugly, for a long ass time!

And, now it's all different!!!!  It feels weird.  I feel out of sorts.  Not in a bad way... in a probably perfectly normal way.  This is just all so new to me!!!!!!  You would not think that working five hours a day instead of eight would feel so different, but somehow, it does.  I leave at 2 pm.... no one else walks out with me!  I won't be in on Fridays at all.  My days are shorter and there are fewer of them... that is just all-around DIFFERENT!!!

So... I walked around in a bit of a cloud today.  I kept worrying that I would forget to leave at 2:00 pm and I had visions of Ally standing there, outside school crying cuz I was late.  Oh the crazy thoughts we mothers have!  We constantly assume the worst of ourselves.... we constantly think we're incapable!

But, despite my foggy mind... despite my worry... the day surprised me.  The sun was shining.  I had a great five hours at work.  I was busy, but not overly so.  I talked to all my "work" friends and we all laughed about my new "status."  And I drove home talking to one of my best friends, and part-time-working mom from Chicago... who filled me with hope and gave me that sense of peace that everything is going to be just fine.... and agreed that this discontent I am feeling will pass....

And the afternoon and evening were just about perfect.... as if to say "what were you so worried about crazy girl?"  We came home and had girl scout cookies and milk for an after-school snack. Could you get more "cliche" than that?  :-)))))  Ally read a book aloud to me.  Then, Luke and Ally went out to play for a short time. They came back in and we played Uno and made Papa some birthday cards. They went back outside when I began to make dinner... and happily played on their own until dinner was ready and Scott was home.

I made an awesome dinner if I do say so myself..... sesame tuna, coconut-cilantro rice, and steamed green beans.  I did the dishes while Scott went back out with the kids, with the sole intention to scoop the many, MANY piles of poop that have reared their ugly head since the snow melted.  Unfortunately, he couldn't find the shovel and then, got to spend half an hour scrubbing the bottom of the kids' shoes with a toothbrush... but the kids had a blast.... and it must feel SO good to be able to play outside in the warmer weather.

I gave them their baths when they came in and dried and straightened Ally's hair.  Luke then asked for me to put him down and then, Ally needed me to tuck her in too....

All the while... I will say.... I did these things with just a bit more calm.  With just a bit more of my head in the game.... because I did not start this dinner process at 6:30... or trying to cram reading and playing and all of it into that short amount of time I USED to have between picking up the kids and putting them to bed.

I was more present in my kids' evening and I feel the difference in that.  And, damn if it doesn't feel good!!!!

Albeit, still a bit strange....  ;-)

Another day tomorrow.... I know it will still feel abnormal.... and I know not all evenings will be as picture perfect as this one... but THANK you God for this one, and we will just go from here.

Here's to part-time... bring it on.....

Playing Airport....

THIS SUCKS!!!!!  Truly sucks. We are stuck at the airport in Phoenix. We have a connecting flight in Chicago and they are having some nasty weather there (or are supposed to when we were SUPPOSED to be landing) so we are not allowed to take off here.  Our flight has been delayed over an hour so far... which is all good and well, if we didn't have a connection to catch!

So, our connection was completely canceled.  The next flight, full, so they booked us "priority standby"... the "best they can do" apparently.  But, we're not guaranteed to get out of Chicago tonight AT ALL!!!!!  Oh, and cuz it's weather-related... they also don't pay for us to stay in a hotel.

THIS SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just want to be home.  I have had a wonderful vacation.  Loved it. The week with Scott, the adult time has been GREAT.... but enough is enough and we miss our babies! We want to be home and I just thought for sure that tonight I would have them both in my arms.... so I am sad.  :-(

I hate the airport....

UPDATE:

Delayed another hour. I have started swearing and Scott is annoyed with me.  This is no way to end a vacation...... ;-)

And They're Off...

I am packing for Scottsdale... I have no idea what to take! It's going to be mid 70s... but cool in the evenings, so I feel like I need everything from cute little dresses to cropped pants to jeans to jackets!!!! Boots to sandals.... you get the idea. I am a chronic over-packer. When I go someplace for a few days, I pack for at least a week.... I'm going for a week, so I will pack for like a month!  :-)

The fact that we have to pay for our luggage is a deterrent though. Stupid luggage charges!!!!  So... I am trying to be practical.... but my overpacking tendencies are kicking in.  :-)

It's not like there aren't a million places to shop while we're there.. and I DO PLAN TO SHOP! I should just take a few things, and if we decide to go someplace super nice for dinner where I need a NICE dress, there's an excuse to buy one!  I did that in Boston last summer.  Love it....

Kids are all packed for their week with Nana and Papa. That's easy. If I forget anything, they can always grab it at our house!  No stress there....

Different for those of us flying across the country!  Ugh.... this is the hard part.... but SO WORTH it in the end...... cannot wait for our fun in the sun..... Scott and I cannot wait to get there!!!!

But, first we have tonight out in Ann Arbor... dinner and a concert and that is going to be a BLAST.  I got these tickets for Scott for his birthday.... and we have been looking forward to it ever since!!!

Have a great week everyone!  We are taking the Mac..... so maybe I will post.... we shall see!

Randomness...

There are many good things happening! Which is good in the midst of chaos......

First, I have neglected to mention that this is my LAST WEEK of full-time employment!!!!!  In fact, I'm not even working all week, as I have Friday off!  I will be "working from home" a bit Friday as a I have a web-based meeting to participate in... but that's not terribly bad.  Tomorrow is my last day of  FULL-TIME work here!  Craziness..........

Friday night, Scott and I are going to see Howie Day at the Ark in Ann Arbor. We will go someplace fabulous for dinner first... then, the show, and then head to the airport to stay the night there before our 11 am flight to SUNNY PHOENIX!  CANNOT WAIT!  We will be staying in Scottsdale for seven glorious nights....... until the following Saturday!  I have been looking at restaurants and bars and all the amazing shopping and coffee shops and WINE BARS in Scottsdale.  Cannot wait for a week of just the two of us, decompressing from the everyday craziness around here.  We are so lucky to have this time away.... thank god for my in-laws who so lovingly take my children... and thank god for our jobs (that we work our asses of at, but still!) that provide us the means to do such things.  We are truly blessed!

In other fabulous news... my Dad is home and doing so well now!!!  He is managing his pain better, walking around and even got a shower!  WOO HOO!  :-)  The real healing can take place once you're home. Hospitals suck!

My Great Grandma is doing okay too. Not great, but when I went to see her, she was alert and eating again after five days of not eating at all.  She is in some pain, but I think all-in-all, she is doing okay. There was no change either way as of this morning.... my Grandma and Aunts are looking at assisted care facilities now and thinking of those next important steps.  We shall see what happens!!!

So, maybe the tide is turning and good things are happening all around..... I certainly hope so. I have much to be thankful for and look forward to!  I cannot put into words how very excited I am for this upcoming vacation... counting down the minutes.... Arizona bound in 68 hours!  :-)

Too Much...

There is sickness and bullshit everywhere I turn right now.  My heart breaks for many, MANY people I love... and I feel overwhelmed with the knowledge of what my friends and family are going through.  I don't know what to do or say or how to even respond anymore.  It is sad that I am not even SURPRISED lately when someone starts to tell me their horrible news.......

It just seems like it's pouring sickness and death.  That sound blunt and awful, but it's true.  My Dad is sick and having a hard time recovering from this surgery.  My Great-Grandma is very sick and failing in her old age.  My Grandma herself is not in the best of condition... with much pain in her shoulder and knee... so hard to care for a failing loved one, when you, yourself are in pain!!!!!

A close friend and co-worker just learned that her mother-in-law has terminal cancer...... one of my very closest and best friends just learned that her mother is losing her battle with bone cancer..... my brother's mother-in-law is losing her battle with addiction and the myriad of sickness that comes with that....

It's just too much..... make it stop....  :-(  My heart breaks with every story. Every conversation. What do you SAY to these people that you love when words don't mean a damn thing???  "I am sorry" falls so horridly short. 

We are too young to talk of losing our parents.  That is a huge pile of bullshit.  I know life is not fair... but I really hate that it isn't. The helpless feeling is surely the worst.....

Take care of yourselves and eachother...... and don't forget the hugs and "I love you's"......

Hospitals Smell Funny...

I have spent FAR too much time in hospitals/doctors offices lately.  It all began last Wednesday when my Grandma asked me to go to an appointment with her.  We share a doctor, and he was advising her to do something she was unsure of... so she just needed another pair of ears... a "second opinion."  And, who better to ask than her grandaughter with the Public Affairs Degree.  :-)))))  I'm completely qualified!!!!!!

She ended up having three extra pair of ears... and we scared the shit out of the doctor, but it was all for the best... we heard what he said... and talked my Grandma through her options and what we think she should do.  Beyond that, it was a great excuse for us girls to grab dinner at the Hunt Club.  :-)

Then, my Dad had surgery on his spine Thursday...... That one was brutal.  Okay, maybe MORE brutal for my Dad than me. But, it was a long day and in the end, I didn't even get to see him because surgery was so freakin' long and it took him some time to "come out" from being put under.  All day, we waited in a marginally nice family waiting room. The company was great... and I enjoyed chatting with my brother, Kellen and my step-momma, Geri.... Annie even came and brought me a latte cuz she rocks like that.

Back to the hospital to actually SEE my Dad yesterday..... Luke and I spent a good chunk of our day there..... Luke was a trooper, although very unsure about the nurses and doctors who kept coming in and out.  I'm pretty sure he was waiting for them to poke or prod him.  ;-)  My Dad is doing well, but having a hard time managing his pain. He just had MAJOR surgery though, so we need to keep that in perspective.  He was totally drugged on Percocet, Valium and muscle relaxers when I saw him.  If he wasn't in so much pain and so sad looking, it would have been funny........

But, I know he will power through and be as good as new in no time.  He is convinced he will be back at work by March 15. HA!  We shall see.........

Now, I am headed over to Foote to see my Great-Grandma, who was taken to the hospital last night by ambulance.  My Great-Grandma is 100 years old, and this is not shocking or unexpected, but none-the-less, difficult on my entire family... especially my Grandma who has cared for her for as long as I have been alive.  While that care didn't include much years and years ago... recently, my Grandma has been her life-line.... and as hard as that is for her day-in and day-out... it is what she does and she does it without complaint most days.  My Grandma deserves sainthood for certain.......

My "Baba Mary" as we call her is in end stage kidney failure... has numerous infections, including pneuomonia and they are concerned that she may have suffered a heart attack. When it rains, it apparently poors when it comes to being elderly.

No matter what the outcome here... she has led a FULL and LONG life.... may she feel no pain no matter which way we go in the coming days.......

Please keep all my Grandmas in your thoughts and prayers........