Yesterday was a pretty great day.
I got to meet Loralee.
And yes, she's even more amazing in person.
I made her look at all my projects, and my craft room.
And we talked, and talked, and talked. And drank a lot of diet coke. A lot.
You know what? I think she likes me. Heh.
She's coming back Friday and I'm going to teach her how to make rolls.
Yes. Rolls. It will be a very good day.
Last week while my Mom was here I finally got my rat's nest of a dining room tidied up.
I should have taken a picture. But I didn't and now it's scrambled back up again as I work to complete some projects.
Most importantly this one. I'm to basting the binding. Even if you don't know anything about quilting, let me tell you it's the last part. After piecing, quilting, and setting the binding on one side... I'm down to basting it on the back. By hand.
And it must be done by next week. Because I'm taking it to Denver with me.
It's already time to meet up with some friends for the Denver Marathon (we're doing half)...
I love the fall. The crisp falling leaves, the chill in the air, the massive head/chest cold that I just can't shake...
It's been a rainy day today. Besides one quick trip to the fabric store, and venturing halfway to the bus stop to pick up my Kindergartener (it's at the end of the cul-de-sac - I can see the driver's face from my office window) I've stayed inside in my warm little cocoon.
The cocoon of the kitchen. The oven's been on cranking out Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Cookies, baked chicken, and homemade noodles. I'm taking dinner to a friend tonight. She had surgery today and could use a little tlc.
By surgery - I mean she gave herself a 40'th birthday gift of new boobs and lipo. With a 'life's too short' mentality, she's getting what she wants. The great thing about this friend is she's not looking for something extreme, just a little lift. She doesn't want people to look at her and thing "what happend?" rather she'd like them to think she's been on a perky little vacation - a vacation that she'll no longer need to wear a bra on.
I'm not too sure about the whole thing. I am who I am for a reason -stubborn fat and all. More power to her though if that's what she wants.
For now, I'm content in the kitchen making cookies and soup. Oh, and I'll keep running - even thought it won't make me any perkier.
UPDATE... I just took the soup, cookies and chocolate chip banana bread over. It's hard to tell by the swelling, but it's looking like she's going to have a great result. The surgery was this morning and she was home by 2:30. She's maintaining the pain with Vicodin, resting the afternoon away, and in pretty good spirits. We'll see what tomorrow brings...
You'd think there was nothing else interesting to do...
K is such a good sport. I picked her up and after a quick stop to the Mall of America, we headed back to my place. We talked and got caught up. The last time we visited was October on our whirlwind trip to Florida. After lunch, we were driving home and she mentions something along the line of, "I'd really like to learn to sew."
Good lord.
"If you want, we could make a small bag for each of your kids..."
Really?
Really.
We headed back and dug through my fabric stash.
Found enough for three bags - two girls and one boy.
I set the machine up and got started...
K was eager to try. She did a great job!
It took about two hours, but we put together three small totes for her kids!
YEA!Not the Toddler... She's actually doing better. Though I will keep a barf bag close today.
No, my pal K. She's stuck in MN for a seven hour layover.
I'm on my way to the airport to rescue her. With the kids. Of course. Always with the kids.
Now... If you had to spend the day with me (and my kids)- what would you want to do?
And I'm sitting here, crying. Not the pretty, droplet running down my cheek, but full fledged bawling.
My heart aches for her. I wish I knew how to be a better friend. I wish I was physically closer so I could help. I wish I could do more than send a card ever other week or so. I wish I could do more than hold her close in my thoughts and prayers. I wish I could scoop her up in a big hug and tell her 'it will all be all right.' I wish I had the guts to call her, but I don't want to end up a blubbering mess on the other end of the phone. I wish she didn't have to go through this. I wish, for once, I knew why this happened.
I let something get to me yesterday that really shouldn't have bothered me. I acted rash and harsh. In the end, I was accused of being "mean" and not appreciating what I have. The precipitating factors of what happened aren't important, but I will say it's part of a board of women that once shared a common thread.
First - the Mean part. Probably right on that one. Maybe not. Who knows? It's her right to think I'm mean. I knew she wouldn't like what I had to say, but I said it anyway. Then I stomped off to my corner.
Second - not appreciating what I have. Here's the thing, we all want different things. I may have things that some really want, some may have what I covet. Do I have it pretty good? You bet. Are there things people don't know about my life that may change how "lucky" they think I am? Possibly. Do we all occasionally need to be reminded that, no matter what, everyone has something good? Yes. Do we always need to be reminded how "good" we have it? No.
Perhaps instead of feeling the need to remind me of how "wonderful" my life is, take a look inside and find the beauty of your own. Rather than comparing, find contentment in where you are. Sure, it may not be exactly what you planned, but it's what you've got. Make the most of it.
In case you're wondering, today is Liz's birthday.
Go on over and wish her a happy day...
Got home yesterday in time to take eight girls to see "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" at the community theater. Due to my jump and run on Thursday, we had two cars at my parents. Took off with the oldest, and left Daddy to wrangle the two little ones.
Thursday night was good. Well, not good, but it was good to see Heather's friends banding together to help her. Stopped by another friend's house after. She's the kind of friend I didn't mind, at all, knocking on her door at 9 pm. She welcomed me into her home, even though she's got a lot going on. It was funny... I knocked quietly - no doorbell ringing at 9 pm with four kids in the house. No answer. So I called. She answered with, "How did you know I was thinking about you and had just written a note to call you in the morning?" I replied with, "Look out your window, I'm standing in your driveway..." We talked for about 45 minutes.
Friday, the kids and I goofed off at my parents. The only thing the kids were concerned about was Grandma and Grandpa's new hot tub. I made an apple pie, a pumpkin pie, a cream caramel pumpkin cheese cake and a couple salads. Friday afternoon I took off for the visitation around 4:45 - got in line at 5:15, didn't hug my friend until 6... There was a mass of people. The visitation was supposed to run from 5 - 7, but there's no way. People were snaked around the community room, waiting in line to go down the hall, and into the chapel. I will say, I'm glad I went. I about lost it, though, when I looked at the coffin. It was closed, and they had pictures the kids had drawn with, "I'll miss you daddy." I didn't really cry until I got to Heather. I shook his mom's hand and expressed my condolences. I got to her and just held her, and we both cried. She squeeze back. Hard. I whispered in her ear, "I know you've heard it alot, but I am truly sorry." What else could you say? She said she was glad I came. I was too. Told her I'd call her later, because now wasn't the time. Went home rather sad.
Arrived at my parent at the end of dinner and the beginning of wine time. I mixed a drink. My husband called at 10 pm, saying that he'd just landed and was heading home. He'd come down in the morning. Thirty minutes later, he called that he was on the way. The house was too quiet. He arrived at 2 am, to six drunken adults. Some more than others - my uncle said that "Some Bailey's would be good about now" at midnight. I found some in the basement and brought it up. My dad and uncle proceeded to drink a bottle and a half.
Saturday - I didn't go to the funeral. Selfish, but I'd said my piece at the visitation. There were going to be so many people there anyway... The rest of the day we "recovered" and ate. Had Thanksgiving dinner with the family. Saw my sister for the first time in six months. We ate a wild turkey my dad had shot earlier in the week. Ate and ate and ate. Didn't really drink...
Sunday got up bright and early. Took the carseats out and loaded up the big girl. We did have a good time at the production, but it sure wore me out to herd around 8 six year olds. Did have another parent there - so we were each responsible for four...
Crawled in bed at 8:45, and fell right asleep.
Today I'm trying to rest my back and my jaw. I'm not quite sure what did it, but my back is hurting something fierce today. Unfortunately, my chiropractor is 220 miles away. My jaw - when the going gets tough, I clench my jaw in my sleep. It was bothering me yesterday, but is worse today - probably because I tried to eat 'normal' yesterday even though it hurt. Today food doesn't even sound good. Neither does trying to pick anything up off the floor.
The last I've heard, he wasn't supposed to be on the plane. He had planned to take a commercial flight home, but his wife called concerned she was in pre-term labor. He had reservations about being on a small plane.
What amazes me about this is the ruthless speed of information. I can read my hometown newspaper online to get information; I can read the newspaper of where the crash happened. Emails have been flying back and forth as arrangements are made. The initial information I got was from e-mail -"It is with a heavy heart... killed last night in a plane crash... has 4 sons and a fifth child on the way... Please keep them in your prayers." Not to forget, the old fashioned phone - I've gotten calls from friends back home to make sure I knew. One on my cell phone - access to anyone, anywhere.
Today I'm doing laundry and packing up, getting ready to go to an informal get together tonight, the visitation Friday and the funeral Saturday. We were already planning on going to my parents this weekend for an impromptu Thanksgiving- my uncle and aunt (they've divorced - but that's another story) are coming from Denver, and now my other uncle and his family are coming as well. Looks like mom and dad will have a full house. It should be fun, but my mind will be elsewhere. What if it had been me?
It's not if, it's when...
Received a very sad email yesterday. My friend's husband died in a plane crash. She was so wonderful and welcoming when I joined the Monday Morning Book Club and the Wednesday Playgroup/Babysitting co-op. I'm really struggling with this. Somehow death seems more "fair" when you're 98 - not when you're 31 expecting your fifth child in January. It sounds like the viewing is Friday and the funeral Saturday. My heart aches for her.
Going to my parents...
Due to the above, the kids and I will take off tomorrow for my parents' house. We were planning on going Friday night when my husband got back into town, but now I'll be taking off in the afternoon.
From the Throne of Mother of the Year...
Today, on her own, my precious Toddler got on the toilet. Hollered, "All done Mamma!" I rushed in to see what she'd done. Oh. My. God. The toilet was full of poo and she was scratching her butt. Grabbed her hand and started wiping, brown stuff coming off. Looked at her face, brown stuff there as well. Smelled her hand. It was then I realized that she and her brother had gotten into the chocolate chips. Unlike M&M's, chocolate chips do melt in your hands.
Couple of baby updates:
Exhibit 1:
My friend M had her baby - after the move. Little Miss J held on until Sunday, November 5th. Weighing in at 8 pounds 4 ounces and 20 inches long, she's just a doll.
It's pictures like this that make my heart melt. And make me wish, for a split second...
Exhibit 2:
Also, awhile back I wrote about another friend who had a baby. One of her twins would need heart surgery between 2 and 4 months. Well... he's within days of three months old and is heading for surgery tomorrow. He's looking at a 4 to 5 hour procedure and a 10 day hospital stay after. Provided he doesn't get sick, Luke will be in surgery tomorrow at 8 am. This completely falls under the "why do bad things happen to good people" scenerio. This friend of mine, she's something else - handling this with a calm and grace I don't think I could. I'm sure there are tears at night when no one else can see, but for the most part, she's got as great of an outlook about this as any parent could. Luke, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Exhibit 3:
My sister. She's expecting too. Twins. We're all blown away! I haven't told my kids yet - heck, we didn't tell them about Orlando until two weeks before. The daily, if not hourly questions... I've handled the "how do they get out" with upfront honesty. I'm not quite ready to answer the "how did they get in there." They'll be a great addition to the family.
Babies, babies everywhere... Thankfully mine are growing up. I guess, though, that brings a whole new set of concerns...
Glad to report that Liz's boy is home. After a harrowing couple of days in the hospital, it was determined that her boy Monkey Man was dealing with a staph infection on his tonsils. He'll be home the remainder of the week. Hopefully things will be back to normal soon after that.
Liz, don't forget to take care of yourself too!
