I think Major and I have a bug. Like a cold, not a tick. I think it was last Monday night, I got real sick feeling, weak, achy, just yuck. My mom came and got Major for the night and let me get a good night’s sleep. I took vitamin C and some other stuff and felt better the next day, but by Friday, I was worn down again. Friday morning, Mark got up with Major about 8:00. I went back to bed because I was just done. At 11:00, Mark brought Major to me and said that he was ready for a nap. Finally at 1:30, he woke up and I got out of bed for the day! OMG! Seriously! Then today, Sunday, same thing! Mark goes back to work tomorrow and I am going to have to get up and get going on my own… with all three boys.
I am going to have to take Major to the Dr tomorrow. He has been sick since last Saturday. We were spending the night at the farm and it was horrible. The worst night ever! He went to sleep about 9, then woke up about 11:30 and was awake about every 30 minutes till around 6 am! He ran a fever and had a runny nose and squirmed around like he had terrible gas all night long. He would cry like he was in pain. I would get up and walk with him until he fell asleep, then I would sit down and about 10 minutes later he would wake up. It was a beating! He has had a very stuffy nose since, and now we can hear it in his chest. He had another awful night last night, it just didn’t last as long, but I did have to sleep sitting up on three pillows with him on my chest. We have been giving him Multi-symptom Tylenol, but it doesn’t seem to be helping much at all… Ahh, how I love the winter in Texas.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
A wonderful Christmas!
We had a wonderful Christmas. The boys woke up about 6:45, and came running down the stairs to our room. Major was in here, so the whispered as loud as they could “Santa’s been here!” It was precious! Mom and dad were not due to arrive until 7:30, so I had to figure out how to keep them occupied till then. I let them go get their stockings and bring them back downstairs until mom and dad were here and we could all go up together.
**Let me just interject and agree with what you must be thinking, “OMG! I can’t believe her kids waited 45 minutes to jump in to Christmas!” I can’t believe it either. I have amazing kids! They are so good! I am soooo blessed!**
Michael’s big deal this year was golf clubs. Mavrick started lessons in May, and Michael started to show an interest in the sport, but Mavrick claimed golf as his sport and didn’t want Michael to play. After some give and take and some negotiation, Michael will be playing golf this spring with Mav. Therefore, Michael needed golf clubs. Ta Dha!
Mavrick’s big deal this year was a drum set. We had to order it, so it is not here yet, but he was WAY excited just from the picture. And of course, asks at least once a day “when will they be here?”
Their big gift from Santa this year was Guitar Hero. Mom and Dad got them a Wii, so, Santa being as cool as he is, knew that they needed Guitar Hero. Being as wise as he is, got them two guitars to keep the fights to a minimum. I think everyone has played but me. I am looking forward to my turn though!
Little Major got lots of cool baby toys. He ended up with three Elmo’s! His big deal was a little walk behind or ride on toy. He has been sitting on it and feels like such a big boy! Mom and Dad got him a Radio Flyer Rocking Horse that is very cool.
The girls got here about 12:30, and we went to Christy’s about an hour later. Everyone was over there, so we had a good little visit, a wonderful lunch, and then opened gifts. About 6:00 we went over to Wayne and Buena’s, Mark’s aunt and uncle, house. We always have a wonderful visit with them! We left around 9:00. It had been a big day, and Major and I both had been fighting a cold for several days, so we were especially exhausted.
We had a wonderful day spent with family and friends. We are so blessed. I could not ask for more!
**Let me just interject and agree with what you must be thinking, “OMG! I can’t believe her kids waited 45 minutes to jump in to Christmas!” I can’t believe it either. I have amazing kids! They are so good! I am soooo blessed!**
Michael’s big deal this year was golf clubs. Mavrick started lessons in May, and Michael started to show an interest in the sport, but Mavrick claimed golf as his sport and didn’t want Michael to play. After some give and take and some negotiation, Michael will be playing golf this spring with Mav. Therefore, Michael needed golf clubs. Ta Dha!
Mavrick’s big deal this year was a drum set. We had to order it, so it is not here yet, but he was WAY excited just from the picture. And of course, asks at least once a day “when will they be here?”
Their big gift from Santa this year was Guitar Hero. Mom and Dad got them a Wii, so, Santa being as cool as he is, knew that they needed Guitar Hero. Being as wise as he is, got them two guitars to keep the fights to a minimum. I think everyone has played but me. I am looking forward to my turn though!
Little Major got lots of cool baby toys. He ended up with three Elmo’s! His big deal was a little walk behind or ride on toy. He has been sitting on it and feels like such a big boy! Mom and Dad got him a Radio Flyer Rocking Horse that is very cool.
The girls got here about 12:30, and we went to Christy’s about an hour later. Everyone was over there, so we had a good little visit, a wonderful lunch, and then opened gifts. About 6:00 we went over to Wayne and Buena’s, Mark’s aunt and uncle, house. We always have a wonderful visit with them! We left around 9:00. It had been a big day, and Major and I both had been fighting a cold for several days, so we were especially exhausted.
We had a wonderful day spent with family and friends. We are so blessed. I could not ask for more!
Change - Good?
This year Christmas was a little different. A typical Christmas in the Pittard home finds us greeting my sister-in-law, Glenda, and her significant other, Marla at the front door sometime on Christmas eve, rushing off to Christmas eve service at church, having dinner at my mom and dad’s, returning home to put out cookies and milk for Santa and everyone retiring for a good nights sleep. Mom and Dad will then arrive at our house at 7:30 and we will all go into the game room together to see what Santa has brought. We open gifts then have a wonderful breakfast that the lady of the house has prepared and return to the fun in the game room as each one of us gets dressed for the rest of the events of the day.
So, this year, Glenda and Marla both had to work on Christmas eve and didn’t come till Christmas day. For me, and probably only for me, it threw everything off some. I am usually fine with change… throw me a curve ball, I’ll still catch it. But this just blew me off the ball field. We did Christmas eve service, we did dinner at mom and dad’s, we did stay up till midnight wrapping gifts. But this was the first night in Michael’s life that we haven’t had Glenda and Marla with us for Christmas eve. I didn’t even make my wonderful Christmas breakfast. We just had cinnamon rolls. Isn’t it funny how one little change from tradition can seem to throw everything off? I really think I was the only one affected by it, but still, I missed them and the way we are supposed to do things.
So, this year, Glenda and Marla both had to work on Christmas eve and didn’t come till Christmas day. For me, and probably only for me, it threw everything off some. I am usually fine with change… throw me a curve ball, I’ll still catch it. But this just blew me off the ball field. We did Christmas eve service, we did dinner at mom and dad’s, we did stay up till midnight wrapping gifts. But this was the first night in Michael’s life that we haven’t had Glenda and Marla with us for Christmas eve. I didn’t even make my wonderful Christmas breakfast. We just had cinnamon rolls. Isn’t it funny how one little change from tradition can seem to throw everything off? I really think I was the only one affected by it, but still, I missed them and the way we are supposed to do things.
Quick and Dirty
Seriously? Christmas has come and gone? That was fast… “quick and dirty” one might say. I spent a butt load of money, QUICK… and my house is DIRTY. Now comes the recovery period.
Put away all the Christmas paraphernalia, all the gifts, wash all the clothes from the last week, and all the dishes. Leave out one box to catch all the stuff I missed on the final clean up.
I finally decided on a collection for the boys this year. You know how some kids get a new ornament each year, then when they have their own home and family they have these ornaments to start with. Well, I have always thought that was precious, but what about all the memories made at their parent’s house with those ornaments? And, I have always felt that that was kind of girly. But I did want something for the boys to help them remember each year. So, I have started collecting them nutcrackers. I got both Michael and Mavrick several, to try to get them caught up, and I got Major his first. I hope to find one each year that represents their interests at the time, and mark the year on the bottom. My aunt always had a collection of nutcrackers that I loved to look at, and the boys have always been fond of them, so I think this is a good solution to my “collection search.” This year I also got wreathes to put on each of their bedroom doors, and they each have a small tree for their rooms now. I guess I should get them their own storage bins to store away all of this stuff. I really love Christmas and want them to also.
Put away all the Christmas paraphernalia, all the gifts, wash all the clothes from the last week, and all the dishes. Leave out one box to catch all the stuff I missed on the final clean up.
I finally decided on a collection for the boys this year. You know how some kids get a new ornament each year, then when they have their own home and family they have these ornaments to start with. Well, I have always thought that was precious, but what about all the memories made at their parent’s house with those ornaments? And, I have always felt that that was kind of girly. But I did want something for the boys to help them remember each year. So, I have started collecting them nutcrackers. I got both Michael and Mavrick several, to try to get them caught up, and I got Major his first. I hope to find one each year that represents their interests at the time, and mark the year on the bottom. My aunt always had a collection of nutcrackers that I loved to look at, and the boys have always been fond of them, so I think this is a good solution to my “collection search.” This year I also got wreathes to put on each of their bedroom doors, and they each have a small tree for their rooms now. I guess I should get them their own storage bins to store away all of this stuff. I really love Christmas and want them to also.
Written on Friday, December 19, 2008
I have been away much too long…How can it be that I was only away 4 days, but it has taken 2 weeks to get caught back up!
`
Since the kids and I got back from the farm, it has been no-stop go go go! We came home on Tuesday the 2nd, and on Wednesday Mavrick woke up sick. I got him to the Dr. that day and he had strep. So he was home on Wednesday and Thursday. I think he still has a few make up papers from that week and then this week he was at home another two days with a relapse. Major has cut two teeth, and Mav has lost two. Michael has his first basketball game of the season, which they WON! My good friend/sister, Allison, lost her dad to a massive heart attack, a friend of mine in Arkansas lost her baby, and I found out that the Chapter advisor I had at Tech passed away in November.
Now, I find myself 5 days from Christmas, and I don’t have a thing for Mavrick. He wants drums… OMG! I just can’t do drums. Mark want to get him some electric drums that he can wear headphones and play. I am sure he will end up with some type of drums, but I am not swinging from the rafters over joyed about it.
Today was a LONG day, but a fun day. Major and I went to the boys school about 10 am and helped with Michael’s classes Christmas party. Then we all went to Northpark Mall to see the trail exhibit. It benefits the Ronald McDonald House Charities, so I was glad we could go. It was really cool, and I think all of the boys liked it. Major even seemed fascinated. Christy and her crew, and Mom and Dad went too. We ended up staying till too late and got caught in traffic coming home. I was so tired that I thought I was going to fall asleep driving! But I didn’t…
`
Since the kids and I got back from the farm, it has been no-stop go go go! We came home on Tuesday the 2nd, and on Wednesday Mavrick woke up sick. I got him to the Dr. that day and he had strep. So he was home on Wednesday and Thursday. I think he still has a few make up papers from that week and then this week he was at home another two days with a relapse. Major has cut two teeth, and Mav has lost two. Michael has his first basketball game of the season, which they WON! My good friend/sister, Allison, lost her dad to a massive heart attack, a friend of mine in Arkansas lost her baby, and I found out that the Chapter advisor I had at Tech passed away in November.
Now, I find myself 5 days from Christmas, and I don’t have a thing for Mavrick. He wants drums… OMG! I just can’t do drums. Mark want to get him some electric drums that he can wear headphones and play. I am sure he will end up with some type of drums, but I am not swinging from the rafters over joyed about it.
Today was a LONG day, but a fun day. Major and I went to the boys school about 10 am and helped with Michael’s classes Christmas party. Then we all went to Northpark Mall to see the trail exhibit. It benefits the Ronald McDonald House Charities, so I was glad we could go. It was really cool, and I think all of the boys liked it. Major even seemed fascinated. Christy and her crew, and Mom and Dad went too. We ended up staying till too late and got caught in traffic coming home. I was so tired that I thought I was going to fall asleep driving! But I didn’t…
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
My Step-Grandmother
ELVA – The funeral home delivered Elva’s roses to the house and not to her at the funeral home, so when the kids and I left on Tuesday we took them by to her. She was glad that we had come by and we had a very pleasant conversation.
It is a strange relationship. I love her because my Pop-paw loved her. And I love her because she is my kids “MeeMaw.” I respect both of those relationships. But she wasn’t always good to Pop, and there were several times that she was outright mean to Mom. I am aware of both of those, so it makes it difficult to not have some feelings that are not all lovie dovie. It's like I love her, but sometimes I don't like her. (See Mark, it's not just you I do that with:)
I am glad that Pop found someone to love again. I am glad that he didn’t spend his last ten years alone. I appreciate the good things that Elva brought to his life. But I have also seen her try to manipulate him, and it makes me sad to think of how she may have treated him when no one was around. One of their caregivers who was with them before they went to the nursing home told us that she was often mean to Pop. That makes me upset.
I always have my guard up when I talk with her. I don’t want to be manipulated, so I am always reading between the lines… so, when she said “I really think it was the beginning of the end when he couldn’t drive anymore. He got real mad, then he would grieve, then he’d be mad and then grieve some more. I really think that is what started it.” I felt angry. I felt like she was trying to blame his death on my uncle Calvin and my mom. Yes, they asked that he not drive anymore, but he had recently had an accident, he was 87 years old, and it just wasn’t worth all the risks. It makes me sad if he was really that upset about it. But if he would have had an accident and killed someone, or himself… it just wasn’t worth all the risks.
That one little statement made me want to quit talking to her. I was nice, and I will continue to be nice because of the relationships I mentioned earlier. I will continue to take the kids by to see her when we are in town. This relationship is a strange and often difficult dynamic to my life.
It is a strange relationship. I love her because my Pop-paw loved her. And I love her because she is my kids “MeeMaw.” I respect both of those relationships. But she wasn’t always good to Pop, and there were several times that she was outright mean to Mom. I am aware of both of those, so it makes it difficult to not have some feelings that are not all lovie dovie. It's like I love her, but sometimes I don't like her. (See Mark, it's not just you I do that with:)
I am glad that Pop found someone to love again. I am glad that he didn’t spend his last ten years alone. I appreciate the good things that Elva brought to his life. But I have also seen her try to manipulate him, and it makes me sad to think of how she may have treated him when no one was around. One of their caregivers who was with them before they went to the nursing home told us that she was often mean to Pop. That makes me upset.
I always have my guard up when I talk with her. I don’t want to be manipulated, so I am always reading between the lines… so, when she said “I really think it was the beginning of the end when he couldn’t drive anymore. He got real mad, then he would grieve, then he’d be mad and then grieve some more. I really think that is what started it.” I felt angry. I felt like she was trying to blame his death on my uncle Calvin and my mom. Yes, they asked that he not drive anymore, but he had recently had an accident, he was 87 years old, and it just wasn’t worth all the risks. It makes me sad if he was really that upset about it. But if he would have had an accident and killed someone, or himself… it just wasn’t worth all the risks.
That one little statement made me want to quit talking to her. I was nice, and I will continue to be nice because of the relationships I mentioned earlier. I will continue to take the kids by to see her when we are in town. This relationship is a strange and often difficult dynamic to my life.
Saturday, November 29th
I am trying to document the last few days… well, this year really, for the kids. I want to print my blog from the last year and put it together like a book, so when they get older and things come up we can go back and see what was happening around that time. Especially for Major, who never got to know Pop-Paw, or Angela.
That brings me back to last Saturday. Saturday morning, mom and I had to deliver Pop’s obituary to the funeral home by 10:00, so we left the house at 9:00 and went by to get a picture that his sister printed for us on the way. We delivered the obit, made corrections on a copy they printed for us (which didn’t all get corrected!) and then went to find a florist. Being a holiday weekend, there was not one single florist in town who was open. We went back to the funeral home to see if they knew of one that may be open, and they have a florist. Yea! But she was not in yet.
So, we went to the western store and bought some clothes for him. We got him a very nice outfit, that he looked great in. I could just see him going dancin’ in something like this. They used to go to dances down at the lodge. It was so sweet, and they were so cute! He was so handsome. He was never much of a coat and tie guy, so we got him jeans, an nice shirt and a bolo. My mom had wanted me, Christy and my two cousins to pick out the clothes. Christy was coming that day, but wouldn’t be there until about 1:00, and my cousin called me the day before and said that she and my other cousin trusted us to pick out something nice. Christy said to go ahead and get something because everything was taking longer than she had planned. It worked out well, because mom really wanted him dressed as soon as possible.
When we got back to the funeral home with the clothes, we were able to start discussing flowers. We had seen some in a viewing room that were gorgeous in color, but not quite manly enough. About this time my uncle Calvin and aunt Jody got there. It was great timing, because mom was real hesitant to make this decision without Calvin. She told/showed him what she was thinking about and he was fine with it. The casket arrangement was beautiful. The grandkids, and great-grandkids had an arrangement that complimented the casket arrangement. It was all so pretty and tranquil. Elva, his wife, wanted to have an arrangement of roses and baby’s breath, so they ordered one that could go to her in the nursing home when the funeral was over. It all came together real nice.
We left there and picked up some lunch then went back to the farm. I think Christy was there by then. She brought Mavrick over with her, so I had two of my boys then. It seems like we worked around the house for a while then. I think we were looking for Pop’s Mason’s Apron. They wanted him to being wearing that too because the Mason’s were a huge part of his life. I call it his fraternity.
Later, Mom, Dad, Calvin and Jody went back to the funeral home to make sure Pop looked ok and that everything else was in order. Christy and I went in a little later with the kids. It was Mavrick’s first time to see an actual dead body. Angela, our neighbor who died in September was cremated. So, I had to talk with him about what he was going to see, and that it was just a shell and his spirit was in heaven with Jesus, and Granny, and Uncle Michael. Mavrick did amazingly well. He looked at him for a minute or two. He is an emotional kid, but he did really well.
The rest of the day was a blur, but I know that that Saturday and Sunday were the longest days of my life. Mavrick slept with me and Major in our full sized bed that night. He slept in an “L” shape, which left very little room for me and Major. Oh well, I wasn’t really sleeping anyway.
That brings me back to last Saturday. Saturday morning, mom and I had to deliver Pop’s obituary to the funeral home by 10:00, so we left the house at 9:00 and went by to get a picture that his sister printed for us on the way. We delivered the obit, made corrections on a copy they printed for us (which didn’t all get corrected!) and then went to find a florist. Being a holiday weekend, there was not one single florist in town who was open. We went back to the funeral home to see if they knew of one that may be open, and they have a florist. Yea! But she was not in yet.
So, we went to the western store and bought some clothes for him. We got him a very nice outfit, that he looked great in. I could just see him going dancin’ in something like this. They used to go to dances down at the lodge. It was so sweet, and they were so cute! He was so handsome. He was never much of a coat and tie guy, so we got him jeans, an nice shirt and a bolo. My mom had wanted me, Christy and my two cousins to pick out the clothes. Christy was coming that day, but wouldn’t be there until about 1:00, and my cousin called me the day before and said that she and my other cousin trusted us to pick out something nice. Christy said to go ahead and get something because everything was taking longer than she had planned. It worked out well, because mom really wanted him dressed as soon as possible.
When we got back to the funeral home with the clothes, we were able to start discussing flowers. We had seen some in a viewing room that were gorgeous in color, but not quite manly enough. About this time my uncle Calvin and aunt Jody got there. It was great timing, because mom was real hesitant to make this decision without Calvin. She told/showed him what she was thinking about and he was fine with it. The casket arrangement was beautiful. The grandkids, and great-grandkids had an arrangement that complimented the casket arrangement. It was all so pretty and tranquil. Elva, his wife, wanted to have an arrangement of roses and baby’s breath, so they ordered one that could go to her in the nursing home when the funeral was over. It all came together real nice.
We left there and picked up some lunch then went back to the farm. I think Christy was there by then. She brought Mavrick over with her, so I had two of my boys then. It seems like we worked around the house for a while then. I think we were looking for Pop’s Mason’s Apron. They wanted him to being wearing that too because the Mason’s were a huge part of his life. I call it his fraternity.
Later, Mom, Dad, Calvin and Jody went back to the funeral home to make sure Pop looked ok and that everything else was in order. Christy and I went in a little later with the kids. It was Mavrick’s first time to see an actual dead body. Angela, our neighbor who died in September was cremated. So, I had to talk with him about what he was going to see, and that it was just a shell and his spirit was in heaven with Jesus, and Granny, and Uncle Michael. Mavrick did amazingly well. He looked at him for a minute or two. He is an emotional kid, but he did really well.
The rest of the day was a blur, but I know that that Saturday and Sunday were the longest days of my life. Mavrick slept with me and Major in our full sized bed that night. He slept in an “L” shape, which left very little room for me and Major. Oh well, I wasn’t really sleeping anyway.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
