A Symptom I Am Happy About

This is really ramblings about lots of stuff since I haven't been on for a while but the first one, though not the most important one is the symptom.

Well, you see, I have been afraid that I am getting Cushings again--and it has taken me a while to accept that possibility with a sense of peace about it. I understand that is quite the common thing in an illness like this. Well, anyway, the symptoms aren't huge but there. One of the worst I had before and have been having are the eye problems: bloodshot, dry, tearing and worst of all, blurring when I read or do computer. This is really bad for an old addict like me! So I have been sick and had company for the last couple of weeks and, lo and behold, my eyes are much better--no symptoms at all! Today, I went out and mowed for a couple of hours and, sure enough, my eyes gave me the same old fits. ALLERGIES, plain old allergies!!! Now, I never have had allergies to grass and outside before but since the Cushings has gone and lowered my cortisol, I have had some allergies. How very thankful I am for allergies!!!

And On to better things: The Family Came for a Visit!! I was thrilled, of course! David was here for a Conference in Nashville and so came to visit. Amanda didn't get to come, nor did Tim, and we missed them a bunch but the rest of the tribe was here and how very much The Dad and I enjoyed them! And how very quiet it has been around here since they left! I like the noise!!

Tara had the brilliant idea of putting their family into one room so we converted our bedroom/sitting room into a bedroom for them. I think it worked out pretty well but we will be having some new rules for computer use the next time! Also next time, to be fair, their family gets the downstairs "suite" and Jenny's family gets the upstairs rooms. Mark had his own "tent bedroom" downstairs which he loved. He may never want to use the "plain" bed again. Will have to adjust that for him and I am not sure Jonathan would enjoy it much. Oh well, we have more tents!!! They can all have one if they like.

And we celebrated Andrew's first birthday! Doesn't seem possible! And yet can't even remember life without these 2 precious little dudes. Since Adam's daddy wasn't here, we didn't celebrate his "Day" but he got his present from Uncle David anyway! Andrew had a ball with his cake, as you can see. We had a ball watching him--and now, today, he celebrates his "Real" birthday with his other Grandmother and I am sure she is having as great a time as we did.

Well, someone else wants Internet and so I will post the "Big Boys" photos another time. He has been so patient and hasn't even asked for a long time so to be fair... It takes a bunch of time to get them to download anyway and my attention span isn't that great. Have a nice day and God Bless you all!

Very Behind!!

I got way behind in my blogging the last couple of months and so now i have to use a bunch of blogs to catch up.

My first catch up and the most fun, I am sure, were my last 2 visits with the Noblesville contingent. The first one was a week, more or less, while the Daughter re-lived Civil War. The boys and I had a wonderful time! Little Adam was a bit traumatized as he absolutely hated to leave Mama--or Daddy if Mama was gone. Really, he was fine when they were out of sight and ear shot but if they were around, he had to be with them. However, as they were mostly gone, he tolerated Grandma really well. Cute as a little bug! He learned to use his sippy cup and really enjoyed it--and can that boy Eat!!! Stuffs into his mouth as fast as his little hands can shove. We played outside and he seemed to love the feel of the grass on his feet.

Mark was, as usual, so much fun!! Grandpa had sent him a "new" sandbox but didn't send sand so while he was waiting for sand, he transferred the 1 cup or so, of sand from his old sand box to the new one and was perfectly content playing in that! Yes, he did get sand a day or so later!! He and I went up to Ohio to the family there and took Jonathan his late, very late, birthday gifts. I was a bit nervous as I had never taken him a long way before. We had a ball! Going up, he was so very excited and chattered away. I was somewhat concerned as we left the gas station in his hometown on the way up when he questioned, "Jona-fen's house closer now?" Was it going to be a take-off on the old, "Are we about there?" But he just mentioned a few times that Jonathan's house was "far, far away." Oh, and he did say, "Jona-fen's watching at the window." We had a great time! He and Jonathan had a wonderful time and I was amazed at how well they shared. Jonathan was the greatest at sharing his new birthday toys and they would often ask, "May I please have it now?" Not perfect, of course, but perfect for their ages! Coming back, he was very quiet. You see, Uncle David and Uncle Brian had given him a tractor and some small cars they had had when they were kids and he was completely in awe. The whole trip back, he clutched the tractor in one hand while holding the tray of cars on his lap and rubbing them occasionally. I don't think he even took one out the entire 2 1/2 hrs we drove.

OK, so now this last weekend, we-Grandpa and I- went up for a quick trip. My high school alumni banquet was then and I decided to go for the first time. It was nice and I enjoyed seeing the "girls" and husbands whom I regularly see when I am Up North, but the best part, of course, was spending more time with the Grandguys. it is amazing how much they change over a couple of weeks!!

Adam has now given up his terror at Mommy's leaving and will let anyone hold him. Still prefers Mom but is OK with either grandparent it seems-or anyone else I guess. Guess what idiot forgot her camera.... But I was able to beg some photos off Tim anyway. We took up some special guests with us: 3 baby chicks whose mom got eaten (by raccoons if you're interested). They could have been left home with someone to watch them but we decided they guys would enjoy seeing them. Mark was ecstatic! He was amazed at their "little eyes" and "soft fea-vers" though he tried a couple of times to say "feathers" the "th" just wouldn't come through. He was really good with them but really enjoyed visiting with them. He was utterly thrilled that Grandpa was there and couldn't get over his good fortune at having him there. Jenny and I were thrilled that he was so thrilled! Little Adam just wanted to get into the box. He held out his little arms and leaned as far as Grandpa would let him! He had fun too. Mark tells me that the "Chicks are happy." and also corrected me when I called them "chickens."

Adam is Grandma's little Charismatic--YESSSSSSS! In church, every time the music would start, he would stand up, start dancing and jumping and even clapped his little hands once or twice. So cute! And when the music would stop, so would he! And he would settle back down. I loved it. Oh yes, did I mention that the music was How Firm a Foundation and Holy, Holy, Holy? Grandma was so proud. Not sure how he will fit into the Lutheran congregation!!! Maybe they will have to start going to the contemporary service (JUST KIDDING, kids!!).

Thanks to Tara for telling me how to get my photos where I want them!!!! I am so happy! And they all downloaded! Wheeeeeee! Life's Gooooooooood!!! This is getting too long and I was going to add my coming-home adventure but will have to make that another blog I think.

Woe Is Meeeeeeeee!

I've waited a week to do this one so I could calm down a bit! To quote my neighbor, Karen, whom I admire greatly, "Laaaaaaaaafe's Goooooood!" But last week I wasn't sure if it would ever be good again: we got us a new tractor! Now, by "new" I mean never before used by anyone! Never driven by anyone except out of the shop! Doesn't happen often to my extremely frugal husband.

OK, so far, so good. Now, as background, please realize that I had just driven 250 miles from the daughter's house where I had been for a week (more about that another time). I was tired and a bit fussy at best. All I would like to do is grab a soft drink-preferably one with caffeine-and relax. However, it was not to be.

In bounces my Dearly Beloved all excited for him announcing, "The tractor is ready-really this time. We can go get it!" Please note the "we." Which meant, I found out, that I, Big Mama, was to go also and FOLLOW THAT BABY HOME, lights flashing and all! Talk about panic-stricken, that was me. So we get there and find out no one knows how to put the dang thing in gear so we wait while Charlie comes back from dinner to show us. But small thing, right?

Well, we got out to the BUSY highway-rush hour in Henderson isn't as bad as Chicago but pretty nerve-wracking for this old gal right now. For whatever reason, the Dad decided he had to keep to the highways instead of the back roads so there we were, driving 10 mph down highways 60, 41, and then 416. Oh, and I failed to mention that because, it turned out, the wheels weren't turned quite correctly, he couldn't keep the thing in between the highway lines and many times went over the double yellow lines which, even in Kentucky, mean "stay on your own side!" We were passed, even on those yellow lines, by every imaginable vehicle including 18 wheelers who were probably the most polite of the passers by.

Took over an hour to get home and, I am happy to say, I didn't soil myself in any way though we had just eaten at McDonald's and I was nauseated enough to! As we were driving home, I was ready to kill him but terrified he was going to kill himself before I had the chance. PRAY, I surely did!!! And, at least The Daughter will know how I prayed: Please keep him safe but if he is I will kill him--or hurt him severely!

When we got home-yes, we did make it home-he came over very sheepishly and said, "Well, I guess I owe you big time." Actually I restrained myself very much but did say several things I should have been ashamed of but wasn't and am still not! It was the most foolish, dangerous thing he has ever put us through and will never happen again!! I did say that! So he even volunteered that he wasn't going to garage sales Sat. and would work at home, which he did mostly. But he hasn't taken me to my favorite restaurant yet--but he will.

Oh yes, the tractor is nice and when they finish fixing it, will be really nice--when he can drive it, I mean. And, boy am I annoyed now: danged pictures again! This is the 3rd time I have tried to load the photo of him and his tractor. Am still trying. Maybe this time!