Rip Van Winkle Syndrome......

This is absolutely how I have felt about the last three weeks.  It is a totally missing segment of my life. 

I woke up this morning and realized I had been pretty much secluded here in my house for 21 days (well 7 of those were  in a hospital and I have very little recollection of the time line there.) I am ready to bust out.  I am so ready to have my mojo back.  I opened the front door this morning and thought... we have gone from summer to full on fall while I have slept my life away.  I have missed three whole weeks.  Thanksgiving and Christmas are upon us and I am still in Brooklynn's birthday party mindset. (Oct. 6).  What a really crazy feeling.  I think I came home with with residual narcotic hangover and I am blaming part of my loss of time on that.  The rest of the time....I think I was just afraid.  I was scared to do anything for fear of doing damage to a surgery I never want to repeat. 
So, today I am moving on.  I want my life back....the days I usually treasure instead of dread.  I am getting dressed and going outside and work in the flower beds.  That looks like a normal day to me.  I need normal.
Being sick made me realize how important healthy is.  Staying in the hospital and seeing so much illness around me woke me up.  I have had too many reminders lately of serious illnesses and what so many people are facing.  I have a good friend whose 38 year old wife is facing bone marrow transplant #2 for a cancer that has returned three times.  This is only one of too many equally sad stories.
I am well...maybe sore but well and I am moving on.  Too many things to celebrate...no more time for naps!

Can You Say.....Finally?......

It was a long time coming....a LONG time.  It might have been I was much more impatient than Heather was while we waited for Drew to take the big step.  Maybe in her mind she knew it would happen someday.  As for me, I was afraid Heather would just become frustrated after almost three years and LEAVE!  And if that happened I would loose the prospect of having a perfectly wonderful daughter in law.

BUT......

Relax Mama

Heather has a ring and Drew officially has a fiance. That seems a bit funny when it is your youngest but my youngest is now 28 so I don't think he jumped the gun!  I see happiness, in both faces.  It feels so good.  That is all we desire as parents is to see true happiness.  Sometimes the road to getting there is a bit bumpy but that is what makes the finish line even better.

Congrats almost new family member!  We love you and think you are a perfect fit!

Turning Three!...

 How can it be that our precious Brooklynn has just turned three.  For a week before I actually prayed for the clock to slow down a little so that I could enjoy those last precious days of the terrible twos that were never terrible...only delightful!

 But the day came anyway and to celebrate a "CUPCAKE"s birthday nothing but a bakery would do. 

 A houseful of kids decorated, ate, decorated, and ate some more!!!

 It was the perfect day for lots of sugar and a backyard slide...what kid does not find that the best day ever!

Oh Brooklynn, if you only knew how much joy you brought to my life.  There simply are not words to tell you how blessed I have been since your arrival three years ago.  You are a bundle of energy that brings sunshine with you where ever you go. Your mind amazes me.  How can so much knowledge be contained in such a tiny little head?  You make me laugh every day.  And snuggles....a sleepover and those little arms wrapped around my neck is pure heaven. 

Happy birthday precious girl...you are a gift!

The Pretty Side Of An Ugly Week......

I was out of commission for a week...not by choice I assure you.  I was the victim of a medical procedure gone terribly wrong.  A simple endoscopy turned into an ambulance ride, emergency surgery, three days in ICU, and too many continuing days on the surgical recovery floor.  I did not really have time to process this while it was happening.  Fortunately I was sufficiently drugged with medicines that made me experience some pretty colorful dreams while under the influence.  Now that I have come back to the much appreciated comforts of home, I can look back on a week that I never want to repeat.  Last Monday I left the house for a short test and was looking forward to coming home to a pot of homemade potato soup and a diet coke.  I never made it home.  A puncture in my esophagus left me in extremely critical condition.  I did not realize until after the fact how serious the situation was.  I was terribly unlucky....but lucky at the same time.  The medical team that caused this catastrophe was followed by another competent medical team that successfully repaired some extensive damage.  I am well...recovering well.  It could have had another not so pretty out come.  Thank you to some amazing surgeons, patient nurses, loving family and friends and a God that has a few more days planned for me to hang out down here on earth.  I did not know that a plateful of canned fruits and some cheerful flowers could be such picker upper in an otherwise not so pretty week.  It is really about the simple things!

Just Because......

Some days it is just about things that make me smile!