Update

Blogging from my ipad so I will apologize for typos in advance.
I am spending the day at the hospital.

Our sweet new Granddoll continues in the NICU but will probably be ready to come home on Monday.  YAY!!

Her little Mama is not doing so well.  She continues to have complications from having 3 epidurals during the birthing process - she is leaking spinal fluid, which in turn gives her horrible headaches, severe dizziness, and she has fainted 8 times.  Yesterday they performed a procedure on her called a "blood patch".  Have you heard of this before?  This was something new to me.  They actually removed blood from her arm and then gave her yet another epidural and fed this blood into her spine to clot all the previous epidurals.  When she awoke she felt wonderful - headache and all dizziness was gone!  But she awoke this morning to another awful headache and the dizziness has returned.  Not sure what comes next.  I'm sure this can be resolved but in the meantime she is feeling awfully sick.  We'd appreciate your prayers.

Thanks Bloggy friends!!

She's here!

What a Happy Day!

Brand new to the world!

Snoozin'.

She is in the NICU for a few days.

She had some fluid in her lungs at birth

so they are monitoring her and giving her

antibiotics.  They assure us she will be fine after

 4 or 5 days in their care.

We appreciate your prayers!

Here's her Mom visiting with her in the NICU.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * 

*Starbuck's Card Give-Away*

I have not forgotten the give-away.

As soon as our life slow's down, (which will probably be
when we get .everyone home from the hospital)
I will check the list and announce the Winner's.

Stay tuned!

_ed Le_ _er D_ y

I know every family has the occasional "red letter" day, a day that is significant in the history of a family.  Friday was one of those days for us.

We got up and left the house at 5:15 am on Friday and made the 6 hour drive to Tulsa, Oklahoma to appear in court at 1:30.  The issue was basically to decide what the future would look like for our Mom.  My sister and I met at the courthouse with out attorney.  Mom arrived shortly thereafter with her attorney.  The great news for that day was that my sister and I were made co-Guardians for our Mom. It was also decided that Mom would come to live with my family in Louisiana, but would also have extended visits with my sister and her family at certain times during the year.  This was a win/win, in that it will provide for the best care and also the freedom to move between the states of Oklahoma and Louisiana at will.  Mom has been diagnosed with dementia and our goal is to help her live her best life, with as much freedom and opportunity for happiness as we can make possible.

Now we're about the business of doing just that.
Yesterday we took Mom out for Mexican food.
Today we went to church then drove around our town showing her the sights.
Then of course we needed some lunch, so today it was Italian food.
Tomorrow we'll begin to find some type of routine that is hopefully pleasing to everyone.

Let it be known that I have the best husband in the world.

You can be sure there will be lots of stories ahead as we all make the adjustment to living under the same roof.

"Snaggy, Shaggy, Ratty, Matty..."

Isn't it strange how we get so much of our identity from our hair?!

I look at this picture, taken last week, and it totally does not "feel" like me.  In my minds eye I don't register having hair this short.  I'm still a bit surprised when I look in the mirror.  It's not even a matter of liking or disliking the cut - some days I like it, some days I don't.  Have you noticed when women face life threatening disease/chemo, often the first concern is losing their hair.  I get that.  I don't even think it's based in vanity, but rather in identity.

I've reached a time in my life that I don't want to spend extra time fixing my hair.  Gone are the teen days of sleeping on prickly hair rollers.  Anyone else remember doing that?  Gone are the days of harsh perms that left my hair fried in order to coax it into a curl.  Not gonna do that any more either.  Gone are the days of taking 30 minutes just to simply dry my thick hair.  No more!  Don't get me wrong.  I'm no different than you - I love my hair.  I just think I can learn to embrace having shorter locks that require a minimum of upkeep.  Mister LOVES it short - strange isn't it, as most men seem to prefer long hair.  The truth may be that he's grown tired of waiting for me to wash/dry/fix my hair.  He loves it when I can "get up & go" quickly.

Anyone remember this?

"I want it long, straight, curly, fuzzy

Snaggy, shaggy, ratty, matty

Oily, greasy, fleecy

Shining, gleaming, streaming

Flaxen, waxen

Knotted, polka-dotted

Twisted, beaded, braided

Powdered, flowered, and confettied

Bangled, tangled, spangled, and spaghettied!

Oh say can you see

My eyes if you can

Then my hair's too short"

'Fess up -

How long does it take you to wash/dry/style your hair?
How long has it been since you made a major change to the length of your hair?

Look & See

Stashia @ 35 weeks.

"Belly Pose"

February 20, 2013

Shower Pretties

H is for Haylee and they were delicious!!

Sweet Friends!

Stashia with balloon!

Stashia and Mom enjoying the evening of fun.

Sweet books to read to a sweet baby.

Someone is hiding behind those lovely flowers.
Could it be Aunt C?

Special Friends who planned this lovely evening.

Cake, Gifts, and Balloons, Oh-My!

Stashia you have lovely friends
that love you "muchly";
You.Are.Blessed.

Guess! Starbucks Card Give-away!

You have two opportunities to win a $10 gift card to Starbucks!

(Two gift cards will be awarded.)

This is open to FB friends as well as to bloggy friends.

Guess the day/date and time (am or pm)

when you think baby will be born

and you could win!

ALSO

Guess the birth weight, lbs & oz

and you could win.

No ties are allowed so the guesses will be listed as they are received.

If you make a guess which is a duplicate, you will need to

change your guess.

Full Disclosure:  Due date is officially March 31.

On Feb. 19th the doctor said she expected the baby

would arrive in about three weeks.

What do YOU think?

edited to add:  Last day for accepting guesses is Thurs., Feb. 28, midnight.

My "Happy Place".

It's no wonder green is my favorite color.
I know most people long to live by water, but not me. I'm a green girl, all the way.
Just yesterday the city was mowing the right-a-way alongside the highway and I caught the scent of freshly mowed grass.  Be still my heart!  Yankee Candle once had a scented candle, "Fresh Mowed Grass" (discontinued now) - I loved it!  When I feel the need to think about a "Happy Place" I picture myself on a large front porch swing overlooking a large span of green grass. I can hear birds singing and there is a bit of honeysuckle mixed with the grassy scent. There's just something about that setting that puts me at peace.

Everyone needs a "Happy Place" in their mind, don't you think?
You know, the place you think about when the stress gets to be too much; the place where your mind's eye settles when you need a break from the "here and now".

Tell me about your "Happy Place" - I'd love to hear.
You can leave a comment OR you can blog about it if you'd like, just be sure to let me know so I can drop by to read about it.  "Inquiring minds" and all the stuff. . .

"puffy" skin?

Geez, I was in front of my TV,
ready to watch the Grammy's
then I got this memo -

"Thong-type costumes are problematic. Please avoid exposing bare, fleshy under-curves of the buttocks and buttock crack. Bare sides or under-curvature of the breasts is also problematic. . [.the genital region must be] "adequately covered so that there is no visibly 'puffy' bare skin exposure" and "sheer, see-through clothing that could possibly expose female breast nipples,".

Is this better?

Given there is no wardrobe "mal-function", I always enjoy the bizarre, and sometimes skimpy clothes the celebs wear to the Grammys.  Just sayin'. . .

I'm thinking you probably disagree with me.

Which is absolutely alright - we can still be friends!

Just sayin' . . .

It was one of those days I woulda, shoulda, coulda, oughta, have had my camera with me.  I was driving down a busy street in our town when I came across a two block area full of . . .

Port-a-pottys.
They were scattered about - different colors, and in varying degrees of "newness".  Randomly spaced, some had been placed on an incline that looked as though they would tip into the tiny creek adjacent to them if anyone set out to really use them.  It takes very little to amuse me, so I found this quite the funny sight as I let my imagination take flight.  A couple of men wandered among them counting and plotting.  Mardi Gras parades were held this weekend so I'm sure this was a holding area before placing them along the parade route for the big day.  Seeing all of these made me think of  -

THIS!

I've heard my parents tell lots of stories about this familiar structure of their youth.  Some of their stories are funny, but none are very pleasant.

I will never again complain when I clean the bathroom.
I will never again complain when I clean the bathroom.

I will never again complain when I clean the bathroom.

I will never again complain when I clean the bathroom.

Just sayin' . . .

The law of 3's

I'm not superstitious.
Not at all.
I will walk under ladders and step on sidewalk cracks with nary a thought.
Black cats can cross my path, circle around me, and do a dance routine - I will scarcely even notice.  That said, it does seem that certain things beyond our control tend to happen in three's.  Does it seem this way to you?  When someone famous dies it seems that you can be sure that two other famous people are soon to meet their demise also. I don't understand it.  I don't explain it.  I don't even know if this is accurate, but it sure seems this way to me.

ALSO, when things begin to break around the house, it seems these things usually happen in three's also.  Maybe this is just the case with appliances in my house - does it ever happen to you in this manner?

Yesterday I left my broken vacuum at the repair shop and am hoping they can still get the parts needed to fix it. The repairman was guardedly optimistic.

A handyman came this morning and installed a new garbage disposal.  Yay!  This is one of those things I don't properly appreciate until it's gone.  Things get messy without a garbage disposal, ya know?!

Then yesterday afternoon I sat down at the computer to read blogs.  Didn't happen.
The computer FROZE.  I tried to reboot it "three" times, with no luck.
Mister bought a new one last night.  Yep, this old dog is having to learn some new tricks on the computer today.  We went from Vista to Windows 8.  I am one of those who enjoy doing things the way I've always done them before, but alas, I am thankful for the new computer and will put my mind to learning how to navigate online in a new way.

1. Vacuum
2. Garbage Disposal
3. Computer

I'm feelin' the joy today as I can count off THREE things that have broken and are now fixed, or in the process of being fixed.  WHEW!

Ready.Set...and patiently Waiting.

A brand new little Granddoll is expected

to "rock our world" in March.

Her Mom has the nursery prepared

and waiting.

The "wait" is part of the fun,
don't you think?

(

Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!

I'm having a dinner party for eight friends at my house tomorrow.  Since inviting everyone a few days ago, my vacuum has quit working and today my garbage disposal went out.  "HA!", I say.  I can laugh into the wind because it really doesn't matter - that's one of the blessings of being of a certain age; it gives you perspective.

On the flip side...I had planned to go to the store this morning, then come home to make a cake for tomorrow night.  I never made it to the store (long story).  I looked at what I had in the pantry and began grabbing anything that I thought might be a good blend of flavors.  I began with a Yellow Butter Cake mix.  Then, besides the usual eggs and oil, I dumped in a can of mandarin oranges, some orange yogurt, orange juice concentrate, and a handful of Craisins.
It.Tastes.Wonderful!

A good dessert can cover a multitude of "oopsies".
You can quote me on that!

Now, what shall I name my new cake creation?

Suggestions?  Ideas?

Love and Hate.

10 Things I Love About February

1. Valentine's Day
2. Super Bowl Commercials
3. Red 
4. Trees budding
5. Mardi Gras Parades
6. Sonic Chocolate Covered Cherry Milkshakes
7. "Punxsutawney Phil"
8. Feb.15th (31 yr cancer survivor anniversary!)
9. Heart Shaped Sugar Cookies
10. Spring Clothes in stores

10 Things I Hate About February

1. Weight gain from Valentine candy
2. Dreary, long days
3. Lawn Weeds
4. Nasty Cold/Flu Germs
5. No Family Birthdays
6. Pasty, white, Skin
7. Weight Watchers Commercials
8. Winter feet
9. Fluctuating weather 
10. "February" is not spelled like it's pronounced. 

Sound off now!

What do you love and what do you hate about February?

RUN. HIDE. FIGHT. Surviving an Active Shooter Event - English

This is not the usual type of thing I post, however I feel it is important and I want to share it with you. It is upsetting to watch, but it could save your life. (please ignore the short ad at the beginning) Trust me, it is worth your time to see this.

"Slow-Starter"

I'm a Slow-Starter.

But, change is coming to the Bayou, and I'm not just talking menopause.  Mom will be here to live with us in about a month.  The house is ready, but I'm not.

I've had the luxury of going to bed when I want and getting up when I want for a very-long-time.  I like it this way.  This little life luxury is gone now - I kissed it farewell the last day I slept well into the morning.  I've put myself on this new-fangled schedule so I'll be at least somewhat used to it when Mom arrives.

Now, I've got to go to bed at a reasonable time.
And then, the kicker, "I've got to get up at a unreasonable time."

I like organization.
I like order.
And if I want things to move as smoothly as possible I've got to gear my schedule to that of my Mom's.  From now on my alarm is gonna go off at 7 am.  Ready or not.

(Yes!  7 am is VERY early to me!)

My family has laid odds I can't do this.
I so love their support.

Flower Power.

Mister brought this beautiful rose home for DD yesterday.
It was "Gotcha" Day - marking the date of
her adoption many years ago.

Today he brought me home these beautiful roses -
"Just Because", which is actually the best reason,
don't you agree?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * 

I've been a little off my game this week.
A couple of days ago I tried a new recipe which would have been great if I had put the right kind of  peppers in it.  As it was, it was so flaming HOT that we could barely eat it.

Then yesterday my errands took longer than I had anticipated so we dined on sandwiches for dinner.

Today I cooked a big pot of soup and even if I do say so myself, it-was-WONDERFUL, perfectly seasoned and well suited for a winter supper.

Flower Power!

hi.ber.nate

This is how I roll most mornings in January.

There's just something about this time of the year which makes it extra hard to get one's engine going.  Are you feeling it too?

I want to run.

I want to dance.

I want to make beautiful music.

But what I want most is to get someone else to do it for me.

Know what I mean?

*giggle* 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

hi·ber·nate

intransitive verb \ˈhī-bər-ˌnāt\

hi·ber·nat·edhi·ber·nat·ing

Definition of HIBERNATE

1

: to pass the winter in a torpid or resting state

2

: to be or become inactive or dormant

— hi·ber·na·tion \ˌhī-bər-ˈnā-shən\ noun

— hi·ber·na·tor \ˈhī-bər-ˌnā-tər\ noun

Peek-a-Boo!

Today was such a SPECIAL day - Mister and I went with our DD for her 31 week ultrasound.  We loved the peek-a-boo the technology allowed.  We oo-ed and ahh-ed with each vision of her bald head, her brain, her kidneys, her feet and toes.  It's seems such a magical world to be given the right to view.  Everything checks out "perfect" for dd and for our granddoll.

We are thankful.
We are in love!

I couldn't have begun to imagine this last year at this time.
God is good!
I am weak, but how thankful I am that HE is strong!

"Do you see what I see?" and other ramblings.

Do you see it?

No.  Not the weeds!

Look closer.
A bud; the first of the season on my Hydrangea.
Can Spring be far away?!
(Yes.  It is a rhetorical question.)

Before.

After.
We gave everything a good "haircut".
Now we're ready for Spring whenever she comes calling.

I am so NOT a winter person
and I'm so thankful to live where Spring
usually comes early!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I bought a new can of Lysol, a BIG one.
I gave it a few sprays then the sprayer refused to work again.
I sent an email to the "Lysol" people.
I told them my situation and asked if they would
replace it.  I'll be waiting to hear back from them.
Do you ever write to the company when you're disappointed or have issues with their product?
I do.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Tuesday is a big day - I'm going to the OB with DD for her final scheduled ultrasound.  Mister is gonna meet us there too.  We're excited to get to see our Granddoll in "action".  We've seen her previous ultrasound pictures, but never the actual, moving, ultrasound.
I.Can.Hardly.Wait.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I know that a few of my recent posts have been heavy reading.
Thank you for your comments and encouragement.
I DO want this Blog to be light-hearted and mostly positive, so for that reason I am beginning another blog which will be exclusively about my Mom as she navigates her way through the dementia diagnosis.  If you're interested in following along on this new Blog, I'd love to have you as a FOLLOWER.  The new Blog is called, "Dink".    You can find it HERE.
I have not set up a new blog in a while so I hope I have it fixed where you can sign on to "follow" if you wish.   If you have any problems signing up to "follow" please let me know.  If you know anyone who is dealing with dementia issues, or has an interest in such things, please invite them to join the new blog.  I'd love to have you join me there too, if you'd like; however, this Blog, "SWEET TEA", will continue on and will remain as it has always been - whatever that means!  LOL

http://dink83.blogspot.com/

It's a New World . . .

We made yet another trip to Tulsa last weekend.
My sister and I, along with our Mom, had to make a court appearance.  Mom is currently receiving "respite care" in an assisted living center while my sister and I go through the court system of being appointed as Guardians for our Mom.  Mom has been evaluated and told by doctors that she can no longer live alone. We  have been advise to seek Guardianship for her.  Mom has dementia that has began to progress very quickly since November...Mom doesn't understand what is happening and is refusing to accept her diagnosis - therein lies the rub. 

When I first arrived in Tulsa I went to see Mom at the assisted living center.  When I saw her I hugged her.  She hit my arms and told me to keep my hands off of her.  I knew she had done this to others in the family, but somehow I thought I would be different.  Wrong!

We sat and visited with her.
She was clearly agitated and angry with us at times.
We talked about court and what was going to take place.  It was not a pleasant visit, though Mom seemed healthy and reasonably "settled" into her new environment.

The next day we visited Mom again, briefly.
I knew better than to approach her with a hug this time.  We talked about when I would pick her up for court the next day and what she would wear.  She was in a pleasant mood and seemed happy to see me.  When it was time for me to leave I "asked" her if she would give me a hug.  She did.  She teared up a bit at this time and apologized for behaving as she had the day before...I was pleased she had remembered.  I was pleased this had been a good visit. I love my Mom.

We (Mister, DD, and I) picked Mom up as planned the next morning.  I had feared she might refuse to go, but she was in good spirits and we left without incident.  We had pleasant conversation on the drive to the courthouse.  Their was laughter and light conversation on the drive.  We met my sister and her husband at the courthouse and we all waited outside the courtroom door for 1+ hours, until it was our turn to see the judge.  When the judge began to explain why we were in court Mom became agitated.  She cut her eyes to look at me and made a face.  She then told the judge that she had been brought to the courthouse under false pretenses.  She also said she had no idea why she had been brought there...Dementia is an ugly disease.  The judge asked Mom if she wanted an attorney.  "Yes", she certainly did.  Court dismissed so that Mom could obtain counsel.  Bummer!

We will make another trip to Tulsa for the next court date on Jan. 28.  Oh how I hate the thought of making another road trip. The irony is that because of the dementia Mom is fighting my sister and I who are trying to follow the doctor's orders by providing the needed care for her.  We want to bring her here to live with us (Mister, DD, and I) for as long as is possible.  It is my hope that this will happen soon so Mom can get comfortable here before our new granddoll is born in March.

After court Mom told both my sister and I that she hated us and she hoped we died before she did.  There was some profanity woven into her words.  If you're not familiar with dementia you will probably find this very offensive - if you understand dementia you will recognize this as simply "the disease talking". I tried to calm her, to no avail.  We took her back to her assisted living center and we began the long, cold, drive back to Louisiana.  It was a very long day!

I waited three days (hoping she would cool down) then I called Mom.
I expected her to refuse my call, but she didn't.
She was happy and upbeat.
There was no mention of court.
She was actually in somewhat of an excited hurry to be off to her Bingo game. 
My heart soared!

It's a  new world every day when dementia calls the shots.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Let the record show that I am now reading all sorts of materials about dementia.  I see some of the mistakes I made when visiting with Mom.  Some of her behavior is directly related to mistakes I made.  I should not have approached her quickly and tried to hug her - mistake #1.  I'll do a better job next time.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Please understand that I write this to document my life.
I'm definitely not pining for sympathy.
I understand that life has seasons and I feel honored (and a little scared) to make this journey with my Mom.  When I think of all the life journeys she has made with me, I am humbled.