Paige

Paige is scheduled for surgery Monday, January 5 at 12:30 at Scottish Rite Hospital in Atlanta. The pediatric orthopedist explained her injury in terms even I can understand. He likened it to pulling a weed in the garden. (of which I have a lot of experience from my youth) Her ligament is the weed. When she hit her leg, it pulled the weed (ligament) up by the roots...the roots are the chunk of bone that came out with it. In an adult, it would have snapped the weed (ligament) into two pieces. The surgery is to put the chunk of bone back in so that the ligament holds the two bones together like its supposed to. It is her PCL which is behind the knee, not the common ACL. Because it's behind her knee, it will be 'open' surgery, not the scope. He said there is too much going on behind the knee to use the scope. It will be outpatient surgery, but we plan on hanging out in a hotel til we are sure she is well enough to travel home. She will have physical therapy, and we don't know how long rehab will be. She isn't in a lot of pain, and is getting the hang of the crutches better here on the carpet. Today there is an American Girl movie marathon, so life in bed isn't so bad for her.

Frank's parents and aunt from California are supposed to come tomorrow. Should I cook the traditional black eyed peas and greens for them? Haha, what do yankees eat for New Years? I'm guessing it isn't hog jawls! Happy New Year!

Poor Paige!

Poor Paige! She fell off her bike not 2 hours after arriving at Red Top Mountain. And by saying fell, that's putting it lightly. She was whizzing down a hill, turning a curve, on wet pavement and pinestraw and skidded into a rock, flying through the air, busting her knee on a big rock. The blow was so hard that it pushed her tibia backwards and broke a piece of bone off that connected her ligament that is behind her knee off. That piece of bone happens to be part of the growth plate which makes things even more interesting. We spent 7 hours in the ER yesterday, and saw an orthopedist today. He is sending us to a pediatric orthopedist who specializes in sports injuries. This injury is extremely rare, especially in children. The only time they see it is usually in car wrecks where the leg bangs into the dashboard. So Paige hit that rock really hard. The good news is, it isn't her head! It could have been so much worse. We can fix the leg, it very possibly needs surgery, but its fixable. She is in good spirits, not a lot of pain, but walking on crutches is really hard on her. Please pray that we see the pediatric specialist soon and that if we need surgery, that it is done soon too. I'll update when we know something more. And when you are praying, please pray for baby Stellan too. His mama's blog is on my sidebar and he is very very sick with RSV.

Merry Christmas!

I hope that you have had as merry a Christmas as we have! I take back all of the things I have ever said about Frank's gift giving abilities. He and the kids gave me a bracelet I have been admiring since my jewelry store days (circa 1991) and the laptop I am typing this on! :o) Aren't these just the cutest kids you have ever seen?! I bribed Jacob with opening one gift early last night to get a good pic out of him.

My favorite part of Christmas is watching them open their presents. They never notice the things they didn't get, and are always very excited about what they did. Apparently I miscounted and Paige had more to open then Jacob, and as much as I worried over it, it didn't bother Jacob at all. They are really good kids, because my sisters and I would have had a hissy fit over something dumb like that. Frank's favorite gift was a watch...I got him good with a cheap watch under the tree and his real watch hidden in his stocking. Poor guy was trying to be excited about the el cheapo in the panty hose box, haha! Jacob's favorite was probably a civil war ps2 game that he didn't know existed and Paige's was her American Girl doll, Mia.

I am very blessed to be able to have given my kids the things they wanted for Christmas, and I know that the only reason I can do that is because of the gift we were all given for Christmas. Happy Birthday Jesus!

Ta Dah!

Our stockings are hung, on the mantle with care...in my beautiful new dining room courtesy of my wonderful handy husband and his right hand man!
Here are close ups of his handywork!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

I am so glad I am married to a handy guy! For Christmas, my husband is redoing my dining room floor. Just 2 years ago about this time, he was putting down off white carpet for me. Since we go in and out of the house through the dining room, as Jacob would say...maybe white carpet wasn't such a good idea. It wasn't really all that dirty looking, but it was hard to keep clean. Sooooo, today, Frank and his trusty right hand man, Rick, took out the old carpet, and have started a border around the room of hardwood. We had 3 boxes of wood left from the kitchen, but you can't buy it anymore, so we couldn't do the whole room. I saw a room in a book that used hardwood and ceramic tile, and he actually agree with me that it looks good, so I'm getting a beautiful new floor for Christmas. Two years ago, I got my kitchen for Christmas...pretty good gifts I must say! I complain about Frank not being the romantic type, and not buying good gifts, but he does make up for it with his handiness! :o) I will post pics of the finished product...or you can just come over and see for yourself!

As for the little patient, it's amazing how much a doctor knows! She did hit quite the little wall Sat/Sun, and is having a pretty rough go of it. Her breath smells like when you get a tooth pulled (blood) and her throat and ears hurt pretty bad. She isn't eating a whole lot at all, doesn't want to drink, and barely talks. It's kind of up and down though, because she was feeling quite well when texting me this afternoon about her world record she broke: typing 1000 dots on her phone in less than an hour! Woo Hoo! I'm calling the Guiness people as I type! Seriously, please pray for her continued healing and that she will drink, drink, drink!

And for me, I have 4 more days of work...we spent a LONG recess outside today which helped a lot. If we can go two more days without rain, I'll make it through. (Thurs and Fri are half days, I can do those no problem) 4 more days!!!

Thursday Evening

We made it through surgery just fine, and Paige is actually eating chicken noodle soup that she made herself. She has only had one dose of pain meds, but I am going to insist she take some before bed. I knew she was going to be alright when she asked about 4 pm what was for lunch!

Now I'm going to try to do something I've never done before...

It worked! Ta Dah! I finally feel like a 'real' blogger now!

The Big Day

Today's the big day. We are to be at the hospital at 7:45 for Paige to have her tonsils out. She isn't nervous...yet. I woke her up with 4 new sets of pj's, including some that light up, so she is a happy camper. I'm a little nervous, but know I shouldn't be. Please pray for us today. Pray that Paige will have no complications and a high pain tolerance. Pray that Frank and I will have a lot of patience for her over the next few days. (and with each other) I feel like this might be my last real chance to baby her because she is growing up so fast. I don't want to lose my patience and ruin it. I'm off to go get ready for "the big day".

O Christmas Tree

This week has flown by! After a year of planning, I get to finally decorate my Christmas tea tables. I still have some little things I need to get, and I know I will need to make a list or I will be making 20 trips to Walmart! I put up our Christmas tree tonight. Frank will have no part of putting up the tree...or taking it down for that matter. He and Jacob thought it should go in one place, and I gave in...at first. But when I realized I was the only one in the room putting the doggone thing together, I figured I could put it anywhere I please! And I did :o) And it looks lovely there. A bit naked, but lovely. I fluffed it all out and put the lights on it (oh why didn't I pay the extra $20 for the prelit tree?) but I haven't put the decorations on yet. Paige wants to help with that, and she had to go to bed, so it'll wait a little longer. But for now, I can go lay on the couch (after I fold the clothes that are on it) and bask in the glow of my Christmas tree...MY Christmas tree, and think about what else I must do to make those tables as absolutely fabulous as possible!

Sunday, Sunday

It's the end of my week off, and I'm back to work tomorrow. It's been a good week, and I've really enjoyed the time off. Did I get everything accomplished that I wanted to? Of course not. I did get some Christmas shopping done, read a whole book for pleasure (not work), and reconnected with an "old" friend. This week will be a busy week. Second grade is performing at PTA Tuesday night, and the Christmas Tea is Saturday. I love, love, love the Christmas Tea, and I went through all of the treasures I have been collecting for a year now to decorate my tables with. I have not decorated my house for Christmas yet. I don't like to decorate unless the house is perfectly clean, and for some reason, a week off leaves our house messier rather than cleaner. I still need to get a picture of my kids taken for a Christmas card. I started to do that one day last week and discovered that the camera's batteries were dead. Lucky kids. The house is quiet, and the kids are getting ready for bed. (I wish.) We came straight home from church and had chili dogs for supper, and it's amazing how much time we gained by not eating out. I'm already yawning, so I'm heading to watch tv in bed and hope it's a long time before 5:45 gets here. Goodnight!

Thanksgiving

In the attempt to wish Christmas here a little faster, I realize that I've forgotten to spend enough time giving thanks. I have so much to be thankful for, no matter what this and the past few years have brought me. I am thankful that, even though they are no longer here, I had a great Mama and Daddy and Granny. My mama always tried very hard to make holidays special when we were kids, and when we were grown ups, she had no expectations that we would be at her house on those days. She wanted us to make traditions with our own children. My Daddy was not into holidays at all, so it wasn't easy for Mama. She would always make a Thanksgiving meal, but we usually had it for supper because we would eat lunch at Granny's...two totally different meals! Granny's was all the Southern food..dressing, greens, that kinda stuff. Mama's was a hen cooked in a paper bag (she didn't think the 5 of us needed a whole turkey), oyster dressing, and homemade cranberry sauce. Needless to say, I liked Granny's dinner much better, but as a grown up, I realize how much work Mama put into hers. It wasn't the same food we always ate, she worked hard to make it special. I wish I had realized that back then. We have done lots of different things for Thanksgiving since Frank and I have been our own little family. I have had his family come, my family come, spent it apart, travelled and ate our dinner at Cracker Barrell, and spent it with friends. This year, we are spending Thanksgiving with our family...our chosen family, our friends. We are very thankful that we have more than just one type of family. Our family is the four of us...and I want to protect that bond fiercely, it's the ones we were born into, and what I am realizing more and more, it's the ones that God has placed in our lives. We may not be blood kin, but we have a special connection that is held together by the Holy Spirit. So, this Thanksgiving, I know that I will be thinking about the ones in my family that are not with us...I do love them and miss them more and more each day, but I will be sitting at the table with family that has been one of the sweetest gifts I've ever been given. And for that and much more, I am thankful.

One More Day!

One more day until we are all out of school for a week! Yippee! I have to take the kids to the orthodotist Monday at 8:00 a.m. (what was I thinking?!) but other than that, have nothing else I "have" to do next week. There are many things I want to do, but I'm gonna try to be as still as possible and make the week last and last! If I stay too busy, it'll fly by way too fast! We had Thanksgiving dinner with the youth last night, at school today, and are having it at Women's Ministry tomorrow night. I may be turkeyed out before the big day even arrives. (NOT!) I'll cook way more than four (or 40) people can ever eat...but I have a new freezer to put the leftovers that we won't ever eat in! I'm hoping to get just one nice picture of my kids to use for a Christmas card. Is 12 too old for a picture Christmas card...Jacob sure thinks so. I'm thinking about just using a picture of Milo and Rudy and labeling it Jacob and Paige. In case you don't know, Milo is a black lab and Rudy is a schnauzer! While they are quite good looking, they are nearly as good looking as the real Jacob and Paige...if they would just both look at the camera and Jacob would smile! When I get adventurous I'll post pictures of them...but chances are, Jacob won't be smiling. But this time tomorrow, I think even Jake will be smiling...School's Out! :o) See, I'm practicing already!

Super Saturday

Today has been a good day. I slept until after 8, and stayed in bed watching tv until after 9. Paige and I went to lunch at Ruby Tuesday and shared a chocolate tall cake for dessert...the highlight of her young life! (We brought home half of our lunches so we could save room for dessert!)
She convinced me to buy her silver earrings with pink "diamonds" so be sure to compliment her if you see her wearing them. We checked out the Christmas decorations at Wal and K mart, but didn't find anything I could live without except for a beautiful footed "flared" trifle bowl which will make a great centerpiece bowl. I wanted some new books to read, but I've been spoiled by the ultra-cheap book store near Valdosta, and could not bring myself to pay $11.50 for a paperback that won't last me more than a few days. We decided to see if the public library was open at 3:30 on a Saturday afternoon...and it isn't. We are home now, and I've got laundry to fold, and Paige has some pink diamond earring admiring to do. Frank and Jacob are playing golf in the youth tournament today. We're having tacos for supper! That's better than gourmet anyday for this group. I did see Sandra Lee making a delicious looking pumpkin bundt cake this morning that I'm thinking about for Thanksgiving. Hmm, I should go look up the recipe on foodnetwork.com...the laundry can wait!

Well, I've Lost the Mother of the Year Award Now

When Paige was only 2 months old, the doctor said she needed to have her adenoids removed when she turned a year old. When she turned 1, we were in the midst of moving to Milledgeville and the dr. we saw then said that there was no need to put her to sleep since she wasn't having any other problems other than loud breathing. Here it is, nine years later, and I've finally realized that the poor kid can't breathe! We saw the ENT today, and not only are her adenoids enlarged, but so are her tonsils! She will be having them removed Dec. 15. Don't you worry, she should be fully recovered by Christmas, and is already planning her recovery and the gifts she'll receive and the ice cream she'll eat. I imagine she'll have me a list of things she'll need for a proper recovery. She has no problem with giving me ideas on how she needs to be pampered and spoiled. If things go her way, it'll be like two Christmases! (And you know how much I love Christmas!)

Women of Faith

Isn't this weather beautiful? This was a beautiful weekend, and I thoroughly enjoyed being in Sunday school yesterday as a student. I really enjoy connecting with other women. I feel like I spend every waking moment with children and I spent way too long in a self-imposed isolation from adult female company, so I always enjoy just being with girls. One way that I "connect" with other women is through blogs. I hope you take a peek at the blogs I have on the side of mine. One in particular is MckMama. She is usually very funny, and has an amazing story of healing for her newborn son. But last night, she went totally in a different direction, and wrote a really deep entry. It goes right along with Sunday school and the sermons from yesterday, and it is about what we deserve vs.the grace we are given. Another amazing blog is Bring the Rain. If you read it from the start, you are going to need a box of Kleenex! Both of these ladies have been through horrible circumstances, but they praise God nonetheless. It encourages me so much to see women of faith like these...and like the ones that God has placed in my 'real' life. One of the many blessings that I have is the friendships of some fantastic, God-loving women. I don't deserve any of the blessings I've been given, and it's only through God's grace that I am so blessed.

Shop 'Til You Drop!

Paige and I had a great Girl's Day today! We had lunch at Tara's with two of our favorite peeps, Shelby and Cindy. Then we went shopping! Since we gave up trying to find clothes in the girl's department, life is a little easier for us. Belks had a great clearance sale with an extra 25% off, and we racked up for Paige. Lots of shirts, including tunics which she can wear as dresses with leggings. I got a few shirts for work...I'm sick and tired of the polos every day. My favorite store was Bath and Body Works today, and I even got a few Christmas presents...I just couldn't help myself. I know its too early, but I want to be in the Christmas spirit, so humor me. I did have these grand ideas of a big makeover today, with some new outfits instead of the same ole same ole, but shopping with Paige, that isn't going to happen. I get frustrated enough shopping and trying on clothes by myself, that with both of us in the dressing room, there would have been tears at some point. Instead I bought myself some hair color. Wish me luck!

Does the Control Freak Really Want to Let Go?

Frank and I were watching Oprah Monday (yes, he will watch tv with me so he can gripe about it), and it was a really bad Oprah, one about sex, but we are really bad people so we were watching it so we could talk about what freaks they were. Anyway, we were watching the bad Oprah and one teeny tiny part of the very bad sex show was about how the woman always was in control in their home about everything (this part wasn't exactly about the sex). The therapist had her husband completely plan a date, even pick out her clothes, without her knowing anything about where they were going or what they were doing. I told Frank that I thought that would be so cool to have him plan a date like that (but maybe not pick out my clothes!). He said no way, I couldn't stand not knowing what was going on. And he may be right. I always want to know exactly what is going on...I can't even stand to have to wait for Birthday and Christmas surprises. Whenever we go anywhere, I plan everything...except where to eat in Milledgeville, because I feel so guilty when the food isn't good. (Like it's my fault or something.) But I think the idea of him planning a date is so romantic. But then again, will what he actually planned be as romantic as the idea of it? I mean, duckhunting in the freezing cold may light his fire, but not mine! Hmmm, it's great in theory, but maybe we shouldn't mess with our successful system. I do the planning, and he goes along with it...kinda like watching Oprah.

Is it too soon to start thinking about Christmas?

I was looking at an Oriental Trading catalog during lunch (with 18 of my closest little friends) and got to thinking about Christmas. I wanted to get the kids new stockings with their names on them last year, but never got around to it. So when the kids were gone to Music, I did a search on personalized stockings and found velvet ones at Pottery Barn for $15, free monogramming, and free shipping. I bought one for all four of us because I don't think I can beat that deal anywhere. Even if I bought Walmart stockings, once I had them monogrammed, I'd have that much in them...right? I'm already way obsessed with my Christmas tea tables...yes, tables, I'm actually doing two of them. (If you need a place to sit, I gotta spot.) I almost took out paper and pen to make my Christmas gift list, but I know I'll lose it in my purse way before then. Maybe I'll back off of Christmas a little bit, and just enjoy Thanksgiving...we're going to see the Christmas lights at Callaway Thanksgiving night! :o)

First Blog

So, since I've been following so many blogs, I thought it was time that I start one too. So what do I blog about?

Frank: My husband of 16 1/2 years; opinionated, sometimes abrasive, brutally honest. He loves his family, his friends, his church, and God with all his heart. I couldn't ask for a better partner in life.

Jacob: My 12 year old son: very smart, handsome, growing up way too fast. He is so much like his daddy, but has more of me thrown in than people realize. I know that God has big plans for him.

Paige: My 9 year old daughter: drama, drama, drama! She keeps life interesting. She loves big, and when she hurts, it's big too. She looks just like her daddy, I'm sure she gets all her drama from him too!

And me, Cathryn: Blessed beyond belief. I have beautiful healthy children, a husband who loves me when I'm definitely unlovable, and friends who have become my family. Best of all, I have a Savior who made all of this and much more possible.