Things I Love

Things I love...

My husband, because he takes care of me when I need taking care of, and leaves me alone when I need to be left alone.

My son, because he is more like me than anyone but me knows.

My daughter, because she is so different than me.

My dogs, because they have such funny personalities of their own.

My house, because it's home.

My car, because it's paid for.

My job, because I have one, and it's not in danger.

My computer, because it's my link to the outside world.

My books, because they are my pay to my own little world.

My friends, because they make me laugh AND cry.

My church family, because they are my real family.

My Savior, because without him, none of the rest would be possible.

What do you love?

Positively Positive

I realize that all of my posts lately have been on the not so positive side of things, so I am determined to post a positively positive post. Here is my top 10 positive things (or at least the first 10 I can think of).

1. Paige had a good report from the dr. and is healing well. She will be out of her cast 2/5!

2. Jacob made straight A's for the semester and actually made a 100 in Math this 9 weeks!

3. Our yard improvement project is past the tree cutting stage, and will most likely be through the stump grinding stage tomorrow, and my yard looks so much bigger and better already!

4. I found an old church friend on facebook and had the best time chatting with her til midnight last night. It sure is fun to catch up!

5. I am so excited about all the babies that are coming this spring/summer!

6. Frank is loving his English class and is doing very well in school!

7. I have new, fast, wireless internet at my house...no more 'borrowing' linksys from the hotels nearby!

8. Because of #7, I can watch netflix on my computer!

9. No one has had the stomach virus at my house this week!

10. My life is good!

I feel better already. I hope you have a positively good day/night!

Ah, The Weekend is Over

Another weekend has come and gone way too quickly. We did make it to Tara's Tea Thyme, and I did finally get the Christmas Tree down, so I'd say it was mostly successful. Frank is still very busy and I saw very little of him. I'm actually looking at the back of his head as he is hovering over homework now. Jacob had a big weekend...he is now the proud owner of a truck that is 10 years older than he is! Frank has been itching to get a project truck for Jacob and since he will be 16 in just over 3 more years, he HAD to get one now. Actually, it was a friend's truck, and too good a deal to pass up. Jake was very cool about the whole thing, until everyone was gone Sat night and we were headed to bed...then he asked could he have the keys to "his" truck. Uh, NO! He wanted to wash it, but I wouldn't let him do that either. After all, it was 40 degrees and raining. He has taken pictures of it from every conceivable angle with his cell phone. My sister went to the dr today, and RJ is definitely RJ, not Caroline. Everything looked good, except that he has a small amount of fluid around each of his kidneys. They are going to keep an eye on that, but didn't seem majorly concerned. I remember my cousin had to go to the same dr because of a kidney irregularity with her baby boy and he was born completely healthy.

On a completely different note, Frank has the opportunity to get extra credit in his English class if he goes to see Romeo and Juliet at the Shakespeare Tavern in Atlanta. Does anyone want to go with us? It's anytime in the month of February. I've always wanted to see a play at the Fox, and this is across the street to the Fox, so I'm a step closer. Thank you, Ms. Zipperer!

Ah, The Weekend!

I am so glad it's Friday. It has been a very hectic week, with the tree demolition, the roof demolition/rebuilding, cooking for 5 every night with enough leftovers for a crew of 9 every day, and Frank being "gone" every night! I am exhausted. Frank started school, and he's working his real job, working on the house, and doing church stuff 3 out of 4 nights a week then coming home to do homework til 11 or 12. Tonight he took dinner to one of his best friends who was released from the hospital today. I really miss him. I feel like we have just passed each other all week. I don't begrudge any of the things he was doing this week, and they are all very important and necessary and I know all that, but I do still feel lonesome. I don't know if he is working tomorrow or not...at one time this week he planned to. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The roof is done! Frank's dad left about 7pm going back to Bainbridge. Frank and I have Monday out of school, but the kids don't. I am very excited about the prospect of hanging out doing nothing all day long in a quiet house. I am sure my husband can find 'something' to pass the time.

Paige goes back to the dr Thurs. We are going to squeeze a trip in to the American Girl Doll Store. She has invited her friend Tori to join us. I'd love for us to eat at their 'bistro'. I may have to send Frank to the food court during all this. I promised her lunch at Tara's tomorrow. Poor kid, she's had to eat home cookin' all week, it's killing her! Tomorrow it'll be quiche and tomato basil soup for her and she crab soup and something for me. Yum! I think this is going to be a really good weekend!

Projects

Paige is doing very well physically, and today was a much better day emotionally. The last few days have been very hard on both of us. She has been exhausted, I have been tired, and we have both had our share of meltdowns. Mine last night was made even worse by technical difficulties and a help desk that must have been housed in Pakistan or somewhere. I ended up on the office floor crying and Paige texted Frank to let kindly let him know that I'd lost it...Thanks Paigie! I actually slept very well after my meltdown and today was a better day.

Frank's dad is here to put a new roof on our house. We are also getting the trees in our yard cut this week, so its a mess around here! But eventually, when it's all done and grass has grown, it'll sure be worth it. I just wish I had thought to take before pics. I never take before pics, and we have done so much to our house, I really wish I had before pics to show the difference. I love projects and I can't imagine living in a brand new house with no projects (for Frank) to do. I love making something beautiful and special out of something that isn't...kinda like what God has done for us. He sees our beauty and potential underneath the layers of junk we have piled on ourselves. Even when I'm at the end of my rope crying on the floor, God is patient enough to keep working on me. I sure am glad he loves a project too!

Back to "Normal"

We are getting back to "normal" or at least as normal as it ever is around here! Paige is doing really good, and is going back to school tomorrow. She was probably ready today, and maybe even yesterday, but I was really expecting her to crash at some point. She did sleep 12 hours last night, but other than that, she is doing great. She says she has no pain, and the only way you know anything is wrong is the bright pink cast on her leg. She received a great balloon bouquet from her Aunt Caryn today, which included one of every type of candy bar known to man. We took her to Walmart and she was glad to get out of the house and very excited about buying colored sharpies so all her friends can sign her cast. Rick helped Frank this afternoon, then came to have dinner with us. Frank goes for orientation at GMC tomorrow, and registers for school. And in case you are wondering, Jacob is doing fine. I forgot about his ortho appointment today, so his braces are being pushed back until 2/5...and he's totally ok with that! He has a sharp new haircut and his little buddy Matthew is spending the weekend with us, so he's in fine spirits. And as for me, I'm going back to work tomorrow. Finally. Am I ready? Of course not, but it's a Friday, so it won't be too rough, and I am anxious to see those smiling faces again. I haven't seen any of my students since Christmas break...of course that's probably because none of them were hanging out in a hospital or dr's office! They all made cards for Paige, and I think that is the sweetest thing ever. I can't wait to hug every one of them tomorrow. I just wish I didn't have to get up so early to do it!

We're Home! For Real Now!

We are finally home! We had a decent night's sleep. Paige got up a couple of times to go to the bathroom, and actually tried to do this by herself. We slept til about 8:30 and laid around until about 12. We went to the mall and she "built a bear"...a koala named Kailee. She tuckered out pretty quickly, and wouldn't eat much lunch, then fell asleep on the way to the airport. Rick's plane was about an hour late, so we surfed the net from the truck while waiting on him. He was starving, so we stopped for dinner at Logan's Roadhouse...Paige ate a little better there. She is doing pretty good...she tires easily, and is a little grouchy, but she isn't complaining of pain hardly at all. This is how she was after her tonsil surgery, so I'm kinda wondering if she is going to 'hit a wall' in a day or two. But for now, it's going well and we thank you for your prayers.

We're Home! Sorta

Today was surgery day, and Paige did very well. When we first got there, we were informed that we'd be spending the night...this was not outpatient surgery as we'd been told earlier. The surgeon really made me nervous when he explained the surgery and how tedious it would be. But God's hand was all over this, because when the surgeon came out after surgery, it wasn't as bad as he thought it was going to be after all! We were able to leave the hospital tonight...it was about 9, but it's still better than sleeping in a chair. Paige was feeling so good when we left that she thought she was up to Waffle House (we were starving!). Once we got our food, she had second thoughts, so we wolfed our dinners down and brought her back to the hotel. She is now in bed sleeping, and we are snuggling down for the night. She never did really eat anything tonight,and she is very tired, but she isn't complaining about pain. She has a hot pink cast, and a swollen foot, and is a little cranky, but that might not be from the anesthesia. ;) Tomorrow we are planning to lay low here at the hotel, then go "Build a Bear" at the mall, then pick up Rick from the airport and go home. Thank you for praying for Paige!

Happy New Year!

Paige and I rang in the New Year sleeping...at least I was, she claims she was awake but she was asleep when her daddy got home around 1. He was providing "security" for a special event downtown, and Jacob was having a big time at the youth lock in. Frank's parents and his aunt from California came for a visit yesterday. We haven't seen his aunt in 8 years, so it was nice. She brought us a big breakfast basket from Cracker Barrell and his parents brought us sausage and bacon from down home, so we will be having breakfast for dinner one night. (I don't want to spoil my family by cooking a big breakfast!) Frank smoked a pork shoulder all day, and I made macaroni and cheese, roasted potatoes, black eyed peas, and a big salad (for the greens). So we did have a sort of traditional New Year's Dinner after all. I even made blueberry pie for dessert. I am such a Betty Crocker...or Sandra Lee without cocktail time! Frank and Jacob are working this morning, and Paige is still sleeping. When she wakes up, I think we'll sneak down to the man cave and watch a chick flick while the boys are gone. Nevermind, I just realized I can't get her down the stairs on crutches! So I guess we'll watch a chick flick in her bed (I don't want popcorn in mine!) Happy New Year!