Out of the Mouths

 A child's brain is an amazing organ.  One that, they say, consumes so much information from birth to age 4 that an adult's brain would burn out.  I love that you can actually see the wheels turning as they take in, process and retain what they see, hear and now (at age 6) read!  

  The other day Jett was telling us that when we die; Bailee, Papa Today, me and even his parents, he will visit our "riprocks" and bring us each a flower.  Riprock, you say? we did too...and then after listening intently, we realized he was remembering seeing a headstone at mini golf when they played last week.  To him, it was just a large rock and written in bold print was R I P...hence, the riprock.. One of my very favorite kidisms to date!

Earlier in the day, he had noticed a lingering hair on my upper lip that had been overlooked by my favorite, never to be misplaced or uncharged, aging women's tool...the mustache and chin plucker. He touched it carefully, contemplated his next remark very carefully for an unfiltered child of six and claimed I very closely resembled a catfish!!!  WTH.... 

The honesty and ability to be forthwith with his thoughts is something that brings me great joy. He is now old enough to know that occasionally, he should keep his thoughts to himself but seldom has the ability to do so.........much like his Grandma!♥

The Waiting Game!

 Never has patience been my strong suit.  I have learned, with age, to understand, to some degree, that I can't change much.  (did I need all those commas?)  After nearly seven decades, I know to take long deep breaths, trust that all will be well, pray and know that I can handle whatever the outcome of my waiting brings.  I tried typing those words and now I will try to live them!

Jeff is in Rochester for another procedure. You'd think I would handle them better each time but......Lee drove him there and I stayed back to get the kids off to school and comfortably go about my morning routine.  For old people, that's dressing without tipping over, coffee, breakfast, bathroom and these days "wordle!" Being competitive on the toilet is sometimes a challenge.  If I ever get it in two tries, I'll be happy I'm on the thrown as I will definitely #%@* ! Now everyone who reads my Wordle daily achievement will know where it was accomplished! Oh well!

Back to the virtue of patience. This morning I am hearing every tick of the clock so a little 60's Beach Boys is in order. Being home alone is usually a peaceful perk that seldom happens these days.  Today it's much too quiet.  With my phone close by, I will hum a few tunes, chat with Alexa and pass the hours till a phone call comes. It's hard to do all that with your fingers crossed but I'm getting better. Arthritis helps as most of my fingers are already bent in criss- cross fashion. 

Wish me luck, Wish Jeff luck and keep those amazing Doctors in your prayers.... They control so much...including my waiting game!

Soapy...or Sappy!

 I once thought how cool it would be to be "in" a soap opera!  Lately I've realized...I am!!! I used to think how awesome it would be to fall off a cliff and die and return a few years later, or have the ability and stamina to marry your father's brother's sister's niece's dad and have it be completely normal. Or possibly have your adopted child forfeit her ability to parent, move away, move back, get arrested and then decide to give it another try...with a completely new child.  "How twistedly normal would all that be," she said rhetorically!

Thankfully, in a soap opera these are just written words portrayed by second class actors (IMHO!)  In real life, they're the events that are the onset of gray hair, stress related illnesses, wrinkles and premature aging. Who doesn't want all that in their daily life!

In a soap, you can just turn off the boob tube and carry on with your everyday activities. Probably a second thought isn't given to anything you watched unless a friend asks what you thought about that day's episode and you hash over the what ifs!  With age comes wisdom, premature or otherwise and is one welcomed advantage. After the past 12 months, I am no longer blindsided by any event. The "you're supposed to(s)" are in the rearview mirror and no longer affect my thinking!  Fingers crossed that all (well, most) drama outside of the soaps affects me as much as the drama inside.  

The rules are actually quite simple:

• Love the ones who love you back
• Mind your own business
• Give second chances (only)
• Offer advice when asked and take it when needed
• Breathe, relax and carry on   

100 ....a very scary number!

 Today is Jett's 100th day of Kindergarten.  He's already wise beyond his years as this is actually his FOURTH year of "school!" Two years of pre-school, one year of Pre K and now K. He's top in his class. (his teacher actually said so and we knew it anyway;-)  He does math in his head, reads like a second grader and colors like a toddler.......Oh well, 2 outa three ain't bad!!!  We finally realized his coloring was mostly scribbled as recess depends on finishing your work.... She obviously never said to finish it neatly!  The attitude may change when they make him redo it next year to achieve recess time....

Last night he gave me a hug and shared that he was so sad for me........I questioned his sadness and found out he was sad because I was so old.  Then we were both sad!!!  Oh well, he's not wrong. Becoming a septuagenarian is not the most exciting milestone:-( The only saving grace is that most of my friends are already acclimated to the term and the rest are joining this year.  We are beginning to expect less of each and are tickled when we can remember past experiences and each other's names.  I got on my knees yesterday (rare occurrence) to dust under a table and was pretty sure I'd be there until someone came home. I finally rolled onto my side, grabbed the table leg, sat up, banged my head, cussed profusely and decided any reoccurring dust was there until my demise!  Such limitations I will learn to live with besides who the hell is ever under my table anyway?

My friend's Mom is literally GOING to be 100 in 2 days and my Mom would have been this year as well. I tried explaining that to Jett and he thought it was quite humorous...as is most every story I share. He practiced walking as an old man with back trouble but thought that wasn't the best way as an old man would most definitely fart a lot if he really walked in that position!!!   Once again, wise beyond his years.

I guess I'll just dress up as a 70 year old and accept the fact that the makeup is already applied...permanently!!!!

6 on 6

 Another birthday is in the books! Jett turned 6 on the 6th.  He had a party at his Mom's on Saturday and a little party here on his birthday!.  Aunt Kyle and Uncle Ray joined us for pizza and presents.  He loved everything...especially "the cash!"  (Ok, that's starting early)  He's a pretty good saver so hopefully he's on the right money train.

It sure seems that once the number 5 birthday is over, he becomes a little man. Kind of like going from 17- 18 and you're supposed to be a different person in that 24 hours...Nope...doesn't work that way. He still likes to snuggle, give kisses and hugs and tears are still near the surface for boo boos and hurt feelings! He did have his bed moved into a different room than Daddy's and he slept all night.  Just a little preemption (and practice) to sleeping away from Dad in their new house!

Kids back to school today after a 3 day week-end for Jett and a four day stint for B.  Water main break in the village for Thursday and our first snow day for Friday. They enjoyed that.. This year they are back to actual no school, no work snow days. During the peak of the pandemic, snow days became virtual days with work to be done! I never thought I would say this but I can't wait for Bailee to be finished with high school.:-(

Our college and "major" decisions will begin next year. I'm hoping that will be fun for us both.  I am looking forward to a good student who wants to go to college and understands the complexities of the process and the outcome.

Lee off to Florida this week.... MY vacation begins :-)

I'm Baaaaack!

 It's been a crazy few months with healthcare, grandcare, holidays and winter. Today is groundhog day and according to the movie, we keep reliving the time over and over again....."PLEASE GOD, NO!"  Today is actually sunny, about 20 degrees warmer than it has been for the past several weeks and the literal calm before the storm... Warnings and watches abound as we're expecting 6-12 inches of snow...Oh no!!!! Listen folks I'm at the end of my 70th year here on earth in this crazy, volatile, ambiguous state where anything can happen and usually does.  A foot of snow will neither panic me or slow me down..... well maybe slow me down a little. It's winter here in February and nobody should be surprised if it snows.  Snow actually beautifies what usually has become icy, dirty or too crappy to enjoy.  The kids will hope for a snow day, which actually has been restored to an absolute day off...no remote learning, just a stay in your jammies day or suit up and play in the white stuff.

Trying to catch you all up while I've been on sabbatical would take too long, too many words and stories that even I couldn't make up. Suffice it to say, It's been a long few months. Jeff has been gaining in strength, Bailee has been killing it in academics and Jett has been growing up too fast. He'll be 6 on Sunday!  Jeff is in the process of building a barndominium on his new land, Bailee is looking forward to her Junior year when she will be spending 11 days in Spain and Portugal and Jett will be getting settled in his new digs and organizing his Minecraft clubhouse. (no worries, I don't know what Minecraft is either.) As long as we all have things to look forward to, we're good!

Every day for me still comes filled with worries and "what may be" but I'm learning to live each day on its own merits and not invite or obsess about the future. Life literally will be what you make it with various hiccups along the way. When they arrive, I'll hold my breath or even drink out of the opposite side of the glass (what's in it is my business!) I have pledged to myself to write at least once a week or maybe more.  Quiet time is at a premium these days and I treasure it knowing it will change soon and I'll love that too. 

For now, Happy Winter, Happy 2-2-22, Happy Groundhog Day and I'll pen (or type) something insightful soon♥

What a Difference a Month Makes!

 It has been the worst of days and the best of days!  A month ago today, Jeff woke feeling worse than normal.  He was filled with too much fluid that was literally drowning him. We headed to Ithaca hospital (which might have been a mistake) with hopes of no wait time in the ED.  As it were, his blood pressure was critically low and the some action finally began.  We spent the most part of the day in the ED where they put in a central line to get BP meds directly to his heart.  Finally the decision was made to transport him to the closest large hospital with an ICU bed... Upstate here we come.. They transported him via ambulance and a nurse.  Once in the ICU, he was evaluated and it was confirmed that his liver and kidneys were failing.  NOT a good prognosis.  The nurses and most of the Docs were exceptional. One Dr. in particular obviously failed Bedside Manner 101 and will forever be on our "Shit List!"  Finally, after a few days of pleading with them to call Strong, where we had been doctoring for 6 months, a young resident took the initiative and called Rochester. Another wait for an open ICU bed there and "we" were on our way, once again via ambulance and a nurse, to U of R/Strong Memorial Hospital.  Our highest hopes included addition to the transplant list...ASAP.... time was running out. Sunday, the transplant surgeon said a liver had been located....and a few hours later, "an even better liver was secured!!"  Upon reflection, I marveled at the fact that an organization that covers the entire United States had not only found a liver but found a second one even better suited to Jeff.  They never stopped looking for something  better.......AMAZING.

This team of amazing men and women gave up their Memorial Day to save the life of a man they only knew by statistics and charts.  They stood for 12.5 hours to painstakingly disassemble the torso of a human and replace the largest organ (albeit the skin) that virtually runs your system.  Words escape me....(I know ;-) 

The next couple of days were very scary. Intubated and tubes from every orifice were frightening for not only Jeff but Lee and me. Nobody ever wants to see their child in a life and death situation unable to communicate. By Wednesday, the vent was removed and those big, beautiful eyes opened clearly...and were WHITE.  Each day progressed a little more.... We waited for the kidneys to "wake up" and they did. We waited for the fluid to go back where it belonged and it slowly did. We waited for a full, regular diet and we got it... An oddity of the first few weeks was his taste buds had changed and everything that used to taste good...was pretty yucky.  Of course, with hospital food, identification was even tricky.  Finally a move from the ICU to the Organ Transplant floor.  Yep, a whole wing dedicated to organ transplants.  PT began, heading to bathroom, moving from chair to bed etc. all started to materialize. Then......."you can go home this afternoon." 18 days of hell and a new liver and we were headed to EIEIO.  Hallelujah!

We had the support and prayers of one hell of a group of friends and family. I never would have survived this 3 week journey if it weren't for so many concerned friends who were family and family who were friends! Jacki and Ally Brown literally lowered my stress level by merely existing. They took Bailee under their wings during the last few weeks of school, they took her to job interviews, covid vaccines and everything in between. A safer more nurturing harbor has never existed. They even all journeyed to Rochester to spend the toughest week-end ever with me.  NO words will ever be written well enough to express my gratitude and love.  I mean seriously, who finds a liver cookie cutter and makes perfectly delicious pink smooth, non wrinkly cookies to share.. That's you Ally B♥  I would not have made it through the intricacies of modern medicine and lab results if it weren't for my family Docs, Dr. Dyer and Dr. Sweet and my in-house nurses and NP,  Mary B. and Kelly P. You two rocked my uneducated world. Then there were my prayer warriors. I have never been as blessed as I was (am) with everyone's outstretched hands and warm hearts.  If I ever thought my 69 years of "Our Father, who art in heaven" was whispered to deaf ears, I was mistaken. As Bailee calls him, Sky Daddy heard us loud and clear!

We are home in our happy place surrounded by food, good wishes, phone calls, visits and friends and family. Life is good and we'll count our blessings day and night for that wonderful organization that searched the country for a liver, the team of surgeons and nurses who saved Jeff and nursed him back to life, the amazing family that rallied and never gave up hope and to Sky Daddy himself (or herself) that reunited Jeff and Jett for the best Father's Day ever!

Life is short....LIVE it!!!!!!!