Mother's Day and Weekend Fun

Good morning.  It's another wet morning here but should clear a bit later.  It had better because I have errands to run.  The photo is the dam at our cabin area.  Last weeks storms and monumental rains have the creek way up, up enough to let an air boat up the creek making a lot of noise.  We headed there Thursday and had a most wonderful time sitting on the newly screened porch and the new shades.  It was even cool enough in the mornings for a fire on the porch.  

Saturday night we hosted a fajita bar.  The weather could not have been more perfect.  Yesterday was of course Mother's Day and I kind of glossed over it.  It's hard to celebrate a day when you don't have a mother to call.  Oh yes, I should CELEBRATE her, and I do in my mind, it's just that I miss her sometimes too much on that day.  I do acknowledge the other mothers in my life, my daughters, who are fantastic mommas.  My darling mother-in-law, whom I miss dearly.  My friends, who are mommas.  My dear friend, Beverly, who lost her 94 year old mother just last week.  Mother's everywhere.  

Okay, now I am going to ask a question.  I have posted here on my blog for nearly 18 years and the reader traffic has been mostly non-existent BUT lately, I've noticed that I'm getting a lot of traffic.  My posts are getting like 45-85 reads lately.  What is up with that and who are they and WHY DOESN'T anyone at least comment.  Is it bots, AI, WHAT!  Just curious what is going on.  If you're out there, maybe say something please.  I don't think I'm THAT interesting, am I.  

Happy Birthday's

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the granddaughters!!!!

Actually, yesterday would have been my mother-in-law's birthday, her 96th.  

We certainly do miss her.  Last weekend we celebrated her, B and the babies.

This weekend we really celebrate the babies.  Min's 4th birthday party was a happening with tons of kiddos, squeals and laughter.  I was in charge of being the balloon taxi!  They had a friend doing face painting so I hopped on board for it as the afternoon was a block party in our neighborhood.

Today is Snicklefritz's actual birthday, her 11th.  Cannot believe it really.  They grow up so very fast.  

Tomorrow is Min's actual 4th birthday.

The week was really loud around here because we got a new roof.  It was very quick though, like 15 hours and they had the old torn off and the new put on.  Amazing.  I spent the time playing around with watercolor as I could not get my car out and didn't want too because of roofing nails.  

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day

This weekend I toddled off to Edmond for a Derek Penix painting workshop.  While away, just overnight mind you, this is what I came back to.  The sink, after only one night and one person in the house was nothing but glasses.  He is a funny guy with his glass usage.

I DID come home to this, an empty dishwasher, both drawers.  That has been his new thing that he does around the house is keep it empty and I just keep it loaded with dirty dishes, i.e. his glasses.

I also woke up this morning to a card and two vases of roses and carnations.

Part of the roses are going to his mother's grave today.  Her loss is still very fresh in our hearts.

The workshop was just what the doctor ordered.  Day 1 was slow taking off but was fun to listen, learn and chatter with fellow artists.

I've done many workshops over the years but this time I feel I've finally managed to scale the crap down that I bring.

Yesterday I managed to paint this little jewel and Derek actually said, "Fabulous Carla."  He has NEVER said that about my paintings.  I'll take the compliment.  It's not quite finished and hopefully I will get it all done tomorrow.  This week should be some quality time in front of my easel with my newfound feeling of wanting to PAINT!

Again, Happy Mother's Day to all the momma's of the world.  To my Momma and mother-in-law in heaven and to my darling daughters as they travel the world of motherhood.

Life's Tradegies

"The Path to Peaceful Thoughts"

16x20 oil

First of all, this painting is finished.  I painted it about a year ago and never signed it because it just didn't feel good.  I was not happy with it at all.  It sat on a shelf above my taboret table starring back at me.  Last week I started working on shadows, greens, light and the sky.  I worked and worked on it for a week and finally I thought, this is done.  I signed it and posted it on Facebook on all the art pages.  WOW, WOW, WOW, the response was awesome, especially on the art pages.  I've never had a painting get that many comments, positive comments, and the likes were over the top.  I felt my instincts were right about this one.  

Last week and this week has been so exhausting for The Hubby and his brothers.  Their mom is not much better after her stroke.  She is sort of verbal, you can mostly understand what she is saying, but she's not swallowing like they need her to.  They inserted a feeding tube in her nose but now want to put one directly in her stomach with another surgery.  That is a hard decision for them to make because we know she is hurting, that this is not what she wants her life to be, but she is enough aware that it's hard to just say no.  I watched my mother turn to the doctors, when they asked to put in a feeding tube, and eye to eye said a big, "NO!"  We watched her literally starve to death without food or water but it is what she wanted and it was really just a few days.  She was in such bad shape her body was just done.  I kind of feel Gloria is at that point too.  

The oldest brother is insistent that she not be alone at all so they are taking 5 hour shifts to sit with her day and night.  The sis-in-law, bro-in-law and our girls have also taken a turn.  I know everyone is wondering why I haven't taken a turn.  Frankly, I can't physically.  I can't walk the parking lot, the long halls and I CAN'T jump up quickly if she has an episode that needs to be dealt with.  My hip doesn't cooperate with that.  Also, I can't mentally.  After watching Momma take her last breath while sitting with her and all the times my siblings and I sat with Daddy all the times he has been in the hospital, and with him just passing, I JUST CAN'T MENTALLY DO IT.  I love Gloria, she is my dear mother-in-law, mother...I can't do it.  I'm just now getting my head on straight after Daddy and it's still not right a good part of the time.  I want to help, truly I do but I just can't.  So I help by watching the grands, or having dinner for The Hubby when he needs or get his milk for his breakfast.  I do what I can do behind the scenes.  I CANNOT go through that stuff again...crap, just typing this and I'm breaking down.  It's just all too fresh for me.  The Hubby broke down this afternoon and it was just heartbreaking.  They are all so very tired.  

Another Weight Loss Story: yada, yada, yada...

Good Saturday morning.  Last night the sirens roared but the storms weren't really close enough to us for that, in my opinion.  The threat was south of us but the entire region was put on alert, I understand that.  It was nice to open the window after the rain had stopped blowing in and feel the fresh air and smell the rain for a wonderful nights sleep.  It has been a stressful week with The Hubby spending his days at the hospital with his mother.  She is still there doing some occupational and physical therapy.  They cannot get her blood pressure under control and that is very concerning.  She has a feeding tube in her nose but I think they will be taking that out and putting one in directly to her stomach because she can't swallow yet.  She is communicating which is very encouraging but it is still a very long rocky road that won't get much better.  The boys, her boys, met with the hospital staff on Thursday evening about what is happening and today they go to meet with Montereau, the place where she lives in independent living.  The independent living will be no more so they have to look into assisted living or the nursing home part which is so very sad.  I just hate that for her.  The boys are just exhausted physically and mentally, I've totally been there with Daddy and Momma.  All we can do for them is support, talk, feed them, hug them.

On another note, the dieting thing.  I've been doing the Jorge Cruise 100 thing and so far 9 pounds down since Tuesday.  I already feel so much better and it's been pretty easy.  I have the same thing to eat everyday and that has made my life easy, not to constantly be thinking of food, buying food, planning meals...  I needed it to be very strict to get started.  This next week the evening meals will be changed up so I can include The Hubby in the food but he's just fine with that.  He said he would eat anything I put in front of him.  I can do this!!!

Update(s)

This lady, oh my dear sweet mother-in-law, she has been through it and her life as she knew it will never go back at this point.  She has no function on her left side although The Hubby said her left leg was moving a bit and that might be encouraging.  She hasn't opened her eyes but is responsive and tries to answer questions.  Yesterday they put in a feeding tube and the tech told The Hubby he hated to do that to a 93 year old but she is so much with us.  He told The Hubby to punch him after he was done and that is exactly what he did...of course not hard but it took a bit humor to deal with all that is going on.  The three boys, her boys are splitting their time staying with her.  They don't want her to be alone and I think that is very admirable and loving.  She has always been their rock growing up, there for them through thick and thin and it is appropriate that they are there for her during this time.

This photo was taken last year or so I believe.  This is how I want to remember her as a strong vibrant special woman.  It's hard to believe she was having such a good time with the family she loves so fiercely and the next she was down.  Kept me awake most of the night last night.  Not sure why it's bothering me so but it's probably because we lost Daddy not so very long ago.  

Another update on me and this blasted hip.  I went to yet another hip doctor on Monday and he pretty much told me the same thing, I'm FAT, but, he was much nicer than the last guy.  He said that I needed to lose 20 pounds in the next 2 months and then we will be able to proceed.  The other guy just walked out of the room with no hope at all.  So Monday afternoon I found this diet book that The Hubby and I did a few years ago with success called The 100 by Jorge Cruise.  It counts sugar calories not food calories.  I had forgotten a lot of it but decided to do the menu plan that is pretty restrictive at first to kick the fat body in gear.  I ordered stuff from Fresh Market right then and it was delivered in 2 hours ready to start up yesterday.  The Hubby is on board to eat ANYTHING I put in front of him, will do anything to help me.  I am grateful for this from him.  I know I'm in trouble health wise and it is so needed, not just for my hip.  I even have been getting on my stationary bike and leaning back like a recumbent bike and that seems to work.  I will, I MUST do this in order to get my life back.  I think this at the crisis point in my life and I need to wake up and deal with it and not keep my head in the sand.

 

In A Split Second...

Yesterday The Hubby's side of the family gathered at out house for Easter lunch.  The day was just a beautiful day.  The weather was perfect and our yard a spectacle of spring color.  Our little Min-Min even called my mother-in-law Mimi.  We finished our meal and were all sitting out on the porch when our youngest noticed that Gloria was acting odd, trying to pick up her napkin and having no success.  Af told the bro-in-law who was sitting next to Gloria to check on her.  We all quickly knew absolutely that she was having a stroke, a massive stroke.  The Hubby called 911 and I guess the ambulance was close because they were there in less than a minute and had her loaded and whisked off to the hospital in less than 5 minutes.  OMG, everyone was so scared for her.  Poor little Snicklefritz was terrified but we did a lot of hugging and talking to help her.  It was truly a scary site, especially for the children, my granddaughters and the nephews.  

She had surgery last night to grab the blockage out of her brain because even though it was still the golden hour since the incident she was on a blood thinner, Zarelto, and it doesn't play nice with the blood clot busting medicine.  In fact her blood was so thin that IV's would not stay in.  That's kind of scary.  

We know that her life will not be back to any kind of normal ever again.  She will go to rehab and they boys will have to look into moving her from her apartment to the assisted living part of where she lives, that is a guarantee.  

Please send prayers for her.

 

No Words Necessary

There are just no words that can express the love...