Retirement and Sunshine

Today we said goodbye to one of our oldest employees.  Mark has been with us for over 30 years and I can tell you we are all taking this hard.  We were fortunate to find him another job with another former employee who has been in business 13 years now.  So we feel good to keep Mark employed somewhere.  He's just not quite at retirement age yet.  So far we have three employees left and two are going out on their own and not sure about the third just yet.  The Hubby is really feeling this kind of loss and now questions what he's going to do in retirement and is wondering if he can stay busy.  Oh I reassured him staying busy is his middle name and he won't have a problem doing that.  He has a lot to occupy his time when we do close the doors with our rental properties, getting them ready to lease and we are losing one of our long time renters right at April 1, so that space will need to be leased too.  He has never been one to sit and do nothing, it's just not in his DNA.  Still this is a harder thing to do, to stop working, close the doors, tell customers we will no longer be able to help them.  He's finding that the hardest and today another hard, thing, say goodbye to an employee and friend.  

When NOT taking care of a three year old I've been trying to do some office stuff like prepare a goodbye letter for some of our customers.  I tell you I've printed that stupid letter threes times, having to shred his corrections or additions or deletions to the letter.  Tonight I finally got it done, folded and stuffed envelopes and stamped, ready for the mail.  While preparing dinner and after dinner, while he cleaned the kitchen, it is DONE!

I can't tell you how much better this week has been with Min.  Week before last we never left the house because she was naked baby most of the time.  She was deep in the potty training regression and I just wasn't going to make an issue of it and cause further damage to her thinking.  She's an extremely bright little girl and works things out before I can usually.  Then last week, things were a bit smoother and I was even able to take her with me to the office to do a bit of work.  Reminded me a lot of taking my girls to work and then watching Snicklefritz nearly every day at the office.  I'm just not as young as I used to be and it sure is evident.  This week was even better and we were able to get her to school for the entire three days of school.  Diapers are not allowed in her little class so because she was either naked or diapered we had to stay put that week.  I was able to get her out of their house each day and even though I had to go in and assist in the dressing a couple of times, we got out smoothly, without a screaming match or having "Mean Granny" make an appearance...LOL!  This week also brought a beautiful day, nice enough to allow us to go outside and let Min run and play in the sunshine.  She had such a great time.  It was her first time on a tricycle.  I remember when Snicklefritz learned to ride it and we would spend hours out there while she rode.

Maximilian Update

Well, we don't have good news for little Maximilian today.  He has been doing so well but hit another speed bump in his journey for home:

"We’re not going home tomorrow. Not going home Monday. Not going home anytime soon. He’s not tolerating his feeds, his episodes of emesis cause bradycardia and that’s just not okay….and there’s lots of discussion happening on what the plan is and that’s all the information I have. He’s still doing well, considering.

Please pray though. Just when I think we’re in the clear, we hit another road block.

I’ll be honest and share that I’m struggling especially hard today. It feels like a nightmare that I can’t wake from. I miss my family, I miss my friends, I miss my job, and I miss my cats. And I worry about Minerva. And I just can’t bare the thought of my baby struggling any more than he already has. "

Precious Grands

Painting time...

Well, this has been a week, I will not lie.  I've struggled to be granny with this cutie pie.  She does test my limits but I know it is all temporary and a must.  I must help as they wait for the doctors to release Max.  He was on the path to head home on Thursday, but it didn't happen.  His parents were on the 48 hour total care in the hospital so they could prepare and know exactly how to care for him at home but he started throwing up and his heart rate rose rapidly.  They had to call in the nurses and doctors, run all kinds of tests and put him back on oxygen and an  48 hour antibiotic drip in case of infection.  They're still not sure what caused it all but he is better now.  This caused his release to be delayed for Monday.  Here's where the "I won't lie" thing comes in, I confess, I cried.  I cried because of a lot of things, disappointment of him still there and because of exhaustion from a darling 3 year old in my chaotic world.  OMG, she can make me absolutely belly laugh and my face feels like it wants to break from smiling.  Then there are times when I've just had enough.  It is constant 3 year old chattering and being ON ALL THE TIME!  I can manage it and with a couple of breaks from B&B2 tag teaming watching her, allowing me to just get out, all is better.  B2 came to watch her on Thursday morning and I was able to spend some quality time at my easel, maybe finishing one of the paintings.  Friday B came and stayed while I went to the office to do payroll, run a few errands and have a nice lunch with The Hubby.  In fact when I got back home she was asleep on the couch, naked, of course.  You see she was up at 5:30 am yesterday!  I knew she would crash.  This regression potty training thing is a bitch I can tell you.  I remember when my girls potty trained and it was generally in the summer when you just let them run around naked.  If she has no diaper on she will run to the potty and she can do it all on her own, even on the big potty!  I was thinking yesterday, because she is bored at home now and wants to go, go, go, that if I make it seem in her mind, that we have to stay home because of no panties, but if she wants to go, go, go, then she has to wear panties!  I think that is actually swirling around in her mind.

This is ALL worth it...

I know sweet Snicklefritz is over the duo sleepovers but it just can't be helped.  She misses OUR time together tremendously.  Hopefully next weekend it will just be her and I.

Mardi Gras and Potty Training.

The past weekend we headed to the cabin with this little nugget in tow.  Getting her in the car/car seat was not as much a problem as it usually is (thank goodness) but she was concerned how far the drive was. She keeps her legs crossed until she drifts off to sleep or just eases up.  We have figured out she is regressing in potty training and I'm not fighting that.  Will just work with her on it.  We had company on Saturday night for dinner and I had her dinner done before and then all set up in her room with my IPad and Little Bear that I had downloaded.  Also my friend, Lesa, brought a huge goody bag full of new stuff to play with and that was perfect to keep her attention.  Forgot that this week starts the Mardi Gras celebrations everywhere and as luck would have it I fixed the perfect meal and we had beads galore with Lesa bringing more for the party.  The only hitch was I told her she had to stay in the room so she would yell out my name.  Goodness I was up and down like popcorn but I'm telling myself it's exercise!  She was good until she decided to strip the clothes, her bottom half.  I then definitely told her she could not come out if she was naked.  LOL!  Honestly she was great and packing and loading up yesterday she was a jewel all dressed with panties, but she wanted a diaper on when we got home.  I had only brought two with The Hubby going back to town for the flea market and picking up another.  My plan today is if she wants to be naked that is okay with me.  I'm not going anywhere and no one is coming over, except Snicklefritz and she may be a big help in all this.  Honestly I never experience potty training regression. This is a whole new thing for me but we will get through it.  She's also been eating really well and in fact last night, after a good dinner, she woke up hungry and wanted food.  (She actually woke up twice.)  It was kind of a rough night with sleep but again this is temporary and we will get through.  I am very tired.  

Forgot, my meal was so yummy this weekend.  Our store carries in the frozen food section a jalapeno cream cheese stuffed pork tenderloin that is so very yummy.  My grocery person who shops for me accidently picked out one that had shrimp and andouille sausage in it.  So I had one of each (Mardi Gras theme).  They are extremely easy to cook and pack a punch of flavor for company.  I also had roasted new potatoes and a huge tossed salad.  It was a tasty meal.  

 

Max & Min

This baby, Mighty Max is really close to coming HOME!  Today he had a G-tube put into his tummy.  He passed his 2nd swallow test with only one little aspiration but it's just a bit too risky to head home without the G-tube.  The injection has helped tremendously but it could wear off before his vocal cord could repair itself and he would aspirate and that would be life threatening.  So he goes home with the G-tube, just in case but they will continue mouth feeding carefully with the G-tube there as a backup for food.  He's bright-eyed and a happy baby that everyone in the hospital just adores.  

Last weekend Min and her daddy headed that way to see momma and Max.  This kiddo is absolutely in the throws of the TERRIBLE THREES!!!  She made her momma crazy, and this week, me too!  Oh man she is pushing the boundaries of how far she can assert herself with her daddy and me.  Yesterday her daddy just could not get her dressed.  She stalled and stalled saying she had to poop, then pee.  She was running around naked and I was left to try and get her to school while her daddy headed to work.  She is supposed to be at her preschool by 9 and I did not get her there till 10!  Getting her dressed is a horrendous task, she does NOT cooperate at all and strips whatever you manage to get on.  Her thing is she says she has to poop or pee, over and over again when she clearly does not need to go.  Yesterday I was able to cojole her into clothes and out the door, eventually.  Today, oh man today, Mean Granny made an appearance.  I had to pretty much manhandle her to get her dressed. As long as she is naked she is just fine but the MINUTE you put her foot in her panties she starts screaming she has to pee or poop, owey that her bottom has a rash, blah, blah, blah.  She does NOT have a rash, it is perfectly perfect.  It is a huge stall tactic to keep control in her hands.  This morning I was having absolutely none of it.  I got her dressed with her screaming no.  Getting her coat on, every time I got her arm in she screamed bloody murder, ouch, ouch, ouch and she would shuck out of it.  I finally got both arms in and carried her to the front door, grabbed her lunch and bag, my purse and out the door we went, her crying.  Down the front steps and to the driveway she suddenly bolted and I YELLED her name.  She stopped dead in her tracks and let me catch up.  I would have not been able to catch her if she had run which scared the shit out of me.  I got her to the car, opened the door and lifted the squirmy snake in the car with her yelling, screaming and crying, "HELP, HELP ME!"  Well, crap, just as a neighbor lady was walking by.  Good GRIEF!   Her daddy said she did that in the grocery the night before and he left his cart taking her to the car and a lady giving him the eye, watching him put her into the car and acting like she was calling someone and following him out of the parking lot.  THAT IS DAMN SCARY!  Where in the world did she learn to scream help me, HELP! in the first place.  That sweet little face is very deceiving and she is perplexing us all by her behavior.  I got her to school but it was definitely later than it should have been.  When we got there I turned around in the car to look at her and talk to her about her behavior not being acceptable and that it brought out the Mean Granny, that all I want to be is Nice Granny and love her and play with her.  I do not know if she understands but we have got to get through to her.  I'm mentally exhausted with this and feeling like I'm loosing control of my life really.  When I got the emergency help call on Tuesday I was at the office with all my taxes laid out I was trying to get ready for the accountant.  I ended up having to just grab it all up and put it back in the drawer and I have not been back to deal with it yet.  I tried to paint this morning but didn't get too much done because I was talking to Linda and dealing with an art show coming up.  Hopefully next week I will get more done.  Who knows what each day, each hour brings but I know it will level out and she will get it soon, I hope.  I love this little button and don't want to be Mean Granny at all.  

Sketching and Max Update

I have had one busy week.  I was in my car every single day and Thursday I was in and out and in and out of my car.  I was the Granny-Taxi most of the week and boy was I bushed.  Trying to get some art in has been tricky lately.  Thursday, because I knew I was going to be on the go all day, I had spare time at 7:30 am, so to the studio I went to at least splash a bit of paint around.  I went Wednesday too but it was kind of busy there with a customer and friend in for Linda.  Chatting was the task of the morning.  I still have my drawing supplies, or a lot of them, at the house along with the watercolors.  Today I could of gone to the studio but I just did not want to venture out, or put a bra on so in I stayed.  I spent the morning sketching a bit.  

Hopefully the cows will get a tinge of watercolor on it.  My mind is kind in a whirl as the studio move is probably going to be sooner than later.  

The Hubby has been making room for me at the office, even though we are still technically a working business still.  Work is slowing down tons and basically we have a month and a half left.  B has begun the purge of our files, the accounting ones so we can move out some of the file cabinets we won't need anymore.  It's really a bit scary, something I've wanted for awhile, yet scary.  Kind of having a a hard time letting go of my actual desk.  I love that piece of furniture but really it won't be needed soon.  Just need a space for the computer and printer for minimal accounting stuff.  After 44 years of doing what I do yet wanting to be done with it, I am finding it hard to let it go.  Hmmm, imagine.  

Tomorrow will begin another week of the Granny-Taxi stuff starting with heading to their house to watch Min as she doesn't have school on Monday's.  I go there to give him a break of rushing her out of the house.  It's just easier for all.  This weekend they headed to OKC to see Af and Max and Nick finally got to hold his baby boy. Max is now a tad over a month old and is close to heading home!  All he has now is the NG feeding tube in his nose.  This past week they did a swallow test to see if he can be fed by mouth but he failed.  With all the tubes down his throat and having his chest cracked open one of his vocal cords was damaged.  Not permanent but it caused a paralysis.  His cry was kind of a squeaky cry, not full on because of the paralysis and this also affected the swallowing.  It would mend eventually but they can also do an injection of a botox-like medicine that can usually help quicker.  They did that injection on Friday and scoped his throat and saw absolutely no reason that he can't take food via his mouth.  It will just take some time either in the hospital and a longer stay or they will send him home with a G-tube directly in his stomach and his parents can work with getting him to taking food through his mouth and he would be home in a couple of weeks!  Not sure what they will be doing at this point but Af was really down because she wants badly to nurse him but she knows it is what it is.  He will come home and that is the most important thing, at least till about June when he will go back for surgery #2 and not another for 2-3 years.  They need to go home because Min NEEDS her momma.  She is in great need of having MOMMA!  

There Is Something Different

 We have NEWS!!! News from our Mighty Max.

Notice anything different??

Max is completely off the ventilator! The nasal cannula are gone!!!! He is breathing totally on his own. Huge milestone!

Please pray that we can stay off them for good. Thanks be to God!

Also, Max is officially one month old now.

Kiddos Update

Feel like it's been a New York minute since I've posted here.  Last week was a few days of having the girls for overnights.  I love it but boy does it wipe me out.  She gets easier and easier to keep until she has her meltdowns.  It's funny that they don't happen much when it's just me.  She has a competition thing going with Snicklefritz, sibling-like.  Whatever Snicklefritz has or wants she wants too.  The sharing thing is a vague concept to her, trying to get across.  

Poor Snicklefritz gets frustrated too and ends up in the bedroom hiding out.  I get it.  Trying to reason with a 3 year old sometimes is frustrating and complicated.  Yet, when they are in sync they are the best of friends and Snicklefritz is so very good with her.  When they are around it's toys and toys and toys everywhere but the giggles outweigh all the inconvenience.  This week has been light in the Granny Taxi time because of our ice/sleet everywhere.  I do not, EVER venture out in this stuff.  I did have to head to the office on Monday but The Hubby carefully helped me into his truck and out at the door of the office so I could do invoicing.  The times to do that will be less and less, two more months worth actually!  March 31 will be the ending of invoicing.  The money will be still rolling in and the last of the payroll will be then if not before.  It's really a reality.  The office this week has been quiet as the employees are staying put, no one is going on jobsites.  The weather never stops The Hubby from going in to the office.  He goes in the same time every morning but what he is up to is beginning the cleaning out of the downstairs offices in readiness for my studio!!!!  He's really making a dent in files and furniture move out.  I thought it would take longer but with time on his hands he can't stand it.  I need, I want to go in and start boxing up files.  We will need to keep them in storage for I think 5 years and after that SHRED DAY!  

We've been trying to figure out what we are keeping in the office and what we are not keeping at this time and where exactly I'm going to set up.  Luckily we are keeping a nice drafting table I can use for drawing and watercolors.  I have my taboret table and various shelves, etc.  I have sooooooooooo many canvas's painted and unpainted.  A lot of them need to be repainted over.  I really don't need to buy a canvas again in my lifetime I think.  Yes, I'm moving out of my current studio in the next few months.  I hate that I won't be with Linda anymore but it is time.  What is nice is that she teaches out of her home too and has a standing offer for me to come to her class, free, to paint with everyone once a week.  When all this studio/office move gets straightened up and baby is home I will take her up on the offer.  I miss painting with other people.  I miss her company.

On the Max front, he is doing exceptionally well.  They've pretty much weaned him off of most things and his blood pressure is finally righting itself to normal levels.  Af finally gets to hold him now, with help as he does have a few things still attached.  He is even getting a lot of food through the tube in his nose!!!  Today the will be pulling most of the lines out.  

Honestly it's a possibility that he will get to come home in the next month until about June and the next surgery.

Oh that smile says it all.

While the girls are here at the house I've been setting up the watercolors.  I even brought in the little kids table but Min wants to sit by me at my big table.  I made the mistake of not taking the tablecloth off but it's watercolor.  I will take it off eventually as there is a plastic cover on the table that can get all kinds of stuff on it.  

I am doing a lot of these tiny watercolor things and plan on giving them for Christmas next year.  This one got snatched up by Af pretty quick.

I also, FINALLY, set up my Christmas present to me, my EdgePro Plein Air Easel.  I'm really hoping that this summer at the cabin to set up a lot outside to paint plein air.  This one a friend took the photo and said I could paint any of her photos.  She and her husband have been all over the world and she posts tons of great photos of places I will never go to,  i.e MOUNTAINS!  I think this one will be great when done.  I have a show to enter stuff into this spring and I need some things but I also have some already painted that I can enter.

The deer painting I'll finish at the studio.  I brought it home but just can't get back into it right now.  Honestly it's close to being done.  Thought I would put it in the show but it's a fall thing and the show is called "Spring Show" and they advised to maybe follow that.  Hmmmph...okay.  I know this is fall-y too but it's colorful.

Today, another day not leaving the house and not changing into real clothes.  I think tomorrow I will be out and about.  I'm sure that school will be back in session and will have to transport Min to school and will have to watch her on Friday morning, unless Bri watches her.  I have some stuff to wrap up at the office. We have a wedding to go to on Friday night and I HAD planned on doing a bit of clothes shopping this week to try to find something fluffy, not jeans wear, but this weather messed that up.  I'm sure I can rummage around in my closet for stuff.  Oh well, onward to the rest of the week.  

Toodles all!

 

Mighty Max...Update

3 Weeks Old and finally, FINALLY being held by his Momma.  Mighty Max is doing so well. They are weaning him off his meds slowly and there is a bit of withdrawal going on but that is expected.  He's smiling, hiccupping and making a few squeaky sounds.  He has not full out cried yet because one of his vocal cords is paralyzed but that, they think, will correct itself in time.  A nerve that is close to the surgery spot was affected.  This guy is a champion and we hope soon, very soon he may come home, at least for a time before surgery #2, then home for a few years.  Definitely a long but steady journey to stability.

Pure Love...

 

Mighty Max Update

This is an update/video from our daughter on the progress on Mighty Max:

Max had another good day. I finally got to be back crib-side in the ICU after four days of a head cold. I was wrong the other day in thinking they had weaned him completely from the precedex (his sedative). They had started to wean and he started having withdrawal symptoms, which is common. So they went back up on it today and he was so much more comfortable. They figured that they didn’t give him enough time to adjust to the clonadine (used to help wean from sedatives), so they’re just going to let him wean more slowly. They want to move his central line from his IJ (in his neck) to a picc sometime tomorrow. His femoral line is out and today they re-sutured his the pacer lines without local anesthetic. He did so well.

The new mystery (kind of) is that now that his tube is out, he can cry….but he’s still not making any sound. This can happen. We had ENT come in and do a scope (not fun

) and it looks as though he has partial paralysis of one vocal cord. So it’s not completely paralyzed but “paretic”. Speech therapy will come in soon to do a swallow test to determine if it would cause aspiration during feeds and if so, they can treat it with an injection of something much like Botox. If not, then it IS something that will resolve itself over a few months. This was likely caused by the same stretching of nerves that affected his diaphragm after having his sternum split open for the Norwood surgery. Those two nerves are right next to each other. So the only sounds he makes are the tiniest, itty bittiest whimpers and it’s so sweet and sad and adorable, poor guy.

But overall today was good. We’re managing the withdrawals from sedatives, he’s been weaned from the INO machine (nitrous), his pressures, sats, and HR are good for the most part, and he’s more and more alert every day.

You’ll see in this video that he looks a little cross-eyed, but they assure me that it’s most likely from the weeks of sedation. He’s LOVING his pacifier and even roots for it. It’s beyond precious.

47 Years

Happy Anniversary The Hubby...47 years ago today we said I Do and it was the best decision of my life.  

 

Painting Challenges

Today I thought I would talk art with a smattering of Max.

Trying to get some painting time in lately has been a great challenge.  I started this oil painting last week and this is about as far as I've gotten.  My studio partner, Linda, finally came in and we started talking and talking.  I haven't seen her since November so we had a lot to catch up on.  One interesting thing is she and another friend have gotten a workshop set up for April in Broken Arrow!!!  In fact, it's  Chantel Barber and I own one of her little paintings and have always admired her.  The thing is she is an acrylics artist and I'm not but I will try it.  That said, we signed up right then and there.  Sometimes I NEED a workshop to shift my mind and inspire me.  I think there will be another on in late summer or early fall with a young gun named Kyle Ma (sooooooo good!)  

Since the oil painting thing isn't happening much I decided to whip out the watercolors and colored pencils for a change, because they are fairly portable.

This one turned out really nice.  I started it early Sunday morning, like 6 am, sitting by the fire at the cabin.  Fun.

This one was colored pencils that my best friend from high school gave me for Christmas.  It inspired me to dig out my many boxes of colored pencils.

Now on to Mighty Max.  He's progressing well.  Today I believe they will do a small procedure to tack a part of his diaphragm.  This kind of wrinkle is not allowing his right lung to inflate properly and if they get this fixed then he will be weaned off the vent and onward to being held and eating from bottle or breast.

Visit with Max

This kiddo finally got to see her momma and little brother this weekend.  We were not sure it was going to happen because Max had a hiccup on Thursday when they started to extubate him.  His momma was in a bit of a panic and hopefully I settled her down but being away from family hugs was a bad place for her.  She was so worried that it would not be a good time for Min to visit but Max rallied and the visit happened. She is staying with The Hubby's cousin Dee Dee and Jack and it was been an absolute Godsend for Af to be with some kind of family.  They have a cute little dog, Twosy that just loved Min, and Jack and Dee Dee did too.  Min has that effect on people, wrapping you around her little finger.

Her parents were able to let her in to see Max and she was fantastic, coloring pictures, giving him a pacifier and tickling his feet.

The family complete.

I just love this photo of the two together.

Hard for Daddy to leave him again and Af, but life rolls on.

Sweet Max, Mighty Max!

Max & Min Updates

He, Max, is four days old and has already been through a lot.  

While he is challenging the world I've been busy with Min and Christmas take down.  She has been my shadow for 7 days and I've totally loved it but boy am I tired.  There are reasons we have children while young.  It's non-stop 3 year old chatter.  Honestly she was pretty easy but you have to be on, always.  

On Friday one her momma's friends came and took her with her son to their Bouncing Beethoven's music class.  Then she took her back to their house for lunch, play time and a nap.  It was and gave me a much needed break.  Snicklefritz came over yesterday to spend the night and help keep Min busy.

Friday, before Min went to her day out she began helping me to finally take Christmas down.  These broken ornaments were NOT done by her, on no, they were totally my fault.  She was already gone and I was sitting on the couch wrapping ornaments for the box when I tipped the entire box over, face down and CRASH!  Well, just PHOOEY.  Well, I'm okay with it all.  Some were favorites but I can live with it.  

This photo was Min at her friends house.  This kiddo, every morning since she has been with me has awakened at 5:30 in the morning except for Saturday, which she slept in to 7:15.  So obviously she crashes as she did here just as they were to bring her home.  Poor kiddo.

We've really had a great time. 

We've played Candy Land, a 3 year old version.

We've painted...

and we've played on my IPad (sorry she figured out how to do my games.)

It has been a busy and emotionally draining week for all.  She is safely home with her Daddy and I will again be called up to cart her around to her various school things this week.  

Max is doing very well after his big surgery.  They still have to close him up the rest of the way but slowly to let the fluids not build up and wean him off some of the meds and the vent.  He is very strong and we are so hopeful he will be home sooner than later, until the next surgery in a few months.  

I almost forgot that I've revamped one of the guest bedrooms for Snicklefritz.  She had been in the front bedroom, they call it the pink room (formally my studio) but Min has kind of taken over that room and bed.  So I decided the green room need some spiffing up, some life.  All I did was start opening the curtains, new bed covering and some awesome pillow shams from Amazon.  She was so happy.

The Norwood

Max

Today lots of prayers please.  He’s in such good standing that he’s been cleared for surgery today. This first surgery is called the Norwood. It is the longest and hardest but most necessary. This morning we will all be on pins and needles waiting for a most perfect outcome for this big boy. Prayers, lots of prayers please.

 

Max

Max is here all 8 lb 13 oz of him.  What a big boy.  2:29 am he made his presence known to the world.  Now we wait for the next part of his journey to see what the next step is.

Monday

 Good Monday morning.  It's 8:29 am and I'm sitting here waiting.  I decided to add a bit of bright sunshine here with the daffodils photo.  Looking forward to spring already and it's only January 2.  I'm waiting to get an email to pick up a small grocery order.  I'm waiting for little Mini to come and be my companion for the next week or two.  I'm waiting for the washer to stop so I can dry the sheets.  I'm waiting for my energy to pick back up so I can take down Christmas.  I seem to do a lot of waiting.  That's okay, I'm a very good waiter.  

This flu thing is getting better and better.  I thought this morning that if I had NOT had the vaccination I might have been a lot sicker.  Of course the rounds of Tamiflu have helped tremendously too.  Yesterday I felt so much better that I got nearly all of my laundry done.  I cleaned the kitchen, dishes and all and wiped surfaces with Clorox wipes.  Got to get rid of the flu germs before Mini arrives.  I even went around and gathered up a lot of the Christmas decor that was spread throughout the front of the house in preparation of storage for another year.  I've been thinking about how I'm going to keep a 3 year old entertained for an extended time.  If the weather keeps staying warm I think we will get Snicklefritz's old tricycle and clean it up and teach Mini how to ride it around the back patio.  Time spent in fresh air...CHECK!  She will also be in her day school Tuesday-Thursday, so there will be time for me to go to the office a bit or even to the studio.  At home maybe more watercoloring and the tricycling.  I'm going to try and not do too much TV time, keep her busy with other things, maybe helping me.  I'm going to try and get her to help in her food preparation, get the step stool out that Snicklefritz used to use a lot to help.  Got to keep her busy mind and body.  Trust me, I'm going to need a vacation when this all over...LOL!  Cabin time.  Looking forward to a lot of time spent at the cabin and possibly with her in tow along with Snicklefritz.  Feels like being a mom again, just a LOT OLDER!  We will get through this and before you know it Max will be here and a big part of our lives.  Tomorrow is the induction day so stay tuned for updates.

Happy "Flu" Year

 Happy "Flu" Year

Yes you read that right, flu.  Thursday morning I finally was in the studio and hoping to get some quality time in with my easel when I started feeling, off, just not well.  So I headed home for some lunch and a nap, a two hour nap.  Then again on Friday I got up feeling tired with a tinge of a headache.  I had to go to the office to do payroll then home for yet another epic nap.  As the day rolled on and The Hubby came home it was very clear I was sick and he was too.  I had fever, not bad, low grade but enough to feel like crap.  With my girls encouragement I decided to head to urgent care to get tested for the flu.  I have a huge job to do here in a few days and I NEED to be well to care for our little Min when she comes to stay while Max makes his entry into this world.  

Well, the urgent care said it would take walk-in's so I went in to see if I could get a flu test.  When I arrived there was a lady a few steps ahead of me walking in the door.  At the counter she asked the receptionist for a Covid test for work and another test she would not say out loud.  That had me curious but not my business.  The receptionist said there was only one appointment left at 7 which the non-sick lady took.  She left to return at 7 for her turn.  I stepped up to the window feeling like absolute crap and probably looking like it too.  I told the lady I needed a flu test and said I wish I had been in front of the previous patient.  The receptionist all of a sudden said, "we have a 7:30, would you like to wait."  "YES!"  

I sat down and I waited.  A few minutes before 7 the other lady walked back in for her appointment and all of a sudden they called my name!!! SCORE!  Short story, I have Type A Flu and they put me on Tamiflu and cough medicine.  

I came home to find The Hubby snoring in his chair.  He woke up to my entry and I told him I have the flu and that they said he needs to test too.  He got up yesterday morning and went in where he tested negative yet they still put him on Tamiflu because of me.  He is either too early or more over his than I am.  I suspect he's been sick for more days but because he NEVER STOPS for anything he didn't acknowledge it, possibly infecting others.  What sucks a BIG ONE here is that we both got our flu shots, something we religiously do every year.  The news peeps have been all about touting the effectiveness of the flu shots this year against the strains.  Obviously they are WRONG!  

So last night, New Year Eve, when I have traditionally hang with Snicklefritz, I was in my bed at 7:30 pm and he was yet again in his chair, snoring, not dancing.  Happy Flu Year.

This morning, because of all the sleep I was up at 4 am and The Hubby was not far behind.  Just too much SLEEP!  He fixed me breakfast of eggs, bacon, hash browns and biscuits.  While he was cooking I decided to get some stuff done.  My plans were to change my sheets, shower, do laundry, take Christmas down and put away.  I got as far as change sheets, take shower, start laundry before I was called to eat.  I was so exhausted from the exertion I could hardly eat, didn't even touch my biscuit.  So here I am again in my bedroom, sitting in my chair and trying to finish the laundry and then will rest for the rest of the day.  Whew, I have got to get my energy back to deal with a three year starting tomorrow!