My Little Helpers

Yesterday, we babysat the kids here.  I am so thankful that Wayne is here to help!  My back was still hurting but the kids were great!  I explained to them that Nana was hurting and can't pick up stuff on the floor.  Grace was the best at helping!  I would ask her to pick up this or that for me and she was quick to be there.  She told me that anytime I needed her that she would be there, she even kissed my back to make it feel better.  Hunter was good about it too! He would come up to me and hug and kiss me. They both let Gramps get things for them instead of me.

Hunter and Gramps were in the backyard building birdhouses.  Hunter was so happy and excited to use Gramp's tools and help out! Grace told me about a learning program that they watch so, I signed up for it and she was happy to watch it and play with Legos.

When the birdhouses were to a point that they couldn't do anymore, both kids played Legos.  As soon as we started watching MythBusters, Hunter stopped and attentive to what was going on on the show. Usually when shows like this and How It's Made really spark his interest and he stops whatever he is doing and watches.  He asks a lot of questions and you can see him soaking up all the knowledge. Often he is sitting on the arm of the Wayne's recliner happily leaning against Gramps asking all sorts of questions and Wayne patiently answering each one.  Those moments I cherish and so does Wayne!

I spent most of the day with my "warmmie" on my back.  It is getting better.

Today, I thought a walk was in order...key word here "thought".  Wayne, Misha and I set off this morning.  I made a quarter of a mile.  Fortunately, Wayne had Misha--she was pulling and I know that would have hurt. I succumbed to the pain and walked back without Wayne and Misha, found a heat patch and put it on my back and took an Aleve.

So, looks like a low key day, though I did make some pico de gallo (salsa) using tomatoes from my garden. I lasted just through cutting the tomatoes when Wayne had to take over.

So I sit here with my "warmmie" typing away for a little bit.  I hate being immobile!

I'm Falling Apart!

If the fall wasn't bad enough....  Yesterday, I was getting ready to take Misha for her walk.  I was in the process of locking the door.  A simple task.  However, I turned and pulled a muscle in my back.  I couldn't believe the pain! Misha looked up at me with her "Let's go!" look.

Normally, I can shake off things by just walking it off.  I say "Normally" but not today.  We usually go two and a half miles but I barely made a mile.  Getting back, I placed ice on my back and took Aleve.  The rest of the day was parked in my chair with a heat pack (I don't do ice well).

I hate just sitting around!  I tried to read but couldn't focus, the pain was still there.  So, the LORD stopped me in my tracks.  Time for my body to rest. Wayne was awesome helping me up but I hate being dependent.

Funny, I made it through days of moving all sorts of boxes and furniture and one turn got the best of me.

IT IS THE PITS GETTING OLDER!

A Date With Grace

It was Gracie's idea to go on a "date" with Nana.  A fantastic one at that!  I picked up Grace and dropped off Wayne after our trip to Costco.  Grace was non-stop talking from the start.  When we got to the mall, she had one focus in mind: Build-A-Bear store!  I asked her what she wanted to do and she said everything that we did when we used to go to the mall before.  We used to go quite regularly when I babysat at their house in Oregon City.  BUT, she added that we needed to go to Build -A-Bear first!

Grace and "Strawberry" enjoying an orange smoothie

She held my hand because she didn't want me to fall like I did the day before.  She actually pulled me along since she was a girl on a mission!

At Build-A-Bear she found a "raccoon" which actually was a red panda.  I thought it was a raccoon too. Grace said it was a raccoon and that is what it is--a raccoon!  She waited patiently in line for her raccoon to get stuffed.  She selected a strawberry scent and a heart to place inside the raccoon before the gal sewed up the critter.  She held the little heart for the longest time--she was told to make a big wish and then put it in the raccoon.  It must have been a huge one because she stood there with her heart and closed her eyes whispering which we couldn't understand.  She kissed the heart and put it in.

I didn't plan on buying any clothes but Grace really wanted a little purple shirt.  She said, "It says Cute Chick, Nana!"  Hmmm.... Grace revealed that she does know how to read.  She usually says, "I don't need to know how to read because my brother reads to me."  BUSTED :)

Our date continued with finding the M&Ms machine and putting a quarter in it for a small (and I mean small) handful of M&Ms.  We went to get our smoothie at Jamba Juice.  Grace brought out "Cutie Raccoon" to sit with us.  The name changed later to "Strawberry" because of the strawberry scent inside her.

Grace at the Mall Playground

Next stop, the fish

then the playground. At the fish pond, I gave her a penny which she knew to make a wish and throw it in.  Again, a long long wish with eyes closed and fingers wrapped tightly over the shiny penny before tossing it in. 

It was super crowded at the indoor playground but she loved playing mostly by herself. When we were done, she rode one of the little rides there. I found that 75 cents doesn't get much time on a ride as before.

We had an awesome date!!  I love spending time with Hunter and her!  When we got back, I told Hunter to think about where he wants to go on our date--just him and me.  He quickly answered, "The Fun Center!" And added with a big smile, "Start saving your money, Nana!"  Gotta love my boy!

So, Nana is saving her money for our date. And it will be priceless!  I want to be able to do this for each of them once a month.  Time passes too fast and I want to enjoy each moment I can with them!  Love you, Hunter and Grace!

Another Fall

Another sign of getting old...I am getting re-acquainted with pavement.

We were taking the kids and Misha for her walk.  All was fine until we got to the crosswalk.  Wayne was ahead with Hunter and Misha.  They had reached the field beyond the crosswalk.  Grace and I were just crossing the crosswalk.  There was alot of traffic because of the soccer games happening at Trost where we were heading.  Grace had my hand and I was carrying a backpack on my back which had four full bottles of water (one each and one for Misha).  Alot of weight back there and it didn't help when I tripped on a crack and fell toward the pavement. I was too busy making sure Grace had my hand. Thank goodness, Miss Grace grabbed me as I fell.  It was amazing what strength she had!  I was off balance with the backpack and trying to hang onto Grace.  In seconds I saw Wayne running toward me and I worried where Hunter was when I saw him standing in the field with Misha with a concerned look on his face. Kaboom!  I met the pavement!  This time my hands stopped me and I scraped my knees pretty badly--my head was spared. My pride was the worse damage.  I gathered Grace and we headed to the field.

Foolishly I thought we could continue the walk but the kids both saw a lot of blood dripping from my wounds.  Note to self, bring a first aid kit!

We made it back home and both kids were attentive to me all the way.  I felt so much love that the injury was a secondary thing.

Grace got me into the bathroom.  Wayne found the huge band-aids and first aid cream.  Grace was not about to have anyone putting on my band-aid.  Wayne tried but she told him in so many words or less that she has it under control.  Both knees received huge band-aids after soap and ointment.  Then Grace kissed each one and asked if it felt better.  Of course it did!

Hunter came up to me and asked if I was okay and Grace told him what she did.  "Great job, Gracie, I'm proud of you!" was his answer.

Another sign of getting old...the love of your grandchildren...love that sign!!

Been A Long Time!

Wow, I haven't written anything since Memorial Day!  A lot has happened, some good, some bad.  Long story short, I have been preoccupied with family matters.  Let's leave it at that.  It has consumed me the past months.  It is still going on but progress has been made--we've come a long way.

Helping Mom with moving

Hunter wasn't into helping so we let him do his thing

Alison and the kids are living in Canby! PTL on that!  Having them here has taken a lot of my stress away! Knowing that she is nearby and I don't have to drive miles to help her if she needs me is a blessing.  The house is an answer to prayer, I prayed long and hard and so did others and He heard.  It is in a safe location, has four bedrooms and a backyard for Misha.  It is perfect for them now and will be a good start over.

I have fought with myself every now and then to not put my foot in my mouth in this situation.  I tend to want to take over a situation and fix it.  I have learned my lesson from the last time and things are going better.

Moving Alison and the kids showed us just how old we are but it showed us that we aren't dead yet too!  It felt good to be of assistance.  The Costco bottle of Aleve helped too!  And the Ben Gay.

Leslea came and visited us this summer. The kids loved it!  We only had three days but we jam packed those days and had a lot of great memories.  They both love their Aunt Leslea and she loves them to pieces. Next time she comes, Bob will be with her and it will be at Christmas--we are definitely looking forward to that!

Speaking of Christmas,  I forgot to put away the Santa suit.  My bad.  Of course, Miss Grace stumbled upon it when she walked into the closet were it hung.  "Why is Santa's clothes here?" she asked with her hands on her hips.  BUSTED! I had to think fast and my reply was, "Well, Gramps wasn't good this year and Santa is making him clean his clothes!"  After they left, that suit was quickly whisked into a box and put away.  Yes, Grace checked the next day to see if it was there.

I won a year family membership at OMSI at General Canby Days! We packed up the kids and went.  They LOVED it!  Looks like we will be going again often!  Hunter was so into the science exhibits and was reading everything to understand everything.

A lot more happened, these are the highlights....I need to make it a priority to blog!  :)