More Gifts

I did receive more gifts before Christmas but I was so busy getting ready for surgery that I didn’t blog about them! Here they are in no particular order:

The Gift of Flowers & Friendship:  I received beautiful flowers from my wonderful friends and spiritual mom and dad, Carolyn and Ken.  I was delighted to see Carolyn at my front door and hobbled to meet her.  The flowers are still beautiful many days later.  My love for them lasts forever and words can't express how much.

The Gift of Neighbors:  Our neighbors, Clair and Patsy came over with their son from California and gave us a card with movie tickets.  Wayne takes care of Clair’s lawn due to his medical condition and he also takes his trash out and checks up on him when he is outside.  His son with tears in his eyes thanked him for doing that for his dad.

Our neighbors, Bill, Michelle, and kids came over with a gingerbread cookie mix gift.  We took care of Isaac, Shylee, and Kyle when Michelle hurt her back and I took her to the emergency room as well.

We are blessed to have gotten to know our neighbors more this past year and count them as friends.

The Gift of Family: Leslea and Bob arrived for Christmas-a nice gift!  For the first time, I had Alison, Larry, Hunter, Grace, Leslea and Bob (plus Sam, Olivia, Misha, and Honey, the pets) at my house for Christmas!  More on that later.

The Gift of Humbleness:  My surgery went well but brought me an unexpected gift--humbleness.  By having a disability with a brace, I learned just how some of my Special Olympics family go about their days.  I was slower, awkward and finding clothes to wear with this brace was a pain!  I found out there are never enough handicap parking places available—some areas there was only one place. Hobbling along took time but everyone was patient with me and helpful!

One of my treats was when I first got to shower—Praise the LORD for waterproof band-aids!! 

The Gift of Mercy & Service:  My little Grace stayed an afternoon with us and was determined to help me out with my knee.  She picked up real quick on how to put my band-aids on and put on my brace.  She even helped me to put on makeup!  She got my cane for me and also put the cold pack on my knee.  She was extremely careful, merciful, and patient with me.  She was really happy helping out and did awesome! Love her—she was enjoying being a big help!

The Gift of Time & Love:  Wayne was so good to me.  He lovingly catered to my every request and worried the whole time I was in surgery.  I am not one who accepts help easily and I feel guilt when I do.  He was there for me during and after this surgery.  I love this guy with all my heart and soul, thanks, Hon!

This gifts and more made my Christmas this year special and memoriable!

Christmas--Family Time!!

This was the very first time all of us were here for Christmas!  I gave up on ever seeing Melissa, Tim or Scott.  So, my family is Wayne, Alison, Larry, Hunter, Grace, Leslea and Bob.  My first family is in Florida.  I am blessed that the LORD gave me this family.  I enjoyed watching all of them interact and get along.  That was present enough for me. Here's hoping for more family times like this!

I decorated a little bit for Christmas but my favorite decoration by far was a big snowman made by Hunter.  Usually all that he does goes home to Mama but this time, I received it!  It was proudly displayed on our fire place along with the stockings.

Wayne was Santa again this year.  Here he is looking more like George Washington.  Santa made an appearance but Grace was in the middle of a meltdown in my art room.  She hid in the closet and it took Larry and me to talk her out of it.  Santa tried but she didn't want anything to do with him.  After we finally got her out, she told me that Santa sounded alot like Gramps. BUSTED!  And to seal it, Hunter told her Gramps is Santa.  Wayne was crushed--he lost his Santa job.  Here is hoping that next year someone will need a Santa to visit their kids.  He enjoys it so much!

We thought that Leslea and Bob's chihuahua, Honey and our grand puppy, Misha may have issues about getting along but we were wrong. They got along great--with the help of some treats to keep it that way :) Grace loved Honey and is hoping there is a Chihuahua in her near future!

Miss Grace put together the table with place mats with every one's name and place holder cards to match.  She decorated the mats with stickers and laid out the dinnerware.  She was quite proud of her work!

I bought special glasses for the girls and Hunter.  The kids loved the glasses filled with Sprite and strawberry lemonade.  I had cute penguin charms for each glass--Grace helped me pick out who got which glass and the charms.  Note to self, get three more glasses for the guys!  This is a start of a new Christmas tradition.

Grace was done with the meal and so naturally, she insisted it was time to open presents!  She wasn't too patient waiting for Santa.

Santa came and left some of the reindeers' sleigh bells!  Grace loved finding the sleigh bells--she might have questions about who Santa really is but...these reindeer are for real!!

Opening up gifts.  The kids of course loved their gifts.  I loved it when Hunter opened his telescope and looked at Bob and Leslea and said "I don't like my present--I LOVE IT!" and then gave them big hugs.

Even Misha and Honey had presents in their stockings!

Leslea liking her fun shower cap she got in her stocking.and Hunter laying out the planets.

Larry reading the direction for Grace's crayon maker and wondering what he got into!

Family photos not the full family photo I wanted but these will work fine ....for now :)

Honey loving the Oregon Duck blanket.

Grace tied her bag of gifts onto the front door knob to make sure that when they left, it was going with her! Nothing gets by her!

A wonderful Christmas with family--what a blessing!

My Surgery

When I switched health insurances, I changed my doctor to Wayne’s doctor.  He quickly assessed that I had a torn meniscus that really needed repair.  To add to it, the tear was balled up under my knee cap which could explain why I can't put my leg up on the ottoman without pain and feeling like the whole cap would pop!

I saw a surgeon and my surgery set for December 16.  Since insurance is so wishy washy now, I wanted this done before the end of the year.  I figured I would be back on my feet in two weeks like Wayne was—I didn’t factor in this %$&!@ brace!

"The Brace"

The day of the surgery, I got checked in and put in a bed next a man and a 90 year old lady on either side of me separated by curtains.  The guy on my left was cantankerous and giving the nurses a hard time.  When the nurse came into my section, she said that her dad is just like that after he suffered a stroke—this man had suffered a stroke recently.  He did remind me of my dad—when his fear surfaced, he would be a bear too, so I totally understood.

The lady was pretty quiet—her husband did enough talking.  He was concerned about her and wanted to be informed of everything that was going on.  He wasn’t being informed enough and finally someone came in and satisfied his questions. His wife had been in before and went she went under, she lost some of her memory, hence, his concern. 

The drama of the two patients actually calmed me down.  I was more concerned with them then my stress.  Wayne was sitting next to me all the time being quiet too.  He has been super with this whole thing. The lady next to me went for her colonoscopy and came back.  They gave her something different to wake her up quickly.  Her memory seemed intact with all the questions she answered.  The grumpy man had already left and wasn’t back.  I think they took him early to quiet him.

 Some guy came in and fitted a brace on me for after the surgery and gave me some crutches. Strange, Wayne never got crutches and a brace.  We chalked it up to different surgeons. Time went by quickly and then a large black man who actually looked like the Obama fake deaf interpreter (at the funeral in Kenya).   

So off I went to the surgery. On the way I saw the lady’s husband standing in the hallway.  He asked about his wife, the intern said she was in her room and he could go back there. I said that she is doing fine; he gave me a smile and headed back.

My stress soon escalated and Wayne said my rosacea was in full bloom! He kissed me and I went into the surgery area where he couldn’t go.  The black intern was making me laugh—good strategy.  I was wheeled next to the grumpy guy (separated by the curtain but I knew his voice!)  Grumpy was looped on drugs when the black intern looked in on him.  Grumpy saw him and with drugged slurred speech said, “You’re ok, you know that ? You’re ok, man!”

The intern came to my side and said that Grumpy was out of it.  I told him that I know him from the previous room, just like the lady’s husband.  He laughed and said “We’re going to call you Mrs. Rogers!” “You know everyone!” He continued with the jokes…..it wasn’t working any more.  I needed drugs!

The anesthesiologist came and gave me something for nerves and it was seconds before it worked.  I woke up and everything was done.  I don’t remember much after that and maybe that’s good.  They kept giving me pain meds.

I am looking forward to walking without this brace!!!  I tire easily but I think that that is my medication.  Tonight, I am just taking Aleve because later this week I want my driving back! And with that, my freedom!

Misha loving up to me with my knee :)

My Second Christmas Gift

My second Christmas present came last night. It was Grace’s Christmas Program.  She was excited about it all day!  She whispered me her Bible verse from Luke 2:10: “Do not be afraid, for I bring you good news of great joy!” …that was all she was to share about what was going to happen in her program. “It’s a secret, Nana!” was all she said.

Hunter's opinion of Christmas Programs

Princess Wave

After Hunter’s sing-a-long and having the kids for the day, I was beat but nothing and I mean nothing was going to keep me from seeing my grand-daughter perform.  As the time approached her excitement built.  She told me that Papa had said he would make it for her program—he will be there.  I was praying that was true but no one seemed to know if he would except her.

We arrived at the church early since I was determined to find a semi-comfortable spot to rest my leg without it being a battering post for everyone climbing over us for a seat.  We found great seats and saved some for the rest of the family.  Good thing we did—the room filled up fast!

Alison got there just on time. In came her and the kids and….Larry!  Thank You LORD!  The big smile on Grace’s face said it all—“Told you so!” She was so happy!

Hunter sat next to me for awhile. Earlier in the day I asked him if would because I haven’t been with him much since my surgery.  When he sat next to me I was delighted. Then he gave me a big hug and love and kissed my shoulder, I was floating in the clouds!

Grace went up front with her group.  The first group was performing when Hunter wanted to sit in the aisle next to me (I was on the last chair on the aisle).  He was so good about being quiet and when his sister performed he just grinned with pride!

Grace did an awesome job.  First she and the others gave waves….but hers of course was her “best princess” wave!  No shyness here!  They sung two songs and recited their verse then went to sit with their parents.  Grace scrambled to get to her Mama and Papa bursting with pride of her performance! 

All the kids were given a candy can pen and she proudly showed it to Mama and Papa….Papa teasingly tried to steal it from her!  She was enjoying every minute sitting on her Papa’s lap.

Papa-it's mine!

When the program was over, so was I.  My leg ached and both Wayne and I needed food.  So we told Alison and Larry we were going to dinner and was quite surprised and elated that they would join us!  We had a pleasant dinner with both of them and the kids. 

It is so nice to see them as a happy family. I know it has been a rocky past but there in that moment those bad memories were far away and I just drank in everyone’s happiness.  I pray that this will be the start of many wonderful family memories to come with His healing Hand touching their lives. 

Another wonderful Christmas memory for me to hold onto.  Yes, Grace was right: “Do not be afraid, for I bring you good news of great joy!” Luke 2:10

My "First Christmas Present" for the year!

Today I received my first Christmas gift.  These are the best since they are not wrapped and you can’t buy them! They are wrapped in love and made to last a lifetime.

This morning Hunter and Grace came over before school. I haven’t seen much of them due to my operation.  I was telling Hunter about his sing-a-thon he was having that morning at school.  He didn’t appear too happy about it but Alison explained that he didn’t know anything about it. Opps, guess I shouldn’t have said anything. When she left, he said he didn’t know the songs.  I told him that I just hum when I don’t know the words, it will be fine—we will be the ones humming.  He was still apprehensive about the whole thing.

I decided to ride with Hunter and Grace to school.  I felt like a sardine, a stiff one at that navigating into the passenger side of the Subaru.  That is where I stayed until we got out at Hunter’s school for his sing-a-long.

I hobbled into the gym and we waited for the kids to come in.  Hunter came in and didn’t see us.  It wasn’t until later just before the choir sang that he saw us, smiled and waved. 

The high school choir sang “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” “Away in A Manger” and more Christ centered songs.  It was heartwarming to hear these songs in a nation were one hears less and less.  At the end of the program, the principal wished all of us a Merry Christmas—how refreshing!

After the choir sang and left, a big screen was put on the wall showing the words to the songs that all the kids were to sing.  Hunter perked up and starting reading and singing along with a big smile on his face!  He even had hand motions with each song.  He was dancing in his seat too!  I was watching and my heart warmed with my first Christmas gift---His smile, his joy, and his singing.  

I loved watching him beaming seated in his class row on the bleachers.  My pride and love overflowed for my little guy.  He has grown up so much!   And my love for him has grown more and more but now it is different. It is deep and respectful of his “space” and how he is maturing but still flexible for those moments when he wants to be just hugged and drift back to his toddler years for a Nana love. They aren’t many those moments but that is okay, he is growing and I will always be there for him.

Although I have a sore knee, I am so grateful that the LORD allowed me to be at his sing-a-long and receive this gift that I will treasure forever!

A Few of My Favorite Things

Today I have had the song from the "Sound of Music"--"My Favorite Things" playing in my head most of the day so, I thought I would make my own list of my favorite things.  I found that only a handful are material items--my favorite things cannot be bought which makes them more priceless to me.  The top ones are spending time with the LORD through prayer and my Bible study and spending times with my family and friends. Here are the rest and not in any particular order:

• lunch with Alison....really spending any time with her!
• hearing good news from Leslea & Bob or just them calling and saying "Hi".
• Christmas with family
• seeing Hunter read then draw what he learned
• driving Hunter and Grace to school and back—the conversations are priceless!
• watching Despicable Me 2 with my grandkids—love their laughs!
• doing crafts with Grace…..endless crafts--it is an aerobic event!
• Grace’s & Hunter’s drawings
• Grace’s smile and Hunter's grins
• Hunter telling me endless information about everything
• morning hugs given by Hunter and Grace when they come to our house
• making up stories before we fall asleep when Hunter and Grace spend the night and listening to their made up stories too
• driving with Misha in front seat (riding "shotgun")--she is a little spoilt
• bringing Misha on our walks and her showing us the way
• how Misha is so much like a little person and knows what “w-a-l-k” spells J
• when Hunter and Grace call me “Nana”
• when other kids call me “Nana”
• posting pictures on Facebook and seeing the kids on Facebook
• warm socks—Carnhart Women's Cold Weather are my favorite but love the fuzzy warm socks that are just for pampering...I love having my feet warm!
• pedicures--the ultimate relaxation-happy feet!
• having a nice warm cup of tea especially my “special tea” that the grandkids make delivered with kisses.
• Wayne waking me up in the morning with a cup of tea he makes and brings to me in bed
• nice long walks holding hands with Wayne--especially Volkswalks!
• having the neighbor kids over to make crafts 
• Lindt chocolate
• Cadbury chocolate…heck, any chocolate!
• reading James Patterson books and other suspense drama books
• reading non-fiction books (Hunter and I agree on this one!)
• watching suspense and drama movies cuddled up on the couch
• an occasional movie date
• spending time with my Special Olympics athletes.  Listening to them tell about their week.
• drawing, illustration….even just doodling which I need to do more often
• writing--I do enjoy it but fight doing it
• hot baths with scented bath salts and candlelight
• getting together with friends I haven’t seen in awhile
• organizing …. I’m OCD on this!
• sitting, sipping hot chocolate with my feet up watching the lights on the Christmas tree with my cats on my lap
• watching everyone open gifts Christmas morning
• how Wayne is like a little kid when he dresses up as Santa for the kids
• letters, cards…emails just saying that someone cares
• making my annual Christmas card featuring the kids and the cats

Pre-Surgery Jitters

Monday, I have surgery. It is a simple day surgery but it will require anesthesiology.  The surgery I am okay with, the going into blackness, not!

The last time I went into surgery, it was for a hysterectomy.  I was so stressed about going under that they gave me something to calm down before surgery in the room.  Worked wonderfully--I was out before the anesthesiologist put me under!

I hate that blackness when you finally succumb to the anesthesia. When I was little, like others, I was afraid of the dark...can it be that fear surfacing.  The waking up I am fine with and if I don't wake up, I know I will be home with my LORD.

When I was coming to from the last surgery, I was half awake and noticed lockers next to me.  Seems I was rolled into some holding room that had them.  I heard voices say, "The president's been shot!"  The nurse adjusting my IV gave me a puzzled look when I said, "No, he can't be, the Seniors just saw him in here in San Antonio!"

When all my senses came back, I found out it was President Ronald Reagan that got shot.  As for me, my conscience went back to when President Kennedy got shot.  I lived in San Antonio and the day he was shot, our Seniors had just got back from seeing him speak downtown.  I was standing in front of my school locker getting my books for my Spanish class.

I sat in that class on the second floor of our school and watched the US flag slowly go to half mast.

Back to present day.... I was doing my Bible Study and in the midst of the Psalm 119, one verse stood out:
"May Your unfailing love be my comfort, according to Your promise to Your servant." Psalm 119:76

His unfailing love will be my comfort Monday in that black hole of anesthesia knowing that I am not alone even in the darkness, He will be there!

My New Tekkie Toy!

I love tekkie stuff--I am not talking Star Trek here!  I love computerized items.  I bought myself a Flex Fitbit.  It is a band that you wear which tracks your activities including sleep.  It syncs to my cell phone and my computer--probably my tablet too but I didn't do that yet.

It is amazing how this little thing is capable of accountability on my exercise.  After my surgery, I will use it to get back to my exercise program I had months ago--I can't wait! I want to be able to exercise without pain.

After spending awhile getting it going, I had my first sleep with it last night. Since I don't wear anything on my wrists when I sleep--it took awhile to get used to having it on.  Fortunately, it is on my left wrist which made it easier to adapt.

This morning, the band automatically synced with my cellphone and I was surprised at my sleep patterns. I woke 6 times and was awake 11 minutes.  I spent 49 minutes restless (20 events). My biggest chunk of sleep was just before I woke at 7:30 am.  My sleep pattern lasted 9 hours and 11 minutes.

Interesting sleep patterns.  Maybe it could be my strange dreams.  Well, at least that pattern doesn't change.  I had two disturbing dreams.  One I don't want to talk about and I pray it doesn't happen.  The other one is one that repeats in various forms.  It is about the first days of school in a different location, reminiscence of my childhood.  We moved so much and I had to start a new school late.

The dreams reveal my anxieties of starting all over and fitting in.  Of all my memories this is one of the worse. All those emotions form nightmares for me even at this age.  You would think my mind would forget it and move on but it doesn't.  I am grateful that Alison didn't have to go through that growing up and I pray that Hunter and Grace won't have to either.

If I could just erase them, I would maybe get a restful sleep.  However, they are a part of me.  Don't know why I still have them but I am sure that the good LORD has a purpose, so, I will just accept that and try to sleep on.

Last Night's Dream

I have been having some weird dreams for awhile....mostly due to the medication I am taking.  Once in awhile, I have one that makes some sense.  And being analytically inclined, this is something I enjoy--analyzing dreams.

My dream takes place in Fort Benning, Georgia where I lived with my family when I was in grade school. Dad worked on base. We lived in row type houses just off the base.  There were about four or five in the complex we lived in.  We each had a very small back yard and our portion was a cement porch, a shed and small very small patches of soil next to the unit.  Dad would plant tomato plants-four at the most because of the space.

Beyond our little space there was a narrow space that was a common area for all the neighbors to wander and be responsible for mowing and watering. On the edge of that was a hill with a wooded and swampy area where my brother and I would have many adventures. I had alot of great childhood memories when we lived in Fort Benning.

Back to the dream.  I was there again and in the backyard.  However, I had transformed that small area into a space full of several budding perennials in pots and and in the ground. There were two trees, an apple and a pear full of fruit.  There were so many plants and the space was full and growing.  It wasn't the small space it had been.  My mom was there and was telling me that all this work was pointless since we wouldn't be living there long--since it was the usual temporary Army family home.

I smiled and looked at the patch of grass just behind our place contemplating putting more garden there. Neighbors used the lawn strip to stop by to enjoy the garden that I had made.

The lesson of the dream? Where we live in that moment may not be our choice but what we will do in that time is.  You can fill that moment with special beautiful memories that you eventually share with family and friends.....even neighbors. Even though that moment may be temporary, it can find a permanent home in your memories.

Yes, It's been awhile...

I have it on my to-do list to get going on this blog.  Life has been so full and  fast lately that I have not made time for blogging.

Yes, I have tons of stories of my grandkids and they will eventually make it here.  I have been enjoying every moment with them!  The reward of being a parent is grandchildren and I am truly blessed!

I am presently trying to get my house in order (literally--cleaning, etc).  I tackled the garage last week which ended up the domino effect in a couple of rooms of the house.  The project is taking longer but really needed.  I filled the trash can, recycle  barrel and hauled a bunch of stuff to Goodwill.

I am grateful that all the Christmas stuff got done before December 7....thank God!  I would really be stressed!

There are two reasons for getting all this done.  One is that Leslea and Bob will be visiting 12/22-12/27.  We are both looking forward to them coming.  As for my house being clean it may or may not be but I have given it a good try.

The second reason is that I am supposed to go into surgery on next Monday.  Don't know for sure since they are trying to schedule a lot of patients for surgery before the end of the year.  We'll see.  I figure that I may be down for a couple of days and hopefully will be able to get moving after that. It is an in/out surgery (not to be confused with In & Out Burger) for my torn meniscus in my knee.

Time to pick  up my little man, Hunter at school.  I look forward to hearing about his day at school--it makes my day!