Christmas 2012

This Christmas has been hard or me. I love to shop, not usually buy, the days before Christmas. I finally was able to go to a couple of stores. But not like usual, was worn out.
I got to Kim and Lakins in the late afternoon., Christmas eve. Savannah and Christopher came to the car to help take packages in. Of course Christopher grabbed the ones wrapped in thomas the train and spiderman paper. Savannah took the princess wrapped gifts and some of the other ones. She kept looking for a large box That her twin doll was in.   No BIG box.  She never said anything but I got that disappointed look.. (more about that later.)
At dusk, kids in their new pjs, we went out to look at Christmas lights! Their cul de sac was lite up, three  houses with lights stood out.  We usually go to Nollensille  to see the house that has beautiful lights that are set to music. Christopher didn't want to leave that house. But  we found many more. Both kids looked for lights on 'their side'  We stopped for drinks at Sonic. Then to more lights.  Savannah finally fell asleep but Christopher kept looking. Finally he said that we should go home so Santa could come to 'our house'

On the way to Lakin's we stopped at my house to pick up the package delivered that evening - the  My Twin Doll.  No package. checked all around the house, checked the neighbors. NO doll. Kim checked the tracking and it said it had been delivered at 6pm. Finally double checked and found it had been delivered to their house not mine. WHEW!! We went to their house and it was on the porch. YEA..  Savannah was asleep and missed all this drama. Lakin grabbed it and took it in the house, while we got the kids out of the car. Savannah got in the house and curled up on the couch - back to sleep. Christopher was still going strong, said he would never go to sleep. Had Family prayer,  Lakin took them into the bedroom, read to them and told them it was nite nite time. Christopher said he would not go to sleep. 20 minutes later both kids were out like a light.
T
ime to get the Santa stuff out. Savannah wanted a Pink Beebe gun and Christopher two Hot Wheel sets. After much squealing  and jumping around, Savannah picked up her pink gun. She and daddy read the rules and direction for handling & firing the gun. AND where it would be kept - in the gun safe with mom and dads guns. Savannah got clothes, overnight luggage, an outfit for her American Girl doll, books and videos. She finally found the big box with her twin doll.(it was hid behind other bags. She hugged and hugged it. She knew she was getting it as she had picked out the outfit. She says it looks like her but the face is too full. Of course it is a 23 inch and all round bigger doll than the 18 inch American Girl dolls.

Christopher  was more excited this year, More into Christmas. He got a Red Rider Beebe gun, the new Thomas the train set, some Spiderman stuff, Books, videos, pjs and some clothes.

Nana Claus didn't get them as much as usual, wasn't up to shopping. But the gkids didn't seem to notice and appreciated what they got. I got hugs and kisses for both their cards and gifts.

The Bishop had come by the week before to see if there was anything they needed for the kids. Lakin explained they had enough toys but needed some Church clothes. (both kids had out grown their church clothes in the preceding  month)  So Kim went shopping with the money from the church and got Savannah got 2 new dresses for church and Christopher  got pants, vest, shirt and tie. Christopher said the clothes were for him to wear to church.

Kim, Lakin and I got a few little things. They got a metal family tree that hangs on the wall to hang small frames with pictures. I had run out of ideas and time to get their present..  So gave them money which went toward a Samsung tablet. The Tablet is not just for them but will be used to help Savannah with her school work. The thought is that the tablet will help her concentration on a single lesson at a time. They are looking to get a cheap tablet for her to use at school.

Lakin took the kids to Dollar General to Christmas shop. Savannah got me the slippers that you put in the microwave to warm them. She said Nana needed them to keep her feet warm.. Christopher got me a Santa in camafluge suit and orange vest.. He said that Nana needed it for her Santas. I told Lakin it looked more like his dad than Santa. We got a big laugh out of that. They also got something for mom and dad but I don't remember what. They both were as excited to give me my gifts and getting their own. They are both caring and loving grandkids.

Grandkids

 Christopher is at it again,  He was here wed evening for a couple of hours. He was sneezing and coughing once in a while. I ask if he had a cold.he told me no, then proceded to tell me that he was not cold. I explained  about a cold. He then walked to me rubbing his arms. "Nana, I can't have a cold when my arms are hot." discussed a 'cold'. He told his dad later that he had a cold even if my arms are hot. Nana told him that.
Christopher informed me he needed another of the new Thomas  movie. I said he had one at home and didn't need a second one.  "But Nana you need the movie at your house so you can watch it with me when I come to your house".  He  has an answer to everything

As you know when I get one something  I get some thing  for the other.  Well last week Christopher got his new Thomas movie. Savannah and I discused what she would get.   We talked about toys, naaaa, movie same reaction  How about a new dress  for church.She liked that Idea. So her mom, Savannah and I went shopping today. She is no longer in the little girls section for size. She and Kim picked out several  dresses to try on. She had to model them for me. One dress a beautiful blue looked good on her  BUT by the end of  October it would not fit. She said it was too tight and not very modest. Had 4 more dresses.to try  on the one she really liked did not have her size.  They looked some more, found a long brown skirt with contrasting blouse and a brown long scarf. Oh how she modeled that one, flipping the skirt as she walked.  Mommie got  her  a 2nd blouse to go  with it. As I said  she  is in the 8 to 14 sizes, sticker shock. cost as much or more than mine. But she loved them that is what counts.

Kim Bogart Rosier posted this on Facebook.

Christopher took his first "Accelerated Reading" test yesterday on a library book he chose. (They are not slated to start that program until 1st grade and we aren't even to the first grading period in Kindergarten. And he's reading well into 1st grade level books) He got a 100% on it. This is not where we had read the book to him and he just remembered the content HE is reading the books and understanding what he reads!!!

Thomas the Train

 Christopher always knows when a new Thomas the Train  movie is due to be released. He checks the web site and watches the newspaper ads.  Well Blue Mountain something was released yesterday.  And as usual I had gotten it for him. BUT He had a rough day at school.  He is having a terrible time not blurting out the answers for any questions ask. Yesterday he was at the bottom of the color chart they have for behavior.  I had picked up the movie so gave  it to Kim  for when he was doing better. Well this afternoon my phone rang and it was Christopher inviting me to come watch the movie with him. He had had a good day. Had dropped a color but was able to bring it back up to acceptable.  I had to hurry fast to his house as Savannah was about done with her homework then he could watch the movie.
He is in an accelerated reading class. He tested in reading at k/9m to 1st grade/9mo. Today he read at above grade level.  He reads constantly.  Sounds out the words he doesn't know. Most are right.Tho

When I get one something I always get the other something of equal value (or close). Savannah and I had talked about getting a toy for her. We discussed that she had so many toys, last time we had trouble finding something she wanted.  She has had another growth spurt so most of her dresses are too short, only has a couple that fit her.  Primary program at church is this Sunday so she decided that she needed a new dress. So tomorrow after school and homework Kim will bring her  to go shopping for a dress. In 3rd grade and so picky about her clothes.  Has to be modest!!  Has to have sleeves, not show her belly and be long enough..

Christopher's latest

I miss all of  Christopher's quips since I do not take them or pick them up from school.
The 2nd day of school, parents were permitted to walk them to class. Kim was going to drop Christopher off in class Then go to Savannah's class to help with the "Fun Run" , school fund raiser.. When Kim told the gkids the routine for the morning. Christopher was very upset with 'mom'. To paraphrase(as I don't  remember the exact words) He informed his mom he knew how to get to his class  and did not need her to
take  him..

One day Christopher had vomited at school(happens every few months)(dr says it is his allergies). So he  went  home.  Lakin needed to go  to the Dr for  a sinus infection,  As  the Dr was getting ready to give Lakin a shot, Christopher piped up with "Are you going to give him a shot in his butt cheek?"  That doctor waits, when Christopher comes  to the  office to see what will be the 'gem' of the day.. OH he is now  back to trusting his doctor since he was not the  one  getting the shot.

Last quarter of a century1

Well today starts the last quarter o a century for me. It is hard for me to think that I am now 76 Years old. I never thought I would see the day. Almost didn't a couple of times  - Doctor at the time told me I was too ornery to let go..  :)  I guess I am like my Grandfather Thomas, Both of my Doctors told me to use a cane to study myself when walking. As My grandfather said  "I am not old enough to use a can.). It is hard for me to ask other people to do something for me. Even if it is just helping me get my groceries to the car.

I have done many things in my life that I have wanted to and  Happy with what I have done. I have met many many friends all over the United States and Canada via my Department 56 village collection. I have stayed in their homes. Several of us, use to meet a couple times a year at what was called Gatherings. These were mini conventions put on by many Collector clubs All over the United States.We also had a chat group on AOL for several years. The women of this group, contacted Kim,  and organized an online  Nana Shower when we got my  granddaghter.  Lakin invited me out to eat that evening and kept delaying my leaving. Finally Kim said "I know you are wanting to get to the chat, so go ahead." It took me a little bit to get into the chat thru there server but I did and when I signed in  all these ladies typed in suprise!!  We chated a bit about Savannah and they told me to turn around and look behind me.  There was a wall of  baby shower gifts. Some small, some home made and some large and expensive. They were all items that were suppose to go to my house for Savannah's use there.Some did and some didn't. Yes many tears were shed.  Most of these women have kept in touch. We have lost  a couple of them and a couple of their husbands. If you see on Facebook someone calls me Rosie, that is one of this group both male and female.. We now keep up with all our children and grandkids and some greatgrandkids.  I have spent hours on line and on the phone with these friends to give comfort during many illnesses and deaths.

 Never thought I would have any grandchildren - have 2 wonderful sweet loving grandchildren. They are my life now. I would love to take them to Disney, but know at this time that is a no no with  my heart problems. So I will go to the zoo with them soon. Was to be today they were taking me to the zoo for my birthday(electric carts available now).  But that ole vomiting bug took both kids down.. We will go another day.

Yes I am really Rambling tonight but am putting this down mostly for my family. I need to put many stories in here for my grandkids to read at a later date. But I just keep thinking I have a lot of years ahead of me to do it. Now not so sure so plan to start doing some memories.

Christopher's phase-in day.

 This morning, 8/17  was Christopher's phase-in half day.  It is to get to know his teacher and some of his class members - only one other child scheduled this day. He was soooo excited!! I hope he keeps his love of school going for the next 13 years.

I mentioned earlier that I thought there was 3 to 6 Kindergarten classes. oops there are 9, yes nine!!!  His class is in the 1st grade wing of the school since there are only 8 1st grades. Savannah has 7 classrooms in her 3rd grade. The school is K thru 5. Plus developmental pre K. This school is growing by leaps and bounds.  The Rockvale area has many new homes and lots of young families. He will also get to see his orginal preK teacher, Ms Deedee. And will be looking for the aide Mrs Angel. These two women helped him adjust to the routine of school and started him on his love of school. Of course, like every other teacher/aide he has encountered, they love their Christopher.

Mr Eric's Pool

 I mentioned Mr Eric's Pool in the last post. This is Their next door neighbor. They know the rules about going into the pool without mom or dad with them. They love Mr Eric so much that they don't want him mad at them  :).  He has a daughter a year younger than Savannah and a daughter 2 weeks older than Christopher.  After the Olympics  Savannah and Mr Eric's oldest  were doing synchronised swimming and doing a good job of it. Savannah was doing 2 & 3 sommersaults under water.   They fussed cause Christopher was jumping in the water making waves so he finally just chilled out in an intertube. He splashes around in the water and does swim a little bit.  We have to watch him cause he will jump into the pool, stand on the bottom and look around. Some of the time it is a little too long of a time for the adults.  He has NO fear of jumping in.  I am afraid to take him to a regular pool - he would follow the bigger kids up the ladder and jump in from the diving board.

School time again.

 Well on Aug 8 Savannah had a 2 hour day of school. Te meet the teachers, register and the usual. Kim went with her.(Kim is taking a break between jobs and loving it) Savannah is in class with a different group of kids this year. She does miss her best friend Joshlyn but sees her every day.  A couple of the girls from last years scout troop is in her class. And she likes that, even if she isn't doing Girl Scouts now. She is in an 8 to 12 yr old group of girls at church - Faith in God - Girls. She loves her leader who has ?8 or?9 children - five adopted. ( I may be wrong on the count of children). They are very active in different activities - service and learning.  Checking into weekly riding lessons for her. She loves horses.  She is also excited that mommy will be taking her to school and picking her up at the after school program at school  Hate to say that Nana is not real reliable now for pickup..

This evening,  August 16, is Christopher's Kindergarten open house. He had his entrance testing a couple of weeks ago, of course rated above average. He can turn on the charm and does remember a lot of what he has had in PreK. He will meet his teacher and some of the ones in his class. he expects to see Kayle and Lillianne  in his class. But who knows - Not sure how many in each Kindergarten room or how many rooms 3 to 6 rooms range. He starts class full time on the 27th.  He is so excited. Had his hair cut and mommy to cut his nails and he will be ready for school he says. They will have to keep him busy or the class clown comes out of him. Knows his numbers, 2 and 3 column addition math and single column subtraction. is doing those and simple multiplication in his head. Is doing 1st grade sight words and can read (sounds out words) if in the mood.  If he doesn't want to do it he tells me that Mrs Smith didn't tell him those words. Was sorry to hear the Mrs Smith, PreK teacher at Eagleville, has moved and will not be at Eagleville this year. The new teacher will have big shoes to fill!! Christopher aill miss her and "Eagleville".

I will miss taking the kids to school and picking them up.  That extra time I had with Christopher daily was the best. I heard everything he did in school and saw his papers. Savannah kept me  updated on her friends. She is so caring about others. If this one "little for age" boy was being picked on, she stepped in made them quit. Her teacher said she Worried about how others were being treated but did NOT stand up for herself. She is easily distracted in class, this year there will be an extra aide in the class room to work with her. She is so sweet and caring that the adults and most of her classmates love her.

I am so sad that  I am unable most of the time to pick them up from school.I am so afraid that I will have a dizzy/weak spell when driving with them in the car. Atrial Fibrillation hits without warning.  It is good to get them into a routine of homework in the after school program.  I have had the kids in the afternoon or evening for a few hours a couple of times in the last couple of months. They fuss at mom and dad if they don't get to go to Nana's house every couple of weeks. (they are appeased if they can go to Mr Eric's Pool with daddy  Now they want a sleepover again. So will have to plan one soon!

Way behind again

 If it is not one thing it is another. The lasix caused me to loose to much potassium. Robert Wiggens was here to mow my yard. I went to the door to pay him, I thought I was going to fall out the door - so dizzy and weak. Robert grabbed me and put me in my recliner.  He ask if I had told Lakin about this. Of course I hadn't.  He told me to call Lakin or he would. so I did Also said he was not leaving til one of them got here.  Lakin called Kim to take me t the hospital and he met us there.  I had vomited a few times that morning, that also caused dehydration. So IVs and potassium IV and IM then oral. Was in from sunday til tuesday. Did get meds for the water blisters on my toes. My cardiologist came by and said that the meds he had me on were working. Regulating my heart beat. OH and I bruise very easy. Came home and was weak. That is getting better. Went to the dr for 10 day check on my potassium.  ot a call from the dr office. potassium is good but need to stop my relafin(for arthritis pain) as my one  kidney bloodwork was not good. Another problem! Another check in 6 weeks. But my heart beat is fairly regular and not giving me any trouble. Keep praaying!!

The Pits of life

 You may not want to venture any further into this post. It is mainly a place for me to vent... Feeling sorry for my self!!

Went to the Cardiologist for a 6 mo check up. Had been a little light headed that morning but felt ok at that time The nurse took my pulse uhoh 170 Blood pressure was 100/?.  Dr sent me to the hospital or a cardioversion scheduled the next morning. I was in Atrial fibrulation.  As they took my BP & pulse hourly and I noted the pulse was comming down and BP was becomming normal. The Doctors Nurse came into my room in the morning to tell me that the procedure was cancelled as I had converted on my own. So Saw the Dr then went home.
Then the next week I had another neucular stress test showing a blockage of a ventricle vessel. It had shown on the previous cath, the Dr thought there was a change.  I had another heart cath but the heart vessel was to small to allow the catheter or stent to be inserted.  So the Heart vessell clot area is at the lower area of my ventricle It had moved from the previous area, further up on the heart. Not life threatening. OK that is good.

Went to my primary doctor a couple of weeks later on a friday. Pulse very irrigular and fast, In Atrial Fibrulation again Had edema in both feet and lower legs. But all attention was put on the A Fib.  Since the A Fib was not extreme at this time I saw the doctor on a monday. He had the EKG from the Primary doctors office. A TEE (TransEsophageal Echocardiogram was scheduled for Wed July 11 an outpatient procedure. If all was ok they would do a cardioversion to get my heart into the regular beats. Well I went into the outpatient area, had the TEE, my usual luck, There is a clot in the lower part of the ventricle. Carrdioversion canceled. Put on medicine to help disolve the blood clot. Have to watch for bleeding. ugh  Feet and ankles still swollen, A Fib more urgent at this time.  So I am home taking buckets full of medicines. Will be repeated in October if nothing more happens.

Called the cardiologist's office about the edema last friday. There was fluid blisters forming on my toes. The Nurse at the Cardiologist's office Said to call the primary Dr as open areas were a diabetic problem. GEESH.
Called primary doctor, didn't get past the receptionist. she took a message for Dr Helton. OK got a call back that Lasix perscription was sent to the pharmacy. if I have a cold, I have to see the dr or Nurse assistant before a perscription. Something I think is more important - just order a perscription.  Can you tell I am not a happy person.
Well over the week end the blisters  have enlarged on both feet. a small one broke. The largest blister was 1 1/2 inch long and 1/2 inch deep at the base of 3 toes  So I will call my primary Dr in the morning. Have lost over 7 lbs with the lasix. LOL.

I am starting to feel my age  So much I still want to do with the grandkids but right now am limited. Til all this happened I felt I was still in my 50 or 60s. Now it is 80s or 90s. Kim had to take 2 days off work last week to take care of the kids. another day a young lady they have known for ages watched them.  I miss having them around. They do upset me at times but I know it is just me worrying. Yes I am a little depressed also.
Remember this is just me venting...

Busy week!!

This week Savannah is going to a Ranch camp for 5 days.. Riding horses, swimming, Crafts And apparently much more. She is so hype about going she doesn't remember what all they are doing. She is in the same group with one of her friends from Church - Another Savannah! The nice thing is that her mother is bringing both home in the evening.

Christopher is with me during the time Savannah is at camp. He is already lost!! He has never been by himself for several days in a row. He was a couple years ago but at that time it was no big deal.  He knows she will be gone during the day all week.  He wants to get in his pool, in about 10 minutes He is out. He didn't want to swim with out 'sister' being there.  He played with his trains watched movies and about 4pm decided he wanted to go back into the pool.He stayed this time about 45 minutes. He didn't like it that I was emptying the pool, it had been up a few days. Will redo tomorrow.
He told me he would clean the bottom o the pool for me. We have found that the Swifter dust mop is the best thing to wipe up the dirt, grass and slime from the  bottom of the pool. Quick and less messy.

I have approx 2+ weeks left on my mission. Finish July 5. It has been interesting but still stressfull as the whole Family History Center Support is changing and enlarging. We also cover the Online Film ordering area.  It is  ongoing changes and a lot more technical. and it has been very hard for me to keep up with all the new stuff. Since the kids are out of school, I am now working the phones from 7pm to 10pm. Tues, wed, thur. I do some friday evenings to help cover vacations and finished missions.

This Mission would have been a lot easier if that was the only thing going on in my life. Most of the other missionaries   don't have family  obligations (which I would not give up for anything). Also I am next to the oldest in the group. Several are also Family History Center Directors and know a lot more about the Centers than I do.. I have learned a lot and have talked to people all over the world. I am glad I did this but also glad it is almost over.

Yard sale

I have been talking about having a yard sale all spring. Well I finally did it with Lakin's help. Didn't get everything out because I ran out of space. We had 2 LARGE tables of minis and ornaments and odds and ends. Savannah had two small tables. drop leaf table with stu on it til it sold. Around 10 or 12 bins with the lids of - and they rooted around in them:) ) few hanging clothes. 2 long 6" wide boards on saw horses.  The minitures moved the most. I had them marked from 75 cents to 5 cents. They were mostly ones I had used when I set up all 4 villages I have.. One women brought up one marked 10 cents and ask if I could give her a better price. I looked at her and said the better price you want is for free. NO  most people were very nice but some were not so nice.

Friday was a fun day. The grand kids had a lemonade or water  table. Actually it was Savannah's project but little brother had to help. The people would ask what they were going to do with the money they make. Savannah told them she wanted to go to opreyland theater to see madegascar 3 in 3D. Christopher told them he wanted to buy a train engine he didn't have. Several liked that she wanted to earn the money to go to the movie and some gave them a dollar. She decided to take her bff from school also. So saturday night the whole family went to the movies.

It made for a tiring 2 days and I took a nap both aternoons It was fine til noon then someone turned the heat on. But it was worth it - got rid o a lot o stuff!  Will prob do another one in late September. I didn't get a lot o  santas out and need to get rid of a lot or ornaments.

Pool time

Savannah & Christooopher came in the door just after 7 this morning with swim suits in hand. " Is the pool up?"  It was 68 degrees. The pool was up and filling by 9am. I kept them out of the water til it ways in the mid 70s. Had a few he splashed me - she splashed me times. Savannah was like a little fish with face in the water and 'swimming' from one end of the pool to the other (all 120 inches) Christopher would not get his hair wet or face in the water. He finally went into the house and layed down on the couch for a while. His tummy hurt. 
After lunch it was swim time again. Savannah would run, jump over the 3 inflated rings(cleared the pool side by a foot most of the time) then cannonballed into the water.. Christopher would run up to the pool, put his hands on the top ring and propelled his body over, into the pool.( he as feeling better) they played and jumped into the pool, shot each other with water tube guns. Had a general good time except when arguing about who bumped who and who splashed who first. Told them if it kept up, one would be in the pool for an hour, then the other would be in by themself for an hour.Neither wanted that so they settled. Christopher finally got 'cold' and off with the bathing suit and wrapped in a towel , covered with a blanket, layed on the couch for a while. Savannah played in the water for about 15 minutes then came in to help brother warm up. By then it was windy and getting cooler. so end of the day of swimming. 
I then captured both of them and had them pushing boxes around in the garage. I think 3/4 of the boxes are garage sale items. Lots of Christmas stuff. Left over stuff from when I was doing embroidering. Yesterday Christoopher opened a bin and found a Easter Thomas I had hid and couldn't find when needed. Then I opened a box that had the net portion of my Jr prom dress. It was red and white net with lots of ruffles.and red bows scattered over the skirt.  It was strapless Which Savannah was upset about. She wanted to take it home but it is over 50 years old. She didn't think I had made the dress.
OH we also found daddy's indian costume and his chef costume from his two years of dance. Also found the Bee costume that I made for him like one of Captain Kangeroo had on his program (I think) Also my mothers wedding dress and my wedding dress - plain white wool jersey dress.  My Mother's dress was pink taffata. also found a dress that belonged to my grandmother, who died in the early 1900s.  Also my brother who died  of crib death, found his blue silk booties.  It was a walk down memory lane.

Hair Cut Day

i have taken Savannah to get her hair cut  BUT never Christopher.
Savannah knew how she wanted her hair cut - shoulder length with bangs. We had tried the full long style, but her hair fell over one eye all the time. And it was made lazier that before. So no hair over the eyes. I would have had it cut a little shorter but she got the length she wanted. She looks so cute with her hair that way. even if she didn't get to be first.

I was at Kim and Lakin's for dinner Memorial Day.  I called Christopher over to me. Now this is a kid that fights getting his hair cut - Clippers are noisy and pull his hair. So I had a deal for him. (Otherwise known as a bribe!!) If he would let Ms Jennifer cut his hair with scissors, the back and over his ears, WE would go to Toys 'R' US. His favorite store. He thought about it for a little bit, then agreed if she would not use the clippers. Ok so off we went to the French Twist Tuesday at 12:30. He still agreed then added that he would be first. ANY thing to get his hair cut. Well Jennifer was informed what she could or could not do. No clippers, cut around his ears and the back. He proceded to watch in the mirror to see if she was doing it right. He complained when she stepped in front of him and he couldn't see the mirror. Also "You are cutting the front!" I told him she had to do that so it would look good.
He made faces in the mirror and kept up running coments. Had the whole place in hysterics. Jennifer tries to talk him into using the tiny clippers she had. NO Way!!  So she continued on. She was cutting a little off the top when he spotted that. Another objection!! Told him she was just evening up, which she was as he had missed her cutting the top - too busy making faces.
He did real well and told her he would see her before school. Then was impatient for Savannah to get her hair cut so they could go to Toys"R" US.  Savannah has wanted walkie talkies for a while. Esp since her best friend moved to the other end of the street.  We usually have a $20 limit per kid when I take them. But I went over for her and got the Walkie Talkies. Much comparison and discussion. One would not talk far enough and one was too expensive. Christopher decided he wanted the same thing - but who wold he talk to?  He and his sister talked back and forth for a little bit.  If he had a set he would be interupting his sister all the time. So he finally found a set of 3  train cars he didn't have. I know the next time he will want walkie Talkies.

No matter how I moved the big blond head moved also. and she stole the flash light. LOL  I wish I had Christopher here to put in names of his class. I think that is Ashleigh(?) Turner net to the big head.

End of the School Year 2012

On wednesday May 23 Christopher "graduated" from Pre K.  Lakin, Kim and I took the kids to school then went to the Library at Eagleville.  At 9am they filed into the library, big smiles and waves to their families. Then the kids lined up on a three step platform (and none fell off). They were dressed in a varity of ways from slacks, long sleeve shirt, and vest (Christopher and a couple of other boys) to shorts and jeans. The girls were mostly in sundresses and some in shorts, some in jeans. All were adorable. They sang 3 songs and most knew all of the words. The cutest song was the ABCs in my mouth. complete with motions and wiggles.
They each received a mock diploma and a folder with pictures and some of their work. To get those they had to give Mrs Smith a Hug.
We then went outside on the patio and had cake with the class picture on the cake, chips, juice and water. Christopher got lots of hugs from Ms Smith and Ms Tolivar and of course he had to hug all his classmates.(esp the girls lol)

Thursday Lakin went to school with Savannah, Lakin  helped supervise all the activities as there were no lessons that day. On Friday Lakin and Christopher took Savannah to school to get her report card. With Mrs Dyke's assistance, she improved so much in her work. and got good marks.
Savannah will be going to a week day camp that will include riding horses. She also loves to run she can outrun the boys in her class. Anyone know of a good track coach for a 3rd grader. we wold like to get her  running the proper way so she will not have to relearn it in Middle school. There are times at home she will run, just because she likes to.

Christopher got to go see his Developmental Pre K teacher he had when he was 3 to 4 yrs old. He Loved Ms DeeDee. Both Ms DeeDee and Mrs Smith have made a big difference in his life. Learning school stuff and behavior.

Both Mrs Smith and Mrs Dyke sent home work for them to do over the summer. Their to do dailey list starts with school. This is done after breakfast.  Lakin and Savannah have been working on math and will include some spelling.  With Christopher he has been working on sight words. There were 30 some on one page and Christopher knew over 25 of them. Tried to sound out some of the others. Then Lakin realized he had Savannah's end of 1st grade sight words.  They are also working on him printing his name - letters in a row and all the same size and not the artistic creative name.  They hope that this will help both of the kids remember what they learned last year so they can go on with their new lessons.

I promise I will have a couple of pictures of 'graduation'.

Mother's Day 2012

Happy Mothers Day to all mothers that read this.

Mother's Day means so much to me. It is the time to celebrate all mothers. My mother was a different person. She was a coal miners wife, that worried constantly for my dad's safety. First she had me, a sickly croupy pneumonia baby. My step grandfather told her to  have another child because her first one would not be with them long. He was wrong :).. She had that 2nd child a boy, a happy baby, a joy. Of course I was jealous of Stanley, known as Sonny). I stole his bottle and ran with it, triping on the step up from one room to the other. I have a scar on my left wrist to show for my misdeed.  Sonny died "crib death" at 18 months. The family was devestated.  My mother became depressed . It took several more years for her to become pregnant again. My brother Jon was born 70 years ago last thursday. He was born on Mothers day.  18 months later Will was born.  6 & 7 years younger than me. By then I was a spoiled brat and didn't want to have any extra kids around.  I was the center of attention before the invasion of the "boys".
We all remember different things of my mothers life. She didn't want any type of services when she died. She donated her body to the Athens, Ohio, Medical school for research. So the first Sunday after her death, My Brothers, families and my son gathered to remember all the things, good and bad, that we remembered about both of our parents. We laughed and we cryed. . I remembered the many times I helped in the greenhouse and 'doing' the flowers for sepecial occasions. Also the many times I broke the home by __ rule. There was an outside door in my bedroom --- so I left my friends a little ways from the house, walked into the house got ready for bed then wandered past my parents bedroom making enough noise to wake my mom so she new I was home.
The main thing Jon remembered was that when he went to Kent State, Mom gave all his baseball cards to the neighbor kids.  He had a LOT of cards that were worth something. A lot of first cards of players from the 50s. Cleveland Indians players and a lot of others.   The Irony of him going to Kent State was that he left school after being caught in the girls dorms toooo many times. That was a no no in the early 60s. He joined the Navy and became a Nuclular submariner. with many many stories he could not tell.
Bill just plodded along. He played football in high school. He was big and noone wanted to go thru the line over him. He went out for football at Kent State, played for a while his freshman year, but he had hit a kid during a game and broke his leg. No more foot ball for him.  He was/is such a big teddy bear he didn't want to hurt anyone. He graduated and went right to work for the IRS. Working for them until they closed the Cleveland Office and he took an early retirement. He and his wife, Janet, had an adopted daughter, then adopted 2 boys and then many many foster children of whom he adopted two.They were Foster Parents of the year in Ohio several times.
Me ? I finished high school, class of 22 students.  Went to Canton to Nursing school at Aultman Hospital school of Nursing - a 3 yr school. This gave me the background for 40 years of nursing.
My mother alwasys wanted to be a nurse, so after her divorce (39 yrs old)she went to LPN school and worked til she was in her late 60s. . She loved nursing and worked most of the time in Medical ICU.  She also met a man whom she married, an alcoholic, who hid his booze everywhere.  After many years of upheavel times they divorced. At one time he ask mom if he hit her would would her son's do? Mom answered don't worry about my sons, worry about what Lois would do to you. They divorced not long after that.
Both of my parents remarried BUT they continued to sneak off and meet at least once a week. Both of their spouses suspected this was going on but could never catch them meeting.  It was funny but also sad. They loved each other til the end but couldn't live together.
This has turned into a family history not an ode to mothers.
Will continue this later. time to get ready for Church.

I am behind in posting. Have not been feeling great, mostly just feeling old!!  The heart cath is past, No stent was inserted as the artery was to small to accept the catheter nevermind the stent. The  doctor was not to concerned about a clot causing any problems, it was not in an area to do much damage.  The stress test showed the blockage in a larger vessel.  Of course I am still black and blue and sore over a week later.

I realized how blah I was when the gkids acted like if they hugged me I would break.  I picked Christopher up at school yesterday, He was sooo good and sooo polite I thought he was sick. :)  He played quietly at the house til Lakin picked him up.  I offered to stop at the 'new' McDonalds to pick him up some supper. His reply was "If you want to Nana".  I just ordered him a happy meal and nothing for me. He told me that I should have gotten some food for me,"you have to eat Nana". We came to my house and Christopher sat at his table and ate his chicken. He was sooo good the whole time he was here.  The only thing he said about my heart was for me to get better and take care of my heart so he could come to Nana's house and play.

The grandkids have been interested in the Robins nest outside the window in the backyard. They have watched the mommy and daddy Robin take food to the babies. The babies were learning to fly, Christopher went out and sat on the swing  watching for the baby to fly. The baby flew be hind him and he saw the baby fly into a bush. That was enough, he came into the house so he would not bother the baby.  Mommy Robin chattering at Christopher helped him decide to come in.  Every once in a while he checked to see if the baby bird or the baby rabbit were out in the yard.   Of course the baby robin would not come out while Savannah was here.

I have not seen much of the gkids the last few weeks.  What a difference!!  Savannah has grown taller and her face is thinner and looks much older and is usually very graceful in her moves.  She is now looking like a young lady. She already has the boys wanting to be her friend. Her class had "big" tests for a couple of days, and she said they were not bad and kinda boring. She liked how quiet it was when they took the tests.

Christopher has gotten taller and now looks like a little boy not a toddler.  So grown up!  Yesterday he was showing me some thing and said we needed to compare two different cards. When I ask what he ment by compare, I got that look, and he proceded to tell me that to compare was to see how something was the same or different.  When he has used  "big" words before and I have ask what the ment he knew and explained.  I am interested to see how the Kindergarten teacher will keep him occupied next year.

While I was in the hospital Jen Sharp picked Christopher up at school.  He informed her that "that man" Brother Sharp was to pick him up. Jen told him that Bro Sharp was at home and she was his wife. Christopher then decided it was ok to go with her. (his teacher knew the Sharps and that they were picking him up)  He played on the trampaline while waiting on the other kids to come home and mom or dad to pick him up. He loves to go to the Sharps cause there are boys there. It was also their youngest daughters birthday party. He came here with a ring pop in his mouth. I ask where her got that and he informed me he got it because  "I am so sweet". He said that as a matter of fact not bragging.

Long wait day and Grandkids

Today is already been very long day. Only slept about 3 hrs total last night. Waiting to hear what time I am to be at Vanderbuilt tomorrow for a heart cath and stent. Won't get the call til sometime between 2 & 4 pm this afternoon.

Had the kids for a couple hours yesterday after picking them up at school. While waiting for Savannah, Christopher wanted to climb on my lap. He wanted cuddled. He was very whinny. He was concerned about Nana going to the hospital to get her heart fixed. He cried as he talked about it. I tried to reassure him but he just kept saying Nana's heart needs to get better. I finally distracted him as the kids were coming out of the school and he has to tell the teacher that he needed Savannah Rosier. It is a contest to see who can say it first. She thinks he is "so cute". I warned her that she might have him next year in PE. She knew all about him as she had talked to Savannah about her brother.

Today Christopher's class is going to a kindergarden class as part of their learning about kindergarten. His teacher and assistant are really preparing them to go on to the 'big school'.  My worry is how they will keep him occupied next year. He is very smart and absorbs everything he hears.  At least 2 of the girls will go to Rockvale K with him along with their neighbors daughter. OH the poor teacher that would get the 4 of them.

Savannah is not to sure she wants him in the same school as she is in. Although she wants him to go to Mrs. McGregor's class. She also knows what teacher she doesn't want next year. She wants a teacher that will help her with her anxiety and not yell at her.
Savannah is taking a big test -not Tcap- but a big test for 1000 hours(her estimation) today and tomorrow. She is not too concerned about it so hope she doesn't have any problems.
It is hard to believe that it is the last month of this school year - 16 days of school.

Christopherism

I picked the grandkids up at school yesterday. First Christopher - Ask what he did at school, He didn't answer, I repeated the question. "Nana, I was chewing my cookie, and you are not to talk with cookie in your mouth." He then proceeded to tell me that 'they were going to the zoo on Thursday, Unless it storms all day.  If it rains just a little bit we will go to the inside stuff, snakes, spiders, turtles, lizards and those things.'  He hoped it didnt rain so he could also see all the other animals. Mommy and some of the other mommies were going with them to help Mrs. Smith. (Not sure she needs help because as we already know what she says is law.)
Then he said that they learned how they had to behave. "Then learned about the animals but I knew most of that."

At first Savannah didn't like it that Christopher was going to the zoo. But I think she is realizing now that they each will do there own things. She does Girl Scout things and Christopher doesn't.  She goes to "Faith in God" at church but Christopher has to sit out in the anteroom with Daddy

Another ism!!  I  had gotten my hair cut SHORT, Christopher was looking at the back of my head and informed me that there was a hole in my hair and tried to cover the hole. He decided that my hair was as short as his and wouldn't cover the hole. My hair wasn't to be that short.  About that time one of his classmates came with her "papa" to pick up her sister.  So the talking began, Like they hadn't seen each other 30 minutes before.

Nana's Rambling

Not sure how I am feeling about what is to happen next with my heart.  I see Dr Abu, cardiologist thursday at 12:30.  Some of the time I feel good, like there is not a problem. Then all of a sudden I get a tight chest, light headed. Then I sit down and try to relax with a little bit of self Hypnosis.  It is not as bad as the orginal attack. unlike the orginal these  seems to go away in a short time. If I didn't have an appointment on Thursday I would call and make an appoint. So I am not sure what the decision will be thursday.  Yea I am down and teary.
Christopher came up to me today, cuddled against me, then told me to have the doctor make my heart better.  He said  that he and sister need someone to take care of them when mommy and daddy are working and he wants to come to Nana's house to play.  It was so hard not to cry at that time but it would have upset him.

I wrote this to get my feeling out and hope that it helps me get thru this. That and doing a lot of praying.

Lois

Kim and Christopher

Kim (mommy) and Christopher conversation.

Christopher: I love you!
Me: I love you too
Christopher: I love you one hundred
Me: I love you 4 ever
Christopher: I love you infinity!
... Me: Do you know what infinity means?
Christopher: It means I'll never stop loving you.

Oh the moments that make a heart sing :)

Monday 4/16 Not my day

OK What went on the last couple of days??? Had a 6 mo check up with the cardio doctor Monday at 9:15. Didn't feel great, kinda tired. Well the nurse took my BP and pulse. OOPS Pulse of 170 is not good esp when it was irrigular. BP 100/ extra low NOT good. Did an ekg. Doctor Abu came into the room and said I was in atrial Fibrillation. Wanted me to go into the hospital that afternoon. To have an esophageal sono...grapy of my heart and probably a Cardioversion. Just had to be at the hospital sometime early afternoon. I came home, Called Lakin, he came to my house, by then I had packed jamies and Robe. and any other things I concidered necessary.

Was admitted by 2pm. While waiting for my chariot to the room, I read the orders. Kinda brings you up short when it starts off with: "Full Code". Means that if something happened they were to ressuitate me. All kinds of different meds, and orders for the Cardioversion on Wed morning.

Lakin, after I was admitted, went to pick up the kids at school. Then brought them to see that I was OK. They loved the large window and being high, 7th floor.  Savannah stood in the window looking out. could see so far. Looked down, stated she felt nauseous. Christopher, who was beside her, stated he didn't feel nauseous but he could see the whole world. Then he pointed out he could see Chucky Cheese.. he could see the mall!

 

Savannah, who I share the love of Cuties(tangerines) with brought me a Cutie so I would have a snack. Lots of hugs and kisses.

 

Christopher layed down beside me. He wanted to tell me a secret. But Savannah and Daddy was in the room so he couldn't tell me his secret. As they were about to leave, I had taken a drink of water, Christopher had given me a kiss - wiped his mouth and in a very discussed way said "you game me your juices".

When Lakin took them home, Kim got home and Lakin picked up Hal Tennent to come to the hospital and to give me a blessing. What a great thing!!

The gal that works with Dr Abu  came in my room at 7:30 Wednesday morning and told me my heart beat had settled and was back to normal. The doctor said later that it was the meds, one dose. mmmmm What a great Blessing, it worked again!!

Came home just in time for Lakin to go get the kids at school. Now to rest til the stress test on monday - see how that goes and hopefully the Afib attack didnt do any damage to the 40% blocked artery.
As Christopher said as he left today "Nana, you be good and don't do anything to make your heart go fast"

 

Well it is thursday and I slept 12 hours last night and napped off and on all day. Has been a lost day. All I did was call Express Scripts and try to get my meds straightened out for the 3rd time. Tired of getting meds that I had cancelled and having to send them back. They said they would need new perscriptions to replace the ones I cancelled.  NO WAY!  Then they got upset. Told them I didn't need another 3 month supply of a med I couldn't take. I would have the meds filled locally, 30 day supply, to see how I react to them. Of course they know more about what meds I need than my Doctor. (tongue in cheek)...  They had changed one of my meds to a 'cheaper' one, the cardiologist pointed to that medicine as possible cause of the A Fib.

 

Well I do feel a lot better right now.  So hopefully will feel like doing something tomorrow instead of sleeping all day.

Christopher's Follow up

Christopher went for a followup visit to his reqular Doctor.  All back to normal - NO wheezing. Need to keep an eye on him for future bouts of asthma. He and Lakin stopped at my house to pick up Savannah. I ask him  if his classmates were happy to see him today. He gave that little smile of his and said 'Yea and got hugs.'
When I picked up Savannah, her first question was where was 'brother"? I reminded her he had a doctor's appointment for follow up with his doctor. That was ok with her. She was hoping he could go outside and play - "she misses playing outside with her brother". They sat together at the front storm door eating popcicle on a stick. They will be back to spatting soon.

Christopher's ambulance trip

 What a stressfull couple of days. It started when Kim called me to tell me to be on alert since Christopher had been wheezing when they got up yesterday morning. She gave him a breathing treatment and he seemed to be fine. On thursdays she takes the kids to school. He seemed fine when she dropped him off except he would cough once in a while. Then she gets the call to have someone come and get him as he was wheezing and coughing.. before she could call me the school calls her that they are putting Christopher into an ambulance to take to the hospital. He was listless and wheezing a lot. The EMTs were giving him a breathing treatment in the ambulance before transfering him to MTMC. ( they had to give him another treatment before they got to the hospital because he was wheezing so bad. Kim called me as I was the closest to the hospital and we were not sure how he would react to a bunch of strangers. So I head to MTSU, I beat the ambulance, they had not even called from the ambulance to tell the hospital they were on the way. So I waited and waited.
Kim, driving from work in Brentwood, TN, and the ambulance arrived about the same time. So she and I went back to the ER room not knowing what we would find. Well Christopher was talking a mile a minute, from all the steroids in the breathing treatments.  We were also pleasantly supprised to find the teachers assistant, Ms Toliver, was with him. She didn't want him to get scared when he didn't know anyone. She was also having to hold him in the ER bed as he was hyper active.
After being checked in and the usual listening to his chest, he got another breathing treatment. The mask alows for the "steam" to excape thru opening. Of course with his obscesion with trains, He said he was a "steamy"  i.e. steam engine. He did everything they ask him to do except sit still. Somewhere along this time he said he was acting "crazy".
They also gave him a shot of steriods. The Nurse ask him to lay on his tummy and look toward me. He did, they gave him the shot in his 'bum', his reaction was OUCH  OW OW. No fighting the shot. Between the breathing treatment and the shot the wheezing eased off. So after observing him for a bit to see if the wheezing returned, Kim was able to take him home. On the stop at discharge he ask the gal if she had a lollipop, she said no but thought they might find him a popcicle. He got a grape one and it was eaten before they got to the car.
He had fused earlier that he had not had his lunch, so a stop at McDonalds was necessary.
Typical of a Christopherism was: He told the EMTs that they were on the road to Toys-r-Us. If they didn't know how to get there he would tell them what road to take. He wanted them to take him to Toys-r-Us then to the hospital.
I went to pick up Savannah at school. She got to the car and before she even opened the door, she started to cry and ask where her brother was. I told her that Christopher had gotten sick at school and he was home with mommy. She needed my phone to call mommy "right Now".  She was sure Christopher was in the hospital not able to breathe. She went into a flull blown crying, talking and trying to catch her breath. She talked to Kim and then talked to Christopher but She didn't settle til she saw Christopher at home.
When they got up friday morning, Christopher was asleep sitting up on the couch. Wheezing again. Kim gave him a breathing treatment and his oral steriod medicine. Still wheezing a little, so he came to Nana's. He sat on the couch with his cars fleece blanket and his spiderman pillow most of the day. Watching Lil Eiestein has always calmed him. so he watch them for a while. Gave him a treatment at 1 o'clock. He told me how to put the inhalier into the mask thingee and he held it to his face. No fuss, he just did it. He said he needed to get better so he could go to school and to the zoo next week. Kim planned to go with the class to the zoo, not sure they would let him go if one of the family wasn't along.
Mrs Smith and Ms Toliver handled Christopher and the other kids very well. His class mates knew he was coughing and had been taken to the nurse and that he had to leave. They would not have been able to see the ambulance. But I am sure he will tell them next week all about it.
TOO MUCH EXCITEMENT FOR ME and the rest of the family!! 

General Conference spring 1012

Like the last few years, I spent General Conference time at the Bohlings home. With Jim, Laura and Hannah Bohling. We sure missed their daughter Rachel who is at Alabama, and son James who is on his mission. But knew they were watching Conference also..  Also on Saturday missed Lakin, Kim, Savannah and Christopher as they were at a Girl Scout Open House for Middle Tennessee, celebrating the 100 Anniversary of the Girl Scouts.

General Conference was uplifting and reminded us on how to treat friends and family.  Refrain from judging others and stop the gossip seemed to be the theme of the day.  STOP IT  was the byword..

Some of the 'counts' of the day were 2949 Stakes, 340 Mission areas, 14,441,346 Members, 5540 Missionaries. The one I was really interested in was 2299 Church Service Missionaries of which I am one in the count.

During the 1st session they 'released' Brothers and Sisters from various callings. They had given their time in these callings without any pay.  Then they started to 'call' Brothers and Sisters to serve for the next few years. At that time Laura and I were the only ones watching the conference, Jim had gone to work and Hannah was up stairs. They were calling the Area 70s, Laura and I listened just  to see if there were any names we recognized. All at once they said "Alvin F Meredith III" Laura and I looked at each other and and both said "did he say what I think he said?".  As Laura was taping the conference, she was able to go back to make sure. YEP It was our TRIP Meredith...  He had been the Murfreesboro Ward Bishop (before the ward split) and had been Stake President. He was an active member of the Blackman Ward. Most of the members were not surprised at the calling he received. All knew he would do great things in the Church. He will have the backing of the Murfreesboro ward and the Blackman Ward and all who know him.

My main memory of President Meredith was, I had belonged to the church almost a year and was preparing to go to the Temple. When I received my endowment I would be able to attend the Sealing of Savannah Grace to her parents.  I had been to the Doctor and they had done an ekg and some other tests. I was to go back to the doctor the next week for more tests. They thought I had had a 'silent' heart attack and needed Open Heart Surgery within the next few weeks. Lakin, Kim and I went to talk to then Bishop Meredith about doing the endowment and Savannah's sealing several weeks early. Bishop Meredith said he would check with Salt Lake but that was not a request that was granted except in pending death.

As we were about to leave, Bishop Meredith ask if he could give me a 'blessing'. A blessing in our Church is given by someone in the priesthood, who with the help of our Lord helps calm and sometimes heals the receiving person.   I said yes knowing it would calm me during the next few days. He gave me a 'blessing'.
At that time I knew things would work out. Went to the Doctors the next week for a EKG and a stress test
I noticed the tech person and the Doctor had a funny look on their face. The Doctor ask if I had taken any medicine that morning. I hadn't. They could not find the problem that was there the week before. They compared EKGs. NO PROBLEM!! They could not figure it out, But I knew what had happened.  Bishop Meredith had ask the Lord to help me and he did!!!  I still had some irregular beats but not the life threatening problem they had seen the week before.  It held up for 8 years before I needed a stent placed in a heart vessel.

Elder Meredith gave of his time and his family's time when ever he was needed.  As I said before he will do great things in his calling.

Christopher Lakin

What can I say??  He is the little blond/white haired, blue eyed boy that when he smiles at you he wins your heart  Even as a baby everyone had to rub is white hair like it had magic powers.

At 2 yrs he was non verbal – except for screaming. 2 yr 6mo he was at a 16 month level.  We started with sign language and that helped, he could communicate. Kim and Lakin fought for him to have a teacher and speech therapist. He did well when he learned that words meant something. At 3 yrs, after his 3^rd birthday in November, he went to a developmental preschool. What a difference that made. He loved his teacher, Ms Deeded and learned fast. He finished that year and started the next school year but was tested out of the program at 4 yrs 6 months, in November Just before his 4th birthday.. Then it was up to Nana to help him continue to learn. He knew his ABCs, well most of them, could count to 20 when he wanted to.  He could tell you the name of every one of the Thomas the train engines and cars.  And he has most of them…

When this school year started, he went to Eagleville to an at risk preK. Another teacher, Mrs. Smith, whose words were law!! He learns so fast. They do a rhyme and he knows it by the end of the first session.  Christopher keeps her hopping to keep ahead of him. He now draws something besides trains. His people drawings have to have 5 fingers on each hand.  When he is doing something he uses his right hand for a while then switches to his left hand.   He does not want Mrs Smith to give him a “mad look”. So he says he trys to make good choices.  He wears his backpack upside down in the front. When I ask him why “made everyone laugh”. But most of the kids now wear their backpacks that way.

When he went to the first music class at "Eagleville"(a word he loves to say) The music instructer ask each student what instrument they would like to learn to play. Christopher said "all of them".  She said he would only be able to play one insturment. He didn't know why cause 'grammy' played lots of instruments.

He has an answer for everything!!   Many friends have told me I need to put his Christopherisms in a blog.  Hopefully I can remember a lot of them. I am checking back in my facebook posts to find some of them.

And they will be in future posts.

When I pick up the kids at school, I have juice and snacks for them. Well Lakin picked them up the other day and was informed that Nana had drinks and snacks for them and next time he was to bring them.  I am sure he finished the sentence with “get that?”

Christopher gets a phrase or a word and uses it constantly for a while.  The latest word has been “hello”. If he tells me something and I forget and ask him about something, I get a “Hello, I just told you that!”.

His two best frends at school are Emmey and Dani, yes both are girls.  He informed me that both had pretty hair.  A couple of weeks ago , Emmey got to school after we did so was behind us in line. Christopher got out of my car and went to her mom’s truck to talk to her. Yea talk to her….  Her mother had put the window down, Emmey leaned way out of the truck, Christopher stood on his tip toes – both stretched  for a hug.  After she got out of the truck they hugged again and he took her hand and walked to the door.  And I didn’t  have a camera and had left my phone at home. The caretakers that were dropping other kids at the school saw this happening – heard a lot of aaaahhhhh how cute.  But so young!!!

Last week He saw Lakin without a shirt on. “Daddy you have fur”

We have a wait of over a half hour for Savannah.  Several of his class mates have siblings at Rockvale – so the wait time was very noisy of shouting back and forth.  I have a Kindle and downloaded some stories for that time.  Once in a while he wants to read the stories, sometimes I read with him pointing out words he knows. Surprised how many he knew. This is also the time that I HAVE to see what he brought home. It is a battle to get him to put the papers back into his backpack, he says he showed them to me that was enough.

Savannah Grace

SAVANNA GRACE

Savannah is 8 Yrs old and very loving. All that know her love her - even some of the little boys in her 2nd grade class.  She is active in Faith in God for girls at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  She loves going on Wednesday night to learn more about God. She was baptized the first of last December. She has been brought up to dress modestly and will not wear anything that shows her shoulders or abdomen or is short.  She dresses with style, most of the time, but always very modestly. She took dance for 2 years and for recital wore a body suit to cover her shoulders and belly. She is ok with a one piece bathing suit

Savannah has “anxiety attacks”. If you ask she will explain them to you and what she has to do to combat them.  She has worn glasses since she was a baby. They are a part of her body now.  She was having trouble concentrating at school, she was prescribed a medication.  After a couple of days of non stop talking, she ask Kim if they had put talking medicine in with her concentration medicine.  I mean NON STOP, even at night in bed. Her jaws were tired from clamping them shut so she wouldn’t talk so much in school.  It is interesting that she fully understands what her problem is. It takes extra effort to do school work. It appears that most of her friends accept her as she is.

Savannah is in the Girl Scouts. She has met new friends and enjoys the activities. Even the Cookie sales. Last year she was runner up in her troop. This year she has sold over 300 boxes.  She called several family friends and ask them to buy cookies. Gave the whole sales talk.  She also worked the Girl Scout Cookie table, one at a Kroger’s and another time at Wal-Mart.  Both were on a cold windy night. She looks at the people going by and sweetly asks them if they would like to buy some Girl Scout cookies.  Who is going to tell a cute little Girl Scout no? Especially when she tells them thank you after they buy the cookies.

Horses are her big love and have for the last 3 years. In 2010 for her birthday party she invited some of her friends to go ride horses at Uncle Kim and Aunt Carol's farm. Last month I made her a hooded poncho with pictures of horses all over the fleece.  I think she slept with it the first few nights and wears it daily to school and where ever she goes.

When Savannah was 4 yrs old she saw an American Girl catalog. Of course she picked out the doll she wanted. But Nana told her she had to be 8 yrs old to have those dolls. Every time she saw the catalog she reminded me that I had said that when she was 8 I would get her one.  She started last summer reminding me she would be 8 in November. So she now has Lulu that has brown hair and brown eyes like hers.  Of course lots of clothes, doll carry case, cupboard to hang Lulu’s clothes. She got upset that Lulu only had one set of underclothes, she would need to change!  Even has a poncho just like Savannahs.

Savannah kept going back and forth about getting her ears pierced. About a month ago she went to get her ears pierced. She picked out the earrings she wanted. They did both ears at the same time and all she said was OW.  She is soo proud of getting her ears pierced.   

Grandkids

So who are Savannah & Christopher?  They are the two little darlings that call me Nana.   Both want sleepovers at Nana”s so she won’t get lonely.  Savannah stays one Friday night and Christopher stays the next Friday night  Not every Friday but when I will let them. If I don't see them for a few days they want to go to Nana's to see her.

ME?

Me

What have I been doing?  I mainly watch the grandkids - taking them to school and picking them up. Keeping them when needed. This way Kim and Lakin did not have to worry about where they are and could concentrate on work and school. Most of the time I have loved having them here. But as with all kids there are days LOL.

Last May I saw a poster about being a stay at home Church Service Missionary. I made a call to Salt Lake City a couple of days later. Talked to the Elder in charge of the program. By the time I hung up, I was scheduled to start classes July 5^th.. For 2 months we had a couple hours of class 5 days a week.  This didn’t count all the hours I spent going over the information to learn all or where to look for the answers.  At my age I had to spend extra time studying. The end of August we were answering phones with our mentors helping with the answers we needed for 3 weeks..   We are to spend at least 15 hours a week answering phones.  The calls are an 866 number that are then forwarded to the Family History Center Support queue i.e.  to one of the missionaries...

Then we got an extra assignment – contact Family History Centers who needed to send in a form to receive new computers.  A while after that we started getting overflow calls from the Online Film Ordering queue. Which added to my stress, it is a whole different area. I am to the point I can answer simple questions but NOT the complicated ones.

New printers were sent out to some of the Family History Centers so the calls started again.  “Did you send in the form about the ink?”

I work my hours between the time I took the gkids to school and when I picked them up for 3 days. On Wednesday I do the evening shift because the person who did that time had finished her missionary time. Take and pickup gkids as usual..  Makes for a busy days..  Seems like this mission takes over my life.  I am finished July5th.. It is interesting and meet lots of people from all over the world. If they speak English we get them. It can be rewarding but sometimes very stressful.

Every once in a while I have to take a break. I get so tired and stressed. The stress is not good since I had a stent put in the ascending blood vessel on the heart last September. So I have to watch it.

Nana's Rambling: Nana's Rambling: Who am I?

Nana's Rambling: Nana's Rambling: Who am I?: These buildings depict some of the Historic buildings of the LDS Church.

Nana's Rambling: Who am I?

These buildings depict some of the Historic buildings of the LDS Church.

Who am I?

I thought I had already posted my first post on MY blog. But I guess it is in cyberspace.

Several people have ask 'where my blog is hiding'. What will be included in this Rambling? To start with, I retired September 30, 2001 after 40 years of Nursing mostly in the operating room. I worked with some great gals and guys in several hospitals. BUT I do not miss working. I ofter wonder how I had time to work, I am soooo busy in retirement.

I have made friends and traveled to many states. I collect Department 59 villages, mostly North Pole but a few others sneak into the mix. 4 & 5 levels of North Pole buildings cover 2 sides of a bedroom. There is 2 & 3 levels on the 3rd wall. The Barbie buildings and the Lemax Nutcracker complete Savannah's area. Christopher has 2 Nascar buildings, he keeps exchanging the cars & trucks in front of the buildings with some of his Hot Wheels and 'Cars'. There is 4 Mickey Mouse buildings in that area also. Mickey and Minnie go to visit the North Pole elves and the elves migrate to see Mickey. I never know what I will find in the village. There is no train track in any of the village but "Thomas" and a couple train cars seem to visit Santa and the elves have to ride on Thomas the train. Some days Christopher will go in and turn on some of the light in the buildings. Especially he turns on the Nutcracker to watch them dance "like sister dances" and he loves to hear the music. There are times that he stands and watches and listens to the music.