My new grandson Noah James

I was blessed today with a new grandson. His name is Noah James and his parents are my son Bryce and his fiance Kristal. He was stubborn in getting here. Kristal went into the hospital on Thursday morning to be induced. She wasn't dilated yet so they gave her some medication to get her started in that process. Well after about 14hrs and 3 doses of this medication things sort of processed enough that they decided to start the pitocin IV to get her labor started. Well after another 11hrs or so the doctor decided to try and get the process started manually and then break her water. That was about 9am on Friday. She only got to 2cm by nighttime, 4cm by 4am today and then all of a sudden 10cm by 7a. She had an epidural around 2a last night as the pain was pretty bad and she really needed to get some rest for the upcoming birth. My son called me at 7a and said I had better get there now as she was ready. I went to the hospital (I had been at the hospital off and on over the last couple days also) at 7:30am and I knew it would be awhile but they were both so anxious. Kristal mother then showed up about 8a. This is the other grandmother, Becky's 1st grandchild also this was her birthday. Wow what a great birthday present she got today. I was able to stay in the room the whole time and help with the birth. I feel very blessed and grateful that she allowed me, her future mother in law to be there for this wonderful blessing. My son was so cute and was trying his hardest to do what he could to help make Kristal as comfortable as he could. He was very attentive and so grown up and mature. I am so proud of him.

Noah was born at 12:42pm and weighed 7lbs 12oz. I don't know how long he is as of yet and I haven't had the opportunity to actually hold him in my arms but I will be remedying that tomorrow after church. He has lots of hair and it looked curly which my son does have when he actually has hair. It looked light colored also. He is so precious and so beautiful, but then I might be a little biased on that opinion.

Here is a picture of him with Kristal about 10 min after birth. The other picture is of him with his very tired but proud parents. Even though I have been through this now for the 4th time with my grandkids, each time seems like the 1st time. I am so happy and so proud of them both.

I am so READY

I am so ready for spring and warmer weather. I am so ready to open my windows and let in some fresh air. I am so ready to air out the house. I am so ready to put away the heavy winter coats and accessories. I am so ready to not have to scrape off ice/frost off my car. I am so ready to see green grass not this yucky brown/green stuff that's out there now. I am so ready to be able to turn off the furnace. I am so ready to be able to sit outside in the sun. I am so ready for some cookouts. I guess I should just say I am so ready for a change.

I was so over winter way back in December when we got an early snow storm. And the snow kept coming and coming with what looked like no end in site. It seemed I was shoveling, or rather pushing snow daily. Since I broke my left arm back in Sept 2009, I don't have much use of it and so doing even some basic things is really a challenge. So shoveling is a sometimes a major endeavor. I have a daughter and her boyfriend who live on the other half of our duplex, a granddaughter and her boyfriend who live next door to me who could shovel for me but...well lets just say that doesn't happen very often. I also have a son who could come over and shovel for me also but...well that doesn't happen either. Don't get me wrong they all do a lot for me but shoveling is something that seems to be a non priority to them. But I try and do the best I can to get things shoveled so I can get out. It may take me a long time but it gets done and it gets done the way that I want it.

This winter season I have had more colds than I care to count. And they seemed to linger on and on to make it seem and feel like I never really was without one. While I was working full time it was rare that I had a cold, which was odd since everyone around me was always sick. But now that I am home and not around a lot of people except my great granddaughter, I seem to get colds at a drop of a hat. As a matter of fact I have one now. And it is kicking my butt. But I keep plugging along and trying to get things done that I need to.

I was watching my great granddaughter daily while my granddaughter worked, but now that my youngest daughter moved back here from Georgia for awhile, she has been watching her granddaughter, which gives me a break. Randi is 14 months old and on the go all the time and is exploring everything in site and into everything that she can possibly get into. She is a determined little girl. I have been able to get a lot of things done around here that have been put off because of time, sickness and just plain I didn't feel like or have the energy to take care of. Sometimes just doing the daily chores takes up more time then there are hours in the day. I have been able to get a lot accomplished just in this past week. My recycling bucket was way over the top when I took it out last night and I am sure it will be filled up again over the next couple weeks. I also have a big pile of bags to take to goodwill. But I am getting rid of a lot of things which makes me happy. I am not sure who brought all this stuff into my home but it sure wasn't me :) Must be some clutter gremlin running amok in my neighborhood. But I sure wish he would stay out of my home.

I love to read and now that I am home more it would seem I would have time to do more reading. BUT for some reason I can't seem to find the time to just sit down and read. I have a couple books I really want and need to read, one of which needs to go back to the library on the 22nd, but I can't seem to find the time to read. It seems I always have something going on, or I need to be someplace, or someone needs something done, fixed or taken care. I am not complaining about keeping busy but I sure as heck don't know where the time goes. I think that same clutter gremlin must have a sibling called time stealer gremlin because I think he is taking a few hours out of my day.

I am going to be a grandmother again any day now. My son and his fiance are expecting their first child, a boy, any day. She was due on the 11th and so far nothing. She is so ready and he is nervous. But soon my grandson Noah will make his appearance. I can't wait. We had a combined birthday dinner last night for my mother (2-26), my sister (3-6), daughter in law (3-11) and my oldest daughter (3-23). We all kept watching Kristal to see if there were any signs of her going into labor every time she made a face. LOL We told her to hurry up and bring on the baby. She just laughed and said from our lips to Gods ear. She is going to doctor this morning and hopefully he will be giving her some good news. I will be there when she goes into the hospital and I will take my books with me to read while I sit and wait for my grandson to make his appearance. Which will be a good thing all around. I am so excited!!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful day. Be safe and worry free in all that you say and do. Take care.

Attitude of Gratitude

Enjoying being back home from my mini vacation
to southern Georgia. Even though I enjoyed myself
and the very warm sunshiney weather, its nice to
be home again.

Spending time with my daughter Angela who has
been living in Georgia for the past 10 yrs. And so
far there has been no drama between sisters.

Even though I had to go to 2 funerals in one day
it was nice to celebrate the lives of both people
who passed away and know they are in a
better place now and not suffering anymore
like they were here. They both will be missed
by family and friends, they can smile now
without pain or turmoil.

The LOVE I have for my family and how
much they mean to me.

Attitude of Gratitude

Making the trip this past week safely

The wonderful vacation I took this
past week to southern Georgia

Spending time with family and friends
I don't get to see very often

The beautiful weather I was in this past week
I was able to get warmed up even for a short
period of time.

THE SUN IS SHINING

The sun is shining and I love it
BUT
the temperature is only about 7
Looks can be deceiving.
But I will take the SUNSHINE
any time it wants to show up.


I will be heading to southern Georgia
on Sat. late afternoon with my
granddaughter and great granddaughter
to visit family and hopefully get
thawed out. Hope the temps are warm.

We will be there for Valentines Day
and want to try and make it a
special day for us.
Hope everyone has a wonderful day and
is happy!!!

Attitude of Gratitude

Happy that my best friend Deana's husband made
it through his shoulder surgery ok. Now all the
proper healing can begin.

The SUNSHINE we had a couple days
this week. It is such a welcome
change from all the snow we
keep getting.

Having my driveway shoveled for me. That in
itself is a huge blessing, as because of my arm
limitations, I can't do it very well and takes
me a very long time.

Blizzard 2011

Well the Blizzard of 2011 is over as far as I know. We survived. Cold and tired from shoveling , but survived. I am grateful we didn't get as much snow as Chicago did but we got enough. I haven't heard of an official amount of snow that we got but guessing from whats in my yard I would say we got a foot of snow on top of the snow we already had. The schools and most businesses were closed yesterday. But then the roads were snow covered and driveways snowed in so you weren't going anywhere anyway. I started shoveling my porch and at least around my car, when my daughter and her boyfriend came out and shoveled for me. It didn't take them long at all and then my car was moved out and the rest of the driveway was cleaned out. It would have taken me a couple hours at least due to I only have one arm that works properly and its hard to pick up the shovel full of snow, so I push the shovel as best I can. I am grateful they did it for me. I have been able to keep up with my driveway so far, but this last snowfall I knew it would be a challenge. I took some pictures before the snow started and then some afterward so that I could see the difference. Not that I want to remember this, but some of my southern friends and family who have not seen snow this at least gives them a perspective and of course a little sympathy :) for what we have.

Here a couple pics I would like to share. One is what it looked like when I tried to open my front door and the other is my driveway after it was shoveled. You can see the snowmounds that
surround me.