4 generations

The daughter is in the hospital; she's been there a full 24 hours so far- she has PIH= Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (they are testing to see if it is preeclampsia).
Eli is not supposed to come until the C-section on Jan. 29, but that may change...we will see what the doctors say tomorrow. They are monitoring her and running several tests. Several nurses have said that she might not be able to leave until after he is born. Oh goodness! (and she has a baby shower on Sunday.)

I took the day off to be with her today.
As I sat there today at one point, I thought how lucky Eli will be to know his grammy (me) and his great-nana (my mom)- there will be 4 generations soon!

I have a few vivid memories of my great-grandmother. We called her Granny Bell (her name was Annabelle), and she was SO tall; she wore a size 13 shoe, and was terribly afraid of her mailman. She had a red-headed baby boy doll with red felt overalls that she let me play with...I loved playing with the brass mail slot in her front door, and she would tell me to come away from there because the mailman would come soon. I am not sure what she had against the mailman, but I have such clear memories of her and her house even though I had to be younger than 5 years old. She died sometime after that, I think.

I hope Eli will know and love his great-grandparents...I know he will.
I guess I just realized today how special it is that he will be coming into an extended family that completely loves him already, and is anxiously awaiting his arrival!

Hope your week is a good one!

Looking Forward

Eli's coming...
January 29, 2010!

Furlough Friday

The daughter had a great idea.


I was on yet another furlough day (so far we've had three).
It was Friday.
The national fair arrived not so far away from our city the day before.


Yes, she's pregnant.
No, she couldn't ride any rides.
But, she was craving fair food...you know- nachos, corn dogs, cotton candy, funnel cakes...
Need I say more?
We laughed, shared most of the food from the above list...walked around, looked at the fun fair sights...and sweated profusely. (It was SO HOT.)
But it was fun.
I could not resist taking her photo with her lunch delights...so many people did that to me years ago when I was pregnant with her...I felt I should return the favor. Nice, huh?

Not long after that excursion, I got a terrible cold and spent the rest of my really long weekend in my pajamas resting (coughing, sneezing, hacking, and trying to breathe!)
Monday was a holiday....still in pajamas...thought I might be able to risk returning to school on Tuesday...no such luck...came home...more pajamas...all the while still trying to breathe...and not sound like I should be wearing a hospital surgical mask.

Really, I am better. And already it is almost the weekend again. How time flies when you are not at work. Hope your week has been a healthy and happy one.

My Grandson

It's a BOY!

The daughter will have a son in February, and my heart is already bursting with grandmotherly love.

BSM: Perfect Party Post

What is it???? Something special arrived for the party in an absolutely adorable box...
It's a cake! I could not have asked for anything better...THE most expensive birthday cake that I have ever bought, but it was well worth it to see the look on my baby girl's face...
Dinner, friends, family, good food, love and laughter...the celebration is underway!
Oh, the gifts...MEB helps unwrapping big surprises... just what she wanted!
Cousins...this sweet little girl LOVES the birthday girl with her whole heart!

Perfection...

Nineteen years ago, on this very day, she came into my life. I was uncertain, much too young, and scared out of my mind...but when I took that little bundle into my arms, and she peered at me with such love, my heart melted immediately. She had the most exotic brown eyes, a little button nose, and a perfect red bow mouth. She was perfection in the truest form...THE most amazing gift that I have ever received...I am blessed to spend my life loving and taking care of this angel. I have been blessed every day since then.

Motherhood is so unpredictable...I have often felt the same uncertainty that I felt on the day of her birth...a cloud that hovers over me, causing me to worry that something I did would become the biggest mistake in her life...that I would mess up, and make her life miserable, or just be an altogether terrible parent. Even this is a blessing...so many wish to be mothers and are unable.

She is the joy of my life, and no matter what challenges lie ahead, I will always be proud of her...I will always be thankful that I am her mother.

Happy 19th birthday, my baby girl!

By the way, the party was perfection, as well! We had such a nice time...

Menu for the evening:

Baked ziti (made with Disney princess pasta, ground beef, cheese, and tomato sauce)

Garden salad (with Green Jacket salad dressing, tomotoes, croutons)

Cheesy garlic bread

Tea, lemonade, sodas

Princess cake with ice cream for dessert

Gifts for the birthday girl:

The Food Network's 4 in 1 Panini Grill

A deep fryer

Batter bowl, spatulas, pancake turner, and other cooking utensils

Sensational Summer Grilling recipe book

Perfume

Money

Note: My girl is interested in cooking, and she's become addicted to watching The Food Network. So, these gifts were a bit selfish, sort of...it would be nice, oh so nice, to have company in the kitchen and help with food preparation!

Party Favor Bags:

Precious princess purses filled with Dinsey princess colored pencils and stickers, candy, party blowers, and mini Uno card games.

After dinner, cake, ice cream and gifts, the girls played several rounds of Uno (with the teeny tiny cards), watched part of Aladdin, and then decided to go for a midnight swim at my parent's pool.

*sigh*

I can not tell you what a wonderfully fulfilling evening this has been- despite my teary-eyed feeling of having a daughter who is 19, I LOVE knowing that she and her friends can still be little girls once in awhile, play silly games, get excited about Disney princesses, and find the wonder in the world from the perspective of little girls.

Hope your weekend brought you much happiness and some perfect moments as well!

Check out more Best Shot Monday posts here.

Little Girl Gone

Nineteen. My baby girl will be nineteen on Sunday, June 1, at 2:22 pm. I am struggling with this birthday, like I know she is. She has hit a hard place in her life, where things do not seem so easy and the path is not as clear as it once was. She is really searching for a direction...and I can not come to her rescue like I have been able to do her whole entire life. She has to be the one to forge on and create her very own path...This hurts me because I do not know where she will end up. I want so much to protect and shield her from the sorrows and frustrations in life. I do know that this is not possible. I also realize that these are the things in my own life that make me just who I am...the things that help me to be strong and capable. I believe there is something wonderful in store for her life...she will make her way in this world!

Just when I thought every trace of that baby girl I once loved was gone, she springs on me that she wants a Jasmine birthday...you know, the Disney princess, Jasmine. We are having my parents and a few of the daughter's friends over for baked ziti, salad, tea, ice cream and cake...not just any baked ziti though, baked ziti made with princess pasta! I found this in our local grocery store, and the daughter begged for it like a two-year old! I gave in, and jokingly said, "This is what we should have for your birthday dinner." That started the Jasmine adventure...I will let you know how things turn out, and post pictures.

Hope your weekend includes family fun as well. Have a nice one!

Image credit.

Two for Tuesday

Good News all around!

The daughter's pathology report was clear...all abnormal cells were removed with her recent surgery, and all is well!

My mother does NOT have breast cancer again; it was just scar tissue from her first bout with it 14 years ago.

Praises to an awesome God.
Thanks for the prayers, well wishes, and good thoughts.


On another note, we started state standardized testing in our county today. I am exhausted. Much too tired to take photos, think up clever posts, or even think really. I am off to bed to rest for another long day tomorrow...hope your week goes well.

Thursday Theme: Change

"Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'..."

"Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin'.
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a changin'..." - Bob Dylan

(1990) -From chubby baby fingers, stuffed "dummy labbits," frilly dresses, sweet pierced ears, Eskimo kisses, sand box playtime, the innocence of childhood..."I love you to the moon and back again..."

(2007)- To a devilish smile, holding on to secrets, tan lines from spring break, a nose piercing, wisdom beyond years, first love, random snuggles, making art, driving away, the heartbreak of becoming an adult...

The times they are a changin'...checkout other changes here.