Monday, January 31, 2011

Coffee talk

Scene 1: The kitchen, last night:
Finishing up the dishes and showing Louise the selection of coffee I've purchased. She is our designated barista here at the Hodge Podge Lodge.
Me: Louise, you're going to have to get up really early and make the coffee. The pot brews really slow.
Louise: How early?
Me: Well, probably about 5 if we're going to have coffee by 7
Insert comment: I am slightly prone to exaggeration
Scene 2: Our bedroom--early this morning
Me (mumbling to Sam): What time is it?
Sam (fumbling to look at clock):   5:13
Me: Do I smell coffee?
Fade to dark as we both roll over and go back to sleep
Scene 3: The kitchen 8 AM this morning
Louise: I'm heating some water up, the coffee is really strong.
Me: No problem, I like it that way.
Louise: It only takes a half an hour for the coffee to brew
Me: What time did you start it?
Louise: 5:00
Me: (Look of disbelief--then recognition of her literal interpretation of my coffee-making advice)
Louise: I thought you guys got up earlier last year.

I exit stage left to take Mom her coffee
Me: Here's your coffee, Louise says it might be a little strong
Mom: No problem, I like strong coffee.
Takes sip and hands the cup back to me
Mom: It's too strong
I exit stage right to add some hot water
Scene 4--The kitchen
Louise: I guess I'll use less coffee tomorrow
Me : And maybe not start quite so early.

Scene fade to black

They still can't believe

That yesterday they left the frozen tundra, had a good flight, watched the sunset over Tampa Bay as we crossed the Sunshine Skyway Bridge
(apologize for poor photo quality, taken with cell phone at approx 70 mph. But it was an amazing sunset that lasted all the way back here to the island)


Had dinner, went to bed
And woke up to this
So, in real time, here's what's happening right now

Friday, January 28, 2011

We had been in the car

For about 9 hours. Finally made it to Atlanta.I had a stomach ache from the lunch I insisted on having from Sonic. It was getting a little intense. We were trying to follow the Mapquest directions to my sister's house. Zac had called with questions about a lien waiver.
I was having "a moment"
Sam picked this time to become extremely chatty about everything he was seeing along the way.
Normally, this is how we pass the time.
But I just couldn't handle it. So I said, "Please, no chit-chat right now."
Sam picked up on it right away, "I won't say another word."
We rode in silence for a few moments.

I looked out the window and saw a man riding a unicycle on a path in the park.
Not a word was spoken.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Last night

I went to the basement to fold laundry.
And decided to straighten up the mess I made when looking for Sam's clothes.
Before I knew it
I was putting all the puzzles from the toy box together.
All the pieces were missing from the cookie monster puzzle
I could not stop until I found them.
A sense of urgency overwhelmed me
They were in the bottom of the basket.
Even though it may have seemed like a waste of time
It's important for me to have things in order before I leave.
But frantically searching for puzzle pieces
Is a cry for help.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

In the midst of packing and sorting

And trying to find where I put Sam's summer clothes.

I came across a tote of photos that did not make the cut to be reinstated in the family gallery.

And had the following thought:
If, God forbid, something happens to me, I want my kids to know that their mom would NOT think it would be funny to run her Glamour Shot with the obituary.


I can't blame hormones for my somewhat irrational state. Well, unless lack of hormones is the culprit.

I think it started when Olivia said to me, completely out of the blue, "Omee, I'm going to miss you."
I'm a mess.

But I bought new bras.

OK, I'll be back sometime when I have a rational thought.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Few things are sadder

Than the look on a dog's face when you bring the suitcases up from the basement.

What's even sadder is the amount of time I spent trying to capture his sad expression

Here's a representative example of each and every photo attempt

Thought for the day

Every woman's journey begins and ends in the laundry room.

That's where I am today.

Monday, January 17, 2011

It's that time again

The days are flying by and soon we will be on our way to Florida.

So conversations like this are bound to happen:

Mom, "I sure I hope can walk when I get there"
Me: "Why, are you having trouble walking?"
Mom: "Well, I've only been walking here in the house"
Me: "Do you want us to take the walker along with us. You could use that to go to the beach"
Mom: "I don't want no walker. The guys will never give me a second glance if I have a walker"
Me: "No problem. I'll hide it in the sea oats"

Friday, January 7, 2011

Raw feed

My day, January 7, 2011
Woke up at 6:45 am after a night of sleep in 30 minute increments
Recovering from wicked sinus infection
Turned on the coffee pot
Took my coffee to the laundry room
Folded mountain of laundry while watching episode of Friday Night Lights on computer
Also put Christmas decorations in boxes 
Lost track of time and didn’t get Mom up until 8:24
Her first words were, “I have a terrible pain in my side. I’ve hardly slept”
Amber dropped Harrison and Olivia off so she could run to Blue Earth
Harrison is dressed in a red onesie, gray sweatpants and red socks
Olivia is in pink pjs
No words to describe how precious.
Fed Mom, Harrison, Olivia, Sam
Forgot to feed me.
Addie calls
Harrison took a nap in my arms, cuddled with GG, played on the floor
I felt stinky and gross and mad at myself for not getting a bath before the kids came.
Olivia helped take decorations off tree.
Wondered if Mom needed to see a doctor.
Worried she had pneumonia.
Or shingles
Or cancer
Or a heart attack
When Amber came back, made a doc appt for Mom in Blue Earth.
Checked the voicemails
Returned a call and promised I would put a check in the mail today.
Finally, took a bath, got dressed, put on makeup, and fixed my hair at noon.
Loaded up Mom
Stopped at her house for her mail
Stopped at café for mail
Realized that the weather had deteriorated and drove in near blizzard conditions
Mom chatted all the way,
“whose place is that?”
 “ who lives there now?”
 “can you see where you’re going?”
Went to the new clinic building.
Disoriented
Over-built
Sweet Liz checked us in.
She handed Mom the pain chart and asked her to point to her pain level.
“She can’t see very well”
Read the pain chart
Mom said “I’m here because Nina made the appointment”
(Ask me MY pain level)
The lights went off in the room as Mom and I waited for the doctor
I stood up and waved my arms and it came back on.
The doctor came in.
She had greasy blond hair, big blue eyes and a dingy white lab coat.
I found out that Mom had pooped late yesterday afternoon.
I had a sinking feeling
Finally voiced my suspicions of either pneumonia or shingles.
She did a brief exam.
Brief
Said she didn’t hear pneumonia
It might be an inflammation of something..I think her lungs…I didn’t follow
Mom stood up and asked if there was a bathroom close by.
The doctor said that because it was Friday, she was going to give her antibiotics and a round of steroids.
Otherwise she would have maybe waited a few days.
Oh, and don’t take the steroids the way the package says, it’s too confusing, take them all at once. Each day.
O. K.
Interesting to be treated by the day of the week, not symptoms.
Whatever
I have no clue what’s going on.
Sweet Liz showed Mom to the bathroom.
Back out into the blizzard
Pick up prescription
Read mail while waiting for prescription
Drive through Mc Donalds.
It’s 2:30 and I’m hungry.
As we turn on to the county road, I cannot see.
Anything
I try to eat my sandwich and keep the Trailblazer on the road
And think about what I’m going to do when we go in the ditch.
It’s a long trip home at 20 mph
Mom quietly says the pain is getting worse.
I call Sam
We decide my route home.
Mom is gasping and wincing in pain.
We made it.
I rush into the house to find a rice bag and put in the microwave to warm while Mom takes off her coat and sits in her chair.
She puts the warm bag on her side and slumps in the chair.
I give her 10 pills: 2 from the Z pack, 6 prednisone and 2 tylenol
I make some stew to put in the oven for dinner.
Then go back to the basement and finish putting away the Christmas decorations.
I didn’t go back to the office and put the check in the mail
Mom naps in the chair.
I pour a glass of wine and we read our devotions.
I give her the choice, a crossword puzzle or the Land Magazine.
She picks the Land
I read her favorite articles and love the review and recipes from the FFA cookbook.
Stew is done
Bake some Pillsbury Crescent Rolls (a treat!)
While rolls are baking, the dog is begging
I make him a scrambled egg.
He eats it in approximately 5 seconds.
Pray together
Eat and catch the last puzzle on Wheel of Fortune.
Mom heads to her room to listen to the Free Press daily reading on her special radio
I take her ice cream about 7:30 and she’s sound asleep in bed
Check again in a few minutes and she’s awake, eats her ice cream
I tell her goodnight.
Sam’s doing the dishes.
The coffeepot is ready for the morning.
My work is done.
For now
For today.
I throw a couple pieces of wood in the stove and whisper a silent prayer of thanks for our cozy home.
And decide to try to put my day into words.






Monday, January 3, 2011