Saturday, May 16, 2009

Love is...

...going out into the rain--without being asked-- to get me cup of coffee because there is none in the house.

I wanted to post an update on Nanny Pat for everyone who is concerned and hasn't seen the updates on my other pages. She was at Summit, the doctors ran tests, and it seems that there is no permanent damage as a result of the stroke. They are concerned about some blockage in her neck, but they are giving her meds for that and will be keeping an eye on it. My mom and I were going to go sit with her today, but she gets to come home! My aunts will be taking her to her apartment in Manchester, where she will get some rest and have people over to hang out with her and keep her company. She loves to visit and be visited, so be sure to stop by when you can (did you like that, Nanny? I put in a plug for you ;p hehe).

On a side note, I would like to ask everyone to keep the Currah family in your thoughts, prayers, good vibes, etc. They are having a tough time (as are all of us who know and love them) as a result of the unfair judgment against Frank in court this week. The story is long and involved if you don't know it, so instead of delving into details here, I'll just say that it is the opinion of lots of people that justice was certainly not served; instead ignorance, bias, and greed had the upper hand. Operation: Save Frank (as Stacy so aptly named it) has commenced. We're hoping he won't need a permanent place on anyone's prayer list, but keep him (and his family) there for a while. At least until our mission has been completed :)

I hope all of you moms had a great Mother's Day and were told how much you mean to your families. School is out in 2 weeks, and I can't wait! This will be the first year in several that I haven't worked all summer (though I couldn't resist a 2 hr/wk tutoring gig-- play money for the rest of my time off!), and I plan to thoroughly enjoy it. I don't have plans yet (except the cookout June 27-- DON'T FORGET), so I may just go whichever way the wind blows me.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

There'll be days like this my Mama said

Last night we took Gia and Livi out to eat because of their accomplishments in Accelerated Reader. I promised them dinner out for going above and beyond their goals, so they chose TGIFridays. As we were all sitting around the table on the patio talking, Gia giggled and told me I should dress up in a silver wig, get a table in a cute guy's section, and when he came over say, "Hey there, Sailor!" LOL She is so funny! Of course, this made me laugh out loud, thereby embarrassing her ("Gosh, Mommy, you are so LOUD!), but it made me realize a couple of things.

First, Gia has a great sense of humor. She pops off with random accents, makes some of the craziest observations, says some of the funniest things, and sometimes it's all at the same time. Getting her to talk isn't so easy sometimes, but get her at a table or playing a game, and she'll talk your ear off. I am so proud of the young woman she is becoming. She is smart (granted, sometimes her math skills concerning money can make you forget she's on the math team ;p hehe), thoughtful, and has an enormous loving heart. I cannot even express the joy I feel having her as my daughter.

Second, although I love who she has become and where she is in life now, I do miss her being little. There was a very young girl at the table next to us, and when she was finished eating her parents let her get up and stand at the table or go to the fence surrounding the patio while they finished eating. It reminded me of how when she was little Gia would ask to get up while we were waiting on our food or after we ate and pretend to be the server. She would ask for pen and paper and get to work. Sometimes she would act like a character straight out of Mel's Diner, and sometimes she would be very formal as if we were at a 5-star restaurant. She'd throw in an accent or two and scribble our orders down on her paper, turn around, come back, and present the food to us. She'd always ask how we liked it and if we wanted anything else. That alone made her imaginary food delicious.

She's growing up so fast! We were at Ashley and Olivia's birthday party today, and it seems like yesterday she was turning 5 at her surprise birthday party at the park, when really it's Olivia who is 5 now. Time flies, and as sad as it is sometimes, I feel honored to be a part of all of those girls' lives. I remember holding them for the first time, and now they are young girls, nothing babyish about them anymore. Even watching Gia's friends grow from snaggle-toothed Nickelodeon fans to rockstars-in-training, it still seems too fast. For me, of course, but not for them. They are so eager to grow up.

We went to Open House at the middle school Thursday night, and it reminded me of how it doesn't feel like I went to middle school myself so long ago. This being Mother's Day weekend and all, I've been reminiscing quite a bit, and it made me understand how my mom still sees me as a toddler in my little pink bikini and pigtails, holding my favorite red purse, posing for yet another photo; a picture that for everyone else looks faded in the family album, but a picture that for her is still as vivid as the day she took it. I guess those memories never really fade for a mom, and that I am thankful for. For me, for her, for everyone out there who loves her child without limits.

To all of you moms out there, especially mine, Happy Mother's Day.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Kumbaya...

Gia and I will be embarking upon the annual 6th grade camping trip to Land Between the Lakes and Brandon Springs next week. We'll head out Monday morning toward Dover, TN (northwest) and will be sleeping in cabins, hiking, doing a stream study, participating in other activities, and generally wearing ourselves out until we return Wednesday afternoon. It's a fun trip, and I'm excited that I get to go with her this year. I went last year as a first year 6th grade teacher, and although I missed being at home with my own kids (Pun and Lil included) I had a good time and enjoyed the experience. This year will be even better since Gia will be there! I'll post some pics when we get back. You know she'll become the camera queen when she gets there. Wonder where she gets that? ;)

Goldie Locks Has Chicken Pox?

Nope. She's all grown up, and now it's shingles! LOL That was one of Gia's favorite books when she was little. I thought it was an appropriate title to borrow ;)

I had deleted everything on the page in an attempt to revamp it and do some more to it, but my efforts got thwarted when I started feeling bad and put the computer down for a few days. Lo and behold... (da da DUM) shingles. Yay. It started out as a tenderness on my skin, which I attributed to clothing irritation, and then it moved in a path around to where there was not as much clothing friction, and I thought, "Oh, it's just stress." (In the past few months I have moved (barely avoiding a title nightmare), finished my Master's program, given up a dog, run around like a mad person, and then just last week I have given the TCAP, taken a field trip, dealt with student suspensions, had parent meetings--some scheduled, some not-- let's see. Is there anything else we can pile on the list? I'm sure, but I digress.) It turns out that I was partly right!

Anyway, Saturday the rash appeared. It feels like sunburn or razor burn but worse, and any kind of friction on the sensitive/rashy skin sends me howling and jerking around like I'm Jekyl turning into Hyde or something. But that's probably due to it's unfortunate location where my thigh meets my hip since it's really not that big (my rash, not my thighs and hips--I'm not delirious ;p). I called Nurse Kelly who told me to be sure to go to the doctor because she thought it sounded like shingles, which she had about 10 years ago. Bingo. She was right! Dr. Wade (whom I adore) hooked me up with some meds, and hopefully this whole thing will be going back into hiding soon. I'm not a fan of meds, and these make me tired, but hopefully they'll help keep things from getting worse.

Thank you for all the well wishes! I'll make my page pretty again soon :)