SATURDAY SHOWCASE.....Walter in cursive.

• This week features a nice piece of child art made at school.

Sure it doesn't look like much at firts.......just Walter, written in cursive. But then you have to fold the paper, and cut your name out along the pen lines..........

And you get this handy dandy symmetric design when you unfold it. Now, for the best part. You must turn your paper over, on the clean side, and make a drawing using only the design pattern that your name allows.

PRESTO----It's Walter the King! Who apparently received a nice monogrammed necklace from none other than P.Diddy or Snoop Dog or 50 cent. That is some serious bling you have, Walter the Great.....and it goes quite well with your creative spirit! :)

A thank you of sorts......

• I took all 3 of the kids to the Pediatric Clinic yesterday. They were all feeling puny, and considering the boys had strep just a couple of weeks ago, we were trying to make sure they were over it and not reinfected. We do have spring break coming up soon and we need to all be HEALTHY!

I should have known things were going to get bad before they got better...... and that was quite evident when we stood to get each child's height, weight, tempertature etc. Rivers vomitted some nice penne pasta noodles and green kool-aid onto their floor. (Bless His Heart). Walt, Tyner Beth and the sweet nurse, turned their backs to him and held their nose. Walt says he had to cover his eyes with his other hand as well, because he couldn't stand to look at it. Tyner Beth agreed and added, "Yes, me too, because if I see it or smell it, it makes me want to do it too." Thanks, that's just what I needed to hear. So, while the weak-stomached individuals tried to survive, I began cleaning up the floor. Which is hard to do with your eyes closed. :)

• Thankfully, none of the children tested positive for Strep. The Doctor put Walt on dimetapp for his congestion. Tyner Beth received a prescription for an anitbiotic--Augmentin--for her swollen lymph nodes in her neck. And apparent to all who got a whiff of the nice smell Rivers left lingering in the triage room......he has the stomach bug. So, tylenol, gatorade and crackers were prescribed for him.

All the kids are doing better. Tyner Beth and Walt are fine, really. And after a good night's rest, Rivers is seeming to be on the mend as well. No vomitting since last night. The Doctor even said he could go watch Tyner Beth tonight if he felt like it. No one is supposed to drink after him, but otherwise we should be fine. Just fine and dandy. CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE CALL THE SICKNESS HOTLINE AND TELL THEM TO GET OFF MY BACK!!! ENOUGH ALREADY. Sorry, just had to get that out.

And now for my thank you:

Dear Wal-Mart,

I just wanted to take this opportunity to offer my deepest appreciation for your spring collection you have already placed on the shelves. Upon taking my kids to the doctor today, we stopped by one of your stores and purchased some necessary items--groceries, toiletries, cat food and such. But the wonderment of it all, was when I headed to the check out and passed by Aisle 14 . I picked up a nice bright blue spring bowl at Wal-Mart to celebrate my son's weakened condition from the stomach bug. And he was able to immediately put it to use, just a few miles from your parking lot. Shortly after crossing the bridge over the lake. Yippee. (I did wash it out before I posted this photo!) It may possibly go down in history as the best $1.50 I have EVER spent. And again, myself, my car, and my passengers say thanks. Your spring plastic bowl collection, which is so versatile it can be used to hold potato salad, or as a sick child's basin, totally ROCKS.

MY HOSPITAL ROOMIE---PART 3

****UPDATE: The energy is coming back to me.....thank the Lord. I am home today with all 3 kids, because none of them feel well. As soon as the cabinet men (who are here installing some things in my laundry room) depart, we are heading to the pediatricians to have everyone checked out. And I might make a stop at the grocery store on the way back home......I have been surviving on valentine pixi sticks and leftover spinach dip (from the Holiday Shower here at the house on Sunday). Neither of which fall into any food group that is very noursihing. So, as I know you are so eager to anticipate the ending.....continue on with Part 3......

• It turned into Thursday alright......Yep….it was all good until it ended. But isn’t that how it is with everything else? So, around 2:30 a.m., I hear ‘click’. It takes me a few seconds to realize what has happened, but I soon gather all my senses and access the situation. I can hear, and feel, that the air is still flowing on high across the room. I did not hear any noise of Ms. Nettie getting out of bed, so what was the ‘click’? Then I open my eyes…..and am blinded by what seems to be the paparazzi in fluorescent bulb form, hovering over head. She had turned her side of the lights on. click.

Now, really, have you ever been in a semi-private room. It’s not semi-private. Basically you are just as well to draw an imaginary line down the center of the room and call it the same thing. Because whatever happens on either side, happens to the other as well. The bright lights were not in any way subdued by the lovely curtain that hang between us. Not in any way. So, I wait a few minutes, quietly in my bed. Ms. Nettie doesn’t stir around. I had thought maybe she needed to take a trip to the bathroom or something. But nothing. It’s just silence and light. Lots and lots of light. After about 15 minutes, I speak up….”Ms. Nettie, are you okay over there?”…….”oh, sure, I’m fine.”…….”do you need me to help you get to the bathroom or call the nurse for you or anything?”…….”no, I’m fine.”…….

• So, she doesn’t sleep long at night. Lovely. That’s so what I was looking forward to…..a party in our room around 3 a.m. I lay there thinking of all the reasons why I really need a private room, and all the reasons why I really need my rest, and all the reasons why I just love it dark and cold. I also took lots of deep breaths. Inhale. Exhale. And then I decide to crawl out of bed and check on her. I gather my IV pole and walk around the curtain to see what’s up.

And it’s just as I suspected. Ms. Nettie, like many elderly people I know, only need 3 hours of sleep at night. She looks bright-eyed, bushy-tailed and ready to go. I don’t think she has any idea it’s 3 in the morning---although clearly, outside her window it's pitch black, the sun is still asleep. There’s nothing I can do. She’s not going back to sleep, which means, I’m not going back to sleep either. I think about the fact that I could possibly buzz the nurse and ask to go back on the clear liquid diet. And this time, I’m asking for a glass of white wine…..it’s clear, and it’s liquid, where’s the harm in that?

Realizing they won’t bring me wine, even if I say it's for medical reasons (you know it's good for your heart), I devise another plan. I offer Ms. Nettie my 2 magazines a friend brought. You know, sometimes when you read, it tires your eyes and you can go back to sleep. She smiles and takes them. I lay back down. And hear the flipping of pages. Realizing I am not going back to sleep, I get up and busy myself. I read for a while. It doesn’t look like the light’s going back off anytime soon on Nettie’s side, so I break out the laptop.

It is then that I realize I am going to need something to drink & a snack, if I’m gonna burn the midnight (or 4am) oil. So, I ask Ms. Nettie if she needs anything. I call to the nurse and order us a cocktail. Welcome to happy hour in room 514. They promptly come in with drinks for everyone, a Dr. Pepper for Ms. Nettie and a Mt. Dew for me. We are the only ones ordering from the bartender. Kudos to the night shift’s fast service. It seems everyone else is, you know, sleeping. What a novel idea.

• I did hop up and decide to grab myself a little chocolate from the hiding spot on my side of the closet. Okay, now I’m all set. Drink, chocolate and the laptop. I try to ignore the feeling that something isn’t right, although it seems I have all I need. The seconds on the clock seem to last for hours. I realize that maybe, just maybe, I need to ignore my needs and see about my roommate. I know, I know, it was one of those moments the Lord was not gently guiding me….he was giving me a big shove. I speak up again….”Ms. Nettie, are you feeling sleepy?”……”no, honey, I’m wide awake”…….”would you like a piece of chocolate?”…….”that sounds good”…

So, I put away my little snack bar set-up and wheel my IV pole around to her side of the room. I drop a couple gold foil-wrapped goodies on her lap as I prop across her cart. We chat a while….mostly talking about our children, her grandkids, her daughter-in-laws, the town she lives in, her favorite foods, the foods she hated today from the hospital tray…….... And I realize, that maybe she just couldn't sleep, for whatever reasons, she may have just wanted someone to talk to….she may have just wanted a neighbor.

• So, I tried to be neighborly. I look closely at her incision from the previous morning’s surgery. It’s in the crook of her arm…...and it’s the 3rd time they’ve had to do surgery to find a site for her dialysis. They are trying to find an area on her body to be able to go in for the dialysis because they can’t continue to use the tubing in her chest area. I learned all about when she started dialysis, how she had to quit her job because she has to have dialysis 3 times a week, her arms are all scarred up where they have tried and failed on previous surgeries, etc.etc.etc. And in those moments I realize how thankful I am to have been awakened for just this time….. for just this purpose to listen…..for just this small semi-private room to see the work of the Lord…..it was a blessing in my heart. A thankful reminder to be grateful for my health.

Eventually, as the rest of the hospital “greeted the morning sun”, and folks were scurrying about, I went back and settled into my bed again. The lights stayed on…..the sun was rising anyway. And so I prayed for Ms. Nettie and her dialysis. I prayed for her strength. I prayed that this time, the surgical site would work as it should. And I thanked the Lord, for sending me a roommate to show me the truth written right in HIS living WORD…….

• “The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ~~~~Galatians 5:14

Ms. Nettie left around 7:30 that morning, for a 4 hour round of dialysis downstairs, before she could leave the hospital to go home. I ate a bowl of grits and crawled back under the covers for some rest. But I left the lights on. A gentle reminder of the night.

~~The End

MY HOSPITAL ROOMIE---PART 2

****Before I continue to Part 2, let me just say, don't be a cheater. If you didn't read part 1, scroll down and read it first. Because, generally in life, 1 comes before 2. :) Also, I am doing much much better today. I actually feel like a real live human mother again. I picked the kids up from school, I mailed letters at the post office, I took Rivers to piano practice, I cooked supper (although it was only spaghetti), and I have completed two loads of laundry. Slow and steady wins the race. :) Thanks again for all your prayers, they truly work, and I am ever so grateful! Okay, on to part 2........

• Where were we.....oh, yes, the daytime dramas are playing and there's tons of company. So, I curled up in a ball and tried to think happy thoughts. Oh….but wait, here’s the best part. While watching their marathon of soaps, they cut my air vent off. The fan that keeps the cold air circulating throughout the room was on her side of the room. Underneath the window, on her side of the room. And they cut my air vent off. Did you hear me yet? In a matter of minutes, THEY RUINED MY NICE ARCTIC TUNDRA AND GAVE ME THE MOJAVE DESERT.
  
• I waited as long as I could, and when I could wait no more, I politely asked my nurse to ask them to turn the air back on….I was dying, or so it felt. So, one of the family members did as was asked. And about five minutes after the nurse left, I heard 'click'. Off it went again. It seems that the many, many, lovely guests of my roommate were cold. Who cares what you are…..you are free to leave the room at any time….I, however, am imprisoned in this room and need my air. Especially, if I'm going to be subjected to any more sappy daytime dramas.
  

It is now that I wish I had insisted on that PRIVATE room. Delirious from the heat, high on the morphine, and weak from the chicken broth meals, I broke. I had been fooling myself, I thought I was strong, but in an instant, they broke me. I texted Temple, begging for mercy (what exactly I thought he could do at the present moment was beyond me, but I texted anyway). Had anyone come in that I remotely knew, I would have thrashed myself at their feet begging for them to go out and buy me a fan. It was bad, I ain't gonna lie...... The nurse came in to check us both. I teared up. But only a smidge. I begged her to just swap sides of the room. She looked at me and said, “she’s only here for tonight, maybe you can make it through”.

• Maybe I can make it through? That’s all you got. Maybe I can make it through. So, I start shedding layers of blankets and sheets. A shift change occurs and I think I might have a chance. One of my favorite nurses is coming on board, and I try sweet talking her. “Look, I’ll change the bed sheets myself, if you’ll just let me move over to the other side where the air is coming from…...I can’t feel it AT ALL from over here.” And then it happened. I could feel it coming on, and tried to suppress it several times, but it reared it's horrid head anyway. The ugly cry. I just hid my head with my arm and pillow. And the sobbing commenced, and continued until the next soap rolled around. I'm sure it just sounded like I was upset at the recent events unfolding for Erica Kane on All My Children. But secretly, I was praying for the weather man to break in and announce an ice storm was looming on the horizon, just to bring a chill to the room. That, or a fan salesman to come knocking on my door.
  

I fade in and out of sleep for small catnaps. But as soon as I wake, I realize I'm back in the Sahara…..by this point, the nurse had walked over to the other side of the room and turned the air vent back on for me. I think they put it on low. Whatever. And again, by the short time it takes her to get back to the Nurses desk, some family member of the matriarch has opened the metal plate and again, I hear ‘click’. Off with the air. It was only a millisecond, but I think parts of my brain actually exploded inside my head when I heard the all too familiar ‘click’.

But to my amazement, I heard the matriarch announce in a thundering tone……”uh-uh. Turn that back on.” To which one of the infinite number of extended family, a female, huffed and puffed and stood there in dismay. Because clearly, it was a critical point in one of the soaps, and her being freezing cold was cutting in to her viewing pleasure. No, I don’t have x-ray vision, so I couldn't see through the curtain, but I know that’s what was happening. Then in that next moment, I’ve never been prouder to have a roommate — she sat up a little higher in her bed and said again, very matter of factly—”I said turn it back on. Right now. She needs it. And I mean right now.”

• A long silence was followed by sweet music to my ears …..”click”. And even though, the curtain was still drawn and I couldn’t really feel any of the air, I had a new attitude on life. I thought I would survive, even if it felt like a sauna, I would survive. My roommate had my back…..and the whole entourage with her knew better than to cross her. She was on my side.
  

As it turns out, I had someone else on my side too. The weather man. He chirps in to interrupt regular broadcasting to let us know that our viewing area is in for some serious weather events, thunderstorms and tornadoes. Why, you’ve never seen a room clear so fast in all your life. Everyone shouted their goodbyes to mother dear and hugged and what have you….and out the door they went. Thank you Lord, for your divine power to control a room as easy as you control the wind. I waited about 30 minutes, just to make sure they weren’t coming back or anything, and when the coast was clear, I quietly called my roommate's name….”Ms. Nettie?”……”yes”……”do you think it would be okay if I pulled this curtain back a little bit so that some of the air could come on across the room?....the curtain is blocking it.”…..”why, honey, you go right ahead, sure, that will be just fine.”…..now, I sit up and start yanking on me some gold privacy cloth…..and Ms. Nettie says.....”you sure that’s enough, open it all the way if you need to”……I love Ms. Nettie.

A couple hours later, the nurse that saw the fluid spew forth from my eyes in the form of tears, came in the room to check on us both. When she bent over close to my bed, with a smile on my face, I softly said…..”Ms. Nettie let me open the curtain and now I’m cooling off”. She smiled back and said wasn’t that sweet of her. Yes. Yes it was. The afternoon came and went. And the evening was sure to follow. Because that’s how days go. My mom brought my children to see me…..the first time I had seen them since Monday morning. And it was glorious. I was feeling better and realized that all along, I had been missing them more than I could imagine. And thus the "small mental breakdown of patient 514-a" was not so much due to the heat, but rather, my homesickness. The cozy four walls of my vacation spot had just about did me in......and that is something that no fluid bag or shot of the good stuff can help you with.

• But three big hugs from three little ones….and the world gets brighter in an instant.

Eventually, my family and friends, dropping in throughout the evening, had all came and went. Just me and the roommate and some cool air. Ms. Nettie and I have a few discussions about the weather man, tornadoes, the ages of my kids, my sweet husband, etc. We cut the chit-chat short and resume our regular scheduled, seperate, television shows. The later it gets, the more I wonder.... what time do we cut the lights out? I had three books, some magazines, my laptop…..I could stay up for days with the lights on, but I wanted to make sure I cut my light off when she did, no matter what. Because, although I’m sure I sounded a lot like the princess and the pea in part 1, I really am a pleaser. I hate confrontations, and I want everyone to get along. I am a fixer of sorts. I like a big happy room.....just generally I want it cool. :)

Anyway, my TV is off, but the late show arrives as I notice from her side of the room. I go ahead and get ready for bed and turn off all my lights. In a few minutes, she does the same. I realize it is pitch black inside the room, (just like I like it, dark and cool, think bat cave.) I fear that Ms. Nettie might not be able to see to get to the restroom if she needs it in the night. I holler through the curtain to see if she wants me to cut the entry light on right by the doorway, for a little visibility. No, she says, I can sleep better with it dark like this too.

• Oh, isn’t it wonderful. Clearly, I’m going to make it. All I have to do is close my eyes, take a visit to slumber city, and when I awake, it will be Thursday.......
  
  

MY HOSPITAL ROOMIE---PART 1

Here's today's update: I am still among the living. Everyone keeps telling me I look terrible. I am keeping my head up anyway. Although, I did rip up the Miss America application. I guess pale, weak and married just won’t do for this year. I promised to tell the roommate story and….I must oblige. So for those of you not interested in reading, skip on by this blog. And for those brave few who are willing to perservere—-better grab a bottle of visine to keep your eyes moist. I have a problem being concise at times....but I bet you've noticed that already! HA! This is truly a funny story, at least to me. I did try to break it up over 3 seperate posts......to help with the red eyes! So, on with it.........

• Let me begin by trying to express to you how much I love a cold room. It doesn’t matter what season. So, yes, even in the dead of winter, although if we are being real, Alabama winters aren’t like Canada or anything, but I still like it cool in my personal space….be it the car, the house, or as this case may be...the hospital. Although my dear mother signed me up for an ALL INCLUSIVE PRIVATE SUITE for my “vacation”—-the hospital staff had other ideas. And I was wheeled into a semi-private room. No, biggie. I was hardly concerned with such matters, as at the time, my kidneys felt like Mike Tyson was using them for punching bags (hey, at least he wasn’t biting my ear.) Luckily, the semi-private was actually private because the only patient assigned to the room was me, myself and I.

I have to admit, that first night I wouldn’t have cared if they had a FRAT party in my room. Well, maybe….on second thought, I would. I didn’t exactly bring my party clothes. But, oh how I love a good cover band. The Velcro Pygmies and Mel & the Party Hats were my absolute faves at AU!! Anyway, I still had a good little eternal flame going inside my body, due to the infection and all, and I told my nurse I was hot. She asked if I wanted her to turn the air down a little—I said that would be great so she cut it from like 73 to 70. Upon one of my many trips to the ol’ urine bucket, I sneaked behind the gold privacy curtain, where I saw the lovely nurse stick her arm before, and found the thermostat, and chucked her on down to 66. I told you, I like it cold. Now, let me just stop here and say that Temple NEVER lets me turn it down to 66 at home. I’ve snuck in a 68 or so before, but they all start whining about the icicles hanging from their noses, and I give in. Plus, he says it has something to due with the power bill, something about money, but I forget, cold air doesn’t grow on trees or whatever.

• Mom was all bundled up in her turtleneck sweater and jacket. Temple comes rolling in from Georgia to see about me. His first time to see me since being admitted to the hospital. He’s there for about 5 minutes when he makes a comment about it being cold in the room. I just buzz the nurse for more morphine and then bask in the glory of the fact that in the hospital, cold air does grow on trees and there isn’t a thing he can say about it. Blue Cross/Blue Shield can take it up with me if they want, but the room is staying to my liking. Period.
  
  

Tuesday rolls around and the fever within is still kicking my butt, regardless if it was or wasn’t, I would still keep the room on 66. So, every single nurse, or care assistant, or visitor I had, walked in and all shared the same reaction. Wow, it’s chilly in here. Yep. That’s how I roll. Cool. I offered on numerous occasions to turn the flame thrower on for the folks, but they all were sweet and obliged the patient. "No, no, it needs to be how you like it. However you can rest best, that's what we want." So, the guage stayed on 66, and I kept Alabama Power in business for one more night. Then the bottom fell out.

• On Wednesday, I received a roommate. A woman with loads of family. I mean just crowds of them. At one time, there were 9 folks on the other side of her gold privacy curtain. Nine. Oh, and that didn’t include her. They were nice enough to come and go, walking back and forth in front of my bed in groups of 3-4. Staying about 30 minutes and then the next round of family would wander in to sit a spell. Sons, daughters, sisters, grandkids, nephews, etc.etc.etc. Back and forth. Back and forth. All morning and afternoon. And guess what. They liked to watch soap operas. Yippee. I was just so totally excited. They obviously wanted me to watch with them because they had the volume control on that hospital bed turned as high as it would go. There's a reason the hospital has the volume on the buzzer attached to the hospital bed. It's for the patient's use. It's close to our head and we don't really need it loud. It is not meant to accomodate an entire family of "As The World Turns" fans. Do you know how many soap operas come on between the hours of 10 am and 3 pm. Five. To be exact. And they watched them all. Until the weather man cut in---thank the Lord for James Spann giving us thunderstorm updates.

Now, look, I'm not judging. I was a fan of Days of Our Lives myself, back in the day. I lived and breathed for noon to come, and the hourglass to appear on NBC, followed with the storylines of every character in that quaint town of Salem. "Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives".....Oh, I followed Patch and Kayla right along with everyone else in 1990. And Bo and Hope. My favorite couple. Wasn't she so pretty? But that was back in the day. Back before I realized that although life often feels like a soap opera.....it really never turns out like they do on the telly. How many lives can you have? How many times can your business go bankrupt? How often can you kiss your mistress in the pub around the corner before someone you know sees you and squeals? What? You think I'm exaggertaing? Here's a direct quote from one of the actors----

• In 2006, when asked about his character, Jack Deveraux, "coming back from the dead" — for the third time — actor Matthew Ashford responded, "It is hard to play that because at a certain point it becomes too unreal...actors look at that and think, 'What is this — the Cartoon Network'?"

See, told you so. Even the cast thinks it's a bunch of hogwash, eventually. Of course, who knows, he was probably sour because, yes for the third time, he would actually turn out dead, and thus be cut from the paycheck department. Bitterness knows no bounds.

• So, I curled up in a ball and tried to think happy thoughts..........

I'm alive and I hosted a Holiday Shower.....

• So, on Thursday afternoon, I could hardly wait to exit the dreaded room #514. I was happy, the sun was shining on my face, and we even made a stop at the pharmacy and Publix before coming home. I was thrilled to be going home to get a hot shower. It's the little things, people. That did not happen. I was tuckered out just from the ride home. I could only crash on the bed for several hours. On Friday, I ventured out (and I did bathe). Because I promised two precious boys that morning in my bedroom, that I would see them walk across the stage for Honor Society that afternoon. And I did. The wall at the back of the gym held me up until I realized I was out of my mind for being there and promptly came straight home. But, I was gettting better. Slowly, getting better.

Would you believe me if I told you I had a Holiday Shower yesterday at my house for a lovely young bride? Well, it's true. Yes, I know, but before you start with all the huffing and puffing like so many others, let me just say......it was for a wonderful little bride. And there were many other hostesses who helped get everything together, just so. Several visited in the hospital and asked "shouldn't we re-schedule it, re-locate it, or something?". I smiled and said no. The bride even e-mailed to say why don't we just cancel it.....but heavens no. We would do no such a thing. People come out of the hospital all the time and are just fine to have Holiday Showers. All the time.

• And so we did. And it was all fine. It wasn't what I could have pulled off without the drama of a hospital stay, but the food was delicious, we had lots of guests who had fun fellowship, and she had tons of great holiday decor to unwrap. I had a lady come in before I came home from my 'vacation' to dust the furniture and mop the hardwoods. Then mom came over and cleaned a few toilets here and there and did about 84 loads of laundry for me. What a woman. I love the laundry fairy. I had a friend that let me borrow several of her bouquets of daffodils that she had used on Saturday morning for a bible study. I love friends with daffodil bouquets. I decorated in little nitches of time. I'd stay up about half and hour messing around with flowers and tablecoths and pictures and such.....and then go rest in the bed and watch a movie. Same sequence, over and over until Sunday. Thank the Lord that Dish man installed a DVR in my bedroom a couple of weeks ago. I love the dish man with the DVR.

Here's one of the cute little teacups of daffodils......I had them sitting everywhere around the house.

I thought you might enjoy seeing photos from the event. And I would like to show you, but I didn't take any pictures. Horrid, I know. I can show you this, because it's still hanging out on the dining room table. The centerpiece lacked a little to be desired, but the whole kidney drama got in my way. Plus, it's hard to pull together a tablescape that encompasses all her "seasons" -- (Christmas, Easter, Alabama Football, Thanksgiving, Valentines, and Independence Day.) It doesn't look like much here....but it was cute on the table. I will say, it could have been marvelous, had I only had a dose of morphine. :)

I'm a stickler....even for those I love, it's hard for me to go full force with anything Alabama. So, a footbal with a houndstooth ribbon tied atop was as close to Roll Tide as I could stand to allow. :)

The most important word of all.....LOVE. Who really needs a holiday to express that.....shouldn't we offer it up, every day?



• The bride, she's such a sweetheart. One of the most gentle spirits I know. I babysat her when she was little. And in return, she babysat my children. The cycle of life. And I assume, someday, Tyner Beth will babysit her kids. If the truth were known, I would actually have hosted an all exlusive Crimson Tide/Saban Nation/Woo-Hoo, Yall are great/ party had she asked. I would do it for her. That's how much I think of her....and that's saying a lot. Those of you affiliated with such SEC football allegiances understand completely. And those of you who don't know what the big deal is?---well, move from up north and come to the south and see what it's all about. You'll never leave. And here is that sweetest bride-to-be----with Tyner Beth at her birthday party a couple of years ago. Look at that little grin....she adores Maryalice.

SING FOR THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE

• Tyner Beth's PTO Program was recently. We enjoyed hearing their celebration of America with lots of classic songs and wonderful facts about our United States!

• TB's "part" was to welcome everyone and then lead the Pledge of Allegiance. She did great!
  

This little piggy cried WEE WEE WEE....all the way HOME!

• Well, I did in fact break out of that prison.....they said no, but I ripped my IV out and said Watch me!

No, of course not. I follow the rules, most of the time. And I waited for the good doctor to come around and give the okie dokie. And I waited for the last of the antibiotics to swim into my veins. And had I known then, what I know now, I really would have squeezed every one of those little bags .... good to the last drop. In fact, when they took them off the hat rack pole, I would have taken scissors and cut them open and licked the inside clean. Why, you ask?

• Because apparently, although the fluid in the bag was amber in color, I had no idea that it was PURE LIQUID GOLD dripping in my veins the last 4 days. You see, I came home with a prescription of oral tablets---tablet form of the very same liquid antibiotic I've been receiving intraveneously. One bottle of seven pills. I take one pill a day, for you guessed it, seven days. And guess what....each pill cost $14.

That, my friends, must mean that it was LIQUID GOLD.

• So, I'm gonna rest. And then I'm gonna get up and rid my pantry of every stinking chicken broth can I find. So, don't come to my house being neighborly and asking to borrow a cup of chicken broth, because I WILL NOT HAVE ANY. And, furthermore, I will not share my liquid gold tablets with you either.

That's all. Carry on with your lives now. I'm fine. Tired, sore, weak, a little ache-y.....but fine, really. So, although I have a few stories still up my sleeve to tell you about.......I don't know when I'll get around to it. Lord, bless y'alls heart, you've read so many words in the last few days, you deserve a break. Or an award. Or a can of chicken broth.

• I will tempt you with this little tidbit.......I scathed by without a room-mate in my semi-private room (which was supposed to be private, but, whatever, just give me the morphine and put me in a bed), every night I had my luxury suite all to myself......until the last night. And boy was that ever fun.

But that's another story, for another day. Talk to you all later! Thanks again for all the prayers. Your comments, calls, e-mails and texts have kept me alive. And they were a lot cheaper than the liquid gold. And I appreciate you for that. Blue Cross/Blue Shield thanks you as well.

QUICK UPDATE:

• Oh, you came back. Hello! After that long post from last evening, I thought I had scared you off!

I promise this won't be long. It's not the middle of the night, when my brain has time to ramble. I don't really feel much like talking a lot and cutting up too much, live and in person.....because I feel almost as bad as I look. But give me a keyboard and I can go to town. :)

• It's 1:00p.m. and I'm still here. Haven't seen the doctor. But I buzzed my nurse earlier and although I knew she wouldn't do it, I asked anyway, just to see what reaction she would give me. "Hey, can you take my IV out now, because I REALLY want to take a shower so I can be ready to go home." She got all big-eyed on me and smiled and said, "No. No mam I can't just TAKE YOUR IV OUT."

In fact she was coming in to hook up another dang bag of the antibiotics to my fluid line. So, not only do I have to wait for the Dr. but I also have to wait for this to pass on through the line.

• Let me tell you, if he comes in shortly and says he's going to sign my release papers......I'm gonna squeeze that little bag as hard as I can like you do when you try to get the last bit of toothpaste out of the tube. I don't have time to wait for drip.drip.drip.drip. How annoying.

When you have a kidney infection....LAUGHTER is not the best medicine.

• It hurts to laugh. I get tickled at something a visitor has said. I get tickled at something one of the staff does. I get tickled at making sure my tinkle hits the bucket because I am on morphine and delirious from staring at the same blue wall and gold privacy curtain for 3 whole days. And my only accessory to match this lovely snap together mint green gown is a shiny silver hat rack with fluid bags hanging from the top.

Not the way a girl wants to go out in public, you know? So, instead of crying at it all, I tend to laugh. Humor usually suits me. But not recently. When I laugh, even a small chuckle, breath deep or sometimes just breathing shallow, my kidneys, back, ribs, neck and head hurt. So, last night I had a few girlfriends in the room, overlapping in their visits. And I laughed. And it hurt and felt good at the same time. Because, really that's how life is....you take the good with the bad, because you really want the good. And the bad, it only lasts a while, but the good.....those are memories that stay forever.

• Now, I want to give you a little insight to a few of the ladies who have been my caregivers at some shift or another. Their names will be changed for confidentiality. However, the names I make up for them, may be related to their real names, or not. Basically I'm about to talk about some women and some of it may not be nice, so just in case it happens to be your great uncle's ex-girlfriend's daughter's best friend that sang in choir with you back in middle school or whatever.....maybe you won't figure it out. Although I seriously doubt anyone who reads this blog was ever in choir. :) Don't laugh, it hurts the kidneys.

~~~Venice = she's such a lovely gal. And a night owl....a woman after my own heart. She is also the fastest draw with a morphine shot this side of the Mississippi. And she always presents with a smile on her face.....REGARDLESS. And she wanted to hear about my kids...so she got bonus points.

~~~Periwinkle = she does not represent the nice hue her name expresses. Which is sad to me because I love periwinkle, it's one of my favorite colors. But she was far from a favorite. She sassed my momma. For no reason, except she's rude. And I do not like rude people. In fact, I thought part of this job was to be a care giver.......care is dead to her, I assure you of that. And after she sassed my momma, and really, who sasses a grey haired grandmother?....well, Temple made an attempt to defer the conversation and mediate, trying to express what mom was asking about, and she sassed Temple. Now folks, I don't care if I have two bum kidneys or not, I was mere inches away from coming up out of my white sheets and knocking her out with my IV pole....and sadly it was within my first 8 hours of being here. The Lord decided to bless me and my prayer to not hurt anyone in the hospital while I'm here on vacation----I've not seen Periwinkle's name on my board since Monday. Ha. God loves me, he really loves me.

~~~Lizzie = she was just like a grandma. and might I say she gets bonus points because she was the ONLY one who filled me an ice bucket--not the pink pitcher for water--but a bucket of ice and filled it with those juice buckets, all flavors, and a can drink. She rocks for that reason alone. Plus, she called me baby. 'aw, baby, how you feeling today?', and when I did finally have a break down late Wednesday afternoon she knelt by my bed and said 'aw, baby, why you cryin'---you better quit cryin', you gonna make me cry, i can't watch that no mo'.

~~~Andi = let me tell y'all about this little gal....she's a student nurse. She was brought in today by her very beautiful instructor, who I'll call Miss America, because I told her that's what she looked like to me. Anyway, she was just there to hang a new bag of antibiotics, attach them to my fluid drip and carry on. Well, luckily, she's a very observative little gal, because she noticed that my IV site on my arm was swollen. Hard as a rock, tight, and a little painful to the touch. So, of course her instructor said well, we'll need to set-up another IV site. She sat down on the bed to begin. I put my hand on her leg and said "Andi, have you started an IV before?". I know it's wrong, but I had to, for my own sanity. Of course she had, or else she lied, either way, I believed her, took a deep breath and looked away. Andi did a fast, and SUPERB job. Kudos to her and her intravenous skills. Then she ripped all 42 pieces of tape off my old site and I wanted to cuss out loud! :)

~~~JOHN = Yes, I know I said I was only going to talk about ladies, but I have to mention him. I must give props to a young man, who has to be only 20, who can walk into a room and ask me about my bowel movements like he's asking me if I saw Hines Ward play in the Super Bowl. DO NOT LAUGH.....it hurts.

• Okay, I'm stepping off my soapbox. On to more important news. It does appear that I get to go home tomorrow, or today, whenever you are reading this....Thursday. Unless something strange happens tonight, Dr. Sheppard said he would be releasing me. I have had no fever today, thank you Lord. Although, my face has been flush since Tuesday evening. I do look like I've been on vacation, if you can get past the greasy hair and see this sun-kissed face. Anyway, it's getting better, the redness of the face, not the oily hair. I CANNOT wait to take a shower. Bathing yourself with a small plastic tub and washcloths is not the same. It's just not the same.

Now, get ready for this news......Temple came for a brief visit with me yesterday afternooon, between work meetings and school board meetings. After which he returned to mom and dad's house to see the kids and eat supper with all of them. While he was there, Walt was showing him his artwork, talking about school, etc.etc. and all of the sudden he complained of a bad pain in his stomach. So much so, that he buckled his knees and fell to the floor crying. Temple went through the routine of questions...."do you need to throw-up, do you need to poopie, when did you poopie last?". None of that was it. So he called our cousin, who is also our pediatrician. She said, although she hated it, she would have to suggest he bring him on down to the ER just in case it was his appendix. I won't give you a long story because I do not know it....lucky you. I didn't even know they were here......which is the way Temple had planned it. MY BABY BLOND BOY WAS DOWNSTAIRS, SICK IN THE ER, AND I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT!!! Temple knew I'd show up, dragging my IV pole behind me as soon as I heard. And let me tell you....he was dead on. Good call, T-5, straight up, good call.

I found out all of this at 6:50 am today....when Temple and Walt strolled, rather groggily into my room. They stayed all of 4 minutes because Temple had not slept. They got to the ER around 9 pm and were called back at 2 am to a room and then seen by a doctor at 4:40 am. Walt had blood work, urine sample, and x-rays. Nothing showed up. They said the medicine he is on for strep could have caused him the stomach pain because he didn't have any food on his stomach when he took it. So, he was released. And went home and slept at Granny's (Mom). While poor Temple took a quick cat nap and then off to work again. Bless his precious sweet heart.....pray for him, please. I know he is exhausted. And he doesn't even have a shot of morphine in his future. And pray for Walt too. He seemed fine tonight. He went to gymnastics and was all smiles.

Now for the greatest news of all, ever, in the whole lifetime of great news......ALL THREE OF THOSE LITTLE BEINGS I GAVE BIRTH TO CAME TO SEE ME THIS EVENING AND GAVE ME BIG BEAR HUGS. That is even better than morphine. They should bag up some fluid therapy full of sweet children love......the world would be a better place.

I gotta scoot. I'm pressing my luck being on here late two nights in a row. But just let me say, I was just delivered some graham crackers and one of those mini spreads of peanut butter for a little bedtime snack (which is way better than chicken broth).....and I am smiling so big. It has been one heck of a week, at the House of Bowling, but I'm telling you, things are looking up. You know the bible says this is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. So, let me tell you I am rejoicing......hugs from my kids (gosh I miss them so much), a yummy snack, and Periwinkle's name still hasn't shown up on my board. Life is good. Y'all have a blessed night!

Kidney Update.....

Thanks to everyone for all your calls, flowers, gifts, little treats, visits, e-mails, texts, and comments here. And especially thanks for the prayers. Most everyone has said this very sentence...."Let me know if there is anything I can do for you." And I've been giving the standard answer, everyone always gives...."no, I'm fine, but thanks for offering." But as I've had some time to ponder the thought......I did come up with something.

• Would anyone be willing to donate me one of your kidneys? A healthy one? You know, you can live with only one kidney. In fact, if there are two of you, who love me enough, then we could knock this whole thing out.....we trade my two infected kidneys for the two from you wonderful organ donor friends. I think transplant surgery would be better than this. But that could just be the morpine talking. Don't mind me. Keep your kidneys, really.

However, how about bringing me some McDonald's fries. I have stared down the last brown bowl of lukewarm chicken broth and red jello. My Doctor came around this evening and, although he didn't offer it on his own, after I made a small request, and explained my utter disdain for having chicken broth for breakfast, he agreed & said I could have some food. And as soon as he walked out, I looked up to the drop-in ceiling panel and shouted PRAISE THE LORD!!!

I mean don't get me wrong, I could handle the first bowl of chicken broth, but after having it for breakfast, lunch, dinner and the midnight snack option......it gets real old, real fast. Besides, we use broth while preparing foods....not as an actual FOOD. Clear liquid diets....it's for the birds, or whatever animal enjoys chicken broth with a side of red jello.

• So, the doctor also said that things were looking better. My urine is clearing....not nearly as much blood is visible. But the fever is still hanging around, and he doesn't like that aspect. I have been feeling better. I can't really say I feel "good" yet, as I am still weak, and in pain. But improved. He said that he felt releasing me on Wednesday would be a little too early. He didn't want me to go home too soon, and relapse, only to return back to this cozy vacation spot. So, still a wait and see, but he's thinking Thursday. Yippee!!

Again, thanks for all of your loving concerns. I appreciate you each and every one of you, more than you know. I'll keep you updated when I can. Temple said no blogging after 9 pm. But he didn't really say what the resume time would be.....so I just guessed and since midnight was a new day and all......I figured that was an all clear. You don't really have time to sleep at the hospital, there are three regulars coming in your room at different intervals, on a rotating basis. So, like tonight, I have my little guy Tyler, checking my blood pressure and temp. And about an hour later, I have a sweet gal, Nicole coming in to see if my bucket is filled with ice water, check my bed sheets, pillows, and see how much tinkle is filling my urine bucket, etc.etc. And then an hour later, my lovely nurse comes in, and she looks at my fluid bags, changes them out when empty, checks my IV site, and brings in the morphine....if I have asked for it. Which I am proud to say, I have been going much longer than two hours, several times since last night. See, I am improving. Like, right now, she's gone to get something to come flush my IV because it isn't dripping correctly. Well, I guess that means I better run......and maybe Temple won't find out about all this "after hours" stuff......like sleep walking....do you think you can sleep blog? :)

PRAYER REQUEST

The Short Version:

• Pray for me. I am in the hospital.

The Long Version:

• So, I thought I was doing well. I knew that our family had a very full and active week and weekend coming up, and I had a couple of posts "scheduled" to appear on the blog. That way, I had already completed them, with writing and photos, and was "ahead of the game". However, I didn't know that I would be needing those posts because I would be hospitalized come Monday morning. Bummer.

• That's right, folks, I'm coming to you live from this nice, very stylish, air-pressurized hospital bed in the land of endless juice buckets (pick a flavor, any flavor, I've had them all.) This weekend, I realized that I was getting a UTI (urinary tract infection). No, I have no medical degree, but am able to self-diagnose because I have had over 30 of these in my lifetime (literally)....and hey, I know the signs. The funny thing was, I started having bladder spasms Saturday night, and I've never really had those before. But, I let it rock on, and moaned and groaned throughout Sunday. Sunday night, I had fever with chills, back pain and a headache. I writhed with the pain, every hour on the hour....no sleep for me. So, I was glad to see the sunrise Monday morning. That meant I could call mom to come take the kids to school for me, and then come back and get me and take me to the "doc-in-a-box".

• You know, the "doc-in-a-box" is similar to a drive-thru service for the food industry. Except, of course, you can't just drive thru...you do have to get out and wait your turn, but it's nothing like the wait in an emergency room. I was glad we made it and didn't have to wait long. I felt horrible, but knew that soon after I took a tinkle in their plastic cup, they would give me a prescription for antibiotics and we could be on our merry way. Boy, was I wrong. They did blood tests, and more urine tests. And then the nurse practioner (an indian girl who looked like she was 12) came in my room and said "Mrs. Bowling, you are very sick. Your UTI is severe. You have proteins and blood in your urine. Your white blood count is very elevated like there may be other things wrong too. " And she said she was off to look at more blood tests. Then the next thing I know, an older man walks in, Dr. McGee. He says, "Mrs. Bowling, you are very sick. Our nurse practitioner brought me your chart to look over. It's severe. We are concerned that it has spread to your kidneys and possibly your bloodstream." And then the dreaded words that followed...."you need to be hospitalized."

• Well, what do you know, those folks at the "doc-in-a-box" are in fact, 'real doctors' afterall. So, a hop, skip and a jump later, and I'm at the hospital. Getting IV's and catheters (no matter how small they say the tube is, it still hurts) and antibiotics and morphine and lots of chicken broth. I'm being poked and proded frequently. I was told my doctor here would be Dr. Shepard (being a huge Grey's Anatomy fan, the thoughts of Derek Shepard "McDreamy"...was a perk for me.) It turns out this man looks nothing like Patrick Dempsey. But, that's okay because he seems nice enough and answered and explained everything to Temple and I late last night. It seems that the infection has basically made it's way through my entire urinary system. Once it gets all the way to the kidneys, it has to be treated, like it is now, not just with oral antibiotics for a week or 10 days. He said some "p" word, but neither Temple nor myself could remember it. Temple is medical-terminolgy challenged......and me, well I was just doused up on morpine. :)

• The doc said it would take 2-3 weeks to get over this. And I will be here for a couple of days at least. Kind of a wait and see. Then lots of antibiotics to take at home. When Temple left me last night, he sent a text back that said "think of it as a vacation without the view". Yea, sure. A day at the beach with toes dug in the sand, the sun scorching my skin, hearing the waves crash, eating great seafood, smelling the salt air, and taking a moonlit stroll on the beach holding his hand. That would be a vacation. This is not. This is having my toes dug into some crumpled white sheets, a fever scorching my body, all I hear is constant beeping noises out in the hallway, a clear liquid diet, smelling that "hospital" smell, and the only "strolls" I take are about 3 feet from the bed to the potty....while I'm holding my IV pole. Yea, it's certainly a vacation without a view.

• So, basically I'm having a party here at the hospital. You know, since I'm on vacation and all. I mean, if I'm going to be stuck in this five star plaza hospital, I'm gonna live it up. In fact, I think I'm going to buzz for another shot of morphine right now. Oh, I would get all of you a round too, but I think they frown on the sharing of even legal drugs.....something about rules, laws, ethical codes.......so clearly, just an fyi, this is a b.y.o.b. party.

• On a serious note, I'm asking you to pray for me, a speedy recovery, and for this pain to subside. Whether you are reading this blog and really know me, or not, just lift my name to the Lord. He knows. I've said it before and I'll say it again, there is power in prayer. There is also power in morphine. But it only alleviates the pain for a short period of time. The Great Physician, he can heal, once and for all.

AK (anna katherine) in BW (black & white).....

AK had her FIRST EVER valentine's on Saturday.....and we wanted to share in it with her! Here are a few precious photos from our afternoon.

• Seriously....could you not just eat that up? Babies yawning...a favorite of mine.
  
• Anna Katherine listening intently to Aunt KK.....and wondering why in the world I talk so much!! :)

• And all the kiddos had an opportunity to LOVE on her.....

Valentine Projects....

Just wanted to share these creations the kids made for Valentine Day this year. We adapted them all from some magazine pages in Family Fun. It's a great magazine....lots of our recipes, crafts, and even a few of the boy's science projects have been taken from various issues! Anyway, I just thought some of you with youngsters might want to try these out for next year.

• For their teachers, they made these clapping hands holding a bottle of hand lotion. Their handprints said, "Mrs. _______, You deserve a hand".

• Instead of doing the fold-over, store bought, valentine card variety, Tyner Beth decided on these fun treats for her class. And she said they were a big hit!! I think they are just the cutest things....

• Small clear bags filled with Teddy Bear Grahams and a card attached that says "Bear Hugs For You!"

• And since you didn't receive any yourself, well, here's Tyner Beth giving you a bear hug via the computer screen right now.....I know it's Monday, but don't you feel better already?

True Love....it really does exist.

T-5--I thought I would give you a little tree of hearts! ;)

Happy Valentine's to my sweetheart....and to steal from the words of Emily Bronte:

"Whatever souls are made of,

yours and mine are the same."

Watch out canines...he's on the prowl....

• Wait a minute....turn that up.....what did they just say???.....

• it's FRIDAY THE 13th???? .....oh, I knew it was bad luck!......I have no valentine.....maybe Sadie will come around and be sweet on me just this once....since it's heart day and everything....love is in the air.....Grrrrr!!!

• Look at these fine dance moves I've been practicing......did I ever tell y'all I took lessons from Fred and Ginger? Don't hate me because I have rhythm......hate me because I have rhythm AND I look so dang good while doing the waltz with a chipmunk.

• It's also okay to hate the eyes, too....everybody just goes crazy for the eyes.......
  

Seriously, Sadie, call me sometime. And in the famous words of Richard Marx, (cue piano)..."I'll be right here waiting for you...."---like right outside the door. Or up a tree. Or in a closet where they "accidentally" locked me for FOUR hours the other night.

I am so praying I never delete a blog again.....

• Well, well, well, wonders never cease. Remember a few months ago when I screwed up the entire original blog? Yes, the entire original blog (an entire 18 months of posts---gone.) Well, I also managed to mess up the recipe blog I had created---a "sister site" so to speak of our family blog. Because you know, every once in a while we manage to sneak in "Cooking Camp"....and we like to document the recipes somewhere for folks if they want them.

No, food network hasn't picked up on our culinary skills as a family yet, but we are still holding out hope.

• All of this to say, that I was able to retrieve the posts from the original recipe blog, only minus the comments. And I added the photos back---because pictures are nice in recipe books! :) So, if you were one of the....oh, wait, maybe there was just one of you altogether....

Anyway, if you wanted the recipes for the stuff we cook from time to time that shows up on the blog: then wait no more, because I have reinstated it here... go ahead, click away.

Cooking Camp....with Paula Deen!!!!

Ha, Ha! Monkeys always look. No, silly, Paula didn't come to our house for cooking camp, but wouldn't that be a hoot if she did? Oh, she and Tyner Beth would have LOADS to talk about, no doubt. But anyway, Paula did make a "guest apperance" in our kitchen, in the form of this cookbook the children received for Christmas:


And as you can imagine, there are lots of YUMMY recipes between the covers. To start us off, we opted for a simple, but creative, chocolate chip cookie on a stick.

• Why only two chefs this night? Because the third was laid up in bed with strep throat....and therefore, kind of like leprosy, he was deemed "unclean" for cooking camp. Sorry, charlie....but there's always next time, and besides, we SHARED our cookies with the infirmed. :)

• This required some serious "squishing" together of the cookie dough, around the lollipop stick.

• See what I mean? Now, that's bad enough on a clean hand.....did you want strep throat victim in here patting them out? Exactly.
  Look at these beauties! And they tasted good, too. We used miniature reese's pieces and toffee bits for decorations. And Tyner Beth crafted out some "initial" cookie treats to take to Emma's sleepover.
  

Just a little FYI......

for those of you who read a certain post a few days back.....concerning lengthy hair issues: .....well, here's a little update, even though you didn't ask for it, necessarily.

• I shaved my legs & donated the hair to locks of love. :)

HA! I know you just laughed out loud. I saw you. Me too.

SATURDAY SHOWCASE.....

Tyner Beth won her place on Saturday showcase this week with a picture she brought home from school . She had a little extra time in class one day, after completing her work, and decided to draw me this:

• Yep, that's the two of us. She's the smaller one with the blonde hair. :) And we are apparently on our hilltop, wearing our matching purple shirts and jeans, arms outstretched to show our endearing love. I'm gathering this from the heart between us. And the green mound we stand upon. And because, our arms are horizontal.

• Which can only say one of two things to me, either we are showing love, as in "I love you THIS much"....or we are about to do arm circles for exercise. And I bet she's seen me do arm circles about twice in her entire lifespan. So axe that option!

• Besides, who does arm circles with a smile on your face?

And just in case you are wondering.....I asked about the cute little circular objects on our faces. I didn't know if maybe we were:

• A) tired from exerting ourself with arm circles
• B) put our blush on that morning without the aid of a mirror
• C) had a bad matching case of acne, or even worse....chicken pox.

But I carefully asked her to expain her picture for me. She said it was the two of us. Yea, I figured that much out alone. So, I had to prod and say very gingerly, hoping not to hurt her feelings in anyway......."what are those circles on our face?"....to which she replied with a sweet smile....."dimples".

Can I just tell you right now how much I love dimples? Especially big lopsided pink ones.

The Babysitter's Club.....

• I have been very fortunate to have skipped out of working my standard, GRUELING, one day a week, 6-hour part time job at the vet clinic for a few weeks now. And in it's place, I have been even more fortunate to have kept sweet baby Hanna.... Dr. Kimbrell's (the vet) little girl that you may remember me telling about her birth back in December in this post.

• Well, this has been right up Tyner Beth's alley, for sure. (Did I just sound like a valley girl to you?) Anyway, here she is, on the first day we had Hanna, when she was only a couple of weeks old. TB was real cautious, careful not to touch her too much, handle her gently, speak to her lightly, etc.etc.

• Look at this sweet little stretch....oh, and did you notice the MEOW cat onesie? Yeah, Dr. K thought it was just too funny to dress her in that to come to Aunt KK's house....because as you all know by now, I simply ADORE cats. Or not.

• But with each passing day that we were blessed to keep Hanna.....Tyner Beth morphed into FULL BABYSITTER MODE. .......and managed to spoil Hanna a little bit more every chance she got.....here she is sleeping sweetly while laying on Tyner Beth

• And TB could hardly kiss her enough.

• She found ways to pacify her, even when she couldn't reach her "paci". Look how cute Hanna is looking at Tyner Beth.....and by the way, Dr. K, I promise Tyner Beth washed her hands, with soap even, before attempting this.... :)

• Hey Hanna....it's me again. Are you tired of me taking your picture?
  

• Last week it was our last time to keep Hanna, for now, and Tyner Beth soaked up all the kisses she could.
  
• And squealed with delight at this moment....."look momma, Hanna is kissing me back"......
  

• How cute is that little smile???

• Okay, so a few weeks back, I was "tagged" to do this 25 random thingy at another place...and I thought all of you might get a real kick out of reading all this RANDOMNESS. You were supposed to write out 25 facts that were....well....random. And hey, that has my name written ALL OVER IT. Because if I am anything, it is often random. Oh, the excitement of finding something in life I can excel at....truly shine....in random form.

Basically, it's a post that's no different than all the other dribble you've read from me before. This one is just in a nice, concise, 25 point list form. Oh, the joys of 25 random things. And feel free to comment about them, in fact I am in such distress over the elusiveness of #12 (astro-pop, not gummi bears) that I am at an all out quest to find a convenience store that still carries it. Because, I need one. Because they taste good. So, if you find one, let me know....IMMEDIATELY! :)

• So, enjoy....it's just another day over here at the House of Bowling. Complete with more random thoughts than you could ever imagine.

1.) absolutely adore my children and husband. Oh, wait, that’s not so random. Let me start over. :0

1.) my PawPaw Tyner was the greatest man I have ever known. My daddy and temple are catching up with each passing year though.

2.) performed for the Lord Mayor of Westminster Abbey in England in 1990. FYI--when wearing a cheerleader skirt, it matters not how many layers of pantyhose you pull on….your legs will still freeze while in London, in December.

3.) each year, but only once, I attempt to do a back handspring, just to say I still can. I’m trying to make it to age 40 and then I’ll hang it up.

4.) am a huge night owl and passed it along to at least one of my children, I’m sure. Rivers favorite show as a toddler wasn't Barney or Bob the Builder, it was the Andy Griffith show that he would watch every night at 10:30 PM!!

5.) avid reader…member of 2 book clubs that I greatly enjoy. like almost all kinds of books. Have been teased for certain selections I’ve been known to read. Most recently, last fall, when some friends saw my library book in the car, entitled “IKE”— a very thick Presidential biography. If it helps, I didn’t even finish it. :)

6.) barefoot is bliss. I even went barefoot at our (outdoor) wedding and had ants crawling on my feet during the ceremony.

7.) cooking is a passion

8.) movie theater popcorn with layers of buttery goodness are best when coupled with a box of milk duds. Complete harmony.

9.) am the baby of my family, and married the oldest of his family. Makes for a perfect union. :)

10.) enjoy writing….in journals, postings on my blog, even thank you notes. Have even been told I write well. Some have complimented me and said I have good humor and sensitivity. Temple thinks I should seek out writing a book or something. I think he is even crazier than me, and I have “papers” to prove my certified crazy self. :) and you still love me.

11.) am thankful that My Lord knew I was going to be crazy and still died for me. He’s awesome, huh? Love reading the Bible, although some books are more challenging (often boring) than others, reading books about the bible, and website devotionals, beth moore conferences, etc. And love memorizing bible verses, storing them in my heart, you never know when you will need to pull one out. :)

12.) gummi bears rock—am loyal to the HARIBO variety, which is the best, the real ones, the ones made in Turkey (the country) :). also am a huge fan of the Astro-Pop—which sadly, are very hard to find.

13.) while #6 is a complete truth, we all know during cold weather you need some foot coverings….so I have an enormous amount of colorful socks. i.e. = polka dots, candy designs, animals, stripes, smiley faces, holiday designs….life is short, wear funky socks in the winter.

14.) my first car was a stick shift and I heard my Dad say this phrase continually, “quit grinding the gears and lay off the clutch”

15.) my kids amaze me constantly, and are seemingly smarter than I am, although that wasn't a far road to travel. motherhood is something that words cannot begin to express upon, so I won’t try.

16.) after being introduced to them this past summer, have an obsession with WICKLES pickles. For their unique taste as well as their small business story, and the fact they are made in Alabama

17.) was taught calligraphy in the 4th grade from Mrs. Johnston at enrichment class

18.) College road trips were fantastic, even the memories are still awesome, what I can remember…. :)

19.) recently learned that Family Road Trips are EVEN MORE FUN. You actually remember it all! :) Last spring break we took the kids on a road trip covering 10 states.

20.) while queso dip is good, (the right) guacamole is great!! The coolness it offers the palate is superb.

21.) 80’s music is simply the best. Hands down. Journey, Eagles, Chicago—great groups, have them on tape, CD and i-pod!! They span the generations.

22.) I met my husband in section 19 at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Auburn football and meeting my true love, how lucky can a girl get? We have that ticket framed in our bedroom. :) speaking of Auburn, I had some of the best room-mates EVER, and friends whom I still love so dearly. Good times.

23.) my heart smiles inside whenever I get a letter in the mail or a comment or e-mail on the computer. What can I say, I am easily entertained.

24.) can say the alphabet backwards, fast.. and can even sing it backwards to the alphabet song tune….a fun party trick (self-taught). My talent, it knows no bounds.

25.) I appreciate all of you who took the time to read such randomness. Twas ever so fun, now get back to work!