The newest Grand-Oompa

 My middle son Arthur and his fiancee invited the family to witness the birth of their first child.  Naturally I jumped at the opportunity and when news arrived that Stephanie's water had broken, the girls and I jumped in the car and sped to Evans Army Medical Center, which happens to be the same hospital Rachel was born in over 17 years ago.  We arrived just before midnight Mother's Day.  Unfortunately the breaking of her water hadn't triggered labor and while she was experiencing contractions, Stephanie would have to endure 22 hours of them before her baby was born.


Nolan Alexander Navakuku was born on May 14, 2012 at 8:33 pm.  The room was full of cheering and singing.  The air was charged with love.  He came into the world with his tiny eyes wide open. Everyone immediately fell in love with him.

I have always regret that I was not able to be there with my first two grandsons.  I am sad that they live on the other side of the country and I have not seen them in years.  I am blessed to have Nolan so close to me now.  And he fits so perfectly into my hugs.  I have already put in an order for a granddaughter.  


It is hard to concentrate on all the devastating misfortunes that have pummeled me relentlessly these past few years when things like this happen.  To say that I am walking on air right now would not even begin to describe my elation.  In laymen terms, my luck has sucked lately but now I'm fricken happy!  Oh yeah!

Why I am fat:

I like creamer in my coffee.  Fat, sweet creamer.  I like buttered toast with orange marmalade.  I drink my wine from a mason jar.  I drink regular beer, not the lower calorie and less filling beer that makes you want to drink more.  And I walk leisurely through life so I can see, and hear, smell and taste... and feel everything rather than rushing through with blinders and hope I don't crash and burn along the way.  I'd rather savor my empty calories than burn them up during a self induced cardio pain fest sometimes referred to as exercise. (shudder!) I've got better things to do with my time.
This may all change very soon.  Today I have a little visit with my family practitioner to discuss my unscheduled overnight sojourn in her facility a fortnight ago.  I plan to plead my case by offering a chart documenting my resolve to get my blood pressure under control but~ realistically speaking I fear my days of butter soaked toast and hazelnut creamer laced caffeinated coffee are over.
Crazy as it may sound, coming from me of all people, I'm okay with that!
My 3rd grandbaby is due on Mother's Day.  And with my 5 kids I just know that there are plenty more where that comes from!  So this, my admission, is my first step to a healthier lifestyle.
Bleh~

05/06/2012

May 6th~
I'm sure there is some silly holiday or day in history to commemorate this date but for me it means one thing.
I woke up alive and that in itself is cause for celebration.  So I shall celebrate, with coffee and chocolate, a stroll in the sunshine with the family I love as I over dose on the mountain air.  Is that even possible, to get too much fresh air?  I think not, but if it is then I cannot think of a better way to go.
But then, if by chance, fate, design or luck, I shall wake up alive again tomorrow then I shall once again celebrate.
With coffee, chocolate, sunshine and the family that I love... in the fresh mountain air.

Sometimes~

Sometimes I have to keep reminding myself 
Who I am and how my life is different now.
Sometimes I wish it wasn't so easy to forget~
Sometimes I wish it wasn't so hard to remember.

THE LADY AND THE CAT

My mother is 81 years old and has small vessel disease.  I had numerous phone conversations with her over the past few years as well as several communications with my father and sisters.  I was aware of her deteriorating condition but nothing prepared me for the echo of the shadow of the woman she had once been. Her quick, motivated gait had been replaced by an uncertain shuffle and her gaze would clear momentarily to express joy on recognition only to cloud over again with simple confusion. She repeated things as if sharing for the first time.  She constantly apologized for not remembering.  A moment later she has already forgotten again.

Oreo is a 17 years old island calico. In human years she would be 84. She has lived in my mother's house almost her entire life.  I don't remember her as a younger cat although I have been home a couple of times since Oreo moved in. She wears scars from a hard life but her fur is immaculately groomed which is impressive considering the staining red dirt of the region.  Each morning she sits in the kitchen, waiting patiently for Mother to feed her.  Sometimes it takes hours as Mother selects a can of food, places it first in one place and then another.  Then she will get a clean dish which she sets on the table or counter, and forgets.  Yet Oreo waits quietly and patiently, staring at the floor until Mother finally remembers and completes the task.


The burden of dealing with a patient who has short term memory loss is heavy and my father is exhausted.  My brother and his family just recently moved in to help ease the load.  I am eternally grateful for all of the sacrifice they have and continue to make.  My parents have worked so hard all of their lives and deserve to be able to relax and enjoy their retirement. This is their chance.


Tomorrow Oreo will wait patiently on the kitchen floor for Mother to decide which flavor of cat food to feed her. It may take an hour or so but she will be fed and she and Mother will enjoy yet another day in each other's company because time ceases to exist in the world in which they share.