Thankful

A year ago, we were getting Chris settled into our house. He was still reeling from getting dumped and cheated on. A year later, he is about to start a new job with a promising future. He has a wonderful girlfriend. He is happy.
A year ago, Catie and Ben were grieving the loss of their baby. A year later, they are eagerly awaiting the birth of their daughter. While Buddah will always be a part of their lives, Abbey will be the answer to hundreds of prayers.
A year ago, Elliott was dealing with problems that none of us could even imagine, especially since he was afraid to share those problems with us. A year later, he and Samantha have worked out their problems and have a beautiful baby boy. He is waiting to hear about a job with the Huntington Fire Department. Sam is about to graduate from college.
A year ago, Dave was recovering from yet another foot surgery. A year later, he is healthy and has had no problems with his foot.
It's been nearly a year since Thom died. Jenny has done a great job with Donna and John. Thom is watching over them and they will see him again. They will be OK.
Seventeen years after his divorce, Russ has remarried. He has met his match in Nikki. They compliment each other.
By the end of 2008, I could have been ready to give up. Instead, I chose to study God's word and "pray without ceasing". The challenges we face teach us perseverance. Perseverance teaches us patience. Patience will lead to joy. God is ever present. He will never let us face our challenges alone. That thought is what I'm most thankful for.

Bugged part 2

OK, so here's what I learned about Scabies (anyone with a loved one in a nursing home or a child should take note!):
Scabies is caused by a tiny mite that burrows under the skin and lays its eggs. The itching is caused by an allergic reaction to the mite. The rash is usually found on the hands, arms, legs, and skin folds (behind knees, in elbows). The rash is red and raised, like acne. The rash can be present for two to three weeks after treatment, but no new pustules should appear. The treatment is icky, but easy. Slime the prescription cream all over, from neck to toes including the bottom of the feet (babies should have it applied to their scalp, as well). Eight to fourteen hours after the application, shower or bathe with soap and warm water. Reapply after one week to be sure that the eggs that hatch out are killed. Clothing that was worn from three days before the break out and bedding should be washed in hot water and dried in the dryer at a hot setting. Non washable items (stuffed toys, rugs) should be placed in a plastic bag in the basement or garage until the mites die. Carpeting should be vacuumed thoroughly. For the itching, Benadryl tablets and/or cream should help the symptoms. Family members or people who have close contact with the bugged one should also be treated. The scabies mite that attacks humans will not attack cats or dogs. The mite that attacks cats and dogs does not attack people. Don't let anyone tell you that it was "that dog" or "that cat" that infested your house!
I hate that I caught these things. I look horrible! But maybe what I have learned will help someone else. Scabies is not something that just the poor or dirty person gets. Anyone can get it!

Bugged!

I broke out in a rash Friday evening while I was at work. It's a coarse looking red rash with what looks like blisters in the center. It itches like crazy! It was mostly on my right forearm and hand. I thought I might have caught something from a patient, but Saturday afternoon, when I woke up, I found a small critter crawling on the bed. EEEWWWWWW!!! I put it in a Ziploc bag. The rash had spread to my forehead, neck, left arm and legs.I didn't go in to work Saturday night. Instead, I went to the urgent care center. The doctor took one look at my rash and my little friend and said "You have Scabies!". EEEWWWWWW!!!!! I got a prescription for some nasty smelling bug killing cream. I had to smear it all over me and leave it on overnight. This morning, I washed it off. I don't know if it was supposed to pull the bugs out of my skin, but the rash is more diffuse. Still itches like crazy. I look like I have some flesh eating plague! Benadryl has become my best friend. I jusdt hope it's gone by Friday. I wouldn't want to go back to work and creep everyone out!

On the road again

Whirlwind tours!I love them! I got home from work last Wednesday, unloaded the car, packed my smaller bag, and took off again Thursday morning. I met Catie at her house and we headed south to Charlotte for her baby shower. Back on the road Sunday to get Catie home. On to Huntington to see Elliott, Samantha, and Bryce. Home again Monday afternoon. Whew! It's a good thing I like my car, I practically live in it!

Friday, we took Ma to lunch for her (late) birthday. We ate at the Cheesecake Factory. Really good food, but much richer than we are used to. After lunch, we walked around Southpark Mall. Southpark is what they call "upscale". For us regular people, that means expensive. We looked in a couple of childrens' specialty shops. Ma picked up a little blue dress, 6 month size. I can't imagine why anyone would pay $129 for a dress that a baby will wear for such a short time. Not to mention what the baby will get on the dress! I've decided that a store like that is for two types of people: grandmas who buy that stuff for their little angels, and grandmas like me who look for ideas, then make cute stuff for their little angels. We use the money we save to add to their college accounts!

The baby shower was a lot of fun. Carol, Catie's friend for forever (kindergarten, at least), was the hostess. We had a veggie tray and a fruit tray that the three of us put together, a chicken nugget tray from Chic-fil-a, and a beautiful cake that Carol's mother made. Kathy, Ma, Carol's mom Joyce, and I were the "old ladies" of the group. Carol, Alissa, Alicia, Becca, and Catie were the "young 'uns". The girls have been friends since at least middle school. Catie, Becca, and Carol go back to kindergarten. They talked about being married, having kids, careers, and old times at school. When the name Josh came up, we all laughed. Josh was the boy who was in the same day care class with Catie. When she was 18 months old, he bit her arm. When she told me about "that mean old Josh", her eyes were huge and she was very serious. She finished telling me about the bite by saying "and that was not nice". I reminded the girls of that story and they all recounted their "Josh stories". We planned for the shower to last about 2 hours. Before we knew it, 4 hours had passed! It's amazing to see how 5 girls can get together after two or three years and pick up right whee they left off! Good friends are a treasure and Catie is very rich!

We didn't spend as much time with Ma and Pop as I would have liked, but it wasn't possible. I always fear that each time I see them will be the last. They are both 85, Pop has had a stroke, Ma has chronic heart problems. I doubt that one will live long without the other. That's just the way they are.

We made the drive home in record time. Catie was able to take a much needed nap while I went to see Sam and Bryce. Bryce is getting to be a chubby little fellow! He's got chubby cheeks and little rolls on his legs. He has fussy time. I explained that to Sam. It's the time of evening when babies feel the need to decompress. They cry and kick for no apparent reason. Bryce had just eaten, he had burped, he was dry and warm. He just felt the need to fuss! Eventually, he fell asleep on my lap. I am smitten!

Today, I hung the curtains over Abbey's closet. They're perfect! Then, I drove home. I'm tired!

Elliott's hat

It was a beautiful, blustery fall day. Three year old Elliott was standing beside the driveway while I unloaded groceries from the car. Elliott usually wore overalls (the straps make a great handle for mom to grab) and today was no exception. He was wearing a blue baseball cap, too. Well, not really wearing it, he was throwing it up in the air and trying to catch it. The part of our yard where he was standing was next to a vacant lot that was overgrown with briers. I told Elliott to quit throwing his hat because the wind would blow it into the woods. Elliott paid me no attention. I told him again, with a little more edge to my voice, that he needed to STOP throwing his hat. After delivering another handful of grocery bags to the kitchen, I came back to the car. Elliott's hat was gone. I asked him where it was and he pointed to the woods. There was his hat, stuck fast in a clump of briers.
"Elliott!" I said in exasperation. "Now I'll have to go get it! You stand RIGHT HERE until I get your hat."
There was no way to get directly to the hat. I had to walk about 5 feet further down the driveway, then pick my way around until I got to it. I retrieved the hat and turned around to pick my way out of the woods. There, hot on my heels, was Elliott!
"ELLIOTT! I told you to stay put until I got your hat. Now you turn around and go right back the way you came!"
Elliott attempted to turn around, but was tangled in a long, wiry brier. He pulled and tugged, but could not get loose. He looked at me, his bright blue eyes as big as saucers. "Holy shit, Momma, I'm stuck!"
I put his hat over my face and turned my head. I couldn't let him see me laugh, that would only make him think that what he said was OK! When I regained my composure, I untangled him and we picked our way out of the woods.
Out of the mouths of babes..........