Thrilling

This is what I wish would happen every time my phone rings....





For those of you who don't know, the ringer on my phone is "Thriller". I picked it just before Halloween because I had to get a new phone. And I just been too lazy (and cheap) to download a new one. (And I am a closet MJ fan- but only the old stuff before he was a freaky wierdo) And then I heard that MJ was going to be in a Super Bowl commercial and rereleasing the Thriller album and adding ringtones. I realized for once I was ahead of the curve and am quite proud of my wierd ringtone now. It's only REALLY awkward at StoryTime at the library when it's all quiet.

I got this video from a funny blog that I read....The HG Spot

Dress-up Diva

Here's what we've been up to since we've been back.

Monday- Jazzercise and chillin' with Brandon for MLK day and Ellie played dress-up

Tuesday- Jazzercise and unpacking suitcases and dress-up

Wednesday- Gymnastics and the grocery store and dress-uo

Thursday-Jazzercise and Playgroup at Amy's house and dress-up

Friday- Storytime with Savanna and Conrad and lunch with Brandon and dress-up

Saturday- Wal-Mart, lounging and dress-up

Sunday- Visited Madison and Kim and played for 2 hours including dress-up (and more dress-up when we got home)

Two days this week Ellie napped for over 3 hours. Today and one other day she wouldn't nap at all. Hopefully we'll get back on a schedule in the next 2 weeks. (Just in time to go back to SC and undo it! Oh well, living close has more ups than downs.)

Inches!

Just wanted to show how much Ellie has grown in a year. This is another cute dress that Ilene made for her last year. It still fits great, but check out how much shorter it is this year. She'll be taller than me soon.

Spanglish

Scene: Piggly Wiggly (the one without the cool toddler sized ankle killing shopping carts)

Ellie: "Mommy, what are these?"

Me: "Those are tortillas."

Ellie: "Oh, four-tee-yas."

Me: "Exactly."


Ten minutes later...

Ellie: "Ooooooh, those are for tacos!"

So of course, those flat, white, discs-o-flour will forever be called four-tee-yas in our house.

Back to Normal????

Well, I'm back- to Alabama and to my blog. I didn't post at all while I was in SC. At first, I didn't have time and then I didn't know what to write. I know there are some folks who check in here that may not know the info in the rest of this post. If you have seen or talked to me in the last 2 weeks, or just don't want to read something sad, feel free to skip this one. I just need to remember it all and acknowledge it.

On January 9th, my dad died. He was suffering from liver and kidney failure due to alcohol induced cirrhosis. He was in the hospital after Thanksgiving for a couple weeks and then went back in on Christmas Eve. He never came home. After a couple more weeks at the hospital (the second time) he went to the Hospice Center on Wed January 3rd. I couldn't decide whether or not I needed to go until I found out Ward was not leaving town to travel with the band. Knowing that he was there and had seen Dad's condition and didn't leave, told me it was time. I got there on Friday the 5th and so did Davis. We had a great weekend with Dad. He was alert and joking and even singing. Davis went home on Sunday because the new semester of classes started for him and it seemed like we had a little more time. On Saturday, Dad asked to go outside in the courtyard and smoke. I told him I didn't think he could. He'd been unable to move around on his own for days. He showed me! On Sunday afternoon when I got to the center, he was outside in a rolling chair with my mom, uncle and brother- smoking away. I couldn't believe it. I took pics with my phone and sent them to Davis and Tyler because they thought I was making it up. On Monday, Ellie and I were going to wait a while to go because we'd been there late on Sun night, but my mom called and said Dad was outside again and wanted to watch Ellie run around in the courtyard like the day before. So of course, I hightailed it over there. Ellie was in her princess dress and fairy wings and would not change. Dad loved it. We stayed outside for a long time enjoying the sunshine. After that, things went downhill and it gets a little blurry. I do know that Tuesday was horrible and Wednesday was worse. Dad was in and out of sleep most of the time. He would respond, but was not initiating any conversations. On Tuesday we called Davis to come back and they got there about midnight. We all stayed overnight on Tues night because it looked like the end. There was guitar playing, singing of my dad's favorite Paul Simon songs, many crossword puzzles done and even more cups of coffee consumed. There were members of my family sleeping on every flat surface of that place. Wednesday morning he was in a lot of pain, but still hanging on. I went to get Ellie from Sharon's (where she'd spent her first night away from me) and she wouldn't leave. I was getting sad about that until I got the call to come back quickly. I hurried back and joined my mom, brothers, grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins around my dad's bed. He was really suffering and fighting to breathe. We all held on to him and to each other and told him we loved him and that it was ok to leave and we were all going to be ok. One day we will be. Maybe.

For now, I look at old pictures, listen to the songs we danced to and talk to my brothers about funny things he said and did. Some of them even sound so much like him that I get spooked.

The visitation and funeral were a real testament to the good memories of my dad and to the rest of my family. People showed up that he hadn't seen or talked to in years. They had to turn people away the day of the funeral because there wasn't enough room.

I stayed in town for a little while after to funeral to help my mom and continue providing comic relief (Ellie) to everyone. Now that I'm back to my own house, it doesn't seem real or possible that he's gone. I know it will be hard for a long time.

I miss you Dad.

Update

Well, Ellie and I are headed to SC again this morning. Brandon is taking my car to get gas right now and then we'll load up. My dad was moved to a Hospice facility 2 nights ago. It's like a nursing home from what I've been told. There is not much else that can be done because he is too weak to handle anything invasive like dialysis or a transplant. Please keep him in your prayers. All of my brothers will be in town too. I will post more after I see him today.

Here is a pic from Christmas that I just got from my cousin Abrams. It was taken at her parents' house on Christmas Eve. It is so rare that we are all together. I'm so glad we got this shot.

Back row is Brandon, my brothers Brian and Ward, cousin Bryce and brother Tyler

Front is cousin Abrams, Me and Ellie, Buck the dog, brother Davis and his wife Lori

Happy New Year!!!

Well, I finally got the Christmas pictures up. I tried to do it earlier today. but the camera batteries died and we had to go get more. Well, Brandon went. I am still in my jammies and will be until I take a shower and put on different ones to go to bed. Happy Lazy New Year!

We are back in AL as of yesterday and had a great time making the rounds in SC and TN. You can see all the fun we had in the slide show below. All my brothers were in town for Christmas so it was great. In fact, we all slept in the same house Christmas Eve and that hasn't happened in a while. Santa visited Ellie there and then we headed to TN for more insane amounts of presents. She is one lucky little girl. Thanks to everyone for all your generosity towards all three of us. Santa also visited her here this morning. But he didn't give her all he had planned to, since she got so much elsewhere. He will send some things for her birthday.

Ellie and I will be heading back to SC soon. For those of you who don't know, my dad is really sick and in the hospital. His liver and kidneys are failing and apparently there is not much more that can be done. He may be moved to hospice care soon. Please keep him and the rest of my family in your thoughts.

Check out my Slide Show!