Caterpillars & Monarchs

 About 2 weeks ago my mom took Nick to her friend, Sue's, house.  Sue loves caterpillars and monarchs.  Nick is really passionate about science and he was fascinated by what Sue had to share with him.  She told Nick she first got the caterpillars.  She orders the eggs from FL.  She takes care of the caterpillars and then they eventually form their chrysalis.  Sue was kind enough to send Nick home with two caterpillars.  He named them Little Slugger and Big Finger.  We watched Little Slugger and Big Finger form their chrysalis and for days we watched to see what they would do. 

 And just two days ago, this is what they did.  We were there to watch one of the butterflies come out of their chrysalis.  It was so cool.  Nick knew that the monarchs needed 3 hours for their wings to dry out and then he had to let them go, knowing they were off to Mexico. 

The monarchs must have really felt attached to Nick because it took them over 24 hours to leave our yard.  We would find them hanging out on Mike's work van or on our trees but we haven't seen them today so I assume they are making their way to Mexico.  Thanks mom and Sue for sparking Nick's interest in science. 

Use your brain........or not

On Monday night during Jay's football game, he suffered a concussion.  Schools don't mess around with concussions and as a result Jay can't use his hands at school.  I asked him if that presented a problem with eating his lunch (just trying to find a little humor with my 14 year old).  Since he can't use his hands, he can't take notes or tests (but he is allowed to eat his lunch  - ha) and obviously he can't participate in any physical activity.  We were told that basically Jay has to give his brain a rest.  He shouldn't be on his cell phone, which I consider comical.....keeping a teenager off their cell phone is like performing a small miracle.  Even more challenging is not watching T.V..  As with everything I do with life, I am trying to balance it.  Last night Jay couldn't use his cell phone for four hours and I kept the T.V. off for a few hours before and after dinner but talk about a caged animal.  Jay hardly knew what to do with himself and he hardly knows what to do with himself when his brain is functioning properly.  Right now he's just battling a small headache.  He left for school this morning and told me he didn't want Tylenol, that he wanted to see how his head felt once he got to school and got in the classroom lights.  What is so amusing to me is knowing Jay should be giving his brain a rest.  You have to know Jay.  He's got ADD (which is really well controlled but still ADD).  In addition to ADD, he's highly impulsive and as with his ADD, his impulsivity has improved with age.  In our house, it's a common phrase to hear, "Come on boys, use your brains!"  The phrase is only said during times of dire frustration.  It was like the time, about 8 months ago, when Jay decided to suck up all the water that had gotten in his kayak with our home central vac unit!!!  We were like, "Really Jay!!!  Use your brain!!!"  So I find it ironic that now I'm encouraging him to not use his brain.......which translates into giving his brain a rest.  I certainly don't want him trying to suck up water in his kayak with our vacuum cleaner again.  Last night he did joke that since he's resting his brain he was incapable of loading his dinner plates in the dishwasher.  He may try to milk this no brain usage for as long as possible.  Ha!  But Jay is still Jay.  This morning he was asking me when he could get back to practice and at least observe.  He's his father's son.....he won't tolerate sitting around (and not using his brain) for too long! 

My Recovery

Today marks 11 weeks since my ankle fracture and 8 weeks since my blood clot and pulmonary embolism.  My ankle is so much better but that being said, it's still swollen and looks remarkably bigger than my good ankle.  My orthopedic doctor told me it would take 6 months before I didn't even think about it anymore but something tells me it may take me longer than that.  Don't get me wrong, I'm staying positive but I'm also real.  I think my "bad" ankle will always look different than my uninjured left ankle.  I also think my right leg will always have some swelling in it, due to my blood clot.  These days I'm sporting a compression sock to help with the swelling.  But truly I am SO much better than I was 8 weeks ago.  I'm walking and getting around pretty good.  Instead of walking for exercise (because it hurts) I'm swimming.  I'm really enjoying the water and it's less taxing on my leg and ankle.  Some days I find I'm still short of breath - today is one of those days.  My doctor told me that eventually my breathing will go back to normal.  I am so thankful that I'm alive.  I shudder to think what could have happened if I would have continued to ignore that unbearable chest pain I was having.  I'm thankful that I didn't need surgery and I'm thankful I'm getting around okay.  One should never take their mobility for granted! 

What we've been up to

 Football is what we've been up to.  Nick is playing again this year and so is Jay.  Nick had his first game on Saturday.  Nick's team is sporting new jersey's this year.  They look so nice, bright and fresh. 

 On Saturday, after Nick's game, the boys settled into a quiet Saturday afternoon.  They built a fire pit together and got along.  Mike was working and I never heard a peep out of the boys.  It was a small miracle.  By Sunday they were back to making each other miserable. 

On Sunday, Nick's friend, N. came over for a bit and they played a game together.  I'm so thankful it's September 13 and not Aug. 13 (a month ago).  We are settling into Mike's new job, 5th grade and high school and our sporting activities.  It is nice to be busy again and be mobile (after my ankle fracture). 

Until we meet again, Grandma

Yesterday was grandma's funeral but really it was a celebration of her and my grandpa's life and what a life it was.  My grandparents were simple, hard-working people that loved God and their family.  My mom delivered a beautiful eulogy where she talked about my grandparents being a team and boy were they ever.  In an era where divorce is a regularity and marriages fail at lightening speed, our grandparents gave my cousins and me a glimpse of what long lasting love is.  My bet is grandpa got to heaven and decided 4 mos was long enough to be without his beloved.  My Aunt Kathy joked that grandpa probably said, "Woman, get up here!"  I reflected with Mike that if we could live long, full lives to the age of 87 and then die (quickly) within 4 mos of each other, well really, could you have it any better than that?  It was exactly what my grandparents would have wanted.  It's still sad to know they are gone.  My grandparents loved their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren fiercely.  As my mom said, right up till the end, my grandpa adored watching his great grandkids play sports.  He attended a football game for Jay and Nick last fall and came to watch Nick play basketball in January, in what would be his last trip to Bloomington to visit us.  My grandma, despite having dementia, would still light up any time her children or grandchildren came to visit her.  Just about a month ago my mom called my grandma and shared with her that I was recovering from a blood clot and pulmonary embolism.  The very next day my mom got a quick reminder and what would be a  final glimpse of the mother my grandma was.  My grandma picked up the phone and called my mother to see how I was doing.  We couldn't believe it.  Dementia had been a cancer in my grandma's mind for years.  What it must have taken for my grandma to not only remember how to call my mom but remember why she was calling her.  It's another testament to how she loved and I know I'm sounding like a broken record but during our life on this earth it's all about how you love and my grandparents loved well and were loved by all. 

Labor Day weekend

 I took this picture on Friday morning before the boys left for school and before I got the news that my grandma had died. 

 Grandma's funeral is scheduled for Sept. 7 so I proceeded with our Labor Day weekend plans, which wasn't anything special but we had Ausili's out and Dave and Scottie from TN came also.  The picture above is Nick and his friend, J. showing Dave and Scottie's little guy how to blow up an inflatable ball.  Go figure. 

 We had quite a high school crowd.  Curt invited two of his friends and Faith invited a friend.  Notice how Faith is the only girl. 

 We were able to watch an outdoor movie and while we did the guys cleaned their guns.  BORING!

Love this picture.  Jay and Faith hung out on a blanket and watched the movie.  It was cool out and the fish and potato balls were delish!  It was a nice way to spend a Saturday night. 

Grandma's Legacy

The picture above was taken on what would be my grandma's last birthday (87).  It was also the last time I saw her.  It makes me smile as I was getting around on my scooter and my grandma on her walker.  Grandma went home to be with Jesus and grandpa on Sept. 2.  Although she was old and had broken her pelvis a week earlier, we had no warning that she would pass.  She was having trouble breathing on Friday morning and my mom got a call that they were transferring her from the nursing home to the hospital and five minutes later they called mom to tell her she had died.  After our initial shock, we realized what a blessing it was and once again I was reminded of God's perfect timing.  Grandpa died four months ago and during those four months grandma settled in comfortably in an assisted living community.  I can remember visiting her and even though dementia had taken much of my grandma's mind and personality, she still beamed when she saw me (and any of her family members).  And that is what I most remember about my grandma, her love of family and God.  As a child and before cell phones, she always just knew when we would be pulling in her driveway and she would be waiting for us on her brown bench on her front porch. During the last 10 months of my life I've learned a few things and one of them is money is just money and stuff is just stuff.  When it's all said and done, you can't take any of with you.  Grandma and Grandpa just cemented that for me.  It's not about how much money they made or the cars they drove.  Although I remember grandma handing me a $100 bill in college, at just the time I needed it.  Ha.  In life it's all about how you love and grandma loved well. 

This picture was taken three years ago.  My grandparents legacy will live on through their three children, six grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.  It makes me smile to think of grandma with all her teeth and her mind in the loving arms of Jesus.  She was finally reunited with her brother, Max, who died in WW II - a constant hole in grandma's heart (my mother tells me).  That is the hope Jesus gives all his children.  Our lives here on earth is temporary but our lives in heaven with Him is for eternity so until we meet again, grandma.