Happy 2009!

2008 is almost in the books. I am honestly ready for 2009. It has been a difficult year. Darrell lost his job in Dec 2007 so financially it has been hard. He did get his job back but they cut his pay drastically. Doodlebug dealt with a great deal of sadness related to her grieving process. In

June one of my close friends died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 39. Watching her family (3 kids and hubby) experience this grief has been nothing short of heartbreaking. I enjoy spending time with them and will continue this while I am on God's green earth. Then all the stuff with my Dad.

I still see all the blessings-Dad and Paul's recovery, Mom being almost 4 years out from stage 3 breast cancer, a hypoallergenic kitten who joined our family in March, my children's health, so many wonderful friends (GA, Erin, and Jill, just to name a few). Most of all a heavenly father who still loves me despite all my failings.

I wish everyone a wonderful 2009!

Jennifer

Bro-Bro

Brag Alert-Here is my baby. The LAST Healan I will birth! I know I am his mother but isn't he cute?

Michele-Want me to save him for the Chipmunk? We would have blond-haired and blue eyed grandkids to fight over!

Sick

I have been sick for a few weeks. I honestly haven't had time to go to the doctor. I hope to go next week. I think it is a sinus infection and bronchitis. You know how we nurses are. We take care of everyone else besides ourselves!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today is my father's 59th birthday. This is a birthday I thought he might never see. He had a back injury a number of years ago and for the better part of 10 years has been addicted to narcotics. This spring he decided to go on Methadone which was illegally obtained. We did not know he was on them, we just knew he a was not himself. After a rough summer everything came to a head. He enterered rehab and I am proud to say he has been sober and drug free since August! He is the old funny, opinionated Dad again! I am so proud of him and also of my brother who has been sober for a year and a half. Despite the weakened economy we have alot to be thankful for this year!

Miracle of the Day.

It's no secret that I take Bro-Bro to waffle house once a week. This week we went on Monday and on our way out the door we were greeted by a very friendly white cat. I thought he was blind. He had crystal blue eyes. He purred and rubbed against us. Bro-Bro said "He wants to come with us". Now a cat does not need to live at the waffle house. I called my friend Erin who believe it or not was on the road next to me when I called her. (Weird) I told her about the cat and that I thought he was blind. She told me to come by and get her carrier and we would take him by the humane society. (The Athens Humane society has not euthanized any cats this year that were healthy and adoptable) I dropped Bro-Bro off at school. Erin then called and said she had gone to get him. Erin loves white cats. She fell in love with this one. Erin took him to the local spay and neuter clinic. The plan was to test him the next day for leukemia and feline aids and then neuter him if all was well. She was going to keep him. The next day (Tuesday) we received heartbreaking news, he was positive for BOTH leukemia and feline aids. Normally these cats are put down immediately but this little guy had other plans. EVERYONE at the clinic fell in love with him and they began putting out emails and making calls to see if they could find him a home. (Erin could not take him because she has another cat). We found out today that he is going home with one of the vets that works at the clinic. She knows the signs to look for and although he will have to be put down eventually it is just not his time! What a story!

Beckham has strep AGAIN! I am so tired of having sick children. I don't know what else to post about!

Hospital

I rushed Bro-Bro to the ER last night. He went purple on me in the car! I felt sure he had pneumonia but after an x-ray, respiratory treatment the doc came and told me it was bronchitis with bronchospasms. I am a nurse but this scared me to death. He is on another antibiotic so I am hopeful that he will get rid of this soon!

Recession

This recession has pretty much effected everyone we know. My brother is in the restaurant industry, my husband is in the auto sales industry, my Dad is in the grocery business, and my Mom works for an architecture/engineering firm. I am worried about Darrell's job and my Dad's. Darrell told me not to worry because I can't do anything about it. It is really sad though to watch.

Croup

Bro-Bro has the croup. That barky cough in the middle of the night. It always scares Darrell. I remember the first time Beckham had it we had to rush him to the ER and Darrell wouldn't even let me get dressed. My kids are relatively healthy. Beckham had perfect attendance last year. Doodlebug has had perfect attendance so far this year. I gave Bro-Bro a breathing treatment and then took him on the front porch in the cool air. It was a beautiful, quiet, peaceful night at 1:00 am. I was holding Bro-Bro wrapped in a quilt and thinking how beautiful it was instead of missing sleep. We both slept well after that!

Yikes!

Did I elect the Anti-Christ? My cousin Kim called me from Indiana this morning and told me that the number 666 hit the cash 3 lotto in Chicago the day after the election! Will the Lord forgive me? I guess my vote really didn't count because Georgia went red!

Thought for the day

Where would you be without the support people in your life? I have a morbidly obese client who was molested from age 4 to 14 by her step-father. She was pimped out, raped, you name it she lived it. At age 14 her mother died and she and her sister were taken out of the home. They were placed in separate homes. She grew up in foster care until she turned 18. (Her sister was adopted) When she turned 18 the state turned her loose. (Not GA) They gave her no help with finding a job, finding a place to live, etc. She was no longer their concern. So my question for the day is would you be the person you are today without any support? I think she is lucky to be alive. If she had turned to drugs or alcohol I think she wouldn't still be here. She turned to food. She is a prisoner in her own body. This morning she left me a message that she was riding around with her caregiver enjoying the fall leaves. She sounded giddy. I bet she hasn't been out of the house in close to a year. God Bless her and other victims of incest.

Jen

Brag alert-Beckham finished up his 4th soccer season today. The kid is incredible. When he first started playing he was into making goals. The past 2 seasons I have seen him grow into a defensive player. If he is in the game you will have a hard time scoring. The first game this season we played an all European team. The coaches were European and so were all the kids. They were so impressed with Beck that they asked me if they could sign him up for a contract. We will see where all this takes us. Soccer will be on the back burner until spring. It's basketball time! I'd better put on my running shoes!