Veteran's Day

I love this picture. I always have. It sits in a frame on my dresser. This is a picture of my grandparents at a football game 67 years ago. Almost to the day. This picture was taken in Atlanta, Georgia at a Georgia Tech game. It was Nov 6, 1943 and they would cheer their Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on to a win over LSU, the score GT 42 and LSU 7 . I never knew my grandfather, he died of cancer before either my sister or I were born. He is now buried alongside so many other Veterans in Arlington National Cemetery. He was a LT Col in the US Army. Growing up I remember my mother telling me so many stories of his time in the Army. Stories of his time spent in Europe during WW II. Stories of the cold nights he spent running along rooftops in the snow. He would go on to serve again in the Korean War. This time leaving not only his wife, but his two young daughters at home. I can't imagine how hard it must have been on all of them. He would answer the call to duty again in Vietnam, this time as an adviser. He dedicated his life to his family and to this country.


Today is a day to honor him and the service and dedication that he gave to this country . Today is a day to honor all Veterans. We honor those Veterans that have given their lives, those who continue to serve in our armed services. We honor those who serve us on the home front and those who serve us abroad .

Brisk Fall Football Weather

Emily and I from the seats, really high up! See all those new purple seats? Mom's company put all those in! They really look great.

Emily and Billy pregame and pre- rain!

Emily was sitting on the ground between Billy and I trying to block the wind

Billy and I

Go Pirates!

I love football in the fall. That cool autumn air, the smell of the leaves floating by you, warming up from the excitement of watching the game. I remember going to Cleveland Browns games growing up. Some of those games were downright cold. The wind rushing off the lake and ripping through the stands. I even remember going to a few games that it was snowing . We would sit through the game huddled under blankets. Maybe because I am getting older, maybe because I am used to the weather down here, but it was cold at the game on Sunday. The weather forecast was 53 at the start of the game and 43 by the third quarter. Not freezing, but when you factored in the high winds and the rain that started in the second quarter, it was just too darn cold. We chose to leave during halftime and were greeted by this beautiful double rainbow. Unfortunately the second one was really faint, and did not show up in the picture. Unfortunately for us, we didn't find a pot of gold as we neared the end of the rainbow. I think the rain was meant as a way to save us from witnessing the massacre that Navy left on the field!

A Galaxy Far Far Away

Our Little Green Yoda

Princess Leia

Our handsome One armed Luke Skywalker

Post trick or treat

Our Star Wars trio

Hope that you and yours had a happy and safe Halloween

The Backyard Blunder

Yesterday was a long day. A really long day. Yesterday was Drew's five year check up at the doctor. We all know how much I love to take Andrew to the doctor. For some reason he likes to act up there. Yesterday he was very well behaved, other than a little -well a lot , of screaming over a flu shot. I sat there and thought good lord, I hope this child never really hurts himself. Drew is what I like to call an over reactor. He just over reacts to everything, and I mean everything. When he gets worked up over stuff he almost always vomits. Well anyways back to the story. We got through the pediatricians visit fine, ran to Walmart, got some lunch and went home.

When we got home things were fine until my doorbell rang. It was a little girl from down the street wanting to know if the boys could play. I was surprised to see her as Emily was still at school. This little girl goes to traditional schedule and it was apparently a teacher work day. I said alright, even though I am not very fond of the boys playing with her.We will call her A. A likes to play rough, has absolutely no manners, basically this child has no adult supervision-never has. That is the only reason I tolerate her, I feel bad for her. So they are playing in the back yard and I am putting groceries away in the kitchen. Then here comes the scream. The blood curdling, I just stepped on a rusty nail or cut my finger off scream. I went out to see and it was Drew. He had been shoved by A and when he fell on the ground he had gotten hurt. I took him inside and honestly I figured the screaming would stop after a few minutes and he would want to go back outside. He didn't stop screaming, he kept grabbing his chest/collarbone area. The skin over his collarbone looked weird. It was splotchy and reddish purple in color. I called Billy, grabbed the baby and headed to the urgent care. He screamed all the way there. When we got there he was still screaming and halfway through the parking lot he started to vomit. It was at this exact moment that I was once again reminded that there are still good people in this world. People who would stop and help a complete stranger who is overwhelmed by her crying and throwing up child and her two year old who is scared beyond belief. I felt helpless, there wasn't much I could do at this point. I Held him as he threw up all over himself and me on the front steps of the urgent care. One kind person went inside and told them there was a little boy those mother thought he may have broken his collar bone and he was vomiting all over himself and we needed help. Another man went in and got Drew a cup of water from one of the medical offices in the building. The woman came back out and stood there with one hand on my shoulder and another on Drew as he got sick. She went back in the building to see what was taking so long. And she waited with me until they came outside with a wheelchair. I was shocked to see these wonderful acts of kindness. There are so many days that the whole world seems rude and desensitized to things, and then there are days like these.

They took us right back at the UC. We stripped Drew down to his undies and bagged his clothes. they gave him a blanket and the radiology people gave him a hospital gown. The gown was an adult one so it was way too big, but boy did it ever make Drew feel important.They took us over for X-rays and the first thing they saw was his shoulder. The radiologist said it looked like it was dislocated. At this point he was still screaming bloody murder. We went back to our room and shifted him around as we waited for the doctor. Suddenly, Andrew seemed to finally calm down and the screaming stopped. The door opened and it was Billy, Thank God. They came in and said they wanted more x-rays. We went back over there and the radiologist showed me that his clavicle was broken. They wanted more pics of the shoulder and better ones of the clavicle. By now I was in tears. These x-rays didn't show his shoulder being dislocated. We questioned the doctor if it could have been and then been popped back into place say when the screaming stopped? Does the x-ray support that, maybe. Simply put- we would never know. The rest was kind of a blur. they put him in a sling and told us we would be referred to a Orthopaedic on Monday. So there we were walking out of the UC with Drew in nothing but underwear and a hospital gown. He looked so unbelievably pitiful. On the way home I called the pediatrician and they recommended that I go to an after hours clinic at Raleigh Ortho. We went home, dressed Drew, got him shoes, dropped Em and Alex off at Susanne's and headed to Raleigh. After a lengthy ride due to rush hour traffic jams we got there and were pleasantly surprised to see no cars. We were the only people there. They didn't do any other x rays. They felt they had all they needed. Drew was a trooper and he worked the PA we saw. He didn't want to switch slings out of fear of moving his arm. She finally convinced him, making a deal to trade 6 stickers for the old sling. They put a new nicer sling on, bandaged his entire arm in sling to his body and gave us some pain meds to help him sleep. Thank God for those pain meds. We would not have made it through the night without them. So we have to wait for it to heal on it's own . We go back in three weeks. Until then we will continue to live on Motrin and Tylenol w/ codeine, and fight with Drew about staying sillt. Every time he hits it or bumps it he starts to scream and cry. Getting dressed this morning was especially fun, I think we will look one armed for a while. Unfortunately it is a hard concept for a 5 year old that he can't jump on the bed and run around.

I was going to add the pics from the radiologist, but their software is apparently smarter than I am.. If I can figure it out, I will add them later.

Get together

Last Saturday we had a very impromptu get together for my middle man. I had planned on doing something bigger with all the family, but with Billy's new job we kind of had to do things spur of the moment. We had a lovely time. Drew was so excited- I think that this is the first birthday party that he remembers. Maybe next year things will be more settled and we can do a big shindig for him. He was so cute. He said I am so happy that all my family is here. Then he would say well except for Aunt Kathy and Uncle Bob, and Jodi, and Aunt Jill and David and Aunt Judy and Uncle Danny, and you know my other family in New York( yes that is how he refers to you) and Gator..... well the list went on. He was grateful for those there, but wished that everyone had been there. Thanks to everyone near and far for all the Birthday wishes!! Anyways here are a few pics from then!

5

My middle man - almost 5 here

At a wedding in Ohio- see the two bottom front teeth. You were born with those.

Here with your big sister Em- in St Patrick's Day attire

Bubble bath- you always have loved the water

Happy Birthday to my beautiful middle man. It was five years ago that you came into our lives. We had no idea how truly special you really were. You have always had that little twinkle in your eye. I can't imagine not waking up to that twinkle every day. A twinkle that can sometimes mean nothing and sometimes that a little mischievous act is coming our way. I may complain a little too much about your energetic and crazy way of everyday life, but the truth is I can't imagine it any different. If you were calm and reserved like your sister is , you just wouldn't be you. I think that God sent us you because he was trying to add balance to our family. He gave us you so that you could perfectly compliment your sister who is so opposite. I can't wait until the day that you two finally realize that you work so much better together than against each other!

Every year as your birthday approaches I sit back and think of my pregnancy with you. It was not a hard pregnancy physically, but it had emotional ups and downs. Each and every year I thank God that you came to us a beautiful and healthy little boy. I thank God for our blessings each and every day. I thank God for you. I love you my middlest man. My little Drew Bear.

Time Away

As you can see beautiful scenery all around

Our wild and crazy road up. Yes we actually drove that road!

One of the breathtaking views from the Summit of Pikes Peak

The old Cog Railway that runs from Manitou Springs to the top of the peak. As they announce the departure they say, "This is the final call, if you miss the railway, you will be walking down"
Interesting tidbit- Cheryl's husband has done the hike, up all thirteen miles of it one way, not once but twice. Can you imagine?

One of the beautiful rock formations on the way up.

The view of the peak from the reservoir. An amazing view, especially with all the aspens on the mountainside.

More aspens on the mountainside. You can see the crazy road that we took up to the top criss-crossing on the top of the peak

I was treated to a wonderful birthday present from my best of friends Cheryl. A ticket to come and see her in Colorado. I like to say I took time away. Time away from the stresses of trying to sell a house, the stresses of living in a different house than your husband, and dealing with a little boy who likes to have tantrums and a little girl who has been moody and hormonal lately. I don't call it a vacation because that would be something I would do with my family. I call it time away because that is what Billy's company calls it when you have a period of time off from your job.

I had a wonderful time with my bestest of besties. We try to get together every year and this time it had been a little more than two. Let me say that my first trip to Colorado, but this one was even better. I was pregnant with Alex and felt absolutely horrible the entire time that I was there . I was nauseous had horrible dry mouth and nose bleeds. All this from the dry air- no humidity, and altitude. This time was so much better. I still had the dry mouth and nose bleeds, but those I could live with.

The Devine family were such gracious hosts. This time I had the whole family to spend time with. Last time was before Derek was born and Ryan was deployed to Iraq. We did some things that we weren't able to do last time. We went to the top of Pikes Peak. Last time we only went up to the reservoir, and I felt horrible there. This time we went all the way up to 14,110 ft. It was amazing. Simply amazing. As you stand there on the top of that great mountain, it seems so surreal. You feel a little out of sorts from the air and elevation- at least I did- they have paramedics at the top for a reason. Back in the 1800's Katharine Lee Bates wrote the poem America the Beautiful after traveling to the top of Pikes Peak. I have to say it is beyond breathtaking now, I can only imagine how it must have been back in the day when there was nothing out there but land. A panoramic view of the purple mountains majesty and the Colorado plains. The sight was truly inspiring, I wonder if Bates had any idea that her poem would become such an integral part of what embodies being an American.

One Down Three to Go

Emily and Ms. Carnell

Emily and some of her classmates with their teacher

Emily and Nicole

Emily and Alesha

Her wonderful book of poems and how to cook French Onion soup book

Emily has just finished her first quarter of third grade, kind of scary, huh? We had a wonderful celebration of writing in her classroom the last day of school . The kids and their teacher were wonderful hosts and hostesses. They had snacks and juices and the best part-entertainment. The kids each stood up and read a poem that they had picked out of their collections. I loved every moment of it. The students stood up with a look mixed of fear and excitement. Some read on with no hesitation, while others paused and cleared their voices, a quiver in their voice. They all did so wonderful. It was a wonderful performance on all their parts. Emily did well, saying every word clearly , despite having lost two teeth in the past twenty four hours. I am so proud of my little girl, now well on her way to being a fourth grader.

Run Down

Lately I have been feeling a little run down and out of sorts. Something has been I guess for a lack of a better word -off. It really started a week ago when I was at Mom and Dad's house and has just continued. I woke up with a headache and felt lightheaded, dizzy, shaky- I honestly felt like I was on some weird medicine. It went on all day and when Mom and I were out running errands she convinced me to take my blood pressure in one of those machines at the pharmacy. Those of you who know me know that I have always had low blood pressure. Normally like 110/70. It has never really been high- not during pregnancy, birth, surgeries- never..until this past weekend. It was high- really high. On Sunday when I was still not feeling right Mom took me to the Urgent Care. When I got there it was down from the day before, but it was still high 148/110. Nice huh. They really didn't find anything wrong and thought that maybe the dizziness and headache was from an inner ear issue. Put me on Anti-vert checked my blood pressure again- 138/91 and- sent me home. Needless to say I was a little freaked out. Those of you who really know me are aware that I tend to stress- A LOT. I stress about anything, everything and all that is in between. With all that has been going on lately I think that the stress has just finally gotten to me. I try to calm down, Billy is always yelling at me to breath deep and stop worrying about things that I can't control. I just have trouble doing that sometimes. Well I went to my family doctor this week and my BP was down to 130/91. They decided to do some blood work, check my thyroid levels, blood sugar levels (80) and try a low dose BP medicine. They said Don't stress, take it easy, calm down- all things that I know I need to do already. they also said to go to the machines in the drugstores whenever I am there and keep a record of my BP. For the record- last time 121/85. I guess it is a little better. My headaches have not completely gone away, the fuzziness that my head was swimming in has gotten better, and I don't feel quite so off. I just kind of feel blah. But I think that we all feel that way sometimes don't we? It is two weeks before I turn 33 and I think I just need a break to reboot and recharge myself. Isn't it normal to go through cycles like this where we just need to recharge?

Day at the Park!

July 7th was Emily's last day before starting third grade. We decided that we needed to end her always too short summer break with a fun day. We planned to go see my grandmother and looked for something that all three kids could enjoy in the same area. We finally decided on Dan Nicholas Park. I had been to that same park years before for one of Dad's high school reunions and back then it was just an ordinary park. Oh how time changes things. We started the day off with Alex's favorite thing- a train ride. He was so cute, looking at everything with an open mouth, look of awe on his face. The whole time thinking he was riding Thomas going through the tunnels. One of the tunnels was named the Cheerwine tunnel, after all we were in the heart of Cheerwine country.

Next we headed to the Animal reserve and were all excited to meet the animals native to Rowan county. We all learned something. I for one would never have thought a black bear would be native, but as I said we all learned something. I mean did you know that the largest black bear on record in the US was from Craven county in NC, I had no idea. Alex learned a new word- bobcat and Drew wanted to take one home with us, hmmmm... is he allergic to a bobcat?

On to the petting barn, which really wasn't a petting barn. I was completely fine with that. We got to see some really smelly farm animals which the kids found cool. I got some great shots of a butterfly outside in the garden . I just may blow one up for Emily's wall. I think at this point the kids were starting to fade on us. It was only 99 degrees that day. We quickly went through the barn which also had a lot of old farm equipment in it. It was actually kind of neat to see the old plows, seeders, and fertilizers. It made me wonder if my great grandpa Brantley Adolphus use implements like them when he farmed the family land.

The carousel was beautifully painted with animals ranging from horses, zebras, giraffes and llamas to tigers and lions. We quickly took two rides around. Alex could have ridden all day long if we would have let him. However the two older kids had their eyes set on the water park. So we headed over to the water feature which was a little park with the water that shoots up out of the ground in different intervals and strengths. I must say that on a day like this I think that was most kids favorite place to be, including my three. So they splashed, sprayed,and sat in the streams of water that shot out of the ground. Alex was a little cautious at first , but quickly joined in with all the other children there. We had a wonderful time and can't wait to go back sometime soon. Do you know what the best part of the day was. We ended it with my favorite lady. It was a perfect ending to a perfect day

Here are some more of my favorite pics from the day