Last week, I had planned on going to meet some friends on a three day weekend with my kiddos. We were all packed and I was loading the car and checking off my list of things to do when I started feeling ill. So, I stopped and sat for a while while I took a break. As it turned out, I became violently ill. I also had fever and chills and became really weak. I spent the next several days also very weak (as I still am right now.) However, today (practically a week later), is the best I've felt since then.

My husband was at work and gone the whole week so I was incredibly thankful for my older brother (and nephew) for helping out every day! I sent that poor guy to the store (or to get food for us) each day too. On one day, he took my kiddos to his house and fed them (french toast and bacon.) He brought them back later and I smelled bacon on the toddler all day long, lol! By the evening,I was calling and begging him to cook the same for me as well........and he did!

Every once in a while, I forget what it's like to be sick and take being healthy for granted. I'm glad every once in a while, I get the message to slow down and enjoy each day as it comes by being slapped down by some illness. I was very fortunate that this was a temporary thing that is on it's way out... Having to do nothing for days makes me appreciate the option to be able to do anything else like go outside with my family or the dishes. I have huge piles of clean clothes in the hallway that need to be folded and that's the task tomorrow hopefully if I can get the energy. Meanwhile, I've had lots of quality counch time reading books to my kiddos and catching up on reruns on tv.

Julie tagged me with this Honest Scrap. The rules are that I have to tell you 10 things about myself and then tag 10 people to play along.

1. I have lived in the same city my whole life (and most of that time was in two different houses.)

2. My ultimate vacation would be driving the scenic routes around the United States in a small conversion van (like a RoadTrek) so that it can go over mountains smoothly.

3. I eat raisin bran for breakfast practically every morning.

4. I have weak ankles so I don't run or job. I have found that using the elliptical at the gym feels like I'm running and I love that feeling...

5. I love the movie "You've Got Mail" and cry everytime I see it.

6. I met the man who I ended up marrying when I was 15 at a skating rink.

7. I love to go camping (have actually only camped less than a dozen times.) I will be going again in November.

8. There are some times that I count down the minutes until my kids go to sleep and then miss them so much I that I secretly want to wake them up again for moments lost.

9. I am afraid of heights.

10. If you're reading this and want to play along, consider yourself tagged! I would love to get to know you better.

We went to a birthday party for a neighbor's daughter today at a park. While we all had a great time and I took a ton of pictures, there were many cute ones of my toddler that I wanted to share. He loves climbing and climbed up as I held my breath...



Then played peek-a-boo!


I just love his smile! How great it is to be one!


What SOOC photo do you have to share this SOOC Saturday {weekend}?

I have been working my behind off moving stuff at my mother-in-law's house (how I wish that was a literal statement!) I'm renting out her house to my brother (except a large room that used to be a garage in which I'm storing her furniture. I want her tiny nestegg to last as long as possible and the rent money will help. Her home is in such disarray that it would be in need of huge capital in order to rent it to anyone else. So, my nephew and I have been working in the mornings going through closets and moving furniture. I feel like her things shouldn't be disposed of or divided considering she's still alive. My dental hygienist suggested a book to me while I got my teeth cleaned last week, The Long Goodbye. She said her husband often referenced it in his line of work with the elderly...those with Alzheimers...they die slowly as their memories fade and away from the person you once loved... My legs are sore and I've packed many boxes thus far. We've been extremely productive and it feels great!

My poor preschooler woke up at 4am with an earache. (Well, both little kids were up then, and all morning, but that's another story.) He has had some allergies lately (time of year) and they got out of hand. By morning, he was punch drunk because he was so tired and yet full of energy to stay awake. He wavered between laughing and crying. When I asked why he was crying...he sobbed, I don't know. He just felt bad. We went in early to see the doctor and sure enough, sinus infection! The doctor also asked if he had been snoring. Why, yes! I had noticed that he was snoring a couple of times this week (never does) and that was also a sign he was getting sick. His schedule is way off. I noticed in the waiting room at the pediatrician's office that most kids were sitting on their parent's lap....as my own kid was doing....trying to feel better. Boy, I need a nap!

Last weekend, we visited my SIL who lives on a bay. We always enjoy going there and hanging out. This particular time, their bulkhead (the area where the water meets the dirt area on their property) was being rebuilt and my preschooler was hanging a great time on the CAT bobcat that was left behind. The owner of the equipment actually came by and gave him a ride and lesson in driving it. Talk about hanging a great time!!! He really loved it!


We enjoyed playing peek-a-boo! The toddler kept peeking from behind the wall and cackling afterwards!


Going treasure hunting at the boat dock area. He rode his bicycle with one training wheel down there and then carried his shovel all around looking for something good. We kept singing Pirate songs, especially one by The Backyardigans, and saying Aargh!


At night, we enjoyed fishing on the pier. Only one was caught and it escaped before being brought all the way up. At night, we turn on the lights to warm up the water where the fish congregate so we can catch them easier. On this particular night, there was no wind and all the insects swarmed under the lights.

I spent nine hours in the ER yesterday with my mother-in-law. I thought she had a heart attack but, after many tests and an overnight stay as observation, it turned out that she had just sprained her muscle under her breast (and it was very tender.) She doesn't remember doing it, of course, or anything else of significance.

It takes a lot of patience to sit with someone with Alzheimers at a place out of their comfort zone for such a long time. And each time she asked the same question over and over and over again, I answered it like it was the first time I had heard it. There were four areas in this particular room and we were all divided by a curtain. The man behind us had apparently swallowed about 30 pills in an attempt to kill himself. His wife was there, and she was pretty quiet, probably wondering why, and what now? I was thinking they were probably getting tired of hearing our conversation over and over. I tried to think of interesting things to talk about (as the time seemed to drag on.) She knows that her memory is failing and now is forgetting some words (as opposed to memory) in sentences. She also now doesn't remember her marriage nor her late husband (they had been married 51 years.) But in it all, at one point, she said something memorable. In reference to things (as in material objects), she said "Things are not important......People....People are important." I know that's very true. She had many pretty things and many with long stories behind them. They mean nothing now. It's the people that matter. She then squeezed my hand and again thanked me for being there. I hope the man behind us heard that.

I went to MIL's apartment to get some clean clothes for her this morning (anticipating her being discharged) and spoke to a lady who asked about her. The lady had recently had eye surgery and now her arm was in a case. I asked about her arm. She went on to explain that she had broken it in four places when she tripped in her room. Since she has such brittle bones (due to her age,) she wasn't sure if it would heal in the cast (and may need surgery.) She talked on about how she wishes she had good health. I spoke up and said that my MIL has great health but can't remember anything. I think I'd rather have bad health and at least remember my life. She agreed as we both shook her head in unison.

Slow and uninteresting week...today, a couple things happened.

I was pleasantly surprised by talking to both of my brothers' wives today. One lives in California and sent me a text that they found out today that their baby will be a girl (to be born next January.) My other sister-in-law came over to look at a house to rent on our street (two houses over.) I'm not close to either, per se, but love the fact that I have two sisters-in-law and hope to strengthen our relationships. Since these brothers who are married are younger than I am....and married much younger wives, their wives are both younger than my older daughter, specifically ages 22 and 23. Hmm...makes for interesting conversations. While I try to talk about family and vague topics, sometimes the 'mother' in me comes out and I feel like I want to tell them the best way to do things. I don't though...I don't want to seem like their mom...I just want to be a friend.

I also went to one of my favorite restaurants...Cheddars. My toddler LOVES the baked potato soup and eats it very well by himself. I love their food and it makes us both happy, lol! The atmosphere there is nice...it's cool, has large wicker fans in shapes of leaves slowly going around in an area (keeps toddlers occupied watching) and a large fish aquarium. After we fill up on great food and spill lots of soup on our shirts (just the toddler), we stand at the aquarium and point out different colored fish watching them swim around. Then, on the ride home, normally the toddler falls asleep and...all is well.