Life is crazy.

I haven't posted in so long!!!

Here is why...

1. I am going through a major life change (WE are, not just me) that I will share soon.

2. I have heart problems again. Nothing major, just have to take a beta blocker twice a day to keep from passing out and because they had to do a sternum rub on me in the hospital a couple of weeks ago and those are PAINFUL (so I want to avoid that)...It was the only way they could wake me up when I passed out. It's really bizarre to open your eyes and find someone sitting on top of you digging into your chest with their knuckle...

3. I am on a spiritual quest.

4. Blogging has not been appealing.

So there I am. If you feel motivated to pray, thank you.

jennifer

There is a little girl, very little. She is actually only 6 lbs and 12 ounces and she has us all wrapped around that teeny little pinky. She is BEAUTIFUL. Even the nurses say she looks like a baby doll. And sweet!!! She didn't even cry when I changed her very, very messy diaper! She just looked at me with one eye, like "what are you doing??" or "wow! that was a load off!" haha.



Anyway, she has wisps of blonde hair on top of her head with a little dark mullet in the back (which her mommy has already contemplated a haircut on) and dark blue eyes, perfectly symmetrical features and a little mouth that can change into adorable little shapes.

She loves to suck on her little fists and fingers and gets quite mad when she can't figure out where the food is.

She reminds me so much of her mommy. She's strong like her mommy (who walked at nine months) and she is sweet like her mommy.

Oh and she also has a wonderful daddy who is very supportive of the wonderful mommy. Can you tell I am proud of all three of them?

I am the Mimi. Mimi means proud grandmother in denial of her age ---or so I think ;)



Pictured: Top left: Proud parents with precious baby Marleigh

Right: Marleigh Elizabeth at just a few hours post birth..very alert and very content

Bottom-Two of the grandparents :Emily's Dad Doug and me watching Emily :) and eagerly anticipated Marleigh's birth.

More Marleigh pictures coming soon!

Today was one of those rainy and dreary days. Tomorrow I have more tests. This time it is in regards to memory issues. Hmmmmm ....just because I left my keys in the door two times...well, and I lost my cell phone..oh yes, and because I keep asking the same questions only to be told that they were answered but I didn't remember. I kept my nephew for a few hours last week and at 21 lbs and only 1 year old, he is quite heavy. My left arm couldn't hang and it felt so awkward on the right side. My husband said "this is so unlike you". He knows how completely frustrated I am. That was Friday. On Saturday my left leg was back to aching. I am afraid I am going to have to be honest with my sister-in-law and tell her I cannot handle it. I worked hard on getting him to sleep only for her to call and tell me to wake him up fifteen minutes later so that she could get him in bed at his usual bedtime of 6ish (?). To each his own but I just cannot handle him physically right now...although he is adorable.

On the sunny side of things, I enjoy being home so much! I've accomplished organizing a few rooms and I have a lot more to go! But the best part of the whole thing is being with the kids. John is playing the guitar he received for Christmas and doing a great job and so is Josh on his keyboard. I am amazed and overjoyed at the time they spend on it and am looking for teachers for both of them.

Randy and I are leading a Venturing Crew (through the scout troop) for teen girls and guys. So far Liz is the only girl but last night we met and planned some future activities. They are funny and sweet kids and I enjoy watching them interact.

Rachel's schoolwork is coming along so well. Some days she doesn't want to do it but just a few minutes into it she gets so excited and enjoys learning! One day she told me that the reason she loves me being her teacher is because I think of fun things and that I keep it from being boring by thinking of fun things :) <3 That did my heart a lot of good.

Liz has been working ahead on her lessons. We move to another grade level on Monday so she'll begin Algebra.

I also love when I get to see Lindsey, Emily and Mark which isn't often enough but never will be, I'm sure. I am glad they are living fulfilling lives and I do see them every other week at least.

On a sadder note this Saturday is one year since losing the baby and my tube. I guess I'll never forget February 21st. I think this year I WILL plant a tree in memory of our angel.

Thank you for continuing to stop by!

This past week has been insane. My Daddy (yes, he is still my Daddy as my brother likes to point at, even though I am in my FORTIES)....well, he has cancer. Kidney cancer.

It was a bad experience all the way around. The doctor was a jerk. We had been waiting for two days to find out what was going on. Dad was inpatient for pain and we knew there was a lesion and cysts on the kidneys and cysts on the liver but Dr. Ojerk, one of the partners, had to be paged. Mom and I had just left. 11:00 at night (!) when my dad was ALL ALONE (!), Dr. Ojerk came in and told him that they would have to take the cancerous kidney out!!!!!

I am still in shock and I think it's a good thing because when I start feeling the shock wear off I have a huge lump in my throat.

There will be no not me's today but I have a ton for next week....like no way, not me, I would never tell all of the nurses AND EVERYONE ELSE IN THE HOSPITAL who would listen, how mad I was at Dr. Ojerk.

We are going for a second opinion at a teaching hospital on February 26th.

Please stop by and visit this family......

This family's story has really pulled at my heart strings. Please go by and read what has happened and if you can spare a few minutes, please post to the "Extreme Home Makeover" request by their friend.

http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/

I have very few heroes in life but one contacted me the other day, me personally and made a request. HELEN BALDWIN contacted me about my blog the other day and I want to pass along a request to sign a very important petition to help cure Spinal Muscular Atrophy-the number one killer of children under the age of 2!!! Before my nephew was diagnosed I had never even heard of it.

I've been such a bad blogger! I have ideas in my head but they slip through the crevices and then I get busy and don't post.

I just want to save some things that have happened. Elizabeth and I are starting a new tradition of a once a month "escape". I won't go into details but I'm sure most of you can figure out what happens once a month and why it might be good to escape----good for everyone :) We do a little shopping, a lot of talking and we eat something yummy.

John and Josh are preparing to begin their Eagle project. I am so proud!!! And Randy and I are going to be the leaders of a Venture Crew which is for teens. We'll hike (I will hopefully be able to hike some), camp, and teach/learn life skills. It's part of boy scouts but it is for girls and boys!

Lindsey is taking a lot of classes and hopes to graduate in May! She is planning to go straight to grad school! There again---I am so proud!!

Emily is at the uncomfortable part of her pregnancy with my granddaughter and I am so looking forward to holding that baby girl!!!! Liz is making her a blanket and I am cross stitching a picture for her. Emily is still working at present.

Oh how I miss Lindsey, Emily and Mark!!! I try to see them once a week. Lindsey drives right by here so she stops from time to time. I get Mark to come home by offering him driving practice!

Cute things Rachel said this week: "Mommy, here is your sew" as she hands me a cross stitch thread :)

She also set the table last night and when we wondered why we each had two forks she informed us that it was in case we dropped one on the floor, so we wouldn't have to get another :)

Thanks for stopping by!

A Brutal Killer of Children - Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type I

My nephew, David, was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type I (also known as Werdnig-Hoffmann disease) at the age of four months and passed away at nine and a half months. Most everyone who knows me knows that. Tonight I want to attempt to raise awareness by sharing about it.

SMA basically causes muscles to waste away and robs people of their ability to move and eventually, breathe. Their minds are just as strong as ever, but their bodies fail. THERE IS NO CURE. It is best defined by going to this site: http://www.mda.org/publications/fa-sma-qa.html

Tonight I want to pay tribute to another little boy who passed away yesterday of SMA. Here is a link to his caring bridge page:

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/corneliusbrewer

Please think of and pray for this family as they grieve. Please ask that they are enveloped with a peace that passes all understanding.