Friday, May 28, 2010

An Outsider

My daddy is in the hospital. My daddy has Alzheimer's and it's getting worse. Not so noticeably to those who don't know daddy so well...but oh-so-noticeable to us. How to open a coke can? How to pull out a chair to sit on? How to find that word that he wants to say?

Daddy got taken to the emergency room last night by ambulance. He had a raging fever, shaking, and major incoherence. My mom, brother, and I met daddy at the ER and began the process of finding out what was wrong and the incredibly long process of getting checked in!

He didn't recognize any of us really, but certainly seemed to have seconds of at least knowing that he should know us or knowing that we were "friendlies". How scary for an Alzheimer's patient to not know anyone around them!

He was diagnosed with urinary tract infection and antibiotics were given. The thought was that he'd be better in no time. Not quite so....tonight he is spending another night in the hospital and is having to be fed by mom...not quite sure how to open his mouth, chew, and swallow.

I sat in the room watching my mom taking sweet care of daddy! I almost felt like an intruder in their life watching my mom feeding daddy, wiping his mouth, coaxing him to open his mouth...keeping his dignity.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Fun Website!

I wanted to share a really fun website. I know that so many of you moms are always looking for creative, easy, fun things to do with your kiddos....of all ages!

Well...I was just introduced to a site: www.instructables.com ! It has step by step instructions for all sorts of things!

My kids and I just made the 5 Minute Chocolate Cake! You put all the ingredients in a coffee mug and bake it in the microwave for 2.5 minutes! Each person then has their own personal cake. It is especially yummy with whipped cream on it!

Ben thought of using these as a welcome for new neighbors! Bake the cake in a mug from your church and bring one for each adult in the house...along with the recipe so that they can do it again. What a great way to be neighborly and witness at the same time!

Enjoy!!!

Monday, May 24, 2010

Love of my Life

Ben and I went to a Gala with Darby. I love that guy!

Sunday, May 23, 2010

My Frustration!

I have the hardest time keeping my house straightened! Why is that? I feel as though I work at it ALL the time and it might stay that way for maybe as long as a day, and then BAM!! it's back to looking like garbage!

Aarrgghh....very frustrating....If I had money, I would hire someone to clean my house and someone to change my sheets each and every day! I do love clean sheets!

Back to my life now....after venting for a few minutes!

Thursday, May 20, 2010

A Surprise Friend

I have a surprise friend.

What is a surprise friend? Well...it's a surprise to me that we are friends AND she surprises me with phone calls periodically for the sole purpose of making me feel better!

She called yesterday out of the blue just to tell me that she heard some story on the radio that reminded her of me! She always has a laugh in her voice! She makes me feel better each time I speak to her. I've never heard her down about anything, and she has had things to feel down about! She inspires me to be a better person.

Why is it a surprise that we are friends? Well...I am probably technically old enough to be her mother! (ok...it would have had to have been a big surprise baby for me...but still...) I am probably supposed to be mentoring her, but the truth is that she mentors me. We really are so different.

Thank you friend...sorry I couldn't talk longer.

I hope that all of you have a surprise friend too! They are the best kind!

Monday, May 17, 2010

My First Pioneer Woman Concoction

The morning after getting the Pioneer Woman Cooks, I read it cover to cover and used my handy little sticky tabs to mark the recipes I wanted to try right away! Each red dot is a tab! Needless to say, very few recipes are not marked.
This morning I started with this one: French Breakfast Puffs.

Here are my little beauties in the oven! Looking good...

Prior to the butter and cinnamon sugar concoction...pretty plain looking...
OH!!! They look so much better now that they are dressed.
You can see how close my mouth is to the Puff....
Couldn't resist...a large bite jumped into my mouth! Ohhhh! The fluffy-ness! It is light and oh-so-edible. My mouth is watering again...I think. I. must. have. another. bite.....