As I swallowed my Nexium capsule this morning....

...I began to think about all of the pills that I have to take now that I am in my 60's.

I don't like it one bit!

Because of an infected cuticle, I was put on two antibiotics.  The first one didn't do a thing...so, a stronger one was prescribed.  I abhor taking these pills because, not only can they make me resistant to certain strains of bacteria in the future, but they also can have some horrendous side effects.  My side effect of (non)choice this time was pretty much feeling yucky after taking my two a day for several days.  You know the drill....nausea, malaise, etc.

A call was put into my dr. and I was thankfully allowed to cut back the dosage.  So far, so good.

The cardiologist put me on a beta blocker to calm down my palpitations.  It's side effect is that I am more fatigued than usual.  The palpitations are gone, but so is my energy level.

Then there are the blood pressure and cholesterol pills that I take at night.....and the handful of vitamins that I take every morning.....including a baby aspirin a day.

I still don't understand how my body knows what each of these tablets, capsules, or liquids are supposed to do.  That is, and will always be, a mystery to me that I can take several pills and they know exactly where they are to go and what they are to help. : )

I have thought about telling my drs. that I no longer want to be on any of these prescriptions and just take my chances by keeping up a healthy lifestyle....and going au natural.

But, then, my heartburn kicks in and I am glad that relief is on the way....

*sigh*

Meeting Dylan...

This just makes me smile....so, I had to share it. Such joy coming from big sister Celia as she comes home from daycare and meets her new baby brother for the first time. : )

Stuffed potatoes and pecan pie!

I guess that you could call this the "Thanksgiving That Wasn't".....?

It all started a year ago when my kids all decided to come to Birmingham for Thanksgiving 2010.  Then, months later.... the wonderful news came out that Jeffrey and Janet were expecting a baby around the first of December...so a late November trip was out of the question. Instead, I got them all for Labor Day this year- which was great fun!

When my dear friends heard that we were going to be alone this Thanksgiving, they immediately invited us to their home to share the holiday with all of their kids and grandkids.  I prepared the cranberry sauce, some re-stuffed baked potatoes and a big platter of homemade cookies.  They were doing everything else.

Earlier in the day we found out that two of the grandchildren were not feeling well....they both had a virus and had been running a fever off and on.  The oldest one even threw up.

Well, knowing that I was going to be heading to D.C. soon to see my newest grandbaby, I had my concerns about spending the evening there with a virus bug going around....so, a decision was made not to go. : (

This was not to be a "bust" though in that Gary (the husband and chief cook!) said that he would prepare a Thanksgiving platter for me and Dave and bring it over as soon as the 28 lb. turkey was cooked.  Unfortunately, by the time the bird decided to reach the correct temperature (!), it was getting late and the sky had opened up with a torrential downpour!  I called and told him not to worry about coming over...that we would just make do with what I had here and we could taste their turkey another time.

So, I heated up some of the stuffed potatoes....put a little cheese on top and that was pretty much our Thanksgiving meal.  A friend had dropped a pecan pie over to take with us....so, a piece of that with a scoop of ice cream was enjoyed by Dave.

Not a typical meal, but one that will be remembered in the years ahead..... : )

(As a post script to all of this....later on that evening, our sweet friend drove over with a bottle of wine and a platter filled with all kinds of Thanksgiving delicacies.  I gave him the potatoes, cranberry sauce and cookies which they can all enjoy today....and, Dave and I will have a wonderful "Thanksgiving lunch" this afternoon while watching the big football game....turkey, dressing, etc. etc.  However, we will probably pass on the stuffed potatoes!)  : O

Happy Thanksgiving!

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more.........Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." - Melody Beattie

I am grateful for all of the blessings in my life.....and, while I won't be with my family this Thanksgiving, they are right here in my heart...today and always.
 
Happy Turkey Day and love,
Grammie

Love at first sight....

Yesterday, baby Dylan left the hospital and headed home.

No one was more excited to see him than big sister, Celia! It was definitely love at first sight as she watched his every move and delighted in this new little live baby doll to play with. : )

She may have to give up her "throne" as the only child, but, I believe that she will do just fine sharing the spotlight with her new brother.

I can't wait to head up there to see them all!

The call came at 5:45 a.m...........

....it was my youngest son, Jeffrey, calling from the hospital. 

I quickly recovered from my grogginess as he announced that he and Janet were now proud parents of a little baby BOY!

It seems that little Dylan Elias decided to make his appearance two weeks earlier than his due date!!!

So, weighing in at 6 lb. 1 oz. and 19 inches long....my newest grandson has arrived.  Mom, Dad, and baby are all doing well and Grammie couldn't be more excited to welcome grandbaby #4 to the family.

Big sister, Celia, will be thrilled to meet her new little brother....and, I can't wait to fly up there and hug them all.

Such joy!!!

: )

and, in with the new.....

My new, shiny Trane furnace.

Now, is this an exciting blog, or what????

Out with the old....

The trucks arrived early this morning as my old furnace and air conditioning units were ripped out to make way for the new ones. 

The friendly workmen smiled and agreed that this antiquated machine needed to go.


I presumed that they meant the furnace....and, not me!  : O

It took me a while to get moving this morning....

....because it was so nice and cozy under the covers on this chilly day. Ahhhh.

But, I realized that I had a lot on my plate  and hadn't been posting for a few days so I decided to 'crawl' out of bed and get the day started!

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For starters, I will be getting a new furnace and air conditioning unit first thing tomorrow morning. My antiquated system has had its last hurrah and needs to be replaced.  I have spent way too much money trying to keep it all running and it was time for a more efficient system. 

The bad news is that this will be quite costly....but, the good news is that by getting it before the end of the year I will qualify for a $1500 Federal tax credit.
Thank you, President Obama. : )

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Oh yeah, when it rains it pours. 

My washing machine and dryer (also quite old!) both  need replacing.  I have to run the dryer several times before the clothing fully dries...and the washing machine is leaking and not functioning very well. (That kind of sounds like I feel some days...ha ha)

When all is said and done, I should be running a more efficient household.  Poorer, but, more efficient!

Maybe now you can understand my hesitancy to get out of bed this morning..... : )

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I know that I need a life when I found myself getting irate over the Dancing With The Stars results show last night. 

Bristol Palin is in the finals....but, Brandy is not?

What is this world coming to?

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Cardiologist follow-up appointment this afternoon.  I have my long list of questions ready to go.  I hope that the dr. is in a good mood!

I have to feel that drs. really appreciate a patient who asks a lot of questions.  To me that means that the person is taking care of their own health and becoming their own advocate. 

In this day and age, I truly believe that it is important....not to mention the importance when you are my age.
*groan*  : )

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Speaking of age, you know that you are truly a senior citizen when the clerk doesn't flinch when  giving you the discount on Senior Day at the grocery store. 

Just once I would like for them to ask me to prove that I am over 60!

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Thanksgiving is approaching....it is one of my most favorite holidays.

Unfortunately, my kids won't be coming down this year.

Fortunately, Dave and I are heading to our dear friends home to share the holiday with their wonderful family....children and grandchildren!

Unfortunately, I won't have any leftovers.

Fortunately, I bought a little baby fresh turkey yesterday that I will stuff and make to have here at home!

Unfortunately, I will so miss getting to see my precious grandbabies.

Fortunately, I will be awaiting word on my newest grandbaby's arrival in the next couple of weeks!!! A brand new baby to love.....

I truly have so much to be thankful for.....

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XOXO

Feeling peaceful at the beach...

Only one more day....so, I will try and savor every last moment...

morning cups

Every morning at the beach, the Girlies slowly awake and one by one the coffee/tea drinking begins.

 If I am still in bed and  smell the wonderful aroma of the fresh brewed coffee, I smile..... knowing that someone else is up.

And, so the day begins...

Before heading down on the trip this time, I decided to make mugs for everyone. I didn't have time to start them from scratch, so instead, I painted already glazed cups for each Girlie. I put the Gulf waves at the bottom...added a sun and, finally, a cloud with sunglasses and a smile.  Each one was personalized with their name....and a message on the back says: "Friends are the sunshine of life... Destin 2010".

When our trip together is over, we will still have a memento of our incredible time together.... a mug filled to the brim with memories.  : )

Sunrise/Sunset

 This is what greets us every morning....

.....and amazes us every evening.

Destin, Florida, with the Girlies....

Heaven on earth.

Heading to the beach tomorrow with the Girlies......

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!


...more to come.  : )

Happy Birthday, Mom!

88 years young today!

"May the world be kind to you, and may your own thoughts be gentle upon yourself." Jonathan Lockwood Huie

I love you...

Faces of Celia

What a lucky Grammie I am to have three incredible, adorable, and healthy grandchildren.... in my life and....in my heart.

Here are some updated pictures of Princess Celia!

Some photos from my Halloween trip to Minneapolis!

Looking through some of my photos from Minneapolis, I can't help but smile.

Audrey is adsolutely determined to be a Princess....as hardly a moment went by that she wasn't dressed up in her fluffy tulle skirts and a crown or headpiece made out of one of her layers of a skirt. The fairy wand was a part of her attire as well as a little princess purse.  When asked what she wanted to be for Halloween, her answer was a very definite: "I want to be a Pwincess! I want to be a Pwincess!".

She is so articulate for her age and can express herself in long sentences now.  I am amazed at her verbal skill level at such young age. And, just one look at that adorable face and you can see how joyous she is.

Sweet Owen is just that....sweet.  He is kind and loving and huggy and happy.  Without embarrassing my son too much, I have to tell you that he truly reminds me of his daddy, who was always a kind and gentle soul....and, still is!

Since his Grammie is an artist, you can imagine how very thrilled I was to see his strong interest in coloring and drawing.  I brought home a stack of his artwork that will go on the wall with my other treasures!

I give so much credit to my son and daughter-in-law for the way the kids are. Their household is full of noisy joy, lots of music and singing, silly laughter, and lots of love.  The perfect ingredients for raising two wonderfully, happy and healthy children.

I'm not too prejudiced, am I????!!!


(more photos below)

I voted. Did you???

Back home........tired, but smiling !

This is one of the priceless treasures that I brought back with me from Minneapolis and the grandkids. My little budding 4 yr. old artist, Owen, drew this picture of Grammie, the pirate (for Halloween). I don't think that I have ever looked better.