Word-Free Wednesday

"Much Ado About Nothing" OR "No, Sanna, Don't!"

Which title do you think I should choose: "Much Ado About Nothing" or "No, Sanna, Don't"?

Successful battles, party invites, arguments, weddings, infidelity..... If you are well-schooled on the Shakespearean play "Much Ado About Nothing", then I must apologize well in advance for my lack of literary parallel to that work. I just wanted the title, "Much Ado About Nothing". When I chose the title, I decided to take a Cliff's Notes crash course on it and decided that "nope, I really don't have anything in common with the play's themes"...and let me add: I'm glad! However, I've been super busy with all kinds of things, but nothing major.....kinda like an ant building an anthill, eventually, it probably will all add up to something great, but right now, it's just life's everyday tasks. So, if I used just the title "Much Ado....", I would have continued to write about all the mundane tasks I've done, am doing, and need to do. If you want that title, keep reading. If not, skip to the next section where I will tell a story for my plot addicted, yes PLOT, with an "L" sister. She loves a good story---all the details. Typically, she's the only one that can make it through one of Steven's "over-detailed" stories and still be on the edge of her seat as if the details were good enough, and no point or life lesson was ever needed. So, for the much ado's: Our house air conditioner is, well was, broken, but thanks to Tammy's dad, it's not broken now. You wanna talk about a hot (temperature wise!) mama, this one right here was so hot last night without a/c, that when I went to say my night prayers, I just said, "God, I'm hot and you know it. Amen." Don't worry, later I realized I might could have just prayed for the air to be fixed, but instead, I just complained to God. In the heat of the moment...ha haaa, I did realize that some people have to live like that all the time and that I really should rejoice in the fact that I don't. But, quiet honestly....I'm not the best chick at resorting to rejoicing and thankfulness when I feel like I've run on a treadmill for 45 minutes too long and am actually just laying in my unairconditioned hot bed. Nonetheless, thank God for Randall Godwin---fixer of the air at my house....and thanks for Gail, too. They have a great daughter, Tammy. Okay, next "ado". I'm going to have to clean up this place and get us ready to travel to the big CA! We leave next Wednesday. I'd request you to help with our animals and plants, but WE DON'T HAVE ANY. Yipppeee. Sorry, I know that's random, but, being the mad checker at lists, it always tickles me pink when I realize I have opted to not take on anything that requires excessive effort--such as plants and animals. More ado: School's been great. I enjoy my job. Steven is feeling a heapload better. Libby is still doing fabulous and it's all good. The only thing we need to make the nothing better is to win the lottery; that would be a miraculous thing----since we don't play it. Maybe you can play it and split your winnings with us. There's only one time a year we buy lottery tickets and that's to get several to take to gift swaps around Christmas. They usually go over well. Another curiousity: THIS RANDOM NOTE IS FOR ANNA: What's up with your invite only thing on your blog? Have I been kicked out? Just curious.

Okay, so my sister, Sanna, threatened to have another livestock put in my yard so I'd have something to write about. In order to stall her efforts, I am updating my blog. She wants a story about our kids from Eastside. You know that could be a whole new blog: "Life at Eastside--You Thought You Knew, But You Had No Idea". Anyway, today was Arbor Day. I know-- brace yourself for the social calendar getting overloaded with the flurry of events that accompany Arbor Day. Who else works at a job where you get to connect learning to Arbor Day? Okay, so, at 1:15 when math was supposed to be starting, some kids were finishing up a booklet about planting things. Lo-and-behold (<--correct spelling?) if another teacher and a student weren't planting a real tree right outside the window. I quickly, with Hannah's (the class's teacher and my friend) blessing, took the kids outside to watch the tree be planted. After it was planted, they helped throw dirt around it. Then, we sang an impromptu "Happy Arbor Day to yoooou, Happy Arbor Day to yooooou, Happy Arbor Day dear Maple (<--type of tree it was). Happy Arbor Day to you." That was a cool thing. The kids got to see a paper pencil moment come to life right outside their class window. It's amazing how little you have to do to get kids to be interested. They were just loving the bugs, dirt and tools. So, "No, Sanna, Don't!". Don't put any animals in our yard, here's an update.

And, just because I haven't updated with any photo's---here is a clip of Libby's latest song and some pics:

Reasons To Eat At Home

Last night, we went to eat at Ichiban in East Brainerd. In case you don't know, we have to eat Chinese at PF Chang's or Japanese from Typhoon or Ichiban at least once a week. It's way cheaper than the therapy we probably need. When it was time to leave, Libby was getting restless. I took her to see the fish in the lobby while Steven paid the check. There were some people sitting with presents. I tried to detour Libby's mind from the presents because I knew she would start asking them if they brought her one, if she could open it, etc. The elderly couple didn't look like they were up for her million plus one more questions. We talked about counting the fish. We counted them in English and Spanish. We talked about the shapes we saw in the room. Finally, she noticed the tiles on the floor were square----and so were "do-es people's presents". I said, "yes, the tile is square." The presents were rectangular. The math teacher in me was going to try to get her to describe the presents so that she could begin to differentiate between square and rectangle. So, I said: "Libby, what do they look like?" She said, "they're old." I said, "noooo, presents aren't old. Presents are new." I was trying to save myself the embarrassment of what had just happend. She replied, "Yes, presents are new, but 'do-es' peoples are old." About that time Steven walked up and saw that the couple's mouths were kind of open. I was pale with embarrassment and Libby was fixing to say more. We eased out the door. That's another good reason to just eat at home.

The short clip below is a Valentine song we didn't know she knew until way after Valentine's. She learned it from "Mr. Jackie, her music teacher at school." She started singing it around Easter. That's just Libby....she does everything in her time.

Hot Saturday Plans

First, let me start by saying that if you didn't read "Show and Tell" Friday entry, please do. If you have read it, I know you're super tired of seeing it pop up each time you stop by our blog. So, that's the purpose of this post..........to go ahead and lay Bambi to cyber rest.

That title, "Hot Saturday Plans" sounds pretty catchy, huh? Well, our "Hot Saturday Plans" weren't so hot and what actually ended up happening was even less "hot".

We had planned to go to a wedding at 2 and a cookout birthday party for my PapPaw after the wedding. ---notice the "had".

We actually ended up at home...........all the live long day.

I went to Dr. Williams' office to have a facial done (remember "my complexion at age 32 woes" entry....). Because of the procedure that was done, I couldn't wear make up for 24 hours.

So, in case you're wondering, here's that equation:

Meleia+No Make Up=No Meleia in Public.

In addition, Libby had a pollen allergy cough situation she was in, so............we stayed home with Tiger and the Masters, books, etc.

I hope you had "Hot Saturday Plans" and that they actually came to fruition. In the meantime, I'll be hiding out here on Rolling Hills Way---make-up-less.

Show and Tell Friday

Blogs, I've finally figured out, are kind of like "Show and Tell" for grown-ups.

You must remember the Fridays in school that would be "Show and Tell" day. The teacher posted a list where about five kids could sign up to share something. There was always the neat kid who enthralled the whole class with his rare collection of something, or, the cute little girl with the big hairbow that would share about an amazing place her parents took her.

I always wanted something that would get an oooh or ahhhhh. I, however, just didn't really have those kind of things or experiences.

I finally have that something---I think.

I suppose the joy of "Show and Tell" is that it's your inner "ooooh ahhhhh" that matters.

Drum roll...............32 years of waiting to have a great show and tell and it's too bad Ms. Justice, my third grade teacher, isn't reading this to share in my "arrival".

Today, I got a blog comment around lunch time from my neighbor and friend, Shana. It said,..........well you can look back for the exact wording----but, do finish reading first. It spoke of a "little discovery" in my front yard. Well, because I left at 6:35 this morning, I knew of nothing other than Shana's Bonus Room light was on at an awfully early hour. Now, either, I didn't notice my own yard or IT hadn't happend yet. Here's what Shana was referring to........Here's what my husband didn't even let me know about (THAT'S definitely for a later discussion he and I'll have. He tells me the most insane amount of details when he talks about sports or random things, but come to have a..........) Anyway, here's what stayed in our front yard----ALL DAY, without my even knowing about it:

Gag. Sad. Yuck. Owwww. Not exactly ooohh or ahhh, but eeekkk. I OFFICIALLY notify everyone of this blog that I, Meleia P. Bridenstine, am not, AM NOT, I repeat a country girl. I don't go for this stuff at all. I really don't think this would have happend if we'd been in a gated condo community like I'd preferred. UUUhhhgggggghhhh, yyyyuuuuuck, and saaaaaddddd. It's so sad. It's so yuck. It's so awfully tragic. Bambi went to the great beyond----FROM OUR YARD.

I'm telling you people. I have had enough--Steven's recent "problem", Libby's recent "injury", the car keying, and now Bambi or unBambi or non-Bambi. What's the deal with this stuff? I'm certain I'm on the Truman Show and somewhere there's a population of very puzzled folks watching the random drama my life presents.

Meleia: And....that's all for today's "Show and Tell".
Mrs. Justice: Thank you, I think, Meleia. Next?

Hmmm, why haven't The Bridenstine's updated their blog?

A. They are boring and don't have much to say.
B. They are tired.
C. They are waiting until they can download some new pictures.
D. Both A & B
E. Both B & C
F. Both A & C
G. All of the above.
H. None of the above.

PLEASE, don't send the Blogger Po-Po after me!

I have very good intentions of doing an informative blog with great pictures. However, I haven't gotten around to getting the pictures ready. Please don't send the blogger police after me just yet.

Libby had picture day today with huge bribes that if she wore her dress and sweater without a fit, we'd give her a pygmy marmoset monkey that she's wanted. She wore the dress, but the jury is still out as to whether the fit was at a level that the rictor scale could measure.

Friday, she got stuck on something on the playground and had some problems that weren't evident until Friday evening after 6. As you know, at that point, daycare and the doctor aren't available. We made it until we could see the doctor on Saturday and now all is well. An interesting conversation occurred with the doctor about us having another child. We, of course, have no intentions of having another child. He said that there has been a study that shows that our population is getting "dumbed down" by people who have the sense to have more kids but don't and by people who don't have enough sense having too many children. It was rather interesting.

The cable guy has been to our house numerous times doing something to the HD channels. He asked how many tv's we had and I said 2---many. We don't even watch them that much, but for some reason during the March Madness, the HD channels have decided to scramble like an illegal channel.

The testing has started at our school and the kids are doing great with their new pencils! There's nothing like a good pencil. I think that could be a post of it's own! Probably wouldn't get a lot of comments, though!

Everything is just business as usual right now. The weather is gorgeous (that could change in 5 minutes) and we are so very blessed. Pictures soon!

Terrific Tuesday

Well, Terrific Tuesday is over with. You know Tuesday seems like the neverending day. Today was really not terrific for Steven. He found a huge keyed mark on the side of our car. Needless to say, he is now boycotting the forever away parking assignment hospital employees have---and he has three different speeches ready for the three people who may object to his parking closer. I asked him who he'd ticked off. :) He's convinced it was random. Who does that kind of stuff even?

Libby has been doing well. She's for some reason decided she wants to go to the library. Now, I'm not sure if you are familiar with the Dalton Library, but I very well may have been one of the last patrons (and I haven't been since junior high school). She's been walking around saying, "ssshhh, we're in the library and people are tryin' ta' read duh books."

Next week is our statewide CRCT (crummy rotten crappy test). ha haa It's actually very important to the kids and we are working hard to de-stress the kids, as well as prepare them. If you don't already know, I work in the highest poverty, highest English Language Learners school in our district.........that being stated, we needed pencils----about 1,000 so that we could be sure we would have 2 good pencils for each student that's testing. Awesomely enough, my Aunt Jane (Anna's mom) is donating 1,000 pencils to my school. *****Hip, hip, hooray! I'm grateful!***** I think I'll start praying over the pencils immediately, we need all the help we can get. ;)

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Our Weekend

Libby loves to play outside. We've been outside lots this weekend.
Libby was kind enough to stop and pose for a pic.

I'm not sure what she's doing here. Maybe she's praying for more warm weather, recovering from a fall?????
I know you feel bad for her here. Maybe you think she fell and we just stood around and snapped pictures, but nooooo. She's pitching a fit. I trust she'll grow out of this, but I know how she feels. At times, I suppose I could envision this act making me feel better. She has a big wheel, a tricycle, a basketball goal, and plenty to play with, but she'd rather just mill around like there's nothing to do. It's payback for all the "I'm bored" comments when I was little.

It's off to Grandma's House she goes!

Friday was Good Friday. Many of my friends who blog did an excellent job reminding us what it is all about. If you haven't done so, check their blogs out.

I found myself totally not focusing on what it was about due to a deadline I had to meet. I had to write an 8 page essay for the Teacher of the Year thing I got from my school. It was due to the county office by 4 pm on Friday. I didn't start it until about 10 am Friday morning. I had to leave at noon to pick up my grandmother (Nanny Ree) from the beauty shop where I ended up waiting for an hour. No big deal. I got it emailed on time. It's just like teaching to give you an award thing and it come with work due on your day off. Ironic, don't 'cha think?

Libby spent the night with my mom and Kaylee Friday night. She had lots of fun and didn't want to leave.

She got her hair trimmed on Saturday morning by my Aunt Brenda at Sophie's Salon. Two of my mom's sisters work at Sophie's downtown. They are great hair stylists. My Aunt Janice, who also works there does great facials and skin treatments. Need pampering?.....see her.

On Saturday, we just did every day things like grocery shop, walk, ride around, visited Utter Creamry (going to take some extra workouts next week for that one).

Tomorrow, we will go to Steven's parents' house for Easter. We'll post pictures of the fun time we're sure to have.

Happy Easter Weekend!

Being Still

Being still is just not easy. If you know anything about me, you know that I am rarely still. I have to constantly be moving, doing, thinking, planning, any verb with an -ing. That's pretty much how it is for Libby, too. Doing, doing, doing.

That being said, being still isn't easy. It's probably harder for me to be still than it was for Kermit to be green.

Wednesday and Thursday I began to sneeze. I figured it was just allergies. Friday, I had somewhat of a morning sore throat (gross, I know).

All this will add up to why I am being still....hang tight.

Saturday, I continued to feel fine, but would cough here and there. Nothing a "swig" of Robitussin wouldn't mute. Sunday: Robitussin, salt water, Thera Flu.....all the water in the world didn't make a difference.

I called the doctor to beg for a call in of something. I got one of "those doctor types" that finished your sentences for you and called in what he wanted. So, basically, I got a bottle of good for nothin' codeine that I could probably sell on the streets to someone. Needless to say, by Sunday night, I felt like a walking cough. Just that. A walking cough. I went to see my friend sing at her church (beautiful singing, I might add) and that was the last hoorah for my sick self. I think God muted my cough for her performance. Soon after her song, I began the journey of being out for the next day........

I knew that Monday, I'd have to see the doctor, so I called twelve people to sub for me and tried four non homeroom people to pick up my Monday morning car duty. Ugh. The life of a sick teacher. Imagine that, non-teacher people, you are sick, you can't work.....get on that phone and get to calling until you find someone that will fill in for you in the various capacities. Then.....call the automated "want to choke an operator" phone line to key in every piece of information about yourself, which includes my id from four phone numbers ago.

Now, here's my theory: If your tail is sick enough not to go to work, it is also too sick to call twelve subs, coworkers that need to know, your boss, and the automated record the absence for a confirmation number 10 minute call...............It makes me tired to just think about it.

Okay, so, I went to the doctor. I have bronchitis and sinusitis, 3 medicines (1 inhaler, 1 pill, syrup), a trucker's cough, and a sneeze more frequent than my neighbor's barking dog.

Thank God Libby doesn't have it, yet. I really pray she doesn't get it.

I can start back to work Wednesday and exercise, too.

Aside from the doctor's prescriptions, she told me to BE STILL. So, normally, I can talk on the phone, but noooo who wants to talk to this: *cough*, Hey, *cough*, not much, *cough, cough*, I *cough* stayed at home *cough, cough, cough* today because, *cough*, *cough*, *gag* I'll call you back....*gag, cough, run*. Ugh. It's hard. Hence, the new blog layout. I can't just be still. I've caught up with some pretty good TV shows: Jon & Kate Plus 8, Little People Big World, Celebrity Apprentice, and way too many more that I had DVR'd. Being still leaves you to not doing too much but reading, watching, and thinking. Ugh.

2 Hours, 25 People, 1 Fun Celebration

This past weekend we celebrated Sanna's recent marriage. We had a casual dinner party in their honor.

Chastity and my mom look at a card that someone brought for Sanna. It must have been really interesting, because they...
passed it to Angelia, Keith's wife, to read. Wonder what good advice it must have offered?
Scott, Chastity's husband, had an idea of his own!

This is a picture of family from the wedding celebration. Susan, Richard's girlfriend is looking through photos that Sanna brought. Nanny Ree is arguing with me about who's in the picture! Rodney's mom is at the end of the table being entertained by my Uncle Richard.

We had a Sharpie that we labeled everyone's cups with, and of course my dad (not pictured, arrived a little late) had to make up grandiose names for himself for his cup. Entertainment.....free.

My stepdad, Xavier, was ready to get the party started.

Nanny Ree helped start the celebration with a smile.

Kaylee, Sanna and Rodney checked out the gifts that were brought to them from family and friends.

Here's the happy couple! Rodney and Sanna Gilbreath married January 15, 2008.
Libby was so tired of waiting to have one of the cupcakes. She couldn't wait until everyone was finished eating. We had bbq sandwiches, chips, cole slaw, fruits/veggies, baked beans, pickles, etc.

2 hours, 25 people, 1 fun celebration!

Adventures In Libby-Land

The weather has been so nice that Libby has been able to partake in a number of adventures in the back yard. She has been enjoying the sunshine, running and playing.

Because we knew Libby would want to be outside with the warmer weather, we bought some adrandaks (sp?) so that we could sit when we weren't playing with her. Good job for someone working out, huh?!

Anyway, her school is going to have an Easter Egg Hunt and party the day before Good Friday which should be lots of fun. She has had a little bit of a cough at nights and today she has a little bit of a stuffy nose....so I suppose we'll give her a little bit of some medicine to dry it up.

We are getting ready to have a celebration in honor of my sister, Sanna. She got married in late January and we--well, I, thought it would be nice to celebrate her recent marriage with a dinner party. Did you know that she was named after a midwife here in Dalton? Just a little known fact.

Steven is the same as always. Just Steven. He has been digging up the rockbeds in our front yard to put tarp under them so the weeds will lessen. Isn't it amazing that when you pay someone to do something, it isn't ever as good as what you paid for or what you wanted? At this point, he'd like to put the yard guy we paid last year under the tarp and rock. The way he's been slinging the shovel, the guy may just be under there. Who knows.

We are getting ready to go on a trip to California at the end of April for the first few days of May. We will be going to California for a family reunion. That'll make for an interesting post.

If you have a blog and I don't have it linked to our blog, let me know, we'd love to share in your adventures! I think they are a great way to keep everyone up to date.

Ethan and Elijah Are Missing!

Below are a few pictures that Tonya Heatherly, my sister's friend and a dot com owner of Ballyhoo, took at Christmas for Steven's parents. Each year, they try to have a Christmas picture made of all the grandchildren together. Rarely are we all able to get in one place at once so...........Ethan and Elijah are missing because they were in Kentucky.

This is Zach and Chloe with Libby. Zach and Chloe are Steven's oldest brother's and sister-in-law's children.
I guess you can figure out these are the same two kids from above. I think the pictcure is so cute that it looks like one that could have come in the frame. Libby in the rocking chair on our front porch. It had a snowman cover on it so it looks like someone is holding her, but it's just the snowman.

Are you as tired as I am?

I am so tired of our old post. I've been telling myself that I really need to update the post. Are you as tired of the old post as I am? Here's the deal: My "I HATE MY CAMERA" is dead. Well, dead is a strong word, but it is in a coma. It needs to be recharged. I can't bring myself to charge it because why would I charge something that doesn't capture the KODAK moment???? It captures the "whatever brand it is" moment, 4 or 5 seconds after the moment. So, I am not only tired of my old post on this blog, but I am tired of my camera.

Here's what's been going on, for a blog's sake, I will give brief details. Libby (pictures will be posted soon) is continuing to do well. Knock on the blog, no flu for us. She spent the night at my mom's Friday night which, I vote, should become a tradition......I wouldn't want to set that myself--I will leave that up to my mom. So, mom, if you read this....make Libby spending the night with you a weekly tradition. Tradition means you do something regularly with joy. Just a friendly, daughterly reminder, and subtle request. If you'd like a persuasive essay on the request, let me know. I'm sure my brown-eyed roommate will generate one rather quickly (he probably already has one drawn up).

We bought a drawer, cabinety thing to organize the massive amount of corrective skin care junk I have. That's a whole year long issue. If you'd like to know more about the events with my skin, let me know. Steven no longer refers to it as face stuff, but as "228". (The price of the last phase of it.) Anyway, Steven spent so long putting the cabinet together that he has his things in it instead of mine. My things got moved from the counter basket to a drawer. Overall, the goal of cleaning off the counter has been accomplished. I'm tired of that, too. I'm tired of counters. They delay the inevitable (putting something where it goes). If you can think of a reason we need counters, let me know because I've decided they are too high maintenance.
Tired of them. (<--functional fragment)

Thirdly, (or fourthly, who cares you've probably quit reading by now because your answer to my title is yes), thirdly, I am tired of working out. I've only gone for 3 days, but I am tired of it. I like the person I work out with, I like the way I feel, but I am tired of not seeing fast results. Oh well, I will get over that. I've been working out at 6 am in the morning, which means I am getting up around 5, which really isn't new. Why 6? BECAUSE I AM A MOM. I have to squeeze it in when it won't take away from Libby. If I had to work out after school, I wouldn't be able to stand her being at daycare when she really doesn't have to. So, there, I am tired of not being able to clone myself and send the other person to work out. That's reasons fifth and sixth that I'm tired, right?

Lately, Libby has been expressing tiredness herself by making this loud "HUUUUHHHH" sound. Maybe we can put a clip on of it when the "camera" returns to the 3rd rock from the sun.

Hmmm, I think I am tired of writing this blog at the moment. To sum it up, we're just truckin' along and that's cool. More l8r.

Oh, Not Much...Just Stuff

So......what's been going on? Why don't you get your blog updated? Are you that boring....I know. I know. Not much has been going on, just stuff. We are rather boring. We've just been doing house projects. Here are a few pics: (comments are below each picture)

We've hung lots of curtains over this past month. (We means: I picked them out, we paid, he put them up. Nice "we", right?) It's taken a while to decide what we wanted to do with the way too many windows we have. The house was apparently built by someone with a bit of paranoia--lots of "dern" windows.
This was Libby's old room, now the guest room---with more "dern" curtains. No pictures on the walls yet. We'll get there. Maybe Spring Break......
More curtain hanging in the kitchen.
More "dern" curatins.
We had a glass made for the dining room table and it got delivered. Maybe we can have people over for dinner now---let me back that up, maybe I can start cooking. ha haa
So, here's one of the winter break "stuff" projects. We switched Libby's room. She wants it switched back to the old room, but in the words of Steven "VETOED".
We also hung some pictures in the hallway.
Libby's pants got water on them, so she threw them in the dryer and started it herself. I happend to be in the right spot with the camera at the right time to capture it. Pardon the panties---at least it's not a diaper.
She put on a cucumber mask. I guess all the work around the house got to her.
She's trashed her playroom.


JUST RANDOM THOUGHTS

Well, this is a great week to be a teacher. We are out of school on Winter Break! Nice. My complexion needed a break from the cold weather.

Libby and I have just had a blast being at home and visiting others. She is still doing great with the potty training.

The past 3 1/2 years have been interesting. Most people say that "it just gets harder" (referring to kids), but Steven and I both say that it gets easier. This may be because the pregnancy was a 9 month panic attack for me, the first 1/2 year was colic city, the next year was reflux city, then the next year was ear infection mania, and the past year has been whiny-butt STATE. Now, she's really turned the corner and it's seems so much better.

I used to fondly (*smirk*) refer to Steven as the government. This was because he had to take a portion of anything I had....be it food, money, spot on the couch, a sentence I was trying to get out, a phone conversation I was trying to have..you name it. Well, now with a child, it's twice the gouge. :) Steven (aka Federal Government) and Libby (aka State Government) get a portion of everything. Ha haa. Life With Libby.... The next project will be cleaning out the storm shelter (told you the previous owner was paranoid), we'll spare you pictures of that project. :)

Good News, Bad News

Steven here. Meleia asked me to post an update as she's kind of busy right this second.


As you can tell from the title we've got good news and bad news. Which do you want first?


I'll start with the good news. After (MANY) unsuccessful attempts at the homestead to move Libby towards potty-training we decided to send lots of changes of clothes to daycare with Libby yesterday to see if they would have any luck. Lo and behold, she didn't give them any trouble with it. She only had one "accident" yesterday at daycare and didn't have any at home with us (she went three times last night and once this morning for us). And today, she only had one accident again. The latest breaking news even includes a successful, um, #2 just now. So we're pretty excited about this new development.


As for the bad news, Sanna went today to have her cerclage (sp?...remember, it's Steven) today. She had gone to the OB office before the procedure and they had trouble finding the heartbeat, although the nurse told her that she did find it. So, she went on to the hospital to have the procedure. When it was over, Sanna asked if they could check for the heartbeat again since they'd had trouble this morning. They went back to the OB office to check and when they did, they discovered that there actually was no heartbeat. So, within the last hour or so, Sanna and Rodney went back to the hospital to (1) undo the cerclage and (2) do the DNC. Obviously, your prayers are very much appreciated right now as Sanna is overcome with grief (not to mention the physical toll of, basically, three surgical procedures in one day).

What's in a title, anyway?

This past weekend we stayed at the Embassy Suites for the Go, Diego, Go Show in Atlanta. There was a little pop out at the bottom of the window. When I learned I was missing an earring and several one dollar bills, I noticed Libby had been poking things through the window to see them "ploat to 'duh road, Mommy". This picture is room service for Libby. We didn't think the in house restaurant (Ruth's Chris House) would appreciate Libby's choice of wearing a night gown. She decided this was her outfit for a while. At least she doesn't want to sleep standing up anymore.
Libby at the Fox.
Libby with her free Baby Jaguar mask and her ticket (not free), which she refused to give the ticket scanner.
Libby's kind of chair at the Fox:
Nanny Ree, Kaylee, and Libby.

Libby and Kaylee doing a sippy cup toast.
Kaylee and Libby just talking.
Libby playing around the house. We let her out sometimes. Ha haa
Libby wearing Mr. Potato heads mouth piece. She likes to wear it and run around saying, "Ho, Ho, Hoooo, You're not getting anything for Christmas. Ho, Ho, Hoooo."

Kaylee and Libby just hanging out.

On another note, my grandmother who passed away has a video memorial posted on the pondersfuneralhome.com website. Click video memorials and see the link for Eloise Dixon Souther.

Thanks for all the cards, plants, etc. Again, she was a great lady.

What day is it, anyway?

HUH?
I'm not even sure what day it is, but I'm thinking it's something like Tuesday which feels like Monday, but should be Friday. How 'bout that day?

UPDATE:
Thanks to everyone who has sent their well wishes, etc. The viewing was yesterday evening. It was exactly how my Granny would have (& preplanned it) wanted it. Over 400 people came by. There were oodles of flowers, plants, etc. The video memorial was outstanding (I'll post a link to it when it becomes available). My PapPaw was pitifully without words, but full of disbelief. When he walked in to the room where she was before anyone got there he said, "Hey Doll. Why'd you have to go so soon? I really didn't think you'd go. I can't believe you are gone. I'll really miss you. " He didn't talk anymore until he said he was ready to go after sitting by her casket for 4 1/2 hours.
LIFE WITH LIBBY:
Libby stayed home with Steven's mom and dad during the viewing. Thank God for them. They came to Dalton after they got off work, picked Libby up from daycare, and took her to IHOP to eat. PS-never eat at IHOP, his mom found a screw (yes, a screw) in her blueberry pancake.

Libby will be at daycare today during the 2:00 service.

"She's Out Of Pain"

The past week has been one of the hardest and most horrific weeks to have to endure. My grandmother passed away. Her six children, their spouses', ten grandkids and many of the great grandkids, along with my Pap Paw all stood by her bedside as she began to struggle to leave. There were some very sweet times, as well as tough times. She finally took her last breath last night around 11:15 pm. As the week progressed, we all remembered so much about her character. You know, she had the most amazing character and they didn't even have to teach that to her in school. She was just phenomenal---feisty, strong, gracious. She loved to host big family gatherings, visit others, and uplift everyone. My grandfather has dementia and so it's hard to see him silently hurt. He really doesn't have the words to say how he feels and can't quite connect what's happening to what he is feeling. He told us he'd miss her, they'd been together since they were 18, and that he'd be with her soon.

Tomorrow, as strange as it may seem to some, my aunts (who do hair and make up) will prepare her for viewing. I will be in charge of her nail polish coloring, etc. I hope I can make it through. I've done it before for others, but this one will be hard. We picked out her dress suit today. I think she'd like all the pampering.

I once heard a sermon about when you die and how your tombstone will have your name, the year you were born, a dash, and the year you died. The preacher emphasized that your life is about the dash.

My grandmother's "dash" was amazing. She simply lived a good life. The following is her obituary. My cousin and I wrote it for the family in honor of her.

Mrs. Eloise Dixon SoutherJanuary 27, 2008 08-024 Mrs. Eloise Dixon Souther, age 80, of Dalton, Georgia, departed this life Saturday evening, January 26, 2008 to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ at the local hospital surrounded by her loving husband and children after a long, brave battle with kidney disease. Eloise was born November 15, 1927 in Gordon County, Georgia, a daughter of the late John Edward and Lou Alred Dixon. She was the last surviving child of twenty-one siblings. Her brothers and sisters were the late, Howard Dixon, Verlon Dixon, Roy Dixon, Raymond Dixon, Lloyd Dixon, Johnnie Ruth Parrish, Mollie Ingle, Dolly Dixon, Edna Burton, Lois Childs, Geneva Dixon, Irene Fite, Dovie Dixon, Mary Dixon, Lela Dixon, Lula Dixon, Oal Dixon, Emma Dixon, Selma Dixon and Elzie Dixon. Eloise and her husband of fifty nine years were active members of Riverbend Baptist Church for forty years. She was a devoted wife, loving mother to her six children and a caring grandmother and great-grandmother. She was a lady of great faith, strength and courage with a smile that could brighten up any room. Compassionate, sincere and dependable would describe her. She will be greatly missed by many. She leaves to cherish her memory, her husband, Gordon Souther of the home; children and their spouses, Joyce Souther of Milledgeville, GA, Brenda and Billy Rogers, Debra and Xavier Castro, Janice and Bill Strawser, Tony and Rhonda Souther, Terry and Sandy Souther all of Dalton, GA; grandchildren, Keith Stafford, Ryan Stafford, Shean Starks, Meleia Bridenstine, Sanna Gilbreath, Chastity Blanchard, Shannon Brewer, Jake Souther, Brandon Souther and Zack Souther; thirteen great-grandchildren, several nieces, nephews and many friends. Services to celebrate the life of Mrs. Eloise Dixon Souther will be held Tuesday, January 29, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. from the Melrose Chapel of Ponders Funeral Home with Reverend George Ross and Reverend Jimmy Patterson officiating. She will be laid to rest at Colonial Hills Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home after 5:00 p.m. Monday. We invite you to share your thoughts and memories with the family at www.pondersfuneralhome.com

Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow......

Yesterday: We had a lazy-stay-at-home-keep warm kinda day. At about 2 pm, we were stir crazy. We went to visit Steven's parents in Ooltewah. Upon leaving their house, we journeyed to PF Chang's (strong urge for Spring Rolls). We ran into our good friends and neighbors (no it wasn't State Farm! hee hee, anyone remember that jingle?), but it was the Brad, Shana, Bryce, Sara Kate Crew from the other side of Rolling Hills Way. We had dinner with them. Seeing the parental weariness in us, they graciously took Libby with them for a few hours. We went to Target and bought who knows what for way too much!

Today: I stayed at the hosipital with my Granny Souther. She will be passing on at any time. It is absolutely the most horrific thing I've ever had to witness. She has kindey failure and has been battling it hard for 2 years. The time has arrived and her kidneys aren't functioning. The hardest part is that she is completely aware of everything. I fell apart at her bedside today. I don't usually do that, but it was just so hard to stand next to someone that you know is dying---rapidly. The sounds and sights were overwhelmingly harsh. She told me not to cry, so partially scared that she might still have some feisty swing that I used to deservingly get as a kid, I dried it up. She said she wanted some fried okra, so I journeyed out into Dalton "aka Little Mexico" (meat and 3 is hard to find in tortilla land) to find some fried okra. I was in a mad rush to find it because it just seems like she has seconds left. Steven kept Libby. Granny asked where Libby was. I just couldn't have Libby see that side of life at this point. Hard.

Tomorrow: I will have Libby and Kaylee for the day because the sporadic daycare is closed. I didn't know they were closed until I'd already scheduled a doctor's appointment, so my sister will actually have Libby in the am with Kaylee and I will have them in the pm. I need to go to work just to get some rest. Ha haa

What the heck???

What the heck, right? I mean what in the world could this mean? No post in forever and now this picture? Well, now that I completely had your inner dialog out with myself, let me explain....

LAST WEEK:
Kaylee (my sister's 4 year old) went to Bi-Lo and got the "Homie" from one of the 25 cent, now 50 cent machines. Libby got hold of it and it seems to be all she cares about.

What is it with the little things that kids get hung up on? You know how before you have a child, you purchase the Pottery Barn Kids' stuff you anticipate they'll get "hung up on", you know the cute personalized bunny.....NOT LIFE WITH LIBBY, NOPE. It's "Homie".

YESTERDAY:
Well, she left the "Homie" in Steven's car and when I picked her up from school, she was demanding "Homie".

Three hours of me looking everywhere for it, she finally states "I had to 'leeb' it in the black car 'dis morning. Daddy made me. I think he wanted to take it to 'de work wid him." Part of me didn't doubt he wanted to enteratain his coworkers with it. It's a weird little figurine. UUUUggghhh.

That Evening:
Libby was was upstairs, in the bath and her micro hearing heard the garage door open. She doesn't say, "Daaddddy." She says, "my homie is here!" and suddenly is able to exit the tub without the normal tug of war, rush to cover the drain with anything in sight routine.

So, the "Homie" episode doesn't end.

TODAY:
I was out of work today. I went to the foot doctor to get a cortisone shot for my heel pain. My heel used to feel bruised, now it feels broken. You can count on something to get worse before it gets better (that's always the doctor's forcast), especially when it involves my comfort level. It was in the midst of the shot in my foot that I thought, "hey, we can work Homie to our advantage and use him as potty training incentives." I must have had an amazed look on my face because the doctor putting the shot in stopped and said...."you okay?". I didn't bother answering him because if I were okay, I wouldn't be there. I just said, "it'll get worse before it gets better, right?"

I went to Wal Mart to find the "Homies" (something about that sounds like I'm looking for a group of people I know well, right?). Anyway, I actually had to ask around which was like an episode of Candid Camera. At the time, I didn't know where Kaylee had gotten him. I found the homies and was a little frigthened by them. They are very strange characters, much like a group you'd find with an eternal spot on a "Thoughts and Prayers" list. They were found to be in the coin machines in the front. People, (grown people), actually collect them. Weird. I hope this phase ends as quickly as it began. How many potty trips will $5 worth of Homies get us?

Prayer Request Updates:
Mom's mouth: Her dental implants are healing, she is back at work and goes to the doctor tomorrow.

Granny Souther: Kidneys are same. She is slightly better.

My Sister: Keep on prayin'.

My Nanny Ree: Lost a very close cousin. Pray for her to have peace. She seems okay with it, but I'm sure it will really hit her soon. They've pretty much lived next door to each other for their whole lives.

Christmas & New Year Updates

Sorry not to have posted in 4 EVER. I forgot the power cord for my laptop and couldn't make myself go back to school on a break to get it. Worse than not updating my blog was that I didn't get to catch up with everyone else until today!

We had a wonderful holiday season, full of drama--which is what makes the world go 'round, right? Just kidding.

Christmas was celebrated by several fun get togethers. The first was a school party at someone's pool house which was great. It's so fun to see how insane people can get over an ornament! When we left the party around 9, we called my mom to check on Libby and to let her know that we were on our way. My mom told me Libby had fallen down her staircase--head over heels several times on the way down. Fortunately and thanks be to God, she was fine, but that was rather upsetting. I try to EMPHASIZE to everyone that she has to be very closely watched because she is little, but ...................

On Christmas Eve, we went to Anna and Graysen's house for a family gathering which was nice. We took 10 lottery scratch tickets for the gift swap. NONE were winning tickets. YUCK. The food was great and their place is beautiful. They were very gracious hosts.

On Christmas, the rat race began. We did the Santa presents around 8 am, breakfast and presents at my mom's around 10 am, Christmas lunch at my Granny Souther's at noon, and finger foods and presents at Steven's parents' house at 2. WHEW--we needed a sleigh!

After Christmas, we kept Kaylee for the next three days. She is a delightful child and Libby has lots of fun playing with her. We chose toys we no longer needed or had duplicates of and donated them to Providence.

Things you can pray for:
My mom had dental implant surgery, so she's been getting through that adventure. Pray for her speedy recovery.

I saw my dad for the first time in a year, that was nice.

My mom's mom (Granny Souther) has refused dialysis and is in kidney failure.

My sister has a ton of unspoken prayer requests.

More soon!

I've been tagged!

Tammy tagged me to share 12 random things about myself that are Christmas related. Here are the rules:1. List 12 random things about yourself that have to do with Christmas2. Please refer to it as a 'hoopla' and not the dreaded 'm'-word3. You have to specifically tag people when you're done. None of this "if you're reading this, consider yourself tagged" stuff is allowed...then nobody ends up actually doing it. The number of people who you tag is really up to you -- but the more, the merrier to get this 'hoopla' circulating through the blogosphere.4. Please try and do it as quickly as possible. The Christmas season will be over before we know it and I'd like to get as many people involved as possible.
TWELVE THINGS ABOUT MYSELF THAT ARE CHRISTMAS RELATED:
1. I enjoy Christmas more each year.
2. When I was little I wondered why everyone else didn't have a Christmas tree up on their birthday (my birthday is December 9).
3. The older Libby gets, the more lights we put up.
4. I now understand how my grandparents' light display is no longer "tacky", but for the kids.
5. Christmas songs have so much meaning since having a child.
6. I don't understand the point of Chinese Auctions, even though they are fun. They seem to totally defy the meaning of Christmas.
7. I really like a star at the top of a Christmas tree. Ours doesn't have one, but I like a star.
8. It's funny to see the the different ways baby Jesus looks in the various nativity scenes.
9. Libby thinks Baby Jesus is in a car seat.
10. I like cold weather during the Christmas season.
11. This year, Steven and I won't exchange gifts. We bought gifts for a family that couldn't afford Christmas.
12. You can get too many Christmas dishes.

I tag Anna and my sister.

Look, He Has A Tail!

This is Steven on this post. Meleia felt like I should handle this one. NO PICTURE CAN BE POSTED!

This past Saturday we had our yearly tradition of family Christmas pictures. My mom was in charge of bringing the kids and matching outfits (what a "Grand" parent!). Needless to say, when Mom arrived with Chloe and Zach, everyone needed to change into their Christmas outfits. In a rush to not take up the photographer's time, changing occurred quickly in the closest room. Meleia was busy changing Libby's clothes. Chloe and Zach were getting their outfits on, too. Zach, who's almost 5, inadvertently removed an extra layer of clothing when he was taking pants off. This is the point where Libby exclaimed, "Look, he has a tail!" She couldn't see his bottom, but did see his front. They realized what she was talking about, helped Zach and she ran off to play telling everyone "boys have tails".

PEACE...in the Wal*Mart Parking Lot, Seriously

Da-Da: What'd you eat for lunch, today?

Libby: Hotdogs.

Da-Da: You said you ate a hotdog yesterday aaaand the day before. Are you sure you ate a hotdog today?

Libby: Yes.

Da-Da: Well, the menu says that you had chips and cheese.

Libby: Well, then, Da-Da, what'd I have for lunch?

--Update on 1,2, Swat: We went to Wal*Mart over the weekend and Libby was in her whine mode. We did the 1, "I'm asking you to stop whining." 2-"I'm telling you to stop whining." 3-"You are getting a spanking because you didn't obey." (basically, at that point she really had something to whine about) So, when we finally got to the car in the parking lot, we put her in her seat and shut the door so we could get in the front seats.....for a slight moment, an ever so slight moment...........PEACE, in the Wal*Mart parking lot. She was still whining, but she was in the car with the doors closed and all we had to hear were the Salvation Army bell, buggies, people, and traffic---it was so peaceful.

--Update on my cold: G-O-N-E! Yippeee.

More l8r.

I'm Touching The Presents, Mommy. I am.

Well, my cold is tapering away for the moment and it's back to work we go. We have the tree up and the beginnings of the season are so evident. We had a talk with Libby before putting the presents out and told her that if anyone touches the presents, they get "1-2-Swat". So, she continually approaches the presents and thinks that it's okay if she says, "I'm touching the presents, Mommy. I am." She thinks if she tells us she is touching them that it's okay. She hasn't opened any--yet. We put more lights outside than usual. Libby really likes to see the lights. Her grandparents brought some light up reindeer that have been put out since the picture. One, however, looks like it's under the weather because it's lights aren't quiet working.....Maybe it will fall prey to a hunter and get put away. Anyway, we are enjoying the season--she sure makes it fuller. More l8r.