Day by Day

This was Brendan's proclomation when he came in from work last night.  "I hate the dragon movie because there were a bunch of kids at the theatre today and they leave their popcorn all over the place....one huge bowl of popcorn was on the ground on top of another mound of popcorn."  Then he added, "Oh and Shrek is coming out next month." He cracks me up.

So, I finally graduated to a stand up shower on my own (no weight on the right leg) and everyone had a good week off and things were going smoothly.......well.......were...... Yesterday afternoon Bob came down with a kidney stone.  He had one two years ago, so he knows what it is.  Do you think it could have happened once I had the ability to drive again????  I don't know.......life is a fast and furious roller coaster. 

 We all attended a tribute to Dad at the Irish Club in New Haven yesterday morning.  They were honoring Dad for the 20 years of writing the newsletter and the many books Dad has written in honor of the Irish.  Throughout the whole breakfast and honoring, I couldn't help but think of how proud I was to be Dad's daughter but also what a humble man my father is.  He has given so much in his life (and not an easy life at that) without asking too much in return.  He suffers physically more than most yet doesn't complain.  He lives alone when most people his age share their lives with others.  One of the best parts of all was his ability to see and say that all the work he has done for the Irish has brought more joy to his life than work.  The other best part was his acknowledging Tracey and I, but more than that, his grandchildren who are, as he said, his true legacy to this life, beyond anything he has done in writing.  He introduced each ...

Grandpa  went to Connor's game the other night and almost froze in shorts.  All I had in the car was a sweatshirt.   The woman next to Dad quietly disappeared and then returned with a warm blanket for Grandpa to use.  We both thanked her. At the end of the game, Grandpa returned the blanket (and might I say, she was a pretty woman) and said, "Thank you...you saved me.  May I put your chair in your car for you"?  She replied, "No, my grandson will do that."  At that point, I had two thoughts...well she could be a grandmother,  but she is a young, pretty grandmother and two....was my father just flirting with this woman? After I went home and talked it over we figured out who she was.  Grandpa happened to notice that the woman had been talking to someone at another game the whole time....interesting that you were listening Gramps.  When I told Bob, he said that a girl on Katie's team has a brother on Connor's team. The mother ...

This is the closest I can come to thinking my prayers were answered.  Yesterday morning I began the day saying, please get me through one day at a time God.... Here is how he responded: 1.  A caring husband who is calm and patient helping me to put everything in perspective. 2.  A warm shower to make me feel better 3.  A family trip to Dairy Queen to enjoy the blizzard sale and the fun conversation that took place in teh car while we ate and rode (too little family time anymore). 4.  A chance to have Brendan feel in control as he drove me (in the middle seat of the van-chaufered) to Connor's baseball game because Bob had to coach Katie's game. 5.  The ability to sit on a cool Spring night and watch Connor, Mr. intensity, play baseball. 6.  The chance to chat with Grandpa at the game. 7.  Katie and her girlfriends laughing as they slept over last night. 8.  Oh and a good pasta dinner thanks to Sue Zwick (good friend from work). I t...

Grandpa invited Nicki, Katie and Keera  for Spring planting....must be that time of year.  He buys the flowers and the girls dig the holes and decide where they go.....two 13 year olds and a 5 year old going on 13 in charge....sounds  like a dream come true.

Private emails to Grandpa have revealed that Connor is trying to get Grandpa to bring him to the Library of Congress or the Baseball Hall of Fame Library.  Connor loves books and research, but I think he is a little ahead of his 14 year old self.  Apparently he thinks (in that undeveloped front lobe of his brain) that he can just march into the library of Congress with his Grandpa and do what he wants  to do.  I have heard you have to now apply months in advance in order to gain access there because of security.  Personally, I think they should put Connor on the country's security system faults...we would probably be safer than we  have been in years....just the amount of argueing and counter arguing alone would be enough to drive any foreign country insane.

Katie has like 50 sprays from Bath and Body works and yet her newest thing is that as she heads to her softball game,  she is spraying violet lysol disinfectant on her-what is it with teenagers??? At least she will be germ  free......

I have written of my relationship with Bob before,  but once again, it is near and dear to my heart right now.  He has been running around driving kids everywhere, doing chores and trying keep his own space too.  Love is something that you can't even explain.  Sometimes I think it is in the worse times that it shows its true self.  Those vows that we take mean nothing until they are tested.  So many times this week I have thought of "in sickness and  in health".  Who would even know what that means unless they are put to the test...do you help, do you stay, do you walk away?  Thank goodness I am not dying, but it is the same  responsibility.  How much can you do, how much can someone ask of you, how much can you emotionally take....that's what love is-not  defined, just lived.   I think the hardest thing is all of the stuff that happens in between the vows and the living part-the things you say and do and sho...

On Monday, Maria, a good friend from our old street, called to say she was making dinner for us. Yesterday, Sue Zwick, a good friend from work, called to say she was bringing dinner over last night.    When I announced the second dinner coming over, Brendan said, "YES!  Geez mom, you should have surgery more often with these free dinners."  Perspective...it's all in perspective.....

I turned it over to God today - 7:00 this morning I found myself saying,  "Just get me through this day God....all will be better soon.  One day at a time."

So in writing that last post....I started to do a year in review.....life is something else isn't it.... Starting March 27, 2009, 1. moved into new house (not easy process) 2. carpal tunnel surgery for me-it was waking me up at night-why not get it done-I WAS healthy. 3.  Bob tears his meniscus playing softball-has surgery 4. One day later, I go into the hospital for some mysterious illness that holds on for like 6 weeks and then doesn't appear again-never been in the hospital before. 5. We pick up a kitten. 6. I am convinced to apply for a job that only ends up in disappointment and discouragement. 7.  We have a great family vacation and attend a great wedding. 8.  Bob is layed off. 9.  Bob's Dad comes to visit. 10.  Connor cuts above his eye open 11.  We lose our kitten 12.  I tear my acl/meniscus - surgery Wow.....life has many ups and downs.

Bob is again playing on two softball teams, but I have put the warning out to everyone in the family.....NO ONE is allowed to get hurt-no blood, scrapes, tears, pulls, anything for at least another year.....so hopefully he will play conservatively. The convenient part is that his Wallingford team sponsor is the bar and grille next door.  Last night after his softball game, he conveniently walked next door to hang out with the team for a little while....(yes..I had full coverage at home-everyone present and accounted for and I was laying on the couch). Funny how for men life just goes on....he ran around like a chicken with his head cut off yesterday-4 dental appointments, two games, errands and yet he was able to just hang out...I would have been in bed by 8.

I think I left this one out lately too.  At Easter  time we went to the mall and Bob brought Keera up to the Easter Bunny to visit.  I saw her hesitate, so when she came back to me, I asked,  "Were you afraid of the Easter Bunny"? She answered, "I was,  but I faced my fears." Sign that girl up for college!

I was just reading an old post to see where I left off and I realized after I wrote that post "Please don't take it away", something did happen that was difficult.  Our little one year old kitten, Chloe, or Jeffrey (the boys called her), became very ill, very suddenly.  From Thursday night, acting slightly different, to Saturday morning,  not even wanting to get up.  I called the vet and got her right in.  They did some  tests  and were able  to tell us that she had almost total kidney failure.  They thought maybe she had gotten into some  anti-freeze somewhere. Bob checked  all around the garage to make sure we didn't have anything open, but the cat does wander around the surrounding houses-the people at the bar and grille next door love her.  The vet said we would basically have to do dialysis like 3 times a week. Although we loved her so much, she is barely one and we don't have the time, money or energy to do that....

Brendan came home from school today and I asked the usual question:  How was school?  They went to a house today to do work, which translates into the HVAC class (18 kids) goes to a house and a small number (4 or so)go into the house and 14 stay on the bus.  The funny part was that he said the electrical class went on a separate bus because they were working on the house also.  But he was frustrated because the electrical students keep messing up so the HVAC class has to fix their work.  I said, "You mean the electrical class messes up the electricity and the HVAC shop has to fix it"?  (Keep in mind this is an actual person's house who has agreed to have the tech school kids work on the house for a small price and experience).  He said, "No.  The electrical kids were supposed to drill 1 hole in the side of the house and they kept messing up so they ended up with 6 holes in the side of the house. So we had to come in and put new siding up." ...

Brendan was working for Shaw's, a supermarket as his first job.  He spent a whole lot more than he saved, but it was a good experience  for him, until the store closed on March 31st.  Much to my surprise, Brendan went right out and applied to three or so places.  It took about two weeks, but his friends at the movie theatre helped to push his application through and before we knew it, he was headed out the door in black pants, a button up white shirt and a required fancy vest, for his new job. He came home that first night of his new job and announced that "he almost got fired."  Immediately I was thinking that he was goofing around with his friends who worked there, but that wasn't the case.  He put his sweeping box and broom down in the theatre because he had to go pick up popocorn boxes. His friend told  him to move it, but he didn't hear him.  A woman tripped over it, fell and hurt her knee.  She was really angry and a manager was calle...