I love the idea of taking a Stay-cation. I think Vacation is code for "Spend lots of money, get sick, and lose sleep". At least it never fails for us! We love visiting new places- but every time we come down with something or don't sleep in the hotel beds.
We have seen more and more people staying home and doing all the touristy things in their own city. I love the idea. You can pack meals, sleep in your own bed- and rediscover your own home! I just we we had beaches in Denver....
Monday, July 19, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Trying again
My Grandmother is catholic. Every week, she receives a newsletter from the catholic church called the Catholic Register- and typically we recycle it after she knows it has arrived. She has a hard time reading and usually gets rid of it herself. This week... Chris cracked it open. Right to the page about Caregivers. And how they need to take care of themselves too. It talked about how flight attendants instruct passengers to put on their own oxygen mask before helping others- and how so many of us forget to do that.
Then article described what happens when a caretaker (or takers... me and my hubby) neglect themselves. Sleep deprivation... Check. Poor eating habits... check. Failure to exercise... Check. Depression... hopefully no check- even though there are days I wonder.
We didn't really know the depths of what we were stepping into when we came to take care of Gran. I wouldn't trade it for the world, but it is hard and taxing. Sadly, dealing with the external forces is much harder than the dementia, the difficulty getting her to eat, the general confusion that occurs on a daily basis. The external forces are what cause us to question if we really should stay. The people who visit maybe 3 times a year that have the decision making power. The people who assume instead of ask, the people who think that we don't do enough. They make it hard. They sadly don't know that we can't go do what we want to do when we want to do it. Even a grocery trip requires careful planning. It can't be too late in the day or for more than an hour. My kids can't have a trampoline or a swing set.
We love her. She is truly a member of OUR family. The kids are crazy about her. Even the hardest days when she hardly can remember her own name are a blessing to us- because we get the time with her. She is graceful- making people who she doesn't remember feel as though she has known them forever. We wouldn't trade this time in our lives for the world.
We are trying round 3 with this personal blog. I hopefully will be able to post a couple times a week about this that and the other... Our trials with dementia, our amazing kids, our home businesses- all sorts of stuff!!
Then article described what happens when a caretaker (or takers... me and my hubby) neglect themselves. Sleep deprivation... Check. Poor eating habits... check. Failure to exercise... Check. Depression... hopefully no check- even though there are days I wonder.
We didn't really know the depths of what we were stepping into when we came to take care of Gran. I wouldn't trade it for the world, but it is hard and taxing. Sadly, dealing with the external forces is much harder than the dementia, the difficulty getting her to eat, the general confusion that occurs on a daily basis. The external forces are what cause us to question if we really should stay. The people who visit maybe 3 times a year that have the decision making power. The people who assume instead of ask, the people who think that we don't do enough. They make it hard. They sadly don't know that we can't go do what we want to do when we want to do it. Even a grocery trip requires careful planning. It can't be too late in the day or for more than an hour. My kids can't have a trampoline or a swing set.
We love her. She is truly a member of OUR family. The kids are crazy about her. Even the hardest days when she hardly can remember her own name are a blessing to us- because we get the time with her. She is graceful- making people who she doesn't remember feel as though she has known them forever. We wouldn't trade this time in our lives for the world.
We are trying round 3 with this personal blog. I hopefully will be able to post a couple times a week about this that and the other... Our trials with dementia, our amazing kids, our home businesses- all sorts of stuff!!
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Long road ahead
I suddenly realized how neglected this poor little blog was today. Wow. Nearly 9 months without a post. Poor blog. I'm sorry. Probably won't get much better.
We've had a very busy year- pregnancy, business, and a grandmother officially diagnosed with Alzheimer's and going downhill fairly fast.
Cookies and Bubbles are wonderful. SUch blessings, and loving on Gran even though she sometimes forgets their names. We're blessed that we haven't walked in the door complete strangers yet. I'm hoping to make it through CHristmas without that happening.
SO my big project this holiday season is capturing her with other members of our family. And to start a new and better blog.
Hopefully this one won't catch too much more dust.
We've had a very busy year- pregnancy, business, and a grandmother officially diagnosed with Alzheimer's and going downhill fairly fast.
Cookies and Bubbles are wonderful. SUch blessings, and loving on Gran even though she sometimes forgets their names. We're blessed that we haven't walked in the door complete strangers yet. I'm hoping to make it through CHristmas without that happening.
SO my big project this holiday season is capturing her with other members of our family. And to start a new and better blog.
Hopefully this one won't catch too much more dust.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Engaged
My baby sister got engaged right around Christmas. We grew up with her now fiance, and we love him to pieces. I got the privilege of shooting their engagement pictures yesterday. We had SO much fun! Here are a couple of my favorites from yesterday.
Tomorrow is my baby boy's birthday. How did a year pass so quickly? It seems a bit surreal that my kiddos are celebrating birthdays this week.
Tomorrow is my baby boy's birthday. How did a year pass so quickly? It seems a bit surreal that my kiddos are celebrating birthdays this week.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Lookin fine 2009
What a year 2008 was. Hard times for so many- yet laced with such blessing at the same time.
For me? Overall it was a good year. Our sweet boy joined us January 6th, and I was enormously blessed to have a friend there to celebrate his arrival with us. Cookies turned 2 the day we came home from the hospital. What an amazing sister she has been.
How quickly time has flown. I feel like we brought him home yesterday and here we are about to celebrate a first and a third birthday!
I started a sewing business and have been blessed enough to have many wonderful customers give me the privilage of working with them.
Made friends, lost friends, tried to make them friends again. Lesson learned, you can't be friends with people who don't want to be friends with you. So this year, my first goal is not to worry so much about if people are always pleased with me. I have given myself an ulcer trying to please those who either can't or don't want to be. There is a lot of heart ache in that, but I think in time I will feel better. Just wish I had someone that my kids could play with. It's okay to have friends for a while and move on. Sometimes it would be nice if they would let you know they are moving on instead of ignoring you, being cruel or just cutting you off. I'm sure I've done the same in the past. What goes around comes around I suppose. I wish the best for them and I hope anyone I hurt unknowingly can forgive me.
Bubbles did everything early this year. Crawled early, walked early, climbed early. Makes for one tired momma! He and his sister are so busy- and I love every minute of chasing I do. My second goal is to find them a playmate and activity. I found a gymnastics program that takes walkers and older, and I think both kiddos would love to tumble. Now we just have to find out how much it costs!
This year, my baby sister gets married. I get to take their engagement pictures tomorrow. They have a sweet baby girl together. I love that my family is allowing me to take their photos. It is a blessing!
More to write and maybe just maybe the time to do it. Happy new year all!
For me? Overall it was a good year. Our sweet boy joined us January 6th, and I was enormously blessed to have a friend there to celebrate his arrival with us. Cookies turned 2 the day we came home from the hospital. What an amazing sister she has been.
How quickly time has flown. I feel like we brought him home yesterday and here we are about to celebrate a first and a third birthday!
I started a sewing business and have been blessed enough to have many wonderful customers give me the privilage of working with them.
Made friends, lost friends, tried to make them friends again. Lesson learned, you can't be friends with people who don't want to be friends with you. So this year, my first goal is not to worry so much about if people are always pleased with me. I have given myself an ulcer trying to please those who either can't or don't want to be. There is a lot of heart ache in that, but I think in time I will feel better. Just wish I had someone that my kids could play with. It's okay to have friends for a while and move on. Sometimes it would be nice if they would let you know they are moving on instead of ignoring you, being cruel or just cutting you off. I'm sure I've done the same in the past. What goes around comes around I suppose. I wish the best for them and I hope anyone I hurt unknowingly can forgive me.
Bubbles did everything early this year. Crawled early, walked early, climbed early. Makes for one tired momma! He and his sister are so busy- and I love every minute of chasing I do. My second goal is to find them a playmate and activity. I found a gymnastics program that takes walkers and older, and I think both kiddos would love to tumble. Now we just have to find out how much it costs!
This year, my baby sister gets married. I get to take their engagement pictures tomorrow. They have a sweet baby girl together. I love that my family is allowing me to take their photos. It is a blessing!
More to write and maybe just maybe the time to do it. Happy new year all!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Moved
Oh how he loves us. We constantly fail- and still he loves us.
James 1:2-4
2 Dear brothers and sisters,[a] when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
1 year ago
That was boyfriend in my belly 1 year ago. I was reflecting this morning because Cookies has made it a habit of BEGGING us for a sister lately. Bubbles is nice, she says, but she wants a baby sister.
How fast a year flies. From that to this:
Certifiable trouble maker. Cute, naughty, and just plain awesome.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Just
I have this enormously long blog post in my head... But I have 5 outfits + 2 launches to sew before the 18th- so I guess it will have to wait. Busy is such a wonderful double edge sword.
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