Giving Thanks

It's not that nothing has been happening around here since Halloween, just a lack of some quiet moments to try to record at least some of it. Seems like everyone was sick with a little something the whole month of November--not enough to really to really bring us to a halt--just a couple of rounds of antibiotics, some cough meds, and a various assortment of cold remedies. For now though, thankfully, all are well. And, another BIG thing--Neil is officially off the oxygen as of our November 20th appointment with Dr. Colvin.

I had a great trip with my boys to visit Marian, Tom, and Alley in Hattiesburg. Such an easy trip from Tuscaloosa and so comforting to have a sister so close. And, so wonderful to hear Marian preach and watch these boys with their aunt, uncle, and cousin.

Nice Thanksgiving in Tunica (see above picture). Mama's presence sure was missed but I'm sure that she helped Susan and me in spirit to get the feast on the table. Richard had a nice outing to the Tunica museums (Tunica and River) with John, Jacob, Parker and Henry. Neil and I had a great outing at the John Deere store where I heard lots of "Mama look." We had a really nice visit in Oxford on the return trip with a saunter around the Square, lunch/picnic from Bottletree Bakery, and a leisurely stroll around Rowan Oak--trying our best to get these boys to cooperate for a Christmas picture.

Gearing up for Christmas now. We now have a tree in the living room and as of tonight it has lots of big fat colored lights and a box full of ornaments. I didn't want to fill it too full of ornaments too soon because I have a feeling that Henry and Neil are about to come home from Rise with a pile of them. So nice to sit down at the end of the evening and look at a Christmas tree.

Parker's guitar playing has really taken off. He has a new teacher who goes above and beyond and has taken a real interest in his playing. Tonight I requested "O Holy Night" for Christmas. I feel certain he'll come up with it beautifully. I can hardly wait.

Kids Lying

Our little boy growing up.

Halloween at the Arboretum

Until last night, I thought the only way for children to have a real Halloween was to trick or treat around the block. I'll have to say, I really missed seeing some of our neighbors (I've even thought of dressing everyone up again and going for visits this nice Sunday afternoon). But, Halloween at the Arboretum was just enchanting! A drive into the woods with woodsy creatures, nice lights, nothing scary, Irish music, and happy children was just lovely. Parker dressed as a hippie, Neil as a bear, Henry as a monkey--with an old beaver poncho thrown over it at the last minute due to the cool night, Mom with a little $2 witch hat from the grocery, and Dad as a Sox fan. Happy children are a wonderful thing.

P.S. Took Henry and Neil to trick or treat Miss Barbara and Mr.and Mrs. Barksdale this evening.

Now, our Halloween is complete.

Hip, Hip, HOORAY!

Neil and I made a trip to visit Dr. Colvin this week in Birmingham. We waited patiently for Dr. Colvin to finish the echocadiogram and to hear his assessment. These only take about five minutes, but Dr. Colvin doesn't say much during the echo, so it seems much longer and I just always hope that the news will be good. This time it was outstanding! Neil's right ventricular pressure is now normal, we can come off of the nighttime oxygen, and he can now fly with out oxygen!

I have had so many emotions for past 3 years and 11 months leaving the Hillman Building. This time as we walked down that long hall, I was just holding my baby as he gave me one of his knock out smiles and floating above it all. Joy and thanksgivng! That was just it.

A Day at the Arboretum

The great thing about this shot is that Henry is the photographer. Look closely and you'll see the remote control in his hand.

Blood, (No) Sleep, and Tears

Three a.m. Sunday morning and I'm in the best sleep of the night, sleeping beside Henry. I hear a big nose blow and then a request for a tissue. I reach on the table beside me and hand Henry a tissue, never opening my eyes. A few minutes later, I open my eyes and Henry is sitting up in the bed and I can see blood on the sheets. I turn the light on and Henry's face, hands, shirt, pants, feet and everything around him are covered in blood. Richard (who later said it looked like the scene of a splatterpunk film) comes running in to check on all the commotion and very carefully gets Henry to the bathroom, trying his best to avoid splattering blood on the new yellow chair and ottoman in the nursery. They made it successfully to the bathroom where I realize that Richard missed his calling as an EMT. Very calmly, he soothes Henry who is blowing his nose, crying and saying,"look at all that blood." I, who have never had a nose bleed, run warm water on a washcloth to hold on his upper lip to stop the bleeding. Dad, who has had many nose bleeds as a child, reminds me that it's cold water that we need. By this time Neil is wide awake, standing in his crib crying. Have I mentioned that it is 3 a.m. and we are doing all this in our sleep! I head back to the nursery to try to clean up and calm Neil. Not just sheets, but a comforter, a blanket, pillows, EVERYTHING is splattered in blood!

I can hear Richard continuing to calm Henry "You're doing great Henry, I think it has stopped." Wait, don't blow again. " It starts again. This goes on for what seems like all night--but I guess it was really only about 15 minutes. Finally things quiet down. Henry settles onto a crib mattress with Dad on the floor beside him. Neil would have nothing less than being in the bed with Mom. I think by 4 a.m. we were all sound asleep again.

Sunday morning, Henry awakens and says, "I didn't like that nose bleed." We get our coffee (bow) and ask him to tread lightly for awhile so that heaven forbid, that doesn't happen again. By Sunday afternoon, Henry complains of an ear ache. Thankfully we have those numbing drops that helped him make it until Monday when he was diagnosed with an ear infection. On Amoxicillin now and all is fine. And while at the doctor, for better or worse, Henry was the first of us to get the H1N1 flu mist vaccine. At the moment, all is well.