Oh Where Does the Time Go?

Here is the birthday beanie boy putting the finishing touches on his birthday cupcake. Bean's new birthday toy. Ummm, is a nail supposed to go in there?

Raina and Miss Linee feeding the Cheeky. Raina named an as yet unnamed Silver Wyndotte, Princess Sheila.

Kiss the baby.

This picture makes me laugh every time I see it. Bugg all crammed in that tiny cradle with her big poodle skirt on, covered in blocks, looking so very much like a big dolly, one that can open and shut her eyes.

If it seemed my children grew up quickly, then my grandchildren are growing at some sort of warp speed. Bean turned five on Wednesday and I just can't grasp that he could be that old. His party is on Sunday, but we decorated cupcakes in his honor and sang Happy Birthday to him. He has brought us ginourmous joy on joy in his little five years. I have no idea what I ever did before he came. If the birthday wasn't enough, he also registered for kindergarten. I was feeling rather traumatized by the whole thing, but he landed in a class with a teacher I have great fondness and respect for, so I feel better about it now.

Bean brought the prized gift from his Daddy to playdate, a new tool box. Handy Man Pappy donated an old lawn mower for the occasion and the kidlets thoroughly enjoyed taking it apart.

We only had a few bits of outside time between the monsoon rains.

Bugg and Antebellie never tire of dress-up and imaginary play. I love to watch them. Though Antebellie is younger, she is taller and is always the Mama and Bugg her baby. I'm amazed at how they manage to fit Bugg in Rae Rae's old doll cradle and how long she'll stay, when it cannot be comfortable-funny, funny girls.

I probably should've gone on and continued my studies in child development, since I am endlessly fascinated by the subject, especially subjects that I call mine whether in the classroom, or my own family. Miss Linee was insistent on visiting the chickie girls. I promptly found her some bread to feed them, which she promptly stuck in her mouth-thankfully it was fresh. She walked around the chicken pen yelling for the chickies, holding out the remainder of soggy bread. Then, when a chickie girl would get close, she would flee-over and over again.

Speaking of chickie girls, I'm headed out to ascertain the damage after serious rain last night. That's the most water I've ever seen in our yard and some ran through the coop, so I might be shoveling out all my pine chips into the compost today. It was a little scary. The creek was out on the other side and across three yards.

Kaye is still in the hospital. I will be there this evening and tomorrow, so I'll give a more complete update then.

Stay high and dry out there.

Jammin' at Gramerly's

Buttercup's drum solo.




Bean tuning up. After doing so, he asked me if I noticed the music sounded different. That was easy to answer with an honest, "Yes." He said, "Well, that's because I turned all my signals the same direction." I was wondering.






Missy Bugg on the drums in her "color shirt" and her tutu, worn over her sundress. She is jammin' and stylin'.




What a handsome guitarist with all his signals now going the same direction.

Buttercup showing off her littlest teeth, her biggest eyes and her best smile.

I guess because her Daddy is a drummer, I got a CD called Drum Circle and put it on whenever Buttercup comes to play. She loves it and dances with the music. This time, all the kids enjoyed playing their instruments along with the CD.

Did you see smoke coming out of my kitchen this weekend. Woo,who it was a whirlwind of life, happy and sad, and needing some home cooked blessings. A beautiful new baby boy, the loss of a friend's beloved mother, a new principal needing to meet her staff. I'm resting my rolling pin and cinnamon roll recipe for a few days.

More happy news, Rae Rae and Michael are about to become homeowners-much excitement for them. They are looking for a frig and a gas stove and other things to fill their new home. Recently, they were blessed with a couch, tables, dresser and lamps. It is fun to watch. I remember being in that place thirty years ago. We still have the dresser and nightstand we purchased from someone for thirty-five dollars. What a great investment, both in the marriage and the furniture-ha.

Oh, you know, there's some unhappy news too. After being on antibiotics for four days, so strong they required a pic line, Kaye's temp is 104 and she is packed in ice water drenched wash cloths as we speak. An infectious disease doc has been called in. And our hearts break for her again.

Do you ever wonder if you just don't have the prayers right, you haven't said them enough, what, what, what?

C'mon Coffee

My list of things to do today is way longer than I am. I slept too long from being up too late and I'm so needing this coffee to do it's thing. I was with Pete and Kaye at the emergency room last night. Through a rather circuitous and difficult route Pete finally received the answers he's been seeking all week, to tests taken last week, at 8:45 pm -insane, ridiculous. Pete was right. The symptoms they've ignored for weeks is C-Diff and a UTI that cannot be treated by the antibiotic they've had her on. So, even though those tests were taken right at Floyd and the results were right there, she still had to spend hours in the emergency room being stuck and annoyed and agitated all over again. She told us to get rid of her that she wasn't worth anything, and she's not kidding or being overly dramatic. She is flat out weary. Who in the world could blame her. I always think I'm through crying about it, because I know crying doesn't do any good, but cry I did because it was just sad and that's all. I feel like if Pete could ever just come across someone who cared and would listen and see the whole picture that constitutes a real person instead of just a lung, or a bladder, much of her suffering could be avoided. Okay, so this antibiotic for C-Diff is way strong and must be given IV for several days and oh, it can cause seizures. Heaven help us.

What to do?

Until this week, we've been blessed with fabulous weather for playdates. Even when it's rained, it has been warm and not too many storms. Yesterday, however, was another story. Seriously folks, who plans for endless rain and 69 degrees at the end of July. Further more, what kind of plans do you make for seven kids, newborn to six, in such conditions?
Well, first you make cookies and provide teeny weeny cookie cutters so it takes a very long time to use up your dough. Then you decorate all those tiny cookies.
Thankfully, the temperature came up enough to cause only slight shivering, with a blue tinge creeping around their mouths, sort of like a lipliner. No one cared because homemade bubbles are so slippery and fun. By late afternoon, the mud holes were deep and you could ride your four-wheel drive tricycle right through them. When everyone was chilled to the bone we went inside for some finger painting with pudding. Naturally, a long warm chocolate/mud bath followed.
Tiff couldn't decide if she was coming with Baby Boy and Miss Linee. Our little miss could also be called, Miss Busy, because she's never satisfied in one spot for long. She's usually fine to miss her nap if she's outside with lots to do. If she's inside, she's a bit cranky. At the last minute, she was wanting to see Aunt Kymbi, so in spite of the weather, Tiff brought her. If ever there was a child who enjoyed cookie making, decorating and pudding painting more, I've never witnessed it. She had the mostest fun and we all had fun watching her.
After five little ones headed home, Bean, Bugg, and I headed to the chicken pen and enjoyed feeding, chasing and holding the chickie girls. Bugg and I left Bean with Handy Man Pappy and went in to finish dinner. Bugg was a big help pulling all the "branches" off the corn before we roasted it.
After a delicious supper, we made "things." You can see them in the picture below. I don't know what they are really called, or why in the world anyone thought up such a thing. You stick teeniest plastic pieces on a hard plastic shape, iron it and then the pieces stick together. Every time you move it or bump anything, half the pieces fall off and you have to do it again. A seriously nerve wracking activity folks. Pappy helped Bugg put her initial on hers.
At last, off to bed for one exhausted Gramerly.

It's Raining, It's Pouring

Using our fancy chef equipment, ro-tel and tomato paste cans, we roll out the dough.

Oops, you mean the icing goes on the cookie first?

Smooching Baby Boy is good on any kind of day.

Ooooh, I like this even better than rolling out the dough.

Ummm, you did not tell me you could eat this finger paint.

Not enough water was falling from the sky to suit these "pretty in pink" beauties, they had to have some more to pour.

Bean found the perfect bubble blower fairly easy to use and not easily misplaced-hurrah!

Raina caught a wee bubble on her cutest nose.

Bugg needed some assistance on the last project of the evening.

A fashion show before bed in Gramerly's glasses.

More Summer Breeze

"Hmm, is this tasty?" My Mom's first great, great grandbaby. I always take tub pictures of all our little ones around seven months old. What a little dumpling!


His sweetest pods dipping in creek.



Handy Man Pappy showing off his chickie girls.




Miss Linnee painting herself, me and, the paper some too.





Missy Bugg and her cousin Raina intently painting, all on the paper, imagine that!

Storytime with one of Gramerly's favorites, Chrysanthemum and the gramerling's favorites-snacks.

The weelings took advantage of some mushrooms that just popped up to have storytime too.

Summer Fun!

Summer Breeze Makes Me Feel Fine

Mercy, our summer has certainly been breezy. I'm loving these cool temperatures we're having, though it's a bit strange, for true. Last night, the chickie girls headed in an hour before dark to get on the roost under their light.
I just can't believe how late in the summer it is already. It feels like playing in water, when you pick up a handful and it pours right back out of your hand, so are the days of my summer life.
Not many days of baby smooching left. I go back to work on August 6.
But, one bit of relief, I believe I'll be headed back with a terrific new principal. I was worried for awhile there, as I sat on the search committee and wondered how in the world anyone could fill my previous principal's shoes. Well, no one can, but I believe we have someone who will love us and want the best for us and work really hard at it. You can't reasonably ask for more than that.
Saturday was Kaye sitting day. Each day I see her she has more words which is great, but still many that I can't comprehend, which is endless frustration for all parties involved. She went out on the back porch with me to sit a spell until she got too cool. She visited with Mom for a bit and watched a southern gospel music video. We are still fighting first one infection and another. Pete had to take her to the emergency room again on Friday evening from severe bladder pain-another infection, another antibiotic-another yeast infection-aghhhhhh! She missed dialysis and was already having difficulty breathing yesterday. I won't be surprised if she's back in the emergency room before dialysis tomorrow. It's so weird, she has no swelling anywhere, but all the water she holds must go to her lungs. She is very irritated and resistant to dialysis these days. Pete about has to force her. In addition to visiting her and translating for Mom, I was able to get all the laundry done and fix Pete a good meal. I'm happy when I can do something that takes care of both of them. Please and thank you for your continued prayers for them.