Brought everyone up to my birthday........

So June came and went pretty uneventful. Things happened at work to keep me busy busy. We bought a van. Well a month and week later we are still trying to buy a van. We actually were approved, picked one out, drove it for a few days only to discover it had issues. Then after 3 weeks (almost 4) of waiting we received replacement #1. Not happy at all with the service the attitude and there are still issues. We had loaner #1 for over a week and just got replacement #1 back today. Sounds complicated and aggravating right?!

The long story short of the van issue is that sometime in August, I got the van I have been paying for and didn't have to take it back more than twice. I will never buy a vehicle from Car Max again. I miss living in a small town where I know the car lots and dealers! Next one we buy I don't care how long it takes or if I have to drive to Brookhaven to get it, it will be bought there!

Now for those of you following this blog you realize this post was started in JULY. It is now March 2010! SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED!

I am not sure bloggin and me agree! ha ha.......

RECAP by month......

August, finally got the van, school started back, Elliot still in soccer, Coleen in Choir. The world is sane and getting back on kilter for Ian and me. Worked thru issues, yes we still want to be married :)

September, started out okay ended in heartache worry and undiagnosed illness. 6 months later we are finally with doctors who want to figure out what is wrong and fix it.

October, spent our 5th anniversary in the hospital. Ian is still having episodes but the doctors he sees during all this time say it is psuedo-seizures and he needs a shrink. We muddle thru. He isn't working. I am stressed to the max. Soccer is great, Choir is kicking along. Coleen decided to try out for All State.

November, Ian is stabolizing a little. He still has episodes but we are now at least discussing him going back to work. Thanksgiving is coming up we will see. I feel like at times I am a dog chasing its tale. Got to go home for Thanksgiving. It was awesome as usual. I really miss my family. I know that they don't realize how much I miss them but I really do. I could have crawled into Aunt Terry's lap and cried the entire weekend but I am stronger than that. I needed the away time. It did help. I felt more centered than I have in a while.

December, horrible tragedy for my boss and her family. Her brother in law was killed in an act of violence that so completely baffles the mind that no one will ever be able to explain it. He was a police officer in a Birmingham subdivision. He pulled over a man for speeding. NOT in a hood. A well to do surburb, nice car, guy driving it was a pharmacist. Nothing to worry about right. IN what has been discribed as a civil conversation between him and the idiot/psycho the man makes the comment that his own brother is a fellow officer in another Birmingham subdivision. Phillip offers to call the man's brother so that he will not hear his car being called in over the radio to tell him what is happening and the man just shot him. In the face. Nothing provoked. No reason at all. A speeding ticket. So you can imagine the horror we have all dealt with as friends. And then there is the worry I naturally feel for everyone I know and love that also wear a uniform and pull people over. Please Jason Kelly always take precautions. Josh you too and all your friends. It is a horrible waste. Phillip was 32 I think. Has a baby girl and boy, both under 3.

So we all muddled thru December. Ian went back to work the end of November. Elliot's team played in the state championship games again and made it to the final 4. They had been moved up to a new age bracket but they still made a good showing. I am very proud of Elliot and not just for the soccer. He is really smart as well! He and Coleen both were on A/B Honor Roll 1st semester!

January, COLEEN TURNED 16. I will have to post a separate blog to show the pictures from her bash we held for her. It was a lot of work but she really seemed to enjoy herself that night. I was very happy to find my bed!

February, lets just say I survived it. That is (refer to an older blog) the hardest month at my job. My boss is still not 100%. I don't blame her. I also have been at my job for 3 filing seasons now so more was expected of me. I am very happy to say I did not disappoint anyone. I also was able to get Ian to see the Neurology Dept doctors at UAB in Birmingham. The drive there and back was a little unnerving. I haven't really driven in a huge city since my days in Memphis and swim meets. Anyway, the doctors were awesome. They are determined to find out what is causing Ian's episodes. They mentioned several things including a conversion disorder. Dr. Sung says that if it is indeed a conversion disorder he will personally recommend a psychiatrist and follow Ian's progress. He said we would need to be prepared for INTENSE therapy if that was the finding because in his experience anything causing such intense disruptive physical seizures in Ian was going to be very deep and repressed. HE WAS NOT DISMISSIVE like the other doctors have been. For those that may not know, Ian was diagnosed several years ago with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. The doctors here (and I agree with them) do not believe he has NPH. Dr. Walker says he has congenital hydrocephalus (he was born with it) and it has gone undiagnosed his entire life. Of course Hydrocephalus is still Hydrocephalus. I am just glad that they have taken NPH off the table. It is very dibilitating/rapid loss of mobility and memory. So we are definitely dealing with hydrocephalus. That does not explain the seizures/episodes that Ian has continued to have since September. It is hard to describe them. They are not grand mal seizures. We know that. Hopefully we have found the place and the doctors that will find out what they are and how to treat them!

I have brought you all up to speed or at least up to March 2010! woo hoo......

I solemly swear I will try to do better.

Oh did I mention sometime in the mix of all this, My ANT & LULU became pregnant. Our little Minnie Mouse/Mickey Mouse will join us around the end of July! yes Addy chose the name. :)

ooppss... then a month was gone!

I promised I was going to do better with this posting business. It is not going so well so far. Maybe this month will be the turn around. I have been very busy amassing loads of new memories though. Let's see I left ya'll right around Anthony's birthday. That will be my first memory.

We called Ant on his birthday (he was working and not at home)! I miss my son so very much. He is my best friend and I never get to see him now. And yes Quinn, you are my heart and soul, but Ant understands me cause he was there helping me so much of the time when you were off at Maggie-May's playing! He came home the first weekend of June and we celebrated his birthday then. Here are a few pictures!

So then he left after we swam, ate, and enjoyed each other's company. I missed him the minute he walked out my door. I know that I am not the only mother writing on this blog, but your first baby is the one that always seems to be leaving you! Just makes me sad, although I promise I am so very proud he is independent and so able!

While Anthony and Karen were here visiting, my dads brother, Truman, passed away. He was just recently diagnosed with lung cancer and had been hospitalized mostly since. It is always sad to me when someone diagnosed with cancer succumbs to their illness. I did not attend any of the services. Some folks probably find fault with that. I just found myself in the position that it was not possible for me to plus I felt my presence would not have helped anyone. My dad and he were close but I have never really cared for him. He had problems. He is dead now and if anything, I know that it is very poor form to speak ill of the deceased. I will just close this memory by saying that I am very sad he became sick with cancer. I would not wish it on anyone. I am very sad that my father no longer has his brother as a companion. He is alone again. I hope that anyone that reads my blog and smokes cigarettes will think about quitting. I know that is not the only cause of lung cancer, but it is a major one. In this instance it was the culprit with both my mom and Truman. Stop if you do. Don't ever start if you don't.

So then we muddled through until my birthday. It was pretty much an uneventful day. I worked. My boss, Vickie, took the office out to lunch to celebrate. We ate at Mug Shots. It was delicious! I was so stuffed all afternoon. The night before (my birthday was on a Friday and Ian is off on Thursdays but works on Fridays) Ian and I went to eat suppers at Lupe's and to see a movie. It was our first date in a very long time and judging how it went, it might be our last one for a while. I am not one to discuss our issues, so no I will not go into them now. We had a pleasant enough time. Things are just a little odd at the time with us. Ian, I think, is having some separation issues that he refuses to deal with. Anyway, we saw "The Proposal". It was very good. So I did have a nice birthday. No cake or fanfare, but my kind of birthday.

That night I began to wonder down memory lane in search of pictures of friends I have recently re-acquainted myself with on facebook. Here's one I found.

Yes this is me, before it all. Carefree and happy at an Alpha Sig function I went to as a pledge. I never did make it all the way to "sisterhood". I quit school, joined the Navy, got pregnant, got married, got in an accident, ya da ya da ya da........... I was 19 in this picture. My very dear friend, who happened also to be my date that night, Bob Ivey, took the picture. He was telling me to show a little leg! We had so much fun that night, dancing and being crazy. Anyway, that is how I spent the first night of my 45th year. Remembering........ Here are a couple others.

This is Richard Larson, Theresa Dubison-Larson, me, and Bob. We were a double date that night. Theresa was my big sis. I started out with Gretchen Ulerich, but she finished school before I was half way thru my pledge semester. Theresa was Gretchen's big sis, so by default she got me! poor girl! We were also roomies my last semester at USM. This was the semester I met Chris. We had a lot of fun together she and I! I am enjoying talking with her and Richard now that we have re-connected!

This is Celeste Miller. Her family hosted all of us that night at our formal. IT was about 20 all together, boys and girls. No one slept! We really had a great time that night.

I hope ya'll didn't mind my indulgence too much!

CRMS Yearbook signing......

I know you are thinking how odd. Someone has written on Elliot's face and legs. How did this happen? Was he mugged by sharpie wielding maniacs?

Yes as a matter of fact he was!

Does he look overly bothered by it? Of course not. He actually paid money to be able to allow his classmates to sign various parts of his exposed skin. Why did he do this and not allow them to sign his white t-shirt he wore to school that day? Because he is Elliot! ha ha....

Hope ya'll enjoyed these pictures as much as I did. His skin was raw from scrubbing it all off and yes he missed a couple of spots. Notice the place of honor he allowed his little friend, Cate to sign. She had actually signed and initialed in all the prime spots on his face. I think she was making sure everyone knew she was the first! Ha ha.....

Mother's Day

From my last post you can see what happened in my world on Mother's Day. Elliot had travelled with another family for the tournament that weekend so it was just me and Coleen at home. We both had a terrible cold so Quinn and the babies did not dare come over. Ian was the last to get it the next week. I did however get some beautiful flowers from Leeny & Otters.

The flowers were quite lovely but as can be seen from the photo several of them were wilted upon arrival. Ian had used an online service to order the flowers. He was very upset at the quality of flower that was delivered. He had on a couple of occassions in the past used online ordering services and had never had a problem. The company was very gracious to replace the flowers with another item. I chose a spa basket that was full of scrumptious smelling soaps and candles.

Mother's day is a very difficult time of year for me because I no longer have my mother with me. We have the "relay", her birthday, and Mother's day all in one week so I can get a little moody the first week of May. I decided this year that I have allowed that self pity for the last time. I was miserable on Mother's day because I was sick, but otherwise I tried to think of all the great and wonderful things I shared with my mom in the past. We have laughed, cried, cooked, and eaten our way thru a lifetime of mother's days and I want some day to look back and see that my children have the same memories.

So I hope that like my flowers, being a little wilted is gone and is being replaced with a new and wonderful thing!

Tuscaloosa Arsenal 96

Alabama Div II U-13 Champions

May 10-11 2009

Elliot's soccer team coached by Kevin Freels gave their mom's the best gift ever this Mother's Day. They won by a score of 2-1 (undefeated in the tournament) the state Govenor's Cup in Alabama. They are invited to attend the Div II Regional tournament in Greer South Carolina in June. I am very proud of Elliot, his entire team, and all of the coaching staff! Way to go TUSCALOOSA ARSENAL 96!!!!

Destin Florida

Emeral Coast Cup. Destin Florida. April 24 & 25. Sun. Beach. FUN!!!!! Here are a couple of pictures of the beach and the fun. Lost my camera and didn't get any pictures of the games. OOPS!

We left Friday afternoon heading down I-59 towards Brookhaven, Ms. This time of year can be really difficult for me. The relay was a driving ambition in my mom's life before she was ever sick or diagnosed with cancer. A couple of years before she was sick, she started a bake sale as a fundraiser for our team. The last year she was able to participate fully she baked over 40 cakes in 2 days and sold every one of them. My sisters, Andrea and Beth, and I helped her ice them but she mostly did it herself. It is hard work and leaves you exhausted but it is possible to do. I have (the year following her death) managed to meet her challenge once. Our bake sale is looked forward to every year, ha ha......... Seriously though, it is the best home-made cakes you can by in the county!

We arrived a couple of hours after the relay had begun. Addy and Isaiah were a little intimidated by the noise and the crowds. It was so good to see my family. I haven't been home since Thanksgiving for a real visit. Coleen was able to see her best friend Sophie and visit with her cousin Lee. Anthony and Karen played with the babies. We watched excitedly each time the team drew "draw-down" numbers for a $500 winner. All in all the night was as usual bitter-sweet and wonderful!

I hope you all enjoyed the pictures. Last year I was unable to attend the relay in Brookhaven. I walked with Elliot's school team from CRMS. It was very sad to be walking among strangers but even then I saw a kindred spirit with most there. Cancer is the equalizer as my mom used to say. It doesn't care what color, condition, or ability. It strikes all. We formed our team name based on that alone. One family united. That is what we are. If you have had a mother, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, cousin, father, child, or friend battle cancer you are part of the family. There is discussion among my family of not having a team next year. Part of me agrees because I saw a lot of stress in my aunts as they sat around or walked. It seems that they have lost their way among the cause. Perhaps a break is needed. I am not sure. Tonya and I are the two that have lost parents to cancer. She lost both her mom and dad. Admittedly Uncle Joe is most likely the reason we began our team. My mom became the standard bearer though. I think honestly that it is time for the next generation to take over. My aunts may have begun it but they are in need of a rest. It is time for Deedee, Tonya, Regina, Pam, me, Blake, Jonathon, Andrea, Allison, and Beth to start planning and doing. I live in Tuscaloosa. Beth is in Lake. Andrea is in Baytown. And Allison lives in Byram. Maybe Andrea can be excused. The rest of us are close enough to help organize and decide. It is time we became the adults and take over. I have tried to teach my children the importance of the relay. It isn't about having a team. It isn't about a t-shirt. It is about fighting cancer financially and symbolically. We can forget about the tent, the t-shirt, and the food. WE cannot forget about the fundraising or the fight.

So enjoy my pictures. I hope they can show just a little of why I walk................................................

TCHS Women's Choir

Women's Choir of Tuscaloosa County High School. Coleen is in there somewhere in the middle of the second row.
She has totally shocked me by wanting to be in the choir. Like reading, as she gets older she is more and more my child. I love to sing and as a young adult and an older one, I have always tried to remain involved in a choir.
This is the entire Women's Choir and director Ginnie White
There is my Leeny! Sing girl sing!

Quick blog to let you see how I spend my weekends.....

Yes that is a soccer field. This one was in Birmingham. Well a suburb of Birmingham. We rode with the May's Elliot is the blond in the background Thomas May is kicking the ball and Jorge is thinking about running. They were warming up. Unfortunately this field was a little different. The "stands" were a good distance from the actual field so this is about as close of a shot as I could get. Shucks. I will try my best to get better pictures from the State Cup Mother's Day weekend.

So yes I watch boys running around a field chasing a ball for about three hours every weekend. Well every weekend until after Mother's day weekend. Then it will be September or October before we chase the balls again! :(

Elliot's birthday

I am not good at keeping this blog thing current. There are too many things going on in my life not to mention that I had an inner ear infection that sidelined me for a few days. So much happened from the weekend of the picnic until Elliot's birthday. Things of note: My aunt Terry was in the hospital. She was sick and the doctors are still not sure of what was wrong. They do know what it was not. It was not her heart, her brain, or a tumor, or an infection. She was unconscious for a while. I understand that Renae broke down her door to get to her. Then there was spring break. Coleen went to Hattiesburg and Picayune. She had a blast with her Uncle Paul fishing. I am glad she was able to go. Hopefully this summer she and Elliot will be able to go back. So while Coleen was whiling away the hours cruising the Jordan River catching a fish or two showing up her uncle Paul, Elliot and I celebrated his birthday. We went to the Kobe Steak House in Midtown. It was very nice. They sang happy birthday to him in Japanese while banging on a huge drum. The entire restaurant knew that someone had a birthday. For his treat they gave him a set of chop sticks in a pretty wooden box. It was very special. You do notice there are no pictures right????????

So lets skip straight to April 15, the day he was supposed to have been born. Ian, Quinn, Stephen, Addy, Isaiah, Elliot and I went to eat supper again. It was equally nice because we were almost complete. Anthony of course was still out and Karen was in Hattiesburg. And of course Coleen was still being a river rat in Picayune! Here is a picture..........

We all had a great time. The chef was fascinating to young and old alike as you should be able to tell from the following picture........ So then the staff banged on yet another drum and sang happy birthday to Elliot again. We called it Happy Birthday Part Deux. Addy was so impressed with the chopsticks. She wasn't completely sure of what you used them for.

All in all I believe Elliot had a wonderful birthday. Part one and part two!

picniking on the warrior.......

No it isn't a new term for editing pictures!

It all started with a phone call from Quinn and an acknowledgement that it was absolutely beautiful outside. "Momma you are going on a picnic with us! Get ready!"

We made sandwiches, grabbed cheese and strawberries. Loaded drinks and a blanket and headed out.

Walking up the trail on the Black Warrior River, Elliot spotted a little peninsula that looked dry and flat enough for our little picnic. It was! Isaiah and Addy loved the fresh air. Quinn and I almost enjoyed a nap. Elliot skipped rocks and Coleen looked on.

We were treated to the sight of the Alabama row team, "Row Tide" practicing their strokes up and down the river. They were sweet enough to wave at Addy. Addy was so excited to see them. She was jumping up and down and yelling at the top of her lungs. Just as we were leaving a huge barge full of coal came along.

All in all it was a very relaxing afternoon. We wrapped it up that evening with dinner at Northport Dinner with Stephen's Grammy and Janet! Cool Saturday afternoon!

March 14.......

Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday dear Ian, happy birthday to you!

This weekend, Karen and Anthony stopped along the way and picked up Ian's daughter, Kami to come see her daddy for his birthday. We all celebrated Saturday night with dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings and a delish cake from Publix. No I did not bake one. We had too much to do during the day to allow me time to measure, mix, bake and ice! Here are a couple of more pictures......

Anthony and Karen were here for the entire weekend. I am so sad cause our Anthony has gone back to work and it will be several weeks till we see him again!

Quinn and Stephen were there. Poor babies are really not into Addy's terrible two's. She has developed a very strong personality and I am afraid it is not going to mellow! I personally think she is perfect. We just need to anticipate her every need and fill it before she is aware of needing it. :)

Karen thought it would be funny to leave the red in her eyes. There was even talk of adding little horns. Shameful people!

She was very unhappy though because they did not have macaroni and cheese. She actually wanted macaroni and cheese. When our waitress asked her what she wanted she said, "I want macaroni and cheese, please." How can they run out of macaroni and cheese???????

And not to be left out, here is my happy happy boy! He talked to everyone that came by our table. He only became cranky when his papa would not pay attention to him!

So I hope you all enjoyed a few pictures of Ian's 43rd birthday party. Karen took the pictures. Well except for the one of her and Anthony. I took it. Coleen and Elliot and Kami were also there but alas no picture of them has made its way to me!