This Grandmother's Garden: This is What I Believe... He Lives!

This Grandmother's Garden: This is What I Believe... He Lives!

Good times

M walked into the house on Saturday not knowing that the boy was in my bedroom. I'd picked up the boy from his mom after having to track her down because she'd forgotten that I was picking him up! She, her boyfriend, and the boy had gone to breakfast, so I met them at Home Depot. The boy had syrup all over his shirt, and was wearing a raggedy pair of jeans, but I didn't care because at least I was getting him. When we got to the house it was filled with everyone, and the boy usually takes a while to warm up, so I left him in there, and started talking to everyone else. When M walked in I was so glad he was there! He was trying to figure out why my camera battery wasn't charging, so I went into the bedroom, and said to the boy, "There's someone special here to see you. " He said, "Who is it?" I said, "It's your dad; do you want to see your dad?" He was crawling around on the floor being a dog, and immediately he started crawling towards the bedroom door. I picked him up and carried him in to the living room, and when M saw him he said, "Oh, Baby," and took him from my arms, and held him and rocked him.. The boy lay his head on his dad's shoulder, and they stayed that way for two or three minutes. It was so precious. From then on the boy was glued to his dad's side, but before they went off together to play he said, "I have two dads now." M was great not to appear upset, and he asked me if she'd moved in with someone. I told him no, she was just dating a really nice guy, who has a four-year-old son, and loves his son, and is very kind. That seemed to make M happy. If M was out of the boy's sight for one minutes he was asking, "Where's my dad?"

It was still chaotic during the meal, etc. and H was kind of sad that he didn't get more time to visit with everyone because he was in the kitchen cooking, and cleaning. I know how he feels; for many of our family get-togethers that's where I'VE been, and it's frustrating. We've about decided there are just too many of us to have Thanksgiving at our house. I suggested that we rent the church, but H thinks it would be even more chaotic since the grand kids would have even more room to run. I still think it would be a good idea. We've got an entire year to think about it. The Bingo game was successful, but next time I'll get better presents. Most of the kids went home by about 3:30 except M and the boy. M vacuumed for us, and I fed the boy THREE Hotpockets (he didn't eat any Thanksgiving food), then I put the boy in my car to take him home at the same time M was leaving. It seemed better that way, and there were no tears. The boy asked why his dad had to go home, and he said that his dad could come to his house some day. I hope so.

After we'd cleaned up we were exhausted, but we had tickets for our first Broadway play at The Capitol Theater (The Addams Family), so we dragged ourselves there. It was cute; it made us laugh, and we were glad we'd gone.

I am SO glad our Thanksgiving is over; I look forward to relaxing while H is gone to Wyoming for his uncle's funeral. He'll leave Thursday, and come home Saturday. I haven't had to tend the boy yesterday or today, so I've gotten a lot done. I plan to hang just the half tree this year, and put out only a few decorations. I just don't want the hassle, and I hope H won't mind. I'll do it while he's in Wyoming.

The Zoo

Spent the day with my daughter-in-law, the boy, and six of the eight kids for whom she is a nanny. It was kind of cold in the shade, but in the sun it was perfect. Everyone had a jacket, and we put them on and took them off whenever the wind would blow. I know the boy has been to the zoo before, but I think he was too little to remember. He enjoyed it, especially any exhibits that included water! He spent 15 minutes looking at the water where the otters were supposed to be, and we didn't see a single otter! We all rode the carousel, ate ice cream (the boy wanted pizza instead), and walked a lot. Great exercise, fun with the kids, and we wore them all out. My daughter-in-law brought a 15 passenger van, so we were all able to ride together. She felt as if she was driving a tank, and I could see why; it was so long! We went to McDonald's for lunch first, so we didn't get to the zoo until about 1:00, and stayed until 4:00. I thought the boy would fall asleep on the way home, but the van had a DVD player, and the kids were all watching Nemo, which is one of his favorites, so he was wide awake when we got home. One of J's colleagues brought her home, so we just took him home, and met her there. I'm sure he'll sleep well tonight.

I told J I would go there tomorrow morning, stay with the boy while H takes her to work (unless her colleague can pick her up), then take him out to her sister's for the day. I'm going to lunch with my friend, C, and I have a hair appt. at 1:00. I'm taking the boy Friday also, and we'll go out to H's son's house where H is tending his three boys for the day. Lots of tending, but I did get yesterday off, so it's not any more days than usual.

Saturday is a BUSY day for us! We help clean the church at 8:00 a.m., I'm taking my granddaughter for a makeover at 10:30, we have a birthday party for a man in the ward, who is turning 80, from 2:00-4:00, and my niece is performing in Cosi Fan Tutti that evening. Whew! Also, my daughter's nephew is going on a mission and his farewell is Sunday at 1:00, so we'll end up going to church TWICE! Oh, man, that's a LOT! I'm sure I'll survive, however :-)

It's happened

Today, M finally saw his baby boy for the first time since August of last year. It happened by accident, as I knew it would, but that doesn't mesn it was any less traumatic. I was driving the baby to our house from his house and got a call from M. I didn't answer, but suddenly I looked to my right and there he was driving alongside me! He could see I had the baby in the car, so we both rolled down our windows, and he said, "Please, Mom; let me see him." I just couldn't say no, I just couldn't. I told him to go to my house and all the way there the baby was saying, "That's my dad; where's my dad's car?" When I finally pulled in and handed the baby to M the baby just put his head down on his dad's shoulder and didn't move. M must have held him like that for at least five minutes, and he just cuddled with his dad and didn't make a sound. He didn't cry; he didn't talk, he just let his dad hold him. I cried and cried, and M got tears in his eyes, as well. Finally he said he wanted his dad to come in the house, and M said he could for a minute, but he had to go to work (he was doing a sprinkler job for someone today). The baby showed him his trains, wanted him to watch Wall-E, and talked and talked to him. When M said he really had to go I told the baby we could go to the carwash, and he wanted his dad to go too. M told him again that he had to go to work, so the baby and I followed behind him for awhile until he turned off. I did not cry anymore, but I'm crying now. It was the most precious thing to see them together, and M was as tender and loving as he's always been with that baby. His girlfriend, D, was with him, and she told me, when M and the baby were out of hearing, that she can see where J is coming from, and that M really SHOULD be paying child support, and he SHOULD agree to get a drug test. She gave me $60. to give to J, so I told J that M had stopped by to give me that money, not knowing that the baby was there. When I called to tell her that M had seen the baby she told me that the baby had told her M had been at our house when he was here last week, but I assured her again, that I'd NEVER let him see his dad until today, and that I wasn't hiding anything from her. She said that it's not that she doesn't want the baby to see his dad she just wants to be sure his dad is sober when he does see him. She was glad for the money, and I bought her some groceries with it, which she really needed. I'm still very teary-eyed about their seeing each other. I hope this is a good beginning for them to have a relationship in the future, and I hope this doesn't mess with the baby's head. I'm afraid he'll start thinking about it, and cry or something.

Tomorrow my granddaughter is going to tend him for awhile so she can earn a little money. I'll go out in the morning and sit with him until he wakes up then I'll take him to her house, I guess. We're supposed to go to dinner with my other son, his wife, and kids for his youngest son's birthday at 6:15. Not sure what I'll do if I've picked up the baby by then. Take him with us, I guess. We'll work it out. Sure wish I knew when J will be off work, so I could plan my day. It's tough just waiting for her to call and say she's off work.

I'm tired after being up since 5:30 a.m. so I'm going to bed early tonight.

Doctor's Appt.

I went to Dr. Miner today, after having another ultrasound last week, because he thought the nodules on my thyroid were growing, only to find that they have actually SHRUNK! Here are all the results of my lab tests:

Total cholesterol: 158
LDL: 82
HDL: 62
Blood pressure: 130/62
Vitamin D level: 45 (supposed to be 30-32 or higher)
Weight: 149 w/ my clothes on ( 2 pounds less than last visit)
Size of nodules : 1.5 cm and 1. 8 cm (last time they were 1. 7 cm and 2.0 cm, so THEY HAVE SHRUNK!)
TSH (thyroid) level: 3 (which is in the normal range). He even said if the number continues to go up he'll probably
decrease the dosage of medication I take because I'm doing so
well.

I'm taking Vytorin for my cholesterol, Prozac, Methimizole, for my thyroid, a low dose baby aspirin every other day, 1200 mg of calcium that includes Vitamin D, and 1200 mg. of fish oil.

The doctor told me that whatever I'm doing to keep doing it, because all my levels are better than they were last time! SO glad that I don't have to have another needle biopsy. Wahoo!

It's a beautiful day today although it's only 63 degrees outside at 1:00 p.m. To me that is perfect! The sun is shining, we just need to wear a light jacket, and jeans, which I love! I walked my usual 3 miles today, and I feel so good when I do that. I'd like to lose 10 more pounds, and maybe I will, and maybe I won't. I'm reading the 5th Harry Potter book, I was able to burn all my photos to CDs, so I know I won't lose them, I'm caught up, for the most part, on Christmas shopping for now, and I'm following the schedule I set up for myself for this week, so far. I'm getting my hair cut this afternoon SHORT, and I'm excited. I'm going to try to talk her into putting some kind of darker color on it, maybe. I'm always looking for a change!

So far, so good with Mike and Jolene. I took her shopping Monday and bought her two pairs of pants, a sweater, a shirt, and a black sweater/jacket. She was SO happy! We're taking her and Mike to a concert Friday, and I think she's looking forward to it. Mike and Brita are going to tend Gage, so we can relax and know he is in good hands. Life in this moment is good.