Time marches on....

It's hard to believe that it has been almost three years since I last posted a blog. I was working on something and a memory was triggered about a blog I wrote a while ago and I thought I'd stop by this site and see what was here.

He's an update:

Pete is doing much better. He has some residual memory issues, but if you weren't living with him or worked as a speech therapist you would barely notice. He can get stuck on a thought or idea and its a struggle to get him off of it.... and when he tries to argue his point of view he can get easily turned around. But, he is so much better. His face is healed and his body is what it was before. The only way to tell that he had any eye damage is when he tries to roll his eyes like a teenager- since he will turn 20 in a few months I hope that completely goes away.

Dori has finished her degree at MSU. She entered the political arena and became a campaign manager in a local election. Everything was going great- until the candidate lost. I think it really broke her spirit. Dori gave up politics. It really isn't the time for Democrats and Dori just didn't want to get on the Republican bandwagon. She's done several other jobs, like waitressing, working for the Girl Scouts, selling Mary Kay and lately insurance. I don't think Dori has found her niche yet.... but she keeps looking- she will find it.

Dill is now 15. He is super bright but his social skills are a bit lacking. For example, last summer Pepper and I took him with us on a cruise. He completely refused to go to the teen center and only wanted to hang out with us or his dads. One day, he was sitting on a deck chair and a teenage girl about his age came up to him and asked his name. Dill, dropped his Sudoku book and looking at the ground stammered "yeah" and went back to his room. Later he said, there were 20 deck chairs to his right and 10 to his left.... why did she have to come to the one right beside him? - He said really it messed up his concentration for Sudoku!

Macy has made the most changes. In fact, I am changing Macy's Blog name. It is now Mack. Mack decided (or always knew) that being a female wasn't working. Mack has been taking testosterone for over a year and recently had a double mastectomy to help his outside look more like he feels it should. This was a hard change for Pepper and I to deal with, but we love Mack and want him to be happy- so we did. Mack seems happier and has big plans in restaurant management... maybe even a move to a bigger town.

Pepper and I are still plugging along. Pepper left the job she had for 20+ years to try something a little different. She is still doing speech, just in a hospital setting now. It means a little more money and different hours (she loves Fridays off!). Today I have a snow day and she doesn't..... she's not really a fan of that change!

Not sure I have a lot more to say, but maybe I'll get into blogging again. I'll try not to take 3 years to post something new....

Thanks for reading.

ilene

“Call Poison Control!!!”

Dill came running from the bathroom yelling, foaming at the mouth and eyes wide.

Me: what’s the matter?

Dill: I just brushed my teeth with itch cream!!

Me: What?! You’re all right. Just rinse your mouth out and brush your teeth with toothpaste.

Pepper: Don’t you people read the tube?!

(I had done the same thing this morning. Pepper put the cortisone cream on the counter where we usually keep the toothpaste)

Dill: (To Pepper) Mom, I’m gonna die!

Pepper: You’ll be fine, Salt did the same thing this morning. She’s fine.

Me: Its true, my teeth haven’t itched all day!!

Follow up- Dill started crying and REALLY wanted Poison Control called. We did. They said IF he swallowed a lot he could have a little diarrhea, but no other issues to be concerned about… they also called our boy a Drama King….  They pegged him!!

J

Bedroom conversation

Pepper: I can't sleep.
Me: Why not?
Pepper: I don't know, I was sleeping fine in the car.
Me: I know. Every time the speedometer went over 45 MPH you fell asleep! Then you didn't wake up again until I went below 45!
Pepper: Remember when the kids were little and you would drive them around until they stopped crying and went to sleep?
Me: Uh-huh.
Pepper: Feel like driving me around until I'm tired?
Me: No
Pepper: Do you want me to drive you around so you can fall asleep?
Me: You mean, get out of bed and back into the car we've been in all day?
Pepper: Uh-huh.
Me: No.
Pepper: ok, good night.
Me: Good night.

At the doctor's today.....

Pepper and I were waiting in the exam room for the doctor to come in for my appointment. It was taking longer than usual and I was getting impatient.

Me: This is taking too long. Where the heck are they? Maybe they forgot we’re in here!!

Pepper: I could run out of the room yelling that you’re having a seizure… I bet someone will come in quickly then.

Of course, just as we both burst out laughing…. In comes the doctor!! :D

Observations from the back seat

When I was about 13, I remember being over at my Grandparents for a celebration. As we were all leaving (My family and my mother’s brother’s family) David, my 16 year-old cousin got into the driver’s seat. He always seemed so old to me while we were growing up because he was 3 years older so that usually put him into the school just above where I was (jr high when I was still in elementary, high school when I finally made it to jr. high, etc.)

So I watched in awe as we all got into our cars and he got into the driver’s seat. Not only did he get to drive, but my other cousin, Kim, who was only one year older than me got into the passenger seat and my aunt and uncle got into the back seat! At the time, this was very amazing to me.  This never happened in my family. I made the request a few years later once I got my license but both parents gave a resounding no to the idea of me and either of my sisters in the front seat while they sat in the back. Oh well, I tried.

Last night, after a dinner with all 8 of us, the guys took the boys to their house and the girls came home with us. Macy asked if she could drive. I could not say no. The cool awesomeness I remembered my uncle being would finally be mine! Not only did I let Macy, our 17 year old drive, but I had Pepper sit in the back with me and had Dori ride in the front passenger seat.

Here’s what I learned: Pepper was not happy with this suggestion to sit in the back. The door handle in Dill’s spot has something sticky on it. Dori, in charge of the radio, does not like the same kinds of music I do. The speakers in the back are much louder from Dill’s spot. You can not see over the driver’s seat from his spot so I had no idea when turns, bumps, ramps, passing cars, stop lights…. were coming up. Macy likes to “shimmy” the ever-slightest bit like a race car driver as she tools along the highway. From the clothes hook above my head, Dill long ago tied a balloon. The string left behind is long enough to hit my forehead. There is no lumbar support in the back seats of our SUV. I still get car sick in the backseat. My parents were much smarter than my uncle. :)

Oh no... "Star-get"

Two of Pepper's biggest expenditures and addictions are the store: Target and the coffee house: Starbucks. I was just in a local Target today and saw this sign! Oy, our bank account is in trouble! To make things worse, the store is almost on our way home from work..... and Pepper loves a "long cut" (the opposite of a short cut!)

I see Old people....

Pepper and I were getting ready for bed one night and she was looking in the mirror. She tells me she notices a wrinkle.

Me: Wrinkles are a sign of a good, long life.

Pepper: I don't like them.

Me: (changing tactics) Well, many cultures honor and respect older people for their wisdom.

Pepper: I respect old people... I just don't want to be one!!

:)

Target

Dill: (Just returning from swim practice and finding out all his siblings are busy and doing things he can’t do): I am grumpy. There is nothing to do.  

Pepper: Well, I am running to Target. Want to come with me?

Dill: But I don’t have any money to take to the store.

Pepper: Me either!!  :)

The Doctor Is In

Pepper and I were driving in the car alone together when I started a new conversation...

Me: I think I'd like to try seeing a therapist.

Pepper: What kind of therapist?

Me: You know, the kind you talk to- the shrink kind.

Pepper: We have no money for a therapist- just talk to me.

Me: (5 minutes of just talking about thoughts, worries, hopes etc.)

Pepper says nothing when I finish talking. There is total silence in the car.

Me: Ummm.... I think when a person stops talking the shrink is supposed to say something.

Pepper: I'm thinking.

Me: What are you thinking?

Pepper: I'm wondering what bills we can skip this month so you can see a therapist.

Me: Thanks a lot!! :)

Chips and dip

I am not sure when Pepper’s family started serving Chips and dip…. But I have no recollection of family events at Pepper’s parents house without them. I have been going over to their house since around 1986… and I can’t remember a single time. Pepper’s Mom has a special Chip and dip set that I believe had been a wedding gift. They always use that. My friend Sal has been searching second hand stores for years trying to find me one, but they are harder to find than you would think.

The dip is not a hard recipe… but there is a trick at the end that is important for optimal taste and flavor. It is basically a 16 oz container of sour cream (we use light… and 32 oz because we make a double batch) and 1 dry package of French onion soup mix. You carefully make a hole in the sour cream, pour in the envelope of onion powder and stir. To make this easy, you could pour both into a medium size container and mix, but we like to spare the dirty dish and love the challenge of not spilling the powder everywhere. The ‘trick’ I mentioned earlier is that this must be done the day before you are going to eat it. For the onions to actually un-dehydrate, they need time to soak. The pre-planning will be worth it. I’d like to note here that Pepper was in a play awhile ago where they talked about this recipe and added a “squirt” of lemon juice…. This is not needed and Pepper’s family likes it the way they have always made it.

A word about the chips. Since I mentioned that they like things the way they like them I will mention the potato chips here. I once thought that “wavy” type chips would be a great improvement because they could hold more dip and be stronger (to avoid breakage into the dip). This did not really go over well. Pepper’s mother and both brother’s commented negatively on the change. All implying that they had liked things the way they were. Did I mention they needed to be Lay’s potato chips? They do. And do not even think about skimping on this with store brand… they would know. As a side note- I have noticed that Pepper’s Mom moved to lightly salted Lay’s… this adjustment went pretty well.

My children have never known a trip to Nana and Grandpa’s house without chips and dip. That would never fly…. To them it would be like shoes without socks or television without sound- just unheard of! The adults are allowed to gather around the bowl and in a turn taking fashion, select a chip, dip then move slightly out of the way for someone else… it works well. (We’ve all had lots of practice) We had some issues with the kids dipping too heavily which either broke the chip in the dip, breaking everyone’s rhythm- or deep dipping, which meant the chip AND their fingers were covered in dip. This problem was solved by Nana providing individual cups of chip and dip for each of the kids. This solved the kid issues. Dori has graduated back to the chip and dip bowl, but Macy still likes hers separate- probably to avoid the whole turn taking situation. The boys do not seem to care…. as long as they can get refills!

Happy birthday Pepper!

I've been thinking a lot about your birthday.

This is the 27th birthday I've spent knowing you, and I would love to get you all the things I know you dream of having.... I'd buy those new floors for the house that I know you keep wishing for. A landscaper to beautify the yard and a housekeeper to keep the inside spic and span. We'd travel- we'd see Europe and spend lots of time in Germany and Malta. I'd buy you a new wardrobe and hire a personal trainer and Ellen's chef so we'd make healthier choices and get as fit as we (ok, never) were!

I'd wine and dine you and take our family to new places and explore things we've never seen before (all from 5 star hotels!) I'd get you a $10,000 gift card to Barnes and Noble and a $20,000 one to both Starbuck's and Target because I know that it is you that keeps them all from going out of business.

I'm grateful for you everyday. I know I can't get you all the things you dream about- but I promise to wake up beside you every morning for as long as you will have me. I love you. Happy birthday Pepper. :)

A Little Nudge

I think sometimes God knows when we need a little nudge. I was feeling a bit sorry for myself for a couple reasons yesterday and I think God wanted me to realize that I needed to get over it.

Every morning, when Pete heads out for the bus, I am awake but still laying in bed. As he walks by the bedroom to the front door he yells out “bye”. Then I hear the front door open, he shuffles out and then the door closes (although on a couple extra cold mornings it will blow back open and I have to get out of my warm bed to close it behind him!). He can see the bus coming down the road behind us so he does not even head out the door until its almost here. He does not wait outside long.

This morning was just like any other morning. I heard him yell “bye” then the door closed. About 90 seconds later I heard the loud screech of brakes and a sickening “thud!” I jumped out of bed faster than that guy in the stocking cap in that Christmas story when Santa lands on his roof. (I was kind of dressed like him too…. With bed head rather than the cap) Pepper, who was in the bathroom at that moment was half a second behind me.

It was completely dark outside. I ripped open the front door and called out Pete’s name. There were cars backed up around the bus in both directions and nothing was moving.  We both yelled out for Pete again. I couldn’t see anything and the silence was deafening. After about a minute, the bus driver yelled that Pete was on the bus and was fine. The car three cars behind the bus had run into the back of the one in front of it.  No one was hurt, thank God.

In those moments and the moments since I have realized that I have no reason to feel sorry for myself. I need to focus on the have and not the have not, the needs met and not the things I just wish for. I need to focus on what is really important and forget what isn’t. I have fantastic, healthy kids and for a few very harried minutes this morning I thought I lost one…. Thank you God for keeping them safe and for putting my thoughts back into perspective, I guess I needed the nudge.

Wearing out the kids

Jay, Pepper and I took the kids on a day trip... here are some pictures of our adventures. Here the kids are climbing up the 272 steps to see the springs.

Sand Dunes the kids ran down:

My Favorite Hike Picture

Yesterday I posted the pictures from our recent hike contest. Today I thought I'd post MY favorite picture from the hike. We came to a tree that had fallen across the path and it made a perfect arch. It was a great place for a photo op! It was before I fell but after we'd gone about 3 miles so we look a little warm. Thanks Macy for taking the shot! :)

The Photo Contest

Pepper and I had a few hikes planned for our latest vacation. Dori stayed home to work and take care of things at home, but the other three kids joined us and were pretty willing to try all the activities we had planned with very little argument.

The first hike was not too long (about 2 miles) and included a great walking path, a couple scenic overlooks, over 220 steps down to the waters edge, a rustic campground and a very nice covered picnic area. The weather was perfect and we ended with a picnic lunch that everyone was looking forward to. (It is amazing how great a PB&J sandwich tastes at a picnic table after a walk). It was a great day.

The second hike was a little longer (about 5 miles) and did not include so many amenities. (The path was more difficult with roots and prickers very common along the way.) To make that trip a bit more fun, we had a contest for the best picture found along the way. Everyone got 3 votes to choose the order of  winners. We decided the prizes together:

1^st prize- any ‘reasonable wish’

2^nd prize- choose where everyone sleeps that night

3^rd prize- Had to do no dishes that night

4^th prize- pick the movie/game that night

5^th prize- a hug from everyone else

(here are the pictures in place order)

:)

Friday, August 3, 2012

Tents

I scared Pepper the other day by hauling up the tents from the basement and seeing if they were still in good condition. They were. Pepper fears that we will soon be heading out with them since we no longer have the RV.

The boys were all for taking a trip with the tents and practically pulled out a map and their sleeping bags! We already have quite a few things planned this summer so I am not sure we will actually get out and use them.... but I am glad they are still in good shape. I might slip in a trip with them sometime this summer (but I won't tell Pepper about the idea yet!) :)

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Pepper and my pickles

I am usually the driver when our family travels. Even before the kids were born I would be the one that usually drove. When we would make quick stops at fast food restaurants I would order at the drive thru and then hand the bag of food over to Pepper while I drove away from the window.

Pepper would then ask me what I wanted. She would hand me my fries and open the straw and put it in my drink as we were getting under way again. I would eat my fries and she would eat hers. Then she’d go back into the bag and get out the cheeseburgers. She’d open the wrapper, take off the bun and remove the pickle that she would then pop into her mouth. She’d put the bun back on and then hand the sandwich to me. I said thanks, then she’s get out her own cheeseburger and we’d both eat.

The funny thing is… I love pickles! For more than 15 years this was our fast food drive in routine! I eat pickles at home- I am not sure why she thought I wouldn’t want them on my burger. I mentioned it to her after a long time and she said she just thought I didn’t like them in my cheeseburger (I have no idea why I wouldn’t!) She asked why it took so long for me to say anything and I told her that as much as I like pickles I enjoyed watching her do the routine more. She just shook her head. The other day we went through a drive thru. She gave me my fries and put the straw in my drink just like usual. When she got out the burgers she unwrapped it and just handed me mine. I missed her pickle removing routine almost enough to have her take it off…. But I didn’t. I really do like pickles on burgers.  J

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Window Shopping on Put in Bay

While we were on Put in Bay last weekend Pepper and I both saw shirts we liked...

Here is the one I liked:

Here is the one Pepper liked.

We didn't buy them but they were amusing to both of us!

Saturday, June 23, 2012

U2

Macy was in the car with Pepper and I and a new song came on the radio.

Macy: "I love U2!"

My quick retort: "We love you too!" .... I got new running shoes today. Once I had picked the ones I liked the salesman asked if I’d like to wear them out of the store. Without hesitation I said, “No, put them in the box.” He looked at me surprised since I told him the ones I wore in were uncomfortable.

I realized as I was leaving that the reason I said no was because I had never been allowed to wear shoes out of the store as a kid. We always had to keep them in the box until we got home. I once asked my Mom why were never allowed to wear them home and she explained that she liked my father to see them before we scuffed them up and couldn’t return them.

It is amazing that the behaviors we learn as children stay with us… long after anyone has to double check and give approval for new shoes to be worn!

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Kahlua

This is my chair…. It is not my cat. It is Pepper’s cat. For some reason it does not like Pepper’s chair. Kahlua (the cat) and I often argue about the ownership of this chair. I am usually pretty good about sharing but sometimes he will start putting a paw…. OR TWO on the top of my head while I am sitting here (I think it is trying to make me move!) he also bats me in the face with his tail. Pepper finds these things very funny. It just reminds me that I am a dog person! 

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