Just haven't been feeling the muse lately. But here's what's going on in my world. My brother, Newell, burned himself in his kitchen a few weeks ago and has had a pretty rough time of it. He was already weak from chemo for his lymphoma and this really knocked him off his feet. Luckily, my aunt, Lovie, has been able to go over everyday and sit with him. She says he is getting better, but still very weak.
Ely has been looking for a job in Huntsville since August. He got a job offer this Monday from the City of Huntsville. Although, I think he really wanted a job in accounting, this one will be IT work, but at least it's work. He still has to wait for the police to do a background check, so he may not be able to start for a couple of weeks. Needless to say, I am thrilled about this.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
THIS IS NUTS!
Today at lunch there was a squirrel in our cafeteria. Really! There is a decorative ledge on the wall near the ceiling and he kept running back and forth, occassionally stopping to look down on us. It caused quite a stir for a few minutes, then everyone went back to their conversations. At one point, one of our maintenance guys showed up with about a 5 foot ladder and just looked around and left. For one thing, the ceilings in the caf are about 15 or 20 feet high and for another thing, I don't think the squirrel was going to stand still and let the guy pick him up.
BABY BRADY
Two weeks ago, I was priviledged to witness the miracle of birth. Yeah, I know it's a cliche 'the miracle of birth', but sure seemed to be a miracle, a wonder, an amazing thing.
Amy began having contractions on Sunday morning, October 24 at just 35 weeks and remained in denial all day. She fnally agreed to go to the hospital to get checked out, but insisted they would send her home. Well, she wasn't in what they call 'active labor'. Apparently, you have to be dilated over 4 centimeters to be considered 'active', but the contractions were coming regularly so they admitted her to labor and delivery. Although she was given something for the pain, she had a very miserable and restless night.
Finally around 10 a.m. she began to progress and got an epidural around noon and was able to get some sleep. For some reason, I was never really concerned about the safety or condition of the baby. I knew we were in the best place we could possibly be to deliver a preemie.
Amy's doctor suggested Amy try to deliver the baby vaginally because she was progressing so well and the baby would be small. Amy was a little apprehensive but agreed because the doctor said if the labor stalled out, she would do a c-section. Around 3:30 she was fully dilated, the doctor was called in and after about 30 minutes of pushing, little No-name Walsh was born. Lee and I were able to be in the room during the entire birth. Amy's nurse and doctor were amazing. Her doctor was so excited and supportive, she was almost like a cheerleader. She encouraged and praised Amy the whole time. She was so relaxed and made us all feel that everything was under control, which it was.
Right before the baby was born, a team of pediatricians and nurses were called in to attend to him. They took him right after he was born and started working on him. He was what they call 'floppy' and was breathing a litte funny (they called it 'grunting'), but they explained this was all very normal for a preemie. Baby was whisked off pretty quickly to the NICU where he spent only one night. We were able to visit him at any time and Aunt Jen actually spent most of the night with him.
Next day he was moved to another place called the CNU where he had a private room with a bath. Very classy. By that afternoon, he was in the room with him mommy. On Wednesday afternoon, he was named Brady Edward Lee Walsh. And, on Wednesday afternoon was both mommy and baby were sent home.
Oh, Eamon was allowed to visit Brady shorly after he was born and has been in love with his Baby Brudder ever since.
Amy began having contractions on Sunday morning, October 24 at just 35 weeks and remained in denial all day. She fnally agreed to go to the hospital to get checked out, but insisted they would send her home. Well, she wasn't in what they call 'active labor'. Apparently, you have to be dilated over 4 centimeters to be considered 'active', but the contractions were coming regularly so they admitted her to labor and delivery. Although she was given something for the pain, she had a very miserable and restless night.
Finally around 10 a.m. she began to progress and got an epidural around noon and was able to get some sleep. For some reason, I was never really concerned about the safety or condition of the baby. I knew we were in the best place we could possibly be to deliver a preemie.
Amy's doctor suggested Amy try to deliver the baby vaginally because she was progressing so well and the baby would be small. Amy was a little apprehensive but agreed because the doctor said if the labor stalled out, she would do a c-section. Around 3:30 she was fully dilated, the doctor was called in and after about 30 minutes of pushing, little No-name Walsh was born. Lee and I were able to be in the room during the entire birth. Amy's nurse and doctor were amazing. Her doctor was so excited and supportive, she was almost like a cheerleader. She encouraged and praised Amy the whole time. She was so relaxed and made us all feel that everything was under control, which it was.
Right before the baby was born, a team of pediatricians and nurses were called in to attend to him. They took him right after he was born and started working on him. He was what they call 'floppy' and was breathing a litte funny (they called it 'grunting'), but they explained this was all very normal for a preemie. Baby was whisked off pretty quickly to the NICU where he spent only one night. We were able to visit him at any time and Aunt Jen actually spent most of the night with him.
Next day he was moved to another place called the CNU where he had a private room with a bath. Very classy. By that afternoon, he was in the room with him mommy. On Wednesday afternoon, he was named Brady Edward Lee Walsh. And, on Wednesday afternoon was both mommy and baby were sent home.
Oh, Eamon was allowed to visit Brady shorly after he was born and has been in love with his Baby Brudder ever since.
Babysitting
Last night, Lee and I kept Brady while Amy went to class. Ed and Eamon were having some one on one time together. Around 6 p.m. I got a phone call from Eamon:
Marie, you got my baby brudder?
Yes, I'm watching him while your mommy is in school.
Marie, bring my baby brudder to my house.
Mommy will pick up baby brudder after school and bring him home.
No, you bring baby brudder home to my house, Mommy house, Daddy house, baby brudder house.
I guess he likes his baby brudder.
Marie, you got my baby brudder?
Yes, I'm watching him while your mommy is in school.
Marie, bring my baby brudder to my house.
Mommy will pick up baby brudder after school and bring him home.
No, you bring baby brudder home to my house, Mommy house, Daddy house, baby brudder house.
I guess he likes his baby brudder.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Visit to Uncle Ely
A few weeks ago, I took Eamon to visit Uncle Ely at his new house in Huntsville. We had a nice ride up there (Eamon occupied himself by trying to take apart his DVD player). He was a little reluctant to get near Ely when we first got there, but I later realized he had never seen Ely with a hair cut and no facial hair. He soon warmed up to him and we went to a nearby playground to play. This lasted about 30 minutes because it was SOOOOO hot.
After our outing to the playground, Ely took us to an old section in Madison across from a railroad track where we ate in a Mexican restaurant. There was a freight train parked on the track, so Eamon was in heaven. (Trains and fire engines are on the top if his favorites list.)
Eamon had been singing Happy Birthday to himself all morning. During lunch, he looked at me and said, 'Hey, Marie, you got my present?' What a funny boy. (Most of you know his birthday is in January.)
After our outing to the playground, Ely took us to an old section in Madison across from a railroad track where we ate in a Mexican restaurant. There was a freight train parked on the track, so Eamon was in heaven. (Trains and fire engines are on the top if his favorites list.)
Eamon had been singing Happy Birthday to himself all morning. During lunch, he looked at me and said, 'Hey, Marie, you got my present?' What a funny boy. (Most of you know his birthday is in January.)
Old Madison - across from restaurant.
 |
Mexican restaurant where we ate is on the left. Check out the old time hair dryers in the window of the salon on the right! After lunch, Eamon fell asleep, so we dropped Uncle Ely off at home and we made the trip back to Birrmingham. It was a wonderful day. |
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
MOVING DAY
Ok, so Ely moved to Huntsville last week and because Lee had to go to Atlanta for work at the last minute, I was called into action. Here is a recap of our day.
We finished packing up the Uhaul trailer, the Expedition and the Vibe by around 9:30 and took off with Ely driving the Expedition pulling the trailer and me driving Ely's Vibe. I thought we would caravan there, but I caught a red light and lost Ely and assumed he was way ahead of me. After a while, he called to let me know he has stopped to get gas, so it turned out I was way ahead of him. The drive to Hunstville was uneventful and smooth.
Ely caught up with me in Hunstville and I followed him to his new house where we dropped off the Expedition and the trailer.
Next we go to meet Carl (Ely's friend and new roommate) to follow him to the rental office so they can sign the lease. Things started to go downhill at this point. On our way to the rental office, Carl realizes he need to go to his office to pick up his pay check, but he left his office keys at his apartment and had to go back to get them. Ely and I decide to go eat lunch while we wait.
Finally, Carl meets us at the office, where they find out that the carpet has not yet been replaced in the house. This means, that Ely will have to put his stuff in the garage until the carpet is installed. We get the keys and head to the house. Keys won't open any of the doors. No problem, she also gave us the combination to the lock box, which has a key in it. Carl uses the combination and gets the lock box off the door, but ......the lock box won't open. Can this get any better? Did I mention it was 105 degrees in the shade???? Carl calls the lady and she tells him to make sure his turning the combination to 7's and not 2's. Well, they've been to college, they can tell the difference between a 7 and a 2. She says she's send the locksmith out to meet us. I suggested that we go sit somewhere cool, which we did.
We went to an ice cream parlor and sat for a while and waited for a call from the locksmith. Finally, after about 45 minutes, Carl just drives to the real estate office to get the new keys. Meanwhile, Ely and I went grocery shopping at Kroger's. I'm not a big Kroger's fan. It was sort of dirty. I told Ely he should shop at Publix from now on.
Carl calls to say he has the key, so we head back to the house. So, I think the day is getting better. But, oh no. We get in the house and it is filthy. It was supposedly cleaned beforehand, but not so much. There are also quite a few things broken. For example, the oven door won't close all the way. Carl called the realtor and she agreed to meet him there the next day to look over the problems.
We move Ely's stuff into the garage and put a few things in the kitchen. Strangely enough, the refrigerator was clean. And, more good news, the electricity was on and the AC was working.
After we got the trailer emptied it was time for me to drive the Expedition and trailer back to Birmingham. Didn't really want to do it, but had no choice. It was a white knuckle drive allthe way back. I was afraid to go to fast, so I stayed in the slow lane behind a tanker truck all the way back.
The Uhaul place in Pelham was going to close at 7 p.m. and I pulled in their lot at 6:58, finally something went right! Got home, and took a long soaky bath.
We finished packing up the Uhaul trailer, the Expedition and the Vibe by around 9:30 and took off with Ely driving the Expedition pulling the trailer and me driving Ely's Vibe. I thought we would caravan there, but I caught a red light and lost Ely and assumed he was way ahead of me. After a while, he called to let me know he has stopped to get gas, so it turned out I was way ahead of him. The drive to Hunstville was uneventful and smooth.
Ely caught up with me in Hunstville and I followed him to his new house where we dropped off the Expedition and the trailer.
Finally, Carl meets us at the office, where they find out that the carpet has not yet been replaced in the house. This means, that Ely will have to put his stuff in the garage until the carpet is installed. We get the keys and head to the house. Keys won't open any of the doors. No problem, she also gave us the combination to the lock box, which has a key in it. Carl uses the combination and gets the lock box off the door, but ......the lock box won't open. Can this get any better? Did I mention it was 105 degrees in the shade???? Carl calls the lady and she tells him to make sure his turning the combination to 7's and not 2's. Well, they've been to college, they can tell the difference between a 7 and a 2. She says she's send the locksmith out to meet us. I suggested that we go sit somewhere cool, which we did.
We went to an ice cream parlor and sat for a while and waited for a call from the locksmith. Finally, after about 45 minutes, Carl just drives to the real estate office to get the new keys. Meanwhile, Ely and I went grocery shopping at Kroger's. I'm not a big Kroger's fan. It was sort of dirty. I told Ely he should shop at Publix from now on.
Carl calls to say he has the key, so we head back to the house. So, I think the day is getting better. But, oh no. We get in the house and it is filthy. It was supposedly cleaned beforehand, but not so much. There are also quite a few things broken. For example, the oven door won't close all the way. Carl called the realtor and she agreed to meet him there the next day to look over the problems.
We move Ely's stuff into the garage and put a few things in the kitchen. Strangely enough, the refrigerator was clean. And, more good news, the electricity was on and the AC was working.
After we got the trailer emptied it was time for me to drive the Expedition and trailer back to Birmingham. Didn't really want to do it, but had no choice. It was a white knuckle drive allthe way back. I was afraid to go to fast, so I stayed in the slow lane behind a tanker truck all the way back.
The Uhaul place in Pelham was going to close at 7 p.m. and I pulled in their lot at 6:58, finally something went right! Got home, and took a long soaky bath.
How I spent my weekend
HOW CUTE IS THIS????
I made this cute little froggie outfit for Two (Eamon's name for his baby brother). It's made from a new pattern I found that I think is the greatest.
Also did some reading, finished Janet Evanovich's latest. Read 'Murder List' by Julie Garwood and one other, but I can't remember the name. Went to water aerobics Saturday and then got my nails done. Lee and I went to see 'Salt' on Sunday. Lots of action and violence, but pretty good.
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