Grandparents Day

Grandparents day came to our school. 

It was fun to show grandma around!

At one point I had grandma take Rebekah so I could talk briefly with the teacher about her progress. Rebekah has continually talked about not having friends. However there were so many kids that called out to her as we were coming into school that it seems to me she is Miss Popularity. So I asked her teacher. Looks like it's just Rebekah's perspective rather then reality.

Her teacher also told me that they are doing "mix it up" classes so the kids would be put in groups according to their education level. That's exciting. I've been thinking she is board.

But back to grandparents night. The sign should say 2017.

Rebekah showed us all the pictures of her scattered around the school.

Including this one where she got a citizenship award. Not sure I knew this even happened!

Then of course grammy sprung for some much needed ice-cream. Yes, it's as blue in reality.

Such a cute little face. I could kiss it all day - even with the blue ice-cream beard.

So glad to have such a wonderful grammy to be able to represent all Rebekah's grandparents on this day!

Don's Eye Surgery

For years now (yes years) Don has had trouble seeing. In my defense I didn't realize to what extent he had trouble seeing... but I did try to convince him to go back into the doctor. He continually said doctors are a waste of time but I kept pushing. He went back and the doctor said it may just take time. So he gave it more time. Finally after I pushed back for a while and he went in again. Doctor said his eye prescription was correct but he had something on his eye like glue and eventually his eye would break through and he would be able to see again. Until then there was nothing nothing he could do for him.

That sounded weird. So we took another route and went to an ophthalmologist for total eye care. Turns out Don had something called Epiretinal Membrane, a grown on the back of his eye that was pulling his eye to the extent that it was like he was seeing through warped plastic wrap. Long story short, it needed to be removed.

But first he had to have cataracts removed. (He really didn't have any problems but the surgery he will have would cause complications if they were not removed.) So we did that. Then, after months of waiting the day came.

The doctor came in and put this big mark on Don's forehead. Got to love the hat too.

The surgery went fine. Don was actually awake for most of it. Crazy! He had this wonderful eye patch he got to wear for 24 hours.

The next day the doctor took it off. Don was fine to go without anything but it helped him see better and he had less pain when it was covered so....

I felt so bad for him that I volunteered to take him to Gene's Rootbeer, which was closing that weekend. We even shared ice-cream.

Then over the weekend we had great times helping him heal and feel loved.

His eye is better now but he still has a way to go. The doctor said it would take anywhere from 2 - 6 weeks. I'll keep you posted!

Downsizing

We have talked a while about downsizing. We are 3 people. It's a 2700 square foot house. That's 900 square feet for person. Basically we have one bathroom per person. Not to mention we each have our own living space, one with books, one with a fire place and one with toys. I'm spending my days cleaning. Other things weighed into this decision too, but I must admit it took me off guard when we decided to list it and I had 3 days to clean and get ready for pictures. Anyone - any mom - who has been sick for an extended period of time knows how messy things can get. 

I took Friday off and Saturday started on the downstairs while the man pounded in a for sale sign in the front yard. I took pictures as I went. 

The living room area:

The front room

Entrance way

Backyard

View

I'll miss the view.

Front

Sunday I rested. Then on Monday I got back up.

Playroom

Master

Master bath

There are still 1.5 bathrooms and 2 bedrooms that I worked on though the next few days. Wednesday the realtor came and like that we were live. Crazy how fast things work!

Birthday

My birthday morning I woke up to Rebekah saying, "mom, are you still going to bring in colorful brownies...? I told my teacher you were going to bring colorful brownies..." What...? I had planned on eating lunch with Rebekah at her school but brownies...? and colorful brownies...? What?

I dropped her off and quickly came home to take inventory. I had chocolate chips and a zucchini. And  my good friend "Mel" from the internet. I highly recommend her site. Also this recipe:

Double Chocolate Zucchini Brownies

Somehow I managed to make them and shower and get to Rebekah's school all in an hour and 45 minutes. I call it a birthday miracle. 

But what about the colorful thing you ask? My answer: whipped cream and sprinkles. 

We ate lunch and then partook of the still warm brownies. They were every bit as wonderful as Mel said. 

I have to admit: although I taught middle school music for several years - even had classes of 60 kids as the norm, and once a class of over 90 - nothing prepared me for the utter chaos of kindergarteners. Wow. However, they were training them the best they could and I was very proud of my little snuggly.

When I got home I decided I needed to eat more of said brownies. It's my birthday, right? So I sat outside, ate, and partook of the view.

Then I decided I didn't feel well and laid down on the deck. Then I saw a bug starting to crawl next to me and decided it was time to move the party inside. So me and a bunch of authors gathered in my bed. Two of those books were a gift from Don. Jayber Crow (a book I just finished that I fell in love with) and Fidelity, by the same author.

I also received money from my mom and mom in law which I spent on a hair cut, socks, and more legos.

I laid down for the rest of the day and began to feel worse. However, it was time to pick up Rebekah from school so I got up again. I bought Don a Rapunzel lego kit to give to Rebekah to give to me for a birthday present. Look at me being helpful. The plan was to build legos when Rebekah got home.

Then the plan was to go out to dinner, however, I was feeling horrible. So Don brought me home some dinner and took Rebekah out to what I thought was chick-fil-e. After a few hours I got this picture from Don. Apparently Rebekah asked him if they could go to Buffalo Wild Wings. He said, "how could I refuse?"

I got worse and made myself a birthday doctor's appointment. Although I had no voice the doctor appointment was successful and I received medicine for an ear infection as well as a happy birthday wish from my doctor. 

Next year I'll get sick before or after my day. But all that aside it was nice to be celebrated! 

Illinois 2

Next morning we had breakfast at the hotel which, for Rebekah means, lucky charms and doughnuts. Mother of the year award right here. 

But I could just kiss that powdered sugar face.

Then I ordered a quick swim to work off the sugar, followed of course by more hot tubbing.

That's my girl.

We checked out and drove to the Lincoln tomb.

My emotions overflowed. Something about seeing the beginning to the end, reading about him as much as I have, my fondness for him as a man, father, president.... I was humbled to be there.

I went inside and although you were allowed to take pictures I couldn't do it. It was too sacred of a place.

Don wanted more pictures though so we went out front. Apparently the tradition is to rub Lincoln's nose, which again I could not do.

Rebekah wanted to get in on the picture action. Probably a good thing otherwise there wouldn't be proof that Don and I were there together.

We walked around back and saw where Lincoln originally rested before the temporary resting place was finished.

The temporary resting place.

Don and Rebekah enjoying the day. (Rebekah a little less so... she wanted a park about 2 hours ago.)

We left the cemetery and drove through the city. Here's the new state capitol.

More importantly we found a park. Finally. Complete with water. Welcome to Lake Springfield.

By this time the cold had caught up with me again and I sat down to rest. (Okay, by sat I mean laid down on a park bench. I was a mess.) But if you look really close you'll see a merry-go-round right next to the bridge where Rebekah and Don were playing.

My little family coming back for me.

On the way home we stopped by Camp Butler. This was a civil war training ground eventually turned into a nation cemetery. The sheer number of stones... dates ranging from the civil war to recent. So many gave their life for our country.

On the drive home I was almost worse than Rebekah complete with are we there yet? and how much longer...? I blame the cold! But it was a well worth it trip even with the pain of said cold.