Future lawyer?

This afternoon a little past 4:00 es asked if I would take her to the park.  I said I didn't have time because I would be going home soon.  She replied that she would ask her dad, which she did when K came in at 4:30 to relieve me.  (E and ec were in the city to visit an old friend.). He said yes, then backtracked because E had left pot roast cooking in the crockpot and he didn't want to go too far from the house.  He suggested they just take a short walk, and she agreed, but said the whole family could go another day.  I wish I had made note of the exact sequence of her dialogue.  It really did sound like  she was organizing her arguments before a judge!

We spent quite a bit of time today acting out stories.  For instance, she had me be the BBW knocking on the serious piggy's door, then when I couldn't blow down his door I climbed up on the roof to go down the chimney.  Lots of details from the story but some additions; after the wolf ran off, she became his mother, comforting him after he fell in the pot of hot water.  Then she was Little Red Riding Hood bringing a basket of treats to her grandma.  She placed little blocks and things in a box with a handle and identified each item--a teether became a slice of raisin bread toast, a cube was a cookie, this was a bowl of soup, this was ice cream.  It was great!  Then she was "sick" and I had to bring treats to her.

Never a dull moment!  And she narrates everything she does.  I enjoyed the time with just her.

Goodbye

Last night Linda's daughters followed her very clear wishes and turned off life support, and this morning she died.  Hers is the fourth death in the last two months of friends or family; she's the person I will miss the most.  I feel wrung out.

Some sad news

I received a call yesterday from the pastor at Trinity passing on some news which led her to change a hymn for today's service.  My friend Linda, whose husband died two years ago and who moved to Chicago last fall to be near a daughter's family, fell on Friday while out walking in her neighborhood.   Someone passing by called 911, but in falling her airway was constricted and she was without oxygen for a while.  Linda is now in critical condition in the ICU and shows little or no brain activity.  She is not expected to live very long.

I am just speechless.  She came out here last month to visit friends for a few days.  She sat in EK's living room, and we talked as ec played.  She was full of enthusiasm at her granddaughter's growth and the new life she was making in Chicago.  She even had started dating, saying she just wanted someone to do things with.  Then she left, walking back to her host's home.

After she moved, I missed having her here in town; it's difficult to accept I may never see her again.

Thanksgiving

We had five guests join us for turkey on Thursday, all of whom were present the last time we hosted Thanksgiving dinner in 2014.  I couldn't help but think of two men who were with us on that day but are now gone, Dave and Barry.  I'm thankful I knew each of them.  And although we no longer share the day with Grohs and Campbells, I think of Jim and miss him.  Joni, Sandy and Yvonne came with their parents for Jim's celebration a couple of weeks ago.

Yesterday I dried sheets at E's and kept James company.  He misses his people when they are away.  When I'm there watching the children, he more or less ignores me.  But this time he wrapped himself around my legs, presented his tummy for rubs, and followed me upstairs when I went to refill his food bowl.  His family returns tonight, I think.

Tonight we are having more supper guests, this time for a simple meal of turkey soup.  The carcass is still simmering in the crock pot, filling the house with a delicious aroma.  I will make a date cake as I do every year for Randy's birthday.  Yes, it's a couple of days late, but this way we can share with EKee tomorrow.

Baby vac

A couple of years ago I went to one of e's doctor's appointments.  The pediatrician mentioned a device called Baby Vac, a plastic tube and reservoir affair that you connect to your vacuum cleaner in order to suction your baby's nasal passages.  E and I laughed, even while grimacing at the thought, but he assured us it worked.  So E bought one and used it on e.  Now it's ec's turn.  The poor guy has had a runny nose for quite a while, so E pulls out the vacuum daily for a treatment, sometimes more than one.  It's a two-person job because ec doesn't just lie still saying," It's OK, Mom, I know this will help me breathe better."  But it is effective.  Someday he will learn to blow his nose by himself and the Baby Vac will not be needed.  Until then he will get relief with this device.

Pre-Thanksgiving dinner

The dinner at EK's gave us plenty of delicious food and sparkling conversation, even Bananagrams!  Little ec has been fighting a cold so he looked pretty pathetic with his red nose and flushed cheeks and droopy eyes, though the plaid shirt and gray sweater vest gave him a preppy air.  E indicated this pre-Thanksgiving dinner may become a tradition for them, since K's mom really likes to have her family present for the actual holiday.  EKee will drive south tomorrow afternoon.

Today was picture day for es at school.  I hope her hair didn't get too fly-away by the time she saw the photographer.

Assessment

Thursday es and I finished the paper chain that shows how many days till her birthday.  She decorated many of the strips, I did a few, and some were blank.  I think we started too soon; she seemed to lose interest, perhaps because we had so many strips.  But it is done and hanging in the family room now, orange, green, yellow and white links against the brown cupboard.

Yesterday E met with her teachers at the daycare center to discuss assessment results.  Soon es will transition to the T2 classroom.  This will occur over a two-week period, with a little more time each day spent with the new teacher, room and class.  Not surprisingly, the biggest challenges for es are sharing and following directions willingly.  I found it interesting to see how her teacher's observations differed from mine regarding sentence length and naming colors and shapes, but I observe just one child and not in a testing situation.  But she seems to be on track, a "normal" three-year-old.

This morning I play for a memorial service, then we go to EK's for a pre-Thanksgiving dinner.  E expects about a dozen guests for turkey and all the trimmings.  I'm taking dressing and cranberry cake.

Water from the sky

Today is wet.  While I wouldn't say it is raining right now, there is definitely moisture in the air.  When ec and I took a walk earlier I put up the hood on my rain jacket and covered him when the mist became sprinkles, but soon it was over.  Heavy rains and wind are due later today.

Lynn took Shelley and me to supper at Acapulco last night.  Randy left early for the monthly session meeting and couldn't join us.  I enjoyed the conversation.  It's always fun to chat with family members who share memories and knowledge of other relatives.  We had dessert at Lynn's, Tuxedo Cake left from the party on Sunday.  Lynn is getting by.  When we left she hugged Shelley and said, "I don't suppose I'll see you again."  I assumed she referred to Shelley going back home; Shelley said later she thought Lynn meant she might not still be alive the next time Shelley visits.

This'n'that

Sleep training has not been as successful as hoped, but ec does seem to be sleeping for longer stretches at night and putting himself back to sleep if he stirs.  On the other hand, es now cries "I miss my mother," even when E is in the next room.  So we are working on that.

Shelley came for uncle Jim's memorial and is staying with us for a few days.  We don't see her often so are enjoying her visit, though we still have choir, childcare, normal activities going on.

Speaking of the memorial, I found it lovely to see all the people who came by to honor Jim and Lynn.  Band members.  Quilters.  Bridge players.  Neighbors.  Friends of the family from the past. Pat and Shirley and three of their daughters.  At one point two young soldiers (Marines?) in their dress blues came by and played taps then presented Lynn with one of those carefully folded American flags, thanking Jim for his service to our country.  Pictures and statements about Jim posted through the house, food set up in the garage, desserts in the living room, people visiting on the front lawn on the warm, sunny fall afternoon...a great way to say farewell to this good man.

Yesterday es spent quite a while in her Peter Pan costume.  We each played several roles from the story.  It was fun!  E bought her some suede boots, like Uggs, which she added to her outfit.

A lot is coming up as we enter the extended holiday season, so perhaps I'll post more often.

Sleepover

Last night es stayed with us so E could work on sleep training with ec and not worry about his crying disturbing es.  We went to their house for supper after the concert at Trinity yesterday afternoon, and es came home with us.  Tonight E brought her over after supper.  We were a bit curious as to how she would respond to sleeping in the crib, but it doesn't seem to bother her; perhaps she figures that's just the way it is at Grandpa and Grandma's house.  She did double-check that I would hear her on the monitor if she called out.  It seems ec is making progress toward sleeping all night.  Hurray!

All Saints' Day

November 1 is All Saints' Day, a time to remember those who have died.  At Trinity and other churches you may find a list in the bulletin of those who've died in the past year; you'll hear prayers thanking God for the lives of these people.  Since last November 1, I've lost several friends and relatives.  Barry, neighbor and friend.  Jay, one of Randy's cousins.  Martin, husband of one of my cousins.  Timothy, son of one of my cousins.  Ron, husband of one of my cousins.  Kiyumi, long-time neighbor.  Neil, husband of a friend.  Jim, one of Randy's uncles.  And there are more I could name, people in the church that I didn't know well but I've played for their memorial services.

Perhaps this is why I was thinking the other day about my mother's death at age 65.  I'm already older than that.  While I know my age, I don't necessarily feel that old, so I can imagine a little about how she felt knowing she was not going to be around to do those things she had planned to do when she retired.  And even more so, Randy's mom must have felt it wasn't right for her to die at 56.  I don't want to be morbid, but I would like to live each day fully.

Goals check-in

In January of this year I posted seven goals toward which I've been working for ten months now.  Here is an accounting of my progress.

1.  Eat less, move more--so so.  I have lost five pounds.

2.  Read more non-fiction, aim for 25% of the total books read.  Currently I'm at 14%.  Last year I ended at 13%.

3.  Continue blogging at least once a week--yes, though occasionally a week slips by without a post, my average is above that.

4.  Quilting--I've quilted two tops, another one is waiting.  I did not make one to donate to a silent auction fundraiser at Trinity.

5.  I was able to visit my dad three times in the spring, once with E and the children.  I knew once I began to do childcare for them, traveling would be more complicated.

6.  I visited Sarah this summer for her bridal shower, then again for her wedding in September.

7.  Meet a friend monthly for lunch or a movie, etc.--I'm doing well with this.