Bad Idea

So, the other day I decided to put the kids in the truck and get out of the house before I lost my mind.  They were sleepy and fussy and driving me up a wall, and I needed to go to the bank anyway.  So, I loaded them up and did my one errand for the day and went riding around.
I took a few turns and found myself driving down a main road that happened to have a cemetery on it.  The cemetery where most of my family that has passed have been laid to rest in.
As I was passing the race track, I decided it was time for me to bite the bullet and go see my grandmother.  I took the right hand turn last second and jostled the sleeping babies, but no one woke up.  I took the circle drives and right hand curves (they're just BIG circles of property outlined with driveway), and made my way to park under the tree that's been in the same place since I can remember.  Usually I park by the bench, but it's in the sun and it was a hot day.  I told myself, it's a pretty day, the kids are asleep I can see her for a few minutes and they will stay passed out in the truck, everything will be fine.  And then I rolled to a stop under the tree.
I stared at the pond in front of me, and refused to look at the bench.  It took me FOREVER to even put the truck in park.  Once I did, I couldn't take my hands off the wheel.  I think there might be nail prints from where I was subconsciously holding on for dear life.
I couldn't bring myself to open the door, put my feet in the grass or even look her direction.
It's like if I didn't look, if my toes never felt the grass that I used to run barefoot in, if I didn't open the door it wouldn't be real.  If I just drove away and didn't look at the bench, then everything would be fine.  I could go home and open the kitchen door, walk in and she'd be there.
I could call and ask her if she wanted to go shopping and then convince her that she really needed to get out of the house because she needed sun, and people watching.
If my feet didn't touch the ground, I would come home and she would be here.  Waiting for me.  My phone would ring 100 times because I didn't pick up and she needed to ask me when we could do that dinner that we never did.  She could check on the babies, and I could get annoyed that she called while I was at work, or that she called at all.
If I didn't put my feet in the grass everything would be ok.  The wind would blow and it would be way before November, and way before everything went wrong and got bad.  It would be before the phone call where she told me her labs and I knew from the numbers she was in renal failure.  It would be before she went to the hospital for refusing dialysis.  It would be before she was told she needed it.  Everything would be back to normal, and she would be here.  Healthy, happy.  Not worried about T, because she could see his chunky butt and demand that someone pick him up and put him in her lap.  She could see Izzy, and Izzy could say "I lub ew maw maw" she would have been at our wedding.  She would be at all the birthdays.  She would be here.
Well, I didn't put my feet in the grass, instead, as soon as my fingers pried themselves off the steering wheel and made their way to the door handle, I burst into uncontrollable tears.   I put the truck in drive, cranked the radio and went directly to Robbie and told him about my bad idea.
6 months doesn't heal a shattered heart, and no matter how far away from the damn grass you are, how much you don't look at the bench you used to climb on or the statues you used to count and wonder around.  No matter what you avoid, and how hard you hope and wish, she's still gone.  And no matter how much planning, and begging, she wasn't physically at our wedding.  She's not physically anywhere but under that grass.
I tried to see my grandmother, or rather her headstone because my grandfather has been wanting me to.  And now, I'll be surprised if I can even go to the cemetery for the next 6 months.
She was my shelter, my fortress, she was my rock.  My grandmother was my foundation for my faith, and her unshakeable faith is what really makes me believe.  Even though I cursed God for not taking her when she begged, I thanked Him for letting her stay until I could let go.  As I held her hand, and told her I love her and that she can go home, because I was ok with it, it was gonna hurt, but I was ok and didn't want her to hurt.  I kissed her, squeezed her hand and felt her leave.  I didn't react until they called time of death, then I ran.  My best friend, my rock, my shelter, the one thing in my ever changing life that never changed had left me.  Had left my kids.  Would never see my son look healthy and not teensy.  Left, worried about my babies, and my relationship.
Mawmaw, I miss you.  The one thing all this pain has brought is that it rekindled my passion for writing.  I think that must be my outlet.  I write when I have no other way to express myself, and I'll be damned if I let anyone see me cry.

Yeah, so it was a bad idea to try to go see my grandmother.

Mother's Day 2012

So... Today was interesting...  I guess the kids missed the memo to not explode on mom, and let her sleep in.  We were woken up at 4am, and then again at 7 by screaming T-man.  Iz woke up around 7:30 demanding to be up and out of her crib.  Then, they BOTH insisted on being fed at the same time, in the same high chair.  Finally when they went down for a nap after about 4 diaper changes for each of them, I got in an hour nap before T was screaming again.  So the hubby made me get up, we got out of p.j.s and into real clothes (yes, it was about 3 pm before anyone in this house got dressed.  It's sunday, mothers day, and the fewer wardrobe changes the less laundry I have to get behind on), and left to go to our moms' houses and give them their gifts.
Cut to 7:30ish and dinner at a family friendly nice pizza joint.  I'm carrying T on my hip, go to put him in the high chair and pow! My arm is COVERED in poo!  The AMAZING SERVER doesn't hesitate but grabs some paper towels and scoops most of the yuck off my arm.  I got to the bathroom to strip the poo covered little man, and she goes to get me a rag to clean him up.  She ROCKS! She got me a rag, finished cleaning off my arm, and then got me a towel to lay him on because they didn't have changing tables.  She was so great!  She didn't have to do that at all, the other dinner choice we had, the servers would have turned their nose up and given me a dirty look because my son had a dirty diaper that decided to go up his back.  So much for the cute rocker outfit I had him in, he got the rock the "truck outfit" which was a size too small onesie, so it wasn't snapped.  Iz was super cute, and T looked a hot mess but still flirted with the servers.  I just told them he's a lot cuter when he's not covered in poo.
Now they're passed out, and I'm working on laundry and planning how to raise money for the Great Strides walk in 12 days.  I set my goal low, $150, and so far haven't raised a dime. =-(  But I plan to actually make an effort this week.  I've given a little bit of info out, but haven't really tried too hard but that's about to change.
After the walk, I'm hardcore diving into planning our "Ride to Breathe" charity event.  But so far, I have half a logo, a decent name and a starting point along with a general date.  So... Any graphic designers that are willing to work with me and my OCD about the vision I have for this logo please hit me up!  Plus, if you're in the area and know a place we could end the ride, all suggestions are welcome!
Well that's all for now, I've gotta make sure I have something to wear to work tomorrow, ugh.

2 LONG hours

Since 9 am I've been.... Pooed on, puked on and covered in Apple juice. Had 2 sippy cups, a breathing mask, and a pop thrown at me. Cleaned up soggy waffle off of feet legs and diaper and changed 4, yes 4 poppy diapers. And done ONE breathing treatment, have to be to work at 1 and guess which of us have NO CLEAN CLOTHES?!

Caring Bridge Retro-posts To Come

I have decided to add all the posts from Izzy's Caring Bridge page onto my blog.  Since I've notices more people reading, and most of my friends and some family doesn't know what all has gone on with Iz, I thought this would be a good way that isn't too frightening.  I'm going to add them to the day they were actually posted, so it will be a retro-post.  And I'll be editing them as well, when I originally posted them it was from my phone usually in the car on the way back from the hospital or in the hospital.

Caring Bridge is a wonderful site dedicated to helping families with medical emergencies that require time away from home and family. I'm not removing her site, because I don't know if we will need it again.  Although, now i have my lap top, a blog and a new smartphone with more features.... So who knows....

Anyway, I'll tag all Caring Bridge posts, and if you want you can go back and read what chaos we went through with Iz.  I'm not sure I'll be able to do very much at once.  She was in NICU for 6 weeks, then had surgery at 3 months and was in the hospital for a week for that.  Tristan was in NICU for almost 5 weeks, but I didn't do much with the internet and keeping people updated with him.  I kinda told everyone to leave me alone.  An infant in NICU and a 15 month old at home after my second c-section was a lot to deal with.  PLUS my body was trying to force me into post-pardum depression but I was willing myself out of it.  So I'm sure you can understand why I just wanted to be left alone with my boyfriend (now husband!!!) and children.

UPDATE:  I've added Izzy's first week of updates.  So if you wanna read all the chaos, sift back to March 2010.  I have screaming babies, so that's all for now... wait till nap time!

Oh Look!.... a BLOG POST!

Ok Ladies and Gentlemen.... Here it is... I've started blogging again.

So this year, I'm diving head first into fundraising for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.  I've been wanting to be proactive in my kids health and research since Izzy was diagnosed, and now I have the time to devote to it.  So, I'm building a team for the walk in Pensacola, on May 26.  And I'm planning several events through the year. I know that not everyone can participate or donate, but if you can do either that would be great!

Tristan when he was just an itty bitty, and yes my friends he too has CF.

I've partnered with a local consignment event and their newsletter goes out to something like 3300 people! If half of them donate $1, then we would raise over $1500 for research.   One of Robbie's sisters mentioned that not many people think about just donating a dollar to a cause, but hey even cent helps, and keep in mind donation is tax deductible!

Ok, so I'm moving on now, and going to add stuff to my page about the walk specifically.  So,
PLEASE PLEASE share this info.  The more awareness the more likely funds will be raised and better therapies developed.

Writing a story...

So... I've started writing a story that if I'm ambitious I'll turn into an unpublished book. My OUTLINE is 2,251 words..... Considering how I write, and that one of my fav books is only about 80,000 words, I think I'm kinda well on my way.

NEW COMPUTER!

I just got a brand new shiny computer!! So the updates will start coming at a more regular interval.  I'll post one long one at nap time, to get everyone caught up to date.  But typing with one hand and doing a breathing treatment with the other is tricky and slow.