I've got my apron on, the music turned up and I am all alone! Tonight we celebrate Aidan's 8th birthday by having dinner with the Macomber's at the pool. My house smells great. Loads of fresh veggies and herbs are being prepared.
There is nothing like a fresh food market. I am ashamed to say that I have not been to one all summer. Shameful! Here are some wonderful pics that Maddie and I took today at the Lakeside Farmers Market.
I am not sure I like being a grown up! : ) I have spent more time on the phone this week than I thought possible. Nurses, Doctors, Discharge Managers. Those phone calls stress me out. I never know the right questions to ask. I get all tongue tied and never get the entire story. I told my best friend Christy that this medical situation is a lot like a needing to put together a 500 piece puzzle with out having a photo to go by. Piecing together the information that my incoherent Mother gives me with the information that she has given my brother and sister, then adding in the quick fire information that the medical staff offers it's a real challenge.
My Mother was discharged from the hospital late yesterday and is hanging out with my sister and her family. I know she will enjoy the time with my little niece. We hope that she will be able to go home after the medical alert system is installed this weekend. We also need proof that she can actually take care of herself at this point.
We are not done though not by any means. It looks like the brain tumor that she has for 19 years could be causing a lot of her problems. It is a benign tumor located in her parietal lobe. The doctors believe that it is time to remove it. We don't know how fast they would like to move on this. Honestly, they do not seem to in a hurry, this give us some time to get used to the idea and to get ready. Scary stuff.
I have not been able to get anything sewn for days. Well yesterday I tried to finish two special order banners and it took me 10 hours to get it done. I had to stop 100 times to be on the phone. But when I could actually sew I ached all over from the stress. I actually put my head down on the sewing table and fell asleep. URG! I hate this.
I laid in bed this morning trying to decide when I should re-open the shop. I am so tired. I think I will give myself a few more days and then start listing what is already completed. I may not list very many custom items, just the deluxe splat mat and the tablecloths. I will also lessen the amount of aprons I will offer. I think that will help with my stress level a lot. I have come to realize that I have a really big job. This is no longer a little hobby, this is a real business.
I have to get back on top of this Modern June thing quickly. I have wholesale orders to complete. Plus I have some wonderful upcoming press in September. Time to be a big girl and get back to it!
In an attempt to get away from educating myself on the symptoms and removal of parietal lobe tumors we went out for a nice family night. Here are the fun photos of the fun night. Back in the real world I don't like what I have to look forward to. This just can't be happening. My poor Momma!
Thanks to everyone that has sent me kind words of support. You emails, comments and calls have been very comforting! Many, many thanks. I never know just how much so share on my blog. Where does or should Modern June life, family life and real life divide. For me it is just my life. It is all the same and so is my blog. A mix and mingle of all that occurs in the life and times of Kelly! I have been writing but not posting the last few days. I have just combined it so I can share what has been happening.
Saturday:
It isn't fair is it, life that is? I mean we grow up and bet busy and then lose track of what is most important things. For a week my sister and I had a sense that our Mother's health was not doing to well. My sister took her to the Doctor with our concerns. While we waited for blood work we got a big scare. On Friday night around 6 our Mom was found on the floor of her bedroom where she had been for 12-16 hours. Unable to get up or get to the phone she laid there listening to the phone ring as people worried about why she had not checked in with them. Now dealing with the after effects of dehydration she lays in a hospital bed getting better.
Sunday:
What do you do when you mother can not longer live alone? She is only 60 years old. I guess you wait and try to trust in medical system. Man, I hate waiting.
I have spent the weekend in shock. Trying to finish up the orders. I have two wholesale orders to get out ASAP and then two more that I really need to be preparing for. Not to mention the large number of retail order that need attending to. I am swamped here!
Monday:
Along with Modern June work I have been on the phone with my brother and my sister trying to piece together the information from our incoherent mother and her surly male nurse. URG. Finally I received a phone call from the Doctor. Facts, that is what I needed! Don't you know he called in the middle of my appointment with Strawberry Fields. There we were in the middle of selecting items for her store, Modern June product all over her shop front and I get a highly personal call. OH MY! Deanna could not be cooler so I was not stressed about it. Isn't that typical!
Tuesday:
Mom should be getting out of the hospital today or tomorrow, so now what? I hate the idea of her being at home alone. How do we know for sure that she can take care of herself? My job today is to get her set up with the "I've fallen and I can't get up" service. This will give everyone bit more piece of mind. Oh being a grown up is a drag.
I just shut down Modern June for a bit due to a family emergency. We are all OK here but my Mother in Missouri was hospitalized last night. I am awaiting word on what I need to to do next. If I could I would hop on the next plane. Being this far away from family is so hard sometimes.
I will let you all know if I go out of town to help with her care.
I just have to share these photos with you! The other day the three of us ended up in the studio together engaging in our own version of "splatting". I was making a stack of splat mats. Aidan was splatting out bad Jedi types. And Maddie was conquering the Pokemon world by splatting every opponent.
I was just happy to have us all in one place even if we were doing our own thing! Hey the family that "splats" together stays together. (Sorry, I couldn't resist)
Isn't this amazing? Yesterday for fathers day we had a fun family day at Busch Gardens. We rode as many rides as as we could, we enjoyed the wolf show and eat yummy ice cream sundae's served in chocolate covered waffle cones. Then after our very long day we drove off into the sunset!
The last few days I have been excited to have my brother, Steve visit for the first time in 7 years. He was a blast to have around. On Thursday we braved the 36 degree weather and went to DC. Aidan did not wear any socks, oh my gosh, you can imagine the trouble that caused. I let him tuff it out for a bit and then offered him my hand warmers for his feet. I know you know that could not be easy to wear on ones feet. But at least we made it to the Lincoln Memorial and then to the Washington Memorial with out too much trouble.
I love this photo of the ceiling at the Lincoln Memorial! Great mosaic.
This is at the new WW 2 memorial, look at that blue sky.
This weekend I was told that my dear grandma, my Grr was entering hospice. I am not going to get really chatty but I would like to say that she wore the most wonderful aqua blue gingham apron with white cross-stitch. I have missed her for so long due to Alzheimer's but I had no idea how much till now.
Tonight I will finish up the last 7 items of Modern June's Holiday 2007 orders, and tomorrow after I leave the post office I am going to love on my babies, make my Grr's chocolate oatmeal cookies and play Yahtzee. Just like she did with me.
One last trip to Busch Gardens
Our last Richmond Braves game.
The beloved Martian Matter kit.
