It's Been A Long Time

This is the first time in a LOOONG time that I've had my blog 100% up to date.  It feels good.  Haha!  Now we'll see how long I can stay on top of it instead of waiting 2 weeks to post...

6 Months

Milo had his 6 month well visit yesterday...which really ended up being good timing because he was a sick little baby anyways.  He started having a fever and was really cranky.  Our first thoughts were that something was wrong from his circumcision since he just had that done...but it turns out our baby has strep throat.  : (  Isn't that sad?!  I feel so terrible.  The doctor informed me that babies only get strep if they are directly exposed to it...so I immediately called Dad and told him to get his butt to the doctor because he has been sick so we were pretty sure that's where Milo got it from.  We got him antibiotic going and tylenol until he gets to feeling better.  He doesn't like taking meds - just spits them out...but hopefully he'll take enough that it'll do its job.  Once his 24 hours were up and he wasn't contagious anymore I started washing up everything in the house that might spread it.  Fingers crossed that the rest of us don't get it!  I'm pretty worried we will and we'll have it just in time for Easter...but I really hope not!

On a good note..he is growing nicely.  He weighed 18.5 pounds and was 27.1 inches.  He is in the 75th percentile for height and weight and 50th for his head.  Nice sized baby!  Chase was right around the same height but only 15 pounds at this age.  I always get a kick out of comparing them...not only their size but the rate they do all their accomplishments at too.  It's amazing how different every baby is. 

Mr. Ring Bearer

Our little Chasey bug is going to be the ring bearer in Matthew's wedding!  He called on Sunday and asked if he would.  I'm so excited.  : )  We're going to have to do lots of talking about it and lots of bribing and lots of practice to get him to actually do it...but hopefully it'll all go well.  Haha.  I can't wait to see how amazingly adorable he is in a tiny tux!  Yay!

Boot

Chase dumped out the bucket of legos and was playing with them.  I was just watching him play for a bit.  I don't know what made him think of it...but he just randomly went and opened the coat closet and starting carrying legos handful by handful over to Josh's boot.  He ran from the pile of legos to the closet with hands full over and over again until he filled it up.  : )  It was pretty stinkin' cute!  When we picked up the rest of the legos I left them in there so that way Josh could see it when he got home.  I had Chase show him.  I said tell Daddy where the legos are and he said "BOOT!".  Josh got quite a kick out of it too.  Haha - cutie pie! 

It's Been A Long Week

The Sunday after Grandma's funeral Josh was back to work so the boys and I went over to Mom and Dad's for the day.  Dad said they could use some help when I called over.  We had breakfast and worked on thank you cards and organizing all of those things in the morning.  I went home and paid my bills in peace for a minute after we were done and when I came back it was nap time for everyone.  Mom and Dad weren't feeling well and the boys were both napping.  I thought it was just what everyone needed after such a long week. 

It was snowy and crappy out too so it was the perfect day to sit around and be cozy.  I'm really hoping this is the last snow.  It has to be right??

Big Boy Food

I finally decided after Milo turned 6 months old that we would start trying some solids with him.  I thought since he has always been such a porker and has seemed so curious about food that he would just scarf it down and love it.  I was so wrong!  He just spits it out and clenches his jaw so I can't even get a bite in there.  We will just keep try trying again...hopefully he'll come around soon!

Grandma Kelley

I have started and stopped this post a lot of times because I feel like no matter how much I say it isn't enough.  I feel like I want to share every single moment, memory and everything and I'm afraid I'm going to miss something that is dear to me but just not something I'm thinking of at the moment.  Anyways...I guess I want to start this post by saying I don't think I will ever be able to say enough or express enough my feelings and memories about My Grandma.

Just over 2 weeks ago Granmda Kelley made a choice to be put on hospice.  This was hard for all of us to see happen.  She fought such a long hard fight and just decided she was ready to be done fighting.  Josh and the boys and I stopped by on the Sunday before she started hospice to visit with her for a while.  She got to see Chase play with kitty and listen to him talk.  Milo slept the whole time.  She just kept saying she couldn't believe how fat he was.  Haha.  While we were talking she said something about how much of a natural of a Mommy I am..that I don't even have to try.  I'm glad Grandma approves.  : )

That afternoon when I was home I put on facebook to get people to share a few memories they had with her.  I got a few responses that I went and shared with her the following weekend.  I took Milo with me since he was awake so she could see his pretty smile and big eyes.  She loved hearing the stories and they gave her lots of smiles, which is what I was hoping for.  She asked me to write them down for her and bring it back to her - so I did.  I went back up one evening with Mom and Dad that Josh was working.  She got to see both boys again and hold Milo's hand.  That is the night these 2 pictures were taken.  I got to have a few minutes with her by myself and she told me they found my letter I had wrote her a few years ago and she had Karen read it to her just the day before.  That made me feel at peace knowing that she got a refresher on my feelings.  When we were saying goodbye she held my hand and she said I have always been special to her..and then she said "I love you Trisha, don't ever let that die".  It wasn't easy to say goodbye.  I left there crying but yet feeling so comforted.  Grandma always has known just the right way to say or do things.  

I am going to share my letter because it shares a lot of my memories.  Here it is:

Grandma,

I wanted to write you and let you know how much I love and appreciate you.  I am going to tell you some of my memories and what makes you such a great grandma.

When I think about when I used to stay the night with you all the time, I remember getting to sleep with you.  (not every kid is so lucky!)  I remember every night you would rub my back while we said our prayers.  I always loved that…and it is still a precious memory of mine and always will be.

Breakfast at your house was always the best.  You would always make me eggs….and for some reason, eggs at Grandmas were always the best eggs.  You would even let me eat in the living room! 

Helping you in the kitchen was always fun too.  The things I remember helping you with the most are cinnamon rolls, mandarin orange salad, and monster cookies.  (all of those are delicious by the way)  I remember you teaching me how to make mandarin orange salad and I haven’t forgot since that day. 

I don’t know if you still have it or not, but do you remember the little thing that held a swallow of water that you used to carry in your purse?  I remember it was so “cool” to drink out of that.  And how awesome were you let me drink the only water you had!  Thanks for always being so loving, caring and generous.

Yard saling with you and mom used to be so much fun.  I remember you’d make sandwiches and we’d make a day of it.  …and of course I’d get to ride in the very back of your station wagon.  That always made me feel special when I got to sit back there.  

Thanks for taking me to piano lessons every week.  I wouldn’t have the talent I do today if it wasn’t for having such an amazing grandma who took time out of her life to make mine better.  I know you enjoyed listening to me play, so it worked out good for both of us.  J

The day you gave me a bunch of your old jewelry was so exciting for me.  And your trick with the ammonia worked so well to get it all cleaned up.  I’m so thankful for everything you’ve given me.  It will all be precious belongings of mine forever. 

Don’t ever think for a second that you didn’t have an impact on my life because you have had a huge one.  I hope I can be half the person you are and carry on your beliefs.  You have set an amazing example for me.  …and thanks for raising my dad so well…J I couldn’t ask for a better one! 

I could go on and on but I think I will stop here.  I just wanted you to know how special you are to me and hopefully this lets you know that.  Hopefully this has brought a few smiles to your face.  I love you more than anything…and I always will! 

                                                        Your Loving Granddaughter,

                                                                Trisha

I thought of a few more things since then.  Grandma always used to let me pick our her clothes for her for the day.  I loved getting to do that as a little girl.  ..and she would wear whatever I picked out.  What a trooper!   : )

I am sad to say just a few days after this, we lost this special lady in our lives. Mom called me in the middle of the night just after it happened.  I was home alone with the kids and Josh wasn't going to be home soon so I called Ruth to have her come stay with them while I went to see her body one last time.  I am so grateful for Ruth being willing to do that at 2:00 in the morning.  It really gave me closure that I needed.  I was comforted being with my Mom and Dad at that time too.  It was really hard to see my Dad so sad...but yet I loved being there to give him a hug.  Grandma donated her body to science so her body had to be to Iowa City within 8 hours of her passing.  That is why I had to get there so quickly.  Her hands were still warm and I was able to hold her hand and give her a hug.  Grandma had a clipping in her wallet that was her reason for what she wanted done with her body.  It was beautifully written and really comforted us all, I think.  She had many little things written or clipped out that were messages to us.  She knew we would find them...and they all were beautiful.  She didn't want us to be sad.  ..and what an amazing woman!  She was still comforting us and helping us through that moment even after she was gone.  All of us that were there gave her body one last hug goodbye and I promise you I could feel her hugging me back. 

That night our family all gathered at Grandma's house.  There was just a homey comforting feeling to the whole evening.  We looked at old pictures and shared memories.  We laughed and we cried.  The kids all even were peaceful.  It was just like it was meant to be.  I'm sure Grandma enjoyed watching us all.  Grandma and Granddad Boyer showed up that evening for a bit too.  When she gave me my hug she said "you're precious, to both Grandma's". 

I looked through my pictures of Grandma and found a few that made me smile.

I thought this was cute.  Team work!

This was on Mother's Day a few years ago.  The kids made flowers out of coffee filters and we went on a family walk and stopped at Grandma's house to give them to her.  She was thrilled to pieces!  I love the smile on her face. 

This was that same day...she was watching us leave and walk down the road.  This is exactly how I will remember my Grandma.  She always would stand out on the porch to see us go. 

This was at Grandma's 85th birthday party.  Isn't that sweet? 

She had been sick just before my wedding and was so happy (as was I) that she was well enough to come to my big day.  Mom and I bought her that dress and she was so cute when we took it up to her house for her.  She loved it.  ..and she looked beautiful in it. 

Tuesday evening my brothers and I and our spouses went up to Grandma's house to find a treasure to keep as a memory of her.  I had fun looking around and bringing back even more memories.  The thing that got me the most that night was the puzzles were still in the same spot in the basement that they were when I was a kid.  Walking into her basement was like walking into my childhood.  Kind of cool!  I took a few of the old puzzles for Chase. Trae also decided to get rid of his old toys so we brought a few tractors home for Chase too.  He was excited if you can't tell!  : )

Jeremy took the cabin cookie jar that always used to sit on Grandma's table, Tyson took a punch bowl set, and I took the bowl that she always put her salmon dip in.  We all took a few other things as well.  Since then I have realized how many little things Grandma has passed on to me over the years.  I have little reminders of Grandma all over my house.  Lots of special little treasures that are special to me. 

We had a memorial mass for Grandma on Saturday morning.

We gathered pictures and Karen and Katrina put together some boards.  My favorite was the old black and white pictures.  I really liked seeing how beautiful Grandma was and how adorable my Dad was as a little guy. 

The service was beautiful.  Fr. Tony did it and it was really nice and touching.  Grandma picked out songs for her service before she passed.  The opening song was "Here I Am Lord".  The day she passed I went to the church to light a candle.  I read the lyrics to that song while I was there and to me it was another message to us.  A message to tell us to teach God's word. She left us lots of "messages" in so many different ways.  Very neat.

Grandma Boyer blacked out during the service and we had to pause for a moment and then leave the church through the side door so the ambulance could come in and get her.  It scared all of us.  I especially was feeling for my Mom and Dad.  They looked so lost and it broke my heart.  I know Grandma feels bad but she can't help it and it all worked out still anyways. 

Following the mass was a dinner at the school.  The Catholic women's club provided the food.  It was all really nice. 

These guys are my Lowe's commercial.  On the Lowe's commercial the girl is looking for her "soul paint" and the guys are different shades of purple.  I thought of it since these guys were all different shades of gray.  Haha..I know I'm a dork. 

Eden was making silly faces and giving us all a giggle. 

The kids got to run around and play in the gym. 

Matthew came to be there for me.  I did really well greeting everyone until he got there and then I lost it when I gave him a hug.  I really appreciate him coming home for it.  I love my Matthew! 

Dad was nicely supported by his closest friends.  I know he appreciated that too.

Chris Hutson was there to support Jeremy and Jared Hasek was there to support Tyson.  It's really nice to have good old friends that are always there for you even if you haven't seen each other in a long time. 

Having Katrina around for a few weeks was really nice.  I think we all kind of reconnected with her.  She was very open with us.  I hope she feels a lot more comfortable around us now and will continue to come around in the future. 

Tom, Karen and Dad all looked really nice.  It was an emotional occasion but a pretty one.  She had lots of peoples lives that she touched that showed up to celebrate her life with us. 

After it was all over we all gathered again at Grandma's house (after most of us changing in to some more comfortable clothes).  We did more sharing memories and bonding as a family. 

I always loved my Grandma's hands.  They were always soft and her nails were all filed so perfectly.  These are Aunt Karen's hands and I think they look a lot like Grandma's. 

John couldn't make it to the funeral so he came by the house for a little while.  He was my old supportive friend.  Very nice of him to come by.  We told him about a picture we found while digging through of him and Grandma in her back yard on her swing.  He was wearing shorts and some tall boots.  Haha - it was cute! 

We were given quite a few really nice plants.  Chase kept playing in the "forest".  We divided them up amongst the family.  Josh and I took home the one that his Mom and Grandma sent and also got one delivered to us earlier in the week from Dave. 

I guess this is the end of my post.  I know I'll think of more I didn't say that I should have...but to summarize:  We lost a very special lady...but she will live on forever. She touched so many people and had such a big heart. She was such a fighter. I pray I can carry on her example of love, patience and generosity. I love you Grandma!

Milo's Surgery

Despite the week we had last week - we kept Milo's appointment for his circumcision and went.  Mom said Grandma wouldn't have wanted us to change things for her...and she's right.  We got up at 3am and were out the door by 4:00. Milo slept the whole way to Iowa City and part of the time while we were waiting. 

He was in SUCH a happy sweet mood before surgery. Full of smiles and showing off for everyone. : )

They had us put him in a tiny little hospital gown and socks. 

..and he got his bracelet so he wouldn't get "lost".  Surgery went really well and we were relieved to find out he didn't have to have any hypospadias repair - just a regular circumcision. 

He had a little bit of a hard time coming out of anesthesia.  They had me come back to the recovery room to try and get him calmed down.  He was just miserable...poor baby!  : (  I felt so bad!  I just wanted to take it all away for him. 

It took a little while but after he finally started coming around and all his vitals and temperature were normal we were allowed to leave. 

He even gave us a small little smile as we were walking out of the hospital.  That made us feel SO good!  He slept most of the way home. 

We had a really long afternoon.  Milo didn't feel good at all and pretty much wanted held the rest of the day.  ..and on top of that we were so tired because we didn't hardly get any sleep that night.  I enjoyed comforting him and being motherly to him though. 

Mom had kept Chase overnight and that day until we got home.  She made cookies with him.  He came home with a plate full.  The one in the front is the one he iced and sprinkled.  : ) 

While Daddy took a turn with Milo I made sure to give Chase some attention too.  Chase found a bottle of juice on the table that I had out for Milo and he picked it up and started drinking it while I read his book to him.  I just let him do it...I thought it was funny!  Haha.  He knew he was being silly too. 

So far Milo seems to be healing really well.  He wasn't himself for a few days but is doing pretty well now.  We have to go back in 6 weeks for a follow up.  Let's hope for nothing but good news that day.