Since I had the morning and midday free...

I went back to bed for about an hour and feel a lot better since getting up. Before I laid down for my little nap I started a boiled dinner as I didn't get one for Christmas this year and when I got up I put the vegetables in... all except the cabbage as I will put that in at the very last moment for 15 to 20 minutes. It's starting to smell YUMMY!

This morning when I was up so early I made apple muffins that were quite good as well but heavy on carbs so I ate just 2. We will refrigerate the rest for future breakfasts or snacks. Just can't eat a lot of them.

It's nice having Scott home for the Holidays. I think he is enjoying it a lot as well... I believe we will enjoy retirement... ONE DAY! HA HA

Fumes

Scott spread another coat of clear coat on Greg's floor last night and the fumes from it have stuffed up my head and made me have wicked weird dreams so I'm up for the day and sneezing up a storm. I've started coffee and cracked a couple windows to let some fresh air into the house.

I will have most of today off unless they call me again to come in early. I worked 11 hours yesterday and was exhausted by the end of the day so I am looking forward to a shorter work day today.

Greg called last night and he had set the smoke/fire alarm off in his room by heating up his shoe polish to get a better shine on his shoes. Whats REALLY bad is he had just finished being trained on FIRE WATCH! It may take some time for him to live this one down. I told him to just roll with it as this too shall pass.

Amelia keeps woof woofing so there must be deer walking down one of the streets. Either that or she hears me and is saying, "I KNOW you fed that FAT CAT inside there.... come feed me now!" LOL

Another Monday

And I've received THE CALL - you know... can you come in early? LOL! It's OK I need to make up for hours I missed last week so I'll take it. Could have worked some on Saturday too if Scott and I had not all ready made plans to put clear coat on Greg's floor. Amanda is ill and needs to go home and get some medication and a little rest.

I'm going to start sewing my way through my stash working from one box at a time. I pulled in two of my smaller boxes last night and looked through them.... I will start by making a shirt, a table runner and a couple tote bags that I will set aside for future gifts. I may post teaser photos and let people guess who they are for.... hee hee hee.... I know some family reads our blog regularly so I won't say who items are being made for you all will just have to wait and see. ha ha!

Greg has settled back in on base and sounds to be in good spirits. He has adopted a little black cat and calls her Ms Panther. She has a collar so he posted a message on the bulletin board about her in the hopes he'll find her owner. But for right now he is enjoying her company. Feeds her potted meat and sushi - WONDER WHY SHE'S HANGING AROUND?! HA HA!

Arrived SAFE AND SOUND...

Greg just called to let us know that he is back on Base safe and sound and that he just got back into his room after reporting to Muster where the Petty Officer said, " SOME of us have grown accustomed to Civilian life showing up to Muster.... UNshaven.... WEARING tye dye..... LOOKing like a Hippy.... at this point the guilty party GREG starts laughing. The petty Officer said ,"Either you can put up with this out here or I can pull you back in the office for a thorough chewing out about it - which would you rather have?" Greg said, "the first option Sir". I bet he'll be back on protocol BEFORE another Muster. LOL!

What to do....

Well after we got Greg to the Airport neither one of us wanted to stay at the house so first we made Amelia VERY HAPPY! We took her down to the River-walk and she wagged and wagged her tail and looked like she was grinning ear to ear the entire time we were there. After that we came home to put her back in the yard and then ate some ham sandwiches for lunch and then headed out again. First I went to Jo-Ann's and bought a $50 tree for $14.99 + my employee discounts and I also got some buttons and fat quarters that were half off the clearance price. Then we went to the Old Mill Antique Mall in West Columbia where I found TREASURE!!!! FOUR issues of Popular Needlework library of BIG BOOKS and a lovely vintage fairy print thats about 6 inches square in a gold frame. She will look GREAT in our bathroom as the tile in there is about the same color as the background in the print. Now to find a couple more to match her.

And he's OFF......

We took some "goodbye" photos before the tears starting falling. He'll be back in the Spring-Summer!

FOG and weird Tractor race dream...

I'm awake an hour earlier than the alarm as I had the weirdest dream about a tractor race on a highway that involved a horrible accident right in front of us. I hate these vivid TRU-COLOR dreams that are like watching a video of the event. It was one of those dreams that makes you wonder if your clairvoant and if it REALLY did happen somewhere. SPOOKY!

So here I sit and out the window there is a heavy fog floating through the neighborhood. Tesla wants breakfast and Greg is sleeping peacefully in the den on the air mattress. Next time he is home his room will be completed and hopefully he will get to stay a bit longer than 5 days. He leaves this morning and won't be home again for months. He really has turned into a fine compassionate young man. We are so proud of him.

Part 2 of my family....

Christmas with my family!

I love them all so much!

Sad rainy day and back to work

Today is Greg's last day home and it's raining. I have to be to work at 1:30 today and tomorrow he leaves early. He won't be home again until Summer if then. Letting him go is MUCH harder than all those sleepless nights when he was a baby. But he has to grow into the man he is meant to be and find a soul mate to share his life with one day. I need to find things to keep me busy and fill my days so that I don't have time to think about missing him.

Alaskan Cruise Dream

I want to see these icebergs for myself. Such beauty!

Merry Christmas!

I hope that everyone that reads our little blog has a wonderful time with their family and friends today. Yesterday was a long day for us... but thoroughly full of happy times at both my families in Spartanburg and Scott's here in Cayce.

"HOME" but not really...

Greg is out with friends this morning... again. Oh well I guess it's the age but I still miss him. He is having so much fun catching up with all his friend's and I know it's important to him but it doesn't change the fact that I feel like I am missing out on so much time with him - his time home is nearly half over all ready and he will be gone again on Saturday for a LONG time. He has definitely grown up and will be gone from us completely soon - it's REALLY hard. But I'm so proud of him too.

Paint complete and at the end of the day with a floor sander...

Greg's room is completely painted and now the floors have been sanded with the floor sander that we rented from Lowes last night. There is a little more sanding to do around the perimeter and then Scott and can stain it then put down several layers of clear. It's going to look GREAT! It will be wonderful for Greg when he gets to come home again - hopefully in April.

Oh Baby it's COLD outside!

My computer weather info says that it is 25* outside this morning. The air is very crisp and cuts right through you. I haven't been out to feed Amelia yet as it's so cold. We gave her extra food and some leftover rice last night to help her stay a bit warmer outside. I wish that she behaved better indoors so that she could stay in on cold nights.

Robin, Gwen and Drake will be over today for lunch and Christmas with us. I'm going to make Chicken Chow Mein and an apple dessert. It's been SO long since I've seen them; I miss my family so much. I'm so glad to have Nicky to talk to when I call Mom's nearly daily - BEST SPARE SISTER I've ever had! ; ) I know everyone is very busy with their own lives and activities but still it would be nice to see them all more often. All the kids are growing up so fast!

Well I still have a LOT to do for Christmas so I better get to it. Spending the night and most of 2 days in the Hospital really through a Monkey wrench into the works thats for sure.

Greg's Room Update

We just got in from Lowes where we have rented a floor sander. Scott and Greg will be doing the floors in there tomorrow. We are painting today; it's a straw yellow. His curtains will be a tone on tone black stripe that I may make a matching bed skirt to match if we get some bed risers for his bed. That way he could store all his magazine collections under there out of sight. I was so hoping to have this project finished before Greg got home so that he would have his bed to sleep on but he seems content camping out under the Christmas tree on the air mattress - BEST PRESENT UNDER THE TREE!

GREG'S HOME!

Greg surprised us by ringing the door bell at about 7:30 tonight. He got a friend's Mom to pick him up from the Airport and she brought him home. I was so HAPPY to see him and hugged and hugged him. He stayed around until just a few minutes ago; he's gone over to a friends house. I hope he will be ok as he has been awake for nearly 24 hours. I'll always worry about him - can't help it I'm THE MOM! It's my job! SO HAPPY!!!

Definition of what happend to me....

This is what happened to me and why I ended up staying in the hospital. It's quite frightening as you loose all control of everything.

Definition of Vasovagal reaction

Vasovagal reaction: A reflex of the involuntary nervous system that causes the heart to slow down (bradycardia) and that, at the same time, affects the nerves to the blood vessels in the legs permitting those vessels to dilate (widen). As a result the heart puts out less blood, the blood pressure drops, and what blood is circulating tends to go into the legs rather than to the head. The brain is deprived of oxygen and the fainting episode occurs. The vasovagal reaction is also called a vasovagal attack. The resultant fainting is synonymous with situational syncope, vasovagal syncope, vasodepressor syncope, and Gower syndrome which is named for Sir William Richard Gower (1845-1915), a famous English neurologist. See also: Syncope.

HO HO HO HAT!

Today's free pattern at Annie's Attic!

HOME... Thank Goodness

I got home a little after Noon today. I was hoping to get home a lot earlier in the day but they just couldn't get to me... the story of the evening. I should have just come home; I would have had Scott right there with me and I would have slept a LOT better. Of course I would not have had the IV fluids that kept me going last night either. And they told me this morning not to plan on going back to work until after Christmas so I had to call my Boss and let her know. I feel so bad leaving them short right here at Christmas but I don't want to risk another trip to the hospital either. It's just so nice to be home.

Scott went to get an eye exam quite awhile ago and I'm a little nervous being home alone. I've called him but couldn't reach him. I hope that he is all right. If he doesn't get home soon I may call Julia (my MIL) and see if she can come stay with me until Scott gets home.

Scott came in shortly after I posted this message.

Greetings from Lexington Medical Center

I'm still here! Yep! I had a bad reaction to a medication and my vitals would drop out the bottom when they sat me totally up in preparation of leaving. So after about the 4th time they invited me to stay the night.I'm hoping to go home first thing in the morning.

I have added a picture of me in the hospital - Scott finally got me to smile. I felt horrible and was so glad to finally get something to eat since i hadn't had anything since the night before.

It's "THE" Day!

In about an hour I will need to be at the hospital. I will be SO GLAD when this is over. And I am truly hoping that they find absolutely nothing wrong with my heart. KNOCKING ON WOOD! The coffee smells so good this morning but I can't have any and I am so tired. We were up until about 11 painting in Greg's room. He will be home day after tomorrow and there is still so much to be done. He won't care as he will just be glad to be home but it would be nice to have at least a bed for him to sleep on. LOL! I can't lift anything heavy for 2 days after the procedure and they told me I couldn't work this weekend either. My next paycheck is going to be so pitiful! So much for avoiding stress.

Scott and Gerald at Victory Party

Here is a picture that was taken of Scott and Gerald Cromer at Elise Partin's Victory Party in November.

Sue Bee Honey Eggnog

Recipes Home > Beverages

Sue Bee Honey Egg Nog
Ingredients:
1/4 cup Sue Bee Honey
4 eggs, beaten
4 cups cold milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla
dash nutmeg

Directions:
Combine Sue Bee Honey with eggs and mix well. Beat in milk and vanilla. Sprinkle lightly with nutmeg. Makes 4 cups.

Light a Blue Candle!

If you have any Military in your family or not those of us on Navy For Moms would encourage you to light a blue candle to remember those that won't be home for Christmas. I'm planning to buy a couple blue candles myself to light during this holiday season. We are indeed fortunate in that Greg will be home for Christmas this year. And I am thankful to those that will continue to stand watch over us near and far.

OK... I AM scared....

Tomorrow is the date for the heart cath. and I am more than a little scared. I realize these things are done routinely and that it's an in and out thing BUT NOT FOR ME! It's my body they will be invading and a quick prick of a needle for a shot, blood drawn and the like is a whole different thing from them going in all the way to my heart. I'm trying to stay busy today so I don't have time to think much about it but it's still there in the back of my mind that in less than 24 hours I will be at the hospital waiting for this to be done to me. UGH!

My weird Christmas List

Things I wouldn't mind finding under my Christmas Tree....

1 A couple cans of canned air
2 Crimping pliers (for jewelry making)
3 Hand blown water globes
4 vegetable seeds
5 starting mix (for starting seeds)
6 bird houses
7 bamboo wind chimes
8 a couple skeins of "sock yarn"
9 bread baking pans
10 recipe cards
11 stationery and envelopes
12 plants (preferable things that grow outdoors)
13 sweat pants (no elastic at the bottom of the legs - size XL)
14 45 mm cutting blades - just plain, no decorative edges
15 Sharpener for rotary cutting blades and/or scissors
16 collapsible yarn caddy
17 rawhide gloves - mens medium or large (womens gloves are alway to small for my long fingers)
18 milk glass serving bowls or hand thrown bowls in earth colors
19 mortar and pestal
20 lunch with a friend
21 a tea kettle

Scarves in the works!

I'm making a bunch of scarves for my friends at work. I bought up a BUNCH of fleece remnants while they are 50% off and then the 50% more off for remnant pricing; so I basically bought all these pieces for 1/4 of their original cost. I will have more scarves than I have friends at work so some family may also find a scarf under the Christmas tree. I'm off today and plan to work on Christmas gifts and baking plus working a bit in Greg's room. LOTS to do! I'll post some pictures later of the completed scarves.

I finally got a picture to add to this post of all the scarves.

Death of Common Sense...

Obituary for Mr. Sense

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Mr. Common Sense.

Mr. Sense had been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how
old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered as having cultivated such value lessons as
knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm and
that life isn't alway s fair. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial
policies (don't spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies
(adults, not kids, are in charge).

His health began to rapidly deteriorate when well
intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports
of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a
classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a
teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Mr. Sense declined even further when schools were
required to get parental consent to administer aspirin to a student;
but, could not inform the parents when a student became pregnant
and wanted to have an abortion.

Finally, Common Sense lost the will to live as the
Ten Commandments became contraband; churches became businesses; and
criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense finally gave up the ghost after a woman
failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot, she spilled a
bit in her lap, and was awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents,
Truth and Trust, his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility;
and his son, Reason. He is survived by two stepbrothers; My Rights and
Ima Whiner.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.
If you still remember him, pass this on; if not, join the majority and do nothing.

Author Unknown - sent to me via email

YEAH! Greg will be home for Christmas!

He said he'll be home on the 21rst and then have to fly back on the 27th. I can hardly wait!!!!

A Saturday OFF! How strange!

It's been awhile since I have been off on a Saturday at HOME. Scott and I are planning to run ground wires to the outlets in Greg's room today and perhaps finish up sanding and get at least the ceiling painted.

We are hoping and praying that he is able to come home for Christmas now as they've put the base on lock down. I have heard from another mom that her son got his leave and he is at the same base as Greg so I'm hoping. Greg has all ready bought his plane ticket.

I've set up the smaller tree in the den up on top of the cedar chest. If Greg is able to get home we will drive up to the property and cut a cedar tree for him to help decorate. As you can see in the picture this whole house remodel is still going on. We can't really go any further with the den until we gut the kitchen and get the new cabinets installed in there. At the moment we are side tracked a bit with Greg's room remodel but hey... it's our house and we are the only ones that have to live in it so we will do it at our own pace and everything will be done to our expectations - PERFECT! SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE! LOL

Rainy Thursday!

It's kinda dreary here today and I am wishing I could stay home and sew/crochet the day away. BUT... I have a Mammogram appointment at 2:45 and work so the fun will have to wait.

Greg called last night and he says that they may put the AFB on lock down for Christmas because of something that happened the day before he arrived. He has all ready bought his plane ticket but had not put in for leave yet - doing things sort of backwards but hopefully it will all work out for him. He has to learn this stuff on his own. I mailed him his cell phone and some "basics" - tissues, bath soap, tooth brush, toothpaste, stationery, envelopes, stamps, pens, white out, as well as the instructions for the watch he bought at the NEX in Great Lakes.

Scott is back to work but not feeling well. I'm knocking on wood that I don't get sick too.

Heart Cath next Friday

A small portion of my heart is not reacting like it should when I am under stress so the Dr is going in for a look see with a Heart Cath... Once that is done I'll know how the old ticker is doing for sure. Once I can get rid of the worry things will be better.

Doctors Appointments...

Yesterday Scott went to the Dentist for his 6 month checkup and all is well. They tried to talk him into replacing his old fillings with new white ones. He said why do I need to do that the ones I have aren't damaged or falling out and their reply was that the white ones would "look better". WHO CARES THEY'RE IN THE BACK OF MY MOUTH!

Today I see the Cardiologist at 10:30 and tomorrow I go to the Imaging Center for a Mammogram. FUN WEEK BACK HOME! NOT!!!! Oh well maybe I will get some answers as to why my chest aches so from time to time. It just seems that I can't handle any amount of stress these days. I wish we would win the lottery, pay everything off and disappear from the day to day work life. Of course we rarely play the lottery so thats not likely to happen. OH WELL!

It's supposed to get up to 70*F here today - HEAT WAVE! After being North I am THRILLED with this warmer weather.

I'll report in later today about my heart health. Hopefully it's just something that requires me to relax a bit more.

Home again....

Thankfully we have made it home safe and sound. I'm going to see the Heart Doctor day after tomorrow and I'm wishing it was tomorrow instead as I'm ready to have this behind me now. Especially after seeing how sick I look in those pictures from the weekend. Still not feeling too hot but am so happy to be home.

Greg is now in Texas and settling in for the most part. He had to buy a lot of stuff when he got there so is hoping to have enough money to get home for Christmas now. He called tonight to let me know that he may not get to come home when he thought he was for Christmas and to give me his new address. I wish I could make this transition into adulthood easier for him.

Better get some sleep - hopefully I will feel better tomorrow.

A visit all too short.....

We enjoyed the day together just hanging out in the hotel room. Greg caught up with some of his friends and checked email. He leaves tomorrow for Texas and "A" school. He'll be home for Christmas but after that it will be quite awhile before he gets to come home again. It was SO GOOD to see him and listen to his voice again. He bought Scott and I each a t-shirt tonight and he got Scott a new go-cup for coffee. It was so hard to leave him there but it won't be too long until he is home for Christmas. I can hardly wait to see him again.

GRADUATION!!!!!!!

It was an AWESOME experience!