Oh Happy Day

Not really. Lil was up at 3:00 FOR A LONG TIME. It is nice and sunny, though, so I imagine the day will be nice. I pulled something in my mid left section of personhood. I can't believe I went to the gym. Guess I was too tired to think straight. Couldn't do much but I was there, darn it!

I have five artichokes plants coming up. Won't tell you how many of them I started from seed and planted last year, but five plants will be grand. Started more of them from seed last week. Spring is such an exciting and busy time.

I have my feet up on an ottoman and Lily keeps coming over and trying to chew on my toes. Funny, funny baby.

Ongoing Issues

#1--Evan's belly. I told him yesterday afternoon to go to bed until his stomach felt better. It is so frustrating when they have a problem but also are using it to get out of things they don't like. Grrrr.

#2--To go gray or not. Seriously, this is driving me crazy. The reason this is driving me nuts is there isn't a best answer. I generally go for the best answer. This is just a choice. One of these days I am just going to the store and doing it before I know what I am doing. Doesn't it seem weird to be gray and have a baby? In the church nursery I was in Sunday, I met a woman with a baby older than Lily. The woman was a year younger than me and I found out she was holding her granddaughter. We both laughed about it.

#3--Making the gym work. I have been going in the evening after dinner. Adam misses me a lot when I am gone and I am not getting everything done I need to in a day. SO, this morning, I left at 4:30 to get to the gym at 5:00. Do I hate that? YES. Will it make the rest of the day go better? Yes, unless I fall asleep doing something important.

Super Duper Doctor Mom

Last night, both Evan and Ian came to me with fevers just before bed. SERIOUSLY?? Sunday night and fevers? I gave them both immunitizers and some liquid chlorophyll (I have had that stuff forever but hardly ever use it because it stains everything close to it). Both slept well and woke up fine. YEAH. Evan said his stomach hurt. In this case, his stomach hurt because he didn't want to wake up and was hoping to be sent back to bed. Instead, he was told to put his sheets in the washer.

On advice from FFN, I am giving him kefir. Seems to me kefir is more for stomach and yogurt is more for guts. Giving him acidophilus, also. Trying the chlorophyll for awhile with both Evan and Ian. Ian is very gassy. Ginger helps him a little with it, but maybe this will help, also. This prescription doesn't seem to be helping Evan at all. I will keep giving it to him for the rest of the month and make an effort to figure this out myself. I think he is having some stomach issue but I think at least half of it is not real. And I might completely change my mind on that within the hour.

Lily is standing all by herself. Not standing up but letting go of her support and staying balanced.

Bought fruit trees last night. Bought Adam a Red Delicious apple tree because he loves them. He gave me a big, sincere hug--it was sweet. He was so happy I bought him a tree.

Kissy?

Lily is giving me those big open mouth kisses. Man, I love that. I ask for a kiss and she opens her mouth and leans toward me. Today, she did it on her own. LOVE THAT.

Yesterday, Dan fixed the riding lawn mower that was in terrible shape and I gardened with Alec. We amended some of the soil and then put cardboard down, with just tiny rows for seeds. Adam put the seeds down. Cilantro, carrot and spinach. Never got around to the lettuce. Also, put down onions. Hopefully this garden will be a success. You might remember last year's disaster and the year before we didn't have one because of the move. It is time for a garden.

We also put created a herb garden. Bought the plants and put down the huge pieces of cardboard that my painting came in from my cousin. Just cut hole big enough for the plants and then mulched around it. Ian is expecting pesto this fall, so here's hoping. Also planted a nice rhubarb plant, but they don't do well down here, so that might not work out. But I get an "A" for effort. It won't be because the soil isn't perfect or it had to compete with weeds. No sireebob.

Needless to say, I am very red, and very sore. Went to the gym yesterday morning, so it is a toss up as to what caused the upper back pain.

What's Wrong?

Lily finally slept all night. I kept waking up thinking something was wrong with her. Mothers are odd ducks.

Giving a teenager an American History test right now.

Someone reminded me to tweet. It suits my personality. @dairael

There are days I can't get anyone to do their hair.

Lasagna dinner coming at 11:00. Making them tea and muffins. Hoping the chickens will spit out a couple more eggs so I can double the batch.

Low on eggs because I made bacon and eggs on asparagus last night. VERY good.

Thinking in sound bites today.

Blasted Couponing

Had our grocery run tonight. This couponing is driving me nuts. You would not believe the money I save. Amazingly unbelievable shocking amount of money, but good grief, it takes a lot of time and brain power and I am lacking in both. I mean a six pack of good paper towels and a bag of Dove chocolate for just over $1, but it took three transactions and about eight coupons in those three transactions to get me there.

Someone is bringing me food for dinner Friday. Just to be nice because of Ruby's death. Isn't that nice?

Bought Dan pickled herring tonight that was not on sale. Just saying. I want points for that.

Miss Lil's top two teeth are coming in. Did I mention that? Did I mention she was up at 4:00 this morning? And did not want to go back to sleep? Not good. Not good at all.

Evan still says his stomach hurts all the time. I don't know. I asked him if he was really sure it hurt so much and he said, "Well, you know I have reflux." I had to explain that we don't KNOW it and the pills cost a lot and if they don't make it all better, we should stop taking them. I am trying to trick him in case he is fibbing. I am like that.

Hey, remember back in January when the house was done and I was so organized all of a sudden and life was working so much better. It stopped. Working. Too much life and too many trips. I need it back.

Just found out Alec can get his permit to drive in July. Wow.

Young Mr. Evan

Took the little man to the doctor yesterday. She thinks he has reflux. Her son has the same thing. She told us to try prevacid. She said the prescription ones dissolve in his mouth and might be easier. With our insurance, they cost about the same as the OTC kind (about $1 a pill--are you kidding me??). Without the insurance, it would have been $180 for 30. Yeah, I think the government is going to totally screw up health care but it sure is in bad shape already. Glad I'm not in charge of it. It just leaves me thinking about how important it is to take charge of your own health. I am already looking into alternative things for reflux.

We gave him one pill yesterday, but after dinner he said he he lay down at all he felt like he had to throw up. That was after the pill. It isn't supposed to work that way.

Alec has yet another orthodontist appt. If I could just get him and Adam on the same schedule, it would help but they go in at different intervals.

Giving Alec a government test right now. Good times. Lily is cutting her upper front teeth. Again, fun, fun, fun.

Second to last bowling today. Cold here. Need warm back. We started some seeds in the garage last night, even though I said I wasn't going to. Just a few. Really.

Have grand plans for the spring. Will tell you all about it at a later date.

SPRING!

It is 76 degrees at 11:40. And I am dressed. I could not say that at 11:00. Well, it might have been 76, but that other thing hadn't happened yet. That is the laziest I have been in a good long time.


OK, now it is two hours later. Lily slept for a few minutes after crying for many minutes. HOW CAN SHE NOT NEED SLEEP?? She is driving me nuts. It is like she is trying to cement her place as my LAST child. heehee.


Then men enjoyed their stay with CM's family. They are at the Minnesota History Museum or some such place today.

Ok, now it is two days later. Can't seem to get this posted. Got the guys at about 11:00 Saturday night and all were in bed by 2:00 am. Seemed crazy but it saved us $400 one way to go that late.

Was all excited about all things spring but yesterday was cool and rainy. Hung my grandmother's painting in the stairwell. Went to the gym for the first time in three weeks. That was about it for Sunday.

This morning started with Evan's stomach hurting. He is wrenching at the potty without much success. He has complained of a stomach ache for weeks. Whenever I ask, he says his stomach hurts. I don't know what to do with him. Increased fiber. I don't know. Taking him to the doc later this morning.

Dealing with an attitude in the blonde kid. Had to reschedule Al's ortho appt for later today. Trying to make decisions about Alec's math. Lily is having such a hard time right now. Really fussy. Sleeping poorly. Dan is asleep at the wheel of life. Not digging what is on my plate right now.

Working Together

It is amazing how well children can work together to clean a kitchen when you tell them that they can't do Wii until it is done and if they fight there will be NO Wii. Amazing. Wish it didn't take that. I made homemade mac and cheese where you cook the noodles in milk and then just add cheese. They did not love it.

Alec got to shovel dirt into Grandma's grave. This has been a good trip for him. I think he learned things on this trip he will keep with him. Like having an extra handkerchief to offer to blubbering females. The guys Dan lunched with talked about taking a trip together. That would be good for them. I hope they follow through. You know how men are.

I swore I was done buying diapers. I have a ton and decided to work on infant potty training. Well, today, I got four $3 off coupons for huggies and then had a $10 off a $20 purchase at Kmart. I could have just bought three, I guess. If I had done that, it would have been $11 for three packs of diapers, or 3.66 a pack. I have a tower of diapers in Lil's closet. Speaking of her closet, I just pulled out her 12 month clothes. My baby can wear 12 month clothes! I think I hit it correctly. I bought 18 month summer clothes. And then light knit long clothes for 24 months. I think that will work.

It was 75 degrees here today! The kids complained it was too hot! Yikes. I have been outside so much more than normal, I have lists and lists of chores.

Rough Night

Ian had a hard night--he dreamt that Alec died. I think he felt better talking to him this morning.

Lily was up a couple of times. There were coyotes close with their freaky whine and the dogs were going nuts. Evan was sleeping in my bed (they are taking turns while Dan is gone) and he started yelling at one point. I told him to stop and he said, "Yes, mom." This morning he thought it was so funny that he talked to me in his sleep.

I gave Lily something called a yogurt melt this morning. It is a baby food that is supposed to dissolve easily. Poor thing--it got stuck on her tongue and just gagged her. I guess we stick to purees for awhile longer.

The men are staying at Crazy Margie's house tonight. They leave at 7:00 tomorrow night and get to Atlanta at 10:30. That means at bedtime, we will be leaving for Atlanta. And getting home about 1 a.m. or so. Yuck. Will be so nice to have them home. Sunday will be a day of recovery. Then we will start thinking about all the spring chores.

While I was reading though the Erickson Family Times, I was struck by how close I seemed to be with Ruby during that time. I don't really remember it that way but we were very involved in each other's lives. I think you all know about how we had invited her to live with us when she could no longer live in her home and how she agreed and then changed her mind after three frantic weeks of getting ready for her and how she had someone else call to tell us and how she blamed it on me. Yeah. Things were very different after that and it is a shame but that is how I will remember her.

The guys are going to the cemetery today while they bury her.

That's Why You Don't Look at My Screen

I get after Ian about coming over to my computer when I am on it and looking at what I'm doing. That is rude. Tonight, I was on the phone and looking at pictures the guys sent me. When I realized he was looking, I tried to change the picture but he saw one of Ruby in her casket. He got so upset seeing Ruby's mom's body at her funeral. And he got really upset again. He finally went downstairs after he seemed calmed down, but I heard him sobbing. I am going to give him a few minutes and check him. I guess he really got hit with the fact Grandma is gone. He loved her. He has a soft heart.

They said the funeral went well. Lots of people and lots of stories about her. Her nephew drove 19 hours straight and then turned around and drove back, but his father (her only sibling) didn't go. Dan and Alec were both satisfied with their parts. Dan's three best pals from high school were there and they are going to lunch tomorrow. I told Alec to take their pictures--DON'T FORGET! I have one of them in high school and one about ten years later and now this is about 25 years later. Man, they are old.

Dan and I talked about how so many people at the funeral were older than Ruby and so much healthier. Her health has directly related to her lifestyle. We talked about making better choices and not ending up like her. The funny part was the boys and I were making raised doughnuts right then! They begged!! So, ummm....right after we eat up those doughnuts.

Going to go check my boy.

The Funeral...

...is today. They sound ready. Will report back.

Every week in 2004 and 2005, we made Ruby a four page newsletter, called "Erickson Family Times." How original, huh? I would write a letter and add pictures and then the older two would each write something that I would scan and add and then Adam would scribble on the back page. He was a toddler back then.

Someone gave Ruby a 3 ring binder and page protectors and she saved most of them. I brought them home and was going through them last night. Journals are a good thing. I read so many things in there I did not remember at all and saw pictures that never made it into our photo albums. I am copying and pasting the blog posts into a word document and will print them out at some point. There can be such a difference in remembering something and reading what you thought right at the time.

Took school off yesterday to catch up on some life. Schooling today and tomorrow. Told them we might even do it Saturday, but I doubt it.

One More Day Down

Mimsi, the turkey, seems ok and is setting on the eggs. The three eggs I left her when I assumed her death was imminent. Nobody was sitting on the eggs in the hen house. My good setter is being mama to a little chick, so someone else would have to be in the mood. This does not thrill my heart, but I am glad Mimsi is still alive.

I ordered baby chickens and turkeys to come this summer. I am helping a bowling mom get started with chickens. I told her I'd order with her and keep her few with mine until they are bigger. We decided to increase the flock and sell eggs to cover the cost of their feed. I ordered, once again, several special kinds I have struggled with keeping alive to adulthood. Buff Laced Polish, Blue Andalusians, Lakenvelders and Egyptian Fayoumis are some of them. Also ordered more Bourbon Red and Royal Palm Turkeys. Going to try to raise up more turkey girls. As far as meat goes, I would much rather butcher small turkeys than chickens. More meat for the work.

The men up north went to Betty's Pies for dinner. They wrapped up some odds and ends and Alec worked on school. Dan is giving the eulogy tomorrow and Alec is reading a bible passage--not sure what, exactly. They are setting things up tonight. Visitation starts at 1:00 Duluth time. They went in to the Lutheran church Dan's parents were married at earlier tonight. A beautiful old church downtown. The woman who was there knew Ruby, which was interesting considering they didn't go to that church. I guess living in Duluth for 70 years, lots of people are going to know you.

Crazy Margie was telling me about her eldest daughter's recent hospital stay for an appendectomy. There were two incidents with medications that would make you never want to get sick again. Yikes. She also told me I sounded so flighty she thought I was drinking. HaHa--drunk with together time with children. Making me loooooony.

Three more days to go.

Ruby's Obit

Here is Ruby's Obituary.

Oh Good, New Day

I keep thinking about how every difficulty I face is one God decided I could handle. So, I keep trying to handle. Because God thinks I can.

We were outside yesterday when I noticed my girl turkey, Mimsi was limping. On further inspection, her wing was sort of hanging low. We finally caught her and realized she had a major injury. I looked like something slashed at her. Or maybe her wing got caught in something and she pulled it away. She has a gaping wound. I really didn't think she could survive it--looked terrible. I left her some eggs and took some to the hen house, in hopes someone will set on them. Just went out to check her and she is setting on the ones I left. She seems alert. She was eating yesterday. I don't know. Hope she makes it but I don't think there is anything to do to help her.

Later, when we went out to do chores, we could not find Salami. Turned out he was hiding or stuck between the tarps inside their shelter. That was a tense few minutes.

Alec's eye is swollen. Did I mention that? I hope it goes away before the funeral. Which is Thursday, did I mention that?

Bowling this afternoon and then we are going to Ev's bowling buddy's house (the Lutherans, if your keeping denominational track). We will have dinner there. She knows I am struggling. I called her before I told the kids about grandma. I told her I needed her to pray for me. Right now. And she did. Good friend.

No Bang or Bust

Mondays usually start one way or the other. Today, we are just rambling along. Trying to remember our normal routine. The kids usually do better at that than me. Evan is slow as molasses but he eventually gets it done.

Dan said Alec has a swollen eye. He has had this a few times before. I think he gets pollen underneath his eye lid. Told him to stick his face in a sink full of water and blink. That seems to cure a lot of eye issues.

Started giving Lily some finger food. Just some baby cereal. She has absolutely no interest in it. She still needs things to be perfectly smooth or it gags her. I remember Evan being like that for a long, long time.

I am having a hard time screwing my head on straight. Seems like things are a mess and I can't seem to get them straight. I know I should give myself a break with life being as it is, but it seems like the more normal I keep it the better.

Kid Funny

Adam and Ian made pancakes today since Dan is gone. As Ian was grinding the grain, he said, "Hey mom, did you know they actually sell pancake mixes?" as if that was a wild, novel thing. He wasn't complaining; he just didn't know I had heard about them.

Single Parent Sunday

Wow, I was so tired last night. We went to bed early and slept as long as I could get away with this morning. Can't remember the time because I am thinking about the old time and then the daylight savings time and then the time Dan is on so I am all messed up. Still haven't changed most of the clocks. That is something Dan usually does.

I am missing many gym visits from last week and this week. I took the kids to a track by a school this afternoon to at least get a little walking in. I look forward to the boringness of normal life.

Dan has countless people to meet with tomorrow. He has to so work on Ruby's 2009 taxes with her CPA and talk to her lawyer and her pastor. Also the funeral home folks. Alec brought up his science and math so he won't fall behind.

Lily gets "No." I don't think anyone else had it down this well this young. If I tell her no, she will immediately stop touching whatever I want her to stop touching or will stop going in the direction she was going. Love that.

Normal school day tomorrow. Guess I ought to grade Friday's school before then.

The Long Week Starts

We left the house before 6:00 to get Dan and Alec to the Atlanta airport for their flight out to Minneapolis. We tried to get them on later flights but couldn't get them both on. The Atlanta airport seemed huge to me and so crowded. There were lines everywhere, but somehow the places we needed to be didn't have long lines. The person checking bags let up weigh Lily--17 pounds, which seems high to me. It was hard to leave Alec. He is almost always with me and it will be a long week with them gone.

The funeral will be Wednesday or Thursday, which would mean they won't be home until Thursday at the earliest.

We went to IKEA in downtown Atlanta afterwards and then home. They were in Minneapolis before we were even home.

Baby Salami is so darn cute. I am starting to think the other goat might be pregnant. Dan was going to work on a milk stand today. We are going to be so out of whack after this week, it will take a month to get back on track.

Two friends from school are talking about meeting down here and staying with us next fall. That would be fun to host them.

I am worn out. We already did animal chores and the kids are playing Wii. Early bed time for all. Someone tell Lil, ok? She is starting to stand without holding on to anything.

March 12th

Ruby already died. She died on her birthday. My mother also died on March 12th. That is weird. Dan and Alec are flying up tomorrow.

Ruby

The decision was made today to stop Ruby's dialysis. She is expected to pass within the week. Dan is getting ready to fly back up to Duluth.

HOME Rocks

Wow, as much as I do not love where I life, I was so glad to get back to it. We rolled in the drive at exactly midnight, on the dot. And we were in bed at 12:15.

We had a good time at the Creation Museum. Got to do some dinosaur building with Buddy Davis and his wife and talk to him a little. He is the one who had gone up to our old house for a concert last summer. Headed home about 3:00. Made it back in one piece, except we lost Evan's bag with his camera and wallet. He does not seemed bothered by this at all. He was in tears this afternoon because he could not juggle after trying for two minutes but losing all his spending money and his camera did not really bother him. The mind of a six year old...

The baby goat is just precious. And Sally is such a good mama.

Before I go further, may I say I have feel as if I will never be caught up again, which i know is not true and yet it feels like it, all the same.

We are back to school tomorrow, even though we did not get all the laundry done, nor everything put away. Why did we not get everything put away, you ask?

Ian ended up slicing his finger with a knife we had gotten at Ruby's. It was a super sharp steak knife. He was taking the cardboard cover off it and he REALLY got himself good. So, off to the E.R. we went. Also, had to go get milk. And we went to the chiropractor. And I have this baby.

I sorted through all the pictures we took from Ruby's. I have seven people I made stacks for. Need to get them sent off and be done with it. There weren't too many I was unfamiliar with but there was a neat one of Dan's dad as a baby.

On a side note, nutella on banana bread is REALLY good.

Heading Home

My head is spinning from the last few days. The first day in Duluth, that would be Friday, Dan worked on financial stuff for his mother. The boys swam in the waterpark of the hotel we were at in the morning and then we drove up the north shore. We ate at Betty's pies. I am so glad there is a major portion of the country between us and Betty's pies. It was so good I would be there every day. We played on the shore and went to Gooseberry Falls and to Split Rock Light house. Ate dinner at Sammy's Pizza, which was what we always ate when we visited Grandma. Saturday, we went to bring portraits from Ruby's apartment to her nursing home room. She had boxes and boxes and a bunch of albums of pictures. I took them to sort out an redistribute to various relatives. Our van was so jammed, we could hardly move on the three hours down to Boyceville.


Yesterday, we saw pert near everyone we knew in the Boyceville area. It was great. Wonderful. Went to one church in the morning and another in the evening. Visited our old neighbors, who fed us lunch and made me a b-day cake. Went up the hill to the old place. While in the goat pen looking at FFN's goats that she keeps up there, the woman taking care of our animals called to say our goat Sally had her baby! We were shocked. We didn't think she was close to delivery. Just talked to the woman and she said she'd email us pictures tonight. She said they seem to be doing well.

I was so tired by the time we ate dinner, I was absolutely giddy. I taught B how to make those fabulous no-knead baguettes I posted a while back. She is in love with them and was on the phone with her sister early this morning when I woke up telling her about them.

We are about to get to Urbana to have dinner with my pal, Debbie. Then to the hotel in Indianapolis.

Day Two

Hey Kids. Day one of the trip went well and we still have as many kids as we left with. Got to my cousin's house at 5:55. Told him we'd shoot for 6:00. THAT is good timing.

We left our house at 6:00 but had to go back to get something we forgot and then we had to stop because being in the car for 30 minutes was too much for Ev and he threw up. He's been fine since. Lily is in the third seat between two boys and it is working out great!! Having two people in her face has kept her happy. We stop every few hours to feed her and change diapers. We did just realize all the diapers we have left are in the carrier on top of the van and not close to the opening. Bum-mer.

My cousin had lots of pictures to show us. Saw pictures of his boys (3) growing up. He had several of my father before my parents made the awful mistake of getting married. He also had many of me as a baby. He is copying one for me that was of me and my great-grandmother Jennie (she is cousin Carl's maternal grandmother).

There was a very, very, very exciting point of the evening. They have a huge painting my grandmother painted and gave to Carl's mom (her sister). It is of a bouquet of flowers. They are giving it to me! They are going to ship it to me. I can't believe how gracious that was of them. I know right were it is going to go in my house. That makes me very happy.

We left their house about 7:30. The GPS says we'll get to Duluth at 5:36. We already gained an hour crossing into Illinois. With our stops, it will be more like 7:00.

There Will be a Test

Are you keeping this whole trip thing straight? Not me! Just talked to my friend in Urbana, IL--well emailed. We will meet her on the way home. We will have dinner with her and then head to Indianapolis. Then, the next morning, we will drive to the Creation Museum and head home--that will be eight hours. Oh my, I am not up for all this driving!!!

I am quite sure I have never seen this many loved ones on one trip ever. My head is spinning. I think everything is pretty much packed except clothes. Somebody quiz me and see if I forgot anything.