An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
Archive for Friends & Family
Headed Home
This morning, I loaded up my truck with all the stuff I had brought, and bought, and started my trek back home. FINALLY!
I love my family…I really do! But after nearly 4 weeks, don’cha think it’s time for this old woman to let them have their privacy back? Well, as much privacy as they can get with the 13, 19, 26 year old invaders, and a wee baby boy. *snicker* I miss my bed! I miss the Mr! I miss my cats! And I especially miss MY bathroom! MINE! ALL MINE!
So, the day started out ok…until I stopped for gas. I wanted to fill up before I got on the road. This is the same place I filled up last week at $3.65. That’s bad enough. It definitely put a major lump in the credit card balance. Ok, granted, I as just about empty, but $72? That’s absurd! Today….$3.89! THREE DOLLARS AND EIGHT NINE CENTS! That’s 24 cents MORE than last week. And I heard on the radio that Obama doesn’t believe this is a problem? Can I smack some sense into him? Un-freakin’-believable!
Of course, I had my usual issue getting on the freeway in Beaumont. Those people are still nuts.
‘Nuff said. All was going well until I got to that little town on the west side of Baton Rouge. Now, if I had managed to leave perhaps an hour earlier, it might not have been so bad. However, we all know I’m not a morning person, and I had to sit and talk with Jr for a bit, and smooch on Spud, naturally. Jr didn’t want me to leave. Seriously? Me gone means I won’t complain about her leaving stuff on the bathroom floor. You’d think that would make her happy. Nope. I’m thinking she’s having a bit of that postpartum problem. 
Kind of that empty feeling after the baby is born apparently. I’m sure she’ll be ok, and besides, we’ll be down again in July, to hopefully blow stuff up, and get that four generations picture taken.
I got on the bridge to go over the Mississippi River, and it was mostly stop, and very little go. That thing was bouncing. A LOT! I don’t like bouncing bridges. Bridges aren’t suppose to bounce. They make me very uncomfortable. Even after we all got off that thing, it was mostly stop, and no go. Fer cryin’ out loud! It took about an hour and a half to go about 12 miles. UGH! I had planned to get a little closer to Jackson, MS, but after that…no way Jose’! This ol’ broad was cramping up, stressed out, and SO ready to get away from the crazy people. Ok, so I’ve got a bit farther to drive tomorrow to get home, but that’s ok…I don’t care! I have stopped.
I have taken much needed muscle relaxers, and am now watching American Idol. By choice, if you can believe that! Blame Brat and Ick! It’s THEIR FAULT! I watched the recorded stuff with them, and now I have to find out who wins. I like Skylar m’self. She’s got spunk. I like Colton and Philip too. Yep….I’ve lost it, and it’s THEIR fault!
Babies, Babies….Everywhere
Last night, we were on baby watch again. Not physically, mind you, but through texts messages, and Facebook. This time, it was my beautiful niece, Whitney, my baby brother’s daughter,
I gotta tell ya….Jr was none to thrilled to find out they let her cousin have a Popsicle AND ginger ale, while all she was given was some ice chips. 
As the hours went by, there was little word. I could only assume things were progressing smoothly. Finally, word from Grandma…. dilated to 10 and time to push! And that’s the last I heard for nearly an hour! *tapping toes* Of course, it was driving me nuts, but since I knew how busy everyone was, and they are 1400 miles away, there wasn’t much I could say or do. 
Then….there she was…the newest member of the family! 
Introducing Miss Ava Hope, entering the world at 12:01am, 03/21/12, weighing in at 7 pounds 1 ounce, and 19 3/4 inches long!
Mom and wee one are doing great,
Hmmm… not looking too bad for an old fart who just had a heart attack.
Praying that Mommy, Daddy, and little bit will have a long, healthy, and happy life! And the grandparents will have the joy of spoiling her rotten, and handing her back over to the parents. Heh.
Yeah….I’m tacky that way. 
Nosey Weasel
Welp, the dogs all have to check him out on a regular basis. The cats don’t care one way or the other. Today, the ferrets were let out while 2 of the dogs were outside. One of them, Nickie, has a high ol’ time chasing Haley around the house. It really is hilarious. A good sized dog apparently terrified of an itty bitty rodent. Heh.
Well, since Nickie is the nosy one, she had to check out that thing in the swing.
In case you are wondering, that fuzzy thing that won’t hold still is Nickie, the ferret. The male, Stephan, couldn’t care about that tiny thing. Heh.
The Well Dressed Baby…
…..will be seen in camo…..everywhere! Or not. It IS camo after all!
Now, if we could just find his camo booties.
Internet Issues!
Apparently, it’s not just in this house that the internet is moving slower than molasses in January. I thought it was my computer, then found out everyone in the house is having the same problem. According to a few folks on Facebook, they are having the exact same issue….internet moving like it’s 1990! So, apparently, posting will be quite light until the issue is resolved.
To say this is annoying as hell, is an understatement! Considering there is a new tiny person, I’m still in Texas, and there is typically upheaval on a regular basis, light blogging is the norm.
I will, however, be heading home next week. I had thought I’d be home tomorrow. That’s what I get for thinking. sigh.. I so miss my bed, the Mr, and my calm, insane kittehs!
Cameron Comes Home
Well, today was another long day. Brat and I thought it would be a good idea to pick up what we needed from Wally World over in Liberty, since I seriously detest that other one, better known as Wal-Mart from hell, before picking up Jr, Michael, and Spud from the hospital. Pfft! Of course, there were a couple of things they were out of, like little boy bath towel thingys. *shakes head* Seriously, at this age, he doesn’t really care if his towel is pink or blue or polka dot, but you know us female types are….had to be blue!
We leave Liberty, heading towards Cleveland, and naturally, there was a wreck or something, and the whole flippin’ road was closed. We never did figure out why, since we never saw an actual wreck, just the ambulance, several cops cars, a rescue truck, and one cop on the top of the bridge blocking traffic from both directions. We did manage to find our way around on a road that must be for buggies, cuz there was barely enough room for one vehicle, much less two.
On This Day In….
….. history? Naw… Today is the present, and what a present he is!
We welcomed Cameron Jason at 1:54 pm, weighing in at 7lbs 1 oz, stretching out to 19 inches, with BIG feet!
Baby Update
The most recent status reports from Brat on Brat Jr:
About an hour ago:
Pitocin administered.. Contractions coming… Dilation….zip.. Stubborn ass baby..
Trust me, he gets his stubbornness and lack of momentum from his mom and Granny! Heh.
A few minutes ago:
Dilation — 2 , time 9:34am.. Epidural is imminent (10 minutes allegedly) , water set to be broken … Whining scale is at a 9.5..
Yep….Drama Queen! And the hard part hasn’t even started! Short Person and I will be heading over to the hospital in the not too distant future….after I get at least ONE more cup of coffee down! Had a hard time getting to sleep….sometime after 2am, and those evil dogs thought I needed to be up and feeding their furry faces around 7:30. I made ‘em wait till a wee bit after 8. sigh…
The Waiting Game
To say that today has been a LONG one, would be an understatement.
The morning was reasonably pleasant, with us enjoying our morning coffee, at least until Pregzilla got up. LOL Gracious sakes, I don’t remember being that hormonal when I was preggers. I don’t remember Brat being that hormonal. Yet, the eldest granddaughter is the Drama Queen from Hell! Poor Michael. Heh.
This is a not very happy, and quite uncomfortable 9+ months 19 year old. She wasn’t too thrilled everyone wanted a final side shot either. *snicker*
So, we all went to a nice Mexican restaurant over by the Podunk Texas hospital. REALLY good food! We sat and chatted, and both Pregzilla and soon to be Granny had attitude. At one point, I thought I was gonna have to smack the snot out of both of ‘em. Of course, since I’ve been down here, I’ve had a LOT of knee pain due to all the rain, and that might have had something to do with my bad attitude, but still…..
Due Date – Baby Watch Continues
Yep…today is suppose to be the day. HUMPH! Anyone who knows anything about ‘birthin’ babies’ knows that they do NOT give a flip what the doctor says, or what we would like, they are going to move on their own timeline, and to heck with everyone else. Unfortunately, that never changes as they grow.
So, here’s the deal…. if Jr doesn’t going into labor on her own, then she will be checking into the hospital on Sunday evening, have one procedure done, can’t remember what it’s called right now, and if she and Spud don’t cooperate, they will be carrying on with inducement.
We really did think she would be delivering last week, because of the consistent Braxton Hicks and some dilating. But NOOOOOO…. Spud has decided to continue making Jr as miserable as any person who is 9 months pregnant, and more than ready to evict tiny person. While we at the doc’s yesterday, she did have one contraction, but it wasn’t strong enough, or of any concern to the doc. Apparently, his favorite position is pushing his hind end out and shoving his feet as close to her lungs as possible. Nothing worse than a whining pregnant teen (19).
While I’m at it, I really have to say Spud’s daddy has been amazing. I’m not real sure how he has found the patience, but he has been more patient with her, and her moods, than any daddy I’ve ever seen. He has stuck by her from the very beginning. It’s a shame more males don’t show such strength. Anybody can be a father, but it takes a special man to be a Daddy! Whatever happens in the future, I have NO doubt he will always be there for his son! They do plan on getting married. Shame they didn’t follow the ‘correct’ order of things, but oh well. I’ve learned a lot about him in the last week, and to say I’m impressed by his strength of character to overcome a great deal of adversity, it’s nothing less than amazing.
So, that’s where we stand at the moment. Yes, I will be going home, eventually. Next week, between Brat and myself, Jr will be able to rest up a bit, but then….reality will have to set in, and she and Daddy will be in charge. She hasn’t been sleeping too well the last few week. She thinks she’s going to get sleep after the baby is born.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Funny isn’t she! *snicker*
So, we have a bit of comparison here…. my niece at 38 weeks, and Jr at 40 weeks.
Still Waiting on Baby
Today was mostly uneventful…unfortunately. I was really hoping Brat Jr would pop that melon, being the 29th and all. sigh… BUT, according to the doc, he is moving down to where he will start making her life a living hell soon. *snicker* We also thought since had started dilating, she would have gone a wee bit more, but no….of course not.
Listening to the little bugger’s heartbeat made question all those people who want to be able to kill a child this far along. He’s a living being, a creation of God, and not disposable like just so much garbage. And on that note…
If the kid hasn’t made an appearance by the 11th, they will induce. I was kind of hoping I would be headed back home with loads of pictures and video of a tiny person by then. Ah well, I’m fairly sure the Mr will be able to handle things a bit longer….just in case.
One thing that rather bugs me….Rick Santorum is gonna be in Jackson on Friday. 
However, family trumps politics, even an election year as important as this.
12:30 PM – Jackson
Unity Park
313 S. Church St
Just in case, y’know. 
He’s also going to be in Memphis, too.
3:15 PM – Memphis
Parking lot on the corner of Poplar Ave. and Crestmere Pl.
176 Crestmere Pl
If anyone goes, takes pictures, K?
Help?
Brat has had this cat…well, she’s suppose to be Short Person’s, but that’s not important….since she was about 2 months old, and as the cat has been getting older, she’s been losing fur on her stomach. Well, now that it’s pretty much bald, guess what she had hidden under it! A bloomin’ tattoo!
Obviously, said feline wasn’t all that happy at being held in such a position, but oh well. Heh. The issue is…what in the world is that, and why would anyone tattoo a kitten’s stomach area? Can anyone tell what that is, and has anyone ever heard of tattooing a kitten? I’d guess that someone might do it as an identifying mark if the cat ever got lose, and lost, but since they’ve had the cat since she was itty bitty….just doesn’t make any sense.
Spud?
They are telling me this is my great grandson. 
Umm… ok. I have turned it every whichaway, and he still looks like an alligator. A prehistoric alligator.
Yes, we call him Spud. Tried calling him by his initials, M.J., but Jr got her knickers in a twist, saying she didn’t want him associated with Michael Jackson. What does Michael Jason have to do with ….? And now, I just learned they have changed it from Michael to Cameron? I’m very confused! Oh well…never mind. Spud it is!
He’s just a few weeks off from being sprung from his current abode.
Wouldn’t ya think he’d look a wee bit more….well….human? Well, he is Brat Jr’s offspring, so I guess that explains a great deal.
Our Babies and Their Babies
On the left, we have Shaina, aka Brat Jr, my granddaughter. On the right, we have Whitney, my niece. Excuse me, but when did I get old enough to be having a great grandson? And when did my little brother get old enough to have a granddaughter? *shakes head* Somehow, it just doesn’t seem possible! They are both due within a week or so of each other. Was there like, oh, I dunno…a solar flare or something that month? Sheesh! Well, at least the other 3 nieces, and my youngest granddaughter aren’t in the same condition. I think there would be a total family meltdown! Heh.
(Truth be told, I don’t think either of them have seen their feet while standing up since the onset of puberty. *snicker*)
Update From The Homefront
So, most readers know the last 18 months or so have been, shall we say…less than pleasant? But, we survived! Between the Mr and myself, we have bought a couple of doctors a new boat, or put their kid through college, or whatever doctors do with their money. From the mega clot to the cancer (lets not forget the radiation and chemo) to the surgeries….SHEESH! We were starting to wonder if it would ever stop…or at least slow down.
Welp…finally, there is some good news. Actually, it was 2 weeks ago, but I didn’t want to jinx…so…… The Mr was declared CANCER FREE! And I’d really appreciate it if he would stay that way!
More good news! Dr Dimples says my knee is healing quite well, and I’m about where he expected me to be….suffering through the occasional, miserable, winter weather. But I do know, eventually, I’ll be all better cuz I actually had one FULL DAY with no knee pain. Hey…it’s a start. I expect to have more good days as time goes on, and the weather gets warmer. In the meantime, I’ll just whine a bit now and then, like the last few days.
We really appreciate the prayers through all the tough times. I know God does listen.
