Mamassage

Thursday Thirteen- better late than never.

Thirteen Things about Me 1. I am not a Christmas person, but I still look forward to it every year.  This is mainly because I only get to see my folks once a year.  So I’d probably be just as happy having “Christmas” in July – at the beach. 2. This year I will not be able to visit my folks or my sister, and her family, as I always have.  This is because Kajsa is now on the transplant list; which is truly a wonderful and miraculous thing.  But it keeps us from traveling out of state. 3. Maya is going to visit my family, though.  So we will not have her here for Christmas.  Now I know how it feels for her dad each year.  It doesn’t feel great.  But, I want her to still have Christmas in the way that she always has, even if I’m not able to be there. 4. Chris is sad that our family will be split up for the holidays, but has been really pulling for us to begin some holiday traditions of our own anyway.  So last night Maya and I went out to K-mart to see what Martha Stewart had to offer us.  I wanted to get tasteful decorations that would last for several years.  This was much easier to envision of than to apply.  We bought a pre-lit garland, a wreath (and jingle bell holder), and cute ornament placemats.  When we got home we put it all up and lit some candles.  Chris arrived home from class moments later and was happy to see it.  5. My favorite holiday decorative theme is Reindeer.  And I don’t mean cheesy stuffed ones.  What I like are striking metal or wooden ones.  The year I was pregnant with Kajsa, my family went across the street to their [my parents’] neighbors, Ned and Brenda’s house.  We all ate and had drinks (hot tea for the preggo lady) and sang songs.  Ned plays a mean piano.  At one point Brenda pulled out photo copied sheet of paper with John Lennon’s, Imagine, on them.  We all sang this together as Ned played piano and my father accompanied him on the guitar.  As rough as we all sounded, it was so beautiful.  This is now my favorite holiday song.  Afterward I wandered into their living room.  There by the fire, were a dozen or so handsome reindeer figures and candleholders.  They were gorgeous.  I look every year for similar ones, but have yet to find any. 6. Speaking of John Lennon, Maya mentioned that it was the 25th anniversary of his death.  I knew this.  I’m proud that my thirteen year-old knows who he was.  I remember the day he was shot.  My dad picked Heather (my sister) and I up from school and took us out for pizza.  The place that we frequented was in the heart of Little Rock, near a mental hospital.  Every time we went there, we would see the same schizophrenic woman rocking back and forth gripping her Bic lighter.    This was my first introduction to mental illness.  So on that day, we went to Pizza D’action and had a large pie and a pitcher of Dr. Pepper.  While we ate, we just kept filling up the jukebox with quarters, playing every Beetles song they had.  My dad talked to us about the changes that occurred when his generation was younger.  How people questioned the established ways of the world.  He talked about The Beetles being the voice of their generation – from I Wanna Hold Your Hand to Come Together.  He talked, we listened, the schizophrenic rocked.  7. I would love to have friends over and have a lovely night like we had with my parent’s friends.  But I don’t know many people in this small town.  Those that I do know are nice, but I don’t know that they would relate to all of that the same way I do. 8. I made gifts to give them though.  Last night, I made a whopping batch of Irish Cream Liqueur.  It was tasty.  I put the liqueur into vibrant, ruby red, glass bottles I’d found for a steal at Pier One.  (7 for $12.00 – WOW!) 9. I hope they like them.  I wanted to do something original.  Sometimes I wish I were a millionaire, so that I could just go around giving people amazing gifts all the time.  That would be so rewarding. 10. I haven’t yet talked to Kajsa about Santa.  I figure she’ll find out about him, anyway.  I found out the bad news about him when I was ten.  My sister and I used to fight for who got to sit by the window in the front seat of my dad’s old Dodge Ram Charger.  I’d lost that day and was sitting on the hump.  When my dad came out of the grocery store, Heather (3&1/2 years younger than I) told my dad that she didn’t think that Santa really existed.  He said she was right.  The thought had never occurred to me.  I quietly cried the whole ride home.  So I don’t know if I can handle telling my baby this story.  It was easy with Maya, because my mom has always been so into the “magic” of it.  But Kajsa’s not being introduced to Christmas the same way Maya was.  So, I’m still trying to figure that out.  Chris and I will have to have a serious heart to heart about this. 11. Speaking of magical aspects of Christmas.  My parents and their friends usually go out on what they call the Tacky Light Tour, each year.  I may have talked about this before.  But I still cannot get over how awful some of these displays are.  However, what’s outside of the van often pales in comparison to what is inside.  All parties are lit to begin with.  And mind you this does not make them easy to understand.  Their southern drawls get longer and longer as the night progresses.  Now, I’m all for cultural diversity, and mom thinks I’m just high-falootin’ and snotty, but I honestly can’t understand some of the women by the end of the night.  So I smile and nod...smile and nod.  Well, everyone is drunk, but the driver, and the women all have on these shirts that reflect every light seen for miles.  We’re talking about glittery paint, sequins, and rhinestones all found clumped together on a sea of red.  We all celebrate differently, eh?  It is truly an unusual evening.  I don’t think I could duplicate the experience if I tried. 12. And I don’t want to.  But I would love to find a neighborhood with beautiful displays.  I don’t know where that is, but perhaps we’ll track one down.  My folks always do luminaries.  Their whole neighborhood does.  It’s so pretty.  We generally walk around and just enjoy the simple beauty of it.  13. Gosh, I seem to be talking a lot about my parents in this post.  I guess I’m feeling a bit nostalgic.  I’m sad that I won’t be with more of my loved ones.  But, I’m also glad to have loved one’s here with me.  Last year Chris mom was in the ICU.  We didn’t know if she’d make it.  The year before it was Kajsa in the PICU for a month.  Hopefully, this year everyone remains healthy.  I think the happy should follow naturally.  After all when we have loved ones, we have the opportunity to create traditions.  I think that if I approach the holidays with a spirit of love and caring, perhaps I can make traditions that are as special to my children as my parent’s have been for me.  And I guess that’s all Chris was really hoping for anyway. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1.   (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

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Thankful Thursday 10-27

Every week Running2Ks has a post called Thankful Thursday.
In the past, I've tried to remember to do this. I am; however, a little bit better at the moment by moment gratitude. (That whole wanna-be Zen thing.) I do think, though, that it is well worthwhile to look back over the week and think about all the blessings for which I am grateful.

So here we go...

This week I am thankful that Maya has done so well in school, that she has been invited into a select club, which has its own privileges. Among them are getting out of school five minutes early on Fridays, and discounts at some restaurants, as well as, the local bowling alley. Chris calls it her secret club and teases her about running the world - ala the Illuminati. (Encouraging, eh?)

As an addendum, I am grateful that this will provide increased desire to continue her scholastic excellence.

I am thankful that Lynne found a house and was able to pack and move her entire household within 12 days of spying her new home. It was also a great blessing for Chris to be able to go up to Seattle to help his mother, and to say a farewell to his boyhood home.  

I am thankful that I found a special something to do with Lynne when she comes to visit for Thanksgiving. I’d tell you what it is, but she pops over here to read sometimes. So you’ll all just have to be patient. :)

I am immensely thankful that there are no more pre-transplant tests for Kajsa. It has been challenging for all of us. Now it is out of our hands, which is in its own strange way comforting.

And finally, I wanted to extend a big thank you to all of you who have come by in the past week to extend your well wishes. They are not only welcome, but truly uplifting. I know that many of you found your way over via Running2Ks blog. Isn’t she great? What a kind thing for her to do. Thank you, too, Lady. Bless you and yours.

 

 

 

 

 

fire

Last night our friend and neighbor (we actually share the property), Chrissy, came running into our house yelling, "Fire!" We went outside and could see it burning two properties away from us. As we stood there trying to gauge distance, I came to horrible realization. “Chris, I can hear that.” 

He quickly ran up to get into Shaun’s truck, so that they could see where it was & if help was needed. As he left, I yelled after him, “What should I do?” 

“Get the kids in the car!”

I’m so great in a crisis.

So Chrissy & I awoke & loaded up our various kids and dogs and drove off while embers were falling through our trees into our yards. The last thing I did was prop open the gate for Pagan, our goat. 

We parked about a block away waiting for our husbands. From this view, we could see that the fire was only three properties from ours. (This is about one city block, but dry and full of scrub brush, juniper and walnut trees) 

The whole time Chrissy was crying because one of her dogs wouldn't leave the house. (Damn, stubborn blue healers!) About that time, I realized I'd left the baby's dialysis machine and feeding pump so I told her "We'll go park in your big driveway and you run & get Blue. When you're done I'll grab the machines. If any either of us sees anything we lay on the horn."

We got the dog no problem. Then it was my turn. I ran into my bedroom and started ripping cords out of the wall. I had finally gotten the stupid things unplugged and was running out the door when I heard the horn. Terrified, I put it all down and started running. Just then, she came tearing around the corner to help.  We got everything loaded up, and high-tailed it out of there. 

Returning to the road we could hear our husbands yelling back and forth. Every time we'd get scared for the guys, we'd just listen for their big booming voices. We watched over the next hour as the fire went from a wild 40 foot tall (LOUD) one with the wind blowing it straight for our houses to a wet smoldering mess, as the guys along with the volunteer fire department fought the thing. 

When it was out, the guys strolled down the street like they were the kings of the world. It looked like a bedraggled version of that scene from A Few Good Men (or Monsters Inc). They were wet and smelly and I couldn't wait to hug them. It was right after that when I noticed that Chris was still wearing his flip flops.

He told me later that when they had arrived, the VFD was nowhere to be found. So he and Shaun were helping the frantic woman to get her dog (again with the dogs!) out of the house and to pull her car away. About five minutes later the VFD appeared. Evidently the 911 call had gone, not to dispatch, but instead to the home of one of the VFD. She was fortunately at home; and called up all the other members. Ah, the rural life. 

Then, apparently, began the keystone cop routine. The truck had oxygen but not masks, hoses but not couplings, and no one knew how to unroll the hose. So they pulled out 50 feet to go three yards and when the hoses were turned on they tied themselves in a knot. Having watched this, Chris and Shaun became infuriated and began shouting orders at the trained volunteers. This appears to be what I heard as I was sitting up at the road. 

Once the VFD got its equipment straightened out, they began to fight the fire...by aiming at the house. Now mind you, the house at this point is unsalvageable. The wind is blowing. The neighbor’s (2 from us) trees are catching on fire. And it hasn’t rained in weeks! So Chris and Shaun grabbed hoses of their own and began damage control on the other side of the house. If I remember correctly, one soaked the ground while the other worked the trees. I honestly believe that those two guys, along with a friend who showed up, Errol, are the reason we still have a place to live.

I may get super irritated with my husband some days. We bicker over dishes, bills and remote control. But when it comes down to it; I am so thankful that he’s in my life. I’m even grateful for the extreme mellowness that so often riles me up. It allowed him to keep a steady head and do what needed to be done. 

So as I tucked the frightened girls into bed last night, I reassured them. “You can sleep safe and sound, thanks to daddies.”

Another take on Thankful Thursday

For all of you wonderful people looking for a way to help, please be careful. I found this today.

Speaking of Katrina Aid...I was at Phoenix Children's Hospital today for Kajsa's PD appointment. (It went well, by the way.) But anyway, this is the time of the year that they have their annual Miracle Network drive for the hospital.  Well, not only was one of their affiliated pharmacies (and Kajsa's), CVS, matching all donations, but the total donations are being split between PCH patients and those of Children's Hospital, New Orleans

If you do the math, that means that everyone's donations were doubled so that they got to help patients both at home and Katrina survivors who now find themselves in even greater need. When I found this out, I had to go to the car to cry.

Later, on the drive home, I was listening to National Public Radio. They were listing all the countries that are helping out. Even ravaged Bosnia Herzegovina is sending what they can…$6,000. Tiny  Sri Lanka, among a number of others, is donating $25,000. It is amazing. 

Several people from other countries were interviewed. Many of them pointed out that folks from their countries had been helped by aid from the US in the past, and that they not only didn’t forget, but they wanted to return the favor in whatever way they could.   

Canada, for one is really stepping up to the plate. They are making certain that energy is getting to where it needs to be. One Canadian representative spoke of the Acadian / Cajun connection. It was touching.

While I am very upset with some of the ways in which this has been handled, the human component has been amazing. I know that beauroctatic crap will always be just that. And I’m slowly coming to terms with that (somewhat). But, when it comes to human capacities for kindness and compassion, I continue to be pleasantly surprised and awed.

Thankful Thursday

Running2Ks has a great thing she does on her blog. It is a repeating entry she calls Thankful Thursday. She posts things, events, people, and such for which she is thankful that week, no matter how big or small.

So while spreading her gracious spirit, and giving credit where credit is due…I submit mine this week. I will try to remember to do this again next week.

The main (personal) thing that I am thankful for this week is that I  finally found a pediatrician for Kajsa this week. You see, because of her kidney disease, her primary insurance is Medicare. Yes, this is the same thing that you see senior citizens receiving. Unfortunately, this means that most pediatricians are unable to see her. Those who can are generally taking no new Medicare patients. We have spent the last six months trying to find a competent pediatrician who can and will see her. Finally, with the help of our nephrology clinic’s social worker, Lisa, we now have one. Her name is Dr. Sarah Bode. Not only is she affiliated with Phoenix Children’s Hospital, but she has done a nephrology rotation. I’m very excited. Getting caught up on all of her wellness care brings Kajsa that much closer to transplantation.

Another (HUGE) thing that I’m thankful for is the fact that we live in an area with little or no natural disasters. This is actually a fairly difficult thing to do. I grew up in the south and mid-west, where we were regularly tormented by tornados. I then moved to Seattle. While I was there, my mom worried constantly that I’d be buried within a fault. This week’s images of Hurricane Katrina have truly brought this to the forefront of my mind. I am so sad for all the people who have been impacted by this disaster. I am also thankful that my family and life were not a part of it.

Lastly, I am thankful that Maya brought home a progress report today. So far, she’s getting all A’s. She’s such a bright child and she works very hard. Tomorrow she is going to her first school football game with her friend Emily. I hope she has a great time.

So there you have it…my contribution to Thankful Thursdays.

Lastly,

Thank You.