Saturday, May 28, 2011

Mother’s Day and Grandma (Gran) (Post 2 of 2)

So if you missed my first post, click here: Bad Blogger.

After the crazy week, it was time to celebrate Mother’s Day. I was so excited it being my first and all. I woke up to this smiling face which really made me understand the meaning of Mother’s Day.

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Being a mother is great. The most rewarding gift ever. When I look at this smiling face the world stands still and my heart just melts.

I did not get a gift because of all the stress and things that were going on during the week but who cares (look at that smiling face). My in-laws had plan a small get together/barbeque  to commence the occasion. Before we left I did manage to get a Mother’s Day picture with my baby.

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The day was fun but we were so tired from the previous week that by the end of the day we crashed.

That following Monday was a little better when I sent Maddox to daycare. I really didn’t cry at all. But my world would come crashing down at around 2:00 am Tuesday morning when I received a call from my mother stating my Gran had passed away. I was blind sided, shocked and heartbroken.

I have to say that I was blessed to have the best grandparents in the world.  I lived just down the road from them until I moved off to college.

My Gran and Pop help raise me and I credit them a lot on my success as an adult. They instilled in me the love for family, friends and my hometown. They never missed a basketball game, banquet or event that I was involved in. They encouraged me to do my best and to never give up.

They are also active citizens in my hometown  (Lepanto). Gran ran the elderly housing center for years. She was also a member of Citizens for Progress, Alumni Association and Red Hatters.

And have you ever heard of the book “The Painted House” by John Grisham.

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If so I’m sure you know the movie was filmed in Lepanto. After the filming my grandmother had a big part in making sure the house that was really the star of the movie, stayed in Lepanto.

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Picture of the Painted House in Lepanto.

I am so proud to call them my grandparents. It gives me a sense of pride that I carry with me today.

I never thought that I would lose her so I have been struggling the last 2 weeks. Songs, places and certain items just set me off.

Here are a couple of pictures of her.

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4 Generations at my wedding. Gran, Mom, Me and Brittany.

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Gran and Pop with Maddox right after he was born.

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Another picture from my wedding. Wasn’t she beautiful.

I will miss her everyday of my life. Looking at Maddox makes it worse because I know she loved him so much . I wanted her to be able to spend more time with him but I guess God had a different plan. Maybe that is why he gave me Maddox, to help me through this.

So, as you can see my life has changed. Thanks for listening . It has actually made me feel better writing this down.

Friday, May 27, 2011

Bad Blogger!

Well, hello there strangers. Long time no talk. Sorry I haven’t made a blog post in a while but I have been super busy. Lets get started (this will be 1 of 2 post).

First, I went back to work 3 weeks ago. I was so afraid that being away for 12 weeks I might not know how to be a nurse anymore. After 2 days on the job a famous ole saying was running through my head, “Just like riding a bike!”. I was glad and relieved to have it come back so easily. I love being a nurse. I have to say it is one of the most rewarding professions that anyone could go in to.  I love my patients dearly and I am so thankful that they let me be apart of their lives in some of their darkest moments. To comfort, embrace and encourage someone to push on, not to give up is what I do best. I am so thankful that God has blessed me with the title nurse.

Second, I had to send Maddox to daycare (crying!). Trusting someone to take care of your precious newborn is one of the most scariest things you will ever do. I researched daycare after daycare and finally agreed to send him to a church daycare close by. His first week I cried everyday. Chris would start to put him in his car seat to take him and I would just break down. I have to say I might have over reacted. The girls there love and take great care of him.

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I know they look young but they are awesome.

I worked Monday thru Thursday that week and when Friday rolled around I couldn’t wait to spend the whole day with Maddox but I got an upsetting call from my mother. My grandmother (Gran) had been in the hospital since Easter recovering from surgery. Her condition made a turn for the worse and she had to have another major surgery (thoracotomy). We headed out that morning to St. Bernard’s Hospital in Jonesboro, AR. When we arrived at the hospital I notice that Maddox was real fussy and warm. I told Chris to take him to my parents house while I stayed at the hospital. Around 4:30 pm we received a phone call stating that Gran made it through surgery and was in ICU. While I was waiting to go back to see her, Chris called me because Maddox had a fever. In that second we decided to go back to Little Rock that night so that we could be close to our pediatrician. So, after I went and saw Gran and made sure she was stable, we got back on the road.

The next day we took Maddox to the doctor. After some test, he was found to have a viral infection. He felt so bad the rest of that morning but his fever released later that night and he started perking up.

Please stay tuned……Will post part 2 tomorrow.