randomness on a Tuesday...

 There were no grandchildren involved in today's busyness.  I got up, dawdled around, did the crossword puzzle (oh you young busy mamas, don't hate me, I know!), drank my coffee...ahh, so nice!  Then I did some sorting and cleaning, got two bags to donate.  One large bin of Barbies with a few Kens and a bunch of clothes and accessories:  I did keep a lot of it.  I found an original Fisher-Price Little People, the girl with the red dress. I kept her.  

Then it was time for another coffee, and then time to go out the door for Cam to go to class.  We stopped at the new Byrne Dairy in town to get our free Tuesday Refills, we think we're so funny...you don't even have to go to the register, just raise your official Byrne Dairy refillable mug towards the cashiers, and out the door you go.  A lady held the door for me, she had her mug too, she said, Don't you just love Tuesdays?   Now that you mention it, yes, I do.

Off to Aldi I went while Cam went to her college class.  Avocados, pears, raspberries, cheese, eggs, coconut milk, walnuts, ravioli, a pizza dough, chicken breast, a smallish chuck roast for the crock pot, crackers, a jar of marinara sauce, and a bottle of lime juice.  There must have been more, it was a hundred dollars.  After getting Cam, we stopped to drop off the donations, then got gas, then to BJ's for two bags of coffee and two bags of candy.  

We're planning to gather at Jonathan and Rosi's (and baby Emilia's) place for Halloween.  The grandkids will all go Trick or Treating from there.  Some of us will stay there with the little ones, and we will give out candy.  We will have SO much candy.   Maybe 11 of my kids, some spouses, most of the grandkids will be there.  We will order pizzas, and have snacks and way too much fun.  

Tomorrow, I'll get up earlier, go to the pool, and Kaia Jean will be here when I get home.  Cam will look after her until I get here.  Rhys is coming for a visit at some point, and we might try to go to Target...not sure.  

Here is your daily dose of sweet Nicole Elizabeth.  I cry as I write this.  This little darling has beaten the odds, but she's struggling now.  I'm not sure how things will go, but I love her so much my heart just aches.  Please pray for her mama and daddy, that they can have peace and be strong in the coming days.  I am very thankful for all the kind words and prayers from all of you friends who read this.  It might come to mind that God isn't listening, but He is.  This baby has been such a gift.  She is so loved.  

You all have a good evening, and thank you again...

pictures from normal days....

Camille aka Aunt Cam, with baby Bridget

Char...Ev...Nate..Ellis in the front, Margaret, Blythe, Achilles...

Aunt Sonja with baby Jovi

Me with baby Emilia

Cousins and best friends Jamie and Blythe (that is a doll!)

Sweet baby Nicole

Today:  Ev with Bridget, Suzanne playing Sorry! with Rhys, and Jamie, with Kaia watching

Cam on the couch, Sonja with Kaia and Ellis

Babies and more babies!  In the last year, there have been 5 grandbabies born (Samantha, Emilia, Bridget, Nicole, Jovi), with two more due in the new year.  

This fine day, after the pool, Suzanne came for a visit.  So Evelyn came over with Bridget, and Sonja with Kaia, then Kathryn had an appointment for Jovi, so she took Achilles and we watched Rhys, Jamie, and Ellis.  (They were SO good!).  We had coffee, we had tastes of the amazing cinnamon rolls Suze brought from Wegmans, the kids had pears and cheese and crackers and cookies, and shh, candy corn.  (Jamie was so sad they were all gone yesterday, he said, "I smell the candy corn...", but the bowl was empty.). So I bought a new bag in the Dollar General today after the pool, the autumn mix with the pumpkins in it.  

Sweet baby Nicole has some infections going on, don't know much more than that, but it's a really hard situation for the soul.  We love the babies, we love the children God sends us right from heaven.  They are entrusted to us, and we are so thankful for them.  I'm not sure what to say about this, it hurts my heart.  

The girls are watching East of Eden, so I am watching it with them...so you have a good night!
 

home again and posting!

 Let's try to untangle these thoughts and get things straight...

We left on Wednesday morning, and drove through the glorious mountains of Pennsylvania to Delaware.  The trees are breathtaking in their autumn colors.  

We stopped a few times, I had a horrible coffee from a rest area Starbucks, we laughed and talked, and made it safely to the hospital.  We visited with Abigail for a bit, then left to go to Trader Joe's.  We got dinner stuff to bring to the Airnb:  salad kits, some hot sausages, fresh ravioli, sauce, orange chicken, pumpkin ice cream, chocolate ice cream, ect.  

Derek and Abigail came over for dinner, for our strange buffet.  We opened a bottle of wine, and stretched out and relaxed.  Baby Nicole is holding her own, I'm not sure she's improving.  The doctors are making sure she is comfortable, and the hope is that her lungs grow and develop so she can be weaned from the heavy duty oscillator.  

We did not get to see her in person, as we are not on the four person list.  I get it that they have to be cautious, but we would really love to be able to see her in person, I only got to do that when she was one day old!  

Thursday, Derek had to go to work, so Abigail came over to our place and we spent the day together.  There were places we would have liked to go, but mostly we just wanted to spend time together, Mariel and Suzanne and Abigail and I.  We ended up taking a trip to Target, it was a really nice, big, well-stocked Target.  We got some things to have for lunch (salad kits for the win!)(with some roasted chicken).

I made us some afternoon coffees, and the day flew by.  We solved the world's problems, and had some laugh attacks.  

We went to Five Guys for dinner...it's a burger place, if you've never been.  The young guy behind the counter couldn't understand what I was ordering, I thought he got it, but when I got the printed ticket, it was all wrong.  I had to get it straitened out, as I wasn't going to eat a cheeseburger with jalapenos, ( I am just not a cheese person!).   I do wonder why they had him man the counter if he could barely speak English, and I don't mean it in a rude way.   He kept nodding and saying "cheeseburger!", and I kept saying "No cheese!".  

Anyway.  We brought out food back to the airbnb, and watched a football game on mute...

Home....ah, the trip home.  It's a five hour drive, and this time my coffee was excellent (iced blonde roast Americano with a splash of heavy cream).   I put clothes in the washer, and mop/vac ed the floors.  Then Char was going out the door to the small city to hand in nursing school paperwork, so I went along with her to run into BJ's.  She wanted some energy drinks, and I wanted the 90% burger for $3.30 a pound.  I also got a big package of buns and some dill pickles, we can grill burgers on Sunday.

Home...Cam had made curry chicken, and Suze was still visiting, until Zech came a bit later, and came in for a visit with Mr. Winston, their black Lab who looks just like old Suri did.

Ah well...time just flies by, and this fine morning Paul and I are heading up to Ottawa with Emily and Mariel for a birthday feast for a friend.   We're leaving soon, and I have to get moving!  You all have a really good day!

just a tuesday in the glorius autumn...

 

Baby cousins, #20 grandchild Bridget Suzanne, and #22 Jovi Madeline (Nicole Elizabeth is #21). (14 girls, 8 boys!)

Jovi

Newton visited with Evelyn and Bridget

Bridget

Kathryn read a story to Rhys and Achilles, Ev held baby Jovi, Jamie and Ellis were being silly

Grandpa with Ellis

Camille with Kaia, yesterday

We got outside for a bit in the sunshine.

And, a blast from the past...Camille, Char, Kathryn, Suzanne, Jonathan...

Yesterday, the rec center pool opened after being closed for a month for maintenance.  I got there an hour early, so spent two hours in that water moving.  It was beyond lovely.  I got home and did some housework, then Oscar came with Miss Kaia.  We played and had some scrambled eggs and read stories...then Cam agreed to watch her for the last half hour of Oscar's class, so I could go with Kathryn to Jovi's newborn check up, and to the store...yes, Kathryn went to the grocery store.  She carried Jovi close to her, and I pushed the cart.  

This fine morning, I vacuumed and stripped the guest room bed and washed bedding, vacuumed in there, vac/mopped the floors, then Ev arrived with Newton and Bridget...then Kathryn with her five small children.  Darius had work to do, and she likes getting the kids out of the house, they love coming here.  I made them some kid friendly charcuterie, (apples and caramel!  cheese popcorn!  and boring turkey, cheese, pepperoni, grapes, crackers).  I read How The Grinch Stole Christmas, and held some babies.  

They all went home, and Cam and I headed to bring her to her class.  I went to BJ's and got some coffee, yogurt, cheese popcorn, and SunChips.  Then to Aldi for pretzel crackers and gluten free crackers, then to get Cam...we stopped at the new Byrne Dairy.  If you bring your official Byrne D. travel mug in on Tuesday, you can fill it with coffee for free...we got a free one when they opened, I bought a second one for five bucks.  Now we can get free coffee every Tuesday:)

Home...air fryer pork chops with a melted butter/dark brown sugar poured over, with lots of seasonings too.  We had chopped roasted sweet potatoes and red skinned potatoes with onion, garlic, rosemary, and olive oil, and chopped apples baked with brown sugar.  mmmmm!  

And now it's getting dark out and I have to pack.  Suzanne Eleanor is coming to spend the night, and go with Mariel and I tomorrow to Delaware to visit Abigail and Derek.  We are staying in an Airbnb this time, so no spooky hotel...I hope the Airbnb isn't spooky....

And here is your daily dose of Nicole: 

You all have a really nice evening!  

your daily dose...

Of baby Nicole Elizabeth!  

She was crying last evening, this is a screenshot from the AngelCam.  The nurses did come in and console her, one put her hand on her head and she calmed right down...then they turned the camera off, as they do when they take care of her.  

Daddy (Derek) got to hold her today!

(yes, they are married, they have to take off rings before entering NICU.)

She is so sweet.  If you are praying for her, thank you so very much.  God has been merciful, and we love her so much.  She is a miracle, and we hope she is able to be weaned from the oscillating ventilator to a regular one soon.  Then she won't need sedation, as far as I understand, and I am guessing she has a lot of sass to show us.  Her parents have seen some of it peeking through already.  

This fine day, I am keeping busy.  I washed my hair, made a batch of gluten-free 7-layer bars (Aldi brownie mix and a stick plus a little more butter as the base instead of graham crackers). (We'll see how they turn out!).  I was going to grill the chicken I had in a marinade, but I lazed out and put it all in the crockpot with taco seasoning and cilantro/lime salsa.  I made homemade salsa with 11 tomatoes, chopped up, garlic, cilantro, lime juice, cumin, salt, and a jalapeno pepper.  

Mariel with baby Bridget

Bridget with her mama and daddy, Evelyn and Nate

Sonja with Kaia, me with Samantha

Mariel with Kaia and Sammy.     Rosi was there with Emilia too, but I didn't get a picture.  Grace was there too...:)

Emily took Charlotte Claire on a hike in the Adirondacks this weekend...yes, this is New York state.  So lovely!

Char on the mountain.  I mean, when you hear New York, do you think of views like this?  (The Adirondack forest preserve is six million acres of loveliness!)

I'm home now and it's Saturday night...it's been such a good day.  :)

 

oh the blessings, number 22!!!!

 Welcome to the world, baby girl!  She came early and surprised us all!  She was supposed to stay in there comfy cozy until November, but she was so excited to meet her sister and brothers.  Without being too personal about someone else's labor and delivery, I'll say this:  it was textbook perfect.  I'm sure dear Kathryn had her share of suffering, and it's exhausting to have a baby, but things went well.

Rhys got to hold Jovi Madeline first!

Jamie got a turn!

Ellis really liked her too

What a blessing...

They're so excited.

Ellis gave her a hug.

I did get to go see her last night, when she was less than three hours old.  Darius was really wanting the kids to meet her, they couldn't wait.  Today he'll bring them up again, but I am going to keep little Ellis with me for a few hours, so they can have a more chill visit.  He's 19 months old, and very busy.  :)

And, Abigail did get to hold her sweet Nicole Elizabeth yesterday! 

My weeks tend to fill up quickly, and I am thankful for that.  I do like empty days, but they are few and far between.  The rec center pool will be opening up again soon, so I will have to get back in the groove of prioritizing that.  Tomorrow night we are having a gathering at Evelyn's house for the girls in the family.  The baby sprinkle we planned so long ago, well, the baby is here, and way too little to come with her mama....so we'll just get together since we have all marked our calendars and saved this chunk of time to be together.  

I will be making/grilling chicken for taco/fajitas, and have some other things to make...there is a dessert on the back burner of my mind, we'll see.  Sunday I'm going to another gathering at my friend Joannie's place, then Wednesday I'm heading to Delaware again, with Mariel and Suzanne. We come back on Friday, then up to Ottawa for the day on Saturday for a birthday feast for a friend.  

Picture taken from car window of where we cross the Seneca River.  This river separates us from Sonja lives, and from the small city, where we have a lot of appointments, and where the girls' college is.  The major bridge spanning it has been under construction for over a year now, and another local bridge closed abruptly last month.  This is one of the only crossings, and it's a one lane red metal bridge from long long ago.  We're all hoping it holds up until the big new bridge opens.  It also makes every trip take extra long, going the round-about way through the back roads, but the view is quite nice.  

Camille is going to Connecticut this weekend with friends, Char is going hiking in the Adirondacks with Emily, and I'm guessing Paul is going hunting.  I honestly wouldn't mind a little quiet alone time, as I putter around and prepare food for Saturday.  :).   But, I am glad to have such a busy life.  It sure is different being older though, my goodness by bedtime I'm done!  

Ellis will be here in a few hours, and I want to clean some things up and put in a load of laundry....so you all have a good day!  

The way the day started....

...well, it's no secret there is going to be another newborn around here soon!  Kathryn and Darius are having number five, (our #22 grandchild).  Baby girl will be only their second girl, so we decided a few months back to have a simple baby "sprinkle" for Kathryn.  It's planned for Saturday night, for all the girls in our family ( daughters, and daughter-in-laws).  

The monkey wrench in this plan is that baby seems to maybe want to come a bit earlier, so we'll see! 

This fine morning, I was all set to have those four children who are going to get a new baby sister, here at my house...but Emily happens to have the day off of work, so she's over there.  Later on, Mariel and I will go over so Em can get a break.  In the mean time, I am going to the small city with Miss Cam, she has class and I will run into Aldi for some things for the baby sprinkle...in case we still have it.  

There is one large bag to be dropped off at the thrift store today, which makes me happy.  I also have two new bags to toss in the garbage, which also makes me happy.  I found a bag with old pool noodles, no one wants those!  Old play dough, ditto. Random blocks and odd pieces, into the garbage.   I did find lots of vases and jars and pitchers, all donated.  Some candle holders new in the package....if I didn't find a use for them for all this time, maybe someone else will.  

I am paring down the toy supply.  I still have a nice Duplo train set, some bins of Barbies, which I plan to sort through one of these days, several bins of Fisher Price Loving Family dollhouse stuff and a few houses, lots of Calico Critter dollhouse stuff with several buildings and a big dollhouse,  a few trucks, and the toys here in the play area of the living room...three shopping carts, a doll stroller...not too much:)

Oscar is going to take the bin of Duplos for Kaia.  Emily took the Little Tikes Waffleblocks for her playroom.  She is also going to take the huge Waffleblocks.  

We are also going through our camping stuff, don't need it all anymore.  Little by little, clearing out the house.  The plan is to start replacing the flooring in all the rooms downstairs...

But for today, I am done.  I washed some dishes, cleaned the floors with the vac/mop, vacuumed the stairs and the downstairs hallway and bathroom, and did some sorting...now it's time to leave with Camille, and oops I sat here for too long.  

Abigail is going to be able to hold baby Nicole for the first time today, I hope I get some pictures!  

You all have a wonderful day...