Leon's World: Precious Memories

Well, a lot has happened since my last blog! I turned 40, I have had my hubby in the emergency room and my son in the hospital, and I had to fix an entire Thanksgiving feast all by myself! A lot can happen when you turn 40...

I had the wonderful surprise of most of my entire family (16+ people) sneaking in my house (WHILE I WAS IN IT!) and surprising me EARLY with a birthday party! Wednesday was the only day that we actually got to go home without soccer, dance, or any other distraction and I cooked supper. Anna came in and started picking up toys, putting away folded clothes, washing dishes, etc. I told her I was concerned about her... She usually has to be asked to do such things. I should have seen it coming. ANYWAY, she straightened up and I decided not to "look a gifted horse in the snout" as my dear German friend, Marina always says. I went in and changed into my t-shirt and stretchy clothes to lounge around in and got real comfortable...However, after supper, I was sitting on my couch reading my OPRAH magazine when all of a sudden through my front french doors comes the whole crew of my family at once singing "Precious Memories" and bringing all sorts of goodies for old people! (They had met down my driveway and drove without headlights down the driveway!) I started screaming and all I could think was OH @*&% I don't have on my bra! (I remedied this as quickly as I could, but it was funny!)

They have been plotting for a long time to get me, 'cause I have always enjoyed their 40th birthdays. Actually, some are yet to come! They brought me cake, lovely gifts like depends underwear, Geritol, denture cream,

prunes, etc., as well as things I am truly beginning to need like reading glasses, a magnifying glass, wrinkle cream, and vitamins!

ha ha My dear sweet sister-n-law made a beautiful black on black cake and I even needed help blowing out those pesky candles from my little Spencer! She thought of everything and brought me a bib and a big bowl and even fed me! How precious it that?

Of course, my mother was there since she still remembers giving birth to the 8lb 4oz little baby so many, many, years ago!

If you are wondering who the planning culprit was, WELL I have my suspicions...

However, I wouldn't trade any of them for anything. I have the most wonderful family and they are a true blessing. They did help create precious memories. I haven't had that much fun at my own birthday party since my Holly Hobbie Birthday party when I was 10!

Did I mention that they brought flowers?

After that, I thought I was safe! WRONG! Some of the above mentioned culprits, decided to decorate the Berrytown Road Detour with signs informing the world I was turning 40. (EVERY 2 miles it seemed!) I had people I don't even know wishing me a happy birthday! They even got my friends at work in on it. They also sent more flowers!

In a mug with 3 handles! My dear friend Janet gave me a hearing aid that I really needed!

I wish I had pictures of the signs, but I am afraid I don't have pictures of those, because the rest of the story has me in emergency rooms and hospitals with my boys. I did have a great birthday and had many nice people give me many beautiful gifts! I thank them all from the bottom of my heart!

Friday night we went to Columbia to watch the FC BULLDOGS play! It was a game that had us on the edge of our seats, but we pulled through! Anna, Haley, and I froze our butts off, but we cheered them on! They will now play Tylertown! I'm planning on VICTORY! My sister, Marla keeps Will on Friday nights usually since he does not like going to the games. She did this Friday and then kept him the day of my birthday, Saturday. I spent the day washing clothes and cleaning - a never ending process around here... Jeff gave me a Columbia Ole Miss jacket and a gift card to CATO's !!! Anyway, Jeff and Anna wanted to take me out for my birthday, and we went and picked up Will from Marla's. We had a good time. We ate at Ruby Tuesday's. It was good - except my steak was more rare than medium, but I digress...

We came home and all was well with the world. However, Jeff woke me up at 4:00 Sunday morning and told me he was having heart palpitations and had woken up in a cold sweat at least twice. I tried not to panic when he took me up on my offer to go to the emergency room! He is NOT a complainer, NOR does he do doctors! So, I woke Anna and told we were leaving them and going to the emergency room (which she has no memory of at all)! However, the kids never knew we were gone. The emergency room doctor ran all sorts of tests, but nothing indicated a heart attack or anything. You could see where his heart was beating irregularly, but not sure what is causing it. He is going for more tests next week. We think caffeine may be the culprit, but are not certain. I was scared, but God blessed us that it was not serious or doesn't appear to be at this time. He is laying off caffeine and that is something I need to do also... So, we got back from the ER around 7:30 a.m., Jeff layed back down and I decided to cook breakfast for us and also lunch to take to mom's. I got the kids up and ready for church, we went to church and just as we are entering the doors, Will told me he didn't feel good and had a headache... Uh - Oh. I turned straight around and took him home. Our elderly people do not need little kid sick germs. Will gotTylenol and seemed okay, but later on he started running over 101 fever... More Tylenol - not helping - got Motrin from my sister. Finally his fever broke, then he started with throwing up. NO SUPPOSITORIES at my house, but have phenergan in pill form... He finally, after 3:00 in the morning, went without throwing up for a while. I ended up in bed with him upstairs to help him. I kepta close watch over him and he was cool to the touch, hadn't thrown up for a few hours... Then I touched him and all of a sudden he was on FIRE! I jumped up and took his temp - - I stopped watching after it hit over 103 and tried to get Motrin down him - Nope - comes right back up! We threw on clothes and to the Meadville emergency we went. Actually to Sue, but she sent us straight to the hospital. His fever was 104.5! I was in a state of panic! Jeff had gone to McComb to the Cardiologists office, so I had Anna who I pulled out of bed! I ran up the hill from Sue's office to the hospital because it was quicker than driving. I almost needed oxygen, but I made it! (Did I mention I was carrying this 57 pound child this whole time?) He was not able to walk! He was admitted and tested positive for the flu. They gave him a steady drip and suppository. We stayed all day Monday, and spent the night. His fever finally broke early Tuesday morning. We were released later that morning. He hasn't run a bit of fever since then! Praise God! I guess we caught it early enough that it really kicked it out with the many bags of drip! I didn't know a little boy could hold so much fluid! He had one scared momma! I hate, hate, hate for my children to be sick...

Anyway, since we are not sure whether he is possibly contagious we decided to keep him home for Thanksgiving! That is hard when you have a family as large as mine! We have mass chaos with 5 plus families merging with food and fun! However, I made a pretty nice Thanksgiving Feast all by myself! The turkey came out perfect, I made a huge pan of dressing, green beans almondine, sweet potato souffle, ham, fried okra for Anna and rolls! We had apple pie for dessert. Anna had found a recipe for little white chocolate tarts and she made them. They looked just adorable and tasted yummy! I missed my chaotic family get together at Momma's house, but we still had a nice Thanksgiving together!