Kate's First Article

 

Celebrating Makenna and Saying Goodbye

We make a good team. 

Saturday, Erin and I hosted a bridal brunch for Makenna. We had a perfectly comfortable day visiting together with a few close friends and some women in the family. The day was exactly what we all needed. Missing Lauren was tough but we know she is coming soon and that helps soothe the ache in my heart. We will be moving Makenna and Noah into their home the first weekend in October. As it turns out, they are also getting married that weekend. Sleep is overrated.

Thank God for technology that allows us to include Lauren from nine hours away. 

This little one has been Makenna's side kick after school every day for a few years. The baton is being passed as Kate takes over the part-time job once Makenna moves out of the neighborhood and into married life. 

Erin made all the coffee and tea cups for the party. Makenna gave me the wine tumbler when she got engaged. I drank tea in it and she laughed. Of course she did.

I have no idea but Erin took this and I think it's fun.

This antique dish serving platter was on a table at Lauren's wedding. We kept one set to incorporate into each of the kids' weddings someday.

During the party, Erin and I were discussing hot flashes and sleep disruption. We realized we are both in the early stages of menopause; hers surgically induced and mine due to age. I mentioned how strange it is to experience something like this with my daughter and she casually quipped, "it's okay, we grew up together too." I love this. I love her.

Someone photo bombed her selfie and amused her. 

Kate and I visited Makenna's old stomping grounds Sunday to see a show. A high school friend of Erin's is the technical director and classmates of Kate's are actors. It's strange to be back after such a short season and see so many familiar faces in new, more grown-up roles. 

Our sweet Layla let us know Tuesday afternoon she wasn't feeling well. She paced and panted for a few hours before laying down on the cool bathroom floor. This was anything but typical. She refused food, treats and offers to go outside. She not only didn't get up Wednesday morning but we realized she hadn't been to the bathroom in 24 hours so I called the vet. Two and a half hours later, we were given the devastating news she had cancer on her spleen and likely her liver too. The spleen had a lesion that was bleeding and her prognosis, even with emergency surgery was not good. We had mere hours with her on meds to slow the bleeding and pain relief to gather our kids from work and school to say goodbye. 

Layla was rescued from a neighbor's yard and life in a pen because I felt so badly for the pretty girl who stood, staring at her house willing someone to come play with her. She won my heart before I even officially met her. It took a lot for me to knock on that door and ask to meet the dog who was slated to be sent to a shelter in the coming days. I have had moments over the years where I've wondered if I had perhaps lost my mind in choosing to add her particular brand of chaos to our family. But I am missing her like crazy. She was beyond happy all the time and wouldn't even fake remorse when in trouble. Her philosophy appeared to be that a few puppy kisses could cure all that ails you. She gave lots of kisses. She wriggled from the inside out constantly and saw every day as the best day ever. I'm praying heaven is ready for her. The girls laughed that Brutus likely wasn't quite rested up for her just yet but perhaps Ryan was ready for a busy dog. I have no idea if any of this gets to work out like that but hope so. It helps my broken heart to think they are together. 

Their mother decided we all required ice cream after school today. I was in no position to argue with her.

This evening, Greg and I craving a quiet night each made a beverage to enjoy by the fire pit. We instead ended up with our kids gathered around talking. Erin called in with fun news she is going to share publicly soon. Makenna announced she was selected as the support staff person of the year for her building. Noah and Makenna had just returned from an adventure date where they had an appetizer in one restaurant, an entree in a second and dessert in the third and final location. We love their simple adventures.

Layla

Oh Layla Girl, you were the sweetest and most joyful dog. We were in debate up until your final moment as to whether you were a complete idiot or smart enough to play dumb really well. Noah says we were playing checkers while you played chess. I think he might be right. You played hard to the very end and loved us all well. I'm so glad I chose to rescue you and make you part of our family, despite questioning my sanity for doing so repeatedly since. You, my pretty girl are one of a kind and I'm going to miss you and your shenanigans. I'm praying heaven has bottomless bowls, no scales and lots of treats. Kiss your brother for me. 

Sometimes I Say Bad Words

Another day and another kid commented on her dad's post-workday body odor. In some ways, I'm dreading the empty nest years and his target selection. For now, there are enough other people besides me for him to pick on. 

A deer jumped in front of my car on the way home from school. I locked up the brakes and swerved to avoid contact. I narrowly missed the deer and yelled, "hey Buddy, that was not a good decision!" Ty, who was in the passenger seat took a minute to absorb what happened and later commented, "I'm really proud of how you handled that, Mom. You didn't even say bad words." Thanks Ty. I needed that win.

Erin is officially on the website now as a team member for CCAP Across the Map. She has been involved in several late night virtual meetings and is spending a significant amount of time on research for a few of their upcoming projects. The work invigorates her and keeps her busy too. We are pretty darn proud of her. 

The mornings this week have been rather difficult. I'm not sleeping well again, fighting daily headaches and simply stewing. I have not yet figured out how to let go of the things I cannot control. Sigh. I have been seeking God's peace and craving quiet. Wednesday morning He delivered a golden sky after a short rain. It was stunning and I was grateful.

Anne kidnapped me for a few hours this week. It was after a morning I failed to contain all the cuss words and told my son to get his a$$ in the car. I had a headache and he was fairly certain he had a solid argument for skipping school that day. He did not get the answer he wanted and I lost patience. I'm told it happens. I just prefer to not start my day this way. The day after, Anne called to see if my day had improved. It hadn't but I didn't have the heart to say so. I was stung by a bee between my toes and my foot swelled up like a purple foot balloon. This is not attractive or comfortable. A kid had a panic attack on the road. I had other people's children after work and there wasn't a piece of bread or fruit in the house. I literally wanted to crawl into bed and pretend I wasn't the adult in charge. The break Anne provided this week was necessary. How do we as moms get those and keep the house running? I'd like to know. 

We learned all our kids and sons-in-law will be here for one evening in early November. I am beyond excited. We haven't been together since last Thanksgiving. I started a group text to brainstorm a meal and hopefully a family photo. It quickly derailed into our typical sarcastic hilarity but everyone is on board for whatever we can squeeze into the few hours we have together. I just need to convince a few family members we aren't getting matching crocs to commemorate the occasion. My people are weird. 

Today, I took a furlough day and Erin took a personal day to run final bridal brunch errands. We are hosting an intimate gathering to celebrate Makenna in the morning. The day off together was delightful. We had breakfast, shopped and caught up in complete, uninterrupted sentences. We needed the day.

Labor Day Week

We spent the weekend relaxing. Grace's family joined us for dinner. We were invited to sit by a fire afterward with Anne's family. She was hosting the Edwards from Houston so it was fun to catch up. I had tea with friends twice and squeezed in a quick engagement session for Makenna and Noah. We purchased a mattress set for our upcoming guest room and have plans to quickly create a space Lauren and Taylor can occupy in November. It will be their only trip up this year and I'm excited to have space for them to stay with us. By Monday evening I thought I could use another three day weekend. 

He recovered beautifully from surgery. Keeping the little ninja down is proving difficult for his parents as result. 

It was a busy week, with a commitment literally every evening and a pesky full time job that keeps me hopping. In a perfect world, that job would be part time so I could keep up with all.the.things. I do not live in a perfect world. But at Bible study the last few weeks, I've admired Lana's hydrangeas and finally walked over to snap a quick photo with my phone. Life is crazy but there is peace to be found if we just take a moment to notice.

Makenna and Noah had me squeeze in an engagement session before they elope next month. We are on a short timeline with these two now that they have decided a quick wedding is more important than a big wedding. The house they are renting needs to be flipped by October first so they can move in the day or two before their October third wedding. It's going to be a busy weekend despite the simplicity of their private ceremony. So when my friends remind me to slow down and take care of my health, I laugh. Have they met my children?

Ty and I ran to Lexington after school Friday to celebrate my dad's birthday. I asked my nephew to capture a group selfie. This is the best we had to offer and I think it's perfect. Well, for us anyway. And then he thought he would prank me with a silly selfie of himself. The joke's on him because share photos. I love this kid.

On the ride home from school this week, Ava declared she'd found the boy she will marry. I asked his name. She said, "George." I asked, "George who?" She very seriously responded, "um, this isn't a knock-knock joke." Goodness, I love that kid and miss working in kindergarten. 

Hernia, New Driver and a Kid Date

Our future son-in-law helped deliver a baby last Friday night. He wasn't sure quite how to process the experience but knew he no longer wanted tacos afterward. He has held hands while people passed away from an accident but this was his first, and he hopes only, birth. He said the contrast was pretty powerful and he has a whole new level of respect for mothers. 

This week held a permit for Kate and her first time behind the wheel that wasn't a vacant parking lot. She managed well. I felt nauseated anyway.

Our grandson had surgery to repair a hernia this morning. While riding back to the OR, they told him he was on a bed with wheels so he could relax. He crossed his feet and put his arms behind his head and laid back. The boy understands relaxing. He woke from anesthesia angry and pretty mad at the world though. It took all Lauren had in her to calm him. Covid restrictions prevented both of his parents from being there as support. It's  ridiculous. But as the day wore on, he perked up and recovered well. No jumping or running for three weeks seems rather unrealistic since using duct tape is not encouraged. Lauren is requesting prayer.

Last weekend, they went to the zoo and when they got home, Austin requested a family series. I'm so glad he did.

Ty had plans with two different friends this weekend and both had to cancel. Since he was the only kid home tonight, we let him select a date destination. He chose putt-putt golf but by the time we watched him scale rocks, jump over bridges and fish countless balls from the pond, we wondered if perhaps something more physical wouldn't have been better. But we all scored a hole-in-one and celebrated with a slushy afterward. Kid dates on gorgeous evenings are highly recommended. 

Temperatures have dropped and I am grateful. My porch swing has been missed.