Reasons To Love Monday - Oliver's Birthday Party

I couldn't get them both still long enough for a picture... close enough

Happy start of a new week, friends! On Saturday morning I stopped by the Dunkin Donuts to buy a pink donut with sprinkles for my sweet Cosy and an iced coffee with hazelnut flavoring for me... picked up baby girl and headed South to Marvin's. Then we switched Cosy's car seat to his car and loaded up all the things and drove down to Oliver's house in Riverdale for his third birthday party.

Last year due to my mom's illness, I wasn't able to go "down south" for Oliver's party. We held a small one here for him but it's not the same. If I had to drive me and Cosy down... we probably wouldn't have made it this year either. My back is just not good right now. But Marvin was a champ and took the day off so that he could go... and of course, he drove. It was Cosy's longest trip away from home... just 100 miles... she really is a little country girl.

It was hot and humid. We had heavy rain in the morning so the moisture was thick in the air. If you've never been to the Southern United States, you can't really appreciate how thick and heavy the air feels in the Summer. It's pure misery. As usual, I wanted to be where the babies were so I spent a lot of time outside with them. Cody set up the little bounce house that I bought for Oliver's first birthday and the kids jumped until their little heads were soaked with sweat. They played on the swingset, they filled up watering cans with water and poured the water out on ... everything. Although Cosy STILL won't let Oliver hug her, she had a really good time.

I think one of the best things for her on the trip was when Marvin took us to a parking lot near the airport where we could see the planes landing. Cosy was absolutely spellbound by the sight of those huge planes coming down so close. It's just the absolute best to be able to see things through the eyes of a child, isn't it? It doesn't take much to entertain them... bubbles, sidewalk chalk, a watering can with water... I love every minute with them.

Marvin was really good to help me remember not to pick the babies up. He even helped me with a poop situation (Cosy, not mine) by picking her up and laying her on the bed so that I wouldn't have to... and so that the poop wouldn't get everywhere by her climbing up on her own. (Side note - Cosy, if you're a teenager reading this, please don't be mad that I talked about your little poop accident - everyone goes through it when they're just learning to go potty and you did a great job staying dry all day and using a strange potty!) I didn't lift babies but I did stand a lot and ride in the car a lot and carry other - less heavy - things. Honestly, it's so frustrating because it's nearly impossible to not aggravate my back at the moment. Any little movement and I'm just done. Yesterday I did a small little Walmart run and just carrying that little bit up the stairs, etc, had me wrecked. So yesterday and today I'm resting and binge watching the tv series Bones. It's so good! Tomorrow I'll have Cosy for a little while but I'll also be doing a lot of resting. I'm not going to Marvin's until Wednesday morning because he starts his new Tuesday night trivia show this week.

 

I shared a ton of pictures from Saturday on Facebook but I have probably another couple dozen that I haven't shared. I took a TON of pictures! I wanted to share a few here for those who don't do Facebook or Instagram and also, I wanted to have a few posted here for posterity.

 


My Reasons To Love Monday this week:
Having two amazing, healthy, beautiful, loving three year old grandchildren who make everything better...
Having a great partner who makes every special occasion so much better
Knowing that we're past the halfway mark on Summer
Being able to take days like yesterday and today to rest. Even though my back hurts, it would be absolutely unbearable if I had to try to work while I'm in so much pain. There's just no way.

I hope your weekend was magical... and that your week is starting off well. Love and hugs, y'all!

 

 

 

Reasons To Love Newman - I Mean, Monday

Sometimes do you feel like greeting Monday like they used to greet Newman on Seinfeld? Hello... Monday. You sorry worthless miserable day. (she says while still in her pajamas and in bed). For me... any day can feel like Monday because my view only changes when I'm down at Marvin's for our "weekend" which ends up being Wednesday and Thursday. Friday is his Monday and it's usually his longest day although they really worked him like a dog yesterday... something like 12 hours. I hear from him the least amount on Monday because he's working at the radio station and he can't like... just chat with me randomly throughout the day like he does on Saturday and Sunday.

But this blog is about me... so let's talk about my hatred for Monday. I only hate Monday in the context that I hate feeling how I feel today which has nothing to do with Monday and everything to do with pushing myself too hard and having a body that doesn't cooperate. I could feel as much contempt for any day I wake up feeling this way and it does happen on days besides Monday. However... this blog originated from the viewpoint of a working girl and no matter what's happening in your life, there are reasons to hate AND LOVE any day of the week... but I just happen to have focused on Reasons To Love Monday and so that is what we're going to do today... and I'm sorry it took me two long paragraphs to get to that point.

1. I think it's possibly not quite as hot as it has been around here. If you're suffering from the awful heatwave we've been having and you hate heat as much as I do... I'm so sorry! Hang in there! We're about to check off the 4th of July and then it's just a few more weeks of baking until Labor Day and we'll be well on our way to reasonable weather before you know it. Not wishing my life away... just wishing this heat away. I'm so tired of sticking to every surface I sit down on.

2. The best Reason To Love Monday for me today is that I have literally barely moved all day. The house has been blissfully quiet and what noise there was, I have drowned it out with my window a/c unit. I've stayed curled up like the Princess and the Pea on a stack of pillows and cushy blankets and I've just allowed my body to heal from the abuse it suffered over the weekend and from getting my sleep cycles and medicine cycles out of sync. Cosy is doing so great with going potty but when she announces "I have to teetee" I have about thirty seconds to get her to the ONLY POTTY she will use in our house which is on the top floor. It has the little ring insert so she doesn't fall in and it's the only potty she trusts. Twice on Saturday I had to take off running from outside and carry her (not so tiny) dripping wet swimsuit covered body up the stairs to the upstairs potty and get that wet swimsuit peeled off of her before she peed herself. Not good for my back.

3. This may take me a second to figure out how to make it a Reason To Love but... I got a call from the nurse at my doctor's office today. She was really angry at ME for saying my prescription didn't get called in on Friday when she specifically talked to the pharmacist at Walmart herself. I don't fill prescriptions at Walmart. Never have, never will. It's not in my file... and believe me, they ask me every single time I go in to see that doctor, "where do you get your prescriptions filled?" Rite Aid in Cleveland.  I didn't mention Walmart in any of the times I talked to her on Friday and... beyond that... I provided her with the phone number to MY PHARMACY about twelve times in the course of our conversations on Friday. I was really upset about the way things were handled on Friday and I'm still, honestly, not happy with what happened but it really made me want to curse and throw things when she said it was my fault for telling her to call it in to Walmart. I GAVE HER THE PHONE NUMBER TO THE CORRECT PHARMACY. She never would admit her fault and it's a touchy thing dealing with a pain doctor. They can drop you for any reason and once one doctor's office drops you, it's very difficult to find another who will prescribe pain meds for you. SO my Reason To Love Monday today is that I kept my cool on the phone with that lunatic who appears to have lost touch with reality and seems to forget that my insurance is helping to pay her salary.

Moving on.

4. I love Monday this week because on Friday I did a big food shop (previously mentioned) and prepared lots of good, healthy, fresh food that I have been able to enjoy all weekend and still have plenty for the next couple of days. Trying to figure out what to eat is never easy for me because ... tired ... pain ... no appetite... etc... so having food ready to eat already... it's like living at the Buffet! It makes me excited about putting together other healthy meals and eating fresh, whole food which is what I really prefer anyways!

5. That didn't stop me from sending money so that Austin can bring me home some fries from Creekside Deli because they literally have the best fries in all of White County. I know that's a bold statement but I'm prepared to stand behind it. Best fries in White County - Creekside Deli. Tell them Heather sent you.

6. On this day a year ago we had to take my mom to the hospital via ambulance and it was scary and sad and all those things. Two days later she was completely altered mentally and we never really got "her" back. I miss her so much. Last year this day was really hard and this year it's not and that's a great Reason to Love this day and any day you're not making life changing health decisions for someone you love.

7. I bought new shampoo and conditioner to try this week and I'm going to try it tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to it. It's almost the time of year where I need to just give up on flat ironing my hair because it just really doesn't last long because the humidity makes a mess out of me. Marvin likes my hair, "big" but for me it's such a fine line between "big" and "messy"... we'll just see. But at least when I don't flat iron it, it smells better. The flat iron makes it really stink.

8. Austin had to miss work today on doctor's orders because of his staph infection but he's hoping to work tomorrow. I'm going to probably get Cosy tomorrow and let her hang out with me anyways. She gave her mama a hard time today but she's been really sweet for me. I do end up going up and down the stairs a gazillion times when she's here but she will also just sit forever and watch these weird toy opening / playing with toys videos on YouTube. Some of them are sort of educational - they teach colors and shapes and stuff. She's absolutely hooked on them. As long as she's still like that and not up and down the stairs all day, I can handle her. I enjoy her ALL of the time, no matter how tired I am or how bad I hurt but I have to be realistic about my limitations and it's not fair to Marvin for me to go down there already exhausted.

8 1/2 I ordered her a new pack of undies yesterday and they come tomorrow and there are so many little cute undies in it! She comes over in a pullup and I send her back in undies and they somehow never find their way back to my house so although I have probably bought three dozen pairs of little panties in the past year, I have zero left. Stocking up feels nice. And I'm glad we need to. And I'm glad I'm not buying diapers or pullups.

9. Reason to Love Monday number nine - tomorrow is DATE NIGHT! I have no idea what we're doing but Marvin isn't playing ball tomorrow night (he's taking the Summer off and maybe... a little longer) and he isn't working Wednesday night because of the 4th and so we're going to have lots of time together this week! As usual, I don't care if we stay in bed and watch tv for 48 hours straight as long as he feeds me once or twice a day. I sleep best at his house, I am most relaxed at his house and I miss him!

10. Anyone watching Big Brother this year? I was feeling a bit stressed because my favorite player is on the block this week but *spoiler alert* there's a thing that might save her and I'm really, really excited about it because it's too soon for her to go.

AND I guess that will have to do for this week. I hope you have a great week. It's a weird work week because some people are off all week and some are just off on Wednesday but... whatever you're doing, I hope it's a good week for you and that you're safe and cool and finding lots of Reasons to Love every day that comes your way! Love and hugs!

Reasons To Love Monday - Lowering My Blood Pressure Edition

Skylight allowing sunlight in... 

It's nearly 3pm on Monday as I begin writing this blog and I have LITERALLY done nothing beyond exist so far today. I would feel guilty but y'all... I'm just trying to get this blood pressure down and chilling like it's my job seems like the best way to do it. I've got a pillow stuffed into the skylight so I am mushrooming hardcore. I feel bad that I haven't blogged yet today to give you inspiration for the week (joke... are these posts EVER inspirational? Really?) and I didn't blog yesterday either so I feel compelled to share some of my well rested wisdom with you. And since it's Monday... I'll share some of the things that are keeping my heart beating faster this week... while still keeping my bp down.

Pillow in skylight

1. Pillow stuffed into the skylight? Genius. It's sad that it took me four months up here to figure that one out. Granted... I love the light for things like selfies and insta-stories but when I'm laying here trying to rest... hate it.

2. I slept until 8am this morning. That never happens unless I'm at Marvin's in his very dark, very quiet, very cool room. When I opened my eyes and saw that it was 8, I stretched like a cat waking from an afternoon nap. I think Marvin was actually awake before me this morning and wondering why he hadn't had a response from me yet on the text he sent me late last night. I think in another hour he was going to be ready for a welfare check on me.

3. Marvin got an amazing message last night from Butch Walker - a musician that we both really adore. I worried that Father's Day would be hard for Marvin since it's the first since his son passed away. Then he got this lovely message from this amazing artist and it really boosted his spirits. If you don't know who Butch is, you really should check him out. He is my current jam while I'm in the car... and has been for a few months now. He writes really lovely songs with brilliant lyrics that hit me right in the feels. He had posted on Instagram about Father's Day and Marvin commented about it being his first without his son. Butch sent him a really kind message in response and... you know, there aren't a lot of public figures who really take that kind of time to be genuine to their fans. He earned mucho respect from me for that... and of course, made Marvin's day! So yay!

4. It looks like we're going to have terribly hot weather this week. I hate hot weather so much. I just literally melt... I get the nasty heat migraines... I sweat like a prostitute in church... my hair gets frizzy from the humidity. Summer is not my favorite. We've talked about this. But fortunately... I have very few outdoor obligations this week. I'll be up here in my nest with the a/c on except when I'm at Marvin's nest with the a/c on... avoiding the sunlight like a vampire. And I am literally counting the days until October... when our temperatures finally start consistently getting out of the eighties. There are 104 days until October, if you were wondering.

5. Since I'm nesting hard... I'm (of course) binge-watching tv... and right now I'm watching the series "Madame Secretary" which is a great show! More about it in my next couch potato post but definitely worth a watch.

6. I did climb out of the nest long enough to actually cook food for myself today... I made kraft macaroni and cheese and added a can of tuna. I wanted to toss in some english peas but I was raiding Pop's pantry and he hates peas. I need to do more salads/fresh fruit and veggies but I just haven't felt well enough for a shopping trip. Pop picks things up for me and Austin picks things up for me but I'm due a proper food shop for myself. Maybe tomorrow.

7. I've been working on my ancestry.com stuff... my tree and Marvin's... and I found out that Abraham Lincoln is my fifth cousin, four times removed on my dad's side... at least I think that's how it works out. At any rate, we do have a common ancestor and that totally thrilled me. Genealogy is so much fun for me! Ancestry.com is stupid expensive and I always find myself focusing more on it when the renewal is coming up. Little finds like this are great motivation to keep digging. Posting about my ancestors on my blog is also keeping me motivated. My next post will be about this common ancestor that Cousin Abe and I share so... stay tuned!

8. Tomorrow is Cosy day... and date night... hopefully I won't be so worn out from the first bit to not enjoy the second bit. I try to pace myself. I haven'ta  s much time with her lately because of my headaches/blood pressure/back issues and ... not having a car most of the time. I had her for a little while on Saturday but I didn't feel well and she was missing her kitten so she went home early. I'll have to make sure to get the kitten tomorrow. I think. Marvin is not playing softball this Summer so date night is slower paced (and cooler) and we're home earlier than when he's playing.

Sunday

Today

 9. My blood pressure HAS gone down a little since last week. I was up to 164/120 on Friday (I think it was Friday... maybe Saturday) and then it got a bit better and today was a little better still. I'm not normal yet and that's frustrating since I'm taking four different pills that lower your blood pressure but... at least I don't feel like a time bomb ready to stroke out at any second like I did the other day. I'm keeping a close watch on it, trying to eat healthy(er) and so forth. My next scheduled dr visit is in August and I don't want to have to go in the meantime but if I have another series of high readings, I'm going to have to.

And... I guess that will do it for this week's Reasons To Love Monday! What is your motivation this week? What helps drag you out of your nest to face the hot temperatures? What keeps your blood pressure in a nice, healthy range? I'd love to hear from you!