Happy Birthday Joseph!

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Joseph, Happy Birthday to you!

One of my babies is 24 today. As births go, this one was one of the most memorable - but Rick had to tell me things that I didn't remember happening. Joseph was a week late because Rick kept telling me he didn't have time for me to have the baby. (In those days, we didn't know what we were having until birth). We had record cold temperatures, snow and ice and Rick was slammed with water jobs. I was HUGE! I distinctly remember Rick and Mike Ray coming in about 1:00 or so on this Monday afternoon and Rick telling me I could have the baby-he was caught up. Joseph has always listened to his "coach" dad over the years and it started here. We had planned to go to Chars (our favorite hot dog/ice cream place) for dinner. I wasn't feeling well and talked Rick into fixing hot dogs at the house. He fixed dinner and I went to lay down. He sent one of the girls to ask me something and I told them to get him. I think it was Laura who went in and said told her Dad I was going "he-he whosh" he-he whosh". We had been down this road before. He came running, we called my parents who lived in Kernersville at the time and thankfully they weren't home so he left a message, called a neighbor girl who had babysat occasionally and asked her to come and come immediately. I couldn't move! I thought I was going to die before we reached the hospital and they were asking me to get in a wheel chair (still couldn't move), take my clothes off (the nurse had to help me). She got me on the table some how, (they made Rick go move the car), checked me and ran me to the delivery room--this is where I don't remember a whole lot. There was a resident - Rick barely getting in the room--some yelling (my water evidently soaked the resident-so I hear) and major plop plop fizz fizz - a baby. Eleven minutes after we walked in the door. I remember thinking he was HUGE. They laid him on the scale and 13 lbs and 15 lbs was the conversation and I started into shock about then. The doctor came in to do some sewing and order something that started making me feel weird- Rick was trying to calm me down from the weight discussion. Final analyze - 12 lbs even. I believe the length was 22 1/4 not real sure about that one. This baby had BIG hands. I wanted to name him after Rick - but Rick had been wanting to name a boy after his dad - I told him this was the one - so there he was Joseph William Brewer. I love you son. You are a great man, a great father and are and have been a great son. I survived the toddler years (why I have 1/2 my grey hairs), riding on the back of my car as I go through an intersection, steals to home plate as the pitch comes across the plate, flying in little planes across a really big ocean, living on a small island during a tropical storm, and many other things, too numerous to mention. I still worry about you (as I do each of my children) every day and love watching you mature and be the best you can be. I hope you have a great day.

Tough Week

The end of this week brings a mixed bag of emotion. It has been a tough one. Laura found out on Tuesday that she is having a boy! We are all happy to even out the boy/girl numbers with the grandchildren. I am sure Jason is glad to even out the hormones in his house. There are a few issues with our little guy, so fasting, prayer, and a priesthood blessing filled our week as well. We are all hopeful for a positive outcome. A feeling of gratitude for my Savior, His love for me and mine, worthy priesthood holders, and the power of prayer have all been strong emotions this week.

To add to our family emotions this week I had an emotional end to my preschool week as well. I have a sweet little boy in my class who has been having a hard time most of the year. His parents are wonderful people and we have tried to work together to help him have a successful experience at preschool. They are moving soon, the dad is already working and commuting, so this little guy has this to add to his challenges. Friday he came to school and within 45 minutes we had a full blown situation where he was out of control and I had to send him to be with the director. It was physically draining (he is a large 3 year old), and very emotional for me. It broke my heart for the director to have to take him screaming from me. I have prayed so hard to find out how to help him. Long story short, the director e-mailed me that he wouldn't be coming back. I cried most of the afternoon Friday. I am sure the emotions of earlier in the week with our family added to my state. I feel like I failed him. I hope and pray he will find a better solution in his new home. I especially hope that if he has some other health/emotional issues going on they can find out and get him the help he needs. He really is a sweet boy.

I did end the week with a great ward adult dance. Someone came and taught us how to Shag (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolina_Shag). I found out that after dancing with Rick for over 31 years, he has always thought I danced "too bouncy". He has never said a word! Megan Sebright took pictures of all the couples, the YW babysat at the building as a fundraiser for camp. We had about 17 couples and most everyone had a good time.

I was so exhausted on Saturday from the week's events, I could hardly go. I am posting our picture and my first attempt at a balloon arch. It didn't work too well. We were close, though. Birthday week is coming. Joseph is up first, followed by Paige, then Rick, then (skip), then Katie!

Sierra

I like bears and I keep most of them on a bench in our family room. Sierra loves to play with them and they are her "babies" when she is here. Paige is starting to play with them too. I have one bear I keep in my room. It is the bear I got for my birthday the day Joseph left on his mission. It is called Laurabell. I found Sierra trying to put her clothes on behind the couch. Cute!

Sleep Over

Daniel and Rick went camping last night with the Boy Scouts. Rick just recently was made Scout Master after being out of it for quite a number of years. Daniel is an 11 year old Scout. He is so excited. It was in the teens last night and I think they were pretty cold. Anyway, I had Jamison and Sierra over to spend the night. We had fun. They came too late for us to do much last night but they were cute. I have a tent that was Joseph's that is a perfect, "in the house" tent. I put it up in the computer/sewing room and they are together and cozy, if they wake up in the night. Even though they were exhausted it took them awhile to calm down and go to sleep. They kept telling me to "go sit beside the couch" instead of laying with them. They would get up and start playing when I did though. First thing this morning (by 7:30) we were playing play dough, then we had french toast for breakfast. Next we painted with these books I have that you just use water. We then played the Cherry game and then painted with real paints. They took the cars (our collection is 24+ years old) and had races around the edge of my couch. I couldn't get it on still pictures but captured it with my movie camera. I moved the tent into the big room and they took all the toys and dumped them in the tent and played in there for a long time. We had lots of fun. I can't wait until Paige and Claire and come have sleep overs! (Paige will be in the next month or two).

Slacker

I get frustrated when the people's whose blogs I follow - don't update them regularly. I want to see what is going on---isn't that the point? It has been a month--so I thought it was time. The week after New Year's I made a commitment to myself to catch up on old projects before I start on Claire's quilt. I got the fabrics right before New Year's, so I am ready with that part. The getting projects done has been slower. I made these cute jumpers for Laura's girls. I haven't seen them on yet, but heard they were adorable. I have decided I like polka dots lately. My two year olds at preschool have some of the cutest tights that are polka dot. Wish I could find them for me. I am too old for that? I am sure - but the "girls" at work would like them. (And I mean the girls, not the teachers). Last Sunday I worked on Joseph's newspaper articles--there are a lot of them--trying to get them in a notebook. I had worked on them a lot before he came home from his mission but never finished them. I spent 4 or 5 hours on them Sunday and thought I was doing pretty good, then found a folder with another year I had missed. I will keep working on them. They may not mean much to him now - but his children will like to read them - or at least see how many there are. I thought I would make copies for Bill and Rick when I am done.

Toddler Aprons

Check out these toddler aprons. They fit size 2-6. E-mail if you might be interested.

Pensive Thoughts

Happy New Year! The beginning of a new year has always been an exciting time for me. I think it is the hope for a better tomorrow. Every year has it's downside, even on the best of years. Regrets of things not done, change that was wanted and has never happened...all part of the past. Today is a new day and a new year. While I try to take this prospective each year, we really have the opportunity to do it daily. When I am not totally overwhelmed with issues in my life, I try to look at each day as a fresh start. Today can be a day to be different or make a difference.

We saw a great movie today, The Bucket List. While the language was offensive, it had a great message. If this year, 2009 was all we had left on this earth, how would we live it? It is definitely food for thought.

I go back to my Purpose: Experience, Learn (from the experience), Do (do something with what was learned-let it change you).

Over the years I have come to love our southern tradition for New Year's Day. It is a little different each year, depending on who is cooking. Today Mom cooked: Pork loin, collards, black-eye peas, corn bread, sweet potatoe casserole, and potatoe salad. Yum, Yum. We all over indulged, but hey, the food is fairly healthy. We don't cook with bacon grease anymore--so that helps.

Maybe soon I will let someone know that I have this blog!