Man, oh man! I have apparently got what everyone outside of our family has been nastily referring to as the crud! This stuff has kicked my butt. I am definitely praying I am it's only casualty in the Sheppard Household.
Signing off till I'm better . . .
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Pitter patter . . .
Priss and I had a discussion the other day regarding the actual toll her wedding day is going to take on her Daddy. Sure, he's trying to front the whole big and tough guy act. You know - joking around with her about 'I'll be so glad when you move out' or 'I'll be glad when I can actually watch my own TV for a change.' You know how he is.
Pitter patter, tiny laughter . . .
But I also know him - all too well - and it's just not in him to be mentally prepared for what's coming. Because as happy as he is that she has found Brandon - the Daddy of this Princess is going to be torn all to pieces when she's gone.
Baby bottles, little waddle . . .
You have no idea how much I hope I'm wrong - but this is how I envision it: He'll mope around for days trying to convince me, himself and anyone else who will listen - that he's fine with it. Yet, the whole time he'll be secretly wrestling with - and trying his best to come to terms with - the fact that she's really, really gone - and that it is permanent.
Teething rings, Mommy sings . . .
Then, when we make the trip to the airport following their Jamaican honeymoon, he will see his baby girl in a whole new light. That will finally confirm for him that his Princess has indeed grown up. And he will find himself both proud and sad at the very same time.
Toddler toys, screams of joy . . .
And as days and weeks float by, this amazing Daddy will realize that the 'circle of life' will indeed continue, just as God intended. And he will be able to relax, enjoy and cherish the past and future relationship that the two of them will always know as special.
Daddy's arms, all strong and warm . . .
Pitter patter, tiny laughter . . .
But I also know him - all too well - and it's just not in him to be mentally prepared for what's coming. Because as happy as he is that she has found Brandon - the Daddy of this Princess is going to be torn all to pieces when she's gone.
Baby bottles, little waddle . . .
You have no idea how much I hope I'm wrong - but this is how I envision it: He'll mope around for days trying to convince me, himself and anyone else who will listen - that he's fine with it. Yet, the whole time he'll be secretly wrestling with - and trying his best to come to terms with - the fact that she's really, really gone - and that it is permanent.
Teething rings, Mommy sings . . .
Then, when we make the trip to the airport following their Jamaican honeymoon, he will see his baby girl in a whole new light. That will finally confirm for him that his Princess has indeed grown up. And he will find himself both proud and sad at the very same time.
Toddler toys, screams of joy . . .
And as days and weeks float by, this amazing Daddy will realize that the 'circle of life' will indeed continue, just as God intended. And he will be able to relax, enjoy and cherish the past and future relationship that the two of them will always know as special.
Daddy's arms, all strong and warm . . .
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Cabin Fever . . .
Ughhhhhhh! I have got an extreme case of cabin fever. And yeah, I know - I know. I'm not the only one dealing with our TWO measureable snowfalls in less than one week. But man oh man! I am so ready for this cold dreary winter to be over.
I guess the fact that a long awaited opportunity to go to a favorite hide-a-way of ours a few of weeks ago blew up completely didn't help at all. Yep, our plans were diverted by a reason we have come to understand as 'sometimes life just happens.'
Mike has wanted to go to this particular cabin for quite a while now, but it always stays booked solid. So I secretly scooped up an available weekend back in the summer and presented him with it for Christmas. It's hard to say who was more excited and ready for the get-away, me or him! So, with only one day to go - we planned, packed and prepared - to get the heck out of Dodge for the perfect weekend.
Well . . . things just don't always turn out the way we want them to, do they? About 9:00 P.M. that night Mike began having neck, shoulder, back and ear pain. He tried his best to ignore it and wish it away. But by 6:00 the next morning he was asking me to take him to the ER. Bear in mind, this is a man who I normally can't even get to call his primary doctor, much less make an appointment.
So to make a really long and drawn out day shorter, he was basically treated for heart issues (which he did NOT have) and finally sent home with muscle relaxers and pain pills to await a MONDAY attempt at following-up with his own doctor. Not the weekend we had eagerly anticipated. He suffered in pain while I spent a lot of time trying to assure him I knew he would rather be in that cabin.
So yeah, I have cabin fever. I have it really bad. I am more than ready to get out and go. Ready to shed the coat, put away the umbrella, constantly need the sunglasses and just get away.
And I know I live with a man who feels the very same way . . .
BTW . . . he finally had an MRI, the pain is almost gone and he sees his neurosurgeon later this month for the results.
I guess the fact that a long awaited opportunity to go to a favorite hide-a-way of ours a few of weeks ago blew up completely didn't help at all. Yep, our plans were diverted by a reason we have come to understand as 'sometimes life just happens.'
Mike has wanted to go to this particular cabin for quite a while now, but it always stays booked solid. So I secretly scooped up an available weekend back in the summer and presented him with it for Christmas. It's hard to say who was more excited and ready for the get-away, me or him! So, with only one day to go - we planned, packed and prepared - to get the heck out of Dodge for the perfect weekend.
Well . . . things just don't always turn out the way we want them to, do they? About 9:00 P.M. that night Mike began having neck, shoulder, back and ear pain. He tried his best to ignore it and wish it away. But by 6:00 the next morning he was asking me to take him to the ER. Bear in mind, this is a man who I normally can't even get to call his primary doctor, much less make an appointment.
So to make a really long and drawn out day shorter, he was basically treated for heart issues (which he did NOT have) and finally sent home with muscle relaxers and pain pills to await a MONDAY attempt at following-up with his own doctor. Not the weekend we had eagerly anticipated. He suffered in pain while I spent a lot of time trying to assure him I knew he would rather be in that cabin.
So yeah, I have cabin fever. I have it really bad. I am more than ready to get out and go. Ready to shed the coat, put away the umbrella, constantly need the sunglasses and just get away.
And I know I live with a man who feels the very same way . . .
BTW . . . he finally had an MRI, the pain is almost gone and he sees his neurosurgeon later this month for the results.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
It'll be interesting . . .
. . . to see how Mike reacts when he can't worry about the kids anymore. Or should I say - really has no reason to worry - because I think he thinks he was given that job.
He is and always has been, a chronic 'worry wart.' Sometimes I think he worries that there's nothing to worry about! I mean, I worry too -when there's something to worry about. But him - oh my gosh . . .
I guess in his defense I'd have to say it only gets out of hand when he feels like a situation is out of his control - fear of the unknown maybe. I mean, when you look at it one way it's actually very sweet and endearing - from a parents point of view. But I still know that it drives the kids crazy.
Please don't think that I'm bashing him for his need to worry. Really, I'm not. Because on the other hand I am known (as the neighborhood kids pegged me many moons ago) an O.P.M. (over-protective Mom). Always have been. And trust me . . . I can definitely get a case of the Mama Lioness if the need be. You can mess with me whenever you want, but never mess with my kids.
So yeah, I'd say it's going to be very interesting. Not only to see how Mr. Worry Wart deals with life after kids, but how the O.P.M. handles it as well . . .
He is and always has been, a chronic 'worry wart.' Sometimes I think he worries that there's nothing to worry about! I mean, I worry too -when there's something to worry about. But him - oh my gosh . . .
I guess in his defense I'd have to say it only gets out of hand when he feels like a situation is out of his control - fear of the unknown maybe. I mean, when you look at it one way it's actually very sweet and endearing - from a parents point of view. But I still know that it drives the kids crazy.
Please don't think that I'm bashing him for his need to worry. Really, I'm not. Because on the other hand I am known (as the neighborhood kids pegged me many moons ago) an O.P.M. (over-protective Mom). Always have been. And trust me . . . I can definitely get a case of the Mama Lioness if the need be. You can mess with me whenever you want, but never mess with my kids.
So yeah, I'd say it's going to be very interesting. Not only to see how Mr. Worry Wart deals with life after kids, but how the O.P.M. handles it as well . . .
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Unbeknownst . . .
First of all . . . welcome to my ramblings.
I'll go ahead and warn you that I have no idea where this blog will take us. But I do know that very soon, May 2011 to be exact, we will begin to live life after kids. And I'll be the first to admit it - it's both scary and exciting.
I think if most parents are honest, and we all are, right? They'll admit that they either are - or did - live life for their children. I mean, they're kids, so we have to, right? It's almost like our adult world, unbeknownst to us, becomes slowly and unintentionally taken over by them. Then before we even realize it, we're just big people living in their little space.
And then somewhere way down that long, long road - you find yourself at this point. All of a sudden you're here and it's as if you never saw it coming because it happened literally overnight. It's here - it's finally time for them to grow up, move on and live their own life.
And that is the journey we're preparing to take -
Our son, Michael, moved back to our hometown after his service in the Navy and has been living a rock, skip and jump from us for several years now. It has been great having him so near. But he's announced that he is about to completely relocate to another state - approximately 10 hours away.
Our 'baby girl,' Amanda, still lives at home, but will marry the man of her dreams in 94 days. And although she will be living less than 2 miles away, due to surgery dressings, etc it sometimes feels as if we are literally attached at the hip.
So . . . be warned. When you do find time to stop back by you may find nothing but the ramblings of a stressed out, neurotic, crazy woman. But my hopes are that you will find our new and exciting journey has just started and our life after kids has never been better.
Will it be scary?
I'll go ahead and warn you that I have no idea where this blog will take us. But I do know that very soon, May 2011 to be exact, we will begin to live life after kids. And I'll be the first to admit it - it's both scary and exciting.
I think if most parents are honest, and we all are, right? They'll admit that they either are - or did - live life for their children. I mean, they're kids, so we have to, right? It's almost like our adult world, unbeknownst to us, becomes slowly and unintentionally taken over by them. Then before we even realize it, we're just big people living in their little space.
And then somewhere way down that long, long road - you find yourself at this point. All of a sudden you're here and it's as if you never saw it coming because it happened literally overnight. It's here - it's finally time for them to grow up, move on and live their own life.
And that is the journey we're preparing to take -
Our son, Michael, moved back to our hometown after his service in the Navy and has been living a rock, skip and jump from us for several years now. It has been great having him so near. But he's announced that he is about to completely relocate to another state - approximately 10 hours away.
Our 'baby girl,' Amanda, still lives at home, but will marry the man of her dreams in 94 days. And although she will be living less than 2 miles away, due to surgery dressings, etc it sometimes feels as if we are literally attached at the hip.
So . . . be warned. When you do find time to stop back by you may find nothing but the ramblings of a stressed out, neurotic, crazy woman. But my hopes are that you will find our new and exciting journey has just started and our life after kids has never been better.
Will it be scary?
- How will we spend it?
- What will we do?
- Will the silence be too loud?
- Do we still know each other?
Or exciting?
- Peaceful, long chats.
- Freedom.
- No distractions.
- Reconnecting.
Can't wait to start finding out . . .
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