Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Tuesday = Grandma Day

Tuesday is one of my favourite days of the week. Why? Because I spend every Tuesday with my 87 year old Grandma (88 on 25th May).

Grandad died 17 years ago after waiting for the news his first great grandchild (my niece) had been born safely. I truly believe he was waiting for the news (barely conscious & his face lit up in a huge smile) before letting go. He died 3 days after her birth. I am also a believer (blindly, I 'm sure some would say) that nothing is going to happen to my kids because he is watching over them & keeping them safe. He doted on us as grandkids so I can imagine his absolute pride for his great-grandkids.

So Grandma lives on her own in the next suburb from me. She wasn't comfortable driving so handed in her licence last year (maybe the year before, time goes so fast) and sold her little car to someone who absolutely adores it. So she is now reliant on others to get her to appointments, the library, shopping and social outings. My mum was taking her but it became too much for her - Mum is 65 with a 75 year old husband and they have had their own health to take care of. Plus Mum can't handle crowds & you know what shopping centres are like! So I offered to take Grandma one day a week to where she needs to go, whilst I am not working a day job. One day a week still allows me to take care of my own family committments and work my night job. So we chose Tuesdays as the shops are not as busy, some shops have seniors discounts on Tuesdays, we can always get a disabled parking space (she is a valid ticket holder) and the club has a cheap (but delicious) lunch on Tuesdays!

So off we trot, after I drop the boys at school every week. Grandma, wheely walker, Megan (2 year old ball of energy) and I. Sometimes we hang around her place until lunchtime & then hit the club for lunch. Warilla Bowling Club is her favourite. As soon as we reach the carpark, Megan pipes up with "yay, chippies!" - yes she has chippies for lunch every Tuesday. Every week when Grandma opens her front door to us I ask "How are you?" (as you do) and she always answers "Oh, very slow today". My respose to that? "Well, you are up & going out - that's the main thing - the speed doesn't matter." We do use up all our available hours (sometimes I am late picking up the boys from school) - it takes 2 hours to get through Woollies & she buys at the most 30 items - the poor love can barely walk. I walk really slowly (slower than a bride down the aisle - you know left, together, right, together) and I need to stop every 10 steps to let her catch up. The funny bit is that when she sees me stop, she stops too! She doesn't realise that it's for her to catch up!

Combine this with Megan who is climbing in & out of the trolley, helping me to push it, being reminded not to squash Grandma's shopping, asking me for something to eat or drink from my bag, holding my hand or today, asking me to pick her up and by golly we must be a sight to see!

But you know what, this is just ONE of the many things that makes our Tuesday = Grandma day extra special. My Grandma a special breed, she is gorgeous, funny, lovable, stubborn, helpful, opinionated, dependant, independant, cuddly, kind, set in her ways, pommy, well loved & has an AWESOME relationship with Megan. Goodness knows how I will explain it to Megan once she's gone. I always told Grandma she wasn't leaving us before she's 100 so she gets her telegram from the Queen, however I haven't said that for a while because now I'm not so sure she will last that long. Her mind is playing tricks on her now, most likely the beginnings of dementia. I can understand how the elderly barricade themselves into their homes....I see it happen with her.

Anyway, didn't want to end on a sad note. My main reason for posting was to get some thoughts / rambles down and to tell you that I love Tuesday = Grandma day because I LOVE MY GRANDMA!!

xx

Sunday, April 25, 2010

What do you want to hear about?

I sit here wondering what I should write about.

Today has been a pretty non-descript day. We bummed around home, Zac (Mr 14) went to a friend's place, Liam (Mr 7) played with the Mr 7 who lives down the road, Megan (Miss 2) wandered around finding things to do, a lot of which involved being outside and lying down in the dog's water at one stage!

Ray & I hung around doing not much - I had a big sleep in this morning after all the hours I have been working this week. Ray had a quick nap this arvo. I went to work tonight.

Don't know what tomorrow will bring. Public holiday Monday. I do know that I am not going to work! So I guess it will be housework for me. Wash the rest of the school uniforms & whatever else needs washing. I think the bathrooms could do with a clean too. And who knows, I may even get a cupboard or two sorted out! Please God, bring me some motivation!

How are you spending your holiday Monday?

Whatever you do, stay safe.
Karen xx

Thursday, April 22, 2010

What a fabulous day!

I had some girlfriends around for a candle party & I had such an awesome time. I thrive on being around people & everyone just clicked today (including our awesome consultant)- we used up our whole day instead of only 2 hours or so, with chatting & networking (5 of us are in party plan businesses).

Just got home from an unexpected shift at work. I am not one to turn down the opportunity to earn some extra $$ very often and I do like my job. So even that part of my life is fabulous! I am a believer that we spend "x" amount of our lives at work, we need to be doing something we enjoy. One of my peeves is when people continually whinge about their job (I'm not talking the odd whinge here, I am talking the CONSTANT whinging) - if you don't like your job, get another one and keep changing jobs until you find one you like. We are all in control of it ourselves. Don't sit in a job you really don't like. Do something about it. I did, several times! I left one company after 15 years because I didn't like it anymore. This is my 9th job in the last 7 years because I have left the ones that were making me unhappy. Now, I am happy.

I close today feeling and recognising that I truly live a charmed life. I have a fantastic husband, 3 wonderful kids, amazing friends, good health, family close by, a solid roof over our heads, a job I love, a car to get me there, food in the fridge, freezer AND pantry.....there is nothing more I could possibly want for in my life. Do you take the time to truly appreciate all the good things in your life?

And that's my ramble for today!
Stay safe.....hug those you love.
Karen xx

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

WOW! How to have a day disappear!
Swimmming lessons first up (and yes Miss 2 cried for most of her lesson), then grocery shopping. Oh joy of joys! No, seriously I am one of these weird people who loves grocery shopping - I just don't like the bill at the checkout. Thank goodness I get my staff discount. Every $ off makes a difference. By the time I put all the shopping away it was after 1pm. And we left home at 8:30 this morning. One cup of coffee & a bit of bill paying (thanks online banking!) and all of a sudden it is almost 2:30. No lunch yet, however Miss 2 has been grazing & has been keeping herself busy colouring in so she's doing fine.
And of course the regular phone call from work asking if I can stay back an extra hour tonight. Oh well, I'm not one to knock back extra pay. Especially with the bills we have right now.....and both car regos due next month.
So I think a quick yoghurt will be my lunch for today, then wizz out & pick up Mr 14 (Mr 7 wants to catch the bus home). Then to get dinner cooked. Turkey schnitzels were reduced at Woollies today so that is on our menu. With some yummy baked potato, baked pumpkin,steamed green beans & corn cobs. Basic yummy healthy dinner.
Note to self - bring in the washing before the afternoon cools off!
Enjoy what's left of your day & please stay safe.
Cheers,
Karen xx

Today's Ramble.....

Hi, and welcome to my thoughts for tonight.
Today Mr 7 & Mr 14 were back at school (high school yesterday & primary school today). Miss 2 coped really well & switched straight back into the drop off the boys & pick them up routine, which was a relief. I was a bit worried she would be lost without them being home. Going on our regular Tuesday lunch & shopping outing with my Grandma helped as it gave her another focus.
My dear Grandma will be 88 next month & uses either a walking stick or walking frame, depending on what we are doing & where we are going. The poor love can't walk far at all. We must look quite funny out together.....me (with a 2 year old) who has to stop every 10 SLOW paces to let Grandma catch up. It's a bit of a juggle at times but I treasure my Tuesdays with Grandma - who knows how much longer we have her for? We are going to go for some drives over the cooler months - to Bowral or Berrima maybe. Check out a change of scenery.
Tomorrow brings a swimming lesson for Miss 2 followed by grocery shopping. Last week's swimming was the first with no tears (yes I cry at swimming but of laughter at Miss 2's incessant crying through her class). She was rewarded by her teacher (the ever patient Louise) with a chocolate. Hope she doesn't expect chocolate tomorrow! She started lessons in Feb as soon as the summer school hols ended and it has taken until now for the crying to stop - I hope I am not jinxing things by mentioning it!
Whatever you are doing tomorrow, I hope you stay safe & end you day with a smile!
Cheers!
Karen xx