Scarowinds

We decided to try out Scarowinds. I had planned on bringing  Benjamin then noticed a little disclaimer stating not to bring kids under the age of 13. I thought it was because it was too scary. I was glad that I didn’t bring younger kids but it wasn’t because of the scary part, it was because they had limited rides open and they would have been bored because they couldn’t ride those rides.

Larissa and Michelle rode this sling shot type of ride! It was high and fast.

It was open 7pm to midnight. We stayed until the end because lines were so long that you had to stay the entire time just to ride a few rides. You could pay extra for a fast pass but I typically don’t do that. 

Anyone go to Scarowinds in Charlotte? Interested in your opinion.

Friends from Panama City

We have opened our home to friends from Panama City. Kathy Cassel brought three of her kids who were able to come up. We currently have 18 people living out of our home! It is going very well, having 3 1/2 baths helps!

I can't imagine having my life turned so upside down. Schools in ruins, house not livable, no utilities or water, your hometown looking so different. We are a soft landing spot for a bit.

Welcome Owen

I started this post 2 weeks ago and then life got crazy. I was privileged to be able to watch Owen's birth. It was a fabulous year, I was there for all three of my grandchildren born this year!

Owen reminded me so much of Tasha with his big brown eyes. His birth was beautiful and Tasha did a great job. At one point I looked up and there were 9 people in the room, I got nervous then I remembered it was a teaching hospital!

I think he wanted me to stop with the pictures!

Meeting Benjamin...

Meeting great grandma...

Vaida is loving her role as big sister. I love this picture. What a great gift, a sibling.

Weather

No posts lately as I have no internet and phone. I realized that I was paying $50/month for international calls. I never make international calls so changed it to domestic calls for $35/month. I had no idea that would knock out my bundled phone and internet! So here I am posting from my phone.

Last week we had hurricane Michael plow through. I spent the morning at the hospital waiting for my husband who was having foot surgery. I must say he is a terrible patient, he went to the bathroom causing his surgery site to bleed through the dressing! I can’t keep him off his feet at home either. Sigh..

Before the hurricane hit Panama City I had invited some friends to come to our home. Kathy Cassel and family did leave their home to go to a more secure location. At the time the hurricane was a category 2, they had no idea it would become much stronger. Here is South Carolina we actually got more rain from Michael than we did from hurricane Florence.

For a few days we did not hear anything from Kathy. I was quite concerned for their safety. Thankfully today I heard from them and learned that they were safe but without electricity and water. They also have no cell phone service so communicating with others is hard. It is terrible watching the destruction that nature can cause. It makes me thankful each day for what we have. Losing phone and internet for a few days is put into perspective as an annoyance when realizing that some folks have lost everything.

We had a beautiful sunset the day of hurricane Michael, it looked like the clouds were on fire.

Anyone impacted by the last two hurricanes?

Court, court, court

Last week was a busy week. All my kids had court days. They all had the same result - continued.

Our new baby, now 6 weeks old, had a court date in the morning. I wasn't planning on going because I kind if just sit back on new cases. However, little man had an afternoon court date in the same county and I was there for that one. We are trying to get the case changed from reunification to concurrent reunification and TPR. His bioparents haven't seen him in over a year, they haven't sent him anything either or finished their plans. Dad got out of jail and two weeks later they both went to rehab.

The morning cases were so behind that I got to meet the babies parents. They seem motivated and drugs aren't involved so I believe that he will go home. There were two cases in the morning and only 2 were seen so their case was continued. We sat from 11 to 1 when they broke for lunch and then came back at 2. Around 3 they told us that our case was continued. I was not happy and the social worker said that it wasn't necessary for me to come. I told her that it wasn't about the wasted time, the babysitter, the gas, I was upset because I want the case moving forward. I want little man to be safe.

Then our 10 year old had a case as well. Surprising it was continued and that new date is in December. That is a mess and will be a future post on its own!.

Adventures in Miniature and Larissa is 13!

I saw someone with a miniature dollhouse with a miniature art studio with miniature art inside of it and was intrigued. I decided that I wanted a miniature dollhouse to play with. I went searching and found an unfinished house an hour south of us. We were discussing it when she stopped talking to me and stopped taking messages. I searched more and found another one an hour north of us. I set up a meeting time/place with her. Suddenly the other lady asked me when could I get her house so I set up a time and place with her as well. So, Larissa and I each have our own playhouse to play with.

Larissa's dollhouse will get finished before mine!

Larissa's birthday was coming up and she wanted some beds so I made her some for her birthday.

I put a little metal in there so the bedding could lay down.

Larissa turned 13! Hard to believe.

She picked Red Lobster

She was delighted with her homemade beds. I also got her a bathroom and kitchen. I have really started cutting back on gifts. The kids have so much that it just adds to the clutter. 

My Mom

My life has been quite busy. John left town last week to go to DC so I was solo. Literally I tried to catch up on laundry all week and failed. I at least kept the kids and my mom fed!

Lately my mom has been on my mind a lot, she it still with us. I get 30 hours a week of help which is very helpful. I don't think I could do this without help. She has had the same care provider for the last 5 years which has been very nice. Charlotte is like a member of the family, been here longer than Benjamin. My mom continues to have a very slow decline. While we aren't dealing with any bed sores, she does have very fragile skin. There is a spot on her arm that she picks at and it is difficult to get it to stop bleeding. We use the tape that sticks to itself. If we remove it she picks at it. She is slowly losing what little self help skills she has. She rarely uses silverware, she prefers to eat finger foods. So we either give her finger foods or feed her. We have been noticing a lot of food in her bed and I have observed her, she will forget that she is eating. She will lay the food on her lap and grab a drink and then never go back to eating.

Every night before I go to bed I go in and check on her and give her a snack. She is always awake for her snack. Those applesauce packets that they make are great, she loves them and can manage them herself. She is also a lover of sweets. Yesterday she requested something coconut so I picked her up a Mounds bar.

When we moved her in I had no idea that years later I would still be caring for her. I can't see putting her in a nursing home now, I am not sure that she would get the care that she needs since she rarely talks and wouldn't be able to tall me what is going on. I also worry for her skin which doesn't take much to tear and bruise.

Sometimes pictures pop up on my facebook of her and I think how much better she looked back then but I remember that back then I thought she was looking pretty bad! I am just not sure how this will all turn out but I do know that she is slowly declining.

Anyone else caring for an elderly parent who is declining?