Pumpkins, leaves and football

I just love the fall. Mainly I love the vibrant colors. The leaves seem so pretty this year, guess that is one thing the rainy season has been good for. I also love those UT orange colors too!

I still haven't purchased a pumpkin, I just haven't found the "one" yet. Guess we might just skip that is year. I think I can do without those icky, slimy, snot-like guts running through my fingers.

Nothing seems to say fall like football time in Tennessee! I just hate I haven't made it to a game this year. I keep having to pass on tickets for lack of a football game buddy.

Hopefully this time next year my boy will be a little more "available" to go to some games with me. Uncle Sam has him 24/7 for a few more months.

The photo above is from the 2007 UT/Vandy game. In case anyone has forgotten - Vandy lost!

Birthday Wishes for our boy

It has been a challenge dealing with the absence of our oldest child. We bring our babies home from the hospital thinking we could hold them and look at them forever. Then it seems that someone must have fed them miracle grow.

Our baby boy came home for the first time 21 years ago today. I remember on that drive home how beautiful the trees were, with the shade of orange, red, and gold. Perhaps just the love and joy I felt for that cute little boy made me appreciate the colors that much more.

He celebrated his 21st birthday on Sunday, without us. He called and talked for the usual 15 minutes. He had received his cards of well wishes and just seems to enjoy hearing of "home" things.

Rumor has it - is platoon "helped" him celebrate before the day was over. I am sure not in the same way his family would have - but hey guess he will never for get his 21st birthday.

Why I am not a nurse

I love my family - but I am not the best nurse in the family. That title is reserved for my wonderful daughter. She doesn't mind blood, cuts, scrapes, vomit, any of that gross stuff. She is great at helping clean a wound and bandaging it for you. She will ask if you need anything, fluids, pillow, tylenol.

Me on the other hand is so ready for the sick to be back at 110%. I have also saved my compassion for my mom, who had double knee replacement. She is currently in rehab, and I feel I have done well at helping. Today is the first day in her 11 day hospital stay I have not visited. Some days I have even been there twice a day.

So if you are thinking I have had enough of helping her, you are mistaken. Our family has been visited by the "Piggy Sniffles", aka H1N1, Swine Flu. When I came in this evening my wonderful husband was sitting on the sofa, heat cranked up to 78, wearing a coat, covered in a blanket, thermometer in and shivering. His fever was 102.6 and rising.

After a quick trip to the walk in clinic we learned he more than likely has the swine flu, thanks to the H1N1 vaccine he received yesterday. He is in bed, and very whiny. All you other wives understand, husband sick - the world must stop.

Hopefully he will be on the mend quickly. Mom is doing much better today. She is making great strides in walking. Maybe I won't be playing nurse much longer.

BRB (Be Right Back)

I promise I will be back posting soon. Some how I don't seem to have the time to post. Maybe it is because I have been putting out fall decorations? No, I only put out my wreathes. Maybe it is because I have spent time cleaning the house. No, you would know that if you saw the state my house was in. Maybe it is because I have been working outside in my flowers. No, my wonderful husband planted my mums. Maybe I have been to too many UT games this fall. No, I haven't made it to a game this year.

Oh, I remember - mom is in the hospital...for now the 10th day. And being the good daughter I am, I have been going each day, sometimes twice a day. Someone has to do her laundry, and if you see her tell her I am not putting her shirts in the dryer!

I am actually loving the time I am spending with her! I need to be better about that - someone remind me of that in a few weeks when all this has passed.