Welcome to our little space of the web.
After buying a cute little mill house in Five Points, renovating it and thinking we would never live anywhere else we decided to move. To a rancher. A pink rancher. So not us. But, it will be, with time, elbow grease and good contractors! From the first time we walked in the front door we knew we were home. The new house is right around the corner from my parent's house where I grew up. We are so excited for Matthew and Charlotte to grow up here, riding bikes, going to the pool, playing in the woods... my childhood was filled with freedom and wonder allowed by a safe neighborhood that I could explore and make my place in the world. I am thrilled we can give that to our children.
These days our blog is filled with the adventures of Mateo and Charlotte...mixed in with a few home projects and recipes. But mostly the kids take front and center. Join us on the adventure!
10.8.10
Grammy
Grammy was MUCH better today. this morning, when the physical therapist came in to exercise her arms and legs, she was able to actually say "yes" when asked questions. immediately, i started texting the whole family, THRILLED that she had regained her ability to speak. she even knew that she was in a "hospital" ... even if she thought she was at St. Vincent's in massachusetts.
She didn't really like the PT but got through it. Afterwards, she was very awake and able to communicate with all of us...and her smile when she recognized her family and those that loved her was so beautiful. it was great to see her make such incredible progress.
christy and i hung out with baby noah and grammy loving on both of them. for me, it was so precious when she woke up for just a few seconds this afternoon and looked for something familiar and smiled at me.
the results from the ct scan came back and she didn't have a stroke. she has been having seizures caused by scar tissue from the previous strokes. this is something that can be treated with medication and does not cause further brain damage. once they get the seizures under control she should be able to get back to her spunky self :-) they have been monitoring her brainwaves all day since they determined that she was having seizures and not a stroke.
they were able to give her something to help her relax as well as start the medication to try and stop the seizures. she has pretty much been asleep since lunchtime. the doctor tonight said that her brain activity is now normal. i can't wait to see her progress tomorrow. she loves to wake up to her loved ones smiling at her.
melinda, her oldest grandson's fiance, has pics of her with baby noah...i'll post them as soon as i can get them.
again, thank you to everyone who has reached out to me. this is unchartered territory for me and i cannot tell you how much the love and support of everyone means to me.
She didn't really like the PT but got through it. Afterwards, she was very awake and able to communicate with all of us...and her smile when she recognized her family and those that loved her was so beautiful. it was great to see her make such incredible progress.
christy and i hung out with baby noah and grammy loving on both of them. for me, it was so precious when she woke up for just a few seconds this afternoon and looked for something familiar and smiled at me.
the results from the ct scan came back and she didn't have a stroke. she has been having seizures caused by scar tissue from the previous strokes. this is something that can be treated with medication and does not cause further brain damage. once they get the seizures under control she should be able to get back to her spunky self :-) they have been monitoring her brainwaves all day since they determined that she was having seizures and not a stroke.
they were able to give her something to help her relax as well as start the medication to try and stop the seizures. she has pretty much been asleep since lunchtime. the doctor tonight said that her brain activity is now normal. i can't wait to see her progress tomorrow. she loves to wake up to her loved ones smiling at her.
melinda, her oldest grandson's fiance, has pics of her with baby noah...i'll post them as soon as i can get them.
again, thank you to everyone who has reached out to me. this is unchartered territory for me and i cannot tell you how much the love and support of everyone means to me.
9.8.10
Memories
My husband's grammy went into the hospital today. They think she had a massive stroke. Hopefully we'll know more in the next few days.
One thing that is so precious is that we got to spend a great vacation with her up at Lake Lure in North Carolina. We were all there ... her son and his wife, her grandchildren and their spouses and even her great grandchildren. It was a great trip and she seemed to enjoy having family around her. Especially Noah.
Lee told us that when they got home last night, he was putting her to bed and they were talking about how great the time at the lake was and she picked up her picture of Baby Noah and kissed it. Then she said quietly, "I don't want to lose him."
Lee shared this story with me tonight and i just had to get it recorded.
One thing that is so precious is that we got to spend a great vacation with her up at Lake Lure in North Carolina. We were all there ... her son and his wife, her grandchildren and their spouses and even her great grandchildren. It was a great trip and she seemed to enjoy having family around her. Especially Noah.
Lee told us that when they got home last night, he was putting her to bed and they were talking about how great the time at the lake was and she picked up her picture of Baby Noah and kissed it. Then she said quietly, "I don't want to lose him."
Lee shared this story with me tonight and i just had to get it recorded.
questions...
i have some questions...and would love to hear any thoughts or encouragement on this subject. if email works better that's great... rebelyb@gmail.com so, when someone has had a stroke and is unable to recognize anyone around them or speak or swallow or anything...can they hear you? do they want loved ones around them? does it help to talk to them and hold their hand? what is the proper way to care and love for someone in this state? my husband's grandmother has just gone into the hospital and this is completely unchartered territory for me. it breaks my heart to think of her alone but don't want to do anything that would make her more uncomfortable or that she wouldn't want or even anything that my husband's family wouldn't want. if it were me, i think i would want my loved ones around me talking to me and encouraging me to get well. but, who knows ...thoughts?
25.7.10
21.7.10
Sunday Dinner
Growing up in a small family far away from grandparents and cousins, i oftened wondered what it would be like to be a part of a big family. i got a glimpse of it when i would visit my grandparents in Louisiana...my mom was one of nine (yes, good Catholic fam!). Even my dad's side of the family (he is an only child) had their sunday traditions with extended family that always drew a large crowd. i was always fascinated by this tradition. a tradition that i didn't get to experience as a part of my everyday sunday. sundays at our house were filled with baseball in the summer and football in the winter.
Today, i am married to a man with 2 older brothers and a younger sister. all of which have significant others. there are three grandchildren...Josh, Giovanna and Noah.
I should have known what was coming the day that I met my father-in-law, Lee. He didn't say "Hello" or "Nice to meet you", but "On Thanksgiving, you are at our house. No questions." A little taken aback, I simply nodded and hoped my face didn't give anything away.
Now that I am a Lindgren, Thanksgiving is non-negotiable. It is always a fun day, especially now that my sister in law, Christy and I have taken over the kitchen duties...we both love to cook and our mother-in-law hates to cook, so it works out well. At first we tried to tweak the menu a bit, but were scolded when we didn't produce mashed potatoes last year. We learned. Stick to the basics.
Loving this tradition of having the entire family together to share an afternoon and a meal, Paul and I started talking about having everyone over for Sunday Dinner. So, towards the end of the renovation, we had everyone over for an informal lunch. It was nothing fancy since the back of the house was still under construction and we were crammed into the front of the house...i think it we served sandwiches and chips. But it was nice. Just to get everyone together and hang out for a few hours.
Once the house was finished, we formalized the event and about every two weeks we get together for lunch. The boys (and Giovanna) play the Wii while the women prepare lunch. It's incredibly old fashioned, I know. But I love it. We don't quite have a table that fits everyone...yet. My parents have even participated in the Lindgren craziness and usually join us. I love having my house filled with those that are most precious to me and I am so thankful for this new tradition we have created at 1514.
Today, i am married to a man with 2 older brothers and a younger sister. all of which have significant others. there are three grandchildren...Josh, Giovanna and Noah.
I should have known what was coming the day that I met my father-in-law, Lee. He didn't say "Hello" or "Nice to meet you", but "On Thanksgiving, you are at our house. No questions." A little taken aback, I simply nodded and hoped my face didn't give anything away.
Now that I am a Lindgren, Thanksgiving is non-negotiable. It is always a fun day, especially now that my sister in law, Christy and I have taken over the kitchen duties...we both love to cook and our mother-in-law hates to cook, so it works out well. At first we tried to tweak the menu a bit, but were scolded when we didn't produce mashed potatoes last year. We learned. Stick to the basics.
Loving this tradition of having the entire family together to share an afternoon and a meal, Paul and I started talking about having everyone over for Sunday Dinner. So, towards the end of the renovation, we had everyone over for an informal lunch. It was nothing fancy since the back of the house was still under construction and we were crammed into the front of the house...i think it we served sandwiches and chips. But it was nice. Just to get everyone together and hang out for a few hours.
Once the house was finished, we formalized the event and about every two weeks we get together for lunch. The boys (and Giovanna) play the Wii while the women prepare lunch. It's incredibly old fashioned, I know. But I love it. We don't quite have a table that fits everyone...yet. My parents have even participated in the Lindgren craziness and usually join us. I love having my house filled with those that are most precious to me and I am so thankful for this new tradition we have created at 1514.
Giovanna (affectionately known as Gi or GiGi)
Christ, Gi and Noah
Noah and GiGi
Everyone piled on the sofa...the puppies were nice enough to share their bed :-)
Noah Lee Lindgren, the newest addition to the Lindgren Clan
10.7.10
Peach Harvest
There is an old peachtree on our property that until this year has been more of a nuisance than anything else. We never really knew how to take care of it.
The first year it was quite pretty with lots of fruit and the branches grew like mad. That winter, we didn't prune it back and the peach blossoms in the spring were amazing. However, as the fruit started to come in it weighed down the lanky branches all the way to the ground and generally made a big mess. One hot august afternoon Paul and Norm hacked away at all of those low lying branches making a big big mess. There were rotting peaches everywhere. The humingbirds came and had a big drunk fest on the fermented nectar :-) So, the tree was a mangled mess and we didn't touch it that winter as it had been cut back significantly. The next spring there were blossoms, but there wasn't any fruit. I imagine the carnage of the past summer sent the tree into shock.
So, this year, with the addition, the peach tree sits right on the edge of the back deck so we have more access to it. While we didn't prune it in the winter we did trim it back after it flowered. We pruned all of the branches that were horizontal (or pointing) to the ground...and the peaches have come in beautifully!
The first year it was quite pretty with lots of fruit and the branches grew like mad. That winter, we didn't prune it back and the peach blossoms in the spring were amazing. However, as the fruit started to come in it weighed down the lanky branches all the way to the ground and generally made a big mess. One hot august afternoon Paul and Norm hacked away at all of those low lying branches making a big big mess. There were rotting peaches everywhere. The humingbirds came and had a big drunk fest on the fermented nectar :-) So, the tree was a mangled mess and we didn't touch it that winter as it had been cut back significantly. The next spring there were blossoms, but there wasn't any fruit. I imagine the carnage of the past summer sent the tree into shock.
So, this year, with the addition, the peach tree sits right on the edge of the back deck so we have more access to it. While we didn't prune it in the winter we did trim it back after it flowered. We pruned all of the branches that were horizontal (or pointing) to the ground...and the peaches have come in beautifully!
Now i just have to figure out what to do with all of them!!!
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