GRANDMAMA'S GARDEN

LOOK AT THE BOUNTY FROM MY GARDEN!!!!

ALABAMA PRODUCE

SQUASH, CUCUMBERS (PICKLING & SALAD VARIETY) & BIG BOY TOMATOES

WILD BLACKBERRIES PICKED ON MY FARM
THESE WILL DEFINITELY BE IN A COBBLER
TONIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MY SWEET HARD WORKING HUSBAND PICKED ALL OF THIS PRODUCE! THE HEAT HAS BECOME SO UNBEARABLE FOR ME THAT ALL THE HARVESTING HAS FALLEN ON HIS SHOULDERS.

I FEEL VERY GUILTY ABOUT THIS AND WANT TO HELP LIKE I USED TO BE ABLE TO DO. I DON'T LIKE NOT BEING ABLE TO DO THE THINGS I USED TO COULD DO. I BLAME FIBROMYALGIA BUT BEING OVERWEIGHT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH IT AS WELL.

TOMORROW GRANDSON RYAN IS GOING TO TAKE THE EXTRA PRODUCE AND HAVE A ROAD SIDE STAND. HE WANTED A WAY TO MAKE SOME MONEY TO HELP PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE "ARM" HE BROKE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT OF THEIR SUV. THUS THE ROAD SIDE VEGETABLE STAND VERSUS LEMONADE STAND WHICH DOESN'T WORK AS WELL OUT IN THE COUNTRY. I'M ANXIOUS TO SEE HOW WELL HE DOES.

I PLAN TO CALL ALL MY LOCAL FRIENDS AS WELL AS NOTIFY THEM ON FB AND MY BLOG TO MAKE A RUN BY RYAN'S VEGGIE STAND TO PICK UP SOME FRESH PRODUCE!!!

How many of you Love a Tomato Sandwich?? I love mine with fresh soft white bread, lots of Hellman's Mayo, slices of tomatoes with salt. For Variety, I'll place a slice of cheese or make a BLT: Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato. YUM!!

HOW DO YOU EAT YOUR TOMATO SANDWICH? DO YOU EVEN LIKE TOMATO SANDWICHES??

GMAMA

Mama & Baby

MY GARDEN

FRIDAY PRETTIES

My patio Wave Petunia

I have to learn how to link this back to my blogger friends. My Blogger friend: I Love Pretty Little Things.blogspot.com hosts Friday Pretties and I'm learning how to link back to her page. Patience my blogger friends as this old dog learns new tricks.

Oil Spill Victim Gulf Shores Alabama

GULF SHORES, ALABAMA
BP OIL SPILL VICTIM

THESE PRISTINE BEACHES ARE NOW COVERED IN REDDISH COLORED TAR BALLS
THE BEADS OF OIR ARE SO SMALL YOU CAN'T SEE THEM WHEN YOU SPREAD A BEACH TOWEL OUT ON THE SAND. PICK IT UP TO SHAKE SAND OUT AND THE BACK OF THE TOWEL IS ONE GREASY OILY MESS WITH A RANCID ODOR. IF YOU GET THE OILY RESIDUE ON YOUR SKIN IT IRRITATES AND CAUSES INFECTION.

THIS IS MY FAMILY'S NUMBER ONE VACATION SPOT EACH YEAR. THESE PICTURES WERE TAKEN IN O8 IN OCTOBER.

CLEAN SUGAR WHITE SAND
GULF SHORES SUNSET

Papaw & Grandmama

Sand Sculpture 2008

A Poem

James on Race Day in his New Wheelchair with his name and
car logo monogrammed on back of his seat


James and Uncle Matthew cross the finish line in the 2010 Cotton Row Fun Run

I want to share a poem written by my daughter

A POEM FOR MY SON

Challenged
Some say that I am disabled
But you know that isn't true
I simply have a challenge
A little different from you.

My slight inconvenience has taught me
Things you could not know
Each obstacle is a victory
Enabling me to grow.

I'm not really any different
I cry, I laugh, I snore
I don't want to be treated
As if I'm not a person anymore.

Out of good intentions
People are afraid to let me try
But sometimes I have to fail
And sometimes I need to cry.

God gives me strength and dignity
And the courage to be all I can be.
For He doesn't see me as disabled
He just sees me as me!

written by:
MaryEllen Hillis Pollard
Mother of James Patrick Pollard (born premature Oct. 8, 2007 and diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at 6 months)

Miscellaneous Musings

Since I haven't posted in over a week, my brain is overloaded with random thoughts and musings about a little bit of everything. Coming home from St. Louis and the aftermath of James's surgery has left me mentally and physically exhausted. My fibromyalgia can rear its ugly head at the most inopportune times. I have to listen to my body and know when I've had enough. However, when I'm needed as support, I can't give in to my shortcomings...I just have to keep on keeping on.

I'm absolutely amazed at the progress James has made only 7 days out from major spinal surgery! He can take a few steps on his own power, wiggle each toe individually, and even his upper body is "loosey goosey" just like those precious legs. I love to squeeze his little legs and kiss them when I get the chance. Would you believe his speech is even clearer??

Thank you Dr. T.S.Parks and St. Louis Children's Hospital for allowing God to work through you in performing such a miraculous surgery on my grandson. I don't want to raise unattainable expectations but based on progress so far, I truly believe James will walk independently. In my heart of hearts, I wish for James to "WALK" into Kindergarten on his own two legs. Daily therapy is grueling, not only for James, but for my sweet Mary Ellen. She is such a wonderful mother but she has her limits as we all do. I need to pray daily for her to have strength both physically & mentally. She and James have a long road ahead and although we are all there to help & support, the reality is that the brunt of the work is on Mary Ellen's shoulders.

I'm so appreciative of all those who have pitched in to help with dinners, grass cutting, and the many other words of encouragement. Mary Ellen's circle of friends is the best she has ever had in her entire life. She has always wanted good friends and sometimes friends disappointed her in the past but I truly believe this group of friends are mature and genuine.

While we were in St. Louis, over that weekend,Ryan (8) thought it would be a good idea to see if he could "hear" the ocean by holding a small seashell up to his ear. Somehow??? the seashell became lodged in his ear and serious attempts by Matthew, Dr. Laura Lee, and 4 Grown men in the ER, could not dislodge the seashell. A trip on Monday to the ENT finally achieved success. During the ER process, Ryan became extremely frightened and had what I call a "come apart". He fought off 4 grown men and in the process his ear drum was punctured (or that is our belief). The ENT must have made an impression on Ryan in their heart to heart conversation because Ryan quietly laid down and allowed him to successfully remove the shell without incident. The Dr. told Ryan that other patients couldn't be helped until Ryan allowed the Dr. to do his job and remove the shell from Ryan's ear. This logic made perfect sense to Ryan and appealed to his compassionate heart. Ryan has and will always be someone whom needs to be dealt with as a compassionate, deep thinking little boy who wants things to be explained to him before anything happens to him. Ryan needed his Grandmama for moral support! Ryan's sense of humor rose to the occasion when on Sunday after living with the seashell in his ear for over 24 hrs., Ryan told his daddy "The sea shell called and says he can hear the ocean and wants out" I really laughed at that dry remark which sounded more like something Clay would have said!

Speaking of Clay, here is a sneaky little story that describes Clay's personality. His mother, jenda, was folding clothes and heard the two boys wrestling. Not one to intervene too quickly she listened from afar to shouts from Clay of "Ryan let me go!! Please let me go!! Mama, Ryan won't let me go!!" After several minutes went by, Jenda, slipped down the hall and peeped into the room to see Clay on his back with Ryan on top and Clay has a grip on Ryan's hands and feet not allowing RYAN to get up yet it was CLAY yelling for help!! When Jenda walked into the room and said Clay's name, Clay immediately let go of Ryan and looked at his Mama with a sneaky grin and said "hee Hee Hee" Oh, that is SOOO Typical of sneaky little Clay...the pot stirrer. Poor Ryan said he knew everyone would think Clay was the victim and yelling for help would have been useless. The dynamics of those two brothers is funny to watch and listen to..

My sweet Emma Grace is feeling left out being the only girl in the family. She wants to play but the boys are unmerciful to her! I'm letting her spend the night Sunday night and taking her for an Emma Day on Monday. She needs some individual attention and getting to spend the night before the boys will be a real
treat. She loves to help me bake and plant.

Scott seemed to be so happy to be here last night when he came down with his family. He went straight for his little basket of cars/trains, and then to his riding toys. it was as though he was home and doing his own thing in HIS world. Jenda laughs at how comfortable Scott seems to be at Grandmama's house. I think Scott is missing his daily "spa time' when I would bathe and massage his legs after lunch and before his nap. The family is going camping next weekend and I think Scott will end up staying here with Gmama & PaPaw. Camping in a pop-up camper without the comforts of home and AC is not his idea of a good time which makes for a miserable time for everyone else. I want the other Grandpeeps to have fun camping so I think Scott needs to come back to Gmama's spa hotel. I miss him so I will enjoy having my Scottie What back home with me.

PaPaw is off fishing in the Big TOC fishing tournament in Scottsboro. He looks so forward to this tournament and believes every year he is going to win one of the prizes. I would give anything to see him actually win for catching a big fish!!! That smile would be seen from coast to coast!!! Watching him get ready for two days of tournament fishing is like watching a 9 yr. old getting ready for sleepover camp. I love to see him excited and I love the time to myself. I'll be ready to have him home but for now let me enjoy the house all to myself. The kids are close so if I need anything I can almost yell out my window for help.

The weather is truly Alabama HOT & HUMID. I hate HOT like this but I like the sunshine so I won't complain. My AC is cranked up high and I now sleep in a bedroom at 67 degrees. Delightful!

I'm enjoying reading some of the blogs I've discovered. I need to learn some more tricks of the blogging trade to make my sight more user friendly plus get more pictures up. Your suggestions are welcomed. I write most of this as a way to journal our family's journey for posterity regardless if anyone reads it or not. If you do visit, let me know. I'm new at this and it would be interesting to know if anyone is reading what I write.

WRITING GOAL:
I'm planning to write each Grandchild a story about them and give to them on their respective birthdays. Scott will receive the first one. It won't be anything fancy but it will be something they can keep from me. I want to bind it as a book complete with illustrations made by them.

Welcome and come back for a visit:

Would you like pictures of my veggie garden and its bounty??? Let me know!

Miracle Journey Begins/St. Louis Bound

Today begins my grandson James's miracle journey to a "vertical' life! Being born premature at 33 weeks on Oct. 7th, James was in the NICU for almost the entire month of October 2008. Our little pumpkin came home Oct.31st. Being a special education educator for 27 yrs. at the time, it didn't take long for Mary Ellen and me to determine James was not meeting milestones. We knew in our heart of hearts, something wasn't right and began searching for a diagnosis. No one in the medical community wanted to label James and especially didn't want to suggest Cerebral Palsy. In fact, one physician told my daughter,

"James is just a wimpy little white boy."

Fast forward 2 1/2 yrs and hundreds of Dr. visits/therapies later, James does indeed have Cerebral Palsy and is about to have a life changing surgery at St. Louis Children's Hospital with Dr. T.S. Parks. SDR surgery which stands for a very long medical term that basically means the Dr. will open James's spine and clip the offending nerve pathways causing spasticity of James's muscles. This will allow Physical therapy to retrain James's legs and allow him to walk independently. The quality of walking will be in question for the first year but James will definitely live a more vertical life than he would without the surgery.

Intensive therapy 5x a week for the first year after surgery and at least 3-4x a week for years 2-4 are a required commitment of caregivers for children receiving SDR surgery. Dr. Parks has perfected a specific technique only performed by himself here in St. Louis or two trained colleagues at Duke & Vancouver Canada.

So...PaPaw & Grandmama are here in St. Louis with James, Mommie & Daddy and the love and support of many many people who have made this trip possible. The outpouring of donations, acts of kindness, gifts, love, hugs, and most of all prayer have been overwhelming and quite frankly... unbelievable. Everytime a roadblock appeared, God had an angel ready to move that stone and pour out a blessing.

James goes to the hospital Wed. for pre-op procedures until noon. Surgery will be early Thursday morning. Tomorrow we're planning a trip to the St. Louis Zoo and to meet up with nephew John and sweet wife Martha! A little fun is required medicine before surgery!

The countdown to surgery begins.........

Race Day

Check out my Sweet Baby James (SBJ)!! His Uncle Matthew "ran" with him in the Cotton Row Run on Memorial Day!! James was so proud of his green participant ribbon!! ALL my grandchildren got to run in the race. We treat James just like all the other grandchildren. SBJ will be having spinal surgery on June 10th so who knows, SBJ may even run the race on his own two legs in the very near future. Stay tuned for Miracle Watch...God has big things in store for James and I can't wait to journal this miracle journey...hope you will pray with us along this journey...shout for joy over each little STEP...pray with us when he stumbles knowing God will carry SBJ when necessary!

James on Race Day

Summer Musings

I feel like I'm in a candy store and don't know what to pick first...this long stretch of summer days and weeks ahead. There are so many "to do" projects I don't know where to start. Many items are "have to" projects" such as painting the bathroom, cleaning the laundry room, shampooing the carpet, washing the windows, while others are "want to " projects such as tiling the kitchen back splash, painting some garden chairs/old windows, planting flowers everywhere, quilting, quilting, & more quilting. Then there are old friends to invite to lunch, folks who need a visit, garden produce to can/freeze, camping trips, blogging, and play dates with Grandchildren. How on earth do I get it all in?? I think I'll make a cup of tea and ponder awhile...

Ok, so as I'm pondering quietly to myself on this first day without any grandchildren, just me and my quiet house, the phone rings. Can I keep the peeps while daughter-in-law goes to get her teeth cleaned...only take an hour at most...sure why not?! Phone rings again..daughter has invited some old friends who are passing thru on their way home to Canada to MY HOUSE!!..sure why not?!

By 1:30 p.m. I had all 5 grandchildren, one daughter, one daughter-in-law passing thru, 2 adults with their 5 yr. old little girl and then PaPaw comes home early from fishing wanting to know if I can help him locate some long lost item....

Where did my quiet day all by myself go??????????? Just a typical day on the farm at Grandmama's house!

The rest of the week will be spent packing and getting ready for our trip to St. Louis Children's Hospital for Grandson James's spinal surgery. Our visitors today went thru this same surgery with their 5 yr. old daughter back in Feb. We were anxious to see Ellie and marvel at the progress she has made since surgery. Thanks Boggs family for giving us encouragement and hope. Families who live with a child with Cerebral Palsy have a common bond, knowing full well the daily struggles each one deals with. James is a gift from God to our family. Please pray with us for the entire medical team that will be operating on James this June 10th. Pray for us to know what to do to make James comfortable after surgery. Pray for daughter Mary Ellen to have the strength to care for James during those first 24 hrs after surgery and for Daddy Josh to be the support his family needs. Pray for PaPaw & Grandmama to be a strong support for Mary Ellen & Josh so they can concentrate on caring for James.