Have a GREAT day!

Went to visit Mac today. Couldn't resist this cute little monkey to put with his flowers. Hope everyone has a GREAT day!!

I suck!

I just went to a friend's blog. Such beautiful videos and posts there. Some made me laugh, some made me cry, and some just made me think.


I say 'a friend's blog' but I haven't been a very good friend. In fact, I suck. I've been very selfish with my time and energy. You could say I have every right to with all that has happened in the last month, but this friend - these friends because I'm counting her husband - were there for me. Their 2009 wasn't easier than mine. In fact, it would be VERY fair to say it was 10 times harder. But. They. Were. There. For. Me.


And it's not just that I wasn't a good listening ear. I talked to some family members and a friend about some very private things they trusted me with. It doesn't matter why I did it. At the time I had good intentions - it wasn't to spread rumors. But they trusted me, and I misused that trust. I was wrong.


I am sorry.


I'm sorry if I've ever offended you in any way. Or not listened when you needed to talk. Or talked when I should have shut up. Please know that I am sorry if anything I have ever said or done has hurt you. I may be a lot of things, but I don't intentionally mean to be a jerk. But obviously, I sometimes am.

Now, don't comment to this blog. Instead, take a minute to think of the people in your life that mean the most and tell them how much you love them. If you know you have wronged them, please try to make amends.


It's hard to say I'm sorry, but it's even harder to lose a friend.

How cute is this?!?

Alex dressed up the other day as a ninja- doctor-vet-guy. I don't know how else to explain it. He had the whole get-up, with doctor mask, stethoscope, hat. The whole kit-n-caboodle.

Dr. Vet Alex checked out our dog, and everything was fine. But thank goodness he still had time in his busy schedule to check my parent's dogs, because they aren't as fine. Goliath is dying, and Tinker is very, very sick.

When he came home he was so serious, you couldn't help but be serious with him.

ALEX: "Goliath is dying, and Tinker is very, very sick!"
ME: "Oh no! What should you do?"
ALEX: "I don't know! I'm worried. I need to think with my brain."
ME: "OK. What does your brain tell you?"
ALEX: "I need to make a conspriction." (That must be Down- Syndrome -doctor talk for 'prescription')
ME: "I'll write it down. You tell me what they need."
ALEX: "OK. Tinker. She needs water, soy sauce, medicine and crackers."

It's a good thing he's around, because we would have never guessed she would need soy sauce.

ALEX: "Next. Goliath. He needs a heart beep (beat), potatoes, food, carrots, vegetable, peanut butter, crackers and a check from his account."

Wow! No wonder Goliath is dying. He doesn't have a heart beep and obviously my parents are starving him! And great call on the check from his account. Better get paid before he dies!!

ME: "A check from his account, huh? How much does he owe you?"
ALEX: " A hundred dollars...."
TAYLOR: "WOW! A hundred dollars?"
ALEX: "...and 5 cents."

So, there you have it. Please keep Tinker and Goliath in your prayers. They obviously need it!!

Time to update...

I looked at my last blog and realized how down it was. So sorry! It truly was how I was feeling, and I am so glad to be able to write my feelings down and learn from them, but what a depressing thing for anyone to read. Let's start this new year with some positive thinking, shall we?

Cali is improving everyday! She ended back in the hospital with her blood clots. She stayed down the whole time, but the pain intensified. Lo and behold her clot had grown - her clot now goes the entire length of her leg, starting at the ankle and all the way up past the groin and into the abdomen. Whew! Yes, it's a HUGE clot. BUT... everyday I see improvement in her. The coloring in her face is returning and she is happy being able to be home with Oakland. And Oakland, well what can I say about her? She has been a trooper! Allowing us grandmas to steal her and try and take care of her to the best of our old lady abilities, and she still being a good girl. Thanks to Josh, who obviously loves his wife and little girl, and thanks to my mom, who has thoroughly loved taking care of Cali and Oakland.

Alex. I love that guy! He is such a compassionate, loving little man - even when he's calling me names I know he is a sweetie. His legs are improving very well, too! Been out of the wheelchair a few weeks now, and still walks with a limp, but the pain is rare and far between. I still think of what he went through and am amazed that he isn't angry all the time, or sad all the time. He's got a lot more spirit in him than I do, that's for sure.

The rest of us are great. Great holidays, great time together as family, great food (too much of it but great!) and soon we'll be back in a schedule! I'm ready for that.

I had a great surprise the other day; my best friend throughout high school and my maid of honor, found me on Facebook. I have to admit - I'm not a real fan of Facebook. I don't get it!?! But am I glad there is this resource to find friends who mean so much in your life - or in this case have them find me. So to start off my new year, I would like to tell Swooz how important she was and is to me!! Every time I drive along Sego Lily to Alex's school, I think of your family; your dad who is almost a bigger flirt than my dad. Your sister, she was always so stylish! Your dog.... how come I can't remember his name? But who could forget that sweet wiener dog with big lumps growing out his eyes. Your car!! Love it!! Corn dogs... need I say more? And, of course, Men at Work - be good, be good.... I still do the Suzie dance. You know the one! And Mike and I actually call it the Suzie dance!! Thanks for being my friend, and giving me such great memories. It's because of people like you that I am so happy. And even though life got busy, and we lost touch, you will always be an important part of my life! I Suz u!!!

So. Happy 2010 to all of you! Enjoy the moments you have with the ones you love, because time goes faster and faster the older you get! I'm a very blessed person. A husband who has put up with my weirdness for 25 years, AND loves me. Four children who I idolize. A son-in-law and daughter-in-law that I am so glad to have a part of our family. I still have both parents living.... and just 3 houses away! Three grandchildren - one of them an angel who somehow picks me up and carries me through hard times, and two of them allowing me a second chance to care for and love more!! And even a dog and a cat who know and show me what unconditional love truly is. Happy New Year!...

... from Morgan....

... and Oakland!