Nola Jean gets her "wig on"

Tonight I write this blog in honor of babies. They are usually born with this beautiful set of hair and then through the first month or so of their life it all falls out... this way the world can see what a beautiful shaped head they have. Emily Jo was born with a mound full of black curly hair. She did not loose much of her hair and the curls stayed... until she was about 3 and I had to cut her hair as it was getting in the way of potty training! The curls were gone... I put them in her baby book. Now she has beautiful, thick, straight, brown hair (at least I think it is brown - she dyes it in blond shades). Emi's little JaciAnna was born with a beautiful set of black hair, which soon gave way to what she described as "male pattern baldness". She never lost all of her hair though, and it grew long and beautiful. She had trouble with snarling though and not wanting it brushed so she went to short hair at approximately 5 years old. It is very cute and stylin'! Conner was born with lots of black hair also, which rather than loosing most of his it just seemed to turn blonde. Now, Ms. Jordyn Noel has come into the picture and she had more black hair than I have seen sense our girls were born! Her momma informed me that she is getting the same "male pattern baldness that JaciAnna had"!

When Lindsey Kay was born, the baby doctor came in to my room and he said "I will tell you one thing - that baby has a great head of hair!" She had lots and lots of black thick hair and it stuck up all over the place! She lost some of her hair but not all of it. When she was about in 1st grade - we had to cut her hair. She wouldn't let me comb it and would have such a fit when I went to put pony tails in, her scalp was so tender. I had always said my girls would have long hair until they were 13 and then they could decide if they wanted to cut it. Lindsey changed all of that... we went and got her a hair cut! Best thing I ever did! She now has long straight, brown hair. I am not sure her natural color anymore as she has dyed it for along time. She says she has a gray spot on the right side.

When Lacey Lynn was born, she had a bunch of reddish blond hair. She did loose most of her hair and it came in when she was about 8 months old. She had long hair until she decided to have short hair in 7th grade. When she went through puberty and let her hair grow back out again it came in curly. She now has a auburn colored hair with just the perfect amount of curl. She dyed her hair black one time when she was younger and sense then I think she has left her hair its natural color. The curls come from her dad. The longer Curt's hair gets, the more you see his curls.
Well, now that I have explained that all (Whew!) I will tell you about our NolaJean. She had dark hair when she was born... then Lacey told me she was getting "male pattern baldness" - I laughed as I had never heard it explained like this until my girls had their girls! She did loose most of her hair and under it was this perfectly shaped head with these perfect little ears. From the back I think she looks exactly like her daddy. She is 7 months now and it is coming in real nice and it looks as though it will be a light brown. It will be interesting to see... I know Lacey said to me "it is hard to imagine what she will look like with hair!". For Harvest Fest Lacey dressed up as a ventriloquist and Nola Jean as the ventriloquist doll. I found a wig for Nola at a place in Mankato and we sewed it on to one of Conner's hats. Then for Christmas she also got two hats that fit her perfect little head just right.
I wonder what Nola Jean will look like when all her hair starts to fill in? For now we will just look at these pictures and dream.

The best friend

Chris is a fireman in Foley. Whenever Jeff goes to Foley or hears Chris's name he will ask him about his "pager", and he will ask him if he has had any "calls". Chis will give the pager a little turn on the switch and make it sound and then Jeff is happy until the next time he see's him or hears his name. Chris also works at Coborns grocery as a "Meat Man". He has been there for about 8 years now and has made a good name for himself in Foley. Lots of people like him.

There just happens to be a family from Foley that has a handicapped son around the age of 22, his name is Fred. He lives in an old run down house with his mom, dad and siblings. Almost everyday Fred comes into the store and goes back to the meat counter looking for Chris. He shows Chris his badge (that he makes sure to pin on his shirt before seeing Chris), and asks him if he has had any "medicals" lately. Chris takes the time to say yes, and then lets him listen to the pager a bit. Fred is happy and continues on his way until the next day when they will repeat the whole process again.
In January shortly after Jordyn Noels birth, Chris got the flu and needed to stay home form his job.
Fred called...
he asked to talk to Chris. When he found out Chris wasn't there he left this message...
"Will you tell Chris that his best friend Fred called? Will you tell him that my daddy died, he had a medical and he died and I wanted Chris to know because I am his best friend"
...and so
Chris and his family took Fred and his family out to eat at Kentucky Fried Chicken.
And Freds family will hopefully get the county help they need.
And Chris will continue to answer the call for "medicals"
...and he will always remember
when he sees Fred with his badge on each day...
just how important his job is!

The Badge

Ever sense I can remember Jeff has taken a special liking to Nick. It began to escalate when Nick started working for the Sheriffs Department. Each time I talk to Jeff he will ask me "what is Nick doing? Does he work today? Does he have a Sheriffs car?"...
...and then we added Lila to the mix... she took a special liking to Nick also?!
always giving him a big hug and smiling saying "hey, Nickey!" Any gathering where Nick is going to be - we need to make sure that Jeff and Lila are a part of it.
Nick works in Grand Marias right now. The Shags have taken 4 summer trips up there to see him over the "Fisherman's week-end". We have had such fun there, just being with friends and family. Jeff got to have his picture taken by Nicks Sheriff's car. You can just see the pride in his smile as he is standing there. I need to find that picture and I will post it on here so you can all see what I mean. Now, our Nickey is engaged... looking for a new job closer to home and it looks as though he has found one in Lamberton. We are all excited about this prospect of him and his family moving closer to home.
I wonder if he will have a sheriffs car? When he will be working?
I also wondered this past month...
Why do the mentally handicapped tend to bend their love towards Nick?
And it came to me...
because he has always had an ear bent towards them, he has listened to them without judgment as they ask the same questions over and over again. He has taken their pictures by his car, brought the Sheriff's car to our house, let them see his badge and even his gun.
But most of all I believe he has been truly happy when Lila grabs him for a hug and Jeff says...
"So, do you have to work today?"
This is KVR961 to Base...
Nick? Do you have your ears on? We love you!!
Over and out!

The SHAG reunion!

For the 3rd year in a row the SHAG's(Schmidt, Hacker and Giesen's) were able to come together to celebrate our families! The first year we had a ugly sweater get together, then a crazy hat party and this year it was crazy footwear. Everyone was able to be there except for Brielle who is in college in Orange City, Iowa - without a car, Nate who is a lead at his job up in the cities, and wasn't able to take off,and Tim Berger who was very sick. The names of all those in attendance: The Schmidts: Curt, Pam, Emi, Chris, JaciAnna, Conner D, Jordyn Noel, Lindsey, Josh, Lacey, K, NolaJean, Gramma Dorius, and Jeff.
The Hackers: Duane, Carol, Nick, Heather, Addison, Miranda and Jeremy.
The Giesens: Al, Robin, Dylan, Brittany and Buddy.
Ann and Lila.
We gathered at the Schmidt house at around 3:00pm. Everyone brought crazy footwear, an orderve and a white elephant gift. We ate around 4:00, with of course, food galore. Starting with BBQ's and Ringos famous oriental chicken salad, moms salmon loaf with sauce or creamed peas, mashed potato's, scalloped corn, 2 warm dips, 1 cold dip, chips and pretzels, wonton cream cheese, cream cheese grape salad, banana bars, dill oyster crackers and pop!
After eating everyone was in the family room and we tried to get a picture of everyone's crazy footwear. All took part in this except Al and Curt who couldn't find any thing! We had everything from peacock feather tights. pig slippers,purple figured socks, red 1960's slippers, tennis shoes with green ties and matching argyle socks, argyle knee socks over tights, strips, checks, to small, to big, hospital slippers, 2 different socks on one person, holes in the toes, crazy tights, pig socks and bowling shoes. Getting all these feet together in one place is not an easy task!
Making a big circle we handed everyone a white elephant gift. Lindsey read a right left game and we passed the presents from right to left left to right and back again. We opened each gift up one at a time and this was so much fun. To see what people had come up with for their crazy gift. I do need to give a little example here as I was so impressed with all the good ideas! Miranda and Jeremy bought a beautiful gift of Russel Stover chocolate! Inside the box were a bunch of 1/2 eaten candies, some missing and a picture of them eating the candies with chocolate all over their faces... this was my favorite and we laughed a lot, they also took a picture of themselves and signed and framed it- Conner D got the picture and he thought it was a hoot... he figured if everyone was laughing it must be a good thing! Nick and Heather got the "baby stash" for the ones who would be having the next baby! Let's give them time to get moved and settled in and of course married before that happens!! K got a book on "How to get pregnant"! There was a cotton candy machine, a hot seat, easter tree's, coffee cups, shrimp chips, fur hats... it brought a lot of smiles and fun!
It was after this we brought out the birthday cake for Jaci Anna and sang happy birthday to her. The kids, and their better halves congregated in the tv room, while the yellow boots (the older half) gathered in the family room. We talked and reminisced... but the best part was hearing the laughter from our children and their children... they were in no hurry to leave... all just hanging out and catching up on each others lives.
Sometimes I wish moments like these would never have to end - but then how would we get ready for the next party!!
Which reminds me - Carol, and Robin... we need to gather the ideas for next year and take a vote - get the date set and plan the next...
SHAG REUNION!!

"Dirty Stories"

It has been a hard month for my momma. She went from getting the flu, to feeling a little better for a few days, to getting flu symptoms again, to ending up in the hospital, to being diagnosed with a kidney, bladder, and blood infection, to having her coumadin levels unreadable, to a yeast infection!! She spent from Sunday January 23rd to Tuesday February 2nd in the Arlington Hospital. All the girls came home on Saturday January 29th and went up to see gramma and just be with her. It was nice to have them all home - even though better circumstances would have been more fun - we still had a good time. On Saturday night just the three of them went up to the hospital and they were telling "dirty stories" (as stated by grams when I called the hospital on the phone to see how things were going). One thing they discussed is their mothers capability to turn her hand and scratch her head. For the life of them they can't understand why I don't just take my hand and scratch it if it itches! I was called on the carpet... someone has noticed my bad habit of head scratching! Even more funny than this is the fact that Emily texted me after she went home and wrote...
"HEY MOM, DOES YOUR HEAD ITCH?" - needless to say I laughed even more. It seems quite peculiar that we notice these things about others doesn't it?
Well it opened up a can of worms for my "blogging mind" and I have a little habit that I remember from each on of them! I will share it here with in the writings of my daily life and memories of my youth!

Emily: One of my favorite stories about her is that she had this "favorite" gray shiny shirt... it was very pretty and she looked like a princess in it. There was one small problem - every where she went - every time she went there - she put on the gray shiny shirt. I'll be if one day that shirt wasn't just gone... missing in action so to speak. I never did remember where I put it and I never told her until years later... so actually I wasn't lying...
she said "mom do you know where my gray shiny shirt is?"
and I said "no, I don't know where that went I haven't seen it for awhile"!

Lindsey: Lindsey was quite a lady from the time she was a little girl. She liked ruffled panties, white cowboy boots, perms in her hair, and dressing up. You can imagine a little girl in her dress up cloths, all dolled up ready to play and then she would all of a sudden find this incredible urge to spit. She would just turn her head to the side and give a good ole spit and keep walking! The funniest part about this little habit is that today - about 22 years later - we were walking across the street together and she turned her head to the side and took a good ole spit... and kept walking!!

Lacey: Lacey has a shoe problem. It is not the typical problem of shopping and buying to many shoes. It is more like she has in her mind what she wants and she can't find it. You would think this would maybe be a good problem as most girls are thought of as having to many shoes. But, it has caused her feet some problems over the years. So, when she finds a pair, she wear them until she has literally walked them right to death!! Maybe she should become a shoe designer? (she did design a pair of shoes in about 7th grade... we still have them somewhere!) Remember??

Yes, what fun I have in my mind going back and looking in those cans...
and once in awhile you find a few worms in the dirt!!

Be Having

Conner has gotten to spend quite a bit of time with his momma lately as she is on maternity leave. Once in awhile he has what we would maybe describe as a "bad day"... where his behaviors escalate and he has trouble being the good little guy that he usually is. On Thursday he was having "one of those bad days". Momma told him that he would need to behave himself or there would be some consequences! It seemed the consequences weren't really bothering him to much and he was having a hard time concentrating on being a good boy.
AFTER HIS NAP...
Conner asked his mom "I am behaving myself now aren't I mom?"
She told him "yes, Conner, you are really behaving and I am very proud of you"
"Mom, is behave one word or two?"
(mom just looks at him in amazement)
"Mom, if it is two words, be and have, what does have mean?"
"Ummm... Conner, I am not sure - I think it is all one word, where in the world do you come up with this stuff?"
"Well, from www.myownbrain.com!!
I guess momma didn't have an answer for that one either!!!

A new pail

Mom and I went to St.Cloud to see Jordyn Noel for the first time on 1/11/11. We got a picture of her on my cell phone as we were driving - she was here!! Soon we would be up to the hospital to meet our newest little bundle of joy. We got up there around 11:30am. Everyone got to take her and hold her in their arms, feeling the baby warmth and giving her that first love outside the womb. She was so peaceful, so very beautiful.

Chris, mom and I went to eat about 2:30 at the Chinese Buffet restaurant. It is our favorite place to go with our favorite son-in-law... ( soon that place will be shared with Josh! and K!). After that Chris went to pick up JaciAnna and Conner D and mom and I went back to the hospital. ( I must add here that I was following Chris in his truck to the restaurant. He called Curt and said "yes, your wife is following me through St.Cloud, I am going 5 miles per hour and leaving her in the dust! - apparently they think it is quite funny that grammie pammie drives slow and careful!)

Soon JaciAnna and Conner D were up at the hospital to see their newest family member. They seemed a little leery, touching her very careful and being ever so quiet. I wish I could have been an angel at that moment and known what they were thinking about their mommas flat tummy and a new baby in her arms. These are moments that you can take pictures of, blog about, and talk about - but, you only get to live them once and I am so happy I was there!

Conner D. came home with us to Arlington. He fell sound asleep on the way home and I just brought him in and took off his little shoes and laid him in bed with his papa. When he woke up in the morning papa was gone to work - he never even knew he got to sleep with him! Gramma Dorius came to stay with the little guy on Wednesday as I had to work. Lacey and Nola were also here to help her with the days activities. Conner D came down with the flu at about 3:00 that afternoon. When I came home from work - he was cleaned up, and had a pail sitting by him. I went and got him some pedialight - he was so thirsty but nothing was staying down. He would ask papa for a drink, then ask for the pail. This went on until about 12:00 am when he finally took a drink and it stayed down. The next day he slept most of the day, snuggling with his gramma on the recliner. I had called Missy... not seeing a sick little one for so long I was afraid he would get dehydrated and I wouldn't know it. She made me feel better, said to have him eat lightly and drink when he could but we knew the flu was going around at his day care and he had probably picked it up there. By Friday he was feeling a little better but still not totally himself. He snuggled, watched Big Bear in the Big Blue House (20X), and a little bit of Annabelles Wish, he read a few books with gramma and he also told a few of his own stories about the 3 bears!! It was a very loving week - even though our little guy was sick.

On Saturday I had Bingo at work and then Curt, Conner and Jeff came into get me. They listened to a little music and a few people got to meet my little guy with the big brown eyes. We then loaded up the car and headed for Foley. He said to me "You know that you can't keep me gramma, I have to go home." I told him I understood completely but I was glad that we got to take him home and be with him one more day!
Gramma Dorius was sick now, so she didn't get to come along. BUT - she had made us some supper so I heated that up and got stuff ready - in between starting a little laundry at the Harren household. Conner opened his presents that he had gotten from people for being a big brother. The first thing he opened was a little red pail with some m&m's in it. He looked at his mom with such enthusiasm and said "LOOK MOM IT IS A NEW PUKE PAIL!!" I am not making this up - he was genuinely excited about receiving what he thought to be a new shiny red puke pail! Well, we laughed along time, and many times over this comment! Chris and Curt went uptown a little after supper to celebrate yet another birth. Emi went to bed with the kids and I went downstairs and did laundry and then turned on the electric blanket and went to sleep!

Sunday morning Chris, JaciAnna, Conner D and myself got ready and went to 10:00 church. It was a wonderful service of recommitting to prayer and Jesus, He talked about how each prayer you say is like laying a foundation... one prayer, one brick... the more you pray - the bigger your foundation!

I could not have planned out a more perfect week. Starting with the trip to St.Cloud to see Jordyn Noel and her family... and ending with an "I love you all so very much!"

After a week like this I feel such a lonesomeness when I come back to my home. The quiet isn't what it used to be - it takes me awhile to get used to it. I take all the blankets and towels to the laundromat to wash away all the flu germs... and when I come back home I find the "old pail"...
I pick it up
Throw it in the trash
And I smile.