Monday ...

a day late anyway. Just pretend it's still Monday please? I'm just way too exhausted to even think about Tuesday. LOL

Alien had the baby by c-section before 9 AM today. He came into the world weighing 8 lbs, 5 oz. He's 21 inches long. Mommy and baby are doing great. She's even called me three or four times since surgery today. She sounds good. She misses Butterball something fierce, though. He's allowed to go up to visit, but I'm really wondering if that's the best idea. With the fit that we'd have to go through leaving Mommy behind, I'm hesitant.

This is JR's first picture. He's barely a few hours old here. Not too bad of a pic, but I really need to teach the Alien's BF how to take better cell phone pics! Ah well, he gets an A for effort!

For the most part Butterball's been a joy. He's definitely a Gramma's boy! However, bedtime for the last two nights he's been here has proved to be a challenge. He wants his mommy and there's no persuading him otherwise. It's only after he cries himself to sleep am I getting my sleep. Then, he's a bed hog (no place for him except in my bed - grrrrrrr) ... I can't tell you how many kicks and punches I took last night. Tonight he seems to be a little less hoggish, so I may get more than two hours of sleep. At least I can hope, LOL.

*****

Married Son and I also went out today to buy a new hot water heater. DILs dad will install it after he gets off work tomorrow. Oh, I have a correction, too ... he IS a licensed electrician so there's no worries there. Ended up, too, that I didn't need a large appliance permit. Seems I was misinformed, it's only commercial properties that need it out here. Whew!!

I was going to possibly go to the hospital tomorrow to meet JR and to see Alien for a bit, but I'm not sure now. Besides the obvious fit I'd have to deal with if I do take Butterball, DILs dad won't be over until tomorrow around three to install the water heater. Four hours to do that and a furnace cleaning (I'm liking this ... all this work, for the price of a steak dinner!!) and it'll be too late to get up to the hospital to visit her.

Ah well, time to figure this out tomorrow. Tonight, Gramma's looking to sneak into bed without waking Butterball.

Things that go bump in the night ...

... tend to make me jump out of my skin. And this is the reason I'm up at 6:30 in the morning. I can't go back to sleep until my blood pressure and pulse are at a more reasonable level.

Don't know what went bump, but it got me leaving my room to investigate in a hurry ... along with Married Son and Single Son.

Never know if it could be a branch, a tree, a raccoon or a burglar 'round these parts. Which would explain why Single Son came dashing up the stairs armed and prepared.

Gawd, I love living with a cop.

We didn't figure out what it was. Might never discover the source either.

For someone who has relatively few fears in life ... I've developed a rather irrational fear of tall trees. Especially close to my house. Go figure.

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Other news ... since I seem to be wide awake and online anyway I may as well keep blogging.

My mom still insists the party for Alien's birthday will not happen. She did call to ask for Alien's address. She's sending her a card with a birthday check in it. She did say, though, that the word *happy* is anything but how she feels, can't celebrate when she's not feeling it.

I'm pretty much staying out of it. We know how teens are ... can't tell them jacksquat ... and doing so only makes the situation worse. And we don't want that.

I did talk to Alien yesterday, too. She did not drop Butterball off so she could go to night classes. I guess she's having to drop the classes for now ... the story goes that the court and Children's Protective Services are mandating a few parenting classes for her and Loser if she's to keep the kids. Anger management, parenting, and another course (I think she said household management - or something along those lines) ... and they're held the same nights as her present night courses are. I'm glad she's doing what she can to keep Butterball and the baby due in January. There may be hope for her yet.

Except for the fact that it looks like Loser is still around. So much for her calling me the other day asking for the police non emergency number ... I guess she's just not as fed up with that situation as she needs to be to finally sever all ties with him.

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Grandson's first school pictures are in!! Yes, kindergarten pictures ... isn't he adorable?

Not only does he look like his daddy, but he gets that same dopey smile for the school photographers. Oy!

Saturday

Once again, it's been a few days since my last blog. So much for trying to blog more, eh? Oh well ... at least it's not months between entries, right?

Been a lot going on, some stressful. Who am I kidding? Most stressful. So much for avoiding stress ... and since I'm not finding much humor - well, not as much blogging.

I really am trying to find the silver lining in everything. But I'm finding some clouds are just crappy through and through. Especially where the Wrecking Crew is involved.

Speaking of the Wrecking Crew ... DIL just isn't comprehending how things work when you live in someone else's home. From throwing out things that don't belong to her to trying to take over how this house is run. Not that I do things a certain way, or am OCD at all, I just don't like someone coming in and trying to take control. There's no excuse for it.

She's on my final nerve, needless to say.

My new tagline has become "Screw Calgon ... Delta take me away". She thinks it's funny ... remember she's not the brightest crayon in the box and doesn't seem to understand she's the reason for screwing Calgon.

On the Alien front ... she calls me late the other night (after midnight) asking if I can babysit, she's having pain and wants to go to the hospital. Sure ... I'll watch Butterball,but she's got to bring him over. She gets here and of course, the Loser is in the passenger seat. He can't drive (lost his license) but will go with her to the E.R. Fine ... whatever. Butterball was fussy, so I gave him a bottle, changed him, and within half an hour he was asleep. Yay me! DIL took Butterball to sleep in their room. Alien called later saying she's being released, that the pain was from constipation (oy), and they're on the way to get Butterball. Loser tries to be all nice to me. I told him don't bother, he's off my Christmas Card list for what he did to Alien and I just won't waste those valuable seconds of my life on him.

Then there's been the stress of my brother coming over. We're not close by any stretch. And after his comment to me last weekend, well, I didn't rush outside to say hi to him when he got here this morning to finish the tree removal that my Mom is paying him $500 to do. So ... I had asked him something about a past holiday event (that he had hosted), and his response was that he didn't remember but oh yeah, by the way, once our folks are gone he doesn't anticipate he'll ever be inviting me to his house again (he said something like 'you'll be dead to me, too') - that the only reason he even talks to me is because of the fact I'm our parents daughter (not sister, but parents daughter). Even though we aren't close, that comment hurt.

Christmas this year is going to be interesting. But I'll let it slide (after the hurt goes away), because I'm good like that. 

So much for not finding silver linings in those clouds, eh? I've done nothing but a bitch blog so far ... and I feel the negative energy really taking it's toll on me right now.

Funny how this crap effects ones health. Time to go look for something FUN ... or SILLY ... to lift my mood.

Oh ... here's a funny ... Single Son one day said the word "pimp" around Grandson. Grandson asked what a pimp was. Single Son told him a pimp is a tow truck driver - the truck is called a hooker (because cars are hooked to it, LOL). So ... Married Son is talking to Single Son today and it comes up that Married Son is looking for tow truck driving jobs. Grandson pipes up with "My daddy is going to be a pimp". I almost fell off the chair from laughing!

And ... on that I'm off to do a little Farmville, Frontierville, Swagbucks ... AND I need to find some tofu recipes ... yes, tofu. My friend Chicken introduced me to the stuff and now I'm hooked on it ... but I need to find new recipes!!

Friday and I'm tired!

It's been one loooooong day 'round here.

Alien called me, waking me up this morning, could I watch the baby for about six or so hours?? Now, we know I said I wouldn't watch him until he could feed himself and was potty trained (hold a hamburger and flush the toilet) ... well, I just couldn't say no - not after she told me why. Seems someone (I'm thinking the Loser) called CPS (Children's Protective Service) and complained about the messes in that house. Most of it's her father, Bubba's crap, but she's contributed to it - dirty kitchen, dirty bathroom, laundry piled up, etc (a FlyLady's nightmare). She had an inspection yesterday and was told by the social worker that if it's not cleaned up by Monday afternoon that Butterball will be removed from the home.

She's panicked, to say the least. She's furious with Bubba. She's tried calling, he won't even answer the phone! Jackass!! His daughter, he fought so hard to turn her against me only to abandon her to some witch that hates Alien with a passion and actually forbids him from seeing his own daughter.

Karma is a bitch. He'll get his.

But in the meantime, she has a lot of work ahead of her. And The Knight in Rusy Armor bailed on her. Ya, can you believe it? Bailed. Was afraid to get too close to her and Butterball that he went running to his Grandmother's house. She claims it's not bailing, that he had reasons (family reunion she says) and will be back. Sorry, it's BAIL if you ask me ... he isn't there to help her when she needs it most.

And all I will do is watch the baby while she's cleaning. Oh, and I gave her some cleaners to use - stuff I'm allergic to, that I'd never have used anyway. I also gave her two couches that were in my family room ... she had to get rid of the dog-damaged sofa Bubba left behind when he moved out.

She's overwhelmed, needless to say. She's planning on talking to the social worker on Monday to see what assistance she may be able to get for housing. Heaven knows she needs to get out of that house - with Bubba's abandoned messes, his damned dogs he dumped on her, and gawd only knows what else that I'm not aware of.

I had Butterball for eight hours. He was good as gold. Ate just fine for me, tried to crawl away during diaper changes, tormented Spot (who sat there and took it!), slept (two naps no less), ate half a container of yogurt DIL fed him, only spit up once, didn't cry much ... but boy that Boy loves attention. When he wasn't sleeping he wanted to play with Gramma (and Grandson). Found out he loves pots and pans.

I told her I'd give her some of my furniture if she needs it, I have a lot of stuff here I rarely use ... and I told her she can take whatever she wants out of her sperm-donor's house ... and yes, she finally admitted that she declined her grandfather's offer to make her the legal owner (house needs way too much work for an 18 year old to do) ... but I told her since Bubba abandoned that house she should not feel guilty about taking whatever she needs out of it for herself. She agreed. She's hurt. Can't believe her father is acting this way.

Damn that man. Damn that he did this to her. Damn that I was right about it all, too. This is one time I wouldn't have had a problem with being wrong about that jackass that sadly I chosen to marry.

Like I said, karma is a bitch and he'll get his but good. I just hope he doesn't have to wait to see karma in action.

So ... on a cheerier note ...

The chore chart has been met with mixed emotions. Both Sons think it's a great idea, DIL hates it (gee, surprised?) and Grandson is still trying to figure it all out. But he's progressing rather nicely. Just tonight DIL didn't get to their dishes in a timely manner, and Grandson said "Mommy, if you want a smiley on your chore chart you better get to the dishes."

Bless his little heart!

Grandson had a great day today, too. Married Son let him play video games and he had fun playing with Butterball. Great day!! Up until just before bedtime when he actually wet his pants. DIL about went balistic! "I forgot to stop playing and go potty". Hey, he's 5 ... they sometimes get so wrapped up in what they're doing, they don't pay attention to nature's calls. It happens. Especially when you're playing a Cops and Robbers video game.

I'm one tired Gramma.

And I get to do it again tomorrow with Alien having half the house to still clean!