Poor Little Gracie

Yesterday while spring cleaning all the girls' stuffed animals, someone accidentally stepped on Little Gracie's tail. Of course she yelped in pain and hid behind me. Later in the night, every time you touched her tail she would yelp. So of course our little baby had to go to the vet.

 

When you go to the vet it's like taking your children to the doctor. You wait in the waiting room with all the other little doggies and parents. Then there is the small talk: how old is your dog? what breed? is she potty trained? what park do you play in with your dog? omg have you tried the new all veggie doggie biscuits? I am serious this really does happen, along with all the vet techs coming over in their baby voices saying "aren't you the prettiest little doggie ever".

 

After all that we went in to see the nurse. He took Gracie's vitals, he even took her temperature rectally!  (EWWW)

Come to find out, Gracie had a temp of 103.8. I almost passed out! Then he said we are going to have to shave her tail! WHAT??????? Then x-rays were to follow only to find out Gracie has a torn ligament in her tail. Now she has an antibiotic, pain pill, and an anti-inflammatory pill. Thank GOD she will be okay in a few days. Until then she will be spoiled rotten just like all our other children are when they are sick.

 

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! Life is off and running very fast this year. We have had so much excitement since Decemeber, I am now just catching my breath. Jessica had to have her tonsils removed Dec.12th. OMG!! What an experience! She did really well with surgery. I was 24 when I had mine removed and I can't imagine being 9 and going through the surgery. The old wives' tale about you get to eat all the ice cream you want--NOT!!!!! We were lucky to get her to drink 2 ounces of water. All is better now. We are just trying to get back to normal life. If there is such a thing.

 

Seems like we have been celebrating birthdays for a year now. The twins turned 9 on the 6th of November. Steven turned 12 on the 10th of Jan. and Sage (Sam's daughter) turned 6 on the 19th. We celebrated last night with family and friends. Everyone had a wonderful time. We had 6 kids here and all of them spent the night. I couldn't believe that 6 kids could be quiter than 3 kids. OMG!!! I really didn't know Steven and his friend Courtney (boy) were here half the time. Thank you Xbox!!! Sage, Jewel, Jessica and Mia were into the Littlest Pet Shop.  Today with 6 kids in the house on a rainy day, I managed to get a 1 hour nap on the couch! It's really making us wonder if we need more kids??????? Just kidding!

 

Tomorrow we are back to reality: work, school, homework, picking up kids, dinner, telling my husband I love him at least 456,234 times a day. Weekends I bump it up a little more since I see him all day, at least to 89,345,234,561 times.

 

Take care until next time.

 

love

Darlene Brady

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!! I hope your day is filled with family, collard greens, fatback, my mama's homemade dressing, corn, green beans, biscuits, my Sam's grandma's homemade carrot cake, sweet potato pie and can't forget TURKEY!!!!!!

You know I have to be sentimental and say what I am thankful for :

My Heavenly Father - Thank you for you never ending love and understanding! Thank you for my wonderful family and all your blessings you have given us. We give you all the praise.

1.Sam (the love of my life, my heart, soul, best friend, my sense of peace). I love you!

2. Steven, Jewel, Jessica, Sage and Gracie: My children, my life, my hopes and dreams. I love you all and couldn't imagine my life without you.

3. Mama - My mother, my best friend, my leader, my guardian angel, MY HEART! I LOVE YOU!

4. Pop - My daddy, my best friend, my financial advisor, my rock, MY HEART! I LOVE YOU!

5. Kenneth, Edward, Sherry - my brothers and sister who help mold me to the great person I am today. Y'all gave me love and plenty of fighting techniques to carry me through the rest of my life. Most of all I can always count on each of you! I LOVE YOU!

6. Mom, Dad, Bill, Liz and Mia - My inlaws who opened their arms and welcomed my entire family into their wonderful family. I am very thankful for your love and friendship. I love you all.

7. For all our friends - We love you all dearly and are very thankful
for your friendship.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Love always,
Darlene Brady

FOOSBALL??? Dat's de devil!!!

I got a not so nice comment on the previous entry to my blog from an anonymous person who was very upset about my Peyton Manning story. Go read it before you go any further if you want to really understand where I'm going with this.

Done?

OK.  At first I was like, okay, an upset Colts fan.  This person criticized me for my knowledge of football. I will be the first to admit I don't know everything there is to know about football.  Nor do I feel the need to know it. As I read on I became very upset with the things she said. This person  said I give real wives a bad name. For that I must respond.

I think I am a good wife to my husband! At least I take the time to actually learn about football. Whether I like football or not, my husband does, and I owe it to him to give it a chance. I am actually enjoying watching football this year with him. I don't know what every penalty is or even what all the numbers mean. I know the yellow flag means a penalty. I know you get so many tries to get it down the field and score. More importantly I recognize my husband loves football and I love him enough to show an interest in the game. I am not a girly-girl who is afraid to break a nail changing the remote during half time. I know nothing about fingernail polish except it goes on your nails. The only thing I know is I love my husband with all my heart and I want to share everything with him. He watches home improvement shows with me, I watch football with him. He listen to gospel music with me. I listen to the Pixies and Reckless Kelly. I wash clothes, he folds all the socks. I cook dinner, we wash and dry dishes together. Sometimes he even makes grilled cheese sandwiches for us to eat. I think it's a wonderful thing when someone you love is willing to try new things or do things that they don't entirely like just because it makes the other one happy.  To my husband: I love you with all my heart and am willing to learn about your interests to help us be happy together.

As Bocephus and Bobby Boucher Mama would say, are you ready for some FOOSBALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GET OUT OF MY HOUSE PEYTON MANNING!

I am trying to get into football for the sake of my marriage! My husband lives, breathes, sleeps football. So I thought I would try and be the supportive wife and follow it with him this season. So usually I pull for the team with the nicest uniforms or who doesn't try and kill their opponents. With all the hype about the Manning brothers a couple weeks ago I wanted to watch that game. Now every time I turn the TV on, there is Peyton! I open the pantry for a snack, there is Peyton! I cook dinner, and there is Peyton! Not to mention his crazy commercial with the bad wig and mustache for DirecTV. Come on, Peyton, the Colts not paying you enough that you have to endorse DirecTV, Ritz Crackers, Chunky Soup...and then there is the commercial with the family. I am convinced the Saints didn't pay Daddy enough and his Social Security isn't enough that you had to help Daddy out. Peyton is like that new song you hear over and over and over and it drives you crazy. Like Fergie and her LONDON BRIDGE!!!!

One good thing about football is Willie Parker, who plays for Pittsburgh. You know the team with the guy with the long dreads that is in need of a desperate haircut. Don't ask me what position he plays cause I am not that advanced yet. Remember that I am a rookie. But that little guy can run fast!!! Then I like Vick, who is the quarterback for the Falcons. He all the time running for the end zone, unlike the other QBs that want to stand and watch everyone else.

Then there is college football! OMG!!! Last night we went to the inlaws to watch Ga vs Tenn. My sister-in-law is worse then my husband when it comes to the Vols. Needless to say when the Vols took the lead, my pregnant sister-in-law went skipping through the RV screaming! My son was wearing a Vols jersey with a Ga jersey on top, so depending on who had the ball he would take the shirt off. Then of course when the Vols took the lead all I could see was orange!

Wish me luck. I am going to learn the game of football one way or another!!!!!!!!!!

It's hard to say goodbye!

I am sorry to say this will not be a happy letter about my wonderful life in Georgia or how much I love my husband. Instead I am dedicating this week's letter to my Uncle Ray who passed away Monday night. Many of you had the chance to meet him and knew him for his long, drawn out stories of his past. Ray was one of those special people that could take 30 minutes to tell you something that would only take us 5 minutes. There were plenty of times I thought, please don't tell that story again. There were times I wouldn't pay attention to his story but when he started to laugh I would too. Then there were times I loved hearing about him working in the Feed Mill, or what his ma would cook for dinner (and you ate it or else). I had the privilege of being Ray's pick of the family I should say. At one time Ray, Mama, Pop and I lived in NJ together for about 3 years. I thought I would share some of our good times with you.

When I first met Ray he would only wear dress black pants and button up shirts. I was determined to get him into some jeans if it killed me. So Garth Brooks came to town and I had to go see him. I decided to sleep outside the record store all night so I could be first in line. Guess who  slept on the sidewalk right next to me..... YES, RAY!!!! I was 2nd he was 3rd in line. I am telling you, for a 65 year old man he stuck it out with me. As the concert approached I told Ray he had to go get some new clothes, so I took him down to the store and yes, got him some jeans, cowboy shirt, boots, he was looking sharp for a 65 year old man.

There were times when Mama and Pop would be out of town and it would be just me and Ray home. Sometimes I felt like an old married couple. I would come home for work and he would say, let's go out for dinner. Off we would go to some restaurant and sit across from each other and talk about our day. Then off to the laundromat to do clothes, then home to watch some tv. Ray was always the gentleman and had to pay for my dinner all the time. If we were shopping he would always buy you something you didn't need or want but the thought would get you every time. There is no telling how many knick knacks Mama and I have that we can't seem to let go of.

There was the time he got sick and wouldn't go to the dr. Pop tried to take him he wouldn't move. I came home and said, Ray get in the truck I am taking you to the dr.!!!!!  He looked like a little kid sitting in that truck pouting as I took him to the dr. But I did get him the smoking patch which I am sure gave him more time with us.

Then when Steven was born I lost Uncle Ray! I was no longer the apple of his eye Steven was. According to Ray everyone else in the world was wrong but STEVEN. Whatever Steven wanted he got. That was until about 2 years ago when the two of them started butting heads. OMG!!!!! There were times Ray would aggravate him just for fun and lord knows Steven did the same. But every time we left Ray both of them would be teary eyed.

So for those of you who knew Ray take a moment and see if you can find a happy thought and cherish it forever. Ray was an old man, who was set in his own way, and he had a heart of gold. He loved us all in his own way. Now we all have a special guardian angel watching over us.

So I say to my Uncle, friend, dinner partner, laundry mate, concert pal, story teller. Go rest in Peace with your family, enjoy your new home and new body. Thank you for being a part of our lives. I love you and will miss you.

Love Darlene Brady

P.S. Please keep Pop in your prayers!!!!!!