in sickness and in health

14 years ago I had cancer. I was married, had two babies and while I went through my treatments my ex husband was not there emotionally or physically for me.  I remember specific moments during those times today and it still can bring extreme anger to me. I learned in those moments that "for worse" with him would never be good. That the support system I needed was lacking.

10 days ago I broke. I came home from a 4 day trip with a pinched nerve and muscle spams in my neck that left me breathless and crying. Bill came down and helped me. The first couple nights he woke up each night throughout the night to lift my head for me so I could turn my head. He watched me cry... he put a heating pad on me... he laid for 3 hours one night in an uncomfortable position because the only way I could sleep was leaning against him.

God said that wasn't enough for me to learn a lesson. .. so I broke further... that night, the first night, in the middle of the night a cut I had on my thumb became septic. We figured it out first thing the next morning. We went to the emergency room and spent 6 hours there. I've been on a very large regimen of pills the past 10 days. Bill has woken up faithfully every morning at 6 a_m and handed me a pill. He has come up to me at noon every afternoon with a glass of water and pills. He has come up to me at 6 p_m with a glass of water and a pill. He has ensured the alarm system was set and that I'm taking my midnight round.  He took care of my kids... got them ready every morning and let me sleep and get the rest I need to heal. He cleaned, cooked, and let me do nothing. There are so many reasons why anyone should love this man. He's got the biggest heart and soul there is. The past 10 days, he showed me that if, god forbid, for worse comes to me again that he will be there without complaining... quietly and wholeheartedly supporting me through anything I might go through. Put a price on that. You can't. I'm counting my blessings.  Thank you God for that lesson.

Peep Day and Other Misc Mudgie Moments...

So much has happened in the last couple of weeks.  It's time to do a Mudgie Merger Update...  

• The RING!  As many of you saw on Facebook,  Bill finally found his mothers ring and it's officially on my hand.  He has his moms original wedding band too.  I suggested that we design a ring for him and use that gold so we'll both be wearing his moms rings.  We've already got a basic idea of what we want it to look like... we'll keep you updated...  In the mean time a close friend of the family who I've finally found again (thank you Facebook) saw that post and has offered her original wedding band... which was made with MY parents original bands and her dads band...  I'm soo excited about wearing that ring as my band as I absolutely adore the people who have worn the gold before me...  I've told Bill I still want an eternity band... so if all goes as planned today... I'll have a small eternity band, the gold band from my family and friend, and Bills moms ring on my finger... How loved am I going to feel every time I look at my hand?  #sniff

• The move...  As everyone knows Bill we be splitting his time between Atlanta (Ragle Castle) and Richmond (Camp Crowell) until either he can find work down in Atlanta or my daughter graduates and we can find a happy medium place for us to live.  We aren't the first couple to have a two city relationship...  just grateful it's not bi-coastal.  I'm doing my best to make Atlanta feel like home to him when he's there.  Since he brought down his moms sideboard I put the chest of drawers that formerly acted like a sideboard into our bedroom so he'd have his own chest...  He keeps marveling that he has drawers to put his drawers into... I'm still marveling that I was able to empty a drawer in the bathroom sink for him.  lol

•   Easter...  Bill was indoctrinated into my family's annual Easter traditions.  It was relatively painless as it involved wine, sitting having a smoke with my dad, hiding baskets and lots of good food.  My family has officially boycotted my annual "Easter Bunny Hop" dance.  Sigh... they just don't understand...  One blessing my kids should be counting... their inherited height from their dad... with Bill hiding baskets in a riggeresque sort of manner this will be very useful to them in the upcoming years I think... :) 

• What to do with Peeps?  We've had an interesting week involving Peep destruction... My son put two in the microwave to see what would happen... Bill broiled peeps for us and that was heavenly...  Then Bill and I made Peep vodka... which he has distilled and says looked too much like pee so apparently he's put in a drop or two of food color and made it look like sweet tea instead lol... Either way I'm looking forward to getting home and trying this in hot chocolate...  hmm... what else?  Oh yeah... torches and peeps... He enthralled my kids by torching peeps and putting the torched carcasses between chocolate graham crackers... I made him hide the torch after because I think my kids enjoyed that activity wayyyy too much.  He has ensured me that not only is it hidden but it's broken down and hidden in two places.  Thank you baby.

• Wedding Activities...  We hit up an estate sale last week that supplied a large portion of our wedding needs... We found chargers (large plates), wide mouth ball jars (yes that's what you're drinking out of), two drink decanters, a candy jar (candy station for favors)... and more... we've been buying things as we find them so we aren't spending a huge chunk at one time as we get closer... It's fun looking and piecing together what should be a fun down home shabby chic country backyard wedding... especially since he nixed the etiquette book... because who needs etiquette with bourbon and bbq right?   

•  Down Time...  While it seems like we are constantly going non stop between work, kids, dogs, organizing our lives... and trying to get my thesis done... we DO give ourselves breaks here and there... a moment of quiet...  Spring is here and outside is starting to bloom and warm up to a temperature that you just can't resist sitting in for a moment... What to do?  Fire up the barbeque... pour a bourbon coke and a bourbon diet (two peas in a pod)... sit down and... take pictures of each other and post them on facebook.... I do declare we are middle aged geeks.  lol

•  Honey dos...  Near completion are the coffee bar... as you can see the mirror and lighting is installed in it... we are picking up the glass shelves when I return and this beauty will be ready to stock completely... His and hers French presses... Champagne Glasses... Rum Chata, Bourbon Cream, and a few other liquors...  Also nearly complete is our medieval chandelier... he cleaned it up and hung it but is telling me he thinks it needs to be lowered a few more inches... Gotta stare at it when I get home and decide if I agree.  Love that he loves working on these projects... Love that we're a team...

Let me close today's rambling blog with a note I found as I was heading off to work last week... I carried it in my pocket for the trip... This peep torching, basket rigging, jack of all trades grumpy Mudgie has the biggest heart on the planet... and I consider myself very lucky indeed...