Glandular Grandeur and the Mother Load

 

Wow! Back into the 80s for temperatures this week! I'm so happy. Taking Jasper out for his constitutional this evening and the warmth of the air swept gently across my face. I closed my eyes and took it all in. What a beautiful spring day this is!

Thursday and Friday both came and went, without much fanfare. Kit the cat jumped onto my keyboard, swiping the letter E from its position among the keys. He was on the arm of the couch, across the keys, and on the floor pushing the key cover around the wood planks of our flooring faster than I knew what had hit. The two pieces that hold the key in place were left in the white graveyard of blankets we use as covers to keep hair off the couch. 

I grabbed the pieces and informed Terry of what "his" son had done. No, I do not boast claim of these guys when they do things like this. Terry gathered the pieces and my wounded laptop and left to go to the local computer doctor for a transplant. I can only hope the surgeon can work magic and bring back my Hewlett in one piece. I am keeping my fingers crossed. 

Mallory called this morning too and was on her way to come by and visit. She saw what a lovely day it was and wanted to get out for a while. We watched another show we are into to pass the day together. Terry returned with groceries and my laptop as Mallory was walking out the door to go home. 

My "baby," my livelihood, and source of fun was repaired! Hopefully anyway. He told Terry to have me work with it to soften up the pressure needed for the key, but if it does not work, bring it back and he can replace the two pieces and fix it again. 

I'm finding it difficult to push the key. Either it's hard to push to get the letter to appear or you have to press the key in a certain way, such as more to the bottom of the key. Although it does seem to be getting better as time goes on, I'm not entirely sure my baby is complete. He did claim that it might take a couple of days to work it in properly. 

That was done and I am grateful. But one more day without work done. After Mallory left, I began to watch a show before cooking dinner. I was laying comfortably on the couch, leg raised to keep swelling down. After a few moments, I sat up to begin cooking the evening meal. Putting my hand on my left cheek, I realized the entire area by my ear and jaw was swollen. 

The swelling was a huge bump! I don't even know what happened, as it was fine a few moments before. I panicked a bit and got online immediately to find out why it could be swollen. I read that a saliva gland lies there and there are a few reasons why it could be swollen. One is diabetes. Another was tooth problems, which I wasn't feeling. Other reasons included fever from an infection, stones in the saliva glands, etc. Who knew there were "stones" in a saliva gland? 

Anyway, suggested ways to help reduce this was to use heat, such as in the form of a heating pad. I fired mine up and within moments the swelling had reduced down to almost nothing. I'm still watching for any indication it may swell again. So far, so good. Nothing to warrant a trip into the ER or urgent care. They will soon have to equip the room with "Vicki cots" to ensure I have somewhere to sleep while being there so often.  

Tomorrow is Saturday. Saturday is of course, the day before Sunday, which happens to be an awesome day, known as Mother's Day. As everyone knows, this day can be so much fun! Weather is supposed to be in the upper 80s, and we are heading to Eugene/Springfield to see those who made me a mom. 

Mallory is joining us as we travel. Dawn and her family, plus Brandy and Dan, Coby and Delany, Jess and Brandon, and Natalie and her family will meet us for a BBQ and potluck. This sounds like so much fun! I will be bringing a chocolate cake (sugar free) and some baked beans. 

Being Friday, I will have to bake the cake today to accommodate the chocolate cravings we may have tomorrow. Who doesn't love chocolate? This being sugar free is a decadent temptation for those of us who cannot have sugar. The frosting is made by Pillsbury, as is the cake mix. Fluffy and moist chocolate cake and a rich, dark, fudge frosting that does not hold that nasty sugar free after taste is one of my favorites. I do enjoy the yellow cake mix as well, but chocolate on chocolate is Terry's favorite. 

Can't wait until tomorrow! 

This cutie patootie will be there, all decked out for summer! For today though, I will be focusing on the cake and Mallory's visit for today. I love having her over, as we get along very well. She is basically becoming one of my best friends and definitely a daughter, outside of the legal title of being a "stepdaughter." In my heart and in my life, she has joined our family as a daughter and nothing less. 

Mother's Day, May 11, 2024 

Mallory came by earlier than planned, after garnering an okay from me via text. She surprised me with two cards, as she couldn't make up her mind which one she liked the best, and a beautiful bouquet of flowers. 

A colorful bouquet that brought light into the room and a smile to my face. Absolutely stunning group of various types of flowers. 

Although gorgeous and plenty I might add, she also handed me a box. A small jewelry box. I opened it to find a stunning sapphire necklace and earring set. I was surprised, that's for sure! What a wonderful gift she gave me! 

I absolutely love the sapphire blue color. 

After our hugs and me thanking her a couple of times, we headed out to Dawn's house in Springfield. When we arrived, the food dishes were removed from the car and taken into the house. My walker and all that entails was unloaded and off we went inside to see family. 

As soon as I settled into the recliner, removed my boot and began to elevate my foot, I had gift bag after gift bag set in front of me. I was overwhelmed at the generosity of my family. Plus, Marina had given me a bag of clothing before she left for her trip to New York. Three shirts, three pair of shorts. She brought them to the baby shower last weekend because she knew she could not come today. 

Marina added to my short and shirt supply before she left on vacation. Loving them!

 My awesome family gave me flowers, wax burner scents galore, sugar free caramels, a beautiful purple orchid, a Sweet Pea scented candle, Oregon Duck water bottle that is pretty fancy, shirts, a dog nightgown, body spray, three body butter scents, a succulent, and a family picture frame. I may have missed some things, although if I did, it's not because I don't care. It's because I got so much I'm trying to recall all of it. 

Dog night shirt from Old Navy. 

Two shirts from Old Navy. 

Lovely purple orchid. 

Oregon Duck water bottle with locking lid and sip or straw options. 

Sweet Pea candle. Smells so good! Anyone who knows me knows I am a candle scent connoisseur. Well, I don't know about a connoisseur, but definitely a candle fanatic. The scents of candles are something I really get into and always have. 

Beyond the candle I received today, my granddaughter Kylee used to work at a candle shop, where she and other employees could create various scents and name them. The biggie with that place was you could also take home the wax melts you made that didn't come out 100% correct. Kylee once gave me a huge popcorn tub of those melts. I keep them in the large container that once held popcorn and use them.  

Today she added to that tub collection, by giving me a gift bag full of melts, what they called "pies" that are scented wax choices poured into a small pie tin and sold. Another gift was what they call the "scoopable" waxes. I opened the jar and wow! It was called Mulberry Soda Pop and I have to say, everyone who sniffed it today, including Terry, loved that soda pop scent! It really did smell like soda that was a fresh fruity flavor with a bit of fizz in the undertones. That will be one of the first that I try. 

I was also given a very small heart-shaped succulent that said, "With Love" on the front of it. It is a real plant. A type I had never seen before. Natalie, Dawn's sister-in-law, gave everyone a small plant container with a succulent growing in each one. They were loved and appreciated gifts!

Lovely soap scents, body spray, and body butter. 

Brandy chatted with Jessee and Dawn as they cooked. The "boys" sat outside, either in front or in back, to try to stay cool. They found the secret to staying cool later was to stay in the house, but not until later in the afternoon. Silly boys. 

Jessee was given some baby shower gifts by Natalie, who couldn't make it to the shower last weekend. Jess unpacked shorts and some onesies to the "Ooh's" and "Aw's" of all the ladies in the house. The clothes are so tiny! 

Meanwhile, Bella sat on the back of the couch getting her princess treatment. Dan held his hand under her chin so she could have some place to rest her face while watching all of us chatting and gawking at baby clothes.

We got to hear more adventures of Tolsky, Dan and Brandy's Mexican hairless dog, or Xolo (Sholo) as they are named. Sometimes Brandy has a difficult time making it to gatherings because of work or trying to catch up on household chores when she does have time off. It was great to spend some time with her and Dan. 

As Brandy and Jess talked, I watched them both, noticing how pretty they both were. Here is Jess, all grown up now and about to have Novalee, her second child. Brandy was chatting away about her pup and her life, keeping us interested with the antics of Tolsky. 

All the loved ones inside and out of the house today really made me smile. They were all grown, living their best lives, with children of their own. But the other side of that thought was, I started this entire portion of the family. It makes me happy to know that I am grandma, the one who is at the head of the table, with my husband, children, and grandchildren sitting around me. The great grandchild in attendance is a miracle, along with her sister who is coming soon (next month). 

Lorenzo, Dawn's father-in-law, would be at the other head of the table, having his son, Andy, and daughter Natalie by him. His part played out in his life by the beautiful daughter and son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren sitting around the room as well. 

Terry? He had Mallory there, once again adding to the people in the room who are loved, and to a new generation of good souls. All the kids, grandkids, and great grandchildren came together to make a most perfect Mother's Day gathering. We all did well, that's for sure, in raising wonderful human beings who are kind and loving to their own children and grandchildren. We were missing Marina and her children and grandchildren, but she sent her love. 

The creation of a loving, close family is, in my humble opinion, a beautiful thing. We do wish this upon our readers as well. Even if the closeness does not involve family, we wish you closeness with your created "family," also known as friends. May we all feel this closeness with someone in our lives and know what a true blessing it is. 

Our wonderful day came to an end around 7:00 this evening. There were hugs and words of gratitude spreading throughout the house. People were leaving and as a family, we don't leave our gatherings without a hug and a show of appreciation and gratitude for one another, as none of us really know what life brings. 

We loaded up the car with empty dishes, half a cake, and all the gifts we had received. Mallory even "made out" with her items. It was an awesome time with family. Off we went to Roseburg to come home. Home to our fur babies and the house we love so much. We love it not only for the design, but the love that lives in the house too. Keep your loved ones close at heart, and your days filled with love and joy. 

Happy Mother's Day everyone!