Weekend Happenings

Good Friday morning!

The Gallery pics are from last night's National Honor Society Tapping Ceremony at Josh's school. After years of stressing about what everyone was going to wear, charging camera batteries, getting "there" early enough to get good seats, etc., etc., I am happy to say I am now able to "enjoy the moment" without having to verbally (OUT LOUD) remind myself 20 minutes into the event to focus on the memory being made in front of me. We had a great time... before, during and after.

AUSTIN UPDATE - It's official. The Boy is now a Junior in college. He finished his finals yesterday, and is moving back home today!

Of course, he is starting "Maymester" on May 4 for five weeks, but he'll be staying with Mike's parents Monday night through Wednesday night so I don't really count that as "being away at college." That's just good family time... with some studying on the side.

I'm going to make a little list of "Where We Are Now."

1. He is still a Communications major, and he loves it. He was able to host his own sports radio program this Spring on campus with three friends, and he thoroughly enjoyed that process. He still loves writing, and has been asked by a JSU alum to be a guest blogger on his blog. (The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!)

2. He is currently trying to decide whether to minor in History or Creative Writing. I think he's leaning toward History, but he's still praying about which way to go.

3. He made several new friends this past year, and four of them will be in his dorm next year... two across the hall and two a couple of rooms down the hall.

4. He's still planning on going to England with the Marching Southerners to march in a parade on New Year's Day 2012 celebrating the Queen's 60th year on the throne and the upcoming Olympics. He will be in England a week with his friends.

5. I still miss him like crazy when he's gone, but I know he's happy and enjoying this time of his life. He still talks to one of the remaining Faulkner Four every day (so we know he is alive and kickin'). Even though that was a "first year" rule, it stuck. I'm hoping it will stick with Josh and Roxie, too, but only time will tell.

Oh, and did I mention he's coming home today? I think I did earlier, but just in case... THE BOY IS COMING HOME TODAY!

RANDOMNESS - Although there are dozens (nay, hundreds) of stories about my inadequacies in the "nursing department," I'll just share one more with you this week.

Josh was sick. He had a stomach virus AND a large "allergy" growth on his mouth and eye. (When I say "allergy" growth, there was a period of time in Josh's younger years when we would walk into Josh's room in the morning and it would look like a softball had grown in his body overnight. Sometimes it would be in his hands. Sometimes in his neck. Sometimes in his feet. It was bizarre... and a little scary.)

However, on this particular stomach virus/"allergy" growth day, his left eye was completely swollen shut AND his upper lip was touching his nose. Needless to say, he felt and looked lousy.

Now to make this day even more perfect, it was a "weather" day. A "weather" day in Alabama means to stay close to the TV and watch James Spann for severe weather updates.

Since the "allergy" growths were relatively new, the doctor wanted to see Josh... even with the light stomach virus AND "weather" day. So off we went with plastic garbage cans, plastic bags, crackers, Sprite and a prayer.

My goal was to make it home before the severe weather hit our area. And we did... kind of.

After meeting with the doctor, he made an appointment for us with a pediatric allergist... the next week. Since the stomach virus was pretty mild, he suggested Pepto Bismol for symptoms and Benadryl for the "allergy" growths. I had none of those medications at home, so I left the doctor's office and quickly made my way back to our little town... which was minutes away from getting hit by severe weather.

Josh was in the back seat, feeling bad and looking worse. Rain was POURING out of the sky. Wind was blowing. The sky was black. I couldn't leave him in the car to get the meds, and I couldn't very well skip getting the meds as "things" continued to swell on his face.

It was a conundrum, I tell you.

And then it hit me. Walgreens had a drive-thru window. I had never gone through a drive-thru window at a pharmacy before, but how hard could it be. I had driven through MILLIONS of fast-food drive-thrus. I was practically a drive-thru expert.

So I got in the car line at the drive-thru window at Walgreens.

The first thing I noticed was there was no speaker for me to place my order. "I need a small Coke, fries, tons of Benadryl and a bottle of Pepto, please!"

Instead, when I reached the window, I spoke face-to-face with a real pharmacist.

"What name is it under, please?" she asked.

"Excuse me?" I asked right back.

"What name is your prescription under?"

"Oh. I don't need a prescription. I don't even HAVE a prescription. I just need over-the-counter Benadryl and a small bottle of Pepto, please." This was great. I was going to use the drive-thru at the pharmacy from now on. Clariton, Sudafed, Immodium, Fish Oil supplements... the list went on and on.

"Ma'am. We don't shop for you. This is the pharmacy. We handle prescriptions for people who are too sick to come inside to pick them up."

"Well, we kind of qualify. We need OVER-THE-COUNTER drugs... and we ARE too sick to come inside and pick them up."

"Ma'am. I'm going to have to ask you to pull around to the front of the building and pick up your own medications, please."

The severe weather was upon us. Josh had gone over an hour without throwing up which meant only one thing... he was ready to blow. His RIGHT eye was now almost completely closed and his BOTTOM lip was now down to his chin. I knew then and there I had to pull out the big guns.

"Josh, sit up and smile at the nice lady, please."

That did it. One look at my sick little boy and the pharmacist said, "I'll be back in one second."

She quickly and efficiently picked up the drugs I needed. She then quickly and efficiently took my money, and we were on our way. She didn't even lecture me about NOT coming through the drive-thru again.

We made it home, safe and sound, just as the storm worsened. I medicated my puffy, sickly little boy and things slowly got back to normal.

Have I been to the pharmacy drive-thru again? No. But now I know the rules. If you don't have a prescription, at least have a bloody wound, a broken limb... or a puffy-faced little boy.

They'll be glad to help!

Weekend Happenings

It's Easter weekend so I know it's going to be a busy weekend for everyone! We alternate Easter with Mike's family and my family. This year, we'll be spending Easter Sunday with Mike's family. (Code for I GET TO SEE MY GREAT-NEPHEW MATTHEW ON SUNDAY!)

Tonight, we're meeting my sister and her family at Grandmother's for a big meal AND a Bunco night. I'm ready to win, Baby!

On Saturday, I'll be going here and there finishing up a little Easter shopping. Austin will be working at the Chick, and Mikie and Josh will be making our shaggy yard presentable. (Every time we had a chance to cut it this week, it rained. I've seen both kinds of yard on my ramblings through our little town... coiffed and shaggy. I know we're not the only ones who have had this problem!)

Easter Sunday morning, we'll be worshipping with friends and family at our church before heading to Grandma's house for lunch.

It's going to be a FAMILY, FAMILY, FAMILY weekend... which is the very best kind!

Have a marvelous Easter weekend. Enjoy special time with family and friends, but most importantly, remember the reason we celebrate. HE IS RISEN! HE IS ALIVE! I love a story with a happy ending, and the fact the Easter story isn't fiction just makes it all the better. IT IS TRUE!

Take care, and I'll talk to you Monday.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda