All The Things

Hello! On Fridays, I like to check my camera roll and see what we've been up to during the past week. Let's get started, shall we? First, we were riding in the car, going somewhere I cannot remember when I pulled out my phone. Before I even said a word, these two leaned in for a picture!

 

My first and my last, who sometimes, I still think of like this:

Sigh. Thanks a lot, time. 

I wanted to update you on my sweet mother today. Remember a few weeks back when she was having a really rough time? Well, my sister Margie and I felt that although we knew she would progress through this crappy journey of Alzheimer's, something else was causing the sudden behavior change. Now, her nursing home is a beautiful facility filled with some very caring and compassionate people. It is clean and pleasant and offers many daily activities that stimulate her brain. However, I have found that some people are not as open to family members inquiring about or challenging care decisions. I am a very kindhearted person who was taught to respect everyone. I will, however, advocate for this amazing woman because she is the best person I know. So when I received no assistance in speaking with the doctor who treats Mom, and when I was treated less than kindly and respectfully on the phone, I felt it necessary to continue to call until I finally reached him. After discussing our concerns, I can report she is no longer taking a certain medication for an unspecified pain that she supposedly had, although she cannot verbalize what that could possibly be. This medication had immediately made Mom so groggy, so confused, and so unhappy. It also had some unpleasant side effects. He discontinued it, and although she is still tapering off it, she is clearly more alert, aware, and happy! I am thankful for your prayers, my friends. And never stop advocating for your loved ones. Doesn't she look amazing??

Do you ever wonder what your blogger friends are doing as they write the posts they share? Well, this is me. Puppies, a throw blanket, my laptop, and coffee. 

While this may look like a random picture of a shoe rack to you, it is actually the fruit of very hard labor, my friends. Flynn and I spent an obscene amount of time assembling this "Easy to Assemble" shoe rack this week. Now, I know my strong points. Screws, screwdrivers, poorly written directions, and random pieces with letters to identify them are not along them. However, when the choices are giving it a shot versus seeing it sit in the box for weeks, I decided to take one for the team. Flynn took pity on me offered to help, and after an hour or so of some PG-rated language, hysterical laughter, and one phone call to the handiest guy we know, Peyton's husband Christopher, we turned this thing over and set it down. It didn't fall apart! It now sits by the front door, and I can see my carpet again! Lesson learned: Keep chasing your dreams, kids. Never give up.

Our favorite meal this week was an easy one! I made homemade chicken tenders and macaroni and cheese, and Madison prepared the zucchini. The entire meal is so easy to prepare but so delicious! I will link the recipes down below.

We celebrated Kyrstin's birthday this week with dinner out for her favorite crab legs and cupcakes Rhett made himself!! There were presents, cards, and a whole lot of laughs, too. Happy Birthday, Kyrstin! 

I will wrap this up with some random pictures of life around here, starting with this young lady who somehow looks like a teenager, although I swear she was wearing smocked dresses and big hairbows yesterday! 

Have a cozy weekend, my friends! Thank you for visiting!

Billie Jo

Baked Chicken Tenders

Three Ingredient Macaroni and Cheese

(I used Half and Half in place of the heavy cream for the macaroni and cheese and added a tablespoon of butter. And take the extra time to shred your own cheese! It makes a world of difference! )