Red Lipstick

I grew up with my Mom wearing beautiful bright-colored lipsticks in the 70's and 80's. I loved wearing bright lipsticks when I was younger. When they went out of fashion, I had decided that my days of wearing red lipstick were over. Bright lips are in fashion again, but should a 44-year-old wear read lipstick? The thought of never wearing red lipstick again made me sad, so I bought some and I got to wear it twice before the kids used it for blood on a leftover Halloween decoration. I felt fabulous, if only for a couple of days. I know what the kids should get Momma for Christmas!

Welcome Home Frankie Francis

Frankie Francis (named for our beloved St. Francis of Assisi) has been with us for about two weeks. The Town Lake Animal Shelter was closing and moving across town so we thought it would be a good time to get a free dog. After three visits, numerous phone calls and messages, it became apparent that getting a suitable dog from Austin was not going to happen. Someone sent me a link to the shelter in San Antonio. They are not a no-kill shelter, like Austin, Their goal is 50% + 1. We saw a couple of dogs we liked,one was toy poodle, she was deemed "aggressive" and not available for adoption. I saw this cutie and could not believe that a beautiful dog like this was actually at a shelter and not already adopted. The online information said the Pomeranian was male, when we got there, the paperwork said the Pomeranian was a female and when we went to pick up the Pomeranian, we were told HE was a neutered male. He loves me, which is the most important thing AND he is house trained. He gets along well with Einstein (Smart Puppy). Initially, he barked and nipped at Hubby and Number Two Son, but he has adjusted to our home and is really very calm. He has a cold (AKA Kennel Cough), it has been two weeks so we are headed to the Vet tomorrow for treatment options. Bless his little canine heart, he has coughing spells during the night. Being the Momma that I am, I wake up every time he coughs. I hope he gets over this soon, it so tiring (and pitiful!).

My, how time flies…

Last month was a rough one for us. The same week we found out that a dear friend of Hubby’s was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor, we also found out that we had another miscarriage. Hubby and I were weepy, distracted and unfocused, both events distracting us from the other.

This time was very different, but still very sad. Friends have been very supportive, but we get the “What did you expect?” tone form family we have told. Yes, I am 44, but if God can bless us with a pregnancy, God can also bless us with a baby, if it is his will. We have no remains to bury this time, but we will have a stone, just like big sister’s at Our Lady of the Rosary Cemetery in Georgetown, Texas. We visited for Number Two Daughter’s birthday in October and I was touched by families that had 3-4 markers in the Remembrance Garden at the feet of Our Lady. God in his infinite wisdom prepared me even before I knew I was pregnant. Number Three Daughter is named Miriam Johanna.

Not quite two weeks after the miscarriage, the day before Thanksgiving, I was terribly ill. I had severe stomach pains, vomiting, dizziness and cold chills. I just knew it was a gallbladder attack. Hormones from the pregnancy and miscarriage plus my family history had me convinced. I couldn’t get an ultrasound for 6 days and the results were “normal.” So I do not have gallstones, but I am not convinced that it was not an attack, time will tell…