Happy Halloween!!!

This Halloween was a lot of fun and hard at the same time.

First the fun: After Kambry's birthday party, Janine and I went back to the house and her family and I all carved pumpkins. Well, let me be honest. Janine, Jason and I carved pumpkins, the boys were disgusted with the whole cleaning out process. They both tried...briefly...but the did not like the feel at all of the guts of the pumpkins on their hands. Lincoln lasted longer than Spencer. Spencer couldn't get his hands washed fast enough. He was perfectly happy once his hands were clean. Janine attempted to get Lincoln into it. She ALMOST had him. She started to shake his hands and show him how slick they were. He seemed to have fun with it for awhile until she tried to get him to get more on his hands. Nope, he was not up for doing that. Here are some of the cute pictures I got: 

He thought it was so funny to watch Janine's hand slick right off of his. We were all laughing. But looking back, was it the hands slicking off each other or was it Janine's reactions??? I think probably both.

Really, he was awake for all of this. I just happened to catch him mid-blink. He was having fun for awhile until he saw Spencer reactions. Then he remembered that he was supposed to be disgusted of this all and insisted on getting a wipe to clean his hands. That left Janine and Jason to handle the pumpkins. All of her pumpkins turned out so nice...especially the Jack Skeleton one. It was cute!

A few years ago, Janine started to bring Spencer downtown to have lunch with me and do a little trick-or-treating at the office which has consisted of just coming up and visiting my office. When this all started, Barbara and I were in the same office. She loves Spencer and tells me often that there is something special about him. I can't argue with that. She looks forward to it every year as do I. This year, when Janine called and asked if I would want them to come up again this year, I said, "Absolutely!!!" When I got off the phone I called Barbara. She was so happy and quickly said, "I'd better make sure I'm stocked up and ready." It was so cute.

Well, on Halloween day, Barbara called me mid-morning wondering what time the group would be there. I told her and she said, "OK, I'd better go to lunch soon so I make sure I am here and don't miss them." After lunch, we headed over to my work. We went to see Barbara first. Spencer remembered where he was going. We let him walk in first. He went right up to Barbara and gave her a hug. Look at her face. Do you think she hated it?? You're right. She loved it.

The kids properly trick-or-treated, but with Barbara they always end up with way more than they need. She not only gave them whatever candy they wanted, she also told me to go get some baggies out her closet and she filled them each a baggy of Chex Mix. Thank you Barbara for being so kind to my nephews. The loved their visit with you. It was the highlight of their trip downtown.

Here's Lincoln giving her his appreciation:

We had to see the helmet with the visor down once. I hurried and snapped a photo. Spencer was "Maverick" from Top Gun. I think by the look of the costume he will have another year at least of being Maverick. Look at the rolled sleeves. He was pretty cute!

Here's a cute Halloween family. They were all standing together so I quickly snapped the photo. Here's the roll call: Indiana Jones, Hippie Chick, Maverick, Mickey Mouse, and a lion. Cute huh?

When we got up to my office, they met my new roommate Laura. While Lincoln was working away at my desk (which I sadly didn't get pictures of), Janine finally took poor, confined Lucas out of his stroller prison. She stood him up in front of her than would gently nudge him to standing straight up. He did it.Stood for quite some time and then would lean forward to have her catch him. It became more of a game for him of course. He started to just lean forward to have her catch him. He would laugh and then want to do it again.

Check out Lil' Blue Eyes. Yes, yes, he's only 1/2 lion now. He was roasting in that lion costume. One unhappy camper...or little lion that is. He was much happier once the top part was off. Look at his cute Halloween onesie. 

Look at those blue eyes. That's why his nickname is "Lil Blue Eyes." Such a cutie pie!!!

I had a great time with them. Thanks Janine and family for coming up to see me. I loved it!!!

Now for the not-so-fun part of Halloween weekend: After Janine and her family left, I went right back up to my office and called Mom. She sounded terrible. She had been REALLY sick all weekend. I actually stayed out there Saturday and Sunday nights to keep an eye on her. I almost ran her to the ER but didn't. I could resist no longer. As soon as she answered, I knew it was time. I told her I was coming to get her and for her to be ready. She told me no, but she knew she couldn't stop me. She needed to see the doctor. I forwarded my phones and left immediately to pick her up. After 5 hours at Instacare, 2 IV bags, and 1 trip to the pharmacy, we were back at her home. She had a serious infection and was dehydrated. She had not been eating, not drinking, not keeping anything down that she did ever manage to try to eat. She was really sick. But she seems to be on the mends now. She is getting stronger little by little. She's keeping down some food. And is actually returning to work tomorrow. That will be a real test of her stamina but I think she'll make it.

It's just so hard to watch someone who has always taken care of me when I'm not doing well, to be so sick that it's hard to even get her up and moving. I owed it to her to help as best I could. Mom, I'm so glad that you are starting to make your way back. I love you very, very much and I know I don't tell you enough. Thank you for all the years of sacrificing, watching over, caring for, feeding, cleaning up after, bandaging cuts, and most of all for loving me. I greatly appreciate it more than you will ever know!