Paul doesn't read my blog. Acts like a 6th grader when I try to read one of them to him. So I won't go on and on about him on his birthday today. Years ago, I use to give my Mother-in-Law flowers on his birthday; to thank her for him.
Paul and I had a whirlwind romance 30 some years ago. We got married only 3 1/2 months after we met at a New Years Eve Party. Yikes did I get lucky. Oh we had our moments, especially during the first 5 years. I mean where was the romance? The flowery statements? The loving and supportive words of our courtship??? Why all the Criticism? Constructive Criticism???!!!! WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?
Our biggest challenge came only 6 months after we got married. I was pregnant with Katie soon after the wedding and so our first summer was um HORRIBLE.. We had Katie 12-15 weeks early and she weighed 1lb 13 oz.. In 1978, the odds were less than 1% we'd have a healthy "normal" child. We made it through, although Paul did tell me when we were ready to bring her home, that I'd handled it badly, by going to the hospital everyday.. That's why it had been so hard on me.. "I'm just trying", he'd say, "to help!? Why are you mad? ALL THE TIME"?!
By the 6 year mark, things had settled down. We had 3 kids by then.. To be fair, we started with Robbie so I'd had two pregnancies.
We had Ricky a year later, and by the end of the 7th year, I understood how lucky I was/am. Once during the early 5 years of our marriage, I found an over sized whisky bottle (prop sized) in the back of the closet. In it were 3 $20.00 bills. I took it to Paul, asking what's this? He looked sheepish and explained that he'd been saving for my birthday present. The MOST romantic thing he'd ever done. I think that's when I started to "get it".
In most ways, Paul never left the 6th grade; neither have his sons or daughters. They all have their father's gift at laughter and silliness. They're the Lucky 4; The only 4 (that I know of :) ) who've ever called Paul Flocken Daddy, Dad or sometimes (to me) Asshole.
Over the years, my health has been at issue, Pre-Clampsia (sp) with Katie, Rheumatoid Arthritis in the earliest years of our marriage which turned out not to be? Graves, Multiple Sclerosis, Heart Disease. A Broken leg. You name it. He's been through it with me. Always smiling, well almost always. It's the other spouse who really goes through hell when a partner is sick all the time.
His children love AND Like him, His nieces and nephews love him. His sisters love him. MY parents loved him and my mom ALWAYS took his side when I'd take our fights to her. Kathie likes him ok I think. Peggy ran out of the house as he came home in 1985 shortly after we died Robbie's hair.. Hey it was the 80's. She likes him too.
The worst thing about M.S. to me, was when the nurse who taught Paul how to give me the weekly shots, referred to him as my caregiver. WHAT kind of future was there for him. That was 10 years ago. He's managed to to keep Laughter in our lives as well as romance even through the rough years my health has brought us. He is my rock and my greatest blessing. From him my four blessings and 6 grand blessings came. My laughter and optimism come from him.
I call you many things; old man, asshole, idiot, moron, honey. Mostly you are my very best friend.. So, you won't read this; but Happy Birthday Honey.
I love you. And Marie, I'm sending you flowers to Heaven from my heart today.
Thanks for taking the time to read my blog today.
Beautiful sunny, and cold. Having a great time. As promised, here are a couple of photos from Lambeau Field. Quite a tour. It was amazing actually being in the stadium after all these years of being a Packer Fan, courtesy of both my sons! I'm loving the cold sweater weather. Bought Sabby and Little Cheesehead. Hopefully, we'll find more reasonable prices today away from the Pro Shop!
Ready to go? NOT. 
It's only the 19th but it seems as though September is almost over. Other than flying, I'm looking forward to my trip to WI. I'll see Julee and be there long enough to drive her nuts. :) I'll meet all the people, I've seen in photos for weeks, while helping Julee with a slide show project. I'll be wearing sweaters!!!! The end of September and early October mean something in WI, or so I hear. I seem to have a lot to do suddenly before I get on that plane next week, so I'm feeling a bit scattered tonight.
We do a lot of this on trips.... " Oh I took the wrong road" "Why didn't you check the map before?" "I wasn't lost before!"
When Paul "doesn't know" where he wants to take a drive, I know, He knows, and I'll learn soon enough. Typically, it also means he doesn't want me to nix his plans. Since it was his birthday, I was willing to go most anywhere he wanted to go. I don't mention it here on my blog, because, well, it's not something most people want to hear; but it's relevant to my story; I have IBS. I don't like being too far from restrooms. ALL the rest stops from our home in Buckeye to Lyndsey's Apartment are known and rated. Dirt roads in the middle of no-where is NOT something I'd ever choose. Unlike Paul, who's never seen a dirt turn off he didn't want to travel down, I like to stay in well populated areas, with clean shiny restrooms. Eating on a travel day is not part of the plan, EVER.
Yeah, so anyway, Thanks for taking the time to read my blog today.
I am up again, not sleeping. I'm wondering when it was I could take naps and fall asleep early. When I could be woken up after falling asleep and be right back to sleep in minutes. I remembering falling asleep while driving, or at my desk at the office. I remember NOT waking at the fireworks going off next door.. I miss that. I miss naps before bedtime and sleeping a full night afterward. Gosh I miss sleeping like Miss Pudge up there.
As it turns out, I may not have broken my arm. Second round of x-rays today and they're not finding a break. I need to continue wearing the splint, and get an MRI Monday. There's lots of fluid build up.. BUT the pain has receded substantially and I'm able to type tonight. Yipee! Who'd have thought with all that pain, there'd be no break! I'm not complaining though!
Well, it took me a while to get them all cropped and edited.. I take too many pictures I think, well maybe not, but here are just a few of the hundreds I took of Izzy's long awaited 3rd Birthday Party.. The weather was perfect and as it turned out their pool/barbecue area is a perfect place for a party. Although, the pool is quite large and Izabella, not a real strong swimmer, jumps in wherever and whenever, she had a LOT of time outs during the day and it was quite traumatic for her. At one point our Little Mermaid fan tried to show her Pappys how to swim.. Arms wrapped around her waist and feet kicking like a mermaid..
Mommy and Daddy, getting everything ready to move out to the pool.
Makayla and her Pappys.
Many, MANY years ago, I asked my oldest son to PLEASE find someone without baggage. Someone to fill his life with Love, Laughter and Joy.
