Well, I haven't made much progress on my Spools projects since my post on Wednesday, but I did get a picture from Stephani, who is sewing along with us. This is what she shared:
Cute little guys, aren't they? Sorry, I couldn't seem to enlarge the photo, but aren't her colors fresh?
The reason I haven't been getting much done the past couple of days is because my husband, in his infinite wisdom, made the decision to cancel Grandpa's morning caregiver. He has had one caregiver come in the morning, who got him up and breakfasted, made his lunch, and tidied up the cottage. She also did things like make sure the air conditioner is turned to "cool" so it doesn't get to be 90 degrees in his cottage during our hot days. But she is just a memory now. I am the new "morning girl" it seems. We still have the woman who comes in the evening (my savior), who cooks his dinner, gets him showered and does some light housekeeping for him. I say a prayer for her every night. Stay healthy, be happy, keep coming.
We will give this new system a try, but I tell you, it isn't easy to get his morning chores done with Baby E on my hip. Talk about a handicap. "Oh, you don't have to do that", my husband tells me. Right. Honestly. He is 150 miles away all week. He has NO idea what goes on here. Between feeding baby her breakfast and her morning nap, we bomb over to Grandpa's and get the job done there. Yesterday while I washed his kitchen floors, made his lunch and filled his hummingbird feeder, Evangeline pulled all his dvds out of his bookcase and all the cushions off his sofa. It was 10:30 in the morning. And when I had the lunch all made, Grandpa said, "But I already ate". What? You ate your lunch before 10:30 AM? Grandpa, are you losing your marbles? Ack. But don't feel sorry for me. (Yes. Do. I am having a "who's in charge here" moment).
They don't call my generation "the sandwich generation" for nothing. We've got the grandbabies and we've got the aged parents, and sometimes we have to dig deep for those inner resources to keep on going.
Honestly, I didn't mean to go all on a rant. But that's my life right now. I shouldn't get personal in my blog I suppose, but now you all know me just a little bit more. And besides, I have a couple of vacations planned this month and next, and will they ever appreciate me when I am gone. (Evil laugh, heh heh heh).
Here is something fun I worked on this week in my spare moments--
Eyeglass cases!
Zippy cosmetics bags!
And a zippy lap top bag that is going to Ireland!
What a power house you are - if you can do this in your spare I can't bear to think of what you could accomplish if you had more time.
Posted by: CarlaHR | August 03, 2012 at 05:17 AM
Nicole, I care for my 95 year old mother and try to juggle all the other things in my life, and I know just how you feel. You amaze me with all that you accomplish, and how beautifully you do it. But maybe you need to lighten up your load wherever you can, even if it means not sewing every day. Sometimes I skip a week and it does help me cope with everything else. And I am so happy when I get back to my sewing machine.
Posted by: Nancy | August 03, 2012 at 05:19 AM
You have reason to rant! I think it's great when others rant...makes the rest of us feel normal :) And as medicine gets better,and we live longer, our kids will be a sandwich generation also. Maybe in YOUR infinite wisdom, you should cancel something of HIS lol!
Posted by: Shelley dionne | August 03, 2012 at 05:30 AM
One of the pod casters I listen to calls it the Panini generation because you are squeezed and smushed between the two generations! Hope the arrangement changes soon. Beautiful projects that you've finished! And, will you be accompanying that bag to Ireland? Now that would be a great vacation!
Posted by: Jennifer | August 03, 2012 at 05:33 AM
Right there with ya girl! If you can,cherish the moments as they are so soon gone. We all need a reason to get up in the mornings......beyond our own indulgences. Praying for you. G
Posted by: ButterflyGeorge | August 03, 2012 at 05:37 AM
Wait! "And a zippy laptop bag that is going to Ireland." ...would that mean "going to Ireland as in 'taken to Ireland'????" Now THAT would be some very good news!! Just wondering...
Posted by: Jan | August 03, 2012 at 06:38 AM
I'm feeling for you girlfriend!! I hope they get a taste for it and rehire the morning help!!! It is just too much, physically and emotionally!!
Posted by: LoriD | August 03, 2012 at 06:43 AM
I'd be ranting too- and to be honest I don't think they are being very fair to you....you already do a lot and you can't do everything. What happens if it's all too much and you fall apart? I think you need to put your foot down (I would!!). Take care and stay strong!
Posted by: Helen in Switzerland | August 03, 2012 at 06:56 AM
I am a sandwich too...three grands to babysit during the week and an almost 90 year old Mom who needs to be transported all week long. No complaints from me, because I am blessed that the little ones fill my heart with JOY and my Mom is an angel. May I add that I teach three quilt classes ( this week four) per week!!!
Always tired, but always grateful that my family loves and needs me. I will pray for your strength too. We need to lift each other UP!!!
Posted by: annelies | August 03, 2012 at 07:38 AM
First of all Nicole the bags are beautiful. you are very talented. Grandpa appreciates everything you are doing for him everyday and someday Eva will too. You can only do what you can do. Keep quilting. That is your therapy and keeping you sane. I have a twenty minute rule. Twenty minutes in the morning of quilting NO MATTER WHAT! It adds up.and some days that is all I get. I fall asleep in front of the tele with handwork in hand. BYW, the two naps a day is going to come to a halt soon. Two ways to look at it. Oh NO or you get a long one in the afternoon. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Thanks for sharing your reality. It helps all of us with our own! Mary
Posted by: Mary Kastner | August 03, 2012 at 08:00 AM
Well, I have not yet experienced the sandwich generation..... but my time is coming. All I can do is send you big cyber {{{HUGS}}} and all the positive vibes I can muster.
All your spare time goodies are adorable! I do believe that "uncle Brobo" will love that laptop case!
Posted by: sillysally | August 03, 2012 at 08:04 AM
Been there, done that, and now that mom's gone, I wish I could do it again. But it was hard, hard, hard. I hope you get some relief, and it sounds like you have vacation planned...... good. Me too. Alaska!
Hang in there my friend.....and hug grandpa for me.
Blessings..........
Posted by: Marge | August 03, 2012 at 08:20 AM
I think your husband made a BIG MISTAKE! You have a right to rant and no audience like your quilting friends! I am sending prayers and hugs your way. I have absolutely no idea how you get so much done!!
Posted by: Paula Zumaris | August 03, 2012 at 09:01 AM
Your bags are beautiful and inspiring!!
I help a lot with my grandson and now that he's so mobile he really needs to be watched 100% of the time. If only we could capture just 10% of their energy for part of our day.
Sounds like your husband needs to rethink Grandpa's caregiver needs or he might need to get one for you :) Make sure you are taking care of yourself!!
Posted by: Wendy | August 03, 2012 at 09:20 AM
Nicole, your zip bags and eyeglass cases are so cheerful. Everyone will want one. Your stresses are making your creative efforts stack up there. Love it for us blog readers, but hope the tip-up in your pressures comes to a steady level soon.
Posted by: Stephani in TX | August 03, 2012 at 10:05 AM
Those bags are so cute. How do you do it all?
Posted by: Connie | August 03, 2012 at 10:12 AM
So glad to hear you rant, you need to vent! My parents are very close to being in the same situation and I feel very guilty for not working full-time all the the time (I work on call). Even though I take care of bills, cleaning, making sure the house runs smooth, it is assumed this is part of the wife's job (or they just don't care about it). If it is a financial issue for canceling grandpa's caregiver, then I guess you have no choice. If not, however, I would start interviewing morning caregivers and pay them from your own account (if you have one) I have several :) This way you don't need to worry about them getting cancelled. I'd also make sure I made an itemized list of all the things that you do or "responsibilities" while you are on vacation. I'm sure your list is terribly wrong, but when he runs out of clean underwear he'll start to appreciate what you do more :)
Posted by: Anita | August 03, 2012 at 10:18 AM
Oops I meant to write your list is terribly long, not "wrong"...although it is all wrong you doing everything. Grandbabies are great, but so is alone/quiet time :)
Posted by: Anita | August 03, 2012 at 10:20 AM
OMG you get more done in your "spare moments" than I get done all week and I don't have grandbabies or grandparents to take care of. Just horses and cows.
Posted by: Judy | August 03, 2012 at 10:51 AM
Don't feel bad for ranting, Nicole. I know first hand how you feel. When we were still in California, I had my Mom, my hubs, my grandsons AND my sister (who didn't seem to have a life except to call me and ask me to lunch.) Now I just have my hubs and I miss the others so much. You never know what you have till you lose it!
Just keep making time for yourself!!!
Posted by: Jean | August 03, 2012 at 11:10 AM
Nicole, if it were ME...i'd call the person who was the morning shift and rehire her. I would also tell her/him that she works for ME and GRANDPA and only WE can dismiss her. She/he is to ignore any calls from my hubby because he is 150 miles away and doesn't understand the situation!
I'm being totally serious. You're gonna end up jeopardizing your own health and that's not good.
Now go make that call! ;p
Posted by: ina | August 03, 2012 at 11:49 AM
We all need to rant once in a while, and the way it sounds, you are/were long overdue. Try and get some ME time in. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Cindy | August 03, 2012 at 11:54 AM
Don't feel bad about complaining or about being stressed-out! It is a healthy thing to let off steam to those who care about YOU and your well-being. I work in a nursing/rehab facility and I understand the struggles that you are going through, both mentally and physically. You do not have an easy job being the caretaker of the weak and the helpless on either side of the human lifespan. I am glad that you are talking about your distress because you will find that there are soooo many others out there who are able to sympathize with you and that may help you to continue on with your journey. I am glad that you are getting some "time off" this month and hope that it will rejuvenate your spirit!
Take care and know that we out here in blogland are thinking of you!
Tricia
Posted by: Tricia | August 03, 2012 at 11:58 AM
On a happy note today, I see you won a blog giveaway! Congrats! I would also love to make eyeglass cases as well as yours, so I could sell them in my father's Optometrist office. I think they would be big hits. Yours look so perfect - but I have to admit I haven't even tried to make one yet. Very intimidated by it for some reason. "This too shall pass" is something my mom keeps saying to me as I am raising my little ones. I really hate that saying... :)
Posted by: Jennifer | August 03, 2012 at 12:02 PM
Boy, it's tough having to handle aging parents, but also provide support to the children/grandchildren. I'm not quite at your stage yet, my dad is 79, but I have to go with him places to make sure things are okay, he has a cleaning lady for the house - THANK GOD! I do also get it from the other end with a 2 year old granddaughter who I watch frequently....hang in there!
Posted by: Deb | August 03, 2012 at 01:55 PM