Pony Blog Secret Santa!

The kids and I had a nice little surprise when I got home from work today 

waiting for us out on the porch.

Thank you Sarah aka Draftmare!
I know I follow your blog, but when I went to find it and tag you... I couldn't for the life of me find it!

GAH! Bad blogging friend.

Anyway, thank you and you've made some pretty happy household animals this evening.

Poor guys (including the horse) have been getting the shaft lately.

"No really. I'm good... I'll just have one."

You made one hell of a happy cat. I didn't even know Mitch was in the house until I pulled the packages out of the box. He jumped up on the counter faster than the dog got up off the couch. Temptations are his faaaavvvoorriitteee. 

He even turned away from the food I just dropped in his dish.

"OPEN THE PACKAGE DAMMIT!" 

...You are so cruel.

Chevy was up for a photo shoot... Minus the fact that I put a treat in the lovely lab mug (surprisingly I do not have a mug with a lab on it. I actually don't have any lab stuff... Except for the lab himself). It was tooooortttuurree. Anything for cuteness!

If it fits... I stick my nose in it.

Yet to see if it fits!

There was a lovely Mango Belt that I just loved. I'm glad I finally know what they are now.

I was feeling kind of left out.

Thank you again Sarah! From the kids and me!

In other amazing news. I BOUGHT MYSELF A LAPTOP FOR CHRISTMAS!

Groupon... Is awesome.

Yes, it's not a Mac... But I can't afford one and plus I don't do have of the video editing and DJing that I used to so if I can save like $1200 and buy a $300 HP of Groupon... I'm all in.

This thing... Is a brick.

But a sleek, sexy, light weight brick.

That makes B look pretty damn sexy.

And is finger print accessible (which is pretty sweet).

So I know I haven't posted really much of anything but it's been a pretty rough week. I got to go visit Lucy with Ms. Kate which was awesome but I felt pretty crappy the entire time. It got to the point that on our way home my whole body had a shut down moment and I was just done. K actually drove me home and I fell asleep in her front seat. She's amazing by the way, while I was sleeping she stopped at S&S and bought me soup. <3 It was really awesome to see Lucy though. She looks great and her new mom is definitely in training to be one hell of a horseman.

Once I got home I collapsed on the couch. Between my consistent (now known as a stress-induced) headache and busting my butt (which involved lack of sleep), my body basically told me to STFU and stop moving. So... I did.

The news I came home to though was that my Grandfather (Dad's dad, the only grandparent I have ever been close to) was brought to the hospital. He had a build of fluid that he needed them to train basically but things looked great. He'd spend a couple days recouping and then come home!

Went to my PT appointment for my ankle (which is still pretty fucked up hurting), and while I was waiting called Dad to check up on Gramps... He had a stroke... Awesome.

There was nothing really I could do to help or anything and being as my weekend problem still wasn't completely healed and my head still ached, Dad told me to just go to work. So I did. That was Tuesday.

He's been doing great. I've been trying to fit the last couple of days in between shifts but he'd be sleeping every time I got there. Hell if I'm going to wake him up. So I just left him a note both days and drew him a cute little animal cartoon to go with it. Told him to get better soon since he still has to see Brantley man in action!

Today I went to work while Dad and DGF (Dad's GF) were getting prepared to move Gramps to a Rehab a little north of the hospital. Plan was to move him at 330pm... I called Dad about 1230pm, Gramps had another stroke. Back to ICU... I had a mini meltdown.

My grandmother died a few months before I was born but I always felt so close to her because of this man. Almost like I knew her. Gramps is in his late 80s but one hell of a do-er. He still goes to every fire department meeting (life member/volunteer) and works on the tanker. He also checks all of the fire alarms around the island and consistently changes out the military flags in the graveyard whenever they need it. He visits with my grandmother (who is buried next door) so I get to see him pretty regularly if I get home at just the right time. I think he's been to more horse shows than my mother and gets how stubborn I am about everything... Because I'm just like him apparently. Saltines with peanut butter, OJ in his little yellow cup, puzzles, and Tetris... Oh. Did I mention the Swiss Roll Cake addiction he passed on to me as well?

So far he's doing well but for anyone who will keep him and other grandfathers in their thoughts, please do. I'm sure he's still got a few years but us Caswell's don't go down easy! If you couldn't tell.

Poor B man has really been getting the shaft these days... I miss my boy.

OH!

Here's the video ya'll have been waiting for.

Love you Kate <3