Just Me

Tony is away at his last conference before retiring. I've written before about how the house makes noise and something always breaks when he is gone--but this time seems different. We woke up to more than 3 inches of snow this morning and I knew I was going to have to shovel this evening or I wouldn't be able to get into the garage. I left early so I would be shoveling in some level of daylight, but I found that the driveway had been shoveled already....hmmm.....I took Tony to the airport at 7:15 a.m., but his flight didn't leave until 10 something....did he come back and use the snow blower?? Did he tell the neighbors to keep an eye out for me while he is gone? Did he call Steve Rak and have his crew do the driveway? Knowing Tony, it could have been any of those, but it sure was nice not to have to shovel.

I bought a new workout CD--Billy Blanks, Jr, Dance With Me--Groove & Burn, so I did that this evening. Fat and disgusting just isn't cutting it. I was working out to the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders for awhile, but they were depressing. When they swayed and coo-ed, "sexy walk, sexy walk" it was a whole lot different than when I did it. At least Billy is bald and black so I don't feel the same level of competition working out with him as I do the "chicks."

Work has been a zoo--but an exciting one. I wish I had found NYL years ago. There is so much to do and so little time.

And....I've been connected with two very dear friends in the past two days, that oddly have crossed my mind of late. Dave Jeanclerc (pronounced Jon-Clair) was a temp that I hired way back in my Chemical Financial days. He turned out to be pure gold, rising up through the ranks and staying with Chase Bank until apparently just recently. How nice that he reached out to me for help. And then, Len Chervenak. Len and I worked together at the Plain Dealer. We shared each other's work pain and had some really great times together. He used to have a dog that he named De O Ge. I didn't get the joke for quite a while...look again....D O G. De O Ge's name was just dog. I used to tease him that he was going to give the dog a complex by having no identity. Anyway, Len found me on LinkedIn. How small the internet makes the world.

Tomorrow, I hope to walk Ben home from school. I haven't been able to for the past two days due to work demands. I have my 3 dimes, so I'm ready to go.

And go, I should. It's just me here tonight, but I feel somewhat accomplished today. I had a healthy dinner and then worked out. I did the dishes and some laundry and got ready for garbage day. I even sewed a button back on to one of my blazers this evening. Go figure!

Happy Birthday, Jon

It's always nice to see Jenna, Jon and the kids, but it is especially fun when we have an event to celebrate. Saturday, we celebrated Jon's birthday with a great dinner made by Tony and the entertainment provided by Ben being cute, Sammy being his sweet self, (as you can see by his photo) and of course, Ellie being the little girl we just adore. She was awake and semi-smiling. I think she has finally figured out that her family is goofy but loveable!!

So, happy birthday, Jon. I hope you use your gift to get something that you will enjoy--just for you.

And now, the photos!!!


Ellie hears that the food Papa made is good, so she'd like a taste!!

Here's Sam doing his "photo face" saying "GEEZ"....or is this is rock star face? I always get them confused.

And here is the birthday boy and his big boy who helped blow out the candle.

Next up in June.....Mommy--oh boy, guys, get ready for more ice cream!!

Ellie Takes New York (Life!!)

New Mom, Allison holds 6 pound Ellie. Her son, Chaz, is 9 months old now.

"Old" Mom, Kim, has two boys--one almost ready for college--I think she's practicing for her own grandchildren!!

Sammy discovered the artwork that he and Ben made for me, hanging on my cube.

Jenna brought Ellie and Sam up to my office last week because everyone was dying to see my new grandchild. Sam had a great time playing with frogs and other trinkets that people had on their desks and at every turn, there was the offer of candy. He was content to play, hide, smile and tell eveyone that Ben was in school.

We couldn't get Ellie to wake up...God knows I tried, but she was her sweet, beautiful self and certainly made the day a little more fun for all of us at NYL.

Jenna looked great and was very kind in not laughing at the lady who asked her if she thought Ellie's jet black hair would eventually fall out and come back in red, like Jenna's. Seriously??!!!

I just love showing off my babies, including Jenna, of course!

Too Few and Then Too Many

Ben found his bird and snake in the "wayne foe-est"

Ben's snake

Ben's snake and bird

I have been walking Ben home from school this week and having a good time. One day, when we were getting ready to leave, I discovered I had two dimes in my coat pocket. I said to him, "here, I have some change for you." He didn't seem to understand what "change" was until he saw what I was giving him. "Money," he called out to his friends....and they all gathered around him...."ooohhh," they said, as if he was holding a million dollars. Emily asked to see one of the dimes...Ben said OK, but told her to make sure she gave it back. She did.

Ben was very intent on carrying his two dimes. "I'm going to put them in my piggy bank when I get home," he said. But where to put them???? His gloves didn't work, he was already wearing his backpack, so he said to me, "Moe Moe, I'll put them in my pockets." Ah, an excellent idea.

Ben took off his gloves and said, "I will put one dime in this pocket (the one on the right hand side of his jacket) and one in this pocket" (the left hand side of his jacket.) "Excellent idea," I said. He put them away, but before we could leave, he said..."Moe Moe, tomorrow you have to bring me 3 dimes, because, look, I have 3 pockets." And indeed he did...one on each side and one in the front.

I shared Ben's logic with many people at work and they all enjoyed the "Ben-ism." Today, before I left to pick him up, my friend, Pat, gave me two quarters. She said, "give one to Ben and tell him the other one is for Sam." How kind.

And so, off I went to pre-school. Today, I remembered to actually go to pre-school...yesterday, I got all the way to Jenna's and realized I forgot to pick him up....ah, it's hell to be this old....but, I was better today...I went to pre-school.

The class made a rain forest...or as Ben called it, the "Wayne-Foe-est." So I brought the camera to take pictures of his snake, bird and lizard.....except I couldn't find them. All of the snakes, birds and lizards looked exactly alike. The only difference was the child's name on them. I looked and looked and could not find Ben's creations. Time was running out. The school wanted to close and I had a meeting I had to attend. "Oh, here it is," I said to Ben, pointing up at a bird and a snake. But, from previous blogs you must know that Ben is smarter than I. He came running over to the bird and snake and looked up. "Moe Moe," he said...."E M I L" does not spell Ben. He was right. Emily made these creatures (the "y" was folded over.)

We searched again and he finally spotted his creatures. "Moe Moe, here they are. Right here, take a picture." And so I did.

As we were leaving school, I said to Ben, "oh, here's your 3 dimes." He took off his gloves and put one dime in each jacket pocket. "Thank you, Moe Moe," he said, "I'll put them in my bank when Sam gets up from his nap." Then I pulled out the two quarters from Pat. "Do you remember Miss Pat from when we had bagels," I asked? "Oh yes," he said. "Well," I continued, "she sent you and Sammy a quarter. Can you take these two quarters and put one in your bank and give one to Sammy?"

Ben, my sweet, Ben....looked up at me with those big blue eyes and said, "No Moe Moe, I can't." OK, I was puzzled. "Why not?" I asked him. As if he was explaining the simplest of concepts to the biggest moron on earth, he said...."(deep sigh)....because, Moe Moe, I only have 3 pockets. If you give me two more, I don't have anywhere to put them."

OK, I admit it, I went logical on him. "Just put them in your pocket and when you get home, give one to Mommy for Sammy and put one in your bank." There...I solved the problem. Ah, but indeed, it was a problem. Mr. Ben, my sweet, straight-forward Ben said, "but Moe Moe, what if I forget which one is mine and which one is Sam's?" OK, he had me. I didn't have an answer to that. To try to explain that one quarter was the same as the other....well, I couldn't do it....could you? Ben compartmentalizes...it's a simple as that.

And so, we walked home. We jumped on ice on the sidewalk that had accumulated, we talked about school, we talked about Sam and Ellie being babies. He told me that he didn't fit in his red, plastic car that Tony and I bought him anymore, but he was going to give it to Sam and Ellie. "I'm big now, " he said...and so he is.

I love walking home with Ben...no matter how many pockets he has or how many coins he has...his rationale always makes sense. "You are so much smarter than I was at your age," I told him today. "Moe Moe, " he said, "I know that, you told me already." And then he said...."remember, Moe Moe, the next time you pick me up, just bring 3 pennies. I only have 3 pockets." Logic....it's a wonderful thing.

When Tony Met Ellie

Tony finally got to meet Ellie on Friday. Like me, he was down with the flu and wanted to be healthy before going to see Ellie and the boys.

I remember the first time Tony held both Ben and Sam. Being a very hands-on father, himself, Tony wasn't worried about "breaking" the babies or getting "baby spit" on him. He held all of them like a pro. But this time, it was a little different. When Tony held the boys, he called them "big boys" and talked about getting older and having fun with Grandpa. This time, he talked about how pretty and small Ellie is. He talked to her in a gentle voice and held this tiny little thing gingerly in his strong arms. And, I think, like all fathers and grandfathers of little girls, he was hooked.

She slept quietly and contentedly in his arms knowing that like Jenna, Jon, the boys and Mo Mo, here was yet another person who would love and protect her.

Over the years, I have taken some good natured kidding about "building collections." Specifically, I buy baby clothes in various sizes when I figure our children will start to have children of their own. I save them up until it's time and by then, we have a nice, seasonal wardrobe for the baby. Just a side note: the Swegle/Perez and the Swegle/Phillips collections are currently in process.

With Ellie, I didn't really get a chance to do that. Plus, I was so sick, I couldn't leave the house. But, I did manage to get out and buy some hair bows, head bands and a "few" other things. Let's face it, when we have such good looking grandchildren, you have to put them in good looking clothes!! Everyone laughed at the clothes I bought Ellie, but I think they also all knew I had a wonderful time doing it and look forward to shopping trips with her and getting her nails done.

We had a great time seeing Ellie and playing with the boys. Sam gets cuter every day and is getting more vocal and Ben--well, what have I always said about Ben???? He has his father's eyes, his mother's smile and his grandmother's heart.

When Tony met Ellie, a grandfather met his first grand daughter and fell in love with another Purdum baby. We can't wait to see Ellie grow and play with the boys.

Ellie and Me

I went to see Ellie for the first time today. We've been planning to go for several days now, but both Tony and I came down with the flu that is going around. I finally felt like I wasn't contagious anymore and I had to see her and get pictures to add to my digital frame that Tony got me for Christmas. Of course, the pictures of me are lousy, in part, because I take really bad pictures, but also because I still have a cough that keeps me up at night.

From the minute I walked in the door, I was stunned at how small she was. I don't remember Ben and Sam being that small even seeing them right after they were born. Her head is the size of an orange and Jenna is right, her clothes hang on her. I bought 0 to 3 month outfits figuring they would fit her...wrong!

Jenna had her in a pajama outfit and when she gave the baby to me, I didn't feel any legs and the pants of the outfit swung to and fro as I moved around. Ellie's legs were up around her stomach and she was just swallowed up by cloth. Not to worry, Eliie, Mo Mo went shopping tonight!!

But, like Jenna and Jon, I fell in love at first sight. Ellie has beautiful features. She has a pouty mouth and a chin that falls right in line with the rest of the family. Her hair is silky and very dark. Jenna had a white bow in it today. Her eyebrows are light, with a definite curve and her fingers are slim and long. When she yawned, she reached her right hand out and dropped her wrist in the most feminine way.

I saw pictures of Ellie's birth mother and father. They look like nice people. They looked scared and a little heart broken. I wanted to reach into that picture and tell them that Ellie Purdum is going to have a good life. She will have a family and extended family who lover her very much and she will be well cared for. Jenna and Jon will challenge her mind, her abilities and her spiritual life. They will give her the same opportunities as they have given Ben and Sam and they will protect her. What more could any parent want for a child they have to give to others to raise?

My short visit was coming to an end. As much as I tried to wake her up, it didn't work. She slept through my entire visit, smiling slightly a few times, but definitely when she heard Ben come home from school.

Our daughter and son-in-law have made a beautiful family. From Ben, who has always had the beautiful blue eyes, and then Sammy, our little personality boy and now with Ellie. My Elizabeth. How I love that name. And how well it suits her. I said in out last post that Tony and I are truly blessed, and that was before Ellie. We are even more so now.

We Are Blessed

What a special Christmas we had this year--and we have so much to look forward to in the coming year. It's times like this that make me realize that we are truly blessed. As Tony and I have said, 2011, is really going to be "The Year Of....." So much is going on--the wedding, the new baby, the new house, the retirement--what an amazing year we are going to have.

The big news of today is that Jenna and Jon are meeting the birth parents of our little girl for dinner this evening and then will be in the delivery room when the mother is induced. I know that they are excited, nervous and ready for this baby to come. They have waited so long. For me and my sister, it was an opportunity to shop for pink things and we really enjoyed ourselves. Our new baby has plenty of things to keep her warm and fashionable for the next 3 months!!!

The other big news of today is that Tony and I are going to go shopping with Tony and Marie for wedding reception stuff. Marie asked Tony to design a unique idea for guests to "sign in" at the reception. I can't wait to see how it turns out. Little by little, their wedding is falling into place and I know it's going to be a beautiful event.

We all got great gifts for Christmas--for me one of the best was a picture frame that digitally displays hundreds of pictures that you download to it. I can't wait to set it up and take it to work and have slide shows!!!

In addition to the digital picture frame, we're really getting tech-savvy.....well, not really us, but Tony Jr is connecting our computer with a camera so we will be able to see and talk to everyone. That will be so cool.


Notice that I have downloaded pictures from Christmas day. And of course, notice that I have two of the same picture of Jon and Jenna. I'd love to say that I did that because they look so good, I had to download the picture twice, but of course, that would be a huge fib. Once again, I flunked picture uploading--how I uploaded them twice, I don't know...but they do look good.

The kids had a great time playing with "Aunt Ma-wee" and Uncle Tony. They were very well behaved and enjoyed all of their gifts. At one point, someone referred to Tony Sr as "Uncle Tony" and Ben announced, "that's not Uncle Tony, that's Papa." Nothing gets past Ben!! Sammy was a doll....he is just Mr. Personality and so cute. Jenna had them dressed alike and it reminded me a lot of David and Tony Jr when they were small. Little "brudders."


It was great to see Chris and Shannon, the brothers and sisters-in-law and my sister for the holiday. The house was full of memories, good food and gifts from the heart.

Tony and I are truly blessed to have the family and extended family that we do and we love all of you very much.