The Watts' Adventures

Today was a very eventful afternoon............
I was having a pretty good day until I got a phone call at 3:58 pm from a very distraught father, asking me very quickly "where is Hunter?" My reply was "at the babysitters". He said "no, he isn't". Hunter was officially missing.............. My heart sunk and I had to think and react quickly.

First of all.. Let me back up a little. Michael called me at 1pm today saying he had a headache, throat hurt, his face was red and he just didn't feel good. I figured this to be true as he had the same complaints lastnight when he came home from football practice. David's granny went and got him for me and I told him to make sure that Hunter knew to still ride the bus to the babysitters. I also told the school's secretary the same thing..... Now back to the events that unfolded in a matter of 11 mins!

David had gathered all the important details.... The school secretary had told Hunter that Michael had gone home sick and to ride the bus to the babysitters. Hunter got on a bus... but not on the "babysitters" bus.. (finding that out later), which he rides everyday. I immediatly called my dear friend, Connie to see if she would run down to our house to see if he was there. She got right on it. Knowing Hunter the way that I do, I figured he only heard "Michael is at home, ride the bus". I called Mark to have him ride around the farm to see if he saw him, meanwhile I called David's mom's house to see if he decided to walk over there but the other kids at the babysitters said he didn't get on the bus. I still wanted to cover all territory. David meanwhile was in a mad dash to our house. David's mom answered, No Hunter. I started calling our house, no answer. I called none stop hoping that he would answer, I just wanted to hear his voice. Then David called me back! Hunter had been found! 11 mins. I watched my computer clock the whole entire time. I've always been told that time was of the essence when a child is missing and I was determined to find him quickly! I knew I would be no good to leave work as everyone else could get there faster than me. Everyone was within 5-10 miles of where the devil could have been. David called the house and luckily he had a friend helping him after work today. He answered the phone and told David that Hunter was here, at our house when he pulled up. Hunter greeted Carl with "Hey Carl, have you seen my Dad?" Carl said he seemed to be real glad to see him. Hunter made sure that Carl had a key to the shop because Hunter told Carl he couldn't find the keys. Our hidden house key was right where it was supposed to be, but I think Hunter was a little frazzled and probably wouldn't have seen it had the key hit him up side the head! I spoke to Hunter and he said, "Mom, they told me to ride the bus home." I didn't fuss at him or anything. I just told him how much I loved him and I was glad he was safe! I have spoken to the boys many times of what to do in certain situations but don't guess I covered this one! You better believe they know exactly what to do next time! For 11 mins today, I was one worried mom! I remained calm, but I was shaking inside. My gut feeling the whole time was that Hunter was at home, but for the life of me I couldn't figure out why he wasn't answering the phone. That is what scared me! After all was well and I announced to my office that he had been found, I back tracked and called off the dogs and let everyone know that he was safe! Everyone got a chuckle after it was all said and done, but during the 11 mins of complete terror, everyone reacted, pulled together, gathered information, and helped David & I when we needed it the most. My hats off to my wonderful babysitter that watches the clock and immediatly called David when he didn't show at her house! She's the best!

So there you have............ another adventure in the life of the Watts family!

Suzanne and I have a yearly tradition of going shopping the day after Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving night we review the sales papers and map out our adventure. We have been known to hit Danville, Durham & Greensboro all in one day. We have been known to have the van so full that I couldn't see out of the rear view mirror and not dare open the back only to shove packages from the front to the back any which way we could. We have shopped for 14 hours straight in past years. Leaving our husbands and children in the bed in the wee hours of the morning to head out to see what treasures we could find, with an unknown return time. This year, however, we have either gotten wiser, more efficient or just plan older! We officially can't hang! We headed to Danville with our lists in hand and a plan. We knew where we had to go and what we had to purchase. The stores of interest: Lowe's, Toys R Us, Sears, Aeropostle, Sports Authority, Belk, JC Penney's, Boscor's and a few other odd stores before heading to WalMart. The lines were short, the crowd's were slim, the sales were ok, and we were eating lunch at Applebee's and enjoying a much needed afternoon delight around 12 ish! We looked at each other with puzzled looks of how in the heck did we accomplish all that we had done and we were already eating lunch!?????? We were almost done with all of our shopping...... Everything seemed to be normal, the truck was completely full with a hole or two left for our Walmart items. We just had done everything so quickly and would be heading home soon. Certainly we hadn't done something right. We both checked our lists over and over, calculated our spendings and indeed everything seemed right. We had spent too much money and our lists had "done" all over them! We would be home for dinner........... Since our family's had not brought home any meat from hunting all day we ordered up some steaks. We headed home around 3pm, tucked everything that needed to be "tucked" away and enjoyed our steak dinner with our family's. Although short, it was truely an eventful day and we got accomplished what we set out for! Christmas shopping is done and wrapped and under the tree................Another yearly tradition completed with enjoyment!

Thanksgiving weekend was just that......... to be thankful for everything! I had my weekend planned out as with everything I do.... Sleep in Thanksgiving Day, rest up for the upcoming shopping day, fix a few deviled eggs to take to Granny Granny's (David's grandmother) and then join the family for a huge feast. There is a reason that I plan so well... Wednesday night I cleaned the house, washed & put up all the clothes.. I was ready for my planned out weekend. Early Thursday morning the phone rang... David so gently awoke me from my deep sleep with "honey, Becky is on the phone and Aunt Myra Gaye has had a heart attack." I immediatly jumped up, gathered myself and got all the details. Before I knew it, I was preparing to go to Charlotte, NC for the day. I called Dad with my "Dad listen cafefully voice", as they were stepping on the train to go into NYC for the day, and told him of the news. He told mom and she handled it well. The unknown and sketchy details were scarey! All we knew was GI bleed, heart attack and in ICU. Being on the medical end of the world, these details were fustrating! I called another cousin to tell her the news and then Becky & Uncle Dunnie picked me up and we were off. My family had the deviled eggs under control and I was off to visit my Aunt and spend the day with other family members that I don't see often enough. I was thankful! Thankful to be visiting with my cuz, Becky and my Great Uncle Dunnie. I was thankful that the GPS got us to Charlotte safely and more thankful that my Aunt was awake and seemed to be not as bad as I had imagined. Although critical, she was alert and knew us all. I was thankful and enjoyed our short visit with her and her daughters and their husbands. As I get older, family becomes more important and I treasure time spent with them. My Thanksgiving day was enjoyable even under the circumstances. I was thankful that Becky called me and that I was able to join them for the road trip to Charlotte. GPS systems are great, but don't do all so well in construction. We missed a turn and was headed up Hwy 74, Independence Blvd, a beautiful site to me! It was the road I have shopped many hours on when Mom & Dad lived there. Gosh, I miss Charlotte! I promised Becky & Uncle Dunnie that I could get them home from there. It was a little bit of a round about way but I assured them that I could get us home. Uncle Dunnie wasn't believing me, but when we got to 85, he knew I was headed in the right directions. It was kinda funny. I got home just in time for Thanksgiving Dinner. This Thanksgiving was much different for me, I was just thankful for the time I got to spend with my other family members. It's strange how somethings work out.......

Aunt Myra Gaye was stable thru the weekend and had lots of tests. She went to a regular room. Her heart is weak and her breathing became labored, so she was sent back to ICU yesterday. My prayers are with her, that she gets thru this difficult time. I have faith in her doctors that they will do everything that they can to make her comfortable and help her to get better. Although, only God, knows what's best and we can only pray! Please say a prayer for her as well............... I am thankful!

Now, everyone knows that this is deer season. They are running rampid & like most male species, when in heat, they lose all since of direction and their minds stop working. Well David being the other male, decided to challenge the deer male species. Therefor taking his chances, and as usual, deer wins, toyota loses! You guessed it, big huge 8 point moose like deer battles the front end of toyota truck causing massive destruction.

Friday night after the dance we all came back to my house. We decided that we were hungry and sent the men to get a snack from the old faithful Bogangles. They come back and David walks in asking about insurance coverage on his truck. I knew it couldn't be good! And there you have it........... Deer vs Toyota. The men & Michael went back to find the beast of destruction and low and behold they find him, loaded him up and brought him home. At 1am they were all skinning a deer while I was peacefully sleeping until Hunter ran into my bed room with a freshly cut off rack. Not a sight to see when you have been awoken in the middle of the night.

Please forgive me, but it was midnight, I was exhausted, I didn't take the first picture! It was the BIGGEST buck I have ever laid my eyes on. He would have been beautiful mounted on our wall. I just couldn't morally do it... #1 it costs too much #2 it wasn't a fair kill. I did however promise to mount the huge spread. I also promised David & Michael that the first deer they killed would be proudly mounted and displayed in our home. I begged Michael not to kill a doe out of season because it would just kill me not to be able to mount it. I'm obviously not against hunting deer. I happen to like wild venison. David does a good job with cooking it.

So David's driving record in the last 2 weeks or so has not been too great. He has already hit one deer, again on our rode, and just Thursday he hit a big dog of some sorts coming back from Lynchburg. I have officially grounded him from driving with the exception of to and from work!!! I just couldn't bring myself to be upset with him, after all, he has provided meat on the table, 2 out of 3 kills, Not to mention, he was pretty pitiful all 3 times. I'll let you know when he gets his driving privilages back... LOL.......... never a dull moment in the Watts' house.

Well, it's almost here........ My oldest son's first date! We are having our first Dance at school Friday night and Michael's got a"hooottt date", as he says. I can't wait to see all of this unfold. Me being the President of our PTO, I'll get a front row seat. Would you expect any less? Me & Katie's mom will be all over it! Katie is a year older than Michael and such a sweet little girl. He seems to think alot of her and is always worried about her well being. Especially at school when the girls get into their little umm, what would you call them?, "girly fights". Yeah, that's what a mom of two boys would call it... LOL... He is her protector. Us moms stay entertained by their daily tales. I'll fill you in on all the details!!


Hunter had no intentions on attending but has quickly changed his mind. He has been saying all week that he wasn't going because he didn't have a date. He found out today that one of his buddies was going so he has now decided to attend and just "hang out." Oh my, boys will be boys...... One adventure after another.....

Stay tuned.........

Our house is never without drama. This time Michael was the center of attention. A week ago this past Saturday, Michael stayed with a friend and they decided to take a little hike around the farm. They really had a great time. He was real tired when he got home on Sunday and did alot of laying around. Sunday evening his forearm was itching and being a great patient he showed it to dear ole mom. I immediatly diagnosed these little patch of bumps to be poison ivy/oak. This was his first incounter with the vine. He quickly remembered that he and Ben had done something with a tree that was laying on the ground and Ben noticed that it was wrapped up in the dreadfull vine. He quickly told Michael not to touch it. (it was too late) With that information it only confirmed my diagnosis was correct. I applied the pink medicine to start drying the water filled blisters up.

Monday morning, Michael arose with red patches on his face. I inquired whether or not his face was itching and he said no. So I threw it off to it's just where he slept etc. That afternoon it was a little worse, so I decided to pull out the good ole Tagament/Benadryl recipe. Tuesday morning was better. He headed out real early Tuesday going on a field trip to Staunton Va with his Project Idea class. By Tuesday night, when I picked him up, I knew we had severe trouble on our hands!!!!!!! It was evident that he had received his Uncle Jake's Gene of being highly allergic to Poison Oak/Ivy. The Education of the wild vine began. I showed him lots of pictures of it and told him he must run in the opposite direction if he sees it within 1 mile... LOL.. just joking but you get the point. I called Uncle Jake to get his symptoms and his are so bad, that he didn't even want to talk about it. But it was obvious that a shot first thing Wednesday morning was a must have. So Tuesday night consisted of Aveno Bath and lots of Calimine lotion, Tagament & Benadryl and preparation for a shot first thing the next morning.

Wednesday morning wasn't Michael's idea of a great one. His face was puffy, red, itching and most importantly embarrassing. He waited at the "doc in the box" with anticipation of "the shot". He asked me for everything but.... I just told him to suck it up, it would only hurt for a min. Sure enough.... he got the shot and some cream and back to school we headed. Against my better judgement for him to be going to school but he missed Tuesday and he had 2 tests. So, I made arrangements to isolate him from the class. He made it just fine.

Almost 2 weeks out, we are still fighting the rash. His face is clear but his belly and chest just won't dry up completely. It's nothing like it was and it is controlled but it just won't go away. Bedding, clothing, towels etc. get washed everyday, trying to get rid of this mess. I emailed all of our friends and family to alert them of this allergy as I want to avoid it at all costs. A free adventure cost us a fortune in cream, medicine, washing powder, water and electricity!!!!

Oh, how could I forget to tell you because I'm sure you are wondering.... Pictures?????????? Give me a break! Did you really think that Michael would even dare let me take his picture? Nope, he refused! I begged, I pleaded and even tried to sneak but he was on top of it! No pictures of him to be had!
Until next time................

By popular demand I have uploaded pictures of the bathroom. They didn't turn out so great as it's a small space. But I think you get the idea. I especially wanted to take a picture of the shower curtain that inspired this whole make over...... oh clearance sales get me every time!