After a long winter....

After a long winter, spring is really on it's way!  The snow is melting and the sun is shining after being foggy most of the day...I can see the fog out over the water, but things brightened up a bit ago...and I feel like writing.

First, Shipley is doing SO much better!  He is full of mischief but not destroying things like he used to.  Not counting yesterday when he got hold of a shopping bag stuffed FULL of other shopping bags (plastic)...wow, he spread them around, quite well.  He was bored, I guess, since we had been out most of the day.  He also grabbed one of my sneakers, but did not chew it.  He just moved it from the shelf.  He was spoken to about both things and we did tie him for a bit just to let him know it isn't allowed.  Other than that, he is doing wonderful.  He hasn't chewed on the sofa for quite some time.  

His legs are better, too.  If you didn't know his history, you would never think he had been so lame that climbing stairs was almost impossible and extremely painful for him.  Now he climbs like a trooper.  When someone comes in the house we have started sending him upstairs rather than holding him because when we touch him, he understands it as positive reinforcement.  When we send him out of the way, he understands that he has to settle down and behave.  And eventually he does.  Sometimes coming downstairs before he is allowed and sent back up again.  Good exercise for those leg muscles.  

In March our family had their hearts broken.  My oldest daughter found out she was pregnant and went from never wanting children to an about face and so totally in love with this little one...I was truly amazed and thrilled with the changes I saw in her attitude.  But then I got the call that broke our heart.  The baby had died and she was in the hospital.  As we were already heading to the mainland, we went to the hospital and ended up staying the night.  It was truly one of the worst times of my life watching my little girl have to go through labour and deal with empty arms afterward.  It still brings a lump to my throat and tears to my eyes.  Not just for the grandchild I will never meet this side of heaven, but for my daughter who loved her baby with every fiber in her.  And also for her boyfriend who instantly became "Daddy" as soon as he knew they were having a baby.  

Through it all, these young people stuck together when many would have fallen apart.  They leaned on each other and grew closer.  After a bit, he asked her to marry him, so next April, we have a wedding!  And after that, hopefully it won't be long before another grand-baby is on the way as they both want another baby.

I am also going to be a great-aunt since my sisters oldest son is going to be a daddy in a few days.  Yes, I am excited for this little one, also.   Can't wait to meet him.  

My mind was going a mile a minute and all of a sudden it isn't...maybe because I had so much going on in it and I got the important stuff out.  Maybe my blogs aren't exciting like others can be but they sure help ME.