Who we are

Hopefully this is one of many posts that I will write for not only my grandmother, but for myself as well. First, let me describe my grandmother and her background to the best of my ability...sometimes her answers change. (Ex: Yesterday I asked what year she was born, she told me 1936. I asked her later she told me September 28, 1932. She didn't age 4 years in one day...she just forgot the first time and later on in the day her wires must have been connected if you know what I mean.) This is what she tells me (WARNING: Sometimes it changes!) She was born September 28, 1932 and grew up on Dogwood Rd. in Baltimore, MD. She lived in the country with her parents Alice and Tom, and 3 siblings (Tom, John, and Jeanne). She was the youngest and apparently felt like the black sheep of the family. She wasn't the perfect child, but she was a fun child. She would run up and down Dogwood Rd. in her bare feet and enjoyed the country life her parents gave her. During the war, her whole family moved to the city. She enjoyed going to the movies while her mother visited with other family members. She grew up like a normal teenager, far from perfect but in her own way was a blessing to her parents. She eventually got a job with the FBI, but only worked there a short time because she then met Philip Puente, the poor mexican from Nebraska. She instantly fell in love (They have different stories of how it happened!) and took a train out to Grand Island, Nebraska to meet his family. He was going off to war so they quickly got married and had (here it comes...) TEN children! Any one of her children would tell you she was a wonderful mother, any of her MANY grandchildren will tell you she was a wonderful grandmother. This is true...she was. Sometimes, she still is...but she isn't always the mother/grandmother we all grew to love and cherish. A few years ago, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. The first few years she did great, she was on medication to slow it down and it didn't seem too bad. But, just about two years ago. She really started "forgetting." If you ask her, she doesn't have Alzheimer's, she is just getting old and has a bad memory. When my grandfather started deteriorating physically, many family members stepped up to help him and my grandmother. It was a very hectic time, but somehow everyone made it work. My grandfather died a year and a half ago. Shortly after his death, my grandmother moved in with my mother. She always had said put her in a nursing home, that she would never want to impose on family. But, shortly after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's it was apparent she wanted to stay with family. I imagine it's a very scary disease and waking up to a familiar face is more than comforting. She still lives with my parents, and has come to my house during the week. Now, that was just a summary of her life...hopefully I will get to post some of her stories throughout this blog. Now, just a quick rundown of who I am...or try to be! ;o) I am what I like to think as a young mom. (Although, my daughter begs to differ.) I grew up in Baltimore, MD as a typical kid. My mom is Ann, my dad is Rich, and I have a (slightly) older sister Laurie. I was born in 1984, lived in highlandtown until I was four, moved to Oliver Beach and grew up there until the end of high school. We moved to Harford County, and it's where I continue to reside. I got engaged at 19, to Jasen, who I met in high school. We moved out, I got pregnant that same month, got married 3 months later in 2005. Yep...are you keeping up? Three months after I got married, I had my first daughter, Alyssa three months premature. A few years after that I got pregnant again, lost him due to extreme prematurity. In 2009, we had my youngest daughter, Addison. She was the big baby and full term. I am currently at home with Addison and my grandmother...keeping them company (as I like to put it). Hopefully, I will be done with school in a little over a year and go off on my own into the work field as a Histotechnologist! Wish me luck!