Merry Christmas to Everyone

GrandMa Got Run Over by a Reindeer.

Grand Ma Got Run Over by a Reindeer

otherwise known as

Rocky's Lullaby

How our Christmas CD gained its name.  

There are so many wonderful Christmas Stories, that brings some sort of magic into the holiday.   This story is about, how the song Grand Ma Got Run over by a Reindeer, got to be my Grand son, Rocky's Lullaby.

He happen to be born in the month of October.  Well, as we all know, really that is not too far from the Christmas season, for all of to prepare for, as we are getting by the Halloween and Thanksgiving season.

My daughter had a hard time getting him to sleep at times.  Me, lol, I didn't.   I would sing to him very softly.  He would fall asleep in my arms with no trouble.  Christmas was coming up,  I would sing "Grand Ma got Run Over by a Reindeer".  Yes, he would fall asleep in my arms.  He looked like such a little Angel too.  But, it became the main song, to putting him asleep.  Whether it was Valentine's Day, Easter, or 100 degrees out, that was the song, that would put him to sleep.  That is how and why  the song became "Rocky's Lullaby".

The Picture on the CD Cover

This picture was taken, when I was trying to get Rocky to sit up on Chris's shoulders.  He insisted on looking at Chris, and having to talk to him.  So I gave up, I was able to get Rocky to look up, then, I snapped the picture.  I loved the way it came out.  The picture says so much.  By the way, there is a picture behind Rocky, that is a picture of his Momma,, when she was a baby.

After finishing our CD, I was trying to think of something for the cover.  I remembered the picture I had taken decided to use it, and as the theme to the CD.

Well, folks, that is how the CD cover and title was born.

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

from

Outlaws 'N' Lace

Happy Birthday to my Son, Chris

Chris

Karaoke Kid

Krystol Kid

Born:  December 7th

                                               

Chris is my first born.  He was born the day before my Birthday.  He was a baby I longed for and hoped for.  I had a hard time getting pregnant.  Finally, I did with the help from doctors, surgery and the fertility pill.  The day he was born,  I felt he was the greatest gift that God had given me.  Being the month of Christmas, he was the best gift I could ever have.  And the day before my birthday, was the ultimate Birthday gift.

He was the most beautiful baby boy I ever seen.  Perfect in every way.  Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of pictures of him, when he was  a baby.  My camera, no longer was working.  I had what they called at the time a One-Ten Kodak camera. The only camera we had at the time was a 35 mm.  I didn't know how to use.  Only his father knew how to operate.  He didn't take many pictures, if any at all.   Eventually, I did learn how to use the camera, but that was later on in life.  Wish I knew then.  That is another story.

There are so many things I remember Chris doing as he grew.  Like many of us, his first step.  Ha, his first step.  I have to laugh at that.  He didn't walk along furniture like most babies.  One day, I looked at him as he was trying to stand in the middle of the floor?  Couldn't figure out what this child was trying to do.  All of a sudden he sprang across the floor like a frog.  That was the beginning of his first step.

He loved balloons.  Later, I would find out why.  He learned things very quickly.  Sometimes, I didn't realize how quickly he did learn things.  He was always a happy child.  Very talkative.  I was told once, that a talkative child is a sign of a happy child.  So he must of been a very happy child.

From the time he was born, I always told him he was a special child.  And that he was.  I love to watch his curiosity.  When he had questions about something, I would say, well, lets go look it up.  He had all kinds of books for his age group.  For Example;  Dr. Seuss Dictionary.

I noticed how he seem to have a hard time seeing things.  I ask the Doctor.  "Should I be concerned about his eyes.  He seems to look at things very closely, as if he is having a hard time seeing them."  The doctor's answer was.,  "Oh no, its just a quirky thing he does."  I would ask the question many times, and get the same answer.  My sister had a specialist for her one son.  She gave me his name and phone number.  I took him an Ophthalmologist.  He didn't think Chris's eyes were that bad.  He examined them, and told me.  He was legally blind.   Oh my God, I was devastated.  The doctor told me, my reaction would reflect on Chris.  Dang, I just got slapped in the face, my child is blind.  He said one good thing out of it, he could never be drafted, or be in the military.  Main thing, his eyes needed to be taken care of.   My son had to wear, what most would call pop bottle bottom glasses.  He had lazy eye too.  He had to wear patches off and on for several years.  This entailed many doctor appointments.  I ask the doctor, if these did any good.  He said, hard telling.

Living with a blind person.  Things have to kept in certain places all the time.  Such as the bathroom being one.  He can't wear his contacts while taking a bath or shower.  The shampoo and soap, must be kept in the same place, not to be moved.

 He was able to be a normal little boy.  He went to school, like any other child.  He rode a bike, played baseball, etc.  His glasses corrected his vision to the point he could see.  But not clearly.  He had to look almost dead center of the glasses to see.  This didn't hurt his learning skills at all.  He had a vocabulary, better than a college student in the 4th grade.  Oh, yea, he was a challenge for his teachers. He had a  7th grade teacher that said, Chris gave him a reason to come to work.  He was seeing his teaching job as a routine.  Same thing day in and day out.  Then Chris came along.  And he was a challenge for him.  Chris did have some teachers that were jealous of him.  And that created problem in the elementary grades.

To deal with the ignorance of people was another thing, we had to deal with as far as his blindness went.  He would tell his teachers he couldn't see something.  Their response would be, "You have glasses on."  One that really got me, in high school, a teacher was using the over head with red marker.  Chris couldn't see it, and told the teacher so.  This teacher stood by Chris where he was sitting,  and said, "I can see it."  I had to make many trips to school to explain to these teachers, he CAN NOT SEE IT.  "He wears glasses."  Grrr!  I would say, "Yes he does.  But he doesn't see like you or I.  He is blind in one eye.  And the correction can only do so much.  What we see with our glasses is what he sees with glasses."  That was in elementary.  By the time he was in high school, the contacts were so much help.  It allowed him to drive.  But he still has vision problems.

When he started the 7th grade.  I did a new make over on him.  New hair cut,  clothing, and contact lenses.  I will never forget that day, when he had his appointment with the Ophthalmologist.  The doctor examined him.  And dropped the lenses in his eyes.  He saw things for the first time in his life.  Actual shapes, colors, distant of objects.  Tears came to my eyes that moment.  My son could see for the first time.  It was like watching my baby walking all over again.  The amazement on his face, was worth so much.  My mother-in-law, use to put down people who wore contact lenses.  I told her, I thank God, they were invented.  My son can see.  He did have to wear glasses with his contact lenses, but mostly to protect his eyes.  He wore prescription safety glasses for tennis.

Chris has always had a good heart.  He was  good big brother to his little sister.
He would read to her, and color with her.  She looked up to him.  Oh they had their moments.  Moments he did get in trouble for.  

 I would play ball with the kids. Games, teach them how to cook.  Taught them how to take care of their teeth while wearing braces.  My son remarked to me once.  "Mom,  I will always remember you, when you would come out in the drive way, play basketball with me in your high heels."   Its funny too,  I remember a neighbor saying to me. She never seen any one like me.  A mother that would play baseball, basketball, etc, with the kids as I did.

And I still have his pooh bear when he was a baby, and a teddy bear he got for Easter when he was 4.

He has grown into a good man.  I am very proud of him.  He has a job he really likes.  And people there like him too.  Just recently, his work place told him, they don't want to lose him.  Yes, he is moving up in the ranks.

He is our drummer in our band.   And one of the lead singers.   And very good.  Skip being his mentor, really, Skip has taught him a lot in life and being a performer.  Skip is his Step Dad, sort a speak.  He is very proud of him.  He has mentioned many times how he is proud of him.  Proud enough to call him son.  He said I did a good job raising him and Deirdre.  And I have nothing to hang my head about.

At the moment he doesn't have a Lady in his life.  Just hasn't come across the right one yet. 

I am proud of my son.  I love him very Much.

Happy Birthday Chris

Mom Love Ya