We made the annual road trip back to IL. There was much anticipation of a huge snow storm that was predicted to greet us in Bloomington, but we managed to make it back before the first flake fell. We were totally unprepared for cold. Today I ran out to get them hats and gloves because Baby, it's cold outside!
We had a great Christmas morning in SC. The kids had a blast and played with all of their new toys all day.
The thoughts of innocent children, their devastated families and community are consuming my mind. I just keep looking at my 2 little ones at home and their innocence. It is sickening that children like mine had to witness that and some didn't survive. I need to stop watching and thinking, but it's just too hard. Sweet little faces popping up on my newsfeed. It is hard not to be reminded all throughout the day. But I am not letting it get in the way of tending to my own children. Paying extra attention to them, giving them extra love any minute I can, holding them until they fall asleep. It all seems right. It is unfortunate that an event like this prompts us to do so, but we are only human and need reminders. So on this gloomy day it's the little things that are keeping me going. We didn't rush out to the gym this morning (the rain helped), we didn't run countless errands and hurry through our Monday even though I have a mile-long list to complete before our trip. Instead we:
.jpg)
Every year, we celebrate Christmas just a little bit early in SC because we travel to be with our family at Christmas. Before Matt and I had kids and even when Lane was a baby we talked about being home on Christmas so our kids wake up in their own beds and come down their own stairs on Christmas morning. As the kids got older and we established our traditions, it's just not something that we envision anymore. It may happen down the road, but not right now. The other day when I told the kids that we would be driving to IL soon to spend Christmas with everyone they started clapping and cheering and jumping up and down and Lane gave me a huge hug and thanked me. They don't know anything different then being with all of their grandparents at this holiday. Seeing their aunt and uncles and cousin is what they really want. In fact, I'm confident we could tell them that their present was driving back to IL for Christmas and they would be nothing but grateful. So in keeping with the tradition, we had Christmas Eve tonight. We baked cookies before church.
Read more...
It's our favorite spot, although we have nothing really to compare it to because we have never done another one. This one is so good, we just keep going back. The price is right. The setting is personal and intimate and Santa is so cute! Our previous ones here and here.
At this point Matt was corralling Parker because she bee-lined it for the door.
He talked her into going near him.
And then, after Lane gave Santa his list. Which only consists of a remote control race car, he went to play in the play thing and Parker and Matt and I went back to the table to finish breakfast. Santa was making his way around to the tables and started talking to Parker. He was very sweet and she warmed up to him. And then we managed to talk her into going to him and she did.
.jpg)
I cannot stop thinking about the horrific events that happened in CT today. As a former teacher and now a mom, it hits so close to home. I looked at Parker eating her hot dog at dinner and thought about the parents who fed their 2 year old babies 3 years ago. Never in their wildest dreams did they ever imagine or dream that they would not be tucking them in tonight. Lane comes home from his birthday party and replies when I ask him how it was, "so fun." The innocence of a child is so refreshing and real and to have that taken away from those children is heart-wrenching. I really have no words except I hold my babies close tonight and I know you will too. An abundance of prayers to all of the families of the victims and the entire Newtown community.
Read more...
Read more...
So here we are almost 8 months out from the time I learned the news about my kidney. It seemed all so overwhelming to me when I was first diagnosed and worse when I was told the timeline of events that would happen. Of course I only thought of my kids and my family and how life would be affected. My only worry was them. It didn't take but a minute before I was quickly reassured by our family that, that was NOT something to worry about and that I needed to concentrate on getting better. Which I did! It was so comforting to have the support of our family. Truly truly blessed by such amazing people we have in our life.
So concentrate I did. I started working out lots and watching what I ate. Okay, I really didn't watch what I ate. But it sounded good. But I did workout because I wanted my body to be conditioned so I could bounce right back after surgery (times 3). I didn't quite bounce back because of the lifting restrictions, but I did feel somewhat back to normal after about a week. The thing I HATED the most out of everything was the catheter. It was so uncomfortable and I had to come home with it for 3 days. I was so thankful only 3. I was originally told 5-7. I hated that thing. The day I got it out, I was so happy, that I didn't even care that my parents left me at the Dr.'s office for 2 1/2 hours. ;-) Just kidding Dad. I know, according to Lane, that was a short cut you took.
Then it was just a matter of time. It hurt to laugh (although I welcomed the laughs) and cough and sneeze and mostly breathe, but I knew everyday it would get better. And it did. I had 4 incisions and a drain...hole? (Not sure what to call it) when I came out of surgery. I think I might have talked about the drain another time, so I won't go into detail, but that drain being removed hurt worse than child birth. OMG, it brought tears to my eyes in a room full of men, mostly Dr's and my husband. I was trying so hard not to cry in front of all of those men. I managed, but I was very shaken for several hours after. Anyway, the incisions healed over time. And when I first saw my tummy after surgery I couldn't believe it! It looked like I got caught in a gang crossfire. My poor tummy. :-*(
But after a week. They started getting smaller and smaller and after 2 weeks they started to close up and the glue started to fall off and well the incisions, turned to tiny marks. Modern medicine is amazing. I am so grateful for my surgeon. He is one of the best in the South East and he took such careful precaution to make sure everything went perfectly and it did. In fact, when I went back a few weeks ago to get my stent removed he checked out my scars and was patting himself on the back since I gave him such a hard time after surgery about the marks. And he informed me that he worked 2 extra hours making sure the incisions were in the perfect spot (in creases of my skin where he could) and closed up just perfectly. I do appreciate him so much. And because of technology. A surgery that normally required an incision from under your rib cage to the middle of your back was turned into 4 incisions only millimeters in size.
So now that you know my incisions are great, the most important part is that, we mostly think the surgery worked. The blockage was removed and the excess tissue in my renal pelvis was taken out and my kidneys are working just fine! And the bet part is I don't have that dull pain I have had ALL.OF.MY.LIFE. Praise the Lord! I feel great and I am back to my old self. I started back at the gym this past week and I am ready to get back into shape. I've been running again and I am up to 3 miles. Who knows, maybe even another half marathon in my future??? We shall see!
I was sitting in the living room this morning and the kids were at the peninsula eating breakfast with Matt. Below are some things I heard from the first 30 seconds of their conversation that had me chuckling:
"Just 2 guys eating breakfast." -Lane
"We watched Frosty the Snowman. He was a jolly happy soul." -Parker
"Dad, I would like 4, lest I'm 4." -Lane
(I really need to blog about Lane's use of the word lest. He uses it all of the time and I'm not sure where he got it from unless he was reading Shakespeare somewhere that I am unaware of!)
"I have a good sleep." -Parker
"I would like more cereal. I'll have frosty the snow flakes." -Parker
It's here! It's here! Although I have been planning for weeks to raid my teacher bins for 25 books to wrap up for the 25 days of Christmas, It took me until this morning to get them all wrapped! And for the record...I blew 25 out of the water. Matt and I were going through the bin (memories!) and he was like, "Wow, you have books for EVERY holiday. Holidays I didn't know even existed!"
I woke up bright and early and got it done and now our Elf waits patiently for our little elves to come greet him. So excited for this season.
© Free Blogger Templates Photoblog III by Ourblogtemplates.com 2008
Back to TOP
