We had a busy weekend. In between watching basketball on tv we managed to go to a Komet's home game. That was fun and probably the last regular season game for us. They have extended their home winning streak to something like 25 games. Good for them. Play offs start soon.
My parents came down to visit for a few hours on Sunday. It is a long drive for just a few hours, but that is all they ever seem to do. Mom mentioned maybe next time they come they would stay Saturday night and go home Sunday. Wow, what a concept! Of course, that means someone else, besides her, would have to take care of the horses!
Today marks the start of Spring Break for Wes. I've been trying to plan out the week but a few key things haven't fallen into place yet. My Dad, who works for GM, might be laid off this week. If that happens we will try and plan a visit with him. If that doesn't work out then we need to plan something to do each day so that the boys (and I) do not go stir crazy! I've got ideas for each day but I hate to say yes to our friends and then cancel if we can make plans with my dad.
Anyway...we went to the "big" library today and it was a zoo. I guess everyone was thinking the way I was and it was full of kids....and loud! It should be a bit warmer this week but it's rainy today. Not much of a play outside day. Darn weather doesn't seem to know it's Spring Break!
Monday, March 31, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
Dog gone
My family will never own a dog. For the past two weeks our family (mostly me) watched my in-laws dog while they were gone to Phoenix to visit their other son, Stu. We offered the option of "the dog" staying at our house because they were going to kennel her for two weeks. While I'm not a big fan of their Aussie, I felt two weeks of kenneling was extreme.
So, Chris and I talked it over and we made the offer to keep "the dog" and they accepted. I had a system worked out so that she could go out in the backyard on a long rope. Even though our back yard is fenced, she could easily have gone under or over our fence!
The past two weeks have been difficult, to say the least. "The dog" was stressed out here and despite being outside A LOT continued to make messes on our carpet. Which, pissed me off. She is not kept in a crate, so just putting her up was not an option. My family is strong believers in being able to crate a dog and our dogs have always been able to do that. So, toward the end of her stay she was either outside, in our laundry room (where she conveniently never made a mess because she would have had to stay in it) or sleeping at night in our room.
I was soooooooooo damn happy when the in-laws returned and retrieved their dog. We will never, ever own a dog and I firmly believe that after our cat goes to kitty heaven we will no longer own any pets. The cat was my mistake before we owned our home. But, I do not like having animals in my home and we never will again!!!!
So, Chris and I talked it over and we made the offer to keep "the dog" and they accepted. I had a system worked out so that she could go out in the backyard on a long rope. Even though our back yard is fenced, she could easily have gone under or over our fence!
The past two weeks have been difficult, to say the least. "The dog" was stressed out here and despite being outside A LOT continued to make messes on our carpet. Which, pissed me off. She is not kept in a crate, so just putting her up was not an option. My family is strong believers in being able to crate a dog and our dogs have always been able to do that. So, toward the end of her stay she was either outside, in our laundry room (where she conveniently never made a mess because she would have had to stay in it) or sleeping at night in our room.
I was soooooooooo damn happy when the in-laws returned and retrieved their dog. We will never, ever own a dog and I firmly believe that after our cat goes to kitty heaven we will no longer own any pets. The cat was my mistake before we owned our home. But, I do not like having animals in my home and we never will again!!!!
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Seven things you might not know about me...
So, I didn't some up with this idea, I'm stealing it from another blogger. I rather liked the idea and thought it would be a fun change of pace.
1. I wore white Keds (tennis shoes) on my wedding day. No, I'm not a fitness junkie and I really do love cute, wedding shoes...but less than 5 months before our wedding day I had a second ankle surgery to fuse my right ankle. I spent the months leading up to our wedding in physical therapy hoping that I would be able to walk down the aisle minus a cast and without limping. Function beat out fashion for my wedding day. I did decorate them and they looked very wedding like!
2. I have no siblings. It's just me. When I was little and if someone asked me if I had siblings I would say "No, I'm a lonely child". Along those lines, I come from a very small family and I am the only grandchild on my mom's side. My boys will sadly never have first cousins and I will never be an aunt and Chris will never be an uncle. I think my parents did a pretty good job of making sure I wasn't spoiled, but I will admit that I got to do a lot of stuff with my grandparents that most kids do not get to experience. We traveled all over the place on their boat and I always spent time with them in Florida. This is another reason way I am so close to my Grandma and my Grandpa, who has passed.
3. I have a very bad habit of picking at my lips. I have always had a fixation with picking at things. I started out sucking my thumb and did that into elementary school. After braces for my teeth began, I moved on from thumb sucking to picking at my thumb. I don't really remember at what point I stopped doing that, but I have a very bad habit of picking my lips instead! Sadly, Connor constantly picks at his finger nails. Sorry buddy. That neurotic tendency definitely came from me!
4. I love sports. Not playing them, mind you, but watching and being a fan. My favorites would be college football, college basketball, professional hockey and then professional football. I despise professional basketball (I really think most of the players are just hoodlums!) and I don't care for baseball - too boring! One of my favorite times of the year is coming up with March Madness. For the past two years I have come so close to winning the pool I have been in, but no cigar. Maybe this will be my year!
5. I really like curling. Back home, in Michigan, we could get Canadian channels that had curling on all the time. I would sit and watch it for hours and everyone in my family, including my husband, thinks I'm nuts. It also doesn't make much sense that I like it, considering I think baseball is boring...but I also respect curling because last I'd heard there were never any curling/steroid scandals! I would love to try it some day. Unfortunately, I do not think there are any curling places around here. I guess I will have to stick with bowling.
6. I nearly died from childbirth with our second son. I was untreated for a type of preeclampsia called H.E.L.P Syndrome. A nasty little problem that nearly cost me my life. Connor was delivered via emergency c-section under general anesthesia. Chris wasn't even allowed in the operating room. I was so upset about him not being present for the birth of our second son. I guess under the circumstances I could see why he wasn't allowed in the room, but it still upsets me that he wasn't able to be there for Connor. I probably had H.E.L.P Syndrome with my first pregnancy but the symptoms were not as pronounced. Probably a good thing for Connor that it wasn't as bad with Wes, otherwise Connor might not be here. No more children for our family!
7. My family has horses and I used to be a riding instructor. I graduated from the the University of Finlday with an Associates Degree in English Equestrian Studies. I rode hunter/jumpers and competed at horse shows in Michigan. I loved jumping and so did my Thoroughbred mare. I went on to get my Bachelors Degree from the University of Michigan - Flint in a "real" degree, but all the while I was teaching lessons and had roughly 30 students most of the time. I enjoyed it, but with marriage and a family horses have become a part of my past. Some day when we can afford it, and my boys have grown up considerably, I will return to horses and get back in the saddle.
So there you have it. Seven things you didn't know about me. That was fun and I would encourage you to do it!
1. I wore white Keds (tennis shoes) on my wedding day. No, I'm not a fitness junkie and I really do love cute, wedding shoes...but less than 5 months before our wedding day I had a second ankle surgery to fuse my right ankle. I spent the months leading up to our wedding in physical therapy hoping that I would be able to walk down the aisle minus a cast and without limping. Function beat out fashion for my wedding day. I did decorate them and they looked very wedding like!
2. I have no siblings. It's just me. When I was little and if someone asked me if I had siblings I would say "No, I'm a lonely child". Along those lines, I come from a very small family and I am the only grandchild on my mom's side. My boys will sadly never have first cousins and I will never be an aunt and Chris will never be an uncle. I think my parents did a pretty good job of making sure I wasn't spoiled, but I will admit that I got to do a lot of stuff with my grandparents that most kids do not get to experience. We traveled all over the place on their boat and I always spent time with them in Florida. This is another reason way I am so close to my Grandma and my Grandpa, who has passed.
3. I have a very bad habit of picking at my lips. I have always had a fixation with picking at things. I started out sucking my thumb and did that into elementary school. After braces for my teeth began, I moved on from thumb sucking to picking at my thumb. I don't really remember at what point I stopped doing that, but I have a very bad habit of picking my lips instead! Sadly, Connor constantly picks at his finger nails. Sorry buddy. That neurotic tendency definitely came from me!
4. I love sports. Not playing them, mind you, but watching and being a fan. My favorites would be college football, college basketball, professional hockey and then professional football. I despise professional basketball (I really think most of the players are just hoodlums!) and I don't care for baseball - too boring! One of my favorite times of the year is coming up with March Madness. For the past two years I have come so close to winning the pool I have been in, but no cigar. Maybe this will be my year!
5. I really like curling. Back home, in Michigan, we could get Canadian channels that had curling on all the time. I would sit and watch it for hours and everyone in my family, including my husband, thinks I'm nuts. It also doesn't make much sense that I like it, considering I think baseball is boring...but I also respect curling because last I'd heard there were never any curling/steroid scandals! I would love to try it some day. Unfortunately, I do not think there are any curling places around here. I guess I will have to stick with bowling.
6. I nearly died from childbirth with our second son. I was untreated for a type of preeclampsia called H.E.L.P Syndrome. A nasty little problem that nearly cost me my life. Connor was delivered via emergency c-section under general anesthesia. Chris wasn't even allowed in the operating room. I was so upset about him not being present for the birth of our second son. I guess under the circumstances I could see why he wasn't allowed in the room, but it still upsets me that he wasn't able to be there for Connor. I probably had H.E.L.P Syndrome with my first pregnancy but the symptoms were not as pronounced. Probably a good thing for Connor that it wasn't as bad with Wes, otherwise Connor might not be here. No more children for our family!
7. My family has horses and I used to be a riding instructor. I graduated from the the University of Finlday with an Associates Degree in English Equestrian Studies. I rode hunter/jumpers and competed at horse shows in Michigan. I loved jumping and so did my Thoroughbred mare. I went on to get my Bachelors Degree from the University of Michigan - Flint in a "real" degree, but all the while I was teaching lessons and had roughly 30 students most of the time. I enjoyed it, but with marriage and a family horses have become a part of my past. Some day when we can afford it, and my boys have grown up considerably, I will return to horses and get back in the saddle.
So there you have it. Seven things you didn't know about me. That was fun and I would encourage you to do it!
Monday, March 17, 2008
Godspeed, Reece
It is with so much sadness today that Chris and I realize our friends are spending their last moments with Reece. There was nothing else for doctors to do for her little heart. Her family will be saying goodbye to her today and she will be removed from the machines...her body free.
To anyone who may be reading this today, please say a prayer for a peaceful passing for Reece, for strength for her parents and for the rest of her family. While they will miss her dearly they have said that God created her, protected her and will now take her to be with him.
Godspeed Reece and fly high sweet angel.
To anyone who may be reading this today, please say a prayer for a peaceful passing for Reece, for strength for her parents and for the rest of her family. While they will miss her dearly they have said that God created her, protected her and will now take her to be with him.
Godspeed Reece and fly high sweet angel.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
This weekend
It has been a good family weekend. Chris was out of town on business for the later part of the week. The boys were excited to have him back when they got up Saturday morning. I'm reminded when Chris is gone of how much I need him at home and how much I miss him. We all went to the Komet's game last night and they beat Flint. Today we are just taking it easy. Hopefully Illinois can beat Wisconsin today in the Ben Ten Tounrey. Much sadness was around after Purdue lost.
On to the sad news of the weekend. We are being told by Reece's family that it isn't likely she is going to survive past this weekend. After the surgery they did last week doctors were just yesterday able to get her bleeding under control. They don't know why she is bleeding and they have nearly run out of options. Chris and I do not know the agony of what Evan and Lisa are going through and the decisions they will have to make today, but we do know the agony of having to watch dear friends bury their children. It is the worst thing anyone should have to endure and we are struggling to understand why horrible things like this have to happen to young children.
Hug your children, love your families and enjoy the reminder of this weekend.
On to the sad news of the weekend. We are being told by Reece's family that it isn't likely she is going to survive past this weekend. After the surgery they did last week doctors were just yesterday able to get her bleeding under control. They don't know why she is bleeding and they have nearly run out of options. Chris and I do not know the agony of what Evan and Lisa are going through and the decisions they will have to make today, but we do know the agony of having to watch dear friends bury their children. It is the worst thing anyone should have to endure and we are struggling to understand why horrible things like this have to happen to young children.
Hug your children, love your families and enjoy the reminder of this weekend.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Good news
I was so relieved to read a good update for Reece late today. I felt like I was holding my breath all day wondering how she was doing in surgery. That pales to compare to the anxiety, stress and fear her parents felt today. Hopefully in the coming days she will continue to improve and be taken off the ECMO machine. Keep fighting little one!
Open Hearts
My mind today is focused on the frality of life and our amazing hearts. While I'm typing this a friend of Chris' (through work), 2 year old daughter, Reece is back in open heart surgery at Riley fighting for her life. Surgons are trying to undo an earlier heart surgery from last week that failed. She has been on an ECMO machine keeping her alive until today. That's like being on a heart bypass machine for a week. Not good, especially for a 2 year old.
My thoughts and prayers right now are with Reece, her Mommy and Daddy, twin sister and brother. Hopefully Reece will continue to be the fighter that she has proven to be and pulls through her surgery today with a healed heart. May God be with the surgons and all her family today!
My thoughts and prayers right now are with Reece, her Mommy and Daddy, twin sister and brother. Hopefully Reece will continue to be the fighter that she has proven to be and pulls through her surgery today with a healed heart. May God be with the surgons and all her family today!
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