Icky Monday.

Hello there, boys and girls…and welcome to Monday.  Ick.

“Ick” pretty much explains the weather today.  It is cool and rainy and just one of those days that makes you want to snuggle in bed all day. <----And that’s exactly how I felt when I got up this morning.  In fact I think ALL of us wanted to do just that.  One MORE day of T-giving break would’ve been nice.

BUT…It was going to be Monday with or without our cooperation so it was off to school for the kids, off to work for Daddy, and off to the treadmill for me.  Hmmm, is anybody else thinking of the song from Sesame Street “one of these things is not like the other…”?  -sheepishly raising my hand here-

In my defense, though, my job goes on 24/7 with little or no breaks (as any Momma can tell you) so if I choose to hit the treadmill for a 15-mile run on a Monday morning then so be it.   Yep, I decided that today’s long run would be extended a little as I tried to work out my frustrations with a good, long run.

Frustrations:

• Monday.
• Icky weather.
• Didn’t sleep well, due to yesterday’s nap.
• Car wouldn’t start.

Did the above frustrations get worked out?  Well, sort of.  It’s still raining, and my car still won’t start but things are definitely looking up.

You know when I was talking the other day about Tyler’s first HS game, when he was all decked out in his warm-ups?  Well, I thought I’d let you judge for yourself…isn’t he handsome?  Oh and an update from Saturday night’s game, I didn’t feel the need to sob when the boys ran out, BUT, we lost the game by 14.  But really that’s not too shabby for a team from a MUCH bigger school than we are.  We came out of the weekend 1-1!

I am going to sign off and try to track down my hubby to give my car a jump (and hopefully a new battery).  I suppose I need to venture out in this rain and start running errands…it must be done.  With or without motivation.

Love y’all

xoxo

We Knew It Was Coming

Do you ever have one of those moments when you’ve known something is coming.

You’ve talked about it…for years, maybe.

You’ve imagined it.

You’ve thought about it A LOT.

But when that moment finally gets here it just doesn’t seem REAL?  Have you ever experienced that?  I’m willing to bet you have.

I had one of these moments last night, and quite frankly I’m still trying to wrap my head around it.

Last night was the Bulldogs season opener.  Tyler is a Freshman sitting on the bench for the Varsity.  You probably can see where I’m going with this, right?  We have talked about the start of this season not only for the last few months, but for the last FIFTEEN years. 

You see, Jack and I were the classic sports couple.  He, the Varsity basketball team captain, and me, his supportive Cheerleader.  It was only fitting that when we had our first child that he was christened a future Bulldog.  He would wear the Black and Gold proudly and would carry on our family legacy.  At the age of 2 we had a basketball goal set up for Tyler, and Jack took much pride in coaching him and instilling in him a love and respect for the game from a tender age. 

Over the past few years, we have enjoyed the years of elementary basketball where we were just excited to see all the little guys actually playing an organized game…whether or not they actually KNEW what they were doing or not!  We have made it through junior high basketball, where the kids are just starting to hone their skills and beginning to develop their own game and style of playing.  And next???

Yep.  Here we are in high school basketball.  Wow.  How on earth are we here already? 

Didn’t we just buy him that Little Tykes goal, like, yesterday?!

First up was the team dinner, catered by us Mommas:

 

They appreciated it so much and all enjoyed having dinner with their teammates.  And it probably saved most of them from turkey leftovers!

But the moment finally hit me when I saw my boy running out in his warm-up jersey and seeing him on the floor with his team.  His HIGH SCHOOL team.  Whoa.  I was not mentally prepared to see him out there!  It really did tug at this Momma’s heartstrings, and hard.  I am so proud of our Bulldog<3

Here are some scenes from the night.

And in case you can’t tell from the last two pictures, it was a BULLDOG WIN!!!  We won 58-54 over the Liberty Eagles!  It was a great, and very intense game from the start, and a FANTASTIC way to start out the season!

Now that the first night is over, maybe tonight when they run out I won’t have the urge to hyperventilate.

Cheers, friends!

xoxo

We Are Thankful

“When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land He has given you.” Deuteronomy 8:10

I hope everyone has enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Our home was filled with friends and family, enjoying each other’s company and wayyyyy too much good food!  Isn’t that always the way?!  I hope your day and the weekend to come are just as fulfilling for you and your family.

We are also celebrating our princess Katie’s 7th Birthday!

 

Seven years ago tonight, at 9:10pm to be exact, our lives were forever changed by a beautiful little bundle of pink.  Although she was a month early, she showed us right from the beginning who was in charge by telling us loud and clear that READY OR NOT, HERE I COME! 

Although we didn’t know it at the time, Katie would be our last child…and she has completed our family perfectly.  I thank God for her each and every day. 

Especially now that she sleeps in her own bed. LOL~ 

Happy Birthday, our sweet Katie <3

Love y’all.

Be thankful.

xoxo

Journey Through A Checkup

“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart exults, and with my song I shall THANK HIM.”  Psalm 28:7

When I noticed that my last post was last Monday (EEK!), I hurried up and decided to do this post tonight instead of tomorrow so it wouldn’t be considered a WEEK since I last posted.  Ha!  But I know…it’s still been too long.

But it’s continuously crazy around this busy house…do I get points for crazy?!

Thanks

The highlight since my last post HAS to be that I had another 3-month checkup with my oncologist (and friend!) on Friday in STL.  In case you’re interested, here’s how a checkup day goes:

THIS is where I start getting nervous.  No matter how many times I’ve been down this highway (and trust me, it’s a LOT), when I see the Kingshighway sign I get a huge knot in my stomach.  It’s funny, though, because at Siteman is where I feel the safest and most protected, yet I have such an unsettling reaction, too, at first.  Weird. 

As I can start to see the hospital, I start shifting a little in my seat.  But at least it’s daytime.  The first time Tiff and Colby took us to Siteman, we went at night.  As we drove this very stretch of the road, all I could see were these pretty lamp posts all lit up, lining the way to Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Siteman Cancer Center.  My path.  I have never been so unsettled and scared in my life.  I had no idea what my future held.  If I allow myself to think about it too long, my stomach will start to hurt.  It is for this reason that I will only go to STL in the evening/nighttime if I absolutely have to.  One glimpse of this road at night and I’m right back to that night 2 years ago.

Here is the first sign for the Center for Advanced Medicine and Siteman Cancer Center.  We’re almost there.

And here we are!  We are pulling into the valet/drop off area.   

We have always valet parked our car…can I just say that I LOVE that my doctors’ offices have valet parking?!  It was super nice during treatments because it was 100% covered, well all but the $2 fee anyway.  But don’t forget to get your ticket validated!  

Once inside CAM, we head up to the 5th floor to the breast health center, which is where Dr. Julie is located.  However, today we are not there to see her, but to visit Maggie and her Mom who are there with an appointment.  Friend meet up!  Pink Sisters Unite!!

After our visit we go to Siteman, which is located on the 7th floor.  This is where the oncologists’ offices are and the treatment center.  Siteman also has it’s own Labs and Pharmacy here.  This was always so nice during treatment to have everything right here.  But no treatment for me today!  While waiting to see Dr. Tim, I take time to post a little note of encouragement.   I hope it makes whoever finds it smile.

First up is labs.  They do blood work at every visit.  Looks like I’m anticipating the worst!  Ha!  I actually didn’t feel a single thing.  These people are good!

Ok, all smiles now!  Blood being drawn and we are on our way.

Me and my love!  Killing time in the waiting room.  We also struck up a conversation with several other people there; it is one of my favorite times when I’m at the doctor.  I actually look forward to it.  I’m telling you, it is like therapy for me to be with other cancer patients.  I get so much joy from telling the lady sitting across from me that she’s going to be fine, and that her treatment isn’t near as bad as she expects.  It makes me thank God for using me in this way. 

All gowned up and no where to go!  But seriously, how many times have I heard the words, “Put this gown on, please, opening in the front.”  Um yeah.  Got it.  This is a drill I know well.  At one point early in treatment, I remember telling Jack, “There is no one in this building that hasn’t seen me topless.”  It’s kind of like after childbirth, you lose all modesty.   Except on this blog…sorry, but this is where I leave you!

And we’re done!!  Clean bill of health, and a great checkup!  This picture turned out pretty blurry, but I liked it so I put it in anyway.  There is nothing like walking out of Siteman feeling healthier than when you walk in!  All nerves are gone, this is one happy girl right here.

So another checkup is in the books.  We spent the evening with friends Tim and Heather having dinner at Mosaic Modern Fusion, talking and laughing the evening away.  The perfect way to end the day!

Enjoy the start to your week tomorrow.  Wake up and smile because it’s a short work/school week for most of us!  And don’t forget to take the time to remember all our blessings.

Love you!!

xoxo

Laundry Hangover

Howdy all

You will be happy to know that I have survived the trek up and down laundry mountain and I am now safely back at ground level. 

Ground level = 7 loads washed, dried, put away + one more load lingering in the dryer just waiting it’s turn.  I highly suspect that it will be waiting in there for a little while longer.  I think I have a slight laundry hangover. 

On another very happy note, I slept last night!  Woo Hoo!  I don’t sleep much at all.  Between hot flashes, night sweats, and just general restlessness, I rarely wake up feeling like I actually rested.  But this morning I did!  I felt very refreshed…Thank you Lord. 

I felt so good, in fact, that I went to parents’ house and did a half-marathon on their treadmill!  Woop Woop!  And a PR to boot!  Now, I don’t “officially” count this as a PR because it was on the ‘mill, but I was pretty stoked with 1:54:08!!!  This was a GREAT way to start my week!

I will be running on the treadmill all week due to the fact that it’s deer season here, and I really don’t want to be mistaken for Bambi, or his mom or dad.  A friend who lives in a wooded area here actually had a bullet come through her house yesterday morning!  Scary!!!  It went through her shower and four walls.  OMGosh, that’s just ridiculously frightening.

At the moment I am dealing with a semi-headache and drinking water in case it’s a dehydration thing, while trying to decide what to make for dinner.  Not a great combo but it must be done.  The kids go back to school tomorrow after having today off…it’s worked out great because both boys have been doing homework all day, trying to catch up.

I’m going to put the technology away for tonight and enjoy my evening, I hope you have a good evening too.

Be blessed.

xoxo

Everything can change in the blink of an eye…but don’t worry, God doesn’t blink. – from our pastor’s sermon yesterday.  LOVE IT! 

Under One Roof

Today was such a GREAT DAY!!  Want to know why???

--------> I got all my guys back today!!!!!

You probably never even knew they were gone, for safety’s sake of course, but Katie and I certainly did!  We’ve been missing our boys something fierce!  At one point in the last week and a half, Katie said, I even missing Daddy’s snoring, and Tyler and Zach fighting with me!  Yes, that’s when you know it’s pitiful!  But I’m not gonna lie, I kinda missed his snoring, too.

The reason for the absence of Jack, Tyler, and Zachary, was a very special hunting trip that has been in the works for over a year.  This was Jack’s third trip to Colorado, Tyler’s second, and Zachary’s, my Dad’s, and my sister’s husband, Brett’s, first trip.  What a crew!

So loaded down with extra warm clothes, plenty of long johns, boots, junk snack foods, and the boys’ homework, they drove to Colorado in search of the mighty elk.

 

And they found them.  My successful hunters came back with hundreds of pounds of meat, that will probably feed our family all winter.  Well, at least everybody but this vegetarian.   While I’m a little sensitive to it, I can certainly respect and appreciate their love for the sport.  They all had a great time.  And as Zachary’s English paper states, “I will remember this trip for the rest of my life.” 

I was so excited to see them pull into the driveway last night!  Oh I couldn’t hardly WAIT to wrap my arms around my boys!!!  And they didn’t disappoint…they were running to me – all THREE of them! – as soon as they had the truck in park.  There is nothing like being separated for a little while to make you appreciate your family being together! 

They even brought me a “little” present upon their arrival:

Um, yeah.  And that’s not even close to being all of the dirty laundry.  This is just one small-ish mountain.  It was ridiculous the amount of dirty clothes they had! I had to hold my nose while loading the sock and underwear pile…OMGosh, it was RANK!  Oh my.  There are no words.

But at least he humored me by wearing this shirt while he was gone:

Aww, how sweet right? 

Look closer:

Yep.  He’s a keeper…even with a smarty-pants shirt.

Love you!!

xoxo