Trick or Treating 2008

Kendra (my niece), Dylan, Kyle, Jonathan, Raelynn (my niece), Clark (my nephew), Nicholas and Luke ready for Trick or Treating
Cute little bug!

Clark the Transformer

Grandma enjoying the candy bowl a little too much!

Luke very excited to go!

After Trick or Treating...Dylan was pretty hyper. He was begging anyone and everyone to spar with him.

Kyle is always happy to oblige Dylan. The two sparred with their light sabers. (Look at the intensity on Dylan's face).

Nicholas and Dylan standing on the wall in front of our house sparring

Pretending to cut off Nicholas' head

Nicholas at Dylan's mercy...They'll do anything to amuse him.

Family Fear Factor Night

Family Fear Factor Night

Click on picture above to see Family Fear Factor Night pictures

The Cub Scouts Pack had a Family Fear Factor Night organized by Lisa Kijowski. (Thanks Lisa). It was really fun! Dylan and Kyle weren't able to be there because they were working on the video the Youth are making for a Stake wide competition. They had their own kind of fun! Grandma came along. It was a little much for her just yet, but she did enjoy getting out.

Hold them a little tighter

Sadly, there have been some unfortunate tragedies that have occurred around the boys in the last few weeks. One of Dylan's friends at Arbor Hills was hit by a car while he was riding on his skateboard. His injuries were too great and he didn't make it. This was the first time that an untimely death had come into my children's life. In their memories...they have only lost great grandparents. Though those losses were felt deeply, it was understandable to them...their grandparents had lived a good life and now it was time to return to their Heavenly Father. On the other hand, losing a friend that is their age adds a whole new dynamic to their once innocent lives.

Dylan really mourned the loss of his friend, Reid. He suddenly recognized that mortality was something that truly faces all of us. The school was wonderful about coming in and talking with the kids and providing grief counselors for anyone who felt the need to "talk to someone". Dylan had wanted to go to Reid's funeral, but when the time came he backed out. I'm sure it was intimidating to anticipate what going to Reid's funeral might be like for him. I didn't push him to go...wanting him to determine how he wanted to "deal" with his own grief and how he was feeling.

The following week I read in the obituaries that there was another student (this time from Northview...but we had known him from years past) had died "accidentally". I was mortified. This young man is the brother of a very good friend of Kyle's. Kyle eats lunch with him everyday. Adam has been such a good friend to Kyle and really seems to overlook Kyle's "differences". When I initially read the obituary, I didn't put two and two together to figure out that this was Adam's brother. I was shocked when Kyle mentioned something to me concerning Adam's brother dying. Thankfully, Kyle's teacher recognized that Kyle was close to Adam and spoke to him about appropriate things to say and how to be a good friend to Adam right now. Kyle doesn't quite comprehend the ramifications of it all, but Dylan is very aware of all of the circumstances surrounding Jeffrey's death bringing even more questions and concerns to the table.

My heart breaks for these families who have lost their "little ones" way too soon. It is a concept difficult for me to even begin to comprehend. I know for a surety that I want so much more time with my boys...and know the devastation I would feel to lose them so soon. I think about Grandma who has lost as many children as I have (one at a year old--she got into the iron pills and overdosed, her 9 year old son--who was following his older brothers on his bike and was hit by a car, her son in his 40's who died from cancer, and yet another son who took his own life when he was almost 40). I can only imagine the grief that she has had to endure and would engulf me to experience such great loss.

It is in these moments when I realize the importance of never taking a single thing for granted. I enjoy so many of the little things...the way my children say certain things, their enthusiasm, their ideas, their mannerisms, their touch, everything about them. I came across this poem that accurately says these things for me...

Touch
by Kathie Davis

Mothers, touch your children,
Fathers, hug them tight,
Let them know you love them
morning, noon, and night.

Put your arms around them,
hold them near to you,
Feel the beating of their hearts,
the life that you made new.

Roll around the floor with them,
tease and laugh and play,
Listen to what they'll tell you,
they have so much to say.

Take time to get to know them,
see the colors in their eyes,
Appreciate that person
that deep inside them lies.

Let them run their fingers through your hair
and down your face,
Fill their hearts with words of praise,
make home their favorite place.

Cuddle with them on the couch
and watch a t.v. show,
Sing with them or share a book
and help their world to grow.

Take a walk into the park,
hold each other's hand,
Smell the flowers, feed the ducks,
build castles in the sand.

Mothers, touch your children,
Fathers, hug them tight,
Show them what a gift they are,
to love them feels so right.

I truly hope that we all recognize how precious these moments are for each of us. Not only do I treasure my little ones, my husband, and my family...but I treasure each and every one of you who make such an incredible difference in my life in what may seem to you as small and insignificant ways...but to me these are the ways that truly matter.

Pumpkin Carving 2008

Pumpkin Carving 2008

Click on the picture above to see the slideshow

We braved pumpkin carving with the boys. Jonathan and I ended up doing most of the carving, because we were afraid of the boys hurting themselves or one another. The boys each designed what they wanted to do on their pumpkins. Dylan's ended up being so elaborate that he just decided to leave the drawing on instead.

While the boys would wait for their turn we would play Halloween videos on Youtube for them to watch. It was definitely a fun family night!

Grandma is home

Just wanted to let everyone know that Grandma came home to us on Thursday. She was very excited to get out of the hospital. I think she may have thought she was going to end up staying there permanently...because she lit right up when we told her she was being discharged.

She is still healing and pretty much laying low so that she can continue to get better. We have all of the services and equipment in place to give her the care that she needs in the comfort of our own home. Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers! We have truly felt their power sustaining us through this time.

Update on last week's adventures

For those of you wondering how things are going...I thought I would post a quick update.

My girlfriend and her children returned home to her husband. They are attempting to work things out, get some counseling, and improve their family situation. We wish them success in their endeavors. The kids miss them desperately, but we are always grateful to see a family reunited.

Grandma remains in Toledo Hospital. It was a fortunate thing to get her to the hospital when we did. She was only in the preliminary stages of how ill she would become. What started as a cold complicated with an urinary tract infection, developed into what they thought was congestive heart failure...only to discover it was Pneumonia. Now they are even testing to verify that she doesn't have a Pulmonary Embolism, which is a clot that has traveled to the lungs. (I am highly skeptical that she does due to the fact that she is well in to a therapeutic range on her Coumadin keeping her blood thin). She is on Levaquin and Zithromax for the infections! We are still trying to persuade Dr. Nahhas to perform the stent procedure while she is there, but so far, he continues to lean toward keeping her scheduled procedure date. Doctors! Grrrr! So, now we are getting social work involved to try to figure out what our options might be.

Grandma misses being home with us, and we miss having her here. Everytime we walk in her hospital room, she is hopeful that we have come to bring her home. Not having her at the house is definitely strange to say the least. I keep finding myself thinking that there is something that I should be doing, and it stems from being used to having a routine in caring for her. Grandma is getting stronger and is walking better than the day I brought her in. They started her in Physical Therapy yesterday and she commented how much the therapy helped with the pain in her legs. (Funny thing since I asked the doctors whether she should have PT to help with the circulation in her legs when she was first diagnosed with arterial insufficiency and they told me that it wouldn't help. Hmmmm!). Grandma has a nice roommate, who Grandma is just starting to socialize with now. (She was too sick to want to socialize...before). We are taking things one day at a time. Once again, your continued prayers are always appreciated.

TLEW Haunted Train Ride Adventure

Make a Smilebox slideshow

We have planned for some time now to go on an outing with the Kijowski's and their neighbor family to go on the TLEW Haunted Train Ride. I discovered this morning that the kids would need to go in costumes. I started when the kids were very little, having theme halloweens. We've had a Winnie the Pooh, Super Heroes, Rescue Heroes, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Sporty Simons, Star Wars, and M&M Halloweens (to just name a few). This year was no different...we would be the Pirate Family. I raced around town picking up supplies and then it was over to my mom's to whip out some pirate costumes. I had some pirate costumes that I borrowed from a friend of mine and thankfully, I have a talented Mom who can usually come up with something for me. I even did some of the sewing for these costumes. (Any of you who know me well...know that me even being willing to sew is an absolute miracle. I hate it! And find it quite stressful). We were successful and made quite the pirate family. Argghh, Matey!

The TLEW Haunted Train Ride is located out past Waterville. The Bluebird Passenger Train is a diesel train manned by volunteers who endeavor to give you a Halloween adventure filled with cookies & cider, train bandits, monsters, candy and fun! Along with the train ride, there is also a hayride, "haunted house", and a corn maze. It was a beautiful day...blue skies and warm enough not to need jackets. Some of the attractions were "cheesy", but the kids had an enjoyable time and we all spent time together. That is what truly matters!

Our week's adventures

This week has definitely presented us with a unique set of challenges and blessings to say the least. I worked over last weekend, and work has been especially crazy lately. Sadly, sometimes work is my "break away from it all." (Because my own life can be so crazy sometimes). When work gets crazy like this, and we end up with high-acuity, difficult patients...it can be especially taxing on me (because then it is constant go-go-go without much relief for this poor girl). Last weekend was especially trying at work. I came home Sunday morning, helped Jonathan get the boys ready for church. (We didn't think Grandma should go to church this week because she has been coming down with a cold, so she stayed home with me while I slept.) We went to my mom's that evening for supper and had an enjoyable visit. While I was there, I started feeling a headache coming on. We got home, finished Kyle's Egypt project and before I knew it...what was once a headache developed into a migraine. I did my usual remedies, but without much success.

I spent most of the day Monday in bed with this same migraine...intensifying instead of dissipating. Luckily, our census was low enough at work that even though I was scheduled to work on Monday...I was able to get the entire night off. That same night, my girlfriend called and shared with me some of her "marital troubles" and the possibility that she might need a place to stay. I mentioned this to Jonathan. Instantly Jonathan said "Tell them they are welcome to come and stay with us...we don't have much, but we've got couches they can use." We extended the invitation to her and her two children to come and stay with us if the need arose.

On Tuesday, we became a household of ten! The kids were elated. They have grown up with my girlfriend's children and loved the idea of them staying. Grandma didn't seem to mind the added commotion, but at the same time she was acting increasingly more and more confused. I was keeping a close eye on her, since she has come down with a cold and wasn't seeming like her self. I was trying to establish if her confusion resulted from the added commotion to the household, her cold, or if something else might be going on.

I worked Wednesday night.

When I arrived home Thursday morning, Grandma was becoming more and more confused. She also had absolutely no strength in her legs at all. She would struggle to get to the bathroom even with a walker, and then had difficulty re-dressing herself afterwards. I found her on the floor a couple of times, because she had fallen and didn't have the strength to get herself back up. (At this time, I was also trying to get the kids off to school). I kept trying to convince her to stay put and I would take care of her as soon as the kids were gone. Next thing I would know, she would be calling out to me because she couldn't move or had fallen again. ~Sigh! I would then try to help her back up and back into bed, but she was so weak that it would turn in to me practically picking her up and carrying her. It was really starting to hurt my back and shoulders, so I was pushing her to work with me to get her back to bed.

We finally manage to get her to bed and feed her breakfast. I walk back in her room and she is laying down where I left her initially sitting up on her bed. When I asked "why she was laying down when she was trying to eat breakfast?" She replied, "I don't have the strength to sit up on my own. I'm just too weak." I then helped her into a chair where she could sit up and eat breakfast, took her morning medications, and vitamins. I then helped her back in to bed. I put her warm packs on her legs, gave her some Tylenol for the pain and tried to lay down for a couple of hours to give the medications time to kick in and see how she does then and to try to at least get a couple of hours sleep under my belt.

I left my door open, so I could hear her if she needed me. I get up at 12:15 to get her lunch and check on her, and discover her on her bedroom floor. She explained to me that she had to go to the bathroom, couldn't make it back to the bed...so she grabbed her pillow and blanket down and laid on the floor and waited for me until I got up. I immediately called her doctor's office and explained what was happening. They recommended I take her over to the ER.

We then spent the day sitting in Toledo Hospital ER playing the waiting game and having tests done. They admitted her with a urinary tract infection (which doesn't surprise me). Our hopes are that now that she is in the hospital, we can help expedite some of the procedures and surgeries we have been waiting on for so long. These last couple of months she has lost more and more of her ability to care for herself because of this chronic pain and weakness in her legs. She is desperate to have the doctors "do something", so that she doesn't continue to suffer like this. Please keep Grandma and all of us (for that matter) in your prayers.

With all of the adventures of the day...I ended up having to call in sick to work Thursday night. There was no way that I was going to be a safe practioner with only 2 hours of sleep. Which in the long run was a blessing in disguise, because I was running on empty and had nothing left in me...I knew if I tried to force myself to go in to work after our day, I would surely end up sick myself.

Jonathan has been absolutely amazing through this entire process. Having Grandma come and stay with us and then allowing my girlfriend and her children to come and stay with us has put a lot more stress on him, too. He has to take over the care for Grandma when I'm not here on top of taking care of the boys and all of their activities and needs. My girlfriend works second shift...so when she has had to work this week and I've been called away with work or taking care of Grandma, Jon has stepped in and valiantly and cheerfully taken on all of the responsibilities of Grandma, our kids, and my girlfriend's kids. I know it has been exhausting for him as well, but he has tried to help however he can. I came home last night to homework done, kids fed, and the house picked up. He was concerned for me and made sure I was fed and cared for when I got home around 8 pm...absolutely exhausted! He then got the kids off to bed and then we were able to spend a little time together. Now that's romance!

New 2008 Presidential Candidate

With the upcoming election coming closer, I have many inquiring just who I am favoring in this Presidential Candidacy. I think I may have found the one :)

http://www.tsgnet.com/pres.php?id=370743&altf=Mftmjf&altl=Mblf

(Click on the address and you'll see who)

Kyle's Egypt Project

Kyle is doing a school project on Egyptian Gods and Goddesses for his Social Studies class. He is writing a report on the religious beliefs of Egyptians. As part of the assignment Kyle needed to create a visual model. Kyle and Daddy rolling out the clay
This is Kyle's representation of the symbol that typically identifies "Ra" the Egyptian Sun God

Good job Kyle!

Meet Panda

Nicholas was quite distraught over the loss of Gerby. When he was initially informed of Gerby's passing, the only thing he said was "Awww!" Immediately followed by, "Can I still play on the computer?" But as time progressed, the reality hit him and he was very sad to lose his little friend.

The sadness intensified the next morning when he discovered Gerby's babies had died as well. He requested that we go back to the pet store to get another hamster friend for him. He went and picked out another hamster. (We can only hope that this one isn't pregnant and is indeed a boy.!It is hard to tell the sex. They almost look like they have both parts.) "Panda" is a Panda Bear Hamster and he is very sweet. He enjoys crawling all over Nicholas and tolerates Nicholas' handling better than Gerby did (perhaps because she was pregnant). He is very cuddly with me and likes to curl up in my hands and fall asleep. Nicholas is definitely enjoying the adventures that he and Panda are able to have now.

Nicholas showing off his friend
They are called Panda Hamsters because of their resemblance to a Panda Bear
Nicholas watching Panda explore my bed

RIP

We were faced with a tragedy of sorts today. As many of you know, Nicholas' Gerby who turned out to be a girl had a litter of 8-10 babies on Sunday. We checked on her a few times a day to see how she was doing...and she was trudging along. She was always with her babies unless she was eating or drinking and those babies were ALWAYS nursing. Today we found her not moving and away from the babies. Upon investigation, we discovered that Gerby had passed away. This was distressing for many reasons...but primarily because we still had six surviving babies that we haven't the slightest idea how to care for. Jonathan took the whole cage over to Pet Supplies Plus to find out what happened and what we could do. They speculate that Gerby died from so much demand on her...she just couldn't keep up with it. We asked if there was a surrogate mommy we could put the hamsters with? Nope. Would they take them? Nope. They suggested we could give them to someone who has a snake and they could be a meal for the snake. According to the pet store that would be more humane than allowing the babies to simply starve to death. We didn't stomach that option very well and didn't think that it would go over well with the kids at all. So we tried syringe feeding these tiny naked hamsters every 2-3 hours, trying to keep them warm on a warm pack, and seeing what we can do to try to save them. It is helping distract Nicholas from losing Gerby. Poor little guy! (We didn't have much luck because they were all gone by morning...*SIGH*at least we tried)

Poor Jonathan! This would happen on my weekend to work...therefore, I'm not even at home to help deal with all of this commotion.

The girl has skills

I have developed a skill over the years, that many of you may not know about. I have been cutting the hair of the boys/men in my family for the last few years. It started with only being able to use clippers and cut bangs...and through a little experimentation and watching others. I have gotten to the place where I can do this. (It helps to have such a good looking model to work with :)

Due to the curse of being prematurely gray and not wanting to pay salon prices for hair coloring, I have gotten good at hair coloring my own hair and the hair of others, as well. Grandma is grateful for this skill...since she hates how washed out her gray hair makes her appear. Pretty cool, huh?

What makes a good parent?

(Luke's teacher sent this paragraph he wrote in school home...knowing we would love to know what he wrote.)

"What makes a good parent?" "My parents are good parents. My mom and dad cook dinner. My mom helps me with my homework. My mom and dad buy me everything I need. This is why my parents are good parents."

These words might seem simple to you, but in this sometimes thankless job we do as parents...these moments when what we do is acknowledged feels nice. Over the years, Luke's little gifts like these have always been tender and heartfelt.

Luke is my child that often times feels slighted, or claims that "things aren't fair." I've said for many years that "if Luke could've been an only child...he wouldn't ever had anything to complain about and would be the perfect child." I learned long ago not to kill myself trying to make things fair in Luke's eyes...because regardless of what I do, "not fair" usually means "he isn't the only one getting everything that his heart desires or things aren't exactly the way he wants."

In these moments when he says "Hey mom and dad...thanks!", we basque in the momentary gratitude. We are thankful for you too, Luke!

Say what?

We spent a lovely Sunday over at Jeff and Denise's watching General Conference together, having brunch, visiting, and following everything up with a yummy supper. This is one of our many family traditions. The kids love any time that we go to Jeff and Denise's place and they can spend time with their cousins. Everyone enjoyed themselves!

We arrive home around 8:30 pm and the boys went in to check on the hamster first thing...as always. Nicholas comes running out yelling "Mommy, Mommy...Gerby is a girl, Mommy! She had babies!" Stunned, I asked "You're kidding me right?" (Remember this hamster was supposedly a boy). I went in to discover that the hamster was indeed a mommy and without being able to actually count...we believe there are 8-10 babies. GRRRR!

I am later informed that when Jonathan went to PetSmart they stated that all of the hamsters were boys...so customers wouldn't have this problem. He assumed that Pet Supplies Plus (where he ended up getting Gerby) had the same policy. Apparently not! I wonder if I can hold them responsible for taking in these babies when they are old enough...since this is obviously their fault? Why do you think we only got one?

So now we have to not only read about raising these little critters, but find homes for all of them (I imagine the likelihood of Pet Supplies Plus taking these babies is pretty slim). The kids want to keep them all (of course)...Jonathan and I both simultaneously responded with an emphatic "NO!"

Anyone want a hamster? Come on...you know you do :)

Gerby watching over her babies
Little naked, rodents...I mean babies!

A couple of handsome boys

Dylan and Kyle ready to go to Priesthood session with Dad, Uncle Jeff and Uncle Mike
Kyle
Dylan~as close to a smile as I could get. He claims "he doesn't smile anymore."

Date Night

Today, to my pleasant surprise, after I arose from sleeping the day away (I worked last night)...I discovered that Jonathan had arranged for my mom to babysit the kids, so that we could have a date night (we haven't been able to go on a date since before Grandma came to stay with us).

We made sure Grandma had a yummy supper and then we took the rest of the fam to Burger King (we are trying to avoid fast food as much as possible for Grandma and her poor, aging ol' body). We enjoyed a scrumptious Burger King Steakhouse Mushroom Burger and then dropped the kids off to my mom. In all of Jon's graciousness, Jon recommended that we go watch "Nights in Rodanthe", a recent movie that has been released starring Diane Lane and Richard Gere, based on a Nicholas Sparks novel (one of my all time favorite authors). If you haven't already figured it out...it's a total chic flick, but Jonathan knew that I was very excited for this movie's release. This movie would be far from Jonathan's first choices in movies he would want to see for himself..but the man is quite "soft" for me and wants nothing more than for me to have a little pampering and be happy. So "Nights in Rodanthe" it was.

I read this novel back in 2002, when it was first released. So, I knew the basic story line of the movie, but it had been long enough to make much of the movie very enjoyable...vaguely familiar, but not predictable. They chose perfect actors to portray Nicholas Sparks' characters. The minute I saw the trailer for the movie...I knew it was going to be good. They did a nice job with the movie and we both enjoyed it...or at least Jonathan pretended to enjoy it. I cried during the ending, which doesn't even make Jonathan flinch anymore...he is so used to my "sensitivity" by now.

As the movie ended, I was struck with the profound sense of what a great husband I have. After a couple of years of focusing on all of this man's downfalls...I am overcome with the many thoughtful, kind, quiet attributes that he has. Much of his "greatness" is revealed when he simply does things, because he wants nothing more than for me to know of his complete devotion and endless love for me. I am one lucky girl! (Once again...I'm sure glad we made it!)