October 20th Daybook

Curtis is definetly completely over his pain. We are so thankful that he is completely healed and no longer hurting. It was rough to see him go through that healing process. So thankful that he is back to our sweet, happy, energetic, big man again!

I'm Thinking: About the stages of life. How quickly they pass by and how I want to savor every second of each one with both of my boys. My neices and nephews and my boys just grow up way too fast. Sometimes I find myself ready to "move on" to the next phase (read...challenging twos) but really I LOVE watching kids grow and change and I am most definitely going to enjoy the entire journey...not just the "easy" phases.

I'm listening to: The sounds of a curious...sometimes mischevious little man playing with everything in our house that isn't a toy. And the leaves rustling about outside. Love having the window open!

From the Kitchen: A pot roast and sweet potatoes tonight. Jacobs last night in town so we are going to enjoy this cool weather with a nice warm meal. I'm eager to get out my taco soup recipe soon too. Also, been thinking about making my sweet potato bread soon. This cool weather makes me want to bake something for sure.

Outside my window: Its cold! Yesterday was the first day we could finally open up our windows and enjoy fall. I'm sure it wont stick around for too long so we better soak it up while we can!

I'm wearing: my favorite PJ's. I got really excited this morning when I realized it was finally cold enough to pull out my winter PJ's. I love my super soft long sleeve black ones. Definitely going to be wearing those as often as possible.

To live the liturgy: We FINALLY got back to our evening family rosary. We have missed this terribly and tried to bring it back a few times already. We are forging ahead with this instrumental prayer and making it happen. No. Matter. What.

I'm praying for: Safe travels for the Groves. We CAN NOT WAIT to see our dear friends!!! We discuss the plans and the timeline at least three times a day around here. Everyone is eagerly anticipating the reunion.

For NFP at St. Laurence. We are really hoping to get all three classes required for all engaged couples and have a meeting set up with our priest in December. Wont you please join me in prayer for that?!

For Jacob, Travis, and Mike as they head to New Orleans to celebrate their 30th birthdays. I'm praying this trip is as epic as the trips they took for their 18th and 21st birthdays. They are such a wonderful testament to true friendship. They have been through a lot together and we are so thankful for their continued presence in our family!

I'm thankful for: Jacobs job. It has been really busy and stressful and overwhelming this year for Jacob. Yet, I know that we are so blessed by the perks of the travel and the flexibility of being "his own boss". He got an award yesterday and his sweet boss made sure to tell him that his wife and children were recieving the award too. Its nice to realize that as hard as he is working, he is being appreciated and that they realize he is making a lot of sacrifices to provide for his family.

Around the house: Our kitchen table is absolutely filthy. I think Nicholas has shoved yogurt in every crevice of his corner of the table. I have got to get on that today! I finally got out my fall decorations yesterday too. All five of them :)

Some plans for the rest of the week: Soccer practice tonight. Sending Jacob off to New Orleans tonight. Zoo Boo tomorrow with Jessica. More Soccer this weekend. Seeing my first God Daughter next week. Been way too long!

A picture thought worth sharing: Nicholas loves nap time. This particular day he couldn't wait for us to be ready for naps. He found a nice place to rest :)

Hanging in there

We found out all too quickly that day one post surgery was the easy part!! Apparently when you are doped up on medicine a hamburger goes down no problem! Curtis has been totally melting down every four hours on the dot for the past few days...just in time to get his medicine again. Poor guy isn't eating much still and cringes as he swallows. Its awful to see him in so much pain. So we are taking it easy and drinking lots and watching lots of movies.

I feel like I am surrounded by baby girls these days. My cousin Megan just delivered her first little joy, baby Claire. Tommy and Kelli found out they are having a girl (the first girl on our block!). And a dear friend from highschool just delivered her baby girl today. Ohhhh as if my four nieces weren't enough to make me want to make bows and bedazzle everything in sight! Here I am bedazzled for my job as "manager" of Curtis's soccer team, the Crocodiles.

I made a shirt for Nicholas to cheer on Curtis's soccer team as well. Its as masculine as I could made it. Jacob says it won't be long until I can't bedazzle him anymore. So be prepared all you loved ones with squishy little girls. I am on a creative pink rampage!! Heres the shirt. Isn't he adorable???

He cheered the entire game. And danced. And ran on to the field at least a dozen times. "GO DILLES" (crocodiles) adorable!

Bet you're wondering what about Jacob?! I asked Jacob if he wanted a shirt and got a less than polite response. Then we showed up to the game and wouldn't you know it, there was a bedazzled dad with a "billy's dad" shirt on. Oh he got an ear full about that one. It is super hard to homemake mens shirts though. I tried to convince him to at least let me add a soccer ball to his polo. Got a big "NO" on that one too! So instead he just cheered twice as loud!

We are nearly certain that Curtis will be able to play in his second practice and game this week. We thought it would be a struggle to convince him not to play last week. Fortunately/unfortunate he felt so awful he had no desire to run or kick at all. But he did enjoy having his name announced before the game started. The coach said he was on "injured reserve" it was pretty cute.

Best moment of the game was by far when the coaches daughter refused to play goalie. She sat by the goal and watched while the other team scored twice in 10 seconds :) Oh and the little guy that scored the first goal of the game in his own goal. That was pretty cute too! I can't wait to see what Curtis does next week when he finally gets to play.

Such a TROPPER!

Our little man was SUCH a great patient today! We were so very proud of him as he got his tonsils and adnoids removed at Texas Childrens Hospital. We spent a lot of time preparing him for what he was going to experience today in hopes of a good experience. He was above and beyond brave today...honestly I could have taken a lesson from him...I was definitely not as brave for my surgery! He never complained about not getting to eat or drink for over twelve hours. He said "yes mam" and "yes sir" to all the nurses and doctors and rode off on his tractor to the OR happy as can be after a kiss from Mom and Dad. Soft Dog, his loyal companion, even got his own hospital bracelet so he could go to the OR with Curtis. He had a few tough minutes coming out of the anesthesia and was in a lot of pain and very much "out of it". Thankfully this passed as soon as the nurse gave him some extra pain medicine. Honestly he has hardly complained since and we haven't had any tears since then. He ate a hamburger for lunch! What a big boy! Now the trick is going to be getting him to sit still for a week...lots of movies in his future! Thanks to everyone for their prayers!
Here he is with Mom and Dad just about an hour after surgery. We left about an hour after this picture was taken. He still looks a little out of it but mustered up a bit of a smile.And here is the king in his chariot! He was pretty excited about getting to ride in the wheel chair and kept asking me to take pictures of him. I LOVE how tiny he looks in this big chair, look at his little legs dangling there!

Daybook September 24th

I'm reading: Hooked on Phonics? I'm still trying to balance myself with my home school responsibilities. I am totally floundering this week. I am still a newbie so I will remain patient with myself...that's my mantra these days :)

From the kitchen: Lots of Italian. Padre Pio party was fantastic and left us with some great left overs to recreate into fun new dishes. I am definitely trying to get creative :)

I'm thinking: About how to better utilize my time. I'm really trying to keep our family reigned in so we can stay on course and get a great start to schooling. This week took us out of the house A LOT so things felt a bit chaotic. Things didn't go the way I was hoping they would this week so now I need to reassess and alter.

I'm thankful for: Survival. The Melanoma run was this morning. I stood in line waiting for an awareness bracelet for about ten minutes. Next to the bracelets was a sign for people to write the names of people they were walking in memory of. Lots of names on that board and lots of tears by those who wrote them. There were also far too many children wearing lavender shirts (survivors) vs. white shirts (supporters) not to get choked up. I was so very happy to be able to run for such a great cause. It is really surreal to be running in this race just four months after my surgery. There was A LOT to be thankful for this morning!

I'm hoping and Praying: For Lila & Jeff & Gianna and a great start for a beautiful family!
For Kelly as she chases three boys and gags back her breakfast (#4 on the way!)
For Curtis and his meanie tonsils...hes really struggling to manage his pain and his behavior...
Safe travels for our family to ABQ next week
For hope and RCIA

Around the house: I hosted a fantastically fun party here on Tuesday. We had a crew of 23 kids aged seven and under. It was an absolute blast, a houseful of kids brings such sweet innocence and joy into a home it really is infectious! My roomba worked overtime trying to collect all the sand after everyone left. It was a really good excuse to scrub the floors and I'm happy to say things are no longer "beachy" around here.

Growing Up

Oh how my sweet boys are growing up! This picture was taken for their joint super hero birthday party last year. I took this one yesterday during a dress up session. My what a difference a year makes! Don't you love Nicks "smile" that's his awesome little cheese face. It is the new face of Nicholas in every single one of the pictures we have of him recently. Cracks. me. up!

Rebirth, Revival, Really fun RUN!

yahoo for free beer! I run and they all drink :)

Just after finishing the run
Here I am waiting for the race to begin notice I was right up there with the big guys :)

Lots more pictures up on our Shutterfly site

I had the joy of running the Galveston Re-birth Revival Race again this year. I ran it last year and it was my very first race. This year it was my first race after the heat stroke and after the melanoma. I had an absolute blast and exceeded my own expectations as far as time goes. I was super happy about running 2 minutes and 17 seconds faster than I did last year. It was a wonderful day surrounded by my super supportive family.

September 10th Daybook

Outside my window: is a beautiful morning! I could really get used to fall being here! The boys and I have lived outside this week and we are all happier because of it!

I'm pondering: the 10th anniversary of 9/11...where I was and what I was doing and what a crucial turning point this was in Jacob and I's relationship. I was blundering about only a few weeks into my freshman year at Baylor. Not really sure what a terrorist was and hoping and praying that maybe it was all just a flight pattern mistake (denial much?!)? I wanted nothing more than to be back at home with my parents that morning. I thought of my best friend from high school who was to be sworn into the Air Force on that very morning. I thought what in the world should I do on this historical day? So I sat in my room and cried and thought about my family and my friends and prayed no one I knew would be the next target. I'm not sure a single unselfish thought had yet entered my mind. In swoops my knight in shinning armor, as always Jacob was there with a clear mind. We (the large group of friends Jacob picked up and asked to join him) stood in a line around the Waco red cross waiting to give blood that day. I will never forget the way I looked at Jacob that day and realized what an outstanding MAN he was and always had been. I was so thankful that he took me out of my own selfish thoughts and focused me back on the bigger picture and how I could help. This was the first of millions of instances where my dear husband has saved me. I am so blessed!

I'm listening to: quiet...what a rare treat in a house of rambunctious boys!

I'm wearing: My PJ's its still pretty early and we have been up for awhile already :)

I'm thankful for: all of our service men and women. For the courageous people that put their life on the line everyday to assure another 9/11 never happens. For their heroic service to America. I am so thankful there are people SO much braver than myself who didn't retreat to selfish thoughts that day and ran right into that collapsing building.

From the kitchen: Lots of delicious meals this week. I made a new asian inspired salad and chicken dish this week. Its rare that I add a new menu item around here but I think the spicy peanut chicken is here to stay!

I'm thinking: About my come back to racing tonight. I am eager to get out there and RUN! I can't help but feel a bit nervous about the day. I have quite a few phone calls to make when I am done with my race, lots of friends and family casually threw in comments like "make sure you give me a call when your done...just to make sure your okay" The accident is still pretty fresh in my mind too. Its going to be a great day of physical and mental recovery. I am so looking forward to the thrill of a race!

Towards education: We had a great week of school around here. Lots of Seaton math, hooked on phonics K, hand writting without tears, Seaton Science...it was FUN! I need to throw in some calendar work next week and tweak the hooked on phonics a bit but over all it went really well.

Towards Rhythm and Beauty: same as last week...working on a schedule that is flexible enough yet structured enough to keep us all accountable. Working on some beauty around here today too. Doing some re-arranging in preparation for our boys to get their bunk beds installed!

To live the liturgy: Friday morning mass was a real challenge this week. It means too much to me to give up going with my boys and I am so thankful we have made this a staple in our week. BUT...sometimes I think the graces I get from mass are directly cancelled by the sins I wrack up loosing my patience with a wiggly and screaming little monkey in the cry room!

I am hoping and praying:
For Jessica on her one year anniversary of her blood clot. Praising God shes here to tell the tale!
A safe and fun race tonight
Patience and diligence as we are homeschooling newbies
For Lily on her birthday week, our first birthday to not be with her....oh how we miss you all!!
For the horrendous forest fires raging all around us this week
For so many little friends that started school for the first time this week

Around the house: Things are looking good around here. I find that since we aren't here much I have gotten much more efficient with my cleaning time. This place was whipped into shape pretty quickly this week. Curtis is helping out a lot these days and that has been wonderful as well!

One of my favorite things: Looking at pictures of this day last year. Curtis and I were talking about my race today and he couldn't remember all the details. We pulled up the pictures on our computer and relished in the sweet chubbiness of Nicholas's cheeks. I hope Curtis has as much fun this year as he did last year!

A few plans for the rest of the week: School and hopefully lots of it! Zoo date with Kristy and Dan on Monday. SOOO looking foward to seeing the Schwartz clan! Ein Karim on Tuesday, Pastoral Council Tuesday night, Dinner date with friends Wednesday, and Baylor football next weekend!!!

A picture thought worth sharing: