Summertime

"What time is it? --- Summertime!"

And summer break begins....

So far so good.

School was done on Friday. Happy to have our children home with me.

Happy to have late nights and late mornings. (If 6:00am can count as late.)

I will miss most of our children's teachers.

We had a couple that I truly hope to spend another year with in the future.

On Saturday we had an amazing day in Chicago.

Go White Sox!

It was a long game - 12 innings - and we ended up losing, but

all in all it was a fun game. Exciting!

The tickets for all of us, the parking pass, and enough Sox Bucks to keep everyone happy were given to us. Wonderful gift! Perfect gift!

On Sunday we spent the day in the front yard playing in the kiddie pool.

The weather has been beautiful!

On Monday we celebrated my husband's birthday.

The rest of this week looks gorgeous and we will spend it

keeping our home picked up and spending time together outside.

Cameron is almost 1 year old!

He is taking a few steps and finally eating food.

He spent the first 11 months only nursing - would not eat baby food!

He has never eaten a jar of food.

A bite or 2 and then he was done. No interest.

But now that I can give him whatever I am eating, he loves to eat!

Certainly been a money saver I guess.

Jacob got his first haircut at 2 1/2 years old.

I went upstairs to take a quick shower when my oldest got home from his finals. When I came down, Jacob announced that he had cut his hair.

I was very upset. I loved his long hair. It was gone.

Later when our other children got home our oldest daughter pointed out to me that our 4 year old Sarah cut her hair too.

That's when I asked Jacob who really cut his hair.

He said, "Sarah."

Sarah hung her head down and cried.

Then Jacob walked over to his toy fire truck, lifted up the seat, and showed us the pile of hair hidden inside.

I will note here that Tom was very happy that Jacob got a haircut.

I took him to the salon I go to and had his haircut fixed.

He was very good. Sat perfectly still. No wonder Sarah was able to cut his hair.

He does look cute, but I will miss his curls.

Oh well. It's only hair right?

Maybe Cameron will have curls.

Our 2nd child got into his school's musical again.

He has made it every year.

I love that he is not shy when it comes to being on a stage.

I'd like for all of our children to have that self-confidence.

I am starting most of them on music lessons this summer.

Some guitar. Some piano. Some vocals.

Leah wrote a song and was "belting" it out.

It is very catchy. I'll have to try and post her singing it.

May our summer continue to go well.

Our daughters are playing very well together.

So glad they have each other.

And our sons are getting along too.

Our oldest, Brandon is spending time with our 3rd, Noah.

He is teaching him how to use a ripstick.

It's great to see them working together.

Our Journey 2011

"God gave me you for the ups and downs."

I made a video for Tommy for Valentines Day last year. 

I have been messing around trying to put  the video on here.

I have no idea what I am doing wrong.

I'll have to ask my children how to do it :o)

So for now I put it on YouTube.

Well, I put it on my son's YouTube account. 

Not sure how that happened.

Again, I'll have to ask my children.

http://youtu.be/E4lhPw2E_dc

Hmm....not sure how to take off all the empty space at the end or

how to make the link better.

Work in progress I guess.

Catch Up

"Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures forever."

It has been a long time since I have sat down with my laptop.

We've been very busy doing some home improvements.

I love it, but now I'm just waiting for someone to stain our new carpet or couch and someone to nick our newly painted walls.

It was a lot of work! And well worth it!

We still have a ton of organizing to do. We are really trying to cut back on the stuff in our home. I want to try and teach our children to focus on what is really important in life rather than the materialistic things in life.

But now our basement and garage are filled!

We wanted to spend the weekend putting our home back together, but I was hit hard with mastitis suddenly on Friday night. (A boo boo from nursing.)

My body started aching all over, I got chills and a fever.

Then the "pain" got unbearable. I went to the doctor and got put on

antibiotics right away.

So now I'm feeling better, but on my own to go through everything.

I will. I'm going to try and be strong & picky.

Some highlights of the last couple of weeks...

After one of the days spent painting, I got myself a "drink."

Our oldest son Brandon asked me, "What are you drinking?"

I told him I am an adult. I'm allowed.

He smiled and said, "I am actually happy to see you drinking. It means you're not pregnant."

Guess I should expect that from my oldest of 8.

Our 4 year old daughter Sarah was asking Tom to go upstairs with her and tuck her in to bed one night. Tom told her he couldn't go up right then and that he'd be up soon. Sarah whined a little bit more trying to get Tom to go up right then.

Finally she "gave up" and walked around the room giving everyone a goodnight kiss - everyone but Tom. Sarah started going upstairs when Tom asked her where his kiss was. Sarah looked back and with a sweet little smile said,

"Your kiss Daddy...is upstairs."

She played that very well.

Sarah also learned to ride a 2-wheeler. Yay Sarah!

Rachel decided she was going to teach Sarah and within a half hour, she did it!

Now Sarah can't get enough of riding her bike. She is a pro!

Little Miss Leah lost another tooth.

Her first top one.

But she swallowed it.

We were eating dinner. Rachel was sitting across from Leah.

Suddenly Rachel announces, "Leah your tooth is gone!"

And, well, yes it was.

Leah wrote a note to the tooth fairy explaining that she had swallowed her tooth. The tooth fairy was kind enough to still leave a dollar filled with fairy dust.

Cameron has started eating a little bit of "real food."

He still prefers nursing over everything else, but he does open his

mouth when I offer him some of the food on my plate.

He is pulling himself up to stand. He is almost ready to start walking.

(He does dance when he hears music.)

Jacob is really talking now. And he is all boy!

He loves cars and swords and wrestling around with his brothers.

Brandon, Ethan, and Noah are doing a great job "raising" my little boy. 



Easter 2012

"Never ignore a person who loves you, cares for you, and misses you. One day you might wake up and realize you lost the moon while counting the stars."

It took over a week to get my results.

Things look the same as last time, but now they have all the numbers they need.

I will go back in 6 to 9 months for another echo then we will go from there.

We had a nice Easter.

Our family went to church for confession the week before.

On Good Friday we went to our church for the Stations of the Cross done by the Youth Group. Our children Ethan and Rachel sang with the choir. The Youth Choir always sounds so beautiful.

Then on Sunday we celebrated Jesus' Resurrection, Easter.

Our children woke us up early - with coffee in bed - and waited for

Tom and I to come downstairs before digging into their baskets.

After checking out their goodies, we got ready for mass. We were able to walk to church. The weather was beautiful and we were actually ready to go early enough that we had time to walk.

Monsignor's Homily was very good. He talked about Heaven and how it is a place we all want to get to someday, but understandably, none of us are in a hurry to get there. That is because or our relationships we have here on Earth.

So true.

The people in our lives should be the most important part.

And just a personal "vent" just to get this out of my head...

I was just browsing on Facebook while nursing Cameron.

I read one of the most disturbing things I have ever read.

Someone posted an article about abortion.

There was a quote about someone wishing to speak to all the babies killed ever since abortion was made legal.

One of the replies after that was "Well then you'll have to travel to hell first because that's where all the unsaved go."

Why would someone say that? I was so upset by that statement. Is it all just a joke? One woman wrote about having a mass hysterectomy day just so women can have control over their own bodies. Ok - That's a bit extreme.

Just disturbing.

Cameron is snuggled in my arms right now.

He is getting so big - and it is all "me."

Cam refuses to eat anything! All he wants is to nurse.

He will "gag" on cereal, fruit,...I got him to eat two bites of yogurt yesterday. Today he took one little bite and no more.

He is growing and doing well so I'm trying not to worry. I will just try a little something with him every day.

He is standing and cruising along our furniture.

He will be walking before we know it!

Cameron's Prayers

"God speaks in the silence of the heart. Listening is the beginning of prayer."

Wednesday was a busy day.

Woke up to wish our oldest child a very happy 16th birthday!

He's a wonderful son. He even let me put a candle in his waffle.

Then I was off for my Heart Echo and Stress tests.

Tom took me.

I don't do well going to the doctor. I'm kind of a mess.

I was nervous - always am.

Anyways, Tom took Jacob and Cameron to the cafeteria while I did my tests.

The ladies that did my test were great. Very friendly and made me feel very comfortable. I will get the results next week.

While I was doing my test Tom called the pediatrician to make an appointment for our 9 mth old Cameron.

Cameron had had a fever for a couple of days, but acting fine. Then at around 2:00 am Wednesday, his fever went to 104.6. He was crying and couldn't eat.

(I nurse him.) You could tell he wanted to eat, but he just couldn't.

I called the emergency pediatrician number and spoke to a doctor.

He told me I could give a little more medicine, but if the fever went over 105 I should take Cam to the ER. Otherwise, make an appointment for the next day.

The little bit more medicine worked and Cam's fever went down.

Tom told me he got a 2:30 appointment.

We went to the store then went home to hang outside in the

beautiful 80 degrees and wait for Sarah to get home.

While we were outside I heard our phone ring. I went in and whoever had called had hung up. I looked at caller ID and saw that it was our pediatrician's office.

I was hoping there had been a cancellation and we could go earlier so I called them back. The receptionist told me that no one had called that she was aware of. I told her how I had hoped it was for an earlier time, but that we'd be there at 2:30. She put me on hold then came back to tell me that we were not down for an appointment in their office. Our appointment had been made for a different office - one much further away. When Tom couldn't find the phone number, he just redialed the one I had called at 2:30 in the morning. That's the emergency number at night and the other office during the day.

So she said she'd call the other office and cancel for me and she had an appointment with Cam's regular doctor at 1:30.

I think a little angel had made our phone ring.

So we took Cameron to the doctor.

They took a blood sample and a urine sample.

Poor little guy.

The urine was fine, but would be sent for culture.

The blood showed a high white blood count.

The highest normal is 11,000. Cameron's was 27,000.

The doctor sent us to the hospital for more tests.

(I would like to note here...don't google symptoms!!!)

At the hospital, we had an x-ray of Cam's chest done, a nasal swab for viruses, and more blood drawn. I tried very hard not to cry through all of this, but I did lose it a little. Especially when the nurse taking his blood said, "Wow that's high!" when she heard his blood count. She even expressed just how high that was when another nurse came in to help.

We left and picked up an antibiotic for Cameron.

They wanted to start one just in case.

I dropped off Tom and Jakey and Sarah at home.

It was Brandon's birthday so Tom wanted to get the grill started.

We were making Chicago Style Hot Dogs. Yum.

I kept Cam with me and went to Sarah's preschool to her conference.

Sarah is an August baby so we aren't sure if we should hold her back or send her to Kindergarten.

Right before walking in, Cam's doctor called. All tests were negative so far.

I would hear more the next day.

On Thursday, Cam's doctor called me in the morning.

Still nothing, but wanted me to come in the next day to check Cam's white blood count again. He was leaving town, so he updated another doctor.

So today is Friday and I took Cameron in.

All tests came back negative, his fever is gone, and his white blood count is back to normal.

God is good :o)

I believe our prayers were heard and answered quickly.

I think God knows I just couldn't handle anymore.

Now I wait for my results and pray they are good too.

Cameron

Cardiologist

"Remember this. When people choose to withdraw far from a fire, the fire continues to give warmth, but they grow cold. When people choose to withdraw far from the light, the light continues to be bright in itself, but they are in the darkness. This is also the case when people withdraw from God."

I met with my Cardiologist.

Tom went with me.

They did an EKG while I was there and checked my oxygen.

My blood pressure was back to where it normally is, so that was good.

I liked my doctor.

He was pretty relaxed about everything and wants to have another Echo done by another tech. This time I will have a stress test done too.

Tom and I felt a bit of relief after this visit.

My Tommy even had tears running down his cheeks when the doctor left the room. My husband is a very strong man and he didn't let me see how worried he has been. These tears were the ones he had been holding in so that I wouldn't get scared. He is my rock here on earth.

So next week I will go have the tests done.

My prayer is that my body is healthy so that I may be a good wife and mother.

I tease Tommy about my talks with God.

My body being made healthy again might be a "sign" that we

should add to our family - if it is God's will.

Tom would prefer I stop having these chats / thoughts :o)

He usually asks me how my bench is looking too.

We do love our children. Each one. Dearly.

Family is the most important "thing" here on earth to me.

I am thankful for what and who God has blessed me with.

Sometimes I read things on Facebook or on the internet that frustrate me.

Today there was an unkind opinion of people I feel I am part of.

There are groups that talk about caring about the health of women.

Possibly saving their lives.

That is all wonderful.

I agree that we should take care of ourselves.

We should take care of others.

And we should help each other out.

But then these groups also believe that life, that is just beginning, is a choice for them to make. How can one pray to God for their life to be healthy and continue to live on - while basically telling God that this other life is their choice? They want to have the right to decide whether or not that other life should continue to live on.
How can one ask for something they are not willing to give?

I don't understand.

Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.

How can one say their life is more precious than another?

At some point our life here on earth will end.

It's going to happen.

What is going to really matter then?

Tuesday

"Faith is not without worry or care, but faith is fear that has said a prayer."

Tuesday.

Tuesday I had my echocardiagram done.

I woke up early enough to help Tom get everyone ready for school then go to mass. Mass was a great way to start my day.

During the Homily, we were told that when we say the Our Father, we need to say it and feel it in our heart.

Since I was praying about my heart, that really stayed with me.

Backtrack - about a year ago a friend of mine asked me if I saw something by the Crucifix that hangs over the altar at our church.

I told her no and from then on I have been staring up there trying to figure out why she asked me that.

Well, on Tuesday, while we were all praying the Our Father, I saw it.

It was amazing!

I know many from my church read this, so I won't say what I saw just yet.

Why? Because I found it even more amazing that I didn't know what I was looking for - and then to hear that I saw what others have seen - made it more "special."

After mass I asked our Monsignor if he could say a blessing over me before I left for my test. He did. I still felt nervous, but better.

I left our church to go home and told God "Thank you."

I went home and sat down by Tommy on our couch.

After a moment, I smiled at Tom and whispered, "I need to tell you something."

He looked at me and I told him about how my friend had asked me awhile ago if I saw anything and how I had been looking ever since.

I told him that I saw it that morning.

Tom looked at me and said, "You saw ______."

I said, "Yes!!!"

I asked him if he had heard about it and he said no, but he had seen the same thing on Sunday while we were at mass. He was feeling very stressed that morning and when he looked up at our Crucifix, he saw the same as I had.

I had goosebumps all over.

I felt such joy.

So I went to my test knowing that God was with me and all would be ok.

But maybe not yet.

I got the call today.

There are some concerns with my heart and I will be seeing a Cardiologist next week. I am trying to stay calm and positive. Trying to not go "numb" so that I can still function as a mother.

I try to remember that this was found by "accident" and that maybe this

is just something I will go through and all will be ok eventually.

I pray for a good doctor.

I pray for him to make the right decisions.

I pray that all will be ok.