Fridgid Remiders of Winter

Day 33 of 365

Mother Nature sure isn't letting up easily this winter. She keeps on throwing snowballs and spitting sleet and ice. Cabin fever is running rampant and I didn't even want to get outside today to get a picture of the icicles - so the shot was taken from the back patio door. It's been snowing all day today and isn't supposed to stop until tomorrow morning sometime. There's also supposed to be snow on and off all week. Hubby and I are ready for spring, as are the kids...

Tractors are Green

Day 32 of 365

There is just something about a bond that is formed between a mother and her son. I just adore my little man to death, as I do both of my girls. But the relationship I have with my little man is so much different than what I have with the girls. There are days (okay, many days) that he would rather have his daddy than he would have anything to do with his mom, but the days that he does want and need me, melt my heart. Another thing about having a little boy is the over abundance of trucks, tractors, cars and trains that consumes a little boy and fills the shelves in their room. Every time I trip over a tractor, or truck or train... it reminds me of the love my little man has for me, and the love I share with him.

Kids Go Bowling

Day 31 of 365

The cabin fever has been kicking in and the kids have been getting restless. So we took them bowling today, and they had a blast. A little pizza bowling party was just what was needed. I didn't bowl, however, I helped the kids out. :)

Stress Fracture

Day 30 of 365

It's been about two weeks that it has been aching, hurting and preventing any sort of activity that is vigorous. Walking is just perfectly fine. But anything other than a walk. Forget it. So, my wonderful hubby had convinced me to go see a Sports Medicine doc and go over what really truly is the underlying issue here. I can tell you that I was not at all impressed with the end result and am not at all looking forward to next Tuesday when I have to go in and see the doc for the results of all the tests today, and I sure as heck hope I can still run my 5k in April with my aunt Val.

The appointment started off with a wonderful bunch of pokes and prods and then I was sent to x-ray. Where they run some scans and then I went back to see the doc. The x-ray didn't show anything, but the doc said that only one out of three stress fractures actually show up on an x-ray so he sent me to get some bone scans. I was injected with this wonderful little radioactive dye and sent on my way with instruction to come back three hours later for a scan. I ran some errands, dropped off my car for an oil change and got taken back to the clinic by the wonderful little dealership shuttle. (the car is a whole other story - for another day, probably when I actually get to pick it up - see, whole other story).

The scan revealed some of the dye pooling in my leg and the tech was able to tell me that, indeed, there was something going on in that area. It looked to him like a stress fracture. Appointment on Tuesday will have the official reading and results but for now, I was told to keep from doing any high impact activities, ie. running.

Walk About

Day 29 of 365

The weather is really getting to be quite a bit tedious. Warm one day so the snow melts slightly, then super cold below zero with whipping wind and chills the next. I took advantage of one of the days where it was a bit warmer and there was some melt today to go out and walk about and shoot. I had quite a good time, it was relaxing, and it brought out some creativity that I had wabbed up in my head all winter thus far.

My Husband

Day 28 of 365

I love this man. More than anything I love him. He is my rock, my safe haven, my confident, my best friend. He is there for me when I need him to be and he knows when my boundaries are up and he just needs to leave well enough alone. He makes me laugh so hard that I cry. He has been there for me through hard times, always a shoulder to cry on. Always there to listen. He may not say much... but he is there to listen. He makes me feel safe, loved, cared for, and he is my rock. He is a wonderful husband and an extraordinary father.

I love this man!

I had him take his glasses off for the rest of these because of the glare on the lenses.

 His hat... this hat has been through so much - as you can tell by the wear and tear on it. But it is his favorite hat!

Evidence

Day 27 of 365

She is a child after he mothers heart that is for sure. I catch her SO often swiping my camera, running off with it and hiding so I don't see her and taking pictures with it. How do I know this? I find the evidence on my cards. And she is quite the little artist if I do say so myself. She tries, that is for sure. I am thankful for the digital format in times like this, I can only imagine what she would do if I was a film shooter. It's not just one or two pictures that she takes when she runs off with it. It is more in the couple hundreds. No two alike, so she has the shutter button down pat!

My little culprit - Vanessa, and some more evidence I found on my memory card. Here is only 4 of about 370 that she took this morning.... until she got caught.

Naughty Dog

Day 26 of 365

Ahh yes, the puppy stage is getting on my nerves. I will be SO happy when it is over. I actually don't think it is so much the stage he is in rather the fact that it is just too dang cold for him to get outside and get exercise other than going potty and lolly gagging around in the snow for five minutes before he comes back in the house. So he is RAMBUNCTIOUS! And he runs around like a baboon on a eucalyptus high. So we come up with a system and we are going to see if this works. It is called the Naughty Dog Spray. And it comes in a bottle, and you can get it right from the faucet. If this does not work I am going to have to break down and get him a training collar. Something has got to give. He's a good boy too... but today - this post goes to the bad puppy in him.

Dibbs. Don't let his looks fool you... I have a hard time looking past those big droopy sad eyes too...

Snuggly Buddies

Day 25 of 365

Rare that I find my cat all snuggled up with the dog - but apparently today warranted for some furry snuggles.

A 30th Celebration

Day 24 of 365

Please note that the pictures contained in this blog post were not taken by me. They were taken by my friend Amanda. I left my camera at home... convenient.

My brother in law, Tim, will be thirty this month and we had quite the bowling celebration this Saturday to ring in the new decade. Man, that makes a person sound like they are getting old. Teehee :)

His girlfriend, Jenny, planned the celebration. It was a surprise party and she delegated off some tasks. It was a group effort to get him there, all because Jenny thought he deserved a party. Man I really like her! I was in charge of the cake. Jason, a friend, was in charge of getting Tim to the bowling alley. My mother in law was in charge of picking up the cake and getting it to the bowling alley. It was a great celebration!

Happy 30th Birthday (on the 27th) Tim!

Again, Please note that the pictures contained in this blog post were not taken by me. They were taken by my friend Amanda. I left my camera at home...

Buzz & Woodie

Day 23 of 365

Tonight because of the well known sickness that is intruding onto our house we decided on a movie night. No games to be played, just cuddling up with some blankies and pillows, snuggled up in their most comfy PJ's and watching Toy Story, Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3. Buzz and Woodie are some faves in our house right now, and all my kids love the hero story behind the characters in the animation!

Little Elliott is coming down with whatever Vanessa had yesterday and I am hoping that it goes away fast. Thankfully, no one is throwing up, I have heard that is going around too. I can deal with congestion and boogies - vomit - not so much!

Instead of finding their own little places around the living room, like they usually do, they decided that it would be best to get all together on the couch and snuggle up. Melts my heart! I love those kids! And Elliott's face is priceless too... I believe this was when Buzz was flying down the race track thinking he could fly!

Sick Little Rascal Girl

Day 22 of 365

Today Papa's little Rascal Girl (Vanessa) woke up with a bad cough, barely any voice and congestion that God knows where it all comes from. She stayed home from school and lounged pretty much all day, not feeling well. We made her a little "bed" on the floor and tuned into some Nick Junior. And we just were.

She napped quite a bit of the afternoon away, snuggled up with her Wocket In My Pocket that she got from Santa. Who knew something so funny looking would turn into a childs favorite stuffed animal! If you've ever read the Dr. Suess story... There's A Wocket In My Pocket is quite the good little tale.

"....All those Nupboards in the cupboards.
They're good fun to have about.
But the Nooth Grush on my tooth brush,
Him I could do without!....."

When it came time for Ice Skating tonight she was not one bit disappointed that she couldn't go. I do believe she really was feeling that icky that she just didn't care one way or the other. Daddy bundled her all up and took a blankie to the barn, laid it out on the straw bales and she just laid there most of the night, content with sleeping on the straw bales while her daddy did chores. (I wish I had that for a picture instead!) Bless her heart.

Be The Match

http://www.bethematch.org/

Day 21 of 365

I have heard so many stories of people not able to go on living because they are on a donor list, and if they do not get a match they only have so many months to live. This to me, is very sad. I requested my donor kit the other day and to my surprise it arrived very quickly and I am going to be putting it in the mail box this afternoon. I am hoping that I am able to one day help someone go on living. I am not talking about organ donation or anything like that. I am talking about being a marrow donor.

A friend of mine lost her husband last year. He had a match all lined up to be the donor that would have saved his life, but it come too late. The infection kept spreading and he was not strong enough to take on the donation. I wonder if the donor would have come sooner if he would have been strong enough. It breaks my heart to know that he has left behind a very amazing woman. Strong, kind, loving, caring. She would do anything for anyone at any time. And not only did he leave behind a very amazing woman, he also left behind a very amazing little girl, his daughter. They will never forget him, and his legacy. Who he was.

While they were patiently awaiting on a donor for him, she let out a call for her friends to take the swabs, get tested and get entered into the National Registry. Even if we were not a match for him, we could be a match for someone else. Someone fighting for their life, so they do not have to leave their loved ones. The thought crossed my mind, but I did nothing. And it has kind of been ragging in me since. Every time I see her name come through my news feed on facebook my heart skips a beat just a little. She is my inspiration - she is what has made me request my kit and get my name into the National Registry. I want to thank her, Eunice, for the push she has given me, even if she is not aware of it. The thought that I may some day save someones life warms me. And makes me feel good.

Contrary to what you all may believe, marrow donation is not painful, nor does it require a major surgery. It is a simple donation, almost like giving plasma, or blood. I highly suggest you all to go to the website: http://www.bethematch.org/ - and request your donor kit. Read the requirements and get as many questions answered as you can. You could save someones life. If the shoe was on the other foot, I would greatly appreciate anyone who enters the Registry. Match or not.

Eunice & Haylie - My prayers are with you all the time. You are my inspirations. You make me realize that life is more than just living... it is a legacy, and something that should not be taken for granted. You make me love those around me even more. You are in inspirations.