First few days

Michael left for Washington DC and NYC for 7 days on Saturday morning!  Although Michael has been to most of the places they are visiting, he has never been to the places with 40 8th graders and an equal amount of parents.  I’m personally jealous because this years class includes my small group girls and my girls are very special to me.  So I know that Michael is having lots of fun, because those girls are a goofy, fun bunch.

As for back at home:

Josh had his first soccer game on Saturday, and although he didn’t touch the ball much he had a smile on his face the entire game.  I’m sure he’ll get the hang of the game soon.  No matter what, I’m so very proud of him. 

Monday and today have been hard, I ended up getting Strep throat and all the fun things that go along with that.  The boys have been extremely helpful and played really well together.  With the meds I should be feeling better by tomorrow, hopefully. 

I wish I had some pictures to post of the boys playing together, especially for Michael to view. Sorry!

We love you, Michael and miss you dearly!  Please give my city a big, “Hello” for me.

 

A few random things…

Geesh, this week has just flown by.  Nothing really exciting happened, but we seemed to keep busy with the day to day tasks.  Carter is starting to feel much better after having a double ear infection and Strep throat (yep, I get Mom of the Year award for that one) and return to his happy little self, yay!  Josh is busy learning in school, this week he was on the letter, “V “and learning how to play soccer.  Michael is busy now with girls basketball, and I’m busy; hmm, just being busy.

Some good news this week from Michael’s liver transplant doctor is that Michael’s liver enzyme levels have come down; from 300 to 199, still WAY above average (avg. is 30), but we are hopeful.

Poor Josh, he was so tired that he fell asleep sitting up…this is pretty good example of how tired he is by Thursday evening.

Josh getting super excited for his first soccer practice.

I’ve been working on a few subway art projects…this one’s my first, and although I’m not very pleased with it, I’ve learned a few things.  I’ll post the new ones later.

Next week Michael is headed to DC & NY with the 8th grade class.  I’m super excited for him, and can’t wait to see all the pictures, and hear all the stories.  However, we will miss him dearly at home.

Blessings

 

Mentone

As I sit here and cry I ponder whether this post would be better as a journal entry.  I can’t even begin to explain how hard it is to drive down Capri Avenue every day.  Some days I literally breakdown in tears.  Friends may know that we would love to get out of our house, but also know how grateful we are to have a roof over our heads that we can afford.  Yet some days the grace takes a backseat to my tears and cries of, “WHY?”

Just before arriving home today, these following events happened to me:

1) tailgated by a shady all black vehicle, who then flipped me off, when I pulled into the suicide lane to turn.

2). While out for my run, a car drove by and threw, yes, let me repeat, THREW an In’n Out cup at me. Yes, it still had some liquids in it, and yes, it hit me.  Again, bursting into tears and screaming inside, “WHY)

3) Passed on the left hand side on a side street right before a stop sign and then the car proceeded to just sit at the stop sign. 

Other Mentone crazies:

4) Neighbor beats his girlfriend, and has been arrested for it numerous times.  I have gotten to the point that when I hear people scream anywhere I tense and have to say a small prayer to try calm my nerves.

5) I’ve had to call the sheriff 5 times in the 5 years we have lived in this (insert word of choice here).

6) I’ve been whistled and called numerous names that I wouldn’t dare repeat when I run down Capri Ave. 

7)  The same kids that whistle and call names have also chased me with their remote control car.

8) I do NOT feel safe with my kids in the front yard, even with the gate shut.

I can’t do this anymore….WHY?

 

5

HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY, SWEETHEART! It’s hard to believe that 5 years have passed since we first held you in our arms.  What a blessing that day was.  Little did we know that day, how our lives would change.  From the beginning, you have had a tremendous heart and always on the go.  Dad and I like to say that you never learned to walk.  You skipped right over that step and leaped right into running.  Honestly, this should have come as no surprise considering how much your Dad and I hardly ever sit down, and the fact that your Dad’s nickname was “ Michael, Michael motorcycle”. Yep, your Dad, just like you, used to run EVERYWHERE! 

You are such a great big brother to Carter.  It is such a delight for Dad and I to watch you play with Carter so calmly and gently.  I love the way you are always considering Carter when you make decisions.   It’s not something that we taught you, it just always been something you wanted to do.  LOVE THAT!

Josh, you are funny!  I hope you never lose your silly personality.  You make your Dad and I laugh all the time.  I can just smile thinking of all of the funny things you’ve said to us. 

Your smile!  Your smile lights up my day.  It seems to say, “I love you”.  Hope someday you will let more people see that smile. 

Sure, Dad and I could definitely say you can be stubborn, but we’ve learned you’re just… decisive, passionate.  You love to be given fore warning… to plan ahead… you’re cautious.  You must at all times, need to know what is coming next. 

Dad and I can’t wait to watch you grow, and your passion and love for Jesus grow with you.  We love the way you love Jesus.. how you look forward to reading from your Bible, and ask questions.  We pray that you have a close and intimate relationship with our Lord and Savior.  For we know that you have a tremendous heart and His Kingdom is yours. 

Thank you for everything you have taught us about ourselves.  We love you so much and feel truly blessed by you each and everyday. 

Legoland

Happy Birthday!

 

 

 

Sickies

Seems as though it was our turn to get the flu.  Starting a little after half-time for the Super Bowl Carter starting getting sick.  Michael and I were both shocked at how quickly Carter started feeling sick.  We haven’t been around anyone who was sick, and we are selves have been feeling fine. So, sure it was a bit shocking.    I so dread seeing my babies sick. You get that sick feeling in your tummy that just says, “Oh, I would much rather it be me.”  Especially when they aren’t able to communicate to you what hurts.  But, Ohhh, how I love the cuddles and snuggles I get from sick babies.  Love, love, love cuddling (go figure physical touch is one of my love languages)

Anywho, Carter starting feeling better on Monday, but you’ll never guess who came home from school feeling yucky on Tuesday?  Yep, Josh!  Seems he  caught the bug. Then it was my turn, and last but not least, Michael got it and probably the worst of it.  I worry about him the most  because of his weak immune system.

We missed A LOT of work, and school this week.  Not fun! 

We’re all feeling better now, and have hopefully avoided society long enough to not pass the bug on.

Carter trying to sleep on the floor…

Carter slept quite a bit this week on the couch like this…

Josh on Tuesday night, when he started feeling yucky

Hmmm, Carter must be feeling better?!

I think they’re both feeling better now!  Yay!!

I would show you pictures of Michael and I feeling yucky, but trust me you are  better off.  ;)

 

 

Weekend at home

Michael and I treasure our weekends, especially the ones that we are able to spend at home as a family.  Sometime it feels a bit selfish to stay home and mostly because weekends are the best opportunity for us to invite friends over, or go out and  explore Southern California (which we do all so often, LOL).  But we really enjoy the calm, slow family weekends. I always feel revived, calm, and complete after a weekend at home with my boys.  Sure we “try” to get some of those house projects checked off the list, but for the most part it’s games, trains, cars, trampoline, etc… I LOVE these weekends, and this weekend was one of them.

Carter reading…

Carter giving Josh hugs

Josh showing how much he loves those hugs

Michael happily trimming our fruitless Mulberry back with his new chainsaw

Some things you’ll often find Josh doing on his own…

Coloring Superheroes, and crossword puzzles

and playing his favorite word game. He loves to sit and do puzzles that make him think, especially spelling puzzles.  He does a great job of sounding each letter out and making words. 

I have to show my fun purchases this week, because I just love them.  Thank you so much Mom & Dad DeJong. 

For Christmas M & D gave a Sample fragrance set of 8 different perfumes from Sephora.  Inside is a card that you fill out once you have had a chance to try out the 8 different perfumes, and take it into Sephora for a full size bottle of your chosen perfume. 

I chose…

and I was finally able to get my new Crockpot.

Fun!

 

 

A New Purpose

When I first started our blog it was with the hope of helping out of state family stay connected…you know all the things that are hard to say over the phone.  I thought I would be more committed to posting, but when you everyday life just seems so ordinary you don’t see any reason to post.  Yet, I try to remind myself that our ho-hum days are fun and interesting to our families and friends.  Even with that said, a friend said something to me the other day that made me realized that I have been blogging, or lack of blogging, for all the wrong reasons and this I made me very sad.  She said, that I should post and my boys wouldn’t regret it.  I can’t thank her enough because even though it made me very sad to think of all the moments that I’ve missed, it made me happy to know that it’s never too late to start.  So I hope that with a new found purpose our blog will be a way to write our memories, or everyday moments that Michael and I, or the boys can look back on and treasure…a public journal or memoir, per say.