Hernia surgery

Robert had hernia surgery yesterday.  We've known for about 3-1/2 weeks that he had a hernia, but it had stopped bothering him so we weren't terribly concerned.  He finally saw a surgeon last week and he scheduled it for yesterday so that Robert might be able to compete again by the end of the cross country season.  Everything went well and we were home by mid-morning.  He slept most of the day and is handling the pain fairly well.  My mom came down last evening while we went to Thomas's cross country meet and she thought he looked as though he was doing well.  He tried going to school today, but I received a phone call to pick him up after just two hours.  Tomorrow is questionable, but we are hoping he might be able to make it through half a day.  We are also hoping that tomorrow being the beginning of September brings a healthier month!

A weekend with a lot of emtion

I wish I could say that yesterday was the end of the emotions for the weekend, but that is not the case.  Last evening I learned about the death of a schoolmate.  It wasn't someone I knew well, although I had known his brother better.  The deceased had graduated two years ahead of me and I had interacted with him minimally.  Having said that, he was only two years older.  That is always something to make one question one's own mortality.  Sadly, I've learned it was most likely a drug related death.

This morning I was greeted by the news of the death of someone I had known better as a child.  To be honest, I thought she had already passed away and I had just missed it at some point.  It turns out she had been suffering from dementia.  I also learned we shared the same birthday.  While at lunch with my mother and grandmothers, I learned about the death of a brother of a friend and classmate of my parents.  He wasn't yet 60, and again, it is sad news that makes one question mortality.

The most emotional thing about today though, was dealing with my sister.  We are considering purchasing a car from her that she had offered to give us years ago.  She rescinded her offer however, when Robert started pulling his stunts.  I'm not entirely certain what that has to do with Andrew and I and us paying for the car, but I'm sure it is her passive aggressive way of letting us know she thinks we are lousy parents.  I guess I should be grateful she is being passive aggressive as she has been known to come right out and tell us what she thinks of us as parents.  Anyway, we went today to give it a test drive, and the fact that I knocked on the door instead of ringing the doorbell, the fact that we came into the house because the kids had no where else to sit, and the fact that Andrew needed to use the restroom all managed to annoy her to no end and she didn't even want to discuss selling the car to me.  Robert even mentioned to my mom about what a bad mood she was in.  It truly, truly bothers me that my kids see my sister treat me as she does.  I was working so hard to make sure I didn't offend her because I truly never know what will set her off.

My emotions are so out of whack this weekend that I cried on the way home.  She hasn't been shy to express how awful it was growing up as her sister, and I'll be honest...I don't know what I did.  She mentioned to someone last week how she had to tell me that she didn't need me to be her third parent.  That is so odd...that is exactly the way I always felt about her.  I don't even remember wanting to be around her as an adolescent so I really don't know what she's talking about.  I do remember stopping to see her at school when we were really little, like when she was in first or second grade.  I suppose it might have been perceived as being overbearing and parental, but honestly it was just that I liked seeing my little sister.  In our adolescent years I always felt that she was being the third parent because she always made sure Mom knew everything I did that my sister considered to be incorrect.  I really hate that my kids see her treat me the way she does.  I try so very hard not to speak badly about her in front of them, and maybe that isn't okay.  Family unity is important to me though, and I don't want my mother and grandmothers hurt because my sister and I can't get along.  I guess I just need to learn to get over it.

Overall, it's been a tough weekend on my heart.  I'm sure part of it is hormones, part is the unbelievable heat, part is the lack of sleep in our lives these days, and part is the rash that is beginning to break out on my face and the allergies that are in full swing (the rash might be another post).  Hopefully I get a grip on things and function like I need to this week!

Sometimes you just can't be stoic

Today, even just by Noon, was one of the most emotional days I've had as a mom in a long time.  Our boys had a home cross country meet.  Of course it is another one of those miserably stifling and oppressive days.  Andrew and I had agreed to work the traffic post, as there was a point in the course where the runners have to cross the driveway at about the 1/2 way mark of the race.  They had planned to do it such that we would be able to watch our own kids run, but honestly, that isn't really how it was going to work out.  I was okay with just seeing Robert only pass us, and to be honest, I was pretty sure Thomas was going to be close enough to the end of the pack that I'd still be able to get to the finish line.  When Robert came by, I could tell he was struggling, and I was a little concerned after last week.  He was the last high school race, and as we began adjusting to move to our middle school race crossing point, I saw two female runners that know us running out to us.  My immediate thought was, "Uh oh."  As they came closer I yelled, "Everything okay ladies?"  My mom intuition was barking.  Heather responded that Robert had gone down and was completely out for a time.  The trainer had gotten to him and they were taking him in.  I asked if he was conscious, and Heather explained that he had been able to get into the gator on his own.  I had Andrew call the trainer, and he said that Robert seemed to be responding well to an ice bath.  We explained that we were out working on the course, but would come in if needed.  The trainer stated that he thought we'd be okay.

The middle school girls ran next, and then the middle school boys.  I'll be honest, part of me was so dreading this.  I was completely realistic that Thomas was probably going to walk about 80% of the two miles, and that was fine.  Having already had one kid go down, and knowing that Thomas has a history of health problems in the heat, well, that definitely added to my concern.  The lead runners came by, the next pack came by, the steady flow of the middle runners came by, and the last pack came by.  The stragglers started coming by, and one was a friend of Thomas's.  I could tell her was struggling, and kept asking if he needed anything.  He crossed our area, and when he got to the grass on the other side he stopped and stooped over.  I kept my eye on him and kept asking if he was okay.  Finally I had Andrew call the athletic director and tell him that we needed an adult following these runners in a cart (a good move as it turned out he was also unable to finish the race).  During none of this was there any sign of Thomas.  I finally told Andrew to take off going on the course going towards the beginning to make sure he wasn't down somewhere.  Finally I saw someone walking in the far off distance, and as a mom I immediately recognized it as my son's walk.  He came by and I gave him an extra bottle of water we had on hand.  Not sure if that is allowed, but I didn't really care.  We decided it wouldn't be a bad idea of Andrew kind of jogged nearby (there was one other runner behind him at this point) since the golf cart was already up ahead with the others.

I cleaned up a few things at my post that I needed to do, and then I began to walk to the finish line.  As I came around the corner of the school, I realized that one of our team's runners had someone running along side him.  I began crying and took off running when I realized it was Thomas and Catherine was running right next to her brother.

The emotions of the day were just too much for me at that point.  As Thomas came into view of the finish line (he still had a loop to make) the various people gathered around saw Thomas and Catherine come around the corner together, followed by his dad, and then followed by his crying mom.  A lady I knew from church gave me a hug and I just couldn't seem to get words out through the tears.  They weren't sad tears, although there certainly had been concern about Robert.  They were tears of pride as I watched my son keep fighting through the struggle, and watching my daughter, who had struggled the exact same way two years ago, remember that I had run alongside her at the end of her very first race and did the same for her brother.

I was able to get to the finish line well ahead of Thomas who had to finish his loop.  My sister, my mother, and my grandmother had come down for this race and we were all standing near the finish.  I suddenly noticed Lizzie, one of my favorite high school students.  She realized Thomas was still out on the course, and began gathering her high school teammates to cheer him at the finish line.  Thomas's middle school teammates had already been cheering him on as he came into view around the corner earlier.  I cried again as I watched my son cross the finish line, and in what I consider to be a moment of divine intervention, someone caught Thomas crossing the finish line on video.  I was just completely overwhelmed by it all.

I spent some time conversing with my family, and then we all headed our separate ways.  When we came into our house, I told each of my kids how proud I was of each of them.  I'm proud of Robert for trying, I was so very proud of Thomas for finishing no matter he how felt, and so proud of Catherine for being there for her brother.  I began crying again as I told them each this (I'm also pretty hot & tired at this point which might have something to do with my emotions).

Every time I reflect on it, I begin to tear up again.  This is exactly where we are supposed to be at this point in our lives.  There is no way I could ever begin to question that.  I will never forget the moment I realized it was Catherine I was seeing run alongside her brother, or hearing all of those cheers from his teammates as he ran at the end.  I'll never forget the moment I saw Lizzie gathering her teammates to be there to cheer for Thomas as crossed the finish line.  I know it wasn't just about a teammate, although Lizzie would've done that for everyone.  It was also my husband's son.  I'm so blessed to get to see everyday how much my husband is liked and respected by his students.  It wasn't just a matter of being there for Thomas...these kids wanted to be there for Andrew's son.  I am so very grateful to get to be the mother of my amazing kids, and for all of these moments we had today.

Random thoughts from a SAHM

My younger kids are in their first full week of school after beginning mid-week last week.  We are into a routine, and as crazy busy as everything is, life is good.  Catherine is adjusting to high school and I think she might really blossom this year.  Thomas seems focused and determined as he begins his 7th grade year, and I'm impressed with that.  Robert loves his career tech school, and seems like a happier person than I've seen him be in a very long time...maybe even ever.  I told Andrew last evening that goodness knows not every day is going to be peaceful, but I'll gladly take the ones that are.

The start of school also brings about the annual budget conversation.  Am I going to start subbing again this year?  Originally I had thought that wasn't even a possibility until Robert graduated from high school.  I had hoped that between Andrew's raise this year, his coaching football, and my small church job, we wouldn't need to worry about subbing.  Reality though, is that kids are expensive.  Early next year, Robert should be able to get his driver's license, and next fall Catherine will be able to do the same.  Insuring teen drivers is EXPENSIVE.  Of course, this isn't news to anyone who has done so!  We are asking for each kid to pay 1/2 of their insurance.  I have some guilt about this as I didn't have to do this when I was kid.  I also recognize though, that my father worked 60-70 hours a week and it wasn't uncommon for me to barely see him during the week (he worked Saturdays often as well).  If I had plans on Saturday evening (and I usually did) then Sunday was our only day together.  I have wonderful memories though of lunches and car rides and just hanging out watching football or whatever we might be doing.  Would I have been willing to pay for my own insurance if it had meant more than just Sundays together?  No one can answer that...I knew what I knew.

So that makes me ask...has there been any benefit to my not working?  I'm certainly a more pleasant person for not being stressed about trying to get things done, but has it really mattered that I've been home with my kiddos?  Is not learning to control my stress even if I'm working a sign of weakness, or is it a strength that I recognize my limitations.  My mom always felt it really mattered to me that she was home every day after school, but was that just her justification for being home when I was a kid?  I recently read an article online about a woman who now has grown children and while she doesn't like to use the word regret she wishes she hadn't spent time away from her career.  I was a little aghast that she felt she had betrayed all the working women who came before her by staying home (I found that to be a little dramatic).  She felt that she was showing her daughter you didn't have to try to have it all.  By the way, I agree that's what she was doing,  and isn't that okay to not try to have it all?  She mentioned that she realized how much earning potential she had sacrificed by being out of the workforce, and how much more she could make today if she had kept working.

Obviously, it really made me think about our family's choices.  I don't resent my Dad for working all of those hours and he was always incredibly generous to us.  At the same time, I find myself thinking that if Andrew and I are able to pay our bills and have a nice savings account, why should we work more just to have more?   I'm not saying that our answer is the answer for everyone.  There are absolutely families who have to work more because they don't have the safety net of family to help, or they've had bad luck in terms of health or jobs or timing...you just never know.  I don't judge at all.  And I don't judge those families who are working oodles of hours each week because they want to drive fancy cars and own fancy houses...that is what works for them.  I guess I'm just saying that I choose to be happy as we are.  I have the rest of my life to work, but I only get to be a full time mom with full time mom duties for a few more years.

Ultimately, I've decided to renew my sub license.  Working two days a week or so during the school year isn't going to substantially add to my stress levels, and it will definitely help pay for that teenage car insurance.  At the end of the day, I'm just going to try to do the best I can, hope that my children know they are loved, and hope that I can at least foster kindness and respect within my own little corner of this great, big, crazy world.

Five o'clock and nowhere to go

At 5:00 this evening I looked at my kids and was delighted to say out loud, "It is only 5:00 in the evening and I have no where else I need to be this evening."  I really can't say how excited I am by this fact.  By no means does this mean that we are all just relaxing at home...nope.  Andrew is coaching his first official football game of the season and it's an away game (and in the path of a possible tornado, but that's another story) so he won't be home until after at least one of the children is in bed.  At the same time, it's nice to be home, even if I'm soloing.

I was all over the place this afternoon.  I had to pick Robert up from his school which is 1/2 hour away and then take him to the surgeon to discuss his hernia.  There is no question that is exactly what he has and he will need to have surgery within the next couple of weeks.  He is so disappointed that he'll have to miss a few weeks of cross country again, but this needs to be handled and he doesn't really have a good time in his season. 

Sometimes it feels like there just isn't a dull moment around here!

DNF to DNS

Are you familiar with DNF?  For racing fans, that would be recognized as "did not finish".  Unfortunately, that was the scenario with Robert and his cross country race this weekend.  I noticed when I saw him early in the race that he seemed to be struggling more than I expected him to be.  He looked okay when I saw him a bit later, but at the 1.5 mile mark I didn't see him at all.  When some of our less experienced and less athletic runners came by and he hadn't, I knew something was wrong.  Thomas pointed him out and I saw that he was with his coach, and appeared to be in distress.  I phoned Andrew who had gone past the 2 mile mark to see them and then I began walking towards Robert.  By this time, they had gotten a gator to him and it was heading towards medical.  The coach pointed me out to the driver and they stopped for me.  Turns out he had heat exhaustion.  He looked pretty bad when I first saw him in the gator, but by the time I got over to him at medical, he was starting to look much better.  He recovered quickly and for that I am very grateful.  We were all disappointed that no time was recorded, but obviously that is not the important issue.

After the race we drove further east to have dinner with Andrew's parents.  It was a very nice dinner and I could tell they were very grateful we had included them in our day.  Unfortunately as we were leaving, the DNS portion of our day happened.  This would be the exact opposite of DNF...it's a "did not start".  Andrew's parents car wouldn't start.  We aren't entirely certain what happened, but we gave the car a jump and they were on their way.  They had a full tank of gas an no need to stop until they were home, so we were cautiously optimistic they'd be okay.  We were glad to hear from them when they made it home.  At their ages, they just don't deal with adversity well anymore.

All in all, it was a very eventful day!  Yesterday was a day for my side of the family as we visited at a birthday party for a bit.  And of course today is the beginning of our first, full, crazy-as-ever week!

We opened the windows

The last six weeks have been hot.  Not just warm, but HOT.  I never care for hot.  Our a/c has been running without being turned off for the past six or seven weeks, and I don't ever remember having a summer where that has happened.  Usually there is some kind of a break, but until today there hadn't been one.  Finally, this morning we have turned off the a/c.  I am so happy to be able to have the windows open again.  I recognize that this might set off my allergies, which haven't been to bad this year.  Regardless, I am very excited about cooler temps and gorgeous weather!

Another really early morning

This morning I got to "sleep in"...until 5:30.  Woo hoo.  Thanks to our early volunteer shift last weekend, today was the first day I got to sleep past 5:00.  As someone who is most certainly NOT a morning person, this is starting to be my undoing, and I am VERY tired.  I hope as the year progresses I'll become more accustomed to it, but my concern is that I'm just going to grow more tired.  It'll work out though.

We are leaving in just over an hour to make the long trek to Robert's first cross country meet.  I really, really love watching him run, and I'm so grateful he has this opportunity.  At the same time, he didn't train this summer like he did the summer before so I'm not really sure how he is going to do.

And of course, I'm looking forward to a really good night of sleeping!

The trials and tribulations of middle school loves

The last day of school last year, Thomas was so excited when he got off the bus.  He was excited to tell me that he finally had a girlfriend.  All summer, he would call her occasionally, and at 7th grade orientation, she gave him a hug.  He had eaten lunch with her this week, and also have a life skills class together.  This afternoon, he sat on our couch, squaring his jaw and making sure he didn't have any tears, as he told me he no longer has a girlfriend.  The young lady had sent him an email telling him she wanted to take a break.  I explained that perhaps seeing him every day at school, especially with him being at lunch and also being on the same bus, was just too much togetherness.  He was trying very hard to put on a brave face, and even though I know in the overall scheme of life this is just a very minor blip, things that are hard on my kids' hearts are hard on this mom's heart as well.

Heading into the first weekend of the school year

Here we are, heading into the first weekend of the school year.  I've decided beginning school on a Wednesday is absolutely the best way to begin school.  Ironically, in all of the years of my children's schooling, this is only the second year it ever happened.  Nobody, and I mean no one at all, needs the first week to be a full five day week.

Anyway, I always feel like the first weekend of the school year is so short, because we've been used to the great expanse of time off that is summer.  The last few years though, we've been able to keep it fairly unscheduled.  Not so much this year.  This evening is a football scrimmage and the school are doing a "meet the teams".  Andrew will be there with his football team, and of course both boys will be introduced for cross country (have I mentioned about Thomas? Perhaps that will be another post).  I have band obligations, although I've made it clear that once I get things set up, I will be very little use.  Robert has a very early bus ride tomorrow that leave at 6:30.  Yep, another very early wake up call tomorrow, although we do get to sleep in about 1/2 hour.  This cross country meet (high school only, thank goodness) is 2-1/2 hours away.  After I get him on the bus, we don't need to leave for about another 2-1/2 hours.  We decided afterwards that since we are so far east, we could meet his parents for dinner if we drove another hour and they drove 1-1/2 hours.  They agreed to that, and it will be nice.  It shouldn't be too terribly late when we arrive home, although we are all going to be worn out.  Sunday will be church, and Robert begins his new job.  I am taking Catherine and Thomas to my home town to celebrate the first birthday of baby Ava, my cousin's little one.  It will be fun to visit with family.

The summer flew by, as does every summer.  And with the way our schedules are looking, this school year is going to fly by as well!

The sun came out today

We got to see the sun today.  Normally, this is not noteworthy, but my goodness!  To say that we have been in a wet pattern is an understatement.  Andrew did some yard work on Saturday while I took our younger two kids to visit my grandmother, and thank goodness he did.  Sunday morning things got ugly while we were volunteering at the local state park, and it just went downhill from there.  The downpours on Sunday were downright unreal, and we haven't seen much of the sun since then.  When school started yesterday morning, it was the first time I could remember a rainy first day in several years.  I had to use an umbrella to walk Thomas to the bus stop.  Today picked up where every other day had left off, and while it didn't rain, the fog was thick as soup.  I took a nap this afternoon (I will be writing a post on my current sleeping habits at another time) and when I woke up...the sun was out!  It was so nice to be able to see the sun again!  The weather is also supposed to be so much cooler next week.  Never in my life do I remember having the a/c on for seven consecutive weeks without turning it off at all.  I am looking forward to that day as well!

I miss my kiddos

As most of my family heads off to the second day of the school year (7th in Robert's case), I am missing them.  I appreciate the quiet time I have each day, but it certainly is a lot of quiet time.  The hard part is that when they come home, it's just crazy.  Catherine gets home about 3:00, has to be out the door at 5:30 for band and will be home around 8:45, then it will be to shower & bed.  Robert and Thomas will be home 5ish from cross country.  Thomas goes to be around 8:30, and Robert is between 9:30 & 10.  I am often at band (or at least part of it) with Catherine, and Andrew gets home from football in the 5:30-5:45 range.  I miss being able to really enjoy the time together as we do in the summer, but I'm grateful my kids are busy.  I just miss having fun together.

I'm also having trouble adjusting to the fact that my house is so empty and quiet, and there is still a "6" as the first digit on the clock...along with the fact that I've been up for nearly two hours.  Robert and I are getting up at 5 these days, and that is what is going to work this year.  Andrew is worried about me getting so little sleep, but as the Olympics draw to an end, I'll get some more.  As these early morning hours continue, my body will insist upon it!  The thing I am most concerned about is the days I'll be subbing at the high school, but we'll figure out how to make it all work.  I won't begin working until October at the earliest so that I can get us all adjusted to this new year, and also so that it will almost be the end of football season.  The kids' craziness will continue, but at least Andrew will be almost finished with football and will be able to help with things!

A good beginning to the school year

It sounds as though everyone had a good beginning to the school year.  I'm grateful it was on a Wednesday as that is a day when the kids have no after school activities.  Unfortunately, Andrew's football team has a scrimmage this evening, and while we went for a while, we didn't stay very long.  He hasn't made it home yet, but I'm anxious to hear about his day from his perspective.  Thomas was very excited because his "girlfriend" is in two of his classes.  I was excited because he actually used his planner...that's a huge improvement over last year.  Hopefully it will last.  Catherine had a good day, and it was interesting to hear her perspective on Andrew's class.  I had to chuckle a little bit as she said when he talked about himself he mentioned he was married and that he has three children.  He did not point out one of them was sitting right there in his class.  He is working very hard on being sensitive about that.  Overall it was a good day and I'm grateful for that!

My daughter started high school

Everyone was on their way by 45 minutes ago (and some much, much earlier).  It's so hard to believe my sweet little girl is off to her first day of high school.  I am sure it will be great for her, but I'm a mother and I worry.  We have a new twist in our lives this year, as Catherine is going to be in Andrew's class.  He has some concerns about the dynamics, as well as being concerned about her handling an honors class.  I think they are going to enjoy the year.  I so vividly remember her first day of Kindergarten.  She was so independent and didn't seem to need me much.  In some ways, I think she needs me more now.

I put Thomas on the "early" bus (although not so much since Robert is out the door an hour earlier) by himself since Catherine rides to school with her dad.  I can't believe my "baby" is in 7th grade.  Really?  My most vivid memory for him is his first day of 1st grade.  These years have flown by.

Three years ago today we moved into this home.  It seems just astounding to me.  I can't believe that we are beginning our fourth school year in this district.  It seems unreal that we are beginning our third school year without my dad.  He never got to see any of my kids be in high school.  I know that I can't stop time, but I hope that I'm remembering to enjoy it.  I think our family makes the most of our time together, but oh goodness, it just goes so quickly!

Tomorrow is all in

Everyone will be in school tomorrow.  It's definitely time...there is no question about it.  I feel like all we've done since Robert started last week is to spend time with electronics...and I don't love that.  Part of the reason is the unbelievably hot, and then frighteningly wet, weather that we've had in the last week.  Part of it is also the fact that I feel all I've done is spend most of my time in a car, taxiing kids around.  I don't mind, but I can't take the kids and go do something fun...so we all sit in front of the electronics.  And of course, there are Olympics on all day to watch!

A dream about my dad

Last night I had an emotional dream.  I was at the house my grandparents lived in when I was growing up, and in the dream my family lived in it.  Had Andrew had a different job when we married, that would have been our reality as they decided to move as we got engaged.  His job didn't allow for living in my hometown though.  Anyway, I was looking out the back door in this dream, and then walked away.  When I looked back at the door, my Dad was standing there in his jeans, loafers, and a red v-neck sweater vest.  Although the color of the sweater changed, that was my dad's "signature" attire.  I quickly walked over to him and gently touched his shoulder.  He gave me a big hug and said, "I've missed so much."  I responded with, "That's okay, " and that's when I woke up.  I had tears in my eyes (as I do now as I'm typing this) and because Andrew was still in bed I fought all out crying.  The dream was both wonderful and awful.  It was wonderful because I really felt my Dad again, yet awful because it wasn't real.  I know my Dad is in a better place, but oh goodness, I am especially missing him today.

A wet morning to volunteer

This morning, Andrew and I had to be up at 4:15A.M.  I often joke that I think it should be illegal to be up that early.  No one should ever have to be awake when there is still a "4" as the first number on a clock.  The high school band needed some volunteers though, and we had signed up for the early shift.  The nice thing is that I knew we would be finished at 9.  It turned out we didn't really get to do much because the weather has been awful.  The storms started being seen about 6 (we had to be there at 5) and everything ended up being delayed by about two hours, so we left shortly after things got started.  Since we had been up so early, I didn't feel guilty about leaving, except that it really began to pour right after we left.  I can only imagine how what and miserable things are out there...but I'm home and dry.

It's really a great day for this though.  Robert will work all day (although I suspect he'll get off early), and the younger two kids don't go back to school until Wednesday, so the three of us don't have much to worry about tomorrow.  Since the students are there, Andrew doesn't have to worry about lesson planning, and although Robert has homework, it's nothing major.  In addition, there is Olympics on all day and the house is clean, so it's a great day to be "rained in"!

Off to his last shift

Robert is getting ready to walk out the door for his final shift of his first job.  He had been wanting to leave for quite some time, and to be honest, Andrew and I were wanting him to leave as well.  The problem is the environment of the place.  Because they pay minimum wage (after a year, Robert received a nickel raise...woohoo), the employees they are able to hire are those that can't really get a job somewhere else.  They aren't even hiring teens who are trying to get their first job, nor are they hiring college students.  So if the twenty-somethings they hire are working there for minimum wage...I think you get the picture.  During the next week, he will be starting across the street at LaRosa's.  He might work fewer hours initially, but it's just going to be such a much better place to work.

We are so excited for all of the opportunities that Robert is currently experiencing.  We just keep hoping and praying that he takes advantage of them!

They've forgotten

It's been a crazy week.  I can't really say that it's crazier than last week, because everything is pretty much a blur at this point.  It's crazier than it has been in years as we have three fall athletes and Andrew is back to coaching football.

The kids don't remember what it's like to have a dad coaching.  They were so young the last year he coached.  It was much worse than in some ways because we lived so far away, and it was high school which was more of a commitment.  At the same time, in some ways it is worse now because each of the kids has their own lives and schedules, and I'm the only one able to get them where they need to be.  It's a little exhausting on top of my own job (even a few hours means I need to get things done) and my volunteer job that requires a ridiculous amount of time...and that some feel I'll just take care of because I "have time".

The kids are so used to their dad being around at the end of each day, and they keep asking each evening where he is and what time he'll be home.  It's wonderful they have that perspective, and I'm grateful for that.

We are hanging in there, and Andrew and I have both mentioned that these are first world "problems" that are really many blessings of opportunities!

He loved it

Robert absolutely loved his first day of school yesterday.   I am really excited for him.  One thing about Robert that has always been a positive is that he doesn't mind not knowing people, or being surrounded by people he doesn't know.  He even figured out the transfer bus process and everything went really well.  I'm very excited for him!

His new beginning

Robert was out the door at 5:40 this morning and the bus arrived right on time...Robert is spending his first day at the career based school.  Getting up that early was just well, early anyway, but with the Olympics on late each evening it was just really early.  We had plenty of time to spare so we might sleep in about 5 minutes tomorrow.  I went back to sleep for about 90 minutes until it was time to get Thomas up for cross country.  Fortunately Andrew took him there and I went back to sleep some more.

Robert is very excited about today, and I'm very grateful for that.  I am cautiously optimistic that this could be the fresh start and turn around that Robert needs, but I just don't know.  We've been through so much, and even though our summer was good, so was last summer and yet this past school year was beyond wretched.  Praying and praying that this is beginning of good things!

Thinking back to my childhood

I've been thinking back a great deal to my childhood, and wondering how on earth the passage of time has flown by.  I'm sounding dramatic I know, and there are so many reasons.  My middle child begins high school in just eight days.  My oldest child has received his driving permit and tomorrow begins his last two years of school.  I just don't understand how this is all possible...not at all.  Our dear friends have their oldest child beginning his senior year, and other good friends have their oldest beginning high school...and I remember he and Catherine in preschool together.  It all just seems unreal.

Of course I miss my dad, and even three years later there are so many things I wish I could call and tell him.  The last several years of his life my sister and I were often his eyes to the outside world.  He had become so homebound at the end, and we did shopping for him and just let him know what was happening in the outside world.  I think back to such fun we had at my grandparents' houses.  We were blessed to be able to live within two miles of both sets of grandparents, and I regret my children didn't get to experience that.  They did get to experience grandparents in other ways, with vacations and the lake.  Again, it's all just gone so quickly!

Olympic viewing

As we do every time, we are watching as much of the Olympics as we can.  We had pizza Friday evening and watched the Opening Ceremonies.  Thomas had a bug bite and took Benadryl, so we were very grateful that USA was an "E" in the parade of nations.  Catherine stayed up to see the torch and everything until it was all over.  Yesterday we flipped between network channels and caught whatever we could.  I enjoy seeing how much the kids enjoy watching with us, and of course we even learn about geography and things as we go through the weeks.  I'm so grateful to share these with my kids!

It's August again

August has been, throughout the last 25 years, among the most stressful months of my life.  There certainly have been years when it was just another month, but there were many, many years when it was the most stressful month of the year.  Even in years when it wasn't THE most stressful month, it was still full of stress many times.  The last two years though, have been better, so I guess we were due for some "adventures".

With Andrew returning to coaching, me having my own part-time job, and all three kids doing fall sports, it was a crazy week anyway.  Adding in my mother's unexpected hospital visit and Robert's hernia diagnosis, was a little bit of additional stress even though things are turning out okay.  On Friday, our neighborhood had a water main break so we were without water for a few hours (we've been under a boil advisory since then).  Not a huge deal, except that when the water came back on it blew out our water heater.  Fortunately, football practice had just ended when we discovered it so I was able to call Andrew and have him get home ASAP.  He and Robert worked quickly and were able to keep anything from being destroyed.  We were also able to have the water heater replaced first thing yesterday morning so that worked out well.

Last evening we had some friends over for dinner.  We were all so excited to see them as it had been three years.  Since the water was hot again we were all clean and I was able to clean the house so things were working out just fine.  While Andrew was out grilling, he apparently allowed our sixteen-year-old cat to go outside.  Then, he became distracted and lost track of him.  Wally wandered off, and for several hours we couldn't find him.  Robert was indifferent about the whole thing, but Catherine and Thomas were devastated.  Andrew was also distracted because he knew it was his fault, and while I can be philosophical about a cat of that age, seeing my kids like that was so very hard.  The kids were trying not to just lose it in front of our company, which made my heart ache for them even more.  The younger two were so determined and just kept going out searching the neighborhood.  Finally, Thomas found him at a creek in the woods behind our house.  The creek is dry because there hasn't been any rain, so they were easily able to scoop him up and head on back to the house.  Thank goodness!

I am very grateful that everything is working out just fine.  We are very, very blessed.  While I'm not necessarily ready for the added stress of the school year, I am looking forward to the routine it is going to bring.  It's goring to be CRAZY, but I think we need it right now.

A few medical issues

At 10:30 Tuesday evening I received a phone call from my aunt that my mother had passed out at her monthly card club and was being taken to the e/r in an ambulance.  No one could reach my sister so we woke the kids and took off.  Fortunately, less than half way there I received word that Mom seemed to be absolutely fine and my sister was there.  It turns out my mother was diagnosed with vasovagal syncope...which means she is going to faint sometimes.  There are specific triggers that have to do with her health, so it's not necessarily that she is in danger of losing consciousness or anything.  Generally speaking, she is fine.

However, Robert has been having some pains.  At first I discounted them, but they continued.  Robert decided to seek out the athletic trainer yesterday, and after a doctor appointment this morning, it seems as though Robert has a hernia.  My extremely healthy child (he was ALWAYS the healthiest) has certainly presented us with plenty of health issues in the last year!  He will have to see a surgeon, and we will have to work that in around all of the beginning of the year things.  The doctor did clear him to continue running and he can even compete.  In addition, there is a chance the recovery will be short so hopefully he won't lose the entire season!

It's getting real

Today, paperwork arrived from the school.  It really makes the beginning of the year seem so very real and right there, and suddenly I am losing my enthusiasm for it.  I suspect that is due, in part, to the fact that Robert has to be on the but at 5:45 AM.  You read that correctly...that early.  Very early.  I knew to expect it, but having it confirmed made it all very real.  I know that it is only for the next two years as I doubt that Catherine or Thomas will be interested in attending the career school, and even then Robert may be able to drive at some point and sleep in about 45 minutes.  The schedule hasn't changed for the other two.  Suddenly the craziness of this week seems nothing to losing about ten hours of sleep each week.  We'll be okay though...just sleep deprived!

We've been busy

This past weekend we visited my in-laws.  We had three days on the calendar with nothing scheduled so that we could make the trip, and to be honest, I'm beginning to wonder if our calendar will every be that empty again.  We had a nice visit, and my mother-in-law is recovering decently from her surgery.  My mother-in-law asked what was coming up this week and I replied with...

"Six cross country practices, five football practices, three marching band practices, three doctor appointments, two hair cut appointments, three cook outs, two meetings, one overnight sleepover, and of course both Robert and I working."

In addition we've had drama with band issues and because the directors are not able to be at practices, I'm getting to deal with a lot of it.  Yippee!  We've added a few other things to the mix (some voluntarily, some not) and it's definitely been one of the craziest weeks we've had in a very long time.  Andrew and I are getting used to the fact that we just aren't going to see each other very much right now!