My Blog

Peter is officially a kindergartener!

He was super excited to get moving and a little too happy to tell his brother that he couldn’t go to daycare because he was going to school.  We HAD to go in the main doors, because that’s what he did at orientation.  I could tell he was a tad timid when we actually entered the school.  It was really crowded though so I don’t blame him.  We found his hook and went into his classroom.  There was a boy and girl he already knew and that was all he needed.  Peter couldn’t sit still even for me to take a picture.  He gave me a quick hug and told me I could go.  I’m so happy that he was confident and felt comfortable.  I, on the hand, left with very mixed emotions of pride and sadness.  My baby isn’t a baby anymore.

When I went to pick him up after school, he ran to me with the biggest smile.  He couldn’t wait to tell me he had a hamburger for lunch and even got chocolate milk.  We’ll have to work on getting more details than just lunch but it’s a start.

The best part was that he was excited to go back again for day two.  He even got three stickers for being a  good listener.  He had the big chest when he explained you didn’t just get three all together.  You had to get one, then two, and then three.  I couldn’t be any prouder!

Also, Zoey is 6 today!  I remember the day we went and picked her.  There were a bunch of tiny puppies and Dustin wanted the one that went out on her own.  He wanted the curious one.  Well he got the curious one all right.  Six years later she is just as weird and just as curious.  She fits right in with this family.

Peter wanted to have a party with cake and balloons.  I am the bad dog-mom and opted to put pictures of dog cakes and a balloon on here.  Happy Birthday Zoey!

It was two years ago today when everything changed.

Two years ago was the big storm.

Two years ago we ran for safety.

Two years ago I didn’t make it past the tree.

Two years ago my family showed their strength.

Two years ago I lost a day.

Two years ago I gained a disease.

Two years ago I realized how many people are important in my life.

Two years ago is gone in my mind.

Two years ago is preserved in my memory forever.

I am such a lucky person to have these boys in my life.  Peter and Thomas are bright, funny, and full of curiousity.  The best part is that they are truly friends.  They may try to one up each other here and there, but they always come back to each other.

Peter has officially finished preschool!  It’s so hard to believe he will be starting kindergarten in the fall.  My baby is growing up so fast.

I have officially switched over medication.  As of now, I’m done stabbing myself!  There have been a few other oral MS medication options but the side effects always outweighed the benefits for me.  This new medicine has been used for psoriasis for years.  Just recently they discovered it worked for MS issues too.  Every day I take one teal pill in the morning and one at night.  That’s it.  I’ve read lots of different reviews.  Basically your body either thinks it’s great or complains loudly.  Hopefully things will go smoothly and this will work for me.  If nothing else, my mood has improved!

In honor of Annette, we made Mickey Mouse ears at school yesterday.  She was a strong role model for the MS world and it’s sad that she lost the battle.  Now she’s in a better place with no pain or limitations though and that’s a good thing.

Also, it is April 10th and there is snow!  They said on the radio this morning that there is a 100% chance of snow tonight.  Yes, 100% chance.  It could add up to more than a foot of snow too!  So much for spring.

So on a happier note…

Thomas loves oranges but hasn’t quite figured out how the naming system works.  He often requests a green or purple to eat.  He knows color words but hasn’t matched them to their actual colors yet.  It makes it challenging when he requests a specific orange car.

March 11-17 is MS awareness week.  To most people, the orange ribbon is just another ribbon.  It’s just another cause.  To me it’s my life.  To over 2.1 million people worldwide, it’s a daily reality.

Most days I could just forget about orange.  I don’t really have symptoms like tingling anything or not working parts.  I do have the fatigue problem though.  It would be easy to blame it on being lazy but being past tired is true.  It’s like I need to recharge after so many days.  I can literally sleep a whole day away.  It’s hard to do when you have a family and a life.  I’m very grateful for an awesome husband who has stepped up and allows me to be my special self.

Orange also means forgetfulness.  Things just disappear.  Words are just gone.  If I put things down, they may as well have never been.  There has been more than one time that I’ve had to change because I can’t find one shoe, only to find it sitting out in the open later.

Orange means stabs and pokes.  The medicine that is attempting to keep me healthy, gives me bumps, lumps, and bruises.  Those bumps, lumps, and bruises cost a pretty penny for the privilege.

Orange means not judging others.  Looking at just this one malady, shows that there is so much out there that we don’t know.  We don’t know what others are carrying with them.  We don’t know where t they’ve come from or what they’ve experienced in their lives.

Orange can mean many different things but really I hope that it means you stop and think.

I know most people would be sharing cute Christmas pictures and/or year in review deep thoughts. I might get to that but for now I have something much more important. I have solved the age old issue of bath toys. In order for things to be extra fun, for two boys no less, bath toys pile up. We’ve tried baskets made for said items. I’m not sure if they try to make the worst suction cups or if there is some component in the surround that repels any suction. Either way, they don’t work! Also, they always fail at odd times and scare the pants off you when you hear the giant thud. Now the toys end up either scattered around the bathroom, in the tub, or shoved in drawers. It’s not exactly the best way to store them it get them dry and goober free. I have found the answer. I’m rather proud of myself! I put a shower curtain rod against the wall, up high. I found plastic baskets and cute hooks. Sha-bang, problem solved. I even made Dustin stand in the bath tub and pretend to wash to make sure they weren’t in the way. Now we have two baskets of toys and one of liquids. Life is great!

Also, because I was in the shower section I had to get a new curtain. 🙂

And to go with the theme of the hour- Peter got a bathrobe for Christmas. (See totally included Christmas in there!) He was quite proud and had to show off the new duds.

So the big thing on facebook is to post something you are thankful for each day. I have a hard time just remembering to post, much less every day. So, you get one big ol’ thankful post right here and now.

The list of thankfulness is in no particular order. It’s just what is going through my head. I’ve learned that I have to do things as they come or they’ll be gone so bear with me.

I am thankful for my husband. Dustin came back into my life at a time when I was ready to give up on guys. He showed me what real love looks like. When we stood across from each other in the chapel that very hot May day, we promised to stand by each other no matter what. We are partners, growing and experiencing life together. We may bicker here and there. We may not see things exactly the same all the time. We do listen to each other though. We help one another and lift each other up. I am thankful I was able to marry my best friend and that we get the chance to get old together.

I’m thankful for my boys. As often as they drive me completely crazy, those two boys are my world. I remember that day they said we could leave the hospital for the first time as a family of three. I was scared to death that they were going to just give us this little being and I had no idea what I was doing. Now I look at them and they play and actually care for each other. They are funny, brave, smart, loving, and learning more every day. In all of that, they are teaching me about the world and about myself. I count myself lucky to be able to be their mom and I only hope I can do things enough right that they continue to be the wonderful boys they are now.

I’m thankful for my parents. I distinctly remember being a teen and in the middle of one of my screaming matches. Mom’s response was, “Go yell at your Dad!” I think Dad heard and went to hide. Now I look back and remember all of the times they were there to drive me, encourage me, cheer for me, and push me. I wouldn’t trade having my mom around for anything, even though I may have complained about all those darn kids in our house. It is truly love to wipe noses, sit through bad recitals, and help an ungrateful child succeed.

I am thankful for friends who support and love me. I know that I can be a bad friend. I forget things and fail to follow through far too often. That doesn’t mean that I don’t care about you all. Each of my friends plays an important role in my life. I know I don’t say it enough but I am thankful. Everyone needs true friends that will keep coming back, celebrate when things are going well, and listen when things aren’t so great.

I’m thankful for medicine. As weird as that sounds, it’s true. Just a few years ago I would have never imagined I’d be saying that. Now I grumble every time I have to stick myself. I get awesome bruises, welts, and dents. But even with that, I am learning to look at it as a badge of honor. Science has come far enough that I am able to take that stick and help protect my poor brain. It allows me to put up a fight and say that I’m going to do my best to stay strong.

I’m thankful for my doctors too. Not everyone can say they have a primary doctor, an eye doctor, and a brain doctor they can call on. Each does their part and knows my case. They are working together to keep me afloat.

I’m thankful for my house. It may not be a mansion but it’s home. We have somewhere to go to stay warm and dry. We have the ability to gather together as a family and space to find alone time. Of course there is always things to fix and there will always be something bigger or better but this one is ours.

I am thankful for work. In the morning I complain about getting out of bed and who really loves going to work honestly. But in reality I am fortunate. I have a job that accepts my quirks and that I love. Nowhere else do people get paid to play. The kids in my class can be trying at times but they really are sweet, lovable, little kids who I would take with me in a heartbeat. It’s awesome to be able to help teach children and show them even just a little bit of the world around them that they didn’t know about before. I’m proud of being called George, getting awkward hugs, and working with a wonderful group of women.

I’m thankful for a wonderful daycare. Because I work, I have two little boys that need care. It’s hard to trust someone else to give your children to. We talked to multiple places before we decided. I remember walking out of one home and just saying no. Dustin wanted to know why and I didn’t have any words to explain but I just knew it wasn’t right. Sheila has become more than just the daycare lady. We all have gained by expanding our family.

I am thankful for hope my future. I don’t know what will come and that makes things exciting. I have become who I am because of the experiences I’ve had and the people who have crossed my path. Not everything or everyone has been awesome. It’s taken awhile and some days I still have to remind myself that it’s okay to be that way. I can take what I know and move forward stronger and smarter. I can see things differently and be more than just okay with where I am and where I’m going.

I’m thankful for life’s basics. Too often we focus on what we don’t have but when you take a step back, we are pretty lucky in life. I have heat in the winter and air in the summer. I have a fridge with food inside. I have shoes to keep my feet safe. When all else fails, remember that there is toilet paper hanging in the bathroom and things just don’t seem quite as bad.

I know there is so much more that I could list to be thankful for, but for now I will just say thank you to it all.