Motherof3brothers

Phew...February already?

 
The last 2 weeks of January felt like a tornado. We have been so busy moving from one thing to another that down time feels weird. So to wrap up the last 2 weeks.......

Ketner'sbasketball team went 10-0 in theTumwater League. Yup, they are all superstars!

 
 
( my camera is making me crazy so just bear with me....everything is either way too dark or way too bright!, It is making me suffer!)

But any way..back to the story..

 Right after this game, the families were all milling about, basking in teh afterglow if you will, and something traumatic happened. I was in using the restroom and my friend Carolyn came in and asked if I would look at one of our players dad's. I of course in my labor and delivery humor said "what am i gonna do check his cervix?" As I turned the corner I saw our friend sitting on  a bench pasty white and sweating. As I was assessing him he said his chest was hurting and he didn't feel well at all. Moments later he collapsed...full cardiac arrest. No pulse, no respiration's...and I tell you, God took over for me. I began compressions ("get on the chest, stay on the chest"), I did 2 breaths and started compressions again. Felt his sternum break. He started to wake up, slowly. The paramedics arrived and took him to the hospital where he was placed on a nitroglycerin drip and  had some angioplasty and a stent placed. He is alive and doing so well. I saw him just this week.

After the event, I think I was still in adrenaline mode because it really didn't hit me. I have only ever done compressions on a newborn. There, I just use my 2 fingers. I have help! I have equipment! I have anything I need when I resuscitate a baby. Been there, done that. but a adult, whom I have grown to love, a parent a know? never. All i had was my two hands.

 

And God. And it was enough!

The next day we had the funeral of our friend who passed away the week before. Such an amazing service. So sad, but so inspiring as well. Alex and I came home from the service with our minds spinning. The weekends events turned our attitudes completely upside down. Our priorities were all rearranged. Our tolerance for some things grew small and our desire to live and love each day just grew by the minute.

This involved a few conversations with the boys. A few tears were shed together when we spoke about the reality of Tom's death and the very near death of someone else we all love.

But it all feels so good. i feel like layers have been discarded. The whole frantic-ness of feeling like there are billions of things to do, or that the kids are rude, or lazy, all disappeared.

Unfortunately for the boys, that came with a few adjustments..you know, xbox drama, bedtime drama, cell phone drama...the usual. They came home from school to this new accessory:

 

That's right...."OUR FAMILY RULES" front and center! Oh the grumbles, oh the horror.

Our family  priorities have  been revamped.........
it feels great! Even the fury friends are diggin on all the love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To top off the week.........a 3 hour infusion! yeah. not complaining, it does his body good. The hot room and uncomfortable chair just help keep everything in perspective. At least we get to leave the hospital after each infusion. he is well enough to come home after each treatment!

 

 

 

 

{gotta have rootbear and Maui onion chips to snack on, no other way to survive!}

 

Whew..that's all off my chest, not on to another tournament, and yes it is 5:30 am. Sucky, sucky!

 
 

off and running

Be Still My Heart...

 
{2005}

 
{2010}

 

 

oh and this....

 

 

 

 

this is enough to completely stop my beating heart..ugh! I am fully aware now that boys never get full, nor do they ever stop eating. Let's all take a minute of silence for my grocery budget, shall we.....

 

Thank you

 

 

 

composed

SO, last night I had one of those famous embarrassing mom moments that your kids will never forget. The type of moment where every child wants to run a pretend he is in no way related to the beloved embarrass-er.

My boys were participating in a "punt, pass and kick" fund-raising event at the hight school. All was as it should be until this very blogger proceed to tumble on the 50 yard line. Now, in my defense I can say a couple things:

1. I do not bend. My rheumatoid arthritis does not let me bend and most certainly i cannot bend or move, in that case, with any speed.

2. My view was through a 300mm lens. I was trying to avoid the ball that was rapidly bouncing towards me. I had been listening the past 5 minutes to the coaches yelling at all the volunteers to "move out of the way so the ball can continue to bounce". I was trying to avoid being one of the lame moms who got yelled at by the coaches.

3. Flip flops, I now know, stick to turf.

4. Everyone needs a good dose of embarrassment now and again, my card had been called.

 

So as I saw my wonderful friend, Skylar, kick the football and witnessed it firing my way, I tried to scramble to my right. Well, foot over foot I tumbled....I did however manage to safe my camera from any major destruction. I apparently landed on my back with my camera up in the air. I remember laying there and thinking " how can I make this look like it was on purpose, or at least take advantage of being at this level? SHould I take a photo while laying here? should I roll over and pretend to take very impressive shots? I decided I would just lay there, laugh a bit and get back up and carry on. I almost wish now I would have  bowed.

Nothing like laying it all out there!

I did, later, pat myself on the back because I think I did show some grace in my humility. Nothing worse than kids seeing their parents embarrassed and humiliated but then making a bigger spectacle of themselves...that my friends, never goes well.

So I leave you with the image in your head. It is a good one I admit. And i must give a shout out to my love, Dawn, who was the only one to asked if I was ok. I think everyone else was in shock. Either way, here's to ya Dawn, way to care of your girl.

Later, the coach, the very coach i was trying to avoid being yelled at, the very coach whose daughter I was taking pictures for to help her with her senior project, came up to me, trying hard not to laugh, and said " at least no one one saw you....(chuckle, chuckle)" I replied, I know thankfully I was only on the 50 yard line" .

 

I do however have these to use as ammunition later if my kids need a little dose of humility themselves:

 
  

 

summertime at last!!

We finally made it to the last day of school. It felt like we were the last ones in the country to get out. June 21st is way to late if you were to ask me.

The rest & relaxation begins!

 

 

 

The one and O*N*L*Y Mr. Currie!!!

 

 

  

7 days 70000 things to do

I know I'm not alone when I say this, but the last few weeks of school are maddening. I mean is it possible to cram anything more into my calendar square? To support this observation, here's what teh past 7 days has looked like.......

Monday:

 work,

take Skylar to the vet as she did what only cats do when they are trying to communicate with you to let you know they don't feel weel. She jumped up into my lap and pee'd on me. Yup, she did. So she received a good helping of consequence for that one and returned to us with a shaved butt, and antibotics for a bladder infection.

Younglife Leaders meeting

baseball practice

Tuesday

before school starts,place easel at school advertising last call for year boo, end of the day put that same easel away..and did I tell you it weighs 800 lbs and we have been having torential like downpours and obnoxious gusts of wind. So even though this task seems minor, it was major.

Nolen open house at school

Wednesday

Nolen/Ketner game- canceled due to monsoons

batting practice

All comers track meet ( luckily ketner skipped)

Thursday

Nolen band concert

Ketner field trip to Safeco Field

Ayden game- freezing, blustery, rainy

Nolen/Ketner game

 

and to top off all of this, our dog , Shasta

,
developed a miserable stomach bug. ALex and I called on our way home from the field trip to remind the boys to get their afterschool work done because the evening was going to be busy, busy. I asked Nolen if he had let the dogs out because I had put them in our bedroom while we were gone and you know what Nolen said: " oh, is that what I smell?" Oh God, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. We got home and poor Shasta had pooped all over our bedroom floors. and if you know Border Collie's you know this was mortifying to her. The opposite end of the smart scale is our other dog, Blossom who decided she would walk through this poop and then jump on our bed. Oh God................................seriously, now?today? so Alex and I went to town, stripped the bed, threw the pillows outside, threw the dog beds in the wash, mopped and mopped and mopped and sprayed air freshener and turned on the fans and gagged and gagged and gagged. When I went outside to see Shasta , I could tell she was sick, sick , sick. She couldn't even get up without her back legs shaking, she had no appetite and looked like she wanted to bury her shameful head in the sand. So there was no way to be angry at her. I grabbed my scissors and began adding her to the shaved butt club. Her poor bottom was red and raw, She had a diaper rash!!!! and what does any good mom do? ALex and I bathed her and then I grabbed the destin and baby powder, lifter her tail and P*O*O*F, blew powder all over her black fur. and what does any good nurse do? I went to our cupboard where we keep the left over animal meds and initiated and antibiotic regimine that would kill even the Ebola virus if it dared to come anywhere near her. Finally, I added the "cone of Shame" just for kicks. And at that point it was time to all disperse our seperate ways.

Friday:

Ketner orchestra concert

work 16 hours

finished Younglife slideshow DVD

 

Saturday:

Ayden and Nolen double header tournament 11-6:30

 

 

Sunday:

work,

Costco

Young Life bBQ

Monday

work

Send note to mr. Anders

register for football,

Nolen/ Ketner game

 

 

take team photos

upload team photos and order

Tuesday:

Ayden/nolen game

distribute 350 yearbooks

Buy end of school teacher gifts

Buy graduation gifts 

 

so 7 days and 70000 things to do. The above list of course does not include the normal daily billions of things that go on in a day. I think all of this chaos makes parents welcome their kids home for the summer!!!

And on and on a side note: look what a difference 3 months can do:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boundaries

SO... I head to the nail salon for a little R & R after the last couple days of appointment after appointment. I don't know about you but I don't like to chat it up when I get my toes done.Or my hair either. of course I do some small chit chat, but otherwise, i want to read my book. I rarely have time to read my book and right now I'm reading a really bad Danielle Steel book, that is way too far fetched, but I have started it and I have to finish it. So I sit back, adjust my chair., get the massage rollers just right and crack my book open. My cute pedicurist, "Tami" (if that what she is called) begins my long awaited pedicure. I smile  politely and she smiles and says " you off today?" . I reply "yes and isn't it a gorgeous day to be off?" thinking that kinda is open ended right?. she then says "you have dog?" and smiles at my very cozy, fleece sweatshirt. How do you answer that one? I chuckle and little uncomfortably and say "oh, yea, sorry, 2." and look down and my book because now I really don't want to chat.

She then says "you nurse?" "I am" looking perplexed as to why she pegged me as a nurse. she asks "RN?". "yep". "what type?",  she asks. " I work in Labor and delivery, I help moms have their babies" thinking I need to explain myself a bit more. and she says, (I kid you not,) " I have problem, I dry. Like really dry. I no feel my husband, makes me self conscious." !!!! What in the world woman!!!!!!!!!!!! I deliver babies, nothing more, nothing less. I cannot tell you how to handle your very private, intimate, discreet relationship with your husband. I cannot believe she is talking to me about this. So I politely say " oh, that must really bother you, I'm sure your doctor might be able to give you more information, I am really no expert in that field. Once you see me you've kinda figured all that stuff out :)" hoping to lighten the mood a bit." Oh no, she carried on the WHOLE time. She asked me if I could recommend some brands of certain over the counter products, what she should tell her husband, she asks me if I HAVE THIS PROBLEM?".  She really asked and I am serious when I say she had the most serious face. There is no way I could be reassured that  I was being PUNK'D. That would have been a funny episode. But I had to ignore my stupid, lame, fictional love story to listen and council her on her love problems. Where does it say "divulge your entire secrets to me" on my body? it must be the soles of my feet because I haven't quite looked there lately  !

love all around

On Monday, I spent the afternoon preparing our home for Valentine’s Day. I love to do this. There is something about changing just a small part of your own home to welcome in another season or holiday.

I don’t necessarily have the perfect place to do this. My sister has a entry way table that works so perfectly. I love when she puts her springtime birds and small, blue robin’s eggs. It just makes the house so welcoming.

Since I do not have this perfect space, I usually do our big, black, square kitchen table and the buffet. It works.

I turned on my Ipod and begun my act of “spreading the love”.

It turned out quite lovely if I do say so myself. I couldn’t wait to share it with the ones I love. When the first 2 boys walked in from school, I was expecting someone to remark on the new door accessory:

 

No such luck. Ok then, they will most certainly fall head over heels in love with our table ensemble.

 
Hmmmmm…nothing, not even a mention when a handful of conversation hearts were grabbed and devoured

.
OK, I will wait until the 3^rd born comes home. He is my child who notices everything.  I waited patiently, he walked in, with his cheerful shout that he always does when he enters through the garage, “hellllllllloooooo?”  “yes!” I thought, here it comes…..the affirmation I was looking for. And the kid did not disappoint he said “cute”.

“CUTE?” That’s it?  How about a little more, please. No, just "cute" as he grabs his share of conversation hearts.

 

 
  
  
  

I guess when I imagined myself a mom, I always pictured something a bit different. I couldn’t wait to decorate my own home for my children. I was excited to have one of those dorky flags that hung from your house that you change for each season or holiday. That was gonna be me.After I married the love of my life,    I received the most valuable 3 gifts and they have shown me that

True love begins when nothing is looked for in return."
- Love Quotes by Antoine De Saint-Exupery.

 

Word

I'm still deciding on my Word for the year. I made an attempt to "wordle" some of my top favorites. Somehow just seeing the word laid out in front of me creativly helps me negotiate my decision.  There are about 4-5 in the final running.

 There are a few things I have already completed in the new year. 

1. I defrosted my freezer. THAT my friends is a miserable job.

2. I restocked my pantry 

3. Got in a arguement with my sister. Lame and foolish.

4. Had a child in the emergency room and subsequently missed a whole week of school.

5. Went through my recipe box and through out unused recipes.

6. Had  a birthday

7. Celebrated one of my boy's birthday.

I need to resituate myself a bit this coming week. I am hoping that by finalizing my word of  the year,  I can get back onto a more positive & productive path.

 

Here's to good health, prosperity and renewal!!

  

 

 

 

Mark it off....

November 1st brings some changes....

1. Football Season has  officially come to a close. I am proud to say we left behind 3 wins for the Bears yesterday! Felt awfully good to leave on a up note. As much as I love football to start, by the end, I am really ready for it to be done. There is a ton of equipment. There is a ton of extreme heat in the beginning gradually changing to , rain, sleet  & mud. There is a ton of running all over Thurston county. There is a ton of planning and organizing, just to make it work. But also a ton of fun, excitement, discipline and entertainment.

I have spent the day washing uniforms, filthy cleats and sweaty pads. They are organized and situated and tucked away for the year.

 

2. November 1st also brings the Halloween hangover. We trick or treated with our extended Families again. let the crazy kids all run a muck in the neighborhood to collect tons of sweet loot.Probably our last for the  "bigs", so we tried to savor the chaos.

 

Nolen

 

Ayden

Ketner

Today we are a bit sluggish. Kinda grumpy at times.  Full of tons of goodness.

3.   November 1st officially begins the Holiday Panicsensations that tend to waft over me. I am devoted to keep it at bay.

4. Finally, November 1st brings....................................our first basketball practice!! yup that's right! Let's go Bears!

 

We wouldn't have it any other way.
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Tales of a Part Time SAHM

I sometimes think I have the best of both worlds. I am a part time SAHM (stay at home mom) and part time Labor and Delivery nurse. My  work hours have changed throughout the stages of my life. Initially I worked nights because it was the best choice for me when I had an infant. He slept, i slept.  This minimized the mommy guilt factor a ton. Then came 2 boys, this off and on again sleep had run it's course and I went to an evening shift. This was fabulous with 3 young toddlers. I played with them all day, put them down for a nap, my best friend came to babysit and 3 days a week I went to work. Alex came home early and handled the rest of the night. Ta da! Done.

Then school aged kids entered our lives and evening shift caused me to miss way more than I could afford to miss, so I went on call. Now i believe I have this split schedule down to a science. I work 2-3 day shifts a week.  My kids no longer need a babysitter. I have expectations for them when they get home from school that keep them responsible and occupied until I get home an hour or so later.There have been those few times in which I needed to readjust them by screaming into the phone that is held approximately 6 inches from my mouth... "in the name of all that is Holy, make this work or I will send you to a daycare!!!!yes even at 13!!!"

My family is my priority as it is all parents priority and that is how  and why I have been able to switch my hours around throughout our seasons. I mean this literally because my schedule changes based on my kids sports season. But there are days like today where I swear I would move into our triage room at the hospital and work around the clock , rather than tackle my to do list at home.

  

But as I sat drinking my coffee this morning, I was overwhelmed by some miserable stench that kept wafting from the fridge each time someone open & closed it.  "Cleaning the fridge" is #10 on my list of 14 things today, can I really put it off until possibly tomorrow ? No way I say as one of my kids actually notice the stench (which you know has to be bad if they are even noticing it) so I move it to the top.

1. Clean Frigerator!!!!

2. work on first pages of yearbook

3.contact NCC

4.Drop off coats to coat drive

5. Divide Lillies & Hostas

6. clean up craft room

7. finish bible study for this week

8. track NCC package

9. wash throw rugs

10. Call Dr. Jensen

11. update menu and make dinner

12. make pumpkin bread

13. copy photos for Mrs. gedde

I finished drinking my coffee of course,

took all my meds that keep me upright

and took on THE FRIDGE.   It took me until the very last shelf to find the carton of cottage cheese that was causing the aroma.  I took that bad boy apart!! I didn't realize that it would take so much concentration to get it back together, i was not prepared for that for certain. bUT HALLELUJAH!!! She is gorgeous now. Sparkly and shiny.

For those who know me well, you know this isn't the end of the story.

 I like to multitask :)

So while I was tearing apart my fridge, I was getting items #12 and 13 done from my to do list at the same time. Which was causing much more of a mess than any one person can handle.
Most times this type of thinking helps me accomplish many things. And most  critical care nurse such as me  would tell you it's the only way we survive.

Not so much today because it is 2:08 and I have only 7out of 14 things crossed off and I'm still in my Jammie's. But I have a kick butt clean fridge!!!  oh and pumpkin muffins.............whatever makes us happy eh? I feel like my life is like the story If you give a mouse a cookie. Can you relate...if you are a part time SAHM or a full time SAHM I betcha can....what's next on my list?