Cough and Sniffle

-not a good thing AT all with surgery just a few days away.


We are pushing OJ, sleep, fresh air, clean sheets, Lysol.

We can't give him anything at all.... so crossing our fingers this passes quickly so everything can go as planned this week.


I am instantly glad the doctor put me on a mild blood pressure pill because this is stressing me out.

Riley still isn't sleeping great at night. He climbed into bed with me around 5am, snuggled close and dozed until almost 10am. I was so glad he slept some more.

This would have been much easier before he was smart enough to know the date. Even without us ever reminding him, he knows.

We are thinking of keeping him out of school tomorrow and Tuesday to avoid any more germ exposure. Nana and Grampy would take him tomorrow and Jerry will be home on Tuesday.

Thinking healthy thoughts here!!

Feeling Girly

I am feeling girly today! I had a great morning of Mommy/Daughter fun with Madeline. We primped, dressed alike.. kind of, did our hair and just enjoyed spending several hours together. Jerry had taken the boys to James' football Jamboree. So, girl day it was! It was really neat.

After nap time our new family room furniture arrived!!! WOOHOOO!! I love it!! It is a really cool sectional from Haverty's. The color is called cappuccino. It is so much bigger than the couch and chair we used to have. We will all be able to sit together now. Nice!!!

After the furniture came I was off, minus my sweet baby girl, for a pedicure with my friend Cathy. It was nice to sit and have some "girl" talk time... minus husbands and kids. Sometimes time spent with just one friend alone can be nice. My toenails are red. I am REALLY trying hard to be more feminine. Let me tell you.. this girl stuff is WORK! I got so out of practice the last several years while chasing around kids and working to bring them home. Now, is just a little time for me.

I don't know if I mentioned before that I went through a modified targeted selection process with the school district recently and was placed in the Technology Specialist pool. Fancy shmancy, huh? It is kind of nice to stretch my brain a little after doing the same thing for 18 years. I am going to be taking a class to prepare for the Media Specialist certification test starting next month, too. I am just thinking that if I decide to leave the classroom but continue to work for the school district, I need to have options.

So... counting down to surgery on Wednesday and praying that Riley will do well.

Middle School!!!

Today James had his first middle school shindig. I needed to breath into a paper bag the entire time. (Just kidding... but, boy was it stressful.) He got a form for class selection. Wow! He will be taking 6 classes. Three of the six will be Gifted. Gifted will be Language Arts, Science and Geography. He will also test for advanced Math. It is crazy! He will also be deciding what he wants to take for an elective next year. Who knows what he will select. I am going to let him choose since he will have such a big course load with everything else.

James was also nominated for a scholarship through the local counselors association. We will know in a month or two if he was selected. Heck! Even if he isn't selected, what an honor it is to be nominated! I am one proud Mama. It is amazing how this being who started out so small and fragile can grow to be so smart, strong and independent.

Last night James had his first football game for the Winter league. He sacked the quarterback. He was so excited. I think he had a difficult time falling asleep. The first words out of his mouth this morning were about football, too. It is so cute to see him get this excited.

This kid is just growing up too fast!

Lottery Anyone?

I have read all of the stories about lottery winners falling from grace. I even watched bits and pieces of the True Hollywood Story... but I really wish I could win the lottery. I would be a fantastic stay-at-home mom. Heck, I would be a great homeschool mom. The only drawback of the homeschooling would be that I may not always be as patient as I would like to be when my lovely kiddos are pushing my buttons.

I think the time I am with my kids is glorious. I LOVE every minute. I enjoy listening to them talk to each other... and sometimes to themselves. I find joy in watching them read and write. I think they are just hilarious. All of my time spent at work is somehow shadowed by the fact that I can't wait to get home.

I think my truest calling in life is to be a mother... well, and wife. It is where I find my greatest peace and biggest rewards. My happiest moments are spent surrounded by my children, singing songs, discussing issues, addressing the life altering events of their days. It is so special having three children at such different points in their lives.

With James we are talking puberty, middle school, friends, sports. He has such diverse interests. He constantly has no less than two books he is reading at any given time. Being 11 is just so interesting.

Riley is 6 and in full kindergarten mode. He LOVES books. He is so active. He rides his bike, climbs and swings.. runs and rolls in the grass. He does, though, have a very tough outer shell to crack. He does not trust easily. You must earn this. It takes time but is so worth it. He is super quirky. He has an insight that can be startling at times. He remembers and cares.

Madeline is all fire. She is animated and dramatic. She will sing from sun up to sun down. She likes to be girly and tough all at once. Madeline has strong opinions. It is strange, at times, to see this in someone so young. When you meet Madeline, you just know she is going to be a strong woman one day.

I love how unique each of my children are. None resemble the other... yet there is this underlying love they each show for others. It is so nice. There is something about them that just resonates that they will be good people in life. They care.. they care big time.

I love being a mom.

Getting Nervous

A week from Wednesday Riley will be going in to All Children's Hospital for his surgery. He is starting to ask a lot of questions. I think this is a good thing, but I am concerned that he is starting to stress over this. I know I am getting nervous, very nervous. He is just such a good boy who has faced countless struggles in his short life. I hate the idea of him facing challenges more than the "normal" kid. I, personally, think he has already fought so hard that it doesn't seem fair.

I know he will be in great hands with his surgeon. I know he will do great in the surgery. I know this is necessary. I just hate the thought of my baby hurting. I wish I could just run away with him and protect him from every hurt. I know that isn't possible... I just wish.

So, if you are a prayerful person, please keep Riley in your prayers. If you are not one to pray, then just send him good thoughts. It is so appreciated by one very nervous mother.