Wednesday, June 13, 2007

What I've been up to!

If you want to take a "look-see", follow this link....

Sunshine Rewards


Just a little something I've been up to lately! :o)

oops!

I was just re-reading my post from yesterday and thought that I probably should post updated photos of the kids too....not just the dog! LOL!!
So here's kind of a silly picture of the three kids, plus a couple of Samuel having fun at Disney World!


Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Here I go again!!

It seems like Summertime is the only time I have to keep this blog updated. (Actually, I'm surprised it's still here!) We are still one crazy household, but a lot has happened in the last year!

First of all, in November last year, Mike took a new job. It was a big step for us but Mike felt like he needed a new challenge and room for more growth. The new job is an hour away, so the new schedule has been an adjustment for all of us.

Samuel is doing great! He just finished first grade and had a super year. He still really loves school and is such a hard worker. He is reading and is very good at math. He loves maps, mazes, and telling time (and keeping Mom on schedule!) He is growing like a weed.... so tall and thin. He continues to drive his power chair and think he is hot stuff! LOL!! In January, Samuel and I (along with my sister, nephew, and niece) went to visit my parents in Florida for a week. We always all have a great time together. We visited Disney World on two days and had a blast! Samuel thought it was the greatest....Mom did too....such great memories!

Noah has been promoted to first grade for next year!!! Hallelujah!! Yea Noah!! Although he still struggles a lot at school, Noah really has come a long way and did have a good year in school. He still gets very tired at school and therefore has behavior problems, but academically he is doing well. He is a TERRIFIC speller and is reading simple sentences. These things finally seemed to click for him this year. His handwriting also improved by leaps and bounds this year. He had a wonderful aide this year as well as our amazing special ed. teacher who really seem to "get" Noah and are very in tune to what he needs. They have been so amazing. Noah will have the same aide next year and we are really happy about that.

Grace survived Kindergarten this year. For the most part, she loved school....the "social" part of it anyway. She had a lot of trouble with staying focused and getting her work done and with interupting. In February, she was evaluated by a neurologist and was diagnosed with ADHD...no big surprise there. The poor thing has been through the ringer trying different medications. I think we're on about the sixth one. Some of the early ones seemed to help, but she also had AWEFUL emotional side effects. It's been rough. But she's been one tough little cookie as always. Grace has really enjoyed the nicer weather and being able to play outside. And she still likes being "little mother" to her older brothers! She'll be going to Day
Camp one week this Summer and she is really looking forward to that.

We've had one more addition to our family this year. No, no more kids! LOL!! Back in the Fall, we "adopted" a dog. We picked him up the day after Thanksgiving. His name is Sugar, he is a little over a year old now, and he is a Goldendoodle. We got him for the kids, mostly Noah....but he has turned out to be MY dog (don't ask!) He is very sweet and playful. As I was sitting here typing, he came in from inside and promptly vomited on the living room floor. Don't know what that's about. So loving "Mother" that I am I put on my rubber gloves, got out the carpet cleaner (Thank God for that thing!) and cleaned it up. Just a gross FYI for all of you out there who have never had a dog.....dog vomit is actually much easier to handle than kid vomit! Just thought you'd like to know! LOL! Oh, but if anyone knows how to keep a white dog clean in the summertime, please let me know! :o) I will try to post a photo of Sugar soon. (Our computer was out of service for several weeks and I don't have my photo files back on it yet.)

And me....well, I'm hangin' in there. I struggle with not having a "normal" life and feeling lonely....I have to be honest. But I know God has put me right in this spot for a reason and someday I will have a better understanding of "why." Until then, I will just put on a smile....and keep the rubber gloves and carpet cleaner handy too!

Friday, July 14, 2006

Gotta love Ziggy!

Hope this makes you laugh like it did me this morning. Happy Friday!!!


Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Happy Birthday Grace!!


It's hard to believe that our little hurricane...I mean princess....is six years old today! :o)

Six years ago our baby girl was born without a voice far away in Calcutta, India. (Typing that just made me laugh because whenever Grace tells a story it always begins, "Once upon a time, far, far away in Calcutta, India....) If you know Grace, her being born without a voice seems hard to even imagine, and she's been making up for lost time ever since. But we call her our miracle baby. Every child is a miracle, but the fact that God brought a family together with a baby girl all the way on the other side of the world is truly amazing....a baby girl who had no voice, who could have had severe brain damage, but didn't....well, that is just a HUGE miracle to us!

And what is our girl up to these days? This week she is at day camp and having a blast! In the Fall she will start Kindergarten! She is a smart girl with a huge imagination. Her favorite word lately is "actually". When I ask her something she'll say, "Well, ACTUALLY Mom....." She LOVES to swing and can pump and swing really high all by herself. As always, she is a busy, busy girl!! She continues to keep me on my toes and on my knees! :o)

So Happy Birthday to our sweet Princess Grace!!! We love you so much!!

P.S. - The pictures are ACTUALLY from her princess birthday party that we had last Friday night.

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Hurray for Micah!!!!!

I have been anxiously awaiting to hear this news....Our friends Pam and Joel have been waiting for what seems like forever to receive the referral of a baby from India. Well, today was the day I heard that wonderful news. On Monday they received that long-awaited phone call with a referral...a four-month old baby boy named Micah Sajan!

Pam and Joel are a sweet couple that we met when they first began their adoption process....probably about 18 months ago! They have been through the ringer with red tape and beaurocracy and the wait was getting very long.

But we are so very happy for them....and for little Micah who now has a forever family.

Congratulations Pam and Joel! (aka. Mommy and Daddy!)

We can't wait to meet you Micah!!!!!

For all my scrapbooking buddies!

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Happy Birthday America!!


God Bless America

"While the storm clouds gather
far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance
to a land that's free,
Let us all be grateful
for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices
in a solemn prayer. "

God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her,
and guide her
Thru the night
with a light from above.
From the mountains,
to the prairies,
To the oceans,
white with foam
God bless America,
My home sweet home.

Words and music by Irving Berlin

Sunday, June 18, 2006

Happy Father's Day!!

When God Made Fathers
by Erma Bombeck

When the good Lord was creating Fathers, he started with a tall frame.
A female angel nearby said, "What kind of a Father is that? If you're going to make children so close to the ground, why have you put the Father up so high? He won't be able to shoot marbles without kneeling, tuck a child in bed without bending, or even kiss a child without stooping"
God smiled and said, "Yes, but if I make him child size, who would children have to look up to?"

And when God made a Father's hands, they were large. The angel shook her head and said,"Large hands can't manage diaper pins, small buttons, rubber bands on pony tails, or even remove splinters caused from baseball bats."
Again God smiled and said, "I know, but they're large enough to hold everything a small boy empties from his pockets, yet small enough to cup a child's face in them."

Then God molded long slim legs and broad shoulders, "Do you realize you just made a Father without a lap?" The angel chuckled.
God said, "A Mother needs a lap. A Father needs strong shoulders to pull a sled, to balance a boy on a bicycle, or to hold a sleepy head on the way home from the circus."

When God was in the middle of creating the biggest feet any one had ever seen, the angel could not contain herself any longer. "That's not fair. Do you honestly think those feet are going to get out of bed early in the morning when the baby cries, or walk through a birthday party without crushing one or two of the guests?"
God again smiled and said, "They will work. You will see. They will support a small child who wants to ride to Branbury Cross or scare mice away from a summer cabin, or display shoes that will be a challenge to fill."

God worked throughout the night, giving the Father few words, but a firm authoritative voice; eyes that see everything, but remain calm and tolerant.

Finally, almost as an after thought, He added tears. Then he turned to the angel and said, "Now are you satisfied he can love as much as a Mother can?"
The angel said nothing more.

Monday, May 29, 2006

Memorial Day....Never forget!


The Gettysburg Address

“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate--we can not consecrate--we can not hallow--this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us--that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion--that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain--that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom--and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

GirlTalk thoughts

Okay, this has NOTHING to do with my birthday.....but I just read these really precious thoughts regarding aging by Nicole Whitacre on the GirlTalk blog and thought I'd share....

http://girltalk.blogs.com/girltalk/2006/05/i_will_not_forg.html

Happy Travelers



40+ Days of Birthday

Okay, I have to admit it....today is my birthday and I'm 40 years old (THERE! I said it!). And I only publicly admit it because I really need to publicly brag on my sweet husband.

Way back at the end of February it all began. One evening after the kids were in bed, Mike handed me an envelope with my name on it. I opened it up and it was a beautiful birthday card. Enclosed in the card was also a note stating that Mike had purchased tickets for two Cleveland Indians' Spring Training games in Winter Haven, Florida. WOOHOO!!!! We were going to Florida!!!!!

After I got over the shock (and asked what the kids were going to do while we were gone), he also told me that there was a free day in between the two game days and that we could do something else too, if I wanted. I did a little research on the web and found that it wouldn't be too far to drive to Orlando and go to Disney World. Surprisingly, Mike agreed! WOOHOO!! We're goin' to Disney!!!!!

We had approximately 2 1/2 weeks to get all our ducks (aka. kids) in a row. My parents, Mike's Mom and Mike's sister wonderfully agreed to take care of the kids while we were gone. WOOHOO!! We're goin' to Florida with NO kids!!!!

So....on March 14th, very early in the morning, we flew to Tampa. It was a whirlwind three day trip. It was short, but we packed a whole lot of fun into those three days!!

We arrived in Tampa late morning. We rented a car and drove to Winter Haven (about an hour drive). We arrived in Winter Haven in time for a 1:05 ball game. It was WONDERFUL to be in the warm sun and see the palm trees waving in the breeze. BEAUTIFUL!! Even though the Indians lost, we had a fun time.

After the game, we drove to Orlando (about 45 minutes away). We checked into our hotel and took a short rest. Then we headed out and found a Subway to eat dinner at (they're turning 40 this year too!! Who knew??). After eating, we drove to Downtown disney. We enjoyed just walking around and checking out all the shops. We then headed back to our hotel.

The next morning we got up early (again!) grabbed a bite to eat at Burger King and headed off to the Magic Kingdom. We got there before the gates opened and so were able to see the little "Welcome" show they have and then we entered the park. It was a wonderful day...not a cloud in the sky. We had so much fun! (Mike had never been and I hadn't been since Jr. High!) Others might call it "Pixie Dust", but we called it special blessings we received throughout our day. We knew it was because people at home were praying for us while we were gone. We just had a great time.

The next day we did a little shopping after breakfast and then we left to go back to Winter Haven for another game. It was good we left when we did because we got in a HUGE traffic jam!!! We enjoyed another game (they lost again though), but had to leave early in order to return our rental car and make our flight. Once again, it was good we left when we did because we reached Tampa at rush hour and the traffic was aweful! We were sweating it a bit, but we made our flight. We arrived home that night (well, next day) at about 1 am.

We couldn't have asked for a better trip. We had absolutely beautiful weather and so much fun!!!

Well, picture me basking in the glow of a wonderful trip my husband planned for us....now fast-forward to the day before Easter. I had gone out shopping and when I came home there was a little birthday card set out for me. Inside was a couple dollars and a little note to treat myself to a burger at my favorite burger place. I thought it a little odd, but figured that since I had received such a big gift...the trip....that Mike wanted to do something else little so i would know he hadn't forgotten that my birthday really wasn't until May. Okay. Thanks Hon'!!!

The next day was Easter. When I got up there was a card for me on the kitchen table. I thought it was nice that Mike got me an Easter card even though we had said we weren't going to do that. I opened it up and it was a BIRTHDAY card! Hmmmm. Okay. Thanks Hon'!!!

Well, I don't know if it was that night or the next day, but I started realizing that my sweet husband was up to something! My birthday was still WEEKS away!!! Wait a minute....I got out the calendar....I did some counting and calculating....my 40th birthday was exactly 40 days from the day before Easter. What a clever guy I married!!!

So.... for the last 40 days we've been celebrating the "40 Days of Jill's 40th birthday". Each day I've received a little something.....a card, or flowers, breakfast out, a coupon for something like a back rub or not having to help put the kids to bed. It's been really sweet and fun!

[And as I was sitting here typing, Mike came home with an ice cream birthday cake!! Boy, what am I gonna do tomorrow. I've gotten a little spoiled and it's going to be such a let down!]

Last Friday night, Mike threw me a little family birthday party. A Cinderella/princess birthday party. He cleaned the house, bought a beautiful cake and decorations, and even served hors....appetizers.

People have asked me how I feel about turning 40. What I have told them is that I'm not sure. I've heard others say that 40 is "fabulous", but I don't feel fabulous yet. Oh well, I guess I have to grow into the the 40's slowly. But what I DO know is that I am fabulously blessed to have people around me that love me so much!!!

And it's definitely been a fabulous 40 days.....something I will remember for a long time.

P.S. - Photos to come!

Saturday, May 13, 2006

Happy Mother's Day!!

Why Did God Make Mothers? Answers given by second graders!!!


Why did God make mothers?
1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my Mum just the same like he made me. He Just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in
the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use
string, I think.

Why did God give you Your mother & not some other mum?
1.We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's mums like me.

What kind of girl was your mum?
1. My mum has always been my mum and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty
bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did mum need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mum marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mum eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that Mum didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?
1. Mum doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.
2. Mum. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess Mum is, but only because she has a lot more
to do than dad.

What's the difference between mums & dads?
1. Mums work at work and work at home & dads just go to work at work.
2. Mums know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller & stronger, but mums have all the real power 'cause
that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.
4. Mums have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mum do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mum perfect?
1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of
plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your Mum, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my Mum smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of
her head.

[Thanks Tina!]

Friday, March 31, 2006

"Too bizarre!"

My good friend Tina sent this to me. I'm always fascinated by optical illusion stuff like this so I thought I'd share.

(thanks Tina!)

"The pictures below are used to test the level of stress a person can handle.
One teacher said, "I felt like they were all moving...but slowly. Kind of like, they were breathing."
The slower the pictures move, the better your ability of handling stress.
Alleged criminals that were tested see them spinning around madly; however, senior citizens and kids see them standing still.
FYI ... None of these images are animated - they are perfectly static! "





Monday, March 06, 2006

Please let me stay!


This made me laugh....especially since I haven't posted anything in so long. (Picture me embarrassed!)

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

xoxoxoxoxo


Happy Valentine's Day!

So, what are you doing special for Valentine's Day? I guess I'm not the most creative or romatic person. Last night I went grocery shopping and picked up a card for Mike. I checked at the bakery and they had some of his favorite cookies....white chunk macadamia nut. So I got some of those. Also got some doughnuts with red, pink, and white sprinkles on them. I was going to let the kids have them for breakfast, but the boys actually went back to school today so we didn't really have time. So I guess we will have them for dessert tonight. I also am making a meatloaf in the shape of a heart for dinner. And I do have a little dollar store gift for each of the kids. So It's nothing exciting, but the kids will think it's great. And Grandma snuck over and left little gifts on our doorstep so that will be exciting!

I just realized all of this revolves around FOOD!!! Oh no.....I don't even want to know what that says about ME! Ugh!!!!!

Hope everyone has a great day!!