Where is summer?

Much of July has turned out to be a tranquil month for us, and it came with much appreciation.  In a whirlwind of events, activities, projects and trips the past several months; some down time was just the right medicine for all of us.  We are now starting to feel rejuvenated and ready for the next wave, we may not know when that is or what tomorrow will bring but we are ready with new vigor.

As it is well known that Blaine’s mom is battling Brain cancer, here is the latest update.  Since she was diagnosed in January the months following have had their ups and downs, and while the majority of the progress has been increasing it does seems to go in a peak and valley type pace.  We are currently in a valley and she has been maintaining since the last surgery that took place in mid June.  She has also made the decision that she will be moving to Georgia this fall to live with her sister.  The decision while it be hard on all of us, it is at the same time an easy one looking at the circumstances.  Talk about a conundrum!  Currently she lives is a small farm home where her wheel chair can only fit into 2 rooms; imagine spending your days looking at the same 8 walls and out the same window always at the same scenery.  When winter comes going outside will be that much more difficult here in the North.  We don’t know when this move will be exactly but we know it is coming and will do our best to send her off without regret as this is truly the best for her.  Here is a picture of her from our wedding, it was one of the few pictures that she let anyone take of her without catching her off guard.

Over the 4^th we spent three nights and two full days up at mom and dad’s lake, it was the most perfect weather that I think we have ever had up there; at least during the waking hours!  On Sunday night we had a storm come through, as we do most 4^th of July weekends, which raised everyone out of slumber to look outside. (Except dad, he had his ear plugs in – smart guy)  Yep, just as we had suspected…hail…on mom’s brand new Terrain.  Fortunately, there was no damage but Blaine saved a nice bowl of hail to show dad in the morning what he had missed. 

After our long 4 hour ride home from the lake we arrived to a storm brewing, I tried to take pictures of the eerie sky but my camera couldn’t keep up with its churning and all the lightening.  It was a wild night to say the least.  After another late night we all decided that we would sleep in on our final day off…this turned out to be not such a great idea as around 7 am I started stirring due to some loud rumblings outside and assumed it was a train and rolled back over…I should have gotten up.  Around 7:45 I awoke again to these same noises and decided this cannot be a train still. I rose up the blinds that cover our front window and to my surprise…there are tractors everywhere on our road…or what USED to be our road.  We knew that work was going to be performed on our cul-de-sac at some point this summer but did not know it was going to be that morning (we found out later that a note should have been left on our front door but either ours blew away OR one of the sitters picked it up and it didn’t make it to us).  I immediately try to rationalize in my head what to do next since both Blaine and my trucks were in the garage and the road at this point had already cut down about a foot to a foot and a half in front of our driveway and they were already half way around the circle.  I decided I better wake Blaine. He drives both trucks over the neighbor’s front lawn to the adjoining side street.  Thank goodness they are among one of nicest families we have lived by and thought nothing of it.  Dilemma averted by Mr. Fix-it All.

Blaine has been helping Missy out at her house the past few weekends as well, she is getting her house ready to sell and needed a handy man to hang some doors, light fixtures and trim work, Mr. Fix-it to the rescue.  Seems the work is all done as her house will be on the market in the next few days.  I am happy for her and their exciting new adventure but will miss her being just a few short blocks away; with any luck the area she chooses to build at will also be only a few short blocks away as well, just in a different direction…no pressure here MissyJ. 

The kids have kept pretty busy so far this summer.  Justin is involved in a summer camp that is being put on by the Concordia College Hockey coach; this consists of 5 days a week for about 2 hours.  They have been doing anything from shooting skills, to sprints to PX90 workouts. He will be starting football the 2^nd week of August and Hockey is following at his heels.  We also started Justin up in guitar lessons that take place once a week.  He and his instructor have made lots of progress.  At the end of one of his lessons a week or so ago his instructor Ben said he is doing very well and has either been doing a lot of practicing or has magic fingers. Makayla did a hockey camp in Fargo through June, a Volley ball camp, and will be starting soccer in the next few weeks as well as Hockey.  School too is just around the corner, Justin will be moving to the middle school and Kayla will be a 5^th grader.  It really is hard to believe that school will be starting in about 5 weeks, but it is even harder to think how quickly time has gone from little kids to tweeners.

As for me I have been busy working on my photography skills or lack thereof; I took some pictures of mom and dad at the lake and found exactly where I am deficient and hoping that they either find 1 that they like or will let me re-do them. I would prefer to redo them and find them one that they love.  After their pictures I took to reading and studying some more and then took to the kids for their photo-shoots…aaannnd I guess I still need a little more practice and a lot more knowledge.  I found all my errors afterwards on the computer, but regardless it was still fun picking them up and having to be asked again to sign a release form from the “photographer” – LOL!  If they only had a clue!  I’ve been looking for some more photography classes that I can take but unfortunately they seem to be very hard to come by in this area.  I will have to continue to buy books since our local library doesn’t carry really anything.  Hope the kids don’t get too bored with me snapping pictures and asking them to give me an hour to “mess around” with the camera.

It all started with her

Grandmother hugs and Grandmother kisses,
Hot oven cookies and holiday wishes,
Attics with treasures of children grown old,
Stories of magic and princes so bold,
Oceans of patience and rainbows of love,
A bright ray of sunshine sent from above,
You stirred my childhood with rich, golden days,
Touching my life in so many ways.
When shadows are dark,
I reach through the night,
The love of a Grandmother shines like a light.

...Author Unknown

Today we celebrated, we celebrated having grandma near and dear to us for 85 years.  Just sitting back thinking about all the adventures she has had in her life, all the changes that she lived through, and the losses she has had to endure...wow...I couldn't imagine seeing the differences from the beginning of her life to today.  To me she is still as beautiful as she was in the picture I so often looked at of her when she was a young adult.

I looked around the room and relished in the happiness that surrounded me but still missed her special someone...grandpa.  I know in some way or fashion he was with us today but I missed his presence, his hugs, his laugh...his smile, I know she misses him even more. But onward we must go in hopes of one day being all together again. 

 I ask everyone if we can take generation pictures, I was happy to hear many yeses.

We first gather grandma with her daughters.  Mom is on the right and Karen is on the left.

I then add in the husbands, dad is on the right and Terry is on the left.

Then comes the grand kids.  From back left to right:  Jake, DeDe, me, Tara and Lori.

Then the grand kid's spouses...I see a pattern here :-)

Jess (Jake), Blaine (me), Troy (DeDe), Jason (Tara), John (Lori)

Then last but not least, the great-grand kids.

Back:  Jordyn (DeDe, Troy), Justin (Me, Blaine), Brett (Lori, John), Garrett (Lori, John)

Nick (DeDe, Troy), Mandi (DeDe, Troy), Makayla (Me, Blaine), Talan (Tara, Jason),

Abby (Lori, John), Brinly (Tara, Jason)

Wow!

5 grand kids

10 great grand kids

So the day was wonderful in the fact that we were all together, all smiles, the sound of little kid laughter (who doesn't like that) and delicious cup cakes.  The best part to me was hearing mom and grandma singing "You are my sunshine", a song that was sung to in the past to the little ones in our family and was the song that was found for the card that we gave her today from the Kellers.

I loved this day just because it was a day to remember, reflect and rejoice.

It was a good day.

Yesterday is history

Tomorrow is a mystery

Today is a gift open it up and enjoy it....

...and today I did just that.

Baking with my boy

As busy families are well aware of, a night at home even if only for a few hours comes rare; and as luck would have it Justin and I found ourselves with a few hours between drop off and pick-ups of Makayla and Emily.  So with our time, the lawn was mowed, dinner was cooked, dishes were done, Rhubarb cut and errands ran.  What to do with the remaining time....per Justin "let's bake a pie!"

This was a first for both of us, his first pie and my first Strawberry/Rhubarb pie.  He looked up a recipe on the Internet while I started the chopping of the fruit.

Justin mixed all the ingredients himself while I put the first layer of the crust into the pan.

Looks good already!

Then came the top crust, this can be a little tricky when your first learning but he did a great job!

I didn't plan things as perfectly as I had hoped as the pie was still in the oven at 8:15 when it was time to leave to have the girls picked up...but off we went hoping all would turn out OK if we turned the oven off and left the door open just a crack for the last 10 minutes.

Once home, we found the house filled with the delicious smell of our baking, and I was pleased to see no burnt edges and no doughy bottom.  Now to let it cool.

Dad got home from softball just in time for the cutting, how lucky can a guy get!  After sinking our teeth into our new found recipe it was decided we will have to make this again...hopefully my rhubarb plant can grow a bunch more stalks for us because this first one barely made it through the first night.

Tonight it's off to Moorhead Youth Hockey...yep...it's summer and 75 degree's outside and we are heading to the rink.  Jordyn is in town for a tournament for her summer league, should be a good time!

Grattitude

This past weekend was a blissful weekend of shopping, roller coasters, great food, wonderful conversations and remarkable memories.

The weather started out a little questionable for the weekend but turned out to be the best it could have possibly been.  Saturday was sprinkles all day long but we spent the majority of the morning in the car anticipating all the events that were soon to come.  Our first stop was at the Mall of America, starting out with a few small rides to get the adrenaline pumping for the kids, we then split up some so that everyone could get to a few stores that they wanted to hit and then join backup at Bubba-Gumps.  YUM!

Sunday came bright and early as we all set off to wish dad a Happy Fathers Day.  I love the idea of spending a day like this with my dad...all smiles and everyone together.  My dad is one of a kind, he is the kind that will warm your heart just by his being present, he tells you he loves you without having to say the words by wanting to spend time with you, he hugs you without having to touch you by his generosity, fairness and all around great nature.  He is the kind of dad that you would stand up in a crowded room to yell, "hey everyone, quiet down now...my dad has entered the room, give him room to find his spot...next to me!"  My dad is a one of kind because he will tell you he loves you and hugs you and will do it anywhere at any time.  I love you dad.

Valley Fair turned out to be a beautiful day not only because it was Fathers Day but the weather itself was perfect.  Warm, slightly cloudy and slight breeze; the lines were at most a 5mn wait.  The kids were able to ride their favorites rides multiple times and I can say...they rode every ride possible.  By the end of the day each and everyone of were exhausted but each one of us had a story still to tell and laugh about at supper.  Oh what a day!

Mandi getting an early ride.

 Look who we found!

Mandi and I rode a swing together, it was fun for me!

Nick getting a little shower

DeDe snuggeling

Jordyn feeling the rush!

Mom just before pulling a wheelie!

Blaine sending me all his love!

Jake posing with...oops, how'd this get in here!

Justin seeking out the next roller coaster ride!

Troy getting close to nature

Monday, generally not a day on the top of anyone's list but once again we joined together in the morning to chat about the weekend and even talk about the next vacation together.  The planning can be just as fun as the event...ok maybe not so much but it is still fun!  We said our good-bye's to mom, dad, Jake and Jess and the rest of us ventured off to the Minnesota Zoo.  Man that is a good time as well.

Today, we took another trip to Melby, MN or better yet Evansville to visit Michele.  After her last surgery it was found she does have some tumorous activity growing but hopefully a little radiation will stop that again for a few more months.  It was nice to see her again but somewhat of a let down to see that not a great amount of speech was returned as was hoped.  Makayla was given a wonderful gift that someday she will realize is priceless.  She was given her Great Grandmothers diamond ring by her grandmother.  She will receive this gift as something "old" on her wedding day.  Tears me up just thinking about what a very special gift this is...wow.

Back to work tomorrow, but can't complain after this past weekend!  Thanks mom and dad for giving us all such great memories, priceless laughs, and hurting cheeks!  Love you both!!

A roller coaster ride

After a brief call to check on Michele yesterday Blaine found out that Sheila was going to be taking her to Georgia on Friday.  Yes, I said Friday.  Blaine hurridly wrapped up work and took a quick trip to St. Cloud hospistal, well as quick as you can make a 2.5 hour trip, to find out what was going on and why the quick move.  After talking with everyone that was there is was confirmed that everyone thinks they have her best interest and insist that Michele is getting what she wants.  Problem is with this is that Michele doesn't really know what she wants.  This is a very tough call for her to make.  If she goes to Georgia she more than likely will not see the rest of her family again as well as Wayne and his daugher Sheila that have been taking care of her since this started...if she stays she will not see her sister as much as she would like.   For now, this decision has been decided for everyone by the neorosurgeon that has been performing most of her surgeries; he is not releasing her as of yet for travel.  This last surgergy reveiled some cancerous materials in the mass that was removed and he would like to giver her a few more shots of radiation.  So for now, no travel other than to home.  I believe this will be revisited again in the very near future.  Our hopes are that she stay's but we will have no influence on her in any way as we want her to live her remaining time where she will be the most happiest and comfortable.

Now, with this decision behind us and a brief moment of relief...let's get ready to vacation!!

Tickets are bought, motel is reserved, boarding is scheduled for the pups, bags are being packed, and the questions are being asked..what are we doing Saturday? Can we go to the zoo? Can we go to the science museum? Are we going to Bubba gumps?  And of course naming every ride that is going to be ridden at the fair. Oh, to be a kid again and ride those rides. Sure isn't fun to get older and get dizzy just watching the rides. Ho-humm....guess I'll just "have" to take pictures...oh darn.  Ha-ha!
I can't wait to have another fun filled weekend away with my entire family.  How lucky can anyone get to get away all on the same weekend with almost everyone that means the world to you.

Here's wishing the weekend will have sunny skies, many smiles, and much laughter.

Today is a day of prayer

Dear Lord,

Please keep a watchful eye and a guided hand over Dr. Sherr as he performs surgery on Michele today.  Help him to remove as much of the tumor as possible without causing any further damage.  I pray that this surgery brings back the speech to Michele so she can once again have the communication that she so desires with those that she loves.  I pray that she finds peace in the fact that her radiation and chemo will now be stopped since they are not showing any results.  I ask that you guide the oncologist to a new path of treatment that will help her to live a full life in whatever amount of time you have decided she should have left.  I pray that you watch over Blaine on his travels to and from the hospital.  Please give him the strength that is needed to be a supporter to her yet also be supported.  I pray that you bring peace to the remaining family that will be there and help them understand that they need to put differences aside and come together.

Dear Lord please watch over Jake in his travels to Nebraska to transport a felon.  Guide him to and from without incident.  Please have this persons warrant be that of something small that will cause no issues for him or Jake.  Please bring peace to this person so that he or she can too resolve their issues and become the person that they should be.

Please watch over my dear friend Vicky that I am missing dearly.  Make sure she feels the warmth of love and the strength we are sending to the moon and back for her.  Please guide the oncologist to provide her with the best forms of medicine to remove all traces of her cancer.

Dear Lord give me the strength to be the person that all those around me need me to be, help me to know what to say and when to stay quiet, help me to know when to be supportive and when to carry them, help me to know when it is ok to just not be ok.

Thank you for the blessings and guidance that you have provided me, for giving me back my health and please continue to bless those around me.

I thank you Lord in the name of Jesus

Amen

Catch-up

With the computer in the shop it has been a long week or so without a computer but once again the computer doctors were able to fix the old beast up and get her working again.

Recap of what has happened since last visit.
Justin had an all City track meet on Monday and Kayla had one on Tuesday.  Both having great days.  Justin was selected from the Reinertsen 5th grade boys to run with the torch before the days events.  What an exciting suprise for me that Monday morning as he tells me of this over his shoulder as he also waves good-bye for the day.  Stinker.  He ran 3 other events and came home with ribbons for all.  He came in second in his 100meter run.  Makayla ran on Tuesday and I was able to attend this one.  Man that girl can run.  She too came home with ribbons and a smile. 
The next day (Wednesday) both kids ran their mile for the spring as school...I couldn't make this one but good old dad made sure he was there to cheer them both on.  Justin did great coming in at 7:45 seconds and Makayla in at 7:02 seconds.  Funny thing...she wanted to run the mile at the All City Meet but was told she couldn't as she had too many events already.  Then when she finished her gym teacher asked if she ran at the mile at the city meet..then proceeded to tell her she would have won overall for 4th grade girls.  What a great accomplishment for her!

Last Monday we took Makayla to run in the Hershey's Track meet, once again she didn't sign up for the mile...which still today suprises me.  She ran 2 races herself, a relay and did the softball throw.  They don't give awards out in this meet as they are just looking for qualifiers for the state meet next month in Jamestown.  She did however take first place in her 50 meter run, 2nd in the 100 meter run, 1st in the relay and 2nd in the softball throw. She has asked us to take her to Detroit Lakes on June 16th so she can run their Hershey meet as well....still trying to get to the State Tournament.  Love her ambition.

Over Memorial weekend we made the long trip up to Rugby to help do some much needed work at Blaine's grandpa's house.  Mike (grandpa) is 88 years old and still going strong.  He lives in the same house that he has for  25 years and is taking as best care of it as he can.  He has a small little bird to keep him company between the long stretches of visitors.  As happy as we were to see him it was also a little disheartening to see that his memory is going a little.  There were bouts of times that he was showing signs that he needs to be cared for.  During our visit we were also able to visit with Blaines aunt and uncle to do some catching up.  Mike gave Blaine his old camper, it is a fancy 1976 camper but all the while very appreciated.  We were not able to get on the road back to home until 7:30 that night only to find that the camper needed more work than grandpa had anticipated.  We did not have any lights on the back of the camper and a long 3.5 hour trip along with no gas gage.  We decided this would be our adventure of the weekend.  About 20minutes outside of Ruby the old camper started to show its age and sputtered and spirred for the next 30 or so minutes until we got to Devils Lake then it finally cleared out what ever was ailing it and off we went.  We stopped in DL and Grand Forks to fill up with gas...just in case.  By the time we got home it was close to 11:30 and we were all very tired...including the camper.  It got a whopping 8 miles to the gallon.  Poor old thing!

Saturday we spent the day catching up on house work, laundry and just spending some time together.  We had family movie night which turned out to be a nice relaxing evening that all of very much enjoyed.

Sunday we took Michele and Wayne to lunch in Fergus Falls.  It was great to find a Chinese resaurant since this is her favorite meal.  During lunch she did start complaining of some leg pain so Vicadin to the rescue.  We then followed them back to their house, we again brought a care package; this time consisting of a new hat, movies and chocolate chip cookies.  She looked great in her new hat.  (No pictures, she doesn't want any taken).  I was happy that we were there and that we were able to get her alone to get some much needed questions asked and answered.  We don't know what will become of the future for her but we do now know that she will not be going to Georgia.  She was going to Saint Cloud today for an MRI so hopefully in the next few days we should know a little more of how large the tumor is getting and if we should be calling hospice or not.  I sent Blaine more information today on what Fergus Falls offers which includes home visits OR she can live in a Hospice home if this will suite better.  Either way, we must have sign off from the doctor so we must wait until we can get some more information from them.

Last night we had the joys of having a large storm, no damage luckily to us but we do see much damage in both Moorhead and Fargo.

Today, I bought the Valley Fair tickets for our whole family.  I know my household is excited to be going and I am sure the rest are as well. Just getting the tickets makes it all that more exciting!  Vacation is just around the horizon!

This is a picture I took on our way home Saturday from Rugby.  The camera does not do the rainbow justice but it is still fun to remember it.

Laugh as much as you breath, and love as long as you live.

A life to be lived

The meaning of life constitutes a philosophical question concerning the purpose and significance of life or existence in general…according to Wikipedia.  But who decides ones purpose, significance or existence? To me when you have cancer it is all too often decided by the doctors and or insurance companies as they decide your fate, treatments and the course of action based on what they perceive to be your purpose, significance or existence in their big picture. 

As we sat trying to celebrate my Michele’s 60^th birthday I found myself to be angered at her inability to speak or communicate with anyone…why did they let this happen to her….I know the answers but I still do not understand.  How can a human being schedule therapy to enhance the life of one who is suffering only to have no one show up, to not schedule any further…be called again and you schedule …but then again no one shows.  How can one who was so vibrant and so eager to fight this cancer be left with no communication at all, be left with so much frustration it over whelms her, how can she continue to fight when the medical field has already hung up their gloves?  It makes no sense in our age of wonderful medical skills that anyone can be left behind, seemingly forgotten…just another prescription to be filled but not taking care of the whole person.  Where are the people that should be caring for our mothers, our fathers, brothers and sisters?  Have they forgotten that we are all but one?  Have they forgotten that this person could mean the world to someone else?

I leave her house with more regret than when I entered.  The one thing I vowed to never have when it comes to family and friends. 

Regrets…

I regret the past 7 years that I cannot get back or give back to Blaine and Michele

I regret not living closer to help her fight this

I regret not being able to help her with medical costs

I regret not being able to shout from the roof top that here live a wonderful woman...see her!

I regret not being able to sit down weekly and have a conversation and meal with her

I regret not being able to make those phone calls to fight for her care

I regret not being able to take her to her appointments and hold her hand

I regret not trusting the man that is helping her everyday and giving his live up for her

I regret not being able to understand her needs

I regret not being able to understand what she tried to communicate to us this weekend

I regret leaving her in tears when we left

I don’t regret...

I don't regret telling her I love her and making sure she heard

I don't regret bringing her German Chocolate cake for her birthday

I don't regret making her laugh

I don't regret telling her I am happy she is back in our lives

I don't regret telling her we missed her

I don't regret letting go of my distrust in her caregiver this weekend after seeing that she reached out for him often when she was in dark moments, she completely trusts in him.

What I will continue to do

I will hold Blaine through this entire process

I will hold Michele’s had as often as I can

I will continue to send her packages of goodies to remind her we are thinking of her

I will remind myself that Wayne is there for her every day, giving up his life, putting his job and business to the side, offering her security and smiles often at her, telling her “he knows” when she gets frustrated.

I will always thank Wayne for taking such good care of her.

I will thank Shiela for opening up her home for whenever Michele should want it.

As we drove our path home it saddened me to know that we get to go home and live our “life” while a beautiful life is being left behind for someone else to determine her purpose, significance and existence.

Dear Doctors, nurses, rehab/therapists and her insurance company, here are your answers.

Her purpose in life is to love her sons and grandchildren, to love Wayne, to care for her animals, to watch the birds that she feeds, to care for those at the store she worked at and to assist Wayne with his shop.

Her significance in life is tremendous.  She is a mother of 2, grandmother to 5, a friend to many and was the care giver to a many furry and feathered friends during her time as a veterinarian.  She is significant to me.

Her existence...how can you deny her existance? We are all very aware of her existence as well as she is, her existence in life has not gone unmeasured even for a day.

Please, when you take that call again from Wayne; give them the attention that they deserve.  The treatments that are appropriate and just, make sure you see Michele as a person and not a statistic in your books, make her feel as important as you would treat your own mother.  Many people have had brain tumors and have lived much better lives than she is today, and this was largely due to the doctors, nurses, and everyone working together as a whole and not just pasifying them when they got a phone call.

Sincerly,

A saddened  and very frustrated daughter-in-law.

Tell your mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, childrend and everyone that you care about that you love them!  Hugs are great, tears are hard but words of love are music to anyone’s ears at any time or place in your life.

I Love you all and I will tell you again, and again and again….

What a weekend!

What a great weekend it was!  Kayla had a double-header weekend at soccer, unfortunatley due to the rain at 8:00 am their team pictures were cancelled...again.  First game was at 9:00am, yes...still raining...and very cold but the girls pulled off another blow-out game winning 7-0 against the Galaxy girls.  This was a very sweet win for all of us as this also is the team that holds the 2 girls that have given Kayla so much grief over the past year or so.  Also at this game one of the dads decided to come and stand next to me as he uses for one of his intimidation tactics..this time it didn't work but boy did I get to hear all the wonderful things that came out of his mouth... it didn't hurt that Kayla did some scoring, great defense and was all over the field showing us (and them) what a true athlete she really is.  We all left beaming with pride along with the girls as they continued their undefeated title since last fall.  They repeated their winnings at the 4:45 game beating that team 11 to 0.  Way to kick some soccer ball girls!

This is a photo from last Saturday, I didn't want to bring my camera out in the rain and wind that we had yesterday.

Part of the team that we took to the game last Saturday, they were a little tired from Kayla's birthday sleep-over with 6 other girls but none the less ready for a 9am soccer game.

We also had a great weekend visit with my sister, brother-in-law and my nieces and nephews.  We were not able to do as much as we had hoped outside on Saturday but none the less it was a great visit.  Once upon a time we used to spend a great deal of time together, many many weekends together but now that most of the kids are involved in hockey through out the winter and summer activities...as well as more hockey it can only happen on those rare weekends that both families are free.  Guess we'll take them as much as they come.  Maybe someday we once again can liver closer than 2 hours apart.

Here is a picture I took last year of all the kids as a suprise present for my parents.  Jordyn (14) is on the far right, Makayla (10), Nick (9), Justin (11)  and Amanda (6) on the bumper.  They are a great group of kids that I hope will let me do more photo sessions with me this summer!

Now our weekend winds up and I can feel the Sunday blue's sitting in with all of us as we prepare for another week of school and work...all the while it is sunshine, blue sky's, and little wind...will we ever get a full weekend of great weather??

I haven't had a chance to photograph it but we have a mother robin nesting in our pergalon again!  Hopefully I will get a great view of her this week.  This is the third set of babies we have had!  Last year we had two sets of babies born in the same nest...does anyone know if the same bird will nest twice in the same nest or would that have been a different robin?

All Lit Up

Last week was a busy week for the Prairie Restoration crew as most spring times are.  With spring being late just leads to long hours and all of us missing dad.  On Thursday we stopped by to see him and bring him and some of the other crew a much needed beverage.
I myself have not witnessed the details that they go into to perform a site burn, nor seen the gear that they wear, the kids thought it looked pretty funny but myself thought he looked as good as it gets.

Here is what we saw as we drove up, Blaine is spraying a section of fire keeping it in the area that they need it to stay, avoiding burnig any vegetation that should stay green.

Here is how he starts the fires, he has a small fire thrower that he walks down a path lighting as he goes.  The fire does not take long to start and pyro's that we are...were all excited to see it burn.

This is what it looked like after he rounded the corner, needless to say it was a matter of seconds for the grasses and flowers to be torched.  I can only imagine how quickly it can spread if it get's into the wrong area.

 This is what people will see from the roads, this causes some people to call in thinking that there is a problem, but as one would have it I was sitting on the road myself and the police were already inspecting to make sure no smoke made it on the highway.

Look'n good!  A close up of the fire gear that they must wear during their burns.  Looks super happy about my taking his picture!

 This is their Fire Truck, it has followed them around for some years now and has even been called to help in wild fires, has been on the news and has been a much needed resource for fires that have gone astray.  (Yes, tree's, barns and things of other sorts that should not have been burned...have been burned to the ground)

Blaine was not the only one lit up these days.  After much deliberation on what kind of music lessons we should sign him up for it was finally decided that school lessons was not going to get him to the road he has so eagerly wanted...they tell us he need 4-6 years of either piano or some other insturment to play his guitar in high school.  I personally don't agree with it so I signed him up at Marguerite's for weekly lessons.

As for me, I am still on my weight loss journey; I guess I took a little detour down junk food lane after I got out of the hospital and during Kayla's birthday but I am back on track this week and so far I have lost 1.3 pounds and have two more days until my weigh in so I'm sure hoping I can drop the full 2 pounds that I gained back.  As with everything in life, there are up's and downs, in this case...I'm hoping for more downs.

Perfect 10

I always knew that I wanted to be a mom but I never dreamed what joys in life were brought by such little things in life like hearing mommy for the first time, the sheer delight in them taking their first steps, cheering them on through everything that they try to do...and wishing you could bottle up these little people so that you could open the jar up to that special moment and relive it all over again. 

One of my joys in life turned 10 today, it is one of my pleasures and privelages in life to have her call me mom.

On the morning of April 30th, I awoke to some minor contractions and a sense of relief that I would finally get to meet my daughter, 2 weeks early but to me not a day too soon.  I cheerfully called into work and announced that I would not be coming to work that day.  Sadly to me...a few hours later...everything stopped.  Blaine and I eageryly went to the mall for a long walk and then an out to eat hoping that we could get things started again.  By 3pm still nothing so we went and picked up Justin from the sitters and brought him home.  We played the rest of the afternoon without any further contractions.  By 7pm I felt pressure in my lower back making my dear sweet 75year old nieghbor insist that I was still in labor.  I laughed and told her I think I was just lifting Justin to much; I saw the twinkle in her eye and heard her chuckle in her voice as she said "ok, we'll see her tomorrow".  Boy was she right!  At 9:30'ish that night Blaine called into the hospital, to advise what was going on.  No need to come in yet they tell us, wait until she cannot talk without labored breath.  Ok, I thought.  At 11:00 my contractions were very close but I could still talk well so we thought there was still some time...then a big one hit at about 11:30 and the contractions were about 4mn apart, up Blaine came from bed, called the sitter and out the door we went to drop him off...Doreene met us outside in her robe and wisked him away; thank goodness he was still only 21months old so he slept through most of this.  We quickly drove to the hospital and made it to the emergency room, they pointed us in the direction of the elevator and after several stops along the way to deal with contrations we fially made it to the elevator...then she holloars asking if I want a wheel chair, I gracefully decline and push the button.  We make it to the 6th floor and find the nurses waiting, as I start to get their gown....I feel a so familiar feeling...my water breaks! I am even more excitied and I suddenly remember that we are still in April and if she comes soon she will have a diamond for her birthstone - lucky girl I think.  They tell me that they have called Dr. Howden and he will be up within an hour and for me not to be too concerned as there is pleanty of time.  Then they actually check where I am at...it is now approximately 11:50 and she is ready to come ...NOW.  The nurses tell me I cannot push and that I must wait for Dr. Howden....I tell them I cannot and the head nurse announces that I must "hold" her in.  How does one do this I wonder...then I feel her pushing back on me and telling me to hold it...repeatedly she says this.  I tell her I am not pushing but she is coming anyway.  I was never so happy to see my doctor walk into my room but I don't think he was as happy to walk in and only have time to pull his watch off...no time he says to put on a gown as I watched him wisk off his watch and the additional nurses help him get gloves on..... the head nurse moves her hand and out comes my little girl.  Dr. Howden was there just in time to catch her for us, he smiled as he layed her on my chest and I felt my heart swell with more love than I ever thought one could feel. 

Ten years ago today, at 12:03am I gave my heart away for the 3rd time as my second child Makayla Rae Keller made her way into this world weighing in at 6lb's 8oz. 

Makayla came into the world the same way as she leads her life, confidently, with a mission, and no one stopping her, she wasn't born in April to get that diamond but I think she had planned it that way so that she could be our little May Day basket.  Makayla was named after her great grandpa on Blaines side, and Rae is after my only sister.

Justin was such a proud big brother, as I started to take pictures for her birth announcement he insisted that he too get to be in the picture, after all he was the big brother.  How could a mom disagree.

Makayla was a delight as a baby, once we were prescribed medicine for her reflux she was a very happy baby.  She slept through the night after only a few short weeks, we couldn't believe it since Justin was 19 months before he did!  Along with the reflux came a few challanges.  She could not be layed flat on her back nor on her belly, she had to be in an elevated position at all times.  Time quickly went by and my little tiny baby was now crawling, and getting into everything!

She was quite the go getter and even though it took her a little longer to start crawling, once she figured it out she was a speed crawler trying to keep up with her big brother.  On her first birthday, she was not quite walkng yet but her smile sure lit up a room and she was quite a little momma's girl. 

Before I new it her 2nd birthday arrived and I had a bright, very energetic little girl who talked up a storm.

Today, she is one of the lights of my life.  As she turns 10, I look back at how quicly the time has gone and I wonder if there is any way I can keep her just as she is; sweet, innocent, loveable, and still very much a momma's girl.  We baked a cake yesterday together to have a party with grandpa, grandma, my sister and her family, she loves to cook and she mixed and baked the cakes entirely by herself, then she let mom do the frosting and writing on the cake.

So today, I celebrate not only her 10th birthday; but I celebrate having someone as special as her in my life.  I believe God had a special plan sending her to me, she lights up my day each and every day with her smile, her zest for life, her eagerness to do her very best at everything she does, her sensitivity to those around her, her compassion for animals, the young and the old, and her want to be the best that she can be.  At the age of 10 her goal in life is to become a doctor, if she continues to have this dream I believe she can achieve it. 

My wish for you today my dear sweet Makayla Rae is that happiness surrounds you all through your life and that you don't let the road blocks that will always surface stop you from being who you are or stopping you from going where you want to go. 

You are truely an angel sent to us; happy birthday Makayla, I love you.

10 years of cuteness!