Has it really been 6 years???

6 years have come and gone.

I'm glad to report that in 6 years, I have grown up.
The struggles are still real, still everyday, still annoying.
But I've grown up.
I've gotten better at balancing my time, my energy, my family.

In 6 years, we've moved.
From Pomeroy, OH to Middleport, OH.
From Middleport, OH to Eglin AFB, Florida,
From Eglin AFB, Florida to Dayton, Ohio.

We've shifted from being a civilian family to a military family.
Bob has graduated from OU and is an officer in the Air Force.
So by default I am a military spouse, and our kids are now military brats.
He's working on his masters degree.

We've added to our family.
Not in the way I imagined.
Once in 2012 and again in 2014.
Sid came from Petwelfare on Eglin AFB.
Dox came from a different shelter.

Mike has grown.
Not only taller, but stronger.
Everyday he learns something new, and although the struggles are still the same, they are somehow not as major as they once where.
He underwent a major hip surgery in 2013.
He underwent a major shunt surgery in 2015.
He will undergo a major leg surgery in 2016.
He takes dance and loves it.

Greg has grown.
He has also gotten taller and stronger.
He has a quick wit about him, and is experimenting with jokes.
He is going into 5ht grade and has the best laugh.
He is tender hearted, and strong willed.
I wouldn't have him any other way.

A lot has changed in 6 years.

Good bye grandma...

Yesterday evening, I recieved the call that I knew was coming but wasn't ready to hear. My grandmother passed away. She was 80 + years old, and had lived through a lot. She was in Holland as a little girl when it was occupied by the Germans. She never did like the sound of sirens. She went back to the "old" country a number of years ago, and was saddened by the way things had changed. Where her childhood home was there is now a highway. She had a younger brother that she hardly ever talked about. Recently, I asked her if her parents ever tried to have another child after him, and she laughed at the question. "Na," she said, "my parents where trying to get a head in the world." But there was a ting of sadness that I heard in her voice, and saw in her eyes. She really was all alone these past few years. She took a boat to America, but her sweetheart, my granpa Jake was one of the first to fly from Holland to America. He had his nose broken by a German when he was a young man, for no other reason than the fact that the German could do it, and he couldn't fight back. (Not if he wanted to live anyway.) He never liked Germans after that. When she got to America she changed her name to Dorothy. In the "old country" it was spelled Dorjty. Or something close to that. There where moments in my life I really disliked her, but there where moments in my life that I looked to her for advice, and she helped me become the woman that I am today. Good bye Grandma Dorjty.

Genealogy

Welcome to a new direction for me.

Matt. 1:1-25

Vs. 5 "Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse,"

No where else in that chapter is the phrase "by ___" used. This is interesting. What did these women do to merit getting in the genealogy of Jesus Christ? Who where they? In the modern study of genealogy, both the maternal (mother) and paternal (father) are researched, and listed. But not then? Hum.....

Lord, I pray all who read this will realize that it is my jouney I wish for you to lead. I pray for my family, that you will direct their paths. Amen

1/2 yr. already....

Wow so much has changed in a half a yr.

April, I turned 32. Ugh, I'm getting old:) Went to Michigan for a weekend. It was fun, but as always rushed.

May, 12 yr.s of marriage! Wow, now I really do feel old!! Also started going back to ABC.

June, Mike had his SDR, and he and I lived in Columbus for the month. It was a long month, but a very productive one.

July, Greg turned 4. How did that happen so quickly? Bill, Bep. and the group came up for the 4th of July. I spent the month trying to get my life back in order. Mike had therapy twice a week in Marietta.

Aug., went back to Michigan for Homecoming. It was fun, and the hotel up there is really nice. I think we've found our place to stay from now on :) The boys started school, and I had a job fall into my lap.

Sept., Mike turned 6. 6 already!! Now I think I'm seeing gray hair. Bob started school at OU. I had to go back to Michigan to deal with my mom.

Wait is it possible that we are only half way done with September? That can't be right. I've done enough now to last me the rest of the month, and well into October. UGH....

Half a month has gone by... What have I done? I've been stranded on the side of the road. I've been to Columbus once, Logan once, Marietta twice. Athens about every other day. I've been on the phone for hours trying to get information on where to send Mike next yr. I've been trying to get my house under control. I've been to church three times :) I've made cookies, cooked way to much meat loaf for 7 people, and snuggled with my kids. I've watched more episodes of "The Big Bang Theory" than I can count. Totally mind numbing, but, I just love that show:) I've been getting phone numbers and contact information of family's that have had an SDR done.

I've fallen deeper in love with my husband, my children and my God. I've stopped to take a moment, or two to enjoy what I have. Ya know what. Half a month has Flown by...

School Daze.....

So this past Friday, I had a meeting with the staff at Carleton to try and figure out what to do with Mike next yr. It was interesting, but as always a little difficult. This was NOT the IEP meeting, but just a general planning meeting. To see where we go from here. So where do we go from here? Interesting question....

Living where we do, Meigs county, we are intitled to "open enrollment" meaning we can apply to send Mike to any of the schools in our county. That would be Southern, Eastern or Meigs. Meigs is a given because that's the district we live in. Frankly, I'm not happy with the scores I've seen with Meigs. Eastern is the best district, then Southern is a distant second, but both are better than Meigs. So today I have spent on the phone trying to figure out the open enrollment system. I'm not as confused as I was, and have started to understand it, but, it is going to be an interesting spring. Open enrollment starts on April 1, 2010. I need to go to each schools webpage and print off an open enrollment form, fill it out, send it in, with a copy of the 10/11 IEP, and pray for the best.

All this on top of trying to decide when to do Mikes surgery. Hum.... Maybe I've got a bit to much on my plate :) Oh-well, it will all work out, of that I am sure.

SDR....

Um.... Where to start. Well, I guess the beginning is as good a pace as any. About a year and a half ago, while at Children's, a father stopped Bob and I in the hall way and told us about his child. His son was using a walker like Mikes and if we hadn't heard about it there was a surgery out there that had done miracles for his son. It's called a Selective Dorsal Rizotomy. His family had theirs done in St. Lewis with Dr. Parks. (Dr. Parks is kinda the nations top SDR doctor.) So Bob and I started researching it on line. It seemed like Mike would be a good fit for it, so I asked our physical medical doctor, Dr. Klamar, about it. At first he blew the theory off, and after about 3 visits where I brought it up, he finally started talking to us about it. (I will say that it helped when Bob showed interest in it too.) We where pushing for being sent to St. Lewis, to be seen by Dr. Parks, but Dr. Klamar suggested Dr. Kosnic right there in Children's. Dr. Kosnic is a neurosurgon, who worked with Dr. Elton, Mikes first neurosurgon, and Dr. Riffell, Mikes current neurosurgon. Dr. Kosnic is in the same building, 5 floors above Dr. Klamars office. We know a fair number of the staff at Nation Wide Children's. We trust them, but it was actually a BCMH nurse that convinced me that Dr. Kosnic could do it. (Granted some of it was insurance related, but the clincher was when she said that she would let him do it on her!!) She had been one of his surgery nurses, and would have no issues with him working on her own children. All this took about a year. (So that covers 2009)

2010, lets see... Well we have started the process. We meet with Dr. Kosnic on Tuesday Feb. 2, 2010. He has scheduled a MRI for Mike on Feb. 23, 2010. Bob, Greg, Mike and myself will be going up the night before and we will be at the hospital at 7 am. to start the process. Mike will be put under, have the MRI run, and wake up again. Then we go up to Dr. Kosnic's office and have our apt. with him to schedule the surgery. It could be done sometime in March or April. The recovery period is intense. Mike and I will live in Columbus for 6 weeks. Mike will be IN Children's hospital at least 5 days a week. He will have intense PT for 3 hours a day, 5 days a week for 6 weeks. Bob will continue to go to work. If it's done during the school yr. Greg will continue to go to school 3 days a week, and I will have to find a sitter the other two days a week. There is a slight possibility that our insurance won't allow Mike to stay at Children's. If that's the case then we will either drive to Columbus 5 days a week for 6 weeks, or Mike and I will get an apt. up there. Either way I will probably get an apt. or something up there because I will need a place to sleep, shower and store my stuff. In all this, I don't want to loose sight of Greg, and his needs. But at this moment, it's not fair, but he has to take a back seat. I don't like it and if someone has an idea of how to change it I'd be more than willing to hear it.

Bob has taken this quarter off from school because there is so much going on. I generally support that, but don't want him to fall behind. Oh and before any of this happened, Bob spent a week in South Korea. It's been an interesting year so far, and it's only just begun.

Day 3 dawns...

Day 3 dawns w/o Bob here. Although, it's getting easier, I still can't wait for this weekend to get here. The webcams that I thought where a bit over the top are actually really cool. The boys and I spoke with Bob last night, and we where able to see each other. Theres a 2-3 second delay, but not bad since he's half way around the world. He got to watch the boys play, and talk with them for a number of minutes. Greg was excited to see him, Mike, not so much. But in Mikes defense I did take him away from his cars :)

I miss my husband

Day 2 w/o my husband here. I miss him. I long for this week to be over so that he will be home.

I miss his hugs and kisses, his arms wrapped around me, my smile at his embrace. Greg has started asking "where's daddy?". The only response I have is he's at work. Then Greg asks if we are going to his office. "No", I say, "daddy's not at his office, but he's at work, and loves you and Mike so much". Then I smile and hug Greg and miss Bob even more. Thankfully this doesn't happen often. My bed is to big, and to cold with him not in it. This is life, and he'll be home soon, but for right now, I miss my husband.

Snow daze...

I've been back in Ohio for 9 days, and it has done nothing but snow. My boys have not gone back to school yet, and I am about to loose it. I wonder if there will be school tomorrow? Only time will tell.

Home sweet home...

Happy New Year!!!

Well, we've spent the last week in Nashville, TN. The week went to quickly. It was a wonderful trip, if not cold!!!

Monday: Was spent traveling, then upon getting there, found out that the place we where staying did NOT provide you with anything to do any cooking with, or any extra blankets. (Or anything extra at all, soap, towels nothing!!!) It was not a happy discovery. So after spending at least 8 hours in the car, and getting lost in KY, we had to go to walmart and get dishes, towels, and food. While at Walmart, Bill called me and asked if we (the boys, Bob and myself) wanted to join Joe, Becky, himself and Bep. for dinner. He had already gotten hold of dad. So we had dinner with them. It was tasty, and their house is really pretty. Becky being true to herself, had the entire house decorated for Christmas. Finally we made our way back to our room, and collapsed into bed.

Tuesday: I had planned to meet Kal, Eden, Becky and Bep. (and their kids) at the mall with my boys that afternoon, but had to back out at the last minute. Bob and I took our boys to an outdoor playground on the Children's hospital at Vanderbilt. It's a playground that was designed for special needs children. The boys LOVED it!!! When we got to cold, we headed back to our room, and the boys needed a nap. This is why I had to back out. We all slept that afternoon for a long time.

Wednesday: We stayed at the room all day, and played and rested. That evening, I went to Kals house for a party for Bep. It was fun. She got a lot of crazy gifts to take with her on her honeymoon.

Thursday: Dad, Joanne, Bob, the boys and I went to the Opryland hotel and walked around one of the gardens. It was amazing!!! The national cheer leading competition where going on, so there where a lot of girls in crazy makeup and cheer leading outfits running around, but other than that it was a lot of fun. Then we went to the Opry Mills mall for lunch. The place is HUGE!!! They have an indoor carousel that the boys liked. Greg wouldn't sit on a horse for anything, but that's ok.

Friday: Mom, Megan, Chuck and Russell all make it in that evening. They totally miss rehearsal, and that pissed off the entire bridal party. After the rehearsal dinner I take the boys back to the room, and Bob goes out with the groomsmen. They went to play lazer tag and then they went to a bar. I have no idea what happened, and don't really want to ask. I heard that some drunk girls where hitting on them at a bar.

Saturday: I make the bridesmaids late to the hair apt. But only by a few minutes. The guy who did my hair did a good job. Getting our hair done took about an hour. Then we went to lunch and to get our makeup done. The mall we went to was the biggest mall I have ever seen. There was a lot of stress about what was going to be done with our kids since Bob and I BOTH had to be at the wedding site at 4 and child care wasn't suppose to start till 4:30, but it all worked out and he made it there almost on time :) ( I asked about it months ago, and was told it was all worked out, so I went with that answer. But found out at the rehearsal that wasn't the case.) Sat. was by far the most stressful day of the vacation. But it was also the happiest. My brother married a wonderful woman. I couldn't be prouder of the two. There where some "things" that didn't go according to plan, but it all worked out and they are off on their honeymoon. I'm so happy for them.

Today, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010. I have a new sister in law. We packed up all our stuff and left our room about 11 this morning. We dropped off our dishes and kitchen stuff at the church that Bill and Bep attend so they can give it to a family in need. We dropped off a lot of our food stuff, and the cards that dad and I forgot yesterday at Joe and Beckys. Then we hit the road, and after a number of stops, we arrived home at 9 pm. It's now almost 11 and I am going to bed.

I have some changes to make on this post, but will do that tomorrow :)

Nerves...

I love to travel, but the trip tomorrow has be a bit nervous. I'm totally unprepared for our trip to Nashville. I haven't started packing and am in fact still doing laundry. NOT how I wanted to feel the day before we leave. This past week and weekend has been a bit crazy with Christmas, and my folks coming in yesterday, then spending all day today out at my mother in laws. Not that I haven't had fun, but I've poorly managed my time and will pay heavily tomorrow. I just hope I don't forget anything. Oh well if I do we are in a BIG city! Till the next yr. Ta Ta...

Christmas Spirit...

This year I am having the hardest time getting in the Christmas spirit. I have purchased the gifts, and wrapped most of them. But I just don't feel like celebrating Christmas this year.

I feel similar to how I felt in 2004 and 2005. The tree is up, and lit, but w/o any decorations on it. That's as much decorating as I'm going to do this year. I'm sure looking back on photos, I'll regret it, but right now, I don't care. The kids are happy, and Bob is happy with it, so I'm not going to beat myself up over it. Merry Christmas!!

Normal?

I'm home with two little boys. They are in the back bed room screaming at each other and laughing. Is this normal?

Sat. Dec. 5th. Bob sr. took our family and Christies family to Columbus for a play. I was a bit nervous because once you go to big boy undies there's no going back to pull ups for ANYTHING!!! Mike did great! No accidents at all. (Of course I had two extra sets of clothing on hand for him just in case.) Both boys sat for almost two hours and watched a Christmas performance that was amazing!! In many ways the performance reminded me of my fav. years of my child hood. It also reaffirmed in me my desire to get to know God again. While walking in the hall way, Mike made friends with two different little girls. One who was deft, and one who was in the performance as a dancer. Both had fun playing with him. And he had fun flirting with them :) He is definitely part Keyser!

After the performance, and dinner with the family, Bob and I took the boys to a CP Parents support group Christmas party in Columbus. It was really cool to meet so many different family's from different backgrounds that have all been united by the devastation that is CP. The two families I really talked with had twins, but because of complications with the pregnancy had to deliver early, both lost one of the twins. They spent a lot more time at Children's than we did. I was able to talk with them about doctors, therapy's, procedures, and insurance, they not only understood, they where able to help. I've asked that the parents who have had SDR's done on their children contact me. There are two in the group!!! I'm so relieved and happy to find a community that understands my son, and accepts him without bias!!! Now if it was only closer to home :(

(Once again, I was reminded of how much easier life would be if we lived near a BIG city!!!)

Sunday the 6th, Bob and I dedicated the day to staying home! We played with the kids, and after we laid them down for the night, I lit the tree, and Bob set it up. There are 200 bulbs per section on the tree and 11 sections for the tree so there are over 1000 bulbs lighting up our Christmas tree this year. I think that I'm not going to put any decorations on the tree at all, just the lights and the topper! It's so pretty! Finally the Christmas spirit is upon me! (Now it's snowing!!! Could it get any better?) Daily, I watch my sons grow! Mike didn't have any accidents at all on this day! None!!! He was playing on the floor in the living room and asked me for help, actually asked. "Mommy 'elp." Then when I had helped him with the train track, he said " 'hank you". His first "Thank you". It was AMAZING!!! Greg went to the grocery store with me, and he pushed his shopping cart around and put groceries in it. We went to Powell's here in town, and they have kid carts. He loves it.

Monday the 7th. is just beginning , but I think it's going to be a great day.

Thea

What do you get when you mix PMS and GPS?

I love Maxine…

What do you get when you mix PMS with a GPS?


A crazy bitch who will find you!!!!!!

As the yr. comes to an end...

2009 will prove to be an interesting year. Full of ups and downs, of that I have no doubt. Jan. 1, 2009

As the year is coming to an end, I've spent some time this evening looking over the past yrs. blogs It's made me smile, laugh out loud, and cry more than I would have liked.

Smile to see where my boys, husband and I have come from in so many ways.

Laugh out loud to remeber some of the things my children have said and done through out the year. (IE: Penis BIG- Greg/ 2009) I wish I had written more of it down. There are little things you think you'll remember but then life gets busy and you forget.

Cry, because I saw just how low I had gotten. Wow, I can't believe there was actually a time when I was so frustrated that I was seriously thinking of leaving my husband. Thank you Tammie for stepping in, and calling him. I know it was difficult, but I can't tell you how much I appreciate you stepping out of your comfort zone for me. I can't believe how stressed out I have been this year. I know it's true, I wrote it down so I wouldn't forget... But looking back at it, it's been a rough year. I can't believe how far I've fallen, and who's been there to help me back up. Not the people I would have expected at this time last yr. I don't remember making new friends, it seems like I've know them for years. I don't remember loosing old friends, it seems like they've been gone forever, or where never really there to begin with.

As I get older, I realize just how little I really understand. I realize that, in that, I'm not alone. I'm a hard person to understand. Thank you to all who actually take the time to get to know me, and understand what I say and how I mean it. (Usually, the two don't seem to go hand in hand!)

On Jan. 3rd. I asked for prayer. I said my life was out of balance. Well, it still is and looking back over this past yrs. blogs, I haven't done ANYTHING to change that. In fact, I've just gotten madder and madder at God. What has it gotten me? A more bitter heart is all. I'm tired of being bitter. I'm tired of fighting, but I'm scared shit less, to fall into Gods arms. If I want the joy I've lost, I realize that's my only choice. But saying it and doing it are two different things.

Avarage of one a day....

Day 5 with big boy undies and so far he's averaged an accident a day. Sat. none, Sunday two, Monday one (at the post office), Tues. none, Wend. two at school. So we are getting there. The up side is that he LOVES his big boy undies and wears them all day, except nap time.

Now if we could just get Greg interested....

Big boy undies...

Today is day two for Mike to be in big boy undies. So far we've had 3 accidents in two days, but at least one today was caused by my un-attentiveness. There was one yesterday, and two today. However, yesterday we went to a friends house and where constantly asking him to go potty, and today we went to Tammie and Jans, and Bob was outside, I was inside with them the bulk of the day. Needless to say it was productive, but a bit stressful. Tomorrow will be better, and there's no going back to pull ups for Mike. Of course this means I have two full extra changes of clothing with me at all times, but if that's what it takes, that's what it takes, and that's what I'm willing to do.

Black Friday...

Black Friday!!!! This is the first yr. I went shopping at the break of dawn on black Friday. I only went to one store, and the lot was FULL. While walking in I was really questioning my sanity. There wasn't a single cart in the store when I walked in. I actually went out and found a cart pusher in the parking lot and asked for one of his 2 carts, then began my shopping. I made a game plan earlier in the week, and checked to make sure the "deals" I was interested in where actually good deals. I'm glad I did. I found one item that I wanted to purchase, that was listed as a deal, but it was the normal price. An oversight by the company, I'm sure ;) Anyway, I got my in-laws totally done, my mom, Bob, both boys and even remembered eggs and cinnamen rolls, for breakfast. It was a crazy morning, but a good one.