Selected Layout AKA TOOT!!

Today I read the newsletter from The Digichick I found out that my layout was selected as the very first TDC product layout. My layout was right there in the newsletter and I guess I get a gift certificate or something. How cool is this! I don't know if my brother or sister-in-law read my blog but this is their cute son! He is so darn photogenic!

A Realization

It just dawned on me tonight that tomorrow may be the very last time I get to watch my oldest son play volleyball.

He's been playing volleyball for 4 years. He is a senior and tomorrow is the final tournament for his club team. Tonight we had a conversation about the high school team. He said he wants to play but he doesn't know if he wants to play for the coach. This coach is very demanding. We know that and that isn't what is holding him back. What is holding him back is that he keeps telling my son he needs to lose 10 pounds. The varsity coach even told his club team coach. My son expressed tonight that he doesn't know if he wants to be judged upon his weight instead of his ability. He is an average to above average outside hitter. He plays the right side, which is a bit harder than playing the left side or middle for a right hander.

While we were talking I started to cry and I knew this upset him. Actually the tears are welling up now as I type. It's not that I care what his decision is about trying out. I'm cool with whatever he decides because it is his life. He just has to be satisified with his decision. He's got to not regret his decision in the future. What is hard is that I figured I had about 4 more years of good sports mom in me. But Brian will probably not play because of grades and some behavior issues he has going on.

Being a sports mom is a huge part of who I am. It's been who I am since my oldest son was 4. We've played baseball almost every season until this summer. We've played many years of fall and spring soccer. Being the sports mom on hot summer nights, cold fall days, and wet spring mornings is who I am. I feel it is one of the biggest parts of me being a mom. If I haven't always been the best mom to my kids, they've always known that I've always, ALWAYS tried to make their sporting events. I bet I can count on 2 hands how many I've missed. Some days I would run across town to see both of them play when they were both playing at the same time. On Saturday's I was a single sports mom whenever Don worked.

I realize that tomorrow may be it. It may be the last sporting event that Doug plays in as a child. Sports has been his rights of passage. Sports is who he is. Sports, and his love of them has helped him make decisions on his future. If I had to rename this boy, his name would be Espen. The name the letters ESPN sound out when said together.

As I tried to explain to him why I was crying and told him that I feel I'm losing a part of myself, and realize that tomorrow may be it, he said, "Mom take a lot of pictures." I guarantee I will do just that. The last tournament is one of those a that a mother dreams about. Both boys are at the same location. At the end, I want to make sure I get a picture of both of them together next to the net, with their arms around one another, like teammates and brothers should do with those volleyballs in their hands. I'd also love to see Brian set Doug some balls to capture the jump, the spike or kill, and the face that shows such gratification, dedication, and the love of the game on film.

If tomorrow happens to be the last day, I will always have these to help me remember.

Happy Valentines Day

Today was just a nice, normal kind of day. Although it was Valentine's Day, we don't really celebrate. I guess why should I show the ones I love more love today? I want them to know how special they are to me everyday. I don't need to give or receive cards to know that. It is a Hallmark holiday if you ask me; Hallmark and the florists!

The roads are finally about back to normal. Yesterday I think we got close to a foot of snow. It is really high in some places due to the blowing and drifting. Thankfully my commute was much more normal today. Yesterday it was double, 1 hour 30 minutes.

We are having time with the router. For some reason it won't connect with the laptops. I need to find out what is going on. I really don't want to have to buy a new one, but it is driving us all nuts. I think I'll try climbing under the desk and reconnecting everything before I chalk it up to the router. I wish I had some "techno geek" who could walk me through the whole thing. Not so much though.

Just wanted to make sure you all knew you are my valentines! Happy Valentines Day!

New Blogger here I come

Today I was forced to switch to the new blogger. I really hope this goes smoothly.
From the looks of things, it does look about the same. Now I need to get used to
the changes on the posting end.

What is this new section, lables for this post?
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm I'll have to keep experimenting.

Anyone else feeling a bit sad? It's like you've lost part of who you are just by a simple switchover.

I love the trainer

I went to my personal trainer again yesterday. She pushes me to do things I hadn't done before. I know I'm flexible and pretty coordinated but yesterday I used the spin bike for just a short bit. The way I could put my foot into the footcage on the pedal and get on amazed her. Then I used a bosu ball. Ever heard of one of those, I hadn't!

I really think I could use it at home. I think that everyone in my family could use it. It strenghtens your core. I need a stronger core too!

I also used the big ball and when we did some stretches, she asked if I did yoga. I have never done yoga but aparently, I know some yoga move. She called it the cobra. Hmmmmmmmm yoga by osmossis!

Ok, next Friday I have another trainer session and I have to get at least 2 days of cardio exercise in too. If I get 3 I get 2 gold stars! Don gave me 4 trainer sessions for Christmas. I think it was the best gift! I definately am going to pay for more.

Something is finally clicking. I've prayed about this and it is working! I haven't had a can of soda since January 1!!

A Don update

I've got some updated news about Don and the health situation we encountered 3-4 weeks ago. Today we went to the neurologist and this one was totally upfront and proactive. I'm so glad we switched. This one actually wondered what I saw when it happened. Once I told him, he pointed to his own head and said...your siezure started here and it did this and that. Exactly right! Don's also been doing research and new a few things he said too. When we told him about his job, and other things, and our concerns he addressed them upfront, honestly, and with a bit of humor to lighten things up which was really helpful.

He said a lot of doctors say, let's wait and see if you have another one. Like you need to live in fear that you could have another one. This doctor said, let's eliminate the fear, put you on medicine, you shouldn't have another one, although you still could, and get you back to your normal life. I'm concerned about the length of time he feels Don will probably need to be on the anti-seizure medicine, but Don is a bit relieved. He said probably 5 years worth of daily meds. See I told you a lot. But since Don is going on the medicine, he'll be going back to work on Monday. Hmmmmmmmm...he goes back to work after 3ish weeks and I get a day off...alone!!!!! ;) I'm sure I'll be doing some homework, housework, but I'm also planning a bit of retail therapy!

I'm looking for a new pair of black casual shoes. I'm primarily looking to see if I can find a pair of Privo shoes by Clarks that I absolutely love. I got a gift card from my Oprah teacher friend and can't wait to go browse and see what I can find.

Ok, now that I've given you a bit of an update, I'm going to go. I've got a sweet tooth today. Yesterday too. I feel the need to just gobble up tons of junk food. I've been doing so good lately too, but I'm going to the Y tomorrow for another trainer session.

Hope you are well and you've got some decent weather. Ours stinks. Let's just say this...WIND CHILL's Suck! Don't move north if ya don't want the wind and cold. I'm so tired of hearing the "real feel" temperature is minus...blah blah blah. Give me a break, don't bring out the sun if it's not going to warm up the earth! I want some heat! Not that much though, 70's is great, 40's would even feel like a heat wave.

Ok, going now for sure. Until we meet again!

Want to grade papers?

I swear I must have about 200 papers to grade. I absolutely HATE grading papers. Since I was off for 5 days ending this past Monday, I am really behind. Want to help me grade??? For some reason, other people seem to think grading papers is fun. Do you remember when the teacher let you correct papers in class? Did you like it?

Updating you on Don. He's still off work. He'll be off again all this week too. We are going to a different neurologist for a second opinion. We need to get all those test results and then see if he gives us different results. Thursday is that lucky day. No more seizures since January 20th. He's starting to kick the sinus infection too, but still has a headache. He's had the headache since around January 15th. That is what is still puzzling and worrisome to me. He isn't supposed to drive for 3 months, although they don't know what caused it.

As you might have guessed....the medical bills have just started arriving. Can't wait to add up the total of all of this. Care to guess?? MRI with contrast, EEG, 2 neurologist visits, 3 doctor visits, a trip to the ER in the ambulance, and several perscriptions. Thankfully his boss is understanding and he's not been docked for any pay. Thankfully we have good insurance and a flexible spending account. And I'm most thankful that they are saying it's not a brain tumor, a stroke, or epilepsy.

I think he was stressing out about his job, and the promotion he was pushed into taking. The other day it totally dawned on me, he may have had the seizure because of the stress from the promotion, but if he hadn't taken the promotion we were told he'd have to be let go from the previous job due to the excessive driving involved. Isn't life strange?

Well it's bitterly cold here. I could make ice cubes in less than 5 minutes here. The temps have been dropping all day and we are supposed to be -10F and windchills
-20 to -35 below. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

We'll be watching the superbowl here tomorrow. GO BEARS!!

So I've managed to do a bit of scrapping instead of homework or grading those papers...shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh



All the elements on the page and the paint are by Christine Smith and are available at The Digichick.