My 10 yr old daughter did NOT just utter the following words: "I need chocolate. I am depressed."
She did NOT tell me she is the only girl in the 4th grade not attending the Sarah Palin rally. She did NOT tell me she is the only girl in the 4th grade not allowed to go to the Haunted Hall of Horrors. My daughter has NOT entered the "I'm the only one who doesn't get to" stage. And when I told her there were no more tickets for the Sarah Palin rally, she did NOT tell me "Mom, I'm too old for that trick". I am NOT freaking out about what these preteen years are going to be like.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
I did NOT...
I did NOT just fix stovetop popcorn for the first time in my life and the girls and I did NOT get excited when it starting popping. I did NOT overestimate how much popcorn to put in the pot and it did NOT start popping all over the floor. We did NOT laugh b/c it was NOT funny.
I did NOT spend $30 on Halloween candy only to discover I still don't have enough for treat sacks. And I did NOT eat any of it while filling those sacks.
Last night I did NOT tell Emily I would spank her hiney if she didn't eat. No, I am a feeding therapist and I would NEVER say that. Not me.
Last week I did NOT stand in front of my car in the parking lot and panic b/c I couldn't find my car. That would be ridiculous.
This morning I did NOT tell a 4 yr old that when I am in his house, he does not run the show. No, that would be way too unprofessional.
I did NOT call my housecleaner today and tell her my house was too dirty to clean, and could she come another day. That would be way too embarrassing.
What did you NOT do lately?
I did NOT spend $30 on Halloween candy only to discover I still don't have enough for treat sacks. And I did NOT eat any of it while filling those sacks.
Last night I did NOT tell Emily I would spank her hiney if she didn't eat. No, I am a feeding therapist and I would NEVER say that. Not me.
Last week I did NOT stand in front of my car in the parking lot and panic b/c I couldn't find my car. That would be ridiculous.
This morning I did NOT tell a 4 yr old that when I am in his house, he does not run the show. No, that would be way too unprofessional.
I did NOT call my housecleaner today and tell her my house was too dirty to clean, and could she come another day. That would be way too embarrassing.
What did you NOT do lately?
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Kevin
If you came to my blog for a good chuckle, just sign off b/c there are none today.
When I went to the TEC retreat last weekend, I spent much of the prayer time asking God to give my friend Kevin and his wife Brenda some peace and to help them face this cancer battle, no matter what the outcome or prognosis may be. I prayed for them silently, I prayed for them out loud, I just kept praying for God to give them strength. As you know, we were not allowed to use cell phones while we were there. I snuck up to the room about midnight the first night and turned my phone on to check the time. To my surprise, Kevin had left a message telling me he was in the hospital. I was so upset that I had missed his call and even more upset that I hadn't known he needed me and couldn't call him back. I admit, I questioned God. Why was it that I had spent the whole day in prayer for him and I hadn't been there when he needed me. On Monday I finally got to talk to him and of course, he ended up making ME feel better. He assured me he had felt all the prayers and I had to believe that I was there when he needed me, just not in the way I had thought I needed to be. Like he always says- BELIEVE. Anyway, he had surgery yesterday and I don't think he would mind me telling you that he is at a very low point in his life, both mentally and physically. His wife Brenda needs prayers too. Brenda is a very strong person, I always think of her as a Steel Magnolia, but I can't imagine what she is going through right now.
I do want to say that the retreat was an incredible experience for me. I spent most of the weekend praying and...eating. The food was great, especially since I didn't have to cook or clean!
I also want to talk about my sister Linda's project. She lost her precious baby boy, Declan, in May, after spending 65 days with him in the NICU. Declan touched a lot of lives and she wants to honor him so she has created http://www.itsnomonkeybusiness.com/ Please take the time to check out this site. If you are looking for a service project or maybe you want to donate to a charity this holiday season, please consider donating items in Declan's honor. If you live nearby, you can always bring the items to me and I will deliver them to her. I am planning 2 visits in the near future.
Ok, well I can't blog without a little humor so I will leave you with a conversation I had with Emily this week. First you have to know that Emily goes to a Catholic school and she tells me every day what they learned in religion. So this week, she says Mommy, you can't hide from God, he is always watching you. You can't sneak b/c he always knows what you are doing. Fast forward 20 minutes, she says Mommy, the kids at lunch always give me their food, they have to sneak it b/c it's against the rules. So I say, Hey don't forget you can't sneak with God, he's always watching. She says Oh, that's ok, God never says anything about that!
When I went to the TEC retreat last weekend, I spent much of the prayer time asking God to give my friend Kevin and his wife Brenda some peace and to help them face this cancer battle, no matter what the outcome or prognosis may be. I prayed for them silently, I prayed for them out loud, I just kept praying for God to give them strength. As you know, we were not allowed to use cell phones while we were there. I snuck up to the room about midnight the first night and turned my phone on to check the time. To my surprise, Kevin had left a message telling me he was in the hospital. I was so upset that I had missed his call and even more upset that I hadn't known he needed me and couldn't call him back. I admit, I questioned God. Why was it that I had spent the whole day in prayer for him and I hadn't been there when he needed me. On Monday I finally got to talk to him and of course, he ended up making ME feel better. He assured me he had felt all the prayers and I had to believe that I was there when he needed me, just not in the way I had thought I needed to be. Like he always says- BELIEVE. Anyway, he had surgery yesterday and I don't think he would mind me telling you that he is at a very low point in his life, both mentally and physically. His wife Brenda needs prayers too. Brenda is a very strong person, I always think of her as a Steel Magnolia, but I can't imagine what she is going through right now.
I do want to say that the retreat was an incredible experience for me. I spent most of the weekend praying and...eating. The food was great, especially since I didn't have to cook or clean!
I also want to talk about my sister Linda's project. She lost her precious baby boy, Declan, in May, after spending 65 days with him in the NICU. Declan touched a lot of lives and she wants to honor him so she has created http://www.itsnomonkeybusiness.com/ Please take the time to check out this site. If you are looking for a service project or maybe you want to donate to a charity this holiday season, please consider donating items in Declan's honor. If you live nearby, you can always bring the items to me and I will deliver them to her. I am planning 2 visits in the near future.
Ok, well I can't blog without a little humor so I will leave you with a conversation I had with Emily this week. First you have to know that Emily goes to a Catholic school and she tells me every day what they learned in religion. So this week, she says Mommy, you can't hide from God, he is always watching you. You can't sneak b/c he always knows what you are doing. Fast forward 20 minutes, she says Mommy, the kids at lunch always give me their food, they have to sneak it b/c it's against the rules. So I say, Hey don't forget you can't sneak with God, he's always watching. She says Oh, that's ok, God never says anything about that!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Happy Birthday Megan!
Dear Megan,
Today you are 10 years old! Wow! It's been a fun 10 years! You know the joke by now. Every year I tell you that this is it, this is my favorite age, it can't get any better. Then the next year rolls around and I swear this is it, the best year ever. In other words, it just keeps getting better. You have been nothing but pure joy since the day you were born. Today I have spent a lot of time thinking of what it is that makes you special. Because you are so very very special. Sometimes it takes my breath away when I look at you and think "I created this amazing Child of God". How lucky I am to be your parent. How blessed I am to have you as my daughter.
I know I've made a lot of mistakes as your Mom. I mean, let's face it, the first thing I said when I saw you was "Oh my gosh, what's wrong with her lip!". Sorry about that, your lip was fine and of course, you were beautiful.
Now let's talk about that stubborn nature of yours. It defies all principles of nature. I knew we were in trouble when you were just a day old and you were already beating your fists on my chest, refusing to nurse; then after 3 days of this, when the lactation nurse said Give it up, she's not gonna do it, just give her a bottle. I knew then you would have strong ideas about what you want and don't want.
Your gift of words takes my breath away. Sometimes I hear you talking and I wonder how I could have created a child this brilliant. And I'm truly sorry that your dad and I were unable to give you the part of the brain that calculates algebraic equations; it's missing from our brain too.
My proudest moments are when I see you swim. You have worked so hard to be the best you can be and that's what makes me so proud! You don't know this, but sometimes I sneak in your room and just look at all the ribbons and medals you have won and I know you have given it your all and that's what I love about you. You never give up. When you went to the swimathon and were told to swim 4 miles but you swam 6 for good measure, I just couldn't believe your tenacity. And I'm sorry I made you stop for a picture, that was Mistake #873432 in the decade I've been a parent. I'm just so proud of all you do!
Do you know how proud I am that you have such a strong faith in God? I am so glad we are able to give you a Catholic education. When Declan passed away, you were so at peace with it because you knew where he was. You do not doubt your beliefs and you live your life as God intends you to. It meant so much to me that you insisted on sitting down with me last week to teach me a refresher course on saying the Rosary so that I would be prepared when I went to the retreat.
Someday when you become a Mom, you will understand the great love a Mother has for her child. It will be at that moment that you will say Oh, now I get it. For now, hang in there and understand that I am doing the best I can as your Mom.
I love you Megan, I love you all the way to the moon and back.
Love,
Mom
Today you are 10 years old! Wow! It's been a fun 10 years! You know the joke by now. Every year I tell you that this is it, this is my favorite age, it can't get any better. Then the next year rolls around and I swear this is it, the best year ever. In other words, it just keeps getting better. You have been nothing but pure joy since the day you were born. Today I have spent a lot of time thinking of what it is that makes you special. Because you are so very very special. Sometimes it takes my breath away when I look at you and think "I created this amazing Child of God". How lucky I am to be your parent. How blessed I am to have you as my daughter.
I know I've made a lot of mistakes as your Mom. I mean, let's face it, the first thing I said when I saw you was "Oh my gosh, what's wrong with her lip!". Sorry about that, your lip was fine and of course, you were beautiful.
Now let's talk about that stubborn nature of yours. It defies all principles of nature. I knew we were in trouble when you were just a day old and you were already beating your fists on my chest, refusing to nurse; then after 3 days of this, when the lactation nurse said Give it up, she's not gonna do it, just give her a bottle. I knew then you would have strong ideas about what you want and don't want.
Your gift of words takes my breath away. Sometimes I hear you talking and I wonder how I could have created a child this brilliant. And I'm truly sorry that your dad and I were unable to give you the part of the brain that calculates algebraic equations; it's missing from our brain too.
My proudest moments are when I see you swim. You have worked so hard to be the best you can be and that's what makes me so proud! You don't know this, but sometimes I sneak in your room and just look at all the ribbons and medals you have won and I know you have given it your all and that's what I love about you. You never give up. When you went to the swimathon and were told to swim 4 miles but you swam 6 for good measure, I just couldn't believe your tenacity. And I'm sorry I made you stop for a picture, that was Mistake #873432 in the decade I've been a parent. I'm just so proud of all you do!
Do you know how proud I am that you have such a strong faith in God? I am so glad we are able to give you a Catholic education. When Declan passed away, you were so at peace with it because you knew where he was. You do not doubt your beliefs and you live your life as God intends you to. It meant so much to me that you insisted on sitting down with me last week to teach me a refresher course on saying the Rosary so that I would be prepared when I went to the retreat.
Someday when you become a Mom, you will understand the great love a Mother has for her child. It will be at that moment that you will say Oh, now I get it. For now, hang in there and understand that I am doing the best I can as your Mom.
I love you Megan, I love you all the way to the moon and back.
Love,
Mom
Friday, October 17, 2008
Update
Lots to talk about tonight. I wanted to catch you up to date on how I am doing physically. My platelet counts are still not where they should be, even after 8 months post-chemo. So Dr. G sent me to a hematologist this week. Long story short, this doctor is so important, his patients rarely actually see him. He tells the nurse practitioner what to tell us. So we saw her this week. She was really nice and explained that after reviewing my blood and bone marrow, they can't figure out why my platelets are not back up so let's take more blood and look at more things. Those results came back today and they are normal. So they are concluding...nothing. No explanation. I have a colonoscopy scheduled Nov 6 and after that I plan to have my port removed.
I am having a lot of survivor guilt lately b/c 2 of my friends are not doing well. Sandy and Kevin are in the fight of their lives right now. My heart just breaks for both of them. They both started chemo about the same time I did and they are still receiving it. I cannot imagine what that is like. I remember how hard it was for me to count up to 11 treatments. I cannot imagine 14 months of that stuff.
I am packing my suitcase tonight in preparation for a TEC weekend (Teens Encounter Christ). I was asked by someone at church to help lead the group this year. It is a weekend retreat for high school students. I will be spending the weekend with 16 girls from Notre Dame. I will be presenting a speech about my cancer experience. Even though I know it will be a good experience, it's hard for me to leave the girls for any length of time. I won't be back until Monday evening.
I hope you have a great weekend. I won't be able to use the computer or my cell phone until I get back.
Talk soon!
Love,
Michele
I am having a lot of survivor guilt lately b/c 2 of my friends are not doing well. Sandy and Kevin are in the fight of their lives right now. My heart just breaks for both of them. They both started chemo about the same time I did and they are still receiving it. I cannot imagine what that is like. I remember how hard it was for me to count up to 11 treatments. I cannot imagine 14 months of that stuff.
I am packing my suitcase tonight in preparation for a TEC weekend (Teens Encounter Christ). I was asked by someone at church to help lead the group this year. It is a weekend retreat for high school students. I will be spending the weekend with 16 girls from Notre Dame. I will be presenting a speech about my cancer experience. Even though I know it will be a good experience, it's hard for me to leave the girls for any length of time. I won't be back until Monday evening.
I hope you have a great weekend. I won't be able to use the computer or my cell phone until I get back.
Talk soon!
Love,
Michele
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Wordless Wednesday
My favorite blog day! I can't wait to see the responses from those who know Megan well. She is all about injustice.
Enjoy the rest of the week!
Enjoy the rest of the week!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Sunday Spotlight
Thanks for all the responses to Wordless Wednesday this week! The winner is my sister Donna. That was very clever! Amy H wants to know the real story behind Megan's mugshot. Her Girl Scout troup took a field trip to the Police Station a couple of years ago and everyone got a chance to pose for a mug shot.
I have been thinking a lot lately about how to live a better lifestyle. I am setting goals for myself in the hopes I can become healthier, both mentally and physically. Each Sunday, I will pick a goal and tell you what I am doing to attain it. Then you can do the same. This week's spotlight goal is DECLUTTER. This is one thing I'm doing: The trashbag trick- I grab a trashbag and walk around the house and look for things to throw away, broken toys, old school papers, socks with holes, pens that don't work, etc. If I do this every day for 15 min, think of all the clutter I can throw away! Megan and I went through old photos this weekend and threw away ones that were blurry or just plain useless. I filled an entire trash bag! One area I have to really work on is clearing the island in the kitchen. It's completely full of papers!
So now it's your turn. Tell me a goal you are setting and how you plan to target it. Or if you have tips for someone else's goal, that's great too.
Have a great week!
I have been thinking a lot lately about how to live a better lifestyle. I am setting goals for myself in the hopes I can become healthier, both mentally and physically. Each Sunday, I will pick a goal and tell you what I am doing to attain it. Then you can do the same. This week's spotlight goal is DECLUTTER. This is one thing I'm doing: The trashbag trick- I grab a trashbag and walk around the house and look for things to throw away, broken toys, old school papers, socks with holes, pens that don't work, etc. If I do this every day for 15 min, think of all the clutter I can throw away! Megan and I went through old photos this weekend and threw away ones that were blurry or just plain useless. I filled an entire trash bag! One area I have to really work on is clearing the island in the kitchen. It's completely full of papers!
So now it's your turn. Tell me a goal you are setting and how you plan to target it. Or if you have tips for someone else's goal, that's great too.
Have a great week!
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Wordless Wednesday
Last week's winner was my sister Linda, who guessed Megan's crime. I loved it Linda! Now let's solve another mystery. Check out the pic on the right.
I am loving this week's did NOT's. So far, Katie C is the winner! Katie and I work in the same type of setting and we often trade work stories. Katie, that one was priceless! Speaking of PRICEless, I also loved the story of KP getting lost. You guys rock!
I am loving this week's did NOT's. So far, Katie C is the winner! Katie and I work in the same type of setting and we often trade work stories. Katie, that one was priceless! Speaking of PRICEless, I also loved the story of KP getting lost. You guys rock!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Would you like a sheep on that sandwich...
Yesterday was NOT Monday and I did NOT start my day by checking a 2 year old's diaper and come out with a handful of poop. And since this did NOT happen, I did not shout to this child's mother OH MY GOSH, HE'S GOT POOP COMING OUT AND IT'S ALL OVER ME! No, that would be way too unprofessional. Today, Scott and I did NOT decide to buy a laptop in the midst of our country's economic crisis and we most certainly did NOT get into a fight in the middle of BestBuy over the cost of this laptop. I was NOT the one raising my voice. And I most certainly did NOT tell 2 store employees on 2 separate occasions that my husband has frugal buttocks. I did NOT leave him in the store to finish the purchase while I went to a training that, among other things, covered the topic "How to Make an Auditory Sandwich". I did NOT get up and go home when the speaker starting making sheep noises. No, I wouldn't do that b/c I do not spend the majority of my day making sheep noises either. I prefer pigs.
What did YOU not do this week?
What did YOU not do this week?
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Hello out there...
Wordless Wednesday is in danger of extinction! If you do not have a clever caption, just tell me what crime Megan would be likely to commit or what the Wanted Poster would say.
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