Big Kid School

My kids start school in less than two weeks. Big kid school. Actually, elementary school, but they started calling it "Big Kid School" back in May and haven't yet been convinced that elementary is the appropriate name.

My kids will be riding a school bus. They got to ride one for field trips when they were in VPK, and they loved it. But now they'll be riding one almost every single day, to and from school. They're in heaven.

Last night their school held an informal ice cream social, so that new families and those with kindergarten kids would be able to tour through the school and meet some of the staff. It was very nice...the kids had gone on a tour on a field trip in VPK, but they really got excited even more this time around. And of course, the ice cream didn't hurt, either! I was very excited to see about a dozen familiar faces...with any luck, some of those kids will be in Megan or Jeremy's class.

Yes, Megan and Jeremy will be in separate classes this year. I had hoped to keep them together, but I have been talking to a lot of teacher friends lately and the general consensus was that separating them now would be a big benefit for them and for their teachers. I called the school at the beginning of this week and requested the switch to different classrooms, so for the first time in forever, they will not be together for most of the day. They'll ride the bus together, and they might get to see each other at lunch or recess, but the rest of the time they'll be making their own friends in their own classes! I'm a wreck, but I know that it's only me being the typical protective mom when I feel like this is not right. I'll be fine after school begins and they get settled in.

But I can guarantee that I'll cry on the first day, even though I'm pretty sure they won't!

The "G" Word

OK, so it's not a "BAD" word, but these days, gluten is not something I like to discuss. Three weeks ago I got the results back from my doctor, and he said I would need to be retested in three months...in the meantime, I am now on a gluten-free diet. Gluten. Of all things, this is what gives me issues? Really? The funny thing is that I didn't have textbook symptoms for gluten intolerance. The only reason I was even tested was because the month before that they diagnosed me with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, and apparently gluten can be an issue for people with that sometimes (HT is an autoimmune disorder).

What I've learned in the last three weeks is that gluten is in just about everything. Well, not really, but it sure feels like it! Gluten is found in products made from wheat, barley or rye. It's in a lot of processed foods. I figured I'd really have trouble not being able to eat cookies, or brownies, or cake at birthday parties. But what I REALLY miss more than almost anything else is bread. Plain ol' sandwich bread, so I can have a PB&J sandwich (which before now was a traditional lunch item around here!). I've been eating lots of salad, and for anyone who really knows me, they understand that this is impressive...because I really don't like salad! I adore baked potatoes and they are my saving grace at lunchtime now. I celebrate when I find gluten-free items in the grocery store I think I can actually bring myself to eat. Fresh fruit's always a valid option! I'm even getting really good at reading labels. I've also made Betty Crocker's gluten-free cookies and brownies from the store-bought mix. They aren't bad, but they definitely aren't as good as the "real" thing, either. I told Steve the other day that I finally figured out what makes food taste so good...gluten!

It's not something I plan to bring up at parties. I actually went to a jewelry catalog party at my neighbor's house Thursday night...she was serving wine and a number of awesome goodies. Baklava was the one that really made me feel like crawling under a table and crying, but I am proud that over the last three weeks, I've been able to resist all things with gluten! For someone who has NEVER been on a real diet, I've actually surprised myself (and my mother, too, since she admitted the other day that she couldn't believe I'd made it this far). I was getting ready to come back home from the jewelry party and my neighbor said, "I didn't see you eat anything! Fix yourself a plate to take home!" and I had to politely explain that I couldn't have gluten. She felt bad, but I told her it wasn't necessary. I can stand to skip certain things, that's for sure. :)

The doctor told me something very important when he diagnosed me with HT and then mentioned the possibility of gluten issues. He also has HT, and celiac disease (which is what they will test me for when I go back to see him in September, based on my next round of test results). He said, "You can choose to manage this, or it can manage you." I think that was probably the best thing he could have said to me. I don't know if I could ever diet just for weight loss (though goodness knows I could use it). I really don't think I could do a "fad" diet either. But I know this is for the best, for my future and my health, and that really does make all the difference. My kids deserve to have two healthy, responsible parents. I am gluten-free...today is day 22...and I am learning that I am a lot stronger than I thought I was. Even though I still miss bread!

Catching Up...Again

I have not blogged in almost three months!!! I don't have many followers, so I doubt the world has stood still since then, of course. :) But things have been quite crazy since April.

In May we had Mother's Day, Relay For Life, and the annual Gala for the Flagler Health Care Foundation. I take photos at the Gala each year and it's a "work" weekend for me and Steve, but we always have a lot of fun.

In June, the kids graduated from VPK. I was so proud...they had a really cute graduation ceremony in the multi-purpose room at their school, and they had a slideshow with pictures from throughout the school year. The kids sang songs and did a couple of skits, reciting the months of the year, days of the week, the alphabet and other fun little things. We left the very next day for a quick trip to Orlando, which was so much fun. I'll make a separate post sometime soon to show some fun pictures from that trip.

June feels like it flew by in a blur. I cannot believe we're already in JULY! We had a great time at the splash park with some friends on Sunday, and then yesterday was the 4th of July and we spent the evening with friends again...there's nothing that beats watching the fireworks show over the St. Augustine bayfront. Annual traditions are such wonderful things, and that's one of my favorites!

The kids begin Kindergarten next month (wow, that feels weird to type...for so long it's been "in August"). They are SO ready for it to start now, but I have to keep reminding them that it's summer and it's time to have fun and relax! Time flies way too quickly these days.

I'll close here with a pic from the fireworks trip last night. It's one of the few pictures of all four of us that we've had taken in recent months, and I'm so glad my friend Becky (Jeremy's godmother) was there to take it for me, since we so rarely get a decent picture of all four of us! :)

Relay For Life

We are less than five weeks away from the Relay For Life of St. Augustine. I feel like it's been forever since I blogged about anything...probably because it kind of has been forever! :) But the Relay is something very important to me, so I thought I'd post a quick blog about why.

The Relay is the signature event for the American Cancer Society. Steve and I have been participating for more than 10 years now...this year makes 11. We started because the hospital where we worked had a team that participated, and we got hooked on how fun the event is. There are six different events held in St. Johns County, but we have always participated directly with the St. Augustine location (there's also Pedro Menendez, World Golf Village, Bartram Trail, Ponte Vedra and now Nocatee). Teams set up campsites around a track (ours is at St. Augustine High School) and from noon on a Saturday until 6 a.m. on Sunday, they participate in the wild and crazy activities. The main idea is to have someone walking laps on the track at all times during the 18 hours. Each campsite has a fundraiser or two (or five) planned. For example, this year we're selling tickets for a chance drawing and the winner will get a 32" flat-screen television.

At noon when the event kicks off, the first lap is walked by cancer survivors and their caregivers. It's so amazing to see how many people have been affected by cancer...too often we focus on the negative, counting those we have lost. We need the reminder that there are those who survive cancer and make every day count. They are the ones we celebrate! The most powerful realization I get every year when I watch that first lap is that cancer sees no boundaries...it affects the young, the old, men and women, people of all nationalities.

At 9 p.m. (for our Relay events, anyway...your mileage may vary), the luminaries that surround the track are lit. Each paper bag bears the name of someone who has survived cancer or someone who has been lost to cancer. The candles inside are lit and the lights on the track are dimmed. We walk in silence around the track, listening to the PA system while someone speaks the names of those recognized. Each year the list gets longer...it's a scary thing to realize that next year, more names will be added. But in the bleachers there are luminaries on one side of the track that spell out the word HOPE and on the other side spell out the word CURE. Because that's what we're there for...we hope for a cure so that one day cancer will not be such a threat.

Steve's grandfather had lung cancer. I don't know many of the details about what he went through. But my grandmother also had lung cancer. I was 13 when she was diagnosed, and I remember being so scared that she would die from it. She had drastic surgery and part of her lung was removed. She was in remission for years. She developed emphysema and eventually passed away due to complications. Cancer wasn't what killed her, but it compromised her system in a way that she couldn't recover fully. She also had several battles with skin cancer (partly due to the fact that she was a sun bather, and partly due to natural heredity). We write our grandparents' names on a luminary each every year and it gives me mixed feelings when it comes time to watch them be lit. But I know that we are doing our part to make sure that others might have a better chance when it comes to cancer.

There are a lot of technical details about Relay that I won't post here, because my main purpose is just to inform others about what Relay is and why we participate. Steve and I started Relaying each year in memory of our grandparents, but we have watched as friends and other acquaintances have gone through cancer battles of their own, or with their family members...it's devastating to realize how many people cancer affects. Our goal is that one day, Megan and Jeremy will not even have Relay each year, because a cure will be found. It's a lofty goal, but we pray for it each year!

If you'll be in the St. Augustine area the weekend of May 14-15, let me know...we'd love to have you stop by and visit our team's campsite. :) The more the merrier!!!

Six Weeks

It's been almost six weeks since my last post...whoa. You don't realize how much time flies until you look at timestamps! :)

Things have been moving along quickly around here, and we're just doing the best we can to keep up. The kids and I are getting into a great routine with them in school. I've even started to get them more involved in things when we get home in the afternoons...they are now responsible for taking their snack boxes out of their backpacks and putting them on the kitchen counter, and putting their homework folders on the dining room table for me. Megan's new favorite thing to do is choose her snack for each day. Jeremy would be happy with goldfish crackers or fruit snacks every day of the week, but Megan has been closely watching her classmates and taking mental notes on what kind of variety they have. I do my best to get a few different things and then I've got to break out the reverse psychology every now and then ("Honey, I know you want a banana, but we don't have any. I guess you don't want these grapes since you had your heart set on a banana..." and then she jumps on the idea of grapes). It's such a minor issue that I don't mind it...it's actually kind of funny.

Two weeks ago the kids got to go on a field trip to the Alligator Farm. I went with them (of course!). My "big" camera was out of commission (the lens was in the shop), so I had to take my "little" camera instead. In keeping with my "then" and "now" photos, I thought I'd post this...the kids and I went to the Alligator Farm in February 2008, nearly three years ago, and the difference is pretty funny after three years!

Then...


Now...

Half a Decade!

Yesterday was Megan and Jeremy's FIFTH birthday. My kids are five. I cannot wrap my head around it...it's a great feeling, but there's a very small part of me that is sad because I know they're really out of their "baby" stage now. Half a decade of being a mom has taught me that they're ready to move on long before I am. But I'm proud of who they are. They're open and friendly. They're talkative. They love to laugh and smile. Sure, we have moments when I want to hide and pretend I don't know them (what mom doesn't? LOL)...but that's normal. It's part of the package!

At the end of the day, I know one thing. They are my kids, and I am proud, honored and blessed to be their mom.

Happy birthday, Megan and Jeremy!

"When I count my blessings, I count you twice!" -Irish Proverb

Giving Thanks - 2010 Edition

Last year I was "challenged" to write something I'm thankful for every day in the month of November in preparation for Thanksgiving. In 2009, I didn't get started on the first day...I actually only found out about the challenge a little more than a week into the month. This year, I started the challenge again, but this time did so on the first of the month!!!

I posted something different each day on Facebook as my status update, and I kept track of them in a Word document to make posting on my blog a little easier. It was so fun this year...several friends who noticed my project started participating, too. And I had someone leave me a comment on my Facebook page that she looked forward to seeing my update each day because it helped to remind her of all the things she is thankful for in her life, too. We live in a world that is non-stop action, it seems like. Taking time to appreciate the little things is so refreshing! It's given me yet another reminder that it's the people, not necessarily the things, in life that make living so worthwhile.

Here's my list for 2010!

Day 1 of Counting My Blessings: I am thankful for my wonderful husband. Happiness really is being married to your best friend.

Day 2 of Counting My Blessings: Today I am thankful for Megan. She's older than her brother by less than a minute, but she never lets us forget that she's his big sister. There's always a smile on my face when she hugs me and tells me I'm her best friend. :)

Day 3 of Counting My Blessings: Today I am thankful for Jeremy. He is a resilient and fun little boy with a grin that melts my heart. When I tell him he's my favorite son, he responds that I'm his favorite mommy. That's my boy!!!

Day 4 of Counting My Blessings: Today I am thankful for our home. We've lived here almost nine years now...it's not fancy, or large, or "perfect." But it's not just a house either...it really is a HOME. I am thankful for a roof over our heads and a safe place to raise our children.

Day 5 of Counting My Blessings: Today I am thankful for my parents. They have always taught my brother and I to treat others the way we would like to be treated. They have given us unconditional love and devotion. It's amazing to watch my parents with their six grandchildren and know how lucky these kids are to have a Grammie and Grandpa who love them so much, too!

Day 6 of Counting My Blessings: Today I am thankful for the cooler weather (however long it may last!).

Day 7 of Counting My Blessings: Today I am thankful for family members who are like friends...and friends who are like family members. :)

Day 8 of Counting My Blessings: Today I am thankful for my children's VPK teachers. They have amazing amounts of patience and they make school "fun" for all of the kids in the class. Megan and Jeremy consistently come home with happy stories about the things they have learned, and I enjoy seeing how much they've grown in just a couple of months.

Day 9 of Counting My Blessings: Today I am thankful for my brother, Kris. We've been there for each other through thick and thin, and I have a lot of great memories from our childhood together. He's an awesome uncle to my kids, and he's given me a sister-in-law, two nieces and two nephews to love and adore, too!

Day 10 of Counting My Blessings: Today I am thankful for the gift of laughter. Whether it's because of a joke told by a friend, something silly the kids have said or done, or just the realization that I've done something silly myself, there really is no better medicine than laughter.

Day 11 of Counting My Blessings: Today I am thankful for all of our country's military men and women who have served or are currently serving. Freedom isn't free, but I'm so glad to live in the land of the free and the home of the BRAVE. Happy Veterans Day, everyone!

Day 12 of Counting My Blessings: Today I am thankful for my friend Wanda, because she had a medical emergency earlier this year and has made an amazing recovery. She's my "walkin', talkin' miracle friend," and I am so grateful for her. She's a fantastic wife, mother and friend, and I love every chance I get to hang out with her!

Day 13 of Counting My Blessings: Today I am thankful for things that remind me of my grandparents. They've been gone for a while now (14 years and 12 years), but every now and then something happens that brings great memories back for me. They were fantastic people and I miss them so much!

Day 14 of Counting My Blessings: Today I am thankful for the opportunity to celebrate with a friend who is welcoming her first baby next month. She has a lot of adventures ahead of her and I am so excited for her and her husband!

Day 15 of Counting My Blessings: Today I am thankful for my Flagler Hospital family. I left my job almost five years ago to stay home with the twins, but there are still so many happy, smiling faces and I feel like I am back "home" whenever I go there to visit. :)

Day 16 of Counting My Blessings: Today I am thankful that something as simple and easy as pizza night with my family can make me so happy. :)

Day 17 of Counting My Blessings: Today I am thankful for the love of God, who knows what even our smallest hopes are and takes care of us. We may not always understand why things happen (or why other things don't happen), but there are reasons for everything.

Day 18 of Counting My Blessings: Today I am thankful for my health and the health of my family. We can handle the occasional cough or sniffle, or the minor backache or headache...there are so many others who are facing so much worse.

Day 19 of Counting My Blessings: Today I am thankful for the opportunity to spend time with a friend/dorm neighbor from college. It's been over 10 years since I've seen her, and I can't wait 'til she arrives this evening!

Day 20 of Counting My Blessings: Today I am thankful for a busy schedule, because it means I'm rarely bored (even though downtime is sometimes nice, too!).

Day 21 of Counting My Blessings: Today I am thankful for my camera and the many photos we've taken of the kids over the course of five years. They're turning five just three weeks from tomorrow and I have so much fun taking a walk down memory lane whenever I get a chance...I can't believe how fast time has flown!

Day 22 of Counting My Blessings: Today I am thankful for friends who call just to say hello. I can get so caught up in everyday responsibilities (like raising kids, work, errands, etc.) and it's nice to just hear a friendly voice!

Day 23 of Counting My Blessings: Today I am thankful for the crazy things the kids come up with...like Megan's "epiphany" that her teeth are kind of shaped like candy corn, or Jeremy's plan to be an astronaut who plays basketball in space. Life can be taken too seriously sometimes...they remind me to lighten up once in a while!

Day 24 of Counting My Blessings: Today I am thankful for the opportunity to work from home, because it's allowed me to stay home with my kids for the last (almost) five years. With Steve's schedule being so random (working every other weekend, switching from days to nights to days every two months), it's nice to be able to be home when he’s home, too!

Day 25 of Counting My Blessings: Today I am thankful for the opportunity to count my blessings for the last 24 days! I'm thankful for all my friends, for my family, and for the chance to get together with loved ones today for wonderful meals. I'm thankful that there are always blessings to be found, especially when you really start watching for them. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Halloween Spooktacular

We spent a few hours at Sea World on Sunday! We have been longtime passport members, and Sea World is our favorite place to go when we want to get some uninterrupted family time in (especially since our schedule can be a little hectic at times!). This was our third year attending the park's Halloween Spooktacular event. There are candy stations scattered throughout the theme park, and costumed characters and fantastic decorations are around just about every corner. The kids love Sea World on ordinary days, but hunting for candy and treats is always an additional source of excitement for them.

I don't have time to post a whole lot about the day, but I wanted to post a few photos. If you have the opportunity to get there, the event continues Oct. 23, 24, 29, 30 and 31! Visit www.seaworldorlando.com for more information!


Megan and Jeremy at the entrance to the trick-or-treat path...


"Visiting" one of the whales in the observation tank behind Shamu Stadium. The kids have been known to tell people that they have a pet whale and that we go visit him at his house...


Megan and Jeremy with one of the garden fairy characters in the park. Notice the strained smiles? They don't look directly at the camera much...Steve says I "broke" them by taking so many pictures during their first few years... :)

Cooler Weather

The temperatures have been staying at or just below 80 degrees the last few days...I LOVE it when the Florida temps begin to drop for the cooler season. In Florida, we don't have four seasons like everyone else. Steve and I like to joke that we have two seasons here...summer and summer-lite. The last few years when the kids have had their birthday party (in December), we've worn shorts. To me, Christmas just isn't the same when the temps are so high. I grew up visiting my grandparents in Canada for many Christmases, and eight feet of snow wasn't unusual for us...going to the Christmas Eve service at church without needing to wear a jacket just doesn't seem the same to me.

The only problem with the cooler weather at the moment is the fact that I want to open the windows, but we haven't checked all our screens yet. The mosquito population seems to have multiplied ten-fold in the last few days, so I'm trying very hard not to invite those little buggers into the house. Jeremy got bug bites all over his legs on a walk last week, and the poor kid looks like he's been attacked by vampires...red welts everywhere.

The kids have their first field trip on Friday, to a local pumpkin patch. It will be their first "real" ride on a school bus! I bought their field trip t-shirts today, and I think I'm just as excited as they are because I get to go as a chaperone. I'll have my camera with me, of course...don't think I could go on a field trip with them without one (and anyone who knows me would completely agree!).

School has been going well for them...they still have completely different attitudes when it comes to schoolwork. Megan comes home and immediately starts asking if she can do her homework. Jeremy kicks back and turns on the tv or dvd player and relaxes. Not sure if that's something we can attribute to the difference between boys and girls, but it's pretty funny to watch. I dropped them off at class this morning and neither one even noticed me once they got settled in at their worktables. Usually Megan hollers for me to come give her a hug and kiss before I leave, but today I didn't get that request. It's a great feeling because I know it means they're happy there, they're comfortable and not having problems. But at the same time, it's still an adjustment not having them need me just a little. Just proves that another interesting thing about being a parent is learning that sometimes you rely on your kids just as much if not more than they rely on you.

Time...

No matter how much I try to keep my schedule organized (as if that's possible with two four-year-olds!), time just seems to fly. I can't believe how fast this past month has gone. My kids started school on August 23rd...and we're already 2/3 of the way through September! I haven't blogged since the kids started school...shame on me!

I've been working hard to change my organization patterns on my computer desk at home over the course of the last week. We'll see how long those changes last, but so far I like the fact that things are a little more streamlined. I bought a new planner/calendar so I can keep track of everything, from the kids' school schedule to my work schedule (even work-from-home moms need to schedule things carefully!), to Steve's work schedule and family commitments like birthdays, anniversaries, etc. We're not the "busiest" people in the world, but I'm pretty actively involved in several volunteer/charity functions, and those include meetings galore.

I'm going to adopt a chart my friend showed me a few years ago. I laughed (on the inside) when I first saw it, but I'm interested to see if it's something I can apply to my daily life. It involves targeting specific areas in the house so that you can do a few small tasks each day and at the end of the week there's very little to be done because you've been taking care of it already. For instance, clean the guest bathroom on Monday and Thursday. Vacuum on Tuesday and Friday. Clean the fridge the day before garbage day and take five minutes to clear out products that are expired, etc. This plan may work, it might not...but it's worth a shot, because I'm overwhelmed with my current pattern!

I would really like to set aside at least 20 or 30 minutes a week to sit and blog. I keep saying I'm going to do it, but then it slips by. I read friends' blogs when I have some downtime, and I really enjoy reading them.

The kids are loving school, and I have to say I'm finally adjusting to the pattern of dropping them off/picking them up. It's not always easy (three hours FLIES even faster than you might think!), but I'm learning to lay out their clothes the night before and pack their snacks the night before to help with our time management in the morning. If I could convince them to eat breakfast a little faster than snail's pace I'd be thrilled. They like to take their time with their cereal! We had some issues at first with Jeremy not wanting to cooperate with activity transition (moving from the blocks to the classwork activity was apparently not something he was thrilled about!), but now that he's getting into a routine it's going fairly well. For anyone who had doubts, I can certainly tell you that GIRLS and BOYS have completely different personalities when it comes to school. Megan has done extremely well adapting...Jeremy has had a rocky start, but is gradually coming around.

I'll have to write a separate post sometime soon about the black eye Jeremy got two weeks ago...he was running in the house right before bedtime and fell and smashed his eye on some furniture, and it was quite the event around here, to say the least. I have pictures of his shiner, and thankfully it wasn't a really severe injury, so we can look back in hindsight and chuckle about it a little.

Til next time!!!

First Day of School!!!

The kids started VPK on Monday. It's technically 1 a.m. on Tuesday, but I wanted to post this before I go to bed. Other than a little whining (on my part...they didn't want to cooperate and let me take 800 photos!), I think the day went very well. I was pleasantly surprised that Steve was able to leave his zone for a very short time so he could be there to walk the kids in for the first time with me. My mom had come down from Jacksonville to go with me, since I thought I'd be on my own. So there were three of us trooping in behind Megan and Jeremy at 9:15 in the morning, and the kids made a beeline for their classroom. They learned its location at the open house on Saturday, and their friend Savannah is also in their class, so it's good to know there's already a familiar face there with them.

I left the school with my mom and Steve left to go back to work. Mom and I went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast, and I couldn't help but feel strange to be there without the munchkins. The waitress we requested is the same one we try to get whenever we go there though...we met her five years ago, right around the time I was put on bedrest. Mom would sometimes sneak me to Cracker Barrel for a meal on the way home from a doctor's appointment, and she was always so sweet to us. It was kind of like coming full circle to go have breakfast there and visit with her. :0

We ran a few errands after breakfast and then went to pick the kids up again at 12:15. Jeremy was crying! We quickly learned he was upset because he wanted to stay at school and play on the playground longer. Hmmm. I'm proud to say he's the only one of us who cried though...I went tear-free all day. Surprisingly, since I figured I'd boo-hoo just a little!

I won't post the multitude of pics I originally wanted to, just the one of them with their backpacks on before we left the house. My babies are growing up!!!

A Playdate Gone Astray

I completely failed to realize that my last post (which was in JUNE...wow, I am SO far behind in my pledge to keep up!) was my 100th post. I did nothing special for that post, but I'm very excited about #101. :) My blogger friend Alana over at http://alana-isms.blogspot.com/ and I planned a fun playdate for our kids (and for ourselves, as well!), and it was scheduled for yesterday. Neither one of us could have foreseen what would become of our "great" adventure. We worked together via e-mail after we got home to document the day and I am happy to present the whole story below. Read at your own risk!

Alana: It started with a wonderful plan. Katie had two free family passes for a really amazing indoor play center. We were stoked to see each other again, and were thrilled to have something air conditioned and fun to do, as the heat index here has surrounded us with temperatures feeling like 110 degrees. The plan was to meet at the mall at 9:30 a.m., in order to leave my car in the mall parking lot. Em and I would join Katie and her kiddos in their car to carpool to the play center. It was a sunny and beautiful day.

We arrived at the mall. Katie helped transfer Em's booster seat to the center of her car (which Em gets a kick out of, as she gets to sit BETWEEN Katie's 2 kiddos.) We buckled the kids in, popped a movie in the DVD player and Katie started the car.

Katie: So everyone's loaded in the car and we're ready to roll...fun times await! And I look down at the dashboard for some random reason. And my check engine light was on. Ugh. Between May and June I took my car into the shop a total of five (count 'em, FIVE) times because of the check engine light. The problem was fixed in the middle of June, but what could possibly be the issue now?

I looked at Alana and at first I said, "We can probably make it..." but then started thinking about it. If we got stranded 30 minutes away I would feel like a complete goof. Alana offered to follow me to the service shop, which is right down the street from the mall anyway. We could leave my car there for maintenance while we had our grand adventure, then pick my car back up on the way home later in the afternoon. Alana hopped back in her car, intending to follow me to the shop. Much to our surprise...

Alana: When I turned my key in the ignition, there was a clicking noise, but MY car would not start. My immediate thought was that something was wrong with the car battery. However, I was perplexed. As the car had been sitting idly for only 10 minutes, how could the battery have died? After a quick check of all gadgets (paying special attention to the interior dome light Emma sometimes plays with) indicated that nothing was amiss, I held my hands up in a "surrender" to Katie. How could we BOTH be having car problems at the same time? I proceeded to empty my trunk of the back-to-school crate and bags full of supplies, along with Emma's beach play-gear so that I could get out my jumper cables. Meanwhile, Katie sat in the car with three kiddos (Emma age 5 and twins Megan and Jeremy age 4) trying to entertain the kiddos and explain why we were sitting in a parking lot rather than going on the adventure we had promised. After clearing my trunk, I lifted the flap where my spare tire is stowed only to determine that the jumper cables and emergency kit my Dad purchased for me several years ago were not there. (Oops...I seem to remember moving them to the garage when I needed extra trunk space a while ago. Sorry Dad!) Doh! My thoughts of having Katie jump-start my car were dashed. Guess we'd have to move on to Plan C. Wait! What's Plan C?

Katie: Plan C? I was still trying to figure out why Plan B wasn't working out. I am a cop's wife, so you think I'd be smart enough to keep jumper cables in my car. Nope. I had taken them out a while back when we had the car in the shop for repairs. Oops.

We tried to find a mall security guard, then tried asking the maintenance people at Sears about how much a battery would cost for Alana's car. We wound up taking my car to the shop, since it was still in driving condition. They have a kids' playroom there, and we basically vegged out in the waiting room until the service rep came and told me (almost an hour later) that the check engine light was not caused by the same problem as before. It appeared to be the catalytic converter, which "lucky" (and I use this term loosely) for me is still covered under the warranty. Just one problem...the shop we were at used to be an official Saturn dealership, but Saturn went out of business early this year and the shop had become a used car lot with a maintenance bay. To get warranty repairs done, I'd have to take the car to a different dealership that was an "authorized maintenance location." But first, I had to pay $65 to the shop for the diagnostic fee. Ugh. Already out that much and haven't had any actual repair work done.

The bright side of this part of the story is that the service rep had checked into an issue with the rental car company down the street...they had rented a car for me for one day when my vehicle was being held overnight for service, and somehow the rental agency had charged my card twice the amount of a one-day rental when I wasn't supposed to be charged at all. The rep from the shop told me they had me listed as a three-day rental, not a one-day rental. We ran by the rental place after leaving the shop and Alana stayed in the car while I straightened that mess out. Yay for progress!

Alana: Two things to add before I forget. One: The guy working at the Sears car shop at the mall told me it would be "at least a four-hour wait" AND $120 - $140 to replace my car battery....NO WAY, buddy! Two: Cracked me up when Katie said her kids thought our "big surprise" (intended to be the indoor play center, of course) was just the small play area at the car shop. Are they sweeties, or what? Back to the story...

Next, we went back to the mall parking lot and met up with my AWESOME father-in-law, Craig, who had agreed via phone to come to my rescue. Katie kindly volunteered to take Emma with her and her kiddos to the car dealership so they could play together in the dealership playroom while she had the "check engine" light on her dashboard investigated.

This is where our story separates for a bit. Craig and I stayed in the parking area while I did my womanly best to hold his flashlight while he
dug through his tool bags trying to find the correct-size wrench to loosen the cover on my car battery. Katie and the kids...

Katie: After dropping Alana off with Craig, the kids and I made our way to the "authorized maintenance location." I had talked to one of the service reps there about four or five months ago when I was getting quotes on tires for my car, so I felt pretty good since I at least had a name. The kids and I unloaded and walked into the service department to explain our story. I brought juice boxes to distract them (which worked for about 30 seconds before my kids started harrassing the service rep and asking him where all the toys were). Long story short...the other service department had switched off the check engine light, clearing the error code, when they ran the diagnostic on my car. And this service place wouldn't even look at my car unless a) I had a check engine light on or b) I was willing to pay for another diagnostic, which wasn't even guaranteed to work since the error code had been cleared by the other guys. Even when the service rep who had helped me with tire pricing came to my rescue, it was obvious that they couldn't do anything to help. I decided to wait and see if the check engine light comes back on in the next week or so. Car maintenance is a necessary evil.

The kids and I piled back into the car and got on the road. We headed for Chick-fil-A near the mall because I figured it would be less crowded than another one close by (wow...I was so wrong). We ordered kids' meals (all four of us...because you get free ice cream if you trade your "toy" in at the counter without opening it) and settled in for our lunch. The kids ran around in the playground at the restaurant for a while, and when Alana called to say she was on her way with Craig we left the playground and went to get our ice cream so we would have a treat while they ate their lunch. It was probably about 2:30 when they got there...and I was anxious to hear how Alana's car was faring...

Alana: When Craig found the correct size wrench to undo the cap on my car battery, we discovered a lot of white/green corrosion. The Amazing Craigster was able to use a pocket knife and screwdriver to clean the majority of the corrosion off. We were then able to jump start my car. (By the way---the jumper cables Craig used were made by DH's Pappaw years ago. Cool, hey?) As with the jumper cables assistance my car started quickly, I was hopeful the battery had died due to age and corrosion, and we'd be able to replace it and my car would be fixed. However, as a precaution, Craig followed me to the mechanic to verify how much "juice" was left in the battery and to verify all was okay with my car.

After running a diagnostic test, the mechanic informed me that the battery appeared to be okay. It had most likely been drained due to the car needing a new alternator. Gulping at the $380 fee, but knowing it was necessary, I "approved" the work order.

Craig kindly drove me to meet Em, and the gang at Chick-fil-A in order to pick Emma up while my car was being repaired.

Katie: Alana and Craig got their lunches and sat with us so we could catch up. Megan and Jeremy took an instant shine to Craig, so now he's got two admirers. If I'd been thinking about it, I would have had a picture taken of the whole group of us to go with this blog post, but I wasn't exactly thinking clearly after such a long and drawn out day. We parted ways right around 3:30 to head home, and I felt pretty foolish driving home and wishing that my check engine light would click back on. It was definitely "the playdate that wasn't," but somehow we weren't too much worse for the wear, and the kids really enjoyed themselves and the time they spent with Emma. Although I feel pretty bad that Alana's car repairs were so expensive, since our intention for the day was to use the free passes I've been holding on to since June and then eat lunch at O'Charley's (since the kids' meals are free). It was such a great plan! We'll definitely have to attempt it on a different day. :)

Alana: Emma fell asleep in Craig's backseat as he drove us to pick up my car from the mechanic. Thus, I asked him if he would mind if I followed him to his house to allow Emma more "nap" time. He kindly agreed. I paid the mechanic, waved at Craig that my bill was taken care of, and walked to my car. Just as I saw Craig turn out of the parking lot, I tried turning the ignition on in my car. Guess what? It was the same clicking noise that had occurred at the mall. ACK! Though annoyed, I was relieved that if my car was not going to function, at least it "chose" to break at the car mechanic's.

I returned to the inside of the mechanic shop. The guy was aghast that the car wouldn't start. "We turned your car off and re-started it several times before calling you for pick-up." They had replaced the alternator, thinking that the battery would be fine with a new alternator. However, turns out the battery was also fried.

I called Craig...who I had inadvertently pawned Emma off on. He said I could just pick her up at his house whenever my car was done. $70 bucks (battery cost, no charge for labor) and 40 minutes later my car was finally "done."

What a day! Despite the financial and logistical burdens of my day, I had two HUGE blessings: Katie and Craig. Both stepped in, helping with my car woes and childcare without prior notice. I don't know what I would have done without them! And while car issues are always a hassle, I'm also grateful that the alternator/battery issues occurred during the summer instead of when I'm back to work in 2 weeks.

I have to smile at the odds....what is the likelihood of BOTH cars having issues at the exact same time? Katie reported that her check engine light did not come back on during her 20-minute drive home. As for me, I can't wait for our next playdate...maybe DH will let me borrow his car next time, just in case! :)

Katie: That's all we wrote, folks. Our adventure in hindsight was not exactly "fun" like we planned, but I was just grateful that we got to spend some time together. The kids got along really well, and all three were actually very, very good considering how boring it all must have seemed for them. Talk about counting our blessings!!!

Stop and Smell the Flowers

It never fails. There are two things that my children insist on doing whenever we go to the local grocery store. First, we stop at the bakery, where they are practically on a first-name basis with the people who work there. Then, before I can even break out my grocery list to begin our shopping, we have to go over to the floral display. My kids consistently remind me to take time to stop and smell the flowers.

I don't know that many people who can claim to NOT be busy. I don't think I'm all that much busier than the average person. I have a family to care for, a job (or two) to keep up with. I have friends who I love to spend time with whenever possible. And I have volunteer activities that I enjoy because I treasure the satisfaction I feel when I help someone else. Sometimes my schedule is smooth, sometimes it's rocky. There are days when I have nothing planned...blissful days when I might choose to get an hour or two of work done just to make sure I have less to do later on my busier days. My kids are a great reminder that sometimes, just sometimes, it's alright to just stop and enjoy whatever peaceful moments I can grab. I am so lucky to have them, and their reminders are definitely priceless.

Yesterday, I was working on a project and my son came into my home office. He said nothing at first, just looked at the computer and stood quietly. I wrapped my arm around him and said, "What's up?" Very calmly, very quietly, he leaned toward me and said, "Mommy, come cuddle with me." The kids got twin-size beds a couple of months ago, and he's just thrilled with the fact that I can squeeze onto his bed with him, something I couldn't do when they were sleeping on toddler beds. We climbed onto his bed together, cuddled up, and pointed out "imaginary" shapes on the ceiling, a game he's come to love recently. It was a perfect moment in time, one I don't think I'll forget anytime soon.

If you're having a busy day, do yourself a big favor...stop for a moment. Take just a few minutes to stop and smell the flowers. Jeremy and Megan might not stay little forever, they might not always want to cuddle with their momma, but the memories we make today are ones we can carry with us for years to come.

Great Reminder

Below is a column that appeared by Ann Landers. It was contributed by a reader who asked her to reprint it, and I think it SO applies to day-to-day life. Sometimes we just need a gentle reminder of what's so very important.

Ann Landers “Things to Be Thankful For”
Dear Ann Landers: I hope you will print something a friend in Australia sent me. I think it's perfect to run on Thanksgiving. -Bee in Fairfax, Va.
Dear Bee: Please send my best wishes and warm thanks to your friend in Australia. Here's the thoughtful piece she sent:

Things to Be Thankful For

Be thankful for the clothes that fit a little too snug, because it means you have enough to eat.

Be thankful for the mess you clean up after a party, because it means you have been surrounded by friends.

Be thankful for the taxes you pay, because it means you're employed.

Be thankful that your lawn needs mowing and your windows need fixing, because it means you have a home.

Be thankful for your heating bill, because it means you are warm.

Be thankful for the laundry, because it means you have clothes to wear.

Be thankful for the space you find at the far end of the parking lot, because it means you can walk.

Be thankful for the lady who sings off-key behind you in church, because it means you can hear.

Be thankful when people complain about the government, because it means we have freedom of speech.

Be thankful for the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours, because it means you're alive.

~Taken from Ann Landers’ column, 11/22/01

Catching up on blessings...

First blessing I want to mention is my friend. She was discharged from the rehab center and went home last Friday, so she's been home for a week already. I feel bad because I haven't been able to go by and visit yet, but I have plans in the works to bring her family some dinner one night next week, so I'll see her soon! I spoke with her for a while on Tuesday, and she sounds fantastic. Keep praying, because she's getting occupational and physical therapy at home and we want her to continue to recover, but what a blessing to know that she's home with her husband and children (exactly where she belongs!!!). I told her she's my walkin', talkin' miracle friend and she told me she knows just how lucky she is. She's amazing.

Second blessing is that the Relay For Life of St. Augustine is this weekend. This will be my 10th year attending the event, 9th year participating with a team, 7th year working as a member of the planning committee. My grandmother had lung cancer and skin cancer, so the cause (the American Cancer Society) is near and dear to my heart. The event itself is just inspiring, especially when they light the luminaria around the track at 9 p.m. in honor and in memory of people who have/have had cancer. This year we are one of 45 teams camping out around the track at St. Augustine High School. Each team has a different fundraiser to raise money with, and each team tries to keep someone walking on the track at all times during the 18-hour event. We've been working hard all year to get ready, and this week we've worked twice as hard because it's crunch time. It'll all be worth it tomorrow and Sunday! The event kicks off at 12 noon Saturday, May 15 and ends at 6 a.m. on Sunday, May 16. If you're in the St. Augustine area, stop by and see what it's all about...it's something you have to see to believe.

My Friend is a Miracle!

I read a post from my friend's husband on Facebook this morning...looks like she'll be discharged from the rehab center on Friday, May 7th! She's still got a long road ahead of her, but she has made so much progress and we are all standing in awe of the miracle she really is. I cannot express enough thanks to everyone who has continued to pray for her and her family. I know she is so touched and inspired by the crowd that has rallied behind her since this all started two months ago. Yesterday a group of awesome people coordinated a yard sale. I couldn't be there to help, but I contributed a couple of boxes of "stuff." Another friend wrote a newspaper article that ran locally the day before, and they had an amazing turnout from the community, raising over $1,000 to help offset some of the family's expenses. The amazing part of this whole thing is not that they raised so much money, but that so many people turned up to help make a difference in the life of an awesome woman and her family.

God is good.

I Give A Hoot...About Molly!

I had posted a link a while back with the live video stream focused on two bald eagles and their two babies. On the same site, there are numerous links to wildlife webcams. One of them is for Molly the Owl, who has become quite famous! Molly and her mate, McGee, are residents of an owl box in California. The box is on a pole 15 feet in the air and stationed in the yard of the Royal family. Carlos updates viewers from time to time on the little family. Molly and McGee had six eggs laid in February. One broke very early, one is a dud. The other four eggs have yielded four little owlets! Max, Pattison, Austin and Wesley are named for relatives of Carlos Royal (grandchildren, I believe).

Here's a closeup photo I took as a screenshot of Molly...she was checking out the camera just a little while ago. The video link is also below. Share it if you'd like...it's so amazing to see nature at work! Word to the wise though...these are wild animals. They eat like wild animals. Sometimes it's not a pretty sight, so be forewarned if you are watching at mealtime and you have a weak stomach.



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Happy Easter!

I can't believe we're already into our first week of April. It looks like 2010 is flying by even faster than 2009 did!!! I wish all of you the best blessings of Easter.

My friend continues to improve. She has been transferred to a rehabilitation center where she will receive all kinds of physical therapy to help her recover further. I plan to go visit her for an hour this afternoon, between visiting my family and my husband's family. I look forward to seeing how much progress she's made since my visit last week when she was still at the hospital! She is having short-term memory issues that may or may not improve with time, so please continue praying for her and her family.

Count your blessings today and every day!!! Happy Easter. :)

Bald Eagle WebCam

A friend recently shared this site and I thought I'd pass it on in case anyone else wanted to see it, too! I'm looking forward to watching this bald eagle family thrive. What a patient momma!

http://www.sportsmansparadiseonline.com/Bald_Eagle_Nest_Cam_P0SF.html

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Saturday is "Catch-Up" Day!

The week seemed to fly by...guess that happens when you have work pile up on you. The good news is that we made our deadline, and it's always a nice feeling to have a project finish on a Friday so that the weekend is open. :)

My friend is steadily improving, and we continue to pray and count our blessings for her and her family. I am really looking forward to visiting her again, hopefully Sunday morning. I know the road ahead is a long one, but I think they have such a fantastic support system and group of cheerleaders to encourage and help. It'll all be ok! Here are updates from her husband about yesterday and today's events...I am consistently in awe of his strength through this whole process (and by hers...such a great match!).

FRIDAY's UPDATES
11:17am: Another exhausting day of therapy. Brain drain will likely come out tomorrow. She continues to not be exactly herself but improves. She tends to act a little childish and unemotional. Daughter knows she is in hospital and is starting to want to see her. I am going to wait till we are out of ICU. I'll update again later.

9:45pm: The feeding tube is out of her nose. She is a lot more comfortable. She has really enjoyed the milkshakes everyone has brought her. The brain drain may come out tomorrow. Possibly real food on monday. We had a battle with physical therapy today. She won but I am sure PT will win the war. She was happy to have visitors today. Everyone is welcome. Good night.

SATURDAY's UPDATES
8:08am: Pretty good night sleep. CT this morning will determine if the brain drain comes out. Her surgeon returns Monday. Can't wait for him to see her progress. Round #2 with therapy today. Her 1, Therapy 0. Doctors seem confident she will walk again. They are unsure regarding her memory and personality. Time will determine that.

12:15pm: The drain is out of head. She spent two hours in a chair today. She is peacefully napping. I have been trying to get emotion out of her other than anger. So far I have been unsuccesful. I'll settle for a laugh. Any ideas?

7:54pm: With all the recent good events I am spending the night at home with the kids and having a drink (or 3, or 7). PT didn't go well again. Her 2, physical therapy 0. We had a nice talk about going home, rescheduling the cruise, and getting out of the hospital and she agreed to try harder. Good night everyone. I am off to watch the Princess and the Frog with my Prince and Princess.