Week Seven

This weekend marks the two year anniversary of Erin's hysterectomy. The months immediately following her surgery were an enormous relief. But as she has processed the cost and met fellow survivors, she has often struggled with the loss. Survivor guilt kicks in every now and then and she feels somewhat indebted to make this one precious life matter. Of course it does but our girl will always strive for more. These last two years have been a bit turbulent as physicians panicked over unusual symptoms and sent her in for testing repeatedly. Each time pathology was required, we held our collective breath. Scan-xiety is real and we aren't immune, despite our desire to walk fully in faith. And so she takes this one precious life and lives it fully. Her version involves Cuban food, amazing friendships, compassion for the vulnerable, drive for lofty education goals and a family that adores her. Our beautiful girl is healthy. 

The week was long and at times, hard. Ty had a week worth of makeup work to complete on top of this week's homework. There were tears. Some of them, his. Sigh. I don't believe I've been this stressed about middle school since 1986. I wasn't sure I was going to survive it then and I'm not so sure we are going to make it through this round without medication and alcohol. Greg prayed over dinner Thursday night simply, "Lord help us." Amen.

Just when I thought I couldn't love Anna more...She is ten and this math test answer may be my most favorite part of the week. 

Anna and I putting the final touches on the yearbook today. 

We were gifted a gorgeous sunny day and two very mild evenings spent on a porch. I needed every moment of fresh air and am grateful for the opportunity to open windows to usher out the stale winter air. Spring simply cannot arrive soon enough for my weary soul because this morning arrived with flurries and ridiculous temperatures.

Makenna went from looking adorable at work to testing positive for covid. She loves her students so the unplanned days off we're anything but welcomed but she is managing symptoms fairly well. 

Kate and Hagan attended a school dance Saturday evening because he wanted to go. She wasn't all that interested but they did end up having a good time. I laughed as Hagan's mom pointed out the hours he spent getting ready as opposed to Kate who pulled her hair into a braid and declared it good enough. She is anything but fussy about these things. 

Saturday afternoon I had the unique privilege of photographing a wedding for this adorable couple. These lovely ladies have been together for forty years and decided to make it official with a months' notice. I stepped in as a favor for a friend because I am not a wedding photographer. The event was a casual family party and I'm glad I agreed to step out of my comfort zone. I'm still not a wedding photographer but I'd love to hang out with this group again someday. They were a good time. Also, I kinda hope to grow up to be like my new feisty friend. She had everyone laughing the entire day. 

Lauren and Taylor received their household goods this week! They are so happy to be back in real beds after two long months. Austin is excited to have his toys again. They are now navigating creative storage solutions as they have downsized by more than a thousand square feet. Hawaii isn't yet feeling like paradise but they are still seeking adventure and making the most of the experience. 

Girlfriend Day Out/Week Six

Erin going with me was a surprise for my friends and one they absolutely loved. There were several comments about their pride in helping raise her; the first baby of our group. 

Erin and I met some friends in Florence for a day of eating, shopping and laughing. We caught up, hugged often and slipped into personal conversations in between ridiculous stories of aging and life. At one point, we were all gathered around magnifying mirrors discussing the need for them to pluck the stray hairs we no longer see. Someone confessed to a waxing job gone awry and we drew an audience as Jill burst out laughing that twenty years ago we were drinking mudslides in my kitchen without a clue of just how glamorous life would become. By the time we left that store, a clerk thanked us for coming in so full of joy. I'm so grateful for my tribe. We have weathered some serious hardships and celebrated the journey alongside one another for decades. It is the absolute best. We plan to retire together like the golden girls and have selected our roommates based on folded towels. Although one of them says she started folding hers after the horror on my face about causally shoving them into a cabinet. She is claiming towel folding as exercise. As I said, ridiculous. Of course the same one who is insisting on a very attractive pool boy for our elderly years is the same one who bought sweatpants at Victoria Secret for Valentine's Day. I have no words. 

The sun showed up on Sunday and we all rejoiced! Goodness we need more days like that. But Ty, who had been feeling rundown for a few days managed some trampoline time and I thought we were in the clear until Erin pointed out his nasty cough. By Monday it was clear he was once again sick. Tuesday he needed lab work to rule out quite a few illnesses. Wednesday we learned he has been fighting two viruses and both have been hitting kids pretty hard this year. The RSV is still a bit concerning given he is also an asthmatic, so he scored a week out of school to sleep it all off. He was not disappointed but also not well enough to enjoy himself. 

Despite all the fun Diesel promises to bring to any and all situations, Oliver is not having it. Poor Diesel.

Greg tells him to stay off his pillows. He obeys until the moment Greg leaves for work each morning. But look at how sweet he appears to be when he is sleeping. 

Our Everyplate box contained a planned surprise for the kids. They were thrilled. These silly little cookies have been difficult to locate. Come on Pillsbury, the kids need you to get it together. The holidays, they claim, aren't the same without your bland cookies.

I am leading a brand new yearbook club at school and today we took a quick photo of our motley crew. They are loud, hilarious and doing a great job tackling this year's book. This is the first time it's been student lead and I'm honored my boss allowed me to opportunity to launch it this year. We've been on quite the learning curve as a team but I have mostly enjoyed the process. I kinda like these people. I'm going to be pretty sad when they graduate from the elementary school in a few months. 

Week Five

Our grandson has tried snorkeling and loves it. He has a waterproof case for his camera and cannot wait to take it on his next adventure. He is promising pictures as soon as it is not cold outside. It's 76 degrees in Hawaii. Pray he pulls through this trying time. 

Saturday was mild enough for grilled steaks. Yes please. 

We visited the cutest little ice cream shoppe. 

We had a relaxing weekend and even slipped out for a fun double date of bowling and ice cream. After almost twenty-eight years of parenting together, we go out when we want to and no one will starve. It's a pretty sweet season. 

He was pouting because I wasn't ready to play Saturday morning.

Erin came over for her customary Sunday nap and laundry day. Only one of them successfully napped though.

Monday I saw my chiropractor for what I believed was a pinched nerve in my neck. What I learned instead was that I needed to eliminate sugar. I used to like that guy. It's been an unpleasant week since. I miss all.the.things. And also, I still have the symptoms that took me too the chiropractor; plus sugar cravings. 

Tuesday we were granted a snow day; the first of the school year and spent it wisely. We read, napped and played. It was good. 

Ty loved the ice and laughed his way through multiple slips and falls. Later, Diesel escaped the yard to steal a neighbor boy's basketball while he shot hoops in his driveway. We scolded Diesel and put him in a timeout. He was absolutely the opposite of remorseful as he spent the next half hour pacing and whining to go back outside to play with the neighbor. He immediately hops up on the deck when he goes outside to see if the child is out so he is back on a lead in the yard. Sigh. We feel like we are making progress and then he has nights he is absolute menace or reverts back to old behavior. It's a good thing I think he's cute because he is exhausting.

Week Four

A few of the things that made me smile this week...

• Student success in our reading lab
• A productive appointment for Kate
• Warm chai tea gifted at work
• A new charming book series
• Ty feeling chatty after school
• Austin teasing he wants to make me cry before announcing he misses me
• Hugs from small friends
• Silly jokes from kiddos catching the bus
• My yearbook students arguing who got to go home with me (the answer is none of them)

I brought home an assignment I had originally printed for our second graders. This one practically demanded the safety guy tackle it. I titled it, "Tell me you have a conflict at work without telling me you have a conflict at work." 

Oliver has been a bit of a jerk lately. He taunts Diesel and keeps occupying the dog water bowl while Diesel patiently waits for a turn.....

However, Diesel is still a complete handful so I suppose it's all fair in the long run. 

Our seventy pound lap dog

If only he were just resting instead of recharging

Week Three

A second grader noticed my inflamed hand and asked about it. I gave my standard answer about psoriatic arthritis and assured him it looks worse than it feels. He then asked, "do all old people get that?" 🤨

Ty fell asleep before school Thursday and then slept the entire way home. His throat hurt. He then laid around all evening and scored himself a day off on Friday. The strep screen was negative but he feels really run down and still has a pretty sore throat. A weekend of rest is on the agenda. 

Erin swears she had more privacy living with us than she is permitted now. Ada is a hot mess. 

Erin is getting back into the swing of work, class and her internship. She has also been asked to help select a new director for the program she completed in 2021 with the University of Louisville. There is no rest for the driven. 

Lauren and Taylor have been given a projected date of March 23 before they receive their belongings. They caved and purchased lawn chairs to have somewhere other than the floor to sit. The air mattress is getting old just two weeks into this little island adventure but they are making the best of it. Daily walks to new parks and frequent beach exploration has been the saving grace for a very busy four year old who is missing his friends and his toys. He has learned so much about the island already, including his address. He blows me away with the facts he recites during our video chats. 

Someone fancies himself a lap dog. At 70 pounds, why wouldn't he?

I kid you not, Greg had just told him to get down. Look that that attitude!

We had a gorgeous start to the week with temperatures mild enough Tuesday for Bible study outside. I was delighted and hoped it would last. It didn't. January in the 60's was appreciated, if even for just a day. 

Saturday Greg roasted a turkey, Lauren's favorite meal. I text her this photo and asked about Hawaii. She promptly responded with a picture of the beach, "it's great." I was hoping she'd come home. Sigh.

I got to take Anna and Ava to Target while their parents had appointments. I was missing Austin and needed to pick up something to help Ava make a tee shirt celebrating the 100th day of school. One thing lead to another and both of the girls ended up with a small trinket too. Ty also landed a treat and was overheard whispering to the girls he wanted them to come along every time we go to Target so I will say yes to things not on the list. It was a shake down. 

Jet Lag

He dressed himself for the beach.

Someone is having trouble adjusting to his new time zone. He is seeking a nap mid afternoon and ready to start his day around three each morning. Their first morning in Hawaii was rough, with Denny's being the only thing available at five a.m. but our weary travelers were desperate. Denny's was their first Hawaiian meal. It can only get better. 

Lauren and Taylor are quickly learning the cost of living in Hawaii will be making them far more frugal than they ever imagined. Lauren keeps joking they may join the heavy homeless population in a tent on the beach. There are worse places to be homeless, I guess. 

But their days on the beach and the walks to the parks make it all feel worthwhile already. Paradise wins. Even Remi agrees.

As Lauren was arriving in Hawaii, Erin was leaving Africa. We spent three solid days tracking our kids across oceans. Erin had been eight hours ahead of us while Lauren was six hours behind us. I've asked we not make this a habit. 

This beach is five minutes from Lauren's house. Pray for her. 

Erin loved Tanzania. The culture is rich and beautiful and the people are lovely. She had some profound take aways and spent hours telling stories about the wonderful things she experienced. Some of her most hilarious stories involved American clothes on African people. A large man wearing a Momma Bear tee shirt was just one amazing example.

For reasons that aren't clear, two basketballs were sitting in our lounge and Ty couldn't resist dribbling and spinning one before school.

The school week lasted an entire month, I'm convinced. We are all tired and feel like we climbed some mountains. A standoff with one of Ty's teachers may be improving and Kate saw a new physician who appears to be a promising lead to solving an issue for her. By Wednesday, I was certain Monday was actually last week. But we made it through Friday with hot soup planned for dinner and a long weekend ahead. And naps. I hope to take naps.