Amen to that!

Hans was hurt...

So I know this isn't the best way to tell everyone, and HANS IS OKAY.  Before I go any further I need to tell you that.  But this afternoon, down at the neighborhood park, he fell off a swing onto his back.  He apparently wasn't swinging hard, but he slipped off and hit his upper back area.  I got the call from Josh, and when I got there he had crawled away from the swing and was laying on the cold ground in the dirt and mud.  Not moving.  It was a horrifying sight.  I took Josh's coat and covered him, held his head in place and called 911.  They were there in about a minute - they were right around the corner.  (God was watching out for us.  Thank you, God!)  They boarded and collared him, so he couldn't move, and then took us by ambulance to Crozer Hospital.  I know how horrible and painful the collar and board are (jump injury in the 82D), but after a couple of hours, visits with nurses and Dr. Ward, everything was deemed in its' place.  He's getting ice for the next day or two, and taking Ibuprofen for the pain.  Which should mostly be soreness and possible bruising.

I'm sorry I didn't call, for those of you who feel you warrant one (and there are quite a few), but I couldn't talk about it.  Not yet.  That was a terrifying experience, and I get too upset if I'm talking about it.  So, after Melissa's incident the other day, this makes two.  What's the wives tale about "things come in threes"?  I hope not.  That seems a little silly, but it's all too often right.  So Katie and Eric, tell your kids to be more careful!

Love all...

A day filled with special moments...

So this was one of those boring, nothing really happening days that surprised me and had several memorable moments.  Hans had a PFT (pulmonary function test) at the hospital this morning, as a precaution and to rule out asthma.  It went well, and we weren't overly concerned, but it's best to check.  (As a singer, I know a thing or four about breathing, and hunching over and moving your shoulders does NOT help breathing.  I'm thinking it's a posture issue!)  So we had breakfast after, eating sandwiches in the park before he went to school, which was lovely.  But THEN he came home and announced that his teacher asked him to stay after for a moment, and she wanted to know if Hans would be interested in running for 7th grade STUDENT COUNCIL PRESIDENT!!!  AHHHHHH!  I'm so proud - really!  He was SO committed last year and hardly missed a meeting, I know he'd make an amazing president!

Then Bethany came home after school...  I was on the back porch taking a break, eating my lunch, and she came outside with her snack, and we hung out for some time.  We were just talking, and she had me help her study for her French quiz, and it was just ... wonderful.  It was so relaxed, and we were enjoying spending time together (and she's really good at French)...  I know that sounds kind of boring, but it was a wonderful, memorable mother/daughter moment.  Relaxing in the sunshine, together.

And Josh was a HUGE help today.  We ended up spending several hours pulling ivy out of the back yard; I started wanting a small spot to put my new firewood rack (away from the house), but we cleared quite a bit - and I wouldn't have gotten that far without him!  OH - and say a prayer or just keep him in your thoughts, because Thursday he goes for his driving test!  Watch out, Philly - there's an actual good driver about to take to the roads!  (This area has the WORST drivers ever!)

So it was a really nice day, and I appreciated Cody picking up Josh tonight from class, and now I'm done.  Seriously - I HATE that ivy, and it totally kicked my butt today.

Oh yeah!  I almost forgot; here's a picture of our newest addition, Tyler!  We adopted her for free, and Bethany is her 'mommy', but she is very lovable and social!  We're very happy to have her!  (And unlike Toffee, she isn't agoraphobic, but she sticks to the second and third floor, unless we're all hanging out downstairs.  Then she'll come down and see us.)

Love to all...

"Power Surge"

Bethany is making a video series titled "Power Surge".  It's an internet/youtube series based on the modern day Greek gods and goddesses, and she's filming the entire thing herself.  She has props, voices, and she's using her Littlest Pet Shop cats as the characters.  (You can see quite a few other series using LPS characters on youtube - they're kinda impressive!).  So I don't have a preview yet (she's hoping to release a trailer within a week, and has Episode 1 ready to go), but Bethany said I could blog about a little bit...  I wrote the original soundtrack theme song, Power Surge, so you can take a listen if you like!  It's not completely finished (the MIDI keyboard I ordered was a bust so I have to order again), but she likes it and says it's good enough for the trailer, so...

Power Surge theme song

Long time, no see...

WOW!  There is so much to catch up on, I think it might be easier to work backwards from today!

For starters, Hans now has braces.  It's been a tough week for him, since they put rubber band spacers between his teeth for a week, and then yesterday the braces went on.  And of course they had to redo one bracket that didn't attach, and he has these "turbo's" behind his 2 front teeth to help him adjust his overbite.  But he still looks cute!  (With new glasses, too).    

Then this past weekend, we went river tubing on the Reading River.  It was a beautiful day, but not overly hot - which meant the water was a little 'cool'!  And I (of course) forgot to grab my waterproof camera from Boo (she's using it to make her movies), so we only have the pictures as we got in the water, but it was really relaxing.  There were just enough spots where the river had baby rapids, to make the experience just a bit exciting...

 

The week prior to that (18-22), Cody flew out to Mesa, AZ, on Sunday, and then spent the next four days flying an aircraft back across the country.  Imagine driving across country, but you only get to stop  twice a day (lunch for gas, and then overnight to sleep), with no pit stops and your thousands of feet above the ground.  It was very exhausting!

Finally, Saturday night before Cody left, we went to Longwood Gardens for the Fountains & Fireworks show with music from Elton John.  It was the event we were supposed to have done for Cody's birthday, but there had been a fireworks malfunction at the time, so this was rescheduled.  It was nice, but Hans wasn't feeling that great, and we waited WAY too long after dark for the show to start.  It was lovely, but one of those events that if you've seen it once, you're good.  Here's some of that afternoon...

 

The 'house'

Today we were again reminded of our status as "the house" for Josh's friends (and sometimes large groups of Hans and Bethany's friends, as well).  4 of his friends came over today to hang out.  They ended up taking Hans with them on a bike ride to the lower Norwood park, then picked up pizza on their way back to the house this evening.  Yes, the teens bought their own pizza for dinner - and Hans pitched in some money for his share as well.  I'm so proud!  We watched School of Rock with dinner, and then I built my first real fire in our fire pit (it is BEAUTIFUL weather here, thank you God!).  Bethany and some others roasted marshmallows for smores, Hans made me a marshmallow, and while everybody hung out and chatted, I cut down some pesky branches.  And pushed Boo on the swing - love that swing!  It's a rather unique experience being the 'house' that everyone wants to hang out in.  But very nice.  And I know they are really becoming comfortable here, because Alex walked in this afternoon and called out, "I'm home!".  Without knocking.  So it's kind of cool...

Love to all!

(ps - Happy Anniversary, love!  We miss you - everyone's asking about you, and we're waiting for you to come home!)
  

  

Happy birthday, Bethany!

Fourteen years ago, Bethany was born - a little early, and definitely little! She seemed such a fragile thing, except for her spirit. Going through all the danger of early labor, hospitalization, and a preemie, and it turns out she is a fighter. Bethany is such a strong, independent young lady... I hope she always remembers to ask for help when needed, and never stops being as creative and unique as she has become. And that's no little girl, anymore; I'm just lucky her feet are bigger than mine. So she can't borrow my shoes!  I love you, Bethany - I am so proud of the woman you are becoming, and blessed to be a part of the process.

More stuff done...

So I got the drywall up in Cindy's living room, and we've been hanging out as well!  We even got the lattice done for her grapes so she can support them.  And best of all, the weather seems to look good for the next couple of days, so I think I'll have great traveling weather.  Thank you, God!  This has been a great trip, and I'm sad that my time is almost up, but I know it will be wonderful to see Hans, Josh and Cody again.  And Bethany will be home soon, as well!  Maybe someday Cindy will move in with us.  All that room for the dogs, lots of area to help me garden...  wink, wink!

     

 

My visit with Cindy...

I've been enjoying my time with Cindy, although it's been a bit...  ODD this time. Well, more than usual. I spent a few hours with her at the Dr's for kidney stones and a small back surgery.  And we've been working on projects around the house while still having a good time. We even went to the mall one day; yay shopping!

This is one of the projects we worked on - front steps. Here are the before and after pics. We can't believe how quickly the time flies; only a week left now. Although it breaks my heart knowing that Hans misses me - I don't want him to feel bad.

Overall it's been a great trip, and I hope I can get everything done that is really important.  Love to all!

BTW, the steps weren't the only fix. I added on an addition to the gate - now it can close at the top of the stairs AND to the right of the door.

On the road...

A quick stop to eat and in a minute I cross the bay bridge - my old nemesis. I'll be fine, but please say a prayer that the HOV lane is open on 95. Love you all!

It's official...

SHE'S PACKED!!!  All that's left is a water bottle and the granola she's going to share with her fellow delegates in Miami.  15 more days!

Sad but true...

So today, for the first time in 2 1/2 years (since moving to Philly), I can finally say it:  all our vehicles are officially titled, tagged and inspected in the state of Pennsylania!  WOOOHOOO!!!!

Thank you, God, for watching over us and for helping me to FINALLY get this stupidly monumental task done.  And, I think there was a method to it all, because we had to get the front windshield replaced.  And because I have Harry Press Auto for a mechanic, I got a brand new - with heating element! - windshield for $220.  WOW.  When I looked into it years ago they wanted over $800!  So once again God takes care of things, and I am super grateful.  Have a successful day everyone; I'm trying to!

Love to all...

Bethany's dance!

Tonight was the 8th Grade Dance, and I'm so proud of Bethany for going!  I kind of 'forced' her to go, and even though she went under duress, she had a nice time.  Maybe not a spectacular time, but she enjoyed herself, looked like a princess, and was brave and daring!  I told her not to worry... I remember my 8th grade dance, and it was AWKWARD!  And I had a date.  (Part of it was the dress - she looked amazing, but she said she didn't know how you could dance to hip-hop and rock in a nice dress.  Makes sense!).

Most of all, I'm proud of her for going, and - more importantly - going with a positive attitude and open mind.  But I'll let the pictures tell the story!

Love to all...


   

Hans' birthday party!

Only ONE kid couldn't make it to Hans' party - that is a record!  We used to have an issue getting anyone to come to a party in NC.  So he wanted to have it at this Ice Works skating rink, and it was really nice.  Everyone had pizza and drinks, we went skating (I gave the newbie's a lesson), opened presents, and had plenty of quarters for the kids to play around in the arcade.  PLUS, per Hans' request, I made a carrot cake for him.  A VEGAN carrot cake.  It was amazing!!!  No one would know it was vegan; it was that good!  And of course we had to do it up as OmNom, one of the cutest characters ever, and that looked great as well.  Cody, Bethany and Josh really stepped up and helped me out getting everything ready for the party.  I am so grateful for their help, and everybody seemed to have a great time!

Now if my stupid tooth would stop aching.  Ah, thank God for Valium.  And Vicodin.  Whichever is working right now...

Love to all - and Happy Birthday Hans!


   

   

 

Stand down, Noah...

I woke up Saturday morning to leave for a dentist appointment; I have a filling that is causing me problems.  (And now I have a root canal that is causing me problems, but I digress!)

After the torrential downpour, the backyard looked better in the morning.  THIS is a picture of 'better'.  LOL.  <sigh>  I am super grateful that there was only a small wet area in the basement; without our water-proofing, it would have been a disaster!

Love to all...

Bethany's 8th grade trip

Wow.  Every time I turn around, Norwood school is doing some amazing thing for it's students again.  This time, the whole 8th grade class went to Hershey Park.  Wow, right?  Bethany said she had a wonderful time; she rode the Wild Mouse roller coaster 6 times in a row when they first arrived, since there was hardly a line.  And she rode some rides with different friends, and spent hours enjoying the waterpark area!  She was so good - she didn't get burned because she used the sunscreen, she watched what she ate (for her sensitivities), and even took her supplements when she needed to.  What an amazing young woman!  So tonight I made her download the pics so I could share them with you all.

Love to all - and stay dry and safe!

 

Hans...

Ended up visiting the hospital tonight. Abdominal pain, no interest in his ravioli at dinner... so we went to the ER. It seems it's just agitated stomach issues - thank God! He'll stay home tomorrow and rest. Better safe than sorry! And still so cute.

Happy Birthday, Hans!

So 12 years ago today, my youngest son was born - it was not the easiest of births (though Bethany always wins that competition), but he sure was a beautiful baby boy.  Since that day he's just gotten cuter and more amazing to me!  His sense of humor is well-developed for a young man of 12, his smile is just dazzling, and I'm happy to say he inherited my mojo.  But most of all, I'm amazed to watch my children grow up into these new people that didn't exist before, and now they're here - and I'm helping to make that happen.  It is SO cool to be a part of that!  Watching Hans blossom into a strong, grounded leader - the kind of person others will be able to count on - and still maintain a great attitude and wonderful outlook on life is one of the great joys in my life.  I love you, so much, Hans.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!