{THIS MOMENT}

{this moment}

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. ~ Courtesy of Amanda at SouleMama

Enjoy your freedom and remember where it came from...

SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW

Today was a really sad day. It was Nicholas' last day of preschool and it did not go so well. He was tearful all day about his friends that will be "lost" over the summer. I tried to explain that he would find them in a few months, right back where he left them! We went out to dinner to celebrate his summer freedom and ran into some old friends of ours. They had their three beautiful kids with them and I didn't give it a second thought until I asked how old their youngest is. As my friend said "almost two", Joey reminded me that we both kept getting pregnant at the same time...didn't I remember?

Of course I remember.
Of course I remember all the time.
How could I forget what was "lost"?

Seeing their three kids and our two, how could I forget that a little one was missing from our table? Thank God that we were on our way out because I could not hold the tears back for long. The tears were coming hard and fast, just like the horrible rain storm that had just passed. And then, just as soon as it began, it ended as I turned around and saw a beautiful rainbow shining through all the clouds and rain and sadness.

And then I remembered
somewhere over the rainbow,
our other little one was at God's table
and I thought to myself,
what a wonderful world!

Sometimes it takes darkness
to see the light...

SUPER FAST!!!

HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY FRANCESCA!

I am so sad that you aren't my Baby Pepper anymore. You are my Toddler Pepper and it happened SUPER FAST. If you follow your insane and unrelenting love of animals, maybe one day you will become a veterinarian and become my Dr. Pepper!


We took off early in the day for Lamb's Farm. Do any of you know of it? It is a farm located in Libertyville, whose main purpose is to educate, advance and serve adults with disabilities. We have been going there to support them since I was a kid! What a great way to celebrate and show the importance of always giving back to others! Following a tradition set by my mom, where special one-on-one time spent together is a very valued birthday present, we set off to celebrate. We were hoping to avoid the sun and rain. No such luck. We still managed to overcome 90+ weather, no shade, a rain storm, manure, mud, and two very rambunctious boys and have a great time! P.s....thanks so much Nicole, for handling those two boys!

Francesca's love of any and all creatures was overflowing! Although she enjoyed the train ride, she was pouting because all she wanted to do was go back to the horses! Funny...I think there is a VERY SIMILAR picture (or two or twenty) of me pouting on a train years ago. I had been wondering where she got that frown from. :)


Reason #1 why I believe that even though I am not pushing you into it, you are a true vegetarian at heart...


And reason #2...
Yeah, when you said "eewww...yucky!!!", you took the words right out of my mouth!


Your Grandma was so happy to watch you enjoy your special day! Every single time she takes a ride in her wheelchair, you are right there by her side, holding on and slowing your pace so you can just be there with her. You two have such a great bond! Even though you are a toddler now, you will always be "her baby"!


The peacock was both of our favorites!


What birthday would be complete without a few more traditions? Of course we met Daddy and went to The Choo Choo Restaurant!


You decided to eat nothing but sugar! I wasn't happy about it, but it doesn't happen that often. You ate cake, but you aren't a cake eater! Ha ha..a quick Park Ridge reference thrown in!





After all the excitement and sugar, you were nowhere near ready for bedtime so we took off for our favorite park. For the next hour, all you did was scream "SUPER FAST", as in "push me super fast on the swing, mama!"

And I did.
And I cried.
And the last 2 years went by

SUPER FAST :(
.

{THIS MOMENT}

{this moment}

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. ~ Courtesy of Amanda at SouleMama


P.S. Due to my new Friday ritual, Francesca's birthday will appear in tomorrow's post!

MY PRECIOUS PEPPER

My dear, sweet little Pepper had a seizure. It was not a febrile seizure caused by a fever, but one of unknown origin. I don't know how to explain the extent of heart-stopping emotions that occur when your child is limp and seemingly lifeless and then convulsing in your arms. I can almost not tolerate repeating the story, yet I have done it so many times. The shake and ache in my arms will forever be there as a reminder of the memory of holding her through the second hardest time in her life.

I will never be able to say enough thank you's to those who prayed and continue to pray for her and for my family. The power of the prayers that came from the Saint Joseph's Novena was amazing! It was almost as heavy on my heart as my sorrow was. It is so unbelievable to feel unsure and protected, all at the same time. We are so blessed to have so many people that worry about us.

Her diagnosis remains as "generalized seizure disorder" until further testing is done, but I am confident that she is a very strong girl and we will stand strong in the face of the unknown. I am hopeful that my grandma's doctor was right in saying that "every child is allowed one free seizure in life".

I will teach her to laugh

in the face of danger...

...or will she teach me?

HAPPY SPRING

Happy First Day of Spring!

The flowers are coming and the first gnome and fairy house has been built!

Brendan did a great job helping me as Monkey and Pepper took a needed nap.

Here is to the hope that your table is as blessed as the fairy's table...

A POEM OF REASON

I love getting flowers

For no reason

Or for a reason

Which can not be remembered

But which was valid

Either way

I love lilies

But not all-white ones

THE GIFT OF WARMTH

You might have read, in my Christmas Spirit post, that I had a gift to give away. A recipient was chosen and I was ready to hand deliver the card. It was brought to my attention that this person lied about something very serious. The lie was initially one of the REASONS this person was chosen. I am so sad, disappointed and honestly, a little disgusted by this behavior.

On a happier note, a different (and very special) recipient was chosen. Although I was not there to see the reaction in person, I'm told that a little dance happened all through the house! I am happy that it was so appreciated!

A good friend has many hats to wear.
What a TALL ORDER to fill!

THE NOTEBOOK

I do not know how it is that I had not seen "The Notebook" before tonight; maybe it was not the right time. Tonight was perfect. All the tears that have been suppressed for so long finally came out during the last half hour. I never had a problem crying when I was younger...ask ANYONE! Somehow, I lost the ability over the years and they just stayed inside, multiplying. The ones that came out tonight were not just small drips or free flowing ones, but rather the kind that blast out from your eyes in every direction as if fueled by a monsoon. I'm talking chest heaving, head splitting, almost waking up the kids, full blown asthma attack tears. Yeah, they were THAT GREAT! With everything that I have not dealt with coming out in those tears, I can honestly say that I feel so RELIEVED now.

Could I be back on track?  It's a start.

Now, would you please excuse me while I run to the bathroom to wring out my shirt? Well, that is not an accurate inquiry, since...

1. I don't run.
2. My bathroom is 20 feet away.
3. I am 5'11".

Do the math.

UPDATE..... I was just watching Bonnie Hunt and she had Deepak Chopra on as a guest.  I admire him so much.  I have read some of his books, but obviously haven't followed all his advice :)  Anyway, he said something amazing about healing...

"The tears of laughter are chemically different from the tears of sorrow."

So amazing about the human body and the mind-body connection.  How else can you explain my AWESOME BIRTHING EXPERIENCES???
.

GOOD THINGS HAPPEN IN 3'S

I JUST GOT A PHONE CALL WITH GREAT NEWS!  MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW...
I WAS SO EXCITED, I BRUSHED MY TEETH SO THEY WOULD MATCH MY BRIGHT SMILE!
WHILE I WAS WALKING OUT OF THE BATHROOM, THE PHONE RANG AGAIN WITH MORE GOOD NEWS!
MAYBE IF I BRUSH MY TEETH AGAIN, THE PHONE WILL RING AGAIN...

THIRD TIME'S A CHARM?

OR AM I ASKING FOR TOO MUCH?

THANKFUL FOR A LOVELY WEEKEND

We had a great and (not at all) quiet weekend! 

Here are a few things we are grateful for...

Joey working late on Friday nights, so we have a chance to MISS him!

Thank you Joey/Daddy!

Getting lost in nature!  Thank you God and our favorite hideaway!

Deanna having the best laugh of her life after seeing "The Bubblebath"!

Thank you Grandma Jan!

Our new favorite vegetarian dish...

The Sweet Ass Texan Bean Salad!

Thank you Auntie Pam!

An absolutely fabulous sushi dinner from TANK!  Thank you so much Franco!

Devouring Red Octopus Martinis! 
They go down too smooth!

Thank you Pasquale!

An honest to goodness full night's sleep
(9 1/2 hours to be exact)

Thank you mom and dad!

Great laughs; great times; great company; great memories!

Thank you for it all, Kiddieland!

A great friend who also happens to be a great photographer! 

Thank you Janet!

 p.s..this is my new fav pic of myself :)

Hope y'all were also able to enjoy these last beautiful days of summer!