No Excuses. What is MY Excuse? Part 1.

Usually I write about my life: my kids, school, husband, being sick, etc. And not that I don't enjoy sharing about my life; I tend to not talk about the most important aspect of my life: my spiritual life. Allow me to preface.

At church, this last Sunday, our pastor spoke on excuses, and why we don't share more about our relationship with Jesus Christ.

So, what's my excuse? I don't have one. I just don't share.

(Keep reading. I'm not going to "shove God" in your face, I'm just going to share my story.)

So we were encouraged this week to share our story, to share about being a saved person, being a follower of Jesus, with someone, or in this case with.... MANY people.

From the beginning-

I didn't grow up in a faithless home. We went to church, we spoke of God, and I even prayed sometimes, when I wanted or needed something. I wasn't a "bad" kid, by any means. I was a good-doer. I wanted to please everyone. I wasn't sinless, but I was a good person.

My grandfather was a pretty high official in our church, a reorganized church of Jesus Christ and Later Day Saints. I was a reorganized Mormon. Well, kinda... I had absolutely no idea what any of that meant. I went and heard stories, in Sunday school, I was baptized by my grandpa when I was eight, I took communion, I was a good person... I assumed that's all it took to know who God was; I was so naive.

There were many things in my life, that were broken. My parents were divorced, I used eating as a way to hide behind myself, I looked at myself as a good-doer, but I craved being one of the bad girls, and I spent a lot of time looking for that missing piece of my heart, in all of the wrong places.

When I was fifteen years old, I couldn't handle being "the fat" girl anymore. I was 180 lbs, at 5'2". I wanted to date, I wanted to be noticed, I wanted to be popular, I wanted to be someone different. So I started a vicious cycle of bulimia and working out to an extreme. I lost weight. A lot of weight. I went from 180 to 140 within just a couple of months. I.WAS.THRILLED.

Thankfully, I got smart. It took me a few months, but I finally started a healthier way of losing weight. And it took me a couple of years, but I did finally get to a healthy weight and a healthier way of living. That's when I started an even more vicious path of sin...

At this point in time, we weren't going to church anymore and we weren't practicing any sort of "religious" ANYTHING. I'm not saying my parents didn't instill morals or goodness into my life, because they did, but I didn't have a foundation of God's love to show me the right and wrongs of life.

I'll share more about my path, later this week.... Thanks for reading up to this point. :)

BSM: Weekend Craziness! :)

Such a busy weekend in our home! I know, I know, I should have been resting... but there were soccer games, grocery trips, granparents' houses, church picnics and birthday parties to attend! AH! BUT- this leaves for many many photos! :) (112 to be exact!) Here are a few of the ones I enjoy!

Ok, so this photo isn't "wonderful" in the photography world, but it is in my heart. Three of my favorite boys.



Adam and the pumpkin patch


At the church picnic, (at our local caverns) collecting gems


Ah... and the #1 man in my life, plus the littlest man in my life

Adam and Rachel on the blow-up slide! Adam loves Rachel... it's so cute! :)


Matt and Adam in the caves. Matt wasn't so sure of this place; while Adam thought it was amazing!

Eek! The dark, dark, cave.

And this photo... I love this photo. I feel like this is what poor Matt is always doing- wanting to be like the big kids! Your day will come, kiddo, your day will come! :)

Want to see more fun photos? Visit Mother May I, to see more best shots.

Alive!

I am alive and...well...kinda well. I am really sore. They did a biopsy. No real answers, yet.

I don't really have a lot of energy, today, because I spent the whole rest of yesterday vomiting anything that went into my mouth. AND I was hungry, so I kept trying. sigh.

I feel like I am super bruised. I probably am.

My bum is fine. :)

Hopefully they find something ASAP! :)

Have a good weekend. I am going to go lay around and be lazy (the kids are napping, too! yay!).

I. AM. STARVING.

Watch out people. I am starving. I am stressed (too much going on, to even list!). I am HUNGRY. I can't eat. Having butt probe, tomorrow. HUNGRY. Chicken broth= not so yummy after consuming 4 cans today. Jello...gross. Fizzy water... not as good as soda. I. AM. SO. HUNGRY.

~~~
However, I have wonderful friends who lifted me up today! :) Thank you wonderful friends. They are also bringing me dinners tomorrow and Friday. My friends are amazing. Thank you, wonderful friends. Please, no jello. or chicken broth.
~~~

And since I've lived in the bathroom, today, and was VERY cranky, Matthew did the chores.

Thanks Matt for vacuuming.... the kitchen floor? ;)

~~~~

Think of me tomorrow... 1 pm... as I am being... violated.

So Much to Post (and a BSM or 2)

There's been so much going on since Thursday, I've not had the energy to post it all. I don't even know where to start. Let's list it:

1) My dad spent 2 days in the hospital (All day Thurs and Friday), after getting a good report on his liver biopsy. Tell me this isn't odd!? It was the worst 2 days of my life, and if he ever does it to me again, I too will have to be put into the hospital.

The biopsy showed that he has cirrhosis of the liver (which we already kind of knew), esophageal varices (which he will have to have surgery on, ASAP), and an enlarged spleen (which is one reason he was in the hospital, because it caused him to have a white blood count of 1.1= bad). It's easier if you go read about everything, because I am still processing it all and I can't really explain any of it too well.

Overall, it was REALLY scary. I did too much crying, a whole lot of praying, and I am just thankful that he is AT HOME and doing really well, this evening. Tomorrow is his Birthday, and we are going to go spend time with him and I am going to make him R E S T (something we don't do well in our family...hmm...).

2) Adam had his first soccer game! See photos below.

3) We went apple picking with our favorite Bean! :)

4) AMY came home! :)

5) I took another nap. It was good. :)

6) My test is this week. I am not looking forward to it. Actually, I am dreading it. sigh.

7) See the many cute photos of this weekend, below:

It was a hot, hot, hot day at the apple orchard!


I think this is one of my favorite photos, from the weekend! I just love the look on his face.


That's Adam kicking the ball!

Best friends....

He's my best friend, too. ;)

Matty and Daddy picking apples (I have a photo JUST like this of Adam and Daddy)

Adam and Amy (watch out, Tom; he's coming for your woman!)


What did you do this weekend? Head over to Mother May I for some Best shots!

Mister Mischievous

Could he get any cuter?

I think not.

Thursday's Theme: Playtime

With the way I've been feeling, the last couple of weeks, playtime has been mommy watching the boys play, in between trips to the bathroom. BUT- we sure do know how to nap.... ;) So for my "playtime" photo, I give you Mommy and Adam taking a much needed nap. Mind you, for me to actually nap, means I am REALLY sick, because napping is just not my thing. But we sure do nap well together, don't you think? 

For some real playtime, head over to the Land of K.A.! 

A Tropical Storm: In OHIO? Thanks, Ike!

Photo courtesy of WBNS channel 10 news

Seriously. We had tropical storm level winds in Ohio, on Sunday. SO weird. So scary. So much to clean up! I can't even imagine what those in the hurricane areas are enduring, because we have a crazy amount of damage here.

Here's the current conditions:

• Ohio under state of emergency.
• Central Ohio counties under emergency: Clark, Delaware (I live HERE), Franklin, Greene, Knox, Licking, Madison, Morrow.
• 6 dead in Ohio, 1 in central Ohio.
• 1.6 million Ohioans without power.
• 230,559 AEP customers in Franklin County remain without power.
• Most of the schools in the area are closed.

We had a TON to clean up, a lot of large limbs to clean up, lawn furniture to chase, etc. but, we are fortunate enough to have electricity. We however can't really GO anywhere. A lot of stores are not open, many streets are closed, and almost all of the traffic lights are out down the main road we HAVE to take to really leave our area. It's a mess. I feel terrible for those who are without electricity.

Pray for those who are in need, right now. For those of you who know Blueberry and Bean, they are one of those without power! I talked to her today, and they are all doing well, but a little bored and hoping they get electric back soon!

**Other Updates**

* My blood tests came back ok. Nothing alarming.
* Still sick. The new med is helping a tad. It makes me so sleepy, though, and I can't really take it during the day.
* Andy is out of town. He is in Cleveland, and is enduring this mess of a storm, too. Pray he makes it home safely, tomorrow!

They want to look at my WHAT?

(Ignore the font change. Blogger is being stupid...and I can't fix it! grr)

So, I was desperate yesterday... I decided I needed a doctor, and I needed one FAST! My lingering stomach pains and lack of keeping food down, from last weekends escapades, finally made me snap! So, I called an internist (suggested by my MIL- thank you, MIL! :)) and the nice lady could tell I was in need of help, and fast! AND they got me in TODAY!

And I am pleased to say that I.AM.NOT.CRAZY. Nor am I making up these symptoms, or exagerating them, or whatever. Finally someone looked at me and said "I have an idea, I think I know what it is!" WHAT? This doctor is my newest BFF.

Ok, so here's the skinny:

* I have to have a colonoscopy in the next couple of weeks.
* She thinks I might have IBS.
* She also took 50 million gallons of blood. Ok, it wasn't that much, but it sucked and it seemed like that much.
* She is testing EVERYTHING! My thyroid, my metabolism, my sugar levels, my white/red blood cells, etc.
* If it's not IBS or something from the blood work, then she said she had more tests.
* SHE GAVE ME DRUGS! WOO! She gave me something to help settle my stomach/bowels in case I need it. thank GOD. :)

Overall, I feel so much better. I just feel better having someone finally have an IDEA of what's going on.

I feel like I am finally going to get to the bottom of this.

Matthew agrees....

"Cubble-U, Ess, Y, and Z"

Here are Adam's ABC's :

Soccer: Pracitce 1

Adam was All ready to go to soccer, this evening. He packed his bag, got his water, put on his gear (5 hours early) and waited...waited...waited....

He mastered SITTING on the ball....

He "listened" to coach Travis (Who is my cousin!) ... hand on hip, and all....

Matthew helped out with the water.

And was VERY sad he couldn't play!


All in all, Adam had a great first practice. We need to work on the whole, "no hands on ball" concept, and we need to make him understand that he HAS to run after the ball if he wants a turn at kicking it. AND he needs to not have an epic meltdown, because he's being told what to do by other people, other than daddy and mommy. Ah...learning authority!

On the way home, he didn't stop talking about his "new friends," and about how he wanted to go back next week. So, even with epic meltdown, I think he had a great time. He sure fell asleep fast this evening. YAY! :)

Cuteness

Today was a lazy day (well...kinda..). Adam has a cold (nothing too bad, just a lot of sinus pressure and he's VERY grumpy). So he rested for most of the day, in "mommy's bed" watching movies, getting lunch in bed, and trying to feel better (so he won't miss his first soccer practice, tomorrow!).

Matthew...well...he took Adam's lazy day and turned it into HIS day!

As I was tending to Adam, I hear fierce giggling in the living room...you know, the room where standing on the couch is NOT allowed...

So, I followed the giggle and this is what I found:

BUSTED! (this was after I firmly said "Matthew Alan!")

He then took his breakfast to Adam's...bathroom? Must have figured he was in the "pooper" for jumping on the sofa. ha ha ha. Sometimes I really make myself laugh. ;)

Sigh. I couldn't punish this face. Just look at it!

Test Results

* My results came back A-ok... kinda... Still have the cancer cells but they aren't active. So... that's good news!

* Was sick...again...ALL weekend. BAD sick, this time. 

* Next round of tests... on my GI system. Who knows what it could be? sigh. 

* My dad's biopsy went well today. They had to poke him 3 times, however, to get a sample. He said he felt like he had been punched in the gut, but was doing well. :) He will get results on the 18th. 

Thanks for all of your love and support! Hopefully we'll get to the bottom of this, SOON! 

34 and 14 Months

It's true, they are really that old.

Adam turned 34 months, on Wednesday and Matthew will be 14 months old on Tuesday. I'm not really sure where the time has gone. It's been a blur, and it's really gone SO fast.

Here's what they are doing, these days:


Adam-

*Adam thinks he knows everything.
*Adam is VERY shy around everyone.
*Adam doesn't stop talking, when he's at home.
*Adam loves to sing his "ABCs"- I will be posting a video of this, this week; it's hilarious!
*Adam LOVES to help. He sometimes over-helps his brother, which doesn't go over well, sometimes. And as you've seen, he loves to help out daddy.
*Adam LOVES to help in the kitchen. We are constantly cooking mid-day, just so he can cut something up.
*Adam thinks he can read and spell. Everything is spelled either "A-d-a-m," "B-i-b-l-e," or "O-h-i-o." For example, he will say "That says, 'b-i-b-l-e," Elmo!" hmm he will get it someday.
*We visit the library about 4 times a week (no joke) because he can't stand reading a book more then once. Good thing the library is only a 2 minute drive.
*He LOVES the farmer's market. He even knows that Saturday is the day we go. And he even gets free veggies and fruit sometimes, because of how stinkin' cute he is. I've taught him well. ;)


Matty-

*Andy can't stand that I call him "Matty," but if you met him, you would call him that too... it fits!
* Matty tries to SAY everything. If you say "Matt, say ...." he will say it.
* He likes to pretend he's talking on the phone. He often calls "Treyor" (my brother, Trevor) and "Dadu" (Daddy).
* Stuffed animals are his favorite. He has two or three that he carries around ALL of the time.
* He dances on command.
* He runs, everywhere!
* He has 10 teeth!!!
* He ate half of a melon, this morning... but still doesn't fit into his 12 month clothes, because they are too big.
* He says "mum,mum,mum,mum,mum...." until I answer. and if I don't answer... well, you don't even want to see his head spin!
* Yes, he has a temper. Wonder where that came from?? doo, doo, doo, doo, doo.....
* I really think his favorite person is Adam. However, he has no problem "telling" on Adam when he is being "bad" (as he likes to say, "Admum BAD!").
* Oh! And don't tell him he's "bad"... because it's the end of the world if you do.


They are both the best gifts ever given to Andy and I. We are SO blessed to have our boys. They make me smile (and sometimes cry) on a daily basis. I can't wait to see how they grow, in the years to come.

*Updates*

1) No test results for me, yet. I called today and the nurse said they may not come in until Monday. GRR. She assured me that they would call as soon as they arrived. 

2) My dad goes in for his biopsy on Monday. He will be told his results on Sept 18th. (this one stresses me out more than my OWN tests) 

3) My classes start in 24 days. sigh. I've enjoyed this little break. 

4) Andy got an *A* in his first Masters class!!!! I am so proud of him! :) 

5) Andy goes out of town next week. Sigh. I've enjoyed him not traveling. 

6) Adam starts soccer on Sept 10th and the first game is on the 20th. I'm not sure who is more excited, him or me..... hmmm... 

7) My Bible study starts in just two weeks. Boy do I need that! I can't wait. 

8) Playgroup is going SO well. New moms have been coming, and I really feel like everyone is enjoying themselves. yay! 

9) Tomorrow we are going to the zoo with Bean, since she had school on playgroup day! We miss our Bean (and I miss Bean's Mommy!)... oh, oh and not to leave out Sprout! He will be there, too. Oh, poop (oh yes, a phrase I actually do say irl)...And Matt. Darn those second kids! ha ha. ;) 

10)  I've been thinking about starting up an Etsy. Anyone have experience in this? Is it worth it? 

11) We have managed to book our days. We have something every day of the week, now, minus Thurs and Friday. I am sure we will pick something up in no time. 

12) I leave you, with one proud Bop and Matty. 

Shin Guards: The New Hotness

Don't you agree?




and not to be left out.... Matthew and Spiderman did the dishes. :)

Twice the Fun!

Two weeks ago I posted a photo of my Aunt, and the boys, when we went out to lunch. And I had many of you think the photo was ME! So, I thought I would clear up any misconseptions, and prove to you, that YES everyone has a twin out there.... I just happen to be related to mine! 

We are pretty much alike. We have similar inflections in our voices, we have the same face shape, almost the same eyes, similar smiles, and I think we both snort when we laugh. Wait... that's my WHOLE family who does that. ;) 

We're not exactly the same... she has bigger boobs... I must, I must, I must increase my bust....

Anyway- last weekend, Matthew even called her "mum" a couple of times, and my dad actually called me "Connie," while looking straight at me! Thanks dad, I am glad you can tell me apart from the sister you used to lock in closets, and scare with bugs. 

Anyway. As I told her the other day, I am glad we look alike...cause she is one HOT MAMA! ;) 

AND she also just turned 20, again. ;) So... Happy Birthday, Twin! 

And here we are, last weekend, looking oh so fine and alike. Which one is me? ;) 

So it's No Ark,But it's Still Crafty!

Ok, so it was no Ark.

It wasn't a 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high high masterpiece, crafted by an old dude (Noah was 600, when he built the Ark! ah!) and his children, one named after the best lunch meat on Earth.

But, for some reason, this little project that took merely 1 hour, reminded me of this ever so widely known Bible story.

It was our own little version of Noah's Ark.

A 4 ft x 6 ft, vessel, crafted by a semi-old dude (nowhere near 600, at least) and one of his sons, named after the first male of the Bible and not lunch meat.

They built a....



for our newest soccer star..... (who looks twelve in this photo)


and for this one....who is paralyzed, due to the fear of the dead grass on his feet....

Oh yes, they have built a soccer goal (that is what it's called right?). Because... I am... a SOCCER MOM. Get me a van and call me snobby (ok, I am stereotyping, and I am sorry... but it's funny...laugh with me). Adam has joined soccer. Oh yes. He is going to run amuck on a field with other pre-schoolers. He is going to kick balls into the wrong goal, he is going to run in circles, and he is going to have a blast doing it! I can't wait. Other soccer moms of Ohio, watch out, here I come.... And other soccer players of the greater Columbus area, watch out, because Adam might just score a goal for your team, instead of his!! ;)