Clear Vision

Look at these beautiful blue eyes :)

Wow, what a week this has been. Last Friday (the 13th!), Jared was injured while playing backyard baseball with Shawn and his buddy. Thankfully, they were using tennis balls. He took a linedrive to the eye (playing baseball with a tennis ball). He was about 3 feet away and the fast pitch/hit nailed him directly on the eye itself. He had blood in the blue part of his iris (the lens). His pupils were also different sizes. He was placed on strict bedrest for a week, and no gym for a week after that. He isn't allowed to read, use the computer or even eat out of bed. He is allowed up only to use the bathroom. The goal is to prevent the eye from re-bleeding, which could cause even further damage (including a retinal detachment). He has an eye-patch and drops for now. We returned to the Opthamalogist on Monday. According to the doctor, we then entered the "critical period", as days 3-5 are the time when a retina could/would detach. Therefore, it's imperative that he stay put. He told us they used to hospitalize kids for this kind of injury, "giving them a double eye-patch and keeping them flat in a hospital bed". Thankfully, we are able to have him do what he needs to at home and Jared understands the importance of doing everything they tell him to. Focusing on things within arms reach are the most damaging, so still no reading, computer, texting, etc. He has been given the "ok" for TV, which made Jared happy. No showering until day 6. There are still trace red blood cells, but those appear to be re-absorbing. His vision is a bit off in that eye (can't read the eye chart except for the top row without assistance). However, that can be addressed later if it needs to be. There is still a chance that the eye will continue to heal on it's own and he won't require corrective help. We go back tomorrow (Friday) at 10:15 and he is to remain in bed until then.

He's been a good sport about it all, still putting on his green shirt on St. Patty's Day, and trying to remain as big a part of things as he can (from the vantage point of the living room couch).

I've been pretty stressed out with all of this. :( I keep a brave face on in front of Jared, and try really hard not to let myself think the worst.

I've asked everyone I know to pray for healing. I know God answers prayers, when it is in his plan. If learning to be more aware of their surroundings was the lesson to be learned...the boys have definitely gotten that point.

Maybe learning to be grateful the things we take for granted (like clear vision) was the point of all of this. If so, I'd like to think we all are counting our blessings a little more.

Today, is day 6...and his sight is still intact. Amen! That is a HUGE relief. Now we just keep him calm to prevent a re-bleed, and hope his vision comes back 100%. Like I said, it's been a rough week.

Distance

Distance

She sits in a chair with her back to the wall.

On the other side, he sits the same, with his back to her.

A wall between the already distanced couple.

Communications ensue with virtual people…

Once friends, now acquaintances at best.

Yet, somehow, they allow this distance to grow.

They continue to reach out to the wrong hands,

Nurturing the wrong relationships,

Failing to nurture the one at home,

Hurting the one they love the most.

Days, months and weeks go by…they grow further apart.

She feels alone in a house full of people.

Her heart breaks as she remembers how it used to be,

With each day, they allow the wall to grow.

She wonders if he really cares anyway.

She misses his hugs, his affection, his love.

She doesn’t want to justify her need to be cherished,

Doesn’t care to explain why she craves the memory…

Of days when she felt wanted, needed, loved.

He doesn’t understand, everything seems fine to him.

There’s no fighting, so what’s the problem?

They come to realize that they have different needs.

They fail to reach out, and nurture each other.

And so it goes, the distance grows and slowly…

One day at a time, they throw it all away.

Smart Girl...

Posting this of Kasi mainly for me. I want to remember some of the funny things she says. She really is a riot...and super smart.

This morning I came across a Lite-Brite peg. She picked it up and said, "Why did Santa get me a Lite-Brite anyway? It wasn't on my list."

I said, "Sometimes Santa gets you things that AREN'T on your list to surprise you, so you don't know everything you are getting."

Without batting an eye she said, "Well, then, next year I'm putting it ON my list."

"Why's that?", I asked.

"Because I don't want another one. If it's on my list...that way he'll get me something else that isn't on there."

Pretty logical thinking I'd say, lol.

26 Things About Me

Taken from a facebook "assignment", I filled in 26 things about me that people may or may not know.

1. I first met my husband on my 26th birthday, when I hired him to work at the Front Desk at Northstar-at-Tahoe. It wasn't until a year later that we started dating...we became best friends first. :) We started to date after he took me out to teach me to golf (I still haven't figured out how to do that very well).

2. I am the incredibly blessed mom of 5 beautiful children. My family is my everything. My life and my world revolve around them and I wouldn't have it any other way. I often cry "happy tears" just thinking of my children and Steve and the joys they have brought to my life...I don't know what I would ever do without them. :)

3. Steve and I were married at Portland Head Light(house) because I have always held a very special place in my heart for lighthouses. We chose this one for several reasons--it was in Maine and allowed for most of my family to go and my Meme who passed away in '98 used to go there often. I felt close to her there, knowing she was smiling down on me.

4. I used to travel up and down the Oregon coast, alone, exploring the lighthouses.

5. I love daisies and lilacs.

6. I loved to hike amongst waterfalls, especially in the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon. Unfortunately, I screwed up my knee and I can't do it anymore without significant pain. :(

7. I worked on the Las Vegas strip in a Hotel, and that experience opened doors to hotels in Oregon and Lake Tahoe. It was a career I truly enjoyed (but the 60+ hours a week wasn't conducive to family life).

8. I dream weekly of going back to college to complete the nursing degree I first started while still a senior in High School (dual enrollment).

9. I went to college on a Pre-Med scholarship, I was going to be a pediatrician. Instead, I have my own 5 little patients to take care of every day.

10. I've lived in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Florida, Oregon & Nevada...and have visited 41 of the states so far. I especially love the National Parks.

11. I dream of traveling the world, starting with the Caribbean.

12. Steve and I rode 28 miles on bikes in Maui, starting at the sunrise at the 6500 foot level of Haleakala Crater downhill. We saw the West Maui mountains and the South Maui coast, through Maui's small upcountry communities of Makawao, Hailiimaile and Paia. It was an amazing experience. On this same trip, we snorkled amongst thousands of tropical fish.

13. I have a Disney World obsession, and I fund the trips by selling on eBay.

14. Steve proposed to me on a horse-drawn carriage in Central Park, NY.

15. I love watching Patriots football games...I plan my winter Sunday's around them. However, you generally couldn't pay me to watch any other football teams play.

16. I love coffee ice-cream, but hate coffee.

17. I was born with bright orange hair.

18. I went to 8 different schools in grades K-12. For this reason, my children will grow up in one school district. Stability and the sense of home are incredibly important to me.

19. I went to private boarding school. I hated it enough to get myself kicked out.

20. I have 5 brothers.

21. Steve and I have been married 9.5 years and since our honeymoon and moving East, we've never spent a night alone without the kids.

22. When I feel that I am at the end of my rope, I drive to Chapoquoit Beach and watch the sunset.

23. I can still do a cartwheel.

24. I love to paint landscapes, and someday hope to have the free time to do it again.

25. I can create and decorate a cake to look like almost anything...drawing the item freehanded. I especially love to draw Disney characters.

26. I can ski and snowboard. I enjoy both equally, but my knee doesn't allow me to very often.

oops...that was 26 ;)

The point of this.

I've taken a two-week hiatus from my blog. I needed to decide if I wanted to continue writing it. Someone said something to me about one of my entries and I realized that I felt both violated and misunderstood. So, I feel I need to clarify something.

I started this blog as a place to jot down my thoughts. It's a diary of sorts...but without the handwriting that bothers my hands so much. I don't write for anyone's enjoyment, per se. I don't write to be judged. I don't write to amuse. I write to put my heart and thoughts on "paper". It helps me to think things through, to relive moments, to remember, to analyze, to smile, to laugh, to cry...you know...I write for therapy. Please don't read my blog if you feel the need to be judgmental, critical and negative...or if you feel you need to take every single thing I write literally and psychoanalyze me. Really. I'm sure you could find much more interesting material in your local bookstore. If, however, you follow my blog because you know me, you love me and my children, you understand me--or you seek to, you delight in the day-to-day moments that make up my world...then, by all means, enjoy. Thanks for being special part of my life.

Happy New Year!

With the start 2009 comes hopes for a better year.

Financially, physically, emotionally...2008 was a draining one. I, for one, am looking forward to a fresh start.

There is one member of my family who is definitely on the path to an exciting year! My brother, Scott, has spent the last 4 days in Atlanta. He went down to visit Lori. She was my best friend during my freshman and sophomore years in high school. They dated for awhile back then, and eventually lost touch. In October, I found Lori again online. Scott and Lori reconnected too...on so many levels. In 37 years, I have never seen Scott so happy. I can't think of anyone who deserves this more. With all of my heart, I am wishing him a lifetime of joy and peace.

On our homefront I am wishing for loss. That sounds odd...but I'm talking about loss of the good variety: weight loss, debt reduction, loss of attitude in certain children and less stress. Contrarily, I am wishing for more: more family time, more time with Steve, more alone time...more time. Time to enjoy the simple pleasures and the great blessings, time to read, time to sleep, time to get everything done, time to do nothing at all.

Here's to a wonderful 2009. :)

It's all in the presentation...

In continuing with our Christmas traditions, I am on my way upstairs to spend some time with the Santa wrap.

In our home, Santa Claus brings the kids one gift each and he fills their stockings with goodies. The gift is left on the fireplace under the stockings. Santa doesn't bring the biggest or the best gift...but it's something neat. We feel our kids should appreciate people they can thank in person for their gifts ;) After all, a LOT of thought, work and love goes into finding the perfect Christmas gifts. Santa's gifts are always wrapped in special paper. This paper has pictures of Santa all over it, and no other wrap under the tree has Santa on it. The kids can tell right away which gifts are from him that way. This paper is never seen in our home--ever. It has been determined that Santa must wrap the gifts that are found in the stockings and on the fireplace at the North Pole. The tags that he puts on the kids gifts also have Santa's picture on them...and there are no other tags like that to be found anywhere around these parts. Wonder where it comes from?

Pretty cool guy that Santa Claus. I think Mrs. Claus must have something to do with all of this Memory Making too :)