I Am Truly Blessed

At Thanksgiving time, I am reminded of all the things I am thankful for. When I stop to consider the many blessings in my life, I become more optimistic, appreciative, and humble.

This Thanksgiving I am particularly grateful:

* My husband...Mike and I have been happily married for close to 10 years. He is my best friend and pillar of strength. When life spins out of control, he has a way of bringing everything back into focus. I am so grateful for his unconditional love for me and the kids.

* Nolan is truly a one-of-a-kind son. He has a special way of making me smile. His energy for life, outgoing personality, and sensitive side make him so lovable. Nolan tells me he loves me about 20 times a day. Sometimes, it's out of the blue...it makes me stop for a moment to thank God for the gift of him.

* Lilly is a real sweetie. She melts my heart with her constant smile, expressive personality, and contagious giggle. Her carefree way makes me realize that everything doesn't have to be perfect. Lilly is extremely independent...most days, I am thankful for this leadership quality.

* My family...they all bring me so much comfort, support, and unconditional love. The time we spend together and how much each of you cherish my kids makes me so happy. Thank you for all the memorable moments.

*My friends...where would I be without them? You are all so special to me. Thanks for always being there for me. We've had a lot of fun together over the years.

*My health...and the health of my family and friends. We are truly blessed with great doctors and nurses. I pray for good health for us all.

* My job... I am thankful that I still find joy in going to work each day. Being a teacher is both challenging and rewarding. Helping kids find joy in learning new things, as well as being able to use my creativity on a daily basis is something I am grateful for. Plus, I have an awesome teaching partner! Getting paid for doing something you enjoy doing is almost like not working. I can't forget that the paychecks help fulfill my need to shop. =0)

* My home...even though we will soon be leaving our house, I am so thankful for all the memories we've made here. Because it was our first house, the one we brought both kids home to, it will always be remembered as a great home. Even though our family has outgrown it, there was never a shortage of love in it. The fact that it sold makes me sad at times, but it is also another reason to count my blessings...God has plans for us and it is time to move on. We will never forget the fun gatherings...

* Owen...our godchild is something we continue to thank God for daily. What God did for him and our family is truly a miracle!

* Scrapbooking...it is more than a hobby, it is a way of life. It allows me to record all the things I am thankful for. Memories that might be lost forever if I don't preserve them. A creative outlet, a time to be with friends, a passion. Hopefully, my kids will look back on their books someday and know just how much their mom loved them!

*Grey's Anatomy...this is the only T.V. show I watch regularly, and it's one time Mike and I can spend time together. Even though it's only one hour a week, it's great to cuddle with my husband. He won't admit it, but I think he enjoys it too.

* Naptime...I am so happy my kids still take an afternoon nap. This time is so precious! It's a time to unwind, a time to catch up on things around the house, a time to blog, a peaceful, stress free time, it's my ALONE time. And sometimes, I even use it for naptime.

* Daycare providers, teachers, coaches, instructors...all the people in my children's life who help them become more well rounded individuals. We are blessed my their patience, knowledge, and caring ways.

* Cellphones...my kids would say that I talk on the phone too much. There really isn't anything wrong with staying connected with my family and friends, right? I have been obeying Mike's rule and quit answering the phone during mealtimes. The cellphone allows me to talk with people before picking up my kids or when I am away from home and can actually concentrate on the conversation instead of trying to talk and discipline my kids at the same time. Why do they always act up when the phone rings??

* My faith...because without God, I wouldn't have all these wonderful things to be thankful for. Trusting in Him and knowing He is with me and my family at all times, makes life easier. Thank you God for filling me with your love and letting me know that I am not alone when life isn't going perfectly.

* And the simple things in life... pizza delivery, chocolate, dessert, coupons, sales, my car, the fact gas prices are down, no credit card debt, a savings account, a safe community to live in, the pool and movie theater and workout room and heated garages that will be in our new apartment, clothes and the fact I can buy them without my husband throwing a fit (even when there are too many in my closet), my camera (I would be lost without it), vacations, sunshine, flowers, parks, this blog and the vacuum cleaner (they're so therapeutic), antibiotics (so we can get sleep in our house), treats (Lilly's happy pill), restaurants (no cooking and no dishes), music, books, magazines, movies, Dt. Coke, and all the other countless blessings in my life...

I hope this Thanksgiving season is full of grateful blessings for you and your family!

May your stuffing be tasty,
May your turkey be plump,
May your potatoes and gravy,
Never have a lump.
May your yams be delicious,
And your pies take the prize,
May your Thanksgiving dinner,
Stay off of your thighs.

Get Well Nolan

Nolan was very comfortable on Mike's lap all afternoon!

Nolan had another surgery today. He went to the St. Cloud Surgical Center this morning with his dad to have his adenoids removed. He was pretty brave this time, and didn't seem too nervous before the appointment. He understood the fact that he would be asleep during the procedure and that seemed to ease his mind.

The procedure went well. They removed his adenoids without any complications. The doctor told Mike they were rather large and there seemed to be a lot of tissue. We can only hope that this is what has been causing a lot of his problems. He did have a hard time waking up afterwards. In fact, he vomited several times and was a quite uncomfortable. He did eventually return to his normal self (or close enough to be dismissed), and was home about noon.

Nolan was put on three prescriptions. Tylenol with codeine was prescribed for pain management...it seems to be taking care of the pain, but is also causing sleeplessness and headaches. He is back on another antibiotic (20 days) to keep bacteria from forming or growing while he is trying to heal, and a steroid mist (2 months) for inflammation in the nasal passages.

He was able to nap a little this afternoon. Nolan really enjoyed being a couch potato today. He watched several movies, read a ton of books, and took a relaxing bath. We pray for good health each day...hopefully today's procedure is a step in the right direction.

Raspberry Ridge

This weekend, I was able to getaway for another scrapbooking retreat with my girlfriends from work. This was my sixth trip to Raspberry Ridge; which is located in Motely, MN. This place is incredible...big work tables, lots of tools, 12X12 printer, comfortable sleeping arrangements, and lots of food. We checked in on Friday at about 4:00PM and didn't waste a minute until we checked out at 2:00PM on Sunday. I scrapped a total of 26 hours (32 pages), watched three movies, had two massages, went for a walk, learned to text message, wrote out and addressed my Christmas cards, slept in, ate like it was going out of style, laughed until my stomach hurt, and just plain had a wonderful time. I look forward to my next retreat in Alexandrea in March. I have plenty of pictures left to scrapbook and with the holidays coming, there is never a shortage. You can check out my work by playing the following slide show:

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Simply Adorable

I just love having a daughter. She picked out this outfit this morning and something about it just melted my heart. I am not sure if it was the pink and brown combination, the leggings, the fact she let me curl her hair, the barrette, her big blue eyes, or the constant smile on her face; but something tugged at my heart making me feel so grateful for the gift of her. She brings so much sunshine to our lives.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Welcome Home David!

Johnny, David, Rick, and Mike

We were all so happy to see Mike's brother Dave this weekend. His company flew him home to work on a project from his company's main office. Luckily, their main office is in Minneapolis, so this meant he was able to drive to St. Cloud to see everyone. It has been over a year since we've last seen him, so our time together was really nice. The family gathered at Shirley's house for dinner, cards, and games. We were also able to help him celebrate his birthday. The Big 4-0!!! We can't wait until the next time...hopefully, the rest of the gang will be able to come home too. Love ya Dave!

Headline News

Cheers to you John!

Mike gave a great speech.
John receieved humorous awards and gifts in memory of all he's done over the years.

John gave a little speech of his own...and of course,
shared a couple of
his great jokes with the group!

Lilly was very anxious to eat Grandpa's yummy retirement cake!
Where are the candles??

A special bond...need I say more?!!

A successful business man of 35 years has just retired! John Houghton, the founder and creator of MN Copy Systems, has officially turned over his keys. Back in 1973, John started the copy business from the back of his van. From the very first day, to the last, he was committed, dedicated, and hard working. In fact, he has received nothing but superior ratings in the work ethic department. He's put in countless hours over the years to build what is today a very successful company. John hopes MN Copy will continue to grow without him. He spent his last 12 years preparing his youngest son, Mike, for the ownership position. It was hard for the employees to see him go, and especially so for Mike. Mike tells reporters, "It's just not the same coming into a quiet building in the morning." Our eye-witness newsvan has spotted both Mike and his father there before 6:00a.m., and can see how this would be a big adjustment for Mike. Michael knows his dad will be around to offer advice if he needs it, but at the same time, feels confident in his new role. Mike truly believes he can continue in his father's footsteps. At the retirement party, John told us that he is enjoying every moment of his work-free life. He has been spending time at their new cabin, church, and the health club. His children and grandchildren are looking forward to spending more time with him too!

One Day at a Time

Due to excess coughing and vomiting, Nolan has had to find

activities that don't require too much exertion. He had a lot of fun creating his own little Lego city!

Dominos were something else we played this week while being cooped up.

Great work Lilly...couldn't believe she was patient enough to line these up!

Our family continued to lay low this week. We were home again on Tuesday and Wednesday taking care of Nolan. We thought he would be good to go after the weekend, but unfortunately wasn't any better on Monday. Our pediatrician prescribed steroids to give his lungs a boost and also had us begin neb. treatments. We saw a little difference with his coughing spells, but he was still vomiting and had diarrhea. The steroid actually made him a little wired, crabby, and super sensitive. On Tuesday the ENT discovered a full-blown ear infection and recommended a surgery to have his adenoids removed and his sinus cavity flushed. On Wednesday, they switched the antibiotic he was on. They believe he was resistant to the first one, and that is why we weren't seeing a difference in him. Within 24 hours, Nolan made a 180. The stomach cramping, diarrhea, and vomiting stopped. His fever broke and he actually took a three hour nap. We made it back to school on Thursday and he did pretty well. He has been really tired at night, but is sleeping much better. The coughing isn't totally gone, but he is able to handle the spells like most kids his age. His surgery is scheduled for November 25th. We are hoping that this will bring him/us some relief this winter.

Girls' Getaway

Born to shop!
It was nice to have shuttle service back to the hotel.

Shop until you drop...or until there is no more room to haul home packages!

Last Saturday and Sunday, I spent the weekend with the girls shopping in the cities. We thought it would be fun to have a mini- getaway, so we rented a hotel room near the Mall of America and spent the day shopping. It wasn't hard for four women to load Denell's 4-Runner...in fact, we were a little nervous about getting all the bags in the vehicle. Bags covered the seats, the floor, and even our laps. There were just too many good deals! We ate at several great restaurants and laughed a lot. It was a lot of fun to be together, doing our girl thing!

Our Kind of Hunting

When the men go hunting...the women go shopping! This has been a tradition for my grandma, mom, sister, and I for as long as I can remember. The first weekend in November is always set aside for our annual shopping trip. In past years, we've ventured down to the Twin Cities to experience bigger malls, plays at the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre, and new restaurants. The weather is always so unpredictable this time of year, but we've forged through rain, ice, and snow to make our girls' weekend work.

Now that Celina and I have kids, it is a little more difficult to get away for a long day. Mike is the only one who doesn't riffle hunt, so he gets stuck with all the kids. I shouldn't say stuck, because he really doesn't mind. He's not only an amazing dad, but a one of a kind uncle who has no problem keeping them entertained and out of trouble. Because of the kids, we have started staying closer to home. Today we met at Grizzly's for lunch and shopped at our mall. We also made it to Fleet Farm's Toyland and put a dent in our Christmas shopping. We hunted for deals and seemed to gather quite a few before the day ended. I always look forward to this weekend and hope that the tradition will continue for years to come.

Home Alone (Day 4)

This has been a crazy week. Mike had the opportunity to fly to Las Vegas on Tuesday for work, which left me home alone with the kids. Usually this is not a problem. I can juggle work, household duties, and the responsibilities that come with two toddlers...but this week was different. Tuesday night was a very restless night. Nolan still has his cough, and it came back with avengance. He has been vomiting several times a day and can't go an hour without a major coughing spell. Because he was snack helper, he insisted on going to school Wednesday morning. He is so used to dealing with this, that I think he thought he could make it. I got a phone call at about 10:00 from his teacher. Nolan had been crying and couldn't really explain what was wrong. When I went down to check on him, he told me he had to puke. Poor little guy had been holding back all morning. Thankfully, we made it to the bathroom in time. He had a fever, so I took him to the doctor and we stayed home and rested. Wednesday night was not any better...I did manage to get close to four hours of sleep. We stayed home and tried to rest up. My head was throbbing like mad, and I felt very weak and dizzy. Nolan joined me at the minute clinic where they did a strep test and looked me over. The nurse reported a negative strep culture, but said that I had swollen lymph nodes and a lot of fluid behind my ears. That explained the headache and dizziness. We read books, did puzzles, colored, and watched movies to make the day pass. I had high hopes of returning to work today, but no such luck. I was awoken by Lilly at 1:45a.m. She had a fever of 102.4, so I rocked her, gave her medicine, and brought her to bed with me. (Nolan was also in my bed from a earlier coughing spell.) It wasn't easy sleeping with two kids in my bed. In fact, it was near impossible. I managed to get about 3 1/2 hours of sleep last night. Lilly is still running a fever this afternoon, but they are both finally sleeping...peacefully. That is where I should be too, but the medicine I am taking for the dizziness is keeping me up. So here I sit, doing what I love to do best. Sitting here gives me a feeling of normalcy. It's therapeutic! I am really looking forward to Mike's homecoming. Hopefully everything will be back to normal after the weekend.