Happy Birthday Brad!!!!!!

Yesterday was my baby brother Brad's 18TH birthday. I cannot believe it! Of course to me, he will always be that "baby brother." He is such an amazing kid...smart, funny, and crazy just like me and the rest of my family. I am an overprotective sister as well as a mother, and I would trust my kids with him without question!
Of course, he is living the teenager life, so hanging out isn't as often as it used to be, but we always have the best time. It's funny to think that when Levi and began dating he was only 5 years old! Wow!
I can honestly say that if my children turn out to be even half of what he is, they will be very close to perfect! They have a good start because he spends time with them and is a very good role model! I am so proud of him and I love him so much, I hope he knows what a wonderful Brother he is to me, as well as the best Uncle a kid can have.
I could never ask for a better brother!
Love you Brad, and Happy Birthday!!!!!

What's next?????

When you become a parent, you also become a safety freak. You love your baby more than anything and you want to do everything you possibly can to ensure you have a happy, healthy, and SAFE child.
You do everything necessary to baby-proof your home, Putting up safety gates so they can't injure themselves falling up and down the stairs, putting anything toxic up high, so they don't get poisoned from the harmful chemicals, and putting plug covers on your outlets, so they don't get shocked.

So what are you supposed to do when the baby starts learning how they can get around those safety precautions that you have implemented?????

Krew is nothing like his sister....he fears nothing! His recent mischief includes trying to walk down the stairs as an adult does, getting mad when I try to help him, climbing onto the couch and jumping off, and now he has learned to pull the plug covers out.
So now I have very heavy book tape on top of the plug covers, which are in the outlet. I am wondering how long this safety measure will last.....

Whats next?????

5 WHOLE DAYS?!?!

So Levi is going out of town tomorrow...Heading to Vegas for a convention of some kind. I am really going to miss him! I know I am such a sap!!!! I was thinking about it and realized that we have not spent more than 2 days apart since I moved back from Arizona....in 1998!!!!! 10 years ago! WOW!



VALENTINE'S DAY 1998


We will celebrate our 6 year anniversary in November, but really we have been together quite a bit longer. It's crazy to think that I met him when I was 15, and the day I turn 30 (yuck!) I will have spent over half of my life with him.
I wouldn't change one single day of it!
I am so fortunate to have Levi and my precious babies!
This will be the longest time we have ever been apart and as much as I love my house, I don't like thinking I will be here by myself! Livi and Krew will be here and we will make the most of it..I know that they will miss him as much as I will....almost!


AUGUST 2007 I think it's time for a new Family picture!

We have been together through the good times, and through the worst times of our lives but that's when you realize how much you truly love a person! He is the strongest person I know......I don't know how I made it through the difficult time after Olivia was born, but I do know that I could have never done it without him!
As much as 5 whole days sounds bad, it doesn't even compare to some of our other life experiences.
Hopefully these next 5 days pass quickly!
Levi, please come home soon! And Safe!!!! I love you!


JULY 19 2008

Before I was a Mom.....

I came across this on the Internet and thought that it is so true!
I am so fortunate to have my babies, and I could not imagine my life without them!
This just reminds me of what I already know.....never take my family for granted.

Before I was a Mom
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom -
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom
I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put him down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom -
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed! a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom -
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache,
the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

Krewzer!

Isn't he the cutest????
Last weekend Levi let the kids run through the sprinklers in the backyard!
Too Fun!

KIDS!!!!!!

I knew that having kids would be a great adventure, but I honestly didn't know how funny they could be!
On a daily basis they say or do something that is hilarious, actually a few things! I am thankful for them when I am having a bad day, they can change my mood in an instant!
This morning while watching "Sprout" there was a commercial break, and I noticed Olivia watching and she was very interested in what they were advertising. This is different because Olivia never pays much attention to the commercials. After a minute or so Olivia walks over to where I am feeding Krew breakfast and says "Mom, we need to get the amazing Pancake Puff pan!" I was trying not to laugh, because she was dead serious and I didn't want to hurt her feelings. She then goes on in great detail about all of the things that you can use the pan for. It was the cutest thing!
This also reminds me of a time when I left her at Gloria's house (Levi's mom) while I took Krew to a doctors appointment. When I picked her up Gloria told me that she had expressed interest in a broom she saw on an infomercial! When I asked Livi about it she said that we could use the broom instead of the vacuum. I realized that this was because she isn't too fond of the vacuum because it is loud. The perfect solution in her mind was the broom that even worked on carpet!

They say laughter is the best medicine and I am sure my grandma got her fair share when I took Olivia up to see her on Sunday. I have only taken her up there a couple of times because obviously there is not much to do in a hospital room besides get into things. My Grandma asked me to bring her up, because she missed her. (They spent a great amount of time together before my Grandma was having health issues)
So Olivia and I left Levi and Krew at home and went up to see her. Olivia thought that it was the coolest thing that my Grandma's hospital room had it's own bathroom!
After a little while I could tell Olivia was getting a little bored when she kept telling me that she had to go to the bathroom over and over. After she had gone about 3 times she told me she needed to go again. I was pretty sure she didn't need to so I asked her
Me- "Do you really need to go?"
Olivia- "Yes"
Me- "Number 1 or 2?"
Olivia looks at me and says "I think number 4 mom!"
Needless to say, my Grandma and I had a pretty good laugh.
I never knew how much fun having children would be! I assumed it would be great, and even teaching pre-school for as long as I did those kiddo's could always get me laughing! However, I think it's different when you have your own kids.
Levi and I talk throughout the day and I tell him the things we have done. He tells me the funny things Olivia says before she falls asleep (last night it was about her wanting to be a dolphin when she grew up!) we get such a kick out of watching our babies grow up. I can't imagine anything better, I am so lucky to have such a wonderful husband and two beautiful children!

Rude Awakening!

Life has been pretty chaotic the past few weeks!
Levi took me to California for my Birthday it was so fun! We went to see a fight and caught a baseball game as well.
Angels vs. Red Sox
I was thrilled when the Angels won 11-3! Actually I am thrilled when any team beats the Red Sox!
Unfortunately we got some bad news while we were there. Of course it would happen while I was out of town!
To understand a little background is necessary.
In March of this year I was sick and had a few complications from a surgery I had in Feb. Of course my Grandma who is very supportive, watched Olivia and Krew while I went to many doctor appointments. She is one of the very few people I allow to watch my kiddo's. I know I am pretty over-protective, so it helped my recovery immensely knowing my babies were safe and didn't need to worry.
That day Olivia had asked my Grandma to build a fire. While doing that my Grandma kneeled down in such a way that her leg was injured. My Grandma thought she had pulled something and wasn't too concerned about it, she thought it would go away sooner or later. A few months go by and her leg just got worse and worse, finally after us begging she went to see a Doctor.
They discovered she had a blood clot in her leg. The Doctor said that Physical Therapy would take care of it. (I am thinking that sounds pretty crazy, but I am no Doctor) She had one session and things began going downhill quickly!
She couldn't walk and was having a hard time breathing. My aunt went over and took her to the ER.
This was the news I received on my trip.
They discovered blood clots not only in her leg but in her lungs as well. They put her on blood thinners and assumed that would take care of the clots. Not only did it not work but it actually made things worse. Her leg was so swollen and it was pretty painful for her. I knew it had to be bad when she complained, because she is pretty tough.
The Doctors had no clue as to what was going on and decided to operate to see if they could figure it out.
It wasn't good. The Doctor told us that the removed a hematoma "the size of a Volleyball!"
Last weekend we were informed that not only was it cancer but that she had another tumor in her leg that would need to be removed. That happened Saturday night.
She will now need Radiation treatments and it will be a long recovery for her. I will be there to help her in any way I can.


This has been very difficult! I guess I assumed she would be with me forever, not wanting to even think otherwise.
She has been a stable person in my life, when I have had no one else. She always gives me advice and honest advice even if it may be something I don't want to hear. When I thought things were hopeless, she reminded me that things don't stay the same forever.
My Grandma has been like a second mother, I lived with her off and on throughout my life....when my parents divorced, while going to High School. (Imagine all of the advice and help while in High School!)
I can't begin to list the many things she has done for me or sacrificed for me. All of the things she has taught me.
Now when I need her the most, she can't be there for me. She is my rock when these things happen in my life. I am very lucky to have her.
I love her so much and I think that it is my turn to take care of her now.