Michael's 9/30 Progress Report

A "Great" Day!

Lexis' HW

Lexis had to recreate an artist's photographic work as Homework tonight. Unfortunately, she didn't decide to do this assignment until nearly 9:00pm at night. Although, Grace and Noah were already in bed, since they weren't yet asleep they agreed to change quickly and pose. Mom even had to get in a few of the shots. Lexis ended up doing a great job. Imagine what she could have done had she started earlier. Now if I could only remember the name of the artist, this would be so much more informative.

Grace-ism's..

I coined a term way back when for the things Grace says. They're called "Grace-ism's!" She is such a clever child and says the darndest things at the funniest moments. I have tried to record many of them in her journal but I am sure that plenty have come from Grace's mouth, surprised the heck out of me, followed by laughter and amazement and then, sadly, forgotten.

The picture above captured one of these Grace moments... Uncle Flynn and Aunt Krista joined our family in Utah for Christmas. Flynn was comfortably enjoying his book on the couch when Grace appeared from the back bedroom where she had been quietly manipulating pen and paper. She came out, book in hand and sat down next to Flynn, mimicking his reading down to the hand placement. We had all commented on Flynn's goatee when he arrived for the holidays. Not being used to seeing him with facial hair, the kids were taken back. Grace demonstrated this with her quick thinking! She crafted her own goatee to include the missing hairs on the left side of his mouth! Apparently when Flynn was trimming up his goatee he accidentally clipped one of the sides. Needless to say we all grabbed our cameras and those two obliged by posing appropriately.

What a girl!

Immitation IS the highest form of flattery, Flynn!

Laynie!!!

Just saw some new photos posted of this little one. Flynn and Krista have been calling her "Laynie!" I think it is so adorable! It matches her unbelievably adorable self. Would be so nice to live closer!

A smile can be deceiving

Carrying on the Tradition of #6!!!

Such a sweetheart! It's a wonder she has room to sleep.
After picking up the kids from school, I went through our standard, "How was your day?" questioning. Noah's reply a standard, "fine." Grace--- "I got $5 today from my teacher. We're only suppose to be able to earn $2 a day but I got 5." (Play money they earn as a points and reward system.)
My little red head is such a dream! In school she excels COMPLETELY, on the soccer field she is aggressive and in tune, in the corners of her room she is a little girl who lines up her every stuffed animal(every stuffed animal that is not thrown into the play room by her Mama) and her American girl doll before falling fast asleep under pink sheets! I love you, Grace!

Auction for CAROL

The Auction for Carol is going so well and I am thrilled with such! Many gracious people have donated items and many others are bidding freely. I have gotten into a simple routine of closing the evenings auctions and in adding the new items which seems to be working. Keeping up with it all is the only worry and I am considering that a positive problem.

Michael's 9/17 Progress Report

Daddy

18 years today. It is the Anniversary of my Dad's death.
I find myself overwhelmingly sad.
My souls remember better than my mind.
It is the strangest phenomena when this time of year rolls around and I find myself questioning my mood. Then my head catches up with my spirit and I again mourn my Father's passing. His physical presence that I do not get to experience today.
Time does not heal wounds. That sentiment has not proven true in my case. I must disappoint those possibly more optimistic than I or those looking for comfort in their own life's trial, perhaps needing the right words in hopes of comforting another.
I suppose there may be further meaning in a statement such as this--'time healing all wounds.' Perhaps the deeper meaning is that time's passing has in fact laid a scab over top, a discolored, bumpy, ragged edged covering. One of which can peel off and bleed, be exposed and cause pain and one that may also be covered by a shirt sleeve, go unnoticed without causing an overwhelming inhibition to continue.
Today my hurt lies exposed and I miss my Daddy.
Perhaps tomorrow I'll put on a band-aid.

MIchael uses the Brailer

Michael has been using the brailer in class! This is one of his pages they sent home with him. Very exciting to think my boy will learn braile! Now his Mama just needs to catch up...I'm working on it!

An "OK" day for Michael at school today. His stomach is wreaking havoc on my little one's daily life!

MR. Smiley! Such a darling and loving young man enjoying a day off from soccer practice--- which does not happen very often.

Noah is Michael's helping hands

The idea was for Michael to take at least one step on his own, which he did BEFORE we got the camera out. Figures...

A younger Noah

I mean, come on now, honestly!! He's just a dream, my little guy! Growing up way too fast and yet always "NOAH!" I found this picture and just HAD to scan it into my computer.
Mama LOVES YOU, Noah D!

I've decided...I'm officially considering myself FAMOUS!!!!

I'm not kidding and I am totally, completely and 100%y bragging at this very moment so stand back and hold on! I am feeling very proud right now and as I type I shake! I've been working REALLY hard on this Auction for Carol and I got this Brilliant (told you to stand back) idea to e-mail THE "Design Mom" blogger telling her of Carol's situation, the auction I was creating and ask for her help in spreading the word. See, if you aren't aware a.k.a. under a rock Design Mom is it in the blogging world! She has thousands of followers, countless accolades, even listed as one of the top 3 by New York Times, been on Martha Stewart...the woman's a powerhouse. SO, I e-mail her a couple of times. Once to tell her Carol's story, the second time to ask her help with the Auction and the third to send her the link/flyer for the Auction and she e-mails me back! I felt like I just got a message from Sandra Bullock! Not kidding. She says she WILL post word on her site about Carol and that I've done a nice job! Three days later, she did it! AND HERE IT IS... I am so proud!

Saturday, September 06, 2008

Nie Nie's Story in the New York Times
Wonderful news! The New York Times picked up Stephanie's story. It's a beautiful article all about the real (and positive) effects of virtual blogging relationships. Written by Alex Williams. You can find it online here.Want to feel even more Internet hugs and kisses? Help out another family in need — imagine going into an emergency c-section, developing an infection which requires having both legs and one arm amputated. Then. Losing your sight. That's what's happening to Carol Decker right this minute.You can also visit Five Minutes for Mom to find out about their life-affirming, hope-giving new feature: Blogs Can Change Lives.In other news. The rain here is so dramatic tonight. I'm loving it. And listening for the basement sump pump.
posted by Design Mom at Saturday, September 06, 2008

Michael finally uses his Rocking Chair

He's been too mad, too physical, too unsettled but not today! Today he sat in his rocking chair and rocked himself! YAY Michael!

To Carol

I wrote a letter to Carol. Something I intend on adding to the Auction site. A letter that I first sent to Scott that he might read it to her before I posted it. I wanted to tell her how much I care for her and I wanted to let people who may visit the Auction site what Carol means to me. I want people to understand what a special person she is and know as I know the depth of this tragedy...

You’ll forgive me if I indulge in my own sentiments for a moment. For there are individuals that affect your life in a truly significant way and for me, Carol is one of those few people.
I don’t recall the exact instance this clarity of understanding occurred. I do, however, remember vividly the petite, glasses wearing elementary student. A permed brunette, lover of all things purple and unicorns-- and even better yet, purple unicorns, who at the age of 8 already exuded a fashion forward confidence and magnanimous personality. People have always been drawn to Carol and I was no exception.
I am able to mentally scan through the archives of my mind, sifting through the utilitarian filing cabinets, plastic-covered bins and crowded sock drawers overflowing with the moments she and I have spent with each other, the memories we created and I am grateful.
Grateful for so much laughter, buoyed up by the stolen moments wherein we opened our souls to each other under heart-covered comforters in our parent’s living rooms. Morose over the shenanigans we survived and overwhelmed by the purely, unadulterated love that I feel for her.
Photographs of our teen years capture many of our moments in still. Looking through these photographs I am unsurprisingly struck by the continuing recurrence of Carol and I posing next to each other, most often holding onto each other, regardless of who else might be in the photograph. This is not surprising because it is how I always wanted to be and to find that this sentiment had been captured in pictures for me was genuinely pleasing.
You see, I have always been in awe of Carol, admired her in so many ways, looked up to her and desired to emulate her. The compassion and love she exudes, the fun, fly by the seat of your pants attitude she proudly dons. The tutelary friend she has always been, the devoted mother, the ardent wife. This is the type of person I would like to be. This is the person whose friendship I sincerely treasure.
As I have had the opportunity to sit at Carol’s hospital bed in these last few months, resting my hand on her shoulder, soundlessly praying for her comfort, her character of strength and solicitude has never waned.
We have cried together, we have chatted like the high school girls we once were and we have sat in silence, comforted merely by the other’s presence. Carol has been asked to face challenges that would have fell Goliath sans pebble and she continues to do so with grace and determination.
We are now both in our 30’s, mothers of small children, busy with life and there have been times where the circle of perpetual schedules has come between our contact with each other and that is something I deeply regret. Regardless of the frequency or lack there of or the distance in miles between us, I am eternally grateful and abundantly thankful that our lives paths crossed so many years ago. To me Carol has always been and will always be one of my dearest friends, someone who holds a very special place in my heart.
In the eye of this tragedy I have never been more aware than as I am now that I am not alone in my sentiments. There are so many who care deeply for Carol, for her family, for her well-being. What a wonderful testament to the outstanding person she is to witness the outpouring of love and support that has come from so many in these past few months.
I say “Thank you” to each of you because you have reaffirmed my belief in the compassion of strangers and loved ones alike.
“Thank you” because, selfishly, I need to do something in this situation and “Thank you” because I know Carol would want nothing more than to say it to each of you herself.
~ Erica

To Carol

You’ll forgive me if I indulge in my own sentiments for a moment. For there are individuals that affect your life in a truly significant way and for me, Carol is one of those few people.

I don’t recall the exact instance this clarity of understanding occurred. I do, however, remember vividly the petite, glasses wearing elementary student. A permed brunette, lover of all things purple and unicorns-- and even better yet, purple unicorns, who at the age of 8 already exuded a fashion forward confidence and magnanimous personality. People have always been drawn to Carol and I was no exception.

I am able to mentally scan through the archives of my mind, sifting through the utilitarian filing cabinets, plastic-covered bins and crowded sock drawers overflowing with the moments she and I have spent with each other, the memories we created and I am grateful.

Grateful for so much laughter, buoyed up by the stolen moments wherein we opened our souls to each other under heart-covered comforters in our parent’s living rooms. Morose over the shenanigans we survived and overwhelmed by the purely, unadulterated love that I feel for her.

Photographs from over the many years of our friendship capture many of our moments in still. Looking through these photographs I am unsurprisingly struck by the continuing recurrence of Carol and I posing next to each other, most often holding onto each other, regardless of who else might be in the photograph. This is not surprising because it is how I always wanted to be and to find that this sentiment had been caught in print for me was genuinely pleasing. These captured images still hold some of my happiest memories to date.

You see, I have always been in awe of Carol, admired her in so many ways, looked up to her and desired to emulate her. The compassion and love she exudes, the fun, fly by the seat of your pants attitude she proudly dons. The tutelary friend she has always been, the devoted mother, the ardent wife. This is the type of person I would like to be. This is the person who's friendship I sincerely treasure.

As I have had the opportunity to sit at Carol’s hospital bed, resting my hand on her shoulder, soundlessly praying for her comfort, her character of strength and solicitude has never waned.

We have cried together, we have chatted like the high school girls we once were and we have sat in silence, comforted merely by the others' presence.

Carol has been asked to face challenges that would have fell Goliath sans pebble and she continues to do so with grace and determination.

We are now both in our 30’s, mothers of small children, busy with life and there have been times where the circle of perpetual schedules has come between our contact with each other and that is something I deeply regret.

Regardless of the frequency or lack there of or the distance in miles between us, I am eternally grateful and abundantly thankful that our lives paths crossed so many years ago. To me Carol has always been and will always be one of my dearest friends, someone who holds a very special place in my heart.

In the eye of this tragedy I have never been more aware than as I am now that I am not alone in my sentiments. There are so many who care deeply for Carol, for her family, for her well-being. What a wonderful testament to the outstanding person she is to witness the outpouring of love and support that has come from so many in these past few months.

I say “Thank you” to each of you because you have reaffirmed my belief in the compassion of strangers and loved ones alike.

“Thank you” because, selfishly, I needed to do something in this situation and this Auction became that and

“Thank you” because I know Carol would want nothing more than to say it to each of you herself.

~ Erica

Here's what I've been working on...psst, pass it on

Noah and I are seated at the dining room table working on his Math homework when we hear the most lovely singing ring out. It is obviously Grace. She is loudly customizing her own melody and so I get up to possibly join in or at least get a better listen to. Low and Behold the singing is coming from the bathroom. Makes sense. Supposedly the acoustics in a bathroom are much better which is why so many of us find our selves silently impressed by our own chops as we serenade ourselves in the shower. But it gets better! I open the bathroom door to praise Grace and her obvious talents only to find her seated on the toilet, pants around her ankles, Guitar in hand! However the guitar is not a guitar but a cello-- "Obviously, Mom!" and the child does not stop when the door opens instead she sings louder. The moment that her so-called stage fright kicks in is only after the camera is brought out.
"Oh, Grace, Please don't stop singing to me!"

I envy Sleeping Beauty

Michael is again not sleeping.
First it was problems with our insurance-- My small child takes enough medication to fell Goliath without the rock. Then it was his stomach problems. Again, partly due to insurance, mostly due to his unfathomable ability to control his bodily functions. The boy was so constipated he just plain hurt! And now he has an ear infection! We are both banged up from his justifiable frustrations and sleep is a novelty. Last night, or rather this morning we finally fell asleep at 5am after a solid 10 hours of crying and pinching and hitting and kicking.
On the up side (and there is an upside or I would probably not be typing) Michael is now on antibiotics that should help him feel a lot better, cross our fingers...