Nicholas The Teenager!

I have a 13 year old son Nicholas. I love him so... MUCH!
But...
His mouth is killing me!
I gave him $10.00 when he went camping just in case they stopped for food. He says, "Is that all I get?"
I pack him for a camping trip as he doesn't have time. Make a 2nd trip as I forgot his scout shirt, did remember his knife without him even asking for it and he is mad that I forgot a chair he never said he needed!
Not to mention the eye rolls and fresh looks and fresh words.
I really do love this kid, I know that my wonderful son is there underneith the fresh teenager that has emerged.
I am really tempted to have him do without a mom for a week. Here is what I am thinking. He will have to wash his own clothes, make his lunch, quiz himself on HW, make his own dinner, he will not be able to eat what the family will eat and he will have to wash his own plates, and clean his bathroom. I think the only one that will really affect him is making his own dinner while I make the rest of the family's.
So, what do you all think? Will it work or will I just have to suck it up and endure that fresh mouth of his that I am 100% positive he inherited from me?

Grandma and Grandpa's New Puppy's Misty and Molly

Our beloved family dog, our German Shephard Keiya passed away last year. It was really sad for my parents. I think it was made harder as they both retired and my dad loved walking with Keiya and my mom missed someone who would listen to her talk FOREVER and not ask her to be quiet! They held off on getting a dog for awhile and then even longer as they disagreed on what kind to get. Mom wanted small and dad wanted a dog big enough to walk.

So... they went looking and their hearts fell in love... so today they introduced into their life 2 mini Schnauzer's they rescued from the Humane Society. They are sister's and must stay together, so they took them both.

The puppies are 1 year old and are already getting spoiled! You want to know how I know that they are spoiled? I live in sunny AZ and they live in cold snowy, icey CT, so I can't be there to see if they are wrapping my parents around their precious paws so I was a picture detective!
That is so totally my mom's living room furniture that they are already sitting on like princesses - we can't even eat in there!!!!!!!!!!

Justin

Justin: two 1'w together make 11.
Me: You're right! What does a 1and a 2 together make?
Justin: 12!
Me: J.J. you are so SMART! Who made you so smart?
Now I wait for the standard response, you did mommy, but alas, I did not hear it instead I heard these words...)
Justin: The Holy Ghost did.

Mmmmm Cinnamon Rolls

Yesterday, I was feeling adventurous and I decided that Justin and I needed to make some dough. So we got out the flour and yeast and set to work. The end result the most yummiest cinnamon rolls I have ever made. I even added butter and brown sugar to the bottom of the pan so they have a yummy gooey carmel stuck on them! Yummmm!

My desire to cook continued so my family had breakfast for dinner as I made waffles in the waffle iron, eggs and bacon. Ahh, comfort food for a cold evening at home!

Justin - it's all about me time!

Tonight I took Nic to mutual and left Justin home with Alex as he did not have to work. I decided to stay in the car at church and read as it was too far away to make it worthwhile to drive back home, ahh, cherished quiet reading time...

Justin was all excited because daddy was going to "Babysit". When Nic babysit's we tell him that it is all about Justin time, he is to watch Justin and play what Justin wants as that is what happens when you babysit.

So... Justin is totally excited as mommy is going out and daddy is "babysitting". He tells daddy, it's all about me time daddy you have to do what ever I say!
I do believe we have created a monster.

Poor Alex is still wondering when a "daddy" became a babysitter. But in good sport he trailed after Justin and played video games and with toys. When I came home Justin was all happy but very concerned his room was a mess, before he went to bed he made me promise we would clean his room in the morning. He takes after his mom who believes everything has a place and should be in it. Love that!

One year ago today...

I helped my husband into his truck and drove him home after 43 days in the hospital.

He was pushed out of the hospital in a wheel chair straight into my care complete with a pik line for IVs, 3 drainage tubes draining infection from his body, a wound vac attached to his stomach, and a walker as he was barely walking. Thank heavens they had weaned him off the oxygen! Was I crazy or what? Crazy enough to want my family back together under one roof! But, boy was I underprepared for how much care he would need. But, I would do it again in a heartbeat because, well, heck I love him. :)

The nurse and I had to practically lift him into the truck when we left the hospital, we got home and he barely made it with the walker to collapse into the recliner. Thankgoodness my OT sister was here to help me help him move and the visiting nurse was there shortly to teach me IV medicine giving.

His recliner was so low to the ground he couldn't get out of it on his own until our friend Brent made a stand to raise it for him. I slept on the couch next to his recliner for over a month in case he needed me in the night, I mixed IV meds and gave IV's and helped with wound vac stuff.

Did I mention the biggest hugest wound to ever be was on his stomach, his whole stomach? Ask him to show you some time. Did I tell you that when my mom the nurse and my sister Kelly the OT use to talk about work over the dinner table it took everything in me not to completely upload my dinner on the table? But, I braved my fear of blood and innerds just for him, I actually know what fat looks like inside your body as I watched them change and clean his wound every few days and learned to stuff it so it would heal from the inside out.

OK enough of the grossness.

We kept our old CT fireplace gate around his recliner so the dogs and Justin didn't do a running jump on his insision, the boys were quiet, most of the time, so he could keep resting AND HE GOT A little better, A little stronger, every day.

We still have some small residual health issues left, cause heck when they cut 2 feet of intestines and remove half your colon we can't be far from a bathroom.

But...Wow, I can't believe it's been a year already!!! And what a year, filled with so many trials but so much goodness...

A little one...

I am desiring a little one, so tiny and sweet, smelling of baby bath soap, a soft fuzzy head to cuddle under my chin, fingers and toes so tiny.
With a birthday fast approaching, okay in 4 months, I am feeling time ticking away at me. But, the cost of in-vetro again... with college to pay for in 4 years for the oldest and my husband already working 2 jobs is it selfish? I know he would love another to cuddle and snuggle and love too, but oh the cost...
But oh the pull of our family not being complete yet and the feeling that there is another child wanting to call us their family. Do we pray and go on faith that $ will work out as somehow it always does?
Justin wants a little one too, he is saving toys and clothes for a new brother - not a sister mind you, just a brother. Nic thinks Justin is enough for him.
Oh, a little one so tiny and sweet, cute little blue booties or my fondest desire pink bows, white lace and black patent leather shoes, someone to share my barbies and my Mandy doll with, to laugh and giggle over boys with...

Christmas Vacation

Ahh, how lazy we have been. With no school the boys and I have been staying up later and sleeping late. Before we restart our schedule on Tuesday I think we have some internal clock adjusting to do.

I have been...
Going to the park with the boys and pushing Justin on the swing until my arms rebell.
Putting up Justin's trampoline in the backyard, now I can again tell him "stop jumping on the couch go jump on the tramp - Alex did most of this.
Watching lifetime late at night
playing Guitar Hero with the boys, they love my singing - NOT!
Shooting each other with nerf darts - drives the dogs CRAZY!
Hanging up a few pictures here and there.
Putting away Christmas decorations.
Sleeping until 9AM!!!!!!!!!
Staying up late reading as the boys are asleep and there is no one to interrupt
Calling my sister at work, home and cell to harass her. I even made her talk on her cell to me while at the mall Christmas shopping with my other sister Kelly - I wanted them to feel I was there :). Maybe she'll get so sick of me calling her she'll fly out to talk in person - what do you think Kerri - will it work?

Well, Alex is at work so I'm off to read and enjoy my Reeses Peanut Butter Cup that I hid from the boys so I didn't have to share - how awful is that?