Good times in the garden of Valentino

I wanted to share a few more things that we've been up to for the last couple of months. We've had fun outdoors with a remarkably cool and comfortable Summer. With the kids at home we had a chance to do some fun projects like making this colored rice. It was a really fun tactile activity and Juliet thought it was fun to add some shells and pretend was sand.




We have been so lucky to have my brother, his wife Kensie, and their three beautiful kids living so close to our family. We've had a lot of fun with these guys, and gone on a lot adventures together.





Sometimes when their wasn't much to do, new methods of fun had to be invented. Juliet came up with this innovative "mud paint" project. As you can see, she really had a blast with this one. In fact, as we were getting ready to go to Grandma's today she said, "If you mix dirt and water together it makes mud paint." and I said, "Um...Juliet, I think we are getting ready to go, let's mud paint some other time."




Some moments we've been less than happy (isn't that the cutest sad face you've ever seen?)


But happiness always shines through!

A Bitter-sweet Summer

I haven't posted much this Summer, and it has been a Summer to remember, for many reasons. We've had 3/4 of the birthdays for our little family (Juliet keeps asking when her birthday is coming), we've played together, we've pulled together, we've worked together, and we've mourned together. We are a little tired, some days we are a little sad, but we are closer as a family.


This was Charles's face for much of August. On August 1, day before my birthday, he noticed that he couldn't move one half of his face. That is a pretty scary symptom, so we rushed to the ER. Thankfully, it was not a stroke. He has Bell's Palsy. This caused the nerves in half of his face to stop working. For several weeks he just couldn't use that half of his face. The worst for him was the dryness in his right eye. Blinking took major effort, and did not happen unconsciously as it normally does. It is amazing how much we take blinking for granted. So, blink a few times, it is a blessing.


On Tuesday, August 11, Charles's Mom Margaret passed away. We had a memorial service for her that Saturday, which was a beautiful event, and a celebration of her life.



Here's Charles with his Bell's Palsy smirk. He sang an amazing solo, and spoke with the use of only half his face. You go, Honey.



Juliet loves her cousin Analita, who didn't mind playing with her during the visiting time. Thanks Analita!




I'm so lucky to be Mom to these two beautiful children.

Don't you just want to snuggle this cutey, and nuzzle into that fuzzy head?


With our major loss from our family, we did have one small gain. We welcomed Zucci, the giant Zucchini into our family. Juliet loves her dearly. Thanks Lisa, for bringing this new family member to us.


Good night...and peace to all our loved ones. May you find many pleasant surprises in your life (like giant zucchinis) and find yourself stronger from the less than pleasant surprises as well.

Please keep us in your prayers.

This is a post from Charles's blog and his mother's carepage.

Hello friends and family, I bring sad news.

PLEASE MAKE TIME TODAY, THAT'S TUESDAY (AUGUST 11) DURING THE DAY TO VISIT MY MOTHER AND PREPARE TO SAY GOODBYE. Please be advised that Margaret is currently in a comatose state and does not really look like herself compared to even a few days ago and some may wish not to remember her in this way. Please spread the word to all of her friends that may wish to say goodbye. She is at OSU Hospital in the SICU, at Doan Hall Suite A, on the 4th floor. The nurses have been advised to allow visitors to Margaret at any time tonight and tomorrow.

It is with great sadness that I make this entry. Our family gathered again today to meet with Dr. Ross. He was very gentle and kind in explaining to us that Margaret's current condition requires us to make a decision tomorrow about whether to continue with her on life support. She will be given a final assessment by the neurologist. Dr. Ross explained that this third day marks the amount of time necessary to gauge whether or not Margaret will make "some recovery". He explained that the amount of time that her body was without oxygen has caused brain injury. He told us that if she makes "some recovery" she would not necessarily be the "Margaret we used to sit around the table and drink coffee with". If it is deemed that Margaret has not and will not progress in her recovery, then she would remain in her current vegetative state.

Margaret recently created a living will which states that she does not wish to remain on life support in such an unconscious state. She has emphasized to my brother and I on many occasions especially recently that if such is the case, that life support should be withdrawn. My mother also commissioned me with the responsibility of having medical power of attorney. I cannot express to you how conflicted I feel about the decision that will likely lie before me tomorrow. Even so, it is out of love for my mother, and respect for her wishes and her personal dignity that I shall fulfill my obligations when the time comes.

I want you all to know how much love Margaret has for all of you. I think back about the people she took care of in her lifetime including my brother and I and what a nurturing and wonderful person she was. I want you to know how happy and thankful she was for all of your thoughts and prayers and every little kindness you gave her. Though I know God has heard every one of yours and my prayers for her health and well-being, I feel that his will is to bring my mother back to him and away from the agony and suffering that she has endured here. I think we should all take comfort in that. I know mom will be at peace there and that she we will be with Grandpa and our Father in Heaven. I will miss her so much. All I can think about tonight is all the times when she would wake me in the middle of the night to bring me medicine when I was sick. She has given me so much I can't even comprehend it. I love you Mom. God bless and keep you forever.

Happy Father's Day!

There are some special dads in my life who I get to celebrate today. My husband (dad to my kids), my stepfather (AKA, Grandpa Money), and my father-in-law, but there is one special dad who I won't get to give a big hug to on Father's Day, and he's a pretty special dad, MY DAD! So, I wanted to take a moment and send a big cyber hug down to my dad in Georgia.

Here are ten favorite memories I have of my dad:

1) The stories he would make up in the car and tell us about the Rain Man (a super-hero who could dodge raindrops, not an autistic Dustin Hoffman) and his nemesis the Umbrella Thief.

2) The time he was teaching me to ride my bike in our new home in Virginia, I got a really good momentum going, but I don't think that either us realized the ramifications of the fact the field we were practicing in ended in a steep slope (ouch).

3) Dad coaching my soccer team when I was in 3rd grade. He even allowed us to chose the name of our team and didn't roll his eyes when we voted on "Hot Stuff" as the moniker for the team.

4) Numerous, numerous times of getting Peanut Buster Parfaits with my dad after games or just whenever.

5) Praying with my dad at the sacred grove in Palmyra, NY.

6) Spending a summer with my dad when he was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany. We got to see some really neat castles and other attractions. Also, my Dad has to get a gold star for trying to shepherd Michael, John, and I through New Amsterdam while only exposing us to the wholesome elements of the city.

7) The visits I had with my dad during car trips, something about riding with my dad just makes the conversations interesting.

8) The pair of dark-wash Levi's and the brown loafers that my dad would change into every day after work for what seemed like years on end. Every time I see you in casual wear I really expect to see that combo.

9) Great homemade pizza that my dad used to make and also visiting his old friend John's pizzeria in Kansas.

10) Spiritual discussions, shared scriptures, Father's blessings, my dad really is one spiritual guy, and role-model to me.

Okay, I have lots of other great memories, and I hope to make many more! I love you dad, and I hope you have a great Father's Day.

I DID IT!!!!

Well, I've now officially passed nursing school, and I will graduate next week. It has been such a long road that I can't believe it is over.

Now I just have to pass state boards, that will be another post....

Cooking with my kids

I thought I should actually post on the blog since the full three weeks has past since I posted about Juliet's leg and the cast came off today. I wanted to post some pictures of cooking with the kids. These kids sure love mixing stuff up with me, and if I'm organized enough, it is a great activity to get them involved and do something together. Juliet is always game, as long as she gets to wear that chef hat.

Well, I haven't posted in awhile, because this has been happening. Yep, Juliet broke her leg. She just came down on it funny while she was jumping on the trampoline at Grandma's house. We went to have it looked at at the emergency room that night, but the X-rays didn't show a fracture. We came home, but it was still hurting her, and she just wouldn't walk on it. We brought her back later in the week, the X-rays showed a hairline fracture, and the cast went on. We went to Children's Orthopedic today, and we are happy to report that it is coming off on April 16. Yay!!!