Quick Month

It has been a fast month starting with the end of school, soccer tournaments and full blast into summer. The girls have been keeping busy with soccer conditioning 3 times a week, work for Kelsey and other summer activities.

Kelsey is doing better at this time they are leaning towards ulcer but she will have an endoscopy in July to finalize it, too much ibuprofen is what the GI guy is thinking. Alex and I have been pretty much hangin not getting into to much. I have had no energy to get much done anywhere and actually took a weekend and did nothing, that was truly amazing. The lawn is about to go up in flames due to drought, but I am almost thankful because I have not had to mow for the entire month.

July is just around the corner, Alex is with friends in Destin right now, last report she got stung by a jellyfish but is surviving. Kelsey and I are headed to Chicago next week for the 4th festivities and to jump up and see my sister and my new nephews. The boys were released earlier than expected which left them a little un-prepared. Hawthorne is adjusting and doing well at home. It was a little much for Ethan who just quit breathing (stress) and had to be taken back to the hospital, he is doing well now. I can't image how scary it was for my sister who had to do CPR and call the medics.

I wish everyone a Happy Summer and hope you are all doing well.

Father's Day at the Lake

Soccer and IVs

The first weekend of June found me attending 6 games over the weekend, both the girls teams didn't do so well, they fought hard but just couldn't get it together. The second weekend of June, another 6 games starting on Friday the 8th and up early the next morning for a 7:30am game - UGH!

We managed to do better in this tournament with Alex's team pulling out for the championship and Kelsey's placing 2nd by forfeiture to their sister league team.





Kelsey's team had just played the same team at 1:30pm, since it ended in a tie that meant they both played again at 5pm. Her team had no subs so this meant the girls had to run for 35 minutes straight with no breaks and it was hot outside. This is where Kelsey ran into some trouble. With her current condition which doesn't make her want to drink a lot for fear of stomach pain and playing her heart out - in the second game, she went down....


Me, I was running back and forth in between the awards tent and the game trying to get Alex taken care of and send her off to the lake with her team mates for celebration.

My last trip over to the fields it was halftime, my friend leans over and says that is Kelsey on the ground, I waited (sometimes they just lay down a bit) but when her teammates came running over stating they were getting a medic, that is when mom went running - I found her crying, cramping and shaking. The medic showed up and was a familiar face, her high school trainer - 'Trainer Dave' looked at Kelsey, looked at me and said - take her to the ER, she needs fluids. So off to the hospital we went, Kelsey got lots of tests run - first time in her life she really has anything medical like this. They pumped her full of IVs and home we went. She was told mandatory down for 3 days. So when I come home Monday what do I find, the house cleaned, laundry done and more - so much for mandatory down, she doesn't know the meaning, stubborn German - just like her mama.

Kelsey Gots Pains

During finals week Kelsey had been complaining of side and stomach pain. After playing soccer over the weekend, she decided to tell me a few more of her symptoms - it was time to get her to the Dr.

So off we went, some blood work and a CT Scan we still not sure what's going on. The CT didn't show enough of her inards for them to get a good look so they want to do another one and we are going to see a GI doc at the end of the month. This is the first time Kelsey ever had blood drawn or anything medical with exception of pulled tendons...it all new to her.

Other than hurting after eating and excercise, she is doing alright and going about her normal activities....will keep 'ya posted.

Schools Out for Summer

Wow another school year is done, a busy hectic week for both the girls, mostly Kelsey with finals and SAT to take on Saturday. Soccer season is winding up then will be finished with a couple of tournaments, but resumes for High School with conditioning starting on Monday morning, I know Alex is not looking forward to this at all.

Memorial Weekend was much fun, I went to the race and my driver ended up winning so that put some $$ in my pocket, I was very excited.


Girls have finished this year with great grades, Alex is now officially a freshman and I am officially a parent of two high schoolers....the years have gone by quickly, Alex was only 6 when we moved here..I am doing okay with it ~ at least for now.

Kelsey's Prom

Dance at the Children's Museum, Post Prom at the High School and more.

A New Mom with her Sons

Steph had an enjoyable mother's day being able to hold both boys and taking family photos. Ethan and Hawthorne are doing well and progressing each day.

Keep your good thoughts and prayers they grow stronger each day.

Read Stephanie's Blog

Love you all

Mother's Day Weekend at the Track

A Tradition in my Family....

We all went on Saturday and enjoyed the day. Sunday, April and Dad took the day and I worked mother's day in the girls rooms switching and cleaning them...it was so relaxing, uh not! The garage is once again full of stuff that needs to be dealt with and my car is back outside...thank goodness its warm.


But it was done and Alex's new bed was constructed.

Where the buffalo roam...

A trip for work to Cody, Wyoming, it was beautiful.

A new Aunt again x2

A little early to arrive, my sister Stephanie went into labor on Sat. and was hospitalized with the hope that labor could be delayed. This was not successful and she delivered 2 little boys Sat. night about 10:30 pm.

Welcome Hawthorne and Ethan!
We are so excited you are with us!

Hawthorne Edwin. Weighs 2 lbs. 4 oz. 14 ins. long and Ethan Eoghan (Celtic for Eugene) and weighs 2 lbs.14ins long.

They will be in neo-natal for a few months. Prognosis is good but guarded. They were both big for being 26 1/2 weeks which doctors feels is a plus for them.

Congratulations Stephanie and Todd!
We Love and Miss you Both!

Thunder over Louisville.....

Derby festivities begin with a bang......we were in town for a soccer tournament!



While watching the games on Saturday we were entertained by different mini-airshows, they were practicing for later that evening. And always the little kid, I had to stop and point out the stealth bomber to the girls - they really weren't excited.



The weekend wasn't much thunder for the girls on the field, but they enjoyed themselves it was a good bonding weekend. The weather was beautiful and a good friend and co-developer of mine joined us Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, she was just needing a reason to sit outside, I provided!

We stayed in on Saturday and allowed the to eat pizza, swim and bond. With all the crowds downtown, it was a good thing....though I really, really wanted to be a the fireworks, did I mention, I love fireworks!

It's a Deere!

Dad finally got himself a John Deere Tractor, he is so excited.......

We won't mention he still has a full size 1940 something Farmall H sitting in the garage next door, but it's a little big to do the lawn with!!!!!

Congrats Dad!
And welcome to your 2nd Retirement, it's about time!

Prom Dresses and Where is Spring?

It has been a cold, windy awful weather week. Tough for all those spring breakers coming back. My plants I got into the ground a couple of weeks ago are still struggling, but alive. Soccer has pretty much been canceled all week due to either cold or the fields being to wet to play on.

Kelsey's friend Shae (one of my 2nd daughters) stayed with us this weekend with her parents out of town attending a wedding. The girls had both originally planned to go to Bloomington early before their games to check out Prom dresses. Games canceled, we went ahead down. I have to note, I love Shae especially when she calls us on her cell phone from the bathroom downstairs to let us know she needs TP - these kids have truly embraced technology to the hilt!

We had fun with them modeling several dresses and joining in on a bride to be's decision on her dress. It was a family atmosphere and we enjoyed the shop owners. Here are the girls trying on dresses.

Shae fell in love with the green Flash dress, Kelsey love the deep purple one. We will need to return to get them altered - on Kelsey, they were all way to long and a little wide around the waist/bust. But at least we do not have to go to a dozen more stores, I am so relieved.

Alex spent the day with friends and stayed over night at Ashleigh's. I got out later that night, the first time in several weeks, almost forcing myself to go - by the time I got out, it was snowing making me want to snuggle at home. But, glad I went out and enjoyed the opening of a friend's new bar and another friend's birthday, slide show is on myspace.

Dying Eggs

The girls made it home, I was still out shopping, they weren't happy I wasn't there to welcome them home, but I think I made it up. I dropped the bomb on them my decision to switch their bedrooms putting Alex into the bigger room and Kelsey in the smaller one. It is a decision based on effective space use since Alex is here and usually with anywhere between 2-5 friends crammed into her small room. Kelsey sleeps and does homework. Her first comment, great you are already moving me out the door! Being fair, Kelsey will get to repaint and buy a few new pieces of furniture, that smoothed it over a bit.

Jarrod joined us for the rest of the day and being Easter is tomorrow we cannot forgo the season favorite activity of Dying Easter Eggs, Jarrod had never done it before - We were amazed - he delved in and throughly enjoyed himself and so did we.


I am making Easter dinner for tomorrow and bringing it over to my brother's, with race season and a new baby, time for family dinners are at a minimum. Deviled Eggs of course will be on the menu - yum!

Happy Easter All!

Keeneland and Snow?

Sensible shoes and dress were the words of the day. I took a day off to travel south for opening day of Keeneland and to enjoy some old friends. It's about a 3 hour drive and I arrived to a welcome of wine, cheese and cold weather. Cold weather, this is opening day of Keeneland, we are supposed to be in spring dresses, enjoying bright sunshine and a warm spring breeze.

What we got was overcast snow and cold. Fortunately for me, I left my ugly old Dickie's thermal jacket in the car, it wasn't pretty but it was warm. As we got into the track, laughing at ourselves, we began laughing at all the young girls forsaking their coats, dressed in high heels and slinky dresses all in the name of 'looking good'. Silly girls, they will learn on a day like this warm and 'sensible shoes' are the only way to go.


We all enjoyed the day catching up, betting the ponies, trying to stay warm and of course drinking. I managed to make a few good hits on some races leaving me pretty much even for the day....it's been to long ladies, we need to do this again when Keeneland opens in October, hopefully it will be a much prettier day.

I got home about 9 that night, I had places I should of been but tired and still recovering, I went to bed. This morning I woke to a text message that my daughter's would be arriving home today....guess I need to go grocery shopping - uh, it dawned on me Easter is tomorrow and I haven't done a thing!

And their gone....

I managed to make it through the week, slowly recovering but still not 100% which still leaves me a little weak after awhile I just need to lay down.

Alex's birthday was on Monday, we took her for dinner, but we still needed to have her party, the only day that everyone was available was Thursday before spring break began. So Thursday after work, her and I were off to the store to pick up party supplies and her cake, it was to be a little more laid-back affair this year. We tried several other options, but timing and friends availability did not allow any of those to happen. She had 8 girls over to hang and celebrate, 4 of them ended up sleeping over. They were both pleasure, amusement and pain sometimes. One kept insisting she was going to TP me while I slept, I informed her she wouldn't be living after that and then the lighter seen below needed to be confiscated after they decided to burn things, cake, plates, etc....Ahh kids, don't 'ya love them. They finally congregated in Alex's room chatting, IMing other friends and playing DDR.

Early Friday morning, Alex still needed to pack and I had 4 girls to get on their way home and myself into work. We managed with Kelsey taking Ashleigh home so she could see Jarrod before she left. I past their dad on his way to the house in the RV on my way into work. They are headed to St. Augustine, though Alex truly wanted to go to St. Pete.

The house was not to bad and some early morning picking up while the girls were slowly waking up, I managed to make it look decent again.

After a day of work, no kids and the house to myself, guess what I was ready for....party!!! Uh no, BED!!! and that is exactly what I did. By 6pm, I was in bed, cell phone off and no communication...rest was in order.

I woke up early Saturday, hmmm wonder if it was the 6pm bedtime? Still slow and walking like a pregnant woman whose belly hurts, I began working getting the rest of the house done. After almost 2 weeks down for the count a few things have gotten out of hand. It was a good day, storms ran throughout the day, some quite strong and the lightening hitting close, I had the windows open, I do love a good storm. In between cleaning and laundry, I rested, still getting my energy about me. Though I am hungry, it generally hurts after I eat, so I have been waiting until I can't stand it. I know, not smart, but hey you deal with the aches & pain I have. And yes, I know, what about the dr., been there, same story, pain relief, heat and time.....don't they know I am not a patient person and have things to do? I stuck close to home all day and went to bed early again, but at least my house was clean and I was feeling good about that. I am not a neat freak, but I do like some order and when chaos prevails, it truly throws me off balance, this would explain why I keep Alex's door shut -lol.

Today was a truly beautiful day, sun, light breeze and wispy clouds. My neighbor trumped me again by mowing his lawn early, this left mine looking about 2 feet to high. I know he is excited about his new 42" deck mower, but come on, at least one more week? It was time to mow, dad, you would be proud of me, I cleaned the mower deck, check the spark plug and added oil. One pull and it was running, this much to the chagrin of my other two neighbors who were attempting to start their own mowers, they weren't having much luck. Off and mowing, I like to mow, it gives me a sense of being done with something...but...problems; as I mowed a straight line from the front to the back, the water became deeper and deeper. Opps, the backyard is a moat, guess it will have to wait. I continued on with the front, finished and rested.

This is my Bradford Pear, they are all over in our neighborhood which is called Bradford Place, think there is a connection? This tree was all but dead 2 years ago. Mine and two neighbors were lost from some boring beetle. Mine started to re-generate from the base and now has come back as this beautiful flowering display.

Not to keep me down when I am on a roll, it was time to plant all those beautiful plants I picked up at the garden show before they died in their pots. Evaluating, moving and watching the sun patterns (most like partial shade) I decided most of them would do best in my big side garden, the planting began. They are all now happily resting in their new homes with expectations of rain this evening to give them a boost, if not, I will water them tomorrow after I get a new hose, mine didn't make it through the winter - I got soaked finding this out.

This is a Japanese Pieris, I fell in love with the tiny hanging rows of cockle shells when it bloomed and its an evergreen. Seeking information with my mom's help on where to plant and to know a little more about it, we discovered there is an American version called Andromeda or Moutain Fetterbush and guess what, it's highly toxic....oh well, need to tell my kids no Yule Gibbons acts on this plant...like they would even know who he is...

Once done, I rested again dozing while a wonderful breeze flowed through my windows only to be suddenly awoken by incessant ringing of my doorbell. My neighbor, the one who mowed to early, we swap equipment all the time and he was needing my spreader, for this, he took his new bad-ass mower and took care of my backyard saving me the headache and backache (the grass grows even taller & thicker back there). So laundry almost done, the house cleaned with no expectations of it getting messy this week and my yard ready for Spring, I feel I did get something done despite my slowness.....hopefully this week will be a continued recovery so I can be back to my old self, on the move, getting things done.

The week is almost over!!!

It's been a busy one, the priority, Alex's birthday party to be held this evening, Alex having cheer leading tryouts and awaiting the posting of the teams, and of course, my very slow recovery and still not right feeling trying to get through all of this! Don't you just love life sometimes!

But the big news!!!!

Alex made the Freshman Winter Fall Squad for Cheer leading.

This is a big deal, competition was tight, a lot of girls trying out and Alex lacks years of competitive tumbling, dance and cheer, we played soccer. She took a few tumbling classes, but for the most part, she was not as experienced as a lot of the other girls trying out. She will be taking back handspring classes now to get this right, I am coming to understand this is one important cheer skill. She can do it on Kelsey's bed, when being spotted or on a trampoline, its her confidence that needs building, I have no doubts she will have it mastered before her season.

The posting of the squads was interesting, here are all us parents sitting in the parking lot at 10pm, the girls huddled around a door awaiting to see if they will post them tonight, most are in their tryout outfits still (shorts & t-shirts) freezing. Alex had plans with 5 other girls to spend the night at her friends house, she had gone to the posting with someone else, never asking if mom wanted to come. But I was worried, if she didn't make it would she truly want to go spend the night with a bunch of girls that might have? I drove to the high school, parked and waited. Roughly 10:10pm, you could see the activity at the door, and then they began to file out, some cheering loudly, others not so much. But where was Alex, finally I saw her, neither looking dejected, nor elated...okay this is tough. I watch, not wanting to intrude, finally she begins to walk back to the friend's car, I get out and sit on the front my hood, she doesn't see me, still I can't tell what has occurred from her mannerisms, and it is dark. I call out to her, she looks up, screams Mom, obviously elated I am there and shouts ' I made it!', relief floods over me, good for her! For all the pain I may suffer, it is moments like these I hope remain with me forever.

Congratulations Alex, mom is proud of you!

There is evidence another teenager has been inhabiting the house, we have seen this strange mysteriously elusive creature on occasion or hear its call as it moves through house.

Happy Birthday Alex!!!

Happy Birthday My Baby Girl!!

Now Fourteen!
All images are self-potraits, she is pretty handy with a camera.

This is killing me some, she is now full teenager, ready to enter High School in the fall
and growing into a beautiful young lady.

Alex spent her birthday at the High School Cheerleading tryouts, I attended at 7:30 for a meeting, as the 'rules' of tryouts and the alike were being told to us parents, I now know I am no longer in the easy going culture of soccer, this is going to be interesting.

Promptly after the meeting, we headed off to Olive Garden for dinner, Kelsey's boyfriend, his sister (also Alex's best friend) and their mother joined us. It was a late night, Alex was happy and I went straight to bed, it was still hard sitting for to long and my poor belly, still bloated and burned let me know it wasn't particularly happy as well.

I hate when I am right....

As predicted Monday, the week went downhill from there. Still not feeling 100%, I went and dealt with work (yes dealt), ran the kids and came home and died. I got out Wednesday night, but was home pretty early. Up early and working on Thursday, my day to work from home, I was accomplishing lots, but that pain in my abdomen was making me take notice, pop some ibuprofen and on I go.

Had a lunch date and by the time I got home, the pain was really starting to kick in. Okay, on to the next drug in the cabinet so I can at least finish the day's work. At the stroke of 4:30pm, I was down, in pain and raiding all pain killers from my cabinet and a heating pad just to get some relief. Friday, I did attempt to go to work, drugs in system and heating pad in hand, it didn't work, I was so dizzy and feverish I left after 4 hours and talk to my parents all the way home just to keep me focused so I could make it there. It was from this point I proceeded through the weekend in and out of a waking state, sweating and mostly sleeping.

The girls, bless them, handles their schedules, transportation, laundry, cleaned and more. I did take Alex to her last indoor game on Saturday wearing the biggest clothes I have, by now I added burns to my belly from using the heating pad so much. The game was good, Alex played really well but we ended up losing in the end by 2, it would of been nice to have won since it was against her old team, but they had to really work for it and the girls played a good game, they just got a couple of breaks.

The other kicker to all this out of world experience, it was an absolutely beautiful weekend, high in the 80s and I should of been out in the gardens cleaning, weeding and getting them ready for their spring displays, and I still have those plants from the garden show to get in. Except Saturday, I never saw much of the light of day.

Now feeling only slightly better, the pain is manageable I have to start some things to get ready for the week ahead. First priority, Alex's birthday is tomorrow, I will now be a proud parent of a 14 year old.

Drama Llama rears its head....

Watch out it may get you too.....

Wednesday evening brought on some poker drama at the bar, 'ya see, we play games (gin rummy, euchre, more hold-em, russia poker) after we are off the regular game, there is sometimes $$ associated with these games. If caught, the bar would be in trouble, that whole illegal gambling thing and all. For this, no money is ever brought out while at the table, and no one is supposed to be seen exchanging money. This went well until what I understand about a month ago, the owner caught money on the table and declared no more card playing after the regular game, I was not there so the next time I was there, it was like nothing happened other than no gambling was being done, no problem, I am there for the cards and friends anyway.

Well, this evening we were not gambling we were playing cards. The owner had been unhappy of late of these after games, especially when a certain friend of ours was involved, well this evening he went ballistic, testosterone laden comments fell all around, people walking out, etc....and here we sit going (kinda embarrassed) - what brought this all on? We left and were all chatting out front, well out comes the guy that runs the league at this bar followed by the owner and then 2 bouncers, comments of suck something and the alike ensued. The owner, a little hothead anyway, muttering to himself thinking he took care of him....

And then it hit me, life a force, I had to say something, I had to force this little (place any word here) that as an owner of a bar, it maybe sometimes warranted to use this type of language and manner, but at that time it was very uncomfortable for all of us standing there. So what did I do, I called him out on it in a nice calm voice and explained to him as his customers we were not all aware of what brought any of this on and we didn't feel it was appropriate to treat us in this manner, especially since we are regulars to his establishment every Wednesday.

He had backup. Seeing me speak up, one of his bouncers decided to fluff himself behind the owner. I know what you are thinking, big strong me can take out a terrier of a man who routinely weight lifts and has arms the size of coffee cans, yeah that's right I'm bad. Well after noticing I am sorta giggling at this guy behind him, the owner whips around to see his bouncer all fluffed up and ready to take me down, he promptly told him to get inside...now that was fun watching big man on campus get scolded like a child and told to get to his room.

After talking more, I got what I wanted, an apology from the owner for how he treated the group of us when his concerns and issues was with one individual. I went home happy....