A Mother's Prayer

Thank you, Lord, for my family, who creates work and filth, chaos just shy of  disaster in their wake. And thanks for sending them to school and work all day. Even if it is an early release day. Amen. 

Dusting Off and Recommitting

Dusting off the ol' BodyBugg today.  Somehow, over the course of the last 11 months, I got overconfident and also lazy.  I blame it on losing focus and mojo.  I've beaten myself up enough for letting it happen and now I'm wiping the slate clean.  I'm recommitting to my fitness goals, not for a size or a number on a scale this time (though measurable goals are absolutely critical), but for my future.  I've seen the writing on the wall and what it says is if I don't get my act together PRONTO, I will not be living the life I've envisioned. If I don't learn from the people around me who haven't made their health and fitness a priority,  I will end up in those same elastic waistband pants and unable to do all the things I want to be able to do as soon as more of my time belongs to me.

So, I crave accountability partners.  If you want to be held accountable to your own goals, or if you just want to help me be accountable, please feel free to find me on My Fitness Pal and send me a friend request or like my page on Facebook.   This is a tough time of year to start a new fitness goal, but I'm ready!  I hope you'll follow along with me and maybe even join me!

Where Does the Time Go?

Ten years ago this morning, I overheard the labor and delivery nurse say that I was scaring the other patients in the maternity ward as I struggled to deliver a 9 pound 9 ounce behemoth with natural childbirth who was in a hurry to be born after missing his due date by one day.  He was was born and Kevin said,  "It's a boy!" I was filled with joy!  He had a 2-year-old sister at home waiting for him. We could not have been more thrilled to welcome Andy into the world.

Andy is my precious only son, an excellent student, a natural athlete and a tenderhearted punk.  He loves soccer above all sports, playing since he was in preschool.  He is always kicking something around.  If it rolls or slides, it's getting kicked.  He loves to kick Molly's chew toys so much that Kevin sometimes hides them.  On the pitch, he's an outstanding defender who plays the entire 50 minutes of every match except for water breaks.  He's a tough competitor who forgets the outcome of the game the second the whistle blows to end it and is back to being a carefree kids as soon as the team meeting is over. This ability to transition quickly is one of our favorite characteristics of his.  His favorite player is Lionel Messi of Barcelona and Argentina. His favorite teams are Columbus Crew and Everton F.C. (English Premier League).

Over the last year, Andy has grown 2 inches!   I suspect that he will pass me in height by the time he's 12.  I'm 5'6".  He wears a size 8 men's shoe.  He orders off of the adult menu, but he's as skinny as a rail.  Even the slim pants for his height are too big.  He's like his dad who has worn the same size pants since he was a teenager.  These high metabolism men are enough to make a woman crazy.

I'm happy to share that over the last year Andy has overcome his dislike for showing affection to his mommy.  It's very awesome that he's overcome that because it's really annoying to have a kid who won't let you hug and kiss him. He's gone through all the various phases of boyness, not liking to be hugged or kissed or cuddled beginning when he was SEVEN!!! (NOT COOL).  I would go out of my way to make him sit with me at Mass because at church he would hold my hand, lean on my shoulder and stand in front of me so I could put my arms around him.  As soon as Mass was over, that was over, too.  Recently, he's remembered how to kiss me with his lips and NOT his teeth because he was giggling too much at the thought of kissing his mom.  He also hugs and will let me hug him.

Andy loves his sisters.  They all get along so well. Very often, he plays so well with one of them that they earn the nicknames Frick and Frack.  He takes the play to a whole different level when they get going.

Andy loves his dog, Molly.  He loves to kick her chewing toys and chase her.  He loves video games, especially Minecraft and FIFA 14.  He likes to ride his bike to and from soccer practice in the summer when the sun stays out.  For his birthday dinner, he has requested macaroni and cheese and ice cream cake.  He's an all-around good kid.

 Happy birthday, Andy.  Daddy and I love you and we are so proud of you.

The Next Big Adventure

The time has finally come.  It's a day I've been looking forward to and dreading at the same time.  Andy started asking when he was 5 and I told him the answer would be yes when he turned 10.  Truthfully, I was hoping he'd forget.  I had a lot of great reasons to say no, after all.  Babies take a lot of energy.  Toddlers need a lot of patience and get into everything.  Preschoolers are busybodies.  School-aged children are involved in a lot of after school activities.  The house is always messy.  There isn't enough time.  There isn't enough money. I'm tired.  These are all still true.  It's always gonna be something.  Sometimes you just have to have faith.

Last summer Kevin gave the go-ahead on the dog adoption application process, so I started with the research. I read books.  I read blogs.  I read research.  I spoke with owners. I spoke with vet assistants.  I spoke with groomers. I spoke with rescue workers. I prayed. Mostly, I prayed.  And I didn't tell anyone who might think I was crazy.  Believe me, I know that much already. 

Last summer, I narrowed my search to Newfoundlands, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Golden Retrievers.  I presented the options to Kevin, and he chose what I knew (and hoped) he would: Golden Retriever.  So, I put out an application at several Golden Retriever rescues around Ohio and one at Pilot Dogs, the service dog training center.  Then...nothing happened.  Months went by with no word and really not much further thought.  It was a long cold winter and I was really glad not to be out with a dog in a polar vortex.  As the calendar began to promise nicer weather and when Andy's travel basketball season ended, Kevin once again gave me the nod.  I applied to adopt several dogs on Petfinder.com, all to no avail.  Weeks and weeks went by and no dogs that fit our plan were available.  I prayed a lot and asked God to either bring us the perfect dog or remove the desire to have a dog from my heart.  I began to feel that maybe the answer to my prayer to find a dog was "Not now".  Anne-Marie and Renee reminded me that maybe the answer was "I have something much better in mind". These kids really do listen in Mass.

Friday morning I was lamenting our inability to find a dog to my mother-in-law.  I told her how rescues like to know the history of a dog when they are placing  it with a family with young children and that we might not have a dog until Anne-Marie was 8.  I was starting to become ok with that possibility.  Not even two hours later, Pilot Dogs calls and says, "We have a Golden Retriever available.  Are you still interested?"  We met her that afternoon, and I'd be lying if I said a I wasn't scared.  I felt like I did when I was in labor with each of my children (minus the pain). I was elated and terrified at the same time.  I couldn't stop shaking and my hands were like ice. But then I met her.

Here is how I know she is the answer to our prayer:  She is from Pilot Dogs, which was my first hope for our dog. Her name is Molly.  Kevin tried 3 times to name our daughters Molly.  She was born on April 21st, also know as Aggie Muster, a very important date in the tradition of our beloved Texas A&M.  Andy is turning 10 this year.  And Molly is absolutely beautiful! She's the perfect specimen of a Golden Retriever, if you ask me. 

Today is the day we pick her up.  My anxiety and fear of making this commitment has been melting away and being replaced with excitement and anticipation.  We are ready!  Let's do this. 

 

Generous Heart and Shiny Money

This past week was Spirit Week at the kids school.  Part of the event was raising money for Free to Smile, a nonprofit organization that raises money for surgeries for children born with cleft lip and cleft palate.  Their goal was to raise $275 per classroom and today was the last day to donate at school.  Andy came home on Friday and cleaned out his piggy bank of all the quarters he could find.  

Oddly shiny quarters.

Monday morning he came downstairs with his money and was preparing to pack it up into a ziploc bag when the shininess of the quarters caught my attention.  Turns out...they were Canadian quarters.  Oh! The look on his face was heartbreaking. Tears immediately started streaming from his eyes.  He was devastated.  I tried to help him, but he ran away to his room.  When he came back he had all the American dimes and nickels he could find (not many) and wet eyes.  Who could stand to watch the hurting tender heart of a generous boy?  Not me. Not his Dad, either.  Kevin offered to buy his Canadian quarters from him so he could make his planned donation.  Andy was so relieved.  He loves helping people and he's not afraid to give of his treasure to those in need. I love that boy. I am one proud mother.