Mother of the Year

Many years and several babies ago I gained a sister.  I never had a sister growing up so when I married Michael I was so excited to have gained Lauren in the process.....  Man did I luck out.  We speak almost daily and have since our oldest were babies.  She is probably one of the most genuine people I have ever known in my life and we have raised our babies together.  I always remember feeling so comfortable to tell her anything.  She was never judgmental....always had this sense of peace no matter what I shared with her.  Don't get me wrong....she challenged me on things and we had some great debates over the years.  We have laughed and we have cried and we have shared.....shared everything.

One of my favorite things we shared was a phrase called "Mother of the Year"  This may not be what you think it is....It is the "truth" of motherhood.  It is those days when you know you overreacted to something that your children did....the day when you lose your cool....the day when God must step in and cover you in his grace....I have found that motherhood provides me with much pride but more than that it provides me with humility.  When you least expect it God will give you the chance to grow in humility.  My children have given me so many opportunities I can't even share them all with you.  Some of them I would like to forget and some of them are now etched in my memory and bring a chuckle or  smile to my face.  Seeming such a big deal  at the time and now just a distant memory....

Several years ago I did a book club.  The book we read, The Mom You're Meant to Be, Loving your Kids while leaning on God by Cheri Fuller, is still one of my favorites to reference.  My favorite quote from the book:

"So you won't think I'm writing this book because I believe I have "arrived" as a mom, let me share the three prayers most often in my heart when my children were growing up.  Since no one except God is the perfect parent, I often prayed Lord, please fill in the gaps between the love my kids needed today and didn't get from me, even though I was loving them the best I could.  My second prayer was Jesus, redeem my mistakes.  Believe me, I made plenty of them, but I was encourage that God could use even my blunders to draw my children to Himself.  And finally, Lord, help our marriage, but let it begin with me".

So here is how Mother of the Year works....We would call and say that I am the "mother of the year" of course dripping with sarcasm and share our story....Sometimes just saying it out loud and have an empathetic and nonjudgmental ear would save the day.  A response that only another Mom would understand.

To give you an idea of what I mean I will share this story.  My son, Matthew, is a hockey nut.  He eats, sleeps, and dreams hockey.  (Actually we are a hockey family so he gets it honest)  Mike and Matthew got some tickets to some Caps games and Matthew saw all the "signs" that people hold up at the games.  I should also remind you that my children all go to a Catholic School.

 It seems Matthew was using his free time in art to make these signs for the next game...Can you guess who the Caps were playing?  Can you say.......Mother of the Year?
 












 













Mothering is so very hard and I think we all need to lighten up on ourselves and each other a little bit.  There are a few exceptions to this but most Moms I know love their children and want what is best for them.  BUT we are imperfect souls so we are going to mess up....Forgive yourselves (or your children) and move on.

I hope that you have a sister or friend who validates you or helps you through those tough times....If not feel free to comment or email me....I will listen.  
                                                                       

Health Update-Day 19 of IV Treatment

Well, I know that so many of you have been praying for me and following my story  and I will attempt to give a brief update.  I have completed day 19 of 28 days of antibiotic treatments through a picc line in my arm.  I had really started feeling better.  I was outside some and feeling more like myself.  I went to the Dr. for a followup this week and all was going well.   I had a nurse visit Thursday and she took blood (which she always does) and after she left I laid down and slept for like 5 hours.  Woke up with low grade fever, aches and pains, and a new type of headache.  You know the one that comes with a fever.  So Friday the Dr. office and the nurse both called and were concerned because my blood work had come back and my white blood cell count was low.  I believe they said 2300.  Now the question is am I fighting a "normal" virus or am I having a reaction to the antibiotic.  They will recheck the blood Tuesday (long weekend, of course) and I am to rest, drink lots of fluids, and help my body fight the flu.  I woke up this morning about the same as yesterday and I will take it.  If it gets worse then I have to call the doctor. I am doing everything I am supposed to do because I do not want to end up in the hospital on 4th of July weekend.  Actually, I don't want to end up in the hospital at all.      This is the best I can explain it.  Hope that makes some sense.

Many have asked me what happens Tuesday?  What happens if it is the antibiotic?  Will you have to start over on another one?  What if?  What if?  Here is my answer.

Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of
itself. Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day.
—Matthew 6:34

As hard as it has been I have tried to take this one day at a time.  I don't know what will happen and truthfully I can't even go there in my head.  I know that I do not have the grace for that "problem" right now.  I was able to get enough strength last night to go with my family to sit at Freedom High and watch the Fireworks with Mike and the kids.  I am preparing myself for Tuesday when Mike has to go back to work.  I can't tell you how much I am going to miss having him here.  He has been such a steady constant for me in a time when so many things seem uncertain.  He is a very "structured" person and the kids have thrived having him home.  They needed his consistency.   In many ways for Mike and the kids this 3 week run has been a blessing.  

I wish I could share all of the blessings that have come my way this last week but please know this....God is in the details.  He has covered me and my family during this time in ways that I could never have imagined.  Thank you all for your continued prayers.  I know that they are making a difference.

 

Why I am so passionate about Occupational Therpists and what they do!!!

I have been praying about sharing this post for a while....I started a blog awhile back about being the Mom of a child with Sensory Processing Disorder.....I only had one post and I believe the post was for me more than anyone else.  There will be more posts about Occupational Therapists and how they can help children and families cope but I wanted to give you this post to get an understanding as to why I am "working" with Jennifer.. For those of you who don't know I work with an Occupational Therapist as her office manager....She does the kids and I do the paperwork.  It is a great combination.

She came to my family at a time when I was desperate.  She wasn't doing OT.  She was raising her babies.  I hadn't spoken to her for a few years.  Our boys had gone to preschool together but somehow I remembered that she had said she used to be an OT before she was a Mom.  She immediately said..."Don't worry, Michelle.  I will help you."  She helped to restore calm back in our family and for that I will be forever grateful.

After my sweet baby was discharged we started A Kid's OT.  Jennifer has been given a talent to work with these kids.....maybe because she was one of these kids.  I have never seen anything like it.  I will ask her to do guest posts for me over time to explain more of what SPD is and how we can help our children cope...In the meantime....the blog post that follows will you a glimpse into my life in May 2009....

This was a very difficult time for our family and especially my daughter.  I share this story because I believe it can help other families that might be in need.....Please respect her privacy.  She has worked so hard to overcome her challenges and I am so proud of her.  She is an amazing gift and I am so blessed to be her Mom.


From SPDMom May 2009
I have been asked over and over again to write a blog about my experience with a child with SPD....Sensory Processing Disorder. I am not a medical professional. I am not a writer. I am just a Mom who was given a very special daughter to raise. I have been pushed to my limits or what I thought were my limits over the years but especially the last six months. I am happy to write that we have some better routines and I can predict most of her triggers but not all.....It is those that cause my anxiety. You just never know when they are going to blow. You sit on pins and needles waiting to see if they will get through meals, getting dressed and sometimes just getting out of the house.

I thought for a long time it was parenting. I mean that is what everyone told me....Have you tried this, have you tried this...It wasn't until I had two other daughters behind her that I knew something just wasn't right. I know that is horrible to say about your own child and believe me there were so many times during all this that I hoped and prayed it was just that I was a "bad Mom" Being a Mom to any child is selfless but I assure you being a mom to a child with Sensory Processing Disorder  takes it to a new level. I am not even sure where I should start except to say that you aren't alone....I know I felt so alone. The only person I really had was a sister in law who was on the phone 1,000 miles away. She was such a source of strength for me. Complete unconditional love. There were moments when I didn't know how I was going to continue with this....There is no cure and there is no clear cut diagnosis which makes it impossible. Doctor after Doctor gave me different diagnosis and different treatment plans. See for most kids with SPD they have learned to cope so most people either think they have no issues because they usually save those meltdowns (not tantrums) for Mom or they just need some discipline.

Crazy....Am I crazy? This was what I asked myself over and over.

As I have made this journey with my sweet girl I have learned so much about myself. I have found strength that I never knew I had. I have been so covered by God in all that I have needed. I was so blessed to find an amazing therapist (LCSW) and an Occupational Therapist. I thank God for them every day. I know that my daughter has a very specific purpose in this life of hers. I know that we were handpicked by God for each other and through all the frustrations and humbling times I thank God for her my sweet daughter. 

My New Kindle

I will start by saying....I LOVE MY NEW KINDLE!  Thanks, Mom!


My mother bought me a kindle.  It was a very generous gift and I am so grateful.  I have always been an avid reader.  I love to read anything and when I get into a good book I have been know to stay up well into the night to finish it.  I can easily have 3-4 books going at the same time..It is one of the things that I would say is a passion.  With this illness there have been times when I couldn't lift my head or didn't have the strength in my arms to hold a book for an extended period of time. This was an answer to my prayers.  I can lay with my head flat on the pillow and still read the kindle on the bed next to me. 

They recently dropped the price of the Kindle to $189 at Amazon.  I have no information of how the Kindle compares to other "ebook" devices but I know I love mine.  You can hold tons of books, devotionals, newspaper subscriptions, and magazine subscriptions all in one place.  It will fit easily in a handbag.  I love it because it charges in the wall or on your computer/laptop with the USB port.  There are tons of free books you can get and most books are much less to buy for the kindle than in the printed version.  It is lightweight and easy to carry and you can even download kids books as well.  It has a read aloud version so you can listen to the books either through headphones or through the speakers.....

I just wanted to share this product with you as you embark on vacations....They also have some new apps for Iphones and Droids to be able to read on your phones....Just another option.

Week 1 Update-Lymes

Hello all,
Let's see I have finished 7 doses of anitbiotic through IV and we aren't seeing a huge change...YET..... Most say it isn't until the end of week 2 .....keep praying.

For a real picture of how I am doing I must be honest and tell you that I am not well.  I have some really great moments followed by mostly low moments.  I think we finally have the pain meds at the right levels and so I am comfortable most of the time.  I have  been in bed for most of the week.. and the hope is that I will feel better over the next week to spend more time downstairs.  I can finally sit in my room without a towel or something over my eyes.  I am able to eat and keep things down  which is huge.  I am finally enjoying all of these amazing meals that have been arriving by angels at my door.  The PICC line was less than fun and has been a source of pain and tenderness since I got it.  It has been bearable but nowhere near the "it's nothing " they all said it would be.  The hope is that at the end of the 28 day run we will have knocked out the lymes.......Okay so having said that I am okay....Could be a lot worse.

I have been constantly held up first and foremost by my amazing husband.  He has cared for me and our four kids tirelessly without complaint since all of this has happened. He has run the house and kids and meds effortlessly.  He is a rock at a time when I am not and I am so very grateful for him.  God truly knew what I needed when he picked Michael for me. My Parents and Mike's Parents as well as my brother, Jim, My sister in law, Lauren and my Nannie and Uncle Bob have made this a family affair.....They have been here and there whenever we needed them without question and I am so grateful to have them as my family.

Now we go on to my amazing group of friends and neighbors. How do I cover everyone who has made this situation not only manageable but somewhat enjoyable for my children.  For those of you who have brought or will be bringing meals I thank you.  I cannot believe how quickly the calendar has filled up and I sit here in tears realizing how many people have stepped forward to help me.  For those of you who have taken my children for playdates, movies, etc   Thank you from the bottom of my heart.  You have no idea how much it means to me to know that they are still out and having fun. They are probably have a more exciting summer than they would have it I were up and about....Teehee.   For those of you who have loaned us your older daughters for babysitting/mother's helper I thank you.  They give Michael a much needed break to get work done or catch his breath. The cards and emails have been so encouraging and I can't tell you how much they mean. 

These last few weeks have been such a challenge for me.  Both physically and emotionally and at times, spiritually.  To keep myself focused I have read daily from a book given to me by a very dear friend...Streams of the Desert.  Today's verse...."Concerning the work of my hands command ye me."  (Isaiah 45:11)  This book keeps me focused on the whole picture and not my own little part of the world.  I know that He is using this suffering for the Glory of His Kingdom and I am happy to be used for His Good.  Having said that it isn't easy....I have made a choice to allow Him to use this suffering and this situation to His Good.

A few things that have gotten me through......Laughter
Ray Stevens...My Own Grandpa was posted by my friend, Irene.  It started me laughing and led us to Bill Cosby Himself.....On a night when I was feeling so down and alone I was reminded that laughter is the best medicine....By the way if you haven't seen Bill Cosby Himself it is hysterical...Now that we have kids it is even funnier and they have portion of it on Utube.  Some of my favorites are Brain Damage, The same thing happens every night, and He's Jesus Christ  Check them out.

That same night my husband showed me one I had never seen....Noah.
I laughed at it but wasn't laughing so hard when I had this aha moment the next morning....I laid in the bed as I had been doing for so long...thinking...seriously what purpose can this serve...similar to Noah.  I then decided I would be treading as long as necessary.....Trust in Him. 

I've survived with laughter and with tears....
My Dad cam by Tuesday after graciously having my girls for the day at his pool and showed me this video on Youtube.  Through tears we both said...."This aint nothin"...For those of you who know my Dad you will understand this has always been his attitude about life. 
I am a huge country music fan so for those of you who aren't  I am sorry but I still thing you will enjoy.


Most of all I want to thank you all for your prayers and thoughts.....Storm the heavens for me because I truly don't want to stay this way.....unless of course it is His Will.


I am off to eat my lunch and sleep but wanted to let you all know how much you are appreciated and to fill you in on my medical stuff.  Keep in touch.  In Christ, Michelle

Everyone is Beautiful

My Summer Read Suggestion.....

This book will touch the heart and soul of any Mom who has had to struggle though those first years of raising very young children.  I found myself thinking...."Oh my Goodness, this is me or was me"  It will make you laugh out loud and it will make you cry.  It is one of those books that when you finish it you think....Bummer, it's over?  There has to be more....I want to hear more.  It was like having a dear girlfriend who understood....Here are a  few reviews.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did....Please let me know what you think....

Amazon has it as well as the Fairfax County Public Library.  

Reviews

“What a clear-eyed rendering of the grimy, exhausting, beautiful mess that is early motherhood! I laughed, winced in recognition, and cheered wholeheartedly (sometimes out loud) for Lanie as she struggles to learn how to love everyone enough and still give part of herself to herself.”
–Marisa de los Santos, author of Belong to Me

“If you like novels with happy endings that will remind you of childhood fairy tales, then Katherine Center’s Everyone is Beautiful is the perfect book . . . Bound to catch the sympathetic attention of women looking for stories of self-improvement on physical and emotional levels. This is a breezy read that glows, in part, because its characters bask in the sunny side of life.”—USA Today

“Endearing . . . Unpretentious, silly, and honest.”—People

“Katherine Center has written a novel that will strike a chord in the heart of any woman who has ever tried to raise small children . . . Center has a deft and humorous touch . . . Everyone is Beautiful will make you laugh out loud, even as you wince in recognition.”—Free Lance Star

House Party

 I wanted to share this great website that I found recently. It is called House Party .  This site markets products to the public for very well know brands....Over the last 6 months I have signed up for several and  have been lucky enough to be chosen to host two events.  One for Kraft Foods and for Game Night.  

So the first one I hosted was for Kraft Foods.  They were releasing a bunch of new products for the summer.  When I received my box I about fell over with how much free stuff I got in the box.  It was filled with little frisbees and beach balls as well as paper products for my "party".  It had crackerfulls and bags of the new macaroni and cheese (traditional, you know the kids with the white sauce and bread crumbs) and coupons galore for free Giorno pizza with breadsticks, lunchmeat, cheese cubes, kool aid, and the list goes on and on.  I was so excited and so  surprised.  I hosted the party outside with my neighbors...It was easy and fun to try the new products especially for free.


The second one was the Game Night.   In this package I received 3 brand new games including the new Trivial Pursuit which wasn't even in the stores, taboo and electronic catch phrase.  They also sent some wheat thins and Reese's dark chocololate pieces plus a bunch of $5 off coupons for my guests.  This one I haven't had yet.  With being sick I had to put it off....anyone like games?

My reason for sharing this now is that they have about 8 open parties right now....Several food and several video game related.  Good luck and let me know if you are selected and please include me on your guest list....I don't plan on being in this bed forever..... 

Check it out!
http://www.houseparty.com/

My first post

Hello all,

I have spent many years following blogs and am attempting one of my own....I can't say it will focus on any one topic. That is not my personality nor can I write that way. I am a Catholic Woman who has been been married to my best friend, Michael, for 10 good years.I am the mother of 4 children that range in age from almost 4 up to 9. I work part time for an occupational therapist who is also one of my best friends. I have recently gotten into using coupons and ordering free samples . I have great network of friends and family that never cease to amaze me with their generosity and love.

One of the things I always feel when reading blogs or facebook posts is this sense of inferiority.....Okay so over the years I am learning this.....I am the Mom I am supposed to be... I do crafts and plan fun activities some days and other days I am lucky if I remember to feed them all. Some days we play outside all day and some days we have movie marathons because that is all I can handle. I am a great Mom because I now understand my limitations. I remind myself that all of our children are imperfect souls given to us for a short time to help mold them into the people God wants them to be. A lifetime of helping them understand that we all have a purpose filled with ups and downs and in the end all for His Glory. My children were handpicked for us and our family and for that I am so grateful.....

Most of all I am the Mom who takes her children on a nature walk one time and ends up with a tick bite which is why I now have the time to write a blog. Funny how things happen.

Please feel free to comment or send me guest posts....I would love to hear from you.