Wordless Wednesday

On Germs, the Congenital Heart Walk and Preschool

Last Friday, the hubs and I awoke to an eerily familiar sound coming from Drew's room.

In between him crying and yelling, we heard the telltale sounds of croup.

And with that, cold and flu season was officially upon us. And school hadn't started yet even. Awesome.

Drew and I spent 4 glorious hours in the local peds ER, where he charmed the pants off everyone in the joint - including one CNA, who wanted to take him home - and where I had to hide him from the random things you see in an ER that no child should see. A dose of liquid steroid, a breathing treatment and some observation, and we were on our way home - to our beds - at 5:00am.

Poor Drew missed the Congenital Heart Walk on Sunday. As he was contagious still, there was no way I was taking him around children with compromised immune systems. I had several moments of being upset that he was not going to be there. In the end, however, the walk was simply lovely. Emmett and I went to honor Drew, and many members of my family joined us there. It was a beautiful morning, and the walk route was lined with gorgeous older homes. It was perfectly serene and scenic. And another reminder of how blessed I am that Drew is healthy (you know, aside from croup) and doing well.

He WAS well enough, however, to attend his first day of preschool on Tuesday!! My li'l man is in preschool. Where does time go? He was SO excited!! His grandparents bought him a Lightening McQueen backpack that he's just been dying to wear, so he proudly strutted into school with his backpack on and his head held high, ready to start his academic life. I walked behind him in a daze, trying to remember when he got to be so big. We were able to stay for the first hour of class. At one point, Mr. Independent turned to me and said, "you go now Momma, I see you later!" He was ready to be on his own, with his teachers and his friends, knowing I would come back to get him when school was over. I am happy to report that when I picked him up, he ran to the door with a huge grin and hugged me. That warmed my heart. And then, we all went to Red Robin to celebrate with Daddy.

My little family makes me happy. I am blessed in so many ways.

10 years later ...

Sunday marks the 10th anniversary of the worst tragedy on US soil - the terror attacks of September 11, 2001.

I was in graduate school, and Tuesdays were my "late" day - meaning I just had a night class. So, being 21 and all, I was sleeping in. I had my alarm set for 9am, which was just shortly after the attacks began. When my alarm went off, I was groggy and I quickly hit snooze, for five more minutes of sleep. I rolled over and thought to myself, "wait a minute, what did he just say?" And I sat up in bed and turned on my TV. I could hardly believe my eyes.

I felt a huge sense of fear, and panic, and also I was a little bit weirded out because, just the night before, my one professor had been going on and on about how we spend too much money on the military and was specifically lamenting the money spent at the Pentagon - as well as the level of security there. To him, it was all pointless and there were much better ways to spend money. I was incredulous, but said nothing because it was pointless in his class. On the walk back to the graduate dorm, my friend and I were talking about class. I remember going on and on about how if people were going to attack our country, the Pentagon would be the first place they would hit. And then, I wake up just as a plane is going into the Pentagon. It was truly a W.T.F. moment in my life.

Making the situation worse for me and my ever increasing sense of fear and panic was that my sister was working in Washington, DC at the time. And none of us could get a hold of her. Finally, she was able to send an email saying she was fine and was going to stay where she was until this was all over and they knew more about what was going on. If you don't remember, there was a real sense of not knowing what was going on for awhile. Reports were coming out all over the place about bombs, planes and other things. No one knew if this would end soon, or continue through the day. As the day wore on, and it was apparent that they were over, reality began to set in.

Yes, this really happened.

And so, I wept for my fellow Americans, senselessly murdered that day. I wept for their families - spouses, children, parents. These are people who went to work that morning, or boarded a plane, never expecting to not go home when the day (or the trip) was over. And, just like that, they were gone.

I left class early to watch the President's address later that evening. No, our school didn't cancel classes and yes, I actually went to part of it. We all simultaneously stood up about a 1/2 an hour before the address was to begin and walked out. I think our professor was shocked, but I really don't understand why HE didn't want to watch it too.

And that brings me to THIS September 11th, 10 years after the fact. We will remember those who perished, and pray for them and their families. We will attend the Congenital Heart Walk and be with our friends and family there. And last, but certainly not least, we will celebrate my niece's 21st birthday. Oh yes, she shares her special day with this national tragedy and ten years ago, we made it clear to her that she was to go on celebrating her day, and being happy. If she could do that, then she would truly be honoring those who died that day by NOT allowing the terrorists to steal her joy on her birthday.

May God bless America.

Off the Wagon

The weight loss wagon that is.

No, I haven't gained any weight - I've just ... plateaued. Oh sure, my body fat percentage is in the athletic range (ca-a-raaaazy, but true), but those 3 digits on the scale need to start going down again.

I know what my problem is - tasty treats that I've allowed to sneak back into my diet.

But, starting today, that is no more! I have a mere 13 lbs to go to my goal weight and that's coming off before the stupid holidays get here. Oh, and this WILL be the first year I don't put one pound on during the holidays. My freakin' sweet goal jeans (which I, of course, have already selected) need a forever home, dang it.

And with that, I am hoisting myself back on the wagon. I will be "staying honest" by blogging more and documenting this last bit of my struggle. So, keep me honest peeps.

Please?

:)