You Will Be Missed

A wonderful woman has passed from this earth to her heavenly home. Some people will say she earned her angel wings today.  I'm lucky enough to know that she was one of gods angels on earth for quite a long time.  

Many people who read this won't have had the chance to meet her.  I probably didn't talk much about her but she had a huge hand in shaping who I am today.  Her name is Jill and she was my primary preceptor when I started my very first nursing job.  I was young, naive and inexperienced.  All things she was not.   She took me under her wing and taught me everything she knew willingly, with passion, patience, importance.   I had a front row seat and watched her care for sick children so incrediblely lovingly.   She was equally amazing with families.  

As a new nurse I watched in awe as she stood her ground with doctors and fought hard for what she knew her patients needed.  Long before the word "patient advocate" was common Jill was exuding it.  

Jill had a laugh that was, in a word, intoxicating.  She could tell stories that would have you laughing until you cried. She was serious when she needed to be, feisty if you crossed her, but always looking out for those around her.   She was a lover of vanilla coke and Dale Ernhart and most of all her family and friends.   As a newlywed and new mother I asked her advice a million times and she probably reassured me a million more.  She taught me about life and death and the living that was to be done in between.  She was there when I was angry and frustrated with the healthcare system, when I lost my first patient and many times when I thought my heart wouldn't stand one more child diagnosed with a terminal illness.  We spend weekends and holidays together at he bedside of kids willing them to live.  We spent late nights where prayed that some would know the end to their suffering.  You don't go through something like that with someone and not have an amazing bond. 

Jill's life  was cut short but there are thousands of children and hundreds of nurses out there who's lives go on because of her compassion, her skill and her dedication.    I am so proud to be able to say she was MY preceptor and that I worked with her.  She will be greatly missed but forever remembered. 

If I could talk to her one more time I eokld thank her for the influence she had on my life.  I would tell her how amazing I always thought she was.  I would thank her for teaching me so much of what I know.  I would tell her that I will try to be a positive influence on other young nurses. I would tell her about my kids because man did she love kids   I would tell her I'll see her again someday.  

Seven Years Ago Today

Seven years ago on this very day, I woke up and was barely able to roll my very pregnant self out of bed.  It would be a hot, humid June day that I could not miss at work.  June was a popular month for newly hired nurses and I had three starting their Geisinger career that day.    I got dressed and before leaving the bedroom decided that perhaps it would be prudent to take my carefully packed suitcase.   Something felt different and even though I wasn't due for another almost four weeks, I was fairly certain that our baby boy would be born that day.
My Monday morning meeting brought contractions every fifteen minutes. A call to labor and delivery advised me to come downstairs when the contractions were 5-10 minutes apart.   By lunch time the nursing instructor on the unit noticed me rubbing my belly every 10 minutes.  Shortly after lunch, when I could no longer carry on a conversation with my new nurses, I sent them home and went to my office to rest.   Earl was still a CRNA student and could not leave immediately so I made some phone calls while I waited for his shift to end.    We headed to OB later where they tried every trick in the book to stop my labor.  Our little buddy was coming no matter what and he entered the world a little after 11pm, healthy and strong despite his early arrival time.

The seven years since then have been so full of life and love.  Cooper is a boy full of spunk and energy and joy.  He lives every single minute of life and has yet to shy away from anything except getting his fingers sticky!  This past year he has really developed a love of all things sports.   He always wants to improve and practices every chance he gets.   He continues to be our instigator - sometimes to the point of wearing me out. He likes to tease his sisters and can always be counted on for a side comment.  But he has a heart of gold for his family and friends alike.
Seven years has gone by so quickly and I know that the next seven years will fly by, too.  I am so blessed to be your mom, Cooper.  I love you more than you will ever, ever know.  Happy birthday

Happy 7th Birthday, Cooper!

Dear Cooper,
Here we are, you're seven years old.   This picture says it all.  You are growing up fast!   You are such a handsome boy with a kind heart.

You had quite a hard time deciding what you wanted to do for your birthday.  Ultimately you decided on a few friends, a movie and some pizza and cake afterward.

Pokemon themed, of course.

You were very blessed by lots of nice gifts, including your favorite, Legos.

As if one party wasn't enough, we ended up celebrating twice.

We had a birthday party at Mimi and Pappy's with our family since they were going to be on vacation on your real birthday.  You and I made and decorated the cake.  I think we went a little wild with the sprinkles.

One thing is for sure, you sure are loved by so many people.  We all enjoy having you in our lives and watching you grow and mature.   I hope you had a wonderful 7th birthday!

Love, Mommy

Little League World Series Museum

We have been enjoying the fact that Earl has so much vacation time this summer and have vowed not to waste a moment sitting around doing nothing!    We also made a pact with the kids to do and see things around Pennsylvania that we've always "meant to get to".   

 We started today with the Little League World Series Museum.   How many times have we driven past this famous landmark and said, "We should go there sometime."   With the threat of rain in the forcast we decided that today would be a good day to cross this off our list.

 The rain was no where in sight but the sun sure was.  It was HOT outside and the hill to walk down to the stadium had this Mama's legs burning.    We all remarked that the stadium and particularly the hill in the outfield look so much bigger on TV.   I have no idea how they fit 40,000 people in that space each year.

 The museum itself was pretty cool.   McKenna played a trivia game on this giant ipad like device.   We could have spent a lot of time at this particular attraction.

 However, Cooper was excited to get to run the bases.   I can't tell you how many trips each of the kids made between home plate and first base.   A computer posts your time at the end and Cooper was set on beating his times.

 Kinley enjoyed this part the most!

Earl practiced "fielding" a couple of balls.

This is probably the last picture of me and my six year old little boy.  Tomorrow he turns SEVEN!!!

After the museum we headed for lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings where we enjoyed greasy food, wings and FIFA World Cup Soccer on the big screens.    There was a quick stop at Party City before a quick stop at Wal-Mart for some last minute birthday gifts.   I feel like I'm slipping a little bit here but honestly, these guys have not given me a moments rest since long before June 4th.   They are totally worth the planning, packing, shuttling, cooking and lack of sleep.   Thanks for a fun day!

Twin Streams 2014

This weekend marked our annual pilgrimage to Morris, PA home of Twin Streams campground and one of our favorite summer rituals.

We spent the weekend with Steve, Krysta and the boys.  These six kids love being together!

All weekend people kept getting all of us mixed up.  They thought I was Krysta and Earl was Steve on more than one occasion.  We got a good laugh out of it

There is always lots of teasing about NFL football teams.   The Wagners are huge Steeler fans and we are not.  They love to tease us about the Browns and we like to egg them on.   Cooper even picked out orange and brown lollypops.

There was a heated game of kickball...

and lots of time spent relaxing around he fire.  We always spend time in the creek but this year the creek was low and cold and the kids didn't last long.   They still spent quite a bit of time riding bikes and we all ate until we couldn't anymore!  Butter finger cake, BBQ chicken, huge breakfasts, strawberry pie, mountain pies and s'mores.  I'll be working out extra for weeks!

Cody and Cooper have declared that when they graduate from high school they are going to live together and become ninja dragon warriors.  Ha!

We were sad to leave, some of us more than others.  Cooper cried almost the entire way home because he had so much fun and didn't want to leave.  Needless to say, plans are already in the works for the boys to come to our house for a few days and another trip to Twin Streams this summer is not out of the question.  I'm so blessed that my kids will have these wonderful memories of camping each summer with family.  

Celebrate Good Times

I mentioned a few days ago that we traveled out to Sharon to visit Grammy Musial.  It was a very quick trip due to work schedules, soccer games, birthday parties and other important events.  However, we were happy to have had the chance to get out to see everyone and celebrate Jason's graduation from high school.

The boys are always so sweet to Cooper and he thinks he's hot stuff hanging out with them.  I remember like yesterday, meeting them when they were just toddlers.

 We all had a delicious Olive Garden dinner and then the kids wanted to take us to their favorite frozen yogurt spot.   If you know anything about our family it's that we never, ever turn down frozen yogurt.

 This picture is a rare one.  It's not often that all the grandkids are in one spot at the same time.   I was glad to capture this picture.

 On Friday we spent time at a local park.   We always try to make a stop at Buell Park.  It's an amazing space and I always leave wishing we had something similar in size back at home.

 We had a picnic lunch and enjoyed the sunshine and cooler temperatures.

We headed home later on Friday after a few stops to see some other family members.   Hopefully next time we will have a chance to visit a little longer.

We Don't Waste Time

Summer vacation has barely had a chance to begin and already we are on the road.  

We left this afternoon for a couple of days with Grammy Musial and our western PA cousins.

We stopped for a quick picnic lunch.  Believe it or not, it was chilly in the shade and we had to dig the sweatshirts out of the car.

We made it to our hotel and wasted no time exploring!  We are staying somewhere new this time and so far we really like it! 

Stay tuned for exciting posts and pictures about our time here! 

Documenting the Last Day of School 2014

We have successfully navigated through three kids in "school".   To say I am happy to have a few weeks of summer vacation that do no include daily packing of lunches, homework and wrestling Kinley into school is an understatment.

However, we had a great year.  And just look how they've all grown.

 Kinley's first day of daycare - August 2013

 Kinley has done well at daycare.  She is not always keen on the idea of going but always has a great time when she is there.   She cried the first day I dropped her off and the last day of this year, too.  Happily, there were a span of a few months in between where there were not tears at drop off.

 Cooper enjoyed kindergarten immensely.    He's going to rock first grade, too!

 I think I notice the change in McKenna the most.  She has grown in so many way - physically, academically,  and in terms of maturity.    I cannot believe that she is going to be in fifth grade!

Last Day of School 2013

Last day of school 2014

And so, with another school year under our belt we have headed full force into summer.  We are expecting great things and lots of time together.

This Is How We Start Off Summer

I'm not sure how other people kick off the first day of summer vacation but I do know that in this neighborhood we go all out.

 Fifty water balloons and three Super-soaker water guns were awaiting the neighborhood kids when they got off the bus this afternoon.

It was every man for themselves today!

 What a cute crew.  We are looking forward to lots of fun together this summer!  Happy Summer Vacation!