Prayers Do Get Answered

Today is supposed to be Fiction Friday, and we will get there tonight I promise. But, I have to tell you that we welcomed a niece into our family this morning. This is an answer to a three year long prayer.  My brother-in-law and his wife lost a baby during birth three years ago. I cannot even imagine the pain and suffering that they went through in losing their child.

Now, they have a daughter, and she is healthy and beautiful. Even though, I have children, and I witnessed all three of their births, I cannot imagine the joy and elation that my brother-in-law and his wife are feeling right now. Their experience is totally different than mine. This child is a gift from God - as all children are; but she is especially precious to all of us who are going to have the pleasure of knowing her.

It is time to celebrate her birth, and what better time of year to have this child than around Thanksgiving. I know that all of my brother-in-law and his wife's friends and family have been praying for them and could not be more thankful for what God has given to this couple, now family, that we love so much.

Alternative Syrup

I will warn you now that this post is not for the faint of heart.

If you have been reading my blog, you know that I have a 19 month old son. He is pretty self sufficient when it comes to feeding himself. We put food on plate, and he can get it into his mouth - well most of it makes there. Sometimes, he even uses a fork and spoon. So, he already has a leg up on me.

Tonight, we had breakfast for dinner. This included pancakes, sausage (links and patties), and eggs. Coilin had pancakes and cut up sausage links. He actually used his fork for the sausage. The pancakes were a different story.

I tore apart his pancake into small pieces for two reasons. One, if you give him a whole pancake he will shove the entire thing in his mouth. Two, the hope is that it will take him longer to eat smaller pieces. That didn't really happen. My boy decided to take handfuls of pancake pieces and shove them in his mouth. He was fine; he did not choke. I sometimes wonder if he cannot unhinge his jaw like a snake. He laid waste to most of his pancake bits like that. Well, all except for the one.

Before we continue, I need to give you some back story. We do not put syrup on his pancakes simply because he does not need the sugar, and he would have it all over him. Coilin would be, as we say in our house, Sticky Wickets. Apparently, he must have felt that one of his pancake pieces was a little dry as he added his own "syrup."

Now, my poor son has had a runny nose all week. (Yes, I am going to go there.)  He decide to stick a piece of pancake in his nose, pull it back out and eat it. It was both gross and funny at the same time. I thought my wife and oldest daughter were going to die. My youngest daughter and I were cracking up. It was like he did it in slow motion - you could see the snot string running from his nose to the pancake. In the next moment, they were both gone. Down the old hatch!

Falling Apart - A Complaint

I have nothing better to write about today other than the fact that my body seems to be falling apart at a rapid pace. I am not old by any stretch of the imagination. Geeze, I am only turning 35 in three and half weeks. Yet, I feel like I am turning 65.

Both of my knees hurt all of the time. I messed up my back on Sunday, and it has been giving me fits ever since. When I get down on the ground to play with the kids, I sometimes need help getting up. I told my wife to get ready for a double knee replacement  in our golden years, or sooner.  The next house we buy will  definitely have all of the major living area located on the first floor. Steps and I do not really get along. (They are part of the reason my left knee is in pain.)

But hey, I cannot complain. Other than the knees and back (this week), I am in great health. God has blessed me with and terrific family, and I am gainfully employed. What more can a guy ask for in life? So, I say to myself the ever motivational words that I said to my neighbor during last winter's snow storm when he said his body hurt too much to shovel anymore, "Suck it up Buttercup! We are all sore!"

A Surprise

About two weeks ago, Molly's first grade teacher sent home a note asking for volunteers to come in and help with a paper mache project on the November 15th and 16th. I decided to use a vacation and volunteer for the 16th. I did not tell Molly that I was going to help, and I asked the teacher and student teacher not to say anyting to her. The plan to surprise her was set and worked perfectly.

Typically, I telecommute on Tuesdays. So, it was no big deal that I was home when she left for school. I arrived at her school at 10 a.m., and the kids were still in an assembly. The secretary told me to wait in the hall outside of Molly's classroom. I did. I could hear all of the children coming down the hall, and I saw the student teacher round the corner first and then right after her came my little girl. She screamed "Daddy!" and ran to give me a big hug. It was great.

Helping Molly and her classmates with that project was a lot of fun. It was also really messy. Even with an apron, I had paper mache glue all over my sleeves. When we were all done, I got a little surprise of my own. I was told I could go in the classroom and sit with Molly for a little bit while she was working on her Thanksgiving story. That was really special.  It was fun to see Molly in her own element.

If you ever have the opportunity to volunteer at your child or grandchild's school, do it if you can. I know it is hard to fit that kind of time into your schedule. Man is it worth it though. It was fulfilling for me, and Molly was super excited. The children love it. One of the little boys I helped kept telling me about how his dad had come in the day before to help. It makes a lasting impression on our children.

Another Proud Moment

In Goodbye Diet Vacation, I wrote about how my wife was participating in a "Biggest Loser" style competition with Team AMS. Hank Hanasik, Team AMS Coach, weighed and measured various parts of their bodies, inclduing, arms, thighs, chest and waist, on Day 1 and every two weeks after. He awarded one point for each pound the contestants lost and two points for each whole inch the contestants lost. The person with the highest point total at the end of the 8-weeks won.

My wife WON! I have never been prouder of her. She worked so hard and dedicated a lot of time to exercising and eating right. Shannon did not go on a diet. Instead, she went on a life changing journey. She put the proper fuel into her body, and then used that fuel to get slim and trim.

From what I hear from other people that participated in the challenge, my wife was inspiration to them. I am not surprised. Shannon is an inspiration to me and my children. She is living proof of what can happen when you set a goal and work hard towards achieving that goal.

I want to thank Hank Hanasik for training my wife. Most importantly, I have to say to my wife:

I Love You Shannon, and I am proud of you.

A Proud Moment

My daughters and I went to church this morning. Like most Sundays, Jillian (3) asked if she could on Molly's (6) lap. As I do every Sunday, I say ok. I am fine with it so long as they behave. For the most, part they were good today in church.

We had a couple of instances where Jillian was more laying on Molly than she was sitting.  Other than that, I was happy with their behavior. Besides, Jillian is only three years old. I do not expect her to sit stone still in church. I can't even do that, and I am a little older than her.

Their good behavior did not go unnoticed either. Right after the consecration of the Host and before we went up to take communion, a woman came up behind us and told me something about which I am still beaming. She said that my girls were very pretty little girls and that they were very well behaved. And, she added, that I should be very proud. Then she sat back down.

It is hard to say whether she meant that I should be proud of them, or if I should be proud of the job my wife and I are doing in raising our children. To be honest, it does not matter which she meant, because I am proud on both fronts.

I did not get to see her after mass. So, to whoever said those nice things to me, I say thank you. I hope you have a wonderful week, and maybe I will get to see you in church next week and get to say thank you in person.

Three Things NOT to Say to your Wife

My wife reminded today of three things that you should not say to her. To all the guys out there who read this blog, this is free advice for you.

1. We went to the local mall today. My wife got out the car and put on the Ergobaby (baby carrier) to carry Coilin. She asked for her sweater. It was a warm day and I told her she did not need it. Shannon said, "It (the strap of the Ergobaby) makes me look like Fat, Fat the Water Rat!"
Now, I am by no means a fool; so I answered, "No, you look like Fatty, Fatty, Bumbolatty!" I cannot believe she hit me.
2. We were coming home from my Mother-in-Law's house. I was driving and Shannon was in the passenger seat. Jillian and Coilin were in the second row, and Molly was in the third. Jillian starts saying, "Don't tell me how to drive. Go Daddy! It's gween GO!" 
I turned to my wife and said, "Boy, she imitates you really well." I got hit again.
3. My wife and I were standing in the kitchen tonight. As usual, I said something smart to Shannon. She turned her back to me, and she smacked her behind making the kiss my butt sign. I replied with, "I don't have all night." I did not get hit, but I got the look. I wish she had hit me.

Before you think I am a total jerk, you must know that my wife and I have an awesome relationship. We joke around with each other A LOT. So, she knew that I meant nothing by what I said. We were having some fun. (Yes, I checked to make sure she was having fun too.) I love my wife with all my heart, and she knows I think she is beautiful. Besides, my wife has been working her tail off at the gym. She looks fantastic and has lost a lot of weight and does not need worry about looking fat. She also knows that she is a back seat driver. (So, she could not argue with number 2.)

Gentlemen, I do have to tell you that these were Three Things NOT to Say to your Wife, unless you have a wife like mine.